Articles
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Culture & the Family
The case for waiting: Why our kids don’t need smartphones just yet
Something is deeply wrong with childhood in America—and we all sense it. Oklahoma’s new phone-free school law is a welcome corrective, but lasting change will come from parents and communities willing to push back against the cultural pressure to keep kids plugged in.Matt Oberdick | August 13, 2025
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
Oklahoma wins court fight to protect minors from gender-transition procedures
Aligning with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Oklahoma’s 2023 law banning gender-transition surgeries, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones for individuals under 18.Ray Carter | August 11, 2025
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
Federal court ruling buoys Oklahoma anti-discrimination law
Oklahoma lawmakers passed Senate Bill 658 to ensure that devout Christians are not disqualified from serving as adoptive or foster parents simply because they hold traditional beliefs about gender and sexuality. A recent federal court ruling bolsters the new law.Ray Carter | July 28, 2025
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
U.S. opposed Oklahoma ban on child gender ‘transitions’
When Oklahoma passed a law to ban so-called gender-transition procedures on minors, the United States filed a legal brief urging the courts to overturn the law.Ray Carter | July 9, 2025
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Health Care, Culture & the Family
Restoring the dignity of work: Why Medicaid’s new requirement matters for families and culture
A new Medicaid reform, signed into law on July 4 by President Donald Trump, establishes a work requirement for able-bodied, childless adults. This important reform affirms the dignity of work and the importance of personal responsibility.Matt Oberdick | July 8, 2025
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Culture & the Family
Oklahoma’s 2025 economic reforms strengthen families, reward work, expand freedom
In 2025, Oklahoma policymakers enacted a series of economic reforms that are also social-policy reforms. Strong families, meaningful work, and limited government all rise and fall together.Matt Oberdick | June 27, 2025
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Culture & the Family
Beyond the silo: Why conservatives must reunite cultural integrity and economic freedom
For too long, conservatives have treated cultural and economic issues as separate arenas—but they are inseparably linked. OCPA’s Matt Oberdick takes a look at some policy wins from Oklahoma’s 2025 legislative session.Matt Oberdick | June 20, 2025
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Culture & the Family
Sweden taught me the value of work—without a minimum wage
In Sweden, I worked for 20 cents a paper—and I’m grateful. Early jobs teach more than just how to work—they teach how to grow. Don’t take that chance away with one-size-fits-all laws.Tucker Cross | June 19, 2025
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
Vermont foster-care case highlights anti-Christian discrimination
A court case in Vermont highlights why Oklahoma lawmakers acted this year to make certain that religious couples cannot be prohibited from serving as foster parents if those couples disagree with far-left views on transgenderism.Ray Carter | June 12, 2025
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Culture & the Family
Five Fears Fellows have been elected to office
No fewer than five graduates of OCPA’s J. Rufus Fears Fellowship program have been elected to public office. In their own words, here’s what the fellowship meant to them.Rick Farmer, Ph.D. | June 3, 2025