This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about new budget numbers for state lawmakers for the 2027 fiscal year starting in July, a fiscal impact for the House Speakers literacy legislation coming in at about $75M and Mustang Public Schools suspending 122 students for participating in I.C.E. protests.

The trio also discusses the Trump Administration's Department of Justice asking Oklahoma election officials for confidential voter information and a new study showing state workers make 50% less in pay than their private sector counterparts.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about a state board denying the application of a Jewish charter school, Governor Stitt signing legislation to ban protests at places of worship and President Trump calling Governor Stitt a Republican in Name Only over invitations to a White House summit.

The trio also discusses Governor Stitt signing two executive orders impacting higher education in Oklahoma and a Republican rancher and businessman wins a special election in the northern Oklahoma House District 35.

Oklahoma City voters will have a chance to cast their ballots on Tuesday, Feb. 10 in the election for the city’s mayor, which is a nonpartisan and part-time position. KOSU’s Abigail Siatkowski spoke with the only two candidates in the race: incumbent mayor David Holt and challenger Matthew Pallares. You'll hear from both of them in this episode.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt's State of the State Address where he talked about making medical marijuana illegal again, changes to Medicaid Expansion, abolishing the Oklahoma Secondary School Athletic Association and more.

The trio also discusses the leader of the Senate removing Shawnee Republican Senator Shane Jett from his leadership positions and Devon Energy's announcement to leave Oklahoma City for Houston, Texas.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt kicked off the 2026 legislative session with his eighth and final State of the State address on Monday. After boasting about his accomplishments over the past seven years, the governor laid out his policy priorities for the session. Those include bolstering school choice by removing the cap on the Parental Choice Tax Credit, as well as eliminating the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), which organizes and regulates secondary school athletics and activity competitions in the state. Stitt expressed his desire for the governor to appoint a superintendent of public education rather than the voters electing one, saying it is better for leadership alignment. It’s important to note that Stitt appointed Ryan Walters as his Secretary of Education before endorsing Walters in his race for Superintendent. Then, Stitt found himself at odds with Walters during his brief tenure in office. Stitt also called for the creation of three state questions: one to cap recurring spending growth, specifically making adjustments to Medicaid expansion. Another proposed state question would freeze property tax growth and a third would overturn State Question 788, which made medical marijuana legal in Oklahoma. The governor’s policy priorities are essentially his wish list. He still has to get lawmakers on board to accomplish these, but his priorities and those of state lawmakers don’t always align. Thank you to OETA for providing the audio feed of the speech. We’ll have more coverage and offer context on the radio, on this podcast, and online at KOSU.org. 

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about supporters of a state question to open primaries in Oklahoma turning in their signatures, Governor Stitt's response to the violence from immigration enforcement agents in Minnesota and Stitt kicking off the 2026 legislative session with his final State of the State address.

The trio also talks about Governor Stitt's plan to create an online school choice resource hub and OKC Democratic Representative Ajay Pittman resigning her seat after felony charges.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Civic Leader Andy Moore and Legislative Advisor Jennifer Monies about state lawmakers getting ready for the 2026 legislative session next month, Senator Lankford and local officials seeking answers about an I.C.E. detention center in Oklahoma City and the Islamic Society of Tulsa looking into possible legal action after development for a mosque was blocked in Broken Arrow.

The trio also discusses a petition from State Treasurer Todd Russ to the Supreme Court to avoid a deposition of his office's use of a self-deleting app for messaging and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt's support of State Question 836 to open primaries in the state.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill has decided to hang up the microphone after 27 years on KOSU. Morning Edition Host Michael Cross and Executive Director Rachel Hubbard talk to Neva about her time on our air as well as changes she has seen in politics since she began in 1998

Over the next several months, we'll have a rotating group of people sitting in the chair as we look for Neva's replacement. So, don't worry, the show isn't going anywhere.

Also, if you have a special note you would like to share with Neva, please send it to us through our contact form at kosu.org/contact.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics is taking a break over the holidays and will return in the new year. 

You can stay up to date on the latest news at KOSU.org.

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Have a safe and happy holidays and a Happy New Year

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the State Supreme Court ending controversial social studies standards, a new group forms to represent Oklahoma independent voters as they are getting left out of all political primaries for at least the next two years and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission allows OG&E to move forward with $506M in new projects.

The trio also discusses Attorney General Gentner Drummond getting out of a lawsuit against ClassWallet and Governor Stitt criticizing President Trump's efforts to halt wind projects.