Political Rewind

Thursday on Political Rewind: In his first days in office, President Joe Biden has declared a commitment to addressing systemic racism. On Tuesday, Biden signed a series of executive orders signaling that his administration will attempt to tackle inequities in housing, criminal justice, economic mobility, health care and more.

Our panel today weighs in on the president’s first steps toward this lofty goal. He may have set important priorities, but how monumental is the task ahead? And can he win the support he needs to move the country past its long history of racial injustice?

Panelists:

Tiffany Williams Roberts — Community Engagement & Movement Building Counsel, Southern Center for Human Rights

Rev. James Woodall — President, Georgia NAACP

Doug Shipman — Founding CEO, Center for Civil and Human Rights

Kevin Riley – Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday on Political Rewind: A member of the Georgia House of Representatives was removed from the floor by a state trooper after refusing to comply with rules requiring legislators to be tested regularly for the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the state budget — including funding for the Department of Public Health amid the pandemic — is being considered by the legislature. 

Also, the General Assembly considers an array of issues as the session begins its opening weeks. Hate-crime legislation, a tobacco tax and the repeal of state citizens' arrest laws are among the topics being discussed by lawmakers. Our panel explores how the current slate of legislation is playing out in the General Assembly.

Panelists:

Donna Lowry — Host, GPB’s Lawmakers

Greg Bluestein — Politics Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

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

Tuesday on Political Rewind: Nancy Pelosi was first elected to the U.S. House in 1987. Two decades later, she was the first woman to be elected Speaker of the House. And in the past few years, she became both a liberal icon and an increasingly polarizing figure as she battled President Donald Trump over a number of issues during his time in office.

Molly Ball, national political correspondent for TIME and now author of a new biography called Pelosi, joined Political Rewind to discuss Pelosi's character and career, as well as her rise to power and prominence in the U.S. Congress.

Panelists:

Molly Ball — Author of "Pelosi" and national political correspondent, TIME 

Tamar Hallerman — Senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Patricia Murphy — Lead political writer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Monday on Political Rewind: A flurry of executive orders marks President Joe Biden’s first days in office. One of his priorities has been to introduce a major immigration reform bill, which includes plans to roll back a number of immigration orders from the previous administration.

Also: The New York Times revealed a previously unknown effort by former President Donald Trump to overturn the results of the presidential election in Georgia.

Panelists:

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

Charles Kuck — Immigration attorney and former president, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Mariela Romano — Community Empowerment Director, Univision, Atlanta

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

Friday on Political Rewind: As Georgians eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations scramble to get them, Gov. Brian Kemp acknowledged demand is far outstripping supply. Kemp told reporters at a news conference Georgia has already received most of the doses the state was initially set to receive.

The new Biden administration will certainly play a role in vaccine distribution in Georgia and across the nation. Our panel reviewed the administration's plan to fight the coronavirus and whether it may begin turning the corner on the pandemic here and across the country.

Panelists:

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

Kyle Hayes — Host and Founder, Peachpod: A Georgia Politics Podcast

Rep. Teri Anulewicz — State Representative (D) Smyrna

Brian Robinson — GOP Consultant and President, Robinson Republic

Thursday on Political Rewind: Georgia once again finds itself among the worst states in the nation for new COVID-19 cases and deaths, according to state data and a recent report from the White House Coronavirus Task Force. While the task force numbers indicate a slight improvement in recent weeks, 821 Georgians died from the virus in just the seven-day period ending last Friday. The staggering toll comes even as the state faces a dwindling supply of vaccines as well as confusion about rollout. 

However, with his first full day in office, President Joe Biden is kicking his COVID-19 plan into action. The administration has unveiled a new 21-page plan, which leans on executive authority to create a multifaceted national strategy to combat the pandemic. The response is organized around seven main goals, including efforts to protect workers and students, provide reliable information and communication, advance racial equity in the coronavirus response, and deal with supply shortages by ramping up the production of necessities like test kits, protective equipment and, of course, vaccines. 

Our panel of experts discuss the state of coronavirus in Georgia and the nation, the challenges ahead, and what Biden's pandemic plans could mean for Georgians — including those now eligible for a vaccine. 

Panelists:

Dr. Keren Landman — Physician, epidemiologist and journalist

Dr. Rodney Lyn — Interim Dean, Georgia State University School of Public Health

Scott Trubey — Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday afternoon on Political Rewind: A new presidential term begins and with it, a new political landscape in Georgia and across the United States. Following the inauguration of President Joe Biden, senators-elect Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock are scheduled to be sworn in later today.

The pair of Democrats from Georgia will shift the balance of the U.S. Senate from Republican control, giving the Democratic Party control of both chambers of Congress for the first time in 10 years.

Our panelists included: Riley Bunch, Georgia statehouse reporter for CNHI News; Dr. Alan Abramowitz, professor of Political Science at Emory University; State Rep. James Beverly, (D-Macon) and Minority Leader in the State House of Representatives; and Heath Garrett, Republican strategist.

Wednesday on Political Rewind: A new era begins today for the nation and for Georgia.

At noon, President-elect Joe Biden is set be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. He’s promised to immediately act on climate change, an expanded COVID relief package, a campaign to dramatic increase distribution of vaccines to defeat the virus and other policy.

After the inauguration, Georgia’s new senators-elect Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock will take the oath of office and give Democrats majority-control of Congress for the first time in a decade.

Panelists:

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

Tharon Johnson — Senior Advisor, Biden Georgia campaign & President of Paramount Consulting

Edward Lindsey — former State Representative (R-Atlanta)

Jim Galloway — Retired Political Writer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday on Political Rewind, when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States tomorrow, he becomes the principal player in a transition marked by a surging pandemic, spiraling joblessness and aggrieved ranks of voters who refuse to believe he was legitimately elected.

But previous American presidents have, too, faced daunting circumstances as they took the oath of office, and gone on to build brighter futures for the country.

Today, our panel looked at some of the toughest transitions in American history and how new leadership wrestled with great challenges.

Panelists:

Dr. Michelle Brattain — Professor of History, Georgia State University

Dr. Joe Crespino — Professor of History, History Department Chair, Emory University

Tamar Hallerman — Senior Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dr. Fredrick Knight — Professor of History, Morehouse College

Friday on Political Rewind: After a bruising year of contending with the coronavirus, feuds with the president and a bitter war with fellow Republicans, Gov. Brian Kemp delivered a State of the State speech calling for unity and painting a picture of a brighter future for Georgia. Still, partisans on both sides of the aisle found grounds for criticizing Kemp’s vision for the year ahead.

Kemp made no mention in his speech of proposals to change Georgia’s rules for mail-in voting, but the GOP-led effort will likely be one of the most contentious issues on the legislative session.

Also, we paid tribute to a giant of Georgia life: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Jim Galloway is retiring after more than four decades at the paper. The longtime panelist will remain a frequent guest of our show.

Panelists:

Jim Galloway — Lead Political Writer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

Sam Olens — Former Georgia Attorney General

Michael Thurmond — DeKalb County CEO