Political Rewind

Wednesday on Political Rewind: How American history is discussed in schools is receiving new attention in Georgia and across the country. State Republicans have joined a chorus of conservatives voices demanding an end to the inclusion of so-called "critical race theory" in school curriculum, though few of its critics can provide a clear definition of what it is.

At issue is how we discuss the atrocities committed through the history of our country. Conservatives say teaching about the lingering tendrils of systemic racism in U.S. society creates a distorted picture of American history.

But racial violence, Jim Crow laws and other violent measures against marginalized populations did occur. So, what are the consequences of downplaying or ignoring our past?

Stan Deaton, senior historian at the Georgia Historic Society, said part of the debate centers on how society understands its collective history.

"For many people, particularly many white Americans, history is something that should celebrate past and should instill patriotism," Deaton said. "That it should be, quite frankly, a happy place; a place where you go and celebrate our American founders or what is unique about the American republic. Obviously, for a lot of Americans, history is not a happy place."

Other countries have confronted their own dark histories in different ways. Germany teaches the horror of the Holocaust through expansive monuments and public works of art. South Africa confronted its apartheid through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. What can we learn from those efforts?

Panel:

Dr. Stan Deaton — Senior Historian, Georgia Historical Society

Dr. Hiram Maxim — Professor of German Studies and Linguistics, Emory University

Michael Thurmond — CEO, DeKalb County

Greg Bluestein — Politics Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday on Political Rewind: It has been 50 years since Atlanta’s first gay Pride parade kicked off on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. Compared to its recent iterations, the march was a small event. At the time, homosexuality was illegal under Georgia law and members of the LGTBQ community typically lived lives in the shadows. But on June 27, 1971, they congregated in Atlanta to publicly demand an end to persecution.

The years since have seen a slow but dramatic transformation in laws and societal understanding of the LGBTQ community in Georgia and across the country, though obstacles to true equality still remain.

On today's show, we reflected on the atmosphere that surrounded the first public stirring of gay pride among demonstrators, on Peachtree Street marchers, and looked at just how far LGBTQ rights have come in the half century since.

Panelists:

Taylor Alxndr — Co-Founder and Executive Director of Southern Fried Queer Pride, Musician and Drag Performer

Tamar Hallerman — Senior Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jeff Graham — Executive Director, Georgia Equality

Shannon Clawson — Statewide Outreach Manager, Georgia Equality

Monday on Political Rewind: Georgia lawmakers and politicians sound off on a new federal lawsuit challenging state election law. Georgia Republican leaders criticized the Department of Justice decision to file a lawsuit challenging the state’s new voting laws. They insist the lawsuit is a partisan effort to upend provisions designed to stop voting fraud. 

Also, the state has announced it will halt the rollout of a limited expansion of Medicaid as officials here continue to tussle with the Biden administration over Georgia's proposed work requirement for recipients. In the meantime, Georgia halted the $300 weekly supplemental federal unemployment benefit to residents in the state who are out of work.

Finally, panelist Jim Galloway discussed a story related to the current effort to name Sonny Perdue chancellor of the University System of Georgia. A look back into history reveals it's not the first time state leaders have played politics with higher education.

Panelists:

Dr. Karen Owen — Political Science Professor, University of West Georgia

Julianne Thompson — Republican Strategist

Dr. Kurt Young — Political Science Professor, Clark-Atlanta University

Jim Galloway — Former Political Columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Friday on Political Rewind: Vice President Kamala Harris visits the Mexican border for the first time today. She’s been criticized by Republicans and Democrats for failing to take the leadership role President Biden assigned her to find solutions for dealing with the surge of immigrants looking to enter the United States. Our panel looks at what to expect as she visits the border.

Plus, a superior court judge has ruled that a deep inspection of Fulton County’s 2020 absentee ballots won’t be granted. The judge was responding to a lawsuit claiming than an audit could turn up massive fraud.

Meanwhile, the New York Appellate Court that suspended Trump lawyer Rudolph Giuliani’s license to practice law in New York State cited his conduct in challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Panelists:

Mariela Romero – Community empowerment director, Univision

Charles Kuck – Immigration attorney

Riley Bunch – GPB reporter

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

Thursday on Political Rewind: President Joe Biden has laid out his strategy for combatting spiraling gun violence in cities across the country, including Atlanta. He’s called for cities to tailor their own plans for using $350 billion from the federal COVID Relief Fund to fight violent crime. Biden’s proposal marks a change by Democrats away from calls by liberals in the party to shift funding away from police departments in the wake of last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests.

Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court has recently ruled on or is currently addressing cases that deal with impactful subjects such as Obamacare and voting laws and procedures. What are the potential implications and repercussions here in Georgia?

Also, the King Estate has reached a deal with HarperCollins, the original publisher of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s books, to release new editions of his work to reach young audiences.

Panelists:

Dr. Amy Steigerwalt – Professor of political science, Georgia State University

Fred Smith – Professor of Constitutional law, Emory University

Adam Van Brimmer – Editorial page editor, Savannah Morning News

Kevin Riley – Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday on Political Rewind: Incumbents in important elected offices in Georgia are already bracing for the 2022 election season. But challengers have yet to materialize in several prominent contests, including in the race against Gov. Brian Kemp and race for the Senate seat held by the Rev. Raphael Warnock.

Kemp is expected to face a primary challenge from a yet undeclared Republican before the general election. How likely is he to prevail against a challenge from within the Republican Party? And what of Stacey Abrams, his much-speculated Democratic opponent?

Plus, is Herschel Walker preparing to comply with Donald Trump’s urging that he enter the race for Warnock’s senate seat?

In Washington D.C., U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Warnock joined fellow Democrats in condemning Senate Republicans for using the filibuster yesterday to block debate on a package of election reform measures they say are meant to counter restrictive voting laws passed in Georgia and other Republican-dominated states.

Despite their insistence that the battle for federal election standard is not over, do Democrats have a path forward to implement their reforms?

Panelists:

Dr. Andra Gillespie — Professor of Political Science, Emory University

Eric Tanenblatt — Republican Insider

Howard Franklin — Democratic Political Strategist

Greg Bluestein — Political Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday on Political Rewind: Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, a massive mobilization began across the world. Public health officials released safety guidelines and news organizations ran thorough coverage. But when HIV/AIDS was first identified almost 40 years ago, the response was tragically different.

President Ronald Reagan refused to acknowledge the disease, public health agencies looked the other way and those infected with the stigmatized disease were shunned by their families and communities.

From that atmosphere of fear and rejection, ACT UP was born. It was a loose confederation of activists determined to force the country to look the virus in the eye. On today's show, we were joined by Sarah Schulman, author of a new book on the remarkable success of ACT UP in changing the trajectory of a deadly disease.

Panelists:

Sarah Schulman — Author, Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993

Tamar Hallerman — Senior Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Monday on Political Rewind: Seven months after the 2020 presidential election, the outcome in Georgia is still being contested by those convinced a myriad of conspiracies stole the election from Donald Trump. A court case today will determine whether plaintiffs have the right to have Fulton County absentee ballots examined for fraud.

A weekend New York Times article describes how Georgia’s new election law may purge minority Democratic election officials from local boards.

Also: What happens to students in Atlanta's public school system if Buckhead breaks away from the city? The effort to secede is more complicated than it may appear.

Panelists:

Dr. Alan Abramowitz — Professor of Political Science, Emory University

Rene Alegria — President and CEO, Mundo Hispanico

Dr. Adrienne Jones — Professor of Political Science and Pre-law Director, Morehouse College

Jim Galloway — Former Political Columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Friday on Political Rewind: Deep political and theological divides among leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention are on vivid display during the SBC’s annual meeting in Nashville this week. The nation’s largest religious denomination is struggling with taking a stand on teaching of critical race theory, support for Donald Trump, the role of women in the pulpit and other issues that in many ways mirror the culture wars going on beyond church boundaries.

Dartmouth College professor of religion Dr. Randall Balmer joins us to talk about how events have unfolded in Nashville.

Meanwhile, a third challenge to Obamacare was stuck down in the Supreme Court. The lawsuit was brought by Georgia’s Chris Carr and other Republican state attorneys general. Is the Affordable Care Act finally finished as a wedge political issue?

Plus: Vice President Kamala Harris visits Atlanta to encourage Georgians to get vaccinated as the number of inoculations in Georgia remains low.

Panelists:

Dr. Randall Balmer — Professor of Religion, Dartmouth College

Patricia Murphy — Political Reporter and Political Insider Columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tia Mitchell — Washington Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday on Political Rewind: The bill to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature. June 19 is set to become a federally recognized commemoration of the emancipation of slaves in the United States. It will become the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983.

The measure won overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate and House, including from Georgia’s congressional delegation. Only Athens Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde voted against the bill.

Meanwhile, a number of cities across Georgia are planning their first Juneteenth celebrations this year. The list of cities includes Kennesaw, a community once known for its embrace of the Confederate past.

At the same time, Georgia faith leaders and activists say there is more work to be done in establishing racial justice. A group has traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress to pass HR 4, also known as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Panelists:

Dr. Andra Gillespie — Professor of Political Science and Director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, Emory University

Rep. Teri Anulewicz — State Representative (D) Smyrna

Leo Smith — GOP Strategist and President, Engaged Futures

Kevin Riley — Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution