Tulsa World Opinion

Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette recap the primary/runoff elections and more, and anticipate that public education will be "on the ballot" in November. Another factor in the general election will likely be former President Donald Trump.

Related content

Five Tulsa city councilors reelected; three others face runoffs

Tulsa voters approve amendments to City Charter

Watch Now: Stitt’s secretary of education wins GOP runoff in state superintendent race

Markwayne Mullin, Madison Horn celebrate Senate runoff victories

Osborn, Russ, David advance from runoffs in state secondary office races

Seifried defeats Jackson in state Senate District 2 GOP runoff

Brecheen edges Frix in runoff for Markwayne Mullin's congressional seat

Ginnie Graham: TCC bucking trend through its success with student services

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Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor (Note: endorsement letters will not be published from Saturday-Tuesday ahead of Nov. 8's general election)

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Banning books is back in style. Ginnie Graham interviews author Barry Friedman about the issue in this week's bonus podcast.

Note: Barry Friedman is an essayist, political columnist, petroleum geology reporter and comedian living in Tulsa. In addition to “Funny You Should Mention It,” “Road Comic,” “Four Days and a Year Later” and “The Joke Was On Me,” his first novel, “Jacob Fishman’s Marriages,” a book about the worst love story ever, was published by Balkan Press in February. His sites are barrysfriedman.com and friedmanoftheplains.com.

Related content:

Ginnie Graham: Banning books all the rage in conservative circles

Texas school district removing, reviewing dozens of books, including the Bible

Oklahoma teachers on notice after 'watershed' vote on HB 1775 violations in Tulsa, Mustang

Tulsa Public Schools accused of having books with 'inappropriate sexual material'

Watch Now: TPS pulls challenged books from shelves until formal review can be done

Tulsa area public schools library book selection process explained

Tulsa World Newsroom podcast: How does a book end up at your kid’s school library?

Bill targeting school library books about sex passes Oklahoma Senate panel

Oklahoma attorney general reviewing books for violations of state obscenity law

Ginnie Graham: I'm glad books are being banned so I know what to read next

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Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Go vote! Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette preview the upcoming city and state elections, including editorial endorsements; endorsement letters to the editor; and more.

Related content

Nine City Council seats, three charter amendments on the ballot beginning Thursday

We asked every City Councilor candidate the same 11 questions. Here are their answers on a variety of topics facing Tulsa

Editorial: Tulsa voters ought to support upcoming three City Charter amendments

Endorsement: For Jeannie Cue in Tulsa City Council District 2

Endorsement: For Connie Dodson for Tulsa City Council District 6

Endorsement: For Lori Decter Wright for Tulsa City Council District 7

Endorsement: For Phil Lakin for Tulsa City Council District 8

Superintendent, three other statewide races to GOP runoff

Primary runoff races include labor commissioner, state treasurer

Texas school district removing, reviewing dozens of books, including the Bible

Oklahoma teachers on notice after 'watershed' vote on HB 1775 violations in Tulsa, Mustang

From the Enid News & Eagle: Superintendent clarifies Enid Public Schools stance on removing books from libraries

Bob Doucette: Today's anti-government rhetoric dangerously close to that of 1995

Bob Doucette: Four questions about the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago

Ginnie Graham: Back to school is getting more expensive

Contact us

Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor (Note: endorsement letters will not be published from Saturday-Tuesday ahead of an election, including the Aug. 23 runoff)

Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Representative John Waldron joins Ginnie Graham and Barry Friedman to discuss the problems with this bill, and there are many.

Related

Click here to read the bill

Tulsa schools' violation cited in legal challenge to HB 1775

Audio from TPS implicit bias training was a voice reading presentation slides verbatim

Editorial: State Education Board's vote illustrates pitfalls of HB 1775

Ginnie Graham: Don't let the public school bullies win

Watch Now: Stitt signs controversial bill that limits in-school instruction on race, gender and history

Contact us

Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor

Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't mess with librarians? Ginnie Graham notes that the FBI search of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence for National Archives documents was similar to librarians seeking overdue checkouts. Bob Doucette cautioned against quick responses and rhetoric.

Plus, more on HB 1775 worries with Tulsa Public School accreditation and state funding of agencies versus tax cuts (that are easy to approve, but difficult for legislators to overturn).

Related content:

Bob Doucette: Four questions about the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago

Mar-A-Lago search prompts outrage from some Oklahoma Republicans

FBI's search of Trump's Florida estate: Why now?

From September 2015: Tanking numbers in Tulsa library reading program known to CEO

From June 2016: Tulsa library spending includes trips, outside public relations

Ginnie Graham: IRS is not hiring 87,000 agents to go after everyone's taxes

Bob Doucette: Law designed to curb insider trading in Congress has holes

Tulsa schools' violation cited in legal challenge to HB 1775

Audio from TPS implicit bias training was a voice reading presentation slides verbatim

TPS board president asks state board to reconsider warning over race/gender teaching law

Oklahoma teachers on notice after 'watershed' vote on HB 1775 violations in Tulsa, Mustang

Editorial: State school board used as pawn in a political anti-public education game

Tax cuts totaling $500 million approved by Oklahoma House — but don't spend that money yet

Editorial from March 2022: Embrace fiscal responsibility: Scrap HB 3635 and its automatic tax cut triggers

Ginnie Graham: Starting to experience the little things at age 50

Contact us

Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor

Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Oklahoma still a punchline? In a bonus podcast episode this week, Ginnie Graham interviews author Barry Friedman about how outsiders view our state, beyond the musical and college football, and how we can change the narrative.

Note: Barry Friedman is an essayist, political columnist, petroleum geology reporter and comedian living in Tulsa. In addition to “Funny You Should Mention It,” “Road Comic,” “Four Days and a Year Later” and “The Joke Was On Me,” his first novel, “Jacob Fishman’s Marriages,” a book about the worst love story ever, was published by Balkan Press in February. His sites are barrysfriedman.com and friedmanoftheplains.com.

Related content:

Tulsa Public Schools accused of having books with 'inappropriate sexual material'

Kansas abortion vote gives hope to Oklahoma reproductive rights supporters

Oklahoma again ranks poorly for child well-being, annual report says

Supporters of SQ 820 turn in 164,000 signatures in effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma

Audio from TPS implicit bias training was a voice reading presentation slides verbatim

State laws on abortion, transgender issues have companies balking on coming to Oklahoma, development official says

An innovative TU is essential to Tulsa's future, President Brad Carson says

Panasonic picks Kansas over Oklahoma for $4B EV battery facility

Contact us

Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor

Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's podcast, Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette discuss the targeting of Tulsa Public Schools by state officials and the majority of the Oklahoma State School Board. The accreditation vote is a warning to other districts, as one state board member even said “we need to send a message.”

Related content:

Watch Now: Tulsa Public Schools accredited with a warning over HB1775 violation

Column: State leaders exploiting differences, targeting TPS for personal gain

Editorial: State school board used as pawn in a political anti-public education game

Tulsa Public Schools accused of having books with 'inappropriate sexual material'

Hofmeister: Walters blocked unrelated early childhood contract due to TPS audit

Editorial: Evidence of Oklahoma's teacher, staff crisis found everywhere

Area schools scrambling to fill vacancies in summer's waning days

Voucher bill expected to make a comeback

Editorial: Senate does veterans wrong by stalling toxic burn pit legislation

Bill to aid veterans exposed to toxic burn pits goes to Biden

Ginnie Graham: Grab 'em by the ballot box

Editorial: Oklahoma congressional delegation wrong on votes against birth control, same-sex marriage

D.C. Digest: Oklahoma delegation wants more for defense, less for domestic spending

NFL appeals 6-game suspension for Browns' Deshaun Watson

Kansas abortion vote gives hope to Oklahoma reproductive rights supporters

ICYMI: 'Reservation Dogs' actors strut red carpet in Tulsa ahead of today's season two premiere

Contact us

Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor

Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a bonus podcast episode this week, Ginnie Graham interviews author Barry Friedman about potential Republican candidates for president in 2024. Joe Biden has already proven that he can beat Donald Trump after the 2020 election, so Trump may not be the best nominee for the party. However, will President Biden even run for a second term?

Note: Barry Friedman is an essayist, political columnist, petroleum geology reporter and comedian living in Tulsa. In addition to “Funny You Should Mention It,” “Road Comic,” “Four Days and a Year Later” and “The Joke Was On Me,” his first novel, “Jacob Fishman’s Marriages,” a book about the worst love story ever, was published by Balkan Press in February. His sites are barrysfriedman.com and friedmanoftheplains.com.

Related content:

Barry Friedman column: Hoping for Trump

Republican Senate candidates defend Trump, endorse federal abortion ban

Oklahoma bakery owner charged with felony over Jan. 6 attack on Capitol

Editorial: We cannot afford to look away from the Jan. 6 committee's work

Bob Doucette: All is not well among Oklahoma Republicans

Contact us

Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor

Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's podcast, Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette discuss the difference between political difference in hate speech. Bigotry inspires discrimination, division and even violence against others. Extremism is what party leaders ought to want out of their tents.

Related content:

Editorial: More Republicans must stand up to hate proliferating in campaigns, public life

From The Oklahoman: Oklahoma Senate candidate Jarrin Jackson posts homophobic, antisemitic remarks on social media

House OKs bill to protect contraception from Supreme Court

D.C. Digest: Oklahoma delegation wants more for defense, less for domestic spending

Editorial: Evidence of Oklahoma's teacher, staff crisis found everywhere

Legislative report says Oklahoma public schools affected by poverty more than most but funding does not always reflect it

State laws on abortion, transgender issues have companies balking on coming to Oklahoma, development official says

Tulsa Public Schools accredited with a warning over HB1775 violation

Contact us

Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor

Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's podcast, Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette talk about a critical audit of Oklahoma's use of pandemic relief money for education. Ultimately, the state may be forced to repay about $653,000 that auditors said was misspent by families on noneducational items such as televisions, washers and dryers, air conditioners and Christmas trees. Are we used to federal investigations to the point that people aren't paying attention?

Related content:

Editorial: Stitt's mounting problems with fiscal oversight

New federal report highly critical of Oklahoma's use of pandemic relief money for education

Editorial: Stitt's ire toward TPS reaches new level with state audit request

Watch Now: Gist responds to Stitt's call for special state audit of Tulsa Public Schools

TPS board reverses course, approves routine items

Editorial: Apologies need to be on the TPS agenda from three board members

Future Tulsa City Hall visitors likely will pass through metal detector

Bob Doucette: Like it or not, everyone's looking at Generation X now

Ginnie Graham: COVID-19 not finished with us yet

Column: Stitt's executive order addressing 'crisis pregnancies' falls short of long-term pro-family policies

Column: Businesses need to create spaces for authentic diversity discussions to establish strong allyship

Column: What happened when 12 Tulsa 8th graders gave away $10,000?

Contact us

Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories

Click here to submit a letter to the editor

Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.