Small: Time for leadership at OU

Time for leadership at OU

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma faces workforce challenges. Our college system should play a crucial role in addressing that challenge and fueling economic growth.

Instead, the University of Oklahoma is receiving national attention for devolving into academic self-parody.

Rather than gain renown for producing engineers and scientists, OU is under scrutiny for having a man who identifies as a woman teach students about psychology. And that instructor is under fire for alleged religious discrimination against a Christian student who believes, accurately, that there are only two sexes.

Major Administrative Rules reforms take effect in Oklahoma

Administrative rules are where the government-law rubber meets real-life road. It's the nitty-gritty detail of how law affects life. In the legislature, administrative rules oversight requires a lot of work and dedication. It's not glamorous or headline/camera catching, but it is absolutely necessary. 

Major Administrative Rules Reforms Take Effect in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 2nd) – The last of four major reforms to Oklahoma’s administrative rulemaking process took effect last month, marking a significant overhaul of the state's regulatory oversight system. Already in effect were three other new laws that strengthen legislative oversight, limit agency overreach and ensure that regulations are grounded in law and subject to greater public accountability.

Administrative rules are the regulations written by state agencies to enforce laws passed by the Legislature and carry the force of law. After being approved by the agency, proposed rules move to the Legislature, but state statute left loopholes that could allow rules to become permanent without a single vote from lawmakers.

OK Freedom Caucus: OU’s war on Faith and Free Speech must end – or funding will

Oklahoma Freedom Caucus: OU’s War on Faith and Free Speech Must End – Or Funding Will

OKLAHOMA CITY – The University of Oklahoma has once again proven that radical woke ideology continues to control its campus. Last week, psychology junior Samantha Fulnecky received a zero on an assignment for citing the Bible while defending traditional gender roles. Her instructor branded the reference “highly offensive” and punished her for holding Christian beliefs. 

This is only the latest outrage. These events mirror prior Freedom Caucus warnings about OU's descent into radical activism. The university's leftist culture enables the destruction of conservative materials, fosters an unsafe environment for patriotic students, and prioritizes ideological conformity over education—turning campuses into echo chambers where conservative ideas are not debated but demolished. All while university leadership issues weak statements, refuses to meet with Conservative students, and imposes no serious discipline.

OK for Life's Lauinger: oppose SQ 836, pro-abortion "gimmick"

Oklahomans for Life: Oppose State Question 836: 

Abortion Supporters Want to Change Elections in Oklahoma to Elect

More Pro-Abortion Candidates; Decline to Sign SQ 836 Initiative Petition

(Oklahomans for Life, Nov. 22nd) – Pro-abortion political operatives have seized upon a new gimmick to try to elect more pro-abortion candidates to public office in Oklahoma. Their strategy is to confuse voters with appeals to “fairness,” and “democracy” and “disenfranchised” voters, while seeking to impose on our state an election process that would result in the election of more pro-abortion candidates.

Their mechanism is State Question 836 (SQ 836), an initiative petition to turn Oklahoma’s voting system on its head. This approach has various labels – open primary, jungle primary, California system. It is a manipulative scheme which games the system and rigs the results in such a way that the consequence would be the election of more pro-abortion candidates.

We urge you to oppose SQ 836 and not sign the initiative petition if someone with a clipboard in a public place asks you to.

Gov. Stitt, Wildlife Conservation go to battle with AG Drummond over rule of law

Governor Stitt Fights for Rule of Law, Wildlife Conservation

 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (November 20, 2025) – In the wake of Attorney General Drummond’s decision to put the desires of political donors above Oklahoma law, Governor Stitt doubled down on his commitment to upholding the rule of law, regardless of race. He applauded the Wildlife Commission’s decision to order the Attorney General to stop interfering with their duty to uphold the law and opt to hire an independent attorney that will defend their position.

  

“The most core American value is that laws are applied equally regardless of race,” said Governor Stitt. “The courts have been clear time and time again, the application of the misguided McGirt decision does not extend to every part of Oklahoma life. The state can and will continue to enforce wildlife laws, traffic laws, and tax laws to every Oklahoman.”

Tickets included bear baiting, spotlighting, hunting without a license on state owned property and hunting without a license on federal land that is managed by OWDC.

State Question 836: California’s own elections chief doesn't like top-2 primary system

Top-two primary proposal draws criticism—from California’s own elections chief

by Ray Carter | November 19th, 2025

An initiative petition, backed by out-of-state activists, is currently circulating to replace Oklahoma’s current primary-election process with a California-style “top two” or “open primary” system. That system can result in two officials from the same political party being the only choices on the November general-election ballot.

The proposed new system has drawn criticism not only from a wide range of Oklahoma conservatives but also from an unexpected source: the Democrat who oversees California’s election system.

“I’ve never liked that system and still don’t,” said California Secretary of State Shirley Webber in an April 2021 interview with the Bipartisan Policy Center. “And let me tell you why: I think it disenfranchises the small parties.”

MuskogeePolitico Reader Giveaway!

Who likes giveaways? Muskogee Politico is partnering with Glenndale Grace Firearms & Training to giveaway TWO (2) Self-Defense Act classes (for you and a spouse or friend). Enter between now and the end of November by liking, commenting, and sharing this video on Facebook, or by emailing Muskogee Politico at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com. 

Thanks for reading MuskogeePolitico.com for the past 17 years! We'll have a lot more coming your way with the approaching 2026 Oklahoma elections.

Google bringing major data centers to Muskogee County

Under the code name Project Scissortail, Google has been preparing a massive nearly 420-acre new project just south of the Muskogee city limits. According to a document from the City of Muskogee, there will be multiple phases to the development (up to four), and "each developed Phase will include a data center comprised of approximately 300,000 square feet" together with other structures and buildings. Another data center will be built near the town of Council Hill.

Work has been going on for months, but the official public confirmation that Google is behind it all has only come in recent days. I drove out to the area the other day, and the amount of construction going on there is massive. KJRH has a little bit of footage of the construction in this news clip.

In addition to the Scissortail project, there's also construction at the CoreScientific data center, the existing (and expanding) Polaris data center, and Starburst Power's lithium refinery... there's a lot going on out there. 

~419 acre project area south of Muskogee

Here is the press release from Port Muskogee, officially announcing the plan:

Google Announces Two Data Center Campuses in Muskogee County, Oklahoma

published by Port Muskogee

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (November, 20 2025) – Google, along with Muskogee County, City of Muskogee and Port Muskogee today announced plans for two new data center campuses near the towns of Summit and Council Hill, as well as new agreements to add energy to the electricity grid — building on the company’s longstanding presence in Oklahoma.

Small: Reading reform momentum grows

Reading reform momentum grows 

By Jonathan Small

 

Efforts to address Oklahoma’s literacy crisis gained further momentum this week as officials with the State Chamber called for lawmakers to adopt a Mississippi-style reading law. That will require early intervention for struggling readers and a mandate that children repeat the third grade if they do not meet basic literacy standards.

 

According to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests, only 23 percent of Oklahoma fourth-grade students were proficient or advanced in reading in 2024. That ranks 49th in the nation.

 

In contrast, Mississippi ranks ninth.

Stitt defends equal enforcement of state hunting laws, countering action by Attorney General "lawless Drummond"

Governor Stitt Defends Equal Enforcement of State Hunting Laws, Appoints Special Prosecutor 

OKLAHOMA CITY (November 13, 2025) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Russ Cochran, former Assistant District Attorney for Lincoln and Pottawattamie Counties and former General Counsel for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, to act as a special prosecutor in the wake of the State Attorney General’s actions regarding the prosecution of certain crimes in eastern Oklahoma.

“State and federal courts have been clear. The State of Oklahoma can prosecute Indians who commit non-major crimes in our state,” said Governor Stitt. “I will not stand by and allow lawless Drummond to undermine district attorneys who are prosecuting crimes and keeping Oklahomans safe.”

Dem State Rep resigns to lead Oklahoma AFL-CIO

Oh look, another legislator resigning for another job and triggering an extra special-election during a regular election cycle. The unlucky winner of the special election will likely not be able to be sworn in before the conclusion of the 2026 legislative session in May, and the regular election candidate filing will be in April.

Rep. Forrest Bennett (D-OKC) was elected president of the Oklahoma AFL-CIO on November 7th and sworn in that same day... and despite explicitly saying in the following press release that he "cannot ethically be a member of the legislature and serve in my new role" due to working with lobbyists, his resignation doesn't go into effect until December 1st. I guess it's ethical for a few weeks?

Rep. Bennett (D-OKC) and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson (D-OKC)

Bennett resigns from Oklahoma Legislature

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov, 13th) – Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City, submitted his resignation to the Governor on Wednesday. His resignation is effective Dec. 1, 2025.

“It has been the honor of my lifetime to represent the truly good people of House District 92,” said Bennett. “While my title is changing, my commitment to my friends, neighbors, and fellow Oklahomans will never waiver.”

Small: Minimum-wage reality

Minimum-wage reality

By Jonathan Small

On paper, Oklahoma’s minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. In reality, the starting wage for most entry-level jobs today is much higher with wages of $11 to $14 an hour common.

That fact undermines the entire narrative of those claiming government needs to set wages. They argue that employers won’t pay a penny more than legally required. But this is false. Employee pay is not the product of government edict, but of market reality. Employers must pay wages that attract workers. That’s why today’s entry-level wages in Oklahoma are much higher than the official minimum.