This Week in Oklahoma Politics KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the State Board of Education meeting canceled over concerns of violating the Open Meetings Act, Democrats at the State Capitol filing resolutions to reject social studies standards from the SBE and Superintendent Ryan Walters suing a national watchdog group over religion in public schools.

The trio also talks about Governor Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond trading jabs over religion in public schools and Stitt coming under fire for critical remarks against the former state forestry chief over recent wildfires.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former Democratic House Leader Emily Virgin about President Trump's executive order calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, State Superintendent Ryan Walters legal victory in a case regarding anti-bullying enforcement and a legal fight between the City of Tulsa and the Muscogee Nation getting two new participants: Governor Stitt and tribal freedmen.

The trio also discusses the State Health Department's creation of a measles outbreak page on its website and the State Insurance Commissioner warning of increased premiums if ACA subsidies are allowed to expire at the end of the year.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former House Democratic Leader Emily Virgin about a settlement between State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Ethics Commission over his use of social media to support President Trump, Governor Stitt's support of cuts by Elon Musk and DOGE and the Trump Administration announces it is investigating the OU School of Community Medicine.

The trio also discusses Attorney General Gentner Drummond hiring a former colleague and mentee of Chief Justice John Roberts to argue the case of an OKC Catholic charter school and lawmakers amended a bill to ban homeless shelters and services outside of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Join us for a celebration of the life of KOSU friend and colleague, and host of This Week in Oklahoma Politics, Ryan Kiesel.

It's come-and-go on Thursday, March 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City.

It'll be a night of laughter, music and making new friends -- all passions of Ryan's.

All fundraising will go to benefit the Oliver and Claire Kiesel Education Fund and KOSU.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former House Democratic Leader Emily Virgin about Governor Stitt joining other states in asking to have a seat at the table in federal cuts and layoffs, the State Supreme Court puts a pause on plans by Superintendent Ryan Walters for Bibles and Bible curriculum in classrooms and Superintendent Walters questioning the integrity of school test scores released by his agency.

The trio also discusses state lawmakers passing legislation allowing Board of Education members more access to the agenda and a bill heading to the Senate making it harder for initiative petitions to get on the ballot.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former House Democratic Leader Emily Virgin about Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticizing State Superintendent Ryan Walters over an opinion request, the State Board of Education voting in favor of new controversial social studies standards and a scathing audit against Tulsa Public Schools.

The trio also discusses a ruling in a challenge to Governor Stitt's return-to-work order for state employees and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation touring the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former House Democratic Leader Emily Virgin about an announcement from Governor Stitt concerning a partnership with Oklahoma and the federal government over immigration enforcement, a lawsuit against Stitt over his order for state employees to return to in-office work and State Superintendent Ryan Walters asks for a legal opinion from Attorney General Getner Drummond regarding a Trump executive order on federal funding for undocumented students.

The trio also talks about a report from the Oklahoma Tax Commission showing more than 20% of private school tax credits went to families making more than $250,000 and the 2026 races for Attorney General and State Superintendent get their first candidates.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former Democratic State House Speaker Steve Lewis about Governor Stitt firing three members of the State Board of Education and nominating three replacements and an audit of the Tulsa Public School District.

The trio also discusses legislative leaders pulling back on Governor Stitt's tax cut plan and Operation Guardian to identify, arrest and deport illegal immigrants gets underway.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former Democratic State House Speaker Steve Lewis about the untimely passing of our colleague Ryan Kiesel who died last week after a long battle with cancer as well as Governor Stitt's State of the State Address and executive budget to kick off the 60th Legislative Session.

The trio also discusses lawmakers questioning the budget request by State Superintendent Ryan Walters along with his ask for $3M to buy Bibles and the OSU Board of Regents accepting the resignation of President Kayse Shrum.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt kicked off the legislative session with his seventh annual State of the State address on Monday. The Governor laid out his policy priorities for the session: which include cutting state income taxes, keeping state agency budgets flat, and ending fines, fees and court costs to reform the criminal justice system. He also called for the elimination of virtual days in K-12 schools, as well as a cell phone ban in those schools. His priorities and those of state lawmakers don’t always align, but Stitt’s speech gives us a glimpse into what the GOP-dominated legislature will consider during this session. We’ll have more coverage and offer context on the radio, on this podcast, and online at KOSU.org.

Ryan Kiesel, a civil rights lawyer, former Oklahoma state lawmaker, political consultant and KOSU commentator, died Friday at the age of 45 following a long battle with cancer.

Kiesel was a political commentator on KOSU’s weekly radio program and podcast This Week in Oklahoma Politics, hosted by Michael Cross. For 13 years, Kiesel sat opposite Republican political consultant Neva Hill, as they provided analysis and discussion of the week's political and state government news.

We have more about Kiesel's life and legacy and KOSU.org.

You can leave your remembrances of him by clicking the ‘Contact Us’ page at KOSU.org.