KOSU recently hosted Mary Louise Kelly in Oklahoma City. She co-anchors NPR’s afternoon news show, All Things Considered, and has written several books. Mary Louise is also well-known for her work creating NPR’s national security beat, which launched in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

This conversation was held at Oklahoma City Community College on November 4, 2025, in front of an audience full of KOSU members. We also wanted to share Mary Louise’s insights with those who couldn’t make it to the event. A special thanks to our partners at ArtDesk and Home Creations for making this event possible.

Please enjoy this conversation between NPR host Mary Louise Kelly and KOSU Executive Director Rachel Hubbard.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the governor and legislative leaders approving $7M from the state's emergency fund for food banks amid SNAP cuts and the federal shutdown, calls growing for a special session to provide even more food assistance funding and the state Department of Human Services furloughing employees as the shutdown reaches historic levels.

Signature gathering begins for State Question 836 to open primaries to all voters regardless of party and a state lawmaker calling for the investigation of a former Department of Corrections director who worked out a deal with an artificial intelligence company and then to a job with the same company.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cros talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt's Operation: SAFE to move people out of homeless encampments expanding to OKC, new State Superintendent Lindel Fields continue to dismantle initiatives from his predecessor and the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit against former State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Department or Education.

The trio also discusses an interim study on sports betting in Oklahoma and nearly 300 new laws taking effect on Saturday.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about moves by new State Superintendent Lindel Fields to undo initiatives championed by his predecessor, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission files a lawsuit against Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Ajay Pittman and state lawmakers investigating the use of automated license plate readers.

The trio also discusses the "No Kings" rallies held in Oklahoma and OKC joining the city of Los Angeles in recognizing 1,000 days until the 2028 Summer Olympics.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about Governor Stitt opposing President Trump's use of Texas National Guard troops in American cities like Chicago and Portland, the State Supreme Court striking down a law creating business courts championed by Governor Stitt and five Republicans and one Democrat file for State House seat vacated by Ty Burns.

The trio also discusses the start of signature gathering for State Question 836 to open primaries for all candidates regardless of party affiliation and a new report shows the reason for the longevity of tolls on Oklahoma turnpikes. 

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about new State Superintendent Lindel Fields taking over the Department of Education, former State Superintendent Ryan Walters facing an investigation from the Ethics Commission and Governor Stitt making other changes to education in Oklahoma.

The trio also the state entering into a $100M contract with a private prison group to house undocumented migrants and OKC voters deciding on a $2.7B bond.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the official resignation of Ryan Walters as state superintendent, a democratic lawmaker calling for an investigation of Walters over his association with Teachers' Freedom Alliance and a crackdown on illegal immigration by the Highway Patrol on I-40 in western Oklahoma.

The trio also discusses a report showing the fiscal impact on the state if local communities remove fluoride from their water supplies and the City of Lawton using artificial intelligence on recommendations to deal with homelessness.

NPR journalist and host Mary Louise Kelly recently launched a national security podcast, Sources & Methods, where she discusses the biggest national security news of the week with NPR correspondents.

In this bonus podcast, KOSU's Michael Cross visits with her about the new podcast and previews her upcoming visit to Oklahoma City on Nov. 4.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the announcement by State Superintendent Ryan Walters that he's quitting as the top education official in Oklahoma.

The trio also discusses the Ethics Commission ordering the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission to dissolve over campaign violations along with its president facing cockfighting attendance charges, state officials pushing the FCC to allow for cellphone jamming technology in jails and prisons and the District Attorneys' Council asking lawmakers for an extra $500,000 for a unit to handle death penalty cases.

Oklahoma’s State Superintendent Ryan Walters is declaring every high school in the state will have a Turning Point USA chapter in the wake of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. But it’s unclear what impact his declaration will have.

The conservative youth group is seeing a surge in popularity following the assassination of its founder.

In an announcement sent to parents, Walters said Oklahoma high schools need to get with the trend. Although a new chapter requires local student and faculty buy-in and action, Walters is declaring that all Oklahoma high schools — public, private, and even homeschool settings — must have a chapter.

“This is a battle for the future of the country,” Walters said in a Zoom interview in the hours following his declaration.