Advertise on podcast: This Week in Oklahoma Politics

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and former state Representative Chairman Mark McBride about an announcement by the Department of Justice sending agents to monitor Oklahoma elections, the race for governor and other statewide offices. The trio also discusses State House and Senate races, other election news and voter turnout.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOCU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Any Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about concerns from a Democratic lawmaker over how Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Mazzei is funding his campaign, Oklahoma's race for governor is getting funds from national organizations and Oklahoma's two Republican senators are taking different sides regarding President Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel. The trio also discusses State Question 845 to eliminate restrictions on the Judicial Nominating Committee and State Question 847 to put a cap on property tax increases.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with former state Representative Chairman Mark McBride and Civic Leader Andy Moore about a Jewish charter school failing to get enough votes to pass the Statewide Charter School Board, the Ethics Commission releasing allegations against Seminole Republican State Representative Danny Williams and Attorney General Gentner Drummond raising concerns about new Oklahoma air quality regulations and their impact on an aluminum smelter in Inola. The trio also discusses Governor Stitt calling on the tax commission to halt taxes, restrictions and fines on red-dyed diesel and Oklahoma City consulting firm Saxum releasing an artificial intelligence tool to predict elections.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and former Republican State Senator A.J. Griffin about the top two candidates for governor getting a chance to debate before next month's General Election, President Trump visits Oklahoma to show support for GOP candidates and the State Supreme Court calls an initiative petition to phase out some property taxes as unconstitutional. The trio also discusses new charges against an embattled donor to Governor Stitt whose early release from prison caused controversy and a new investigation finds little improvement for people's lives after Stitt's Operation Safe.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and former Republican State Senator A.J. Griffin about the state Supreme Court saying there's no state law allowing people to change the gender on their birth certificate, a federal judge ruling in favor of an Oklahoma Jewish charter school and Department of Homeland Security Secretary opening a new immigration facility in Edmond. The trio also discusses a fight over who gets to be U.S. Senator in the last two months of Markwayne Mullin's seat following a vote next month and President Trump comes to Oklahoma to stump for Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about a public hearing for embattled State Representative Danny Williams, President Trump withdrawing the nomination of Oklahoma native Lance Schroyer to lead I.C.E. and the fight over an aluminum smelter in Inola heading to the courts. The trio also discusses concerns raised over the Republican candidate for attorney general and his ties to a health company he cofounded as well as emails sent to behavioral health clinics as they work to transition from state service to the private sector.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and former Republican State Senator Rick Brinkley about the City of Inola extending a moratorium on an aluminum smelter as well as having citizens vote on the project in April, lawmakers plan to hold an open hearing for embattled State Representative Danny Williams and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against a temporary injunction on an Oklahoma law banning certain conversations regarding race and gender.  The trio also discusses an audit of Oklahoma County's murky finances and the Trump Administration suing Oklahoma nonprofit coffee company Not Your Average Joe.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and former state Representative Chairman Mark McBride about Governor Stitt facing a lawsuit over his call for a vote on a constitutional convention, a bipartisan committee of lawmakers holding closed door meetings about State Representative Danny Williams and leaked audio from Congresswoman Stephanie Bice expressing concerns about the actions of President Trump impacting midterm elections. The trio also discusses an investigation of Osage Principal Chief Joe Tillman to determine if he should be removed from office and the State Regents for Higher Education approving shortened bachelor's degrees at three Oklahoma universities.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and former Republican State Senator AJ Griffin about Attorney General Gentner Drummond saying Governor Stitt doesn't have the authority to call for a vote on a constitutional convention, a donor to Governor Stitt suing the state to avoid returning to prison for DUI charges and the Trump Administration pushing the courts to allow for an aluminum smelter in Inola to move forward despite objection from local residents. The trio also discusses questions over Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Mazzei's campaign finances after support from a Trump ally and the death of an Oklahoma County judicial candidate forces a special election.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about Mike Mazzei winning the Republican runoff for governor, N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas winning the Democratic nod for U.S. Senate and the other GOP winners in statewide races. The trio also discusses the state questions which saw mixed results in Tuesday's elections and Governor Stitt creates an advisory to counter President Trump's call to remove tariffs to import more beef.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and former State Representative Chairman Mark McBride about the upcoming Republican gubernatorial election and other runoff races as well as the two State Questions on the ballot. The trio also discusses the State Ethics Commission investigating Seminole Republican Representative Danny Williams, Secretary of State Ben Lepak facing accusations of public intoxication and Governor Stitt calling for an investigation of two local Muslim organizations as potential threats and foreign terrorists.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Oklahoma AFL-CIO President Forrest Bennett and former state Representative Chairman Mark McBride about the Osage Nation principal chief declaring a budget emergency, Attorney General Gentner Drummond filing a motion to halt construction of an aluminum smelter in Inola and a new poll showing a statistical dead heat for the Republican nomination in the gubernatorial runoff on August 25th. The trio also discusses concerns over a possible double digit percentage increase in health premiums for state workers including teachers and Governor Stitt appointing interim State Superintendent Lindel Fields as his Education Secretary.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about Attorney General Gentner Drummond calling on his office to investigate whether Dr. Anthony Fauci broke Oklahoma law during the COVID-19 pandemic, the final two Republican candidates for governor squaring off in the final debate before the primary runoff and a Republican candidate for state superintendent getting reprimanded from Little Axe Public Schools. The trio also discuss an Inola lawmaker criticizing the House Speaker for denying his request on an interim study regarding aluminum smelter operations and the Islamic Society of Tulsa suing Broken Arrow after city officials voted against rezoning for the organization to build a mosque.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and former Republican State Senator AJ Griffin about the investigation of Seminole Republican Representative Danny Williams, a delay in reporting millions of dollars in stock trades by interim U.S. Senator Alan Armstrong and AG Gentner Drummond clashing with Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready about a delayed report on home insurance practices. The trio also discusses the U.S. Department of Justice investigating the Broken Arrow City Council after it denied the application to build  mosque and the Muscogee Nation Council unanimously opposes the building of an aluminum smelter in Inola.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about a report finding Oklahoma Insurance Commission candidate Marty Quinn might be living in Arkansas, President Trump releasing a video to reiterate his support of Mike Mazzei for governor against Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the August 25th runoff election and state election officials forced to defend the voting system after accusations from Trump. The trio also discusses Attorney General Gentner Drummond launching an investigation of the state's Medicaid agency over potential fraud and the state releasing a plan to reduce the wait-time for inmates to get mental health treatment.