As I write you, we have just gotten off the line with Todd Gilman of The Dallas Morning News who shared a rather unique perspective on the historic events of this day. And by "perspective," I mean that quite literally: Todd was almost having to shout over the strains of the United States Marine Band about 200 feet away from him on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. There, only days ago, a mob had been scrambling to get inside – an act that in so many ways set the stage for the unusually high level of security keeping the many thousands of everyday Americans and other well-wishers away. As he described the scene for us, I couldn't help but think of what this meant for what is usually considered the most critical period of any new presidency: the first 100 days. As we watch events unfolding from a distance, the expectations (and promises) are many. On a range of matters from the environment and energy to immigration and how best to deal with a health-care emergency, the stakes for Texas and Texans are especially high. And there are already signs that there will be political tensions between Republican-led Texas and the Biden administration. We hope you'll take some time to listen to our Inauguration Day special report (see Executive Producer Rhonda Fanning's message below). Also, I'd encourage you to take special note of a pair of stories we've included in our newsletter this week: one produced by our own Joy Díaz on what we can learn from an earlier Capitol attack of more than 60 years ago; and a thought-provoking commentary by UT professor Peniel Joseph on Martin Luther King Jr.'s continued impact on our national conversation. Until next Wednesday, we'll see you on the radio.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Analysis: Is The Texas Capitol A Government Building Or A Petri Dish?

Listen to our conversation with The Texas Tribune's Ross Ramsey on the COVID-19 scare at the Capitol, and what's being done about it.

If COVID-19 Leads To Rationing Care, New Rules Protect Texans With Disabilities

Civil rights groups have been working throughout the coronavirus pandemic to make sure Texans with disabilities are still able to safely and lawfully get the care they need.

Commentary: We Ignore Martin Luther King Jr.’s Lessons At Our Own Peril

The Jan. 6 insurrection, which included the striking image of a rioter holding a Confederate flag in the Capitol, echoed the violent opposition King faced in his own time.

What We Can Learn From The 1954 Capitol Attack By Puerto Rican Nationalists

The group’s self-proclaimed leader, Lolita Lebrón, was prepared to die for Puerto Rico’s independence. She survived, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

• One-Third Of COVID-19 Deaths In Texas Are Due To Racial Health Disparities (KERA)
• At Least 10 Texans Charged In Wake Of US Capitol Siege (Houston Public Media)
• Border Activists Cautiously Await Biden’s Full Plan For Border Wall (TPR)

• Fort Bliss Commanding General Orders Investigation Of Missing Soldier's Unit (KTEP)

Depending on what time "Texas Standard Time" is for you, there’s a good chance you won’t hear us today. That's because the nation's eyes will rightly be focused on something else: a presidential inauguration unlike any of those that came before it. That doesn’t mean we’re not producing a show today. You can still stream the broadcast, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Part of my job as executive producer is adapting to the demands of a quickly changing news cycle. Though we always try to be as prepared as possible for the next day's show, we also have to be able to turn on a dime when necessary. Just two weeks ago, we completely scrapped our plans when thousands of pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol. The show we planned earlier that day for Jan. 7 was no longer relevant. The night of the insurrection at the Capitol became an all hands-on deck event. Reporters and producers got online to share ideas, rethink segments, coordinate guests and rewrite scripts. Our goal was to answer any questions we anticipated our listeners would have the day after such an event. The show we put together that night focused on Congress finalizing the Electoral College vote, legal analysis of possible charges for rioters, how the insurrection was viewed from overseas, why language matters, the history of " white riot," what this all means for national security and we ended the show with a presidential historian who looked ahead to the Biden administration. None of this would be possible without the talented staff we have at Texas Standard. I’m honored and proud to work with them every day. I’m also grateful for our listeners who trust us with delivering news that matters to them each weekday. We’ll be keeping one ear to the events surrounding the inauguration so that we'll be ready to bring you a show on the first full day of the Biden-Harris administration.

- Rhonda Fanning
@RhondaFanning

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