Let's Pod This

Tuesday's primary elections brought several legislative upsets that are causing some voters to scratch their heads while others celebrate. Let's talk about what that means for Oklahoma moving forward.

Have you ever read a news story and wondered why the author framed it in a certain way, why they asked certain questions but not others, or how they deal with wild feedback? In this episode we speak with Ted Streuli, Executive Director of the nonpartisan, nonprofit, investigative newsroom, Oklahoma Watch, to give us an inside look at the politics of political reporting.

Senator Julia Kirt joins us to discuss the budget agreement on the FY25 state budget. (NOTE: This episode was recorded outdoors as a video. We were testing new equipment and some people interrupted us, so quality and flow are a little atypical!)

Watch the video of this episode here.

Let's talk about immigration, legislative deadlines, and the budget battle that's brewing.

We're joined by Jasmine Brown-Jutras and Jill Owens, both organizers with ACLU Oklahoma, to discuss their careers as community organizers, what "organizing" actually means, and how you can do it in your own community.

Links mentioned:

• Raise the Wage Oklahoma (website)
• Upcoming training & signature collection regional offices

This is a special crossover episode with our friends at The Cinematic Schematic, which is the podcast produced by OKC-based art and film blog, The Cinematropolis.

A couple of legislative updates, but really, let's talk about "outrage fatigue." It's real, and we need to address it together if we're going to save democracy.

Also, please join us: letsfixthis.org/volunteer

We take a few minutes to catch up on where the Oklahoma legislature is in session, along with candidate filing information, open primaries, and how immigration is factoring into the Drummond v McCall not-yet-official race for Governor.

Links discussed:

• Oklahoma group weighing open primary ballot initiative to increase inclusion, reduce divisiveness (Oklahoma Voice)

We're joined by Michelle Tilley, executive director of the south region Generation Citizen.

*** Editor's Note: If you have the means, we encourage you to support or volunteer with Freedom Oklahoma.

We're joined again by Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck from Oklahoma Faith Network to talk more in-depth about Christian nationalism, both as an ideology and as a political movement, and, more importantly, where those things intersect.

Links mentioned:

• Pew Research Center on Christian nationalism.
• PRRI research (Feb 28, 2024)
• OFN's Sign-on letter in support of separation of church & state