We're just a week away from the Oklahoma Legislature adjourning sine die, and that means (1) they have a budget and (2) they're going to ram through a few more contentious bills, like SB1027, which makes significant changes to the initiative petition process.

Governor Stitt vetoed two good (and popular) bills - but why? Also, ODMHSAS troubles somehow continue to deepen, and a train is running out of track, so to speak.

Andy's niece, Penny, provides some severe weather reminders, and then we discuss the new social studies standards, the wildfire task force report, and what to expect with the state budget.

Updates to the social studies standards, ongoing ODMHSAS situation, and more, followed by a recording from Andy's recent speech to the Edmond Democratic Women.

It seems that once a decade, a major state agency has a mysterious budget crisis. In 2012 it was OKDHS, in 2018 it was OSDH, and in 2025 it's ODMHSAS. What is going on? And what can we do about it?

Sure, the stock market's in free fall and the First Amendment is under attack, but sometimes you gotta pull back from that and focus on the good stuff - like when a regular, everyday woman decides to run for city council. We visit with Valerie Moore, recent candidate for Harrah City Council, to hear what she learned along the way.

When people show you who they really are, believe them. Especially if they can't work a group chat.

Ryan Walters pays the piper, politicians don't want Oklahomans to propose ballot initiatives, and we discuss how well the parties are (or are not) connecting with voters.

Links mentioned:

• Walters settled with Ethics Commission for social media violations
• But…a lawmaker, Ellen Pogemiller, has asked the Attorney General to weigh in on Walters’ connection to a new “professional association” called “Teacher Freedom Alliance.“ She asked AG Drummond to “clarify the legality” of Walters’ conduct concerning the new “Teacher Freedom Alliance.” She also asked Drummond to “investigate the financial ties and contacts (Walters) has with TFA.” 
• A law passed last year creating a new penalty for what it called “impermissible occupation” has been mostly cleared for enforcement by the US DOJ. A federal judge put a stay on the bill under Biden, but now the Trump Administration has dismissed it. 
• Speaking of changes to federal policy, the Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner, Glen Mulready, who most of us forget exists, has issued a warning or a heads up to Oklahomans who have health insurance through the Marketplace (aka Obamacare) that their premiums will likely increase dramatically for 2026 if the federal enhanced Advanced Premium Tax Credits aren’t extended by December. 
• David Shor, head of data science at Blue Rose Research, was on The Ezra Klein Show this week, and it’s fascinating to hear / watch. 

Supt. Ryan Walters is facing his third ethics violation in as many years, the future of the Judicial Nominating Commission is again uncertain, and Governor Stitt wants to have a say in federal funding decisions.

Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn returns to the show to discuss childcare, maternal health care, and how Oklahoma can - and should - properly invest in the future of our state's workforce.