Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Gaylord News
Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Gaylord News
Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Gaylord News
All content by Kevin Eagleson
On Tuesday evening, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) unveiled a stopgap spending bill to continue government funding until March 14. Hours later, billionaire and close adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk unleashed a flurry of tweets criticizing the bill. On Wednesday, Trump rejected the bill and called on Republicans to pass a clean spending bill that includes a debt ceiling increase. // Office of Speaker Mike Johnson

Spending bill dead following Trump, Elon Musk rejection

Kevin Eagleson
December 18, 2024
As the Dec. 20 expiration of the September stopgap funding package looms, Congressional leadership has been in tense negotiations over the inclusion of additional funding for disaster relief and economic assistance for farmers.

Stopgap funding package to include farm aid following pressure campaign

Kevin Eagleson
December 18, 2024
Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. takes a photo with President Joe Biden at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit. During the summit, Biden announced a 10-year plan for Native American language revitalization.

‘They didn’t forget Indian Country’: Tribal leaders and scholars reflect on Biden administration

Kevin Eagleson
December 17, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump has renewed calls to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, a longtime goal of the Republican party. Experts believe abolishing the department won’t impact federal funding for public schools in Oklahoma. //Kevin Eagleson Gaylord News

House delegation supported goal for axing Education Department unlikely to cut funding

Kevin Eagleson
December 13, 2024
The House of Representatives passed the annual defense spending package known as the National Defense Authorization Act early Wednesday evening in a 281 to 140 vote.

House passes 2025 NDAA with focus on quality of life improvements

Kevin Eagleson
December 11, 2024
Before even taking office, President-elect Donald Trump has threatened some of the United States’ largest trading partners by floating the possibility of imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 25%. Provided

We’re very sensitive’: Experts, elected officials raise concerns over Trump’s proposed tariffs

Kevin Eagleson
December 6, 2024
The Drug Enforcement Administration held a procedural hearing to begin the formal rule-making procedure for the proposed reclassification of cannabis. According to the DEA’s Chief Administrative Judge, John J. Mulrooney, a trial will likely be held in mid-January.

DEA holds procedural hearing on cannabis reclassification

Kevin Eagleson
December 2, 2024
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Moore) reaffirmed his commitment to solving the missing and murdered Indigenous persons crisis. Cole is Chickasaw and the first Indigenous American to chair the House Appropriations Committee.

Cole reaffirms commitment to solving missing and murdered Indigenous persons crisis

Kevin Eagleson
November 26, 2024
Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Cheyenne) talks with a fellow farmer on a farm in Oklahoma. Photo provided by Frank Lucas

Farm bill extension expected by Lucas

Kevin Eagleson
November 20, 2024

Oklahoma Senators hesitant about recess appointments

Kevin Eagleson
November 19, 2024
James Lankford (R-Oklahoma City) and Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Tulsa) joined their respective chambers Republican Conference’s leadership teams for the 119th Congress. Both will be fifth in their conference’s leadership hierarchy.

Lankford, Hern join Republican leadership

Kevin Eagleson
November 13, 2024
Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma City) speaks at a press conference after being elected Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. Victoria Anderson/Gaylord News

Lankford joins GOP Senate leadership as Thune is elected Majority Leader

Kevin Eagleson
November 13, 2024
Senator Markwayne Mullin, a longtime ally of President-elect Donald Trump, drinks a milkshake with Trump and Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) on Trump’s plane, Trump Force One, on the way to Arizona days before the election.

Markwayne Mullin reportedly under consideration for Trump cabinet post

Kevin Eagleson
November 11, 2024
For the sixth consecutive presidential election, all 77 counties voted for the Republican Candidate. Trump received an average of 78.53% of the votes in each county. In the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, Oklahoma County was the closest county in the state with Trump winning in 2020 and 2024 by less than 2%.

Republicans once again dominate Oklahoma’s elections

Kevin Eagleson
November 6, 2024
Kamala Harris supporters watch results roll in with worrisome looks on their face at the Harris election night watch party at Howard University.

Jubilant atmosphere dissipates at Harris watch party after Iowa is called

Kevin Eagleson
November 6, 2024
Congressional candidates’ campaign committees submitted their pre-general election financial disclosures showing their contributions and expenditures. Most of Oklahoma’s incumbents are outspending and outraising their opponents from Oct. 1 to Oct. 16.

Incumbent Oklahoma delegation holds big financial advantage over opponents

Kevin Eagleson
November 1, 2024
According to research by the Department of Interior’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, before 1969, there were 451 Federal Indian Boarding Schools, 87 of which were in Oklahoma. //Kevin Eagleson Gaylord News

Oklahoma Native leaders react to historic Presidential apology

Kevin Eagleson
October 30, 2024

Senate shift to GOP could boost stature of Oklahoma’s two senators

Kevin Eagleson
October 25, 2024

Control of the House could reshape Oklahoma’s influence

Kevin Eagleson
October 23, 2024

Oklahoma delegation requests nearly $600 million in federal funds

Kevin Eagleson
October 21, 2024
The Biden administration announced $2.6 billion in federal funding for lead pipe replacement with $36 million specifically designated for Oklahoma. The funding designated for Oklahoma could cover the replacement of private service lines that homeowners are responsible for

Biden administration providing funding for lead pipe replacement

Kevin Eagleson
October 16, 2024
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond standing outside the Supreme Court Tuesday conceded that errors were made in Glossip’s prosecution. He supported Glossip’s efforts to seek a new trial and authored a brief calling for the court to order a new trial. Ireland Fitzer/Gaylord News

‘False is false:’ Justices hear arguments in Glossip case

Kevin Eagleson
October 9, 2024
The United States Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday, October 8, for a case on ghost gun regulations. The court appeared skeptical of the arguments of the respondents who are seeking to block the regulations. /Kevin Eagleson Gaylord News

‘Is that a western omelet?’: Justices hear arguments in ghost guns case

Kevin Eagleson
October 8, 2024
Richard Glossip has been incarcerated since 1998 for the murder of Barry Van Treese. He is seeking a new trial due to errors committed by the prosecution during his trial. /Oklahoma Department of Corrections

Supreme Court to hear Richard Glossip’s appeal, decide on new trial

Kevin Eagleson
October 8, 2024
Weapon parts kits, such as those sold by Apex Gun Parts, can be used to assemble what are called “ghost guns.” Since 2016, there has been a rise in the number of ghost guns recovered by law enforcement around the nation. Ghost guns can be difficult to track due to a lack of registration and serial numbers. /Kevin Eagleson Gaylord News

Supreme Court to hear arguments for ghost gun weapon kits case

Kevin Eagleson
October 7, 2024
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted in favor of sending the DOOBIE Act to the Senate floor. The DOOBIE Act aims to limit the consideration of past cannabis use when determining the fitness of a candidate for the civil service.

Committee passes bill to modernize federal cannabis-related hiring policies

Kevin Eagleson
October 3, 2024
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 9747, a continuing resolution to continue current levels of government funding until December 20 and avoid a government shutdown. The bill passed 341-82 with support from the Democratic Party and the majority of the Oklahoma House delegation. Photo by Kevin Eagleson/Gaylord News

Congress avoids government shutdown: Passes bipartisan spending legislation

Kevin Eagleson, Reporter/writer
September 25, 2024
On September 18, the House of Representatives voted 202 to 220 against H.R. 9494, a spending bill that would have continued government funding into late March while Congress works on a budget for fiscal year 2025. Ireland Fitzer/Gaylord News

Spending bill fails, Oklahoma delegates divided on next steps

Kevin Eagleson
September 19, 2024
Following the September 10 debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Taylor Swift (left) officially endorsed Harris in the 2024 Presidential Race in a post on Instagram (bottom). She cited Trump’s recent post of an AI-generated image of her (right) claiming she had endorsed him as one of the reasons for the post. Gaylord News/Kevin Eagleson

Trump-Vance campaign courting Gen Z by speaking directly to them

Kevin Eagleson
September 17, 2024

Oklahoma City Bombing, 9/11 rescuer remembered by son

Kevin Eagleson
September 11, 2024
The Environmental Defense Fund has mapped orphaned wells in Oklahoma. There are at least 15,965 orphaned wells throughout the state, not including those located within the boundaries of the Osage Nation. Copyright © 2024 Environmental Defense Fund. Used by permission. The original material is available at http://edf.org.

Two Indigenous Nations in Oklahoma to receive funds for orphaned wells

Kevin Eagleson
September 9, 2024
The Drug Enforcement Administration recently announced the time, date and location of a hearing on the rescheduling of cannabis from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug. The hearing will take place on December 2, at 9 a.m. at the DEA Museum and Visitors Center at 700 Army Navy Dr in Arlington, Virginia.

DEA sets date for hearing shifting cannabis to Schedule III

Kevin Eagleson
September 5, 2024
Kamala_HQ_Twitter_Header: The social media accounts of KamalaHQ, a Harris-Walz campaign account, utilize a banner replicating the lime green design of Charli XCXs’ “BRAT” album.

Harris-Walz campaign connecting to Gen Z voters through memes and slang

Kevin Eagleson
August 30, 2024
President Joe Biden speaks at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, August 19, 2024. Photo provided by Jeff Berrong

Oklahoma Democrats feel new surge of energy post Democratic National Convention

Kevin Eagleson
August 23, 2024
Former Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Iowa Patty Judge speaks at a campaign kickoff jamboree for Democratic state House candidate Jason Menke in Urbandale, Iowa. Kevin Engleson photo/Gaylord News

Democrats overshadowed by Republicans in the Iowa Caucuses

Madeline Cantrell and Kevin Eagleson
January 14, 2024
Latino activist Joe Henry holds a copy of Tio Bernie by Chuck Rocha. Kevin Engleson photo/Gaylord News

Disenfranchised Latino voters feel ignored in the Road to the White House

Kevin Eagleson
January 14, 2024
Donald Trump supporters talk amongst themselves as they wait for the doors to open at a campaign rally in Newton, Iowa on January 6th, 2024. Gaylord News/Kevin Eagleson

Trump supporters say ‘Leave it to the People’ following SCOTUS announcement

Kevin Eagleson
January 9, 2024
Governor Kevin Stitt delivers his “defending your dollar” plan at a press conference at 9:30 am Tuesday, October 3rd. Less than six hours later, the senate would adjourn sine die without so much as considering a tax cut bill. “If it fails, it fails,” Stitt said. Katrinia Crumbacher Photo/Gaylord News

“If it fails, it fails,” Stitt says in advance of Senate adjournment

Maddy Cantrell, Katrina Crumbacher, Kevin Eagleson, and Olivia Talkington
October 3, 2023
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