Political Rewind: Chicago bests Atlanta for DNC bid; Is the U.S. Supreme Court too political?

Caption

The Chicago city skyline is covered by the fog lifted off Lake Michigan on Aug. 5, 2022, in Chicago. Democrats have chosen Chicago to host their 2024 national convention. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

The panel

Andra Gillespie, @AndraGillespie, professor of political science and director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference

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

Michael Thurmond, CEO, DeKalb County

Sam Olens, @samolens, former Georgia attorney general

The breakdown

1. The 2024 Democratic National Convention will take place in Chicago.

• In a move that stunned Georgia Democrats, the national party will assemble in Chicago to pick their candidate for the 2024 presidential election. The presumed nominee, President Joe Biden, called Chicago "a great choice."
• The move surprised stateside Democrats, who say they only heard news in their favor.
• Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire, offered to foot the bill for the convention, likely adding sway to the decision.

2. The Current asked its readers: Did lawmakers address your top issues?

• In a survey conducted by The Current, readers outlined nine issues they thought were most important going into the 2023 legislative session. "Climate resilience" and "education funding" stood out as top priorities.
• The University System of Georgia saw a $66 million cut, which Chancellor Sonny Perdue called “incredibly disappointing.”
• While the legislature focused on electric vehicles, a bill written to prevent mining in the Okefenokee Swamp never saw a vote.

3. DeKalb CEO Mike Thurmond gives an update on the planned Atlanta police training center.

• Thurmond spoke on concerns about the environmental impact of the center.
  • He also said the county will take up a zoning meeting this afternoon.

3. Is the Supreme Court a "political" body?

• After ProPublica released a piece on the justice's trips with billionaire donor Harlan Carter, Americans are questioning the supposed non-partisan nature of the highest court in the land.
• After controversial rulings from the judiciary, from Dobbs to recent bans on mifepristone, America's judges have been under additional scrutiny.

Thursday on Political Rewind: AJC editor-at-large Kevin Riley joins the panel.