>> OKLAHOMA IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF ADDITIONAL FEDERAL JUDGES, BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES ON WHO THEY SHOULD BE.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT SARA HILL IS QUALIFIED OR IS THE BEST CHOICE TO BE A FEDERAL JUDGE IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

>> I WISH GOVERNOR STITT WOULD ACTUALLY PERSONALLY TALK TO SARA HILL.

I HAVE ENCOURAGED HIM SEVERAL TIMES TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO HER AND ACTUALLY TALK TO HER LIKE I HAVE.

>> STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS RECEIVES A SUBPOENA FROM THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> IT IS NOT LIKE WE HAVEN'T ASKED MULTIPLE QUESTIONS AND THEY COME BACK UNANSWERED.

>> THE USDA STEPS IN TO HELP OKLAHOMA IMPROVES ITS RURAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.

>> WITH THE FUNDS FROM THE USDA, WE ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE CARTS, AND THESE TELEHEALTH CARTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO.

>> IN-DEPTH REACTION TO GOVERNOR STITT'S CALL TO REIGN IN D.E.I.

PROGRAMS IN STATE AGENCIES AND UNIVERSITIES.

>> THE REALITY IS DEI DOES NOTHING BUT, IN ITS CURRENT FORM, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CHILDREN AND SHAME KIDS IF THEY >> WE HAVE AN AGENDA NOW TO ELIMINATE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ON OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES, INSTEAD OF MAKING IT BETTER.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS THE INFLUENCE OF "DARK MONEY" GROWS IN STATE POLITICS.

THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT!

>> RICH: HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ.

EVER SINCE THE SUPREME COURT'S MCGIRT DECISION IN 2020, THE CASELOAD FOR FEDERAL JUDGES IN OUR STATE'S NORTHERN DISTRICT HAS BEEN RISING DRAMATICALLY.

THEY NEED HELP.

AND ON TUESDAY, THEY GOT IT, AS THE U.S. SENATE CONFIRMED TWO MUCH-NEEDED NEW JUDGES.

BUT THE VOTE WAS NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY AND DISAGREEMENT AMONG SOME OF OKLAHOMA'S LEADING LAWMAKERS.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

STEVE?

>> HITCH, THIS PAST TUESDAY, THE FULL U.S. SENATE VOTED 52-14 TO CONFIRM SARA HILL AS AN OKLAHOMA NORTHERN DISTRICT FEDERAL JUDGE.

THE SENATE ALSO APPROVED TULSA ATTORNEY JOHN RUSSELL AS A NORTHERN DISTRICT JUDGE.

BUT THERE WAS SERIOUS INTERNAL ANGST AMONGST LOCAL REPUBLICANS LEADING UP TO THE VOTE.

>> WELL, IT IS AWKWARD.

>> ANDY COATES IS A FORMER OKLAHOMA CITY MAYOR, A FORMER OKLAHOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

HE'S THE FORMER LONG-TIME DEAN OF OU'S LAW SCHOOL, AND HE'S A CURRENT OU LAW PROFESSOR.

HE TOLD ME MONDAY IT WAS VERY LIKELY BOTH SARA HILL AND JOHN RUSSELL WOULD BE CONFIRMED AS FEDERAL JUDGES IN OKLAHOMA'S NORTHERN DISTRICT.

>> I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF GOING THROUGH THE BACKGROUND AND THINKING ABOUT IT AND SEEING SOMEBODY THAT BOTH SIDES COULD AGREE ON.

>> IF IT HAD BEEN UP TO OKLAHOMA, U.S.

SENATOR JAMES LANGFORD, ATTORNEY HILL, WHO IS A FORMER CHEROKEE NATION ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND RUSSELL, WHO IS A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR, WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FULL U.S. SENATE MUCH SOONER.

>> THE NORTHERN DISTRICT HAS ABOUT 500 CASES CURRENTLY IN ITS BACKLOG RIGHT NOW AND WHAT THEY CALL ONE AND A HALF JUDGES.

THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THIS.

THE NORTHERN DISTRICT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HEAR CIVIL CASES IN SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

THEY'VE ONLY DONE CRIMINAL CASES, SO ANYONE TRYING TO GET TO THE CIVIL SIDE OF THE FEDERAL COURTS IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT RIGHT NOW IS JUST OUT OF LUCK.

>> LANGFORD AND FORMER LONG TIME OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL DREW EDMONDSON, WHO I ALSO TALKED TO ON MONDAY, SAY THAT BACKLOG CAME ABOUT AFTER THE HISTORIC MGIRT DECISION WHEN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED THAT OKLAHOMA'S MUS MUSCOGEE NATION HAD JURISDICTION OVER A CRIMINAL CASE, NOT OKLAHOMA.

>> A WHOLE BUNCH OF CASES GOT FILED IN FEDERAL COURT THAT ORDINARILY WOULD HAVE BEEN FILED IN STATE COURT AND CREATED A GREAT BACKLOG, PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT, BUT ALSO IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA.

>> HILL AND RUSSELL WERE BOTH QUESTIONED AT A U.S. SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING A MONTH AGO.

>> DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR THE UNITED STATES IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT JOB THAN THE JOB OF AN ADVOCATE.

IT'S A ATTORNEY GENERAL, I WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE TRIBES, ALL THE STRATEGIC THOUGHT I COULD PUT INTO IT ON BEHALF OF THE NATION.

FOR A FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE, IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT JOB.

THE JOB IS TO LOOK AT ALL THE CASES BEFORE YOU IMPARTIALLY AND FAIRLY.

>> DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT ON THE BENCH AS WELL AS IN THE STAFF CHAMBERS OF ANY JUDGE.

FOR MY PART, I LIKE MS. HILL.

I DID NOT CLERK, BUT IN THE MANY FIRMS THAT I HAVE WORKED AT, WE HAVE SEEN THE VALUE OF CLERK SHIPS AS WE HAVE HAD AND HIRED CLERKS THAT HAVE COME IN, AND HAVING THE DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING TALENT COMING FROM ALL DIFFERENT PLACES.

>> I REACHED OUT TO OKLAHOMA'S OTHER U.S.

SENATOR, MARKWAYNE MULLIN ABOUT THESE TWO NOMINATIONS LAST WEEK.

I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK, BUT OKLAHOMA'S GOVERNOR HAS PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT SARA HILL.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SARA HILL IS QUALIFIED OR THE BEST CHOICE TO BE A FEDERAL JUDGE IN OTHER THAN OKLAHOMA.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME THAT QUESTION, THAT OKLAHOMANS UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE STATEMENTS THAT SHE'S MADE.

IN OTHER WORDS SHE'S MADE STATEMENTS LIKE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CHEROKEE NATION SHOULD EVER BE PART OF A STATE BEGIN.

>> GOVERNOR STITT TOLD US LAST THURSDAY, HILL, WHO WOULD BE THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE AS NORTHERN DISTRICT JUDGE, IS LOYAL TO THE CHEROKEE NATION CONSTITUTION, NOT NECESSARILY THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

>> A COUPLE OTHER THINGS ON OIL AND GAS, SHE HASN'T BEEN A PROPONENT OF OIL AND GAS.

SHE ACTUALLY HELPED TO BLOCK THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE.

SHE'S MADE STATEMENTS AGAINST AGRICULTURE AND THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA'S ABILITY, LIKE EVERY OTHER STATE, TO ADMINISTER THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AROUND OUR OWN FARMLAND.

>> I WISH GOVERNOR STITT WOULD ACTUALLY PERSONALLY TALK TO SARA HILL.

I'VE ENCOURAGED HIM SEVERAL TIMES TO REACH OUT TO HER AND TALK TO HER LIKE I HAVE AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE, TO BE ABLE TO INTERVIEW HER AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS ON.

THAT BUT I WOULD TELL YOU, SHE'S BEEN VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD.

SHE'S AN AMERICAN.

SHE'S COMMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

SHE ALSO UNDERSTANDS, YES, SHE DID WORK FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION FOR YEARS.

WHEN YOU WORK FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION, YOU REPRESENT THE CHEROKEE NATION, BUT WHEN YOU'RE A FEDERAL JUDGE, YOU REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> AND I AM CERTAINLY OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS HAVE REVIEWED VERY CAREFULLY AS THEY DO ON ALL NOMINEES, VERY CAREFULLY SARA HILL'S BACKGROUND, STATEMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND ABILITY TO SERVE IMPARTIALLY AS A FEDERAL JUDGE, AND THEY BOTH AGREED THAT SARA HILL IS A GOOD NOMINEE.

THEY SUPPORT HER NOMINATION, AND I TRUST THEIR JUDGMENT OVER MR. STITTS WHO HAS BEEN WRONG ON EVERY INDIAN ISSUE SO FAR.

I'D LOVE FOR SOMEBODY TO POINT OUT AN ISSUE INVOLVING NATIVE AMERICANS IN OKLAHOMA WHERE HE'S BEEN RIGHT, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE.

>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR OF OKLAHOMA SAID A LOT OF THINGS THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH, BUT I MUST SAY, BOTH REPUBLICAN SENATORS AGREE, AND YOU CAN GET PAST THE PRESIDENT OF ANOTHER PARTY IN SUPPORT OF HER.

>> GOVERNOR STITT WASN'T THE ONLY REPUBLICAN LEADER WHO OPPOSED AT LEAST SARA HILL'S NOMINATION.

STATE SENATOR NATHAN DOM, WHO IS ALSO THE OKLAHOMA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN, SENT OUT A NEWSLETTER LATE LAST MONTH THAT CALLS SARA HILL A LEFTIST ACTIVIST, AND QUOTE, IT'S TIME WE TOOK A STAND AGAINST THESE LEFTIST ACTIVIST JUDGES.

THIS IS JUST THE FIRST OF MANY JUDGES WE NEED TO STOP, AND WE WILL BE SHARING MORE OF THOSE PLANS IN COMING MONTHS.

>> I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT ACCUSATIONS ABOUT SARA IN THAT SENSE.

SARA IS PRO ENERGY, AN OKLAHOMAIAN AS WELL.

>> IT SEEMED TO ME THAT HER TESTIMONY, FROM WHAT I SAW OF IT, WAS VERY REASONABLE AND THAT SHE WOULD BE A PERSON WHO WOULD FOLLOW THE LAW, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT A JUDGE TO DO, AND I THINK ONES THEY'RE THERE, JUDGES COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTIES AND DIFFERENT VIEWS, AND MOST OF THEM, THE FEDERAL JUDGES, ONCE THEY ASCEND TO THE BENCH, THEY FOLLOW THE LAW.

>> LANGFORD TOLD ME MONDAY BOTH NOMINEES WERE APPROVED BY THAT SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE LAST MONTH BY MORE THAN A 2 TO 1 MARGIN.

THE FULL SENATE'S STRONG ENDORSEMENT TUESDAY NIGHT CONFIRMED THAT.

>> WE'VE INTERVIEWED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND HAVE COME TO A COMMON GROUND AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, KNOWN IN THE AREA, AND VERY ENGAGED IN THE AREA OF LAW.

WE'VE DONE AN INTERVIEW PERSONALLY WITH BOTH OF THEM.

THERE ARE VERY SOLID ANSWERS IN CONSTITUTION ON LOTS OF THINGS IMPORTANT TO OKLAHOMANS, LIKE SECOND AMENDMENT AND ALL OF THINGS PEOPLE ASK ABOUT.

>> ALTHOUGH SENATOR MARKWAYNE MULLIN WAS PART OF THE INITIAL PROCESS, HE REPORTEDLY DIDN'T VOTE TUESDAY NIGHT FOR OR AGAINST SARA HILL.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU, STEVE.

>> IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, WE'LL TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT'S SIGNING OF AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT COULD LEAD TO THE REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND STATE AGENCIES.

HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY WHEN HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON DECEMBER 13TH.

>> THAT'S GONNA SHIFT THE FOCUS IN EDUCATION BACK TO EDUCATING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE INSTEAD OF POLITICS AND INDOCTRINATION IN OUR COLLEGES AND OUR UNIVERSITIES.

OKLAHOMANS, I'VE BEEN TO ALL 77 COUNTIES.

I'VE MET WITH OKLAHOMANS ALL OVER THE STATE AND PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA, AND I THINK NATIONALLY, THEY'RE TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT DIVIDE US.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

I BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THAT.

THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT UNITE US.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR SET A DEADLINE OF MAY OF NEXT YEAR FOR AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS TO SUBMIT DETAILED REPORTS ON THE NECESSITY OF THEIR D.E.I.

PROGRAMS, GIVING LAWMAKERS TIME TO CONSIDER POSSIBLE CUTBACKS AS THEY CRAFT NEXT YEAR'S STATE BUDGET.

>> COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD CONVENES A PANEL TO DISCUSS THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> THE WHOLE THING ABOUT D.E.I.

IS THAT IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD, AND THIS IS TYPICAL WHEN IT COMES, YOU KNOW, FROM THIS KIND OF LEFTIST DOGMA WITH THIS INCLUSIVENESS AND ALL OF THIS.

BUT THE REALITY IS, AS WE SAW IN THE HARVARD CASE EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE REALITY IS D.E.I.

DOES NOTHING BUT, IN ITS CURRENT FORM, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CHILDREN AND SHAME KIDS IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THE CURRENT POPULAR BELIEFS OF THE DAY.

SO LIKE THE INDOCTRINATION CLASSES THEY HAVE TO GO TO, WHICH ONE OF MY BILLS ADDRESSES THESE CLASSES, REALLY SHAME THOSE THAT DON'T AGREE WITH WHATEVER THE POSITIONS THAT THEY'RE PUSHING, WHETHER IT'S GENDER IDEOLOGY OR CERTAIN RACES THAT SHOULD BE PREFERRED OR, YOU KNOW, LACK OF WHITENESS OR WHITE SUPREMACY OR WHATEVER IS THE POLITICAL DOGMA OF THE DAY.

>> D.E.I., FIRST OF ALL, IS NOT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME MISLEADING TALKING POINTS THAT ARE CONFLATING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WITH DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

AND IF WE LOOK AT THE WORKFORCE AND IF WE LOOK AT HOW CORPORATE AMERICA IS UTILIZING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, IT'S BASICALLY MANNERS ON COLLABORATION WITH DIVERSE PEOPLE, HOW TO SHOW UP AT A BUSINESS MEETING AND NOT SAY THINGS THAT ARE HORRIBLY IGNORANT AND HORRIBLY OFFENSIVE.

>> THAT FULL CONVERSATION COMING UP A LITTLE BIT LATER ON IN THIS NEWSCAST.

OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO TARGETING STATE SUPERINTENDENT PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, RYAN WALTERS HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR HIS IMPEACHMENT, AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS NOW ISSUED WALTERS A SUBPOENA FOR INFORMATION.

ALL THIS, WHILE WALTERS CONTINUES TO EXPRESS HIS DISAPPROVAL OF TULSA'S NEW FULL-TIME SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW TO SORT IT ALL OUT.

JASON?

>> THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE SUBPOENA ISSUED ON TUESDAY IS SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN ASKED BEFORE.

THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE WHICH OVERSEES SPENDING WANTS WALTERS AND HIS TEAM TO DROP THE RHETORIC AND JUST PROVIDE THE INFORMATION LAWMAKERS WANT.

>> THEY NEED TO STOP USING OUR KIDS AS THEIR POLITICAL PAWNS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MARK MCBRIDE REQUESTED THE SUBPOENA, WHICH RECEIVED THE APPROVAL OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CHARLES MCCALL AND HOUSE COMMON EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR RHONDA BAKER.

DURING A WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS CONFERENCE, THE CHAIR OF THE APPROPRIATION SUBCOMMITTEE FOR EDUCATION EXPLAINED THEY JUST WANT ANSWERS.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVEN'T ASKED MULTIPLE QUESTIONS AND THEY'VE COME BACK UNANSWERED.

SO THIS WAS JUST KIND OF -- AFTER THE SECOND, THIRD TIME, AND WE FELT LIKE THESE WERE REQUESTS THAT NEEDED TO BE ANSWERED.

>> THE SUBPOENA ASKED FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING A TEACHER RECRUITMENT PROGRAM, WHICH STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS, WHO SITS ON THE OETA BOARD BY VIRTUE OF HIS ELECTED POSITION, HAS BRAGGED IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION.

>> I WAS JUST WANTING SOME FOLLOW-UP ON THE TEACHER RECRUITMENT.

HE SAID IT WAS THE BEST IN THE NATION.

I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME -- YOU KNOW, WHERE THE TEACHERS COME FROM, WHAT STATES, WHAT DEGREES DID THEY HOLD.

>> MCBRIDE ALSO WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT E-MAILS SENT TO AND FROM WALTERS EVERY KIDS COUNT E-MAIL ADDRESS.

>> I THINK ONE OF THEIR RESPONSES WAS THAT THAT WAS IRRELEVANT.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S THE LEGISLATURE'S JOB TO DECIDE WHAT'S RELEVANT AND WHAT ISN'T RELEVANT.

>> THE SUBPOENA ALSO ASKS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT $2 MILLION EARMARKED FOR AN EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE CALLED METRIC.

>> $2 MILLION THAT WE PUT TOWARDS METRIC SOFTWARE, AND IT HAS YET TO BE UTILIZED, AND THEY WON'T -- WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT?

THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW.

>> IN RESPONSE TO THE SUBPOENA, STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SENIOR ADVISOR MATT LANGSTON ISSUED THIS STATEMENT: REPRESENTATIVE MCBRIDE HAS REPEATEDLY LIED ABOUT SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

HE HAS MADE UP FALSE NARRATIVES AND HAS YET TO SHOW A SERIOUS EFFORT TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN OKLAHOMA.

ALL OKLAHOMANS SHOULD QUESTION HIS POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL STANCES.

REPRESENTATIVE MCBRIDE ACTIVELY WORKS WITH DEMOCRATS AND TEACHERS UNIONS TO UNDERMINE SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS AND OKLAHOMANS' CONSERVATIVE POLICIES.

>> AM I A LIAR?

WELL, IF ASKING QUESTIONS MAKES ME A LIAR, THEN I GUESS I AM, BUT THAT'S ALL I'VE EVER DONE IS ASK QUESTIONS, AND THEY COME TO ME UNANSWERED OR CALLED ME A LIAR.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE PRAISING THE MOVE TO ISSUE A SUBPOENA.

>> AND WHILE WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT, I'M GLAD TO SEE THERE ARE SOME STEPS BEING TAKEN, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS -- THAT INFORMATION IS SENT TO A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS, THAT THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS ACTUALLY GETTING TO THE ISSUES THAT MANY OKLAHOMANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> LATE LAST WEEK, REPRESENTATIVE CINDY MUNSON AND THE OTHER HOUSE DEMOCRATS ALSO RENEWED THEIR CALL FOR AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO WALTERS.

>> WE FELT LIKE THIS IS A TIME TO REALLY RAISE THE ALARM AGAIN TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY THAT WE HAVE GOT TO, IF NOTHING ELSE, PUT ALL THE INFORMATION IN ONE PLACE AND LET A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS DOING OR WHAT HE ISN'T DOING, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> SHE SAYS THAT THIS RENEWED CALL COMES AFTER A SURVEY SURFACED THAT SOME SCHOOLS WERE NOT GETTING THEIR FEDERAL FUNDING.

>> THIS ADDITIONAL CALL CAME AFTER THE REPORTS THAT CAME OUT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WERE SURVEYED AND ABOUT 100 OF THEM HAVE SAID THEY HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH ACCESSING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR VITAL PROGRAMS IN THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND OUTSIDE OF THOSE PROGRAMS, JOBS THAT HANG IN THE BALANCE, THAT ARE PAID FOR BY THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS.

>> MUNSON SAYS THIS IS NOT ABOUT A CONFLICT OF PERSONALITY BETWEEN POLITICAL FIGURES.

>> IT REALLY IS ABOUT THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND THE SPENDING, AND THEN ARE THE POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EXECUTING IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE AGENCY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENING OR NOT.

>> THIS COMES AS WALTERS IS TRYING TO HOLD THE TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDENT PERFORMANCE.

HE CALLED FOR THE TULSA BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.

INSTEAD, THEY CHOSE TO MAKE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DR. EBONY JOHNSON THEIR CHOICE TO LEAD THE DISTRICT.

I CAUGHT UP TO DISCUSS.

>> APPRECIATIVE FOR VOTING ME IN AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AND VERY HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL FOR THEM TO SEE ME AS THEIR SUPERINTENDENT.

>> THAT DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH WALTERS.

DESPITE MONTHS OF ASSURANCES FROM TPS THAT IT WOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY THE PROFOUNDLY TROUBLING ISSUES IN THE DISTRICT, THE TPS BOARD SHOWED THE EXACT OPPOSITE LAST NIGHT.

WHILE I WELCOME A RELATIONSHIP WITH DR. JOHNSON MOVING FORWARD, FORWARD -- THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS NECESSARY TO TURN THE DISTRICT AROUND.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND I EXPECT TPS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT PRIORITIZE STUDENT OUTCOMES AND NOT SIMPLY BE A CONTINUED RUBBER STAMP FOR THE UNIONS.

>> OUR STATE SUPERINTENDENTS BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONAL SEARCH CONDUCTED.

I COMPLETELY RESPECT HIS OPINION IN THAT REGARD.

I ALSO KNOW THAT SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING OR YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE COULD BE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE, THERE COULD VERY WELL BE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR RIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD.

>> WALTERS DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE WHAT THE TULSA SCHOOL BOARD HAS DECIDED UNLESS THE STATE TAKES OVER THE DISTRICT.

DESPITE WALTERS' CONCERNS, JOHNSON FEELS SHE AND THE TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEAM CAN DO THE JOB OF TURNING AROUND THE TULSA SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> I'VE HAD VARIOUS ROLES.

THIS SPEAKS TO MY LEVEL OF CREDENTIALING.

I'VE TURNED SCHOOLS AROUND MULTIPLE TIMES.

I DO HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO DO THE WORK THAT I'M CURRENTLY DOING, AND I ALSO, AGAIN, RESPECT BOTH THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT'S OPINION ON THAT, I RESPECT OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAD THAT SAME -- THE COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAD THAT SAME OPINION, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT I'M UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.

I'M UP FOR THE WORK.

>> JOHNSON SAYS SHE AND THE TULSA BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE NOW FOCUSED ON MEETING THE GOALS FOR THE DISTRICT SET BY WALTERS AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

>> BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT WILL TAKE ALL OF OUR FOCUS TO BE ON WHAT MATTERS THE MOST RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS TO MEET THE LEVEL OF EXPECTATION THAT'S BEEN LINED OUT FOR US BY THE STATE.

>> ON THURSDAY, DR. JOHNSON PROVIDED ANOTHER MONTHLY UPDATE TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS' WORK TO IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES.

AS FAR AS THE SUBPOENA, WALTERS HAS UNTIL JANUARY 5TH TO PRODUCE THE DOCUMENTS AND ANSWERS LAWMAKERS ARE SEEKING.

ITCH.

>> JASON.

THANK YOU.

>> DARK MONEY SPENDING BY OUTSIDE GROUPS CONTINUES TO BE PREVALENT IN OKLAHOMA POLITICS, AND IT COULD ACCELERATE EVEN MORE WITH THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES AND GENERAL ELECTION IN 2024.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ITS INFLUENCE, I SPOKE WITH POLITICAL REPORTER, KEATON ROSS, WITH OUR CONTENT PARTNERS AT OKLAHOMA WATCH.

>> KEATON, LET'S START WITH A WORKING DEFINITION OF WHAT DARK MONEY IS.

>> ELECTION SPENDING BY POLITICALLY AFFILIATED NON-PROFITS THAT DON'T ALWAYS DISCLOSE THEIR DONORS.

THEY'RE ALLOWED TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE A CANDIDATE AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT COORDINATING WITH A CAMPAIGN.

AND IN RECENT YEARS, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THAT SPENDING REALLY ACCELERATE AND SORT OF BOMBARD PEOPLE AROUND ELECTION TIME.

>> AND AGAIN, THAT'S COORDINATING IN QUOTES, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THAT CAN BE A LITTLE -- LITTLE LOOSE DEFINITION FOR SURE.

>> KEATON, YOU'VE DISCOVERED THE MONEY THAT WAS SPENT BY OUTSIDE GROUPS IN 2023 ACTUALLY RIVALS THE AMOUNTS SPENT BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.

NOW, IS THAT -- IS THAT TYPICAL?

>> IN 2023, WE SAW THAT THE OUTSIDE GROUPS SPENT ABOUT $2.3 MILLION, THE CANDIDATES SPENT AROUND $2.9 MILLION.

THAT'S SORT OF BECOMING THE NORM IN OUR ELECTIONS, IS SEEING THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS RIVALING WHAT THE CANDIDATES ARE SPENDING, TRYING TO GET THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS AND GETTING THEIR PREFERRED CANDIDATE ELECTED OR ISSUE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> YOU MENTIONED ISSUES IN ADDITION TO CANDIDATES.

WHAT ISSUE ATTRACTED THE MOST OUTSIDE MONEY IN 2023?

>> THAT ISSUE WAS STATE QUESTION 820, OF COURSE, WHICH PROPOSED LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AND STREAMLINING THE EXPUNGEMENT OF SOME MARIJUANA-RELATED EXPENSES THAT APPEARED ON THE BALLOT IN MARCH AND WAS ULTIMATELY REJECTED.

>> DID MOST OF THE MONEY GO FOR PASSAGE AND SO THEY LOST OUT, OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND?

>> A LOT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM GROUPS, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, WERE FUNDING THE -- THE YES CAMPAIGN.

>> ULTIMATELY, WE SAW THAT QUESTION GET REJECTED BY A PRETTY SOUND MARGIN.

I BELIEVE OVER 60% OF VOTERS REJECTED THE QUESTION.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY SPENT FOR YES, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> KEATON ROSS WITH OKLAHOMA WATCH IN NOVEMBER.

GOVERNOR STITT SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER CALLED THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND ELECTION THREATS TASK FORCE.

WHAT IS THAT AND WHAT DOES IT HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH?

>> IT'S ESSENTIALLY A GROUP OF STATE OFFICIALS AND APPOINTEES FROM THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THAT WILL EVALUATE OKLAHOMA'S ELECTION SYSTEM AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AHEAD OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH IS SET TO BEGIN IN EARLY FEBRUARY.

AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH WHAT THEY PROPOSE AND IF ANY LAWMAKERS TAKE THAT UP IN THE FORM OF A BILL.

>> GOVERNOR STITT IS OPPOSED TO THIS DARK MONEY INFLUENCE.

YOU MENTIONED THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE LAST YEAR.

HOW MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT ON THAT AND HOW DID IT BREAK DOWN BETWEEN WHAT WAS SPENT FOR STITT AND FOR CHALLENGER JOY HOFFMEISTER?

>> IT CAN BE PRETTY DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT, LIKE, AN EXACT TOTAL OF SPENDING, BUT CERTAINLY TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON THAT RACE AND TELEVISION ADS, BILLBOARDS, RADIO ADS, ALL THAT.

THERE WAS SOME FOR AGAINST JOY HOFFMEISTER AS WELL, BUT THE MAJORITY OF IT WAS OPPOSING GOVERNOR STITT, AND IT WAS IN THE -- IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLAR RANGE.

>> LOOKING AHEAD TO ANOTHER VERY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS ABORTION HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

DO WE EXPECT DARK MONEY TO INFLUENCE THAT ISSUE GOING FORWARD?

>> CERTAINLY IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF AN INITIATIVE PROPOSED THAT ENDS UP REACHING THE BALLOT, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY OPEN THE DOOR TO GROUPS TO COME IN AND SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE ISSUE, JUST LIKE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE SOMETHING YOU'D EXPECT, IS A LOT OF MONEY POURED INTO THAT RACE, AND NOT ALL OF IT COMING FROM OKLAHOMA RESIDENTS OR OKLAHOMA ORGANIZATIONS, FOR SURE.

>> IN TERMS OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, DO BOTH GROUPS OPPOSE SUPPORTING DARK MONEY?

HOW DO -- HOW DOES THAT BREAK DOWN?

>> IT REALLY IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU PROBABLY WON'T HAVE A CANDIDATE THAT COMES OUT AND SAYS THAT, HEY, I, YOU KNOW, LOVE DARK MONEY.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PROBABLY ADVOCATES ON BOTH SIDES OF REFORM, DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN, MAYBE NOT ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT -- THAT FALLS EVENLY ALONG A PARTY LINE.

>> IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'LL SAY THEY DON'T LIKE IT, BUT THEY'LL PROBABLY TAKE IT.

KEATON ROSS WITH OKLAHOMA WATCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

>> PANASONIC SAYS NO TO OKLAHOMA FOR A BATTERY MANUFACTURING PLANT AGAIN.

THAT STORY TOPS OUR WEEKLY STATE-WIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> OKLAHOMA IS NO LONGER IN THE RUNNING FOR A SECOND PANASONIC ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY MANUFACTURING PLANT.

THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR STITT HAD COME UP WITH NEARLY 700-MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF INCENTIVES.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME PANASONIC HAS PASSED ON OKLAHOMA FOR A MANUFACTURING PLANT.

OKLAHOMA LOST OUT TO DESOTO, KANSAS, DURING PANASONIC'S INITIAL SEARCH FOR A LOCATION TO BUILD BATTERIES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

BECAUSE OF AN EXPANDED DEAL WITH ALASKA AIRLINES, AAR CORP WILL BE EXPANDING ITS FACILITY AT WILL ROGERS WORLD AIRPORT TO HANDLE THE NEW WORK.

AAR WILL ADD A NEW THREE-BAY HANGER ADJACENT TO ITS EXISTING SEVEN BAY HANGER.

THE NEW 85,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL 737 VARIANTS, AND WILL LEAD TO 200 NEW JOBS.

AAR SIGNED A DEAL WITH ALASKA AIRLINES TO MAINTAIN THE AIRFRAMES OF THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH 2030.

MERCY IS NOW USING AN AI CHAT BOT TO HELP PATIENTS WITH THEIR NEEDS.

THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS CALLING THE AI, "TONI."

IT ACTS AS A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT TO HELP PATIENTS WITH THINGS LIKE SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT OR GETTING A PRESCRIPTION REFILLED.

MERCY PATIENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO TONI 24/7.

IN ITS FIRST 30 DAYS, TONI HAS INTERACTED WITH 14,000 USERS AND ANSWERED ABOUT 42,000 QUESTIONS FOR PATIENTS.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANUFACTURER CANOO HAS NAMED MICHAEL CARTER AS ITS NEW CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER.

HE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING THE COMPANY THROUGH ITS GROWTH AND SCALING MANUFACTURING HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

THE EV MAKER HAS AN ACTIVE LINE IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND IS BUILDING MORE CAPACITY AT THE MID-AMERICA INDUSTRIAL PARK IN PRYOR.

FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES, CARTER HAS WORKED IN HUMAN RESOURCES FOR COMPANIES LIKE CISCO, INTEL, SAMSUNG, AND QUALCOMM.

HIS MOST RECENT JOB WAS VICE PRESIDENT AT LUCID GROUP.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> JASON, THANKS.

>> THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS REPORTS THAT IN 2021, THE LAST YEAR WITH AVAILABLE NUMBERS, NEARLY 2,000 OKLAHOMANS DIED FROM STROKE OR, ROUGHLY, 43 PER 100,000 RESIDENTS.

AND THAT DEATH RATE IS HIGHER IN OUR RURAL AREAS.

NOW THE USDA IS OFFERING A LARGE GRANT TO HELP RURAL HEALTH PROVIDERS PROVIDE BETTER PREVENTIVE CARE.

TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS.

TAELYR?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, RICH.

THE USDA AWARDED OU HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES CONNECT WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY.

THANKS TO THE UNITED STATES STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OKLAHOMANS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES NOW HAVE ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

>> WE BELIEVE HEALTH CARE IS A UNIVERSAL RIGHT.

>> THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE GRANT PROGRAM.

>> WITH THE FUNDS FROM THE USDA, WE'RE ABLE TO PURCHASE CARTS, AND THESE TELEHEALTH CARTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO AND ALLOW FOR US TO INTERFACE WITH A SPOKE SITE, LIKE A RURAL HOSPITAL SITE.

>> OU DIRECTER DR. SHEN CHEN SAYS HOSPITALS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE TELESTROKE TECHNOLOGY.

>> THE OTHER HOSPITAL CAN DEFINE THAT THE PATIENT HAS A STROKE, AND THEY AT THEIR FINGERTIPS CAN BASICALLY CALL US AND GET ONE OF OUR NEUROLOGISTS TO ASSIST IN THE CARE OF THAT STROKE PATIENT AND DELIVER WHAT WE HAVE HERE, OUR EXPERTISE, REMOTELY.

>> THE TELESTROKE CARE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO OKLAHOMANS IN 23 LOCATIONS AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING ELLIS, GRADY AND ROGER MILLS COUNTY.

SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TELEHEALTH SERVICES HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR, AND FOR SOME IT'S A NECESSITY.

>> I WOULD SAY IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, THAT NEED HAS ALWAYS EXISTED.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND LOOKING AT ALL THE HOSPITALS AND WHAT THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOR CARE, SOME OF OUR COUNTIES DON'T EVEN HAVE A HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTY, AND SOME OF THEM ONLY HAVE THE ONE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CDC, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE PREMATURELY THAN RESIDENTS OF URBAN COMMUNITIES.

CANCER, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE AND STROKE ARE SOME OF THE MAIN HEALTH ISSUES RESIDENTS IN RURAL AREAS FACE.

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS THAT PEOPLE GET REGULAR CHECKUPS TO HELP MINIMIZE HEALTH PROBLEMS.

>> SO TO BE AWARE OF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, TO REALLY STAY ON TOP OF THOSE THINGS, WORK WITH A PHYSICIAN, WORK WITH YOUR DOCTOR SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMETHING BECOMES AN ISSUE THAT YOU CAN GET AHEAD OF IT AND START A PLAN BEFORE IT REALLY BECOMES A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

>> STROKE SURVIVOR GARY EXPERIENCED HIS STROKE MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO AND STILL EXPERIENCES THE AFFECT OF HIS STROKE TODAY.

>> I CAN TELL PEOPLE I HAD SURGICALLY IMPLANTED SHORT-TERM MEMORY DEFICIT.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT, AND PEOPLE ARE, LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

AND I'M LIKE EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, SO YOU CAN'T TELL IT.

THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED -- OUR MOVEMENT IS CALLED THE WALKING WOUNDED OR THE SILENT EPIDEMIC.

>> HE UNDERWENT AN EXTENSIVE 13 HOUR SURGERY.

STROKE SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR INCLUDE FACE DROOPING, ARM WEAKNESS AND SPEECH DIFFICULTY.

>> SO IMPORTANT TO GET MEDICAL CARE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT CAN BE HARD IN THOSE RURAL AREAS WHERE, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF HOSPITALS ARE SHUTTING DOWN ACROSS OKLAHOMA, AND SO WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THAT IMMEDIATE CARE AVAILABLE.

SO THE TELEMEDICINE STUFF IS HUGE.

IT'S SO NEEDED IN OUR STATE.

>> OKLAHOMA STATE DIRECTOR, KENNETH CORN, SAYS THE USDA HAS CREATED PARTNERSHIPS AROUND THE STATE TO HELP FILL THAT NEED.

>> WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT A ZIP CODE SHOULD NOT DEFINE WHAT TYPE OF CARE YOU GET, AND SO THAT'S THE MISSION OF THE ADMINISTRATION THROUGH RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

>> IN 2022, THE USDA ESTABLISHED A NEW PROGRAM TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE IN RURAL AREAS CALLED THE EMERGENCY RURAL HEALTH CARE GRANT.

IT TOTALED 42 MILLION AND ASSISTED MORE THAN A MILLION AMERICANS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

>> THE ADMINISTRATION DID EMERGENCY RURAL HEALTH CARE GRANTS ALL THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.

IN OKLAHOMA, WE DID $11 MILLION IN GRANTS.

>> THE USDA PLANS TO CONTINUE ITS INVESTMENT IN RURAL OKLAHOMA, HE SAYS.

>> MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES CAN'T AFFORD THE INVESTMENTS, AND SOME OF THE DOLLARS THEY'RE GETTING BACK FROM WASHINGTON IS MONEY WE'RE PAYING IN, TAX DOLLARS, AND WE WANT TO SPEND THAT MONEY HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND NOT LET IT GO TO TEXAS, CALIFORNIA OR NEW YORK.

IT NEEDS TO BE SPENT HERE SO OUR PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

>> IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE EXPERIENCES STROKE SYMPTOMS LIKE FACE DROOPING, SEVERE HEADACHE, OR CONFUSION, CALL 911 FOR HELP.

RICH.

>> TAILOR, THANK YOU.

>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT REQUIRES STATE AGENCIES AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES TO REPORT BACK TO HIM BY MAY OF 2024 ON THE NECESSITY AND EFFICIENCY OF D.E.I.

POSITIONS, DEPARTMENTS, ACTIVITIES, PROCEDURES AND PROGRAMS WITH THE STATED GOAL OF REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THEM.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

JOINING US TODAY IS SENATOR MARY BORNE FROM NORMAN AND VIA ZOOM SENATOR ROB WHO IS ALSO FROM NORMAN.

WE ALSO INVITED MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO JOIN US, BUT THERE WAS NO ONE AVAILABLE.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO HEAR WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY ABOUT HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER AND YOUR REACTIONS.

>> WITH MY EXECUTIVE ORDER, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE POLITICS OUT OF EDUCATION, AND LET'S JUST GO HELP KIDS, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL HERE TO DO.

THAT'S WHAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE OR HOW THEY IDENTIFY.

LET'S JUST GO HELP KIDS GET READY FOR THE WORKFORCE.

>> SENATOR STAND RICH, LET'S START WITH YOU.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING, HOW IT WOULD WORK.

>> EXECUTIVE ORDER IS A DIRECTIVE TO THE UNIVERSITIES TO ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATE THEIR D.E.I.

PROGRAMS AND JUST FOCUS ON TREATING EVERY CHILD -- I SHOULDN'T SAY CHILD, EVERY STUDENT THE SAME, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR GENDER OR ANYTHING ELSE.

SO A LITTLE BIT IN THE SPIRIT OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, IF YOU WILL.

>> SENATOR BORNE, ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER?

>> YES.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

IT IS A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE, AND IT'S REFRESHING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT IT.

I THINK MY FIRST CONCERN IS THAT THE FAILURE OF THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS THAT ARE ATTACKING D.E.I.

TO TALK TO BUSINESS LEADERS IN OKLAHOMA AND TO TALK TO FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS IN OKLAHOMA ABOUT HOW THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN HOW TO LEAD IN A DIVERSE WORKPLACE, HOW TO SERVE DIVERSE CUSTOMERS IN AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE WAY, AND HOW TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THAT ARE DIVERSE, EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE, AND IT CONCERNS ME THAT BECAUSE OF THAT FAILURE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE AN AGENDA NOW TO ELIMINATE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ON OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES, INSTEAD OF MAKING IT BETTER AND TO MAKE IT IMPROVED.

TO ME, EACH WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE WISHED HOW WE WOULD SERVE STUDENTS BETTER, ALL OF THOSE GOALS COULD BE INCLUDED AND MADE BETTER THROUGH IMPROVING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

SO I'M CONCERNED THAT ELIMINATING IT UNDERMINES OUR ABILITY TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND EVEN BUSINESSES THAT ARE CONSIDERING COMING IN TO OKLAHOMA.

>> SENATOR STANDRIDGE, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FOUR BILLS THAT YOU INTRODUCED EARLIER THIS MONTH?

>> SURE.

YEAH, JUST A LITTLE COMMENTS ON SENATOR BORNE.

DIVERSITY, THE WHOLE THING ABOUT D.E.I IS THAT IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.

THIS IS TYPICAL WHEN IT COMES FROM THIS KIND OF LEFTIST DOGMA WHERE IT'S INCLUSIVENESS AND ALL OF THIS.

THE REALITY IS, AS WE SAW IN THE HARVARD CASE EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE REALITY IS D.E.I.

DOES NOTHING BUT, IN ITS CURRENTS FORM, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CHILDREN AND SHAME KIDS IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THE CURRENT POPULAR BELIEFS OF THE DAY, SO LIKE THE INDOCTRINATION CLASSES THEY HAVE TO GO TO, WHICH ONE OF MY BILL ADDRESSES.

THESE CLASSES REALLY SHAME THOSE THAT DON'T AGREE WITH WHATEVER THE POSITIONS THAT THEY'RE PUSHING, WHETHER IT'S GENDER IDEOLOGY OR CERTAIN RACES THAT SHOULD BE PREFERRED OR LACK OF WHITENESS OR WHITE SUPREMACY OR WHATEVER THE POLITICAL DOGMA OF THE DAY IS, AND THESE ARE JUST YOUNG ADULTS, MOSTLY, THAT ARE COMING, AND I HEAR FROM THEM DIRECTLY AND THEIR PARENTS QUITE OFTEN ABOUT HOW -- MOSTLY ABOUT HOW THESE CLASSES AND DIFFERENT THINGS ARE A WASTE OF THEIR TIME AND MONEY IS REALLY THE MAIN MESSAGE I GET FROM PARENTS.

I THINK THESE CLASSES, AS WE SEE AT OU AND OSU ARE REALLY JUST A WASTE OF TIME AND REALLY A WAY TO MAKE KIDS FEEL GUILTY FOR SOMETHING THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND FOR BELIEF THEY MAY HAVE AND NOT SHARE WITH A PERSON LEADING THE OR DISCUSS.

I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AND THE ACTUAL POWER BEHIND IT, NOT THE GOVERNOR.

I FULLY SUPPORT IT.

I THINK WE NEED TO CODIFY THIS AND PUT STATUTES IN PLACE AND PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING UNDER DIFFERENT NAMES.

>> SENATOR BORNE, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THESE PROGRAMS?

>> FIRST OF ALL I'VE HEARD FROM STUDENTS MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN SENATOR STANDRIDGE.

THERE ARE STUDENTS OF FAITH THAT HAVE HAD ACTIVITIES IN THEIR INTEREST, AND THEIR RELIGION LIBERTIES HAVE BEEN PROTECTED IN ADVANCE THROUGH DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING.

WHEN I WAS A STUDENT WORKING ON MY MASTERS OF EDUCATION CLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA AND AFTER ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL AT OU BACK WHEN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WAS NOT NECESSARILY A PART OF THAT TEACHING OR WASN'T PART OF THE OFFERINGS AT OU, BUT WHEN I WAS GETTING MY MASTER'S OF ED, I WAS ABLE TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS, AND IT MADE ME MORE CONFIDENT AS A PERSON OF FAITH AND AS A RELIGIOUS PERSON OF KNOWING HOW TO SHOW UP IN THE CIRCLE IN THE COMMUNITY OF IDEAS AND TO BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE WHY I BELIEVE WHAT I BELIEVE AND TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A GROUP WITHOUT FEELING THREATENED BY OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES AND BACKGROUNDS, AND IT ACTUALLY, BY SITTING IN THAT ROOM AND DEALING WITH THE CONTACT, IT ACTUALLY MADE ME MUCH MORE CONFIDENT OF KNOWING HOW TO SHOW COMPASSION AND EMPATHY AND VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE WITH PEOPLE AROUND GENDER ROLES, AROUND SEXUAL IDENTITY, AND AROUND RELIGION.

AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED TO DO THROUGH THAT IS I'VE GOTTEN BETTER AT LISTENING.

I'VE GOTTEN BETTER AT UNDERSTANDING.

I'VE GOTTEN BETTER AT SEEING HOW PEOPLE CAN CONTRIBUTE WITHOUT LETTING MY BIAS AND MY PRECONCEIVED IDEAS ABOUT PARTICULAR PEOPLE'S BACKGROUNDS.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHY BUSINESSES ARE SO COMMITTED TO IT AND WHY THEY SEE THAT IT'S VERY HELPFUL, UNLIKE WHAT SENATOR STANDRIDGE JUST SAID THAT CATEGORICALLY D.E.I IS BAD.

WE'VE HAD BUSINESSES THROUGH OUT THE WORLD AND OKLAHOMA AND THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY, TIME AND TALENT INTO MAKING D.E.I.

THE PATHWAY.

IT'S A MAINSTREAM PATHWAY TO GET THEIR WORKFORCE TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE HIGHEST QUALIFIED DIVERSE WORKFORCE POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST, IS THAT WHEN OUR STATE LEADERS ARE TALKING ABOUT D.E.I.

AS BEING CATEGORICALLY BAD, IT REALLY UNDERMINES OUR ABILITY TO REACH OUR ECONOMIC GOALS WITH OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS.

>> SENATOR STANDRIDGE, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE INTERNAL REVIEW.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT REVIEW LOOK LIKE, AND WHEN DOES THAT NEED TO BE TURNED INTO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

>> I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE ON THE TIMELINE.

I DO KNOW THAT I'VE ANALYZED THE TWO UNIVERSITIES MYSELF AND ALSO SHARED THAT IN OCTOBER ON D.E.I., AND I DON'T THINK CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA, ESPECIALLY PARENTS AND KIDS THAT ARE PAYING FOR THE TUITION, UNDERSTAND THE COST OF THIS DISCRIMINATION, IS REALLY WHAT IT IS.

BUT WE HAVE MORE FACULTY ASSIGNED TO D.E.I.

AT OU AND OSU, QUITE A BIT MORE THAN WE HAVE AT THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT AT THOSE UNIVERSITIES, AND WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THIS.

AGAIN, I WILL GO BACK TO THE REALITY OF THIS WHEN YOU DISCRIMINATE BASED ON RACE AND GENDER.

YOU LEAVE PEOPLE OUT.

I HAD SEVERAL PARENTS AND STUDENTS TALK TO ME ABOUT THE SUMMER CAMP THIS YEAR.

THEY HAD A DRAG BINGO, A QUEER CAMPUS BUT NOTHING ABOUT THOSE KIDS OF FAITH.

THEY FELT OUT OF PLACE.

SO MY RESPONSE WOULD BE, TAKE IT ALL OUT.

JUST MAKE IT AN ORIENTATION OF THE CAMPUS WHERE US WALK AROUND, SEE WHERE THE ENGLISH BUILDING IS, SEE WHERE THE HISTORY BUILDING IS AND YOU HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT YOU MUST ABIDE BY OR YOU GET PUNISHED.

THESE ARE YOUNG ADULTS, NOT PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE PUSHING INTO IDEOLOGY.

IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THEN I GUESS WE'VE GOT TO MOVE THEM ALL.

BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY JUST NOT DO ANY OF THEM.

THE CHANCELLOR WAS AT THE STUDY THAT I HAD.

I THINK SHE MADE SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS ABOUT ACCREDITATION, WHICH I HAVE SENSE FOUND IS NOT EXACTLY ACCURATE.

BUT ALSO ON THIS IDEA WHERE YOU WANT -- THEY'RE USES D.E.I.

TO TRY TO MIMIC THE MAKEUP IN SOCIETY, FORCE RACIAL DIVERSITY IN PROGRAMS, IN THE SCHOOL, IN PARTICULAR COLLEGES.

SHE MORE OR LESS SAID THAT, THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ESSENTIALLY FORCE THAT, BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT.

IF YOU DO IT JUST ON MERIT, MAYBE YOU END UP WITH ALL ASIAN AMERICANS IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS OR ALL CAUCASIAN AMERICANS OR AFRICAN AMERICANS, IF YOU DO IT JUST ON MERIT, THERE SHOULD BE NO WAY TO UNDERSTAND OR PREDICT HOW MANY ENDS OF IN CERTAIN STUDIES, WHICH IS HOW IT SHOULD BE, WHICH IS BY THE WAY HOW OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS ARE.

I ASKED HER, ARE WE GOING TO NOW TURN TO OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT PERCENTAGE OF WHITE FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND WHITE BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND ASIAN BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND ASIAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS?

I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING THAT, AND I'M NOT PROMOTING DOING THAT, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD, THE END IS NOT GOOD.

THE END IS WHERE YOU'RE PUSHING MERIT TO THE SIDE AND SAYING, WELL, WE HAVE TO MIMIC WHAT'S IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OR WHAT'S IN SOCIETY.

THAT IS JUST NOT HOW A UNIVERSITY IS SUPPOSED 20 BE.

TO BE.OUR COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED UN MERIT.

IT WASN'T FOUNDED UPON -- EQUALITY, IT'S QUALITY OPPORTUNITY, NOT EQUAL OUTCOMES, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID.

YOU CAN'T SAY THERE'S GOT TO BE 10 OF THESE AND 20 OF THOSE.

IT'S GOT TO BE BASED ON MERIT.

THOSE KIDS THAT DON'T GET IN THERE BECAUSE OF DEI, DON'T GET INTO LAW SCHOOL, DON'T GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL, A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T KNOW THEY DIDN'T GET IN.

THEY DON'T KNOW THEY HAD A FIVE POINT HIGHER L SAT SCORE BUT THEY DIDN'T MEET THE GENDER -- WE FOUND THAT OUT IN THE HARVARD CASE, BUT I THINK WE'LL FIND MORE AS TIME GOES ON, AND THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE VERY UPSET.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST THESE UNIVERSITIES IF THEY USED SOME KIND OF DEI FORMULA.

AND LIKE SENATOR BORNE SAID, IF A STUDENT WANTS TO VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATE IN THESE CLASSES OR TAKE THESE ELECTIVES AND MEAJ IR IN THEM, THEY'RE ADULTS.

IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THESE, MORE POWER TO THEM.

I ENCOURAGE THEM IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN IT TO STUDIO THAT, BUT TO FORCE STUDENTS INTO THOSE AREAS AND PUSH THEM DOWN THOSE PATHS IS NOT A JOB FOR THE UNIVERSITIES.

JUST LOOK AT THE SCORES THEY'VE GOT.

ACCEPT THEM OR DON'T ACCEPT THEM.

>> THANK YOU, SENATOR, FOR THAT ANSWER.

>> SENATOR BORNE, HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THESE DE PROGRAMS WORK TO HELP STUDENTS ON CAMPUS?

>> WELL, DEI, FIRST OF ALL, IS NOT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

I THINK THERE'S SOME MISLEADING TALKING POINTS THAT ARE CONFLATING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WITH DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

IF WE LOOK AT THE WORKFORCE AND LOOK AT HOW CORPORATE AMERICA IS UTILIZING DEI, IT'S BASICALLY MANNERS ON COLLABORATION WITH DIVERSE PEOPLE.

HOW TO SHOW UP AT A BUSINESS MEETING AND NOT SAY THINGS THAT ARE HORRIBLY IGNORANT AND HORRIBLY OFFENSIVE.

I THINK -- I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY HAS WATCHED, BUT ON THE OFFICE MICHAEL SCOTT HAS AN EPISODE OF DIVERSITY DAY, AND IT'S EVERYTHING HORRIBLE THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY EVER SAY IN A WORKPLACE SETTING AROUND DIVERSE PEOPLE.

I ALSO SEE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AS HELPING SOMEONE LIKE KARL PENDLETON.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER HIS STORY.

BUT HE WAS AN OU FOOTBALL PLAYER WHO HAD A LITTLE BROTHER THAT HE WAS A CARETAKER FOR.

AND SO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WOULD SAY, HEY, IF YOU'RE A DIVISION 1 ATHLETE AND YOU'RE ALSO BASICALLY A PARENT OR A GUARDIAN OF A YOUNG PERSON, WITH A KIND OF ACCOMMODATIONS WOULD YOU NEED SO THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP WITH YOUR MERIT?

AND THAT'S WHAT KARL PENDLETON DID, BECAUSE THEY ACCOMMODATED HIM TO BE ABLE TO BE EFFECTIVE AS A GUARDIAN OF A YOUNG PERSON AND TO SHOW UP WITH HIS MERIT.

THAT'S WHAT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION DOES, IS THAT IT GIVES EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP TO WORK, TO SHOW UP AT SCHOOL WITH THEIR MERIT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CONFLATE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INTO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION GRIEVANCES, BUT THOSE GET MIXED UP FOR POLITICAL REASONS, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE REALLY DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION HELPS VETERANS.

CHANCELLOR GARRETT GAVE A GOOD LIST OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HELPED BY DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

THE OTHER HUGE CATEGORY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED POSITIVELY BY DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

I HAVE A CONSTITUENT IN OKLAHOMA THAT GRADUATED FROM NORMAN HIGH SCHOOL, WENT THROUGH NORMAN CAREER TEMPERATURE, AND HE GOT A DIGITAL DESIGN CERTIFICATION, AND HE LIVES HIS WHOLE LIFE IN A WHEELCHAIR.

HE IS UNABLE TO VERBALIZE EFFECTIVELY, BUT HE'S A WONDERFUL WRITER.

AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ACCOMMODATIONS IN OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA'S VIOLATION OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, HE IS NOT ABLE TO WORK, AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY, BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE, WITH HOW HE CAN GET HEALTH AID TO HELP HIM GET IN AND OUT OF BED AND TO ALSO HOLD A JOB, HE HAS TO PICK ONE OR THE OTHER BECAUSE OF THE WAY OKLAHOMA HAS DECIDED POLICY-WISE TO SERVE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND IF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WAS FOLLOWED AND WE WERE MINDFUL OF THAT, WE WOULD FIND WAYS TO HELP MY CONSTITUENT TO BE ABLE TO WORK WHEN WE'RE SO MUCH IN NEED OF HIGH QUALIFIED WORKERS.

SO THROUGH DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, IT ACTUALLY ALLOWS MORE OKLAHOMANS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, SINGLE PARENTS, PARENTS THAT ARE CARING FOR OLDER PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, BY ALLOWING DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION PRINCIPLES TO FACILITATE BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS THAT ARE UNNECESSARY, IT GIVES MORE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP AT WORK IN THE CIRCLE WITH THEIR MERIT, GIVES THEM THE CHANCE TO COMPETE, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

AND ATTACKS ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION USING MISLEADING LABELS AND TREATING IT LIKE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ACTUALLY NARROWS THE CIRCLE PRETTY TIGHT, AND IT REALLY ELIMINATES A LOT OF WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STATE.

>> SENATOR BORNE, SENATOR STANDRIDGE, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND THANK YOU, CASSIDY.

>> IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'LL HEAD NORTH TO THE WINDY CITY AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RENAISSANCE HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM OF CHARLES AND RAY EAMES, FAMOUS FOR THEIR CHAIR DESIGNS, BUT WILLING TO TAKE ON A HOUSING CHALLENGE TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR HOME-SEEKERS AFTER THE SECOND WORLD II.

>> IT'S CONSIDERED A MASTERPIECE OF MID CENTURY MODERNISM.

>> IT REMAINS ONE OF THE TOUCHSTONE HOMES OF THE 20th CENTURY.

>> SO IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT THE EAMES HOUSE WAS BORN OUT OF A CRISIS.

>> IN MAY 1945, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CELEBRATE THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE.

>> AFTER WORLD WAR II, MILLIONS OF AMERICAN SERVICEMEN CAME HOME TO DISCOVER THEY HAD NOWHERE TO LIVE.

THE GI BILL OFFERED LOW COST MORTGAGES, BUT HOME BUILDERS COULDN'T PUT UP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FAST ENOUGH.

>> THEY NEEDED HOUSING, AND WE NEEDED TO, AS A CULTURE, EXPLORE THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONCEPTS, AND SO FROM THERE, AN IDEA WAS BORN.

>> JOHN WAS THE PUBLISHER OF ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE.

HE TURNED DOWN A CHALLENGE TO A HAND -- HE THREW DOWN A CHALLENGE TO BUILD MODERN AFFORDABLE HOMES THAT COULD BE EASY WILL I REPLICATED.

HE CALLED IT THE -- EASILY REPLICATED.

HE CALLED IT THE CASE STUDY HOUSE PROGRAM.

>> HERE WE ARE COMING FROM A WORLD WAR.

WE HAVE A VAST ARRAY OF INDUSTRIAL COMPONENTS AVAILABLE TO US.

HOW CAN WE USE THESE MATERIALS AND TRANSFORM THEM INTO THE MODERN HOME.

>> AMONG THE FIRST TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE WERE A HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM WHO WERE TWO OF THE 20th CENTURY'S MOST INFLUENTIAL DESIGNERS.

>> CHARLES IS RAY EAMES WITH THE EPITOME OF A RENAISSANCE COUPLE.

>> THEY EXCELLED AT SCULPTURE, FILM MAKING, GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE.

BUT THEY'RE BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR WILDLY POPULAR FURNITURE, WHICH PROVED THAT MASS PRODUCTION AND HIGH DESIGN COULD GO HAND IN HAND.

>> THEIR CURVES MATCHED YOUR BACK.

THEY IDEA RUBBER SHOCK JOINTS TO FLEX BECAUSE WE FLEX.

>> THE EAMES CASE STUDY HOUSE WOULD ITSELF REFLECT THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF ITS CREATORS, YET THEY WOULD BUILD IT WITH FACTORY MADE PARTS THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.

>> EVERYWHERE THEY COULD EMPLOY SOMETHING THAT CAME OFF THE SHELF, THEY DID.

>> BUT THEIR ORIGINAL DESIGN LOOKED NOTHING LIKE THIS.

THE EAMES PLAN TO BUILD A BRIDGE HOUSE THAT EXTENDED OVER THIS MEADOW, BUT AS THEY WAITED FOR THEIR PREFABRICATED PARTS TO ARRIVE, THEY FOUND THEMSELVES PICNICKING ON THE SPOT THAT WOULD SOON BE TAKEN OVER BY THEIR HOME.

SO THEY REALIZED IN THAT TIME THAT THEY HAD MADE THE CLASSIC ARCHITECTURAL ERROR OF CHOOSING A VERY BEAUTIFUL SITE AND THEN DESTROYING IT WITH A BUILDING.

INSTEAD, CHARLES AND RAY TOOK THE PARTS THEY HAD ORDERED FOR THE BRIDGE HOUSE AND RECONFIGURED THEM INTO A HOME AND STUDIO THAT NESTLED GENTSLY GENTLYINTO THE HILLSIDE.

THEY HAD TO REDESIGN IT FROM THE SAME PILE OF PARTS.

THEY BASICALLY REARRANGED THESE PARTS LIKE LEGOS, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE HERE.

>> THIS APPROACH TO HOME BUILDING WASN'T NEW.

ZERO BUCK HAD ORDERED MAIL ORDER KIT HOMES, BUT CHARLES AND RAY EAMES WERE SHOWING HOW PREFABRICATED MATERIALS COULD SOLVE THE NATION'S HOUSING CRISIS IN STYLE.

>> THEY WANTED HOMEOWNERS TO COME.

THEY WANTED ARCHITECTS TO COME, BUILDERS TO BE IN STYLE.

>> THEY SHOWED OFF THE MASS PRODUCED PARTS.

THESE WINDOWS, SOME ARE CLEAR, SOME ARE FROSTED.

SOME HAVE CHICKEN WIRE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS BECOME A SUBTLE WAY TO ADD TO THE TECTS E AND EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE HOUSE.

AND THIS IS WOOD?

>> IT'S NOT WOOD.

IT'S A COMPOSITE MATERIAL EVEN THE SLIDING PLASTIC PANELS WAS A MATERIAL THAT CAME OUT OF THE WAR EFFORT TOO.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER OFF THE SHELF PART, WHICH IS THE DOORBELL, A PLAYFUL EXPLORATION OF WHAT STANDARDIZED PARTS MEANS.

>> THESE INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS COULD EASILY HAVE MADE THIS HOUSE FEEL COLD AND IMPERSONAL.

INSTEAD, THE EAMES HOUSE IS OOZING WITH PERSONALITY.

>> YOU GET THE FEELING THEY HAD A LOT OF FUN DESIGNING THIS PLACE.

>> THEY DID, AND THAT JOY IS IN EVERY SCREW AND EVERY DETAIL IN THIS HOUSE.

THEY HAD THIS EXPRESSION.

MENT TAKE YOUR PLEASURE SERIOUSLY, AND THEY LIVED IT.

>> WHEREAS MOST MODERNIST ARGUMENTS WOULD HAVE HIDDEN AWAY THEIR PERSONAL POSITIONS.

>> THERE'S A TUMBLEWEED HANGING FROM THE CEILING, AMAZING STUFF.

IT CAME FROM THEIR HONEYMOON.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT, THERE ARE ACTUALLY THINGS HERE THAT ARE QUITE PRECIOUS AND OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN STILL GET FOR A NICKEL WHEREVER THEY GOT THEM.

THE THING IS, IT WASN'T ABOUT VALUE IN THAT SENSE.

IT WAS REALLY ABOUT GOOD STUFF.

>> THE HOME OF CHARLES AND RAY EAMES WAS ONE OF THREE DOZEN CASE STUDY HOUSES TO APPEAR IN ARTS AND ARCHITECT MAGAZINE.

BUT IT'S IMPACT RULED FAR BEYOND THE WORLD OF ARCHITEC ARCHITECTU RECALL INSIDERS.

IT SHOWED A FACTORY HOME COULD STILL FEEL HUMAN AND IF THEY HAD TO BUY ONE, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO CHECK THEIR INDIVIDUALABILITY >> INDIVIDUALITY AT THE DOOR.

>> YOU COULD STILL HAVE YOUR INDIVIDUALABILITY WITHIN A -- INDIVIDUALITY WITHIN A FRAMEWORK MACHINE MADE.

THEY DEMONSTRATED YOU COULD BUILD HUMAN QUIRKINESS INTO SOMETHING THAT WAS MASS MANUFACTURED.

>> FASCINATING.

>> A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT COMING UP NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL LOOK BACK AT SOME OF OUR BEST REPORTING FROM OUR YEAR-LONG SERIES ON OKLAHOMA'S BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS AND ASK LEADING HISTORIANS WHY THESE TOWNS REMAINS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR STATE'S LEGACY.

AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM IN OKLAHOMA CITY, PHOTOGRAPHED AND EDITED BY OETA'S JASON STEWART.

PLEASE REMEMBER YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, OETA.TV.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER BY SEARCHING "OETA ONR."

AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, JUST SEARCH, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK, I'M RICH LENZ.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

♪♪.

♪♪.

Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com ♪♪