Rep. Hank Johnson on RAP Act, the full toll of inequitable mental health care, and remembering Otis Redding

September 9th, 2022

Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., recently introduced the Restoring Artistic Protection Act, or RAP Act, to limit the use of lyrics and other creative works in criminal cases.

Alex Brandon / AP Photo

Should an artist’s lyrics be used against them as evidence in court? Some members of Congress are considering new protections as prosecutors cite the lyrics of Atlanta-based rapper Young Thug in the ongoing RICO case against him.

On this edition of “Closer Look,” Rep. Hank Johnson talks about why he recently introduced the Restoring Artistic Protection Act to limit the use of lyrics and other creative works in criminal cases.

Also, a new study from the Satcher Institute from the Morehouse School of Medicine found that inequities in mental health care led to 117,000 lives lost and cost about $278 billion between 2016 and 2020. Daniel Dawes, professor and executive director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute, talks about what the results mean for addressing mental health care reform.

Plus, an archive interview with the son and nephew of Otis Redding, as we remember the late musician on what would have been his 81st birthday.