Tuesday on Political Rewind: Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2019, a massive mobilization began across governments across the world. Public health officials released safety guidelines and news organizations ran thorough coverage. But when HIV/AIDS was first identified almost 40 years ago, the response was tragically different.
Monday on Political Rewind: Seven months after the 2020 presidential election, the outcome in Georgia is still being contested by those convinced a myriad of conspiracies stole the election from Donald Trump. A court case today will determine whether plaintiffs have the right to have Fulton County absentee ballots examined for fraud.
Friday on Political Rewind: Deep political and theological divides among leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention are on vivid display during the SBC’s annual meeting in Nashville this week. Also, for the third time the Supreme Court has turned back an effort to end Obamacare in a lawsuit brought by Georgia’s Chris Carr and other GOP state attorneys general. Is the Affordable Care Act finally finished as a wedge political issue?
Thursday on Political Rewind: The bill to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature. After Biden's signature, June 19th will officially become a federally recognized holiday commemorating the emancipation of slaves in the United States.
Tuesday on Political Rewind: It has been more than a year since Americans were shaken into action by police shootings that took the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and others. Corporations, universities and other institutions began evaluating practices that discriminate against people of color in hiring and promotion. Has any real progress been made?
Friday on Political Rewind: The Cobb County School Board has waded into the contentious fight against the teaching of so-called critical race theory. A divided board yesterday outlawed the concept. Meanwhile, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit calling for Major League Baseball to return the All-Star Game to Cobb County.
Thursday on Political Rewind: Three leaders of Georgia’s Republican party traveled to Arizona this week to take a look at the controversial GOP-driven recount of presidential ballots in Maricopa County. Their visit came as yet another recount of votes in Fulton county awaits a final court ruling on whether it can move forward.
Wednesday on Political Rewind: Religious leaders representing more than 1,000 churches staged a voting rights rally at the state Capitol yesterday. They said they will use Georgia’s new election laws as proof that congress must pass federal legislation removing barriers they say limit access to the vote for minority communities.
Tuesday on Political Rewind: A high number of incidents of gun violence are gripping the nation. Georgia communities are struggling to address the issue. And the family of Secoriea Turner has now filed lawsuits against Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and other Atlanta city leaders, accusing them of failing to protect the life of the 8-year-old girl who was struck down last summer.
Monday on Political Rewind: Gov. Brian Kemp received a raucous welcome at the GOP state convention over the weekend. He heard plenty of booing from Republican activists still angry he did not do more to support President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The jeers were mixed with the cheers of those ready to support him for a second term in 2022.
Thursday on Political Rewind: As businesses continue to open up, many Americans are looking forward to returning to their local movie theaters. As New York Times chief film critic A.O. Scott writes in his recent piece, “What I Learned About Democracy From the Movie,” he received as much of his education about American life from what he saw in the movies as he did from teachers and parents.
Tuesday on Political Rewind: Many of Georgia’s COVID-19 restrictions are now lifted. An executive order from Gov. Brian Kemp relaxed public health rules in many spaces including restaurants, bars, and child care facilities yesterday. And while the order attempts to discourage public schools from enforcing their own mask mandates, it falls short of a ban on local mask rules.
Thursday on Political Rewind: GOP legislative leaders have begun a series of hearings they say are designed to address the spike in violent crime in Atlanta. Also: Reports indicate that Georgia’s Newt Gingrich may work with former President Donald Trump on his campaign messaging leading up to the 2024 elections.
Wednesday on Political Rewind, Gov. Brian Kemp has issued an executive order banning state agencies and schools from requiring proof of vaccination against the coronavirus. Also, after days of silence, Republican leaders of the U.S. House have now issued stern criticisms of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s repeated statements comparing mask and vaccine rules to Nazi Germany’s vilification of Jews.
Tuesday on Political Rewind: Change is coming to Stone Mountain Park after the board approved a series of plans to begin reframing the park’s glorification of the Lost Cause. We mark the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. His death sent millions of Americans into the streets to march for racial justice and police accountability.