>>> WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF POLITICAL REWIND.

I'M NIGUT.

WE COME TO ANOTHER WEEK.

WHY DON'T WE GET RIGHT TO IT.

WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY RENE ALEGRIA, THE CEO OF HISPANICO DIGITAL.

I NOTICED IN LOOKING AT YOUR PAGE TODAY, THAT LIKE MOST OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, IT IS DOMINATED, THE HOME PAGE, BY NEWS OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE.

YES?

>> IT IS, THAT'S CORRECT.

YOU KNOW, WE -- THERE ARE SO FEW OPTIONS IN SPANISH LANGUAGE TO RECEIVE JUST NEWS AND INFORMATION THAT THE GENERAL MARKET TAKES FOR GRANTED SO WE OBVIOUSLY PROVIDE THAT.

I THINK THE BIG NEWS OF THIS MORNING, THOUGH, IS EMILIO DELGADO PASSED AWAY.

HE PLAYED LUIS ON "SESAME STREET" FOR 40, 45 YEARS.

AND IF YOU'RE ANYONE WHO GREW UP WATCHING "SESAME STREET," HE AND MARIA WERE THE TOKEN LATINOS ON THE BLOCK.

THEY WERE WONDERFUL TO WATCH.

AS A YOUNG HISPANIC WATCHING "SESAME STREET," I CERTAINLY WAS VESTED IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU FOR -- BY THE WAY, JUST REAL QUICKLY AS LONG AS YOU MENTIONED IT, YOU CALLED THEM THE TOKENS.

BUT, IN FACT, "SESAME STREET" WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY INCLUDED MINORITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR IN ITS PROGRAMMING.

SO THEY WERE LESS TOKENS THAN THEY WERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- FOR US TO SEE HISPANICS IN A WAY WE DIDN'T USUALLY, RIGHT?

>> I THINK IN THE WORLD OF "SESAME STREET," THEY WERE NOT.

BUT IN THE WORLD OF BROADCAST TV AT THE TIME, THEY ABSOLUTELY WERE.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> ASIDE FROM SPEEDY GONZALEZ, WE HAD LUIS AND MARIA, YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW, REST IN PEACE.

>> FAIR ENOUGH.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.

PROFESSOR IS WITH US, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT EMORY UNIVERSITY AND DIRECTOR OF THE JAMES WELDON JOHNSON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RACE AND DIFFERENCE.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

>> I'M DOING OKAY.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

KAREN OWEN IS JOINING US, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA.

WE DON'T SAY IT ENOUGH, KAREN.

YOU ARE ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THE THOMAS B. MURPHY CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE OUT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA, AMONG OTHER THINGS, YOU OVERSEE A COLLECTION OF ALL OF THOMAS B. MURPHY'S LATE, GREAT SPEAKER OF THE GEORGIA HOUSE, THE PAPERS, YOU HAVE A REPLICA OF THE REMARKABLE OFFICE HE HAD DOWN AT THE CAPITAL.

SO WE SHOULD MENTION THAT MORE OFTEN.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

>> I'M DOING WELL.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND WE ARE FORTUNATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA TO HAVE THE SPEAKER TOM MURPHY PAPERS.

IT'S A WONDERFUL COLLECTION AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD COME VISIT IT IN OUR LIBRARY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YOU DESERVE THAT PLUG.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

KAREN, I'LL START WITH YOU AS LONG AS THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT.

BRIAN KEMP ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY OFFICIALLY, HE FILED THE PAPERWORK, HE QUALIFIED FOR OFFICE.

HE PUT DOWN HIS MONEY AND HE IS NOW OFFICIALLY A CANDIDATE FOR REELECTION FOR GOVERNOR.

LET'S LISTEN TO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HE SAID AS HE ADDRESSED A CROWD OF SUPPORTERS.

>> LOOK, I'VE BEEN FIGHTING STACEY ABRAMS, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY THREE YEARS.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO WIN THE NOMINATION, OUR FIGHT IS WHO IS -- WHO THE REAL OPPONENT IS GOING TO BE.

>> KAREN, LET'S GO THROUGH A FEW THINGS NOTABLE.

HE SAID FIRST, WE'RE FOCUSED ON STACEY ABRAMS.

HE HAS CHALLENGER DAVID PURDUE WHO HE HAS TO BEAT TO GET TO STACEY ABRAMS.

BRIAN KEMP DIDN'T TALK ABOUT PURDUE AT ALL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK THAT THE KEMP CAMPAIGN HAS -- MAYBE THEIR MAJOR FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THIS PRIMARY AND PURDUE.

THEY'RE PIVOTING AND FOCUS ON ABRAMS.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THEIR COALITION OF ALL THE CONSERVATIVES THEY CAN BRING ABOUT.

HE'S RUNNING AS AN INCUMBENT SO I THINK HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HIS RECORD.

TALK ABOUT THINGS HE'S DOING.

ALSO I THINK HE IS THE ONE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, HE MENTIONED IN THIS, HE HAD BEATEN ABRAMS IN 2018, SO HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE -- HE'S THE ONE CANDIDATE IF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE PRIMARY ARE LOOKING FOR THE CANDIDATE WHO CAN BEAT HER, HE HAS DONE THAT.

HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT MESSAGING AND NOT FOCUS ON PURDUE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLING RIGHT NOW, HE'S UP OVER PURDUE BY 11 POINTS OR MORE, SOME 7 OR 8 OTHERS.

HE HAS A LITTLE FEELING THAT HE NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON A BROADER CAMPAIGN STRATEGY, NOT JUST LOOKING AT PRIMARIES.

>> ANDRA, ANOTHER THING THAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THE CAPITAL, HE HAD A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE, REPUBLICAN SUPPORTERS, LINED UP BEHIND HIM.

HE DID IT TO THE STEPS OF THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE CAPITAL IN PRETTY SHARP CONTRAST OF PURDUE.

WE HAD REPORTING ON OUR SHOW, RILEY BUNCH WAS AT THE CAPITAL WHEN DAVID PURDUE QUALIFIED.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE -- PURDUE DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORTERS WITH HIM.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING IN TERMS OF WHO IS GOING TO WIN AND WHO IS NOT.

OBVIOUSLY YESTERDAY THE KEMP FOCUS WANTED TO MAKE A POINT OF SAYING, LOOK AT HOW MUCH SUPPORT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM, YES?

>> YES, I MEAN, I THINK THAT WAS A FLEX MOVE AND HE WAS TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE THAT DESPITE THE FACT HE HAS BEEN EMBATTLED BY SOME, PARTICULARLY DONALD TRUMP, HE HAS THE NETWORK TO WIN IN THINKS OWN RIGHT, BASED ON HIS OWN RECORD AND DECADES OF POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT IN GEORGIA INCLUDING HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE.

AND I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY A REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE IN THE NATIONAL PARTY TO THINK ABOUT.

FOR THEM AN ENDORSEMENT FROM DONALD TRUMP MIGHT BE NICE, BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE END ALL TO BE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO AN OFFICE.

SO AS AN INCUMBENT, AS SOMEBODY WHO IS DEEPLY EN TRENCHED IN GEORGIA PAUL, HE'S SHOWING HE HAS THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN A PRIMARY AND CARRY THAT INTO A GENERAL ELECTION.

>> HE SAID HE FELT, AND HE'LL CONTINUE TO CARRY THIS IN THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, HE FULFILLED.

HE PROMISED TEACHERS THEY WERE GOING TO GET RAISES OF $5,000.

HE'S NOW GOTTEN AFTER PLEA PLUS YEARS, GOTTEN THEM TO THAT POINT.

HE WILL USE THAT AS ONE OF THE SIGNS HOW MUCH HE THINKS HE'S ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE STATE.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO COMMENT ON THAT, BUT LET ME ALSO THROW OUT SOME OF THE OTHER LANGUAGE IN THE KEMP REMARKS YESTERDAY BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE SO INDICATIVE OF A BROADER KIND OF REPUBLICAN TEMPLATE THAT DOESN'T REALLY SPEAK TO SPECIFIC OPPONENTS, BUT ARE WORTH MENTIONING.

HE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHE IS THE CANDIDATE, STACEY ABRAMS, OF THE WOKE CULTURE.

SHE IS A PART OF THE RADICAL LEFT.

HE SAID THIS.

WE ARE IN A FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF OUR STATE AGAINST STACEY ABRAMS, JOE BIDEN, THE NATIONAL MEDIA, AND MANY FAR LEFT ALLIES THAT WILL BE PLAYING IN THIS GAME.

SPEAK TO ALL OF THAT.

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S POLITICAL THEATER, ISN'T IT?

HE'S ESSENTIALLY DISMISSING PURDUE OUTRIGHT, NOT EVEN MENTIONING HIM.

BY DOING SO, HIS CAMPAIGN ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, CUTS PURDUE OFF AT THE KNEE.

NOT MENTIONING HIM, ALSO PUTS TRUMP AND EVERYTHING TRUMP STANDS FOR ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IN KEMP'S COALITION BY MAKING ABRAMS THE ENEMY OF ALL GOOD THINGS GEORGIAN CONSERVATIVE.

HE'S PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT INTO AND ONTO WHAT IS GOING TO BE HIS NUMBER ONE ARCH NEMESIS HEADING INTO THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

I DID THINK IT WAS REALLY GOOD OPTICS WITH KEMP AND HIS POSSE THERE, SIGNING EVERYTHING.

YOU SAW -- YOU KIND OF ALMOST BELIEVE HE'S GOT THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS INCREDIBLE COALITION OF CONSERVATIVES BEHIND HIM LITERALLY, WHEREAS PURDUE DOES NOT.

OBVIOUSLY ABRAMS AND HER FIRST RALLY HAPPENS ON MONDAY, THE 14th, RIGHT.

SHE HAS LARGELY BEEN OUT OF SIGHT WATCHING PURDUE AND KEMP KIND OF DUKE IT OUT.

IT'S ALMOST BRILLIANT TIMING ON HER PART IN THAT KEMP IS STEPPING UP AND SAYING, IT'S YOU, ABRAMS, AND ABRAMS IS, YOU KNOW, WITH HER SCHEDULE DICTATED THAT, YES, IT'S ME.

AND THIS IS WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT.

IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT SHE SAYS AT THAT RALLY.

AND WE KNOW THAT SHE'S BRILLIANT WHEN SHE'S ON A PODIUM AND, YOU KNOW, OUTLINING WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN AND HER VISION FOR GEORGIA.

SO, LET THE FIREWORKS BEGIN STARTING MONDAY.

>> SO, ANDRA, I WANT TO PICKUP ON PART OF WHAT RENE SAID THERE AND ALSO GO BACK TO THE NOTION HE HAD SUCH A BIG CROWD BEHIND HIM.

WHEN DAVID PURDUE QUALIFIED ON WEDNESDAY, HE REPEATED A MESSAGE THAT HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR AWHILE NOW.

I JUST DON'T SEE HOW BRIAN KEMP CAN REUNITE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THERE ARE TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR HIM TO PULL THIS ALL TOGETHER.

AGAIN, PART OF THE VISUAL OF YESTERDAY WAS FOR HIM TO SHOW, WELL, LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY I HAVE UNITED BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT ALSO WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS LANGUAGE THAT'S, AGAIN, LIKE A TEMPLATE, THE WOKE CULTURE, THE RADICAL LEFT, I'M FIGHTING NOT JUST AGAINST MY OPPONENTS, BUT I'M FIGHTING AGAINST THE NATIONAL MEDIA.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT GOVERNOR KEMP IS TRYING TO DO IS HE'S TRYING TO RECLAIM SOME OF THE TRUMP BANNER, AT LEAST FROM AN IDEOLOGICAL AND STYLISTIC STANDPOINT SINCE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT.

AND I THINK HE'S FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GLENN YOUNGKIN, EMBRACE TRUMP AND SIMULTANEOUSLY DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM HIM.

HE'S BRINGING UP WOKE CULTURE, LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY WILL LIKELY FIGURE INTO OUR CAMPAIGN DISCOURSE IN THIS PARTICULAR CYCLE.

IT IS PART OF WHAT I THINK IS A LARGER NATIONAL TREND TO TRY TO WEAPONIZE THESE ISSUES AND RALLY SUBURBAN WHITE VOTERS INTO GIVING THE REPUBLICANS A SECOND LOOK AFTER THEY, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, ABANDONED DONALD TRUMP IN THE 2020 CYCLE.

YOU KNOW, TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DAVID PURDUE WAS TRYING TO DO IS FLOUNDERING, HE'S TRYING TO USE A 2014 BRAND IN 2022 AND IT'S NOT QUITE RESONATING WELL.

I THINK HE THOUGHT THAT THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT WAS GOING TO SEND HIM INTO THE STRATOSPHERE.

THAT HASN'T PROVED TO BE TRUE.

AND SO HE'S TRYING TO STILL SAY THAT I'M THE OUTSIDER.

I'M THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENT, THE POPULIST SENTIMENT THAT MADE DONALD TRUMP SO SUCCESSFUL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT AFTER HE SERVED A TERM AS THE U.S.

SENATOR, YOU'RE NO LONGER AN OUTSIDER.

WHEN YOUR COUSIN IS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE AND THEN BECAME SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, YOU DEFINITELY AREN'T AN OUTSIDER.

YOU WEREN'T AN OUT SIDESER WHEN YOU -- AN OUTSIDER WHEN YOU USED THAT MONIKER BEFORE.

PURDUE NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A NEW MESSAGE THAT IS GOING TO DISTINGUISH HIMSELF.

WE WILL WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE PRIMARY RESULTS ACTUALLY MANIFEST.

GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN SOME SOME OF THE SURVEY DATA, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE ALIGNMENT WITH TRUMP AS AN OUTSIDER IS WORKING FOR HIM.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FOX NEWS POLL THAT CAME OUT EARLIER THIS WEEK.

LET ME THROW OUT A FEW NUMBERS, KAREN AND RENE, AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS THEM.

WE SAW IN FOX'S POLL THAT GOVERNOR KEMP IS AT 50%.

THIS IS REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN GEORGIA.

HE IS AT 50%.

PURDUE IS AT 39%.

10% SAY THEY ARE UNSURE OR THEY MIGHT WANT TO SUPPORT A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE.

FIRST OF ALL, THAT STRIKES ME -- IF THAT'S ACCURATE, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR GROWTH IF YOU'RE BEHIND AS THIS POLL AND OTHERS HAVE SHOWN DAVID PURDUE.

LET'S ADD A COUPLE OTHER FIGURES AND GET EVERYBODY TO WEIGH IN.

FOX ASKED WHETHER GEORGIA REPUBLICANS WHO ARE GOING TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY, WHAT THEY THINK OF DONALD TRUMP.

57% SAID THEY HAVE A STRONGLY FAVORABLE IMPRESSION.

22% SOMEWHAT FAVORABLE.

AND THEN LIKE 19% WERE FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE.

AND LET ME ADD TO THAT, AMONG THE SUBGROUP WITH STRONGLY FAVORABLE OPINIONS IN THE FORMER PRESIDENT, IT IS PURDUE WHO HAS THE EDGE, 52% FOR PURDUE TO 39% FOR KEMP.

AND SO THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE I THINK DAVID PURDUE SEES HIMSELF PICKING UP GROUND AND GAINING WITH THE TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

AS WE SAID ALL ALONG, KAREN, HIS CAMPAIGN IS BUILT AROUND SUPPORT FROM DONALD TRUMP.

>> IT IS, AND THAT'S WHY HE JUMPS IN.

TRUMP REALLY WANTED HIM TO RUN AND HE'S CARRYING THAT BANNER AS WE GO FORWARD.

ONE THING YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP, AND I KNOW NUMBERS ARE DIFFICULT TO KIND OF COMPREHEND SOMETIMES AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEM, KEMP IS AT 50 AND PURDUE IS AT 39.

AND SO IF 10% OUT THERE IS UNDECIDED OR PICKING SOMEONE ELSE, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PURDUE TO SEE THAT PATH TO VICTORY.

INTERESTING, TOO, OTHER POLLS SHOWED KEMP AHEAD 9, 10, AS WELL WITH SOME UNDECIDED.

ANOTHER IN THE POLL SHOWS KEMP HAS BROAD SUPPORT.

HE'S BROADLY POPULAR.

LET ME REPHRASE THAT.

HE HAS 68% FAVORABILITY AMONGST THESE VOTERS.

SO I THINK PURDUE IS DEFINITELY TRYING TO JUST STAY WITH TRUMP AND TRUMP IS IN GEORGIA IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

IT MAY BE A DIFFERENCE OF TURNOUT AND IGNITE PEOPLE AND GET HIM EXCITED AGAIN.

I THINK KEMP, AS YOU MENTIONED KIND OF IN THE CONVERSATION BEFORE, HE'S SAYING IN TALKING POINTS AT THE NATIONAL -- THERE'S NATIONAL THINGS HAPPENING.

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I'VE DONE HERE IN GEORGIA.

KIND OF WALK AWAY FROM THE IDEA THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

I DO WANT TO SAY ONE THING BEFORE WE MOVE ON AND, RENE, FOR YOUR GREAT COMMENTS, ON HIS OUTSIDER STATUS, DAVID PURDUE, HE'S TALKING ABOUT HE LOVES BEING A CHALLENGER AND HE'S GOING TO BE FIGHTING.

AND PART OF IT IS HE MENTIONED HE'S GOING TO BE ASKING KEMP TOUGH QUESTIONS AS TO WHY HE DIDN'T DO CERTAIN THINGS IN 2020.

BUT I THINK EVEN KEMP OR ABRAMS COULD ASK HIM, WHAT DID YOU DO FOR SIX YEARS AS SENATOR?

YOU ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FOR US, AND YOU DIDN'T A MASS IN 2020 A RUNOFF WIN.

VOTERS DIDN'T CONNECT TO YOU AGAIN.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THOSE PIECES SAYING YOU'RE THIS CHALLENGER AND HOW KEMP RUNS AS THE INCUMBENT.

>> RENE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M STRUCK BY, ONE, YOUR QUESTION REGARDING THE KEMP TEMPLATE AND MESSAGING, RIGHT, ABOUT CONNECTING ABRAMS AND BIDEN AND ANDRA SAYING VERY ASTUTELY HOW THAT TEMPLATE JUST IS A BIT TIRED.

AND I'M REMINDED OF LOEFFLER'S DEBATE AGAINST WARNOCK WHERE SHE MENTIONED RADICAL LEFT, RADICAL LIBERAL A DOZEN TIMES, SO MUCH SO IT BECAME A SPOOF, IT CAME OFF AS ROBOTIC, REHEARSED AND NOT CONNECTED TO WHAT GEORGIANS REALLY, REALLY WHO GEORGIANS REALLY ARE.

OBVIOUSLY WARNOCK HAS GONE ON TO PRODUCE A BODY OF WORK IN THE SENATE THAT IS ANYTHING BUT THE RADICAL LEFT.

IT IS CENTRIST IN MANY WAYS.

YOU KIND OF SEE THE LANGUAGE COALESCING INTO A TEMPLATE.

AND, AGAIN, IT IS THAT MACHINE.

IT'S ROBOTIC.

IT DOESN'T REALLY CONNECT WITH THIS AUTHENTICITY LAYER THAT WE ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW.

AND IT JUST MAKES ME WONDER HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BREAK BEYOND THOSE WHO WON'T EVER VOTE FOR ANYONE OTHER THAN A REPUBLICAN, AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO THEN CONVINCE INDEPENDENTS, OR THAT SUBURBAN, YOU KNOW, QUESTION MARK AS TO -- WHETHER THEY HAVE THE BETTER IDEAS TO GOVERN GEORGIA.

>> ANDRA, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER FINDING IN THIS POLL TO SEE WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.

HERE'S WHAT FOX NEWS SAYS.

INTEREST IN THE ELECTION IS HIGH.

OVER 8 IN 10 GOP PRIMARY VOTERS ARE, QUOTE, EXTREMELY OR VERY INTERESTED IN VOTING.

54% EXTREMELY.

28% SAY THEY ARE INTERESTED.

THE EXTREMELY INTERESTED VOTERS BREAK FOR PURDUE BY 7 POINTS OVER KEMP.

SO THERE IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE PURDUE PROBABLY HOPES HE HAS SOME ROOM TO MANEUVER.

BUT I WONDER HOW YOU SEE THAT POTENTIAL INTEREST BY REPUBLICANS NOT ONLY IN THE PRIMARY, BUT IF IT CONTINUES INTO THE GENERAL, HOW POWERFUL THAT MIGHT BE?

>> ENTHUSIASM IS ONE OF THOSE MEASURES THAT POLITICAL SCIENTISTS USE TO TRY TO GUESS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS IS GOING TO BE.

SO THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS GBP THE GENERIC BALLOT, THE PRIMARY THING TO LOOK AT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO PREDICT HOW MANY SEATS THE INCUMBENT PARTY IS GOING TO CARRY IN A MIDTERM ELECTION.

THIS IS WHAT MADE ALAN BRAMALA FAMOUS.

ONE, LOOK AT THE BALLOT QUESTION, IT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY.

THE OTHER IS A PROXY, ENTHUSIASM, BECAUSE THAT COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR VOTER TURN OUT.

IF REPUBLICANS ARE ENTHUSED AND THEY STAY ENTHUSED FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION, THEY MAY TURN OUGHT MORE.

THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY TENDS TO -- IN THE TIME PERIOD.

IF THERE IS ONE MORE THING I CAN ADD TO THIS, THIS IS THE SECOND POLL WE TALKED ABOUT IN TWO OR THREE WEEKS ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

I THINK I EXPRESSED A LITTLE BIT I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE PREVIOUS POLL BECAUSE THAT POLLSTER IS KNOWN FOR CREATING FRAMES THAT DON'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO OTHER PEOPLE.

EVEN THOUGH SHE GETS LUCKY AND IS FAMOUSLY CALLED SOME THINGS RIGHT, I STILL KIND OF HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT IT.

SOMETHING WE BROUGHT UP WITH NICK AT DINNER.

WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE AN A-MINUS RATING IF THEY CALLED ELECTIONS RIGHT?

HE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FRAME.

THE FACT WE HAVE A SECOND POLL COMING OUT AND THE FOX NEWS SURVEY UNIT DOES THE SAME WORK EVERYBODY ELSE DOES, SO WE TEND TO TAKE WHAT THEY SAY SERIOUSLY AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK THERE SERIOUSLY.

THE FACT THEY ARE SAYING THE SAME THING BRIAN KEMP IS AHEAD AND THAT THIS IS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT I THINK IS ACTUALLY A POSITIVE SIGN THERE IS SOME THERE-THERE THAT BRIAN KEMP THAT'S SOME MOMENTUM.

THE FACT DAVID PURDUE HAS STRENGTH AMONG SOME SUBSECTIONS OF THE REPUBLICAN -- >> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.

WHILE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY KEPT CAL ABOUT POLLING IN GENERAL BECAUSE SO OFTEN THINGS DON'T TURN OUT THE WAY THE POLLS SUGGEST, IT'S MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN THAT NEVERTHELESS, I GET WHY PEOPLE ARE SKEPTICAL.

THE FOX NEWS POLLING TEAM HAS A LOT OF INTEGRITY.

THEY DO THEIR WORK.

THEY ARE A POLLING UNIT THAT I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO.

>>> LET'S ADD ONE MORE ELEMENT TO THAT POLL.

KAREN, THEY POLLED THE REPUBLICAN SENATE CONTEST.

HERSCHEL WALKER, 66%, GARY BLACK 8%.

KELVIN KING 3%.

LATHAM SANDLER 2%.

I ASK YOU THIS QUESTION AGAIN.

IS THERE ANYTHING TO BELIEVE THAT TELLS US THAT THIS RACE, UNLESS THERE IS SOME SHOCKING REVELATION ABOUT HERSCHEL WALKER, THAT THIS RACE IS NOT ESSENTIALLY OVER?

>> CERTAINLY FEELS THAT WAY, THE PRIMARY IS KIND OF SETTLED HERE WHEN YOU SEE THOSE HIGH NUMBERS.

AND ESPECIALLY THAT GARY BLACK WHO HAS BEEN A STATEWIDE OFFICIAL IS POLLING LESS THAN 10%, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

SOMETHING DRASTICALLY WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND MAY 24th, THE CAMPAIGN OF KELVIN KING, GARY BLACK, SADLER AND OTHERS WILL HAVE TO DO IT QUICKLY.

THEY WAITED TOO LONG TO MAKE SOME ATTACKS.

IT DOES SHOW HERSCHEL'S I.D.

CARRIES VOTERS.

THE SENATE RACE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WILL BE THE DISCUSSION OF THE ECONOMY.

AND SO AS WE PIVOT TO, YOU KNOW, IF HERSCHEL IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, WHICH IT LOOKS VERY FAVORABLE FOR HIM, HOW IS HE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH VOTERS ABOUT THE ECONOMY WHEN WARNOCK HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN WORKING IN THE SENATE, PASSING RELIEF PASSAGES, MAKING SURE THERE ARE EARMARKS, I THINK WE READ THIS MORNING THERE ARE EARMARKS COMING TO GEORGIA IN THE BUDGET.

HE'S TALKING ABOUT HOW HE WANTS TO HELP THE STATE.

IF HERSCHEL STAYS ON NATIONAL TALKING POINTS ON THE ECONOMY OR IF HE'LL BE ABLE TO DIG INTO WHAT SOME OF THE STATE NEEDS AND CAN OR HAS THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT.

>> RENE, I SHOULD QUICKLY SAY, OF COURSE, THERE HAVE BEEN REVELATIONS ABOUT HERSCHEL WALKER'S PAST PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT SOMETIME NOW.

THERE MAY BE NEW ONES COMING.

THE AJC HAS A STORY WE WON'T HAVE TIME TO GET INTO IN DEPTH TODAY, BUT ESSENTIALLY RAISES QUESTIONS WHETHER HIS BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL AS HE LIKES TO PORTRAY THEM.

NEVERTHELESS, SO FAR THESE POLLS SUGGEST THAT THE THINGS ABOUT HIS TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN THE PAST HAVE NOT HAD A DISCERNIBLY NEGATIVE EFFECT, ALTHOUGH FOX NEWS POLLS DOES SAY THAT WOMEN ARE A LITTLE LESS INCLINED TO VOTE FOR HIM.

60% OF WOMEN AS OPPOSED TO 73% OF MEN.

THE WOMEN ARE BASICALLY SAYING THEY MAY HAVE OTHER IDEAS ABOUT WHO TO VOTE FOR.

BUT IT'S A SMALL -- WHEN YOU'RE AT 60%, EVEN AMONG WOMEN VOTERS, AGAIN, YOU SEEM TO BE IN FAIRLY SOLID SHAPE UNLESS SOMETHING REALLY STARTLING HAPPENS.

>> WELL, I THINK YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY COME OUT THAT IS AS SHADOWY AS WHAT WE'VE ALL LEARNED FROM HIS PAST, PERSONALLY, NOW PROFESSIONALLY AND BUSINESS VENTURES?

I THINK, I THINK THAT WHAT -- WHAT HIS CAMPAIGN IS DOING BY KEEPING HIM AWAY FROM EVERYONE IS WORKING FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

THEY'RE SEEING HERSCHEL HEISMAN, BULLDOG CHAMPION, AND THAT'S IT, AND TRUMP, YOU KNOW.

THOSE ARE THE KEYWORDS THAT ARE DRIVING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY NUMBERS HIS WAY.

THOSE ARE NOT GOING -- THOSE KEYWORDS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK WITH GENERAL ELECTION WITH A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE WITH A RECORD THAT FRANKLY CAN ATTRACT EVEN RIGHT OF CENTER, IF NOT RIGHT VOTERS GIVEN WARNOCK'S, YOU KNOW, SPIRITUAL PLATFORM, JUST HIS GRASSROOTS SENSIBILITY OF REALLY CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE.

SO, YEAH.

DOES HE HAVE THE PRIMARY WRAPPED UP?

SURE.

BUT THAT'S IT, AND THAT DOESN'T SAY A LOT ABOUT HOW IT CONNECTS WITH OVERALL GEORGIA.

>> BILL, CAN I ADD QUICKLY ANDRA MADE A GREAT POINT WITH THE TURNOUT, ENTHUSIASM.

THERE IS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM PARTIALLY DRIVEN BY THE HERSCHEL WALKER BRAND, HEISMAN, TRYING TO GET OUT THE TRUMP PIECE.

AS WE LOOK AT THE BALLOTING COMING UP, SENATE CANDIDATE WILL BE AT THE TOP, AND THEN THE GOVERNOR.

SO I THINK IF YOU GET REALLY ENERGIZED REPUBLICANS FOR MAY, BUT THEN KEMP WINS THE NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR, CAN YOU KEEP RIDING THAT TURNOUT IN NOVEMBER?

AND DO YOU RELY ON HERSCHEL'S MOMENTUM IF HE IS THE NOMINEE?

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY INTERESTING AND FASCINATING WATCH ON TURNOUT.

DO REPUBLICAN VOTERS GET EXCITED ABOUT HERSCHEL STILL, BUT THEY DON'T VOTE FOR GOVERNOR?

WILL THEY ROLL OFF SOME OF THEM OR KEEP GOING DOWN THE BALLOT?

>> I THINK I'M CORRECT THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE -- ALTHOUGH KEMP WILL OBVIOUSLY, OR PURDUE IF HE WINS, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WILL BE HIGH UP ON THE BALLOT.

IT IS REPUBLICANS WHO TEND TO DROP OFF IN VOTING ON RACES AS YOU MOVE DOWN THE BALLOT MORE THAN DEMOCRATS.

DON'T I HAVE THAT RIGHT, ANDRA?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO CONFIRM THAT.

>> OKAY.

I THINK THAT'S BASICALLY -- YEAH, I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON THE SHOW ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.

SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, ACTUALLY, HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, LET'S TALK -- BEFORE I'VE GOT TO GET TO A BREAK, ANDRA, LET'S TALK ABOUT STACEY ABRAMS FOR A BIT.

SHE LAUNCHES HER FIRST TOUR OF THE STATE GOING INTO A HANDFUL OF CITIES, EIGHT, MAYBE NINE CITIES.

I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.

SOME OF THEM ARE SMALLER CITIES.

FOR INSTANCE, CUTHBERG WHERE SHE'LL TALK ABOUT EXPANSION OF MEDICAID BECAUSE THERE'S TROUBLE GETTING -- ANDRA, SHE COULDN'T BE IN A BETTER POSITION, RIGHT?

SHE'S GOING TO GO OUT ON HER ONE GEORGIA TOUR.

SHE CAN TALK ABOUT HER POSITIVE VISION FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT BRIAN KEMP AND RUN HIM DOWN, OR DAVE PURDUE BECAUSE THEY CAN FIGHT IT OUT AMONG THEMSELVES SO SHE CAN TAKE THE HIGH ROAD AND PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT THE STATE WOULD MEAN UNDER HER LEADERSHIP.

VERY GOOD PLACE TO BE, YES?

>> IT IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE, BUT IT IS NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES IN THIS PARTICULAR CYCLE FOR ABRAMS.

SO, THE ADVANTAGE THAT SHE HAS RELATIVE TO KEMP AND PURDUE IS SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO FIGHT A PRIMARY BATTLE AND SPEND A LOT OF ENERGY, PERHAPS GET A LITTLE BLOODIED AND HAVE TO REBRAND HERSELF FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

SHE GETS TO DEFINE HERSELF & PRESENT A POSITIVE MESSAGE FOR A FEW MONTHS WHILE THE REPUBLICANS GET OUT.

I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER SHE'S ALREADY PRETTY WELL DEFINED IN THE STATE.

PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS, THEY ARE PRETTY BAKED INTO THE CAKE.

IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE HER, IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THEY SHOULD GIVE A SECOND LOOK AND RECONSIDER THEIR POSITION.

I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT GOVERNOR KEMP IS SIGNALLING THAT HE INTENDS TO START RUNNING THE GENERAL ELECTION CONTEST NOW, AND THAT HE'S GOING TO VIEW THE PRIMARY AS A BIT OF A NUISANCE UNTIL IT TIGHTENS A LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE OF THAT I THINK THE ATTACKS ARE AGAINST ABRAMS ARE GOING TO START EARLIER THAN THEY NORMALLY WOULD IF KEMP CAN HOLD A SUBSTANTIAL LEAD IN THE REPUBLICAN CONTEST.

>> I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY REPUBLICANS INCLUDING BRIAN KEMP IN VARIOUS WAYS HAS BEEN ATTACKING STACEY ABRAMS ALREADY FOR MONTHS ANTICIPATING SHE WOULD DECLARE SHE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR A TERRIFIC CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE WE STAND WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, EVERYBODY.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK NOW AND COME BACK AND LOOK AT MORE.

LET'S LOOK AT A FEW THINGS THAT BUBBLED UP IN THE LEGISLATURE AND WE'LL DO THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

>>> ANDRA GILLESPIE, KAREN OWEN JOIN ME FOR TODAY'S "POLITICAL REWIND."

THANK ALL OF YOU OUT THERE FOR BEING WITH US.

BY THE WAY, QUICK NOTE.

WE'VE LAUNCHED THE "POLITICAL REWIND" NEWSLETTER.

IT COMES OUT EVERY WEDNESDAY.

THE CURRENT ISSUE IS STILL AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVEN'T SUBSCRIBED.

THERE IS A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND PAST ISSUES AS WELL.

GO TO GPB.ORG/NEWSLETTERS.

JOIN ME AS I PUT OUT IDEAS WHAT I THINK ARE THE INTERESTING AND SOME CASES MOST IMPORTANT POLITICAL STORIES.

>>> LEGISLATURE CONTINUES DOWN AT THE CAPITAL.

WHAT THEY CALL CROSS-OVER DAY.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS IF A BILL HASN'T GOTTEN THE APPROVAL PASSED THROUGH ONE HOUSE BY THE END OF NEXT TUESDAY, THERE IS NOT TIME FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED AND PASSED BY THE OTHER HOUSE.

NOW, THE REALITY IS A BILL IS NEVER DEAD AT THE STATE CAPITAL.

THERE ARE ALWAYS WAYS TO TAKE MEASURES AND ATTACH THEM AS AMENDMENTS TO OTHER BILLS.

NEVERTHELESS IT'S A BIG DAY NOR A LOT OF LEGISLATION.

AND I MENTION THAT, KAREN OWEN, BECAUSE THERE WAS A BILL DROPPED THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY THAT HAS COME TO BE CALLED "DON'T SAY GAYE BILL" BASED ON A MEASURE THAT FLORIDA HAS ALREADY PASSED.

BUT LET ME TALK ABOUT IT MORE SPECIFICALLY AND THEN ASK YOU EACH OF YOU TO WEIGH IN ON IT.

IT'S SENATE BILL 613.

SENATOR CARDEN SUMMERS OF CORDEAL, IT WOULD PROHIBIT DISCUSSION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AT THE PRIMARY GRADE LEVEL.

TEACHING RACE OR SEX IS SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER, SOMEONE SHOULD BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF RACE OR ETHNICITY AND SLAVE RIFF REPRESENTS THE TRUE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED STATES.

KIND OF MASHING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER.

SO, KAREN, WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT THIS.

NOBODY EXPECTS THIS BILL IS GOING TO PASS THIS SESSION, BUT LGBTQ GROUPS ARE ALREADY SAYING THEY THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EFFORT TO MARGINALIZE THEM AS A COMMUNITY AND SETTING THE TABLE FOR NEXT SESSION WHEN IT CAN COME BACK IN BIGGER WAY AND IT IS A GOOD BILL FOR REPUBLICANS TO RUN ON FOR ELECTION.

YES?

>> YES, AND I THINK THE BILL SPONSOR EVEN MADE THE STATEMENT THAT HE WAS JUST DROPPING THIS AS A CONVERSATION STARTER.

HE DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO ACTUALLY MOVE FOR THE CROSS OVER DAY OR SEE PASSAGE IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I THINK THAT THIS THESE ISSUES, MANY OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE STATEHOUSE AND STATE SENATE ARE SEEING THAT EDUCATION IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO MANY OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THE PARENTS.

A LOT OF THIS DURING THE PANDEMIC, KIDS REALIZED WHAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE BEING TAUGHT AND THEY HADN'T BEEN AS FOCUSED.

SOME OF THE PARENTS GOT A LITTLE UPSET WHEN THEY DID RECOGNIZE SOME THINGS WERE BEING TAUGHT.

PART OF IT IS A LITTLE PARENT GUILT BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT PAID ATTENTION PREVIOUSLY AND THEN THEY WERE LOOKING INTO IT AND MAYBE WE NEED TO JUMP IN AND GET INVOLVED NOW.

REPRESENTATIVES ARE HEARING FROM PARENTS THAT IT'S PLAYING INTO WHAT WORKED IN CONVERSATION IN VIRGINIA GIVEN THAT GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION, IT ENERGIZED PEOPLE AND CAN YOU BRING THAT HERE.

IT'S ELECTION POLITICS THIS YEAR.

THEY WANT TO MAKE A STAND BEFORE THEY GO BACK TO THEIR VOTERS.

THEY'LL SEE IF THE REPUBLICANS WIN THE GOVERNORSHIP AND THEY DO MAINTAIN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, THE CONVERSATION MAY BE DIFFERENT NEXT JANUARY.

>> RENE?

>> WELL, YOU TAKE A LOOK AT HOW FLORIDA IS REACTING TO THE DON'T SAY GAY BILL.

EVEN THE NAME SOUNDS SO ARCHAIC, RIGHT?

IT DOESN'T SEEM AS THOUGH IT'S REAL GIVEN THE CULTURE THAT WE'RE USED TO IN A DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED FREE SOCIETY, RIGHT.

HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ALL OVER FLORIDA ARE STAGING SCHOOL WALKOUTS TO PROTEST THE BILL THERE.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE HAS BEEN A FEDERAL LAW SINCE 2015.

TODAY'S KIDS HAVE GROWN UP WITH IT.

THERE ARE GAY PARENTS ALL OVER HELEVISION, KIDS CARTOONS.

THE REALITY OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS FOREVER PRESENT.

THERE ARE COUNTLESS Y.A.

BOOKS DEPICTING THE REALITY OF WHAT IT IS TO BE LGBTQ IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT I THINK THIS IS DOING IS REALLY COALESCING A GENERATION INTO BEING POLITICALLY ACTIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING A TOTAL DISCONNECT BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE GOVERNING AND RUNNING AND THEIR MESSAGING AND THE REALITY OF HOW WE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO, YES, I AGREE THAT THIS IS, AGAIN, A TYPE OF POLITICAL THEATER THAT IS GOING TO GET -- RILE UP PARENTS, RILE FOLKS UP.

AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS GOING TO BE THIS NEXT GENERATION THAT CAN'T WAIT TO UNPLUG, THAT GENERATION, FROM WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND HOW THEY'RE LIVING AND THE HYPOCRISY OF IT ALL, SO THAT THE REALITY OF HOW PEOPLE LIVE AND THE RIGHTS WE HAVE VOTED INTO THIS COUNTRY AND SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF CAN BE, CAN BE FREE.

SO I THINK, I THINK IT IS VERY COMPLEX.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REAL, REAL, REAL SERIOUS DARK THINGS THAT CAN COME OUT OF IT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY THE NEXT GENERATION IS JUST GOING TO UPEND IT ALL.

AND GIVEN THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND TIKTOK AND WHATNOT, NOT TO MENTION TV AND BOOKS AND, YES, EDUCATION, YOU KNOW?

I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING LITERATURE COME OUT OF READING HISTORY IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND SEEING HOW THERE ARE AND HAVE BEEN GAY MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THIS COUNTRY.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.

>> ANDRA, STEP IN.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT RELATED TO THIS.

I'LL START OFF BY SAYING WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

THE IDEA THAT GEORGIA IS JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON IS NOT UNUSUAL.

IT SHOWS FROM A LABORATORY STANDPOINT THAT THINGS THAT GET DISCUSSED AND PASSED IN ONE PLACE GET PROLIFERATES IN OTHER PLACES, THERE IS A CENTRALIZED EFFORT WHEN THE BILLS LOOK THE SAME.

THE THING THAT REALLY ALL STRUCK ME ABOUT THIS PROPOSED PIECE OF LEGISLATION, I THINK THE THING THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT, IT'S THE FOCUS ON PRIVATE EDUCATION.

AND SO THE IDEA THAT THERE WOULD BE A PROPOSAL TO DRY TO STOP PRIVATE SCHOOLS FROM TEACHING WHAT THEY WANTED TO TEACH, I THOUGHT PEOPLE SENT THEIR KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO EXPOSE THEM TO CERTAIN TYPES OF VALUES.

AND IF PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO HEAR ABOUT DIVERSITY, TO HEAR ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY AND THEY SEND THEIR KIDS TO A SCHOOL WHERE THIS IS GOING TO BE TAUGHT, THEY PAY FOR IT, THEY KNOW AND THEY WANT THAT, WHY ARE WE RESTRICTING THEIR FREEDOM FOR THEM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT?

WHAT WOULD YOU FEEL IF I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN'T HAVE BROKIAL EDUCATION ANY MORE.

WE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT RELIGION AND SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

WE WANT KIDS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.

I FOUND THAT PARTICULARLY GALLING AND INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT I KNOW THIS LEGISLATOR WOULD PROBABLY THINK ABOUT IF ANYBODY WENT AFTER PAROCHIAL -- CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THE OTHER THING I FOUND INTERESTING WHEN I READ THE ARTICLE, THIS IS WHY PEOPLE DON'T WANT THE VOUCHER.

THE ISSUE IS THESE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE GETTING FUNDING, THEY SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME RULES THEY WANT TO IMPOSE ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THIS IS PRECISELY WHY PEOPLE DON'T LIKE VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THE STATES TELLING PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHAT TO DO OR SUBSIDIZED.

I THOUGHT NOT JUST THE OBVIOUS TEXT OF IT, BUT THERE IS A CONTEXT THAT MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, ANDRA, THANK YOU.

YOU HIT ON AN ASPECT OF THIS I WAS PERPLEXED BY AND I'M NOT A LAWYER.

I'M NOT DOWN AT THE CAPITAL REPORTING THE SESSION SO I DON'T HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE SPONSOR, CARDIN AND OTHERS.

I'M NOT SURE WHY HE FOCUSES ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

I'M NOT AWARE THE STATE CAN PASS LAWS TO RESTRICT WHAT'S TAUGHT IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

AGAIN, I'VE NO LAWYER.

MAYBE SOMEBODY OUT THERE CAN SEND ME A NOTE AND TELL ME WHY THAT STATE WOULD HAVE JURISDICTION IN THAT WAY.

SO THE WHOLE THING FEELS, KAREN, LIKE IT'S JUST PUT TOGETHER IN A VERY ODD WAY.

AND AS CARDIN SUMMERS, YOU SAID, SAID HIMSELF.

I JUST WANT TO START A CONVERSATION REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS CAN GO TO THEIR SUPPORTERS AND SAY I'M CRACKING DOWN ON GAYS, LESBIANS AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

>> I THINK THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH AN ISSUE THEY CAN TAKE BACK TO VOTERS.

ON THE PRIVATE SCHOOL PIECE, THOUGH, DOESN'T THE OTHER SENATE BILL, 377, I CAN'T REMEMBER, 337, DEALING WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL ISSUES?

MAYBE -- AGAIN, I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO THE SPONSOR, BUT THAT TO ME, THAT VEHICLE IS ALREADY MOVING ON PUBLIC SCHOOL SPECTRUM SIDE.

IF YOU DROP INTO THE PRIVATE SCHOOL, AS YOU MENTION THE AT THE TOP, IF IT GOT 340E789 UM, YOU COULD THROW IN AN AMENDMENT TO THE 377.

ONE THING THAT IS INTERESTING HERE FOR ME IS THE IDEA THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PRIVATE SCHOOLS, TOO, BUT PRIVATE SCHOOL PARENTS CAN GET TAX CREDITS, RIGHT, TO HAVE MONEY FROM THE STATE PUT BACK INTO THEIR CHILDREN'S BOOK, NOT VOUCHER PROGRAM, BUT THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE SOMEWHAT SUPPORTIVE OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THAT MAY BE WHERE THEY'RE SEEING THE STATE OVERREACH INTO T. >> I THINK THAT MIGHT BE PART OF IT, TOO.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE TO GET ONE MORE BREAK OUT OF TODAY'S SHOW.

WHEN WE COME BACK, MORE ON "POLITICAL REWIND."

>>> WE'RE BACK ON "POLITICAL REWIND" FOR THE FINAL SEGMENT OF OUR SHOW TODAY.

LET'S TALK JUST QUICKLY, RENE ALEGRIA, THE HOUSE HAS NOW PASSED AN INCOME TAX RELIEF BILL WHICH THEY SAY IS WORTH $1 BILLION, AND WILL BRING TAX BREAKS TO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF GEORGIANS.

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR.

THERE ARE CRITICS WHO SAY THIS BILL, IN THE LANGUAGE THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, WILL, IN FACT, BENEFIT HIGHER INCOME GEORGIANS AND IT MAY NOT BE OF MUCH BENEFIT TO THOSE NOT MAKING A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR.

MORE POWER TO THEM.

THEY'RE PASSING LEGISLATION THEY THINK WILL APPEAL TO VOTERS.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS, $1 BILLION TAX RELIEF BILL?

>> SWITCHING TO A FLAT TAX, I HAD A CAMPAIGN TALKING POINT.

I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BENEFIT MOST VOTERS AS MOST WHO HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT IT SAY.

IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO CUT SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE VERY POPULAR, BUT IT DOESN'T EVEN TAKE EFFECT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, WAY DOWN THE ROAD.

I THINK IT WAS 2025 OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU CAN REALLY GET DISENGAGED BY HOW THE RHETORIC OF SUCH BILTZ MAKE THIS -- BILLS MAKE IT THROUGH THE SENATE.

I THINK VOTERS NEED TO PAY ATTENTION AND RE-ENGAGE AND LOOK THROUGH THE THEATER AND ALL THE NOISE.

THIS BILL DOES EXACTLY THAT, CREATES MORE AND MORE NOISE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRACK OF IT, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER BILL WITH OUR LITTLE REMAINING TIME.

UNDER GILLESPIE THERE IS NOW A MEASURE THAT IS MOVING FORWARD THAT PUTS NEW PENALTIES IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHO GO OUT AND STAGE PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS.

A LOT OF THIS IS A RESPONSE TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT HOT SUMMER OF 2020, BLACK LIVES MATTER, THE DEATHS OF GEORGE FLOYD, OF RAYSHARD BROOKS, AHMAUD ARBERY.

THIS NOW ESTABLISHES NEW, MORE SERIOUS PENALTIES, IT ISN'T AS IF YOU COULDN'T BE ARRESTED IN A DEMONSTRATION FOR BLOCKING A HIGHWAY, FOR INSTANCE, WHICH DID HAPPEN.

THIS STEPS UP THE KIND OF PENALTIES THAT CAN BE APPLIED.

I THINK THERE IS A PORTION OF THIS WHICH IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING TO ME BEYOND THE PENALTIES.

YOU'D HAVE TO GET A PERMIT IN ADVANCE BEFORE YOU COULD HAVE ONE OF THESE DEMONSTRATIONS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING ASPECT OF THE BILL.

THESE MARCHES TOOK PLACE SPONTANEOUSLY.

ARE YOU THERE, ANDRA?

APPARENTLY WE LOST ANDRA'S SIGNAL FOR A MOMENT.

KAREN?

>> YES.

I WOULD JUST SAY YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE PERMITTING PIECE IS UNIQUE, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO DEMONSTRATE.

AND TWO, IN THIS LANGUAGE WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF THE PROTEST TURNS VIOLENT, IF PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT TO DEMONSTRATE TO REALLY SPEAK ABOUT THEIR CAUSE AND SHOW THERE IS IN JUSTICE, SOMEHOW THEY DON'T KNOW IT'S GOING TO TURN VIOLENT AND THEN YOU'RE CAUGHT THERE, CORRECT?

YOU MAY HAVE STARTED OUT WITH GOOD PRINCIPLES, BUT OTHERS TURNED AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN THERE?

ON THE OTHER PIECE, I THINK IT'S REALLY SOMETHING TO LOOK AT, IS THE FACT THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT COULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THESE PROTESTS BECOMING VIOLENT AND THE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

HOW DOES THAT FIT?

IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE URBAN SOCIAL JUSTICE PROTEST.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT THE RURAL COMMUNITY THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHERIFFS ARE INTERTWINED.

HOW DO THEY HANDLE IT?

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHEN YOU'RE PROPOSING STATEWIDE.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT A SMALLER COMMUNITY WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET FOR A LARGER COMMUNITY.

>> DO WE HAVE YOU BACK, ANDRA?

DO WE HAVE ANDRA BACK?

WE DON'T HAVE HER BACK.

RENE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE U.S. IS BUILT ON PROTESTS, RIGHT?

THE BOSTON TEA PARTY ESSENTIALLY FORMED OUR GOVERNMENT THROUGH THAT FATEFUL DAY, YOU KNOW.

SO WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT, THAT PROTESTS ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF HOW AMERICAN DISCOURSE AND WHAT PEOPLE WANT, BELIEVE IN, VOTE ON, EXPRESS THEMSELVES.

THAT SAID, THIS BILL, AS KAREN POINTED OUT, REQUIRES PERMITS WHICH COMPLETELY POLITICIZES WHO IS ALLOWED TO PROTEST.

IT DEPENDS ON WHO IS IN CHARGE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE GEORGE FLOYD CAN'T BE PROTESTED, BUT THE FREEDOM CONVOY CAN CLOSE TRADE ROUTES JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PERMIT AND IT IS UNFAIR TO MORE INNER CITY URBAN PROTESTS TO DON'T FILE THE CORRECT PAPERWORK, SO IT'S A DANGEROUS BILL.

>> I REALLY THINK WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT POLITICIZING THE PERMIT PROCESS IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING.

ANDRA, I THINK WE HAVE YOU BACK WITH US.

APPARENTLY NOT.

I'M REALLY SORRY WE LOST ANDRA BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET HER TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

WE'RE SHORT OF TIME.

MAYBE WE'LL BE LUCKY TO HAVE ANDRA BACK FOR THIS LAST BIT OF THE SHOW.

I WANTED TO SAY HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS FITTY ESTATE IS CELEBRATING THE 90th BIRTHDAY OF ANDREW YOUNG.

I HAVE SAID ON THE SHOW ANY NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, I FEEL PRIVILEGED OVER THE LAST FOUR DECADES, ANDREW YOUNG AND I HAVE GONE FROM PEOPLE I COVERED, SOMEONE I COVERED AS A REPORTER TO HAVING BECOME FRIENDS.

AND HIS WISDOM ALWAYS INSPIRES ME.

AND I'M JUST SO HAPPY FOR HIM THAT HE'S GETTING THE KIND OF CELEBRATION HE DESERVES.

KAREN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDY YOUNG.

AND WHAT AN AMAZING LEGACY HE'S HAD FOR THIS CASE.

BRING SO MANY IMPORTANT PROJECTS FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTA, USING HIS INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION AND HELPING THE CITY HAVE THE OLYMPICS.

JUST A LIST OF THINGS THAT HE'S DONE.

ONE THING THAT ALWAYS STANDS OUT TO ME, WHEN WE NEED A CALM VOICE, A VOICE OF REASON AND WISDOM, YOU GO TO ANDREW YOUNG TO GET THAT AND HE WILL GIVE IT TO YOU.

THAT'S ONE OF HIS MOST LASTING MARKS FOR MANY PEOPLE.

>> RENE?

>> YEAH, TO ECHO KAREN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDY YOUNG.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT -- AND EVERYONE HAS AN ANDY YOUNG QUOTE OR KNOWS SOMEONE WHO HAS LEARNED SO MUCH DIRECTLY FROM HIM, BILL.

YOU JUST GAVE YOUR OWN EXAMPLE.

HE'S NOT A NATIVE GEORGIAN.

HE CAME TO GEORGIA.

AND HE IDEALISTICALLY BUILT A CIVIC LIFE HERE.

FOR A STATE THAT IS ATTRACTING SO MANY FOLKS OUT OF STATE, HE REALLY IS, YOU KNOW, A BEACON OF HOW TO DO IT RIGHT.

AND FOR THAT I THANK YOU, ANDY YOUNG.

>> AS I THINK MANY PEOPLE WHO LISTEN TO THE SHOW KNOW, ANDY AND I SAT DOWN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AT THE CARTER CENTER TO DO A SHOW IN WHICH WE BASICALLY TALKED ABOUT HIS LIFE, STARTING FROM HIS YOUTH IN NEW ORLEANS ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIS DAYS WITH DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND BEYOND.

AND WE JUST AIRED THAT SHOW A WEEK OR SO AGO.

IT'S AVAILABLE ON OUR PODCAST OR AT OUR WEBSITE AT GPB.ORG/PR.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY WONDERFUL CONVERSATION NOT BECAUSE OF ME IN ANY WAY, BUT BECAUSE ANDY TALKS VERY CANDIDLY AND A RELAXED WAY ABOUT HIS LIFE.

I RECOMMEND THAT TO YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD IT BEFORE.

>>> WE'RE OUT YOU OF TIME FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS ON A FRIDAY WHEN WE'RE ON TELEVISION AT 7:00 AT NIGHT.

TAKES A BIG TEAM TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

SO IT INCLUDES DENNIS BUCHANAN, ALEX WORD, JEFF COOK, AAREN ROS WELL, JAMES STERNER, MATTHEW WOLFF, MEGHAN SMITH.

NATALIE, AND OUR STANDARD ENGINEER JESSE NICEWATER.

I THANK ALL OF THEM FOR THE WORK THEY DO ON THE SHOW EVERY WEEK FOR TV AND EVERY DAY FOR MY "POLITICAL REWIND" TEAM.

THAT'S IT FOR US.

WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN WITH A BRAND-NEW SHOW ON MONDAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, I'M BILL NIGUT.

PLEASE TAKE CARE.

STAY HEALTHY.

THANK YOU, RENE, KAREN AND ANDRA.

BYE-BYE, EVERYBODY.

♪♪