The Source

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The Source is a daily, one-hour call-in talk program that gives listeners in San Antonio the opportunity to call and connect with our in-studio guests and city-wide audience.The Source seeks to give life, context and breadth to the events and issues affecting San Antonio by bringing newsmakers and experts to the public, and highlighting the people being affected by the news of the day.Hosted by veteran journalist David Martin Davies, and produced by Kim Johnson and Dallas Williams. Production assistance is provided by Ruben Garcia and Kathleen Creedon.Tune in to The Source for insightful discussion and analysis on topics that matter to residents of the Alamo City.Contribute to the conversation:Call or text during the live show at 833-877-8255.Leave a voicemail at 210 615-8982 anytime. Submissions may be played on-air.Tweet questions to @tprsource.Email comments to thesource@tpr.org.

David Martin Davies


    • Jan 14, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 39m AVG DURATION
    • 980 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Source

    Why it's now easier to be evicted in Texas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 49:43


    As buying a home has become out of reach for so many, some families are having to rent to maintain shelter. But in Texas it's become easier for tenant families to be evicted. A new law, SB 38, empowered property owners to expel “squatters” and also weakened rights of renters.

    A 500-year case for Mexico's global influence

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 49:42


    A new comprehensive history of Mexico argues the republic has been a major player in shaping the globe, from its silver fueling global trade to its progressive social positions. "Mexico: A 500-Year History," casts Mexico in a new light.

    Pride SA to discuss rainbow crosswalk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 49:40


    What's the future of San Antonio's Rainbow Crosswalk and the proposal for a rainbow sidewalk? Pride San Antonio joins "The Source" to explain the politics of expressions of inclusion.

    Kate Rogers and the Alamo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2026 49:20


    Kathy Rogers is the former executive director of the Alamo Trust. She resigned in late 2025 under pressure from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Rogers advocated for a broader historical story of the Alamo. Now she is fighting back with a lawsuit claiming First Amendment violations to reclaim her job.

    The rising cost of health care

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 49:54


    The rising cost of health care is among Americans' biggest worries, according to recent year-end polls. Insurance coverage for prescription drugs has been decreasing as their prices have been increasing. Texas is the hardest hit state for the uninsured.

    U.S. raid captures Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, igniting legal and political fight over war powers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 50:31


    Venezuela's government and several international voices have denounced the U.S. strike as an unlawful act of aggression and a dangerous precedent for unilateral regime changing operations.

    A preview of the big political fights of 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2026 50:05


    2025 was an action-packed year when it came to local politics — with a new mayor, city council members and the debate on Project Marvel. And 2026 is already shaping up to be even bigger with political primaries for Bexar County judge, district attorney, congressional races and more.

    How William F. Buckley's conservative revolution conquered America

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2026 50:07


    It could be said that conservatism has conquered America — and that is due in no small part to William F. Buckley Jr. The conservative influencer launched a revolution against American liberalism. He was in favor of the war in Vietnam, against civil rights and pro-segregation. Yet Buckley charmed his way through political arguments as he lit the fuse of the conservative revolution.

    Teen idols, girl groups and JFK: Early '60s rock & roll

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 49:53


    There's a belief that after the death of Buddy Holly rock & roll lost its way until the arrival of the Beatles. Early '60s rock was still growing in popularity, but the airwaves were ruled by teen idols, girl groups and novelty songs. However, that's not the full story. Richard Aquila is the author of Rock & Roll in Kennedy's America: A Cultural History of the Early 1960s.

    Let's party like Disco never died

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 49:53


    Born on the dance floor in the 1970s amidst the shadow of post-Nixon America and a bruising recession, Disco offered an escape from American disillusionment and economic hardship. Disco celebrated inclusivity, hedonism, and liberation. When it became a commercial success, it became a cultural force that may have seemed vacant and superficial, but there was a deeper cultural significance. David Hamsley writes about that in his book To Disco, with Love: The Records That Defined an Era.

    Why glam rock still bangs the gong

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 49:32


    Glam rock was a musical movement that originated in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s. It was characterized by its flamboyant style, which included glitter, platform shoes, and outrageous clothing and makeup. In a music-packed interview, Simon Reynolds, author of "Shock and Awe: The Legacy of Glam Rock," explains the rise of glam.

    In timeless dreams, Roy Orbison still sings

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2025 49:53


    Roy Orbison was a West Texas boy with an operatic voice. He was drawn to the guitar at age six. His monumental global career successes were matched by extraordinary personal tragedies. Jeff Slate is the co-author of the book The Authorized Roy Orbison.

    How will the deer survive?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2025 48:59


    Here in Texas you are probably used to seeing and even interacting with white-tailed deer. They stride into gardens and could end up on the side of a road after an unfortunate vehicle collision. We have a long and complicated relationship with deer. They are part of our myths and evolution. In the new book “The Age of Deer” author Erika Howsare hunts for the tales about deer.

    How E. Jean Carroll took on President Trump and won

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2025 49:55


    E. Jean Carroll, the longtime advice columnist, successfully sued Donald Trump for sexual abuse and defamation. She joined 'The Source' to discuss her memoir, Not My Type: One Woman Against a President.

    After ICE detains: What happened to Carmen Herrera

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2025 50:26


    Earlier this summer Carmen Herrera was detained by ICE outside of San Antonio's immigration court. She's a mother of five girls who are all U.S. citizens and she is also married to a U.S. citizen. After she was detained, Herrera's nightmare began—and it's a story shared by many in our community. Herrera's story is told in a new documentary.

    Nursing no longer considered a professional degree by Trump administration

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 25:46


    The Trump administration is facing growing pushback after the U.S. Department of Education excluded nursing from its internal list of “professional degree” programs—an administrative definition that determines how much federal student loan funding graduate students can access under a new loan-cap framework.

    The fight over the ACA subsidies

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 25:07


    In less than a month, more than 20 million Americans will face surging healthcare costs as tax credits through the Affordable Care Act are set to expire if Congress doesn't act. Premium hikes will top 90% in many rural areas. Even those NOT receiving tax credits will feel it. Americans covered by employer healthcare plans, are expected to see the largest increase in premiums 15 years.

    FRONTLINE: Iran's nuclear program after the US bombing

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 19:54


    U.S. forces carried out pre-dawn strikes on June 22, 2025, against three major Iranian nuclear facilities marking Washington's most direct military action on Iranian territory in decades. FRONTLINE investigates how effective the bombing was and the state of Iran's nuclear program.

    Recognizing childhood trauma's impact on adult lives

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 19:37


    Childhood trauma is the number one cause of drug addiction, suicide and incarceration. What is the lasting impact of childhood trauma? How do early experiences—even experiences had as infants—shape adults? And how is it possible to recognize that damage—to help people heal? We'll hear from Michael J. Menard author of "Greater Than Gravity: How Childhood Trauma is Pulling Down Humanity."

    The degree debate: The crisis on college campuses

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 50:29


    Higher education is in crisis. American colleges and universities face declining enrollment and rising costs. Campuses have become ground zero for the culture war, sparking debates about diversity, equity, and inclusion and free speech.What is the value of higher education today, and how can college leaders respond to the crises and controversies on their campuses?

    How loneliness kills

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2025 50:24


    Headlines have made clear that we are in a crisis of loneliness, but the conversation has yet to explore how social isolation impacts the body and mind on a cellular level. We are animals that need community and unity. We hear a neuroscientist's guide to boosting your brain health by living a more connected life.

    Joan Crawford: Whatever happened to Baby LeSueur?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 50:04


    Joan Crawford was one of the grande dames of Hollywood's classic era. But before she was an Oscar-winning star, she was Lucille LeSueur—born in a shack in San Antonio. How did Crawford work her way to the top of the studio system and make some of the great films of American cinema?

    CPS Energy answers your questions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 50:33


    How is CPS Energy getting ready to respond to the energy needs of the community moving into the future? Massive data centers are moving into the area. Household affordability for energy remains an issue. Tapping into green renewable power is yet another concern. And getting ready for the worst weather of the winter remains a worry. We're joined by CPS President & CEO, Rudy Garza.

    A look at Texas politics now that the primaries are set

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 25:28


    As Texas' Dec. 8 candidate filing deadlines have now passed, the ballot is set for the March 3 primaries that will shape the 2026 elections. We hear from Quorum Report editor Scott Braddock.

    Venezuelans in the United States struggle during Trump's mass deportation

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 26:20


    The story of one Venezuelan family trying to stay together — and stay documented — as they navigate the shifting legal immigration landscape under the Trump administration. PBS's FRONTLINE takes viewers inside the experiences of Venezuelan immigrants in the United States

    Mayor Jones pushes proposal to shift city elections to November

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2025 25:11


    San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is urging City Council to move the city's municipal elections from their traditional Saturday in May to the November general election date.

    Should America be a force for good in the world?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2025 26:20


    It's frequently been noted that the United States is the lone superpower in the world. But in the age of Trump and 'America First,' what does it mean for the U.S. to exit the world stage as a force for democracy, human rights and economic globalism? This creates a vacuum for China to fill but also increases suffering in many parts of the world. The Case for American Power, defends the necessity of U.S. global leadership.

    Myths of December 7: Author says Pearl Harbor was Japan's blunder

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 25:07


    In this the first comprehensive treatment of Pearl Harbor since the early 1990s, respected Pacific War naval historian Mark E. Stille traces the road to war and the Japanese attack itself. Stille challenges the conventional narrative that Japan's sneak attack was brilliantly planned and well executed.

    Texas teen's suicide sparks alarms over AI chatbots

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 26:12


    A young Texan recently committed suicide after allegedly being encouraged to end his own life by an AI chat bot. Public safety advocates are calling for restrictions and common-sense AI safeguards on chatbots as this technology is being embraced by more and more people.

    New Texas Law Targets Abortion Pills as HB 7 Takes Effect

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 25:22


    Texas' massive new abortion law, HB7, is taking effect this week. This law is the most ambitious effort yet from abortion opponents to halt telehealth abortions, which have helped patients get around strict bans in Texas and other states after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

    Prop 4 passed but is it enough to meet the state's future water needs?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 25:41


    Texas Voters just overwhelmingly approved $20 billion to be spent on improving the state's water supply, infrastructure and education over the next 20 years. But that funding is just the beginning — and it will only go so far in addressing a crisis that threatens the future of Texas, a state where the powers that be will not acknowledge the effects of climate change.

    Searching for the headache cure

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 50:09


    For many chronic migraines and brutal “cluster” headaches are inescapable. The new book The Headache looks for answers about why so many suffer from the jackhammer pounding attacks on the brain. From cutting-edge clinics to experimental treatments, we hear about the search for relief.

    Big tech's big spending in politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2025 25:04


    Humanity has never seen anything like artificial intelligence. This new transformation technology is already changing the economy, And as Big Tech pushes for Super AI there are many calling for government oversight, regulation and protections for workers and the environment. But Big Tech is also spending big on politics to lobby so that its growth will remain unchecked.

    What's next after the passage of Props A and B?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2025 25:51


    What can we expect now that Props A and B have passed with voter approval?

    Miles and miles of Texas for hiking adventures

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 50:09


    As the fall weather begins to cool, this is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors of Texas. The state has an abundance of hiking options to choose from. Regions covered include the Panhandle Plains, prairies and lakes, Piney Woods, Gulf Coast, South Texas Plains, Hill Country, and Big Bend. What makes Texas hiking unique? What dangers and challenges should hikers be prepared for? And which hikes best capture the spirit of Texas?

    PBS FRONTLINE: Ecuador's descent into drug-fueled conflict

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 25:09


    A new FRONTLINE documentary examines Ecuador's rapid descent from one of South America's most peaceful nations into a country gripped by violent conflict driven by the international drug trade.

    Early detection key as stomach cancer rates remain high among Latinos

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2025 25:13


    Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. The impact of stomach cancer is disproportionate in South Texas, where Hispanic populations face higher incidence and earlier onset. Stomach cancer is difficult to detect early, when it's most treatable.

    Mayor Jones demands answers after fed raid

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2025 24:46


    After a high-profile multi-agency raid on a food truck court in San Antonio, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is calling for transparency and accountability for the Homeland Security agencies involved.

    Rising U.S.–Venezuela tensions spark fears of war

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2025 25:47


    U.S. warships are patrolling off the coast of Venezuela. The stated purpose is to target drug-trafficking vessels and so-called “narco-terrorists.” President Trump has authorized the CIA to conduct lethal covert operations there. According to Venezuela's government, these are acts of aggression — and could be a prelude to war. What would happen if the U.S. invaded Venezuela?

    What's next for the Texas gerrymander

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2025 25:29


    The Republican party's effort to gerrymander Texas to give them five additional seats in Congress took a blow this week when a federal court threw out their map. A federal judge said there was substantial evidence that the map was drawn to hurt minority voters. Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would appeal.

    FRONTLINE: Elon Musk and the rise of Germany's new right

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2025 26:10


    Elon Musk's outspoken support for Germany's far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) has intensified concerns among German officials and democracy advocates, and it features prominently in a new PBS FRONTLINE investigation into the rise of nationalist politics across Europe.

    San Antonio weighs new rules as data centers surge

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2025 25:03


    Like many parts of Texas, San Antonio is seeing a surge in the number of data centers being built in the area. These are computer warehouses used for servers, crypto mining and AI. They require a lot of electric power and water to operate. District 6 council member Ric Galvan is calling for checking in on the exponential growth of data centers in the region.

    PBS Frontline probes the shifting realities of the Ukraine War

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2025 25:58


    PBS's Frontline returns this week with a new in-depth documentary examining the evolving course of the war in Ukraine, offering viewers a granular look at a conflict now nearing its fourth year.

    The roots of the rural-urban political divide

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2025 49:36


    The vast political divide in America has largely become a battle between folks who live in the cities and those who don't. This was not always the case. Somehow rural voters have almost uniformly become Republican voters. How did the divide emerge and why does it pose a threat to democracy?

    The patriotic duty to dissent

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2025 50:23


    When the No Kings protests recently took place on streets across the nation, Trump administration officials said these were quote "hate America" rallies. But in fact, these were patriots using their constitutional right to dissent and voice their opposition to government policies — a practice that has been part of America since the founding.

    Holy Guacamole! How avocados became an $18 billion industry

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2025 49:28


    How did the Avocado become the toast of the nation? The humble tropical fruit is now common in supermarkets, but even in the 1980s many Americans had never seen an avocado, much less tasted one. How did this once obscure alligator pear come to occupy a central spot in American culture?

    Texas hemp industry faces new possible ban

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2025 25:20


    The federal spending bill aimed at ending the ongoing government shutdown could also wipe out the nation's hemp-derived THC industry, including products that have become popular and widespread across Texas.

    Report warns of harms to Black history and opportunity by the Trump administration

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2025 24:36


    Since Donald Trump has returned to the presidency there has been a steady stream of government assisted harms focused on America's black communities. That's the finding of "The Blackout Report." According to the new report Black progress is at risk, as is Black history. The report identifies over 15,000 instances or actions that erase, distort or suppress Black history and opportunity.

    The people deficit—What happens when depopulation becomes a crisis?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2025 49:38


    Around the world many nations are facing a full-blown depopulation crisis. In the U.S. birth rates have steadily declined and the U.S. fertility rate is now well below replacement level. Some parts of the country are already experiencing population loss, aging demographics, and labor shortages. What needs to happen to change the population decline before it's too late?

    Rep. Castro on federal government shutdown woes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2025 25:34


    SNAP payments are disrupted, the government shutdown continues, air travel is chaos. Congressman Joaquin Castro joins us to give us an update. The San Antonio Democrat explains why this is all happening and he will take your calls and answer your questions.

    Mayor Jones on Project Marvel next steps

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2025 24:53


    With the passage of Prop B, San Antonio Mayor Jones pledged to ensure a new Spurs arena and the assurance that, more broadly, Project Marvel will deliver real benefits for San Antonians. Meanwhile Jones is working to address the immediate hunger needs as SNAP continues to be disrupted.

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