This Week In Oklahoma Politics

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

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.