This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about state lawmakers getting ready for the 2026 legislative session next month, Senator Lankford and local officials seeking answers about an I.C.E. detention center in Oklahoma City and the Islamic Society of Tulsa looking into possible legal action after development for a mosque was blocked in Broken Arrow. The trio also discusses a petition from State Treasurer Todd...
Jan 22, 2026•23 min
This Week in Oklahoma Politics, Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill has decided to hang up the microphone after 27 years on KOSU. Morning Edition Host Michael Cross and Executive Director Rachel Hubbard talk to Neva about her time on our air as well as changes she has seen in politics since she began in 1998 Over the next several months, we'll have a rotating group of people sitting in the chair as we look for Neva's replacement. So, don't worry, the show isn't going anywhere. Also, if you...
Jan 15, 2026•26 min
This Week in Oklahoma Politics is taking a break over the holidays and will return in the new year. You can stay up to date on the latest news at KOSU.org . You can listen on the NPR App or the KOSU Daily Podcast. You can also follow us on Facebook, TikTok or Instagram Have a safe and happy holidays and a Happy New Year
Dec 25, 2025•30 sec
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 ending controversial social studies standards, a new group forms to represent Oklahoma independent voters as they are getting left out of all political primaries for at least the next two years and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission allows OG&E to move forward with $506M in new projects. The trio also discusses Attorney General G...
Dec 18, 2025•37 min
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 laun...
Dec 11, 2025•33 min
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 Democr...
Dec 04, 2025•35 min
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.
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 3 min
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.
Nov 25, 2025•23 sec
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 h...
Nov 20, 2025•34 min
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.
Nov 14, 2025•8 min
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...
Nov 13, 2025•37 min
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 m...
Nov 11, 2025•1 hr 14 min
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 Sta...
Nov 06, 2025•33 min
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 sport...
Oct 30, 2025•33 min
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 joi...
Oct 23, 2025•32 min
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 gatheri...
Oct 16, 2025•30 min
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 ...
Oct 09, 2025•30 min
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 communit...
Oct 02, 2025•31 min
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.
Sep 29, 2025•9 min
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...
Sep 25, 2025•35 min
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...
Sep 23, 2025•10 min
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...
Sep 18, 2025•29 min
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 a...
Sep 11, 2025•34 min
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 Preservati...
Sep 04, 2025•44 min
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.
Aug 28, 2025•11 min
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.
Aug 21, 2025•23 min
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.
Aug 14, 2025•15 min
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.
Aug 07, 2025•8 min
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.
Jul 31, 2025•31 min
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.
Jul 24, 2025•9 min
