Bashar Al-Assad is now the former president of Syria—after being forced out by rebels over the weekend. It follows more than 24 years of what Syrian citizens described as a brutal dictatorship. According to the Biden Administration, the future of Syria is uncertain with a reported terrorist group now in charge. Michelle Nunn, the president and CEO …

The new documentary, “Black Girls,” explores the many intergenerational facets of Black womanhood, including beauty, childbirth, community, love and relationships. Among the personal stories is seven-time Olympic Gold Medalist Allyson Felix. Film director B. Monet and Loren Hudson, the senior vice president and chief diversity officer at Comcast Ca…

There are more than 100,000 electric vehicles on Georgia’s roadways. Currently, under the Biden administration, car buyers can receive a $7,500 tax credit towards the purchase of an electric vehicle. However, President-elect Donald Trump is promising to repeal that tax credit. David Ferris, a reporter from Politico's Energy and Environment News, an…

In February 2022, Austin Ray launched "How I'd Fix Atlanta," an essay series authored by Atlanta-area residents offering their take on a variety of topics. The series is now about to wrap its third season, having covered everything from transit to policing to finance. Ray and Susi Durán, a field economist and essay writer, discuss the essay series,…

On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate 250 years of independence. While 2026 marks the United State’s Semiquincentennial, it will also mark a midway point into President Donald Trump’s second term as president. But could it mark the beginning of a new chapter in American politics? What will be in the hearts and minds of Americans as the country pr…

Candler School of Theology is hosting a lecture called "Britain’s Slavery Debt, Reparations and the Responsibility of Christian Churches." The lecture will be given by Michael Banner, who is the dean of Trinity College at the University of Cambridge, and the author of the book, “Britain’s Slavery Debt: Reparations Now!” Banner talks with Rose about…

New data suggests the American healthcare sector is a significant contributor to climate crisis. Studies show the U.S. healthcare sector is responsible for nearly 9% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Also, each day, a single patient can produce 30 pounds of medical waste, such as disposable instruments and one-time use plastics. Dr. Shanee…

Cyber Monday marks one of the biggest shopping days of the year. As American consumers take advantage of holiday deals, host Rose Scott talks with University of South Florida economic and business experts Michael Snipes and Carol Osborne. They discuss seasonal shopping trends, consumer behavior, and the potential impact of holiday shopping on the b…

As Georgians prepare for the holidays, some topics – such as religion and the 2024 election – could cause tension. DeAna Jo Vivian, a licensed therapist and the founder of 180 Counseling Practice, shares tips about how to avoid conflict, recognize triggers, take accountability and enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones. It was recently annou…

Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett joins “Closer Look,” to discuss the Justice Department's newly released report that found the conditions at the Fulton County Jail are unsafe, unsanitary and inhumane—and in violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Commissioner Barrett further discusses the efforts of her and other local leaders to…

Morehouse School of Medicine, with support from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, launched a new initiative championing equity in fertility care for Black women. FertilityEquity is an e-learning program focusing on fertility care for Black women. It’s available to the public, but created for healthcare professionals and fertility clinic staff. Dr. Lasha Cla…

The Justice Department released a new report that found the conditions at the Fulton County Jail are unsafe, unsanitary and inhumane—as well as a violation of the U.S. Constitution and a defiance of federal law. Georgia State Sen. Sonya Halpern joins “Closer Look” to respond to the findings of the report. Applications are now open for the FreeRent …

The City of Atlanta established a Temporary Task Force to review and make recommendations regarding duties and procedures of the city’s inspector general’s office. Shannon Manigault, Atlanta’s current IG, returns to “Closer Look,” to respond to the task force's claims and recommended changes for her office. Plus, it's been one year since the passin…

The Georgia State University School of Public Health recently established a new center to better understand homelessness. The Center on Health and Homelessness will lead community-based research and work with organizations across Atlanta to develop evidence-based solutions to address homelessness and its related health issues. Professors Dr. Shanno…

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is often defined as a framework that advocates for the fair treatment and full participation of all people, with a special emphasis on groups who have been historically underrepresented, marginalized and/or discriminated against. However, many initiatives and programs are under scrutiny from college campuses to corpo…

WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali return to “Closer Look,” to discuss whether President-elect Donald Trump's staunch supporters from the Peach State will have a role in his new administration and review how Trump’s reelection could impact Fulton County’s election interference case. The reporters also preview the 2025 legislative s…

Studies have dubbed Atlanta the most overvalued housing market, with homes priced 50% higher than where they should be. Georgia voters say the housing crisis is among their top issues, and there’s mostly bipartisan agreement from voters about how federal authorities should address the problem. That’s according to new research from Dr. Steven Kull, …

Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD) offers wraparound services to people experiencing extreme poverty, substance use and mental health disorders. The nonprofit organization also responds to non-emergency calls. PAD was expecting to renew a contract with the City of Atlanta. However, the city is pulling back. Moki Macias, who serves a…

President-elect Donald Trump is now preparing to take office for his second term in office. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris has conceded the 2024 presidential race but is encouraging voters to stay engaged and to continue fighting for a better America. Emory professors Dr. Pearl Dowe and Andra Gillespie return to “Closer Look,” for analysis…

Votes are still being counted, but former President Donald Trump is the projected winner of the 2024 presidential election, defeating Democratic opponent Vice President Kamala Harris. On today's special edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott," we open the phone lines to hear from Georgia voters. Rose is joined by GSU politics and policy professor …

The 2024 presidential election is just one day away. What role is Georgia playing in this election? How did we get into the national spotlight? WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali returns to “Closer Look,” to talk about Georgia’s growing influence on the presidential race since 2020 and what he saw on the campaign trail during this election cycle. We…

Since July, according to an Associated Press report, more than 63,000 voter registrations have been challenged in Georgia, and roughly 1% of the people called into question have been removed from the state's voting rolls. Despite the low percentage of questionable enrollees, lawsuits are reportedly still being filed to order counties to do more. As…

Georgians are voting on three statewide ballot measures - all related to taxes. But the language can be confusing for many voters. Daniel Kanso, the director of legislative strategy and senior fiscal analyst at Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, returns to “Closer Look,” to explain what each of the measures mean and the potential implications of …

Emory University is among a short list of higher education institutions in the U.S. offering a doctoral program in African American Studies. The program accepted its first cohort of students in the fall of 2023. Dr. Kali Nicole Gross, the National Endowment for the Humanities Professor of African American Studies and the chair of African American S…

According to a new report from the American Institute for Boys and Men, there are now 50,000 fewer Black men enrolled in college as compared to pre-pandemic levels. Black men currently make up 26% of the population at HBCUs, but in the 1970s they made up 38% of the population. Dr. Darryl Holloman, the vice president for student affairs at Spelman C…

America’s housing crisis is rapidly getting worse. Across the U.S., it’s estimated there’s a shortage of 4 to 7 million affordable housing units. Both renters and buyers are faced with uncertainty while navigating the unbalanced market. Renters typically need to meet stringent requirements, including making at least three times the monthly rent. Me…

In the final days of the campaign, both Democrats and Republicans have put a heavy focus on Black male voters. The Pew Research Center reports, 47% of Black men are eligible to vote in the 2024 Election. Since 1994, Black men have voted at least 80% in favor of the Democratic presidential candidate. But a new NAACP Poll finds support among Black me…

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we continue our series on different voter blocs. Over the past 20 years, Asian Americans have been the fastest-growing group of eligible voters in the United States. In the past four years alone, they’ve added 2 million eligible voters. Among this diverse group are diverse political opinions. Show host Rose S…

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, WABE’s Rahul Bali discusses the massive voter turnout for the first week of early voting. He also highlighted the changing demographics the campaigns are considering as they court voters across the battleground state of Georgia. Then, Atlanta Inspector General Shannon Manigault returns to Closer Look to share…

Jessica Pishko is a journalist and lawyer. She joins “Closer Look,” to discuss her new book, "The Highest Law in the Land: How the Unchecked Power of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy." Plus, the United Negro College Fund awards more than $ 1 million in scholarships to students of color every year. This year marks the organization’s 80th anniversary. It…

Early voting is now underway in Georgia and the 2024 presidential election is just weeks away. Tuesday, which marked the first day of early voting in the Peach State, reached record-setting voter turnout. For the October installment of “Coffee Conversations,” the “ Closer Look,” team heads to Black Coffee Atlanta in Lakewood Heights. Rose talks wit…

Early voting begins today in Georgia and runs through Nov.1. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger returns to “Closer Look,” to talk about several election-related topics, including how the state has prepared for this election cycle amid ongoing battles over state election rules, combating political misinformation and the creation of the ne…

Attorney General Chris Carr's office is appealing Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney’s ruling on Sept. 30, which found Georgia’s six-week ban on abortions unconstitutional. The Georgia Supreme Court recently reinstated Georgia’s abortion ban while it considers the state’s appeal. A.C. Coquillas, the communications manager at Feminis…

According to the National Institutes of Health, at least 26 million women and girls between the ages of 15 and 50 are living with uterine fibroids in the United States. Linda Goler Blount, an epidemiologist and the president and CEO of Black Women's Health Imperative, and Tanika Gray Valbrun, the founder of The White Dress Project, discuss symptoms…

As recovery and cleanup continues in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Georgia, Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm. Chris Stallings, the director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, joins “Closer Look” for an update on recovery efforts and preparations as evac…

Oct. 7 marks 1 year since Hamas attacked Israel. As the devastation and displacement continues there have been ongoing calls for a ceasefire. More than 41,000 people have died in the humanitarian crisis. Show host Rose Scott talks with three guests about the last 12 months. Guest include: Dr. Shariq Sayeed, a Cobb County-based surgeon who recently …

Amanda Jones is an award-winning librarian and an anti-censorship advocate. She’s expected to speak at the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday. Ahead of her visit, we revisit Rose’s conversation with Jones. During the conversation, Jones talks about her new book, "That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America." The part memoir, part manif…

Helping Mamas is working to deliver 200,000 diapers, wipes and feminine hygiene products to help families in South Georgia communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Jamie Lackey, the founder of the nonprofit baby supply bank, discusses details about a diaper drive drop-off event that’s happening on Saturday, October 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at Pace A…

The United States Department of Justice released a new report after a years-long investigation into Georgia’s state prison system. State Senator Randy Robertson, a retired law enforcement officer who chaired the Senate Public Safety Subcommittee on Fulton County Jail, responds to the report findings. Also, Vice presidential candidates JD Vance and …

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney struck down Georgia’s six-week abortion ban. The ban took effect nearly two years ago after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Following McBurney’s ruling, abortions are now legal in the state of Georgia up until 22 weeks of pregnancy. Andrea Young, who serves as the executive director …

“Closer Look’s” second national PRX show examines Atlanta’s income inequality gap. While Georgia’s capital city is rooted in civil rights and it’s bustling with entertainment, sports, technology and culture, data reveals Atlanta is stalled when it comes to economic mobility. In fact, within the last decade, Atlanta has consistently remained atop or…

Governor Brian Kemp expects Helene will be hurricane-strength once it reaches the Atlanta-area. It’s expected to reach Georgia in the overnight hours with the potential to cause flooding and spin off tornadoes. Authorities expect widespread power outages, quick and intense wind and heavy rain. The governors of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas ha…

The debate over reproductive rights continues to intensify this election season. A ProPublica investigation recently revealed two Black mothers, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, died under Georgia’s restriction on abortion care. Now, we’ll hear from two OB-GYNs with opposing views on Georgia’s law. Rose is joined by Dr. Sharon Thompson of Cen…

For Tuesday’s edition of “Closer Look,” we revisit Rose’s conversations with Duke University professor of law and philosophy Nita Farahany and NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday host Ayesha Rascoe. First, Farahany discusses her book, “The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology.” The book explores neurotec…

Ann Hill Bond, an Atlanta-based journalist and chair of the Fulton County Remembrance Coalition, discusses how misinformation and the press played a role in the events leading up to the Atlanta Race Massacre. She also discusses some of the events happening this week in commemoration of the massacre. Plus, WABE’s “(re)Defining History: Uncovering Th…

A ProPublica investigative report about two Black mothers is intensifying the debate over reproductive rights this election season. It focuses on two Georgia women whose deaths could have been prevented, according to maternal health experts. That’s if they had received a procedure that is now restricted under Georgia’s abortion laws. Earlier this w…

Edwin Moses is recognized as one of the greatest athletes in the world. The Olympic champion used science and math calculations to dominate track and field. He went undefeated in the 400-meter hurdles for 122 consecutive races, for nine years, nine months, and nine days, between 1977 to 1987. But his life’s legacy reaches beyond sports and is now b…

As the second-largest voting bloc in the U.S., Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump both need to appeal to Latino voters to win the November election. According to data gathered by the Pew Research Center, it's estimated 36.2 million Hispanics are eligible to vote in the 2024 presidential election. While data suggests Lati…

Gov. Brian Kemp has pledged to make Georgia the e-mobility capital of the world. In recent years, Kemp provided billions of dollars in incentives to lure automakers Hyundai, Kia and the startup Rivian to the state. However, a new report from Politico shows some Georgians are excited about the well-paying EV jobs, but they’re suspicious of electric …

Book bans are happening in Georgia and across the nation. According to PEN America, more than 10,000 book bans have been counted in public schools since 2021. Amanda Jones is an educator, an award-winning librarian, and an anti-censorship advocate. She talks with Rose about her new book, "That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America." …