'Libs of TikTok' creator isn't Ryan Walters' first out-of-state appointee: What we know

Alexia Aston, The Oklahoman
·3 min read
Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks with media after a special meeting of the state Board of Education to consider revoking the license of a teacher from the Western Heights district Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.
Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks with media after a special meeting of the state Board of Education to consider revoking the license of a teacher from the Western Heights district Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.

After Ryan Walters, Oklahoma's state schools superintendent, named Chaya Raichik of "Libs of TikTok" fame to an Oklahoma committee this week, critics were quick to point out that she's not an Oklahoma resident.

This isn't the first time he's tapped an out-of-state person to perform Oklahoma-specific duties.

The non-Oklahoman appointment is notable, detractors say, in light of Walters' strong remarks against out-of-state organizations participating in Oklahoma politics. In November, Walters railed against the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which is a Wisconsin-based group that called for Walters' resignation amid controversy over prayers led over the intercom at an Oklahoma elementary school.

Which out-of-state advisors or groups currently have roles in Oklahoma education? Here's what we know.

Chaya Raichik on Library Media Advisory Committee

Mar 2, 2023; National Harbor, MD, USA; Chaya Raichik, creator of Libs of TikTok, during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on March 2, 2023. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
Mar 2, 2023; National Harbor, MD, USA; Chaya Raichik, creator of Libs of TikTok, during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on March 2, 2023. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Raichik is a former Brooklyn real estate agent who grew up in Los Angeles. The California woman behind the “Libs of TikTok” social media account will serve on the Oklahoma Library Media Advisory Committee.

She created the @LibsofTikTok handle on Twitter, now X, in April 2021. "Libs of TikTok" has over 2.8 million followers and reposts TikTok videos of users sharing liberal views while adding derisive conservative commentary.

Records show Raichik lived in Florida at least until the end of 2023 before moving from Brooklyn and Los Angeles.

There's no indication Raichik has ever lived in Oklahoma, and there isn't any property in Oklahoma County under her name.

When asked about where Raichik lives, Dan Isett, an Oklahoma Department of Education spokesperson, emailed The Oklahoman this statement:

"Superintendent Walters appointed Raichik to this advisory board because no one has done more to bring attention to what the left does in our schools. Her insight is invaluable, and she will work hard to keep porn and woke indoctrination out of the classroom."

Matt Langston a campaign manager and top advisor

Matt Langston visits with Bryan Cleveland, General Counsel, before the meeting. The Oklahoma State Board of Education met in response to proposed Title IX rules from the Biden Administration, Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
Matt Langston visits with Bryan Cleveland, General Counsel, before the meeting. The Oklahoma State Board of Education met in response to proposed Title IX rules from the Biden Administration, Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Matt Langston worked for Walters' campaign and is now his top adviser at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, overseeing the agency's high-level departments. Before that, he was a political consulter in Austin, Texas, according to his LinkedIn.

In April, many Department of Education staff members told The Oklahoman they believe Langston still lives in Texas.

Langston's profile on X lists Austin as Langston's location.

Precision Outreach

In September, the Department of Education contracted Houston-based marketing firm Precision Outreach to create a controversial video negatively portraying teacher unions

The department paid the firm for production services through May 21.

Isett said this is because the agency doesn’t have an in-house video team, so producing video content must be done through a vendor contract.

PragerU

In September, the Oklahoma State Department of Education launched an “ongoing partnership with PragerU Kids,” according to a department news release that said the company provides “educational, entertaining, pro-American kids content.”

PragerU is not a university, but a nonprofit organization named after cofounder and conservative talk show host Dennis Prager. It provides the short videos for free.

The tax return filed last year for the PragerU Foundation, based in California, says, “Prager University Foundation (‘PragerU’) is the world’s leading conservative nonprofit that is focused on changing minds. We promote American values through the creative use of digital media, as our mission.”

On its website, the group says it “offers a free alternative to the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media, and education.” The company says its content is watched 5 million times a day.

The tax return shows the company raised more than $65 million in its 2022 fiscal year and had net assets of about $77 million at the end of the year.

The state Education Department news release includes a link to a “Social Studies” page on the department’s website that has further links to PragerU materials on such topics as the branches of the U.S. government, the Bible, Western civilization and life lessons, like how to handle getting pulled over and how to embrace femininity or masculinity.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Libs of TikTok' creator isn't Walters' first out-of-state appointee