'Huge victory for journalism': Oklahoma station wins lawsuit against MAGA education officials

Oklahoma State Schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, a far-right Christian nationalist and MAGA Republican, has drawn scathing criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Americans United for separation of Church and State, and others for trying to impose Christian fundamentalism on students in public schools. And Walters has been clashing with journalists as well, including reporters for KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City.

Walters excluded KFOR reporters from press conferences, and the station responded with a lawsuit.

But on Wednesday, December 11, KFOR reported that it had "won a legal battle" against Walters and his allies.

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According to KOSU-FM (a National Public Radio-associated station in Oklahoma), "State Superintendent Ryan Walters and his press secretary Dan Isett have agreed to allow KFOR journalists into all of the Education Department's news conferences and meetings. The leaders have also agreed to pay attorney fees and damages of $17.91 — a symbolic amount, as 1791 was the year the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified."

According to KFOR, Walters and Isett agreed to "add KFOR to" their "e-mail list for press releases."

KFOR noted, "Attorney fees have yet to be determined, but Ryan Walters and his attorneys did agree to pay them."

Charles Miller of the Institute for Free Speech said of the ruling, "This is a huge victory for journalism."

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