This Week In Oklahoma Politics

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the governor and legislative leaders approving $7M from the state's emergency fund for food banks amid SNAP cuts and the federal shutdown, calls growing for a special session to provide even more food assistance funding and the state Department of Human Services furloughing employees as the shutdown reaches historic levels.Signature gathering begins for State Question 836 to open primaries to all voters regardless of party and a state lawmaker calling for the investigation of a former Department of Corrections director who worked out a deal with an artificial intelligence company and then to a job with the same company.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cros talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt's Operation: SAFE to move people out of homeless encampments expanding to OKC, new State Superintendent Lindel Fields continue to dismantle initiatives from his predecessor and the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit against former State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Department or Education.The trio also discusses an interim study on sports betting in Oklahoma and nearly 300 new laws taking effect on Saturday.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about moves by new State Superintendent Lindel Fields to undo initiatives championed by his predecessor, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission files a lawsuit against Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Ajay Pittman and state lawmakers investigating the use of automated license plate readers.The trio also discusses the "No Kings" rallies held in Oklahoma and OKC joining the city of Los Angeles in recognizing 1,000 days until the 2028 Summer Olympics.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt opposing President Trump's use of Texas National Guard troops in American cities like Chicago and Portland, the State Supreme Court striking down a law creating business courts championed by Governor Stitt and five Republicans and one Democrat file for State House seat vacated by Ty Burns.The trio also discusses the start of signature gathering for State Question 836 to open primaries for all candidates regardless of party affiliation and a new report shows the reason for the longevity of tolls on Oklahoma turnpikes. 

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about new State Superintendent Lindel Fields taking over the Department of Education, former State Superintendent Ryan Walters facing an investigation from the Ethics Commission and Governor Stitt making other changes to education in Oklahoma.The trio also the state entering into a $100M contract with a private prison group to house undocumented migrants and OKC voters deciding on a $2.7B bond.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the official resignation of Ryan Walters as state superintendent, a democratic lawmaker calling for an investigation of Walters over his association with Teachers' Freedom Alliance and a crackdown on illegal immigration by the Highway Patrol on I-40 in western Oklahoma.The trio also discusses a report showing the fiscal impact on the state if local communities remove fluoride from their water supplies and the City of Lawton using artificial intelligence on recommendations to deal with homelessness.

NPR journalist and host Mary Louise Kelly recently launched a national security podcast, Sources & Methods, where she discusses the biggest national security news of the week with NPR correspondents.In this bonus podcast, KOSU's Michael Cross visits with her about the new podcast and previews her upcoming visit to Oklahoma City on Nov. 4.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the announcement by State Superintendent Ryan Walters that he's quitting as the top education official in Oklahoma.The trio also discusses the Ethics Commission ordering the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission to dissolve over campaign violations along with its president facing cockfighting attendance charges, state officials pushing the FCC to allow for cellphone jamming technology in jails and prisons and the District Attorneys' Council asking lawmakers for an extra $500,000 for a unit to handle death penalty cases.

Oklahoma’s State Superintendent Ryan Walters is declaring every high school in the state will have a Turning Point USA chapter in the wake of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. But it’s unclear what impact his declaration will have.The conservative youth group is seeing a surge in popularity following the assassination of its founder.In an announcement sent to parents, Walters said Oklahoma high schools need to get with the trend. Although a new chapter requires local student and faculty buy-in and action, Walters is declaring that all Oklahoma high schools — public, private, and even homeschool settings — must have a chapter.“This is a battle for the future of the country,” Walters said in a Zoom interview in the hours following his declaration.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the State Supreme Court clearing the way for an initiative petition to change primary elections in Oklahoma, the high court also putting a hold on controversial social studies standards and Superintendent Ryan Walters threatening the teaching licenses of educators who comment on the death of Charlie Kirk.The trio also discusses a special election to replace Representative Ty Burns who resigned amid allegations of domestic violence and Attorney General Gentner Drummond releases a legal opinion on obscene material in drag shows.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former Democratic House Minority Leader Emily Virgin about the governor's crackdown on homeless encampments in Tulsa, Attorney General Gentner Drummond taking issue with the resignation of the head of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and Stitt-appointed members of the State Board of Education calling a special meeting in defiance of Superintendent Ryan Walters.The trio also discusses a call by Walters to expand a Prager-U backed "America First" test to all out of state teachers and a Democratic state lawmaker calls for an AG's opinion on the legality of a new governor's mansion.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the resignation of a state lawmaker who pleaded guilty to domestic abuse and other charges, a federal judge blocking in-state tuition for undocumented worker and the attorney general saying the Highway Patrol must keep troopers in metropolitan areas.The trio also discusses a special meeting of the State Board of Education and the Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission approves plans for a new governor's mansion.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with StateImpact health reporter Jillian Taylor about the rising number of parents choosing to not vaccinate their children as schools get ready to accept students back into classrooms.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with State Capitol reporter Lionel Ramos about how local law enforcement in the state is approaching the task of implementing federal immigration laws.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with mental health and addiction reporter Sierra Pfeifer about how some inmates who need mental health treatment are languishing in jail as they wait for a hearing on their mental competency to stand trial.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with KOSU News Director Robby Korth about a situation over the past week where State Board of Education members claimed to have seen nude women on a television in the office of Superintendent Ryan Walters while they were in executive session. Walters then called the board members "liars" and demanded their removal from the board.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Indigenous Affairs reporter Sarah Liese about Westwin Elements, a nickel refinery in southern Oklahoma built on land near the Kiowa Comanche Apache Tribe. The plant was built and is currently operating despite opposition from the tribe as well as local residents.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Agriculture and Rural Issues Reporter Anna Pope about a waiver request from Oklahoma leaders to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. The waiver comes as the federal government is also seeking changes to the food program. 

Despite a valiant effort by KOSU listeners and public media supporters nationwide, Congress has voted to rescind $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.This money had already been promised and budgeted for at KOSU and public media stations across the country. Losing it is devastating, and one NPR estimate shows that roughly 18% of the country’s public radio stations will close imminently, and nearly a third of listeners would lose access to NPR programming.The rescission package is expected to be signed by President Trump soon, as he initially requested the move from Congress.To be clear, this does not mean KOSU is going away. Thanks to you, KOSU is set up well for the future. However, this loss of foundational funding will likely result in a reduction of programming or local news without additional support.What can I do to help? Support KOSU directly by making a donation, or increasing your existing monthly or annual gift. This is the most effective thing you can do for KOSU. Support from

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with mental health and addiction reporter Sierra Pfeifer about $1B in cuts from President Trump to schools across the country to hire mental health professionals and how it will impact Oklahoma's rural districts