Closer Look with Rose Scott

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we learn about the voting priorities of Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander women. The details are listed in a new report by Intersections of Our Lives and Ipsos. Jazz Legend and Tenor Saxophonist Sonny Rollins has died. He was 95. Rollins first recorded as a sideman in 1949 and went on to record 60 studio and live albums as a leader. He was also the last surviving musician from Art Kane's famous 1958 photo, "A Great Day in Harlem." Professor and Author Lerone Martin joins the program to discuss his new book, “Young King.” It looks at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his early years and how his adolescence informed his outlook and activism. We learn about the eager “Little Mike” on Auburn Avenue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we meet 18-year-old Noah Marbach. After injuries sidelined him from playing soccer, the Cobb County high school student began building software that would become his business. He was inspired to create XShift AI after working in a restaurant and as a lifeguard, and seeing his managers struggling with scheduling their employees. Learn more about his young life as a business owner who is about to start college at the University of Mississippi. Then, we continue our college graduate series with an honors student from Kennesaw State University, who has pursued many ambitious endeavors. Deontae Nelson is a military veteran and a first-generation college graduate. He has experience as a choreographer, performer, teacher, and researcher. Hear what inspired him to graduate from KSU with a bachelor's degree in modern dance and what he hopes to accomplish next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Closer Look, more than two-million people cast a ballot in the Georgia primary election on Tuesday night. As results from the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries came in, the numbers revealed sharply different paths toward the November general election. Who advanced? Who’s going to a runoff? And how will the results shape up the November midterm race? We ask a panel of political analysts to give their perspective. But first, we discuss the Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory program. Data show farmers are 3 to 5 times more likely to die by suicide than the average American. The COMET program was especially designed for rural neighbors to help each other during difficult times. We speak to officials from Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance and High Plains Research Network about how they’re getting mental health resources to areas that are usually under-resourced. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” just as emergency room visits for child overdoses seeing a slight increase in Georgia, Emory University is expanding its adolescent addiction care. We speak with Dr. Joe Mathias, an addiction psychiatrist and an associate medical education director for the Addiction Alliance of Georgia, about how they’re assisting kids who are struggling with substance use disorder. Then, we speak with Lamar Stewart, the Interim Executive Director of Showcase Atlanta. With less than a month before thousands of international visitors roam the city streets for a series of eight match ups, Stewart shares how the city is preparing local businesses to take advantage of the boost in foot traffic and how Atlanta will keep World Cup fans entertained. And finally, our graduation series continues with Kathy from Freedom University. She faced many challenges as an undocumented student – with no access to in-state tuition or admission to the top state public schools. However, Kathy remained ambitious and graduated from Freedom University, majoring in psychology and public health. Hear the next goals she’s setting for herself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DreamHack returns to the Georgia World Congress Center on Friday for three days of competitive gaming, esports entertainment, indie game showcases, cosplay championship, live entertainment and more. Special guests include NBA Hall of Famer Dwight Howard and Atlanta-based cosplayer and designer Yaya Han. On Thursday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Han and Nordlander joined the program to share more about the history of DreamHack and what attendees can expect this weekend. Plus, the legendary rock band The Black Crowes just released their 10th studio album, “A Pound of Feathers.” Brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, who are Atlanta natives, are currently traveling for their global tour, the"Southern Hospitality Tour." Rose talks with guitarist and vocalist Rich Robinson, ahead of the band’s performances in Alpharetta on May 23 and in Augusta on June 4. Lastly, for “Closer Look’s” annual graduation series, we hear from Kimberly Sanabria. The 2026 Agnes Scott College graduating senior majored in chemistry and minored in artificial intelligence. Sanabria discusses her academic journey as a first-generation college student and her plans to pursue a career in pharmacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an interview with Closer Look host Rose Scott, Jean Douglass, CEO of the DeKalb County–based Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, marks her nonprofit’s 40th anniversary, shares the origin of the organization and the assistance they’ve provided. She also shares why they’re changing the name to, In Safe Company. Then, Avanti Moore is the latest graduate to join Closer Look for our graduation series. She shares her challenges, as well as her accomplishments as a campus leader, and how she persevered to graduate from Georgia Gwinnett College. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Rose Scott hosted a roundtable discussion with farmers from across the state. They explained how the war in Iran is leading to higher costs for fuel and fertilizer, plus the impact on their farms and consumers. They also highlighted how the agriculture industry must change to remain sustainable. Also, three Atlanta area HBCU students join the program to share how the CodeHouse Scholars Initiative is preparing them for a career in the tech industry and to make an impact on policy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend, Atlanta Braves Legend Bobby Cox passed away at the age of 84. In the 1990s, he led a dominant team that won the World Series in 1995. Atlanta‑based, award‑winning sports journalist Sam Crenshaw joined Closer Look to discuss the mark Cox left on the team and his legacy. Plus, for “Closer Look’s” annual graduation series, we hear from Faith Shamley. The graduating senior, majoring in organizational management and leadership, is making history twice. Not only is she Morris Brown College's 2026 valedictorian. She's also part of what the Atlanta-based HBCU calls its “Restoration Class." She discusses her academic journey and plans to attend Columbia University after graduation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” Emory University political science Professor Andra Gillespie and Georgia State University constitutional law Professor Tanya Washington discuss the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that diminished the Voting Rights Act. They explain what this will mean for the future of voting and representation, especially for marginalized communities. Also, after nearly a decade of service with the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, Executive Director Andrea Young is preparing to retire. She discusses the wins of her tenure and the challenges the nonprofit still faces in the fight to defend the civil rights of Georgians. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Wednesday's edition of "Closer Look", Aiko Bethea, the founder of RARE Coaching and Consulting, shares how she uses The Bulls— Asymmetry Principle to teach readers about self-leadership in her new book, “Anchored, Aligned, Accountable.” Plus, for our annual graduation series, we hear from Lauren Walker. The 2026 Georgia Tech graduating senior, majoring in business administration, discussed her academic journey as a G. Wayne Clough Tech Promise Scholar and supporting students at Parklane Elementary School. She also discussed landing a job as a global payments analyst for Bank of America after graduation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, a natural question rises to the surface: What does it mean to celebrate this milestone—especially now, in a moment defined by both reflection and reckoning? That question sits at the center of a special edition of Closer Look with Rose Scott, featuring a conversation with Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center. Dr. King offered her perspective on the nation’s semi-quincentennial, drawing connections between pivotal moments in America’s past and the challenges and possibilities of the present. Their conversation opened with Dr. King’s reaction to the Supreme Court’s 6–3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais (April 2026). The ruling struck down a Louisiana congressional map and significantly limited the scope of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) - a law her father, civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., fought for. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award‑winning investigative journalist Nicole Carr — now a professor at Morehouse College — discusses her debut book, The Price of Exclusion: The Pursuit of Healthcare in a Segregated Nation, traces the history of Black physicians in America, the racism they endured, and how those barriers continue to influence today’s shortage of Black medical providers and the resulting health inequities. For "Closer Look's” annual graduation series, we hear from Maria Isabel Moraes Lanzelotti. The 2026 graduating senior, who majored in theatre and politics at Oglethorpe University, talks about her road to graduation and why she firmly believes art is political. She also shares details about how she plans to be a change agent in the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Muscogee (Creek) Nation awaits a federal judge’s decision about whether the court will allow their case to move to discovery. For more than two decades, the Muscogee have been in a legal battle to restore Hickory Ground, one of their sacred sites, and reclaim the remains of their ancestors. But for more than a decade, a casino has stood over the site in Alabama. Plus, “Closer Look’s” annual graduation series kicks off with Sophie Kalmin, a 2026 graduating senior from Emory University, who majored in American studies and minored in Middle Eastern and South Asian studies. Kalmin reflects on her academic journey and how her decades-long friendship with Mumbles, a white southern rhinoceros at Zoo Atlanta, inspired her to pursue a career on Capitol Hill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” Atlanta’s Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative has launched a new public dashboard, tracking every call to 311 and 911 regarding quality of life concerns. Executive director Moki Macias hopes this data will help bring attention to her organization’s work and to better understand what parts of the city are unaware of policing alternatives. Then, we hear from Shelly Goodrum, Associate Superintendent of Instruction and Innovation with Atlanta Public Schools. Educators often talk about learning loss over the summer months, the idea that extended time away from school can lead students to lose significant ground in reading and math. Find out how the district’s free Power Up program will engage K-12 students in hands‑on enrichment. And finally, Jai Ferrell had dreams of changing the world. Now, as the CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, she's not only actualizing her own dreams. She's also empowering girls throughout the state of Georgia to do the same. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boring, chaotic, concerning — and, in at least one case, described with an expletive after the word “cluster.” Those are some of the ways Georgia’s current campaign season is being characterized as the state heads toward the November midterm elections. That assessment comes from a political roundtable on today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott. The discussion featured Devin Barrington-Ward, a progressive community organizer and managing director of the Black Futurists Group; Greg Bluestein, politics reporter and author with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Fred Hicks, an Atlanta-based campaign strategist and demographer; and Saba Long, executive director of the Atlanta Civic Circle. Each offered insights and observations as the May 19 primary approaches and early voting gets underway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s “Closer Look,” former Cobb County Elementary School Teacher Katie Rinderle and her Education Civil Rights Attorney, Craig Goodmark, return to the show to discuss the next stage of their legal fight to get Rinderle’s job back. She was fired in August 2023 after reading "My Shadow is Purple" by Scott Stuart to her 5th Grade class. The themes of acceptance and gender identity set off a firestorm among some parents. Also, we revisit Show Host Rose Scott’s conversation with people who were students when the Supreme Court ruled America's segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. Now as adults, they recall attending integrated schools for the first time after Brown vs. Board of Education. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we begin with a look back at the life and work of the late Georgia Congressman David Scott, who died Wednesday at the age of 80. WABE’s Politics Reporter Rahul Bali joins the program to share highlights of Scott's nearly 50 years of serving in elected office and what's next for the congressional seat representing Clayton, Henry, Rockdale, Newton, Dekalb and Gwinnett counties. Then, we continue our “Their Voice, Your Vote” gubernatorial election series with Democrat Michael Thurmond. The former DeKalb County CEO and Georgia Labor Secretary believes his experience sets him apart from the other candidates in the race. Thurmond shared how he will prioritize education, jobs, and coalition-building if elected governor of Georgia. We also heard from Juliette Blake, the founder and CEO of Moxies. It’s designed to give Gen Alpha a creative space for self-expression and community. Data shows a majority of teens spend an average of five hours on social media each day, with many reporting poor mental health. Blake shares what parents should look out for as she builds a safe-by-design, non-addictive digital platform. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raksha is a nonprofit dedicated to Georgia’s South Asian American communities with support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. It’s the only organization of its kind in Georgia, but providing their service has been challenged by the federal government cutting $500 million in public safety grants. Plus, as part of "Closer Look's" Earth Day coverage, we revisited Rose's 2024 conversation with Sylvester Pierce of the Self-Preservation Society. The conversation focused on overcoming fear, the healing power of water, mental health and Pierce's mission to get more Black kayakers out on the water. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta City Councilmember Jason Dozier is excited about bringing people together, supporting local business owners and boosting foot traffic in South Downtown Atlanta. Dozier, who represents District 4, recently sponsored an ordinance to establish an open container district in South Downtown to empower the area’s economic engine. He joined “Closer Look” to discuss the potential community and economic impact of the district as Atlanta gears up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff also joined the program to discuss how he’s addressing the actions by the Trump Administration that are affecting Georgia. That includes the Iran War, inflation, and a lacking response to the August 2025 shooting at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He’s also concerned about the reported rising energy costs for consumers related to AI data centers. However, in Ossoff’s discussion with Host Rose Scott, he also mentions his optimism for Democrats in the 2026 Midterm Elections and the opportunities the 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring to Atlanta. Lastly, today marks 10 years since the passing of influential musician and singer, Prince. The award-winning performer's final concert was at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on April 14, 2016. Scott pays tribute to the legendary artist by replaying the broadcast when she broke the news of Prince’s death with fellow WABE host Jim Burress. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For fifty years, the Southern Center for Human Rights has maintained a mission of fighting for equality, dignity, and justice for people impacted by the system. To mark the milestone, SCHR’s executive director, Terrica Redfield Ganzy, sat down with Closer Look host Rose Scott to reflect on the organization’s journey. Her memories reveal not just legal battles, but deeply personal moments that shaped her commitment. Then, we revisit our interview with Poet Joshua Bennett. professor of literature and Distinguished Chair of the Humanities at MIT talks about his latest work, 'We (the People of the United States)'. It's a book of poetry that's "made to the measure of the modern world." Bennett shares why he's incorporating countless cultural references into the book, and how his work fits into the wider context of the USA's 250th anniversary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.