In the first-ever LIVE episode of Policy in Pink, recorded at the OPHA Conference, we tackle STI criminalization in Oklahoma—because nothing says “public health” like criminalizing health. Tommy teams up with Jeremy Simmons from HOPE Testing to break down how century-old laws still turn common infections into crimes, and how a recent bill nearly made having HPV a felony that could cost you your right to vote. (Yes, that HPV—the one almost everyone gets.) Join a room full of public health pros for a sharp, snarky, and very real look at how bad policy from 1910(!) keeps getting in the way of good health.

Learn more about Jeremy and HOPE Testing at hopetesting.org. And checkout the Oklahoma Public Health Association at okpublichealth.org.

In parts of Oklahoma, pregnant women who ask for help with substance use risk being jailed instead of getting proper care. Eliza Washington-Harris and Caitlin Beasley from Metriarch explain how locking up moms doesn’t fix addiction—it just tears families apart and makes women too scared to be honest with their doctors, putting prenatal health at risk. Their research shows that support, early care, and harm reduction lead to better outcomes than punishment ever could. According to them, if we want healthier moms and babies, we need treatment, not jail cells for pregnant women who need help. Find more information at metriarchok.org.

In this episode, we chat with Kelsey Mishkin Gardner, Deputy Chief of Staff for Representative Raúl Grijalva. Kelsey discusses her journey from Oklahoma to Congress, her work on health policy and environmental issues, and the importance of tribal sovereignty and Medicaid expansion. She offers advice on securing federal grants, emphasizing coalition-building and strategic communication. We also touch on her role in initiating a GAO report on incarcerated pregnant women and navigating federal grants under the current administration.