Political Rewind

Thursday on Political Rewind: Georgia’s members of the U.S. House voted along party lines on impeachment of President Donald Trump. The debate continues over the president’s role in inciting insurrection when he directed angry crowds of his supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol last week. Democrats accused trump of violating his oath to protect the country from its enemies, foreign or domestic. Many Republicans called the impeachment a political stunt that will further divide the country.

Also: COVID-19 continue to spiral upward in Georgia. New cases are in unprecedented territory here, at some 9,000 per day. At the same time, public health officials are grappling with how to speed the delivery of the COVID vaccine to people across the state.

Panelists:

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

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

Eric Tanenblatt — Republican Insider and Global Chair of Public Policy, Dentons

Kevin Riley — Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday on Political Rewind: We ask two former U.S. senators about the state of our democratic institutions. As we come to the end of the Trump era, just how fragile is the American experiment in democracy? 

Former Sen. Gary Hart and former U.S. Rep. Richard “Dick” Gephardt are members of a bipartisan election integrity organization called Keep Our Republic, which seeks to strengthen democracy through targeted electoral reform. They map out the challenges that began developing before the time of President Donald Trump, and how meaningful political and communication reform can help propel us forward, and protect the fundamental values upon which the United States is built.

Panelists:

Sen. Gary Hart — Former U.S. Senator (Colorado), member of Keep Our Republic

Rep. Richard “Dick” Gephardt — Former U.S. Representative (Missouri), member of Keep Our Republic

Tuesday on Political Rewind: Guest host Tamar Hallerman, senior reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, leads the panel in a discussion of the U.S. House and its march toward a vote on impeachment for the second time. Included in one article of impeachment is language accusing President Donald Trump of trying to overturn the outcome of Georgia’s president election in his infamous phone call to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp announced his support for a measure to tighten rules on absentee balloting. The proposal would require voters to submit a copy of a photo identification with their mail-in ballots. Kemp said he is open to further restrictions on absentee voting.

Panel:

Chuck Williams — Reporter, WRBL News 3 Columbus

Adam Van Brimmer — Editorial Page Editor, Savannah Morning News

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

Monday on Political Rewind, the weekend brought growing calls for President Donald Trump’s removal from office in the aftermath of the assault on the U.S. Capitol. In a letter to colleagues, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she will call for a vote on a resolution demanding Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet immediately invoke the 25th amendment. A majority of House Democrats and at least some Republicans are prepared to move to impeach Trump as a next step.

Meanwhile, as Georgia legislators begin their 2021 General Assembly session today, state Republicans face a reckoning. How will they come together to heal the bitter divide between those who supported Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election and Republicans like the governor, who pushed back against the President?

Panelists:

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

Jake Sherman — Founder, Punchbowl News

Julianne Thompson — Political Commentator, 2020 Republican Convention Delegate

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

Friday on Political Rewind: Two new senators are poised to head to the U.S. Capitol to represent Georgia in the nation's highest legislative body. Sen. Kelly Loeffler conceded defeat to the Rev. Raphael Warnock. Loeffler said she called Warnock to congratulate him on his victory in their U.S. Senate race.

As Georgia legislators prepare for the start of the 2021 session on Monday, proposed changes to the state's absentee election law will be one of the most contentious issues of the session. Some Republican lawmakers want to enact restrictions on absentee voting by mail, but the state’s top GOP lawmaker, Speaker of the House David Ralston, said he remains unconvinced change is needed.

Panelists:

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

Heath Garrett — Political Strategist, Former-Chief of Staff for Sen. Johnny Isakson

Patricia Murphy — Politics Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rep. Calvin Smyre — Georgia House Representative, (D-Columbus)

Wednesday on Political Rewind: Georgia and the nation’s capital saw a day of triumph and turmoil on Wednesday. Democrats celebrated the twin victories of Georgians Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, who now give their party control of the U.S. Senate. Warnock will be the first Black man to represent Georgia in Congress while Ossoff will be Georgia's first Jewish senator.

Also, in the early hours of this morning, Congress officially affirmed the Electoral College victory of President-elect Joe Biden.

But these milestone events were overshadowed, at least for a time, by chaos incited by President Donald Trump. His supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol, and forced an evacuation.

Panelists:

Rene Alegria — President and CEO of Mundo Hispanico

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

Kevin Riley — Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rep. Sam Park — State Representative (D-Lawrenceville)

This afternoon on Political Rewind: As the day the last votes are tabulated in Georgia's Senate runoff election, chaos erupts at the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of President Donald Trump assault the U.S. Capitol, storming the building. We covered the breaking news as situations in the capital escalated in the afternoon. This followed a rally nearby where Trump unleashed a barrage of baseless accusations of election fraud in Georgia and other states.

Meanwhile, the Rev. Raphael Warnock has been elected the first African American U.S. senator from Georgia. His victory over Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler puts Democrats within one seat of capturing a majority in the Senate.

The focus turned to the race between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican incumbent David Perdue, which has since been called for Ossoff.

Panelists:

Riley Bunch — Georgia Statehouse Reporter, CNHI News

Tamar Hallerman — Senior Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dr. Fred Smith — Emory University, School of Law

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

Wednesday on Political Rewind: The Rev. Raphael Warnock has been elected the first African American U.S. senator from Georgia. His victory over Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler puts the Democratic Party within one seat of capturing a majority in the Senate. Now, the focus turns to the race between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican incumbent David Perdue, where Ossoff holds a small but potentially unbroachable lead over the state’s senior senator.

Late into the night as the Democrats took the lead in both contests, President Donald Trump dipped into his well-worn playbook to unleash a barrage of tweets questioning the integrity of the vote.

Panelists:

Dr. Alan Abramowitz — Professor of Political Science at Emory

Greg Bluestein — Politics Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dr. Andra Gillespie — Professor of Political Science at Emory

Mariela Romero — Journalist and Regional Community Empowerment Director, Univision

Today on Political Rewind: On the eve of today’s runoff election, President-elect Joe Biden urged Georgians gathered at the old Turner Field to turn out today for Democrats Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump warned his supporters in Dalton of the dangers of not voting.

Many analysts say the Republican Party needs massive turnout today to counter a lead built by Democratic early voters. Our panel weighs in on this crucial election.

Panelists:

Tamar Hallerman - Senior Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

Tia Mitchell - Washington Correspondent, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

Monday on Political Rewind: In an alarming hourlong phone call to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, President Donald Trump cajoled, begged and threatened Raffensperger to find the votes to win him Georgia. Raffensperger pushed back on the president’s false claims and declined to meet with the president’s allies in person.

We take a look forward to Trump's agenda when he makes a scheduled visit to Dalton tonight to campaign for Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Our panel looks at whether the president’s visit promises to do more harm than good to the GOP runoff candidates.

Panelists:

Rana Cash — Editor, Savannah Morning News

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

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

Brian Robinson — GOP Political Consultant and President of Robinson Republic