The Hot Seat: Lankford discusses economic concerns, foreign policy, and political division

In this edition of the "Hot Seat," political analyst Scott Mitchell and Sen. James Lankford discuss economic concerns, foreign policy and more.

Oklahomans Express Economic Concerns Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Sen. James Lankford said Oklahomans are increasingly concerned about the economy, particularly tariffs and trade policies.

"There’s a lot of uncertainty on tariff issues," Lankford said. "They wonder, is this going to raise prices again?"

He said that President Donald Trump is a negotiator and is leveraging tariffs to push for domestic manufacturing and trade advantages.

"The President also thinks people need to move manufacturing here around us, buying products overseas. If you sell most of it here, why aren't you actually making it here?" said Lankford. "And so the way that he can do that is to be able to literally force more people to be able to come here, to be able to make it."

Ukraine Conflict and NATO’s Role in Global Security

Lankford addressed concerns over Russia’s prolonged war in Ukraine, saying Vladimir Putin is delaying negotiations to gain strategic advantages.

"He wants to control as much as he possibly can before final negotiations," said Lankford.

Lankford reiterated NATO’s importance but emphasized the need for member nations to meet their defense obligations.

"The president is right to say, 'Hey, don't just wait on America to come defend you. You train your people on how to defend your own territory,'" Lankford said.

Regarding Ukraine’s NATO membership, he clarified that discussions cannot happen while the country remains at war.

"Literally in the NATO Charter, we do not talk about NATO membership while a country is at war. So that is literally prohibited to be able to actually talk about Ukraine joining in with NATO while they're still at war," said Lankford.

Tax Policy and Legislative Priorities

Lankford stressed the importance of preventing tax increases as Congress negotiates the "Big Beautiful Bill."

"Every single tax bracket went down in 2017," he said. "If we allow this to expire, as my Democrat colleagues want, every single tax bracket goes up."

He also highlighted provisions for small businesses and nonprofits, aiming to stabilize the tax code and ensure donors benefit from charitable contributions.

Medicaid Reform and Waste Reduction

Sen. Lankford dismissed rumors of Social Security cuts and said the focus is on reducing waste and fraud in Medicaid and Medicare.

"No one is talking about reducing benefits," he said. "But the Congressional Budget Office and GAO, which is the Government Accountability Office, they're the outside auditor on everything. They've identified about $50 billion of what they call improper payments."

Lankford also advocated for work requirements for healthy, working-age Medicaid recipients with no dependents.

"Once you're working, many of those individuals work for a while, then they start getting insurance through their employer," said Lankford. "That reduces the burden to the American taxpayer."

Inflation and Energy Policy Challenges

Lankford acknowledged concerns over rising costs, particularly in energy and agriculture.

Lankford said prices typically don’t go down—just the rate of increase slows.

He also pointed to avian flu as a major factor driving up egg prices.

"We literally have millions and millions of chickens being put down because one bird in the flock gets avian flu and it's terminal to all of them," he said. "If we can't get on top of this global epidemic of avian flu, this doesn't get better."

Permitting Reform and Energy Production

Lankford said regulatory reform is necessary to improve energy infrastructure and lower costs.

He also criticized tax hikes on energy companies enacted in 2021, saying they drive up costs for consumers.

Bridging Political Divides

Lankford spoke about his upcoming book, "Turnaround: America's Revival," which addresses political polarization.

"People look at Washington, D.C., and they say it's a divisive, angry place. And I smile at them and say, Hey, Washington, DC is actually a mirror to the country. We're a representative Republic," he said.

He urged Americans to focus on fostering respectful dialogue.

"Turning around the country is not just a vote. It's a decision each of us make, and our families make, on what we're going to be, who we're going to be. And if it's dark in one place, you take light to the darkness," he said.