Red States are Turning On Trump; His Plans Backfire As Dems Plan to Takeover the Senate!

Summary

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IHIP News Podcast: "Red States are Turning On Trump; His Plans Backfire As Dems Plan to Takeover the Senate!"

Hosts: Jennifer Welch & Angie “Pumps” Sullivan
Guest: Jasmine Thomas, U.S. Senate candidate from Oklahoma
Date: December 6, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Jasmine Thomas, a groundbreaking Democratic candidate challenging incumbent Senator Markwayne Mullen ("Booster Box") in Oklahoma—a traditionally red state. Thomas shares her perspective on representation, the intersection of religion and government, recent campus controversies, healthcare, and why Oklahoma's political landscape may be shifting. The discussion is energetic, comedic, and candid, staying rooted in local realities while reflecting on national implications.

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Major Discussion Points

1. Jasmine Thomas: Representation & Motivation to Run (00:20–01:48)

• Diverse Background:

  • Jasmine emphasizes her multiracial heritage (Black, White, Chickasaw) and her perspective as a woman.
  • "I would be the first woman, but also the first person of color to ever hold this seat since statehood has even been enacted." (00:56, Jasmine Thomas)

• Motivation:

  • Thomas highlights the lack of authentic representation and the need for new voices in Oklahoma politics.
  • She refers to incumbent Markwayne Mullen as "Mediocre White Man (MWM)" for failing to represent the state’s diversity.

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2. Critique of Markwayne Mullen & Trump Allegiance (01:52–02:40)

• Booster Box Mullen:

  • The hosts deride Mullen for Senate antics, lack of maturity, and defensiveness of Trump.
  • "He's tried to fist fight people on the floor of the Senate. Come on, grow up. Act like a real person." (01:52, Interviewer)

• Race and Representation:

  • Mullen’s defense of Trump is ridiculed, particularly in the context of race.
  • "He thinks Trump's not a racist. I'm like, dipshit, you're not getting it. You're part of the problem." (02:26, Interviewer)

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3. Campus Controversy at University of Oklahoma (UO) (02:40–05:41)

• Incident Recap:

  • A student submits a religiously based response on an assignment, defies academic standards, and becomes a cause célèbre after conservative media and politicians get involved.
  • Turning Point USA targets the trans professor (Mel), escalating the story.

• Jasmine’s Take:

  • "If this was religious persecution, then we could also flip that narrative and say that this was a religious persecution for this professor, because this professor is trans and the professor's name is Mel." (03:14, Jasmine Thomas)
  • Jasmine uncovers the student’s mother is a Missouri attorney involved with January 6th cases, suggesting political orchestration.
  • "It was one of the worst ways of publicity that someone could have ever tried to do. And it took a livelihood away from someone." (04:17, Jasmine Thomas)

• Wider Implications:

  • Both the guest and hosts agree the university mishandled the incident, damaging its reputation.
  • "University of Oklahoma failed. They failed that professor. They failed every student in their student body." (05:41, Interviewer)

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4. Religious Nationalism & Secular Government (06:00–08:28)

• Governance Critique:

  • Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is criticized for supporting the student’s religious claim, while ignoring pressing social issues like homelessness.
  • "He comes out in support of this girl. And as an elected official in Oklahoma, where Christian nationalism is so prevalent, how do you maintain a secular government?" (06:21, Interviewer)

• Jasmine on Separation of Church and State:

  • "That's really all this is. It's really them implementing their religious beliefs into everyday people's lives. That's not practicing what they practice." (06:42, Jasmine Thomas)
  • She pledges to uphold church-state separation and criticizes Stitt for neglecting his responsibilities.

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5. Healthcare, ACA, and Mullen’s Record (08:28–10:09)

• Policy Criticism:

  • Senator Mullen's voting record is scrutinized, especially on healthcare, Medicaid, and SNAP cuts.
  • Contradicts his claims on family values with his legislative actions.

• Impact on Constituents:

  • "Oklahoma has one of the lowest turnouts when it comes to the insured... if they are, they have been utilizing the ACA and it's been keeping their premiums and their health care in line." (08:58, Jasmine Thomas)
  • "He had campaigned on lowering medication costs, but then backpedals and says I'm on whatever Trump is on." (09:46, Jasmine Thomas)

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6. Christian Nationalism and Women’s Shifting Allegiances (10:24–13:13)

• Cultural Shift:

  • Discusses how Christian nationalism is losing grassroots support, especially among women.
  • "But what I've noticed after the Christian nationalism projection is that we're seeing a lot more people come out and say, listen, like whatever our religion is, it's our business." (10:54, Jasmine Thomas)

• Women Resonating with Jasmine’s Candidacy:

  • Jasmine shares how women, especially mothers of children with disabilities, increasingly relate to her experiences and are crossing political lines.
  • "The women that resonate with that, they're just like, you know what, Maybe, just maybe I'm not being represented." (12:10, Jasmine Thomas)

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7. Closing & Call to Action (13:44–14:53)

• Grassroots Campaign:

  • Jasmine urges listeners to support her campaign: "Everything that I do is and I get is from the community... I will directly listen to my constituents and not be sold out to any other sources." (14:22, Jasmine Thomas)
  • Campaign info: jasmine4ok on socials / jasmine4everyone.com / ActBlue link for donations.

• Optimism for Change:

  • "We can get Oklahoma to, if not turn blue, at least turn purple, right?" (14:48, Jasmine Thomas)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We need this diversity. We need to be shown in a better light than what Mr. Mediocre White Man, Markwayne Mullen, has done." (00:56, Jasmine Thomas)
• "Senator Booster Box is super pro Trump... But in the Epstein stuff, he ran so much cover for Trump." (08:28, Interviewer)
• "Who are you working for? Are you working for us? Are you working for them? Because if you're working for them, they need to start paying you instead of my tax dollars." (08:14, Jasmine Thomas)
• "I have a son that's autistic. So when I'm out here talking about how I'm wanting to change things... the women that resonate with that ...are actually flipping their parties." (12:00-13:13, Jasmine Thomas)
• "We need dignity restored to politics." (13:24, Interviewer)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jasmine’s introduction & her motivation to run: 00:20–01:48
• Discussion of Mullen’s Senate antics and Trump support: 01:52–02:40
• University of Oklahoma controversy: 02:40–05:41
• Secular government vs. religious nationalism: 06:00–08:28
• Healthcare and impacts of ACA votes: 08:28–10:09
• Gender and shifting political allegiances: 10:24–13:13
• Jasmine’s campaign call to action: 13:44–14:53

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Overall Tone & Takeaway

The conversation is fast-paced, irreverent, and deeply personal, with a strong sense of urgency for progressive change in traditionally red states. Both the hosts and their guest balance humor and frustration, focusing on the promise of representation and grassroots activism in Oklahoma. Jasmine Thomas emerges as a formidable challenger, rooted in experience and empathy, calling for a new generation of leadership.

For more info or to support Jasmine Thomas:

• Socials: @jasmine4ok
• Website: jasmine4everyone.com
• Donations: [ActBlue, linked via website/socials]

Transcript

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[Interviewer]

Today on ihip we have a special guest. We have Jasmine Thomas who is from Oklahoma and she is running for U.S. senate and against Senator booster box Mark Wayne Mullen. And we are so hopeful that your candidacy will take off. And so tell us why you're running in Oklahoma. Why are you brave enough as a young female to go against such a patriarchal nut job in Mark Wayne Mullen?

[Jasmine Thomas]

So I have such a diverse background that I feel like I represent just about everyone that's in Oklahoma. We have not had the representation in Oklahoma where that comes from. Being a woman, being a person of color, or just being a just overall Oklahoman with my diverse background because I'm black, white, native American, I'm Chickasaw. I'm also a woman. I would be the first woman, but also the first person of color to ever hold this seat since statehood has even been enacted. And with that being said, the bravery comes from just, I don't know, just showing up and just saying, hey, we, we need this representation. We need this diversity. We need to be shown in a better light than what Mr. And I call him Mediocre White Man MWM because Mark Wayne Mullen.

[Interviewer]

It definitely tracks.

He's tried to fist fight people on the floor of the Senate. Come on, grow up. Act like a real person. We don't have to. We all know that you have to stand on a booster box. We all know that you don't feel good about yourself, but you don't have to show it in such a spectacular fashion on the floor of the Senate. It's absolute. And now he's running around saying Donald Trump isn't a racist despite every single indicator to the contrary because he is a white male, is an Indian and he thinks Trump's not a racist. I'm like, dipshit, you're not getting it. You're part of the problem. And I hope that Oklahoma will support you. And diversity. This university thing where this girl responds to an essay with her interpretation of the Bible, doesn't, doesn't cite any science. She does the assignment completely wrong. Then Turning Point usa they go after the trans professor. The University of Oklahoma fumbles it to the nth degree. I've graduated both undergrad and law school from the University of Oklahoma. I am completely devastated by this because institutions of higher learning, especially secular ones, should not fall prey to this. It is not freedom of expression. It's answering correctly the requirements of the assignment. So how do you speak to that?

[Jasmine Thomas]

So I think that it was a reach that she even said that it was religious persecution first and foremost, because there's nothing there that screams religious persecution. And she. Not only if this was a religious persecution, then we could also flip that narrative and say that this was a religious persecution for this professor because this professor is trans and the professor's name is Mel.

[Interviewer]

So.

[Jasmine Thomas]

So I want to address them as their name. And Mel was attacked on so many levels for this. And I feel like it was a setup in so many ways because her mother, come to find out. I found this out, is her mother is actually an attorney herself that practices in. Was it Arkansas?

[Interviewer]

I think Missouri?

[Jasmine Thomas]

Missouri? Missouri. I apologize for the misinformation, but yes, she practices in Missouri, and she was actually one of the attorneys that went and got one of the January Sixers out of jail at the time. So with that being said, I felt like this was a setup for a perfect expose, I would say, and that's lack of better words, but it was very tasteless, it was tactless, and it was one of the worst ways of publicity that someone could have ever tried to do. And it took a livelihood away from someone who this. This is their livelihood. It took it away. And it's very devastating. And I just really feel like this was a grab and then turning point, and then her turning to turning point.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Jasmine Thomas]

Like it screams that they were trying to get some type of reaction out of the masses, because they know that they're losing right now. They know that they're losing ground when it comes to their congressional Senate, especially coming into the 2026 midterms. People aren't buying what they're selling anymore. So they gotta find ways to, I don't know, make a big deal out of nothing. And I'm hoping that the professor actually gets the justice that they deserve because. Yes, because at the end of the day, all of this was a. It was a bad job. And one thing that I had mentioned yesterday when I was speaking to my supporters is that 10 is not going to fail you out of a course. 10 is not.

[Interviewer]

She could have gone to the professor and said, help me understand why I didn't do the assignment correctly. If she was earnestly trying to get a good grade, there were a million avenues she could have taken. College professors typically will go over it with you. Allow You a redo, but I'm with you. It sounds like a setup. From day one. University of Oklahoma failed. They failed that professor. They failed every student in their student body. They failed the reputation of the university going forward. And one thing that stuck out to me is, of course, Kevin Stitt, the lame duck who could not come out against Ryan Walters, with all the corruption and all of the idiocy going on in the Department of Education under his reign, couldn't come out against him. But he comes out in support of this girl. And as an elected official in Oklahoma, where Christian nationalism is so prevalent, how do you maintain a secular government when you have this clamoring for religion and government to be melded together, making sure.

[Jasmine Thomas]

That we always maintain the separation of church and state? Because that's really all this is. It's really them implementing their religious beliefs into everyday people's lives. That's not practicing what they practice. So with that being said, that's one thing that I'm going to uphold within our federal government, because that's what I will ultimately represent, right? And. And making sure that we always practice discernment when it comes to what needs to be addressed and what doesn't. Because Stitt just recently, not too long ago, had just came out and said that homelessness wasn't his problem. It was never his problem. That, that's the nonprofits, mind you. The nonprofits are having to basically scoundrel up or scrounge up change, get all these donations in order for them to be able to even operate. And so him saying that was very. Let me find the word to use, because I'm trying to be, like I said, as tasteful as possible. I'm trying to be. Because I can say so many just bad words right now, but that's out of touch with reality and what his job is. So by her going to Stitt and him just being openly honest about this and actually giving his two cents on this, it's like, do you even know what your role in our government, our local government even is? Do you even know what your job is? Because you haven't been doing that. You have not been doing things for the Oklahomans. You've been doing it for a small few and not. Not the diverse community as a whole. So who are you working for? Are you working for us? Are you working for them? Because if you're working for them, they need to start paying you instead of my tax dollars paying you or our tax tax dollars paying you.

[Interviewer]

Senator Booster Box is super pro Trump. He is out and Proud about he is full transparency. He wants to protect children. He's the party of family values. Yet in the Epstein stuff, he ran so much cover for Trump. He voted yes on the big beautiful bill in your constituency, the increase premiums. Have you been hearing about that from your constituents on the ACA and the cuts to Medicaid and snap?

[Jasmine Thomas]

Yes, I have. And they have been very vocal about it, and they're not. They're unapologetic with what they're saying. So Oklahoma has one of the lowest turnouts when it comes to the insured. So there's not very many people that are insured, and if they are, they have been utilizing the ACA and it's been keeping their premiums and their health care in line. But we also are 49th in healthcare as well. And by him actually voting against his own constituents, that's still the question as to who do you serve, who do you represent? Because it's obviously not the constituents that actually voted you in, but they will always. The supporters and the constituents across the state will say, well, how am I going to afford my insulin now? Because he had campaigned on lowering medication costs, but then backpedals and says I'm on whatever Trump is on. And if he says that we don't need this, then obviously we don't need this, and that's not serving your community. The thing is, is that the jokes speak for themselves when it comes to. They do.

[Interviewer]

They really do. He's an abomination. He really is.

[Jasmine Thomas]

He really is. And that's not what. And I'm not super religious myself. I follow one, but it does not matter because I'm not going to project mine onto my.

[Interviewer]

Shouldn't have to. You should. Everybody should be free to do exactly what they want. Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, non. Everybody should be free. And they're trying to force everybody into this Christian nationalist style. Are you seeing people that. Because Oklahoma is overtly religious, a lot of people believe in Christian nationalism that live there. Are you seeing your constituents come out and say we need to separate government and church, or has that been kind of left to the side?

[Jasmine Thomas]

No, we're more. What I've noticed after the Christian nationalism projection is that we're seeing a lot more people come out and say, listen, like whatever our religion is, it's our business. But also we don't want to take away from someone else's. Now, do you have your pro Trump, pro whoever that's still just pro Jesus, that doesn't think that Jesus actually flipped tables. Right. For the, for the Blasphemy that's going on right now. Yes, you still have those that are coming out, but they're far few in between and it's more males than you would ever imagine. I'm not seeing the women actually come out and.

And, and still be in support of this because a lot of these women that are still in support of Trump are going to be your typical people who.

Lack a better word. Lack of better words.

[Interviewer]

Submit to their husbands.

[Jasmine Thomas]

Yes, yes. But they also aren't housing children, especially with special needs. I have a son that's autistic. So when I'm out here talking about my policies or I'm talking about my life or I'm talking about how I'm wanting to change things on a federal level, and I mentioned that I have a child with a disability, the women that resonate with that, they're just like, you know what, Maybe, just maybe I'm not being represented. Maybe if someone had, I don't know, took the time out to actually come talk to me or actually find out or actually had something that was in common with me, then I would be more likely to stay on this side. But because I have somebody who, who represents a certain aspect of me, I'm having to lean over to this side. But all in all, what I'm trying to say is that I'm seeing more of the women because they're resonating with me because we have such close stories. They're actually flipping their ideas and their parties because they're just like, I have a child with a disability and now I'm seeing that there's somebody that actually gives a.

That, that cares.

[Interviewer]

Damn.

[Jasmine Thomas]

Yes. Okay, there we go. Thank you for saying for me. Yes, yes, yes. Well, and normally I do, cuz, but I don't know what the limits are here. So I just try to, you know.

[Interviewer]

There are no limits. But I understand we, we need dignity restored to politics. That's, I'm not a politician. So I appreciate you trying to restore dignity because you've got a big jump with Trump and all his craziness. Jasmine Thomas, best of luck to you. Thank you so much. Tell people that don't live in Oklahoma how they can support your cand. Yes.

[Jasmine Thomas]

So my name is Michaela Jasmine Thomas and I am running for the US Senate seat against Markway Mullen here in Oklahoma. You can go follow me on any of my socials, which would be jasmine4ok on any social and also jasmine4everyone.com. But you can also go to my ActBlue, which is also in my website and on any social platform. And you can click the link in the link tree and please donate what you can. Because I'm a small grassroots candidate, I don't take any PAC funding, no APAC or corporate. So everything that I do is and I get is from the community. So I'm sponsored by the community. So that means that I will directly listen to my constituents and not be sold out to any other sources. So please, please, please donate where you can. Please, please, please support the movement. Because this is a big one. It's a historical one, but also it's doable. It's easy. We can get Oklahoma to, if not turn blue, at least turn purple, right?

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Oklahoma City's already there.

[Jasmine Thomas]

All right.

[Interviewer]

Best of luck. Thank you so much for being with me.

[Jasmine Thomas]

Thank.

[Interviewer]

You.

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[Jasmine Thomas]

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