Closer Look with Rose Scott

Friday marks the Fourth of July. People across the Peach State are gearing up for Independence Day celebrations, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Peachtree Road Race. Ahead of the holiday weekend, on Thursday’s special edition of “Closer Look,” host Rose Scott, along with producer Daniel Rayzel, and engineer and grill master Sawyer Vanderwerff open the phones. They take calls from listeners who share tips from seasoning to searing along with the do’s and don’ts of grilling. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, granting them the right to opt their children out of classroom readings that include LGBTQ themes, based on religious objections. Tanya Monique Washington, a professor at the Center for Access to Justice and the Marjorie F. Knowles Chair in Law at Georgia State University, provides an analysis and breaks down the implications of the decision. Plus, The Stitch is a downtown Atlanta highway-capping project. The proposal involves transforming and connecting 17 acres of land, near the I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector between the Civic Center MARTA Center, into urban green space and affordable housing. However, will the Trump administration’s federal funding cuts impact construction? Jack Cebe, director of The Stitch, talks more about what’s next for the development project. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chamblee Police Department recently launched its LGBT Liaison Program. Officer Brandon White, who serves as the department’s first-ever LGBT Liaison, discusses how the new initiative will strengthen community trust and engagement within the Chamblee LGBTQ+ community. Plus, Kari Knotts, a 14-year-old volleyball player from Marietta, Georgia, discusses her journey to being selected for Team USA’s Under-19 volleyball division — an elite group on the direct pipeline to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California. Lastly, Zohran Mamdani has won the New York Democratic mayoral primary. GSU politics and policy professor Tammy Greer, Atlanta-based political strategist and analyst Fred Hicks and Devin Barrington-Ward, civil rights organizer and managing director for the Black Futurists Group, discuss how this political shift could potentially further drive Democratic socialism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Friday ruling limits the use of nationwide injunctions. However, the justices did not decide whether President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship is lawful. The long-term fate of the order remains uncertain — though Trump is still calling the decision a win. Rose talks with Georgia State University constitutional law professor Anthony Michael Kreis and Emory University law professor Jonathan Nash, who analyze the ruling and discuss its potential implications. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout the month of June, “Closer Look” has spotlighted Juneteenth-related conversations. On Friday, show host Rose Scott concludes the series, revisiting her 2024 conversation with Nikole Hannah-Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter behind the groundbreaking The 1619 Project for The New York Times Magazine. During the conversation that took place at the Fulton County Central Library in Downtown Atlanta, Hannah-Jones vividly recalls when she first learned about a 17th-century ship called The White Lion and how it inspired her to create The 1619 Project. Plus, this week marks 22 years since the passing of Atlanta’s first Black mayor Maynard Jackson. For a look back on his life and legacy, we revisit a conversation from our award-winning ATL 68 series. Rose talks with Valerie Jackson, a former WABE host and Mayor Jackson’s widow. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rodney Taylor has built a life in the United States. He works as a barber in Snellville, Georgia. According to his fiancée, Mildred Pierre, Taylor, he’s a double amputee and lives with several long-term medical conditions. She also says he has documentation for a current green card application. Despite this, Taylor was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on January 15. Pierre and immigration attorney Sara Owings talk with show host Rose Scott about Taylor’s pending case—and the justice they are now seeking. Plus, for 45 years, WABE host Lois Reitzes has been the voice of arts and culture in Atlanta. We celebrate her incredible career—through the stories, memories, and moments that helped to shape it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lola, a women-led co-working space in Atlanta, may be forced to shut down. Dana Xavier Dojnik, CEO of The Lola, and Sagdrina Brown Jalal, the CEO of Atlanta Leadership Consultant and founder of the Legacy Leadership Program, talk with Rose about how federal funding cuts are impacting for-profit businesses that support nonprofit organizations. They also discuss an emergency effort to keep The Lola doors open. Plus, WABE’s environmental reporter Marisa Mecke discusses her latest report about a controversial mining project near South Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major aspect of Clayton State University’s mission is social mobility. Tied to the mission is the university’s annual Social Mobility Summit. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 25. Its lineup includes panels, workshops, and discussions exploring key factors influencing social mobility—and how higher education can be a powerful driver of change. Rose talks with Dr. Mahnaz Charania, the chief transformation officer at The New Teacher Project, and Jada Mitchell, the executive director of student success at Clayton State University about the event and the importance of ensuring all students have social capital, strong networks and relationships. Plus, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a new opinion editor. David Plazas talks with Rose about his new role, which includes serving as an editorial board member and helping to expand the publication’s opinion content and community engagement initiatives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Environmental Action Network (NEAN) is working to promote environmental justice. The Virginia-based nonprofit is expanding its efforts to educate the public about the health impacts of toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals and synthetic pesticides. Lewis Brown, the CEO and founder of NEAN, talks with show host Rose Scott about some of the dangerous environmental toxins in Black and Brown communities and the ongoing Environmental Protection Agency changes under the Trump administration. He also explained how NEAN is working to spread awareness by conducting environmental health research about water pollution in metro Atlanta and by helping former federal employees and contractors impacted by federal cuts and layoffs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Closer Look” returns with our annual Juneteenth event, recorded live at Hammonds House Museum in the West End neighborhood of Atlanta. This year, host Rose Scott speaks with panelists on the theme of "Natural Gifts: Honoring the Contributions of Enslaved Africans and Black Americans, Pre-Civil War to Present." Guests include: Kuumba storyteller Dr. Christine B. Arinze-Samuel, also known as Sistah Olufemi Dr. Joy DeGruy, international scholar, researcher and author specializing in racial trauma, healing and slavery Edvige Jean-François, award-winning journalist and executive director of Georgia State University’s Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora Robell Awake, chairmaker, researcher and author of “A Short History of Black Craft In Ten Objects” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Urban League has released a new report highlighting both the strides and the setbacks in local and federal policy reform in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in 2020. NUL President and CEO Marc Morial joins “Closer Look” to discuss “George Floyd Five Years Later: Was It a Moment or a Movement?” Also, ICE is now serving administrative subpoenas to property managers to obtain records on current and former tenants. Decatur-based real estate attorney Eric Teusink shares an overview of the legal obligations of property owners receiving a subpoena and what ICE's move means for tenant privacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal made a straightforward claim with its headline: “AI Is Learning to Escape Human Control.” The author, AE Studio CEO Judd Rosenblatt, cites reported incidents of artificial intelligence models disobeying orders to shut down and even blackmailing a human engineer. But others in the industry say Rosenblatt’s claim could needlessly spur panic among the public. For this edition of Feedback Friday on “Closer Look,” we ask listeners to share their questions and concerns about artificial intelligence. Host Rose Scott takes your calls alongside Emory University law professor Ifeoma Ajunwa, founding director of the AI and the Future of Work Program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since 1996 Flying Change Equine Therapy has been helping children, adults and whole families discover a new way to approach emotional and behavioral health. On today's edition of “Closer Look,” the team returns to Flying Change Equine Therapy to visit with founder Lissa Corcoran and, of course, the sassy horses. Plus, we revisit an April interview at the Wylde Center’s Edgewood Garden featuring another community-minded animal: chickens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 indictments and three years later, the YSL case resulted in minimal charges and may have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Atlanta-based investigative journalist George Chidi joins “Closer Look” to talk about the trial’s outcome and his estimate of its cost. Plus, the Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognized symbols in the world, but some of her history has been covered up – literally. Renowned author and researcher Dr. Joy DeGruy shares the statue’s lesser-known history with the abolition of slavery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many students are still struggling since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are now facing shrinking federal oversight as the Trump administration seeks to abolish the Department of Education. Careshia Moore, founder and CEO of Compete to Succeed Educational Resources, shares why she thinks education reform is crucial in a changing educational landscape. Also, artificial intelligence is changing how large corporations operate, but not everyone has access to the same tools. As Atlanta Tech Week gets underway, RebrandLand AI founder and CEO Kayla Life talks about how nonprofits can be empowered to use AI tools. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Mother Jones article reveals the Trump administration is considering pardons for so-called fake electors in the 2020 presidential election – even though none of them have been charged with a federal crime. Senior reporter Dan Friedman shares why the move is largely symbolic and what implications it has for President Trump’s legacy. Also, self-described “workplace fixer” LaShawn Davis reviews the latest surge in unemployment among Black women. Davis, the founder of HR Plug and the Greatness Lab, also shares advice for pivoting careers after a significant job loss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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According to a new investigative report published by Atlanta Civic Circle, the City of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund is being used to pay housing bond debt and staff salaries. Sean Keenan, a housing reporter at Atlanta Civic Circle, returns to “Closer Look,” to discuss the story and the response from housing advocates and some city officials. Plus, N'namdi Arinze is making his mark in Atlanta’s food industry as the owner of Vegan Wangs, a plant-based chicken wing restaurant. Alongside his sister, Arinze has expanded the business from online deliveries, ghost kitchens, and pop-up events—into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar location. Recently, Rose and the “Closer Look” team paid a visit to the Southwest Atlanta eatery on Cascade Road. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's special edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott" is a themed show focusing on hunger. According to the latest data from Feeding America, nearly 40% of the food-insecure population in the United States is white. Yet, in most counties, food insecurity rates among Black, Hispanic and Latino households exceed those of white households. This all comes as data also reveals, 1 in 7 people in Georgia are facing hunger. Now, amid federal funding cuts to assistance programs and inflation impacting food prices, Rose talks with local leaders about their efforts to combat summer hunger across metro Atlanta. Guests include: Kyle Waide, the president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank Jon McMurdo, the development manager at Second Helpings Atlanta Kashi Sehgal, the founder and CEO Retaaza See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Disabled South is working to build a coalition of disability justice activists and advocates. Dom Kelly, the co-founder, president, and CEO of New Disabled South, discusses the organization’s mission: 'To improve the lives of disabled people and build strong disability justice and rights movements in the South. Plus, with looming potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and surging prices at the grocery store, the nonprofit A Red Circle, has released a national blueprint that outlines five food policy recommendations that all states, including Georgia, can follow to act on right now. Erica R. Williams, the executive director of A Red Circle, talks with Rose about the work of the nonprofit, the importance of combating food insecurity and the national blueprint. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.