Political Rewind

Thursday on Political Rewind: Delta Air Lines tells employees to get vaccinated or pay a premium for your company health insurance. The airline announced its new policy soon after FDA gave final approval to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Are we seeing the beginning of a push by private businesses to insist their workers take shots or face consequences?

Herschel Walker’s entry into the GOP race for the U.S. Senate is being applauded by many state Republicans who see him as the party’s best chance at beating incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock. But some Republicans see the former UGA star as a high-risk first-time candidate carrying heavy personal baggage.

Panelists:

Kevin Riley — Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. Kim Jackson — State representative, D-Stone Mountain

Edward Lindsey — former Republican state representative

Dr. Andra Gillespie — Political science professor and director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, Emory University

Wednesday on Political Rewind: The guessing game is over — Herschel Walker filed paperwork yesterday to run for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock in 2022.

Polling reveals Walker’s name recognition is high in the state. The storied college football star has long been touted by former President Donald Trump as his pick for the key Senate race. But some Republicans worry about Walker’s personal baggage, and his inexperience as a first-time candidate.

Plus, how has Georgia U.S. Rep. Carolyn Boudreaux emerged from the moderates’ fight to slow President Biden’s sweeping social reform package?

Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp ordered the deployment of more than 100 National Guard medical personnel to Georgia hospitals straining to treat the crush of patients arriving with COVID-19. His action comes as the shortage of nurses in Georgia medical facilities reaches new highs.

Also: Immigrants from Afghanistan living in Georgia respond to the turmoil in the country of their birth.

Panelists:

Riley Bunch — Public policy reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting

Greg Bluestein — Politics reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tia Mitchell — Washington reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Fred Smith — Professor of constitutional law, Emory University

Tuesday on Political Rewind: Georgia 7th District U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bordeaux is among a group of moderate Democrats under fire for their resistance to supporting President Biden’s $3.5 trillion budget proposal until the U.S. House passes a bipartisan infrastructure bill. The Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and lawmakers in the progressive wing of the party, are criticizing the move from the holdouts.

Reporting from the U.S. Capitol suggests Speaker Pelosi is optimistic today about a possible deal on the consequential legislation.

Meanwhile, the FDA gave final approval yesterday for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. How might it change the landscape for fighting the virus? Will Gov. Brian Kemp push harder to encourage Georgians to take the shots? Will businesses mandate vaccines for employees?

Panelists:

Tamar Hallerman — Senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Claire Sanders — Senior lecturer of political science and public administration at Georgia College State University

Rep. Scott Holcomb — State Representative (D-Atlanta)

Leo Smith — GOP strategist and president, Engaged Futures Group

Monday on Political Rewind: COVID-19 cases continue to rapidly escalate in Georgia. According to the state department of public health, nearly 7,000 new cases of COVID-19 infection were confirmed on Aug. 19. Meanwhile, 42% of Georgians are fully vaccinated, placing the Peach State among the lowest 10 states for percent of residents vaccinated. But on Friday, Gov. Kemp issued an executive order banning local authorities from establishing mask mandates for private businesses. 

In Afghanistan, harrowing scenes as people attempt to board airplanes at the Kabul airport. Are the calamitous withdrawal from Afghanistan and the spiraling COVID numbers going to turn swing voters against Democrats in the 2022 midterms?

President Donald Trump and his allies appear to be citing a poll of Georgia GOP voters in an effort to convince former Sen. David Perdue to run against Kemp in the 2022 gubernatorial race. Perdue has so far expressed no interest, according to reporting, but it is the latest evidence of pushback against the Georgia governor from Trump supporters in the Republican party.

Panelists:

Jim Galloway — Former columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Adam Van Brimmer — Editorial page editor, Savannah Morning News

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

Leroy Chapman — Managing editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Friday on Political Rewind: Through the past year and-a-half, public health lockdowns, social isolation and economic strain exacerbated mental illness in many communities.

Now the surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the spreading delta variant is a source of renewed anxiety and angst. The pandemic continues to seep into every aspect of our lives, so it can be hard to find mental respite from its depressing effects. A panel of mental health professionals shared their experiences with patients and offered us some ideas on how to gain equilibrium in these difficult times.

Dr. Roy Reese, associate professor in the Morehouse School of Medicine, said the pandemic only served to intensify the struggle for marginalized communities facing social inequity.

"The reality is that there were a number of people who were isolated prior to the pandemic," he said. "There were a number of people who have food insecurity prior to the pandemic. And so we have to be careful to paint an accurate picture. The picture didn't change. The clarity with which we understand the picture at this point, however, is sharper."

Panelists:

Dr. Ray Kotwicki — Chief medical officer, Skyland Trails

Dr. Elena Kim — Psychotherapist, Pathway Center for Psychotherapy

Dr. Roy Reese — Associate professor, Morehouse School of Medicine and Director of behavioral health at Akoma Counseling and Consulting

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

Thursday on Political Rewind: Chaotic scenes of Afghans trying to flee their country now that it is under Taliban control have stung the consciences of people around the world. And while the fate of many of the desperate Afghans remains uncertain, some will find their way out of the country and become refugees in the United States and here in Georgia.

In response to the crisis, President Joe Biden declared emergency procedures for processing special visas and expanding refugee limits to take in those fleeing Afghanistan. In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp said the state will accept some Afghans.

Our panel discussed the complicated regulations that may pose a barrier for helping those looking to escape to America, and at the political implications of accepting refugees.

Panelists:

Mayor Beverly Burks — Mayor of Clarkston

Charles Kuck — Immigration attorney

Donna Lowry — Host, Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Lawmakers

Kevin Riley — Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday on Political Rewind: With census data available to state legislators, preparations for the upcoming reapportionment special session can begin. We spoke to a member of the Georgia House Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee to hear what they learned from listening sessions across Georgia.

During those sessions, the public shared how they like to see the process of drawing new maps unfold. Analysis from Georgia News Lab and GPB News showed a majority said they would like to see fairness employed when redrawing legislative districts. Two hundred eighty-nine people participated in 10 hearings across the state.

The reapportionment committee held input sessions over the past several months. Benny Hand, a resident of Albany, Ga., said he did not want to see Dougherty County communities split up and their political power diluted.

"I hope this process does not lend credence to the often-repeated statement that, 'My vote doesn't count because they will do what they want to do,'" Hand said during the July 27 committee meeting in Albany.

Meanwhile, the new surge of COVID-19 cases pushed Georgia to an alarming milestone: The state Department of Public Health reports the state has passed 1 million verified cases. Our panel will look at how Gov. Brian Kemp and public health officials are responding to the spread.

Panelists:

Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver — State representative (D-Decatur)

Rep. Chuck Efstration — State representative (R-Dacula)

Dr. Adrienne Jones — Political science professor and director of pre-law, Morehouse College

Greg Bluestein — Political reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday on Political Rewind: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest reporting last week. It is the most definitive report yet on the consequences of an unchecked global carbon economy on our global climate. Scientists are crystal clear that human activity is to blame for widespread and rapid changes. The findings are grim, but not surprising to anyone who has been following the unfolding crisis.

“The extremes associated with climate change and that are talked about in the IPCC report; they are not happening in 2100, they are not happening just to the polar bears, they are happening right now,” Dr. Marshall Shepherd said. “And we're seeing implications for our day-to-day lives, what I often call our kitchen-table issues.”

So what is the message Americans should take away from this report? As we look ahead to uncertainty, what are the paths forward that address this existential issue?

Panelists:

Dr. J. Marshall Sheperd — Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia 

Dr. Marilyn Brown — Regents and Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems, School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology 

Dr. Nirajan Dhakal — Associate professor and vice chair of Environmental and Health Sciences Program 

Tamar Hallerman – Senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Monday on Political Rewind: Georgians awoke this morning to news of the swift collapse of the government of Afghanistan. After 20 years, trillions of dollars spent and hundreds of thousands of dead, the country is now in control of Taliban forces.

The dismay is compounded by the chaos surrounding efforts to evacuate thousands of Afghans who served American forces during the occupation. The end of the war now presents a humanitarian crisis. It has also become a raging partisan political matter, sure to play a role in the 2022 election cycle.

Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp faces a continuing rise in pandemic numbers.

Panelists:

Dr. Andra Gillespie — Professor of political science and director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, at Emory University

Buddy Darden — Former Democratic U.S. representative

Eric Tanenblatt — Republican insider

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

Friday on Political Rewind: Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals Georgia grew in ethnic and racial diversity over the past decade, while the share of the population living in rural areas of the state shrank compared to urban counties. 

The state's demographic shifts mirror broad changes happening across the country. Nationwide, data revealed more Americans are moving into cities and suburbs while a decreasing number identified as white.

In Georgia, the census data showed the percentages of Hispanic, Black and Asian-Americans Georgians grew by double digits. Georgians identifying as white stands at 50.1% of the state’s population, down from around 60% in the 2010 census report.

The metro Atlanta area saw rapid changes over the past decade. In the 29 counties of the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area, covering much of north Georgia, the percentage of residents identifying as white was around 44% in 2020, down from 51% in the 2010 census.

"I think it's the type of trend that will continue to build on itself when communities are now known as being majority-minority and are attracting minority families for the schools, for the lower cost housing and are a diverse community that is successful," Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Patricia Murphy said.

A lack of economic opportunity could be one of the major forces pushing Georgians out of rural areas. Former state Attorney General Sam Olens said the movement of people to urban areas has been happening for decades and could be counteracted by state and federal investment in rural infrastructure.

"This isn't a brand-new phenomenon," Olens said. "The most promising news for rural Georgia would be the new emphasis on broadband. It is really hard to get the quality businesses they want and to keep the young people they want to retain without broadband."

The demographic trends suggest a major shift in political power could be underway. During this fall's consequential redistricting process, lawmakers will redraw the lines of legislative districts in Georgia using the new census data.

We asked our panel how they think the census report will shape state and national politics in the next decade.

Panelists:

Sam Olens — Former Georgia attorney general

Michael Thurmond — DeKalb County CEO

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