This Week In Oklahoma Politics

In the next few days, the U.S. Senate will consider a package that would devastate many public radio stations by clawing back two years of previously approved funding. At KOSU, it would significantly impact our ability to provide emergency alerts and Oklahoma news.You can help by calling Senator Lankford and Senator Mullin to ask them to resist the rescission because of the impact it would have on Oklahoma. Here is a sample script.Sen. James Lankford: 202-224-5754Sen. Markwayne Mullin: 202-224-4721Don't live in Oklahoma? Check this listing for your Senator's contact information.Find out more on how you can make a difference at kosu.org/cuts.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with KOSU State Capitol reporter Lionel Ramos about his story regarding 29-year-old Cesar Reyes who was deported earlier this year after a crackdown by President Trump on undocumented workers.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics is taking a break over the summer months. We will return in the first week in September. In the meantime, you can keep up to date on the latest news at KOSU.org. And make sure to follow us on Facebook, Tik Tok and Instagram. Thank you for listening to This Week in Oklahoma Politics and we’ll see you again in September.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former State House Democratic Leader Emily Virgin about a state Supreme Court ruling on House Bill 1775 to limit discussions of race and sex in schools, the state's high court justices considering oral arguments against a state question to open Oklahoma's primary elections and a new legal challenge to a 2007 law requiring a "sex offender" tag on drivers' licenses.The trio also discusses an agreement on jurisdiction between the City of Tulsa and the Muscogee Nation along with the impact of the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the NBA Championship.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the "No Kings" rally in cities across the state, an animal rights group showing leaders of the Gamefowl Commission involved in illegal cockfighting and the Oklahoma Ethics Commission moving forward with prosecution against Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Ajay Pittman.The trio also discusses the win for State Superintendent Ryan Walters' controversial social studies standards after a favorable ruling from the court and Governor Stitt signing two bills designed to keep veteran educators in the classroom.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt picking a new leader for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the state's sweeping immigration law remains on hold after a federal judge's ruling and Attorney General Gentner Drummond calls for the removal of refugees from Afghanistan.The trio also discusses the resignation of Epic Virtual Charter School's superintendent amid cuts and the Heartland Flyer looks to end service on or before October First.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Robby Korth talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the recently wrapped legislative session, the troubled state mental health agency and how Gov. Kevin Stitt and lawmakers tried to curtail the power of State Superintendent Ryan Walters.The trio also discusses Stitt's high-use of the veto pen and how state lawmakers responded, and discuss their highs and lows of the session.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt signing a bill to reduce the top income tax bracket by .25%, a legal challenge coming to a new law restricting initiative petitions and the U.S. Supreme Court blocking a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma.The trio also discusses a waiver issued by parents and advocates for students to opt-out of materials championed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters and lawmakers providing a $100,000 bonus to prosecutors who a fighting an ongoing battle over tribal sovereignty.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about a budget deal announcement from Governor Stitt and legislative leaders, new information on a review of the State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and a Senate Committee's approval of three nominations for the State Board of Education.The trio also discusses the halt of Oklahoma's controversial immigration law by a federal judge and Governor Stitt using his veto pen more this year than at any other time in his tenure.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt picking an attorney to investigate the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, new social studies standards from Superintendent Ryan Walters facing a legal challenge and the State Senate blocking a Board of Education rule requiring citizenship status of public school students.The trio also discusses new numbers showing who is taking advantage of Oklahoma's private school tax vouchers and the comments section for Governor Stitt's DOGE-OK portal not getting the results he was probably hoping for.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about more testimony from the struggling Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the U.S. Supreme Court taking up the issue of a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma and one of Gov. Kevin Stitt's four nominees to the State Board of Education failing to get a sponsor.The trio also discusses the Ethics Commission's dismissal of an investigation against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett and Texas lawmakers choose to not fund their portion of the Heartland Flyer.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about controversial social studies standards surviving a deadline at the State Capitol, Governor Stitt appointing a new person to the State Board of Education and the governor's task force on March wildfires releases its first report.The trio also discusses the final month of the 2025 state legislature as lawmakers work to craft a budget for the fiscal year starting on July First and the Oklahoma Arts Council cancels its biennial conference amid uncertainty in state and federal funding.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about State Superintendent Ryan Walters crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion and a four-hour hearing in the State House over concerns with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse ServicesThe trio also discusses Governor Stitt calling for more power over picking supreme court justices and the impact of Trump Administration tariffs on Oklahoma farmers.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt ordering a review of contractors in state agencies, the Department of Mental Health is asking for an extra $6.2M this fiscal year to continue services through June and a Woodward lawyer is taking a seat on the state Supreme Court.The trio also discusses the candidacy of House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson who becomes the first Democrat to run for governor in 2026 and the Republican Party suing to stop a state question designed to open primaries to all voters.

April 19, 2025 marks 30 years since a bomb destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. 168 people were killed — including 19 children — and hundreds more were injured. It forever shaped our community."That April Morning: The Oklahoma City Bombing" is a production of KOSU, KGOU, StateImpact Oklahoma and our partners with the Oklahoma Public Media Exchange.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt's fight against the Oklahoma Forestry Service heating up, Governor Stitt's DOGE-OK release a report calling for major shifts in policy and a mental health program in Tulsa gets funding after originally being cut by the state.The trio also discusses tribal leaders raising concerns about cuts to the federal Health and Human Services agency and a new effort has started on legalizing recreational marijuana in the state.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the State Board of Education meeting canceled over concerns of violating the Open Meetings Act, Democrats at the State Capitol filing resolutions to reject social studies standards from the SBE and Superintendent Ryan Walters suing a national watchdog group over religion in public schools.The trio also talks about Governor Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond trading jabs over religion in public schools and Stitt coming under fire for critical remarks against the former state forestry chief over recent wildfires.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former Democratic House Leader Emily Virgin about President Trump's executive order calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, State Superintendent Ryan Walters legal victory in a case regarding anti-bullying enforcement and a legal fight between the City of Tulsa and the Muscogee Nation getting two new participants: Governor Stitt and tribal freedmen.The trio also discusses the State Health Department's creation of a measles outbreak page on its website and the State Insurance Commissioner warning of increased premiums if ACA subsidies are allowed to expire at the end of the year.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former House Democratic Leader Emily Virgin about a settlement between State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Ethics Commission over his use of social media to support President Trump, Governor Stitt's support of cuts by Elon Musk and DOGE and the Trump Administration announces it is investigating the OU School of Community Medicine.The trio also discusses Attorney General Gentner Drummond hiring a former colleague and mentee of Chief Justice John Roberts to argue the case of an OKC Catholic charter school and lawmakers amended a bill to ban homeless shelters and services outside of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Join us for a celebration of the life of KOSU friend and colleague, and host of This Week in Oklahoma Politics, Ryan Kiesel.It's come-and-go on Thursday, March 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City.It'll be a night of laughter, music and making new friends -- all passions of Ryan's.All fundraising will go to benefit the Oliver and Claire Kiesel Education Fund and KOSU.