TLO’s Top 26 Stories of 2026… so far! [Part II]

9:14 AM EDT on July 2, 2026

For a little holiday treat, yesterday we dropped Part I of TLO's Top 26 Stories of 2026... so far!

Today, we conclude that countdown with a reminder that you can score 50% off an ad-free annual TLO subscription through July 4th. That's a full year of freedom from capitalistic pressure to buy stuff immediately after buying this. Just $49.99.

14. Chief Photographer Arrested in News 9 “Peeping Tom” Case! | Apr. 21, 2026

What We Wrote:

An arrest has been made in the News 9 Peeping Tom incident.
Thanks to a tip via the Ogle Mole Network, we’ve learned that former News 9 chief photographer Darrell Vannostran – yes, Seinfeld fans, that’s his real-life last name – was arrested this morning on a felony charge of “use of photo or video equipment in a clandestine manner in a private place," after he allegedly placed hidden cameras in the station's men's and women's dressing rooms...

15. Shady Shenanigans: Leaked DOC Files Shed Light on Justin Humphrey’s Messy Past | May 6, 2026

What We Wrote:

A while back, an anonymous Ogle Mole sent us a treasure trove of Oklahoma Department of Corrections documents detailing Humphrey’s chaotic career as a parole officer from the early 2000s through 2010.
That’s worth noting because DOC is the very same agency Humphrey has spent years attacking as a lawmaker – suing them for misconduct and retaliation, and even filing a bill to rename it the Department of Corruption...

16. Desmond Mason Arrested on Felony Theft Charge… | May 11, 2026

What We Wrote:

This time around, instead of being locked up for failure to pay child support, the former Thunder star, NBA slam dunk champion, and self-styled ARTrepreneur was arrested in Oklahoma County on a felony theft warrant out of Collin County, Texas.

We still haven’t been able to track down the full official court records out of Texas, but according to the Ogle Mole Network, Mason is accused of stealing a rare, game-worn Kobe Bryant rookie jersey that was somehow involved in one of his art projects...

17. Ryan Walters Files for Divorce! | May 12, 2026

What We Wrote:

Take a seat, grab some popcorn and read a banned library book. The tabloid story of the year in Oklahoma politics is officially here!
On Monday afternoon, we received a tip via the Ogle Mole Network that former Oklahoma State School Superintendent Ryan Walters – the infamous right-wing evangelical culture warrior who made a name for himself in some of the dumbest ways possible – has filed for divorce from his wife, Katie...

Related:

18. The Oklahoman Publishes, Then Deletes, Op-Ed Comparing OKC Thunder to Israel… | May 19, 2026

What We Wrote:

Shalom, Thunder fans!
Although last night’s battle against the Spurs may not have produced the outcome we all wanted, don’t get too pessimistic. The teams have only played one game, and just like the country of Israel, the Thunder may just have what it takes to survive, persevere and – who knows – unleash another Middle Eastern war!
In case you missed it, The Oklahoman made news yesterday when – on the precipice of the NBA Western Conference Finals – it published, and then deleted, a comically awful guest op-ed that outlined the very stretchy “similarities” between the OKC Thunder and Israel...

19. RIP: Turner Turnpike Vagina | May 21, 2026

What We Wrote:

Before we embark on Memorial Day holiday break, I want to break some important news that the local media is apparently ignoring.
Thanks to a tip via the Ogle Mole Network, we have learned that demolition has officially commenced inside the Turner Turnpike Vagina – the iconic almond-shaped divide of I-44 located just outside Oklahoma City that has been giving people giggles for generations…

20. Swadley Smoked! Foggy Bottom Fraudster Guilty On All Counts | May 29, 2026

What We Wrote:

Fresh meat is about to be delivered to the Oklahoma prison system!
As you probably noticed on social media yesterday, Brent Swadley – the slow-smokin’ fraudster at the center of the Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Swindle – was found guilty by an Oklahoma County jury on all six felony charges, including one count of conspiracy and five counts of fraud...

Related:

Brent Swadley is cooked!

21. Art of the Deal: Mike Mazzei Paid Roger Stone $67,500 Before Landing Trump Endorsement… | Jun. 1, 2026

What We Wrote:

Endorsements in a corrupt regime aren’t cheap, and according to campaign finance records, it appears Mazzei’s campaign has funneled more than $65,000 over the last six months to an LLC owned by Trump confidant Roger Stone for him to serve as a “Senior Campaign Advisor...”

22. State Treasurer’s Sketchy Commute Scheme Exposed… | Jun. 4, 2026

What We Wrote:

State Treasurer Todd Russ is in the news again.
This time around, instead of being accused of steering lucrative state contracts to his investment buddies, he’s being accused of opening a taxpayer-funded satellite office in Clinton as part of a ruse to justify commuting to Oklahoma City in a state vehicle...

23. Gentner Drummond’s Wife Begs for Forgiveness in Bizarre Political Hostage Video… | Jun. 8, 2026

What We Wrote:

We’ve officially reached the point of the Oklahoma gubernatorial race where you can’t distinguish satire from reality!
Okay, technically I think we reached that point with the first crazed banana slicer ad, but you catch my drift.
Over the weekend, Wendy Drummond – Gentner’s loyal, loving campaign spouse – channeled the lessons learned in her high school drama class and released an over-the-top, absolutely hysterical mercy-plea monologue where she took full responsibility for a 2020 campaign donation to Joe Biden...

24. Jackson Lahmeyer Caught Wooing Right-Wing Oklahoma Beauty Queen… | Jun. 15, 2026

What We Wrote:

The party of hypocrisy and projection strikes again!
Last week, I was at home minding my own business when a high-level Mole reached out with a fun news tip.
Apparently, someone was shopping a story to the press that Jackson Lahmeyer – the ultra right-wing, Trump-endorsed pastor running for Congress up in Tulsa – was having an affair of sorts, and they were curious if we’d like to buy it…

Related:

25. Chamber Tries to Plant Former Lingerie Football Star Into County Commissioner Seat… | Jun. 15, 2026

What We Wrote:

First Jack Mildren, then JC Watts now… Kayla Baker? Football and Oklahoma politics always find a way to mix!
Back in the TLO Bro Stool Days, we probably would have already dedicated several posts to Baker’s playing career, but instead we’re going to focus on something probably more important and intriguing – how she’s seemingly come out of nowhere to run a very pretty, very organized and very suspiciously well-funded campaign for a seat currently held by Democrat Jason Lowe.
For example, here’s a mailer that a dark money group called "OKLAHOMA INFORMATION NETWORK" recently issued on her behalf. It gives the impression that Kayla is aligned with Cyndi Munson and supports SQ 832…

26. 7 Things That Happened on Election Night | Jun. 17, 2026

What We Wrote:

Last night, a small but apparently very motivated collection of Oklahoma voters headed to the polls to decide the future of our state, our minimum wage, and which millionaire Republicans get to spend the next few months ruining local TV with campaign ads.
As usual, the results were a fun mix of depressing, hilarious, predictable and oddly satisfying. We had rich guys lighting money on fire, MAGA pastors limping into runoffs, Christian Nationalists getting bounced, and Oklahoma voters once again reminding poor people to stop being so poor...

I hope you enjoyed this TLO time capsule half as much as you’ll enjoy not being at work over the holiday. Patrick and Louis will be back next week, along with the return of a beloved byline – stay tuned!