Oklahoma Memo

OKANA Resort is preparing for its first resort-wide food, wine and entertainment festival — and Ashley Glass says guests should expect something much bigger than a traditional food and wine festival.

Ashley joins Ryan Welton on the Oklahoma Memo Podcast to preview OKANAFest, happening Oct. 17 in Oklahoma City.

They talk about the more than 30 sampling experiences planned throughout the resort, food and cocktail offerings, live music and performers, the VIP experience and celebrity guest chef Christina Wilson, winner of Season 10 of Hell’s Kitchen.

OKANAFest runs from noon to 4 p.m., with VIP admission beginning at 11 a.m. A Boardwalk block party continues from 4 to 10 p.m. The event is 21+.

Learn more and find tickets at OKANAResort.com.

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cyndi Munson joins Ryan Welton for a wide-ranging conversation about what she would do as Oklahoma governor.

Munson says education would be her first priority, arguing that Oklahoma’s struggles with schools affect everything from teacher retention to economic development. She also discusses affordability, wages, rural hospitals, tribal relations, housing and homelessness, and the state's ability to recruit and retain workers.

The conversation also turns to one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing controversies: data centers. Munson explains why she supports a moratorium on new projects while the state examines their economic and environmental effects, infrastructure demands and potential impact on utility customers.

Later, Munson discusses abortion and women’s health care, her criticism of her opponent, government transparency, voter turnout and what she wants first-time Oklahoma voters to know.

President Donald Trump came to Durant, Oklahoma, this week — but why Oklahoma?

Ryan and Grant break down Trump’s rally and his midterm message before turning to the president’s extensive TIME interview and what it revealed about his thinking on politics and artificial intelligence.

Grant also discusses his reporting on DHS efforts to identify alleged noncitizens on voter rolls, including questions about the data being used and the legal fight over how the government is conducting those checks.

Then the show takes a sharp turn into one of the most unexpected stories of the week: Mike Tomlin’s incredible Minecraft city. The former Steelers coach spent years building it as a hobby that began as a way to connect with his children — and Ryan sees lessons in focus, curiosity and making room for something that doesn’t have to become a side hustle.

Plus: an unforgettable Senate hearing mistake, government-funded political messaging, football and why everybody may need a hobby that exists simply because they love doing it.

Follow Grant's work on his Substack and YouTube channels. Just look for "Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes."

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With Election Day approaching, congressional candidate John Croisant joins Ryan Welton for their weekly conversation about Oklahoma politics and the race for the 1st Congressional District.

This week, Croisant reacts to President Donald Trump’s rally in Durant and argues that economic frustration, affordability concerns and increased Democratic campaign activity could be changing Oklahoma’s political environment.

Ryan and John discuss childcare, housing, education, the economy and the issues Croisant says he’s hearing about while campaigning in the Tulsa area. Croisant also talks about his campaign’s door-knocking operation, additional early voting locations in Tulsa County and his criticism of Republican opponent Mark Tedford for not agreeing to a debate.

Plus: a little Tulsa football after a wild 45-44 finish.

Subscribe to Oklahoma Memo for Ryan’s free daily local news recap at OklahomaMemo.com/subscribe.

Follow John's journey to Congress at https://www.croisantforcongress.com

N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas joins Oklahoma Memo founder Ryan Welton for a wide-ranging conversation about her quest for the U.S. Senate.

Thomas discusses her call for a national moratorium on AI data centers, affordability and housing, universal childcare, health care, tribal sovereignty, immigration and ICE, abortion, transgender issues and her criticism of President Donald Trump and members of his administration.

Thomas faces Republican Kevin Hern in Oklahoma’s Nov. 3 general election.

Oklahoma Memo is your daily local news recap — the best work from nearly two dozen Oklahoma newsrooms in one email. Subscribe at OklahomaMemo.com/subscribe.

Follow Jasmine's journey to Washington at https://www.jasmineforok.com

Tulsa Public Schools is considering closing 17 schools as the district confronts declining enrollment and a multimillion-dollar budget problem.

John Croisant — a TPS school board member and Democratic candidate for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District — joins Ryan Welton to explain why the district is considering consolidation, what could change before a final vote and what he believes should be protected if schools close.

Croisant says the current proposal is only a recommendation, with community listening sessions planned before an expected Oct. 19 decision.

Ryan and John also discuss housing affordability, mortgage rates, federal spending, First Amendment disputes and the approaching November election.

Oklahoma Memo is your daily local news recap, delivered six mornings a week. Sign up at OklahomaMemo.com/subscribe.

Follow John's journey to Congress at https://www.croisantforcongress.com

The White House is fighting with major news organizations over access to the president — and Grant Hermes says the consequences go well beyond the journalists involved.

This week on Grant & Ryan, Ryan Welton and Grant break down how the White House press pool actually works, why independent access to the president matters and what happens when official government video becomes the primary way Americans see their president.

Then the conversation turns international.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the United States for high-level talks as Washington and Beijing confront major questions involving artificial intelligence, trade, Iran, Russia and Taiwan. Ryan and Grant discuss what each country wants — and why China's position in the AI race may be different from what many Americans assume.

They also discuss the United Nations General Assembly and bring the conversation back to Oklahoma, where candidates and national political organizations are looking at races that normally receive little national attention.

Follow Grant's work on Substack and YouTube. Just look for "Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes!"

Oklahoma heads between the hedges to face Georgia, and Ryan Welton and Clay Horning have considerably more faith in the Sooners’ defense than their offense.

In this episode of The Long View, Ryan and Clay break down Georgia quarterback Gunnar Stockton, OU’s injury concerns, the Sooners’ inability to establish a running game and the possibility that Oklahoma’s biggest offensive problem goes beyond blocking and turnovers.

Clay digs into Brent Venables’ comments about his involvement with the offense and asks whether coordinator Ben Arbuckle really has the autonomy needed to run his system. Ryan and Clay also discuss the David Stone injury controversy, what meaningful offensive progress would actually look like against Georgia and whether turnovers could create a path to an upset.

Then comes the prediction.

Without comparing notes beforehand, both Ryan and Clay pick the exact same score:

But perhaps the bigger question is what OU needs to show Saturday to prove this offense can still be fixed.

Oklahoma State hits the road for its first true hostile environment of the season as the Cowboys travel to Morgantown to face West Virginia.

Bedlam Buds Ryan and Jeremy break down a fascinating contrast in styles: West Virginia wants to run the football behind former OU quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., while Oklahoma State’s offense increasingly looks capable of attacking teams through the air.

The guys discuss how OSU can contain Hawkins, why the Cowboy linebackers could decide the game, whether Ryan Mestemaker will get enough time to find open receivers and why winning the turnover battle matters so much.

They also look at the atmosphere Oklahoma State will face in Morgantown, key injuries on both teams and what the Cowboys need to do offensively in a loud road environment.

Then Ryan and Jeremy make their predictions.

And finally, Bedlam Buds introduces perhaps its most important innovation yet: Life Tips with Bedlam Buds — beginning with how to grow potatoes in an empty dog food bag.

Yes, really.

Oklahoma beat New Mexico 14-6, but there wasn't much celebrating on this episode of The Long View.

Ryan Welton and Clay Horning dig into an OU offense that rushed 32 times for only 61 yards — 1.9 yards per carry — while quarterback John Mateer threw two interceptions.

Clay calls it perhaps the worst Oklahoma offense he has watched and proposes a significant change: make Kevin Wilson the offensive line coach and move on from Bill Bedenbaugh.

Ryan and Clay also debate Brent Venables' responsibility for the offensive failures, whether Mateer should remain the quarterback, the roles of athletic director Roger Denny and OU President Joe Harroz, and just how ugly Oklahoma's upcoming SEC schedule could become.

Then they go game-by-game through the remaining schedule and ask the increasingly uncomfortable question:

How many games can this Oklahoma team actually win?

Read Clay at OklahomaColumnist.com.

Get Ryan's daily Oklahoma news recap at OklahomaMemo.com/subscribe.