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 Governor Stitt approving the deployment of 160 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. and Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett refusing to recuse himself from an OG&E case. The trio also discusses Stitt setting a special election to fill the seat of an OKC Democrat to coincide with next year's election dates and a delay by the Ethics Commission to launch a website to monitor campaign finances.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about a state question to eliminate property taxes in the state, concerns from homelessness advocates over new guidelines from the Trump Administration and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation hiring its own attorney rather than using the Attorney General over a lawsuit on tribal hunting and fishing. The trio also discusses the hopes of Oklahoma Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections and the State of Oklahoma naming its first ever artificial intelligence officer.

One Lucky Cowboy: The Life of Burns Hargis by Bob Burke and Gary Schutt goes through Hargis’ life and career and includes stories you will have never heard before, from his train-robbing ancestor to how he met his wife and stole her away from a professional football player. KOSU’s Matthew Viriyapah spoke with author Burke and Burns about the process of writing the book. One Lucky Cowboy: The Life of Burns Hargis is available now.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics is taking a break over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. You can still get the latest news and information on our website at KOSU.org. We will return to our regularly scheduled time next week. In the meantime, have a safe and happy turkey day from all of us here at KOSU.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about a Florida-based Jewish organization considering a religious charter school in Oklahoma, the State Supreme Court ruling in favor of Governor Stitt over his cabinet picks and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority putting a pause on an anti-abortion executive order from Governor Stitt. The trio also discusses the governor's battle with tribes over their citizens hunting and fishing without state-issued licenses and a pay raise for elected officials.

Although Congress voted to reopen the government, the long pause on funding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, continues to drive up demand at Oklahoma food pantries even as some benefit recipients see partial payouts. In this special episode, Michael Cross talks with KOSU's Lionel Ramos about his visit to food pantries in the Oklahoma City area. This episode also includes a report from KOSU's Anna Pope.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the failure of an initiative petition to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma, a new investigation on a state-owned vehicle issued to an assistant to former Superintendent Ryan Walters and the resignation of Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Forrest Bennett. The trio also discusses a judges decision to not sanction the state mental health agency for failing to get treatment to inmates and a proposal from Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols for a vote to raise sales taxes for police, fire, homelessness along with other needs.

KOSU recently hosted Mary Louise Kelly in Oklahoma City. She co-anchors NPR’s afternoon news show, All Things Considered, and has written several books. Mary Louise is also well-known for her work creating NPR’s national security beat, which launched in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This conversation was held at Oklahoma City Community College on November 4, 2025, in front of an audience full of KOSU members. We also wanted to share Mary Louise’s insights with those who couldn’t make it to the event. A special thanks to our partners at ArtDesk and Home Creations for making this event possible. Please enjoy this conversation between NPR host Mary Louise Kelly and KOSU Executive Director Rachel Hubbard.

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 Superintended 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 the Commission's 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 $500K 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.