the panel
Audrey Haynes, professor of political science at the University of Georgia
chuck kuck, @ckuckimmigration lawyer
Jim Galloway, @JimJournalistformer political columnist, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Aunt Mitchell, @ajconwashingtonWashington reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
the breakdown
1. Stacey Abrams appeared on CNN to criticize Gov. Brian Kemp’s platform and his refusal to testify before the Fulton County special grand jury.
LISTEN: Tia Mitchell explains how Kemp’s image as a moderate has benefited her.
This comes after Brian Kemp’s attorney and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis publicly clashed. On Thursday’s show, Buddy Darden said it was “political theater” and that it would probably be resolved.
2. With a large state surplus, Kemp and Abrams differ on where the money should go.
Kemp suggested tax returns to Georgians, which could be as high as $500 per family. Stacey Abrams wants reinvestment in social programs like Medicare expansion. Charles Kuck points out that this money comes from federal funding and is only a one-time benefit. Abrams recently revealed her economic platform should she be elected governor. Plans include the legalized game to support an expansion of the HOPE Scholarship, as well as other need-based scholarships.
3. Shortly after Music Midtown was canceled, the College Football Playoff announced that the 2025 National Championship game would take place in Atlanta.
Democrats claimed that canceling Music Midtown would be the beginning of the end for the state’s entertainment economy, a message that appears to be undermined by the announcement.
LISTEN: Tia Mitchell says there are key differences between an event like Music Midtown and arena sports like the CFP National Championship.
4. Democrats have largely moved away from President Biden in their campaigns. Stacey Abrams and Senator Raphael Warnock have not.
Amid recent victories on legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, Senators Jon Ossoff and Warnock toured the state to host town halls and answer policy questions.
5. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that several Mexican engineers were brought to the USA on a visa and were promised jobs in factories instead of engineering.
A Newnan company, Allswell, says the move is completely legal. Detractors have accused the company of labor trafficking. In Texas, immigrants are being bused to New York. Charles Kuck points out that these are people who have a legal right and have properly traveled to the US and the Biden administration has given no explanation, allowing misrepresentation.
LISTEN: Charles Kuck lays out the case of the plantiffs in what he calls labor trafficking and how it happened.
Next week on Political Rewind: The AJC’s Patricia Murphy joins our Monday panel.
