PODCAST · news
Long Story Short
by Oklahoma Watch
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit news organization specializing in investigative journalism. Long Story Short, a weekly podcast, lets you hear directly from our journalists as they provide deeper insight into their recently published stories.
Episodes
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Portal Meltdowns, Abortion Lawsuits, and State Question 847
Jake Ramsey explores the fallout after Oklahoma’s voter registration portal crashed on deadline day, leaving prospective voters stranded. Brenna Witchey breaks down a landmark lawsuit filed by an Oklahoma mother over the state's abortion ban a legal challenge echoing across the nation. Keaton…
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Marijuana Facility Safety, Winter Storm Lawsuits and The Vesta Saga
Reporter Brenna Witchey breaks down the inspection process at Oklahoma marijuana processing facilities following a fatal explosion in Sand Springs, while Paul Monies provides major updates on state lawsuits over massive natural gas price spikes during the 2021 winter storm. Plus, Oklahoma Watch...
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Jail Accountability, Epic Charter Trial Delays and SQ 845
Jennifer Palmer investigates a recent death inside the Oklahoma County jail, while reporter Andrea Eger examines why the multi-million-dollar embezzlement case against Epic Charter Schools’ co-founders remains unscheduled for trial after four years of procedural delays. Plus, Keaton Ross breaks...
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Missing County Gear, Federal Housing Bills and Cedar Lake Water Wars
Brenna Witchey breaks down findings from county audits revealing how rural sheriffs lost track of guns, cars, and even a meat slicer with millions in property marked missing. Plus, Jake Ramsey examines how a sweeping federal housing bill will impact Oklahoma’s affordable housing deficit and…
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Campus Conflicts, Tax Credit Gaps and Student Loan Fallout
Andrea Eger examines an unusually public battle brewing between faculty and administration at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, while reporter Jennifer Palmer reveals significant oversight gaps in a state tax credit program that is now serving as a federal model. Plus, Raynee Howell...
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University Hiring, Housing After Prison, and Educator Exam Data
Reporter Andrea Eger investigates whether a new decree from Gov. Kevin Stitt is chilling faculty recruitment at Oklahoma's regional universities, while Elizabeth Caldwell examines the severe housing barriers facing a woman released after three decades in prison. Plus, Brenna Witchey breaks down...
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Prison Call Centers, Norman’s Homeless Program and Statewide Audit Red Flags
Keaton Ross details how Oklahoma state prison inmates were put to work making political phone calls for out-of-state campaigns, while reporter Jake Ramsey examines the shutdown of Norman’s A Better Way program for individuals experiencing homelessness. Plus, Brenna Witchey breaks down a massive...
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Youth Prevention, Debating Education and Governor Ad Blitz
Brenna Witchey breaks down a new state initiative aimed at curbing childhood substance abuse, while reporter Andrea Eger details key takeaways from a fact-check of the final GOP state superintendent runoff debate. Plus, Keaton Ross examines recent political ad campaigns circulating in the race…
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Utility Shock, Housing Protections and Juvenile Murder Laws
Andrea Eger breaks down what is driving the massive spike in Oklahomans’ electricity bills, while Jake Ramsey examines the lack of legal recourse for tenants dealing with negligent landlords failing to provide essential services. Plus, Brenna Witchey details Oklahoma’s controversial felony murder...
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Fact-Checking the Debate, Title IX Resistance and Tenant Fallout
Keaton Ross discusses Oklahoma Watch’s fact-check of the August 3 debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates Mike Mazzei and Gentner Drummond, while Jennifer Palmer looks into an Oklahoma high school’s resistance to following federal laws such as Title IX. Jake Ramsey details the fallout...
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Cedar Lake Disputes, County Bail Disparities and Funding Native Success
Paul Monies shares how Cedar Lake residents are pointing blame at a wealthy, politically connected neighbor over severe local water problems, while Maya Henry examines the stark differences in bail schedules across 25 Oklahoma counties. Plus, Brenna Witchey breaks down new coverage on Native...
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AI Schools, Ballot Initiatives, and Serial Evictors
Maya Henry dives into Alpha School, an expensive, controversial private school system coming to Oklahoma this fall that relies on AI with zero teachers. Andrea Eger breaks down an upcoming August 25 ballot initiative facing Oklahoma voters. Jake Ramsey exposes an out-of-state corporate landlord...
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Candidate Attendance, Residency Disputes, and Apartment Agony
Paul Monies examines a Republican gubernatorial candidate’s surprising board attendance record, while reporter J.C. Hallman breaks down the legal questions surrounding an Insurance Commissioner candidate's swift state residency swap. Plus, Jake Ramsey details severe property mismanagement at…
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Voter ID Measures, Campaign Funds for Parents and the Insurance Wildfire
Keaton Ross breaks down State Question 846, a proposed constitutional amendment on voter identification in Oklahoma. Maya Henry looks into a little-known campaign funding rule that could make running for office more accessible for parents. J.C. Hallman joins to discuss two major homeowners...
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Edmond School Job Cuts, Medicaid Shortfalls and an Expiring Law
Andrea Eger reveals how Edmond Public Schools renewed several administrator contracts only to eliminate their positions weeks later. Plus, Paul Monies reports on lower Medicaid payment estimates for Oklahoma hospitals, and summer intern Maya Henry breaks down the consequences of the expiration of…
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Supreme Court Climax, Bail Scams, and AI Data Centers
J.C. Hallman discusses the climax of the State Farm and Hursh saga following a major Supreme Court ruling, while intern Maya Henry investigates a surge in bail scams that victims say law enforcement is failing to adequately address. Plus, Stephen Martin details how a new $72 million transmission...
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Outside Political Money & Oklahoma’s Frozen AI Legislation
Keaton Ross and summer intern Maya Henry track a historic flood of outside political spending and targeted ad campaigns shaking up the June 16 primary elections. Plus, as states push forward with artificial intelligence laws despite federal warnings, reporter Andrea Eger reveals why nearly all AI...
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Helter Smelter, Jail Visitations and Norman's Homelessness Crisis
Reporter Andrea Eger heads to Inola to find the local residents who actually want a controversial $4 billion aluminum smelter built in their town. Plus, Jennifer Palmer and Maya Henry investigate a major shift in how Oklahoma county jails handle inmate visitations, and Jake Ramsey breaks down the...
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A Cannabis Crash, The Inola Smelter and A Treasurer’s Commute
Stephen Martin breaks down how oversupply and regulation are crashing Oklahoma’s cannabis boom, while Elizabeth Caldwell investigates how two gubernatorial candidates view a massive proposed aluminum smelter in Inola. Plus, Paul Monies details an investigation into the state treasurer’s frequent...
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A Panhandle Tragedy, Reading Overhauls and The Cost of Play
J.C. Hallman discusses the devastating fallout of a fatal Panhandle accident, while reporter Andrea Eger takes the temperature of classrooms navigating a massive legislative overhaul of how Oklahoma children learn to read. Plus, Jennifer Palmer details a new federal crackdown on the soaring…
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The Treasurer, the Whistleblower, and the Eviction Engine
Reporter Paul Monies digs deeper into the state’s Invest in Oklahoma program, tracking a campaign contribution linked to State Treasurer Todd Russ’s re-election campaign. Plus, J.C. Hallman returns with an exclusive look into a mysterious State Farm whistleblower with deep Oklahoma roots, and…
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The Funding Paradox & The Soybean Squeeze
Oklahoma’s education funding paradox takes center stage as Andrea Eger untangles why historic state investments clash with rock-bottom national rankings. Plus, Raynee Howell explores how global conflicts are squeezing local soybean farmers, and Jennifer Palmer breaks down the most consequential…
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Abolitionists, Assets, and the Minimum Wage
Ben Fenwick breaks down how an ultra-ideological faction is quietly capturing control of the state Republican Party and targeting incumbent lawmakers. Plus, Paul Monies reports on the fallout after the governor’s former chief of staff wins a bid to manage key state pension assets, and Keaton Ross...
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Red Flags and Silent Journals
Investigative leads from Jennifer Palmer reveal the missed warning signs behind the tragic dog mauling of an Oklahoma City toddler, while J.C. Hallman explores the high-stakes mystery surrounding a deputy’s death and the journals he left behind. Plus, Jake Ramsey examines new data exposing how...
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Air Alerts, Ethical Pledges, and Invest in Oklahoma
A previously unseen toxin surfaces in Oklahoma, raising urgent questions about the safety of industrial biosolids and the transparency of our air-monitoring systems. Plus, we look at the rising trend of Republican primary challengers vowing to reject lobbyist gifts, and the latest developments in...
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Shadowed Reports and Unfinished Business
Deep dives into accountability and legal stalemates lead this week’s episode. Investigative reporter Andrea Eger explores a lingering thread in the Epic Charter Schools investigation that just wouldn't stay buried, while J.C. Hallman details a high-stakes standoff between State Farm and a retired...
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Money, Mismanagement, and Mutuals
Reporter Paul Monies investigates the state’s hiring of a private firm to manage pension fund deals, while Jake Ramsey breaks down a high-stakes lawsuit against Vesta Realty CEO Marc Kulick. Plus, J.C. Hallman reports on a pivotal hearing for CompSource Mutual, the state’s former "insurer of last...
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Oklahoma Battles: State Farm Standoff to Corporate Landlords
Homeowners insurance disputes hit the high court as the Hursh family’s battle with State Farm reaches the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Plus, we look at the human cost of corporate housing through the lens of a recent Edmond eviction, and Paul Monies breaks down the legislative state questions set to...
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The Republican Future & Bicycle Busts
Struggling developers face a high-stakes paradox as they fight to revive Oklahoma’s dilapidated properties. Plus, we dive into the potential fallout of the state’s Republican primary and launch a new series, Unaccountable, with a look at the unsettling reality of bike stops in Duncan. Catch these...
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OCAST Leadership Shifts and the Guardianship System
A sudden leadership shakeup at the state’s tech-startup agency and a new policy allowing e-cigarette sales in Oklahoma prisons. We also return to the complex world of state guardianship with three interconnected stories on the system's impact. Catch these stories and more on the latest Long Story...
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Inola Residents Say Trump’s Industrial Push Is Coming at Their Expense
Plans unfold for the nation’s largest aluminum plant at the Port of Inola, sparking a clash between economic promises and local outcry. Plus, we examine a possible $175 million surge in federal immigration funding for Oklahoma law enforcement and AG Gentner Drummond’s escalating legal battle over…
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Vesta Realty Rental Crisis
Stephen Martin’s latest takes a look at Oklahoma's fatal police encounters, ranking third in the nation. Jake Ramsey wrote about problems that have continued to pile up at rental properties owned by Vesta Realty. Paul Monies has an update on the planned conversion of the state’s largest workers...
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Twin Chickasha Hearings Reveal Agents Knew of Hail Claim Practice
J.C. Hallman’s work on State Farm continued with a story about two motion to dismiss hearings in Chickasha. Keaton Ross wrote about legislative efforts to change how Oklahoma courts determine bond amounts. Jennifer Palmer on Oklahoma’s fall in the state education rankings. Shaun Witt hosts.
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More Than 30 Oklahoma Agencies Sign Immigration Enforcement Agreements
J.C. Hallman updates the State Farm hail claim saga, Paul Monies details shifts in the state’s $2.2 billion tobacco trust fund, and Ben Fenwick examines the rise of "Operation Guardian" immigration enforcement. Shaun Witt hosts.
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Federal Health Care Windfall Meets Fiscal Warnings in Oklahoma
Keaton Ross reported on ongoing technical issues that have prevented municipal voters from accessing campaign finance reports. Paul Monies looked into how one state agency is dealing with the uncertainty over federal funds under the Trump administration and government shutdowns. Elizabeth…
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Gubernatorial Candidates Rely on Personal Money to Launch Campaigns
Jake Ramsey discusses the proposed Senate Bill 1545. Paul Monies has an update on some of the lawsuits still pending stemming from the significant natural gas costs for Oklahoma utility customers following a winter storm in 2021. Keaton Ross talks about how Republican gubernatorial candidates…
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Oklahoma Farmers Face Uncertain Future as Comprehensive Farm Bill Splinters
Stephen Martin provides an overview of recent developments in the Farm Bill and its specific impact on Oklahoma farmers. Jennifer Palmer's latest story digs into the latest school enrollment data for Oklahoma public schools. Ginnie Graham wrote about a projected $18 million deficit at the OU…
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How Oklahoma’s Domestic Violence Sentencing Law is Failing in Practice
Stephen Martin's latest story was a deep dive into the Survivors' Act and how, a year after it became law, implementation hasn't been what everyone hoped. Paul Monies looked into the large numbers of lawmakers running for higher office and how they are able to keep their leadership positions in…
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Lawmakers Seek Balance in Oklahoma’s Landlord-Tenant Act
Jake Ramsey detailed several proposed bills in the upcoming legislative session that could provide balance to Oklahoma’s Landlord-Tenant Act. Keaton Ross reported on a dip in parole grant rates when the five-member Pardon and Parole Board is operating at reduced capacity. After reporter J.C....
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Oklahoma Ranks Third for Caregiver Burden as Families Struggle with Eldercare
Ben Fenwick examined Oklahoma's high burnout rate among family caregivers. Jennifer Palmer digs into the behind-the-scenes chaos of the financial crisis at Epic Charter School. J.C. Hallman looks at Molly Bullock’s years of reporting on the Arkansas River to examine if Oklahoma is at risk for a...
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Judge Allows Attorney General to Intervene in State Farm Hail Lawsuit
Keaton Ross reported on a settled dispute over Oklahoma’s medical parole statute. Paul Monies looked into the Oklahoma State Department of Health and its policy in not sharing measles cases by county. On Dec. 30, Oklahoma County District Court Judge Amy Palumbo issued an important ruling in...
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Too Little, Too Late, Too Weak: Critics React to Proposed Insurance Legislation
J.C. Hallman’s coverage of insurance in Oklahoma continued this week with a wrap-up of voices responding to the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s suggestions of new insurance laws for the legislative session starting in February. Keaton Ross reported that Oklahoma’s prison population increased for…
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Trailer Park Owner Hikes Rents, Forces Tenants Into Rent-to-Own Deals
Jake Ramsey on an out-of-state trailer park owner hiking rents and forcing vulnerable tenants into rent-to-own deals. Keaton Ross about the Ethics Commission’s decision to restore public access to an online campaign finance database. A couple weeks ago, J.C. Hallman broke the story of a large...
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State Delays Push Data Center Developers to Private Land
Paul Monies looked into delays by the Commissioners of the Land Office that led to the state missing out on revenue from a data center on school lands. Keaton Ross wrote about the Oklahoma Department of Corrections’ refusal to release body camera footage under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Ted...
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AG Intervenes in State Farm Lawsuit
Jake Ramsey reported on the effects of the government shutdown on evictions. Ginnie Graham's latest story explored the unique challenges rural areas have when trying to quantify homelessness. J.C. Hallman filed two more stories about insurance in Oklahoma this time about a series of cases…
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TSET Investors Board Puts Asset Managers On Notice In Anti-ESG Push
Paul Monies has more on Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ's continuing efforts to change the investment focus of the state’s tobacco settlement trust fund. Jennifer Palmer talked to a domestic violence advocate who resigned in protest from the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. J.C. Hallman’s...
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Oklahoma Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Initiative Petition Bill
Keaton Ross' latest is about an ongoing legal challenge to a bill that makes it more cumbersome to get an initiative petition on the ballot. J.C. Hallman explores how the idea of competition is defined in Oklahoma law, and what that has to do with how much you pay to insure your home. Maria…
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Former Lawyer’s Aggressive Tactics Target Oklahoma School District Amid Assault Claims
Elizabeth Caldwell discusses allegations at a Coweta middle school and one man’s vigilante-style approach to bring attention to the problem. Jake Ramsey covered the eviction of Barbara Grimm, which highlighted the lack of representation tenants have in eviction court. Jennifer Palmer talks about...
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Reduced Oklahoma Prison Phone Call Rates Aren’t Coming Back
Keaton Ross on the FCC’s rollback of a rate cap that brought reduced phone call rates to Oklahoma prisoners and their families. Jennifer Palmer's latest story looks into alarming data on gun suicides among older adults. Ben Fenwick on a unique bit of culture shock that people moving into Oklahoma...
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Former Corrections Director Approved Million Dollar Deal With AI Company, Then Went to Work For Them
Jake Ramsey went on a ride-along with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department as the officer served evictions and talks about what he saw. Keaton Ross wrote about former Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe taking a job with a company that he approved a state contract for in...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit news organization specializing in investigative journalism. Long Story Short, a weekly podcast, lets you hear directly from our journalists as they provide deeper insight into their recently published stories.
HOSTED BY
Oklahoma Watch
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How many episodes does Long Story Short have?
Long Story Short currently has 259 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Long Story Short about?
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit news organization specializing in investigative journalism. Long Story Short, a weekly podcast, lets you hear directly from our journalists as they provide deeper insight into their recently published stories.
How often does Long Story Short release new episodes?
Long Story Short publishes regularly with 259 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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Who hosts Long Story Short?
Long Story Short is created and hosted by Oklahoma Watch.
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