Thursday, March 19, 2026 • Very warm and sunny. Upper 80s. ☀️ 90s on the way!

By Ariana Figueroa, Oklahoma Voice
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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, the president’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, on Wednesday in his confirmation hearing was challenged with questions about his “anger issues” by the fellow Republican who heads the Senate committee that oversees the department.

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, chair of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, at the outset of the hearing recalled how Mullin called him a “freaking snake” and expressed sympathy for a neighbor who assaulted Paul in a 2017 dispute, breaking six of his ribs and damaging a lung.

“You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified,” Paul said to Mullin, nominated by President Donald Trump to replace Kristi Noem as secretary of the 260,000-employee agency. “Tell it to my face, if that’s what you believe.”

In a tense back-and-forth, Mullin defended himself and said he never “supported” that Paul was assaulted, but that he “understood” why the neighbor attacked Paul. 

“I think everybody in this room knows that I’m very blunt,” Mullin, a former MMA fighter who physically challenged a witness testifying before Congress in 2023, said. 

Paul criticized him and “this machismo that you have” and raised concerns about how Mullin could lead a department and “why (the American public) should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE and Border Patrol agents.” 

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

• Amazon suspends employees at second warehouse after News 4 uncovers new tornado shelter complaint (KFOR)

• AG Drummond sues OneMain Financial over alleged deceptive lending practices (News 9)

• Tulsa delays Project Anthem rezoning vote amid community concerns (2 News Oklahoma)

• Docs show privacy, oversight concerns for camera system used by OKCPD (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Oil regulators found hundreds of wells violating Oklahoma rules. Then they ignored their findings. (The Frontier)

• Oklahoma County Budget Board recommends jail trust dissolution, tables supplemental funding (NonDoc)

• Broken Arrow bets on $415M bond and a temporary sales tax hike to fund streets, sports complexes and more (Tulsa Flyer)

• Chickasha mother demands answers after alleged incident involving son with autism (News 9)

• Oklahoma federal judge decides state cannot intervene in Tulsa, Muscogee Nation settlement (KOSU)

• Thousands of athletes will flock to Tulsa for 2027 National Senior Games (Tulsa Flyer)

• Bill to ban Pride flags at schools, on state property passes in House (Tulsa World)*

• Oklahoma correctional officer arrested for alleged sex crimes against inmate (KOCO)

• Dr. Tiffany Crutcher gives back to Langston University with $5,000 donation on Founders Day (The Black Wall Street Times)

By Adora Brown and Amelia Benavides-Colón
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The Oklahoma congressional delegation’s wealth lies not so much in stocks and bonds as it does in real estate and personal business interests that range from consulting firms to agriculture to McDonald’s franchises.

A NOTUS analysis of the Oklahoma delegation’s most recent annual financial disclosures reveals key details about how the state’s seven lawmakers manage their personal finances while serving the public.

Many of these lawmakers entered office with millions and remain significantly wealthier than most of their constituents. 

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