>> WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF "POLITICAL REWIND."

I'M BILL NIGUT.

ON A FRIDAY SHOW IT IS THE END OF A LONG AND NEWSWORTHY WEEK BOTH HERE IN GEORGIA AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEWS OUT OF BOTH OF THOSE LOCATIONS ON THE SHOW TODAY.

BEFORE WE DO, I WANT TO SAY I MENTIONED YESTERDAY THAT LAST NIGHT I HAD BEEN ASKED AND REALLY HONORED BY GREG BUSTINE WHEN HE ASKED ME TO LEAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK "FLIPPED" AT THE ATLANTA JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL.

WE WENT UP THERE LAST NIGHT AND THERE WERE PROBABLY 400 PEOPLE THAT CAME TOGETHER TO SEE GREG AND ALL OF THE AJC PARTNERS OF THE SHOW, PATRICIA MURPHY, TAMARA HELLERMAN AND GREG WERE ALL THERE, AND THE REASON I WANTED TO MENTION IT TO YOU ALL TODAY IS I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW GRATIFYING IT WAS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAME UP TO ME AFTER I TALKED TO SAY HOW MUCH THEY LIKED "POLITICAL REWIND."

IT'S WONDERFUL NOW THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUT A BIT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU IN PERSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THOSE THAT WERE THERE AND BY THE WAY, WE RECORDED THE CONVERSATION THAT GREG AND I HAD ABOUT HIS BOOK AND WE'LL AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT DIM OF WEEK, I THINK, BLA PLAY IT ON POLITICAL REKIND BECAUSE IT'S A FASCINATING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION IN GEORGIA AND HOW THE STATE FLIPPED.

LET'S GET ON TO THE SHOW.

WEIR JOINED BY BARBARA GILLESPIE FROM THE JOHNSON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RACE AND DIFFERENCE AT EMORY UNIVERSITY.

ANDRA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M WELL.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M TIRED.

I AM VERY GLAD YOU ARE HERE AND I AM GLAD WE HAVE TAMMY GRIER WITH US.

TAMMY GRIER, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND I JUST LEARNED AS WE HAD A CHANCE, TAMMY, BEFORE THE SLOW THAT YOU AND ANDRA GILLESPIE AND OTHERS WHO ARE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS, YOU HAVE A WRITING GROUP THAT YOU WORK WITH TOGETHER, RIGHT?

>> WE TRY.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, TAMMY?

>> IT MEANS THAT WITH THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITIES OF EDUCATING OUR FUTURE LEADERS SOMETIMES THAT CAN TAKE UP MORE SPACE WHEN WE MEET TO WRITE.

>> WE HAVE TO GET TOGETHER.

>> I'D LOVE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL.

WE SEEM TO HAVE -- FRIDAY IS A DAY THAT WE SEEM TO HAVE NOTHING, BUT TECHNICAL PROBLEMS.

PATRICIA MURPHY IS WITH US.

WE'RE WORKING ON MAKING SURE THAT SHE CAN JOIN THE SHOW, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT AND WE'LL BRING PATRICIA INTO THE CONVERSATION AS WE WORK OUT THE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING WITH HER.

SO ANDRA, LET ME START WITH THE FACT THAT TOMORROW NIGHT DONALD TRUMP WILL BE IN COMMERCE, GEORGE A TO HOLD ONE OF HIS MEGA RALLIES AND HE'LL BE THERE, ON THE STAGE WITH HIM, ALTHOUGH HOW MUCH TIME HE GETS BEING THAT IT'S A TRUMP RALLY REMAINS TO BE SEEN, THERE ARE EIGHT PEOPLE THAT ARE IN PRIMARY REPUBLICAN, AND HE HAS CREATED A TRUMP TICKET CHALLENGING BRIAN KEMPER FOR GOVERNOR.

HE'S GOT A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE.

HE'S ADDED TO THAT LIST AND HE'S ADDRESSED VERNON JONES OUT IN THE TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHERE THERE'S NOT AN INCUMBENT IN THAT RACE AND NOW HE'S ADDED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY OBSCURE IN POLITICS BECAUSE THEY ATTRACTED ATTENTION BECAUSE OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH BRIAN KEMP.

JOHN GORDON WILL BE RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO TRUMP IS NOW SAYING REFUSED TO HELP WITH THE BIG LIE AND THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER, JOHN KING, ANOTHER CLOSE ALLY OF BRIAN KEMP'S.

ANDRA, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS?

>> TWO THINGS.

ONE, I AM NOT SURPRISED BY THESE OBSCURE CANDIDATES OR LESSER KNOWN CANDIDATES THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO ATTACH AND THEY'LL MAKE THEIR CANDIDACIES A LITTLE MORE VIABLE.

I THINK THE BIG QUESTION FOR DONALD TRUMP IS WHY ARE YOU TAKING THESE MOVE, AND I'M NOT SURE WHY HE'S TAKING THE POSITION OF WHO IS STILL LOYAL TO ME AND BRIAN KEMP.

THE ISSUE THAT TRUMP WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH IS THAT BRIAN KEMP IS VERY WELL ESTABLISHED IN GEORGIA.

HE HAS A NETWORK AND THE CANDIDATES THAT HE, YOU KNOW, LZ RUNNING WITH HIM ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NAMES IN THEIR OWN RIGHTS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

SO IT'S AN OPEN QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT DONALD TRUMP BY THE SHEER STRENGTH OF HIS OWN NAME WILL BE ABLE TO CARRY CANDIDATES OVER THE LINE IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

TRUMP HAS OBVIOUSLY ENDORSED CANDIDATES IN A NUMBER OF RACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HE'S PUT ALL OF HIS MONEY ON GEORGIA.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANOTHER STATE WHERE HE'S ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISHED A TICKET OF SEVEN OR EIGHT, AS I SAID, I THINK IT'S UP TO EIGHT NOW, CANDIDATES THAT HE'S SUPPORTING.

SO WHEN PRIMARY DAY COMES ALONG HE'LL PUT HIS MONEY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE BETTING THAT HE'LL HAVE THE MUSCLE TO GET MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> RIGHT.

BECAUSE OF THE 2020 ELECTION AND THE CLOSENESS OF PRESIDENTIAL HEARING IN GEORGIA, HE IS MOVING IN THE SPACE THAT HE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THOSE 12,000 VOTES IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, RIGHT?

TO GO OVER THE 12,780 OF THOSE VOTES.

HE'S DOING IT MOSTLY AND AS OTHERS HAVE SAID MANY TIMES ABOUT DONALD TRUMP IN HIS CAREER, IT IS WHEN HE FEELS HARMED HE HAS TO COME BACK VICIOUSLY AGAINST THOSE THAT HE THINKS THAT HARMED HIM SO THIS IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE HERE.

HE CREATES A SPACE FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE TICKET THAT THE CANDIDATE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PRIMARY AGAINST NOW APPEAR TO BE MORE MODERATE IN THEIR POLITICS AS COMPARED TO THE CANDIDATE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS ENDORSING.

THAT COULD VERY WELL, AS ANDRA SAID COULD BENEFIT BRIAN KEMP AND THOSE THAT ARE ON THE REPUBLICAN BALLOT FOR THE PRIMARY.

SO IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW REPUBLICAN VOTERS FOR THE PRIMARY VIEW THIS TYPE OF INFIGHTING AND HOW THEY WILL REACT AT THE POLLS.

>> SO WE DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THE WAY TO DESCRIBE IT WOULD BE THAT A NUMBER OF THE CANDIDATES HE'S ENDORSED APPEAR MODERATE.

VERNON JONES WAS A DEMOCRAT WHO ATTACHED HIMSELF TO DONALD TRUMP WHEN HIS POLITICAL FORTUNES SEEMED TO BE FLAGGING IN THE LEGISLATURE AND HE ATTENDED RALLIES SUPPORTING THE BIG LIE.

JONES RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS ADVANCED THE NOTION THAT GEORGIA'S ELECTIONS WERE FRAUGHT WITH FRAUD.

SO NOT ALL OF THEM ARE MORE MODERATE, BUT I DO THINK IT'S A GREAT POINT, ANDRA, THAT BRIAN KEMPER HAS SUPPORTED AND SIGNED INTO LAW SOME VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE MEASURES LIKE THE BILL THAT VIRTUALLY OUTLAWS ABORTION IN GEORGIA AND YET BY COMPARISON TO DAVID PURDUE WHO NOW WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE STATE INCOME TAX, WHO BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD BE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS OF THE GEORGIA ELECTION AND WHETHER FRAUD WAS INVOLVED, WHO IS AGAINST RIFFIAN COMING INTO GEORGIA.

IT IS INTERESTING, IF BRIAN KEMP WINS THE PRIMARY, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE ARE VOTERS OUT THERE WHO ARE SWING VOTERS WHO MIGHT SEE HIM AS A MODERATE CHOICE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT READY TO GO FOR THE MORE LIBERAL STACY ABRAMS.

>> I EXPECT THE ABRAMS CAMPAIGN WILL DO THEIR LEVEL BEST TO REMIND THAT KEMP IS A CONSENTIVE.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO BACK FOUR YEARS TO SEE BRIAN KEMP AND CASEY CAGLE.

BRIAN KEMP IS NO CASEY CAGLE REGARDLESS OF WHAT DONALD TRUMP SAYS.

BRIAN KEMP IS NOT A RHINO REGARDLESS OF WHAT DONALD TRUMP SAYS.

JUST BECAUSE HE SAYS IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S TRUE AND JUST BECAUSE HE'S TAKING A REVENGE STRATEGY IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A LOGICAL STRATEGY TO BE USING IN THESE PARTICULAR INSTANCES AND I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO REMIND FOLKS ABOUT WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND IDEOLOGICALLY AND PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR CHOICES IN NOVEMBER REGARDLESS OF WHEN THEY WIN THE PRIMARIES.

>> IT WILL BE FASCINATING, AND I KNOW WE'LL HAVE A RILE BUNCH AND STEPHEN FOWLER OF GPB'S NEWS OPERATION AT THIS EVENT IN COMMERCE AND THEY'LL BE REPORTING ON IT.

IT WILL CERTAINLY BE A BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATION ON THE SHOW ON MONDAY, AS WELL.

LET'S MOVE ON.

TAMMY, LET ME TURN TO AN ISSUE THAT HAS CAUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION THIS WEEK IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WHEN THE SESSION WAS GETTING SET TO START AND THE LEADERSHIP WERE LOOKING AT MEASURES THAT THEY THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT.

THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DAVID RALSTON MADE IT CLEAR THAT FROM HIS POINT OF VIEW, THE MOST IMPORTANT BILL THAT THEY WOULD ADDRESS THIS YEAR AND THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BILL WOULD BE AN ATTEMPT TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MAKE THEM MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO ALL GEORGIANS.

GEORGIA RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM, IF NOT THE BOTTOM IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE STATE.

IT WAS A BIPARTISAN MEASURE IN THE HOUSE.

ONE OF OUR LONGTIME CANDIDATES, AND ROSS TURNED TO HER ON HIS HELP OF PASSING THIS BILL AND IT DID PASS IN A BIPARTISAN MARGIN IN THE HOUSE AND HERE IT COMES IN THE SENATE AND THIS WEEK, NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.

A RIGHT-WING VIRAL DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN IS THREATENING TO COMPLETELY UNWIND THE MEASURE, ALTHOUGH THE SUPPORTERS THINK IT WILL MOVE FORWARD.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> THE OPPOSITION TO EXTENDING HEALTH, WHEN WE LOOK AT HEALTHCARE IN RURAL AREAS HAVE DWINDLED EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND HOW THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE RURAL AREA WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ANOTHER ITEM FOR HEALTH CARE TO BE TAKEN AWAY WHICH ARE THE VOTERS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR ORGANIZATIONS AND POLITICIANS WHO MAY BE WAFFLING ON THE IDEA.

WHEN WE SEE FOLKS WHO HAVE CHALLENGES WITH THE WAY LAW ENFORCEMENT SOMETIMES HAVE INTERACTIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AT THAT MOMENT, AND HOW WE SEE A COLLECTIVE HUG, ALMOST AROUND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS TO HELP TO REDUCE THE STRESS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT IS UNCLEAR AS TO THE MOTIVATION AND THE ENDGAME AS TO WHY EXPANDING OR EXTENDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO GEORGIANS AND WHY ARE WE AGAINST THAT?

IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME AS TO THE MOTIVATION FOR IT AND THEN WHAT IS THE REAK TO CONTINUE TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE INSIDE OF GEORGIA.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY BEEN DISTRESSING TO WATCH.

LET ME LAY OUT, ANDRA JUST VERY BRIEFLY WHAT HB-1013 REALLY DOES DO.

THE BILL THAT PASSED THE HOUSE AND IS OVER IN THE SENATE.

IT WOULD REQUIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COVER MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THE SAME WAY THEY COVER PHYSICAL HEALTH OPINION IT WOULD ESTABLISH STATE GRANTS FOR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT.

IT WOULD LOOSEN THE -- AND IT WOULD TAKE OTHER STEPS TO IMPROVE CARE.

SO THAT'S THE MOST BASIC DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE BILL DOES, AND YET THIS DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN AS MAYA PROBABLY WROTE IN THE "ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION" IS BEING CALLED THE PEDOPHILIA PROTECTION ACT GUIDED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND A MEASURE THAT THREATENS TO TAKE AWAY OUR GUNS, AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE DISINFORMATION, AND IN A HEARING IN THE SENATE THIS PAST WEEK THERE WAS SUCH A LARGE CROWD OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO PROTEST AGAINST THIS BILL THAT THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD TO COME IN AND TRY TO KEEP THE CROWD UNDER CONTROL.

ANDRA?

>> THAT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE, AND I THINK IT TIES TO OTHER ISSUES WHERE WE WILL DISCUSS DISINFORMATION AND HOW THAT PROLIFERATES AND METASTASIZES.

THE IDEA THAT WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT CRIME IS SOMETIMES RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH FOR PEOPLE AND IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND MISSING LINK HERE IN THE DISCUSSIONS.

SO, YES, IF SOMEONE IS ARRESTED FOR A SEX CRIME AND WE REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE AN UNDERLYING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE WE SHOULD BE PUNISHING THE CRIME AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE GET MENTAL HEALTH.

WE HEAR ENCOUNTERS IN DEKALB COUNTY WHO WE SAW THE POLICE SHOOT SOMEONE THAT WAS HAVING A PSYCHOTIC EPISODE.

THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN HERE.

WHAT'S GOING ON IS PEOPLE SO DISTRUST OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY DISTRUST INFORMATION FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND THEY DISDAIN EXPERTISE BECAUSE THEY VIEW IT AS ELITIST AND THEY'RE VIEWING THIS BILL IN THE SAME LIGHT AND SEEKING TO UNDERMINE THE BILL THAT WAY BY USING MISINFORMATION AND SOMETIMES IT IS ALSO JUST SOMETIMES PURPOSELY AND SOMETIMES IT MAY BE PEOPLE NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING AND NOT REALLY SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED THERE IN TERMS OF POLITICAL POSTURING AND KNOWLEDGE AND DIALOGUE ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> IT IS A GROUP CALLED TRUTH AND EDUCATION THAT HAVE MADE THIS VIRAL PUTTING OUT E-MAILS, TEXTS, POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE LIKE AND HERE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY, TAMMY.

THEY SAY THAT TYPICALLY THAT A MENTAL HEALTH LAW CAN BE TURNED INTO A RED FLAG LAW THAT THE STATE OR THE JUDGE WOULD HAVE THE POWER TO SAY THAT SOMEONE'S MENTAL INSTABILITY IS THE REASON THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A GUN.

THEY SAY THAT THE LAW WOULD MAKE PEDOPHILIA A, QUOTE, MENTAL DISORDER AND ABSOLVE FROM PUNISHMENT WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE AT ALL, AND THIS GROUP HAS REALLY MANAGED TO STIR UP TROUBLE.

MAYA IN HER ARTICLE AND SAID I'M A SUPPORTER, AND IT CAN BE DONE ARBITRARILY, WHICH THINK, IT CAN'T BE DONE ARBITRARILY, AND DEBBIE, DULY, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENTS IN GEORGIA AND NOW 12 OR SO YEARS AGO SENT OUT A TWEET SAYING THAT GOP HOUSE MEMBERS VOTES FOR THE AKA PEDOPHILIA PROTECTION ACT.

IT'S A BILL, SHE SAID IN HER TWEET THAT WOULD RENDER CAT STROFSHG CONSEQUENCES AND HELPS PROTECT, AGAIN -- PROTECT PEDOPHILES FROM SERVING JAIL TIME.

TAMMY, ANDRA'S RIGHT, WE'LL HAVE A THEME AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN RESPECT TO THE SUPREME COURT NOMINATING HEARING IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY DISPIRITING WHEN PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH FACTS, SCIENCE AND THEY WANT TO WHIP UP A FRENZY OF THINGS THAT ARE MADE UP.

>> ALL OF THE BUZZ WORDS AND PHRASES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THIS TYPE OF ELEMENT WITHIN -- WITH THIS IDEOLOGY.

SO, NUMBER ONE, LET'S TAKE TRUTH AND EDUCATION.

TO SAY WE'RE BEING TRUTHFUL HERE WITH YOU SO YOU'LL KNOW AND THEN HAVING THE EDUCATIONAL PORTION WHICH AGAIN, PROBABLY BRINGS IN THE THEORY THAT SHOULD NOT BE NAMED IN THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS.

THEN YOU HAVE THE PEDOPHILIA COMPONENT THAT ALIVE AND WELL DURING THE SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION HEARINGS.

IT IS ALSO PART OF THE ELEMENT THAT THESE PARTICULAR ORGANIZATIONS FIXATE ON WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICAL FIGURES OVERALL, UP TO AND INCLUDING PIZZAGATE AND SO FORTH.

YOU ALSO THEN HAVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT WHICH THEY AGAIN, THESE GROUPS CONTINUE TO HOLD THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A DANGER THAT THOSE FOLKS ON THE LEFT WHEN THEY GET INTO OFFICE.

THE FIRST THING THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS TAKE AWAY THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS PUT A WORD SALAD TOGETHER.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A WORD CLOUD AND THEY HAVE ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THIS NOTIFICATION SO THEY CAN ENSURE THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE LISTENING TO THEM AND ALL OF THOSE PARTICULAR ELEMENTS THEY CAN SAY YES TO AND IF THEY CAN SAY YES TO THEN THEY'RE WING THE MESSAGING WAR AND THEY CAN CONTINUE ON TO BE IN ELECTIVE POSITIONS AND/OR BECOME PRESSURE GROUPS TO PUT PRESSURE ON THOSE FOLKS.

>> PATRICIA MURPHY, I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE WITH US.

I APOLOGIZE WE HAD TROUBLE BRINGING YOU IN.

YOU'RE JOINING US IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN, THE VIRAL CAMPAIGN THAT HAS STIRRED UP SO MUCH ANGER AMONG BELIEVERS IN THE TRUTH AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AMONG HB-1013, A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT SPEAKER AUSTIN SAID IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HE'LL DO THIS SESSION, AND I WANT TO TURN TO SOMETHING YOU WROTE.

YOU HAD AN, I THOUGHT, JUST WONDERFUL COLUMN, I THINK IT WAS IN WEDNESDAY'S PAPER AND YOU ADDRESS THIS AMONG OTHER THINGS, BUT THE LEAD OF YOUR COLUMN WAS ONCE YOU JUMP DOWN A RABBIT HOLE, IT'S HARD TO CLIMB BACK OUT AND THAT'S WHERE GEORGIA REPUBLICANS FIND THEMSELVES RIGHT NOW WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT STILL WITH GOP CONTROL, BUT EXTREMISM AND MISINFORMATION INSIDE THE PARTY THREATENING TO SAVE ALL THAT AND THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST 1013 IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, PATRICIA.

>> YEAH.

IT REALLY IS.

I HAVE JUST BEEN STARTLED TO WATCH THIS HAPPEN IN THE STATE SENATE AFTER THE STATE HOUSE WAS ABLE TO PASS THIS BILL VERY QUICKLY AFTER, I SHOULD SAY TWO YEARS OF WORK ON IT.

SO WHEN IT GOT ENSTARED IN THE STATE SENATE I GOT TO TALK TO ACTIVISTS AND SAID WHY ARE YOU OPPOSING THIS?

THEY DON'T TRUST THE PEOPLE BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH MISINFORMATION THAT IS IN THE BILL AND I FOUND A COCKTAIL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVE, OPPOSING MASKS IN SCHOOLS, OPPOSING COVID VACCINES AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T TRUST THE ELECTION APPARATUS IN THIS COUNTRY AND JUST AN ELECTORATE AND A GROUP OF PEOPLE IT THAT ARE TOLD ABOUT PARTS OF THIS BILL WHILE GOVERNMENT AND SHOULD NOT BE TRUFRTED AND TO BELIEVE THAT AND THESE ACTIVIST, VERY SINCERELY BELIEVED THAT THIS BILL WOULD BE FORCING ALL KINDS OF GOVERNMENT MANDATES ON THEM, ON THEIR CHILDREN AND ON THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS AND THEY WERE JUST HOT, RED HOT AGAINST THIS, AND IT IS REALLY A DEMONSTRATION OF THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU DON'T FIGHT MISINFORMATION CONSTANTLY AND CONSISTENTLY WHICH WE HAVE BEEN SEEING OVER THE LAST TWO, FOUR, SIX YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY, IT WILL JUST FESTER AND SO WE HAVE NOW A REPUBLICAN PARTY IN CHARGE OF THE CAPITAL AND REALLY HITTING A SERIOUS SPEED BUMP HERE AND NOT BECAUSE OF THE CONTENT OF THE BILL, BUT BECAUSE OF MISINFORMATION WITHIN THEIR OWN RANKS, FORCING THEM TO STOP IT AND WE LOOK AT IT, AND I DO THINK IT WILL PASS, BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S THIS KIND OF MISINFORMATION REALLY BECOMING MALIGNANT WITHIN THAT PARTY.

>> I LOVE THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT'S IN CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT, WHEN, IN FACT, THE SPLIT OVER SO MANY THINGS AND THIS BILL, DONALD TRUMP GIVES YOU REASON TO SAY JUST HOW IN CONTROL ARE THEY, REALLY.

LET'S LISTEN, THOUGH, DAVID RALSTON WAS ASKED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING ON THE SENATE SIDE AND HE HAD THIS TO SAY.

>> THE SITUATION WE HAVE IS WE HAVE EXTERNAL GROUPS THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON HAVE WAITED NOW TWO YEARS THROUGH THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONS HEARING PROCESS WHO WADED THROUGH THE HOUSE PROCESS EARLIER THIS SESSION AND HAVE NOW CHOSEN IN THE FINAL DAYS TO GET ENGAGED WITH SOME OF THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS, PREPOSTEROUS ATTACKS THAT I'VE EVER SEEN LEVELED AGAINST A PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

LOOK, THIS IS A GOOD DEAL.

THIS BILL GIVES MANY GEORGIANS HOPE.

>> ANDRA, JUST REMIND ME WHAT HAPPENED THE SESSION BEFORE LAST WHEN THE ABORTION BILL CAME UP.

WE RECALL THAT IN THE START OF THE SESSION AND IN THE WEEKS BEFORE THE SESSION SPEAKER RALSTON, GOVERNOR KEMP SAID THEY KNEW THAT AN ABORTION RESTRICTION LEGISLATION WAS PROBABLY HEADED THEIR WAY.

THEY BOTH HEADED OFF THE EXTREME FORM OF MEASURE AND THAT BEING THE SO-CALLED HEARTBEAT BILL WHICH BANS ABORTIONS AFTER SIX WEEKS IN GEORGIA AND YET -- AND YET THEIR BASE ROSE UP AND PUT THEM IN A POSITION WHERE THEY FELT THEY HAD NO CHOICE, BUT TO GO ALONG.

ANDRA?

>> THIS GOES TO THE QUESTION OF EVER PARTY STRENGTH AND PERSONALITY POLITICS AND BOTH ARE AT PLAY RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE IN AN ERA WHERE PARTIES HAVE BEEN INSTITUTIONALLY WEAK AND THAT ALLOWS PERSONALITY POLITICS TO KIND OF RULE THE DAY AND SO WE TAP INTO LATE VOTERS AND MAKE THEM REGULAR VOTERS AND MAKE THEM A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH AND THERE'S A PRICE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID FOR THIS IN THE SHORT TERM THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND PEOPLE STANDING UP AND SAYING, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.

THAT'S EXCESSIVE.

THAT'S WRONG, AND I DON'T CARE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEHIND ME AND LET ME TRY TO PERSUADE YOU ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.

NOT JUST AT THE IMMEDIATE TIME, BUT TWO PLUS FIVE.

THIS IS ALSO A FUNCTION OF THE POLARIZED MOMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE AND OUR POLARIZATION HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S DANGEROUS.

IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT WE WOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT GENOCIDE.

PEW HAS LOOKED AT THIS WHERE THEY'VE ASKED REPUBLICANS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE OPPOSITE PARTY?

ARE THESE PEOPLE DANGEROUS?

AND THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT PEOPLE IN THE OTHER PARTY ARE DANGEROUS AND IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT NOW WHERE YOU'RE LETTING IT CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT AND ALLOWING YOU TO FILTER OUT ACTUALLY GOOD INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD BE TAKING IN.

WE'LL ALL HAVE TO LOOK AT OURS AND STOP DISCOUNTING PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE FROM THE OPPOSITE PARTY BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY KNOW THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW.

AT THE SAME TIME WHEN YOU DISCOUNT PEOPLE AND I HAPPENED TO THIS TO ME AS AN ASIDE.

AT A FUNERAL, SOMEONE STARTED TO PONTIFICATE ON TAXES AND I'M, LIKE, DID YOU READ THE BOOK AND MY RELATIVES WERE, LIKE, NO.

I SAID GO READ THE BOOK BEFORE YOU START TALKING TO ME ABOUT THINGS.

I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO WIRE MY HOUSE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING AND I'LL BURN IT DOWN.

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE TIME AND DONE THE WORK AND POINTED OUT WHY YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK AND WHY YOU NEED A VACCINE BECAUSE THERE ARE MEDICAL DOCTORS AND KNOW THIS.

WE SHOULDN'T BE CHALLENGING THEM AND SOMETIMES THAT'S PRIDE AND WE NEED TO GO AGAINST THAT AND IT WILL HARM US.

>> PATRICIA, BEFORE WE GET TO A BREAK, ANDRA'S EXAMPLE OF THIS AND THE EDUCATION BILLS IN WHICH THE STATE SHOULD DECIDE HOW TEACHERS SHOULD TEACH, AND IF I WENT TO THE DENTIST AND DOCTOR, I CAN LOOK AT THAT TOOTH AND I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS FILLING AND THERE'S A LOT GOING AROUND WITH THE LEGISLATION THIS SESSION.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF THAT GOING AROUND AND THE KEY DIFFERENCE IS PEOPLE DO HAVE A RIGHT TO WEIGH IN ON LEGISLATION THAT WILL AFFECT THEM AND PEOPLE DO HAVE A RIGHT AND AN OBLIGATION, I THINK, TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR SOCIETY AND TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS AND TO BE INFORMED VOTERS.

I THINK THE DANGEROUS PLACE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS SO MUCH OF THAT INFORMATION IS WRONG THAT REENFORCES SOME OF THEIR OWN POLITICAL THINKING AND REENFORCES THE DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT ENFORCES THAT.

I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE ENGAGED AND SHOULD BECOME EXPERTS AND DIG INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN AT THE CAPITAL, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE INFORMATION THEY'RE BEING SENT SOMETIMES MALICIOUSLY AND DELIBERATELY WRONG IS CLOUDING THE DEBATE AND MAKING THESE DEBATES VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

LET'S GET TO THE FIRST BREAK OF THE SHOW AND A LOT TO TALK ABOUT WHEN WE COME BACK ON TODAY'S "POLITICAL REWIND."

>>> GPB BRINGS YOU THE LATEST IN NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM AROUND THE STATE.

NOW YOU CAN LISTEN FOR FREE ON AMAZON AND ALEXA-ENABLED DEVICES.

GO TO YOUR ALEXA APP, CHOOSING SKILLS AND SEARCHING FOR GPB.

SELECT GPB SKILLS AND SELECT ENABLE.

ONCE YOU'VE ENABLED THE SKILL SAY, ALEX A OPEN GPB.

>> WELCOME TO THE GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING SKILL.

>> ALEXA, ASK GPB TO LISTEN LIVE.

NOW PLAYING GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> WELCOME TO "POLITICAL REWIND".

>> NOT ONLY CAN YOU LOG INTO THE VIDEO STREAM, BUT YOU CAN BROUTZ THROUGH THE PROGRAMS AND LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE SHOW AND STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST FROM THE PBS NEWS HOUR.

ALEXA TELL GPB TO PLAY NEWSHOUR.

>> I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

ON THE NEWS HOUR TONIGHT.

>> FOR THE LATEST GO TO GPB/ALEXA.

PATRICIA, AND I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS YOU ARE A POLITICAL REPORTER AND WRITE THE COLUMN FOR THE AJC WHICH APPEARS ON WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAYS IN THE NEWSPAPER AND YOU ARE RECEIVING THE JOLT WHICH IS THE BEST WAY TO CATCH UP ON LOTS OF FASCINATING NEWS ABOUT POLITICS.

DO YOU HAVE A COLUMN FOR SUNDAY?

GIVE US A QUICK PREVIEW.

>> I DO.

I AM ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE CLOSURE AT THE DECISION TO MOVE THE CABIN IN SMYRNA.

EVEN THOUGH THE CABIN IS MOVING I THINK IT HAS LESSONS THAT SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN AND DISCARDED ALONG WITH THE CABIN.

>> I'M GLAD YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT THAT.

>> I HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF HAVING SOMEONE TAKING ME TO FANNY'S CABIN AND I REGRET TO THIS DAY AND I HAVE IMAGES OF WHAT A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE PLACE IT WAS.

PATRICIA, LET'S MOVE ON.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DISINFORMATION AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT REPUBLICANS ESSENTIALLY AS BOTH ANDRA AND TAMMY SAID, KIND OF CREATING THESE WORD SALAD WERE THE WORD -- WERE THE WORDS THAT TAMMY USED FOR HOW THEY'RE WEAVING IN THEIR OVERALL POLITICAL MESSAGES INTO PROCEEDINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MESSAGES AND THE SUPREME COURT HEARING IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

HERE'S WHAT CARL SAID IN AN ANALYSIS OF THE HEARINGS IN TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES.

PATRICIA, HE SAID THE REPUBLICAN MAN HANDLING OF JUDGE KETANJI BROWN WAS CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THE SENATE SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION PROCESS IS IRREDEEMABLY BROKEN.

THE AGGRESSIVELY HOSTILE INTERROGATION FEEFRP YOU ARING POLITICAL DOG WHISTLING AND RELENTLESS RELITIGATING SUPREME COURT RULES OF THE PAST MAR WHAT COULD BE NOT ONLY A RESET FOR THE SENATE, BUT A SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL MOMENT IN SEEING THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ASCEND TO THE PINNACLE OF AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE WITH STRONG SUPPORT.

PATRICIA?

>> SO FOR CARL HOLT TO WRITE THAT TO ME IS NOTABLE BECAUSE HE IS JUST ONE OF THE FORMIST EXPERTS AND INSTITUTIONAL FIRSTS FOR CONGRESS.

SO TO READ -- TO HEAR HIM SAY THAT PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK WHAT HE'S SAYING HERE IS THAT SUPREME COURT HEARINGS WHICH ARE A CRUCIAL ROLE OF THE SENATE THAT OFFER THEIR ADVICE AND CONSENT TO NOMINATIONS TO THE SUPREME COURT, THEY'VE BECOME JUST AN AUDITION FOR NATIONAL OFFICE AND THEY'VE BECOME PERFORMANCE ART AND THEY HAVE SO LITTLE TO DO WITH THE SUBSTANCE, EITHER WHO THE JUDGE IS OR WHAT SHE BELIEVES OR HOW SHE MIGHT RULE FROM THE BENCH.

IT HAS PROVIDED VERY LITTLE INFORMATION TO THINK THAT VOTERS EVALUATING THE SITUATION AND IT HAS JUST BECOME PURELY POLITICAL PERFORMANCE ART.

I THINK FOR JUDGE BROWN SHE HAS EQUIPPED HERSELF BEAUTIFULLY.

SHE HAS SHOWN THE WAY SHE'S WEATHERED THE STORM REALLY UNFLAPPABLE.

SHE'S REVEALED HER CHARACTER AND REVEALED HER FUTURE ON THE BENCH THAT SHE WILL BE UNFLAPPABLE.

THAT SHY WILL NOT FALL INTO TROPE, WILL NOT FALL INTO STEREOTYPES AND REALLY STAND PROFESSIONALLY AS THEY HAVE SO FAR.

IF THEY'VE PROVIDED ANYTHING USEFUL THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE.

>> YOU WORKED IN THE SENATE FOR QUITE A WHILE.

YOU KNOW THE INSTITUTION PRETTY WELL.

I COVERED ANY NUMBER OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NOMINATION HEARINGS UP THERE INCLUDING THE CLARENCE THOMAS HEARING WHICH EVOLVED INTO WHAT MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT WERE AN UNFORTUNATE SPECTACLE FOR GOOD REASON AND I USED TO WALK INTO THOSE HEARING ROOMS FILLED WITH AWE, THAT THIS WAS THE UNITED STATES SENATE, PATRICIA.

THEY WERE DOING CONSEQUENTIAL WORK IF FOR MANY OF THOSE HEARINGS AND THEY BROUGHT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRIDE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THAT HAVE BEEN, AND IT WAS JUST AN AWFUL SPECTACLE TO WATCH.

>> I THINK THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IN PARTICULAR HAS ATTRACTED SENATOR TED CRUZ AND JOSH HAWLEY WHO WE KNOW HAVE NATIONAL POLITICAL AMBITIONS AND KAMALA HARRIS WAS ON THIS COMMITTEE.

IT IS A PERK TO PERFORM AT THIS POINT.

THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

WE CAN'T FORGET THE McCARTHY HEARINGS WHEN IT COMES TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

FREQUENTLY, THE BETTER WORK IS DONE OUTSIDE OF THE PURVIEW OF THE CAMERAS WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND USING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST PUSH THEIR OWN PROFILE.

THERE WAS AN A.P.

PHOTO OF TED CRUZ CHECKING HIS OWN TWITTER MENTIONS AFTER HE QUESTIONED JOSH BROWN AND THANKS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHY HE WAS DOING WHAT HE WAS DOING AND HE CERTAINLY WAS NOT ALONE.

ANDRA, ONE OF THE ASSAULTS ON JUDGE BROWN'S RECORD HAD TO DO WITH CLAIMS THAT SHE WAS SOFT ON PEOPLE WHO VIEWED CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND HAD IT ON THEIR COMPUTERS AND WHATEVER.

SHE GAVE THEM LIGHTER SENTENCES THAN WERE RECOMMENDED AND YET -- AND YET A STUDY OF THE VOTING RECORDS OF THOSE SENATORS WHO CLAIM THAT SHE'S DONE SOMETHING OUT OF THE NORM IN FACT APPROVED THE NOMINATION OF ANY NUMBER OF FEDERAL JUDGES WHO HAD SIMILAR SENTENCES TO PEOPLE WITH CHILD PORNING ON RAV OWE THEIR COMPUTERS AND TED CRUZ WHO WENT AFTER HER BECAUSE SHE SUPPORTED CRITICAL RACE THEORY, HE SAID.

HIS CHILDREN POINTS OUT WHERE CRITICAL CITY IS ONE OF THE MAINSTAYS OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF THIS SCHOOL.

>> OKAY.

I JUST NEED TO REITERATE AGAIN, NO ONE IS TEACHING A FIFTH GRADER, SIXTH GRADER, THEY DON'T KNOW WHO KIMBERLY CRENSHAW IS, YOU MIGHT KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW CRITICAL RACE THEORY UNTIL YOU GET TO COLLEGE OR LAW SCHOOL OR GRADUATE SCHOOL, BUT THAT BEING SAID, THE SPECTACLE THAT WE SAW WHICH I THINK PATRICIA RIGHTFULLY DESCRIBED AS PERFORMANCE ART AND WE NEED TO SAY IS BAD PERFORMANCE ART.

NOBODY DESERVES THEIR SAG CARD, IT WAS TERRIBLE.

IT WAS BAD.

IT WAS BLATANT.

IT WAS HYPOCRITICAL, AND IT REMINDED ME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WORRY ABOUT IN RUSSIA.

WE WORRY ABOUT RUSSIA PROJECTING, OH, THE UKRAINIANS HAVE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS AS THEY GET READY TO USE THAT AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID ON MONDAY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO TREAT YOU AS BADLY AS THEY DID AMY CONEY BARRETT.

WE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I WAS IN SIXTH GRADE WHEN THAT HAPPENED AND THEN PROCEEDED TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING AND THE DISPLAY WITH LINDSAY GRAHAM ON RELIGION, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WITH AMY CONEY BARRETT WAS HORRIBLE AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AND DIANNE FEINSTEIN WAS WRONG AND YOU DON'T GO AND PLAY TIT FOR TAT AND THEN AMP IT UP BY THROWING EVERYTHING AT THE WALL.

SHE WAS A TERRORIST SYMPATHIZER AND A RADICAL ANTI-WHITE ACTIVIST WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT GENDER IS AND THEN YOU TRY TO THROW FACTOIDS AT HER TO MAKE HER LOOK STUPID BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW EVERY PIECE OF TRIVIA THAT SOME OF THE SENATORS WERE THROWING AT HER.

IT WAS SHAMEFUL.

IT WAS DISGRACEFUL.

I CAN'T IGNORE THE RACE AND GENDER ELEMENT THAT'S GOING ON HERE AND FRANKLY, I'VE SEEN BAD BEHAVIOR BEFORE.

WATCHING THAT WAS TRIGGERING FOR ME AND IT WAS SAD.

I FELT FOR HER, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD HORRIBLE INTERVIEW EXPERIENCES FEMENT THAT AS THEY WERE WATCHING THIS INTERVIEW.

>> TAMMY, IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THERE ARE REPUBLICANS CLEARLY WAS PAYBACK FOR WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS MISTREATMENT OF BRETT KAVANAUGH, BUT IT'S A FALSE EQUIVALENCY.

BRETT KAVANAUGH, A WITNESS CAME FORWARD AND GAVE SWORN TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH SHE WAS TREATED, SHE SAYS, BY KAVANAUGH WHEN THEY WERE TEENAGERS WHEN HE ESSENTIALLY -- SHE SAID ASSAULTED HIM -- HER, SO IT IS A FALSE EQUIVALENCY, BUT ANDRA RAISED GENDER AND RACE, AND IT WOULD BE WRONG NOT TO DO THAT HERE.

AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN HOW DO YOU THINK OF IT AS A MORE PIERCING WAY THAN SOMEONE LIKE ME, AN OLD WHITE GUY, SAW IT.

>> I THOUGHT -- YEAH.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

EVERY LOOK, EVERY SQUIRM, EVERY ATTEMPT TO QUESTION MY INTELLIGENCE.

EVERY INSTANCE OF THE -- WHEN THEY DID TO ANDRA'S POINT, WHAT THEY DID WAS THE OTHERING, IF YOU ARE NOT A WHITE, HETEROSEXUAL CHRISTIAN MALE THEN YOU ARE NOT AMERICAN, AND SO EVERY SINGLE ITEM THAT WAS THROWN AT HER WAS TO HIGHLIGHT IN THEIR EYES THAT SHE'S NOT REALLY AMERICAN AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT FORM OF WHAT PATRIOTISM IS.

LOOK AT ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS.

SHE'S NOT REALLY AMERICAN BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T VIEW AMERICA OR PATRIOTISM THE WAY THAT WE DO.

I HAD MY CLASSES TO WATCH THE HEARINGS AND I PAUSED AND EXPLAINED STUFF THROUGHOUT, AND IT WAS AMAZING THAT SHE LITERALLY -- THAT JUDGE BROWN JACKSON GAVE CIVICS LESSONS AND TO SAY HEY, SENATE, IN IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

HEY, CONGRESS, THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

MY ROLE TO STAY IN MY LANE IS TO DO THIS.

AND TO CONTINUE TO THROW THAT OFF ON, YOU KNOW, HER AS A SITTING JUDGE AT THE TIME TO SAY YOU ATTEMPTED TO CIRCUMVENT AND SHE CONTINUED TO PUSH BACK, BUT NO, THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

THE CONDESCENSION THAT THEY PROVIDED TO HER, OF COURSE, LINDSAY GRAHAM'S PERFORMANCE, TED CRUZ, JOSH HAWLEY AND EVEN MARCIA BLACKBURN -- IT IS TRAGIC THAT SOMEONE WHO HAS THE MOST EXPERIENCE OF ANY PERSON TO EVER SIT ON THE SUPREME COURT, THIS IS HOW YOU WOULD TREAT THE MOST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL.

IT IS ASTONISHING, AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THIS AND UNDERSTAND THAT ANY PERSON WHO HAS THIS MUCH QUALIFICATIONS, WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE IF THEY WERE NOT A BLACK WOMAN?

>> PATRICIA, A COUPLE OF POINTS BEFORE WE GET TO OUR BREAK.

NUMBER ONE, APPARENTLY, HER NOMINATION SHOULD BE APPROVED ALTHOUGH IT'S VOLATILE AT THIS MOMENT, I THINK.

DEMOCRATS THINK THEY'VE GOT THE VOTES TO DO IT ESPECIALLY IF THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS TO WEIGH IN ON THIS NOMINATION AND THE SECOND THING IS ARE THERE LONG TERM POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES FOR REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS AROUND THE WAY THEY TREATED THIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN JUDGE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE SENATORS FOR WHOM THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES ARE MORE LIKELY TO POSSIBLY SUPPORT HER.

I THINK WE'LL SEE SOMEONE LIKE SUSAN COLLINS AND LISA MURKOWSKI.

THEY'RE MORE APT TO VOTE FOR HER.

I'M NOT GOING -- WE'LL SEE, BUT WE REALLY ARE AT THE POINT THAT ANDRA MENTIONED, IT'S SUCH A POLARIZED ELECTORATE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT INCENTIVES FOR POLITICIANS AT EVERY LEVEL AND THE INCENTIVES ARE ON THE PARTIES TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE FRINGES TO FEND OFF A PRIMARY CHALLENGE RATHER THAN TO LOOK AHEAD OR A GENERAL ELECTION OR SIMPLY JUST BROADEN THEIR OUTLOOK AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

REPRESENT MOST PEOPLE IN THE STATE RATHER THAN MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR THEM IN THEIR STATE.

ALL OF THE INCENTIVES HAVE BECOME DISALIGNED HERE.

I THINK SOME OF THOSE SENATORS WOULD LIKE TO BE LESS INFORMATIVE AND WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD RATHER THAN GIVE THIS WOMAN THE KIND OF TREATMENT SHE IN NO WAY DESERVES, BUT THE VOTERS IN THEIR PRIMARIES ARE DEMANDING SOMETHING ELSE RIGHT NOW.

>> LET'S GET TO THE FINAL BREAK OF THE SHOW AND COME BACK.

WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET TO ON TODAY'S "POLITICAL REWIND."

♪♪ ♪ >> YEAR AFTER YEAR, PBS HAS BEEN BRINGING YOU THE NEWS WE TRUST.

WE CARE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WILL AFFECT THE LIVES OF EACH AND EVERY AMERICAN.

THE IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS YOU NEED.

AND THE TRUE STORIES THAT HAVE TO BE TOLD AND NOT JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, BUT WHY IT MATTERS.

ALL THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU AND STAY TUNED TO AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED NETWORK.

ALL CITIZENS OF GEORGE A 18 RADIO STATIONS AND INNOVATIVE, EDUCATION AND DIGITAL DIVISIONS.

GPB RADIO BREAKS DOWN IMPORTANT ISSUES HAPPENING STATEWIDE BRINGING YOU UNBIASSED NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM GEORGIA JOURNALISTS AND NPR.

>> GOOD MORNING, IT'S 8:00, WHEREVER YOU ARE IN GEORGIA, WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE LISTENING.

>> SLOW YOUR SUPPORT BY LISTENING TO GPB.ORG.

♪♪ ♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "POLITICAL REWIND," PATRICIA MURPHY OF THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION, ANDRA GRIER.

PATRICIA, YOU DID NOT GET TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT TRUMP COMING TO COMMERCE AND I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT IT.

YOU'VE BEEN TO A BIG TRUMP RALLY.

YOU WERE AT THE BIG RALLY IN GEORGIA RIGHT BEFORE THE SENATE RUNOFF ELECTION.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE OUT THERE AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL COVER IT YOURSELF, BUT WHAT ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE FROM TRUMP THERE, IS HE GOING TO GIVE ANYBODY ON THE STAGE WITH HIM, THE PEOPLE HE'S ENDORSED ANY TIME TO TALK AT ALL?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> I'LL BE WITH SOME OF MY AJC COLLEAGUES AND I EXPECT DONALD TRUMP TO COME IN GUNS BLAZING AGAINST GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP AND THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

I WILL HEAR ABOUT BRIAN KEMP, AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS WRONG IN THE LAST ELECTION AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT RAFFENSPERGER, AND I'M SURE HE'LL BRING UP HIS CANDIDATES ONE BY ONE AND HE'LL HAVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE AND HE'LL HAVE ANDREW CLYDE THERE, AS WELL AND SO EVERY CANDIDATE WHO HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT IS TAKING ALL OF THAT ON WITH THEIR CANDIDACIES, AS WELL.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL SAY A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THE OTHER CANDIDATES AND THESE THINGS HE TENDS TO GO OFF UNSTOPPABLE TANGENTS ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS GRIEVANCES AND SO THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT.

I WILL BE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN HERSCHEL WALKER ON STAGE AND WHETHER HE IS PHOTOGRAPHED WITH SOMEONE LIKE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE WHO HE HAS TRIED TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM.

I'LL BE INTERESTED IF THEY'RE RUNNING STRAIGHT INTO THE TRUMP ELECTORATE OR IF THEY'RE TRYING TO HOLD OFF AND KEEP THEMSELVES ELECTABLE IN GEORGIA.

WE KNOW RIGHT NOW IT'S VERY HARD TO WIN WITHOUT DONALD TRUMP'S PRIMARY, BUT THEN WE MISS HIM IN A GENERAL ELECTION AND WE'LL SEE HOW THE CANDIDATES WADE THROUGH THAT.

>> WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TRUMP AND HIS TICKET AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THESE STAKES ARE HIGH AND HE'S ENDORSED THESE EIGHT CANDIDATES IN GEORGIA.

WE DID MENTION THAT HE WITHDREW HIS ENDORSEMENT FOR THE SEAT IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN ALABAMA, AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT HE WITHDREW IT FOR PRETTY FLIMSY REASONS AND IT PERHAPS HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT MO BROOKS IS NOT DOING PARTICULARLY WELL AND THIS WAS FOR TRUMP TO BAIL OUT OF THIS ENDORSEMENT.

IF DAVID PURDUE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE IN THE POLLS, WILL TRUMP STICK WITH HIM THROUGH MAY 24th.

>> IT GOES ABOUT WHAT I HAVE BROUGHT UP BEFORE AND MY HYPOTHESIS IS IT DOES NOTHING.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO HIM WITHDRAWING HIS ENDORSEMENT OF BROOKS BECAUSE BROOKS IS LOSING IS EVIDENCE OF THE FACT THAT TRUMP TRIES TO PICK WINNERS, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT HE DOES PICK PEOPLE FOR IS BECAUSE OF LOYALTY BASE IT'S ALL ABOUT HIMSELF AND THAT MIGHT KEEP HIM DOUBLING DOWN ON THE PEOPLE THAT HE'S ENDORSED IN GEORGIA BECAUSE HERE IT'S PERSONAL AND THIS IS ABOUT RELITIGATING THE 2020 ELECTION, WHETHER OR NOT THAT MAKES SENSE OR WHETHER OR NOT STRATEGICALLY THAT HAS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

EITHER WAY, PEOPLE HAVE TO ASK THEMSELVES AND THIS GOES BACK TO THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SENATORS SHOWING OUT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, STOP ELECTING NARCISSISTS, RIGHT?

WE SHOULDN'T BE TRYING TO, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF CATER OUR WINS TO THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE VERY CAPRICIOUS AND ONLY DOING IT ABOUT THEMSELVES.

SO WE ARE SO BOUND UP ON THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT LETTERS BEHIND THEIR NAMES AND NOW YOU'RE PICKING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DO US HARM AND DON'T ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION IN THE LONG TERM OR YOU PUT IN PEOPLE WHO DO THE SAME THING OR EVEN WORSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, AND PATRICIA I DON'T WANT TO MISS A CHANCE TO SAY THAT WE ARE AT THE END OF AN EXTRAORDINARY ERA IN GEORGIA POL TEGZ.

KEVIN SMYRIE HE WILL MOVE ON AND WAS APPOINTED AMBASSADOR BY THE PRESIDENT AND WILL SOON HAVE HIS CONFIRMATION HEARINGS AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SAY A THING OR TWO ABOUT HIM AND DONALD LOWERY DID A WONDERFUL INTERVIEW WITH CALVIN AND SHE BROUGHT DAVID RALSTON IN ALSO AND AT ONE POINT IN THE INTERVIEW SHE SHOWED CALVIN ON AN iPAD WHAT DAVID RALSTON SAID ABOUT HIM.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING, YOU WILL HEAR A LONG PAUSE AFTER AUSTIN FINISHES BECAUSE KELVIN IS TRYING TO COMPOSE HIMSELF.

>> WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT TERM LIMITS, WHO COULD WANT A SYSTEM THAT WOULD DENY YOU A CALVIN SMYRIE?

NOT ME.

I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY FOR HIM AND I OFTEN TELL HIM, I SAID, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A SPEAKER HERE THAT YOU SERVED WITH LONGER THAN ME, AND THERE WAS A SPEAKER HERE THAT LOVERED YOU AS MUCH OR RELIED ON YOU AS MUCH AS I HAVE.

>> WOW.D YOU AS MUCH OR RELIED ON YOU AS MUCH AS I HAVE.

>> WOW.

>> I'VE HAD A LONG CAREER AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF FRIENDSHIPS ALONG THE WAY, AND I'VE BEEN TRULY, TRULY BLESSED.

>> SO PATRICIA, THAT'S THE WAY TO END THE SHOW IN WHICH YOU'VE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT THE TOXICITY OF TODAY'S POLITICS CALVIN SMYRIE AND THEY HAD A RESPECT AND LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND THEY LISTENED TO EACH OTHER AND GOT THINGS DONE.

>> THEY GOT SO MANY THINGS DONE AND THEY GOT THINGS DONE TOGETHER AND THESE ARE TWO MEN WHO WERE IN THE SEGREGATED SOUTH.

CALVIN SMYRIE WAS NOT ABLE TO RENT HIS OWN APARTMENT BECAUSE HE WAS A BLACK MAN IN COLUMBUS AND TO SEE HIM RISE TO THE LEVEL THAT HE DID, TO SEE HIM CHAIR THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE PARTY.

HE WAS A VERY CLOSE RIGHT-HAND MAN TO GOVERNOR ZELL MILLER.

HE BROKE SO MANY BARRIERS, BUT HE ALSO MADE SO MANY FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY AND DAVID RALSTON, THE REPUBLICAN, IS ONE OF HIS CHOICEST 14S AND THOSE TWO ADMIRE EVEN OTHER AND THEY SET A TONE AND EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE CHAMBER, THAT THE REST OF THE CHAMBER I THINK APPRECIATES AND FOLLOWS AND USES THAT AS AN XAFRMEL OF SOMETHING TO ASPIRE TO, AND I THINK THAT WILL BE ONE OF HIS MOST ENDURING LEGACIES IN THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.

>> I JUST, WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, CALVIN.

WE'VE MISSED COVERING YOU OVER THE YEARS.

WE'RE COMPLETELY OUT OF TOWN.

PAMELA GRIER, PATRICIA MURPHY AND ANDRA GILLESPIE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR A WONDERFUL.

I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM, NATALIE MENDEN HAUL, JANE COOK, DAVID BUCHANON, AARON ROTHWELL, JAMES TURNER, MATTHEW WOLF AND BETWEEN OUR TV CREW AND RADIO CREW, OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR US FOR TODAY.

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON "POLITICAL REWIND."

IN THE MEANTIME, TAKE CARE AND STAY HEALTHY.