Closer Look with Rose Scott

Season 5 of WABE’s Peabody Award-winning podcast “Buried Truths” launches on August 26th. This season delves into the life of Clarence Horatious Pickett. The preacher and advertising salesman was beaten by police in December 1957, and died days later after a white doctor dismissed his injuries. For a special preview of the series, “Buried Truths” host Hank Klibanoff talks with Rose Scott about what listeners can expect for the upcoming season, how cases are selected to be featured on the podcast and more about Clarence Horatious Pickett’s case. Plus, this week marks the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. The landmark legislation signed into law on August 6th, 1965, aimed to end racial discrimination in voting and ensure that all Americans have equal access to the ballot. Fast forward to now, some argue that the legislation has been gutted and or weakened through challenges upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. As part of “Closer Look’s” week-long series, examining implications of the Voting Rights Act, host Rose Scott talks with Lauren Groh-Wargo, chief executive officer of Fair Fight, and Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, who serves as the general counsel for the organization. They talked about Fair Fight’s mission and why they believe the fight for constitutional rights is long-term and ongoing, not limited to one case. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A heat wave has swept across metro Atlanta this week, with temperatures hitting 100 degrees. “Closer Look” host Rose Scott talks with Rounaq Basu, an assistant professor in the School of City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech. Climate scientists warn that extreme heat events like this are becoming more frequent due to human-caused climate change. Basu discusses Georgia Tech's NO-HEAT (Neutralizing Onerous Heat Effects on Active Transportation) initiative, which aims to develop data-driven tools to help communities adapt to dangerous urban heat. Plus, we revisit Rose’s conversation with Adrienne Rice, the executive director of Sustainable Georgia Futures. During the discussion, Rice leads a climate gentrification tour through Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward and explains why she believes the neighborhood has been reshaped by climate-related development pressures. She also shares more about SGF’s mission to help historically marginalized communities grow and thrive in the green economy. Additional insight during the tour comes from Genesis Tilman, Drew Barnes, and Liyaah Rocha. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a special edition of “Closer Look,” we explore the good, the bad, and the complexities of using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in our everyday lives. Researchers and experts discuss AI in voice recognition, the controversy surrounding its use in human resources software, and its role in denying medical claims. We revisit Rose’s conversations with Rick Gundling, the senior vice president of professional practice with the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Glenn Danas, a partner at Clarkson Law Firm, Dan Beck, president and chief product officer at SAP SuccessFactors and Hilke Schellmann, an investigative journalist and professor at New York University. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The GRO Fund is launching Freedom Futures: Cash for Today, Capital for Tomorrow. The pilot program, which aims to address the racial wealth divide, gives selected participants $500 a month in guaranteed income and up to $40,000 in Baby Bonds for wealth-building, along with financial advising. Hope Wollensack, the founding executive director of the GRO Fund, and Amit Khanduri, the director of programs, talk more about the goal of the program and its application. Plus, for more than 40 years, Oscar Harris has used his creativity and vision to conceptualize and design. Harris is recognized as one of the most influential architects in the South. Some of his work can be found across metro Atlanta, including Centennial Olympic Park, the atrium at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the interiors of MARTA stations. For a special audio documentary, Rose Scott talks with Harris about his career journey from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Atlanta, as well as his passion for mentorship and putting things together. Scott also talks with Melody Harclerode, the executive director of SPIKE Studio, which Harris founded in 2004. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In Southwest Atlanta, students as young as five years old are learning how to imagine a future well beyond what they can see. It’s happening at the OURCHIVES Summer Camp at Imhotep Academy. Recently, Rose Scott and the “Closer Look” team visited the campus. Scott talked with students, parents and cofounders Melek Dexter and Dr. Assata Moore. They discussed the goal of the 8-week camp and explained how they are teaching subjects such as calculus, critical thinking, “top secret” history – that’s grounded in confidence, imagination and African epistemology. Plus, Malcolm-Jamal Warner has died at 54. The multi-talented superstar is best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show." Warner, an Emmy-nominated actor and Grammy award-winning poet, is being remembered as a gifted artist. Rose talks with Nsenga Burton — an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur and editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire — and Dr. Maurice Hobson, an author, historian and professor of Africana studies and history at Georgia State University. They reflect on Warner’s creative body of work, his life and his legacy. Burton also shares details about her recently published op-ed that focuses on Warner’s life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leadership changes are underway for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). Last week, MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood stepped down, citing concerns about his immigration status and “personal matters.” For now, Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen is the acting CEO and general manager. Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman, returns to “Closer Look” to talk more about the state of Atlanta’s public transportation system as the city gears up for the FIFA World Cup 26. Plus, Chris Brand, president and CEO of Friends of Disabled Adults and Children. He shares more about the organization’s mission to provide medical equipment to Georgians — and how the nonprofit is responding amid ongoing federal cuts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Atlanta Community Press Collective has published documents obtained by the news outlet in an open records lawsuit against the Atlanta Police Foundation. Executive director Matt Scott and in-house legal counsel Sam Hamilton join “Closer Look” to discuss the lawsuit and what they uncovered in the records. Plus, Atlanta aims to end homelessness in the city’s downtown before hosting the World Cup next year. Annie Hyrila, chief programs officer at Partners for HOME, gives an overview of the plan and why she believes it’s achievable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 20 years after opening in Atlanta’s historic Castleberry Hill neighborhood, a tattoo shop faced an unexpected closure over a 2008 ordinance. Owner Miya Bailey talks about his fight to reopen City of Ink and his conversations with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who has promised to resolve the issue. Plus, we meet the new editor of Capital B Atlanta: award-winning journalist Angela Burt-Murray. The former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine shares her thoughts on journalists as advocates and why she values community impact in reporting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, one in five Americans are considered caregivers. They care for their children, their parents, their grandparents, friends and neighbors. On this special edition of “Closer Look,” host Rose Scott spoke with a panel of guests about available resources and how to support caregivers in your life. Guests include: Josh Carter, mental health advocate and grandson to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Michelle Bolden, CEO and founder for Call for Caring, a local non-profit that connects caregivers with resources and support. Shawn and Alison reflect on their caregiving journey and offer words of encouragement to those in similar positions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morehouse College’s growing list of notable alumni now includes the institution’s 13th president. Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, a biostatistician and public health leader, most recently served as the dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He joined “Closer Look” to share his leadership style and vision for the institution, just one day before his official start as president. Plus, Georgia State law professor Anthony Michael Kreis shares analysis after a federal judge granted a class action lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, a coalition of community groups, housing justice advocates and the City of Atlanta partnered to clear the Old Wheat Street encampment. It’s an initiative that’s been in the works for months. A total of 30 people were placed in temporary stable housing. The move comes months after Cornelius Taylor died in the area, when city workers brought a bulldozer through without checking the tents. Rose talks with Tim Franzen, the program director for American Friends Service Committee’s Atlanta Economic Justice program, an organization part of the coalition, and Mawuli Davis of the Davis Bozeman Johnson Law, who is representing Taylor’s family, about the collaboration and what this means for the ongoing push to create real housing solutions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In response to the current political climate, various organizations across the country will gather on July 26 for Families First: A 50-State Day of Peaceful Action. The initiative aims to unite organizations that oppose President Trump's tax and spending cuts. Joel Payne, the chief communications officer for MoveOn, talked more about the upcoming event and shared why he feels it is important for communities to mobilize. Plus, Atlanta native Shawn Rashid is moving with a purpose—and driving toward a goal. The rising professional motorsports driver, who is currently racing in the Euroformula in Europe, has a target of reaching the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2026 and—and ultimately, the Formula One. As a featured guest on “Closer Look,” Rashid talked about his unique journey into racing, his training and how his faith guides his path. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mahmoud v. Taylor case has sparked debate about the balance between parental religious freedom, the authority of school boards to establish curricula and the constitutional rights of children. In the case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, have the right to opt their children out of classroom readings that include LGBTQ themes, citing 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, returned to the program to provide an analysis and break down the implications of the decision. Plus, we remember the legacy of the late poet, author, and educator Nikki Giovanni, whose work championed freedom of expression. We revisit Rose’s conversation with Atlanta-based journalist Ann Hill Bond, who reflects on the power of Giovanni’s words. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of candidates entering the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial race continues to grow. On Tuesday, Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones officially announced his candidacy. Atlanta-based political strategist and analyst Fred Hicks shares insights on the race so far. Plus, after 8 years, it’s a new chapter for Atlanta City Councilmember Amir Farokhi. Farokh talks with Rose about his tenure working in local government, legislation he championed, as well as the challenges he faced and his proudest achievements. Lastly, the Atlanta City Council recently passed a "smart surfaces" policy requiring new and replacement roofs to meet high solar reflectance standards-- meaning they have to be built with light-colored, reflective materials, commonly known as “cool roofs.” Dr. Brian Stone, a professor of urban planning and the director of the Urban Climate Lab at Georgia Tech, explains why he supports the ordinance and how it will potentially help cool neighborhoods, lower energy costs, and save lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.