Long Story Short

Jan 27 2025 170 ep. 21 mins 9

Long Story Short Podcast artwork

Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit news organization specializing in investigative journalism. Long Story Short, a weekly podcast sponsored by the Kirkpatrick Foundation, lets you hear directly from our journalists as they provide deeper insight into their recently published stories.

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Housing Insecurity Forcing Oklahoma Seniors To Move

Jan 27 2025 13 mins

Heather Warlick highlights a growing trend of people feeling forced to move in their senior years. Keaton Ross talks about some notable criminal justice bills filed ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Jennifer Palmer covers the Ethics Commission’s investigation into Superintendent Ryan Walters. Shaun Witt hosts.

Oklahoma State Guard Plan Unveiled

Jan 20 2025 18 mins

Paul Monies covered a plan by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to revive the Oklahoma State Guard. Jennifer Palmer talks about her top education bills to watch this session. Paul Monies has another story from his investigation into Berry-Rock Homes, the company that a state investment plan put $8 million into back in 2022. Shaun Witt hosts.

Content in Walters' Revised Social Studies Standards

Jan 07 2025 23 mins

Jennifer Palmer on the Department of Education’s new proposed social studies standards. Keaton Ross discusses a decline in new death sentences in Oklahoma. Heather Warlick talks about Oklahoma’s new Housing Needs Assessment and a big investment by the state into increasing the housing supply. Ted Streuli hosts.

Content in Walters' Revised Social Studies Standards

Jan 07 2025 23 mins

Jennifer Palmer on the Department of Education’s new proposed social studies standards. Keaton Ross discusses a decline in new death sentences in Oklahoma. Heather Warlick talks about Oklahoma’s new Housing Needs Assessment and a big investment by the state into increasing the housing supply. Ted Streuli hosts.

HUD Ends Section 8 at Duncan Apartments, Residents Told To Leave

Dec 16 2024 27 mins

Heather Warlick wrote a follow-up about a Duncan apartment complex that has lost Section 8 funding. Keaton Ross reported that Oklahoma’s parole rate is on the rise after years of decline. Paul Monies is here to review his year in reporting for Oklahoma Watch in 2024 and what he learned by covering the Legislature and state agencies. Ted Streuli hosts.

How Ex-Secretary’s Investment Ties Sparked Lawsuits, Audits and Controversy

Dec 08 2024 23 mins

Paul Monies examines how the Commissioners of the Land Office invested in an Oklahoma City-based rent-to-buy company. Paul also discusses the state’s new mental health hospital's massive cost overruns just months after officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking. Keaton Ross reflects on his top stories of 2024 regarding prison conditions in Oklahoma and the influence of money in p

Bill filling period begins

Dec 02 2024 30 mins

Paul Monies gives us an update on bill filing and other things at the Legislature as we await the start of session in February. As we near the end of 2024, we’ve asked our staff to reflect on some of our top stories of the year. Jennifer Palmer, who covers education for Oklahoma Watch, is here to talk about the state superintendent’s push for Bibles in public school classrooms.

A new open primaries ballot initiative hopes for 2026

Nov 26 2024 21 mins

Keaton Ross reported on a new open primaries ballot initiative that organizers hope to get on the ballot in 2026.Heather Warlick with an update on camping bans and other actions in Oklahoma that some say target people experiencing homelessness. Paul Monies talks about a recent story by Jennifer Palmer about cell phone bans in schools. Ted Streuli hosts.

Superintendent Ryan Walters’ new video message mandate

Nov 18 2024 20 mins

Jennifer Palmer has been following Superintendent Ryan Walters’ latest announcements, which included buying Trump Bibles and a new video message mandate. Keaton Ross covered straight-party voting declining in the 2024 presidential election. Heather Warlick recently wrote about the end of the federal emergency rental assistance program, through which thousands of Oklahoma renters

Education Department Abruptly Cancels Search for Bible Vendor

Nov 11 2024 21 mins

Keaton Ross breaks down the 2024 election results. Paul Monies continues to cover the fallout for utility customers from the massive winter storm that hit Oklahoma in February 2021. Jennifer Palmer with an update on the Education Department’s effort to buy 55,000 King James, leather-bound Bibles for Oklahoma classrooms.Ted Streuli hosts.