The Oklahoma Observercast

Latest Episodes
A Hemorrhoid Donut
What triggered state Superintendent Ryan Walters abrupt resignation? What does it mean for an already reeling Oklahoma public school system, ranked dead last nationally? Sandra Valentine and Sean Cum
An Ominous Omen
Its one of those surely-it-cant-happen-here worries that awakens many of us in the dead of night: Fearing the 2026 midterms wont go his way, Donald Trump imposes martial law and calls off the elect
Blueprint For Revival
Oklahoma Democrats overwhelmingly elected a new state leadership team at their recent state convention, installing Tulsa Rep. John Waldron as chair and public ed advocate Erin Brewer as vice chair in
Gov. Frankenstitt’s Monster
Naked women? Porn? On a television in state Superintendent Ryan Walters office during a State Board of Education executive session? The same Walters demanding a Bible in every classroom? The same Wal
Academic Standards For The Pre-Modern Age
Whos afraid of state Superintendent Ryan Walters? Legislative leadership clearly is. Or perhaps its more accurate to say theyre afraid of Walters voters, who wield outsize influence in low-turnout
Slippery Slope
The quest to obliterate Oklahomas strict constitutional prohibition against spending public tax dollars for religious purposes goes to the U.S. Supreme Court this week. State courts ruled the propose
To the Ballot Box … Or Not
There are good bills. Bad bills. And bills best described as, well, Grade A cow patties, flies buzzing all around them, the stench wafting across the state. On todays Observercast, Oklahoma City Rep.
Sprint To The Finish
The 2025 Legislatures final eight weeks begin today with a daunting list of constitutionally mandated tasks and oft-inane or diabolical public policy proposals still on the agenda. Will there be an i
Getting Real About Democratic Politics
Across the land, Democrats are engaged in soul-searching. On a national level, its the fallout from Donald Trump reclaiming the White House. In Oklahoma, its the partys superminority status in the
Stitt Still Oversteps
Gov. Kevin Stitt rode into office in 2019 having rarely voted and with little idea how government worked. Separation of powers? In Stitts mind, that was how the CEO divvied up the work for the minion