Betting, Ballots, and Bad Judgments in the Heart of Dixie

Josh and David discuss the ongoing debate and legislative efforts around legalizing gambling in Alabama, including the compromise bill that included a state lottery, electronic casinos in seven locations, and full casinos for the Poarch Creek Indians. They lament Alabama's continued inability to legalize gambling and tap into the associated revenue sources, despite residents already engaging in illegal gambling activities and patronizing nearby states. Margaret Huang, CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, zooms in to discuss the SPLC's new campaign aimed at increasing voter participation among young people, especially youth of color, in the South. A poll they conducted found two main barriers - young people don't believe their vote makes a difference, and they don't see change happening even after voting. The campaign seeks to empower and mobilize the growing youth electorate in the South by making a clear case for why their votes matter and facilitating their participation. In the close, David and Josh discuss several troubling cases in Alabama's criminal justice system, and the callous indifference of prosecutors unwilling to admit wrongful convictions. And they name this week's Right Wing Nut(s) of the Week. About Our Sponsor: Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality. Gaming is the heart of Wind Creek Hospitality, but they offer so much more. Wind Creek's 10 distinct properties in the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — provide world-class entertainment, dining, hotel stays, amenities and activities. As the principal gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Wind Creek continues to grow and offer guests luxurious destinations and opportunities for escape. Send us a question: We take a bit of time each week to answer questions from our audience about Alabama politics — or Alabama in general. If you have a question about a politician, a policy, or a trend — really anything — you can shoot us an email at [email protected] or with this form. You can also send it to us on Facebook and Twitter. Or by emailing us a voice recording to our email with your question, and we may play it on air. Either way, make sure you include your name (first name is fine) and the city or county where you live. About APW: APW is a weekly Alabama political podcast hosted by Josh Moon and David Person, two longtime Alabama political journalists. More information is available on our website. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Music credits: Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive. Visit Mr. Smith's page here.