On Second Thought

We talk with novelist Terry McMillian, who uses a familiar creative device to help many of her female characters face their fears: reinvention. We saw that play out in her New York Times bestseller "Waiting to Exhale,” and we see it again in her latest novel, "I Almost Forgot About You." Plus, we revisit a conversation with National Book Award winner Ta-Nehisi Coates, who joined us last year following the publication of his essay in The Atlantic, “The Black Family In The Age Of Mass

It's fair to say that we haven't ever seen a presidential race quite like this one. While Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are under plenty of scrutiny, so is the media. A question that's come up in coverage of the Trump-Clinton face-off is whether traditional standards of journalism apply. Are reporters expected to show objectivity? We posed that question to four longtime journalists: Emory University professor Hank Klibanoff, Kennesaw State University professor Carolyn Carlson, Creative

Judy Woodruff is among the many prominent journalists who got their start in Georgia. After working as a news department secretary at Atlanta's WQXI-TV, she got her first reporting job in 1970 at WAGA-TV (then the CBS affiliate). Five years later, Woodruff was hired by NBC News to cover the South, including Gov. Jimmy Carter's run for the White House. After an illustrious career in broadcast journalism, she's now the co-anchor and managing editor of "The PBS NewsHour with Gwen Ifill and Judy

Is there still a place for objectivity in journalism? Should that have ever been an expectation? We examine current examples of bias in the media and analyze attempts at neutrality in reporting with a panel of journalism experts. Should newspapers be allowed to endorse political candidate? And what will journalism look like after this year’s presidential race ends? Emory University professor Hank Klibanoff, Kennesaw State University professor Carolyn Carlson, Creative Loafing reporter Rodney

As a result of Hurricane Matthew last week, more than 1.3 million gallons of partially treated wastewater was discharged into the Savannah River. Information about the spill was sent out to the public, but a recent story in Georgia Health News says many environmental spills in the state are left out of the public’s eye. We’ll talk about transparency in environmental disasters with Georgia Health News editor Andy Miller and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth. Gambling laws in the Peach State

The Center for Civil and Human Rights will present a new exhibit in Atlanta this month. It's called “Breaking Barriers” and will focus on historical moments when sports led to meaningful social change. Athletes and political leaders will be featured in the exhibit, including Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Nelson Mandela. The Atlanta Hawks will host a preview of “Breaking Barriers” at Phillips Arena this month. Political sportswriter Dave Zirin and ESPN’s Kevin Martinez join us to talk about

It's been a few weeks since Hurricane Matthew and crews along the coast are still cleaning up. The storm caused more than a million gallons of partially treated wastewater to flow into the Savannah River. This latest spill has gotten a lot of attention, but a recent story in Georgia Health News says many environmental spills and discharges in the state are left out of the public’s eye. The U.S. Coast Guard's National Response Center reports that Georgia saw nearly 560 reported chemical and oil

Gambling laws in the Peach State are some of the most restrictive in the country. Georgia is one of only five states that does not allow commercial, tribal, or racetrack betting. But companies like MGM and Wynn Resorts are pushing for legalized gambling in Georgia, which will be a hot-button issue in the next legislative season. We speak with Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Scott Trubey and Georgia Tech economics professor Tibor Besedes about the impact legalized gambling could have on the

The Breakroom gang joined host Celeste Headlee to weigh in on the week's news. The panel included LGBT educator and activist Robbie Medwed, Kennesaw State University professor Roxanne Donovan, former NPR correspondent Kathy Lohr, and conservative radio talk show host Greg Williams.

Maria Bamford has been called one of "The 50 Funniest People Now" by Rolling Stone. Stephen Colbert says she is his favorite comedian. And her Netflix series "Lady Dynamite," based on her personal experiences with mental health, gets praise from viewers and critics alike. Bamford joins us in studio to talk about comedy and life before she performs Friday night at the Tabernacle in Atlanta. She also has a new album called "20%," released by Comedy Central Records.