Not My Generation

In this episode, Oklahoma-based public opinion researcher Bill Shapard, of SoonerPoll.com, visits with an ad hoc group of Gen Z students from Rose State College. We review some of the results of Harvard's latest youth survey and discuss with the panel their thoughts on various issues covered in the poll. Along the way, Emily and James also have separate rants about the campus protests occurring ar...

In this episode, Emily and James visit with OK State Senator Adam Pugh (R-Edmond, OK) regarding the important steps the legislature has taken this session to improve transparency around the creation of the state budget - and what still needs to be done. He also discusses the importance of civics education and his efforts to promote it. Along the way, we discover how the TV show "Family Ties" helpe...

In this episode, Emily and James invite some of their colleagues from Rose State College to discuss their thoughts on issues in American society and politics. Their guests are Dr. Joe Campbell, professor of political science, Tara Hall, professor of Sociology, and Craig Dawkins, associate dean of the Business & Information Technology Division. The panel discusses their views on whether or not...

Emily, who is leading a book club at Rose State College, had the opportunity to interview Dr. Steven Levitsky, co-author of "How Democracies Die" - the book Emily selected for this semester. In the interview, Dr. Levitsky explains some of the threats he sees to American Democracy and what can be done to protect against those threats. James and Emily also discuss the results from the South Carolina...

In this episode, Emily and James visit with Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution and Dr. Aaron Bachhofer, professor of history at Rose State College. We discuss Jonathan's recent article in the Atlantic Magazine over the failure of the U.S. to acknowledge and apologize for its mistreatment of members of the LGBTQ+ community. Jonathan and Aaron provide some history as to what Jonathan calls...

In this episode, Emily and James pour through the results of survey data collected by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and find some interesting results about Gen Z. For example, a slight majority of "Gen Z women are substantially more liberal than Gen Z men," there is more religious diversity among Gen Z, Americans don't apparently think Gen Z is overly lazy, and Gen Z adults have mo...

Political polarization seems to continue to grow. Republicans and Democrats can't seem to find a way to compromise and work together (Just as Sen. James Lankford). Social media is filled with insults hurled towards political opponents and memes making fun of those with whom we disagree. What can be done? Enter Unify America and the Bipartisan Policy Center. In this episode, Emily & James visit...

This is the second of a two-part series previewing the upcoming session of the Oklahoma Legislature. In this episode Emily and James visit with Shawn Ashley of Quorum Call and Paul Monies from Oklahoma Watch regarding various bills that have been filed, what the legislature will be focused on, and why another special session was called. In addition, they discuss how journalists handle legislators...

This is the first of two episodes that previews the upcoming legislative session in Oklahoma. Emily and James visit with Tres Savage, editor-in-chief of NonDoc.com and Carmen Forman (our first repeat guest), reporter with Oklahoma Voice. We discuss the special session called just one week prior to the start of the regular session, what legislation will be the focus of this session, and what kind o...

In this episode, Emily & James review the results from two major public opinion polls released by Harvard/Harris and the New York Times. The surveys cover presidential politics and candidates, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and attitudes towards free speech. Both Emily & James think that some of the questions were not written very well, and that some questions should have been asked that were...

Emily & James visit with Ryan Haynie of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) regarding the organization's push to reform the judicial selection process. OCPA wants to ditch the current Judicial Nominating Commission system for a model similar to that outlined in the U.S. Constitution for the national government. Emily & James have questions. Also, James takes on the OK media, Emil...

In this episode Emily and James visit with Carmen Forman, journalist with Oklahoma Voice. They discuss various news stories being covered by Oklahoma Voice, the challenges in covering politics, and what Carmen thinks people don't understand about journalists and covering politics. Along the way, James tries to stop talking so fast, and Emily expresses gratitude that the renowned political scientis...

In this episode, Emily and James discuss the feud between Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Sean O'Brien, President of the International Teamsters Union, revelations by former attorneys for former President Trump, questioned spending by state government officials, and one Tennessee town's ordinance some fear will be used to restrict LGBTQ+ rights. In addition, James goes on a rant about state textb...

In this episode, Emily and James interview two of their favorite political scientists: Dr. Brett Sharp from the University of Central Oklahoma and Dr. Shanna Padgham from Oklahoma City University. They discuss the upcoming Oklahoma Political Science Association's annual conference, why we love political science, the challenge before the new Speaker of the House, why voters are going to be faced wi...

Did you know that in Oklahoma, citizens can directly make laws through the initiative petition process? Why do some politicians want to make this process more difficult? What are the challenges to using this process to enact change? In this episode, Emily and James interview State Representative Mickey Dollens who recently conducted an interim legislative study on this topic. We'll also discuss th...

Dr. Emily Stacey and Professor James Davenport discuss the chaos created in the U.S. House of Representatives when a small faction of Republicans were able to oust the current Republican Speaker. Who will be able to satisfy the various factions in the GOP House Conference to win - and keep - the Speakership? And which Oklahoman has been named as a possible "dark horse" candidate for Speaker? At th...

Dr. Stacey and Professor Davenport discuss the implication of a Congress and the leading presidential candidates that are significantly older than the people they represent. How does this age difference impact the policies coming out of Washington, DC? How can younger voters gain more representation? Why don't young citizens vote at the same rates as older voters, and will that change? And who doe...