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Articles by Steve Byas
Eating Their Own — Again: The Far Left Is Calling Zohran Mamdani a Traitor
by Steve Byas, The New American: Call it the Trotsky treatment, the Robespierre rub out, the Kronstadt-sailor stamp out. New York City’s avowedly socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani has just learned something the hard way. You can never be pure enough for that ever-morphing malignancy: a left-wing revolution. The issue? The mayor has incurred the wrath of anti-Israel demonstrators who consider him a traitor. Apparently, these people think you’re a Zionist if you’re not Josef Goebbels2.
Don’t Vote… Unless You Know What You’re Doing!
• Voters who are uninformed can easily be beguiled into voting away their freedoms. • Hitler would not have come to power in Germany if the German people had been informed. • It is far better not to vote than it is to vote if you do not know what you are doing. • That said, we have an awesome responsibility to become informed — and then vote. Suppose that you have always wanted a brand-new Lamborghini and that you’ve finally been able to achieve your dream.
Legislature Dominated by RINOs (Republican In Name Only) Legislators
We believe the most important product of this publication is our annual Oklahoma Conservative Index which rates members of the Oklahoma Legislature. We published our first scorecard in the summer of 1979, and with this summer issue we present the 48th edition of the ratings. Prior to initiating the Oklahoma Conservative Index, many legislators could claim to be a conservative and there was no objective measure to determine if that was true.
Oklahomas Data Center Invasion
Our state is under a sustained invasion by Big Tech to place their resource-devouring data centers on our land. “Invasion” is an accurate term to describe what is happening, as large corporations descend on Oklahoma to exploit our relatively cheap electricity, water, and gullible city councils who are cajoled into entering into murky agreements with faceless megacorps, and in the process selling out their community and surrounding population for…what, exactly?
the Man with a Financial Plan for Oklahoma
Former State Senator Mike Mazzei finished a close second to Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial primary on June 16, 2026. Drummond won 26.3% of the vote to Mazzei’s 26%, which translated to a less than 1,200 vote difference between the two. As the top two finishers, they advance to the runoff primary election scheduled for August 25th, 2026.
Democracy or Republic?
Democracy and republic are two terms that are used by many interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. On the contrary, in many regards, they are poles apart. For sure, the United States and Oklahoma are democratic in that we have elections to determine the personnel of government. But the United States Constitution guarantees to each state a republican form of government.
The State Senate Wildcard Nobody Is Talking About
As Oklahomans brace for a return of establishment power in the State Senate, there’s one wildcard factor that could change everything. Those who have given in to the doom and gloom surrounding the potential return of establishment Senator Lonnie Paxton to preside over the State Senate are overlooking one very important factor – a wildcard that simply isn’t being properly analyzed.
Oklahoma the Reddest State
Oklahoma is often referred to as “the reddest state in the nation.” By that, most are referring to the strength of the Republican Party, at least in the last couple of decades. (West Virginia is another candidate for that title). It was NBC’s Tim Russert, with his repeated usage of the terms as Red for Republican states and Blue for Democratic states, that caused the terms to be universally applied today.
The AR-15 and the Second Amendment
column The AR-15 and the Second Amendment There is late news from the US Supreme Court. Last June 30, the Court granted certiorari in Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, consolidating challenges to gun bans in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois. After years of frustration and denials, the Supreme Court has finally agreed to review and decide if state and local bans on semi-automatic rifles, such as the AR-15, are constitutional.
On Ignorance and Innocence
I recently received an article from a pro-life apologist who tried to make a positive case for continuing to protect women who choose to kill their offspring by abortion.
Oklahomas Independence 250 Heritage
July 4th, 2026 was the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, 250 years ago. I hope that all the readers of the Oklahoma Constitution had a good Independence Day. Two hundred and fifty years is a quarter-millennium, making the USA the 23rd oldest nation-state in the world. Oklahoma was not one of the 13 English Colonies that became the USA, so we don’t have Revolutionary War battlefields in Oklahoma.
The Choices We Make at the Ballot Box
As I wrote in last quarter’s article, one of the most important responsibilities we have as citizens is participating in the electoral process. At that time, my focus was on encouraging people across our state to get out and vote. Since then, the primary elections have taken place, and we have now moved into the runoff season. Once again, Oklahomans find themselves with the opportunity – and the responsibility – to help determine who will represent our communities for the years ahead.
Gentner Drummond & Machiavelli
The appearance of Gentner Drummond as a public figure reminds me of the anti-Christian shift in thought Machiavelli (1469-1527) brought to the political world in 1513. In his brief commentary of Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, author and professor W. B. Allen wrote an article in a 1997 Yale University Press publication that explains Drummond’s stand against historic Western thought.
column Fixing the Problem of Low Voter Turnout It is campaign season, and we are exhausted and fatigued with the multiple mailers, texts, phone calls, door knockers, and candidate events, yet we understand that they are necessities that will not be going away any time, soon. The topic of poor voter turnout in our country, and particularly in our state, is extremely worrisome.
A Wolf in Sheeps Clothing?
Jesus warned his disciples about those who come to us as sheep, but inwardly are wolves. I can think of no person who better fits that description than Robert Franklin, a candidate for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. If this man is a Republican, then the word has no meaning. His runoff primary opponent is Dr. James Taylor, a Christian minister and a public school history teacher at Little Axe.
U.S. Senate and House Races
news U.S. Senate and House Races The United States Congress is composed of two chambers. Senators serve six-year terms with only a third of the seats up each election year. Each state has two seats in that upper chamber and have staggered terms. Only one of Oklahoma’s two U.S. Senate seats is up for election this year. The seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up each election year since the members serve two-year terms.
State Questions Advancing to Ballot
Oklahoman’s have voted on over 400 State Questions since statehood. Proposals can be placed on the ballot through the initiative petition process by collecting the signatures of a sufficient number of voters. One such initiative appeared on June 16 ballot, several others are in the early stages of the initiative process and have not yet been approved to collect signatures.
Races for Oklahoma Legislature
news Races for Oklahoma Legislature Oklahoma’s Primary elections were held June 16, and many races for seats in the state legislature were filled because there are only candidates from a single party. For those seats in which no candidate in the party primary received more than 50 percent of the vote, a Runoff Primary Election will be held on August 25 between the top two candidates.
State Offices Head to Runoff Election
news State Offices Head to Runoff Election In non-presidential election years a host of state offices are up for election. The list includes the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Labor Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, and one of the seats on the Corporation Commission. The Republican candidates won all of these statewide races in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Legislators Rated
The Oklahoma Constitution presents the 48th annual Oklahoma Conservative Index rating our state legislators. Members of each chamber of the Oklahoma Legislature were rated on ten key votes on legislation considered during the 2026 session. A favorable vote on these bills demonstrates a belief in conservative principles.
Celebrate the Declaration Every Day — By Living It
• The words in the Declaration of Independence mean nothing if we do not put them into practice. • Learning and applying the principles in the Declaration is the best way to celebrate it. • Prior to the American Revolution, patriots informed fellow citizens through the Committees of Correspondence. • In a very real sense, we should “celebrate” the Fourth of July every day through our patriotic endeavors.
2A for Today | “The Shot Heard Round the World”
On April 18, 1775, a column of roughly 700 British Regulars marched out of Boston under orders from General Thomas Gage. Their mission was to seize and destroy Colonist munitions hidden outside Concord, Massachusetts. They expected a disorganized resistance; what they encountered was a well-armed militia that had been warned by Paul Revere and other messengers. The battles at the Lexington village green and Concord’s North Bridge ignited the American War for Independence.
Remembering the Birth of John Birch
Editors’ note: John Birch was born May 28, 1918. In remembrance of this hero and namesake of The John Birch Society, we are reposting this article by Steve Byas, originally published on May 28, 2018, as “Centennial Birthday for John Birch — May 28.” In 1962, the pop group known as the Chad Mitchell Trio released a song poking fun at the anti-Communist John Birch Society (parent organization of The New American), in which the singers pose as “goofy” JBS members.
Is Massie’s Loss the End, or the Beginning of Something Bigger?
by Steve Byas, The New American: U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) took on the neocon machine and lost by nearly 10 points to primary challenger Ed Gallrein. It’s a surprisingly large margin in a race that was projected to be close, and given the grassroots excitement the congressman inspired compared to the tepid response Gallrein’s campaign consistently received. Suspicions of election chicanery are already circulating.
Hantavirus: Is the Next Pandemic Upon Us?
by Steve Byas, The New American: A hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius Dutch cruise ship has claimed the lives of three passengers and caused illness in others, according to mainstream news reports. Contact tracing links the illness’ origin to South America and the Atlantic island of St. Helena. U.S. passengers face a 42-day quarantine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Whistleblower Claims and Excess Mortality Data Spark Debate on Covid-19 Vaccine Safety
by Steve Byas, The New American: On March 19, former Pfizer toxicologist Dr. Helmut Sterz addressed the German parliament, stating that the Comirnaty vaccine, also known as the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 shot, should never have been approved. He cited skipped long-term toxicology studies, incomplete carcinogenicity testing, and use of a different manufacturing formula in mass production versus clinical trials.
TIDBITS FOR SPRING 2026
tidbits TIDBITS FOR SPRING 2026 Oklahoma Voter Registration On February 2, the Oklahoma State Election Board (OSEB) released its official voter registration report. At the end of 2025, there were 2,406,168 registered voters in Oklahoma. The largest number of Oklahoma’s voters are Republicans, who make up 53.2% of registered voters. Democrats are the second-largest party with 25.3% of registered voters.
Government Should Not Be Setting Any Prices
Oklahomans will go to the polls on June 16 to vote on State Question 832 – a proposal to have the government, not the free market, determine what is a proper wage. If it passes, the government will force employers to pay their employees a “minimum wage” of $15 an hour, which will increase over the next few years. In 2027, the wage will be $12 per hour, followed by $13.50 an hour in 2028, before reaching $15 an hour in 2029.
Questions and Answers on Oklahoma State Question 832
June 16, 2026 is Primary Election Day in Oklahoma. Voters will choose candidates for a wide variety of positions. However, perhaps no vote cast that day will be as important, on a long-term basis, as how they vote on Oklahoma State Question 832. It’s a ballot measure that would untie the state from the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and instead, increase the state minimum wage to $12 per hour in 2027, $13.50 in 2028, and $15.00 in 2029.
Why the Jungle Primary Proposal Failed to Make the Ballot
We dodged the bullet with the failure of State Question 836 to reach the Oklahoma ballot. The proposal would have dramatically changed the way elections are conducted in Oklahoma. It would have replaced the current “closed primary” system – where only the members of a political party can vote to select the nominees for their party to appear on the General Election ballot for all voters.
Vote NO on SQ 832 or the People and Economy of Oklahoma Will Be Damaged
column Vote NO on SQ 832 or the People and Economy of Oklahoma Will Be Damaged If Oklahomans pass State Question 832 we will start a three year process to raise our minimum wage to $15.00 per hour. We won’t experience any affect for the first two years, as entry level jobs in Oklahoma already start around the $10 to $12 dollar range.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Oklahoma School Boards, as they are currently structured, have been and are a dismal failure for millions of Oklahoma kids! Moore Public Schools had a school board election on April 7th. The Moore School District held a public debate to educate school patrons on which candidate would be the best suited for the seat. There were two candidates. One is running for reelection, the other is running to replace the current board member.
Take the Computers Away from the Students and Return to Actual Education
On April 16, Welch Public Schools in Craig County released a statement informing parents and students that the district would be ending their “one laptop for each student” policy, beginning in the fall semester. Rather than taking their laptop with them wherever they go, students would no longer have an individual device assigned to them, and all laptops would remain in the classroom – only to be used when needed.
Global Organizations and Local Control of Education
column OECD: Global Organizations and Local Control of Education The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other global organizations have had a large role in driving the centralized control of education and the models which have been produced and proven to fail. That includes: President Clinton’s Outcomes Based Education (OBE); President Bush’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB); and President Obama’s Common Core.
The One RINO Survivor of the Great Grassroots Gaslighting Gauntlet
Time and again, ambitious legislators now seeking higher office run what I have termed “The Great Grassroots Gaslighting Gauntlet.” One by one, they appear before Republican grassroots groups, attempting to convince audiences – hopeful and eager to support those who share their values – that they are the true conservative candidate of choice. For the most part, that gaslighting hasn’t worked. The grassroots are becoming more sophisticated.
The Oklahoma Race for Governor and the E-Verify Question
It’s 2026 and gubernatorial elections are being held in 36 states, including Oklahoma. There are fifteen candidates are running for governor in Oklahoma. Some aren’t famous and don’t stand much of a chance. But even if you lose, running for office raises your profile and may lead to future opportunities.
Oklahoma Needs a Patrick Henry in the Governors Seat
America is trending communist. Less that 100 years ago, communism and socialism were anathema to most Americans. Last August, Gallop polling found that only 54% of the American people viewed capitalism in a positive light. Americans who wish for a socialist society and government now stands at 38%.
Fixing the Problem of Low Voter Turnout
column Fixing the Problem of Low Voter Turnout It is campaign season, and we are exhausted and fatigued with the multiple mailers, texts, phone calls, door knockers, and candidate events, yet we understand that they are necessities that will not be going away any time, soon. The topic of poor voter turnout in our country, and particularly in our state, is extremely worrisome.
Status of State Questions Advancing to the Ballot
news Status of State Questions Advancing to the Ballot Oklahoman’s have voted on over 400 State Questions since statehood. Proposals can be placed on the ballot through the initiative petition process by collecting the signatures of a sufficient number of voters. One such initiative is scheduled for a vote on June 16, several others were approved to collect signatures or are in the early stages of the initiative process.
Candidates File for Oklahoma State Legislative Seats
The Oklahoma candidate filing period this year was April 1-3. Primary elections will be held on June 16, and for those seats in which no candidate in the party primary receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a Runoff Primary will be held on August 25. The General Election will be on November 3. The Oklahoma House of Representatives has 101 members and the Oklahoma Senate has 48 members (only half of the senate seats are up each election cycle).
Mullin Appointment Creates Shakeup
news Mullin Appointment Creates Shakeup President Trump’s unexpected replacement of Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem with Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin caused a shakeup in several races for office in Oklahoma. The news of Mullin’s appoint on March 5 came just one month before the April 1-3 filing period of Oklahoma candidates for office.
U.S. Senate and House Races
news U.S. Senate and House Races The United States Congress is composed of two chambers. Senators serve six-year terms with only a third of the seats up each election year. Each state has two seats in that upper chamber and have staggered terms. Only one of Oklahoma’s two U.S. Senate seats is up for election this year. Senator James Lankford was reelected in 2022, and his term will not be up until the 2028 election. The late Sen.
National Right to Life Committee Sabotages Equal Protection
The Associate Press recently reported about a woman who “arrived at a hospital Dec. 30 complaining of abdominal pain. She told medical workers that she had taken misoprostol…” The fetus, estimated to be 22-24 weeks old, survived for about an hour after being delivered at the hospital. The woman is quoted to have told the nursing staff: “I know my infant is suffering, because I am the one who did the abortion.
The Anglo-Saxon Roots of the Second Amendment
The Second Amendment to the US Constitution reads “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The Amendment is distasteful to leftists. They view the Second Amendment as both recondite and anachronistic, a relic of the eighteenth century when farmers with muskets toiled in the fields. But this view is sourced in ignorance.
Jurisdictional Disputes in Oklahoma Territorial Days
As more and more non-Indians began to live in “Indian Territory” in the latter days of the 1800s, problems relating to jurisdiction of criminal law became increasingly common. For example, there was an instance where a member of the Cherokee tribe attempted to kill his sister’s husband. Jim Kesterson had abandoned her, and Zeke Proctor said, “I am going to kill me a white man.” Unfortunately, he shot a relative instead.
Candidates File for State Offices
news Candidates File for State Offices The candidate filing period for the 2026 Oklahoma elections was April 1-3, and a near record of candidates tossed their name into the ring for the various offices. In non-presidential election years a host of state offices are up for election.
A Great Awakening: The Movie
“George Whitefield was the revolution,” Benjamin Franklin tells his grandson during the 1787 Constitutional Convention then being held in Franklin’s hometown of Philadelphia. It was Whitefield — the most important preacher of the Great Awakening — that united the Colonies of the British Empire in the concept that liberty is a gift of God. This is the theme of the movie A Great Awakening, a theme that is certainly supported by the historical evidence.
Epstein & the Hijacking of Bitcoin: A New World Financial Order
by Steve Byas, The New American: Child sex trafficker and Deep State operative Jeffrey Epstein was deeply interested in crypto currency, Bitcoin, and the evolving global financial architecture, explains technology expert Aaron Day in this explosive interview on Behind The Deep State with The New American magazine’s Alex Newman. Continuing with this series on Epstein, Newman and Day break down how Epstein was involved in multiple ways in the development of crypto systems since at least 2009.
Governor candidate forum at Randall University
Randall University will host a forum for the candidates for Oklahoma governor at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in the main auditorium of the Barber Building. Randall University is located at 3701 S. Highway I-35 in Moore. All the announced candidates have been invited.
State Rep. Jim Shaw's Save Oklahoma Plan
In the August 2024 Republican primary runoff in House District 32 in central Oklahoma, political neophyte Jim Shaw upset incumbent Kevin Wallace. There was no Democrat candidate, so Shaw won the seat. At over $1.4 million, it was the most expensive race in the history of the Oklahoma House.
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