It seems to be a lost cause at the moment, civility in politics.

With 2026 being a major election year and the upcoming midterm elections approaching, the Democracy Defense Foundation (DFF) understands the importance of combating misinformation and intentional disrespect in political messaging.

DFF is organization led by a bipartisan group of former elected officials and leaders across selected states and that includes Georgia. It was founded to champion civility in politics, safeguard confidence in elections among other initiatives.

In this episode of Closer Look with Rose Scott, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, former Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, former Congressman and West Point, Georgia, Mayor Drew Ferguson, and former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes all agreed that civility seems to be lost in today’s political environment. They also discussed the role that DFF can still play in delivering bi-partisan messages amid the current 24-hour news cycle and the influence of social media.

It seems to be a lost cause at the moment, civility in politics.
With 2026 being a major election year and the upcoming midterm elections approaching, the Democracy Defense Foundation (DFF) understands the importance of combating misinformation and intentional disrespect in political messaging.
DFF is organization led by a bipartisan group of former elected officials and leaders across selected states and that includes Georgia. It was founded to champion civility in politics, safeguard confidence in elections among other initiatives.
In this episode of Closer Look with Rose Scott, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, former Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, former Congressman and West Point, Georgia, Mayor Drew Ferguson, and former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes all agreed that civility seems to be lost in today&rsquo;s political environment. They also discussed the role that DFF can still play in delivering bi-partisan messages amid the current 24-hour news cycle and the influence of social media.

"Closer Look with Rose Scott" brings you the issues that impact where we live, how we interact, and how we can all thrive. It’s not just about Atlanta; it’s a program for Atlanta. Rose connects with community leaders, CEOs, policymakers, and people who don't often get a platform, and she brings you in on the conversation.

"Closer Look with Rose Scott" brings you the issues that impact where we live, how we interact, and how we can all thrive. It’s not just about Atlanta; it’s a program for Atlanta. Rose connects with community leaders, CEOs, policymakers, and people who don't often get a platform, and she brings you in on the conversation.

Closer Look with Rose Scott

🔊 WABE Podcasts > News, Politics, Health

Can political civility make a comeback? Former Georgia leaders weigh in

Title IX – it was signed into law by President Richard Nixon more than 50 years ago, but it still has a wide-ranging impact today. It states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." In 2026, Title IX is often at the center of three legal battlegrounds: The responsibility of educational institutions to investigate sexual assault and domestic violence, equality in women's sports, and the rights of transgender students. But the standards of Title IX have seen many implementations during the Obama and Biden Administrations, and rollbacks during the Trump Administrations. On today’s special edition of “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” we examine what these rollbacks have meant for reporting discrimination and sexual violence in schools and sports. We also spoke with two leaders of an Atlanta-area youth sports nonprofit, as well as a local college student-athlete and youth coach. They discuss mentoring youth to prevent sexual misconduct and the challenges young people face with reporting assault on campus.

 

GUESTS INCLUDE:

 

Diana Moskovitz, Investigations Editor for Defector Media

 

Megan Ballard Mitchell, Title IX Attorney at the Law Offices of M. Ballard Mitchell

 

C.J. Stewart, co-founder of the Atlanta based L.E.A.D. Center for Youth

 

Kelli Stewart, CEO of the Atlanta based L.E.A.D. Center for Youth

 

MacKenna, local college student-athlete and youth coach

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-title-ix-e02d90d300218ebcbb9dd0344053e05c">Title IX</a> &ndash; it was signed into law by President Richard Nixon more than 50 years ago, but it <a href="https://apnews.com/article/title-ix-timeline-5fc023ca41d7d8c2489de24a23413938">still has a wide-ranging impact today</a>. It states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." In 2026, Title IX is often at the center of three legal battlegrounds: The responsibility of educational institutions to investigate sexual assault and domestic violence, equality in women's sports, and the rights of transgender students. But the standards of Title IX have seen many implementations during the Obama and Biden Administrations, and <a href="https://defector.com/the-trump-administration-rolls-back-title-ix-protections-again">rollbacks during the Trump Administrations</a>. On today&rsquo;s special edition of &ldquo;<a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/">Closer Look with Rose Scott</a>,&rdquo; we examine what these rollbacks have meant for reporting discrimination and sexual violence in schools and sports. We also spoke with two leaders of an Atlanta-area youth sports nonprofit, as well as a local college student-athlete and youth coach. They discuss mentoring youth to prevent sexual misconduct and the challenges young people face with reporting assault on campus.
&nbsp;
GUESTS INCLUDE:
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.dianamoskovitz.com/">Diana Moskovitz</a>, Investigations Editor for <a href="https://defector.com/author/diana-moskovitz">Defector Media</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.ballardmitchell.com/attorneys/megan-ballard-mitchell/">Megan Ballard Mitchell</a>, Title IX Attorney at the Law Offices of M. Ballard Mitchell
&nbsp;
<a href="https://leadcenterforyouth.org/about-us/our-founder/">C.J. Stewart</a>, co-founder of the Atlanta based L.E.A.D. Center for Youth
&nbsp;
<a href="https://leadcenterforyouth.org/about-us/our-founder/">Kelli Stewart</a>, CEO of the Atlanta based L.E.A.D. Center for Youth
&nbsp;
MacKenna, local college student-athlete and youth coach

Title IX rollbacks reportedly weaken investigations of discrimination and sexual misconduct 

On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” we begin with the following statement from WABE and Show Host Rose Scott: “As the Closer Look Executive Producer, I do not authorize or endorse the use of a clip from a 2021 documentary about then Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. The clip is being used in a campaign advertisement supporting Rick Jackson’s campaign for Governor. WABE is committed to accurate, fact-based, and contextually complete journalism. The excerpt used in the advertisement has been presented outside its original context. WABE, Closer Look, and I do not endorse any candidate or campaign.”

 

Then, we welcome onto the program, Craig Ford, professor at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. He offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of faith, LGBTQ+ identity, and ethics. In his course, Queer Theology and Queer Ethics, he explores how queer thought can fundamentally reshape how we understand Christianity, community, morality, and contemporary ethical debates.

 

Finally, we revisit a conversation we had with some recent graduates – kindergarteners! For our Class of 2026 series, they give us the wise wisdom of dreaming about your future and being brave about starting first grade.

On today&rsquo;s &ldquo;<a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/">Closer Look with Rose Scott</a>,&rdquo; we begin with the following statement from WABE and Show Host Rose Scott: &ldquo;As the Closer Look Executive Producer, I do not authorize or endorse the use of a clip from a 2021 documentary about then Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. The clip is being used in a campaign advertisement supporting Rick Jackson&rsquo;s campaign for Governor. WABE is committed to accurate, fact-based, and contextually complete journalism. The excerpt used in the advertisement has been presented outside its original context. WABE, Closer Look, and I do not endorse any candidate or campaign.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Then, we welcome onto the program, <a href="https://craigford.net/">Craig Ford</a>, professor at Emory University&rsquo;s Candler School of Theology. He offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of faith, LGBTQ+ identity, and ethics. In his course, Queer Theology and Queer Ethics, he explores how queer thought can fundamentally reshape how we understand Christianity, community, morality, and contemporary ethical debates.
&nbsp;
Finally, we revisit a conversation we had with some <a href="https://www.wabe.org/metro-atlanta-2026-kindergartener-grads-reflect-on-their-educational-milestone/">recent graduates &ndash; kindergarteners</a>! For our Class of 2026 series, they give us the wise wisdom of dreaming about your future and being brave about starting first grade.

Statement regarding Republican Rick Jackson; Understanding queer theology; Kindergarten graduates

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we speak to a woman who has achieved many firsts and many titles in Atlanta area politics. She’s the first openly gay elected official in Georgia history, and the first woman to be President of the Atlanta City council. She was also chair of the Fulton County Election Board. Cathy Woolard joined the program to reflect on her decades of public service, how things have changed since she first took office, and what’s next for her.

 

Then, with early voting underway and 20 days until the midterm elections, we get updated analysis of the campaign trail from our political roundtable. Our left and right leaning panelists give their perspective on recent debates between the candidates, including the debate Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Jackson was absent from and whether that could hurt his chances for leading Georgia.

 

Guests Include:

 

Fred Hicks, Atlanta based campaign strategist and demographer

Devin Barrington Ward, progressive community organizer and the managing director of the Black Futurists Group

Julianne Thompson, a Republican strategist and the president of Main Street Network Strategies

Cory J. Ruth, the founder and CEO of the political consultant and strategy firm Mergence Global

 

On today&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">Closer Look with Rose Scott</a>, we speak to a woman who has achieved many firsts and many titles in Atlanta area politics. She&rsquo;s the first openly gay elected official in Georgia history, and the first woman to be President of the Atlanta City council. She was also chair of the Fulton County Election Board. <a href="https://www.wabe.org/cathy-woolard/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1" data-ogsc="">Cathy Woolard</a> joined the program to reflect on her decades of public service, how things have changed since she first took office, and what&rsquo;s next for her.
&nbsp;
Then, with early voting underway and 20 days until the midterm elections, we get updated analysis of the campaign trail from our political roundtable. Our left and right leaning panelists give their perspective on recent debates between the candidates, including the debate Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Jackson was absent from and whether that could hurt his chances for leading Georgia.
&nbsp;
Guests Include:
&nbsp;
<a href="https://fredhicks.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2" data-ogsc="">Fred Hicks</a>, Atlanta based campaign strategist and demographer
<a href="https://www.blackfuturistsgroup.com/staff" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3" data-ogsc="">Devin Barrington Ward</a>, progressive community organizer and the managing director of the Black Futurists Group
<a href="https://msnstrategies.com/index.php/our-team/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4" data-ogsc="">Julianne Thompson</a>, a Republican strategist and the president of Main Street Network Strategies
<a href="https://officialcoryruth.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="5" data-ogsc="">Cory J. Ruth</a>, the founder and CEO of the political consultant and strategy firm Mergence Global
&nbsp;

Can political civility make a comeback? Former Georgia leaders weigh in

Closer Look with Rose Scott

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