Weekly Wrap, Nov. 27-Dec. 1
Kissinger dies, Israel and Hamas truce ends, George Santos expelled
If there’s a heaven, Henry Kissinger isn’t there. I’m with the late Anthony Bourdain on this one- he should have ended his life in the Hague. Kissinger died this week at 100.
In other foreign affairs news, Israel and Hamas held a truce for a week, allowing prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid into Gaza. Fighting erupted again this morning.
George Santos, the controversial Republican congressman from New York, was expelled this morning from Congress after wide-ranging ethics probes and misuse of campaign funds.
Really, I can’t believe Republicans thought Santos’ actions were any more objectionable than, say, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan’s involvement in the Ohio State sexual abuse case, or, say, former Pres. Donald Trump’s many, many, many criminal deeds…but I guess Jordan and Trump are straight white guys and Santos is not. That’s the only discernable difference I can see in the lack of Republican outrage against Jordan and Trump (among many others) and Santos.
Here in Oklahoma, Gov. Stitt held a Native Americans Family event during his Oklahoma Family Month, but didn’t bother to invite representatives from multiple major tribes in the state.
The applications for school vouchers were scheduled to open today, Dec. 1, but the vendor and the Oklahoma Tax Commission announced late yesterday they were not ready to receive applications. The applications have been postponed until Dec. 8.
And on a solemn note, the State of Oklahoma executed a man this week for a 2001 double murder after Gov. Stitt did not grant clemency, despite the Pardon and Parole Board’s recommendation. Phillip Hancock died Thursday morning in MacAlester, the fourth death row inmate executed by the state in 2023.
Finally, Wreckin’ Ball Ryan Walters’ State Board of Education considered a change to accreditation standards for Oklahoma’s public schools this week at the monthly meeting. Under the proposed rules, state schools would be rated deficient if more than 50% of students score below “Basic” in two subject areas.
Are charter and private schools bound by these proposed standards?
Join us December 10th from 11 am to noon at BIG Brew Co. in Norman for the next Brews and Views, where Nick Singer and OU Economics Prof. Cynthia Rogers join us to discuss the upcoming vote in OKC on the new arena and the proposal in Norman for the city to support a new arena in the UNP-TIF area.
Check out our latest episodes of Observercast- we talked with state Sen. Julia Kirt about economic development in the state and coming soon, with Amber England, spokesperson for State Question 832, which would raise the minimum wage in Oklahoma.
And: in your year-end giving, consider donating to the Observer Democracy Foundation or gifting subscriptions to the Observer. Keep independent media alive and well in Oklahoma!