Georgia Today – February 16, 2026

Host: Peter Biello (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Main Guests: Michael Moore (Former U.S. Attorney), Spike Lee (Filmmaker), Sarah Kallis (GPB Reporter), Pamela Kirkland (GPB Host)

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today covers three major stories:

• The legal battle over voter data seized in an FBI raid near Atlanta, with civil rights groups seeking limitations on federal use of the data.
• The opening of a high-profile trial against a father whose son committed a mass shooting at a Georgia high school, and the broader legal implications of parental responsibility.
• A reflective interview with Oscar-winner Spike Lee about his film School Daze and its enduring impact, especially as its legacy continues to inspire students and spark dialogue within Black communities.

The episode also touches on an open congressional race, honors the late Chef Joe Randall, highlights innovative Alzheimer's research using music, and shares cultural news on country singer Ray Stevens and the accreditation of the University of Georgia’s new medical school.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legal Fight Over Seized Voter Data

[00:34–01:40]

• Topic: Civil rights groups, led by the NAACP, filed a motion to restrict the federal government's use of voter data seized during a January FBI raid at the Fulton County elections hub.
  • Request to limit use “beyond the stated criminal investigation.”
  • Demand for a complete inventory of seized items.
• Status: Justice Department has not responded to these requests.

2. Trial of School Shooter’s Father Opens

[01:40–06:16]

• Topic: Colin Gray, father of an accused school shooter, is on trial for allegedly allowing his 14-year-old son Colt access to a firearm, resulting in the death of two students and two teachers at Appalachia High School.
  • Prosecutors allege Gray ignored red flags about his son’s obsession with violence, going so far as to mention a “shrine in his bedroom to another school shooter.”
  • Defense argues Gray was unaware of the planned shooting.
  • Trial is in Winder, GA, with jurors from Hall County.

Guest Expert: Michael Moore (Former U.S. Attorney)

Key Insights:

• On criminal liability:

  “The question will be whether or not the parent had enough suspicion and belief, and was it a reasonable belief or fear concern that his child would do something like this, or is it going to be just, hey, I was giving my child a gun so we could hunt?” — Michael Moore [02:20]

• Challenge for prosecution: High burden of proof, especially in proving intent:

  “You have to remember that criminal cases have to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. ... They’ve actually got to look and decide, did the actions of the parent ... cross over the threshold that leads us from maybe civil liability, ... into criminal liability?” — Michael Moore [03:06]

• Legal and legislative implications:

  “They not only have the issue of convincing a jury ... but they also then have to show ... that this was the legislative intent ... So they’ve really had two ... hurdles to cross.” — Michael Moore [04:31]

• Potential impact of conviction:

  “If Mr. Gray is convicted ... you’ll have both a push for the law to be strengthened and then ... a counter that the law as it stands is sufficient to ... not infringe on any claimed arguments about the Second Amendment.” — Michael Moore [05:25]

3. Georgia’s 14th District Congressional Race

[06:19–07:20]

• Topic: Early voting opens for the special election to replace outgoing Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
• Candidates: 19 vying for the seat, a contrast to Greene's celebrity status.
  • Republican Clay Fuller: “I think they’re looking for someone to carry President Trump’s banner, support his agenda and fight for him on Capitol Hill.” [06:53]
  • Democrat Sean Harris: “Farmers are hurting across the board in the district. The people are saying it’s time for something different.” [06:59]
• Date: Election Day is March 10; a runoff is likely.

4. Remembering Chef Joe Randall – “Dean of Southern Cuisine”

[07:20–08:23]

• Topic: Celebrating the life of Chef Joe Randall, Savannah’s culinary ambassador, author of a James Beard Award-winning cookbook, and a champion of Southern hospitality.
  • Known for saying:

    “Cayenne pepper is a foundation to Southern cooking… it’s what I call a little hello in your mouth.” — Joe Randall [07:46] “Food should talk to you. ... If it don’t say nothing, it’s just bland food.” — Joe Randall [07:53]

  • Honored by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
  • Passed away at 79.

5. UGA Medical School Gains Accreditation

[08:23–08:45]

• UGA School of Medicine receives preliminary accreditation, enabling recruitment for its inaugural class, set to begin in the fall.

6. Music & Medicine: Alzheimer’s Research

[08:45–09:29]

• Partnership between Emory University and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to study how live music can benefit Alzheimer’s patients’ moods and cognitive engagement.

  “We invited all of our participants last year to the symphony, and they had such a great experience, we decided we would try to see how this might help persons living with dementia.” — Dr. Monica Parker [09:04]

7. Spike Lee Reflects on ‘School Daze’ and Its Legacy

[09:29–17:16]
Interview conducted by Pamela Kirkland

Notable Segments:

a) Returning to Atlanta and the Roots of School Daze

• Spike Lee, a Morehouse College graduate, discusses his return to Atlanta for a special screening.

  “I was born in Grady Hospital, so you know, I went to college here.” — Spike Lee [10:18] “School Days was my four years at Morehouse.” — Spike Lee [11:00]

b) The Film’s Lasting Relevance

• Lee laments that many issues the movie tackled, such as colorism and activism, are still relevant decades later.

  “I was hoping some of stuff would stop. Here we are, 38 years later, it’s still going on.” — Spike Lee [11:13]

c) On Tackling Internal Community Divisions

> “Very carefully. ... But I consider myself a storyteller. ... It pains me that some of the stuff we were talking about, school Days, was still going through.” — Spike Lee [11:50]

d) School Daze’s Inspirational Power

• Lee is most proud of how School Daze motivated students to pursue higher education.

  “That’s the most important legacy of school days, that people still today, 30, 38 years later, say ... school days is why ... they went to college.” — Spike Lee [12:49]

e) Production Challenges: Kicked Off Morehouse Campus

> “President Gloucester told me that Joe Seneca, the great actor, was too dark and looked like a Sambo. So when he told me that I knew I was doing something right.” — Spike Lee [14:03]

f) On Never Having Doubts

> Q: "Did you ever think ... you might not be able to get the film done?"  
> “Never. ... Hook or Crook was going to get done. ... Even the thing with Gloucester, that even made me think that this is what we’re talking about. This is what the film's about.” — Spike Lee [14:48]

g) Art’s Power in Justice—‘Four Little Girls’

> “They reopened the case and sent those guys [Birmingham church bombers] to prison. Now that is an example of art being used to write injustice.” — Spike Lee [16:00]

8. Ray Stevens’ Savannah Tribute

[17:18–end]

• Country singer Ray Stevens releases a tribute song to Savannah, previewing his forthcoming album.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Michael Moore on Proving Parental Complicity:

  "Did the actions of the parent in providing the gun under these particular circumstances... cross over the threshold that leads us from maybe civil liability ... into criminal liability?" [03:06]

• Spike Lee on Enduring Impact:

  “That’s the most important legacy of school days, that people ... say ... they went to college because of school days.” [12:49]

• Spike Lee on Colorism and Being Kicked Off Campus:

  “President Gloucester told me ... the actor [Joe Seneca] was too dark and looked like a Sambo. So when he told me that I knew I was doing something right.” [14:03]

• Chef Joe Randall on Southern Cooking:

  “Food should talk to you. ... If it don’t say nothing, it’s just bland food.” [07:53]

• Dr. Monica Parker on Music and Dementia:

  "We invited all of our participants last year to the symphony ... we would try to see how this might help persons living with dementia." [09:04]

Important Timestamps

• [00:34] Legal challenge over seized voter data
• [01:40] Opening of school shooter’s father trial
• [02:20] Michael Moore on criminal liability for parents
• [03:06] Burden of proof in criminal intent
• [06:19] Georgia 14th congressional primary coverage
• [07:20] Tribute: Chef Joe Randall
• [08:45] Emory/Atlanta Symphony Alzheimer’s study
• [09:29] Spike Lee interview — School Daze retrospective
• [12:49] Lee on School Daze inspiring college students
• [14:03] Lee on colorism and Morehouse incident
• [16:00] Lee on ‘Four Little Girls’ and art’s real-world impact

Overall Tone

The episode blends news reporting with thoughtful, reflective interviews. The insight from legal experts and cultural icons is direct, unvarnished, and seeks both to inform and to spark further conversation about justice, culture, and legacy in Georgia and beyond.