Political Rewind

Thursday on Political Rewind: The CEO of Daniel Defense claimed his company bore no responsibility for its use in the Uvalde shooting. Instead, he blamed an "erosion of personal responsibility." Plus, a majority of Georgians oppose the new abortion law and say they'll vote accordingly.

The panel

John Bailey, @gearfocused, editor, The Rome News-Tribune

Kevin Riley, @ajceditor, editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Riley Bunch, @ribunchreports, public policy and politics reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting

Tammy Greer, assistant professor of political science, Clark Atlanta University

Timestamps

0:00- Introductions

3:04- U.S. House Committee hears testimony from gun manufacturers including Daniel Defense

21:35- Prof. Tammy Greer talks about debates at Clark Atlanta.

22:18- AJC polling reveals more data on what Georgians think about Roe v. Wade

39:01- John Bailey updates us on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s district

46:20- Sen. Jon Ossoff leads charge on review of prisons

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Wednesday on Political Rewind: A new poll from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows 78% of Georgians think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Polls also show Kemp over Abrams and Warnock over Walker. Plus, state Republicans are challenging voter registrations and training poll volunteers statewide.

The panel:

Greg Bluestein, @bluestein, political reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Michael Thurmond, DeKalb County CEO

Sam Olens, @samolens, former Georgia attorney general

Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction

3:30 - A new poll from the AJC and UGA suggests that 78% of Georgians feel the country is headed in the wrong direction.

25:00 - Down ballot races, like lieutenant governor and secretary of state, strongly favor Republicans.

36:00 - Some Georgia DAs say they won't enforce state abortion law. Other elected officials may follow in trying to find exceptions.

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Tuesday on Political Rewind: A judge ruled that Fani Willis cannot investigate state Sen. Burt Jones in the Fulton County special grand jury investigating the 2020 election. Plus, courts have upheld subpoenas for false electors and Rep. Jody Hice. Meanwhile, Rep. Buddy Carter voted against codifying gay marriage. 

The panel:

Chuck Williams, @chuckwilliams, reporter, WRBL-TV

Margaret Coker, @mideastmargaret , editor in chief, The Current

Maya King, @mayaaking, politics reporter, The New York Times

Tamar Hallerman, @TamarHallerman, senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introductions

3:00 - A Fulton County judge ruled that DA Fani Willis cannot investigate GOP lieutenant governor candidate Burt Jones.

26:00 - A Marquette Law survey finds that the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has not shifted political opinion. Issues like inflation may concern voters more.

43:00 - The Camden County spaceport project faces additional challenges as the landowner announced it would not sell, and the state Supreme Court is considering a referendum raised by voters.

48:00 - Rep. Buddy Carter voted against codifying same-sex marriage into federal law.

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Monday on Political Rewind: We’re answering your questions about student loans. Many of you left us voicemails before the show. We’ll tackle what it means for students, parents and borrowers. We’ll also answer what it means for Georgia politics if President Biden erases the debt. But first, the AJC's Patricia Murphy fills us in the on latest in the Fulton County probe. 

The panel:

David Schaefer, @BlancoBlau, research director, Georgia Budget & Policy Institute

Eric Sturgis, @EScoopStirgus, education editor, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution 

Maria Lumpkin, @mariaarvelo , Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Chief Transformation Director, Stillman College

Patricia Murphy, @MurphyAJC, columnist, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution 

Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction

0:45 - Gov. Brian Kemp is submitting videotaped testimony to the Fulton County special grand jury investigating interference in the 2020 election.

3:00 - Georgia residents hold more than $68 billion dollars in student loan debt.

16:00 - Student loan debt forgiveness has become a talking point in upcoming elections.

20:00 - Student loans have disparate effects on borrowers based on factors like race and socioeconomic class.

30:00 - The Fed is preparing to raise interest rates tomorrow.

32:00 - Rep. Drew Ferguson introduced a bill to bar the Biden administration from forgiving student loan debt, one of the president's largest campaign promises.

43:00 - Proposed alternatives to student loan debt

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Friday on Political Rewind: With August around the corner, Georgians are getting ready to go back to school. Our panel breaks down bans on "divisive" concepts, clear bag policies for students' safety, and teacher shortages.

Plus, Kemp and Abrams' opposing messages on school safety.

The panel

Giulia Heyward, @giuliaheyward, national education reporter, Capital B

Jim Galloway, @JimJournalist, retired columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Laura Corley, @Lauraecor, Civic Journalism Fellow, The Macon Newsroom

Maureen Downey, @AJCGetSchooled, columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

:00 January 6th hearing; MTG and Loudermilk texted the President after the insurrection

Timestamps

5:33- Introductions

7:40- Effects of divisive concepts bills

16:33- Cobb logo controversy

26:00- School Safety

42:00- Teacher burnout

47:26- Resurgence of Covid

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Thursday on Political Rewind: Yesterday, a federal appeals court allowed Georgia House Bill 481 to take effect immediately, restricting abortion access after around six weeks with few exceptions. Our panel breaks down the ruling, the political implications, and the future of abortion access in Georgia.

The panel:

Amy Steigerwalt, @DrSteigerwalt, professor of political science, Georgia State University

State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, @mmo_mary, (D) Decatur

Maya Prabhu, @MayaTPrabhu, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Stephen Fowler, @stphnfwlr, state reporter, GPB News

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introductions

4:00 - How did the court get to this decision?

10:00 - What was the mood in the legislature when HB 481 passed in 2019?

12:43 - Personhood questions remain unanswered after ruling

33:03 - What will the legislature do next session?

45:00 - What does this issue mean for voters around the state?

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Wednesday on Political Rewind: Sixteen GOP electors who sent false documents to the Library of Congress received target letters from the Fulton County special grand jury. Plus, Walker's campaign changes tactics, driven by new advisors. Meanwhile, there's a hearing on distributing water at polling places.

The Panel 

Alan Abramowitz, @AlanIAbramowitz, emeritus professor of political science, Emory University

Greg Bluestein, @bluestein, political reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Kendra A. King Momon, political science professor, Oglethorpe University

Rick Dent, vice president, Matrix Communications

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introductions

4:30 - All sixteen GOP electors who sent fake documents to the Library of Congress have received target letters from the Fulton County special grand jury.

24:00 - Kemp and Abrams are swapping attack ads, focused on police funding, gun policy.

43:30 - Herschel Walker's campaign brought on new advisors and voiced a willingness to debate, make more public appearances.

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Tuesday on Political Rewind: In their last session, Georgia legislators passed a bipartisan bill to improve access to mental health services. This past week saw further progress with the launch of the 988 phone line, an emergency mental health crisis line, part of a new national network.

The panel: 

Judy Fitzgerald, commissioner, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Monica Johnson, director, Division of Behavioral Health

Riley Bunch, @ribunchreports, public policy reporter, GPB News

Tamar Hallerman, @TamarHallerman, senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction

1:15 - Rep. Jody Hice has been issued a subpoena by the Fulton County special grand jury.

5:00 - Georgia has significantly expanded its mental health services since the end of the legislature.

13:00 - Police often are not equipped to respond to mental health emergencies. New mental health service delivery programs like the 988 phone line look to close the gap in response.

28:00 - Nationwide, those experiencing mental health crises can dial 988.

38:00 - In the face of staffing issues, incentives for state employees increase employment in health care offices.

44:00 - Rural, agriculture, and minority communities face increased risk of suicide and opioid overdose.

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Monday on Political Rewind: The Fulton County election probe issued letters to state Sen. Burt Jones and Georgia GOP chair David Shafer informing them that they could face criminal charges. House Speaker David Ralston was called to testify last week as Sen. Lindsey Graham looks to avoid the stand. 

The panel: 

Kurt Young, @kurtbyoung, Political science professor & department chair, Clark Atlanta University

Patricia Murphy, @MurphyAJC, Political reporter & columnist, Atlanta Journal-Constitution     

Rene Alegria, CEO, Mundo Hispanico

Timestamps

0:00 - Introductions

1:30 - 14th District race sees massive fundraising efforts

4:30 - The Fulton County special grand jury warned Burt Jones and David Shafer that they could face criminal charges.

29:30 - Kemp has avoided fallout from 2020 election controversy, strengthening his reelection effort.

33:30 - Abrams campaign tries to counter "defund the police" narrative.

43:00 - Inflation continues to dominate electioneering.

50:00 - Predominantly Latino communities are an unknown ahead of the election as politicians largely under-campaign.

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Friday on Political Rewind: According to the New York Times, just 13% of Americans believe the country is headed in the right direction, a pessimism shared by every demographic. In his book "American Reboot," former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd proposes a new path forward.

Panelists:

Andra Gillespie, @AndraGillespie, associate professor, Emory Political Science

Jim Galloway, @jimjournalist, former columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Will Hurd, @WillHurd, former U.S. representative, author, American Reboot

Timestamps

0:00 - Introductions

8:08 - Former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd talks his time in the CIA

18:18 - How do current Republicans get over Trump’s pull?

24:12 - The current landscape between Democrats, Republicans, and independents

28:21 - The effects of redistricting

32:09 - Hurd talks about the impact of the Uvalde shooting in his former Texas district

37:32 - Hurd on being a Black Republican

50:20 - What happens if Donald Trump runs for office?

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