Nikki Haley, the former Governor of South Carolina and Ambassador to the UN, stumps for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), during a campaign event in McLean, Virginia, U.S., July 14, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and ambassador to the U.N., stumps in Virginia in 2021. In February 2023, she announced a run for president.

Credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

The panel: 

Alan Abramowitz, @AlanIAbramowitz, professor emeritus of political science Emory University

Audrey Haynes, professor of political science University of Georgia

Greg Bluestein, @bluestein, political reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tammy Greer, professor of political science Clark Atlanta University

 

The breakdown:

1. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announces run for president.

  • Haley was also the Trump-era ambassador to the U.N.
  • In her announcement video, she highlighted her history as a daughter of South Carolina and as a daughter of immigrants.

LISTEN: Tammy Greer comments on Haley's mixed messaging.

2. A new religious liberty law was proposed in the Georgia Senate. 

  • Sen. Ed Setzler (R- Acworth) is proposing the "Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act."
    • Some Georgians say it provide religious protections, but gay rights advocates say it is discriminatory.
    • Setzler says he want a law that mimics the similarly themed federal statute, but unlike the federal statute, Georgia does not also have a code that protects gay rights.
  • The move comes as Gov. Brian Kemp and top leadership vowed to shift their focus to economic issues this session.

LISTEN: Greg Bluestein and Audrey Haynes on Georgia's history of religious liberty proposals, and why they aren't an equivalent to federal statutes.

3. A judge blocks the release of most of the special grand jury report in the Fulton election probe.

  • The final recommendations of a special grand jury investigating attempts to overturn Georgia's 2020 presidential election will largely be kept under wraps. 
  • Potiential charges in the investigation can include conspiracy and criminal solicitation to commit election fraud.

Thursday on Political Rewind: The Associated Press' Meg Kinnard joins the show. 

Tags: Georgia  Georgia Politics  Politics  Political Rewind  Bill Nigut  Nikki Haley  religious liberty  Atlanta  Macon  Savannah