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.

The anti-hunger program Meals on Wheels San Antonio is facing a growing number of challenges. The need for its services continues to grow with inflation driving up the cost of food and government cuts to SNAP, while federal funding is also being slashed.

Opponents of Proposition B have filed an ethics complaint alleging that several members of the San Antonio City Council used their town hall events to advocate for the measure rather than providing an even-handed forum. We'll get a response on the controversy from San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones.

As Bexar County voters cast their ballots for Props A and B, COPS/Metro is the leading voice against Prop B—the venue tax hike for a new spurs arena. They say the deal prioritizes private profit over community needs. Supporters of Prop B say it's needed to keep the Spurs in San Antonio. We'll hear from COPS/Metro about their campaign.

When you take a look around America and see the growing wealth gap, a housing shortage, generational poverty, regional disparities, the end of upward mobility, you realize these problems and others like them are all connected to the U.S. tax code. These problems didn't happen by accident. They are the result of a fundamentally tilted tax system that favors the wealthy and punishes the middle class.

If approved, Proposition 4 would generate $20 billion dedicated to state water projects over the next twenty years and up to $1B of sales tax revenue going into the Texas Water Fund every year starting in 2027.

Texas rural hospitals are in a struggle to stay open.In the last decade, 14 rural hospitals have closed down. Of the 156 rural hospitals currently in the state, about 70% have lost services, and more than half are at risk of closing. Federal cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Affordable Care Act coverage are expected to significantly increase the uninsured rate in Texas and could cause more rural hospitals to shutter. What's being done to keep these vital lifelines open?

Opposition continues to mount against Guajolote Ranch, a proposed residential development on approximately 1,100 acres in northwest Bexar County west of the intersection of Scenic Loop Road and Babcock Road.

He's the most well known Kennedy in America today and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. How Robert F. Kennedy Jr grew up a scion to a political legacy, became a former heroin addict, then a vaccine sceptic and the leader of the Make America Healthy Again movement. A PBS Frontline documentary tells the story.

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?

From drought and extreme heat to floods and freezes, gardening in Texas can be a challenge. However, with some helpful tips some Texas gardeners can cultivate spaces that are productive, resilient, and beautiful.By choosing hardy plants, water-saving native lawns, and other strategies, they're creating dynamic, thriving gardens. What are the practical practices that tame the Texas climate?

Your right to read is being infringed upon, and librarians have become the first responders in the fight for democracy and First Amendment rights. Texas has become ground zero as sweeping book bans are adopted at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians are being threatened with violence, harassed and accused of crimes. A new documentary, “The Librarians,” shows who is standing up for basic rights.

As Bexar County voters prepare to cast ballots on a possible venue tax increase for a proposed downtown home for The Spurs, SA Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones takes listeners' questions.

On Nov. 4, Texans will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, the largest batch since 2003. The measures span a wide range of issues: property tax relief, judicial reforms, funding for education and water, parental rights, and stricter voting eligibility rules. Proposition 16 is labeled “Voting for Citizens Only.”

Christopher Columbus used to be considered a hero for "discovering America" But did he? Columbus has now become a more controversial figure. Five years ago San Antonio took down its Columbus statue. A new biography of Columbus takes a fresh look at the explorer – his life and afterlife – how our understanding of the man has changed.

Proposition A on the November 4th ballot is asking Bexar County Voters to approve an increase to the hotel occupancy tax to generate just under $200 million to revitalize the Bexar County rodeo / coliseum / expo grounds on the East Side. The proposal is to turn the area into a year-round destination for rodeo, livestock, exhibitions, conventions and other uses.

San Antonio and Austin are growing day by day—and growing closer to each other. One day they will form one massive combo loco metro. But can the two cities and the communities in between work with each other now to develop healthy development that will maximize the benefits and minimize the problems of this mega region metropolis? Former HUD secretary Henry Cisneros joins us to discuss this on "The Source."

More than a decade ago, in the Emmy-nominated documentary, "Poor Kids," the acclaimed PBS series FRONTLINE explored poverty in America as it's rarely seen: through the eyes of children. Filmed across 14 years, “Born Poor” premieres Tuesday, October 7, on PBS stations.

“Business can be a force for good." That's the view of Daniel Lubetzky, best known as the founder of KIND Snacks, a star on "Shark Tank," philanthropist and the author of the book, "Do the Kind Thing: Think Boundlessly, Work Purposefully, Live Passionately," which lays out his philosophy of combining business, kindness, and social impact. Lubetzky will be the keynote speaker for San Antonio Startup Week.

Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai joins "The Source" to discuss the coming vote on the proposed new downtown Spurs arena and revitalizing the rodeo grounds.

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has completed her first 100 days in office, which is an informal, early benchmark of leadership, priorities, and political effectiveness. These first few months of tenure often reveal both strengths and vulnerabilities, demonstrates the style of leadership and signals what to expect for the rest of their term.

About half a million Texans are living with Alzheimer's disease. Another million Texans serve as unpaid caregivers, managing the daily needs for loved ones. This November, Texas voters will consider Proposition 14, which would direct $3 billion over 10 years to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. If approved, it would be the largest state-funded Alzheimer's and dementia research program in the nation.

"Dodgers to Damascus," by Catherine Nixon Cooke, documents David Lesch's work in Syria and the Middle East, a part of the world plagued by conflict, power struggles, and warfare. It offers a firsthand glimpse inside modern Syria, its neighboring countries, and their connections to the rest of the world.

We think of the surrender of Robert E. Lee as the end of the Civil War, but the end really wasn't clear at the time. The Galveston News reported Lee's surrender as a positive development for the Confederacy and encouraged Texans to fight on. How did Lincoln's peace take hold? How did a divided nation come together? Michael Vorenberg's new book is Lincoln's Peace: The Struggle to End the American Civil War.

Many of us tend to take our muscles for granted. They are the unsung heroes of our bodies. They are the stuff that moves us and keeps us healthy. But as we age, how much can we rely on our muscles? What are the secrets of our muscles? Journalist and author Bonnie Tsui takes a deep dive into the science, history, and personal narratives that shape our understanding of muscle in her book, On Muscle: The Stuff that Moves Us and Why it Matters.

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.

A first of its kind study challenges the conventional thinking about the onset of Type 2 diabetes and identifies the signs of risks before pre-diabetes. Called "pre-prediabetes," it zeroes in on people with insulin resistance and shows that diabetes is a continuous disease that demands early detection and intervention through lifestyle changes.

The American Lung Association's 2025 “State of the Air” report finds that the San Antonio metro area is one of the worst regions for air quality. There are rising concerns about asthma, allergies and chronic respiratory illness. What are the sources for local air pollution and is stronger EPA action necessary to help everyone breathe a little easier.

Free speech is the cornerstone of American democracy. That's why it's in the First Amendment. But today, it's under pressure from every direction. From the White House to college campuses to late night TV, the battle is on over who gets to speak — and who gets silenced. What happens when Americans are afraid to speak out?

New York Times bestselling author and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins "The Source." He brings a bold, clear-eyed look at how the autocracies of China and Russia are challenging the current global order, and how America's future depends on successfully confronting these threats.

After the Texas Legislature failed in the special session to pass a bill to restrict minors' access to THC products, Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order putting these limits in place. But what is Abbott calling for? And how soon will they go into effect? Is this going to be enough to keep THC out of the hands of teens in Texas?

We love our cars, but do we understand how much they are costing us? The lifetime cost of driving in the U.S. is estimated at almost $800,000—including maintenance, insurance, fuel, parking, and depreciation. And then there's the cost in lives. Cars have killed 60 to 80 million people since their invention—that's more than the deaths of WWI and WWII combined. Is there a better way?

How do we deal with deep loss and grief? For local author and poet Cyra Sweet Dumitru, it was journaling and writing poetry that helped find a way to recovery.The author joins us with the Children's Bereavement Center to discuss her time as a volunteer at the center and how that helped her heal from a very personal death loss in her life.

Hannah Arendt came of age in Germany as Hitler rose to power, before escaping to the United States as a Jewish refugee. Arendt's time as a political prisoner, refugee and survivor in Europe informed her groundbreaking insights into the human condition, the refugee crisis and totalitarianism. A PBS documentary” Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny” takes a closer look at one of the most fearless political writers of modern times who still inspires us today.

Texas lawmakers approved legislation, House Bill 7, allowing private citizens to sue manufacturers, distributors, and providers of abortion-inducing drugs, including mail-order pills, for at least $100,000 in damages. The bill aims to restrict access to medication abortion by creating a private right of action and has been described as a potential model for other states seeking to curb abortion access.

Ric Galvan, the youngest member of the San Antonio City Council representing District 6, is currently 25 years old. The unabashed progressive from the city's West Side has become a dependable ally for Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones as he questions the benefits of Project Marvel and prevent cuts to social services in a tightening city budget.

Texas is now making it easier for parents to exempt their children from school vaccination requirements. This comes just after the state saw the worst measles outbreak in a generation that took the lives of two children. Meanwhile Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is limiting eligibility for the covid vaccine—just as the virus is spreading once again.

It was a time when Americans were afraid to speak out. A swirling political and cultural hysteria was part of life. Anyone who questioned American policy was targeted and ruined. Books were taken from libraries. School teachers were being scrutinized. It was the Red Scare. In post-World War II America being called a communist was a serious charge. America was willing to abandon freedoms because of alleged conspiracies. Clay Risen joins us to discuss his new book "Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America."

In Houston, from 1970 to 1973, Dean Arnold Corll raped, tortured and murdered a minimum of twenty-eight teenage boys. He was known as the Candy Man. The full story has never been told until now. Investigative reporter Lise Olsen has uncovered new information about the killer and his victims. Her new book is The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston's Lost Boys.

We think of the surrender of Robert E. Lee as the end of the Civil War, but the end really wasn't clear at the time. The Galveston News reported Lee's surrender as a positive development for the Confederacy and encouraged Texans to fight on. How did Lincoln's peace take hold? How did a divided nation come together? Michael Vorenberg's new book is Lincoln's Peace: The Struggle to End the American Civil War.

The Amazon rainforest is known as the “lungs of planet Earth,” but what happens when deforestation in Brazil continues? One journalist tried to alert the world to this coming crisis. Dom Phillips was writing the book “How to Save The Amazon” when he was murdered. His colleagues refused to let Phillips' work die—and they completed his book.

After President Trump ordered Texas to immediately redistrict its congressional map to deliver five additional Republican congressional seats, California Democrats responded with their own redistricting scheme. How does gerrymandering work? Why is this allowed? What does this mean for a viable democracy?

Electricity costs have risen 5.5% in the past year, nearly double the national inflation rate. And they are projected to continue to climb. According to a new study, one driver of higher power bills is how the public is subsidizing the energy bills of some of the largest Tech companies in the world. Meanwhile cheap renewable energy (like solar and wind) is being outlawed by the Trump administration.

The race is on to get humans to Mars. But what will they find? Not little green men, despite that's what many believed about the red planet. In the early 1900s it was thought that Mars was inhabited and was home to a utopian society in the grip of a planet-wide drought. How did Mars mania grip the nation, influence pop culture and give us cause to stare into the night sky and wonder?

Last summer, 273 people were killed, and 596 were seriously injured in DUI-alcohol related crashes in Texas. And there were 327 DUI-alcohol related traffic crashes over Labor Day weekend in Texas in 2024, causing 10 deaths and 36 serious injuries. Texas law enforcement agencies this week are launching “Drive Sober, No Regrets,” a campaign to keep drivers from getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones joins "The Source" to discuss whether the city should have its own referendum to commit public funds to Project Marvel, a proposed downtown development that would include a new home for the San Antonio Spurs.

As a new academic year begins for Texas schools, one major change is coming: House Bill 1481, which takes effect this fall. It aims to create phone-free classrooms across the state. The legislation is designed to protect students from digital distractions and online harm. Maurine Molak of David's Legacy Foundation has been a driving force behind the new law.

The Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas in San Antonio has a team in the area impacted by the flooding along the upper Guadalupe River. They have been serving dozens of families dealing with the devastating loss of kids following flooding disaster in Kerrville and surrounding areas.

California Democratic lawmakers are moving forward with a plan to redistrict the Golden State in a move to counter the Texas Republican redistricting effort.

Former County Judge and former San Antonio Mayor Nelson Wolff explains his support for Project Marvel. Wolff is encouraging the San Antonio City Council to move forward with an agreement with the Spurs organization.

The organ transplant is a modern medical miracle that saves lives, but it is losing critical public confidence. Now Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is calling for reforms.