Oklahoma Memo

Oklahoma Memo

By Ryan WeltonSportsNewsDaily News
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Oklahoma Memo episodes

  • Tulsi Resigns, Trump Skips the Wedding & Democrats Face a Brutal Reality Check

    This week on the Oklahoma Memo Podcast, Ryan Welton and Grant Hermes unpack a chaotic week in American politics and media.

    Tulsi Gabbard abruptly resigns as Director of National Intelligence amid mounting international pressure and internal power struggles within the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Donald Trump shocks observers by announcing he won’t attend Don Jr.’s wedding — another sign, Grant argues, of an increasingly isolated presidency.

    The conversation also dives deep into the Democratic Party’s long-delayed and widely criticized 2024 election autopsy report, why many Democrats are furious with party leadership, and how figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could reshape the party’s future.

    Ryan and Grant also discuss:

    • Trump’s continued dominance in Republican primaries

    • Fallout from January 6 compensation proposals

    • SEC football boycott calls tied to redistricting battles

    • The growing fear and backlash surrounding AI and automation

    • Why data centers and AI policy could become major political flashpoints

      • A lot more in this episode. We hope you'll give it a full listen!

      Sign up for the Memo at OklahomaMemo.com/subscribe

      And follow Grant on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@mimsnewspod

      Subscribe to Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes on Substack at https://mimsnewspod.substack.com

      1 hr 17 min
    • Linda Wiginton On Building A Swimming Powerhouse In Altus

      Linda Wiginton has spent more than four decades building one of Oklahoma’s most respected high school swimming programs in Altus.

      In this episode of the Oklahoma Memo Podcast, she joins Ryan Welton to reflect on:

      • Starting the aquatics program in Altus in the early 1980s

      • Coaching for 45 years

      • Winning hundreds of meets

      • Teaching generations of swimmers

      • The role of the OSSAA in Oklahoma athletics

      • Leadership, discipline and helping kids prepare for life

        • Wiginton also shares stories about creating a diving program from scratch, coaching in a small town, adapting to decades of change and why she still loves helping athletes “go fast.”

        This is a conversation about sports, mentorship, small-town Oklahoma and the lasting impact a coach can have on generations of students.

        26 min
      • Thunder vs. Wemby, Arsenal Celebrates & OSU Softball Heads to Nebraska

        This week on Bedlam Buds, Ryan Welton and Jeremy Cook dive into a packed sports week that ranges from Premier League chaos to Oklahoma softball postseason excitement.

        Topics include:

        • Arsenal officially winning the Premier League title after 22 years

        • Tottenham’s relegation fears and brutal loss to Chelsea

        • Why Victor Wembanyama may become (IS) the NBA’s next unstoppable superstar

        • Whether the Thunder can physically match up with the Spurs

        • OSU softball’s Super Regional showdown against Nebraska

        • Ruby Malin being named First Team All-American

        • OU softball’s path through the postseason

        • Oklahoma State baseball’s NCAA Tournament outlook

        • New transfer portal additions for OSU football

        • Why both OU and OSU fans should be optimistic heading into football season

          • Subscribe to Oklahoma Memo for daily Oklahoma news and sports: https://www.oklahomamemo.com/subscribe

          35 min
        • Oklahoma Softball Gets Right at Regionals; Mississippi State Next | The Long View

          In this week's episode of The Long View, Clay Horning and Ryan Welton talk about the weekend that was in college softball — with Oklahoma dominant in three consecutive regional wins at home.

          OU's reward is an at-home Super Regional against red-hot Mississippi State, which dominated the Oregon regional.

          You can get more content from Clay at https://www.OklahomaColumnist.com, and (of course) you should subscribe to the daily Oklahoma Memo newsletter at https://www.OklahomaMemo.com/subscribe

          #oklahoma #softball #NCAA #WCWS

          40 min
        • Oklahoma Democrats Push “Take BAC Congress” Movement | Troy Green & John Croisant

          Ryan Welton is joined by Oklahoma Democratic candidates Troy Green and John Croisant for a wide-ranging political conversation focused on the growing “Take BAC Congress” coalition.

          The group is advocating for reforms, including congressional term limits, a ban on stock trading by lawmakers, limits on lobbying influence, and Supreme Court ethics reform.

          The discussion also covers:

          • Donald Trump’s China trip and foreign policy concerns

          • Congressional wealth and insider stock trading

          • Gerrymandering and voting representation

          • Economic struggles facing working-class Americans

          • Why more Democrats are running in Oklahoma

          • Troy Green’s personal story growing up in foster care and homelessness

          • Campaign events happening across Oklahoma this weekend

            • Learn more:

            • Troy Green for Senate

            • Croisant for Congress

              • 44 min
            • Trump’s China Trip | Latest on Cuba, Taiwan | AOC for President and the rise of Justin Pearson

              Ryan Welton and Grant Hermes unpack the week that was in politics.

              This episode covers:

              • President Trump’s visit to China

              • Taiwan and growing military concerns

              • Why Cuba is becoming a major Trump focus

              • New reporting about Trump’s health and behavior

              • Whether AOC could become president

              • Tennessee’s escalating redistricting battle

              • The bizarre “American blue” reflecting pool project in Washington

              • A proven trick to bring plants back to life

                • Grant also discusses his recent interview with Nobel Prize-winning psychiatrist Dr. Henry Abraham and explains why some medical experts are sounding alarms about the president’s cognitive condition.

                Subscribe to Oklahoma Memo, your daily local news recap at https://www.oklahomamemo.com/subscribe

                And follow Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes on Substack at https://mimsnewspod.substack.com and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@MIMSnewspod

                1 hr 9 min
              • Bedlam Buds: Cowgirls Softball Rolling Into Postseason

                On this episode of Bedlam Buds, Ryan Welton and Jeremy Cook break down Oklahoma State softball’s Big 12 Tournament run and preview the Cowgirls’ NCAA Regional matchup against Stanford, Eastern Illinois and Princeton.

                The guys discuss:

                • Ruby Maylen's dominance and why she changes everything for OSU

                • Whether the Cowgirls are built for a deep postseason run

                • The possibility of a Bedlam-style showdown with Jordy Frahm (nee Bahl) and Nebraska in a Super Regional

                  • They also dive into Oklahoma State baseball after the Cowboys took a series on the road against Arizona State and discuss what it means heading into the final stretch of the season.

                  Then it’s time for the lightning round:

                  • Why are the Oklahoma City Thunder suddenly so hated nationally?

                  • Is Adrian Peterson the OU's answer to Barry Sanders?

                  • Barry Sanders vs everybody

                  • Favorite songs from The Police

                  • Why chemistry matters in sports dynasties

                    • Plus plenty of classic Bedlam Buds banter along the way.

                    Subscribe for weekly Oklahoma sports talk covering OSU, OU, the Thunder, softball, baseball, football and more.

                    50 min
                  • The Long View | Sooners softball postseason begins, Thunder disrespect & Oklahoma politics

                    On this episode of The Long View, Ryan Welton and Clay Horning break down the biggest questions surrounding Oklahoma Sooners softball entering the NCAA Tournament — especially the ongoing uncertainty in the pitching circle.

                    The guys discuss:

                    • Why OU’s offense may still be good enough to carry a postseason run

                    • Whether Audrey Lowry should become the Sooners’ unquestioned ace

                    • Dangerous potential matchups with Oregon, Mississippi State and Texas Tech

                    • Why this OU softball team feels a little like the Billy Tubbs era: score a ton and survive the chaos

                    • Concerns surrounding Oklahoma Sooners baseball after another SEC series loss

                    • Why the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to be underrated nationally despite elite team basketball

                    • NHL playoff chatter, Premier League fandom and Ryan’s ongoing obsession with Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

                    • A deep discussion on Oklahoma politics, Gov. Kevin Stitt, and the Sarah Polston controversy

                    • Ethics, leadership and why public trust feels more fragile than ever

                      • It’s sports, culture, media and politics — all from the perspective of two longtime Oklahoma journalists who’ve seen just about everything.

                      Like, subscribe and join the conversation.

                      50 min
                    • Is This A War, Or What? | Conversation With Grant Hermes

                      Ryan Welton and Grant Hermes return for another deep-dive conversation covering some of the biggest political and economic stories in America right now.

                      This episode explores:

                      • Whether the Iran conflict is truly over

                      • Why oil and gas prices could continue rising

                      • The legal and constitutional questions surrounding U.S. military operations

                      • The White House ballroom controversy and DHS expansion

                      • Concerns about ICE leadership and federal infrastructure

                      • The massive Canvas cyberattack affecting schools nationwide

                      • Why cybersecurity vulnerabilities are becoming more dangerous

                      • The state of the Democratic Party ahead of the midterms

                      • Grant Herms’ new investigative reporting into extremist connections tied to figures around the White House

                        • Grant also explains how weakening federal cybersecurity oversight could leave schools, agencies and infrastructure increasingly exposed to attacks.

                        Subscribe to Oklahoma Memo: https://www.oklahomamemo.com/subscribe

                        Read Grant Hermes: https://mimsnewspod.substack.com

                        1 hr 7 min
                      • Why Oklahoma Keeps Ranking Last in Education | Featuring John Croisant and Craig McVay

                        Why does Oklahoma continue to rank near the bottom nationally in education outcomes — and what would it actually take to fix it?

                        In this episode of the Oklahoma Memo Podcast, Ryan Welton is joined by Democratic congressional candidate John Croisant and Democratic candidate for state superintendent Craig McVay for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of public education in Oklahoma.

                        The conversation explores:

                        • Federal education funding and proposed Department of Education cuts

                        • Oklahoma’s widening education investment gap

                        • Teacher pay and retention challenges

                        • Emergency-certified teachers and classroom realities

                        • The role of vouchers and public school funding

                        • Why class size matters

                        • The hidden emotional and physical demands of teaching

                        • Teacher Appreciation Week memories and reflections

                          • Craig McVay also shares insights from decades in education leadership, including what new teachers misunderstand most about classroom management and why many educators leave after their first year.

                          Meanwhile, John Croisant discusses how education investment directly impacts Oklahoma’s workforce, economy and long-term prosperity.

                          This is a passionate, personal and policy-heavy conversation about one of the most important issues facing Oklahoma today.

                          Subscribe to Oklahoma Memo:

                          https://www.oklahomamemo.com

                          Follow the guests:

                          • John Croisant: https://www.croisantforcongress.com

                          • Craig McVay: https://www.craigforkids.com

                            • 53 min

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