What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Tuesday, August 5, and I’m wondering whether Oklahoma legislators have ever fled the state to avoid a vote?

I love politics, and who doesn’t love a bit of drama?

There’s a lot of drama happening in Texas.

In case you’re out of the loop, Texas Democrats walked out of its state legislature instead of voting on a plan to redistrict parts of the state, eliminating five Democrat districts in favor of five Republican districts. This is being done at the instruction of President Trump. The process of redistricting a state to give one party more of an advantage is called “gerrymandering.”

The reason Trump asked Texas to do this is twofold: Republicans hold only a slim edge in the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 midterms, and the Lone State State has a Republican-majority legislature.

Both parties have gerrymandered before, but in this case, it’s Texas Republicans doing the deed. Democrats in California, Illinois and New York have threatened to do the same in their Democrat-majority states should Texas push through.

This could set off a gerrymandering-arms race across the country ahead of 2026.

Quick context, and here’s why the president is interested: If the U.S. House should go Democrat next year, President Trump is rendered a “lame duck,” likely unable to advance any more of his initiatives given that his term ends in 2028.

For what it’s worth, this is the same scenario every president has faced for ages. Lose the U.S. House or Senate, and the executive (in a second term) is rendered politically impotent.

This isn’t new. Or unique.

A quick origin story: The term “gerrymander” comes from former Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry all the way back in 1812. The “mander” part comes from a salamander. I’ll leave that to your imagination.

But I’ll route you here for a deeper dive.

It’s worth the read.

What the Democrats in Texas are doing isn’t cowardly. It’s courageous. And it’s a long tradition in that state for the minority party to leverage walking out when they take extreme exception to something the majority party is doing. It’s always courageous when elected officials take a stand on principle.

But, also, don’t hate the player. Hate the game.

Texas’ legislative rules require a quorum above the number that is required in, let’s say, Oklahoma.

In our state, all that’s required is a majority.

In Texas, it’s two-thirds.

That means if Texas Dems skip town, the legislature cannot conduct business. There won’t be enough bodies to produce quorum.

When the legislators flee, they are threatened with civil arrest as they were today by Gov. Greg Abbott. It sounds macho and tough, but it’s also part of the drama, and largely unenforceable, especially when the lawmakers go beyond state lines.

Back in 2003, Texas Democrats fled to…Ardmore. They even posed for a group photo in front of the Holiday Inn there.

Given the polarity of our politics in 2025, I would be surprised if Oklahoma were their hideout of choice this go-round. Feels like Oklahoma might do the Texas Rangers’ bidding for them, and send them all back to Austin.

What are your thoughts about the process of gerrymandering? Is it a “to the victor go the spoils” situation? Or “elections have consequences”? Or should we come up with a better way of districting?

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update ☀️

Hot, lower 90s, and climbing throughout the week.

🌡️ Tuesday's high in OKC 92°
🌡️ Tuesday’s high in Tulsa 92°

Oklahoma’s number of structurally deficient bridges plummets

By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
Click here to read the story.
Donate to Oklahoma Voice.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma has made drastic improvements in reducing the number of structurally deficient bridges and now ranks fourth in the nation for favorable conditions, the head of the state’s transportation agency said Monday.

The new ranking is a marked improvement from over two decades ago when Oklahoma ranked 49th and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation had nearly 1,200 structurally deficient bridges, said Tim Gatz, the agency’s executive director. 

“That is the highest ranking we have ever achieved,” Gatz told the Oklahoma Transportation Commission, which oversees Gatz’s agency.

The 2025 report by the Federal Highway Administration, found that 35 bridges — or   0.52% — maintained by ODOT were structurally deficient, Gatz said.

The 35 bridges are addressed in the state’s eight-year construction plan, he said.

Every public bridge in the state is inspected at least once every two years, he said. 

Click to finish the story.

Lankford secures $236M for Oklahoma military bases in 2026 VA appropriations bill

U.S. Sen. James Lankford recently announced more than $230 million in federal funding for Oklahoma military infrastructure and veterans’ services in the Senate-passed Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act.

The bill includes $236 million for major projects at Tinker Air Force Base and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, along with new federal policies designed to improve care, accountability and access for veterans nationwide.

🔧 Oklahoma Infrastructure Projects (Total: $236 million)

🇺🇸 National Veteran Policy Changes

• Public/Private VA Partnerships
  Removes red tape so VA can work with private healthcare providers and professionals, especially in rural areas.

• Modern Medical Record Distribution
  Directs VA to stop using compact discs and modernize delivery methods.

• No Bonuses for Failing Contractors
  Prohibits bonuses for contractors who miss deadlines or go over budget unless narrowly justified.

• Fertility Coverage for Injured Veterans
  Allows IVF, fertility counseling, and adoption reimbursement; removes embryo storage limits.

• Transparency in Community Care
  Requires VA to report how often and why veterans lose access to community-based care.

Would you like to be here? 💰

If you’d like to advertise in the Oklahoma Memo newsletter daily, reach out to me at [email protected]. I’d be happy to send you a rate card.

• Founded on Jan. 21, 2025
• 575 subscribers as of August 5
• Open rate above 64% daily
• CTR rate above 12% daily
• TikTok audience over 2 channels: 18,500+
• YouTube, Instagram, podcast opportunities available

Monthly contracts available, and I can be super flexible to make the partnership meet your business needs.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• Report: Saint Francis Hospital seizing elderly people for financial gain (Public Radio Tulsa with Oklahoma Watch)

• Lawmakers push to regulate Oklahoma medical debt, hospital price transparency (Oklahoma Voice)

• Judge finds Channen Smith likely innocent, but Oklahoma won’t let go (The Black Wall Street Times)

• USDA approved Oklahoma's SNAP restriction waiver request (KOSU)

• As Oklahoma prison transfers slow, jail backlogs grow (Oklahoma Watch)

• Free Palestine Tulsa protest highlights public opinion shift on Israeli military action in Gaza (Public Radio Tulsa)

• How Tulsan uses 3D printing to help Kenyan family (2 News Oklahoma)

• Oklahoma Lawmakers urge public to speak against proposed change to how schools are graded (KSWO)

• Love triangle stabbing? Man accused of Holdenville home invasion and assault on couple now in custody (KFOR)

• 'It’s alright, buddy': Stillwater police comfort boy who accidentally drove dad's truck into Little Caesars (KOCO)

• Oklahoma City nurse arrested for child pornography (News 9)

• Former OSU running back Nathan Simmons dies in crash in Colorado (Tulsa World)

• Ex-NFL player convicted in Oklahoma of dog-fighting-related charges after 190 dogs seized (KFOR)

• Tulsa homicide detective featured on 'The First 48' dies at 60 (Tulsa World)

• Woman jumps out of truck involved in police chase before being run over by suspect (KOCO)

• Langston University launches $12 Million in campus upgrades across all three campuses (Guthrie News Page)

• Man arrested on murder charge after Broken Bow stabbing (KXII)

• Guthrie cat cafe is for coffee, boba tea and addressing stray animal overpopulation (KOSU)

• Broken Arrow welcomes Hollywood as new horror-comedy begins filming (News On 6)

• VA clinic on 11th Street reopening Wednesday after water damage repairs (Tulsa World)

• Multi-agency manhunt leads to arrest, drug bust in Washita County (KECOfm.com)

• Cleveland County Commissioners amend, send Oklahoma City inmate housing agreement for final approval (OU Daily)

• Development of 'Campus Corner' promoted in Edmond, but would come later rather than sooner (The Oklahoman)

• OKCFD tactic to try and lower cancer exposure during fires (KFOR)

• Tera Shows tabbed as Muskogee assistant city manager (Muskogee Phoenix)

• Woodward woman arrested for stabbing family member (Woodward News)

• Grady County man killed in two-vehicle crash (KOCO)

• Missing OKC man found dead in Fort Cobb (KSWO)

• Wagoner councilor demands action after alleged illegal animal grave found near shelter (KTUL)

• Building a foundation in Ardmore: Willis’ passion leads to Strong Dad program (Ardmoreite)

• Sapulpa FOP surprises 8-year-old girl with new bike after hers is stolen (Sapulpa Times)

• Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton to throw out first pitch at Rangers game (KXII)

• Leading with compassion: New resource comes to McAlester (McAlester News-Capital)

• OSBI investigating county’s solid waste system (McCurtain Gazette)

• Enid woman dies in Grant County accident (Enid News)

Ad: Your digital strategy can’t be stuck in 2015.
Your business deserves more than a dusty Facebook page and the occasional newsletteIn audits to build authority.
🧠 Comms strategy audits to align everything you say, everywhere you say it.
🎙️ Podcasts that sound pro and work hard for your brand.
📲 Vertical video clips to grab attention fast.
📺 YouTube optimization that gets you watched and remembered.
📬 Newsletters that actually get opened.

I started Doable Digital Media in 2025 to be your hands-on, “done-with-you” digital partner — getting you up to speed and training your team to stay there.

If you’re ready to make that investment — message me: [email protected]

Our Mission, Social Media & Feedback

The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ mission is simple: Reignite the daily news habit by connecting Oklahomans and those who love Oklahoma to quality sources of news and vetted information.

Frictionless. Painless. Stress-free.

Social Media

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

We also have a YouTube channel! It’s new. Pardon our dust.

Contact Us

Message Oklahoma Memo at [email protected].