Political Rewind

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.

Thursday on Political Rewind: We turn our attention to the issues people of rural Georgia face. For many years, political leaders routinely talked about the "two Georgias;" the prosperous Metro Atlanta region and the vast majority of the state’s geography where prosperity was out of reach for many. The phrase went out of favor in political circles because it seemed divisive and discouraging of change. But, the problems remain and can’t be easily ignored.

Panelists:

Today on Political Rewind, a Georgia federal judge has blocked nationwide implementation of President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees of federal contractors. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr was one of the seven state attorney generals who filed for the stay, arguing the administration was overstepping its constitutional authority.

The second ranking Republican in the State House says she’s backing a bill to prevent students from having access to obscene and inappropriate materials. Republicans in several states have championed similar measures, which many see as a winning issue at the polls next year.

And, the conservative editorial page of the Wall Street Journal has posted an editorial criticizing David Perdue for challenging Brian Kemp for the GOP nomination for governor.

Panelists:

Greg Bluestein, political reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chart Riggall, reporter, Marietta Daily News

Adrienne Jones, political science professor & director, pre-law, Morehouse College

Alan Abramowitz, emeritus professor of political science, Emory University

Tuesday on Political Rewind: The Republican race for governor is getting ugly. The divisive contest between Gov. Brian Kemp and David Perdue is drawing the endorsement of national figures. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Perdue's candidacy last night. In other news, the Department of Justice announces it is dropping its investigation into the murder of Emmett Till.

Panelists:

Tamar Hallerman — senior reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Stephen Fowler — political reporter, GPB News

Rep. Sam Park — Democratic state representative, 101st District

Leo Smith — Republican consultant & president, Engaged Futures Group

Monday on Political Rewind: We looked at former Sen. David Perdue's announcement on his run for governor. Plus, a discussion on the legacy of longtime GOP Sen. Bob Doyle following his passing.

The Panel:

Jim Galloway – Former political columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rep. David Wilkerson – Democratic State Representative, House District 38

Eric Tanenblatt – Republican insider

Emma Hurt – Reporter, Axios Atlanta

Friday on Political Rewind: We looked at the latest news about the coronavirus. We tackled your questions about the new omicron variant, and where it is likely is it to become the dominant strain of COVID in Georgia. How will schools, public spaces and travel change in the coming months?

The Panelists:

Nicole Carr — Reporter, ProPublica

Dr. Jodi Guest — Vice chair of the department of epidemiology in the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University

Andy Miller — Editor, Georgia Health News

Patricia Murphy — Political writer and columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Democrats are expressing excitement and relief now that Stacey Abrams has declared she is running for governor next year. Some Republicans welcomed the news, too. They claim Abrams will energize their base to turn out and vote against her. Longtime observers of the Supreme Court say the right to an abortion may be in jeopardy after they heard the justices' comments and questions in yesterday's Mississippi court hearing. And it's now clear that local runoff elections around the state this week favored many challengers over incumbents — in some races, voters were looking for fresh, younger leaders.

Panelists:

Amy Steigerwalt — professor of political science, Georgia State University

Fred Smith — professor of constitutional law, Emory University

Tammy Greer — political science professor, Clark Atlanta University

Kevin Riley — editor, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday on Political Rewind: The United States Supreme Court takes up one of its most significant cases in decades today, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The Mississippi case could overturn the landmark decision giving women the right to choose how to deal with their own pregnancies. A conservative court could abandon Roe v. Wade, which has been the law of the land since 1973.

Our panel discussed the arguments on both sides of the case and take a deep dive into the history of abortion rights before and after Roe. What happens if states are left to make their own laws about the legality of abortion? How will the eventual decision in the Mississippi impact Georgia’s own restrictive abortion law?

But first: Atlanta city councilmember Andre Dickens was elected the next Mayor of Atlanta. What can we expect from his tenure in the job?

Panelists:

Greg Bluestein — Political reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dr. Karen Owen — Political science professor, University of West Georgia

Dr. Randy Beck — Professor of constitutional law, University of Georgia

Dr. Subasri Narasimhan — Professor in Rolling School of Public Health and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast, Emory University

Tuesday on Political Rewind: Voters head to the polls in runoff elections in communities across Georgia. Elections include mayoral races in four cities, including Atlanta and Brunswick, Ga.

The 2021 races have drawn low turnout so far.

"Less than 25% of registered voters in Atlanta voted in early November, and now you know you're seeing less than half that," Emory University professor Dr. Bernard Fraga said. "So I think the question is whether you're going to see a surge of turnout again in some of these swing areas."

In other news, Gov. Brian Kemp won the endorsement of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce this week. During his previous gubernatorial bid in 2018, the influential business entity chose not to endorse him. Will their stamp of approval in the current race be helpful in a potential GOP primary from David Perdue?

Panelists:

Leroy Chapman — Managing editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Stephen Fowler — Politics reporter, GPB News

Dr. Bernard Fraga — Professor of political science, Emory University

Tamar Hallerman — Senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Monday on Political Rewind: Scientists say there is much to learn about the dangers of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus. They urge a redoubled effort to vaccinate in states like Georgia, where hesitance at getting the shots continues.

Meanwhile, residents in Brunswick and Glynn County go about their lives in aftermath of the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial. According to local organizers, there is a heightened awareness of solving social justice problems along coastal Georgia.

Plus, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is unhappy with her new congressional district lines. So are a good many of her new constituents. Meanwhile, the Board of Regents refuses to rename buildings with ties to slavery and segregation on campuses across the state.

Panelists:

Dr. Heather Farley — Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, Public Policy and Management, College of Coastal Georgia

Jim Galloway — Former politics columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Raisa Habersham — Investigative reporter, Savannah Morning News

Dr. Audrey Haynes — Political science professor, University of Georgia