On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we’re introduced to the new superintendent of Georgia’s largest school system. Dr. Alexandra Estrella took office in July. With the school year underway, she shares her top priorities, as well as her record of educational leadership, her passion for student success, and commitment to community engagement.

Then, we learn more about a form of dementia that’s reportedly underdiagnosed, under-researched, and disproportionately affecting Black families. It’s called Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It can be difficult to diagnose, as early symptoms include personality changes or motor difficulties instead of memory loss. We hear the personal story of Aisha Adkins, and the struggle she experienced to get a clear diagnosis for her mother. We also meet Tanya Steel, the CEO of Cure MAPT FTD, who discusses how her nonprofit is fighting to raise awareness.

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The city is hyped for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals as the Atlanta Dream maintains a 2-1 lead over the Golden State Valkyries. On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we’re joined by WABE's DorMiya Vance and KQED reporter Sydney Johnson to talk about the series thus far, how the cities are supporting their teams, and the explosion of excitement within both fan bases. The Dream hosts the Valkyries for Game 4 on Saturday at 1pm EST at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Then, with just over ten days until the midterm elections, big names in the political arena are on their way to Georgia. This weekend, President Trump comes to rally Republicans, while former President Obama will encourage voters to support Democrats from the top to the bottom of the ballot. With a high number of ballots already being cast during early voting, our political roundtable shares what the numbers reveal for both parties. Plus, what exactly is a pathway to victory in a state like Georgia, as candidates strategize how to reach voters in urban, suburban and rural areas?

GUESTS INCLUDE:

Rahul Bali, WABE politics reporter and host of Plugged Into Politics

Fred Hicks, Atlanta based campaign strategist and demographer

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

Saba Long, political communications strategist

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

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A new book examines the “racial hierarchy” of America and how it built the nation’s power structure. On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” we speak to Emory University political scientist Dr. Kelly Burton about “The Price of Union.” As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Burton offers a new framework for understanding race, power, and democracy.

Then, we learn about the findings of the first ever State of the Georgia Girl Report. Georgia is home to 1.2 million girls under the age of 18. Jai Ferrell, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, and Jenn Hollern, the report's author, share the highlights of the report, such as examining the health, safety, education and the overall well-being of girls across Georgia.

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American farmers say they’re in the midst of a perfect storm of problems. Rising diesel prices, tariffs, low cattle herds, imported beef from foreign countries, and years of drought have the farm economy in a crisis. And over the past year, consumers have felt the pain from more expensive beef at grocery stores. But back in July, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Carroll County. She announced Georgia's U.S.D.A. certified small meat processors could sell across state lines for the first time. But will it be enough to help an industry that saw a 130% jump in bankruptcy filings between 2025 and 2026, plus reports of historically high U.S. farm debt? And how might this impact beef prices? Joining the discussion on “Closer Look with Rose Scott” is Professor Bill Winders at Georgia Tech’s School of History and Sociology, and Wayne Swanson Jr., founder and CEO of Swanson Family Farm.

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On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, our latest discussion on how artificial intelligence is incorporated into daily life. A 2026 study found 93.5% of pastors have used or experimented with AI. Dr. Brady Beard, the Associate Librarian at Pitts Theology Library at Emory University, joins the program to discuss a new and free online course, “Speaking of God in an Age of Artificial Intelligence: Equipping Congregations for Ethical Engagement.” The class offers participants specific sessions to think critically about the various uses of AI in religious environments.

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As our education system moves further into the age of artificial intelligence, a new book is urging America to remember past harms. On today’s edition of Closer Look with Rose Scott, we focus on AI, starting the conversation with Dr. Kamau Bobb, author of The Bullwhip's Algorithm: Artificial Intelligence and America's Racial Caste System. Dr. Bobb raises questions about the dependency of AI technologies that claim to improve academic outcomes. Plus, he argues why it's important to confront the racial inequities embedded in its history and, if ignored, how an AI-led education will factor in issues of race, history, and literacy disparities among Black students.

Then, can AI co-habitat in harmony with old school, made-by-hand artists? Is technology stealing from creators or is AI widening the creative space? And what are the guardrails around AI? We have a roundtable discussion with Denish Shah, the director of the Department of Marketing at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, and Jermaine Lee, known creatively as J. Frequency, an independent artist, creative director, and filmmaker exploring the intersection of contemporary R&B, hip-hop, and artificial intelligence.

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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

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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.

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