Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Dec. 21, 2022. Photo by Evelyn Hockstein/ Reuters
Caption

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Dec. 21, 2022.

The panel

Guest Host Donna Lowry, @donnalowrynews, host, GPB's Lawmakers

Andra Gillespie, @AndraGillespie, professor of political science, Emory University

Chuck Bullock, professor of political science, The University of Georgia

Stephen Fowler, @stphnfwlr, politics reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting

Teri Anulewicz, @tanulewicz, state representative, District 42 (D)

 

The breakdown

1. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Congress last night.

  • The speech came ahead of a bill that will send $2 billion in security aid to Ukraine. The trip is believed to have been Zelenskyy's first trip outside Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February.

 

2. The January 6th Committee is anticipated to release its final report today.

  • After delaying its planned release yesterday, the committee is looking to publish the final report today.
  • In the report's place yesterday, the panel released 34 interview transcripts with subjects ranging from Proud Boys to former Trump administration officials.

LISTEN: Teri Anulewicz on Americans' attention span for the January 6th Report.

3. Looking ahead to the 2023 state legislature.

  • The late state Rep. Wayne Howard was succeeded by his brother, Karlton Howard, in his District 129 seat.
  • The Georgia Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Sheree Ralston, who is looking to fill her late husband Speaker David Ralston's seat.
  • Lt. Gov. Burt Jones will serve in leadership in the Senate, marking a significant change from Geoff Duncan.
  • New caucuses for Hispanic and Asian-American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) legislators signal a move towards diverse representation in the legislature.
  • Legislation on compensation around Georgia's abortion law and new election bills have already been pre-filed.

LISTEN: Teri Anulewicz on Georgia's diverse population being represented in the legislature.

4. Looking back on the top stories of 2022.

 

Friday on Political Rewind: The annual reading of Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory."