Academic freedom in higher ed (Feb. 12, 2026)

On Thursday's show: Last week, the dean of the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences asked faculty he oversees to sign a document attesting they are not "indoctrinating" their students but are instead teaching them to think critically. One of those professors, Robert Zaretzky, responded with an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle saying he will not sign the document. He joins us to explain why.

Also this hour: Houston’s diversity shows up everywhere, including in foster care. We discuss how families navigate caregiving of children from different cultural backgrounds.

Then, we visit this year’s ongoing Mardi Gras celebrations in Galveston to learn how they’re different from what happens in New Orleans.

And, ahead of the Chinese New Year, which begins Feb. 17, we learn more about Chinese Americans’ cultural and economic impacts here in Houston. And we talk about some of the Chinese constellations in the night sky with an area astronomer.

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