Indo American News Radio Houston TX · Indo American News Radio

IAN Unplugged 2605 013126 On Hey Wassup Jay, Sanchali & Sridhar Kotha talk with former Houston Mayor Annise Parker about her campaign to become HC Commissioners Court Judge

February 3, 2026·56 min·4 clips

Parker criticizes the lack of warning during Harvey's dam releases and pledges countywide flood project dashboards.

The jingle brings everyone into the hour. Jawahar and Sanchali move from the Masala 98.7 FM reminder to Sridhar Kota's return after a long gap, and the welcome feels loose in the way local radio often does. Before the politics starts, Sanchali's colorful dress sends them into Saraswati Puja, weather delays, freeze warnings, and a quick joke about AI Saraswati. It is a detour, but not a throwaway one. It gives the segment its pace: people checking context, teasing a little, and treating community notes as part of the conversation. Then Ms. Parker takes the floor. Her clearest section is about why a Texas county judge is not just another mayor, even if both jobs sound powerful to the public. Parker says Houston's mayor works more like the city's CEO, with strong direct authority over city operations. County judge is a different job. It is closer to chairing commissioners' court and working with four county commissioners instead of running the whole thing solo. Emergencies change that. In a natural disaster, Parker says, the county judge has the county's emergency management authority. The example gets sharp. She brings up central Texas flooding in Kerr County and says the county judge was asleep during the emergency. Houston's own storm memory is never far away. Sridhar ties the question to Harvey and the prior two hurricanes, saying he lives in Maryland now but was affected and remembers Houston coming together. The talk stays practical. Where do pods go? When do resources move? Does the county shut down? Who calls for evacuation? The close slips back into errands and radio timing. Sridhar has a car situation and leaves before the end, the hosts thank him, and the show resets after a short break.

As heard by us

A local politics interview that makes county power feel immediate and concrete.

The episode opens with Houston chatter and then settles into a grounded conversation with Ms. Parker about county government and the county judge role.

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Why you'd press play

Hear an Indo-American News Radio chat about Houston county power, emergency response, and Harvey.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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