Oklahoma
PragerU’s ‘Propaganda’ Videos Infiltrate Another State’s Classrooms
Following in Florida’s footsteps, Oklahoma’s anti-woke-obsessed education boss announced Tuesday that the state had become the second to welcome right-wing “PragerU Kids” instructional material into its classrooms statewide.
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who has made a name for himself by declaring that race was not a factor in the Tulsa Race Massacre, wrote in a statement that he was “thrilled” to announce a partnership with PragerU, claiming it will “ensure high quality materials rich in American history and values” to Oklahomans.
Despite its name, PragerU is not an accredited academic institution. It’s an uber-conservative advocacy group that’s become infamous for its videos that opine on hot-button cultural issues and historical events, regularly stirring up controversy since it was founded in 2009 by the conservative radio host Dennis Prager.
The breadth of PragerU’s content—which includes thousands of videos, podcasts, and more—has not been approved for the classroom in Oklahoma. Instead, the approval includes videos under the company’s “PragerU Kids” subsection, which a source close to PragerU told The Daily Beast is largely produced by the same staffers tasked with PragerU’s traditional content.
Florida gave the OK for PragerU Kids’ material in the classroom in July. The state’s board of education told The Daily Beast it made the decision because PragerU “aligns to Florida’s revised civics and government standards” under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
PragerU CEO Marissa Streit said she was “ecstatic” with Florida’s decision at the time. She did not try to hide her political bias in speaking about PragerU’s infiltration of the classroom—a likely sign that PragerU Kids’ content will likely continue to be unabashedly right wing.
“A couple of years ago we launched PragerU kids because parents have been frustrated; teachers have been frustrated,” Streit said in July. “We have seen that our schools have been hijacked by the left. They have been politicized. They have been used by union bosses. They have been doing everything under the sun not for our children.”
A press release from PragerU echoed Streit’s comments, saying teachers are “sick and tired of curriculum laced with radical political agendas—from Critical Race Theory and gender fluidity to overt anti-Americanism.”
But PragerU has been slammed regularly for inaccuracies in its content, including videos that deny climate change, and for standing by staffers who make outlandish—and sometimes outright racist—statements.
Not all of PragerU Kids’ material has an overt political leaning, but their educational value is questionable. Some of those videos reviewed by The Daily Beast included titles such as First Responder Friendship Bracelets, How To Embrace Your Masculinity, and How To Take Care of an American Flag.
Others were akin to outright American nationalism, including titles such as How To Be a Rational Patriot. That 10-minute video explains how America “is more than a place on a map, it’s a set of values stemming from Judeo-Christian principles.”
“America is one of the freest countries on the face of the planet,” the video says. “One million people request to immigrate to the U.S. every year because they know how amazing America is. The opportunities in this country are limitless, and the quality of life is better than it’s ever been throughout human history.”
Another video, titled Leo & Layla Meet Frederick Douglass, features a cartoon version of Douglass, the famed anti-slavery abolitionist, describing slavery as a compromise between the Founding Fathers and the Southern colonies.
In Florida, teachers are not required to use PragerU Kids’ material, but it is available for use as “supplemental curriculum” at their discretion.
Dan Isett, a spokesperson for Walters’ office, told The Daily Beast in an email on Tuesday that PragerU Kids’ material is available for immediate use in Oklahoma. He said PragerU offered the material to the state free of charge.
Waters and Oklahoma schools have been embroiled in controversy this year. Since he was sworn into office in January, Walters has likened teachers’ unions to terrorist organizations, claimed schools were being infiltrated by the Chinese government, and has publicly announced himself as an ally to Moms for Liberty—an entity labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center
Most recently, bomb threats were repeatedly called in at public schools in Tulsa—all stemming from chaos brought on by a satirical TikTok video where a librarian joked about being “woke.”
The Oklahoma Education Association, the state’s teacher’s union, had not made a comment about Walters’ announcement on Tuesday but others within Oklahoma schools voiced their anger online.
“I am an Oklahoma teacher,” posted a Twitter user named Taron Pounds. “I refuse to show PragerU’s revisionist propaganda to impressionable minds.”
The NC State Wolfpack won the first bout in their match against Oklahoma State, but those three points were the only ones NC State would earn all night, as the Cowboys dominated the Pack 34-3 in front of a wild home crowd.
Cael Hughes put the Cowboys on the board first with six huge team points via a pin over two-time All-American No. 7 Kai Orine of NC State; teammates No. 15 Carter Young and No. 14 Caleb Fish also added decisions in the first half of the dual at 141 and 157 pounds, respectively. No. 4 Tagen Jamison, meanwhile, added five points at 141 pounds with his fiery tech fall against Tyler Tracy of NC State.
Oklahoma State’s 197-pounder Luke Surber headlined the second half of the dual with his technical fall over No. 26 Christian Knop 18-2 for five team points of his own, while all four of his other teammates — No. 6 Cameron Amine, No. 3 Dean Hamiti, No. 3 Dustin Plott and No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson — settled for decisions.
The Pack wrestled Oklahoma State tough, particularly in the heavyweight match where U23 world champion Isaac Trumble had fellow U23 world champ Hendrickson in some trouble, but Hendrickson survived and held on to his undefeated record.
The Cowboys win over NC State gives the program its ninth victory against the Pack and a second dominant ACC win over a top-ten team this season. Oklahoma State will have No. 22 West Virginia and No. 7 Northern Iowa next on the schedule though the match that will be circled on the calendar now is the Cowboys’ meeting with the No. 2 Hawkeyes on Feb. 23.
Complete results:
| WEIGHT | BOUT RESULT | TEAM SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | No. 11 Vince Robinson over No. 2 Troy Spratley, 7-3 | 3-0, NC State |
| 133 | Cael Hughes over No. 7 Kai Orine, FALL | 6-3, OSU |
| 141 | No. 4 Tagen Jamison over Tyler Tracy, 21-5 | 11-3, OSU |
| 149 | No. 15 Carter Young over No. 33 Koy Buesgens, 5-2 | 14-3, OSU |
| 157 | No. 14 Caleb Fish over No. 12 Ed Scott, 12-5 | 17-3, OSU |
| 165 | No. 6 Cameron Amine over No. 32 Derek Fields, 5-2 | 20-3 OSU |
| 174 | No. 3 Dean Hamiti over No. 19 Matty Singleton, 8-4 | 23-3, OSU |
| 184 | No. 3 Dustin Plott over No. 11 Dylan Fishback, 5-0 | 26-3, OSU |
| 197 | No. 7 Luke Surber over No. 26 Christian Knop, 18-2 | 31-3, OSU |
| 285 | No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson over No. 4 Isaac Trumble, 10-4 | 34-3, OSU |
Jennie Baranczyk recaps OU women’s basketball win vs. New Mexico State
Jennie Baranczyk recaps OU women’s basketball win vs. New Mexico State
The Oklahoma women’s basketball team split a pair of SEC games last week.
OU (14-3, 2-2 SEC) suffered an 81-77 road loss to Mississippi State on Thursday. It then bounced back with a 77-62 home win over Texas A&M on Sunday.
OU dropped from No. 10 to No. 13 in the AP Top 25 Poll. It was ranked No. 11 last week in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, which will release this week’s rankings on Tuesday.
Each week, The Oklahoman will take a look at OU’s recent results, break down how its NCAA Tournament resume has changed and compare it to the competition. Here’s where the Sooners stand as of Monday:
Oklahoma basketball results last week
Jan. 9: Mississippi State 81, Oklahoma 77
OU stumbled in its 81-77 road loss to Mississippi State on Thursday. The Sooners committed 21 turnovers, which the Bulldogs converted into 25 points. This marked OU’s first loss to an unranked opponent this season, and the team dropped to 1-2 in SEC play.
Jan. 12: Oklahoma 77, Texas A&M 62
OU bounced back by earning a 77-62 home win over Texas A&M on Sunday. Raegan Beers recorded 16 points and six rebounds, but she exited the game with an apparent shoulder injury late in the third quarter and didn’t return. OU head coach Jennie Baranczyk didn’t have an update after the game on Beers, who’s averaging team highs of 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds.
Oklahoma basketball NET rankings: No. 12 (last week: No. 11)
- Quad 1 record: 3-3
- Quad 2 record: 1-0
- Quad 3 record: 1-0
- Quad 4 record: 9-0
Bracketology projections
ESPN: No. 4 seed vs. No. 13 Drake in Norman (Region 3) as of Jan. 10.
Next up: Missouri
Matchup: Oklahoma (14-3, 2-2 SEC) vs. Missouri (11-8, 0-4 SEC)
Tipoff: 6 p.m. Thursday; Lloyd Noble Center in Norman
Livestream: SEC Network+
Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt has signed an executive order that allows colleges and universities within the state to directly compensate student-athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
This decision builds on the framework established by Senate Bill 1786, passed in 2024, and positions Oklahoma as a trailblazer in navigating the complex and rapidly evolving world of collegiate athletics.
Stitt’s order addresses a pressing issue: the fragmented and inconsistent NIL rules across the country.
While the NCAA and major conferences inch toward a settlement in the In College Athlete NIL Litigation, which could eventually allow direct payments, the timeline for a resolution remains uncertain.
Stitt’s action ensures that Oklahoma’s programs won’t have to wait.
By empowering universities to pay athletes now, the executive order eliminates the competitive disadvantage that could arise if other states or conferences move faster.
“This executive order ensures that these student-athletes have access to the same opportunities as their peers in other states,” Stitt said in a statement to The Oklahoman. “It’s about leveling the playing field and maintaining the competitive edge that defines Oklahoma athletics.”
The directive shields Oklahoma’s universities from potential fallout if no settlement is reached or if revenue sharing fails to be universally adopted.
Even in the absence of a federal resolution, Oklahoma schools will be equipped to support their athletes directly. This foresight guarantees stability in a landscape defined by uncertainty, setting a standard that other states may soon follow.
Crucially, the order prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars for NIL payments, instead allowing the creation of foundations to act as clearinghouses for third-party contributions. These foundations provide a transparent and legally sound mechanism for entities to support athletes without fear of reprisal from organizations like the NCAA or athletic conferences.
Stitt’s move also addresses a unique challenge within Oklahoma’s collegiate landscape.
The state’s four Division I programs: The Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, and Tulsa Golden Hurricane compete in different conferences, each with its own NIL policies.
This fragmentation risks creating inequities among schools, but the executive order establishes a unified approach, ensuring all institutions can operate on a level playing field.
The response from Oklahoma’s university leaders has been overwhelmingly positive.
Oklahoma Sooners president Joseph Harroz Jr. praised the measure’s potential to support student-athletes while preparing institutions for the eventual transition to revenue sharing.
“This action strengthens our ability to recruit, retain, and cultivate extraordinary talent, positioning our student-athletes for success in every aspect of their lives,” Harroz said.
Oklahoma State president Kayse Shrum echoed these sentiments, highlighting how the order benefits both athletes and fans.
“Today’s executive order brings exciting possibilities for our institutions, our student-athletes, and our fans,” Shrum stated.
By enabling direct NIL payments now, Stitt’s executive order accelerates the shift from collective-driven compensation models to the more comprehensive revenue-sharing systems widely seen as the future of collegiate athletics.
This proactive approach ensures that Oklahoma’s programs won’t be left behind, even as federal and legal discussions drag on.
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