Award‑winning investigative journalist Nicole Carr — now a professor at Morehouse College — discusses her debut book, The Price of Exclusion: The Pursuit of Healthcare in a Segregated Nation, traces the history of Black physicians in America, the racism they endured, and how those barriers continue to influence today’s shortage of Black medical providers and the resulting health inequities.

For "Closer Look's” annual graduation series, we hear from  Maria Isabel Moraes Lanzelotti. The 2026 graduating senior, who majored in theatre and politics at Oglethorpe University, talks about her road to graduation and why she firmly believes art is political. She also shares details about how she plans to be a change agent in the world.

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Muscogee (Creek) Nation awaits a federal judge’s decision about whether the court will allow their case to move to discovery. For more than two decades, the Muscogee have been in a legal battle to restore Hickory Ground, one of their sacred sites, and reclaim the remains of their ancestors. But for more than a decade, a casino has stood over the site in Alabama. 

Plus, “Closer Look’s” annual graduation series kicks off with Sophie Kalmin, a 2026 graduating senior from Emory University, who majored in American studies and minored in Middle Eastern and South Asian studies. Kalmin reflects on her academic journey and how her decades-long friendship with Mumbles, a white southern rhinoceros at Zoo Atlanta, inspired her to pursue a career on Capitol Hill.

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On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” Atlanta’s Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative has launched a new public dashboard, tracking every call to 311 and 911 regarding quality of life concerns. Executive director Moki Macias hopes this data will help bring attention to her organization’s work and to better understand what parts of the city are unaware of policing alternatives.

Then, we hear from Shelly Goodrum, Associate Superintendent of Instruction and Innovation with Atlanta Public Schools. Educators often talk about learning loss over the summer months, the idea that extended time away from school can lead students to lose significant ground in reading and math. Find out how the district’s free Power Up program will engage K-12 students in hands‑on enrichment.

And finally,  Jai Ferrell had dreams of changing the world. Now, as the CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, she's not only actualizing her own dreams. She's also empowering girls throughout the state of Georgia to do the same. 

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Boring, chaotic, concerning — and, in at least one case, described with an expletive after the word “cluster.” Those are some of the ways Georgia’s current campaign season is being characterized as the state heads toward the November midterm elections. That assessment comes from a political roundtable on today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott. The discussion featured Devin Barrington-Ward, a progressive community organizer and managing director of the Black Futurists Group; Greg Bluestein, politics reporter and author with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Fred Hicks, an Atlanta-based campaign strategist and demographer; and Saba Long, executive director of the Atlanta Civic Circle. Each offered insights and observations as the May 19 primary approaches and early voting gets underway.

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On today’s “Closer Look,” former Cobb County Elementary School Teacher Katie Rinderle and her Education Civil Rights Attorney, Craig Goodmark, return to the show to discuss the next stage of their legal fight to get Rinderle’s job back. She was fired in August 2023 after reading "My Shadow is Purple" by Scott Stuart to her 5th Grade class. The themes of acceptance and gender identity set off a firestorm among some parents. 

Also, we revisit Show Host Rose Scott’s conversation with people who were students when the Supreme Court ruled America's segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. Now as adults, they recall attending integrated schools for the first time after Brown vs. Board of Education.

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On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we begin with a look back at the life and work of the late Georgia Congressman David Scott, who died Wednesday at the age of 80. WABE’s Politics Reporter Rahul Bali joins the program to share highlights of Scott's nearly 50 years of serving in elected office and what's next for the congressional seat representing Clayton, Henry, Rockdale, Newton, Dekalb and Gwinnett counties.

Then, we continue our “Their Voice, Your Vote” gubernatorial election series with Democrat Michael Thurmond. The former DeKalb County CEO and Georgia Labor Secretary believes his experience sets him apart from the other candidates in the race. Thurmond shared how he will prioritize education, jobs, and coalition-building if elected governor of Georgia.

We also heard from Juliette Blake, the founder and CEO of Moxies. It’s designed to give Gen Alpha a creative space for self-expression and community. Data shows a majority of teens spend an average of five hours on social media each day, with many reporting poor mental health. Blake shares what parents should look out for as she builds a safe-by-design, non-addictive digital platform.

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Raksha is a nonprofit dedicated to Georgia’s South Asian American communities with support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. It’s the only organization of its kind in Georgia, but providing their service has been challenged by the federal government cutting $500 million in public safety grants.

Plus, as part of "Closer Look's" Earth Day coverage, we revisited Rose's 2024 conversation with Sylvester Pierce of the Self-Preservation Society. The conversation focused on overcoming fear, the healing power of water, mental health and Pierce's mission to get more Black kayakers out on the water.

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Atlanta City Councilmember Jason Dozier is excited about bringing people together, supporting local business owners and boosting foot traffic in South Downtown Atlanta.

Dozier, who represents District 4, recently sponsored an ordinance to establish an open container district in South Downtown to empower the area’s economic engine. He joined “Closer Look” to discuss the potential community and economic impact of the district as Atlanta gears up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff also joined the program to discuss how he’s addressing the actions by the Trump Administration that are affecting Georgia. That includes the Iran War, inflation, and a lacking response to the August 2025 shooting at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He’s also concerned about the reported rising energy costs for consumers related to AI data centers. However, in Ossoff’s discussion with Host Rose Scott, he also mentions his optimism for Democrats in the 2026 Midterm Elections and the opportunities the 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring to Atlanta.

Lastly, today marks 10 years since the passing of influential musician and singer, Prince. The award-winning performer's final concert was at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on April 14, 2016. Scott pays tribute to the legendary artist by replaying the broadcast when she broke the news of Prince’s death with fellow WABE host Jim Burress.

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For fifty years, the Southern Center for Human Rights has maintained a mission of fighting for equality, dignity, and justice for people impacted by the system. To mark the milestone, SCHR’s executive director, Terrica Redfield Ganzy, sat down with Closer Look host Rose Scott to reflect on the organization’s journey. Her memories reveal not just legal battles, but deeply personal moments that shaped her commitment.

Then, we revisit our interview with Poet Joshua Bennett. professor of literature and Distinguished Chair of the Humanities at MIT talks about his latest work, 'We (the People of the United States)'. It's a book of poetry that's "made to the measure of the modern world." Bennett shares why he's incorporating countless cultural references into the book, and how his work fits into the wider context of the USA's 250th anniversary.

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Breakthru House is a Dekalb County-based intensive recovery residence. For nearly 60 years, the licensed drug abuse treatment program has provided gender-specific comprehensive treatment to women who have struggled with disorders of substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, homelessness and trauma. The "Closer Look" team recently visited the Breakthru House campus for an audio documentary. The Breakthru House is currently building two new 6,000 square foot residential homes. This expansion will allow the Breakthru House to help more women and children, expanding its capacity to 46 families. Host Rose Scott talks with executive director BreNita Jackson and “sober sisters,” as they call themselves, Jheri and Christine.

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