Monday on Political Rewind: President Biden declared Georgia to be ground zero for voter suppression laws ahead of his visit. But activists say if Biden wants voter protections, he should stay in Washington D.C., and focus on the two bills stalled there in the Senate. Plus, a high positive rate in COVID tests around the state.
Friday on Political Rewind: The three men found guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery were set to be sentenced today in a Brunswick courtroom. All three face a mandatory 30 years in prison, but we asked: will any of them be given a chance of parole? The tragic deaths last year of Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, George Floyd, and other African Americans accelerated demands for racial and social justice … and gave new legitimacy to the Black Lives Matter movement. In Glynn County, a new organization came to life to push for change in a county long seen as hostile to its Black residents. But how much progress has been made in achieving these goals? We asked our panel.
Thursday on Political Rewind: In a special live 2 p.m. edition, we mark the anniversary of a dark chapter in U.S. history. Last year on Jan. 6, supporters of former President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to halt the democratic process. The shockwaves continue to reverberate in Georgia and across the country in 2022. This all plays out today as funeral services for late former Sen. Johnny Isakson are underway.
Wednesday on Political Rewind: It was one year ago today that Georgia voters handed control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats when they elected Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. But as the 2022 election cycle gets underway, Republicans and Democrats are ready for a fierce fight to determine which party will claim dominance of state politics. Like many states, Georgia is seeing a powerful new wave of COVID-19 cases. The Department of Public Health reported more than 67,000 confirmed cases over the new year holiday weekend. Gov. Kemp is set to announce his support for a further loosening of Georgia’s gun laws. Plus, Andre Dickens is sworn in as Atlanta's new mayor…and there’s tightened security on Capitol Hill as the one-year anniversary of the insurrection approaches.
Tuesday on Political Rewind: The new year brings the same covid frustrations for people in Georgia and across the country. Dr. Carlos del Rio returned to the show to share insights and advice on coping with the latest wave of the coronavirus. Journalists Ellen Eldridge and Tamar Hallerman also weigh in on the impact of the virus as we enter the start of another year with the pandemic.
Monday on Political Rewind, our first show of 2022, we discussed the stories that will likely drive the news in the months ahead—including COVID-19, internal schisms in the Georgia GOP, Stacey Abrams' second shot at governor, and more.
As a young boy, West Point professor of history Ty Seidule was taught stories about the glorious lost cause of the South. His childhood hero was Robert E. Lee. During a childhood spent in Alexandria, Va., and Walton County, Ga., Seidule writes, he lived in a bubble, unaware of the dark history of the horrific treatment of Black communities.
Monday on Political Rewind: We revisit our conversation with Honorée Fanonne Jeffers on her debut novel The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois. It is a big-hearted epic leading us through the generational history of an African American family with deep roots in Georgia. Jeffers, a National Book Award-nominated poet, tells the story through rich characters and their family ties; from Creek Indian ancestors, through the wrenching years of slavery and to their eventual emergence as members of the Black professional class.
On Wednesday's Political Rewind: Atlanta reissued an indoor mask mandate as COVID cases rises in Georgia while state leaders took a more passive tone. Meanwhile, in the gubernatorial race, could constitutional carry be the latest wedge issue to come up in the Republican primary between Gov. Brian Kemp and challenger David Perdue?
Monday on Political Rewind: A giant of Georgia politics died over the weekend. Former Sen. Johnny Isakson passed away Sunday. He served many years in Congress, gaining a national reputation as an affable bipartisan. Later on the show, a deep dive into Ga.'s film industry with guest host Donna Lowry.
Friday on Political Rewind: COVID-19 continues to bounce back in the United States, though not necessarily because of the new omicron variant. Meanwhile, Sen. Raphael Warnock pushes for a federal voting rights act on the floor of Congress.
Thursday on Political Rewind: The omicron variant surges in the United States. We look to Gov. Brian Kemp's response as the Georgia vaccination rate lags behind the rest of the country. Also: Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's testimony is aiding the congressional Jan. 6 committee in building its case.
Wednesday on Political Rewind: We talk one-on-one with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein as Gov. Brian Kemp waits to hear if his proposal for a limited expansion of Medicaid will win federal approval. Plus, Atlanta Mayor-elect Andre Dickens works to head off the Buckhead city movement.
On today's show: A Republican leader in the state Senate filed a bill to eliminate drop boxes, which have enabled voters to cast absentee ballots more easily. Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to announce later this week that Rivian, one of the country’s largest manufacturers of electric vehicles, is set to build an assembly plant in Georgia.
Friday on Political Rewind: It was a week dominated by news of former U.S. Sen. David Perdue's announcement of his gubernatorial candidacy. He is challenging Gov. Brian Kemp for the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams began to lay out the themes of her campaign. In the U.S. capitol, the Senate passed a contentious measure to raise the debt ceiling.
