Friday on Political Rewind: The distressing surge of COVID-19 cases hogged many of the news headlines this week.

Many Georgia schools are back in session, and with the reopening of classrooms, debates rage over whether to require masks for students and staff. Gov. Brian Kemp faces pressure from state legislative leaders to ban mask mandates in school systems across the Peach State. Meanwhile, businesses contemplate what to do about vaccines for employees.

In other news, local Georgia officials are strategizing how they will win funds from the $1 trillion infrastructure bill if it passes the U.S. Senate. 

Meanwhile, Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is headed to Iowa where she will hold an event that some analysts expect could be measured as a litmus test for her potential candidacy for president.

Panelists:

Greg Bluestein — Political reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rep. Stacey Evans — State representative (D-Atlanta)

Eric Tanenblatt — Republican insider

Fred Smith — Professor of constitutional law, Emory University