Political Breakfast from WABE: Recent Episodes
WABE
Every Wednesday morning on the Political Breakfast podcast, veteran Atlanta journalist Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson deliver Georgia’s best analysis of local politics with a weekly dose of informed, respectful and lively discussion.
During Georgia’s state legislative session, Political Breakfast presents the pop-up podcast Gold Dome Scramble every Monday morning as host Lisa Rayam talks with reporters from the WABE newsroom to break things down for our listeners — the issues being considered, and the bills getting sorted through various committees at the Georgia State Capitol.
This edition of Political Breakfast explores the powerful role money and public perception play in Georgia elections.
Brian, Tharon, and Lisa examine how candidates with larger campaign war chests often gain a significant advantage that can translate into more voter support.
We also discuss how a candidate's reputation can be affected by the company they keep!
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On this episode of Political Breakfast, Polling and Emoting explores the intersection of public opinion and campaign strategy by taking a closer look at the latest polls in Georgia and what they may reveal about the state's political landscape.
In addition, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson, along with host Lisa Rayam, talk about the emotional dynamics of the campaign trail. They explore whether a candidate's emotional appeal can influence public perception, shape momentum, and ultimately translate into votes on Election Day.
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On today's Political Breakfast, our Republican strategist Brian Robinson responds to some listener feedback, wondering how his current role of advising the Rick Jackson campaign for Georgia governor, really works in tandem with his job untangling Georgia politics on WABE.
Plus, our Democratic strateigst Tharon Johnson also talks about his past roles as a campaign advisor, for former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and others.
We also break down the recent Toast on Lenox-Rick Jackson photo controversy. Brian and Tharon talk about Jackson's visit to the Atlanta Black-owned breakfast spot. It's now being subjected to calls for a boycott.
And more polls, polls, polls. We breakdown how a new poll released Monday morning and analyzed by the AJC, shows Democrats hold an early advantage in the Georgia Governor's race.
BUT the pollsters acknowledge that much of that edge depends on voters who are LESS likely to turn up at the polls, when the race for president is not on the ballot. The poll also acknowledges that their sample could lean a little bit bluer than the overall Georgia electorate.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist AnréWashington is filling-in for Tharon Johnson, alongside Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam.
We start with FIFA fever in Atlanta! It's the last week of the 2026 World Cup. England will face Argentina at 3 pm at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Will the soccer culture and spirit stay in Atlanta when the World Cup run ends?
Plus, more polls are out, a few weeks after the competitive Georgia primary elections. Even though polls don't tell the WHOLE story, our strategists believe they take a pretty good pulse of how Georgia voters are feeling.
One from Fox News shows Democrats leading by a significant amount in both the Governor's race and the race for U.S. Senate. But another poll from Wick Research shows both races are deadlocked.
Plus, the group reacts to South Carolina Republican Lindsay Graham's death over the weekend, after what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.” Even though he never represented the Peach State, he became intertwined with Georgia politics over the years.
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On this week's Political Breakfast: Lately it's been less about politics in our news feed, and all about the FIFA World Cup! As we recorded, Atlanta was getting ready for its second knockout stage match at Mercedes Benz Stadium, with Argentina battling Egypt.
In the heat of Atlanta hosting the World Cup, a recent U.S. Census Bureau report estimates Georgia's population has grown by more than a half million people in the past five years, and continues to diversify.
The data shows that nonwhite residents account for all of the growth.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam break down how these changing demographics could play an integral role in who get's elected come November.
Plus, Republican Rick Jackson has spent 108 million of his own money on his campaign for Georgia Governor. That broke a campaign spending record. And recently we saw Georgia's Democratic nominee for Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms campaign in Savannah with U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff.
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On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, we're addressing a surprise move during a special session called by Governor Brian Kemp.
The plan was to redraw Georgia's congressional and state legislative districts. That's in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted a key portion in the Voting Rights Act on redistricting.
Now critics say Republican-held states across the South could likely redraw their maps and put seats typically held by Democrats at risk.
But yesterday, Republican House leaders wrote a letter to Kemp, and decided that changes to the maps will not happen this summer during the session. They cite the changes should only happen after a deliberative process, providing the public enough time for input.
Democrats are celebrating the news. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is one of them. He, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break down the news.
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After months of candidates stumping for high-profile endorsements, spending millions of dollars on attack ads and traveling across the state, today's the day.
The polls are open for Georgia's primary runoff election.
Some of the most contentious races are on the Republican ballot, including the runoffs for U.S. Senate and Governor.
One race that's gotten some extra attention this week: the race for Democrat Jon Ossoff's U.S. Senate seat. President Donald Trump gave an 11th-hour endorsement of current Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins. But strategists ask: why so late? Trump posted his endorsement on Truth Social at 1 am on Sunday.
The runoff election pits Collins against Republican Derek Dooley, a former football coach at the University of Tennessee, who has the support of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
How will the Kemp versus Trump endorsement play-out among voters? Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam discuss.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, we're starting off with an increasingly contentious local race ahead of the June primary runoff elections: the race for Fulton County Commission Chair.
Longtime incumbent Robb Pitts is being challenged by former District 4 Commissioner Mo Ivory. Recent debates between the two have been fiery and full of personal attacks.
One issue voters are bringing up is age. Pitts is now in his mid-80s. How does ageism play into these elections -- from the Fulton Commission Chair, all the way up to the Georgia governor's race? Do these attacks on age have merit?
Plus, Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is now focusing his campaign for governor on safety concerns for Atlanta MARTA riders.
That's after President Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the feds are launching an investigation into how MARTA spends its money. The transit authority has dealt with a series of violent incidents just weeks ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Democratic strategist and attorney Anré Washington is here filling-in for strategist Tharon Johnson this week. Washington, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam sort through this.
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This week on Political Breakfast, we're talking about party unity, and endorsements pouring-in as the dust settles from Georgia's May primary elections.
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Georgia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Keisha Lance Bottoms, are joining forces ahead of the general election in November.
Is the entire Democratic base united to support the former Atlanta Mayor? If elected, Bottoms would become the first Black woman to take the state's highest office.
On the Republican side, unity is dicey. That's as political outsider and billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson and current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones prepare for a June 16th runoff. The winner with face Bottoms in November.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break all this down.
Plus, Republicans are now having mixed feelings about redrawing Georgia's district lines.
And Georgia's gas tax suspension has ended. Now Georgians are rushing to fill up their tanks, before those prices at the pumps creep-up.
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On this week's Political Breakfast: The campaign for billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson confirmed with WABE he will NOT be part of Monday's Atlanta Press Club debate, in the battle for the Republican nomination in the Georgia governor's race.
His opponent, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, is now prepared to face an empty podium on Monday afternoon at 2:45, and answer questions from a panel of journalists alone. He also criticized Jackson for not showing up on social media.
Jackson's campaign cited a scheduling conflict: an event with Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. The campaign said in a statement that the APC could not accommodate later dates, so Jackson has accepted Gray TV's invitation to debate on President Trump's birthday, or Flag Day on June 14th, "when runoff voters will be fully engaged and making a decision ahead of Election Day."
Meanwhile, Democratic nominee and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms dominated in the May primary with 56 percent of the vote. She will face either Jones or Jackson in November.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, we have a quick recap of a critical Election Day for Georgia's 2026 May primary.
A large chunk of undecided Georgia voters showed up to the polls on Tuesday, and completely changed the game.
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms dominated in the race for the Democratic nomination for Georgia Governor. She's now free to focus on the November general election, where she'll face the GOP nominee.
On the Republican side, billionaire businessman and healthcare CEO Rick Jackson and Lt. Governor Burt Jones will head to a June runoff election.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson both share more insight on the bloodbath ahead with host Lisa Rayam.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, we're in the final stretch of early voting for the May primaries! Early voting ends this Friday. Election Day is May 19th.
The Georgia Governor's race has been dominating our conversations on this podcast. Now it's time to turn to the U.S. Senate race.
Republican Governor Brian Kemp has endorsed former football coach Derek Dooley in hopes he can flip the seat held by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
Is the Kemp clout working?
Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson weigh-in with host Lisa Rayam.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team discusses recent polling. Are they spot on or not?
Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson share their take with Lisa Rayam. A recent AJC poll on the Democratic Race for Governor is at the center of the conversation.
In addition, the team sorts through the recent US Supreme Court Decision regarding the Voting Rights Act and the state of Louisiana. What are the ramifications here in Georgia?
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson, Brian Robinson, and Host Lisa Rayam talk about the art of debating.
The debate season kicks off in Georgia just as early voting gets underway. Do the candidates truly benefit from participating in this long-established routine?
Also, the team focuses on the Gubernatorial candidates and what the debate process specifically means for the top two candidates from each party.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, the team was pleased to record the podcast in front of a live studio audience at the Brookhaven City Centre.
More than a hundred listeners showed-up to hear host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.
They started off by discussing the latest in the Georgia Governor's race, GOP infighting and if the top candidates are focused on the needs of ordinary Georgians?
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On this week's Political Breakfast, the candidates in the Georgia Governor's race are in the final weeks to reach voters -- whether that's through big ad spending, or showing up for public forums and debates.
The front-runners are still Republican billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson, and former Democratic Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
The May 19th primary is fast approaching, and polls show there's still a ton of undecided voters.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson tell host Lisa Rayam that the remaining weeks will make a huge difference.
Plus, Atlanta leaders say they're deeply troubled by the recent uptick in gun violence. Much of that violence has happened during so-called 'Teen Takeovers' across the metro.
The Atlanta Police Department is still investigating many of these shootings, and are urging parents to know where their kids are...or else face charges.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, the final gavel banged on Sine Die. Georgia's 2026 Legislative Session is over. But as the dust settles and bills head to Governor Brian Kemp's desk for his signature, host Lisa Rayam asks Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson about the overall vibe under the Gold Dome.
The gang shares that the session ended with more animosity than normal between both chambers, and some hard feelings.
That's as lawmakers begin clearing out their desks and refocus on the upcoming elections.
Besides major offices like Georgia Governor, Secretary of State and U.S. Senate, all of our state Representatives and Senators are up for re-election this year.
Plus, the potential for a special session? State lawmakers failed to pass legislation on the final day of the Georgia General Assembly to tackle a self-imposed July 1st deadline, to end the use of QR codes to count votes. Now they could be summoned back in May or June, to tackle how Georgians will vote in future elections.
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On today's Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam goes live with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.
That's as some metro Atlanta voters line up to cast their ballots in a special election, to fill the seat of former Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Georgia's 14th Congressional District stretches from the northwest corner of the state down into Cobb County.
Voters will decide whether Republican Clay Fuller or Democrat Shawn Harris will represent them in Congress. Greene resigned from her seat in January. She left Congress after a falling-out with her former ally, President Donald Trump.
The war in Iran has been one dominating issue on the campaign trail. Fuller, who is endorsed by Trump, backs the Trump Administration's strikes in Iran.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, we cover majoring bickering between Republicans running for Georgia Governor.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson are on the attack.
Jones has accused Jackson's company, Alpharetta-based Jackson Healthcare, of allowing doctors to perform transgender treatment on minors and prison inmates, and placing staff inside Planned Parenthood facilities.
Jackson has accused Jones of using corrupt fundraising methods, and being a "stone cold liar."
Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson talk with host Lisa Rayam about how that's affecting the other top GOP candidates and the Democrats too.
In addition, the team talks about the travel troubles at the nation's airports, including Hartsfield Jackson International in Atlanta.
The partisan divide in Congress over voting on funding the Department of Homeland Security, has translated into TSA agents working weeks without a pay check. Many have called it quits -- which means if you're flying, airport officials say you'll be waiting at least 4 hours to get through security.
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On this week's first edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam. All have thoughts about the race to represent Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, formerly held by Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Greene resigned in January after a falling-out with her once-ally, President Donald Trump.
The top two candidates in a special election last week are now advancing to an April 7th runoff. One, surprisingly, is a Democrat.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson are back from spring break -- and are immediately bombarded with political headlines to catch up on.
On Tuesday there's a crowded field of candidates vying to fill Georgia's 14th Congressional District seat, left vacant by former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. One person watching this race closely is MTG's former ally, President Donald Trump.
Plus, Brian and Tharon wrap-up 2026 General Election candidate qualifying news, and analyze which bills "crossed over" to the state House or Senate on Crossover Day -- the halfway mark during Georgia's legislative session. What's now getting all the attention under Georgia's Gold Dome?
The group also recaps the U.S.-Israeli airstrkes on Iran and the escalating geopolitical conflict in the region. That's spiking gas prices at the pump across Georgia and the nation.
The current average price of regular gas in Atlanta is $3.36 cents. It's gone up 68 cents in the last month, when prices were at an average of $2.68, according to AAA.
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On today's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam and are honing-in on next week's candidate qualifying period for the 2026 General Election cycle.
The period runs from next Monday to Friday. Candidates have until then to officially qualify for state races like Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General.
All Georgia Senators, Georgia Representatives and U.S. Representatives are up for re-election this year. So is one U.S. Senate seat, held by Democrat Jon Ossoff.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom came to town to stump for former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the Georgia governor's race over the weekend.
He stressed how important it is for voters to mobilize, especially in wake of the recent federal raid on Fulton County's election office.
But some comments Newsom made alongside moderator and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens sparked controversy -- and parts of his speech, edited and shared without full context, are being amplified by MAGA media and some Republican lawmakers, including President Trump himself.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson calls it rage bait. Republican strategist Brian Robinson says, it's all part of politics. Both break down this viral Newsom video with host Lisa Rayam.
Plus, a federal judge just ruled against Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, deciding that Jones can no longer raise millions for his campaign through a special fundraising committee. It's a blow to Jones' campaign.
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This week WABE presents a special edition of Political Breakfast, broadcasting from the iconic Atlanta meet-up spot, Manuel's Tavern.
Opened decades ago by Atlanta's own fiery politician Manuel Maloof, it's well-known watering hole where folks from both sides of the aisle, have always sat together, enjoyed a beer or burger, and talked.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined host Lisa Rayam to do a wrap-up of the month's top political stories in Georgia.
That includes the latest in the Georgia Governor's race -- as California Governor Gavin Newsom is coming to headline a fundraiser for the frontrunner on the Democratic side, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Tharon and Brian Robinson break down the polarizing opinions on this Newsom visit, and the latest shake-up in the field of Republican candidates.
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This week on Political Breakfast, we're talking taxes.
Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones introduced officially introduced legislation in the Senate to cut the state's income tax for most Georgians.
His proposal includes phasing-out the tax over the next six years, fully eliminating it by 2032.
Meanwhile on the House side, there's a similar proposal to cut property taxes.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam respond to the questions many are asking: Will these bills ultimately help working Georgians? Are they going to make it past crossover day under the Gold Dome?
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It seems like a two-way race for the Democratic nomination in Georgia's gubernatorial race, between frontrunner and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.
That's as the latest polling and campaign contributions are reported.
But Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson tell host Lisa Rayam, It's not over till it's over -- the numbers are still murky, and there's still a chance for candidates in the single digits to push forward.
Meanwhile on the Republican side, GOP titans are dominating campaign contributions in this race.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about the latest candidate to jump into Georgia's gubernatorial race.
It's already a crowded race on both sides. Now billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, founder and CEO of Alpharetta-based Jackson Healthcare, has made a million-dollar splash.
But will Jackson's spending power be able to compete with high-profile names in the Republican primary, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has the endorsement of President Donald Trump, as well as Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger?
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On this week's Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, along with prominent lawmakers like Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, traveled to Sea Island for a state Department of Natural Resources fundraiser.
However, the talk of the benefit was the recent FBI raid in Fulton County, and the seizure of 2020 election records.
Republicans like Raffensperger are breaking their silence on the issue, urging the GOP to stop trying to "rerun" President Donald Trump's 2020 election grievances. Trump has repeatedly insisted the 2020 election was stolen, despite multiple recounts and audits confirming his loss to former President Joe Biden.
Plus, legislation to ban phones and other electronic devices in Georgia public high schools is underway at the Gold Dome this week.
House Bill 1009 would ban devices starting in the 2027-28 school year.
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On this week's latest edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about some jarring election news.
The FBI raided Fulton County’s election operations center Wednesday in Union City, in a search for voting records tied to the 2020 election.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted the election was stolen, with a particular focus on ballots in Fulton County. That's despite multiple recounts and audits confirming his loss to former President Joe Biden.
Georgia Democrats and Fulton elections officials are blasting the raid, where 700 boxes of 2020 election records were taken. The Democratic Party of Georgia chair Charlie Bailey called Trump's governance "increasingly manic." Georgia Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff called the raid Trump's "sore loser's crusade."
Tharon and Brian respond to the question: Is this return to Trump's political grievances from more than 5 years ago, going to damage the Republican party?
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On today's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about a looming partial government shutdown.
Congress has until this Friday to pass a series of appropriation bills, and U.S. Senate Democrats are rallying to reject a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. That's in response to the latest shooting of the 37-year-old ICU nurse, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis, that involved federal immigration agents.
Now Georgia Democrats, and even some Republicans, are criticizing how the Trump Administration has handled the fallout. Stephen Miller, Trump's homeland security adviser, called Pretti a “domestic terrorist.”
Videos from bystanders do not show Pretti brandishing a weapon -- but do show a group of agents tackling Pretti and shooting him several times. Officials say he was legally armed.
Georgia U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have both announced they will oppose the government funding package.
Former Georgia U.S. Rep. Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene also defended Pretti, and said there was nothing wrong with him legally peacefully protesting.
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On this week's live version of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam examine Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's last budget.
Kemp laid it all out in his final 'State of the State' address last week, where he also set his priorities at the start of the legislative session.
His budget includes a billion in tax rebates for Georgians, a 20-point reduction of the state income tax, a two thousand dollar check for teachers and other state employees and a new need-based scholarship for those attending Georgia colleges and universities.
It also includes nearly 2 billion for new toll lanes on I-75 south of Atlanta, to unclog the interstate, and more money for money for new interchanges on Georgia 316 and local road projects.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, we're going into the first week of Georgia's legislative session -- which means strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam are keeping busy and keeping up with lawmakers' top priorities.
In this economy, everyone wants to focus on "affordability."
The Senate wants to start eliminating the state income tax by 2032. A proposal by Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones would get rid of income taxes for two-thirds of Georgians, and phase out the rest over six years.
On the House side, GOP lawmakers want to slow the growth of Georgians' property taxes.
Democrats ask: How are we going to pay for essential services? And who will ultimately benefit?
Plus, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp prepares to deliver his last 'State of the State.'
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On this live edition of Political Breakfast, we cover how two-time Democratic nominee for governor Stacey Abrams announced that she is not running for office in 2026.
Abrams said in a statement that instead she'll continue her work fighting against what's happening in Washington, as "since January 2025, we have watched our nation descend into authoritarianism.”
There's already a crowded field on the Democratic side, including familiar names like former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react.
Plus, a quick look ahead at some priorities for Georgia's 2026 legislative session, which starts on Monday.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam return LIVE and wish our listeners a happy new year!
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was sworn into his second term on Monday, along with all members of the Atlanta City Council.
The crowd also heard from newly sworn-in Atlanta City Council President Marci Collier Overstreet.
Plus, we cover what's potentially next for Georgia's former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Republican resigned from her conservative northwest Georgia district. Her last day was Monday.
This past weekend, Greene continued to speak out against President Donald Trump -- criticizing the U.S. capturing of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Greene was once one of Trump's most loyal supporters, but split with him on issues including his initial stance on the release of the Epstein files and on foreign affairs.
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On today's Political Breakfast, someone paid millions for a new attack ad against Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, to wound him in the 2026 primary race for Georgia governor.
Jones is the frontrunner in the race, and has President Trump's endorsement.
There's speculation that whoever DID pay, has to be someone on the inside of Georgia's GOP -- masquerading under the name, 'Georgians for Integrity.'
Now, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson speculate who's behind it, with host Lisa Rayam.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, we head northeast, where Georgia Democrats gained a House seat recently during a special election.
Democrat Eric Gisler's victory for a Athens-area State House seat came after Republicans won that seat last year -- by more than 20 percent. Gisler will replace Republican Rep. Marcus Wiedower, who resigned to focus on his job.
National and Georgia Democratic leaders are now all talking about how this shows blue momentum going into the 2026 midterms.
The win has huge implications and has Georgia's GOP, as well as strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, talking about this blue momentum with host Lisa Rayam.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, we're doing a recap of some local runoff election results. The cities of East Point, Roswell, Sandy Springs and South Fulton were all electing mayors last Tuesday. Voters chose new ones in all except Sandy Springs.
The City of Roswell surprised many as a completely blue flip, as former Democratic State Representative Mary Robichaux nabbed 53 percent of the vote, and defeated incumbent Republican Mayor Kurt Wilson.
But it was a different story in nearby Sandy Springs, as Mayor Rusty Paul cruised to a fourth term, getting 69 percent of the vote and a nearly 7-thousand margin victory, over Democratic challenger Dontaye Carter.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson focus on those races in north Atlanta with host Lisa Rayam.
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On today's Political Breakfast, it's runoff election day, when many key races should be decided.
Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson join host Lisa Rayam to give insight on a few of them -- including runoff races that involve incumbent mayors in Sandy Springs and Roswell.
Voters in South Fulton and East Point are also selecting new mayors.
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Georgia U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene dropped a bombshell that strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson said was in the works for some time. Both agree the signs were there -- even before President Donald Trump called her a traitor.
Still, Greene resigning caught some off guard, maybe even Trump himself. On this episode, Tharon and Brian discuss with host Lisa Rayam MTG's politics, hopes for redemption and her possible resurgence, as well as resilience.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast: Democrats are calling it "Brian's Blunder." That's referring to a campaign ad for Republicans to unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026.
In it, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is supporting former University of Tennessee football coach, and political outsider, Derek Dooley. The ad blames Dooley's opponents who already have power in Washington for the longest government shutdown in U.S. history: Republican U.S. Representatives Buddy Carter and Mike Collins.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson delve deeper with Lisa Rayam, into why state and national Republicans are criticizing Kemp.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, we talk about the very public rift between President Donald Trump, and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene -- who Trump now calls Marjorie "Traitor" Greene.
Greene said on CNN this week that she wants to "put down the knives in politics" and is rethinking her past divisive antics.
What do Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson think about this very uncharacteristic apology, and how Greene will have to navigate the Georgia political landscape in the future? Both share their thoughts with host Lisa Rayam.
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A new AJC poll shows former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is dominating early in the 2026 Georgia governor's race on the Democratic side. Behind her, is former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.
On the Republican side, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones leads, with the endorsement from President Donald Trump. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger trails behind him.
It's important to note: Both parties still have a large swath of undecided voters.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson weigh-in on this with host Lisa Rayam.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, the federal government shutdown may be nearing an end, but it hasn't happened just yet. A key vote took place in Washington but Georgia's two Democratic U.S. Senators were NOT on board with the majority. Why not?
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson weigh-in with host Lisa Rayam on what Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock may have been thinking.
How could they be against reopening the government in the midst of massive flight cancellations across the country, and TSA workers reporting malaise because they are not getting paid?
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On today's Political Breakfast, we talk about some of the most hotly contested races in this November's election across metro Atlanta, and Georgia's only statewide race.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson break down the Georgia Public Service Commission results and their national implications with host, Lisa Rayam.
Rising electricity bills have been worrying families across the state. They've gone up six times in the past few years, under the current, all-Republican commission.
Plus, they analyze the very close race for Atlanta City Council President.
Two-term Atlanta City Council member Marci Collier Overstreet declares victory even though her opponent, Rohit Malhotra, garnered almost 50 percent of the vote.
What are Atlanta voters really trying to say?
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It's time for Political Breakfast's Election Day coverage -- but before you listen, if you haven't yet, get to your precinct before the polls close!
The PSC has five elected members who have final say over Georgia Power’s rates and plans for making electricity. All five are currently held by Republicans. Two seats are being challenged by Democrats. Turnout will be key in determining if the Dems can flip those seats.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam talk about some other races that should be on the radar. In the city of Atlanta, voters will choose the mayor, city council president, 15 city council seats, and several Atlanta school board seats.
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This week WABE presents a special edition of Political Breakfast, broadcasting from the iconic Atlanta meet-up spot, Manuel's Tavern.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined host Lisa Rayam to do a wrap-up of the month's top political stories in Georgia: just a few days ahead of Election Day on November 4th.
Some background: Manuel's opened decades ago, and was run by Atlanta's own fiery politician Manuel Maloof. It's a well-known watering hole where folks from both sides of the aisle have always sat together, enjoyed a beer or burger, and talked.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, we discuss the specter of the No Kings Protest in Atlanta. Thousands turned out and actually PEACEFULLY protested Trump-era politics. Many high-profile speakers addressed enthusiastic crowds. One in particular was two-time Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. She's been quiet lately. Does her taking the podium signal she's ready to take on the political spotlight again?
Executive Director of the Atlanta Civic Circle Saba Long, who is in for Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson, shared their thoughts with host Lisa Rayam
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Two Republicans who sit on Georgia's Public Service Commission -- Tim Echols of District 2 and Fitz Johnson of District 3 — are being challenged by Democratic candidates Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard.
It's a race that has gone under the radar: until now.
All five seats are currently held by Republicans. So Democrats are stumping loudly about utility affordability
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson stress with host Lisa Rayam how voters need to pay attention: and turn out for race that ultimately affects their households.
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Former Democrat-turned-Republican state Rep. Vernon Jones, who crowd-surfed at Georgia Trump rally, announced Monday he's running for the job of Georgia's chief elections officer.
Jones joins a growing and competitive pool of candidates for Georgia Secretary of State.
That includes former state elections official, Gabriel Sterling, who took a ton of heat in 2020 from Donald Trump and rebuked Trump's claims the 2020 presidential election results were rigged.
Host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson debate if Jones has a chance to compete.
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On today's Political Breakfast: Republican candidates are beefing-up their war chests in hopes the money will talk enough to help unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff next year.
Ossoff's campaign reports he has 21 million in the bank.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss the numbers that are rolling in from his GOP opponents with host Lisa Rayam.
Political outsider Derek Dooley announced Monday that he's raised nearly 2 million in his first stretch of the race. He's also got the endorsement of Governor Brian Kemp.
Another GOP opponent, Congressman Mike Collins, went head-to-head with Dooley and said he's also raised $1.9 million, and that he is transferring another million from his congressional account. The final candidate, Congressman Buddy Carter, has not yet posted.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, it's week two of the federal government shutdown, and that's taking a toll on workers who are going without pay at the world's busiest airport in Atlanta.
Many are already living paycheck to paycheck. Now: half a paycheck to half a paycheck, thanks to the stall in Washington.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss how this is becoming more entangled in Georgia, and national politics. Plus, we hear from a local union representative for TSA workers, Aaron Barker.
If the shutdown lags on, could this become a national security issue?
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This week WABE presents a special edition of Political Breakfast, broadcasting from the iconic Atlanta meet-up spot, Manuel's Tavern.
Opened decades ago by Atlanta's own fiery politician Manuel Maloof, it's well-known watering hole where folks from both sides of the aisle have always sat together, enjoyed a beer or burger, and talked.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined host Lisa Rayam to do a wrap-up of the month's top political stories in Georgia.
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On today's Political Breakfast, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is the clear frontrunner in the Democratic Primary for Georgia Governor.
The left-leaning Public Policy Polling group surveyed 620 likely Democratic primary voters earlier this month, and found Bottoms is leading by 38 percent. That's while Michael Thurmond got 12 percent, Geoff Duncan 9 percent, Jason Esteves 4 percent, Derrick Jackson 2 percent, and Olu Brown 1 percent. 36 percent of respondents said they were undecided.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss the importance of name recognition and Bottoms' past decisions leading Atlanta, with host Lisa Rayam.
Plus, a quick look at the State Senate special election runoff results. Republican Jason Dickerson defeated nationally-backed Democrat Debra Shigley in a special election runoff
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On today's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam focus on the Tuesday State Sen. special election runoff. That's in deep-red District 21, that covers parts of northern Fulton and Cherokee Counties.
It's getting national attention, as Democratic National Convention Chair Ken Martin is in Georgia campaigning for Democratic candidate Debra Shigley.
Shigley is running to replace Brandon Beach, who resigned to join the Trump Administration.
Voters will decide between Shigley and Republican Jason Dickerson. Is the GOP nervous? Shigley won 40 percent of the district's votes back in August.
Plus, will the candidates running for Georgia Governor ever escape the shadows of the 2020 presidential election? Nearly six years later, what transpired between Georgia leaders and now-President Donald Trump is still on voter's minds.
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In the final episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali, along with producer Brendan Rivers, discuss the last four unprecedented years in Georgia politics.
Plus, a preview of what the WABE newsroom will be keeping an eye on over the coming months.
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The pool of candidates running for Georgia Governor has grown by three this week alone.
Former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, now a Democrat, jumped in the race, along with Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Then came the lesser known businessman and board chair of the YMCA of metro Atlanta, Clark Dean.
That's who strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson wanted to talk about with host Lisa Rayam.
Plus, the team discusses the hundreds detained in an immigration raid at the multi-billion dollar Hyundai electric vehicle plant. More than 300 workers are now back in South Korea.
The raid at the factory just outside Savannah was described as the largest immigration enforcement operation carried out at a single location by the United States Department of Homeland Security in its history.
It now puts Georgia Republicans like Governor Brian Kemp in an awkward position. He spent years building relationships with South Korean companies to grow Georgia's economy.
The raid alarmed South Korean leaders and also raised concerns about foreign companies investing in the United States in the future.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss the "amplified discussions" surrounding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that are taking place online and around the coffee table.
Plus, a look back at political violence and its consequences throughout American history.
The team also talks about Atlanta Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workers returning to the office after working from home for nearly a month.
Many say they are still traumatized after a gunman shot-up the Atlanta campus, killing a DeKalb County police officer. Are they returning too soon?
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Georgia Republicans spent years building ties with companies in South Korea, culminating with Hyundai building a multi-billion dollar electric vehicle plant outside of Savannah.
But last week, a battery factory at the site was raided by federal immigration agents, who detained more than 300 South Korean citizens.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a closer look at the ongoing fallout from the Hyundai raid.
Plus, WABE Immigration Reporter Emily Wu Pearson takes listeners to a federal immigration detention facility in Georgia.
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On today's Political Breakfast, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam reflect on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The controversial debater and podcast host was fatally shot Wednesday at Utah Valley University. Thousands showed up to Kirk's first fall 2025 college event, which was set to kick-off a national tour.
Kirk is credited with mobilizing young Republicans to the polls. He made stops in Georgia in the past, including at UGA last October. Georgia lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are condemning the violence.
Plus, this week Atlanta is honoring a 21-year veteran DeKalb County firefighter, who died battling a commercial fire in Lithonia.
Preston Fant was trapped after trying to rescue another firefighter, as they worked to put out flames in a film studio warehouse.
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On today's Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam broadcasts live with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson to give the rundown on Raffensperger.
The Secretary of State has not officially announced a campaign for the Georgia Governor's race in 2026, and is also rumored to be exploring a run for U.S. Senate.
But the Republican is not universally supported within the Georgia GOP. In June of 2025, GOP convention delegates passed a resolution to prevent him from qualifying as a Republican candidate, even though its legal legitimacy has been questioned.
Raffensperger also faced opposition from President Donald Trump, but survived those political attacks.
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Earlier this year, state lawmakers created a new process for compensating Georgians who have been wrongfully convicted and jailed.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take listeners inside some of the first hearings, where judges and lawyers are trying to navigate a new process somewhat on the fly.
Plus, Governor Brian Kemp has officially endorsed his pick to take on U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff next year and lawmakers mark one year since the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School.
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp finally did it! He endorsed Republican Derek Dooley for a run for United States Senate. Dooley's name is popular but the man himself is considered "an outsider" ; "a newcomer" to Georgia politics. Kemp hopes that will be the draw to topple the Democratic incumbent, Senator Jon Ossoff.
Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson along with host Lisa Rayam talk about the "Kemp Factor" and contemplate if it is powerful enough to silence Dooley's GOP contenders--U.S Representatives Buddy Carter and Mike Collins.
Also, the team talks about the candidates running for Georgia Attorney General.
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The Trump administration is looking to fire two top federal officials with Atlanta ties that would likely have national implications.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss moves to fire a Georgia-born Federal Reserve Governor and the director of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Plus, Governor Brian Kemp has dispatched the national guard to help with immigration enforcement as President Donald Trump deploys guardsmen on the streets of Washington, D.C. and we take a look at why a judge is holding the Fulton County Commission in contempt of court.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang taps into rumors of former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who recently converted to the Democratic Party, running for Georgia Governor. The 2026 race is crowded and competitive on both sides of the aisle.
Plus, Gabe Sterling, one of the faces of Georgia's Secretary of State's office, is stepping down from his position as Chief Operating Officer. Does he have his eyes set on somewhere else?
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson, and host Lisa Rayam also commemorate the 20-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which drove and estimated 100 thousand evacuees to Georgia. Many stayed and continued to live in metro Atlanta. The city also honored the 62nd anniversary of the March on Washington over the weekend.
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Two national figures made stops in Georgia this week to test out political messaging for the 2026 elections.
Meanwhile, four major U.S. Senate candidates all gathered in one room.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Rahul Bali and Brendan Rivers discuss the early start to the campaign season.
Plus, Fulton County Commissioners defy a judge’s order and could face jail time and a Georgian who rose to national prominence during the 2020 election considers running for Secretary of State.
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This week Atlanta is paying final respects to DeKalb County Officer David Rose, who was killed during a shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month.
Authorities say Patrick Joseph White targeted the CDC, and blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his mental health issues. He died by suicide after firing roughly 500 shots at CDC buildings.
The union representing CDC workers warns about the continued spread of vaccine disinformation, especially by leaders like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. They say the violence is a result of the vilification of government employees, fueled by the Trump Administration.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, and host Lisa Rayam break down all of this.
Plus, both Tharon and Brian agree: As candidates for Georgia Governor like Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Attorney General Chris Carr show their allegiance to Trump, one new name could shake things up.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger may soon jump into the race. Raffensperger defied Trump in 2020 as the president allegedly conspired to overturn Georgia's election results.
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Employees at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been left shaken after a man fired hundreds of bullets at the Atlanta headquarters and killed a police officer.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” WABE Criminal Justice Reporter Chamain Cruz and WABE Health Reporter Jess Mador join hosts Rahul Bali, Sam Gringlas and Brendan Rivers with an update on the investigation and how the shooting is the latest example of increasing threats, and sometimes violence, directed at public officials and institutions.
Plus, more candidates jump into Georgia’s 2026 statewide races.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react to former DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond's long-awaited campaign launch for the Democratic primary in the Georgia Governor's race.
One question being addressed: Will a more moderate Thurmond be able to bring Democrats together at a time when what unites most is just hating President Donald Trump?
Plus, the legal drama brewing between the gubernatorial candidates. Attorney General Chris Carr sues Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Meantime, Jones nabs a critical endorsement from President Trump.
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Former President and Georgia native Jimmy Carter created the U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Emergency Management Agency back in 1979. But now President Donald Trump is calling for these two departments, among others, to be dismantled.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali look at how debates over the shape of the federal government during Carter’s time can shed light on what’s happening today.
Plus, a look at bathroom parity at the State Capitol, off-schedule redistricting appears to be off the table for Georgia Republicans, an update on drama over appointments to the Fulton County Board of Elections and census data suggests that Metro Atlanta’s population boom may be slowing.
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It's official: Derek Dooley is the latest Republican to jump into the race to eventually challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff. The former University of Tennessee football coach joined the GOP primary and announced his campaign in a video that honored his late father, the legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam agree: there's power in the Dooley name. But the endorsements are also rolling in for U.S. Rep. Mike Collins.
Plus, Republican Janelle King sits on the State Election Board. Her husband, Kelvin King, is running for Secretary of State. Both are part of the Black Voices for Trump Coalition and have been critical of the current office and its handling of Georgia's elections.
But King says she won’t surrender her position just because her husband is running, citing there’s no legal obligation for her to do so. If he wins, “that’s a different discussion,” she said.
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Last week there was speculation that U.S. Rep. Mike Collins was going to jump into the Georgia Senate race for the Republican nomination. The Trump ally made it official on Monday, and set the stage for an even more competitive primary.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson join host Lisa Rayam to discuss this on this week's live edition of Political Breakfast.
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In 2021, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association agreed to install an exhibit about the park's history, including Ku Klux Klan cross-burnings.
Construction for the new exhibit is underway, but the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is suing to stop it.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how the Confederate group is using a state law to challenge the planned exhibit, which aims to tell a broader story about Stone Mountain.
Plus, we take a look at a new committee reviewing Georgia election laws and catch up on the investigation into a lending firm whose founder is a big donor in Georgia Republican politics.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam talk about the Republicans who are "hinting" about jumping into two key Georgia races: The race for Governor and a U.S. Senate seat.
It's all talk at this point for U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Collins. But why?
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On this episode of Political Breakfast, the team talks about an ethics complaint filed by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr against his GOP opponent, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, after Jones loaned his own campaign ten million dollars.
The conversation took place just hours before the State Ethics Commission rejected Carr's complaint based on the fact there was not enough cause to investigate.
Then, strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam sort through the importance of the "very sleepy" Public Service Commission Democratic runoff race that was settled last week and what it means for Georgia in 2026.
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Tariffs have become a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s second term, but the on-again, off-again taxes on imports have led to uncertainty in the economy.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with WABE Business Reporter Marlon Hyde about Trump’s trade policies and how they’re impacting Georgia businesses and consumers.
Plus, a conversation with Lt. Governor Burt Jones, who has announced that he’s running for governor.
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U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is talking tough on the campaign trail.
Recently in Savannah, he called out the Trump administration for its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Ossoff also lashed out at Trump for his so-called 'big, beautiful bill.'
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson join host Lisa Rayam to dissect all this.
Plus, prominent Georgia Republican Brant Frost IV is apologizing for his $140M Ponzi scheme, and a federal judge ordered his assets frozen.
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On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, Georgia's Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones wants in on the 2026 gubernatorial race.
Jones kicked-off his campaign for Georgia Governor in grand style and to the tune of 10 million dollars.
Jones loaned himself the money and made a pretty bold statement in doing so.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson discuss this strategic move along with host Lisa Rayam.
The team also discusses how money is paramount overall.
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Congress has narrowly approved President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, with most Republicans voting in favor and every Democrat opposed.
Under the law, which includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, about 300,000 Georgians could lose health coverage, tax incentives for clean energy will be cut and states like Georgia may end up having to shoulder more of the costs associated with food stamps.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with WABE Health Reporter Jess Mador and WABE Digital Editor MeiMei Xu about how Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” will affect Georgia now that it’s law.
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On this week's Political Breakfast: Campaign fundraising is ramping-up.
Strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam tackle the latest numbers in the 2026 Georgia Governor's race.
On the Democratic side, Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and state Senator Jason Esteves have surpassed the 1 million mark over roughly 2 months since both entered the race.
For the GOP: Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones has loaned himself 10 million dollars while Republican Attorney General Chris Carr has raised more than 3-point-5 million since annoucing his bid in November.
Do these numbers translate into the most competitive candidates?
Plus, low voter turnout in the Democratic runoff for the Georgia Public Service Commission race. Brian and Tharon share why YOU should care.
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President Donald Trump just signed his so-called 'big, beautiful' massive tax and spending bill over the July 4th holiday weekend.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react to the latest.
Plus, Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter wrote on X on Sunday that his granddaughters are safe after attending a summer camp in Central Texas that flooded over the weekend -- but one of their cousins has died.
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On this week’s special Independence Day encore episode of “Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast,” politics reporter Sam Gringlas takes listeners on a summer road trip to a pair of towns that helped shape former presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Georgia’s own Jimmy Carter.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, Republicans are mostly a united front and in support of President Donald Trump's so-called 'big, beautiful' massive tax and spending bill.
Georgia Democrats say there's nothing beautiful about it, claming the bill will strip away people's healthcare and increase poverty while creating tax breaks for the rich.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react to the latest as lawmakers debate the bill in the U.S. House.
Trump says he wants to sign the bill by the July 4th holiday. It's sweeping tax cuts are estimated to add trillions more to the national debt. It also boosts spending on border security and defense, makes massive cuts to programs like Medicaid and shifts more responsibility for food assistance to the states.
It would also slash clean energy tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act, that helped propel solar and electric vehicle manufacturing in Georgia.
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On today's Political Breakfast, we react to news from the AJC that Geoff Duncan may be running in the 2026 Georgia Governor's race as a Democrat.
Duncan, now an official outcast after Georgia GOP leaders expelled him from the party, has long expressed frustration with President Donald Trump and those who support his administration.
But strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam wonder: Is the party willing to accept him? Or has Duncan fallen off the radar?
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A massive solar panel recycling facility called Solarcycle is coming soon to Cedartown, a small community in Northwest Georgia near the Alabama border.
Solarcycle got a $64 million tax credit through the Inflation Reduction Act to build a second facility that will make solar panel glass, but according to the company, the groundbreaking is on hold as Congress considers gutting the clean energy tax credits in the new federal budget.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali look at what this could mean for Cedartown and Georgia’s flourishing industries making electric vehicles, batteries and solar panels.
Plus, how the conflict between Israel and Iran is exposing divisions among Georgia Republicans and a look at the fall of the in-person campaign launch.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang addresses the latest in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
Israel and Iran continued to trade attacks over the weekend, with U.S. officials saying both have violated a recent cease fire.
U.S. bombs destroyed three nuclear sites in Iran, according to President Donald Trump.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam bring it home to Georgia -- where one of Trump's most fierce supporters, GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, criticized the move.
Plus, supporters of Georgia Republican Attorney General Chris Carr released an attack ad against his potential opponent in the 2026 gubernatorial race: Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.
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Former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal drew national attention in 2016 when he vetoed a religious liberty bill that opponents said would lead to discrimination against LGBTQ people.
When a similar measure passed again this year, Governor Brian Kemp quickly signed it into law.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss what’s changed over the past decade with WABE's Patrick Saunders, who has been leading WABE’s annual Beyond Pride series, which takes a close look at LGBTQ issues in Georgia.
Plus, Georgia Republicans and Democrats are charting the future of their parties as state lawmakers grapple with a heated political climate following the assassination of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband.
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Political Breakfast went live this week, as Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react to thousands flooding the streets of Atlanta for 'No Kings' protests, part of broader demonstrations across the nation.
They happened the same day as a military parade in Washington for the Army's 250th Anniversary -- which also coincided with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday.
Congressional Democrats and some Republicans have slammed the roughly $45 million dollar cost of the parade.
Plus, primary elections for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission are today. The PSC regulates utilities, including Georgia Power rate increases and how the company generates electricity. Could Democrats gain control?
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Data centers are growing faster in Atlanta than anywhere else in the country.
That rapid growth has left communities grappling with how these new developments will impact the environment and their neighborhoods.
WABE has been taking a closer look at data centers as part of our series, “Server South.”
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali are joined by WABE and Grist Climate Reporter Emily Jones and WABE Environment Reporter Marisa Mecke to talk about data centers’ massive demand for power and water and some possible solutions.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson along with host Lisa Rayam, respond to the immigration crackdown taking place in Los Angeles. What message is it really sending to America?
Plus, they analze an immigration raid that took place at home, inside a busy Marietta nail salon. A dozen undocumented workers were arrested. The PB team talks about how fear among the undocumented and even the documented is mounting.
Tharon, Brian and Lisa also address claims the Trump Administration has created a poisonous atmosphere that pitts "us against them".
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On this episode of Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson, Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss a hodge-podge of political news.
What do they make of the so called breakup between Elon Musk and President Trump? Plus, how Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger finds himself in a precarious situation after the GOP state Covention.
Plus, political fatigue--what is it exactly and what can we ALL do about it?
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Data centers are growing faster in Atlanta than anywhere else in the country.
That rapid growth has left communities grappling with how these new developments will impact the environment and their neighborhoods.This week, “Plugged In” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali are joined by WABE Business Reporter Marlon Hyde and WABE Southside Reporter DorMiya Vance for the first of two episodes exploring WABE’s series, Server South.
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This week the Political Breakfast team was pleased to record the podcast in front of a live studio audience, alongside legends from Sesame Street and the Muppet Show at Atlanta's own Center for Puppetry Arts! It's home to more than 5 thousand puppets and artifacts.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined host Lisa Rayam to answer questions from some of our loyal listeners.
We discuss the most pertinent news from Washington that impacts our Georgia audience.
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Two Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) incumbents are on the ballot this year after a lengthy legal battle and their challengers are taking aim at the current commission’s performance.
Voting in the primary is already underway.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with WABE and Grist climate reporter Emily Jones about the PSC and some of the challenges the statewide body is grappling with, like the influx of data centers, increasing energy costs and climate change.
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On this week's second serving of Political Breakfast, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is officially running to replace Governor Brian Kemp. But are Dems pleased?
Bottoms tells WABE that we are "facing chaos and uncertainty and anxiety" based on the policies that are coming out of Washington and "Georgians want and need a fighter.”
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam also discuss the case of a north Georgia college student, 19-year-old Ximena Arias-Cristobal -- who is undocumented.
Her life changed recently, after she was pulled over by a Dalton police officer for allegedly making an illegal turn. She was arrested, turned over to ICE and detained for more than two weeks.
Turns out, dash cam video shows the officer stopped the wrong driver. The officer has resigned.
But that hasn't stopped the community backlash. And some Republicans in deep-red Georgia are taking a stand against the Trump Administration's immigration crackdowns.
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On this week's live edition of Political Breakfast just after the Memorial Day holiday, strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam discuss the 2026 U.S. Senate race against incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff.
Governor Brian Kemp decided not to run. He and President Donald Trump met recently in Washington earlier this month to mull-over who will face Ossoff.
In the race so far: U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, from Georgia's coast, who was the first major Republican candidate to declare. Then came state Insurance Commissioner John King.
Marjorie Taylor Greene also declined to challenge Ossoff.
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Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old nurse and mother, was about nine weeks pregnant in February when doctors declared her brain dead after she suffered a medical emergency.
Smith’s family says doctors at Emory University Hospital have been keeping her on life support because she is pregnant, citing Georgia’s restrictive abortion law.
In this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a closer look at the case and its possible implications.
Plus, a former Atlanta mayor says she’s running for governor and some Republicans say they want to eliminate the state income tax.
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Historic Medicaid cuts are advancing in Washington under President Donald Trump, as nearly 2 million low-income Georgians depend on the program for health insurance.
That includes Georgians with disabilities and seniors, as Medicaid pays for their daily help with basic needs.
The proposed federal cuts are all part of Trump's attempts to slash government spending. But Republican strategist Brian Robinson says on this week's Political Breakfast, GOP lawmakers know that would hurt some of our most vulnerable, including the base of their own party.
Robinson, host Lisa Rayam, and the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long to discuss the impact in Georgia, and tough decisions that come with historic pullbacks of federal support.
Long is filling-in this week for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team talks about the life of Adriana Smith, her unborn child and a Georgia law that appears to be holding her grieving family hostage.
Adriana is brain dead, but has been kept on life support since February because she's pregnant.
Her family says it's time for Adriana to rest in peace -- peace that's entangled in a restrictive law that bans most abortions after six weeks.
It's an issue people are talking about, including host, Lisa Rayam, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long, who is sitting-in for Tharon Johnson.
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This week, judges heard appeals in two major Georgia voting cases.
One panel is considering whether conservative group True the Vote illegally intimidated voters when they helped file tens of thousands of voter challenges while another is reviewing Georgia’s political maps in the ongoing fight over redistricting.
In this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss what’s at stake for Georgia elections in these long-running federal court cases, which could have national implications.
Plus, a messy Republican primary in Georgia for the U.S. Senate is now underway and Governor Brian Kemp has finished vetoing and signing bills from this year’s legislative session into law, including one that could allow President Donald Trump to recover millions of dollars in legal costs from taxpayers in the Georgia election interference case.
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Chair of the Georgia Republican Party Josh McKoon joins this week's Political Breakfast.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam have some questions about McKoon managing party unity.
They ask McKoon if he agrees with everything that President Donald Trump has been ordering in Washington, and what he thinks about Republicans who refuse to come together under Trump, and support more MAGA-aligned candidates: AKA, former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan.
Earlier this week, the PB team spoke with the new Georgia Democratic Chair, Charlie Bailey.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team talks to the newly-elected Georgia Chair of the Democratic Party Charlie Bailey.
Bailey talks about the bread and butter issues that are key to his party winning in 2026.
In addition, he rebuffs the notion that there are major fractures within the Democratic Party, and Bailey addresses how his main mission is to rebuild trust.
Join strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam for this special edition of Political Breakfast.
Tune back in on Thursday to hear Josh McKoon, Georgia's GOP Chair.
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has announced that he will not run for Senate.
Of all the states President Donald Trump won in the 2024 election, only Georgia has a Democratic senator defending their seat. Republicans had seen Kemp as the strongest candidate to challenge incumbent Jon Ossoff.
On this week's episode, hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss what the two-term governor's decision to opt out of the race signals about Kemp's political future, the fight for control of the Senate and the status of the body itself.
Plus, we take you inside the Georgia Democrats' election for new leadership ahead of the midterms.
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On this week's second edition of Political Breakfast, the gang talks about the plight of federal student loan borrowers who are now expected to start paying them back. That's after being given a reprieve during the Biden Administration.
Plus, Georgia Democrats picked former two-time statewide candidate and Atlanta attorney Charlie Bailey to head the party. He replaces Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss what this means for 2026 races.
And a new poll shows Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens with high approval ratings going into his reelection.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join Morning Edition, live, to talk about Governor Brian Kemp's decision not to run for U.S. Senate.
The speculation suddenly ended Monday, when the second-term Georgia Governor took to social media, writing: "Being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family."
So then, who is the right person to take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who IS running for re-election?
Both Brian and Tharon share their theories with host Lisa Rayam.
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Since taking office for the second time, President Donald Trump has moved swiftly to reshape every facet of government, often testing the boundaries of presidential power, with far-reaching implications for Georgia, the country and the world.
On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how Trump's first 100 days in office have left a mark on the Peach State.
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GOP fringe activists in Georgia are now targeting Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and GOP House Speaker John Burns, trying to ban them from running for office because of their so-called lack of loyalty to Donald Trump.
MAGA loyalists in Georgia are rallying in support.
Plus, host Lisa Rayam, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson talk, and vent, over parking getting more expensive at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
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On this episode of Political Breakfast, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff answers tough questions from Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam.
Senator Ossoff, who's running for re-election in 2026, tackles the issues of child immigration, transgender sports and job losses. The Democratic Senator also shares his viewpoint on what he often refers to as the Trump Administration's hold on America.
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Over the last few years, state lawmakers in Georgia and across the country have filed hundreds of bills focused on the transgender community.
Even as Georgia and other Republican-led states have already passed laws dealing with bathrooms, sports, medical treatment and IDs, the bills keep coming. On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a look at what's happening in Georgia and how Democrats are responding.
Plus, Georgia Republicans' civil litigation overhaul has been signed into law and we look ahead to the 2026 midterms as the field for Senate and Governor races starts to take shape.
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A federal court in Atlanta is deciding whether or not more than 100 international students, including dozens from Georgia, can return to school in the U.S. Or if they will be detained or deported.
Lawyers for the students say they abruptly had their immigration status terminated by President Donald Trump’s administration -- some who voiced pro-Palestinian opinions online or during student protests.
The Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long, filling-in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson this week, along with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam, discuss this unfolding story.
Plus, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the naming of a Georgia Tech school after former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, Georgia State Senator Jason Esteves launched his 2026 gubernatorial campaign. How will he fare among a growing pool of Democrats?
Plus, bill signing with Governor Kemp. Tort reform was one of the first to gain his signature. What bills followed?
Host Lisa Rayam gets perspective from Republican strategist Brian Robinson and from the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long, who's in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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After more than a decade with the station, Housing Reporter Stephannie Stokes is leaving WABE.
Before embarking on new adventures at the end of the month, hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali sit down with the award-winning journalist in this week's episode of "Plugged In" to discuss what she's learned during her time in Atlanta.
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On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, the dust has settled from Sine Die: the end of the 2025 Legislative Session.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and host Lisa Rayam are now eyeing future candidates from Georgia, including in the race for Governor and U.S. Senate in 2026.
Will Governor Brian Kemp finally throw his hat in the ring against Democratic incumbent, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff? Will Stacey Abrams once again emerge?
Plus, Georgia GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Republicans are being accused of insider trading. Greene bought thousands of dollars in stock during Trump's tariff pause.
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The 2025 Georgia General Assembly is over.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss some of the major themes from the 40-day session.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson talk about the growing pool of candidates expressing interest in the Georgia Governor's race. One prominent Democrat, a former Atlanta Mayor, is making her intentions extremely clear. In addition, there are murmurings that more from the GOP are preparing to launch gubernatorial campaigns.
Plus, Brian and Tharon talk about a conservative group's very expensive ad campaign targeting Senator Jon Ossoff's for a vote he cast regarding the funding of transgender women playing sports.
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Just days after Georgia Legislators said farewell to the 2024-2025 legislative session, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson are pondering over its early and abrupt ending--at least on the Senate's side. What does that mean for a host of bills left in limbo?
Plus, Brian and Tharon share with host Lisa Rayam the big wins this session for Republicans; the major feats for Democrats. In addition, they chat about what bills will more than likely cross the finish line the NEXT legislative session.
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Friday, April 4, is Sine Die, the deadline for bills to be passed before the end of this year's legislative session in Georgia.
Lawmakers have been scrambling this week to get bills through the House and Senate, and as hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss on this week’s episode of "Plugged In," that has led to some tense moments at the Capitol.
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STRATEGISTS THARON JOHNSON AND BRIAN ROBINSON JOIN HOST LISA RAYAM FOR ANOTHER LIVE EDITION OF POLITICAL BREAKFAST.
THIS CONVERSATION TAKES PLACE ON THE EVE OF SINE DIE. GEORGIA LEGISLATORS ARE AT WORK SHUFFLING NUMEROUS BILLS BEFORE THE FRIDAY DEADLINE.
BUT, PRESIDENT TRUMP 'S TARIFF ACTS ARE DOMINATING THE NEWS CYCLE AND THE QUESTION FOR BRIAN AND THARON IS: HOW IS THE TARIFF TALK AFFECTING WORK THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE UNDER THE GOLD DOME?
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STRATEGISTS BRIAN ROBINSON AND THARON JOHNSON ALONG WITH HOST LISA RAYAM, SORT THROUGH TWO DEMOCRATIC BOMBSHELLS: CONGRESSWOMAN LUCY MCBATH PUTS HER EXPLORATORY CAMPAIGN FOR GEORGIA GOVERNOR ON HOLD AND CONGRESSWOMAN NIKEMA WILLIAMS STEPS DOWN AS CHAIR OF THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MOVING FORWARD? HOW ARE GEORGIA REPUBLICANS VIEWING THE CHANGES? PLUS, WHAT HAS BRIAN AND THARON'S ATTENTION AS THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION WINDS DOWN.
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Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff soft launched his reelection campaign at a boisterous rally in Atlanta this week.
On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how Ossoff and other Democrats are trying to channel frustration and fear about President Donald Trump's moves to slash government and punish political enemies.
Plus, lawmakers grapple with the fallout from a contentious vote on Governor Brian Kemp's legislative priority, state lawmakers look to force cities and counties to follow immigration laws and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene questions the chief executives of NPR and PBS as federal funding is on the line.
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Nearly two years before Election Day 2026, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff held a rally in Atlanta over the weekend, promising his supporters that, “Georgia will bow to no king.”
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson both tell host Lisa Rayam, this will likely be an expensive and competitive Senate race. But their opinions differ on what kind of impression Ossof's event made.
Plus, tort reform is headed to Governor Brian Kemp's desk, after passing both the state House and Senate. That's as the end of the 2025 Legislative Session nears.
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's top legislative priority has cleared a major hurdle.
On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how the effort to curb civil lawsuits narrowly passed in the House.
Plus, as this year's legislative session nears its end, lawmakers have been debating possible responses to the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School and the Georgia Supreme Court is weighing whether or not to uphold controversial rules passed by Republicans on the State Election Board last fall.
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This week the Political Breakfast team was pleased to be a guest on the campus of Atlanta's Spelman College.
Students at the HBCU peppered the auditorium and engaged with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam.
The students navigated through the issues facing both the nation and the state of Georgia.
The audience of mostly Black women had pertinent questions.
Many asked about the issue of President Donald Trump's Administration attacking policies that support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives in the federal workplace, and in public schools and universities.
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Tax dollars supporting gender-affirming surgeries for transgender inmates? In Georgia, it's still a 'tough sell' for the majority of the Democratic electorate in this economy, says Georgia Sen. Elena Parent.
The Democrat has been getting some criticism because of her vote, where she stood with Republicans in banning that practice.
Parent tells Political Breakfast host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson, that she's defended, and still stands in strong solidarity, with the LGBTQ community during this "treacherous" time in our country.
But all agree that the attacks on Parent are worth a larger conversation, on how lawmakers shouldn't cater to extremism on both sides of the political aisle.
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U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock went live on social media this week where the Georgia Democrat spent roughly 35 minutes answering questions from voters.
On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas discuss how Warnock and other Democrats are grappling with the flurry of changes coming from Washington.
Plus, President Donald Trump's new Secretary of Agriculture visits Georgia and we check in on Governor Brian Kemp's top legislative priority, which is hitting some speed bumps.
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We only have a few weeks left in the Georgia legislative session, and one issue dividing Democrats is if tax dollars should be used to fund gender-affirming surgeries, for transgender inmates in Georgia prisons.
Georgia Democratic State Senator Elena Parent is getting some criticism because of her vote where she stood with Republicans, in Senate Bill 185.
The bill already passed the state Senate.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson break down this divide, and what it's a deeper symptom of in the Democratic Party, with host Lisa Rayam.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, the dust settles now that Georgia lawmakers have officially crossed-over Crossover Day: the sprint for key bills to pass either the state House or Senate.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam talk about issues that did, or did not get over the hump.
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Georgia lawmakers were working late on Thursday night as they raced to pass dozens of bills before the end of Crossover Day – a deadline for bills to advance out of at least one chamber of the legislature.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a closer look at some of the proposals that did and didn’t make it past this key deadline.
Also on this week’s episode, a massive school safety bill advances out of the House, the debate shifts on bills affecting transgender Georgians and a conversation with Health Reporter Jess Mador on the turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
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This week on Political Breakfast: Georgia reactions to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. That has resulted in Trump pausing all military aid to Ukraine.
Georgia Democrats are calling it a disgraceful spectacle. Republicans are mostly backing Trump.
Ben Burnett of the Ben Burnett Show is filling-in for Republican strategist Brian Robinson. Also joining host Lisa Rayam is Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
Plus, the gang looks ahead to crossover day on March 6th - or the deadline for bills to pass at least one chamber.
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A year ago, President Donald Trump was fighting 13 felony counts in Georgia for trying to overturn the 2020 election. At the time, the prosecutor who charged him, Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis, was seen as a rising star.
Now Trump is back in the White House, immune from prosecution for the next four years, and Willis has been rebuked by the courts and is fighting to keep the case alive.
On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali look into the reversal of fortunes for Trump and Willis, who began their second terms in office just a few weeks apart.
Plus, Thursday is a big day at the Georgia State Capitol. It's known as Crossover Day, a key deadline for bills to advance out of at least one chamber of the legislature.
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On this week's Political Breakfast: We recorded another live episode in-front of a studio audience here at WABE, roughly six weeks into Donald Trump's second presidency.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined host Lisa Rayam to answer questions from some of our loyal listeners.
We discuss Trump's first 6 weeks in office and the political impact on Georgia. That includes mass layoffs at Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the so-called 'Bromance' between Trump and non-elected billionare Elon Musk.
Plus, pushback against Republican representatives at recent town halls. And Trump and Governor Brian Kemp's evolving 'relationship.'
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Georgia state lawmakers are now halfway through the 40-day legislative session.
Between former President Jimmy Carter's funeral, the presidential inauguration and a snow storm, the session got of to a slow start. But now some big ticket items are on the move.
On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a closer look at some of those bills, including one that would compel local governments to help with immigration enforcement and a school safety package responding to the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School.
Plus, we take a look at some lower-profile bills and check in on how President Donald Trump's moves to reshape the federal government are continuing to play out here in Georgia.
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This Political Breakfast, the gang dives into a recent New York Times article about Georgia U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff -- the state's first Jewish Senator -- losing Jewish support.
The Times wrote some Democratic donors and Jewish leaders are unhappy with Ossoff's position and criticism of the Israel-Hamas war. A bipartisan group of Jewish leaders even urged Georgia GOP Governor Brian Kemp to run against Ossoff in next year's Senate race.
Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson tell host Lisa Rayam that Ossoff may be in a pretty tight spot.
Plus, Atlanta Public Schools literacy rates hit a successful milestone post-COVID.
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On this week's first Political Breakfast, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp responds to Donald Trump's administration firing roughly 13-hundred workers at Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Employees told NPR they wish to remain anonymous, and reported the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency cut about 10 percent of the workforce.
Meanwhile, is Kemp setting the stage to announce a U.S. Senate run next year?
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam discuss all that, plus Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman announcing he will not run for re-election.
He recently made the announcement on social media, saying he has to focus his time and effort on serious medical challenges within his family.
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Georgia state lawmakers this week started digging into Governor Brian Kemp’s signature policy push this session – overhauling the state’s civil litigation rules, often referred to as tort or lawsuit reform.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali bring listeners into the first committee hearing on the issue, where lawmakers and a packed room of observers got to hear from people on different sides of the debate.
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New candidates are hinting they'll run to replace Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in 2026.
On this epidose of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss two in particular:
GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Democratic State Senator Jason Esteves.
The team re-visits former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms interest in a possible gubernatorial run, and Governor Kemp possibly running for U.S. Senate.
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Lawmakers are wrapping up a busy week at the State Capitol as they take their first votes on the budget and banning transgender girls from playing on girls school sports teams.
On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss these and other new legislative proposals including on school safety.
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On this week's second edition of Political Breakfast, we focus on Governor Brian Kemp's highest legislative priority this session: Tort reform.
Kemp has been pushing the issue for years, and believes that the laws on our books make it too easy to bring "frivolous lawsuits against Georgia business owners." He's said excessive civil litigation drives up the price of insurance, and stops job growth in communities that need them the most.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson are paying close attention, to an issue that host Lisa Rayam asks, is the average Georgian aware of?
Plus, school safety is another priority being taken-up under the Gold Dome. That's following the deadly mass shooting last year at Apalachee High School.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, we reflect on Black History Month amid attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives in the workplace from President Donald Trump's administration.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam touch on Trump blaming the recent horrific Philadelphia plane and helicopter crash on DEI.
Plus, tariffs. Trump is threatening to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, but those are now held on a 30-day pause. A 10 percent U.S. tariff on imports from China already took effect.
All three are some of Georgia's biggest trading partners.
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has outlined his top legislative priority – reigning in civil litigation, often referred to as tort reform.
Also on this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a closer look at Democrats' effort to expand Medicaid in Georgia, and their proposal's difficult path ahead.
Plus, President Donald Trump's moves to reshape the government are already starting to play out in Georgia.
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On this episode of Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and Republican strategist Brian Robinson focus on Georgia's 2026 gubernatorial race.
Democrat and Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is considering running. That's after serving as an international trade advisor to President Joe Biden.
But that's as candidates on both sides are starting to make bids.
Georgia GOP Attorney General Chris Carr has already raised roughly 2.2 million in the first 40 days of his campaign for governor. He launched his campaign this past November.
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President Donald Trump has been president for a week -- and it's already hard to keep up with his barrage of executive orders.
One controversial move: Trump shuttered communications from federal health agencies, including the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, until February 1st. Agencies subject to this include the CDC, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.
Plus, as promised throughout his presidential campaign, Trump is enacting mass deportations. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it arrested nearly a thousand migrants nationwide over the weekend, including here in Georgia.
The Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss the weight of these ICE raids, and how they'll affect all Georgians.
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As temperatures plunged, Georgia and Washington, D.C. prepared for the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.
On this week’s “Plugged In,” WABE Politics Reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the first week of the new administration, the ongoing court fight over Georgia’s redistricting maps and the state’s response to bird flu in two commercial flocks.
We also hear from one of the January 6th defendants from Georgia who received a pardon – and a prosecutor who worked on many of the cases.
The legislature returns to session on Monday.
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp delivered his seventh State of the State address at the State Capitol on Thursday. In it he applauded the state’s resilience through natural disasters, the pandemic, economic upheaval and a deadly school shooting and cast Georgia’s approach to health, budgeting and public safety as a model for other states to emulate, declaring “the Georgia Way is indeed the better way.”
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss some of their big takeaways from the speech as Kemp kicks off his second to last year in office.
Plus, the legislative session gets underway as lawmakers bring up transgender student athletes and push to further investigate Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson reflect with host Lisa Rayam on the first week of Georgia lawmakers getting back to business under the Gold Dome.
Both attended one of the most anticipated political events of the new year: Eggs and Issues. That's when every January, thousands of the state's top elected officials, business leaders and policy stakeholders convene in Atlanta to set the agenda for what's to come.
Plus, the pair predict what we'll hear from Governor Brian Kemp ahead of his annual state of the state address.
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Georgia’s only president, Jimmy Carter, was laid to rest this week in the rural corner of Southwest Georgia where he was born a century ago.
On this week’s episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali share what they saw and heard as Carter’s life and accomplishments were celebrated throughout Georgia. Plus, a preview of the 2025 legislative session, which kicks off next week.
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As the start of the new legislative session looms, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson say the issue of public safety is sure to be a top priority.
Just last week MARTA bus driver Leroy Ramos was shot and killed outside the Decatur station, allegedly over a fare dispute. Three juveniles were swiftly arrested.
Tharon and Brian join host Lisa Rayam to weigh-in on public safety and gun violence, plus other issues that should get tossed around under the Gold Dome.
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Here on the first Political Breakfast podcast of 2025, we pay tribute to the late-President and humanitarian Jimmy Carter.
Also, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson share with host Lisa Rayam their wish-list for state legislators, as they prepare to head back to work soon.
The start of Georgia's new legislative session is just days away.
Plus, thoughts the New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans.
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Former President Jimmy Carter died Sunday at 100. On this encore episode, WABE's Sam Gringlas looks at how two tiny towns in South Georgia shaped two U.S. presidents. We also preview six days of tributes planned to celebrate the life of the 39th president.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team reflects on the legacy of Vincent Fort. The former Georgia lawmaker recently lost his battle with cancer. During his time as a state senator, Fort was known as a voice for the underserved. He took on housing reform and a host of civil rights issues. Host Lisa Rayam along with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson share their personal insights.
Plus, wrapping up 2024. The team talks about some of the biggest political stories that impacted Georgia over the past 12 months.
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On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," we take stock of the year in Georgia politics, including a recent court decision removing Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election interference case, which represents the last remaining criminal charges against President-elect Donald Trump.
Plus we look ahead to 2025 and test our editors' knowledge of the news in 2024 with a "Plugged In" game show.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang talks about another Georgian who's been tapped to serve alongside President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump announced Saturday that he's picked former Buckhead cityhood leader Bill White to serve as his ambassador to Belgium.
White donated millions to Trump's 2024 campaign. Simultaneously, White pushed for Georgia lawmakers to split the affluent Atlanta Buckhead neighborhood into its own municipality.
In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said that White earned the nomination because he's a "highly respected businessman, philanthropist, author and advocate" for the U.S. Military, veterans and first responders.
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This week the Political Breakfast team talks tort reform, and how Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is making this a top priority during the 2025 legislative session. That starts in just a few weeks after the new year.
Kemp has been bringing it up at gatherings like the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's Congressional Luncheon for years.
He told lawmakers in 2023 that the laws on our books make it "too easy to bring frivolous lawsuits against Georgia business owners" which eventually drives-up the price of insurance and stops "new, good-paying jobs from ever coming to communities that need them the most."
Kemp brought it up again recently to state lawmakers.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam weigh-in on how this affects average Georgians and small-business owners, not just large corporations and insurance companies.
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Twenty-two new state lawmakers will take their seats at the State Capitol when the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes on January 13th. Among them is Bryce Berry, who at just 23 is one of the youngest state lawmakers in Georgia history.
On this week’s episode of “Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with reporter Jasmine Robinson, who recentlytalked with the freshman lawmaker. Plus, a look inside the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, which provides information and training to help prepare both freshmen and veteran lawmakers for the General Assembly.
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Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam tackle the issue of immigration, and President-elect Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations once taking office.
How are Georgia families dealing with the prospect of possibly being forced to leave?
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Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam talk about the startling social media comments that emerged after the execution-style murder of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
Some of the comments were so shocking, they sparked both Brian and Tharon to ponder the current state of America.
(Note: Since the taping of this podcast, authorities have arrested a suspect and charged him with murder.)
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a lot of ideas about how to reshape healthcare in America. He's President-Elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Potential changes are worrying public health experts.
Policy shifts are also expected at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali continue looking at how the new Trump Administration could affect Georgia by speaking with health reporter Jess Mador and housing reporter Stephannie Stokes.
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A lot transpired over the Thanksgiving holiday. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr slipped in the announcement that he's running for Governor.
Strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, along with host Lisa Rayam, discuss the strategic timing of his announcement. Plus, will this news mobilize the Democratic Party and dredge-up familiar names like Stacey Abrams?
Plus, the presidential pardon fallout involving Hunter Biden.
The team also pays tribute to the late Bruce Thompson, Georgia's former Department of Labor Commissioner, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.
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President-elect Donald Trump has picked several immigration hard-liners for top posts and he plans to fill key energy and environment roles with oil and gas supporters who have pledged to slash regulations.
On this week’s episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with immigration reporter Emily Wu Pearson and environment reporter Marisa Mecke about how the incoming Trump administration could affect the state of Georgia.
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Hefty pay raises are being proposed for all city council members come 2026, including for the Mayoral position.
The Mayor could see a salary increase from $202K to $271K, and city council members would go from roughly $72K to $127K.
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and host Lisa Rayam share their thoughts on those raises, and reforms that should come with them.
Plus, early voting starts this Saturday for a December 3rd runoff election, to fill a vacant Atlanta city council seat. It's between former Atlanta Public Schools principal Nicole Evans Jones, and attorney and former APS teacher, Eshé Collins.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team discusses strategy on the part of the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party as she prepares to leave the post.
There was a concerted call for U.S. Representative Nikema Williams to resign after Democrats showed up poorly on November 5th.
Leading the charge is U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff who is up for reelection in 2026. The Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long is in for Tharon Johnson this week.
Saba, along with Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam, talk about how the move to push Williams out is not based on job performance, but good ole fashioned politics.
Plus, why state Republicans have an interest in how all this plays out?
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Every Georgia county has now certified the results of the 2024 election.
Historically, this has been a relatively uncontroversial procedural step. Since 2020, that hasn't been the case. But with Donald Trump's victory in Georgia, talk of election fraud has died down.
In this week's edition of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali describe how the state is grappling with the fallout of the 2024 election.
Plus, Georgia Democrats assess what went wrong, Georgia Republicans are hyping up for a MAGA-takeover in D.C., a look at what happens to Trump's criminal charges and leadership changes hands in the state legislature.
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The General election is over and the dust has settled.
Georgia Democrats are left wondering: What happened?
As they look inward and search for clarity, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam take a hard look at Democratic voter turnout in Georgia.
What does the November 5th voter turnout mean for state Democrats moving forward?
Plus, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis soared to re-election. But it seems, her elections interference case against President-elect Donald Trump is fading from the spotlight.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team sorts through new developments in Georgia after the November 5th election.
There are now calls for the chair of the state Democratic Party to step down after sweeping losses in the House.
U.S. Representative Nikema Williams insists she can handle the job even while running for reelection.
But, a major push for change is reportedly coming from U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff.
Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson both weigh-in.
Plus, they talk about how president elect is tapping members of Georgia's GOP for jobs in Washington. Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler is one of them.
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Former President Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States.
Nearly 5.3 million Georgians voted, breaking the turnout record set during the 2020 election. Trump received 50.7% of Georgia's vote, turning the swing state red after President Joe Biden's victory four years ago.
On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali explain how Trump won the Peach State.
Plus, a look at the results of some competitive down ballot races and three statewide ballot measures dealing with taxes.
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Political Breakfast goes live with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam just hours after the Associated Press called a presidential victory for Donald Trump.
Analysts call the victory an extraordinary political comeback for Trump, a convicted felon who still stands accused of election interference in Georgia back in 2020 and for sparking the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Despite all of this, Brian and Tharon analyze how Trump recaptured Georgia handily and flipped other battleground states.
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Heading into November 5th Election Day, Georgia is already on-record with over 4 million voters casting early ballots in a highly contested presidential race.
However, that's not the only important contest on the ballot in Georgia. There are city, state and county offices at stake too.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam sort through some of the other prolific races that are drawing voters to the polls.
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Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are making their closing arguments with election day less than a week away. On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali preview what to expect on election night.
Plus, a look at some of the competitive state legislative races in Metro Atlanta, an examination of Trump's complicated relationship with Governor Brian Kemp and how it could shape the outcome of the election in Georgia and we hear from some local voters.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, we're roughly a week away from Election Day, and Georgians are early-voting in record numbers according to the Secretary of State's office.
Polls still indicate a tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
The team wanted to engage with WABE listeners and voters in-person ahead of election day.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined me in front of a WABE studio audience and addressed their questions.
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On this edition of Political Breakfast, Host Lisa Rayam asks Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson to share thoughts on the 11th hour of presidential campaigning in Georgia. A small swath of undecideds are at stake. Both flesh out their respective party's strategies to get those still "up in the air" to the polls.
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The FBI is warning that extremists with concerns about the election could turn to violence in the coming weeks.
In this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take the political temperature in Georgia.
Plus, former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama return to Atlanta and an explanation of those wordy and confusing ballot measures dealing with taxes.
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On this episode of Political Breakfast, we talk about Campaign ads. The GOP ads on transgender rights seem to be dominating the airwaves leading up to the November 5th election. While the the Democratic Party continues to focus on reproductive rights.....how is all of this factoring into a very tight race in Georgia? The Political Breakfast team talks about how the strategy plays out as Georgians head to the polls. Executive Director of the Atlanta Civic Circle Saba Long is in for Tharon Johnson this week and joins Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Host Lisa Rayam.
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Early voting is now underway in Georgia and over 300,000 voters showed up on the first day, more than doubling the previous record set in 2020.
With less than three weeks to go until election day, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the latest election news in this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast."
Plus, two Georgia judges have undercut a series of controversial rules passed by the State Election Board. The rulings amounted to a rebuke of the board's Republican-majority, which has been praised by former President Donald Trump, and brought relief to election officials worried about the last-minute changes.
And in Sumter County, 100 year-old former President Jimmy Carter has voted by mail for Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Early voting is underway in Georgia and former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are doing 11th-hour stumping here. Are their strategies turning-out voters and packing the polls?
Trump is hitting the Peach State a little more aggressively in these next three weeks ahead of Election Day on November 5th.
At the time of this Political Breakfast taping, Trump has three Georgia events penciled-in on his calendar: including two rallies in Duluth, and a pre-taped Fox town hall on women's issues, with an all-female audience.
Harris is set to come to Atlanta this weekend.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss, are these strategies impacting voters' enthusiasm and turnout? Plus, the gang gives and update on voter demographics, and what swaths are still up for grabs in Georgia.
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Georgia's growing Indian-American community is getting more politically involved, both as voters and as candidates.
On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take listeners to the Festival of India in Atlanta and discuss how this community could shape local and presidential races in Georgia.
Plus, more drama with the State Election Board and actress and Smyrna native Julia Roberts campaigns for Vice President Kamala Harris in Canton.
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Donald Trump is coming to a rally at Gas South Arena in Duluth on October 23rd, roughly 25 miles north of Atlanta. But opponent Vice President Kamala Harris already challenged the former president to another CNN debate that same night, taking place just miles away in Atlanta.
Trump has argued it's “too late” to have another presidential debate, because Americans have already started casting their ballots ahead of the November election.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discussed how this strategy appears to Georgia voters.
Plus, what October, eleventh-hour campaign stumping surprises do both candidates have in store?
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Both Republicans and Democrats are crossing political lines and banding together to help those devastated by Hurricane Helene.
That's as another powerful Hurricane Milton already barrels towards the Florida coast, less than two weeks after Helene. Governor Brian Kemp and Donald Trump made an appearance together last week outside Augusta.
Host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss their first appearance together in years. That comes soon after Trump antagonized Kemp during his latest presidential rallies in Georgia.
How far will the visual carry the former president in the Peach state?
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This week on Political Breakfast, Governor Brian Kemp declares a state of emergency in Georgia over record-high inflation and suspends the state's gas tax.
Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson also weigh-in on Kemp being a part of the national conversation for a potential run for U.S. Senate. And the latest in Atlanta's so-called 'Cop City' saga. City officials announced Monday they are not able to start verifying tens of thousands of signatures submitted by activists trying to stop the planned public
training center.
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This week on Political Breakfast, far-right Republican and Georgia state Senator Colton Moore recently ranted online that civil war could break out over the prosecution of Donald Trump, saying "I don't want to have to draw my rifle." Moore also called for de-funding Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis.
Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam also talk gun safety measures, and dozens of Georgia mayors sending a letter over the issue to Governor Brian Kemp and the General Assembly.
Plus, the team breaks down a federal redistricting trial that weighs whether Republicans violated the Voting Rights act when they re-drew Congressional maps after the last U.S. Census.
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On this week's Political Breakfast, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam react to Donald Trump's historic mug shot selling mugs.
Trump's election campaign announced that the scowling photo of the former president taken during booking in the Fulton County Jail has raised more than 7 million dollars, with much of the money coming from merchandise.
Plus, the latest poll from the Atlanta Journal Constitution shows that Trump is still leading with Republicans in Georgia, despite his indictment on charges related to conspiring to overturn the state's 2020 election result.
And in wake of Trump's indictment and 18 other alleged co-conspirators, threats have emerged against local lawmakers and Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis.
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On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, the team talks about Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' critics. Or at least one in particular---State Senator Clint Dixon. After Donald Trump and others were indicted for election tampering, Dixon took to social media to say he's filing a complaint against Willis with the newly created Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission.
Her crime? He says because he says she's making moves to become what he calls a "leftist celebrity."
Plus, U.S. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina gets a high-profile Georgia endorsement for the GOP presidential nomination. Will it help even though Trump continues to surge in the polls?
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This week on a live version of Political Breakfast, the team tackles the news of the Fulton County grand jury's 41-count indictment of Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants, accusing them of conspiring to overturn Trump's 2020 presidential loss in Georgia.
Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones was NOT named in the indictment, but many believe he played an integral role. Brian and Tharon discuss the fact that a special prosecutor may be appointed soon to look into Jones' involvement.
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This week on Political Breakfast, the team tackles the prospect of a former president being indicted by a Fulton County grand jury. Host Lisa Rayam along with strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson address the severity of another Trump indictment and how that could weigh on Georgia's constituency.
Plus, the race for Georgia governor in 2026 is simmering with more and more names of potential Democratic and Republican candidates.
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On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, more on Georgia Rep. Mesha Mainor's switch-a-roo. Formerly a Democrat, Mainor is now the first Black Republican woman to ever serve in the state General Assembly. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civic Circle head Saba Long discuss what Mainor's move means for both Democrats and Republicans.
Plus, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says he will support any GOP nominee picked to run against President Joe Biden, including Donald Trump. The team analyzes Kemp's latest appearance on national tv.
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On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, will Georgia Governor Brian Kemp seriously consider running for President? More and more Republicans are calling on Kemp to join the crowded pool vying for the GOP nomination . Kemp hasn't taken any concrete steps to run, but he remains a part of the national conversation.
Plus, the Political Breakfast team reflects on the lives of Marvin Arrington, Sr. Bill Shipp and Dr. Christine King-Farris.
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On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is calling on lawmakers to make tampering with a voting machine a felony that carries a minimum sentence of 10 years.
That's Raffensperger's response to critics who say he should instead upgrade the Dominion Voting system software ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Host Lisa Rayam asks Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson to weigh-in.
Plus, the team talks about the surprise announcement from DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston that her office will opt out of prosecuting the so- called Cop City protestors who were arrested.
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This week on Political Breakfast, a group of Democratic lawmakers including Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams are pushing a joint resolution to negate a clause in the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution -- that permits the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime. Currently the 13th Amendment says, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
Plus, court records released recently have caused questions to swirl about just how secure the Dominion Voting machines are here in Georgia. At issue is the software that has been deemed by cybersecurity experts as being "vulnerable."
Georgia Secretary of State officials say any updates will have to wait until after the 2024 presidential election.
Chief Operating Officer Gabriel Sterling sits down with host Lisa Rayam and strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson.
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On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, the national spotlight was once again on former President Donald Trump and his fractured relationship with some of Georgia’s top politicians. Trump again reiterated his false claims about election fraud in Georgia.
Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson also weigh in on delegates picking former state Sen. Josh McKoon as the new GOP chair.
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In a marathon City Council meeting with hundreds of people speaking in opposition, members eventually approved the city giving millions to build the Atlanta Public Safety Training Facility in South Dekalb County.
Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson join host Lisa Rayam to reflect on the process, reactions from public officials and concerns following the vote.
Plus, former President Donald Trump recently congratulated North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un for a new position with the World Health Organization. Governor Brian Kemp reacted by calling out Trump for congratulating a "murderous dictator."
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Former Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Tanya Miller reflects on the recent deadly shooting at Atlantic Station that left at least one child dead and several other children injured. Miller joins host Lisa Rayam, and strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson to discuss citywide solutions, youth gun violence and Georgia's loosened gun legislation.
Plus, as Georgia's U.S. Senate race nears its final days of early voting ahead of the runoff election, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock pounced on his Republican opponent Herschel Walker in an interview with Lisa Rayam on Morning Edition this week.
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Donald Trump's plan to run for President again is resonating with Republican Strategists Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson. Both express MAJOR concerns. On this edition, The Political Breakfast team ponders:
*How will the Trump announcement impact Georgia's current U.S. Senate race that remains in limbo until a December 6th runoff?
*Will senate candidate Herschel Walker play up or play down his years-long friendship with Trump?
*Can Senator Raphael Warnock's campaign use this as an opportunity to attract disenfranchised republicans?
The Political Breakfast Team also talks about the LACK of Saturday early voting ahead of the U-S Senate runoff.
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Political Breakfast goes live as Georgia's midterm election results continue to trickle in. Stacey Abrams lost to GOP incumbent Governor Brian Kemp by about 10 points. What happened with the Abrams campaign? Where does Georgia's Democratic party go from here?
Plus, the U.S. Senate race is likely going into a runoff. With voter fatigue building around the holidays, will that runoff work in one candidate's favor?
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U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock has a new Thanksgiving ad – where he shows concern about the very likely possibility that he’s heading into a runoff with GOP challenger Herschel Walker. Both are neck-and-neck in the polls.
Plus, Governor Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams clashed over abortion in the final gubernatorial debate on Sunday before the state’s Nov. 8 election. Kemp avoided promising to not sign further abortion restrictions in Georgia – currently a woman can get an abortion up to six weeks into a pregnancy. What influence does this issue truly have over Georgia women voters?
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Georgia's early voting turnout numbers keep breaking records. We get a temperature check of what issues are driving rural Georgians, women, and people of color to the polls.
Plus, reports that the voting rights non-profit Fair Fight Action -- founded by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams -- spent millions over the last two years on legal fees.
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Georgia candidates sparred in some high-stakes debates this week, including the governor's race that features the rematch between Democrat Stacey Abrams against incumbent Republican Brian Kemp. But Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson also hash out one surprising standout, Libertarian candidate Shane Hazel
Plus, a recap of Friday night's debate between U.S. Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and GOP challenger Herschel Walker in Savannah. Then we get more on a series of Atlanta Press Club debates moderated by some of WABE's news team.
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Herschel Walker’s campaign has been fighting fires the last few weeks but the polls have Walker and Warnock neck-and-neck. A few GOP U.S. Senators travel to Georgia to support Walker as he preps for his first debate against incumbent Raphael Warnock.
Also, how Democrats and Republicans are mobilizing on the ground to seal votes just weeks ahead of the midterm elections.
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It's been nearly a week since a federal judge ruled that Georgia's election law does not violate voter's constitutional rights. State Republicans are celebrating the win against Fair Fight Action, the voting rights group aligned with gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Will this ruling galvanize voters?
Plus, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker has made it clear his position on abortion is "no exception." Now Walker is denying reports that he paid for an abortion for his girlfriend in 2009." But the former football star's son -- Christian Walker -- says his father is lying.
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The closer we get to the Georgia midterm elections, the more money candidates are throwing into campaign attack ads. You've probably seen or heard them playing in your home, at the airport, at bowling alleys, and even on the homepage of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
It's hard to escape them. So this week on Political Breakfast, we take a closer look at yet another ad involving the high-profile U.S. Senate Race between Republican Herschel Walker and the Incumbent, Democrat Raphael Warnock.
Plus, Republicans attack what they call "identity politics." The Atlanta Braves visited the White House this week for a ceremony celebrating the team's 2021 World Series Championship win. The team also faced a question from the Biden Administration over rebranding the Braves, while including more Native American voices in the conversation.
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With fewer than seven weeks left before the mid-term election, WABE presents this bonus episode from our Georgia Votes 2022 podcast. WABE Deputy Managing Editor Susanna Capelouto, Politics Reporters Sam Gringlas and Raul Bali, and Reporter Emma Hurt of Axios break down these final weeks and what to watch.
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Hundreds of WABE fans joined us for a live broadcast from Georgia State University -- about 7 weeks out from Georgia's midterms. One race that's in a statistical dead heat in the polls is for the U.S. Senate seat between incumbent Raphael Warnock and his GOP challenger, former NFL and University of Georgia football star Herschel Walker.
Plus, the power of negative campaign ads. And what is the real influence of the 18 through 29-year-old voting block? That’s on this week's episode of Political Breakfast, live from Georgia State University.
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What, if any, are the political ramifications of Governor Kemp asking President Biden, to cancel the student loan forgiveness plan just weeks before the election? Plus Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams says she's on Kemp's heels, and is closing the gap.
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A Georgia judge has said Governor Brian Kemp must testify before the Fulton special grand jury, but he can wait until after the November election. Meanwhile some are praising President Biden’s decision to forgive $10,000 in student loans for most borrowers, but others aren’t so sure. In Columbus, Democrats hold a joint campaign event to share their platforms. And we remember Georgia’s former first lady Sandra Deal, who leaves a lasting legacy in the wake of her recent passing.
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Tensions are high between the offices of Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, as Willis seeks to compel testimony on attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, while Kemp's team says it's a political move. And how effective is a new campaign ad from Herschel Walker calling out Senator Warnock's use of a particular canine in the democrat's last run for office? That and more on this week's episode of political breakfast, available now on your favorite podcast app and at WABE dot org.
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Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams says she’s working to address the challenges of Black men because if they vote for her like she knows they can, she can win the Georgia Governor’s race… but is it enough to outweigh Governor Brian Kemp’s strong economic message and track record of appointing Black officials? Meanwhile, how will Black voters navigate the racial politics as things get heated between Republican Herschel Walker and Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock?
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Political rhetoric or possible reality? California Governor Gavin Newsom wants Georgia's billion-dollar film and TV industry to move to HIS state. Why? Newsom says California is free of controversial, conservative, and restrictive abortion laws like the one active in Georgia.
Martha Zoller fills in for Brian Robinson
The team also talks about Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' diligent effort to crack down on illegal guns used to commit a recent rash of violent crimes.
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What will the political and economic ramifications be after organizers canceled the annual Music Midtown festival, reportedly due to Georgia’s lax gun laws? Will Stacey Abrams be able to build up enough momentum in the governor’s race ahead of November to overcome a gap in the polls? And what does it mean that one commentator said Herschel Walker is ‘what Republicans want from their Negroes?’ Saba Long fills in for Tharon Johnson to discuss that and more, on this week’s episode of Political Breakfast.
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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is finding out which high-profile GOP lawmakers she can, and cannot, subpoena as part of the grand jury investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. And senate candidate Herschel Walker has not confirmed whether he will participate in the October 16, Atlanta Press Club debate with incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock, but he says he’s ready and working out the details.
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Money is pouring into Georgia ahead of the November general election, but is it going where it’s most needed? What chance does a Democrat have at unseating Marjorie Taylor Greene, and how would Charlie Bailey lead a Republican-majority state senate if elected Lieutenant Governor? These questions, and an update on Fulton County special grand jury investigation, on this week’s episode of Political Breakfast.
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As the debate over abortion remains top of mind for many Georgia voters, advocates on either side of the issue are rallying their base, but also trying to find ways to best help women in the state. Former Planned Parenthood president and CEO Staci Fox and Georgia Life Alliance Leadership Director Elizabeth Reed join Political Breakfast to discuss how their supporters are receiving the news and how the organizations are responding.
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Now that the Supreme Court has rolled back Roe V. Wade and sent the decision back to the states, will it galvanize Democrats and how will Republicans push back? Conservative commentator Martha Zoller fills in for Brian Robinson to give her analysis of how each side arrived at this point, as well as to discuss last week’s runoff elections.
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The Political Breakfast Team talks about Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's re-election campaign. His appearance before the US House Select Committee investigating the insurrection at the Capitol launched him front and center, just months ahead of the November general election.
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Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson don't hold back when analyzing comments made by some of the high-profile candidates running for office.
Democratic candidate for Governor, Stacey Abrams and Republican candidate for Senate, Herchel Walker are some of those being called on to explain certain statements made on and off the campaign trail.
The team also discusses the U.S. House Select Committee hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and how all the Georgia connections help paint a clearer picture as to what unfolded that day.
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State Rep. Bee Nguyen and former State Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler joined Political Breakfast a day after taking the debate stage to make their case to voters. With two weeks left until the primary runoff, they both took shots at Republican opponent incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger as they tried to set themselves apart.
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With the primary over and the runoff still a few weeks away, the candidates at the top of the ticket are already gearing up for the November general election. How will strategies change now that the candidates know their opponents and must appeal to a broader voter base? Will Herschel Walker be driven to speak up more? Will Warnock emulate his winning strategy from 2020? And what does Gov. Brian Kemp's sizeable margin of victory mean for the Georgia GOP?
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Georgia’s primary election saw wins for several frontrunners, including incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp, fellow Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and Democratic Congresswoman Lucy McBath. But many Trump-backed candidates didn’t fare well against their Republican opponents, with Herschel Walker the only big name remaining with the former president’s endorsement. On this live episode, we look at how the primary wins and losses set up both parties to do in the general election.
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*Disclaimer*: This episode contains language some may not find suitable for all listeners.
As the country is still reeling from the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, people on both sides of the aisle are processing how to think about this latest tragedy. Meanwhile early voting numbers in the final week before the primary reveal thousands who previously cast Democratic ballots are voting in the Republican primary.
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With less than two weeks to go before the Republican primary for Georgia governor, former U-S Senator David Perdue is lagging far behind incumbent Governor Brian Kemp in fundraising and spending. Will he be able to force Kemp into a runoff? And they're both behind Democratic fundraising powerhouse Stacey Abrams as she uses an uncontested primary to prepare for what's sure to be a tight general election. Lastly, how much is the fight over Roe versus Wade likely to come up during this election season?
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How will the U.S. Supreme Court's potential decision overturning legalized abortions in many states affect the upcoming elections as early voting gets underway? And what drove the DeKalb School Board to abruptly fire former Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris?
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False claims of voter fraud loomed large in the first of three debates between Governor Brian Kemp and former U.S. Senator David Perdue leading up to the highly contentious Republican gubernatorial primary to decide who will face the presumptive Democratic nominee, Stacey Abrams. Political Breakfast hosts a live on-air edition to go over the takeaways.
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Georgia has significantly fewer new voter registrations and absentee ballot requests, Marjorie Taylor Greene faces a legal challenge to her candidacy, and a recent Politico article backs-up what Brian Robinson's been saying about Georgia's voting law.
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A recent poll shows incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock trailing a few points behind likely Republican nominee Herschel Walker, but what will it take for this to hold until the November general election? And an internal poll from the campaign of Governor Brian Kemp shows him with a strong lead over his main opponent, former Senator David Perdue. How much should voters read into the numbers?
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Lawmakers passed several bills on the final day of the 2022 legislative session that will appeal to many Republican voters ahead of elections: a bill clearing the way for transgender children to be banned from sports teams, another giving the GBI investigative authority over elections, and a 4.99% flat tax rate. The legislature also passed a $30.2 billion dollar budget and major mental health care reform. Martha Zoller fills in for Brian Robinson.
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Georgia's conservative state leadership got most of what they wanted out of the 2022 legislative session. WABE's politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas talk with editor Susanna Capelouto about what they will be able to take onto the campaign trail in coming months. This is the last episode of the 2022 Gold Dome Scramble as April 4th is the final day of the session.
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Political strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson join Lisa Rayam on Morning Edition for a live edition of Political Breakfast to assess the impact of Donald Trump’s Georgia visit. Will his endorsement be enough to bolster David Perdue’s lagging campaign? And how significant is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s endorsement?
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Georgia's bi-partisan mental health overhaul bill is getting push back from right-wing fringe advocates including gun rights activists. WABE's Politics Reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas talk with Editor Susanna Capelouto about challenges to this and other bills still in limbo with just about a week to go in the 2022 legislative session.
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Former president Donald Trump has a rally planned this weekend in Commerce, but will it be enough to give former Senator David Perdue and the other candidates he’s backing a boost in the polls? And the Rabun County GOP issued a resolution bashing any candidate that refuses to take the debate stage, which Republican senate candidate Herschel Walker has done.
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With only two weeks to go in the 2022 session controversial proposals on gambling, guns, abortion, education and voting are getting a lot of attention. WABE's Rahul Bali, Sam Gringlas and Susanna Capelouto talk about what's at stake. They also have updates on the big bi-partisan mental health reform bill.
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Stacey Abrams kicked off her campaign this week with a rally in Atlanta at which she called Governor Brian Kemp's response to the pandemic 'lazy' or 'inept.' And Georgia Republican party chair David Shafer drew criticism from his own party after quoting a tweet that's been called Russian propaganda.
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Lawmakers consider eliminating the state gasoline tax and Republicans continue to pass laws affecting elections in Georgia. WABE's Politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas talk with Editor Susanna Capelouto about these and other topics, including Georgia's mental health overhaul bill and the official start of the 2022 campaign season.
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This week was a hectic one under Georgia's Gold Dome as current and aspiring lawmakers filed the paperwork needed to qualify for a run for office.
Three candidates caught the eye of the Political Breakfast Team--Herschel Walker, Raphael Warnock and Marjorie Taylor Greene-- all for different reasons.
Strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and Host Lisa Rayam take a deep dive into what a run for each of these candidates may imply about the state of politics in Georgia.
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This week Georgia politicians who want to run for office have to register with their respective parties as many incumbents have seen their districts change for the 2022 election. WABE's Susanna Capelouto speaks with politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas about what's at stake for candidates. They also discuss important legislation moving forward, including controversial education bills and a major mental health reform package.
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Political Breakfast is joined by Atlanta Civic Circle Director Saba Long, filling in for Tharon Johnson, to discuss the far-reaching impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the surrounding political rhetoric. Later in the episode, special guest Cobb County Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid joins the show to talk about the county’s achievements and challenges – namely four potential cityhood referendums.
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Several divisive education bills are moving ahead in the state legislature including banning trans students from sports teams and allowing parents not to mask their kids despite a mask mandate. Politics Editor Susanna Capelouto talks with WABE Education Reporter Martha Dalton and Politics Reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas about several controversial education bills, as well as updates on redistricting fights, a major mental health bill and upcoming gun legislation.
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In part two of Political Breakfast’s examination of the debate around Critical Race Theory, Atlanta Public Schools board member and former chair Jason Esteves critiques the argument from conservatives that certain concepts about race have no place in the classroom. And Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced a series of events this week meant to foster peace and community to stem the rising tide of violent crime.
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Georgia's massive bi-partisan mental health overhaul has people hopeful, but Republicans are flexing their muscle in drawing political boundaries to their party's benefit. WABE's politics team of Susanna Capelouto, Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas talk about these and other bills, including controversial education measures, that are moving forward during this legislative session.
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State Rep. Will Wade (R-Dawsonville) joins Political Breakfast to discuss school masking policies in the wake of legislation proposed by Gov. Brian Kemp that would allow parents to opt out of mask mandates. And Rep. Wade makes the case for legislation he’s sponsored as a member of the House Committee on Education that would limit the teaching of certain race-based concepts in schools, as well as give parents a framework for filing complaints.
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Bills dealing with divisive issues in education are taking the bulk of the legislative energy at the state capitol this session. WABE's Susanna Capelouto, Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali talk about the progression of bills that deal with whether transgender kids can participate in sports, what materials should be banned from libraries and how race and racism should be taught in the classroom.
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Georgia Democrats and Republicans engage in renewed debate over masking requirements after Stacey Abrams’ campaign posts a controversial photo of the candidate in a classroom without her mask. Vernon Jones drops out of the race for governor and declares his intent to run for Georgia’s 10th congressional district, leaving former Sen. David Perdue and Gov. Brian Kemp to go head-to-head in the Republican primary. And the question of cityhood looms large in Cobb County where four different movements are underway; what is driving the push for independence?
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Georgia legislators take up bills on transgender kids and sports, a parents' bill of rights, permitless weapons carry and how Gwinnett County residents pick their leaders. WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali break the bills down with WABE's Emil Moffatt.
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Recent polls show Vernon Jones attracting only a slim percentage of voters in Georgia's Republican gubernatorial primary, especially after Trump-endorsed David Perdue entered the race. Will he stay in the running, possibly siphoning votes from Perdue, or drop out to consider a run for U.S. Congress? And multiple bills currently before the General Assembly would limit what could be taught in Georgia schools with regard to race. Are these teachings further dividing us or trying to deliver a complete picture of our country's history?
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Georgia lawmakers want to control how schools teach race and racism with a list of definitions they call "divisive concepts". WABE Politics editor Susanna Capelouto talks with reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas about the effort by Republicans to set rules about what can be taught about race and racism in classrooms. They also tackle bills about mental health reform and partisan school board elections.
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Mayor Andre Dickens received a standing ovation and a lot of support from state legislators, but then he gets a tough test on violent crime when a 6-month-old is shot and killed during a drive by shooting in the city. We’ll look at how this latest tragedy could shed more light on the Buckhead City movement.
The Constitutional Amendment to ban "noncitizen voting" fails on a party line vote in the Senate but will it remain a hot topic during the 2022 election cycle?
The crew shares thoughts on how Fulton County's District Attorney was given clearance to request a special grand jury to investigate former President Donald Trump's efforts to interfere in Georgia's 2020 presidential election.
Saba Long from the Atlanta Civic Circle sits in for Tharon Johnson and the crew tackles a very busy week in Georgia politics.
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Georgia's state agency heads complain about massive turnover, but it's not clear a $5,000 dollar jump in pay will help. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas talk with editor Susanna Capelouto about the great resignation among state employees. They also look ahead to an expected mental health reform proposal and some controversial bills that will spill onto the 2022 campaign trail.
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Just a week into the 2022 legislative session voting rights are back on the table in Georgia, where many politicians used the national Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday to draw attention to the issue that was highly important to the civil rights icon. Republican state senator Brian Strickland is chairman of the judiciary committee where he could oversee the passing of some controversial bills this session, as well as further his own legislative priorities of criminal justice reform and improving the state’s technical college system.
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It's budget hearing week at the Georgia state capitol where lawmakers will hear from members of the executive branch about how they want to spend money in the coming year. WABE Politics Editor Susanna Capelouto talks with Politics Reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas about the details in Governor Brian Kemp's record spending proposal that comes in an important election year.
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Georgia’s 2022 legislative session began Monday with many hot-button issues on the table for lawmakers to consider, including voting, gambling and Medicaid expansion, among others. On the same day the the Georgia Chamber of Commerce holds its annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast to lay out he business community’s priorities for the session, Lisa Rayam, Tharon Johnson, and Brian Robinson host a live episode of Political Breakfast to discuss where the most talked-about issues stand and the politics of getting these bills through the state legislature.
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The 40 day Georgia legislative session starts this week. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas talk with politics editor Susanna Capelouto about what's ahead. Some state leaders already signaled they will loosen gun laws and take up crime fighting bills as Republicans try to prove their conservative credentials ahead of contentious May primaries.
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On this week’s Political Breakfast podcast, host Lisa Rayam along with strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson discuss the latest move by some Georgia school districts to protect students against the spread of the Omicron variant. Will a week of on-line learning have a severe impact on kids and schools? Brian and Tharon weigh in on both sides of the issue. Plus, the role unsubstantiated claims continue to play in the pandemic. Georgia U-S Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is banned from Twitter because of false comments she made linking the Covid 19 vaccine to death. In addition, The Political Breakfast crew will sort through Atlanta Mayor Andre Dicken’s plan to tackle The Buckhead City Movement now that he has officially taken office.
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Former U.S. Sen. “Johnny” Isakson passed away earlier this month at the age of 76 after a long, accomplished political career. Brian Robinson hosts a special tribute episode featuring three former chiefs of staff and friends of the late Georgia lawmaker: Attorney General Chris Carr, along with political strategists Joan Carr and Heath Garrett.
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Outgoing Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms talks candidly about Atlanta's crime rate, the ongoing federal investigation involving the previous regime, her rift with Governor Brian Kemp over his handling of the pandemic, and ifher future aspirations include a role in President Biden's Administration.
The Political Breakfast crew also discusses the race for Georgia Governor. Recent polls show former Senator David Perdue edging past fellow Republican Brian Kemp. Will Trump's endorsement of Perdue cost Kemp the primary?
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Former U.S. Senator David Perdue says he’s running for governor of Georgia in order to save the state and the Republican party. Incumbent governor and fellow Republican Brian Kemp, who is running for re-election says the move is egotistical and a way for Perdue to redeem himself after losing his U.S Senate seat in 2020. Does Democrat Stacey Abrams stand to gain from the divisiveness? And, what impact is a very vocal former President Donald Trump is having on the race?
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It’s a resounding win for Atlanta Mayor-elect Andre Dickens. His opponent, Felicia Moore. says now that the race is over she will support him 100%.
During this live Political Breakfast, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson sort through the runoff election results with Morning Edition host Lisa Rayam.
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Hours after state lawmakers sent the newly approved GOP-favored district maps to Governor Brian Kemp's desk for signature, 6th District Congresswoman Lucy McBath proclaimed that she "refuses to stand down" and announced a run for the newly created Democratic District 7. McBath vows to fight Republicans every step of the way.
In addition, a new GOP poll suggests Governor Brian Kemp would be in trouble in a Republican primary should former Senator David Perdue decide to run. When pollsters presented Perdue as a candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, he jumped ahead of Kemp 41-to-34 percent.
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Atlanta Mayoral Candidate Andre Dickens shares his views on crime, affordable housing and the proposed Buckhead City movement. He says his stance on all three issues is what sets him apart from his opponent, Council President Felicia Moore. Dickens also breaks down why serving as the city’s CEO would allow him to foster unity across party lines. Also, Governor Kemp launches a new television ad that’s one minute long. Some wonder if he jumped the gun, long before the gubernatorial election by reacting to the rumblings that another GOP may soon enter the race—former U.S. Senator David Perdue.
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The Atlanta Mayoral runoff is just weeks away and candidate Felicia Moore stops by Political Breakfast to share what makes her stand out from her opponent, Andre Dickens. Moore talks about crime and how a key component to getting the rising rates under control is to show officers some appreciation. In addition, she talks about the City of Buckhead movement. Moore did especially well in the affluent suburb in the municipal election, but although she plans to be tough on the crime that’s worrying residents, she says she won’t support cityhood. In addition, the Political Breakfast team pays homage to the voice for Veterans everywhere, Max Cleland. Cleland was a former State and US senator for Georgia as well as former head of the Veteran’s Administration.
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Atlanta’s mayoral race was THE closely watched race. 14 candidates in all, yet only three landed near the top. Just two make it into the November 30 runoff. What direction did the undecideds move in when they finally made it to the polls? Also, State lawmakers tackle redistricting. It stands to be a contentious fight that will likely end up in court.
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The President of the Atlanta NAACP apologizes for publicly renouncing Kasim Reed for Mayor. This is after the National President cried foul and ordered Richard Rose to retract his statements. Also, some say Governor Brian Kemp played politics with the World Series. Did he use the Braves shining moment to revisit the state's new voting law and spin why Georgia missed out on the All Star Game?
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Stacey Abrams campaigns for a fellow Democrat running for Governor in Virginia. While there, she tells a crowd she wasn’t in a position to “inherit” the Governor’s job in Georgia. That comment alone has some wondering IF she will announce another run for the job soon or is she implying that ship has sailed. In addition, Charlie Bailey is running for Attorney General. He stops by to talk about his campaign, the Ahmaud Arbery case , the controversial new voting law and the heartbeat bill.
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Fulton County's Elections Department remains under the microscope as early voting gets underway. Two workers are accused of shredding voter registration applications.
What this could mean for the Director whose job has been in jeopardy for months now. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger calls for a Justice Department Investigation but also has time to write an op-ed for a national news outlet. HE says Stacey Abrams and Donald Trump play politics on the same team.
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Trump loyalists within the Cobb County GOP are making moves to derail Governor Brian Kemp’s re-election campaign. Attorney General Chris Carr responds as well as tackle other issues like SB 202 and human trafficking.
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A new survey conducted by the Atlanta business leaders grade city council/mayoral candidates. Some are considered excellent leaders, others not so excellent. Plus, AJC reporter Greg Bluestein talks about his new book Flipped. It covers how last year’s Senate Races launched Georgia in the national political forum. He also addressed How all that will that play into the next election cycle. Law enforcement officers and other emergency personal get a $100 bonus in federal stimulus dollars from Governor Kemp. Is it a nice gesture, a very good deed or a political ploy???
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Former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young talks about how the city should get tougher on crime. He also weighs in on a recent poll that indicates most residents are not impressed with the way current mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has handled tough issues like crime, affordable housing and traffic congestion.
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A new AJC poll shows the Atlanta mayoral race is tight and getting tighter. Former Mayor Kasim Reed and City Council President Felicia Moore appear to be in a statistical dead heat.
Another poll commissioned by those who want Buckhead to become a city...indicates it would thrive financially as a stand alone.
If true, How would Atlanta handle the loss?
And Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan discusses his book about the controversial 2020 Presidential election d and how it's stands to pave the way for a new and improved Republican Party.
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Lisa and Tharon are joined by conservative strategist Martha Zoller to talk about the race for mayor in Atlanta. The election is less than eight weeks away and it appears the recent Demographic and political shifts generated by the census.
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Georgia’s legislature is about to hold a special session to redraw district boundaries, and that could affect who goes to Capitol Hill or the Georgia State Capitol. Dr. Charles Bullock, the Richard B. Russell Chair in Political Science at UGA, joins Lisa, Tharon and Brian to discuss the redistricting process. Republicans control the process and Democrats are already crying foul. Plus, hear what Dr. Bullock thinks about UGA alumni Herschel Walker’s run for U.S. Senate.
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Many call him the Turnaround Expert. Dekalb CEO Michael Thurmond talks with Lisa, Brian and Tharon about boosting the county's Covid 19 vaccination rates by offering incentives. And the CEO reacts to Governor Brian Kemp's latest order protecting businesses from enforcing mask restrictions. Also, a look at former UGA star Herschel Walker’s recent move to Buckhead and why that may indicate he's running for U-S Senate.
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Is Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger getting "Trumped" by the former president during his run for reelection? There are hurdles in the way, many put in place by his own Republican Party. What is Raffensperger’s strategy for clearing those obstacles? Plus, the Buckhead City movement. A new poll suggests there's strong support for the General Assembly to put the creation of a new Buckhead City up for a vote on the November 2022 ballot.
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Atlantans are soon to elect a new mayor BUT a recent poll shows many are still undecided. And Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker emerges as the possible GOP candidate to challenge Raphael Warnock's Senate seat, even though the former Georgia Bulldogs star hasn’t declared a run or said a word. Plus, Georgia State Representative and candidate for Secretary of State Bee Nguyen joins as a special guest to weigh in on hate crimes, infrastructure, and gerrymandering.
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Like the game of chess, some Georgia Senators make the first strategic move to replace Fulton County's election board with one run by the state. But Democrats may be contemplating moves of their own. Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts and State Senator Brandon Beach are special guests.
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More Georgia Republicans are calling for election reform in Fulton County. The ultimate goal is to push out county officials in favor of complete state control. Is this a practical move after the controversial presidential election or potentially a huge bust? Also, how mask mandates may become political fodder on the campaign trail.
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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms plans to create an office of violence reduction to address rising crime in the city, while Governor Brian Kemp wants Georgia lawmakers to pass anti-crime bills during this fall’s special legislative session.
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Georgia governor Brian Kemp announced his reelection campaign, and says he'll be "running scared and hard.” Is he mainly concerned about the lingering ire of Donald Trump, or potential Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams? And the legal wrangling over Georgia’s new voting laws continues, now that the US Justice Department has sued the state. Plus, two Republican candidates in their 30’s announce plans to challenge Democratic incumbent Lucy McBath in the 6th Congressional district next year. Can they capitalize on a surge of youth voters in Georgia?
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The fight over how we vote, when we can vote, and who can vote has only intensified in the half a year since the 2020 elections and the Senate runoffs in Georgia. But to understand how we got here, it’s a good idea to look at those 2020 campaigns again, with fresh eyes and perhaps some information we didn’t have at the time. In a special live broadcast edition—his final one as host of the Political Breakfast—WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer welcomed a couple of special guests who know a lot about the 2020 campaigns from the inside: former Biden Georgia communications director Jaclyn Rothenberg and veteran Republican strategist Heath Garrett. They joined our regulars: Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Many of us in Georgia are moving away from talking about COVID-19, but the nation’s Democratic vice president and Georgia’s Republican governor haven’t finished—though they look at things differently. Meanwhile, a former Atlanta U.S. Attorney is at the center of new revelations about the Trump administration’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election. And a former Atlanta city administration’s spending habits are the subject of an audit—just in time for this year’s mayoral race. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer gets into it all—and more—with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Did someone say, “summer vacation?” Around here, politics will not take a summer vacation. From a governor who faced loud booing from a faction of his own party, to a former Atlanta mayor who wants the job again, to state hearings on Atlanta’s violent crime problem—it’s already a hot summer, with no vacation from politics. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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The fight in Congress over a national voting rights bill intensifies in Washington, with Georgia as one of the main exhibits. Meanwhile, right here, lawsuits are flying on both sides. Looking to the elections this year and next, one familiar name could end up in a new contest, while another talks about why she passed up a bid for another term. And Georgia’s COVID-19 restrictions continue to disappear, but the fight over the state’s response will continue for a long time. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer digs into all of it with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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It has now been one year since the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. And the often-heated debates about race continue, around the nation and here in Georgia: from a decision on changes to the Stone Mountain memorial, to arguments about critical race theory, to votes on how to respond to the killings of Asian-Americans here in Atlanta, to the increasing furor over a Georgia congresswoman’s remarks on the Holocaust. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist and former congressional candidate Nabilah Islam, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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We’ve now got two election years rolled into just one. Republican governor Brian Kemp launched his re-election campaign; so did GOP secretary of state Brad Raffensperger. Meanwhile, Republican lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan opened a scramble for his job, when he said he won’t run again; he’ll be working to build a GOP not tied to Donald Trump. And more candidates jumped into this fall’s race to succeed Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, even as she confronted another weekend of deadly violence. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer gets into it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Cobb County Democratic chairman Michael Owens, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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While some Georgians rushed to the gas pumps, folks in Atlanta politics were scrambling to figure out what happens, now that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has decided not to run again this fall. Among those mulling it over: a name familiar to Political Breakfast listeners. Meanwhile, Governor Kemp signs a bunch of bills that will probably be part of next year’s elections. And one candidate’s decision about next year could affect a lot of others. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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A white Atlanta police officer who killed an African-American man nearly a year ago is reinstated to his job. And another weekend of deadly violence in the city takes the life of yet another young girl. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tries to find answers amid mounting criticisms of her administration. Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans are still heading in different directions when Donald Trump calls to them. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, who fills in this time for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Of all the places he could have gone, President Joe Biden chose Georgia to visit as he marked his 100th day in office. But it wasn’t because of our lovely spring weather. Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans continue to wonder about possible challengers to new Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock. And there are now Federal hate crime charges against the three suspects in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson give their insights on all of it, with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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The guilty verdicts for Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd produced a lot of relief in Georgia, but they re-opened the debate about police reform in the state. Meanwhile, after postponing for a while, faith leaders re-opened their call for a boycott of The Home Depot over Georgia’s new voting law—and the Governor fired back in a hurry. And the state’s effort to track Coronavirus cases might get some much-needed new momentum, with help from Uncle Sam. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson are back, with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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The top U.S. Senate Republican told the corporate community to stay out of politics—something in which it’s been involved for eons—but some of Georgia’s big corporations are still walking a tightrope over Georgia’s new voting law, even as a big movie star pulls his new production out of here. The state’s GOP governor thunders at the law’s opponents, and gets a standing ovation from one county’s Republicans, but that’s not good enough for party leaders in two others, who censured him anyway. A couple of Democrats are already facing off for the chance to challenge the Republican attorney general. And a big Korean company praises the Republican governor and a new Democratic senator their roles in a deal to save a big Georgia factory. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson sort through it all with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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In most years, the final gavel in the Georgia Legislature means at least a brief period of calm, and a chance to figure out how all those bills will affect everyone. But this year, things just got noisier—with the loss of baseball’s All-Star Game over the new voting law, and even fierce disagreements about what that law says. This special edition, which was broadcast live on 90.1 WABE and on Facebook, features our regulars: WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson. They analyze the escalating clash, with a couple of guests: Republican House Speaker David Ralston, and Senate Democratic Leader Gloria Butler.
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On the final day of this year’s legislative session in Georgia, major companies like Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola, and others blasted the state’s new voting law, after it had already been passed and signed. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer to sift through the debris of “Sine Die” —with some help from WABE political reporter Emma Hurt. They also got into the Governor’s decision to lift most of the state’s Coronavirus restrictions, and the State of the City address by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
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The 2021 General Assembly finished, but not before passing a controversial voting law, a state budget and a lot of other bills. In this virtual live event Host Lisa Rayam is joined by politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt as well as education reporter Martha Dalton, environment reporter Molly Samuel and health reporter Sam Whitehead. They also take audience questions.
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A controversial voting bill sparks at least one lawsuit in the final days of the 2021 Georgia legislative session. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the fallout and about other bills that are still awaiting action this week including the state budget and police funding.
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It was the announcement many Georgians had been anticipating for months: every adult in the state can now get a COVID-19 vaccine. Now, if only Georgia can do as well as other states in getting the available shots into people’s arms. Meanwhile, the pre-adjournment frenzy is on under the Gold Dome as lawmakers battle over several key issues—including sports betting, citizens’ arrest, and a response to the recent mass killing in Atlanta. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson get into it all with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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Georgia Lawmakers will consider yet another voting bill this week and as the legislative session winds down a lucrative federal Medicaid expansion proposal is too large to ignore. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporter Emil Moffatt and politics editor Susanna Capelouto about these proposals and other important bills still in play in the 2021 session.
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Georgia political leaders, already engaged in fights with each other over voting—and sometimes together against a deadly virus—are confronted with another foe that has often gone unseen: the rise in harassment and violence against Asian-Americans, here in Georgia and around the nation. While investigators work to determine the individual motive that drove a man who killed eight people, the wider problem remains. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson are back with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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As controversial voting bills await more action in the legislature, Georgia's business community is expressing concern. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporter Emma Hurt and education reporter Martha Dalton. They're also discussing the fate of controversial school voucher proposals that would use state funds to help pay tuition at private schools.
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A year after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a pandemic, Georgia is finally seeing signs of spring in more ways than one. The pool of Georgians eligible for a coronavirus vaccine is expanding, case numbers are dropping and so are the numbers of deaths. But the all-out war at the State Capitol over voting bills is only intensifying. And the voice of the man who pushed those efforts—former president Donald Trump—has returned, in yet another recording of him applying pressure to state officials after the November election. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer sorts through it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson on this edition.
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Crossover Day in the Georgia legislature is when bills must pass in either the House or the Senate to stay alive. Several controversial voting bills "crossed over". Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about which bills survived and which got cut.
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While Governor Kemp highlights the opening of new mass COVID-19 vaccination centers and his plans to expand vaccine eligibility, some data analyses put the state at or near the bottom for distributing the vaccines it has on hand. In the legislature, the voting overhaul fight has only gotten more intense, as the state mourns the loss of a native son who became a civil rights giant. And Atlanta’s spike in violent crime gets an unexpected moment of national attention. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson get into it all with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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Georgia Democrats have very little power to stop Republican voting bills in the legislature, but they're leveraging their recent statewide success to try to limit efforts to restrict ballot box access. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the voting bill fight as well as efforts to legalize sports betting in Georgia.
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While the state scrambles to address weather-related supply problems with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the pool of people eligible to receive shots is set to expand. Meanwhile, the field of possible Republican Senate candidates for next year is likely to expand a lot after one very significant withdrawal. And, how much will your voting options change? Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson break it down with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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More voting bills are popping up and Governor Brian Kemp tries to get more teachers with incentives. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE reporters Martha Dalton, Christopher Alston and Emil Moffatt about these and other bills before the state legislature, including sports betting and allowing home school students to join public school sports teams.
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And you thought the 2020 election battles were brutal. So far, months before the next elections, the 2021 fights are just as ugly—and even more confusing. From Fulton County, to the State Capitol, to inside the state Republican party, the long knives are out. This at a time when the state and the nation struggle to put together a unified battle plan against the COVID-19 pandemic. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson are back with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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Changes to Georgia's citizen's arrest law are underway nearly a year after the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick. WABE Senior Editor Susanna Capelouto is guest hosting and talks with politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt. They also tackle voting and street racing bills.
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Georgia’s tenure at the center of the political universe continues, with part of the impeachment case focused on the state, and a criminal investigation into former president Donald Trump now underway. Also continuing is the debate over how and when to safely open schools in the pandemic. And what could be an extended fight for the future of the state Republican party is just starting. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson get into all these issues and more with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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Republicans have introduced a wide variety of election bills ranging from extra ID's for absentee voting to restricting drop boxes saying it's all meant to make voting more secure. Democrats say Republicans want to restrict voting access. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE reporters Emma Hurt, Emil Moffatt and Christopher Alston about which proposals may actually pass Georgia's Republican controlled legislature.
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In the fight against the deadly coronavirus, Georgia has now given out more than a million vaccines—but there still aren’t enough to go around, and there are questions about whether the state could have done better with the supply it does have. Meanwhile, questions about what to do with a single new member of Congress continue to divide Georgia Republicans. And two of Atlanta’s most controversial policing cases from last year have taken new turns in the new year. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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A mid-year budget and a voter ID bill move forward in the 2021 legislative session that's beset by Covid-19 worries. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the latest efforts to pass legislation and a state budget during a pandemic.
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Just as the COVID-19 pandemic shows its first signs of levelling off in Georgia, a new and more contagious strain appears, further intensifying the race to vaccinate, along with the debate over whether the state can do more for its public health department. Meanwhile, a brand-new Georgia congresswoman is under increasing scrutiny. We’ll navigate all this and more in this edition of the Political Breakfast. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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Governor Brian Kemp presented at $27 billion dollar budget to lawmakers who will now get a chance to make minor changes. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt as well as education reporter Martha Dalton and health reporter Sam Whitehead about what made it into the spending plan and what was left out.
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There’s a new president in the White House, two new Georgia Senators at the U.S. Capitol, and a new legislative session underway at the Georgia Capitol. But the problems they face are not new--especially the spiraling numbers of COVID-19 cases, and the struggles to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and its economic fallout. We’ll look at the chances for new hope on this edition of the Political Breakfast. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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Georgia's legislative session has started with Republicans still in control of all branches of state government, but Democrats are making their new found statewide election power known. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE Politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the first week of the 2021 legislative session.
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Now that the United States House has voted to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time, does this mark the beginning of a new era in American politics—or the continuation of the toxicity of the last four years? Georgia and its leaders played a prominent role in the historic process. But Georgia also faces a health-care crisis, as the state tries to get COVID-19 vaccines distributed, while hospitals are stretched to the limit. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Following the pivotal Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections in Georgia, in which Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff beat incumbent GOP Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, a deep dive into whether Georgia is now a "50/50" state, or just plain "blue."
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As we approach the end of 2020, a year of pandemic that is unprecedented and challenging in so many ways, there are also signs of light and hope. We’ll explore the nuances in this edition of the podcast. One of the major stories of 2020 continues into 2021 as many voters head to the polls in Georgia’s critical U.S. Senate runoffs. And as the City of Atlanta prepares for its own election year, leaders are already caught in a fierce debate about how to respond to the spike in deadly violence the city is seeing. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson dig into these issues and more with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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Federal stimulus funds will soon be coming to many Georgians, but the flow of political campaign advertising money this year hasn't stopped—and neither have the visits from the very top ranks of both the Democratic and Republican parties. As they battle for both of Georgia’s Senate seats in January, some House Republicans continue to try to undo the last election. All this as the coronavirus surge poses big challenges for the health-care system. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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In the last few weeks, Georgia has welcomed an outgoing president, a president-elect, an outgoing vice president, teams of outside lawyers and their conspiracy theories, and hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising cash for the two Senate runoffs on Jan. 5. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, along with our guest for this special live edition: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
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It was a week of risings around here. The sharply rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in Georgia, the rising political heat brought by outgoing president Donald Trump on rising numbers of state political leaders, and the staggering rises in the dollars spent by the campaigns—and their outside support groups—on the two January 5th Senate runoffs. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer gets some insight into all of it from Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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As President Donald Trump continues to make baseless claims of a rigged election, and plans to campaign in Georgia in advance of the Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections, a Georgia elections official angrily pleaded with the president to speak out against death threats directed at election workers. Meanwhile, there are warnings the state's hospitals face staffing shortages, just as case numbers are rising again. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer gets into all of it with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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With the national election—or the voting part at least—behind us, Georgia took its place at center stage in the political universe. And it immediately used that stage to produce tons of drama: threats of legal action, charges of incompetence, countercharges of interference—and that was just among Republicans. This, at a time when health authorities were warning folks around here to pay a little more attention to stopping the Coronavirus from killing people. Did we expect 2020 to end any other way? WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer tries to make sense of it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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There's a hand recount underway of the 5 million ballots in Georgia’s presidential race. And two Republican U.S. Senators, who’d just been pushed into runoffs, attacked the Republican Secretary of State who supervised Georgia's elections. Other GOP members of Congress joined in—with a letter that misspelled the name of the state. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer navigates it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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The morning after Election Day 2020, there was still a lot of uncertainty in Georgia. The presidential race hinged on some uncounted absentee ballots; one Senate race was headed to a runoff and it was not clear if the second one would, too. And there were some close contests for the U.S. House and the state legislature. But there were some trends to follow, and lessons to learn. In a live special broadcast edition of the Political Breakfast, WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer welcomed back our regulars: Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson. Also joining for this edition: Emory University political scientist Dr. Andra Gillespie; WABE political reporter Emma Hurt; and Gabe Sterling from the Georgia Secretary of State's office.
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We’ve had some great guests on the Political Breakfast; they were most welcome. Zeta was not welcome, but the storm barged in, anyway—delaying production of this edition for a few days. But it’s here—just in time for some thoughts on the final frenzied days of campaigning, and what Election 2020 might bring. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer is your host, joined this time by Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard.
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The early voting surge continued this week in Georgia—and there was another wave of visits by folks at the top of the presidential campaigns. Unfortunately, while there hasn’t been a surge in new Coronavirus cases, they haven’t dropped lately, either. And in some places, schools are telling students and parents it’s still not safe to go back to in-person learning. It’s another full menu for this Political Breakfast. Our regulars—Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson—are both doing paid work on campaigns that are the subjects of this edition. Filling in for them: former Republican Georgia Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, and Nabilah Islam, a former Democratic congressional candidate in Georgia’s 7th District. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer is your host.
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Everyone expected Georgia voters would jump at the chance, but the first few days of early voting were overwhelming--and sometimes not in a good way, when it came to long waiting times and glitches in the state’s new voting system. The COVID-19 numbers grew, too, as the White House continued to urge the state to do more to slow them down. But there was no slowing down for candidates—including the presidential ones—in some very tight contests in Georgia. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer wades through it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Cobb County Democratic chairman Michael Owens, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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With early voting underway in Georgia, host Lisa Rayam and WABE Elections Reporter Emil Moffat break down the big questions about how, when and where to vote in Georgia. They're at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta, which serves as the largest early voting site in the state. Still haven't gotten your mail-in ballot? Emil will tell you how to track it. Don't know where to go vote? Emil will explain your options.
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WABE politics and state house reporter Emma Hurt talks with Gold Dome Scramble host Lisa Rayam about competitive state house and state senate races in the November election. Many of the tight races that could shift the power under Georgia's gold domed capitol are in Metro Atlanta, where demographic shifts are changing the political landscape.
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Early voting is about to begin in Georgia, but how we’ll vote in this historic election is still the subject of legal battles. Meanwhile, President Trump’s Coronavirus diagnosis, and his response, have changed the landscape in many of the contests on the ballot. And Atlanta marked the passing of a police chief who made history. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer looks into all of it—and more—with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Can Georgia Republicans hold the state for President Trump after his burn-it-all-down debate performance? Can Georgia Democrats rely on polls that show them tied or leading in the race for the White House and both Senate seats? Meanwhile, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control tries to send out consistent COVID-19 prevention messages, amid a lot of public and political pressure. Filling in for Demoratic strategist Tharon Johnson this time: former 7th District Democratic congressional candidate Nabilah Islam. Substituting for Republican strategist Brian Robinson: Heath Garrett, former chief of staff for Senator Johnny Isakson.
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We’ve heard for months Georgia could be in play in the presidential race. A visit from President Trump is the latest evidence of that. So, what are the best battle plans for the campaigns? The state makes slow progress in the Coronavirus battle, but Federal health officials say we could do more. And the Governor mounts a last-minute public push to get all Georgians counted. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson, and former Cobb County Democratic chair Michael Owens, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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The allegations were appalling, and denied by those accused. But the accusations that women at a Georgia immigration detention center were subjected to hysterectomies without consent have raised a new election issue for candidates in both parties. Meanwhile, those candidates with enough money have flooded all kinds of media with messages they hope will actually reach voters still struggling with a pandemic. And a man who helped re-shape downtown Atlanta is leaving the institution where he made that happen. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer digs into it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Presidential politics and public health collided as never before, when journalist Bob Woodward released audio, in which President Trump says he deliberately played down the threat of the Coronavirus. With less than two months before election day, candidates stepped up their get-out-the-vote efforts. And speaking of votes, the Secretary of State said about a thousand people voted twice in this year’s primary elections. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former 7th Congressional District Democratic candidate Nabilah Islam, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Brian Robinson.
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Georgians found themselves bombarded by lots of numbers in the last week--coming from everyone from public health officials, to economists, to political pollsters. But much of that information might only create a more muddled picture of where we’re headed. It’s very 2020. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer sorts it out with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Cobb County Democratic chairman Michael Owens, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Georgia no longer has the nation’s highest rate of new Coronavirus cases--but it's in second place, despite some other more encouraging signs. Uncertainty continues over the best path forward for Georgia's public schools ad universities. Renewed protests around the nation—including Atlanta—were one of the themes of the Republican Convention. And the state’s top elections official, who’s a Republican, walked a tightrope with GOP members of Congress about mail-in absentee voting. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer digs into it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Georgia’s governors like to say this state is the number 1 place to do business. But the current governor pushed back when the White House task force branded Georgia as number one for its rate of new Coronavirus cases. The debate over school and college re-openings intensified as case clusters emerged in those places. And polling shows the state’s two U.S. Senate races are, at least for now, quite different when it comes to how competitive the parties are with each other. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer explores it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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It was a week that saw several different kinds of unprecedented things: of course, Kamala Harris became the first African-American woman—and first South Asian woman—to be selected as the vice presidential candidate for a major American party. Here in Georgia, for the first time, a candidate who has endorsed a conspiracy theory called QAnon is likely headed to Congress. And the daily death toll from COVID-19 in Georgia reached new record highs. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer gets some insights from Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Schools are opening in Georgia, but the often-emotional debate about whether—and how—to do it safely is already well underway. And the toll in COVID-19 cases, rates of positive tests, and deaths continues to rise. Governor Kemp signs a controversial police protection bill. And while President Trump trashes mail-in absentee voting—except in Florida—there’s a growing dispute between the state’s top elections official and one Atlanta area county. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson are back, with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.
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With coronavirus cases still extremely high, hospitals in many parts of Georgia sounded the call for intensive care for themselves. Schools and colleges struggled to figure out how and when to reopen, with the calendar--and the virus--not on their side. And voters in the late Congressman John Lewis’s district will get to choose his successor—even if that person might only serve for a few weeks. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer delves into it all with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.
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After it took almost four months to reach to 75,000, Georgia’s number of confirmed Coronavirus cases doubled in less than a month. With hospitals in many parts of the state under stress, and people still facing long delays in getting their test results, the political and legal crossfire continued, too. The only pause came when Georgians paid tribute to two giants of the civil rights movement, who continued to lead to the very end. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer got some thoughts from Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.
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A united Georgia response to the Coronavirus might be a fond wish, but it’s not happening—even as case numbers spike and hospitals are stretched. The governor and Atlanta’s mayor traded shots; the governor again banned local governments from requiring masks—even as more cities did just that; and some school districts decided to open with online learning, despite funding cutoff threats from the president. Meanwhile, Georgia’s controversial new abortion law was blocked in Federal court. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer looks into all of it, with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council president Cathy Woolard, who’s filling in for Tharon Johnson this time.
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It was a week of mourning in Georgia: over lives lost in a weekend of gun violence--including that of an 8-year-old girl—and the lives lost to a Coronavirus outbreak that has worsened after the state re-opened. Georgia’s governor faced what one might call a masked rebellion in several cities, and called the National Guard into Atlanta. Meanwhile, school students, teachers, staffers and parents struggled to understand what this fall will be like in classrooms and on campus, while the Trump administration pressured schools to put kids back in front of teachers. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer again welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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As Georgia’s COVID-19 case numbers continue to soar, the warnings from public health leaders here continue to darken. But the debate over how best to keep from getting there has intensified—with leaders in some cities publicly confronting Governor Brian Kemp. Meanwhile, the governor and officials at every level in the state try to figure out how to adjust to state budget cuts that will affect us all. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Georgia lawmakers ended their 40 day session, but not before passing a tight budget, allowing liquor delivery and making history with a hate crimes bill. Host Lisa Rayam talks with Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the end of the 2020 Georgia legislative session.
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After resisting the idea for years, Georgia lawmakers suddenly moved fast to pass a hate crimes bill. Meanwhile, some grim Coronavirus numbers raised the question of whether the state re-opened too fast. And the Secretary of State promised some fixes that will speed up the long voting lines in some counties—but there’s a battle over reaching absentee voters who don’t want to stand in line. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer wades into it all with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.
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A much anticipated hate crimes bill now includes police as a protected class in Georgia. It's a hurdle lawmakers have to tackle while also cutting 11 percent from the state budget. In this Coronavirus remote edition, host Lisa Rayam talks with Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about these and other issues that are getting attention at the state legislature.
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After the Fulton County District Attorney announced charges against two Atlanta police officers involved in the killing of Rayshard Brooks, the debate over new rules for law enforcement continued, while the Atlanta department saw an outbreak of blue flu. Meanwhile, the Coronavirus served notice to Georgia that it hasn’t gone anywhere, and there’s a new chapter in the fight for one of Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson join WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer for this edition of the Political Breakfast.
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State lawmakers return to the Georgia State Capitol for 11 days to finish the 2020 legislative session amidst protests, voting problems and renewed calls for a hate crimes law. Covid-19 had put the session on hold. WABE's Susanna Capelouto guest hosts this episode and talks with politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about what to expect this week.
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Primary election day turned into primary election week, as vote counting continued. But with runoffs and November looming, the scramble to fix this week’s mess is on. The surviving campaigns check the numbers and plan for more battle, while the battle against the Coronavirus isn’t over—and those numbers could change everything again, even as the Legislature returns tries to figure out how much the state has to spend. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer talks it all over with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.
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Primary day in Georgia was unlike any other. But even those trading blame for all the problems agree on one thing: they don't want anything like this to happen again. This bonus edition of the Political Breakfast looks into the delays, glitches, and frustration that confronted so many voters. It originally aired live on 90.1 WABE on June 10, 2020. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer welcomed Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Brian Robinson, along with University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock; Gabriel Sterling from the Secretary of State's office; and WABE reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt.
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After an extraordinary and wrenching week in Atlanta and the rest of Georgia, the question now is: Where do all of us go from here on, in addressing the disease of racism? Meanwhile, a much more recent disease, COVID-19, is still with us, and the recent events have made confronting it a potentially much more complicated thing. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer explores some of the thinking with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Governor Brian Kemp again lifts some Coronavirus restrictions, while keeping some others. But he’s making a pitch for the Republican National Convention later this summer, and the numbers for the pandemic in Georgia still don’t give a clear picture of where it’s heading. Meanwhile, Georgia’s law enforcement and political leaders are again examining the relationship between police and African-American communities, after the video-recorded death of an unarmed black man at the hands of police in Minneapolis. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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When it comes to your health, there’s a saying you might have heard: "Know your numbers." Georgia’s COVID-19 numbers have been the subject of a lot of scrutiny lately. Meanwhile, some new polling numbers, if they’re right, forecast a real fight up and down the state ballot in November, while the people who run elections here worry about how to safely handle the numbers of voters who show up in person. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer again welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Just days after Georgia’s attorney general announced a state investigation of how local authorities responded to the February killing of an unarmed young black man near Brunswick, two suspects are in custody; the U.S. Justice Department is called in; and some top state leaders are getting behind a hate crimes bill. Meanwhile, Governor Kemp extends some pandemic response measures, and partially lifts others. And some Republican polling predicts close battles with Democrats in the November elections. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer sorts through it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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As Georgia slowly re-opens, the Coronavirus continues to spread. And so does the debate about the right things to do, and the possible cost in more lives lost. At the Georgia Capitol, lawmakers start to figure out what the cost will be in services the state can provide. Meanwhile, Georgia again gets the nation’s attention--this time for the killing of an unarmed young black man near Brunswick. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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While everyone holds out hope that an experimental drug tested here in Atlanta might help COVID-19 patients, Governor Brian Kemp is conducting a trial of his own, as he lifts more restrictions on businesses in the state. Meanwhile, schools, students and parents are trying to get some idea of what the coming school year will be like. And there are still plenty of questions about whether there’s enough good information to make any of those decisions. And Senate candidates in both parties face some tough strategic decisions of their own. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer talks it over with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.
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Welcome to the Georgia lab! No, not the state’s COVID testing lab (we’re still working on getting more of those up and running). The entire state is a now a lab--and we’re all the subjects. Governor Brian Kemp finds support from some government leaders and pushback from others--including President Trump--on his plan to partially re-open the state for business. On that subject, business folks, workers, and state and local governments struggle to adjust to life amid pandemic. And a familiar and controversial politician is getting out of that business--at least for now. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer digs into all of it with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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While President Trump suggests that the nation is past the peak of the Coronavirus outbreak, Georgia certainly is not. And the state continues scrambling for enough tests to tell us exactly where we are. Meanwhile, in electoral politics, there were parades of endorsements and reports of campaign cash in the contests for president and U.S. Senate. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer explored those issues--and more--with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson,
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Despite a few hopeful signs, the terrible Coronavirus toll in Georgia continued. Governor Brian Kemp extended the statewide shutdown, but a shortage of data--and supplies for frontline healthcare workers--continued to hinder the effort to fight the disease. Meanwhile, Georgia’s new GOP senator fought back against questions about her stock trades, and the names of Georgia Democratic women keep coming up as possible vice presidential contenders. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer again welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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It might be hard to remember now, but this was supposed to be the week when Georgia Democrats would have their say in the presidential battle. Instead, because of the Coronavirus, the voting will wait until May 19th at least; Georgia’s governor closes schools until April 27th at least; and the debate continues over whether he’s done at least enough to keep people from passing the virus around. Meanwhile, the Feds promise states will soon get relief money, and the internal GOP war heats up in a U.S. Senate race. For a look at all of that, and more, WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer again welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Faced with a frightening jump in the number of Georgia Coronavirus cases and deaths, Governor Brian Kemp orders a statewide shutdown, but then faces a blast of criticism for the timing of it, and the reason he gave for it. Meanwhile, local government leaders felt some push-back for the decisions they made or didn’t make. And the storm over a Georgia Senator’s financial transactions intensified. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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After a Georgia state senator tested positive for Covid19, hundreds of his fellow lawmakers went into quarantine. But not before giving governor Brian Kemp emergency executive powers. Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffat, who themselves are in quarantine as they spent a lot of time at the state captiol.
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The Coronavirus, and Georgia’s response dominate this edition of the Political Breakfast. It's about putting the political part of the public health story into context for you. And we’ll look at a bit of other political news, too--from the new stage in the Democratic presidential contest, to the scrambles for both of Georgia's Senate seats (a production note: this episode was taped in the hours before reports about stock trades by Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler). WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, and Republican strategist Brian Robinson got together digitally, via different lines of communication, from their homes and offices.
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State leaders have suspended the Georgia legislature indefinitely as the coronavirus keeps spreading and the state gets ready for more testing. Guest host and WABE health reporter Sam Whitehead talks with politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the state's response to the crisis and the bills that passed before things shut down at the gold dome.
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With astonishing and frightening speed, Coronavirus has reshaped life in Georgia, at least for now. State leaders are trying to shape a unified response, amid unpredictable signals from the administration in Washington. Meanwhile, the predicted internal Republican Senate fight continues to intensify, while a Democratic mayor finds her prediction in the presidential race is looking pretty good right now. Just some of what's on the table for this edition of the Political Breakfast. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson talk it over with WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer.
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Crossover day is this week, which means time is running out for some bills to become law. Lisa Rayam talks with WABE's Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about what still need to pass either the Georgia House or Senate to stay alive. Meanwhile, the Coronavirus is having politicians keeping their hands to themselves.
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Georgia used to be just a fundraising pit stop for presidential campaigns, but this year national Democrats promise they’re going to pump resources into the Peach State. President Trump is opening what he calls a Black Voices for Trump Community Center. With all this attention and energy aimed at Georgia voters, how come some of them just stay home. And will the state's new voting machines pass their big test?
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Georgia lawmakers wrangle over hands-free driving fines and Uber/Lyft fees in committees as the legislature reaches its half-way point in this year's session. Lisa Rayam talks with WABE's Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt. Environment reporter Molly Samuel also pays a visit to talk about coal ash bills.
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Georgia's governor and state lawmakers were already arguing about the budget and tax cuts, but then something new and potentially serious complicated things further: the coronavirus. At the same time, Georgia Democrats are waiting to get their their say in the presidential race. But how many of their party’s candidates will still be around by then? And there's more in this serving of the Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer again welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
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Lawmakers are marred in budget battles as they move forward on surprise medical billing and foster care legislation. Also, the idea of digital billboards makes a quick appearance. Lisa Rayam talks with politics reporter Emil Moffatt and WABE health reporter Sam Whitehead.
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Hard to believe, but in just about a month, Georgia Democratic voters will have a say in the still-crowded presidential race. Republican voters will cast ballots, too, but there’s not quite as much suspense there. What we don’t know is how Georgia's rapidly changing voter demographics will affect the outcome. Plus, a look at the ongoing state capitol budget battles, and the push for affordable housing in Atlanta.
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Agony over the state budget continues as Georgia lawmakers figure out how to pay for proposed teacher pay raises pushed by Governor Brian Kemp. WABE's Lisa Rayam talks with politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the nuances in the struggle over state dollars.
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Lots of unity talk, but not much evidence of it in both major political parties as their big internal showdowns get closer. Loeffler, Collins, Warnock, Tomlinson, Riggs Amico, Ossoff, and Abrams are just a few of the names you’ll hear on what you might call an endorsement edition of the Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer is back with our highly-endorsed political strategists. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal; Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign.
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Policy-making comes to a screeching halt so that Georgia's legislature can figure out the state's money woes. Plus, President Trump promises to get involved in a Georgia senate race. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE's Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about these and other issues, including a look at Georgia's lucrative film tax credit, which got some scrutiny from lawmakers.
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As the Georgia legislative session rolls along, we look at Governor Kemp's proposed crackdown on gang-related activity, and his push for a Medicaid waiver expansion program. Also, a high-profile retirement in Gwinnett could be a sign of how the county's political base is changing.
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Governor Brian Kemp's pick for the U.S. Senate, Kelly Loeffler, gets some unwanted competition as Republican Doug Collins jumps into the race. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE political reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the drama surrounding the open Senate race, which now also includes prominent Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock. We also talk about gambling, adoption, and foster care proposals.
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It finally happened: a couple of high-profile potential Senate candidates decided to realize that potential—one right after the other. So, Georgia Republicans are again learning what happens when you’re the majority party: you fight internal battles. Meanwhile, Georgia Democrats are working with some Republicans in one of those fights. But right now, the toughest fights of all are over where the state budget axe will fall. It’s a giant buffet set for you on this edition of the Political Breakfast! WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer is back, with two very busy political strategists. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal; Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign.
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Lawmakers are struggling with the reality of tough budget cuts to Education, Health, Agriculture and other state agencies. Politics Reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt and Health Reporter Sam Whitehead join host Lisa Rayam to bring insight and context to the numbers.
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The Democratic presidential candidates might be in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other cold places up north right now, but Georgia will be on their minds sooner than any of us might think. And after the presidential race leaves Georgia, the state will still be dealing with some difficult issues of health, life and death.
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Hearings at the Georgia State Capitol this week will tackle a tight budget to find ways to give teachers the full $5,000 pay raise promised by Governor Brian Kemp during his campaign in 2018. Education Reporter Martha Dalton and Politics Reporter Emma Hurt Join host Lisa Rayam this week.
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We all expected 2020 to be crazy busy in politics from the start, and it’s certainly fulfilled that promise. So, let’s do the sensible thing, and jump right in with a new Political Breakfast! This edition is the first on our new weekly schedule--twice the heaping helpings from now on! We’ve got big stuff going on from the nation’s capital, to the State Capitol, to Atlanta’s City Hall and beyond. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer, again welcomes our regulars, who are well rested--at least for now: Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal; Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign.
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WABE reporters Emil Moffatt and Emma Hurt join host Lisa Rayam for a look ahead to the week in the Georgia General Assembly. They discuss the expected fight over a shrinking state budget and possible changes to Georgia’s lucrative film and television production tax credit.
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As the 2020 legislative session gets underway in Georgia, WABE has a new podcast to keep you in the know. “Gold Dome Scramble” is a pop-up podcast from "Political Breakfast." Every Monday morning, host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE reporters about the big issues that may become state law – from casino gambling to expanded gun rights. It’s your chance to learn about what’s happening in the Georgia legislative session. We’ll make it fun. We’ll make it informative. And we’ll keep it short.
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2020 will be a huge political year in Georgia, of course. Many of the upcoming big stories are obvious: impeachment; elections; and--at the state Capitol--a push to legalize gambling (in some form, at least) in Georgia. But there's a lot more ahead in 2020, and we get your ready for it with some inside information from our regulars on the Political Breakfast. Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign; Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer is your host.
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What a way to end 2019! An historic impeachment vote in the U.S. House; Georgia’s Senator-to-be continues meeting her new colleagues--and new questions about what kind of Senator she’ll be. And what could be a major turning point in the decades-long legal war over how all of us in Georgia use water. It's a holiday party edition of the Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer welcomes our two unimpeachable sources. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal; Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is a public affairs and government consultant and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign.
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Governor Brian Kemp has chosen Georgia's next U.S. Senator. But is this just the start, instead of the end, of the sharp elbows among Republicans? After all, some of them got into a Twitter war with each other over who wears jean shorts. Meanwhile, both major parties get their ballots together for the upcoming presidential primary, and the numbers keep flying in the debate over health care in the state. It's another full menu for the Political Breakfast. Joining WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer for this edition: Bianca Keaton and Brian Robinson. Bianca is the chair of the Gwinnett County Democrats, and she's filling in for Tharon Johnson this time. Brian is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal.
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In the political world, there used to be something called the Thanksgiving break. But there’s little evidence of that this year. Georgia Democrats push the national party for more resources in 2020; Georgia Republicans throw a few elbows in the maneuvering to succeed Senator Johnny Isakson. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s transit makeover continues to take shape. It’s another overstuffed buffet for the Political Breakfast! WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer again welcomes our regulars: Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is a public affairs and government consultant and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal.
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Political analysts say the big message from this week's elections in Kentucky and Virginia is that Republicans are losing support in the suburbs. How might that play out in Georgia during the 2020 Senate and Presidential races?
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It’s still more than a year before the presidential election, but we’re less than three months away from the first caucuses in Iowa. And Georgia takes center stage in a month, with the next Democratic debate, and the rapidly-changing events in Washington and overseas could have a big effect on the plans for both major parties here. Meanwhile, a new look at what our region will look like in the next 30 years might change the decisions our political leaders make now. And speaking of decisions, what are the odds Georgia voters will face a yes-or-no on gambling? It's another Political Breakfast! Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is back; he’s a public affairs and government consultant and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. Working across the aisle: WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer.
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It’s football season now, but the real head-knocking is happening in politics--where some of the players are going after each other without helmets. Meanwhile, the state’s strict new abortion law ran into a block in Federal court, and it’s a blitz of candidates who want to succeed Johnny Isakson in the U.S. Senate. We’ve got great seats for you in this edition of the Political Breakfast. Brian Robinson is back; he's a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is away; former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard is filling in. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer is in the middle of it all.
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Got your resume up to date? Then you, too, can apply for the soon-to-be open job of U.S. Senator from Georgia! But President Trump might be reading that resume, and pass on his thoughts to the Governor who’ll make the decision. Meanwhile, the race for the other Georgia Senate seat got a high-profile new contestant. And the Atlanta school system has to figure out what next, after the superintendent’s contract was not renewed. So there's a whole smorgasbord in this serving of the Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer is back--along with our regulars: Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal.
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2020 was already forecast to be a very windy political year in Georgia. Then Senator Johnny Isakson’s resignation announcement guaranteed it’ll be a category 5! There’s also a continuing storm over hazardous emissions at a Cobb County chemical plant. And it hasn’t exactly been calm at Atlanta’s City Hall, either. So much to dive into on this edition of the Political Breakfast. And we finally have both of our regulars on hand at the same time. Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer tries to keep the whole thing on the rails.
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Georgia's senior U.S. Senator, Republican Johnny Isakson, is speaking about his resignation, and what he wants to do before he leaves the Senate at the end of the year.
Isakson made the announcement on Wednesday, August 28.
The three-term Senator, who began his political career in 1974, cited increasing health problems as the reason for his resignation. Isakson suffers from Parkinson's Disease, and recently had a growth removed from his kidney.
He spoke by phone on August 30 with Political Breakfast host Denis O'Hayer.
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There’s something in the late summer air--and it’s got a lot of Georgia folks concerned, along with the people who ask for their votes. Speaking of voting, the timer is running on the state’s new elections system, even as a legal fight continues. Meanwhile, the legal battle lines are more clearly drawn in the showdown over the state’s new abortion laws. There's all that and more in this helping of the Political Breakfast! WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson, a communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal, and--filling in for Tharon Johnson this time--Gwinnett County Democratic chair Bianca Keaton.
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It’s August, but the folks who run things in Georgia are not getting much of a vacation. They face some very serious questions: Does this state needs tougher gun laws? What to do about hazardous chemicals in the air near some Atlanta area neighborhoods? Should Governor Kemp finally expand the state’s Medicaid program for low-income Georgians? And how can lawmakers do all of this when the Governor is warning state agencies that funding cuts are coming? We get into all of that in this serving of the Political Breakfast. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is back; he’s a public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Republican strategist Brian Robinson is away. Filling in this time: former Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens, a Republican who’s also a former chair of the Cobb County Commission. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer hosts the proceedings.
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Now that Robert Mueller has spoken to Congress about Russian interference in the last presidential election, what’s being done here in Georgia to ensure the security of the next one? And it’s not just the 2020 presidential contest that’s stirring things up around here; there are quite a few would-be members of Congress in both parties. And a former Georgia governor has been busy lately in his new job as Agriculture Secretary. Those are just a few of the items on the bill of fare for this Political Breakfast, and we’ve got a place waiting for you! WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer returns with Tharon Johnson, who is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Republican strategist Brian Robinson is away; filling in this time: former Georgia Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, who knows a thing or two about high-profile hearings. During his time in Congress, he was a member of the House Intelligence Committee and the Select Committee on Benghazi.
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While Georgia Republican Senator David Perdue builds his re-election war chest, another Georgia Democrat jumps into the race to challenge him. But is the party waiting and hoping for someone else? Meanwhile, the new child sex trafficking charges against Jeffrey Epstein in New York have brought new focus to Georgia’s efforts to fight sex trafficking. And, if Georgia and some other states win their lawsuit against Obamacare, do Republican leaders have a plan for what next for patients here? A lot to think about on this Political Breakfast! WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer serves it up--with the help of some very bright political minds. Tharon Johnson is back; he’s a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Republican strategist Brian Robinson is away. Filling in this time: former Georgia Republican Party chairman Chuck Clay, now with the law firm Hall, Booth, Smith.
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While the Democratic presidential candidates debated in Miami, we’ll see if local Democrats need to focus on a different battle here, Meanwhile, Atlanta’s mayor unveiled an affordable housing plan, which critics argue isn’t very specific. And the Supreme Court blocked a census citizenship question, while Atlanta’s immigrant community waits to see if President Trump’s threatened raids will actually happen. All that and more is on the table for this Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer welcomes Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal. Our other regular, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, is away this time. Filling in: Gwinnett County Democratic chair Bianca Keaton.
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Could it be the presidential campaigns will actually treat Georgia as more than just a cash machine? Democratic candidates made all the right noises during their recent visits. But do they have the keys to winning the state? Meanwhile, the state’s Republican governor makes some key appointments by selecting African-American and Hispanic candidates--and Stacey Abrams goes to Hollywood. It’s a big and varied menu for this edition of the Political Breakfast, which also includes the possible role of African-American sororities in the Georgia Democratic presidential primary. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer sits down again with our regulars: Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal, and Tharon Johnson, a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign.
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Georgia’s new abortion law is signed into law, but the fight may only be starting. Meanwhile, Georgia political types in both parties try to navigate the ongoing turbulence from the Russia probe and Robert Mueller’s invitation to Congress. And while Stacey Abrams ponders her next move, state ethics regulators move in on her, starting another battle. So let’s dig in to a Political Breakfast! Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal; Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. At the serving table: WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer.
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There are some political storms on Georgia’s summer radar: an indictment for the state’s insurance commissioner; a potential landmark fight over the new abortion law; and Democrats and Republicans are trying to figure out how to navigate all the 2020 turbulence and uncertainty. But you can fortify yourself with a nourishing Political Breakfast. Our regulars are back for this one. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal; Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. They talked it all over with WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer.
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We’re just over a quarter of the way through 2019, but the mad scramble for 2020 is already on. With a single "no, thanks" from Stacey Abrams, Democrats are lining up to run for a Georgia seat in the U.S. Senate, while would-be members of the House are piling up in both parties. A retiring state Supreme Court justice opens the way for another high-profile battle, and a sitting state attorney general opens a probe into years of sex abuse by some members of Georgia's Catholic clergy. It's all in this edition of the Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer welcomes Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal. And filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson this time: former Georgia Democratic congressman Buddy Darden.
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Governor Kemp gets out his pen to sign or veto bills the Legislature sent him in the past few months. But some of those new laws mean he’s got some major future homework. Meanwhile some other Republicans and quite a few Democrats are already thinking about their political futures. And…oh, yes...there was that Tiger guy and his win for the ages in Augusta. It's tee time for another Political Breakfast! WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer returns with Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal. And coming back from a really nice vacation: Tharon Johnson, a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director of the Obama 2012 campaign.
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Georgia’s legislature lurched to its close for the year. So, as the old saying goes, it’s all over but the shouting. But there’s plenty of shouting--about everything from abortion, to the new election machines, to medical marijuana. And the Gold Dome isn’t even the only place where voices are raised, so we bring some calmer ones to serve up this edition of the Political Breakfast. Brian Robinson is back: he is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal. Tharon Johnson is off this time. Filling in is Michael Owens, who is the immediate past chairman of the Cobb County Democrats. The man in the middle is WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer.
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Gwinnett County voters opted not to get on board the MARTA train. So what’s next for the traffic-smothered county? Meanwhile, at the State Capitol, big fights over abortion and an airport takeover headed into their final rounds. And on a visit home from the U.S. Capitol, Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson went after President Trump for his continued attacks on the late Senator John McCain. Those are just a few of the selections on the menu for this Political Breakfast. Our regulars are back: Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal; Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. The man in the middle is WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer.
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It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world under Georgia’s Gold Dome right now--even more than usual. It’s that crossover time of year, when bills hit a critical deadline. One of them, the proposed state takeover of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, made it through the Senate ahead of the deadline. And it happened just as a new indictment was handed down in the investigation of corruption at Atlanta's City Hall. And it’s voting time, too, at least in Gwinnett County, even though it’s not November. But the stakes are just as big, with transit on the line, so to speak. And some bills favored by GOP conservatives ran into big hurdles under the Gold Dome. It's all on the menu for another Political Breakfast. Our regulars, Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, are both involved in the Gwinnett County transit campaign, so they are sitting out this time. Joining WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer: Democrat Cathy Woolard, a former Atlanta City Council president, and most recently, a candidate for Mayor. Also along for this ride: Lynn Westmoreland, a former Georgia Republican Congressman, and before that, the GOP leader in the Georgia State House.
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That slow start to 2019 in Georgia politics didn't last long. Midway through the legislative session, there's plenty of sound and fury at the state Capitol--over how to change the state's voting machines and rules; a lawsuit over the current voting system and the 2018 election; a bid to for a state takeover of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport; and the debate over House Speaker David Ralston's use of a rule allowing lawyer-lawmakers to get cases delayed so they can attend to their legislative duties. So, there's a lot on the Political Breakfast table this time. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer welcomed our regulars: Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is a public affairs and government conusltant and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign; Republican strategist Brian Robinson is a communications consultant and former deputy chief of staff for former Governor Nathan Deal. And we had lots of company this time! The podcast was taped before a wonderful live audience at the 28th annual Georgia Bar, Media & Judiciary Conference, at State Bar headquarters in downtown Atlanta.
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Now that all those Super Bowl visitors have left, Georgia political leaders have to get back to the task of hashing out our own homegrown issues--you know, the ones we didn’t want all those strangers to know about. There are some difficult negotiations to be had on everything from casino gambling, to Medicaid expansion, to proposed rules for new hospitals (and some of those issues could get thrown together!) Then, there's talk of a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the top of Stone Mountain, and a big bank from out of state is buying one of Atlanta's iconic financial institutions. It all makes for a big, crunchy Political Breakfast. Our regulars are back with us again: Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director of the Obama 2012 campaign; Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. WABE political consultant Denis O'Hayer is the person in the middle.
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Georgia starts 2019 with a new Governor, a new Legislature, some new members of Congress, a new transit agency for the Atlanta area--but coming to town for Atlanta’s Super Bowl, the same old Patriots. You remember them. Suddenly, that other team with its new old home in LA has a whole lot of new fans in the ATL! Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans continue their old no-gain scrimmage in DC. At least the Saints are staying in New Orleans (even though their billboards aren’t), and we can enjoy a new Political Breakfast. Who dat joining us? Our regulars, of course! Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director of the Obama 2012 campaign. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. And trying to steer it all is WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer.
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New lawmakers are coming to the Gold Dome, including governor-elect Brian Kemp. How will shrinking Republican margins in the legislature affect this year's priorities?
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It’s the end of 2018 already! But we in Georgia managed to jam a whole lot of political news into just 365 days. So what did we learn this year? And which of the happenings from this year will be affecting us in 2019—and maybe even beyond? Settle back with the holiday beverage of your choice and explore it all with us on a special edition of the Political Breakfast! WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer is back; so are Tharon Johnson, a Democratic strategist and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign, and Brian Robinson a Republican strategist, public affairs consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal.
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Georgia had a little earthquake recently, but apparently that's not going to keep Nick Ayers from leaving the Trump administration--and a very big job offer--to come back home. Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern will soon call Atlanta home; Governor-elect Brian Kemp makes his first major speech (without anything exploding behind him) a few days after he paid a peacemaking visit to Atlanta's City Hall and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. And who would have guessed a couple of years ago that a wildly popular soccer team would be the one to break Atlanta's long championship drought? That's just some of what's on the menu in this edition of the Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer welcomes Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.
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As we hurtle toward the winter solstice, we’re still not finished with the fall elections! But the state is getting ready for a new tenant in the Governor’s mansion, while the candidate who came very close is launching what could be a long winter’s legal fight. That's just some of what’s on the menu for a new Political Breakfast, hosted by WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer. For this edition, Brian Robinson is back with us; he’s a Republican strategist, public affairs consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is away for this edition. Filling in this time: former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, who’s also a public affairs consultant.
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Now that Amazon won't be getting a private MARTA car, maybe we can reserve one for the Political Breakfast! While we wait for that, we bid you welcome to another un-subsidized edition. It’s a sumptuous feast this time, to say the least: the continuing legal and political war over the governor’s race; runoffs for a couple of other top posts; a special session of the legislature; and--oh, yes--that "thanks-but-no-thanks" from Amazon, followed by the delivery of the sweeteners Georgia was ready to offer the giant company. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer welcomes a couple of folks who know a lot about all this: Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, public affairs consultant and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal; Michael Owens is the chairman of the Cobb County Democrats (he's filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, who is away for this edition).
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Political strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson join host Denis O'Hayer on stage before a crowd of hundreds at Emory University's School of Law. As the midterm election draws near, heavy hitters like Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, Mike Pence and Donald Trump head to Georgia to campaign for gubernatorial candidates Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp.
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It’s getting toward the end of October; scary people will soon be knocking at your door--and then there are the trick-or-treaters! Yes, the political campaigns have launched their ground games, with volunteers trying to visit as many homes as possible--perhaps even yours. But, with polls showing a neck-and-neck race for governor, what else will it take to win?
That question--and a lot more--are on the menu for another Political Breakfast! Our regulars, Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson, both got to-go orders this time. Joining WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer for this edition: former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, and former State Senator and former state Republican chairman Chuck Clay, who is now with the law firm of Hall Booth Smith.
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From the number 14 hipster city in the United States, it's an oh-so-hip edition of the Political Breakfast!
According to new polling, the Georgia governor’s race remains virtually tied, while outside help pours in to both major party candidates. We’ll check to see if the fight over Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination will affect how Georgians cast their ballots. And a couple of streets with old Confederate names got new ones.
WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer is your host. Joining us again: Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is back, too. He’s a former national southern regional director of the Obama 2012 campaign.
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While the U.S. Senate was fighting over how to handle allegations against a Supreme Court nominee, here in Georgia there was a court fight on paper--paper ballots, that is.
Meanwhile, the people on the November ballot for governor—which won’t be on paper—tried to figure out which messages will convince voters who haven’t made up their minds already. In Atlanta, the Gulch will stay the Gulch—at least for now, and some state lawmakers go public with their fears that the nuclear power plant expansion has run into a gulch of its own. It’s all on the buffet for this Political Breakfast.
Joining WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer: Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal, and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, who is a former national southern regional director of the Obama 2012 campaign.
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It’s been another couple of weeks of “we’ve never seen anything like this before” in politics at the local and national levels.
A new book and an anonymous White House official describe President Trump as off the rails, even as he blasts his own attorney general for the indictments of two of his supporters in Congress. More progressives have joined Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams in the re-shaping of the national Democratic Party. Federal investigators are demanding travel and expense reports for former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s entire time in office.
So much for the quiet end-of-summer news cycle.
Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal, and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, former national southern regional director of the Obama 2012 campaign, join host Denis O'Hayer.
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In the coming years, when you catch a flight from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which has been owned by the City of Atlanta, will someone else be in charge?
In fact, “who’s in charge here?” is a pretty good question about a lot of what’s gone on politically in these parts lately.
The two major party candidates for governor accused each other of failing to be in charge of their own finances; a school superintendent appeared to go on a racist rant; Georgia Tech’s president felt compelled to promise he'll work really, really hard to stop financial abuse at the Institute.
That's just some of the giant buffet for this edition of the Political Breakfast. And we’ve got the band back together! After weeks of sitting on the sidelines, Brian Robinson is back. He is a Republican strategist, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is on hand, too. He is a former national southern regional director of the Obama 2012 campaign.
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It's back to school time! And today's lesson is: Don't get yourself indicted on corruption charges. We saw that happen to a sitting member of Congress in Washington, D.C.--and to a former top aide in the Reed administration in Atlanta. We'll look at the local implications from both of those events. Meanwhile, Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp are launching their general election battle; we'll check out their strategies. And, a stunning story from Pro Publica alleges some Mar-a-Lago friends of President Trump have outsized--and secret--influence in the Veterans Administration. That poses a challenge for Georgia GOP Senator Johnny Isakson, who chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee. In this episode, WABE Political Contributor Denis O'Hayer talks with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, former national southern regional director of the Obama 2012 campaign, and Chuck Clay, a former Georgia state senator, and former chairman of the state GOP. He is now with the law firm Hall, Booth, Smith.
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After a brief summer hiatus, we’re back! And what a few weeks it’s been.
The primary runoffs have come and gone and November’s general election contests are finally shaping up; the federal corruption investigation into Atlanta City Hall has expanded; the Trump Administration's trade fights continue to make waves in Georgia. All that and more on this week's menu.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Georgia Republican Party chair Chuck Clay join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
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Summer has officially started, but the political news hasn’t slowed down one bit!
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to opine on Georgia’s fight over water and rivers with Florida as Justice Anthony Kennedy announces his retirement; with less than a month until the primary runoffs, we check in on the races; and we’ll consider what a surprise primary result in New York could mean for Georgia. All that and more on this week's menu.
Former Atlanta City Council President, Democrat Cathy Woolard (@CathyWoolard) and former U.S. Congressman, Republican Lynn Westmoreland (@Westmoreland_GA) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
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What's been the fallout from the secret recording of Lieutenant Governor Cagle, one of two candidates left in the Republican primary runoff for governor? A look at that question a week after the tape's release; Democrats deal with runoffs of their own in the suburbs north of Atlanta; Cobb County tries to resolve a $30 million budget shortfall; and Atlanta could help host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All that and more on this week's menu.
Cobb County Democratic Pary Chair Michael Owens and former Georgia Republican Party chair Chuck Clay join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
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Who will come out on top in the Republican gubernatorial primary? A look at that race with still weeks to go before the runoff; Democrats look for some party unity for their unified ticket; Fulton County homeowners cope with a property tax spike; all that and more on this week's menu.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and former Georgia Republican Party chair Chuck Clay join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
With just days to go before next week’s primary elections, we’ll look at how the race for Georgia governor is shaping up; the fallout from former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed's decision to withhold information about a federal subpoena from city council and the public; a major credit rating agency has weighed in on what could happen if voters decide to create the new city of Eagle's Landing from the city of Stockbridge. All of that and more on this week's menu.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and former U.S. Congressman, Republican Lynn Westmoreland (@Westmoreland_GA) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
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With just a few weeks to go before the May 22nd primary elections, we’ll look at how the races are shaping up; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms addresses the state of the city after a tough first 100 days in office; and time is running out for Governor Nathan Deal to make decisions on which bills to sign or veto. All of that and more on this week's menu.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and former U.S. Congressman, Republican Lynn Westmoreland (@Westmoreland_GA) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
UPDATE: In the time since this interview was recorded, Marc Urbach announced he'd ended his campaign.
This is it! The final interview in our series of conversations with all the major party candidates running in contested races for Georgia governor in the May 22nd primary elections.
Republican Marc Urbach is an historical writer and speaker who lives in Dunwoody. He’s a former public school teacher in Gwinnett County and ran for president in 2016 as a write-in candidate.
Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We're just under a month away from the May 22nd primary elections!
This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates for Georgia governor running in those elections.
Republican Hunter Hill is a former state senator and was elected to represent a district in Fulton and Cobb counties in 2012. He resigned to run for governor last year and currently heads a leadership development company.
Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
November's midterm elections are months away, but the primary elections are right around the corner.
This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates for Georgia governor running in the May 22nd primaries.
Republican Clay Tippens a former Navy SEAL and tech company executive.
Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
There are a lot of candidates vying to win their party's nomination to run for Georgia governor.
This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates in competitive races for that office in the May 22nd primaries.
Republican Michael Williams is a certified public accountant and has represented a district in Forsyth County in the state senate for the past four years.
Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
There's just over a month left until the May 22nd primary elections. This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates for Georgia governor in those elections.
Republican Casey Cagle was elected as lieutenant governor in 2006. Prior to that he was a state senator from the Gainesville area for 12 years.
Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is shaking up her cabinet as she closes out her first 100 days in office; Governor Nathan Deal considers a bill that could change how new cities are created; what will Georgia's next governor do about Medicaid expansion? All of that and more on this week's menu.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Republican strategist Brian Robinson (@LordTinsdale) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation. Taped in front of a live audience at the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Now, it's time for the Republicans! This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates for Georgia governor running in the May 22nd primaries.
Republican Brian Kemp has been Georgia’s Secretary of State for the past eight years. Prior to that he served four years in the state senate representing a district in the Athens area.
Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
It's primary time! On May 22nd, Georgians will go to the polls to pick the candidates running for governor. This bonus episode of Political Breakfast continues our series of interviews with all the major party candidates.
Democrat Stacey Evans is a former state representative from Cobb County, first elected in 2010. She is an attorney who has done much of her work in business litigation.
Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This bonus episode of Political Breakfast kicks off our series of interviews with all the major party candidates for Georgia governor running in the May 22nd primaries.
Democrat Stacey Abrams is the former state House Minority Leader, and was first elected to the House from an Atlanta district in 2006. Prior to that, she was a deputy Atlanta City attorney.
Check the feed Wednesdays and Fridays in the weeks leading up to the primaries for more interviews.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The city of Atlanta is still in recovery mode after a cyber attack last week crippled its computer systems; what passed and what didn’t in the 2018 state legislative session; and remembering former Georgia governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller. All of that and more on this week's menu.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Republican strategist Brian Robinson (@LordTinsdale) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
State lawmakers rush to get bills passed as the clock ticks down on this year’s legislative session; what a special Congressional election in Pennsylvania could mean for the midterms in Georgia; the lasting impacts of the school walkout protest against gun violence. All of that and more on this week's menu.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Republican strategist Brian Robinson (@LordTinsdale) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Georgia lawmakers take aim at a tax break for Delta Air Lines after the carrier’s decision to end a discount for members of the National Rifle Association; five Republican state lawmakers abandon their seats in one of Georgia’s most diverse counties; and could DeKalb County’s C.E.O.-led form of government get an overhaul? All of that and more on this week's menu.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Republican strategist Brian Robinson (@LordTinsdale) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Georgia lawmakers are trying again to come up with a regional solution for Atlanta’s traffic; Governor Nathan Deal doesn’t want to be caught with billions of dollars in additional state taxes on his hands; will state lawmakers get between you and a Sunday morning mimosa? All of that and more on this week's menu.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Republican strategist Brian Robinson (@LordTinsdale) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Republican strategist Brian Robinson (@LordTinsdale) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
On the menu this week: how Georgia elected officials should respond to the secret memo prepared by the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee; a look back at President Trump’s first State of the Union address; Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms shares her vision for Atlanta with a part of the city that didn’t vote for her; and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport continues to be a political football.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson (@TharonJohnson) and Republican strategist Brian Robinson (@LordTinsdale) join Denis O'Hayer (@denisohayer) for a wide-ranging political conversation.
On the menu this week: Georgia’s Senators’ different responses to President Trump’s reported comments about Haiti and African nations; how Atlantans think Trump is faring one year into his term; the Georgia Governor’s race heats up on the Democratic side; Atlanta’s new mayor comes into office and reaches a major settlement with the city’s school system; and winter weather strangles operations at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
Produced by Sam Whitehead (@sclaudwhitehead).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Denis O’Hayer invites strategists from the right and the left for some food for thought.
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