Spring in Oklahoma has apparently skipped straight to “leave your car door handle branded onto your hand” season, with wildfire danger and severe weather now tag-teaming the state like it is some kind of meteorological cage match. Officials are reminding residents to pay attention to burn bans, fire warnings, and drought conditions as parts of the state continue begging the sky for rain that does not arrive attached to softball-sized hail and 80 mile-per-hour winds. Asking for “just enough rain” is still too much to demand from Oklahoma weather.

Meanwhile in Washington, Senator James Lankford is once again pushing his Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, arguing that Congress should stop using federal workers as political bargaining chips every few months like they are pieces in the world’s most dysfunctional board game. Lankford says the current month-long fight over Department of Homeland Security funding has left roughly 250,000 federal workers caught in the middle while Congress debates immigration enforcement, ICE funding, and border security. According to Lankford, Senate Democrats pushed for restrictions on where ICE could make arrests, wanted tighter rules on immigration enforcement, and demanded additional oversight measures on officers. Republicans rejected the proposals, arguing they would turn the country into a sanctuary nation. The Senate eventually passed a DHS funding bill, but House Republicans and Senate Republicans are now fighting over how exactly to keep DHS funded, proving once again that even when one party controls everything, they can still find new and exciting ways to disagree with themselves.

Lankford also used his update to praise fellow Oklahoman Markwayne Mullin, who was recently sworn in as the next Secretary of Homeland Security, and welcomed Bartlesville native Alan Armstrong to the Senate after his appointment by Governor Stitt. Lankford additionally renewed support for the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote in federal elections. He also touched on ongoing U.S. operations involving Iran, saying the Trump administration is continuing efforts to wind down military action while keeping pressure on the Iranian regime. So in summary, Congress is still fighting, the border debate is still raging, Iran is still a problem, and Oklahoma is still one gust of wind away from becoming a campfire.