The panel:
Chuck Williams, reporter, WRBL-TV Columbus, @chuckwilliams
Donna Lowry, legislator host and reporter for GPB News, @donnalowrynews
Kevin Riley, managing editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, @ajceditor
Rahul Bali, political reporter, WABE, @rahulbali
The breakdown:
1. What to expect from the Georgia GOP convention.
WRBL’s Chuck Williams spoke with outgoing GOP Chairman David Shafer about what to expect from the convention moments before our show. Shafer said this convention will be one of the most well-attended conventions. Note: Shafer is stepping down as party chairman and is a target of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ election investigation.
LISTEN: Chuck Williams on what to expect from the convention.
2. Former Vice President Mike Pence criticizes former President Donald Trump.
Pence launched his bid for the presidency on Wednesday. He becomes the first candidate to challenge his former boss. Pence also will not attend the Georgia GOP Convention in Columbus this weekend.
3. Groups opposed to Atlanta police training center seek to put the issue on the November ballot.
On Wednesday morning, a group of Atlanta community leaders announced that they have submitted a referendum to the city to get construction of the controversial police training center on the ballot. The referendum could overturn a City Council ordinance approving funding for the project and put the issue up for a Nov. 7 vote. In Camden County, a Georgia Supreme Court ruling upheld a referendum against a spaceport.
LISTEN: Donna Lowry talks about the momentum the referendum campaign could generate.
4. The Department of Homeland Security denies labeling specific protest groups as domestic terrorists.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement saying they never designated any specific groups linked to protests at the proposed public safety training facility in Atlanta as domestic terrorists. Attorney General Chris Carr has issued a four-part statement about the arrests about this new report.
Friday in political rewind: Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander, Rosalynn Carter Caregiver Institute CEO Dr. Jennifer Olsen, and GPB’s Ellen Eldridge delve into Rosalynn Carter’s legacy.
