Political Rewind

Wednesday on Political Rewind: Tamar Hallerman, senior reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, guest hosted the show.

President Joe Biden marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa massacre in Oklahoma yesterday. It has been a century since white Tulsans attacked Black residents of the Greenwood neighborhood in that city.

The type of widespread, targeted violence seen in Tulsa in 1921 was neither unique to that year nor that city. Georgians do not have to look far to find similar events in our own histories. Atlanta, Forsyth County and Augusta were just some of the places that saw eruptions of violence against Black communities in the decades following the Civil War.

A nationwide awareness of the events in Tulsa has reinvigorated a conversation on tackling longstanding inequity that reverberates from historic violence against Black communities.

So what is being done to address those horrendous parts of our history — here in Georgia and across the country?

In other news, a triggered alarm at a Fulton County warehouse holding election equipment is drawing the attention of the conspiracy-minded. But what is really going on?

Panelists:

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

Prof. Fred Smith — Professor of Law, Emory University

Dr. Amy Steigerwalt — Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

Stephen Fowler — Politics Reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting

Tuesday on Political Rewind: Many COVID-19 restrictions governing Georgia's public spaces and businesses were lifted yesterday. An executive order from Gov. Brian Kemp relaxed public health guidance in restaurants, bars, child care facilities, music venues and convention centers.

While the order discourages public schools from enforcing their own mask mandates, it falls short of a ban on local mask rules. 

Meanwhile, a glance at data from the state Department of Public Health on COVID-19 spread in Georgia reveals good news: The rate of new infections in the state is reaching lows not seen since the first weeks of the pandemic in April 2020. But are we out of the woods yet? Our panel weighs in.

Also: In Congress, all but six Republicans in the Senate voted against legislation creating a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Georgia's congressional delegation split their support along partisan lines. 

Panelists:

Raisa Habersham — Watchdog and Investigative Reporter, Savannah Morning News

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

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

Friday on Political Rewind: House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) joined us to discuss a recent visit to Republican leaders in Congress and speculation he is considering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2022.

Ralston, a top leader of Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly, said he was interested in the role representing Georgia in the U.S. Congress, but had not made a decision yet.

"Decision-making is a process, not an event," the Blue Ridge Republican told us. "And so we're kind of taking a look and seeing how it feels."

Ralston has served in the state House of Representatives since 2002 and represents House District 7, which includes Fannin and Gilmer counties and a portion of Dawson County in north Georgia. He is the 73rd Speaker of the Georgia House, a position he has held since 2010.

Ralston said he loves his current job working with state lawmakers, but said his concerns about the direction of the country were part of the reason he is interested in a Senate run.

"The thought of making a difference and giving the majority back to the Republicans in the Senate would certainly have some appeal," he said.

In other news, Gov. Brian Kemp is preparing an executive order to ban school districts from issuing mask mandates. With cases of the coronavirus dropping dramatically, Kemp told reporters he believes the time for mandates is over.

Some question whether he has the legal authority to assert power over local schools, and his order may end up being challenged in court.

Panelists:

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

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

Rep. Teri Anulewicz — State Representative (D-Smyrna)

Thursday on Political Rewind: GOP legislative leaders have begun a series of hearings they say are designed to address the spike in violent crime in Atlanta. Speaker of the House David Ralston told reporters he thinks Atlanta has a crime problem that the city does not seem able to control. Democrats agree crime is on the rise in the city, but say Republicans are exploiting the problem to win back swing voters in the 2022 elections.

Georgia’s Newt Gingrich could be back in the spotlight of politics soon. Reports indicate he may work with former President Donald Trump on his campaign messaging leading up to the 2024 elections.

Panelists:

Buddy Darden — Former 7th District U.S. Representative

Leo Smith — GOP strategist & founder, Engaged Futures Group

Riley Bunch — Statehouse Reporter, CNHI News

Kevin Riley — Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday on Political Rewind: Gov. Brian Kemp has issued an executive order banning state agencies and schools from requiring proof of vaccination against the coronavirus. Kemp said vaccination status is a personal matter between an individual and a doctor, and the state should not intrude.

In a statement, Kemp urged all Georgians to get vaccinated but said the decision to receive a vaccine was not a place for state government to interfere.

After days of silence, Republican leaders of the U.S. House issued stern criticisms yesterday of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s repeated statements comparing mask and vaccine rules to Nazi Germany’s vilification of Jews.

Meanwhile: Jackson, Miss., declared May 26 at C.T. Vivian Day. It is a stark example of how history has changed through the decades. Local leaders 60 years ago had Vivian jailed and beaten for his participation in the Freedom Rides.

Panelists:

Greg Bluestein — Political Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sen. Kim Jackson — State Senator (D-Stone Mountain)

Julianne Thompson — Republican Strategist

Kyle Hayes — Founder and Co-host, Peachpod: A Georgia Politics Podcast

Tuesday on Political Rewind: It's been one year since the murder of George Floyd. His death sent millions of Americans into the streets to demand racial justice and police accountability. Our panel looked back at this year of reckoning.

Change is coming to Stone Mountain Park after its governing board approved a series of plans that begin reframing the park’s glorification of the Lost Cause. Part of the plans include a history exhibit that will tell the truth about the dark history of the mountain’s past — as a gathering place for the Klan and a symbol of white supremacy.

Panelists:

Tamar Hallerman — Senior Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ceasar Mitchell — Former President, Atlanta City Council

Dr. Audrey Haynes — Professor of Political Science, University of Georgia

Eric Tanenblatt — Republican Fundraiser and Strategist

Monday on Political Rewind: The Stone Mountain Memorial Association meets today to discuss how to reshape the park's telling of Confederate history. Memorials at the park for decades have celebrated Lost Cause mythology; a view of history casting the Confederacy in a benevolent light.

The association's new CEO, Bill Stephens, said it is time to tell the whole truth about the longtime memorial to Confederate history, especially about the controversial carving on the mountain’s face.

Also: A Superior Court judge ordered another recount of 2020 presidential ballots in Fulton County last week. Henry County judge Brian Amero granted a request to scan and examine 145,000 absentee ballots. This will be the fourth review of Georgia votes cast in the 2020 election.

Panelists:

Dr. Amy Steigerwalt — Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

Prof. Fred Smith — Professor of Constitutional Law, Emory University

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

Jim Galloway — Journalist and Former Columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Friday on Political Rewind: Is Georgia House Speaker David Ralston considering a run for the U.S. Senate? A recent visit to D.C. to meet with Republican congressional leaders and social media posts about the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Raphael Warnock is leading some to speculate Ralston might consider a challenge in 2022. At the moment, there are no well-known Republican challengers to Warnock's seat. We discussed the possibilities with our panel. 

Meanwhile, conservative leaders across Georgia are focusing their attention on a new issue: critical race theory in state curriculum. Gov. Brian Kemp yesterday urged the state board of education to take steps to assure that the “dangerous ideology” will not take root in state standards and curriculum. But is this a problem in search of a solution? 

In Cherokee County, the superintendent of schools insisted critical race theory will not be taught in county classrooms as a school board meeting attracted hundreds of people angry about any effort to teach students that there is systemic racism built into American institutions.

Panelists:

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

Sarah Riggs Amico — Business Executive and former Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, Senate

Leo Smith — Political Strategy Consultant, CEO of Engaged Futures Group

Donna Lowry— Host, Georgia Public Broadcasting's Lawmakers

Thursday on Political Rewind: A bipartisan vote in the U.S. House approved the establishment of a congressional commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. While 35 Republican House members voted in favor of the commission, the proposal was opposed by all of the Republicans in Georgia’s congressional delegation. Every member of the GOP delegation also voted against a resolution condemning the violence that took the lives of eight people killed in the massage parlor shooting spree in Atlanta and Cherokee County.

We took a look at the reasons Georgia Republicans may be opposing measures that many consider to be beyond partisanship.

Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp launched his reelection campaign with a series of media interviews where he sought to establish his achievements. He highlighted his opposition to abortion, and his role behind changes to Georgia election laws. But Kemp continues to face criticism from supporters of former President Donald Trump for not backing lies that the state’s presidential election was stolen for President Joe Biden.

Panelists:

Kevin Riley — Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

Edward Lindsey — Former Republican Georgia Legislator

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

Wednesday on Political Rewind: The past year was difficult for many people. The friends and families of COVID-19 victims mourned the loss of loved ones. It was a year when poisonous politics continued to split families along the fault lines of partisan loyalty. The economy collapsed and exacerbated hardship across Georgia and beyond.

There may be no more important time for all of us to talk about hard things. Fortunately, Anna Sale, host of the popular podcast "Death, Sex and Money" recently released a new guide about how to have conversations about difficult topics. She tells us that, rather than being a point of conflict, tough conversations can actually bring us together.

Her book "Let’s Talk About Hard Things" is a distillation of the things she learned over the course of her career as a journalist, podcast host and writer.

Panel:

Anna Sale — Author, Let's Talk About Hard Things