D.C. Debrief: Oklahoma delegation backs tariffs, prepares for budget fight and Survivor Tree planting in D.C.

Political Analyst Scott Mitchell and Washington Bureau Chief Alex Cameron discuss key moments from D.C. this week.

Delegation Reacts to Tariff Tensions

As the White House pushes ahead with new tariffs, Oklahoma lawmakers are weighing the potential fallout.

“Well, the markets are, you know, up in arms,” said Alex Cameron. “A lot of Democrats are up in arms. There are some Republicans who are quietly up in arms. But for the most part, our delegation, most Republicans are, you know, trying to... stay the course.”

Cameron said lawmakers are backing the plan based on promises of long-term economic gain.

He noted that President Trump has long framed the issue as correcting unfair trade practices.

Despite that optimism, Cameron acknowledged the uncertainty ahead.

“It’s going to be, you know, a long time really, before we really know. In the meantime, there’s going to be some pain... people with 401(k)s, people with investments, people, you know, worried about prices of goods going up. They’re concerned right now.”

Survivor Tree Planting at U.S. Capitol

Oklahomans will mark a somber milestone Monday with the planting of a seedling from the Oklahoma City bombing’s survivor tree on the U.S. Capitol grounds.

“This is going to happen Monday afternoon on the Capitol grounds, on the northwest lawn of the Capitol,” Cameron said. “There was supposedly a survivor tree seedling that was planted at the White House many years ago... but if it actually was planted, there’s no record that it’s still there.”

Cameron said members of the Oklahoma delegation have pushed for a permanent tribute in Washington.

“Senator Lankford and now Congresswoman Bice have been working to try and get some sort of a survivor tree in D.C.,” he said.

Senate Faces Pivotal Budget Vote

As tariff news dominates headlines, lawmakers are preparing for a complex Senate showdown on the federal budget.

“This vote-a-rama will be kind of a marathon session for the Senate,” Cameron said. “They’re probably going to get something through... the House will have to come in and pass whatever the Senate passes, because it’s going to be slightly different from what they passed before.”

At issue is how lawmakers account for the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

“One of the key questions... is going to be answered by the Senate parliamentarian,” he said. “The Senate... is trying to advance this treating the Trump tax cuts... as if that is current and it is baseline policy.”

Cameron noted that some lawmakers worry about the long-term cost of this approach.

“Economists, Democrats, I think even privately, some Republicans, are questioning whether that’s really a good move."

Changes Ahead for Trump’s Inner Circle?

Amid reports of personnel shifts in Trump’s orbit, speculation is growing that Elon Musk may soon step down as the head of DOGE.

“There’s been a lot of thinking here in D.C. that he wouldn’t stick around for that long,” Cameron said. “He’s got a business he wants to run, and he’ll get back to that... maybe it will happen sooner than had been planned.”

Cameron said, despite election setbacks, the president has continued to back him publicly.

“President Trump has still expressed strong support for Elon, it’s certainly possible that he won’t go away, and that he’ll continue to be around.”