Political Rewind: Trump says 'something stinks in Georgia;' Grand jury to look into 2020 elections

Caption

Trump continues to push lies of election fraud after his chosen candidates lose.

Credit: AP Photo/John Bazemore

The panel: 

Patricia Murphy — Politics reporter & columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Andra Gillespie — Professor of political science & director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, Emory University

Donna Lowry — Host, GPB-TV’s Lawmakers

The breakdown:

1. Trump bashes Georgia Republicans. 

• Trump promoted an essay by a far-right commentator falsely alleging election fraud in Georgia. 
• Unfounded claims of election fraud generally undermine faith in election systems.
  • But Emory University professor Andra Gillespie pointed out that people may be less likely to believe lies of voter fraud when a candidate loses by a large margin. 
• False claims of election fraud do not "pack the same punch" as they used to, Atlanta Journal-Constitution politics reporter Patricia Murphy said. She said Republican voters are growing tired of "election fraud" lies.

2. Democrats embrace a united party in Georgia. 

• Democrats are trying to balance embracing progressive ideals without alienating moderate voters. 
• Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has been framed as more progressive than the first time she ran. 
  • Republicans are pushing the idea that she is progressive and wants national office. 
• Democrats are embracing unity up and down the ticket, and released their first united ad. 

3. Supreme Court decisions expected this month. 

• Supreme Court decisions announced in June could impact Georgia elections.
  • Rulings on abortion access and gun safety are expected. 
• Candidates in Georgia will likely solidify their stances on issues before the decisions, and use them in elections. 

4. Herschel Walker distances himself from Trump. 

• U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker appears to be distancing himself from Trump in recent media appearances. 
  • His decision comes after most Trump-backed candidates for statewide office lost in primary elections. 
• Walker has faced criticism for his interview answers on important topics. 
  • Killer Mike, who interviewed him, was also criticized for giving him easy questions. 

5. Grand jury for Trump probe set to meet Thursday. 

• Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Attorney General Chris Carr and other top Georgia officials will testify.
• Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is a meticulous prosecutor, and a decision from the jury is not expected immediately. 
  • The decision may come during the general elections. 

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