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ProPublica's Jennifer Smith Richards on Oklahoma’s Push for More Patriotic, Christian Public Schools
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December 2, 2025
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Dec 2, 202559:30Now PlayingHave a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email usWill@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com ()
Investigative reporter Jennifer Smith Richards of ProPublica joins Will and Josh to break down her major reporting on Oklahoma’s controversial education overhaul under Superintendent Ryan Walters. She explains how Christianity was woven into new academic standards, why educators across the political spectrum objected, and how figures like PragerU, David Barton, and Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts influenced the proposed curriculum. Jennifer also walks through the dramatic rollback of civil-rights enforcement at the U.S. Department of Education and what the loss of federal oversight means for students with disabilities, racial discrimination claims, and families seeking accountability. This is a sobering, deeply important look at the future of public education, Christian nationalism in policy, and the stakes for parents and students nationwide.
Additional Resources
• This Is Ground Zero in the Conservative Quest for More Patriotic and Christian Public Schools
• PragerU Kids curriculum referenced by Oklahoma DOE
Guest Bio
Jennifer Smith Richards is an investigative reporter at ProPublica, specializing in education, civil rights, and systemic failures affecting children and families. Her reporting has uncovered national patterns in school discipline, civil-rights enforcement, curriculum changes influenced by political movements, and the real-world impact of state-level education policy. Her work is widely recognized for its depth, clarity, and public impact.
Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She DoesWhy Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026. Bookshop.org
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