An illustration of a elephant breaking.
Credit: Sam Bermas-Dawes, GPB News

The Panel: 

Kevin Riley — Editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

Dr. Tammy Greer — Professor of political science, Clark Atlanta University

Tia Mitchell — Washington correspondent, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

The Breakdown:

1. GOP state lawmakers asked former Sen. David Perdue to not enter Georgia's gubernatorial race against Kemp. 

  • Axios reporter Emma Hurt first reported on the story, which saw GOP lawmakers send a letter to Perdue.
  • Dr. Amy Steigerwalt highlights how Democrats could respond. 

Georgia State University's Dr. Amy Steigerwalt said Democrats might see an opportunity in Republican infighting.

2. Rivian to set up shop in Rutledge, Ga., with an electric vehicle factory.

  • The Amazon-linked manufacturer is promising 7,500* jobs. 
  • The plant could help Gov. Brian Kemp with his message of a strong economy in the state.
  • Dr. Tammy Greer said rural communities surrounding the factory could be gentrified if negotiations come through for the site.

Clark Atlanta University's Dr. Tammy Greer said economic development might rapidly change surrounding rural communities.

3. Brad Raffensperger helps with Jan. 6 investigation. 

 

4. A follow-up: Smyrna decides to sell the building that housed the controversial restaurant Aunt Fanny's cabin.

  • The restaurant featured several racial tropes, including employees dressed up as slaves.
  • The city's task force on the matter voted to put the building up for sale and remove it from the city-owned property on Atlanta Road.

 

5. Will Gov. Brian Kemp greenlight Sonny Perdue's bid for chancellor?

  • The former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture wants the top position in Georgia’s higher education system.
  • Sonny Perdue is also the cousin of David Perdue, who is running against the incumbent governor.
  • Dr. Greer spoke on conflicts within the GOP.

Dr. Greer said Gov. Brian Kemp is positioning himself in the middle ground on recent news.

Tomorrow on Political Rewind: We speak to The Atlantic Journal-Constitution's Patricia Murphy.

*This article was published before the negotiations were officially announced by Gov. Kemp and Rivian. The original estimation in this story read around 8,000 jobs. 

Tags: Georgia Politics  Macon  Savannah  Atlanta  sonny perdue  david perdue  Brian Kemp  Rivian  Political Rewind  Lawmakers