Thinkin' on Lincoln: Recent Episodes
Curtis Shelton and Ryan Haynie
A political podcast that won’t make you hate your neighbor. Curtis and Ryan unpack cultural and political issues facing Oklahoma and the nation with a light-hearted air. Brought to you by The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.
Renowned law professor and former OCPA fellow Andy Spiropoulos sits down with the guys to talk about controversial workers' comp issues and related cases that Oklahoma's highest court has mishandled.
Click here to read Andy Spiropoulos' article "Once More into the Breach: The Path to Effective Workers’ Compensation Reform in Oklahoma."
Ryan sits down with Ben Lepak to discuss a recent activist initiative to raise the minimum wage in Oklahoma and why it would be a bad move for the state.
Ahead of the upcoming November election, Curtis and Ryan discuss OCPA’s 2024 legislative scorecard and first-ever judicial scorecard.
Click here to see the 2024 Legislative Scorecard.
Click here to see OCPA’s Judicial Scorecard.
To learn more about the lawsuit over the University of Oklahoma’s racist scholarship practices, click here.
Curtis and Ryan talk with Dr. Wilcox of the University of Virginia about his research on marriage and the family as well as his new book, Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization.
Prof. Brian Fitzpatrick of Vanderbilt Law School talks to Ryan and Curtis about how Tennessee successfully changed its judicial nominating process — and why Oklahoma should do the same. They discuss the dangers of a Bar-controlled court system and discuss what it would look like to allow the continuance of the Judicial Nominating Commission to be put to a state question.
For more content on the truth and dangers of the JNC, listen to this popular episode with Ben Lepak; "Legislators In Black Robes With Ben Lepak."
Curtis and special guest Dr. Ben Carson discuss life lessons, role models, and the ever-changing climate of American politics. Listen in to hear Dr. Carson's thought-provoking perspectives on the country's education system, the doom of repeating history, and the reality of the human condition.
Be sure to join us April 24th for OCPA's Citizenship Award dinner featuring former U.S. Secretary of Urban Housing and Development, 2016 presidential candidate, Dr. Ben Carson.
For more information, click here.
Curtis and Ryan discuss judicial reform in Oklahoma with Katie Daniel, Susan B. Anthony Pro Life America's state policy director, and unpack how Oklahoma's courts threaten the state's pro-life laws.
Curtis and Ryan talk about the new school choice tax credit and tease major legislative priorities for the upcoming session.
Curtis and Ryan talk about what's been happening in the legislature over the summer and what their own summer plans.
This week, Curtis and Ryan discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 2023 legislative session.
OCPA is turning 30! This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined by OCPA's Senior Vice President, Brandon Dutcher, who began his journey with OCPA as a board member before joining the staff in 1995. Brandon gives listeners the inside look behind the many struggles of a new nonprofit, the changing political climate in Oklahoma since 1993, and OCPA's victories throughout the last 30 years.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined by co-host of Fox & Friends, Pete Hegseth, to discuss his latest book, Battle for the American Mind, and answer questions surrounding education, school choice, and what the heck a paideia is. Pete is also the keynote speaker for OCPA's 2023 Citizenship Award Dinner. Click here for more information on how you can join us to hear him speak on April 26.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined by Executive Director of the State Chamber Research Foundation Ben Lepak. The guys talk about judicial reform, including the Judicial Nominating Commission, and a recent decision regarding abortion by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma.
This week, Curtis and Ryan discuss bills that made it through the first session deadline, Oklahoma's recent vote on recreational marijuana, and more.
The 2023 Oklahoma Legislative Session is in full swing, and Curtis and Ryan are here to give you the most recent update! The guys break down school choice proposals from the House and Senate, as well as other legislation making its way through each chamber.
School Choice Legislation:
SB 822 by Sen. Julie Daniels
SB 943 by Sen. Shane Jett
HB 1935 by Speaker McCall
OCPA Watchlist
OCPA Legislative Scorecard
This week, Curtis and Ryan close out the economics series with President of the Mises Institute, Jeff Diest. The guys discuss inflation verses deflation, how states can insulate their economy, the Mises Institute, and more.
In part 2 of the Economics in 3 Podcasts series, Curtis and Ryan are joined by Dr. Per Bylund, a Senior Fellow with the Mises Institute and associate professor of entrepreneurship and Johnny D. Pope Chair and Records-Johnston Professor in the School of Entrepreneurship in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University. The guys discuss Dr. Bylund's latest book, modern monetary theory, entrepreneurship, and what causes prosperity.
Welcome to part 1 of the Economics in 3 Podcasts series! Curtis and Ryan are kicking off the series with Academic Vice President of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Dr. Joseph T. Salerno to discuss the cause and effects of inflation, Austrian Economics, and more.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined by the founder of Save Our States and OCPA Distinguished Fellow, Trent England. Trent discusses a new project and takes the guys on a deep dive into rank choice voting.
This week, Curtis and Ryan unpack the regulatory burden on Oklahomans and our economy. Is Oklahoma an over-regulated state? If so, how do we fix it? The guys discuss all that and more on this episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln.
How is Oklahoma really doing when it comes to education? The new results are in, and it might be worse than predicted. This week, Curtis and Ryan unpack new test data from the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP).
Find references on the data here.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined with founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist. The guys discuss Grover's journey to build ATR at the request of Pres. Ronald Reagan, the success of eliminating the income tax in states across the U.S., and more.
This week, Curtis and Ryan discuss the phenomenon behind "book banning"in Oklahoma public schools.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined by the Vice President and General Counsel of NetChoice, Carl Szabo, to discuss the damaging ramifications of anti-trust legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined by City Care's Chief Executive Officer Adam Luck to talk about his work with Oklahoma's unsheltered. Adam discusses his journey to working with those in poverty and gives an in depth look at City Care Night Shelter, Oklahoma City's only permanent low-barrier night shelter. This episode sheds a light on the sources of homelessness and challenges opinions on government intervention, personal responsibility, and more.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined by Research Fellow and Assistant Director of the American Enterprise Institute Housing Center, Tobias Peter. The guys discuss the current housing climate, how the government can (or can't) stabilize the market, and more.
In this episode, Curtis and Ryan discuss special session, tax reform, and true economic relief.
This week, Curtis and Ryan discuss Ryan's new claim to fame, the letdowns of this legislative session, and the potential to unite both sides of the political aisle.
On this episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln, Curtis and Ryan discuss corporate welfare, the possibility of the Supreme Court of the United States overturning Roe V. Wade, and why it is important to reform the judicial nominating process in Oklahoma.
This week, Curtis and Ryan discuss Stillwater's problematic bathroom policy and some in the legislature attempting to line their own pockets.
Article links:
1. OSU's Drag Queen Story Hour
2. Lawmaker makes false statements about bill
3. Stillwater board refuses to change bathroom policy
4. OCPA urges action by Hofmeister, State Board of Education on bathroom policy
5. Oklahoma's confusing bathroom policy: context and legal background
6. Why defined-contribution retirement plans are preferable to defined-benefit plans
7. Nondoc: 'Burn it down: Chris Kannady hears no Senate bills in Civil Judiciary meeting
This week, Curtis is joined with co-host of Fox & Friends and former ESPN personality, Will Cain. The guys discuss Will's journey to television and his insight into the ever-growing hostility in news media.
Cain is the featured speaker at this year's Citizenship Award Dinner. Learn more here.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined with the national director of research at the American Federation for Children, Corey DeAngelis, to discuss school choice.
DeAngelis is the 2022 recipient of OCPA's annual Citizenship Award. Learn more about the event honoring his work for families across the nation here.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined with Brett Farley, Executive Director of Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, to discuss his work at the Capitol, the Catholic Church's role in shaping politics, and more.
This week, the guys give a big update on legislation at the capitol, Curtis goes in depth on his new proposal for reform, and Ryan is heading to CPAC.
Read the proposal here.
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined with Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell. The guys discuss the State of the State address, Oklahoma's recent rebrand, and what makes being Oklahoma's Lieutenant Governor the best job in the world.
Curtis and Ryan are back from break with a brand new episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln! This week, the guys discuss the good, the bad, and the stupid bills that have been filed for the upcoming legislative session.
Read article here: https://www.ocpathink.org/post/with-2300-bills-introduced-which-ones-should-you-watch
On this episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln, the guys sit down with TheBlaze's Steve Deace to discuss school choice and saving America from the leftist agenda.
This week, Ryan takes a hiatus while Curtis is joined with longtime friend Will Bruhn to discuss price transparency, the government's role in our healthcare system and more.
Bruhn is the COO and Co-Founder of Restoring Medicine — a grassroots movement of doctors, nurses, students, business leaders, and everyday citizens from across the United States that are demanding a more honest and fair health care system.
Curtis and Ryan are here with part two of the Free Market Medicine series! This week, the guys are joined by Jay Kempton, Owner and President of the Kempton Group, to discuss the healthcare industry from the buyers' perspective.
Learn more about the Kempton Group: https://www.kemptongroup.com/
On this week's episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln, Curtis and Ryan are joined with Dr. Keith Smith to discuss his journey to co-founding Surgery Center of Oklahoma and the importance of free market medicine.
Learn more about Surgery Center of Oklahoma: https://surgerycenterok.com/
Is a college degree worth the expense? This week, the guys discuss Curtis's recent study and how Oklahoma college degrees fare on debt-earnings tests.
Curtis and Ryan are back this week to discuss eliminating Oklahoma's income tax and bust the myths around raising property taxes.
On this episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln, Curtis and Ryan are back to the regular schedule and discuss the ever-growing political discourse in America, as well as Joy Hofmeister's announcement to run for Oklahoma governor in 2022.
On this special episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln, Curtis and Ryan are joined with New York Times Best Selling Author and Senior Editor at the American Conservative, Rod Dreher. The guys discuss Dreher's books, including Live Not By Lies, and the threat of soft totalitarianism in America.
Do you get frustrated at the state of the federal government? This episode is for you. This week, Curtis and Ryan give encouraging insight into the changes that can be made at a local level and empower listeners to get involved.
On this episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln, Curtis and Ryan are joined by Secretary of Education Ryan Walters to discuss all things education and giving power back to the parents.
In this episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln, Curtis and Ryan are joined with special guest Andrew Spiropoulos to discuss ineffective government, term limits and football.
On this episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln, the guys are joined with Dr. Rick Farmer to discuss legislative football and state term limits.
Legislative Football
https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/7154
Citizen’s Guide to the Oklahoma Legislature
https://www.ocpathink.org/post/a-citizens-guide-to-the-oklahoma-legislature
J. Rufus Fears Fellowship
www.FearsFellowship.com
Fears Fellows Video
https://youtu.be/-zlJWtQPEGQ
Fellows Making a Difference
https://www.ocpathink.org/post/fears-fellows-already-making-an-impact
This week, Curtis and Ryan are joined with special guest Trent England, Executive Director of Save Our States. The guys talk all things Electoral College, the threat of national popular vote and the 2020 presidential election.
Learn more about Save Our States: saveourstates.com
On this week's episode of Thinkin' on Lincoln, Curtis and Ryan talk about their favorite Fourth of July traditions, and Ryan can't get enough of John Adams.
Find out what happened with issues discussed on previous episodes as Curtis and Ryan recap the 2021 Oklahoma legislative session.
This week, Curtis and Ryan discuss the growing film industry in Oklahoma and the legislature's push to expand film subsidies. Find out what the guys have to say about it on this week's episode!
Ryan’s biggest pet peeve and its got nothing to do with politics. The guys discuss where the federal government goes too far and whether or not state’s really have rights.
In the Name of Justice: Leading Experts Reexamine the Classic Article The 'The Aims of the Criminal Law
OCPA Website: https://www.ocpathink.org/
Take Action: https://www.ocpathink.org/take-action
This week, Curtis and Ryan discuss the ins and outs of taxes in Oklahoma. Find out what they have to say and stay tuned until the end for a special announcement on who is receiving this year's OCPA Citizenship Award!
Curtis and Ryan are joined this week by award-winning journalist, Jason Whitlock. In this episode, they get into a wide range of issues from the intersection of sports and politics to the Black Lives Matter organization.
Learn more about OCPA's Citizenship Award Dinner: https://www.ocpathink.org/event/citizenship-award-dinner
Is cancel culture a problem or a product of the free market? Ryan and Curtis discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of cancel culture and whether the first amendment applies.
Are Oklahoma’s schools haunted? Ryan and Curtis explore the ghost student phenomenon affecting the state.
Find the Oklahoma ghost student data here.