The Georgia Politics Podcast: Recent Episodes
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The Georgia Politics Podcast focuses on all things under the gold dome and around the state. Show host Preston Thompson covers the most noteworthy updates of the legislative session of Georgia's House of Representatives and State Senate.
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, we dive into how Republicans across Georgia were able to find success last Tuesday at both the state and local levels.
Eamon Keegan, President of New Prospect Strategies, joins the show to talk to Craig about some of the local campaigns he worked on and how some of his clients were able to outpace Donald Trump in Georgia. They talk about how campaign strategies have changed over the years, what still works, and what drove them absolutely bananas over the last few months. Our guess is some of you can relate.
They also touch on what they saw Democrats doing in the field and how they can’t seem to learn from their mistakes and make gains in a state that more or less has continued to trend purple in the last few Presidential election cycles.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we discuss Tuesday's election results and where Democrats go from here.
The top line is that Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in a race that ultimately wasn’t all that close. The country moved right - everywhere. Trump increased his margins from 2020 in Florida by 10%, Texas by 10%, Ohio by 3%, New York by 13% and Virginia by 6%.
He also increased his margin of the black vote from 8% in 2020 to 13% in 2024 and with the Latino vote from 32% to 45%.
In Georgia, we saw much the same, with Republicans retaining control of both chambers of the legislature. They will keep their 33-23 majority in the Senate, where the closest race was SD 48, which saw Republican Shawn Still defeat Democratic challenger Ashwin Ramaswami with 53.6% of the vote.
The only seat Republicans lost in the House went to a candidate running as an independent, leaving Democrats with the same 78 seats to 101 for the GOP.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode, former Congressman and current President of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Bob Barr, joins us to discuss his political journey and the impact of the 1994 Contract with America.
The Contract with America, introduced during the 1994 congressional campaign, was a significant policy agenda released by the United States Republican Party. It outlined specific legislative proposals the party promised to bring to a vote if they secured control of the House of Representatives. The document emphasized a conservative vision focused on limited government, lower taxes, and personal responsibility.
The Contract was a pivotal factor in the Republican Party's victory in the 1994 midterm elections, which led to a major political realignment with the GOP taking control of the House. Bob Barr, then a Republican congressman from Georgia, was an active supporter of the Contract’s principles. While he was not one of its primary architects—a role primarily credited to Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey—Barr played a key part in promoting and implementing the agenda as part of the broader Republican revolution.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode, we are once again joined by two delegates from Georgia to the most famous party convention in American history.
Parker Hudson and Taylor Branch, both graduates of Westminster Schools, were delegates from Georgia to the 1968 DNC supporting Sen. Eugene McCarthy because of his anti-Vietnam War position.
The convention, held in Chicago, was a turning point in U.S. political history, marked by violent protests, police brutality, and deep divisions within the Democratic Party. The backdrop of the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy fueled a highly charged atmosphere. Inside the convention, the Democratic Party was divided between establishment figures supporting Vice President Hubert Humphrey and more progressive, anti-war factions backing Senators Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern.
Georgia played a distinct role in the convention as it represented the conservative, pro-segregation wing of the party. Governor Lester Maddox, a vocal segregationist, led the Georgia delegation. Maddox was known for his staunch opposition to the Civil Rights Movement and had famously closed his restaurant rather than comply with integration laws. He and other Southern Democrats, sometimes referred to as Dixiecrats, resisted the party’s growing embrace of civil rights and its increasingly liberal stance on social issues.
At the convention, the Georgia delegation stood with the conservative elements of the party, opposing the anti-war platform and pushing back against the civil rights advancements. Maddox and other Southern leaders were aligned with George Wallace’s independent campaign, which sought to appeal to disaffected white voters in the South, capitalizing on fears of racial integration and opposition to federal intervention in state matters.
This ideological split within the Democratic Party, exemplified by the clash between conservative Southern Democrats like Maddox and the more progressive northern and western factions, highlighted the fractures that would soon lead to a realignment in American politics. Georgia’s role in the 1968 DNC represented the old guard of Southern Democrats, clinging to segregationist values in the face of a rapidly changing political landscape.
You can connect with Parker Hudson online, here.
You can buy We Asked, “Why Not?” online, here.
You can connect with Taylor Branch online, here.
You can buy the Pulitzer Prize winning Parting the Waters, here.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! There are only 10 days left until the election. Have you voted yet?!
Georgia is experiencing record turnout. Through Wednesday, over 2 million people had already cast their ballots early across the state. It’s going to be a close one, folks! The AJC released their final poll before election day showing Donald Trump with a 47% to 43% lead over Kamala Harris, with 8% of likely voters still undecided.
Also this week, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously rejected the Republican Party's effort to reinstate State Election Board rules regarding election night ballot counting and a requirement for a "reasonable inquiry" before certifying results. The one-page order upholds a Fulton County judge's ruling from last week, which declared seven new election rules to be "illegal, unconstitutional, and void."
In non-Presidential-election-news, Governor Brian Kemp and Republican legislative leaders revealed a plan to tap into the state’s growing surplus to provide over $1 billion in tax refunds to Georgians when they file their taxes next year. Under the proposal, Georgians could receive an income tax refund of up to $250 for single filers, $375 for heads of households, and $500 for married couples filing jointly, based on their 2023 earnings.
Races We’re Watching, Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-at-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we talk political reaction to natural disasters, two critical Fulton County court updates, and much more. 28 days until the election!
Hurricane Helene ravaged the southeast and in Georgia has reportedly caused the deaths of at least 33 people and $417 million in damage. Donald Trump was in Georgia Sunday and Kamala Harris was in Augusta Wednesday. What role can or should a candidate for office play in shining a light on needed assistance to these inflicted areas?
We also touch on the Walz/Vance debate since we’ve not done a show since. Will it move the race at all?
Also, in two preelection trials last week, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said state law requires county election boards to certify results one week after Election Day. He didn’t not dismiss either suit, as Republicans had hoped, and may issue a ruling in the next few days. With the election right around the corner, these ruling could have huge implications on who wins in November.
Races We’re Watching, Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-at-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, host Amber Perry is joined by ProPublica Editor Ziva Branstetter to discuss recent reporting on the consequences of a 6 week abortion ban in Georgia.
ProPublica, a national nonprofit newsroom, published the first two installments of its project “Life of the Mother: How Abortion Bans Lead to Preventable Deaths” last week. Included are stories about women who, according to the reporting, died because they were unable to access medical treatment that had been available prior to Georgia’s new 6-week ban.
Branstetter details how and why ProPublica decided to pursue these stories, what they hope will result from their reporting, and what stories they are pursuing next.
To read the articles in their entirety, click HERE.
To support or connect with ProPublica, click HERE.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Connect with Amber Perry on Twitter @ambermarieperry
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode, we are joined by two delegates from Georgia to the most famous party convention in American history.
Parker Hudson and Taylor Branch, both graduates of Westminster Schools, were delegates from Georgia to the 1968 DNC supporting Sen. Eugene McCarthy because of his anti-Vietnam War position.
The convention, held in Chicago, was a turning point in U.S. political history, marked by violent protests, police brutality, and deep divisions within the Democratic Party. The backdrop of the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy fueled a highly charged atmosphere. Inside the convention, the Democratic Party was divided between establishment figures supporting Vice President Hubert Humphrey and more progressive, anti-war factions backing Senators Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern.
Georgia played a distinct role in the convention as it represented the conservative, pro-segregation wing of the party. Governor Lester Maddox, a vocal segregationist, led the Georgia delegation. Maddox was known for his staunch opposition to the Civil Rights Movement and had famously closed his restaurant rather than comply with integration laws. He and other Southern Democrats, sometimes referred to as Dixiecrats, resisted the party’s growing embrace of civil rights and its increasingly liberal stance on social issues.
At the convention, the Georgia delegation stood with the conservative elements of the party, opposing the anti-war platform and pushing back against the civil rights advancements. Maddox and other Southern leaders were aligned with George Wallace’s independent campaign, which sought to appeal to disaffected white voters in the South, capitalizing on fears of racial integration and opposition to federal intervention in state matters.
This ideological split within the Democratic Party, exemplified by the clash between conservative Southern Democrats like Maddox and the more progressive northern and western factions, highlighted the fractures that would soon lead to a realignment in American politics. Georgia’s role in the 1968 DNC represented the old guard of Southern Democrats, clinging to segregationist values in the face of a rapidly changing political landscape.
You can connect with Parker Hudson online, here.
You can buy We Asked, “Why Not?” online, here.
You can connect with Taylor Branch online, here.
You can buy the Pulitzer Prize winning Parting the Waters, here.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We had a fiery debate this week from Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, but we’ve got a lot more than that to cover on today’s episode. Buckle up.
Hitting on the big news of the week, we dive into post-debate analysis right off the bat. Our big takeaway is Donald Trump looks unprepared, rattled and at times, angry. Kamala Harris appeared to start nervous, but found her stride about 15 minutes in. Will it make a difference in the election? We discuss.
We also touch on updates to who is going to be on Georgia’s ballot in November and what it could mean for the important swing state.
Importantly, in wake of another school shooting, this time at Apalachee High School in Winder, we discuss what can be done (if anything) in the Georgia legislature to prevent more tragedies like this from happening in Georgia schools. Speaker Burns is signaling he wants to do something, but Preston expresses doubt that when push comes to shove we'll see any bills move to address the epidemic. We'll see.
Lastly, there is a small update on the Catoosa County GOP lawsuit and you know we’ve got details.
Races We’re Watching, Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-at-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode, we are joined by retiring Rep. Penny Houston to reflect on her nearly 40 years of public service in elected office.
Penny Houston (R-Nashville) has served in the Georgia House of Representatives since 1997, representing House District 170, which includes Berrien, Cook, and parts of Tift counties. She is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development and sits on several key committees, including Ways & Means, Banks & Banking, Economic Development & Tourism, and others. Houston has also held leadership roles in various state and national committees and boards. She recently announced that she will be retiring from elected office at the end of her term.
In her community, Penny is active in the Nashville United Methodist Church, the Methodist Home in Macon, and local chambers of commerce. She is an honorary member of the Nashville Rotary Club and has supported the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes for over 30 years. A rural Georgia native, she grew up in Leary, Georgia, and has lived in Nashville for nearly 50 years. Penny graduated from Stephens College and the University of Georgia, and she enjoys spending time with her three children and six grandchildren.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Georgia continues to be the center of the political universe and we’re here for it.
On today’s show, we kick it off with a roundup on the presidential election. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz hit the trail in (south) Georgia. This is on the heels of her first rally as the presumptive nominee taking place at Georgia State University. What does it say that they are spending so much time in Georgia, and not the blue wall states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan – long thought to be the road for Democrats to retain the Presidency?
While unusual for Democrats since Bill Clinton’s bus tour in 1992, for Republicans, visits outside metro Atlanta are the norm. Trump has held rallies in Commerce, Dalton, Perry, Rome and Valdosta.
Also, a lawsuit that has the support of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign was filed by the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Party of Georgia and Democrats on county election board to challenge new Georgia election certification rules, warning that they will “invite chaos” if the results are disputed. The state election board approved in a 3-2 vote to require that local election boards conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying election results. It did not clarify what is reasonable or what the inquiry would involve. The rule also calls for county election boards to hold a meeting to verify results on the Friday after Election Day, before the deadline for the return of overseas and military ballots. The lawsuit asks a Fulton County superior court judge to declare that election certification is a mandatory duty, that certification can’t be delayed, and to throw out State Election Board rules that conflict with Georgia certification laws.
Next, RFJ Jr. had officially dropped out of the race. Who benefits? In an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll conducted July 8-19, about 8% of voters said they were supporting Kennedy for president. About 3% said they were undecided, and about 1% said they were favoring another candidate, including Libertarian Chase Oliver, Green Party candidate Jill Stein and the unaffiliated Cornel West.
We also preview what we might expect from next year’s legislative session, as Lt. Gov. Burt Jones signals he wants to revisit the issue of transgender athletes in sports when the legislature reconvenes in January. In 2022 the Legislature punted the issue of transgender athletes to local athletic associations by encouraging them to take up a ban. The Georgia High School Association answered the call and subsequently voted to ban transgender athletes from competing based on their gender identity.
Races We’re Watching, Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-at-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode, we are highlighting the notable Democratic National Convention of 1968, which shares several parallels with this year's DNC, starting today.
The 1968 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago was a significant and turbulent event in American history, marked by widespread protests and police confrontations. The convention was held against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, civil rights struggles, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy.
Georgia played a notable role, as its delegation was involved in the broader conflict over civil rights and party representation. Julian Bond, a prominent civil rights leader from Georgia, was controversially nominated as the Vice Presidential candidate by anti-war delegates, despite being only 28 years old and thus constitutionally ineligible.
Bond's nomination symbolized the deep divisions within the Democratic Party and highlighted the rising influence of the civil rights movement within the party. The 1968 DNC exposed the fractures within the Democratic Party and the country, signaling a shift in American politics.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, we talk about the state of the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in the battleground state of Georgia. Buckle up.
Also, we discuss the Georgia State Election Board’s new rule allowing county boards to demand more information before certifying an election. This looms large over November’s results in Georgia and has the potential to blow up in our face. Preston and Craig discuss.
Also, we go over a lot of other local (not Presidential!) races to watch for as we close in on election day.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode, we mark the 50th anniversary of President Richard’s Nixon’s resignation from office.
The Watergate scandal is one of the most significant political scandals in American history. It began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., in 1972. The subsequent investigation revealed a web of political espionage, sabotage, and cover-ups involving high-level members of the Nixon administration.
As the investigation deepened, it became clear that Nixon had been involved in efforts to obstruct justice, including the infamous "Saturday Night Massacre," where he ordered the firing of the special prosecutor investigating the case.
On August 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation. He acknowledged the loss of political support due to the Watergate scandal. The next day, August 9, Nixon left the White House, becoming the first U.S. president to resign from office.
His resignation marked a profound moment in American politics, shaking public trust in government and leading to significant reforms aimed at increasing transparency and accountability.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today's show, Kamala Harris makes her pick for running mate.
Tim Walz is the 41st governor of Minnesota, serving since January 2019. He previously represented Minnesota's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives and is known for his focus on education, healthcare, and veterans' issues. Walz has a background in teaching and military service.
The pick was a surprise for many who expected PEnnsylvania's Governor Josh Shapiro to get the nod.
The Professor joins Craig to discuss.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode we are joined by Brad Carver and Trey Kelly, delegates for Georgia to the 2024 Republican National Convention.
On the show, Brad and Trey tell us about their experiences as delegates and what the scene was like – particularly in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on President Trump.
Taking place in Milwaukee on July 18, the convention featured a series of high-profile speeches and events. Former President Donald Trump accepted the GOP nomination for the 2024 election, with Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate. Key speeches were delivered by figures such as Mike Pompeo and Greg Abbott, who emphasized Republican priorities like immigration policy.
The convention saw appearances from the Trump family, including Melania and Ivanka Trump, who joined Trump during the nomination paperwork signing. The event included notable speakers from various sectors, such as Tucker Carlson and UFC CEO Dana White, adding a mix of political and entertainment elements. The convention showcased strong support for Trump within the GOP.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to an emergency episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast! The big news, on a Sunday no less, is that President Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 race and endorsed his Vice President, Kamala President to be the party’s nominee.
Biden, who has served as the 46th President of the United States since January 2021, has withstood weeks of a media blitz speculating about his political future. Growing pressure has also mounted from leaders within his own party calling on him to drop out.
Today, he announced that he will indeed be dropping out of the 2024 race and has endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, to be the Democratic Party’s nominee in his place. Details about how the party intends to go about their nomination process, and when President Biden would address the nation about his decision, we’re not available as of the taping of this episode.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! With the 2024 Republican National Convention kicking off this week, we thought we'd take a look back at the last truly contested Republican convention - 1952.
Held in Chicago from July 7 to July 11, the convention was a pivotal moment in American political history. The primary contenders for the presidential nomination were Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio, representing the conservative wing, and General Dwight D. Eisenhower, a popular war hero and moderate. A major issue was the seating of delegates from contested states, particularly Texas, leading to the decisive "Fair Play" amendment favoring Eisenhower.
The convention's atmosphere was charged with intense debate and strategic maneuvering. Eisenhower emerged victorious on the first ballot with 595 votes to Taft's 500, securing the nomination. Senator Richard M. Nixon of California was chosen as his vice-presidential running mate, balancing the ticket with his anti-communist stance. The convention highlighted the GOP's internal struggles and set the stage for Eisenhower's eventual victory over Democrat Adlai Stevenson in the November election.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we discuss the fallout from President Biden’s awful debate performance and the impact of the SCOTUS immunity decision on Fulton County’s case against former President Donald Trump.
Two weeks ago, President Biden had one of the worst debate performances in the history of politics. The blowback has been severe, with non-stop speculation from the media about his political future and many elected Democrats calling for him to drop out of the race. To date, he has been pretty unequivocal about his intention to stay in the race, but should he?
Next up, the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on July 1, 2024, determined that former President Donald Trump has broad immunity from federal prosecution for actions taken as part of his official duties while in office. The court's 6-3 decision, along ideological lines, grants Trump a presumption of immunity for his official acts but denies immunity for unofficial acts.
The ruling complicates Trump cases like the one in Fulton County, where evidence related to Trump's communications with officials like Jeffrey Clark and Mark Meadows may now be thrown out. If it is, does Fani Willis still have a case to make?
Lastly, we discuss the news that Athens-Clarke County District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez will face a general election challenge in November from Independent candidate Kalki Yalamanchili.
He collected approximately 14,000 signatures which is enough to get his name on the ballot.
Underhyped/Overhyped and a brand NEW game you will not want to miss!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We are republishing last year's reading of the Declaration of Independence by show regular and amateur historian, Craig Kidd. Happy 4th everyone!
Adopted on July 4, 1776, the Declaration is the founding document of our United States. It declared to the world that the 13 colonies would henceforth regard themselves as independent and no longer subject the the British colonial rule.
We honor our nation's birthday with what we hope to be a new tradition on the podcast. Take a moment to honor the bravery that our nation's founding fathers showed by declaring themselves and generations to come free and equal.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we examine the Georgia Republican Assembly and why they lose so many elections.
The Georgia Republican Assembly (GRA) is a conservative political organization that is part of the broader National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), which aims to promote conservative values and principles within the Republican Party. The GRA focuses on grassroots activism, advocating for limited government, individual liberties, free market principles, and adherence to the U.S. Constitution.
Craig is joined in studio by Rep. Brad Thomas (R-HD21) who faced and defeated a GRA endorsed candidate in this year’s Republican primary. They discuss why the GRA is wrong for Georgia and the Republican party and why the organization has not been able to succeed at the ballot box.
Connect with Rep. Thomas on Twitter @BradforHD21
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, we’ve got runoff results, a preview of the Presidential debate, and Speaker Burns vows to support IVF protection legislation next session.
First up, we go over the results of Tuesday’s runoff results for state and federal offices. A convicted J6 rioter loses and Trump endorsed Brian Jack took down Mike Dugan for the District 3 congressional race. Incumbent Steven Sainz won by just 200 votes in HD180 and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson wins Dekalb CEO race.
Also, the rules are set for June 27 Presidential debate in Atlanta. We discuss what to expect and what we’ll be watching for. Who benefits from the moderators being able to mute the candidate if they go over their allotted time?
While the 2024 legislative session may be over, we still have news to share from the gold dome. Speaker Burns has vowed to support IVF protection in the next legislation session in response to the national discussion about the now controversial (?) procedure. Will his republican colleagues support the effort?
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play Along at Home and much, much more!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode, we dive into Part 2 of our spotlight on the John Anderson campaign for President in 1980.
We focus on his decision to run as an independent and the later stages and decisions of the campaign that ultimately led to garnering only 6.6% of the popular vote.
John Anderson, a Republican congressman from Illinois, ran as an independent candidate in the 1980 U.S. presidential election. Dissatisfied with the conservative shift of the Republican Party under Ronald Reagan, Anderson campaigned on a platform of fiscal responsibility, social liberalism, and bipartisan cooperation. Despite initial enthusiasm, his campaign struggled to maintain momentum against the major party candidates, Ronald Reagan and incumbent President Jimmy Carter. Anderson proposed a 50-cent gas tax to reduce dependence on foreign oil and supported the Equal Rights Amendment. Ultimately, he garnered 6.6% of the popular vote, showcasing the challenges third-party candidates face in U.S. elections.
Mark Bisnow is an entrepreneur, author, and was Anderson’s Press Secretary for the 1980 campaign. He founded Bisnow Media, a commercial real estate news and events company. His ventures emphasize innovative media approaches and dynamic event hosting within the business community.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day by reviewing the best movie about the infamous day, The Longest Day.
Craig is joined in studio by Professor Stone to discuss the gripping war epic, which depicts the events of D-Day, June 6, 1944. The film features an ensemble cast including John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Robert Mitchum.
The movie excels in its realistic portrayal of the Normandy invasion, using before-its-time cinematography and practical effects to recreate the chaos and bravery of the day. The performances are compelling, and the inclusion of multiple perspectives—Allied, German, and French—adds depth and authenticity absent from many other films about the day.
The film remains engaging through its episodic structure and attention to historical detail. "The Longest Day" is a powerful tribute to the courage of those involved in D-Day, making it essential viewing for both history enthusiasts and movie lovers.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to the Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we are joined by Mark Bisnow to discuss John Anderson’s unique and in some ways ground breaking run for President in 1980.
John Anderson, a Republican congressman from Illinois, ran as an independent candidate in the 1980 U.S. presidential election. Dissatisfied with the conservative shift of the Republican Party under Ronald Reagan, Anderson campaigned on a platform of fiscal responsibility, social liberalism, and bipartisan cooperation. Despite initial enthusiasm, his campaign struggled to maintain momentum against the major party candidates, Ronald Reagan and incumbent President Jimmy Carter. Anderson proposed a 50-cent gas tax to reduce dependence on foreign oil and supported the Equal Rights Amendment. Ultimately, he garnered 6.6% of the popular vote, showcasing the challenges third-party candidates face in U.S. elections.
Mark Bisnow is an entrepreneur, author, and was Anderson’s Press Secretary for the 1980 campaign. He founded Bisnow Media, a commercial real estate news and events company. His ventures emphasize innovative media approaches and dynamic event hosting within the business community.
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Let's recap the results of Tuesdays primary elections.
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! The big news this week is that the first Biden/Trump debate will be in Atlanta, but we’ve got a lot more than that for you. Buckle in!
Joe Biden and Donald Trump have agreed to a June 27 debate hosted by CNN here in Atlanta. First of all, how strange is it to have a debate before the candidates go through their conventions?
The Georgia Republican Party has removed First Vice Chair Brian Pritchard after an administrative law judge found he voted illegally nine times after moving to the state. The state Republican Committee voted 146-24 on Friday to remove him. Chairman Josh McKoon is chalking it up as a victory for election integrity.
Former congressman John Barrow has turned some heads with his race for the Supreme Court, making the race explicitly about protecting abortion. He is challenging incumbent Justice Andrew Pinson and Gov. Brian Kemp has committed $500,000 from his leadership committee in support of Pinson.
Races We’re Watching, Underhyped/Overhyped, Play Along at Home and much, much more!
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we are going back in time to the last great Republican National Convention: 1976.
The 1976 Republican National Convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri, and showcased a fierce battle for the party's nomination between incumbent President Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the former Governor of California.
Ford narrowly clinched the nomination after a tense floor fight, highlighting deep divisions within the party between its moderate and conservative wings. Despite Reagan's spirited challenge, Ford ultimately emerged as the nominee, setting the stage for a heated general election against Democrat Jimmy Carter.
Joining us on the show to discuss is Sherry Shealy Martschink, who was a delegate from South Carolina, served on the vital Rules Committee, and spoke to the nation against a seminal rules change that helped decide the Presidential nomination.
Ms. Martschink, a native of South Carolina, was a junior at the University of South Carolina when she was first elected to the South Carolina state house, becoming the nation’s youngest lawmaker. She later served in the State Senate as well.
She goes into great detail about her role in that national convention, the issues that were at play, and details interactions she had with some of the most influential national politicians of the day.
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Welcome to a special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast! Students protesting the war in Gaza is all over the news this week, but these types of protests are nothing new to American culture.
Student protests in the USA have long been catalysts for change. Dating back to the Civil Rights Movement, students fought for racial equality, leading sit-ins and marches. The Vietnam War era witnessed widespread anti-war protests, notably culminating in the Kent State shootings. Organizations like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) emerged, advocating for various causes.
In the 1980s and 1990s, student activism shifted to include protests against apartheid and nuclear proliferation, as well as advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and environmental concerns. The new millennium brought movements like Occupy Wall Street, focusing on economic inequality.
Recent years have seen student-led protests against gun violence, notably after events like the Parkland shooting, and significant involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement, emphasizing racial justice and police reform. Throughout history, these protests have been instrumental in shaping societal attitudes and policies.
Will recent protests be any different?
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We’ve got a newsy episode for you today: Rudy Giuliani’s request for new trial in Georgia is denied, Special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis now investigating Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and much more!
But first, we’ve got an update on the Catoosa County GOP debacle from field reporter Craig “The” Kidd. The drama continues.
Also, you may remember that in December, a jury in the U.S. District Court in D.C. granted Fulton County poll workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss over $148 million in damages. Giuliani had falsely accused them of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. A judge has now rejected Rudy Giuliani’s request for new trial.
Another legal update: special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis has been appointed to investigate Georgia GOP Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. Skanadalakis is the current Executive Director of the prosecuting attorney’s council of Georgia.
And Attorney General Chris Carr joined forces with six other states in a lawsuit aimed at halting a new federal initiative aimed at providing student loan debt relief to millions of borrowers across the country. The lawsuit filed by states led by Republicans aims to impede President Joe Biden's second effort to eliminate debts for lower-income borrowers who are struggling with repayments and to alleviate debt burdens for others. Other states in the suit: Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma
Lastly, we have a NEW SEGMENT: Races We’re Watching. Craig and Preston detail races (in Georgia or elsewhere) that they will be watching leading up to November’s election. Our intention is this will be a recurring segment until then. Let us know your suggestions!
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode.
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast and Happy Patriots’ Day to all who celebrate!
Patriots' Day is a holiday primarily observed in the states of Massachusetts and Maine. It commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.
Patriots' Day is celebrated on the third Monday of April each year. In Massachusetts, it's a state holiday, marked by various events including reenactments of the battles, parades, and ceremonies. Schools and many businesses in Massachusetts typically close for the day. In Maine, it's also observed, although it's not as widely celebrated as in Massachusetts.
Beyond commemorating the historical events of the Revolutionary War, Patriots' Day also often coincides with the running of the Boston Marathon, one of the most prestigious marathons in the world.
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics podcast! On today's show, Rep. Matthew Gambill joins to discuss what it means to serve as one of the Governor’s floor leaders during legislative session.
A Governor's floor leader is a prominent position within the state's legislative body. This individual is appointed by the Governor to serve as their liaison and representative on the legislative floor.
He or she plays a crucial role in promoting the governor's legislative agenda, coordinating with other legislators to garner support for proposed bills, and ensuring communication between the governor's office and the legislative branch. They often work closely with other legislative leaders and members of the governor's administration to strategize and negotiate the passage of key legislation.
Connect with Rep. Gambill on Twitter @matthew_gambill
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we recap the last day of the 2024 legislative session – what got through both chambers, what didn’t, and what we learned about the state of politics in Georgia.
In short, a lot of the cultural war bills got left on the cutting room floor and the bills that most Georgians say they care about it, didn’t. As Speaker Jon Burns said, “You know, some folks choose politics. The House chooses results.”
We saw pay raises for teachers and police, income and property tax cuts, a bill involving immigration detention requirements, $6,500 vouchers for students to attend private schools and more.
In other news, Georgia GOP Vice Chair Brian Pritchard was found guilty of violating state election laws and voting illegally 9 times. GOP Chair Josh McKoon has called for his resignation, but Pritchard is standing resolute.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode.
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Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! There is no way that A.I. could do this show better than us…right?
We are nearing the end of this year’s legislative session and there are a few major updates we want to hit on this episode. First, Governor Kemp lit a fire under some legislators to get moving on school vouchers, and get moving they did. After stalling in the House last year, the powers that be were able to flip enough Republicans from a ‘nay’ in order to get it through 91-82.
Also, somehow, some way, the great Clarence Thomas statue debate is back. GOP legislators are once again attempting to have him added in eternity to the Georgia Capital grounds. Why?
We’re also going to discuss last week’s news that EV maker Rivian is backing out of its grand bargain with Georgia…for now. A slowdown in EV sales has caused the company to pump the brakes on its $5 billion battery plant and the 7,500 jobs that were to come with it after the state doled out $1.5 billion in economic incentives.
Lastly, let’s talk about A.I. generated political ads. Some lawmakers are fearful about the ramifications of failing to address this new phenomenon. Others, however, interpret any efforts to prohibit them as an affront to their first amendment rights. Let’s join the debate.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Qualifying week was last week for legislative races and your regular crew is here to hit the highlights.
But first, let’s talk about the State of the Union. President Biden offered an optimistic, though at times loud and forceful vision for America’s future. These speeches have unto themselves become far more political and certainly theatrical than days bygone. Craig and Preston talk about their utility and what they got out of last week’s edition.
Then, they get into qualifying week under the gold dome, with a few surprises but mostly a ho hum slate of races that should be largely predictable this November. There are no statewide races to drive out turnout for either party, though certainly Biden v. Trump Round 2 should have an effect.
Craig also does his bi-annual tradition of analyzing some of the candidates’ listed profession, which are always good for a laugh and a head scratch or two.
Then, we get into the bizarre happenings in Catoosa County involving party officials refusing to qualify candidates that they deem unworthy of the Republican label, and the judge who has had quite enough of the shenanigans. It is wild, and Craig is here to break it down for us.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Rep. Scott Hilton joins the show to discuss the halfway point of the 2024 Georgia legislative session.
Crossover Day marks the midway point of the legislative session, which means that it is the last day for bills to pass out of one chamber (either the House or the Senate) to remain eligible for consideration during that legislative session. If a bill fails to pass its chamber of origin by Crossover Day, it typically cannot proceed further in the legislative process during that session.
Rep. Hilton discusses some of the notable bills that did and did not make it from one chamber to the next and where we go from here.
Connect with Rep. Hilton on Twitter @ScottHiltonGA
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! You asked, we delivered. I know you’ve wanted our hot takes on the effort to have Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade removed from the Fulton County Trump case, but we’ve been waiting for more details to emerge. Well, on February 15th we got a truckload of details and now we have a few things to say.
The misconduct hearing concerning Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis's potential disqualification from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump took place 10 days ago and included plenty of fireworks.
Defense attorneys scrutinized the credibility of Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade, but faced setbacks when Wade's former law partner invoked attorney-client privilege.
The hearing primarily focused on whether Willis and Wade's romantic involvement began before his appointment as special prosecutor. Willis then provided unexpected testimony about cash reimbursements for trips with Wade. The outcome of the hearing carries significant implications for the prosecution of Trump and his co-defendants.
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode we take a look back in history to examine the Top 9 most untimely deaths in American politics.
It’s a bit morbid sounding, we know, but it is a fascinating discussion involving some of the most consequential leaders our country saw after 1900. From Martin Luther King to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we’ve compiled a list of 9 people that had untimely death, be that the very nature of their deaths or the circumstances surrounding it.
How did we do? Did we leave anyone out?
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, Fulton County DA Fani Willis responds to misconduct allegations, Governor Kemp visits Texas and sports betting in Georgia clears a hurdle.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had remained relatively mum after one of the defendants her office is prosecuting alleged she was having an improper relationship with an attorney on her team. That changed last week when she filed a response acknowledging a sexual relationship, but denying an improper professional relationship. Where do we go from here?
Also, Governor Brian Kemp flew to Texas to stand alongside dozens of other GOP governors in solidarity with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is in a stand off with the federal government over border practices. Preston makes the argument that these are not the actions of a term limited governor with no political aspirations. What do you think?
In the state legislature, sports betting in Georgia cleared a major hurdle when it passed the Senate 35-15. There is, however, one major caveat that could eventually doom any chances of it becoming law.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We are back with Part 2 of our interview with Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond to discuss the legacy of his father, Julian Bond, a longtime civil rights activist and Georgia State Senator.
In Part 2, we will focus on his 1986 run for Congress against the eventual winner John Lewis, but we will also touch on his run for President in 1976, his time as Chair of the NAACP, and what he was like as a father.
First up, we have to talk about Bond’s run for President of the United States in 1976 as a candidate for the Democratic nomination. While his campaign was largely symbolic, aiming to bring attention to issues of racial and social justice, his candidacy marked an important moment in American politics, emphasizing the intersection of civil rights activism and electoral engagement.
Then, in the 1986 Democratic primary for Georgia's 5th Congressional District, Julian Bond and John Lewis faced off for the nomination. The race was significant as it pitted two titans of the civil rights movement against each other. Councilman Bond also talks about how it was particularly hard because Lewis was a close family friend and his godfather.
The primary was highly competitive, with both candidates having strong support within the African American community and among progressive voters. Ultimately, John Lewis emerged victorious and went on to win the general election, continuing his impactful career in Congress. The race highlighted the evolution of civil rights leaders into mainstream political figures, contributing to the ongoing narrative of their dedication to public service.
In addition to his continued commitment to teaching and education, Bond would go on to serve as Chairman of the NAACP from 1998 to 2010, the longest serving Chairman for the 114-year-old organization focused on civil rights. Bond, a charismatic leader and veteran of the civil rights movement, revitalized the organization, focusing on voter registration, economic equality, and education.
Connect with Councilman Michael Julian Bond on Twitter @Michael_J_Bond
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Is it just us, or does it seem like the more things change, the more they stay the same?
A new poll published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows that at least 57% of Georgians are at least somewhat confident the presidential election will be fair and accurate. You wouldn’t know that though if you were watching this year’s legislative session.
Lawmakers recently grilled Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over QR codes on paper ballots, and they didn’t get answers they liked. Raffensperger said there is not enough time to have them removed before this year’s elections. A Senate panel OK’d Senate Bill 358 anyways, that would allow the State Election Board to investigate Raffensperger. Governor Kemp signaled he isn’t on board, but if signed into law, the bill would also remove Raffensperger as a non-voting member of the state’s election board.
Also in the legislature, the Senate passed an antisemitism bill 44-6 and it was quickly approved by the House and sent to the Governor’s desk for his approval. The bill would the measure 44-6, followed by a quick 129-5 vote in the House. The proposed law would incorporate antisemitism into the state's current hate crimes legislation which enables more severe criminal consequences for individuals found guilty of crimes motivated by prejudice.
By now you have probably heard about the blowback Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is receiving from her alleged romantic relationship with one of her prosecuting attorneys in the Donald Trump election subversion case. Preston and Craig talk about the different dynamics at play and why they think that ultimately it won’t have much of an impact on the Trump trial – but Craig suggest it may well have an impact on Willis’s future in politics.
Lastly, former President Trump won the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary. Now, the only person left standing in his way his former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Will she make it to Georgia?
All that and more on this jam packed episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today's special episode, Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond joins Craig to talk about the legacy of his late father, civil rights leader Julian Bond.
Julian Bond was a prominent American civil rights activist, scholar, and politician. Bond became a key figure in the struggle for civil rights during the 1960s. He co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and played a crucial role in organizing protests against segregation and discrimination.
Bond's commitment to justice extended beyond activism; he served in the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate for over two decades, making history as the first African American to be nominated for Vice President of the United States by a major party in 1968.
As a professor, Bond taught at various institutions, including the University of Virginia and Harvard University. Throughout his life, Julian Bond remained a tireless advocate for equality, leaving an indelible mark on the civil rights movement and American history. His legacy continues to inspire future generations in the ongoing pursuit of social justice.
Connect with Councilman Michael Julian Bond on Twitter @Michael_J_Bond
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Welcome BACK to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We begin Season 5 of the podcast with Governor Kemp’s State of the State address and the kickoff to this year’s legislative session.
But first, we want to wish Megan a fond farewell as she departs the show to focus more on her health and career. We wish her all our very best and thank her for her years of contributions to this podcast. We will miss her, but hopefully she will be able to make an appearance from time to time to offer her perspective on current events.
We begin the show today with a recap of Governor Brian Kemp’s State of the State address and touch on all the highlights. There was some Washington bashing, but we also got a preview of what we might expect from this year’s legislative session. School vouchers appears to be near the top of the list. Craig and Preston offer their thoughts and predictions on what Georgians should expect in the next few weeks.
You can watch Governor Kemp’s State of the State here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKQwh1xnXLY
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast and Merry Christmas! On today’s episode we are joined by two members of the Georgia House to talk about the upcoming session and what bills they expect to get attention from legislators.
Representatives Chuck Martin (R-49) and Scott Hilton (R-48) join Craig in studio to give listeners a sense of what they expect the 2024 session to look like. The Governor has made clear he wants to prioritize a tax cut, but there are other lesser known efforts that both legislators expect to also get traction.
Find out what they are, how bills that didn’t get signed into law last session may still be alive, and of course some fun Christmas related questions to cap the show.
Thanks for listening to the podcast in 2023. We hope you’ve enjoyed it and learned some things! We look forward to getting back in your feeds in the new year.
Connect with Rep. Chuck Martin on Twitter @Martin4GA
Connect with Rep. Scott Hilton on Twitter @ScottHiltonGA
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On this special episode we discuss Homeowners Associations and the similarities they have with today’s politics.
Michael Crew, Owner and CEO of Homeowner Management Services, joins Craig in studio to talk about what an HOA is, how they work, and what they can and cannot do.
A Homeowners Association (HOA) is a private governing body established within a residential community to enforce and manage certain rules and regulations. Typically, HOAs maintain common areas, such as parks or pools, ensuring they are well-kept and enhancing property values. They administer architectural guidelines to maintain aesthetic standards and regulate property modifications. Additionally, HOAs collect fees from homeowners to fund communal services and amenities. Acting as a mediator, an HOA resolves disputes among residents and facilitates community cohesion.
Through these functions, HOAs aim to preserve property values, foster a harmonious living environment, and uphold a sense of community within the neighborhood.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this special episode, we shine a spotlight on the City of Milton, which recently transitioned its local elections from Fulton County to an in-house process this year.
Joining Craig in studio to discuss are Steve Krokoff, Milton City Manager, Stacey Inglis, Deputy City Manager, and Judy Burds, who took on the role of Milton’s Poll Manager.
Craig and crew discuss the origin for the idea, the many steps it took to get operational over the course of many months, the costs and lastly, how everything fared on election day.
Krokoff and Inglis also offer advice for other municipalities who may be considering making a similar change in future elections.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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Welcome to another special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast! Craig is joined by three guests to discuss how elected officials connect with constituents, voter turnout, and what issues drive engagement.
It’s a tale as old as time: voters turn out for the big elections, specifically for President and then for their state’s Governor, but turnout drops off a cliff for local races. In many cases these are the races that touch issues closer to home, so what gives?
Craig is joined by Eamon Keegan, President of New Prospect Strategies, Johns Creek City Councilwoman Stacy Skinner, and Lynne Riley, President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, for a comprehensive discussion on these matters and more.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode, we commemorate the 160th anniversary of one of the most profound speeches in American history—the Gettysburg Address.
Spoken by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, amidst the hallowed grounds of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, these immortal words resonate through the corridors of time, reminding us of the enduring principles that bind a nation.
In the crucible of the Civil War, with the nation torn asunder by conflict, President Lincoln delivered a concise yet powerful address that transcended the immediate battleground. In a mere 272 words, he articulated the essence of democracy, exalting the idea that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Today, as we reflect upon the significance of the Gettysburg Address, its relevance endures. The call for a "new birth of freedom" and the dedication to a government that serves the common good reverberate through the annals of history, inspiring generations to strive for unity and justice.
The sacrifices made on the battlefield and the eloquence of Lincoln's words remind us that a nation's strength lies not only in its victories but in its commitment to the principles of liberty and equality. As we honor the memory of those who fought and perished at Gettysburg, let us also renew our commitment to the ideals that bind us together as a people.
May the echoes of the Gettysburg Address continue to resonate in the hearts of all Americans, serving as a timeless beacon that guides us toward a more perfect union. In commemorating this 160th anniversary, let us reflect on the enduring words that have shaped the course of our nation and strive to uphold the principles that define the American spirit.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
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On today’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Jason Shepherd joins the show to talk about last Tuesday’s election results and the passing of long time AJC conservative columnist Jim Wooten.
On Tuesday, Republicans suffered a set of defeats in Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio and narrowly won the governors race in Mississippi. This, after a lackluster result in 2022 and a series of defeats in special elections and ballot referenda since then. What gives? Are there issues with the candidates? Messages? Or is there something more fundamentally flawed with the Republican platform? Kennesaw State assistant professor and former chair of the Cobb County GOP joins the show to discuss.
Also, Jim Wooten, a respected journalist and military veteran, passed away on October 29th. A University of Georgia graduate, he served in the U.S. Army and had a distinguished career at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Beyond his career, Wooten and his wife renovated the historic home of former Georgia governor Eugene Talmadge and he remained active in GOP politics across the state.
Connect with Jason on Twitter @JasonShepherd
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Hello loyal listeners!
We wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know that we are taking a bit of a break from the panel episodes to catch up on some sleep, enjoy the holiday season, and re-tool the show to create a more educational and entertaining experience.
Craig plans to continue his special episodes highlighting moments and people in political history, but the panel show is going on break.
We have been in your podcast feeds on regular basis now for over 5 years (!) now and it's time to take a step back and look at lessons learned and how we can do better in the next 5 years.
So, we are not going anywhere and we hope you don't either! We'll be back soon and look forward to talking more about all the latest Georgia political shenanigans under the gold dome and in Washington.
Much love,
Preston, Megan, Craig & Hans
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show Craig and Professor Stone discuss the legacy of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein of California.
Senator Feinstein, born on June 22, 1933, in San Francisco, California, enjoyed a distinguished career in American politics. After earning her degree in history from Stanford University in 1955, she delved into public service, first at the local level.
Feinstein's career began in the early 1960s when she worked in local government, ultimately being appointed to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1970. Her advocacy for social justice and gun control quickly gained her recognition. Tragically, in 1978, she discovered the bodies of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk after their assassination, a traumatic event that reinforced her commitment to public service.
In 1978, Feinstein became the first female mayor of San Francisco, focusing on housing, education, and economic development during her tenure. She was re-elected in 1983.
Her ascent continued in 1992 when she was elected to the United States Senate, representing California. Feinstein has championed progressive causes, from gun control to healthcare reform and environmental protection, consistently aligning with the Democratic Party. She has served on influential committees, including the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Throughout her career, Dianne Feinstein's dedication to public service and advocacy for a better society left an indelible mark on American politics.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to another episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, we discuss Israel and Gaza through the prism of Georgia in addition to updates on the Fulton County elections case against former President Donald Trump.
We are not going to attempt to solve middle east peace on today’s show. Instead, we are going to stay in our lane and talk about the political reaction in Georgia, where there are divisions, and what electoral implications exist or could emerge.
Next up, Fani Willis has now negotiated plea agreements with 3 of the original 19 defendants in her case against Donald Trump. What does this tell us, and what has been the Republican reaction thus far to the updates in the case?
Lastly, we touch on Rep. Austin Scott’s surprise bid to be Speaker of the U.S. House. Could he actually find the votes to make it happen? Who knows? Certainly not us.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to another special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this episode, we turn our focus to the storied history of the Speakers of the House, a pivotal and often unsung role in the world of politics.
Craig and Professor Stone cover the early days of the United States, with the first Speaker of the House, Frederick Muhlenberg, whose gavel-wielding presence in Congress laid the foundation for this prestigious office. We'll delve into the dynamic personalities and pivotal moments that have defined the role throughout history. From Henry Clay's legendary tenure during the "Era of Good Feelings" to Sam Rayburn's unmatched leadership during turbulent times, we'll explore the key figures who have shaped the Speakership and, by extension, the nation itself.
But it's not just about politics; the Speakers of the House have been at the forefront of major historical milestones. Discover how Joseph Gurney Cannon, with his iron grip on power, changed the rules of Congress, and how Tip O'Neill's legendary camaraderie with President Ronald Reagan transcended partisan politics.
Our journey through history wouldn't be complete without exploring the groundbreaking moments led by groundbreaking individuals. What impact did Nancy Pelosi, the first female Speaker of the House, have during her tenure? How did John Boehner navigate the tumultuous waters of the Tea Party movement, and what can we learn from his leadership style?
Join us as we examine the power, influence, and challenges faced by these remarkable men and women who have held the Speaker's gavel. Along the way, we'll uncover the fascinating stories, anecdotes, and controversies that have made the Speakers of the House integral to the fabric of American democracy.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show the crew gets into Kevin McCarthy getting voted out, the State Senate investigating Fulton County Jail and Colton Moore getting ousted from the GOP caucus.
We all knew it was coming. Some thought it would happen sooner, but we all knew it would happen: Matt Gaetz made a motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair and it them democrats and a handful of disgruntled Republicans made it happen. How did we get here? Where do we go from here?
Also, the Republicans in the State Senate have decided to launch an investigation into Fulton County Jail. What should we expect from the committee?
Lastly, State Senator Colton Moore has been ejected from the GOP caucus over his theatrics surrounded Fulton County DA Fani Willis and the resulting threats that colleagues of Sen. Moore received as a result. Craig gets the stage for this one.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today it’s all about Cop City. How did we get here? Why did it turn into such a mess? And where do we go from here?
Most people in Georgia have probably heard about the proposed public safety training center in Atlanta and all the ways it has made news since its inception under Mayor Bottoms’ administration. They have also probably heard about the ballot referendum that opponents are seeking to get in this November’s election.
What they may not know are some of the details of how we got here and why so many people are opposed. We dive into the details and debate what happens next.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today we discuss another recent SCOTUS ruling that will have far reaching implications on environmental regulation, but didn’t get as much publicity as some of the higher profile rulings last term.
Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency was a case decided over the summer that dealt with the scope and limitations of the Clean Waters Act.
The case was focuses in large part on defining terms like "waters of the United States", “adjacent”, and “wetlands”. While nuanced and seemingly ambiguous to the non-lawyers listening to the show, the definitions are critical in giving guidance on where developers can build, what permits property owners need receive prior to building, and what properties are protected and regulated by the government.
Geoff Toy, an environmental lawyer with Trustees for Alaska, joins the show to help us understand some of these nuances and explain why the case may have not gotten as much attention as some of the others, despite its far reaching impact and its implications.
About Geoff Toy
Geoff joined Trustees for Alaska in August 2022. Prior to joining Trustees, Geoff spent three years as a staff attorney with the Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University School of Law, working on land use, pollution, and agricultural issues in the Southeast and helping teach environmental law students. He also worked in civil litigation in Atlanta, Georgia after graduating from Emory Law in 2016. During law school, Geoff worked in the Turner Environmental Law Clinic and also interned with the environmental law department at Coca-Cola. Outside of the office, Geoff likes to read, cook, hike, and paint.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today we get into the release of the Fulton County special purpose grand jury report and the $2 billion problem that is the need for a new Fulton County jail.
Grand Jury Recommendations
The Fulton County special purpose grand jury report in the case of the 2020 election was released last week. It included recommendations to charge 39 individuals in connection with the attempt to overturn the election, of which Fani Willis narrowed down to 19. The grand jury recommended charges for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, and former Georgia U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Does this show a measured process for the Fulton County DA’s office? What does this mean for the futures of former Senators Perdue and Loeffler?
Fulton County Jail
6 inmates have died in 6 weeks at the Fulton County Jail as the county faces a crisis situation. Also, the AJC released a special report this week on juvenile sentencing practices in Georgia. Quoting from the report: “Georgia has seen a 100% increase in its number of juvenile lifers — young people, under 18, sentenced to life without parole — since 2012 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the sentence should be reserved for the rarest of cases.”
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today we discuss the rare example of someone roundly despised by both ends of the political spectrum.
Henry Kissinger was born in Germany in 1923, and is a prominent figure in the realm of international diplomacy and American politics.
Henry Kissinger's early years were marked by adversity. Fleeing Nazi persecution, his family emigrated to the United States in 1938, where they settled in New York City. Despite facing the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language, Kissinger excelled academically. He attended Harvard University, where he pursued a Bachelor's degree in political science and later a Ph.D. in government. His academic prowess foreshadowed the intellectual depth that would become a hallmark of his diplomatic career.
In the early 1950s, Kissinger joined the faculty at Harvard and began crafting his influential theories on foreign policy and international relations. His 1957 book, "Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy," established him as a leading authority in the field. His ideas on nuclear strategy and the balance of power would shape American foreign policy for decades.
Kissinger's entrance into the world of practical diplomacy came in 1969 when he was appointed National Security Advisor by President Richard Nixon. His role in negotiating the end of the Vietnam War and his secret diplomacy with China during the Cold War made him a prominent figure on the global stage.
In 1973, he became the U.S. Secretary of State, where he played a pivotal role in the Middle East peace process and the détente with the Soviet Union. His realpolitik approach, characterized by a focus on national interest and pragmatic diplomacy, earned both praise and criticism.
Henry Kissinger's contributions to international relations earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, recognizing his role in negotiating a ceasefire during the Vietnam War. However, his tenure was also marked by controversy, particularly regarding U.S. involvement in covert actions in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
After leaving government, Kissinger continued to influence global affairs through his writings, speaking engagements, and advisory roles. His legacy remains a subject of debate, with some lauding his diplomatic achievements and others critiquing the ethical dilemmas associated with his policies.
Throughout his life, Henry Kissinger's dedication to the study and practice of international diplomacy has left an indelible mark on the world stage, making him one of the most influential figures in American foreign policy in the 20th century.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to the Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today we discuss potential fallout for Fani Willis, the GOP debate, trouble brewing on Sapelo Island and local qualifying in metro Atlanta for November elections.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Megan is joined by Poy Minichakul, a Senior Staff Attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, to discuss Alabama’s failed attempt to chip away at the Voting Rights Act and disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of black voters in the state.
The Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 was a direct response to decades of racism and Jim Crow in the deep south that created an unequal playing field for non-white voters. Section 2 of the VRA is a provision that prohibits state governments from imposing any rules or regulations around voting that would "result in the denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen to vote on account of race or color". This provision has been used for decades to prevent legislatures from packing and cracking minorities into unfair congressional districts through the redistricting process.
Megan and Poy discuss the Allen v. Milligan case that made it all the way to the Supreme Court and, somewhat surprisingly, reinforced the necessity and importance for Section 2.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to the Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, Fani Willis is wrapping up, Copy City protesters are nearing 70,000 signatures and Plant Vogtle is producing electricity.
Looming Fulton County Indictment
By the time you’re listening to this podcast it’s possible that President Trump has been indicted in Fulton County for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. What could this mean for his electoral prospects next November and can the country handle a televised prosecution of a former President?
Cop City Vote
Residents of Atlanta are attempting to put the planned Public Safety Training Center on the ballot this year, and they need 70,000 signatures to do it. They have just a few days left and recent reporting suggests that it will be close. If they get the votes and the referenda passes, what will that mean? If they get the votes and it doesn’t, what changes?
Plant Vogtle
Years late and billions of dollars over budget — the nation’s newest nuclear power plant is now operational and producing electricity. Is this the future of green energy?
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Jim Galloway joins the show to help us pay tribute to a man who became an institution in Georgia politics for over 50 years.
Bill Shipp made a name for himself in Georgia in 1953 when, as editor of UGA’s student newspaper, he wrote a column calling for the school of law to admit a black student, Horace Ward. It angered the powers that be to such an extent, that the state legislature drafted a bill to have him expelled from school. Instead, he left UGA and joined the Army and was stationed in West Germany.
When he returned to the States, he started work at what was then the Atlanta Constitution, where he worked for over 30 years covering politics, the civil rights movement, and breaking news from around the world.
He befriended and made enemies of Georgia’s political elite. He was considered both a confidant and a persona non grata by governors and legislators for decades. He was the first to break the news to the country that Jimmy Carter was running for President.
Later in life, he was one of the first newsmen to make the jump to the internet, publishing Bill Shipp’s Georgia, a newsletter and online hub for the latest political happenings in the state.
For his 80th birthday party, a crowd of former Georgia governors, U.S. Senator Max Cleland and others joined to both celebrate the man and roast him at the same time.
Bill Shipp died on July 9th at the age of 89 and we at The Georgia Politics Podcast pay tribute and honor to him with today’s special episode.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to the Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, we get into the defamation lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani and a Cobb County teacher reads a book to her class.
Rudy Giuliani Admits to False Statements
Facing a defamation lawsuit, Giuliani filed a motion this week saying he was no longer contesting accusations that he made false statements about Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss – two Fulton County workers he wrongly accused of committing voter fraud. Is this part of a larger reckoning with 2020, or is that too hopeful?
Back to School
Georgia students are heading back to school this week, as a Cobb County teacher will soon defend herself for reading her fifth graders a book that challenges gender norms. It’s a good time to check in with the politics of education in Georgia.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast we discuss Brian Kemp staying put, Mesha Mainor doing the opposite, and that the state of Georgia is flush with cash.
Brian Kemp Shuts Door on National Office, For Now
Governor Kemp fairly firmly shut the door on a Presidential bid this week, saying “It’s humbling that there are people out there that think I would make a good president, but I have got a great job that I am very happy in. We’ve got really an opportunity of a lifetime right now in the state of Georgia as we see an industrial revolution happening right before our eyes. So I am staying very focused on that. That’s what I promised people I would do when I got re-elected.”
Mesha Mainor Switches Parties
This past week, Democratic State Representative Mesha Mainor announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party and joining up with the Republicans. What did we make of the announcement?
State Surplus
The Kemp administration announced another state surplus that could amount to up to $5 billion. Over the last two years, these have led to rebates for taxpayers, but Democrats are saying that surplus is really an opportunity to make up for lost services.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode we celebrate Professor Stone’s retirement after 35 years at Georgia State University and chronicle the changes he’s seen in academia along the way.
It’s not every day that you have the chance to interview a tenured professor about his life in higher education and the changes he’s seen across a 35 year career. Fortunately for us, we have Professor Stone, who listeners of The Georgia Politics Podcast will know from his conversations with Craig about politics and politicians of yesteryear.
We appreciate Professor Stone for offering us his recollections and lessons learned and congratulate him on his successful career and retirement. He’ll have plenty of time now for more in memoriams with Craig!
About Professor Adam Stone
Adam Stone was an Associate Professor of Political Science and Associate Department Chair for Social Sciences at the Alpharetta Campus of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. Adam was born in San Francisco, California, and he grew up in Los Gatos, California. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and earned a Master of Arts degree in Politics from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Professor Stone has followed politics since his childhood. His “first” election commentary and analysis were delivered in 1966, 56 years ago, at the age of four. He is in his thirty-first year of teaching at Perimeter College. His areas of research and writing include the U.S. Courts of Appeals, the Electoral College, Presidential Greatness, Southern Politics, and Georgia Politics. His most recent research examines U.S. Senate confirmation votes for nominees to the federal Courts of Appeals. Adam was a contestant on the Jeopardy! episode that aired on May 20, 2019. He came in third and the game was won by “Jeopardy!” James Holtzhauer, the second greatest player in the history of the game.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today's special episode, show regular and amatuerr historian, Craig Kidd, marks the holiday with a reading of the Decleration of Indepedece.
Adopted on July 4, 1776, the Decleration is the founding document of our United States. It declared to the world that the 13 colonies would henceforth regard themselves as independent and no longer subject the the British colonial rule.
We honor our nation's birthday with what we hope to be a new tradition on the podcast. Take a moment to honor the bravery that our nation's founding fathers showed by declaring themselves and generations to come free and equal.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! This week on the show we talk about the history making decisions of the Supreme Court and their effects in Georgia and across the country.
Last week, the court reached their decisions in Biden v. Nebraska, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. All three cases will leave a lasting impact on the country and our politics for many years to come.
The panel get into the details and debate the various elements of the court’s decisions. It’s a long and detail oriented show, so we run out of time for Overhyped/Underhyped and Play-Along-At-Home, but I think you’ll enjoy an issues oriented debate on the merits of the recent decisions.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Daelen on Instagram @daelen_lowry
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today's episode, Donald Trump is indicted (again) and GPB lays off Bill Nigut and cancels Political Rewind.
It’s the first time the panel has gotten together since the news broke that the Justice Department has indicted former President Donald Trump for 37 felonies related to mishandling classified documents and obstructing justice. So, you know we had to get into it and discuss the political and practical implications. Buckle up all.
We were all sad to read the news that colleague Bill Nigut has been let go from GPB and his signature program, Political Rewind, has been canceled. It is a blow for Georgians everywhere who looked to Nigut for informed and useful political news. Is there a future for government sponsored news programs, and was there anything sinister about the circumstances surrounding the show’s cancelation?
Lastly, Happy belated Father’s Day to all dads out there. We take the opportunity to discuss how our dads impacted our political views.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode, we get a field report from Craig Kidd and Daelen Lowry on the GOP State Convention. Craig and Daelen take us behind the scenes of a fight for party leadership, break down the reaction to President Trump's 90 minute marathon of a speech, and detail the fight over "clickers." You don't want to miss it!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode, Hans fills in for Preston to lead the discussion on the arrest of 3 bail fund organizers related to Cop City, Trump headlining the state GOP convention, and Marjorie Taylor Greene…the voice of reason?
Up first, we kick off the episode discussing the arrest of three Atlanta organizers who had been aiding arrested protestors of Copy City via their bail fund. Are prosecutors doing the right thing? Is there a long game here?
Next up…he’s back! Former President Donald Trump has now RSVP’d “yes” and will headline this year’s GOP state convention. Many statewide GOP leaders had already declined, including Governor Brian Kemp. How will Trump’s attendance change the narrative and does this highlight a potential rift between LG Burt Jones and Governor Kemp?
Lastly, the AJC had a jaw dropping headline to an opinion piece recently, which insinuated that the nortorious MTG is now a power broker in the Republican Party – recently removed from her status as party pariah. The panel debate the merits of the argument and whether, if true, her newfound moderation has staying power.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On this Memorial Day, Hans sits down with Craig to discuss the various holidays that honor members of our military – past and present.
Everyone knows about Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but did you know there is a holiday honoring active members of the military as well? It is called Armed Forces Day and is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May.
Craig explains some of the differences between the three holidays, some of the history behind them, and the appropriate and respectful way to mark them. Many cities have parades, or mark them with proclamations. Politicians give speeches and lay wreaths at graves. Everyone should, however, know the differences and the meaning behind each one.
So on this Memorial Day 2023, we at The Georgia Politics Podcast honor all the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice that allow our country to continue to be free and prosperous, and to give people like us the freedom to express our views on politics on a podcast like this one.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We’re breaking the rules today. All the hosts bring a topic to the show and we get into it. Buckle up.
First, Preston brings campaign finance reform. The panelists talk about how (and if) the system is broken, how we can fix it and what problems campaign dollars gone crazy has created in our politics.
Then, Hans (filling in for Megan), asks what we can do to prevent mass shootings and generally how to approach politically divisive topics. Some elected Republicans now seem to suggest that gun violence a trade off they are willing to make to protect the 2nd Amendment. Is there another way to go about preventing mass casualties?
Lastly, Craig gets local and discusses the nomination and then withdrawal of former Fulton County Commissioner Lee Morris to Chair the county’s election board. He declares that the event is an example of partisan warfare and hypocrisy run amuck. Preston, who was in the room when it happened, gives a different perspective.
We don’t always put the guardrails down, but its certainly a freewheeling episode.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode, we interview candidate for the Georgia GOP Chairmanship, Rebecca Yardley.
Rebecca discusses her plan to organize in areas of the state that have not seen much investment from the state party, how she plans to build a big tent and welcome coalition of Republican voters and how her experience would serve her well if elected Chairman.
It’s another jam packed episode full of insights into the possible future of the Republican party in Georgia.
Connect with Rebecca by visiting her campaign website rebecca4gagop.com.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Daelen on Instagram @daelen_lowry
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today we answer all of our listeners questions about politics, the 2024 election, immunity deals for fake Georgia electors and much more.
Every once in a while the emails pile up, the DMs get out of control and we need to just take an episode to help answer some questions. You all had plenty and we did our very best to answer as many of them as we could. Still have something to ask? Email hans(a)appenmedia(dot)com ot DM us on Twitter @gapoliticspod.
Thanks for all the questions!
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode, we interview former State Senator and current candidate for the Georgia GOP Chairmanship, Josh McKoon.
Sen. McKoon discusses his plan to reshape the state party, including his vision for inclusivity and running candidates everywhere. He also talks about what concerns he hears from party delegates when he is courting their votes and how he thinks Republicans should think about past and future elections.
It’s a jam packed episode full of insights into the possible future of the Republican party in Georgia.
Connect with Sen. McKoon by visiting his campaign website mckoonforchairman.com.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Daelen on Instagram @daelen_lowry
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
GaPol_Trump
This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, Megan sits down with Chris Sandbach to discuss what we know and what we don’t know about the Trump indictment related to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.
There have, of course, been plenty of news articles and commentary on what implications the indictment of Donald Trump could have for the country writ large and Donald Trump’s political future, but we think what is needed is an explainer of exactly what the charges are, what evidence is presented by the Manhattan DA in the indictment, and what we can expect to learn in the next few months.
Attorney Chris Sandbach joins Megan (also an attorney) to go over the details. We want our listeners to be informed of the facts to help them formulate their own opinions on the merits of the case against the former President.
About Chris Sandbach
Chris Sandbach has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Foreign Policy and Received his J.D. from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2015. After law school, Chris Spent over 6 years working as a public defender in the Atlanta area. In 2022, he took a job with the law firm of Rickard, Drew & Nix and specializes in personal injury litigation and criminal defense. He is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Georgia Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers. Additionally, Chris has worked as a volunteer voting rights/voter protection attorney since 2018, served as the Political Activism Director for the Young Democrats of Atlanta in 2020 and is currently serving on the board of directors for Red Clay Democrats and the Young Professionals Board for Soccer In The Streets. Chris lives in Atlanta with his cat Larsson and enjoys playing/watching soccer and going to see live music.
Connect with Chris on Twitter @sandbach1023
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On The Georgia Politics Podcast today, the DNC picks Chicago and Brian Kemp pitches anyone but Trump in 2024.
Atlanta lost its bid last week to host the next Democratic National Convention in favor of Chicago. Atlanta leaders were thinking up until the final day that it was safely theirs. What happened, and is Georgia still the center of the political world?
Also last week at the Republican National Committee Meeting in Nashville, Brian Kemp encouraged his party to stay away from the issue of election denial in upcoming campaigns. “To voters trying to pay their rent, make their car payment or put their kids through college, 2020 is ancient history,” he said, adding that voters want to know the GOP’s vision for the future and “couldn’t care less about anyone’s sour grapes.” Is he right?
Meanwhile, a new UGA poll has the former President polling in the 40s in Georgia, despite several other announced candidates. Is Brian Kemp going out on a limb?
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
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Welcome to another special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast!
Professor Stone and Craig sit down to discuss the political rise and fall of Jimmy Carter's chosen Vice President, Walter Mondale.
Known as a bit of a Washington insider, the Senator from Minnesota was supposed to help balance out Carter's Washington inexperience and be his man on the hill. It didn't quite work out that way, and while Mondale tranformed the role of Vice President, Carter's presidency would go on to be known for his inability to relate with Congress.
In 1984, Wondale won the Democratic primary in a crowded field, but would end up losing one of the most lopsided Presidential elections in American history. To add insult to injury, he would also go on to lose a Senate race in his home state of Minnesota.
America's biggest political loser? You decide.
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On another feature of The Local Option with Dana Barrett, Fulton County, Georgia Commissioner Dana Barrett sits down with Preston to take a deep dive into navigating the political landscapes of (even) local governments. Wouldn't it be better if every conversation about an issue didn't have to end with "and Politics?"
Then, Commissioner Barrett gives her take on the recent headline-making controversy at the most recent Fulton County Commission meeting before offering thoughts on "Invest Atlanta."
You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.
Like this special series? The Local Option is now its own stand alone podcast! Subscribe wherever you listen to podcast by searching for "The Local Option with Dana Barrett."
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Welcome to the 4th annual Sie Die episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, we dive into the bills that are headed to the Governor’s desk for his signature and which bills are not…and all the shenanigans that happened in between.
Senate Bill 233 was the latest attempt at a school voucher program to not get the votes it needed during a recent legislative session. The voucher would have provided $6,500 to families living in the area of a failing school to be put towards a private school or home schooling. The bill failed by a vote of 85-89. It was then immediately tabled, meaning it can still be considered during 2024’s session.
House Bill 19, otherwise known as the Annual Budget, made it through both chambers with just hours to spare. It included full funding for the HOPE Scholarship, pay raises for law enforcement and teachers.
HB196, a bill to keep the process moving on Medical Cannabis Oil, once again failed to gain traction on the final day of legislative session.
Sports Betting failed to get to the floor again, making it several consecutive years that the issue has been hotly debated and then didn’t receive a vote.
SB63, a bill that would increase or establish cash bail for certain charges, passed out of the house but failed to reach the Senate in time. The bill would have increased bail for several charges ranging from Marijuana Possession to Aggravated Assault.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, we are joined by Professor Jeff Auerbach to talk about his transition from Political Science Professor to Political Candidate in the 2022 election cycle.
Professor Auerbach talks about what led him to considering a run for office, how he was recruited and who helped him make the decision that it was a good idea to throw his name in the political ring.
He was the Democratic nominee in an Athens area district that was gerrymandered to favor the Republican candidate. So, did he think he had a chance at winning, and what tactics did he employ to give him a better chance at victory in November general?
After he and Preston talk about the particulars of his race, they get into what it takes for candidates to win at a local level, what sorts of institutional support is available, and what questions a candidate should be able to answer before deciding to run.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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This week, on the next installment of The Georgia Politics Podcast special series with Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett, we take a look at affordable housing after Commissioner Barrett attended a roundtable discussion on the topic in the City of Atlanta. What can be done to not just house the unhoused, but to support them afterwards? Also, Dana and Preston run through the lively Board of Commission meeting, including the Counties stance on Wellstar Hospital System and an ongoing struggle in the court system. You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we touch on Stacey Abrams’s future, Senate Bill 140 and local GOP elections.
First up, the AJC ran a story citing several Democratic Party sources that said they were looking for a change at the top of the next slate of candidates. While Abrams is off doing other things, she certainly hasn't ruled a third run out. But should she?
Speaking of elections, recently there have been slates of more conservative, far-right, activists getting elected to local county GOP party positions all across Georgia. What going on there and what’s next? Craig chimes in on what he knows.
Lastly, passing by just 6 votes, Senate Bill 140 made it out of the House and will now go back to the Senate. The bill limits gender-affirming care for children under 18 and creates legal liability for physicians that provide it. The bill is part of a series of measures targeting the transgender community both in Georgia and nationally.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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On this week’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, we examine the life and legacy of the late Barbara Walters with WSB’s Michelle Wright.
Barbara Walters blazed a trail for female journalists in the industry and inspired the likes of Jane Pauley, Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer.
Walters big break came when she joined The Today Show in 1961 and was named co-host of the show in 1974, becoming the first female co-host of a U.S. news program. She would go on to sign a five-year, $5 million contract with ABS, making her the highest paid news anchor – male or female – in the United States.
Throughout her career, Walters would interview every sitting U.S. President and first lady from Richard and Pat Nixon to Barack and Michelle Obama. Some of her most famous, and sometime notorious, interviews include Fidel Castro, Anwar Sadat, Katharine Hepburn, Sean Connery, Monica Lewinsky, Hugo Chávez, Vladimir Putin, and Bashar al-Assad.
Perhaps her most noteworthy accomplishment was creating the talk show “The View” in 1997, which is still on air with ABC today. The all-female hosted program brings together women from different generations, political views and upbringing to dive into cultural and political events of the day.
WSB’s Michelle Wright joins the show to talk specifically about Walters’s signature pull-no-punches style, “scoop” journalism, and impact on women in her profession.
Walters passed away in December of 2022 and The Georgia Politics Podcast is proud to honor her legacy and contributions to political commentary and journalism with this special episode.
Connect with Michelle on Instagram @itsthewrightstuff
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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we are pleased to present the new series “The Local Option with Dana Barrett.”
As the District 3 Representative on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner Barrett brings an inside look on how local government is shaping our lives. She’ll be joined every other week by a special guest to dive deep on a particular issue or place, before giving an update on what’s happening in her sandbox of Fulton County.
You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com.
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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we celebrate Crossover Day!
Crossover Day at the Georgia Capitol is the day that pending legislation must pass in either chamber of the state legislature and “cross over” to the other chamber or it dies this session (kind of).
Preston, Craig and Megan highlight some of the bills they have been keeping an eye on this session and discuss where they stand. There have been some surprises, head scratchers, and some very on message moments in this session that lend plenty of fodder for discussion for today’s episode, half way through our 4th session we’ve covered as a podcast.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
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This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we are back with Part 2 of our top moments in history we wish we’d have witnessed in person. This time, Craig, Megan and the Professor reveal their Top 5.
Hear from each panelist what their Top 5 moments in history - for whatever reason - they'd have liked to have had a front row seat to. Some moments are on lists to settle debates. Some moments are on lists to celebrate accomplishments. And some are on lists to scratch the burning curiosity of questions left unanswered.
Whatever reasons the panelists had for their list, we know you will be entertained and probably enlightened with the discussion. Enjoy, and make sure to go back and listen to Part 1 if you missed it!
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It’s a jam packed episode on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
First up, should people that are still alive be immortalized with statues on public property? The subject is timely as Republicans in the state capitol resume conversations on erecting a statue of Clarence Thomas on the capitol grounds. Putting aside the merits for Justice Thomas, is it a wise move?
We are about halfway through this year’s legislative term and so far, Governor Kemp has avoided most of the culture wars that seem to be plaguing most of the rest of the country. Some Republicans under the gold dome, however, seem to have other plans – especially when it pertains to gender affirming treatment for trans kids. Why?
Also, sports betting seems to have renewed life in the legislature. A proposal to roll it into the HOPE Scholarship program would avoid putting a constitutional amendment referenda before the voters this November. Will it finally make it over the finish line?
What seems to be doing the opposite if gaining renewed life are proposals to eliminate statewide runoffs. What once seemed to have near unanimous support has been losing steam in the last few weeks.
And of course, we touch on the big political news not only in Georgia, but in the country, which was the redacted release of the 9 page report on the Fulton County investigation into election interference in the November 2020 elections. Resident attorney Megan walks us through what was in it, what wasn’t, and what we can expect going forward.
Lastly, does Brian Kemp have a future in Washington, D.C.?
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
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This week, on a very special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Craig, Megan and the Professor huddle up to discuss the top moments in history they wish they'd have witnessed in person.
This special episode has been teased for a while, and we finally pulled it together. Hear from each panelist the Top 10 events that - for whatever reason - they'd have liked to have had a front row seat to. Some moments are on lists to settle debates. Some moments are on lists to celebrate accomplishments. And some are on lists to scratch the burning curiosity of questions left unanswered.
Whatever reasons the panelists had for their list, we know you will be entertained and probably enlightened with the discussion. Enjoy, and make sure to come back for Part 2!
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This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we are back with “Part 2” of our recognition of the 30th anniversary of the HOPE Scholarship.
Joining in studio is Lynne Riley, President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, to talk about the progression of the HOPE Scholarship over the years, and how it has fared since its inception 30 years ago. Due to skyrocket demand and economic downturns, the scholarship has seen changes – some controversial. Of note, Governor Kemp has proposed plans to return fully funding the scholarship for the first time since 2011 in his recent State of the State address.
There are a lot of nuances to the scholarship that not everyone is aware of, or knows that their children can or should be taking advantage of – from a younger age than many would assume. Lynne details some of those nuances and the many opportunities available to Georgia’s youth.
About Lynne Riley
Lynne Riley was appointed President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission in July 2020 to lead the agency in the administration of state and lottery funded scholarship, grant, and loan programs, ensuring access to higher education for Georgians. The nationally recognized HOPE scholarship program has provided two million students with over $13 billion in awards since its inception in 1993.
Riley previously served as Georgia’s first woman State Treasurer and State Revenue Commissioner. Elected in 2010 to serve in the Georgia General Assembly representing House District 50 (Johns Creek), Lynne began her career in public service as Fulton County Commissioner for District 3 (North Fulton) in 2004.
Lynne serves on the Board of the Education Finance Council and serves as CEO of the REACH Georgia Foundation. Riley is an alumnus of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Regional Leadership Institute and the Coverdell Leadership Institute. Lynne is the Chairman of the Emory Johns Creek Hospital Board of Trustees. Lynne was appointed to the Internal Revenue Service Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee in 2018 for a three-year term.
Lynne was Principal of Riley Accounting Services for 32 years. Lynne and her husband Mike made the Johns Creek community their home in 1988 and have three adult children and three grandchildren.
Connect with the Georgia Student Finance Commission online at gafutures.org
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On today’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, we review Governor Kemp’s first State of the State address since winning re-election in November, the Democrats’ response, and the protests at a planned police training center in Atlanta that protesters have dubbed “Cop City.”
Police have been breaking up camps set up by environmental activists for months, but they turned deadly last week when one protestor was shot and killed after police say he fired on them. No body camera video is available from the event. The panel discuss the entire episode and what it contributes to continued discussion on policing reforms throughout the country.
Also, Governor Kemp issued his first State of the State address since winning reelection in November. In it, he highlighted some of his accomplishments in his first term and laid the groundwork for what he’d like to accomplish in his second. There were many universal applause lines, perhaps more so than the norm, but we did see some dividing lines drawn throughout the speech.
The Democrats were represented by State Senator Elena Parent in their response, and she emphasized the state’s shortfall on healthcare services, underpaid state employees, lifting abortion restrictions and a $15/hour minimum wage. However, the Republicans hold the lever of power in all aspects of state government, so it’s unlikely any of these issues will even see a vote.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
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This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we discuss former Georgia governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller and his landmark achievement – the HOPE Scholarship – which was implemented 30 years ago this year.
Joan Carr, Senator Miller’s former Chief of Staff, joins the show alongside Georgia State University Professor Adam Stone to talk about the late Senator’s legacy.
After serving as Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor from 1975-1991 he won the race to be Georgia’s Governor when he defeated Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and future Governor Roy Barnes in the Democratic primary and then Republican Johnny Isakson in the general. Isakson would later succeed Miller in the U.S. Senate.
He is probably best known for paving the way for the HOPE Scholarship, which paid the college tuitions of all Georgia students who graduated high school with a 3.0 GPA and then maintained the same in college. The scholarship was funded by revenues collected from the state lottery.
After his tenure as Governor, his successor – Roy Barnes – appointed Miller to the U.S. Senate to succeed Republican Paul Coverdell upon his death in 2000. He defeated former U.S. Senator and guest of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Mack Mattingly, in a special election to keep the seat in November of that year.
His tenure in the Senate was often known for his criticism of fellow Democrats, but he is also known for being the only person to serve as the keynote speaker at both national party’s Presidential conventions, doing so for Democrat Bill Cliton’s 1992 run for President and then later for Republican George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign.
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On The Georgia Politics Podcast this week, we preview the 2023 legislative session for Georgia’s state government.
Newly re-elected Governor Brian Kemp gave a rundown of his legislative priorities at a recent Eggs & Issues breakfast put on by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. In it, he detailed his continued focus on economic expansion and highlighted his priority to give Georgia teachers and state employees another raise.
The Georgia House of Representatives unanimously named Jon Burns its next Speaker. What can we expect from the new Speaker in the wake of Speaker Ralston’s long tenure over the chamber?
Also new to the position, newly elected Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones gave a speech of his own where he seemingly didn’t make any waves. The session is young however, and we’ll see how he manages to steer the chamber where Republicans hold more of a strangle on the legislation that comes out of it.
There are a ton of issues and bills that we expect to see out of this session, and we go over a number of them, but by and large we expect a comparatively tame session as compared to the last few. That being said, we’ve been wrong before!
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Daelen on Instagram @daelen_lowry
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On The Georgia Politics Podcast, we dive into the marathon vote for Speaker of the US House and what we can expect now that Kevin McCarthy has finally prevailed.
We knew there would be some drama for this one when the GOP red wave didn’t happen in November and party hardliners gained more leverage in the tightly divided congress, but I don’t think anyone could have anticipated what played out these last few days.
After Kevin McCarthy failed to secure a majority of the votes cast on the first ballot, including holdout Andrew Clyde, from Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, we witnessed another 14 rounds of voting and republicans nearly came to blows (literally) on the House floor, before McCarthy secured the gavel. Remarkably, perhaps, Georgia’s other oft controversial congressman – Marjorie Taylor Greene – was not among the Matt Gaetz coalition and was Team McCarthy from the get-go. More on that later?
To wrap the show, we touch on a topic that we didn’t get a chance to cover before the news broke and our panel took a holiday, and that is Stacey Abrams’s TikTok Hype House. If you missed this story, we found out that Stacey Abrams 2022 gubernatorial campaign is about $1 million in debt and we are now learning about some lucrative (and perhaps foolish) campaign expenditures. Including, and most notably, a “TikTok hype house” the campaign rented in a luxurious Midtown Atlanta neighborhood.
What does this tell us about they Stacey Abrams comeback bid and the democratic party’s approach more generally to making gains in the state?
All that and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Daelen on Instagram @daelen_lowry
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On The Georgia Politics Podcast today, we are proud to present the second installment of our special “local history” episodes with guests from the Milton and Johns Creek Historical Societies, Joan Compton and Jeff Dufresne.
Milton and Johns Creek are two of the newest cities in the state, but certainly not lacking in rich history.
In Johns Creek, we discuss with the city’s origins as part of the sovereign Cherokee Nation until 1836 and its rich history with the Chattahoochee River and the bridges that once draped over the river. We also recount the recent work given to preserving Macedonia Cemetery, a small African-American cemetery known to be the burial place of at least two who were enslaved and others who were first and second generation descendants of slaves on local farms.
In Milton, we discuss the city’s agricultural roots, and its initial reluctance to join secession efforts during the Civil War. It was a city not known for slave holders, but for its cotton and farming communities. We discuss the impact of the boll weevil in the early 20th century, and the origins of the horse community characterization for the city in modern times.
We continue to dive into the challenges of founding and then running a local historical society, particularly in newer cities not necessarily recognized for rich histories.
If you would like to get more involved in your community, joining and volunteering with your local historical society is a great way to learn more about where you love and meet people who have shared interests.
To connect with the Johns Creek Historical Society, visit: johnscreekhistory.org
To connect with the Milton Historical Society, visit: miltonhistoricalsociety-georgia.org
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On The Georgia Politics Podcast today, we are proud to present this special “local history” episode with guests from the Roswell and Alpharetta Historical Societies, Kevin Bamford and Pat Miller.
Roswell has a long and notable history, observed today in its proud preservation of the antebellum homes of some of its founders. It also had a run in with General Sherman, during his “march to the sea”, and lost most of the workers and structures that comprised its local mill operation.
In Alpharetta, local historians have worked hard to preserve some of its older buildings and have protected some of its notable artifacts and pieces of history in a new museum at Alpharetta City Hall. Ms. Miller details the city’s origins in Milton County, the county’s subsequent bankruptcy, and the city’s blossoming into a tech hub after the creation of Georgia 400.
We also dive into the challenges of running a local historical society with a mission to preserve history for generations to come. Raising funds, finding volunteers, and most recently Covid-19, can create obstacles that motivate members to think outside the box and engage neighbors and friends.
If you would like to get more involved in your community, joining and volunteering with your local historical society is a great way to learn more about where you love and meet people who have shared interests.
To connect with the Alpharetta Historical Society, visit: aomchs.org
To connect with the Roswell Historical Society, visit: roswellhistoricalsociety.org
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And that’s a wrap, folks! On The Georgia Politics Podcast today, the panel gets together one last time in 2022 to recount the year’s biggest story lines.
From Dobbs to midterms and Gov. Kemp and Sec. Raffesnperger, relive some of the biggest moments from 2022 and the lessons learned along the way. Is money out of control in politics? If people don’t think it is, we’re not sure when they’ll ever change their minds. The red wave didn’t happen, but was it really just a matter of bad expectations setting?
As you might imagine, there are some differing opinions on how important some of these story lines really were, or why they were important, but everyone agrees that we had plenty to talk about on The Georgia Politics Podcast and that will no doubt remain the same in 2023. Thanks everyone for another great year, and we look forward to returning to your podcast feeds in 2023 for Season 4 and our legislative preview.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
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On The Georgia Politics Podcast today, we interview State Senator Elect Shawn Still and State Representative Elect Scott Hilton to learn more about their campaigns, how they won, and what post-election life has been like as they prepare for the 2023 session.
Each of these newly elected public officials are distinctive amongst the incoming class of legislators. Mr. Still will represent the only Senate District that flipped from Republican to Democrat, and Mr. Hilton is the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic State Representative.
What was campaigning like in 2022? What were some common questions/concerns they encountered amongst their prospective constituents? What are they expecting in next year’s session and what will they be able to accomplish as freshmen legislators?
All that and much more on today’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with Senator Elect Shawn Still
Connect with Representative Elect Scott Hilton
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It's Election Eve in Georgia (again)! On The Georgia Politics Podcast, the panel takes a stab at reading into how each side is feeling about their chances.
But first, we welcome in our newest panelist, Daelen Lowry, who you may remember from our “Politics for Dummies” episode. She joins Craig on the Republican side of the coin to give her take on the day’s topics.
Those include, and are focused on the consequential and record breaking early voting numbers for the Senate runoff between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker. Each side gives their take on what the vibe is like in their camps, and how the strategies have changed leading up to the final days of voting.
Next up, with most of the 2022 election in our rearview mirror, we begin to address the future of the democratic politics in the state. Are we in a post-Stacey Abrams Georgia? If so, what does that look like? Who leads the next iteration of democrats looking to regain control of state politics after decades in the minority?
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3
Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen
Daelen on Instagram @daelen_lowry
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
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On Wednesday of last week, the family of Georgia House Speaker David Ralston announced his passing at the age of 68. Everyone on the panel offers up their thoughts and memories of the late Speaker and reflect on his time in office.
House Republicans had already nominated Jon Burns to succeed Speaker Ralston, so all signs point toward that moving forward as planned. Jan Jones of Milton would remain Speaker Pro Tempore. What can Georgians expect from a Speaker Burns? And how, if at all, will Georgia’s soon-to-be new Lieutenant Governor, Burt Jones, work with a Speaker Burns?
Next up, the so-called “Heartbeat Bill” (HB481) has been overturned by a Fulton County Judge, but the legislation is far from dead. What happens next with abortion law in Georgia?
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
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On The Georgia Politics Podcast today, we kick off a special series called “Politics for Dummies” where we dive into common misconceptions or questions about how politics works in Georgia and across the country.
Craig welcomes in co-host Daelen Lowry to help kick off the series and are joined by friends of Daelen, Kenlee and Elizabeth. Together, they present questions to Craig and Daelen about politics that they think will be useful to listeners to have answered. The goal is keep the series non-partisan, informational and useful to listeners.
Topics include the structure of Georgia’s state government, the difference between primary and general elections, how to find out if you are registered to vote and what candidates will appear on your ballot, and more generally how to become a more informed and involved citizen in our electoral process.
Like what you’re listening to? Leave us a review in the Apple Podcast store or wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps us spread the word about the show and makes it easier for other people to find it.
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Welcome to this special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast where the panel goes over the results of Tuesday night’s Midterm Elections.
In Georgia, the big takeaways are that incumbent Governor Brian has defeated Stacey Abrams in their 2018 rematch and that incumbent US Senator Raphael Warnock is headed to a December 6th runoff with challenger Herschel Walker. It also looks like Republicans will net +1 in US Congressional seats.
In other statewide races, Republicans swept the board, and successfully held their positions of power for Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General and more.
For the state legislature, Democrats net +1 in the State Senate and +3 in the State House.
On the show the panel also talk about the influx of money into this year’s races, notably for Marcus Flowers, who raised over $20 million in his attempt to unseat Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who ultimately won by over 30 points. Is this further proof that money has a diminishing influence in politics, or something else?
Election day turnout was also not what many pundits expected in Georgia, and frankly, across the country, given record breaking early vote totals. What gives? And is Stacey Abrams playbook for turning out low propensity voters officially debunked, or is it still too soon to make a verdict on the strategy?
Please Go Away!, Play-Along-At-Home and more on today’s special episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, the panelists make 12 bold (and not so bold) predictions on what we can expect once all the votes have been counted.
You, the listeners, have been clamoring for the panelists to let you know how they think the midterms are going to turn out and so the panel is here to give the people what they’ve asked for. From ballot referendums, turnout and race results, each panelist brings 4 predictions to the show and the other panelists react.
Some of the predictions may take some time before we will know how close to reality or off base they really were, but that is just more one reason to keep listening to the show! Have predictions of your own or feedback on any of the ones made on today’s episode? Let us know!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
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Professor Stone is back on The Georgia Politics Podcast to talk about the history of midterm elections.
Next week, America will decide thousands of congressional and state legislative races and Republicans are largely expected to have a good night. Craig and Professor Stone discuss how previous midterm elections, notably 1982 and 1994, shaped American politics and defined the changing landscape of American sentiment for incumbent political parties.
Clips Used in This Episode
1994 – Representative Gingrich on the Congressional Transition
2018 - Nancy Pelosi speaks after Democrats win House control
1966 – Election Shocks
1982 – Election Night Coverage on NBC
1950 – American Election Roundup
About Professor Adam Stone
Adam Stone is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Associate Department Chair for Social Sciences at the Alpharetta Campus of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. Adam was born in San Francisco, California, and he grew up in Los Gatos, California. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and earned a Master of Arts degree in Politics from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Professor Stone has followed politics since his childhood. His “first” election commentary and analysis were delivered in 1966, 56 years ago, at the age of four. He is in his thirty-first year of teaching at Perimeter College. His areas of research and writing include the U.S. Courts of Appeals, the Electoral College, Presidential Greatness, Southern Politics, and Georgia Politics. His most recent research examines U.S. Senate confirmation votes for nominees to the federal Courts of Appeals. Adam was a contestant on the Jeopardy! episode that aired on May 20, 2019. He came in third and the game was won by “Jeopardy!” James Holtzhauer, the second greatest player in the history of the game.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We hope you are part of the 816,000 people who have already voted early. If you aren’t – go vote!
And that’s exactly where we kick off the show today. The state has already seen several turnout records in early voting this year with 816,000 people having cast their ballots already, compared to the 500,000 during the same time period in 2018. Of those who have already voted early, 16% did not vote at all in 2022. The panel discuss what these early numbers mean, and what, if any conclusion we can draw from the effects of SB 201, the voting bill that Democrats lambasted as voter suppression.
In other news, Stacey Abrams is under fire yet again for a statement she made regarding the economic impact of the Dobbs decision during an interview on MSNBC. She said, “Let's be clear. Having children is why you're worried about your price for gas. It's why you're concerned about how much food costs. For women, this is not a reductive issue. You can't divorce being forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy from the economic realities of having a child. It's important for us to be having both conversations. We don't have the luxury of reducing it or separating them out. But we also have to talk about what a governor can do: A governor can address housing prices. A governor can address the cost of education. A governor can put money in the pockets of everyday hardworking Georgians instead of giving tax cuts to the wealthy." Misstatement, or did she say what she meant? The panel discuss.
Also, David Perdue emptied his campaign account this week and wrote a sizable check to Brian Kemp’s Super PAC. Is all forgiven?
Lastly, Barack Obama is coming to town! Noticeably absent is President Joe Biden. Why?
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
An ongoing storyline on The Georgia Politics Podcast is the efficacy of the modern day debate format and ways to improve them so that they give voters more useful information. Joining the panel for this special episode is Shruthi Balachander, a Georgia Secretary of State Ambassador and member of Student Leadership Johns Creek.
Georgia just saw some of its top tier candidates, most notably Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker, wrap debates with the Atlanta Press Club. They stood behind podiums and answered questions from moderators in what many would describe as a traditional debate. There were no big surprises, and both candidates probably walked off the stage thinking that not much in their race has changed.
We don’t know yet how many people tuned in, but its safe to say that it will be a small number. The question is why more people don’t tune in and how do we, the public, convince more people that they should?
Shruthi recently helped Student Leadership Johns Creek put on debates for local races in the north Metro Atlanta community. She details the format they used and the process for picking questions, getting answers from candidates, and addressing issues in real time. This give much of the discussion on scalable potential fixes context.
At the end of the day, the panel concludes that there is plenty of blame to go around for debates not “working” anymore, but does offer alternatives that could reach more people and affect the outcomes of more races.
Connect with Shruthi on LinkedIn
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! The panel talk about Herschel Walker’s latest scandal, the response, and whether THIS one will be the one that makes a difference in November.
This past Wednesday, the Daily Beast published a story saying that they had made contact with a woman who claims Herschel Walker paid her to have an abortion in 2009. The story was released on top of the pre-existing abusive history Walker his with women, and the recently revealed children that even people inside his team were not aware of.
In response to this, Christian Walker, Herschel Walker's son, who up until the latest story had been public about his support for his father’s campaign, took to social media with several posts about his father. One included “You’re not a ‘family man’ when you left us to bang a bunch of women, threatened to kill us, and had us move over 6 times in 6 months running from your violence.” In response to the story, Walker denied all allegations and claimed to have never heard of or met the woman in question. Later in the week, the Daily Beast acquired text messages shared between the woman and Walker's wife, causing Walker to change his response. The texts also lay out the relationship between Walker and his son with the same woman, which in short is complicated and distant.
The Georgia Republican Party has continued to back Walker wholeheartedly, stating on twitter that “regardless of this latest attack by liberal activists, Herschel Walker will become a Senator, and Georgians' lives will become better. Everything else is a distraction and should be treated as such.”
Next up, the Democratic Nominee for State School Superintendent, Alisha Thomas Searcy, took to Facebook recently to claim that she has been “ostracized and excluded” by the other Democrats on her ticket. Recently, at the Democratic Party convention, pictures taken of the statewide ticket notably excluded Searcy. The rift dates back to her time in the State Legislature, where she served alongside Abrams. Searcy was one of a few democratic outliers in that time who embraced Republican proposals on education to expand charter school and voucher programs. Since leaving the legislature, she has worked in a Gwinnett based Charter School operation.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Jumping into your podcast feeds this week with a rare Wednesday appearance, Craig is joined by Senator Mack Mattingly to provide listeners with a firsthand accounting of his colleague and the topic of our Monday special episode, Senator Bob Dole.
Senator Mattingly first met Senator Dole over 50 years ago, and recalls Senator Dole’s time in a post-Nixon Republican party and then getting picked by Ford to be his running mate, opposite a ticket that featured Georgia’s own Jimmy Carter for the Democrats.
They talk about Dole’s rise in politics after the failed run for the White House alongside Ford, which led to his being voted Senate Minority Leader in 1986, and eventually the party’s nominee for President in 1996.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to another special “political history” episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Professor Stone joins the show again, this time to discuss the life and legacy of longtime Republican Senator from Kansas and Presidential candidate, Bob Dole.
Prior to his 27 years in the Senate, Dole served in the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969. He was also the Republican presidential nominee in the 1996 election and the vice presidential nominee in the 1976 election.
Craig and the Professor start at the beginning, with Senator Dole’s modest upbringing and military service during World War II, and take listeners all the way through his political career, which was capped with the 1996 Republican nomination for President that he would eventually lose to incumbent Bill Clinton.
Clips used in this episode:
60 Minutes with Steve Kroft, 1993
1976 Vice Presidential debate
Senator Bob Dole farewell address
George H.W. Bush 1988 “straddle ad”
1988 campaign ad – “the difference is leadership”
1988 campaign ad – “deficit ad”
“Stop lying about my record”
The Late Show with David Letterman, 1998
About Professor Adam Stone
Adam Stone is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Associate Department Chair for Social Sciences at the Alpharetta Campus of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. Adam was born in San Francisco, California, and he grew up in Los Gatos, California. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and earned a Master of Arts degree in Politics from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Professor Stone has followed politics since his childhood. His “first” election commentary and analysis were delivered in 1966, 56 years ago, at the age of four. He is in his thirty-first year of teaching at Perimeter College. His areas of research and writing include the U.S. Courts of Appeals, the Electoral College, Presidential Greatness, Southern Politics, and Georgia Politics. His most recent research examines U.S. Senate confirmation votes for nominees to the federal Courts of Appeals. Adam was a contestant on the Jeopardy! episode that aired on May 20, 2019. He came in third and the game was won by “Jeopardy!” James Holtzhauer, the second greatest player in the history of the game.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Let’s catch up on the state of play this week on The Georgia Politics Podcast.
This past week Georgia voters got the results of two statewide polls, one from the AJC in partnership with UGA, and one from Marist. It’s worth noting that these two polls were VERY different in sample and result, but the panel focus on the AJC poll, what it means, and who has some catching up to do.
The panel also get into some election consequences theory on what would happen if/when Dems regain at least one of the chambers of government under the Gold Dome and wrap up with some general observations from the campaign trail.
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On this cheeky episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, we chat with Frederick Guy, an American living in England, on what the scene is like since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Frederick has lived in Great Britain since 1995, and has seen enough to tell us what Americans get right about the Brits, what they get wrong about Americans, and why the passing of the Queen is such a big deal over there (and why we Americans may not be able to fully grasp the milestone).
Frederick also touches on more broadly what life is like there and what he, as an American, was surprised about when he moved over there, and what he misses most about the States.
As most of you are aware, there has been wall to wall coverage of the passing of the Queen, and we thought we would give our own #gapol twist on acknowledging her passing and recognizing the legacy she leaves behind.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Kicking off The Georgia Politics Podcast today, the panel discuss the potential Warnock/Walker Senate debate(s). Senator Warnock has agreed to Walker’s preferred Savannah Debate on the condition that there be a second event next month and that the topics not be provided in advance. How much, if at all, would the debates make a difference? Who is winning the debate about the debates?
In a bit of a Candidate Corner segment, the Libertarian candidate for Georgia Governor has challenged the constitutionality of leadership committees and Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan refuses to endorse the man looking to succeed him, Burt Jones.
And is Stacey Abrams’ campaign for Governor in trouble? Well, the New York Times seems to think so. The panel discuss the scathing article that was published over the weekend calling into questions the likelihood of her November election and hints at “Democrats in disarray.” But are they?
And finally, the Atlanta Medical Center announced that it plans to close its doors in November and Grady seems to be in some trouble as well. What the heck happened and more importantly, how do we fix it?
Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
It’s a mailbag episode on today’s installment of The Georgia Politics Podcast!
We appreciate all the feedback and listener questions we get from our pod peeps, so from time to time we try to spend some time on air answering some of the questions you all send our way. We got some great one this episode, as we touch on the status of the PSC elections, the Fulton County investigation of Donald Trump, ballot referenda in Georgia and much more.
To cap the show, we play a Back-To-School edition of Play-Along-At-Home and get thoroughly embarrassed.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast, where Craig and Professor Stone present Part 2 of their special on the life and legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy. The primary topic for Part 2 is the notorious Chappaquiddick episode of Kennedy’s life, how it shaped the country’s politics, and continued a Kennedy family legacy of controversy.
The Kennedys are the closest equivalent America has to political royalty. John F. Kennedy was, of course, the 35th President of the United States and his brother Bobby Kennedy served as his Attorney General, and later as a Senator from New York and Presidential candidate. Various other Kennedys have served in other appointed and elected political positions. Ted Kennedy, the younger brother of John and Bobby, is known for his long tenure in the United States Senate, where he served from 1962 until his death in 2009.
His political and personal life was full of both promise and controversy. He was long considered the heir to the Kennedy dynasty, and then a tragic incident on Chappaquiddick Island left 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne dead after a car driven by Kennedy crashed into the Poucha Pond. Kennedy survived.
Clips used in this episode:
1969 ABC News report on Ted Kennedy's accident at Chappaquiddick Island
Edward J. McCormack Jr. debates Ted Kennedy for the Senate seat vacated by John F. Kennedy.
“Robert Bork’s America” speech by Ted Kennedy
Mitt Romney and Ted Kennedy United States Senate debate
Face the Nation: Senators look back at Ted Kennedy’s legacy
About Professor Adam Stone
Adam Stone is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Associate Department Chair for Social Sciences at the Alpharetta Campus of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. Adam was born in San Francisco, California, and he grew up in Los Gatos, California. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and earned a Master of Arts degree in Politics from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Professor Stone has followed politics since his childhood. His “first” election commentary and analysis were delivered in 1966, 56 years ago, at the age of four. He is in his thirty-first year of teaching at Perimeter College. His areas of research and writing include the U.S. Courts of Appeals, the Electoral College, Presidential Greatness, Southern Politics, and Georgia Politics. His most recent research examines U.S. Senate confirmation votes for nominees to the federal Courts of Appeals. Adam was a contestant on the Jeopardy! episode that aired on May 20, 2019. He came in third and the game was won by “Jeopardy!” James Holtzhauer, the second greatest player in the history of the game.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
This past week, voters turned out at record levels in Kansas to shoot down a proposed constitutional amendment that would have given the Kansas legislature authority to amend its constitution to outlaw abortion. Does the vote signal a change in the electorate? Also, Democrats are simultaneously passing key parts of their agenda in DC. What should Georgians take from the Kansas vote, and is the political pendulum swinging?
Next up, a federal judge ruled Friday that Georgia must end statewide elections for the Public Service Commission because they discriminate against Black voters, a decision that could bar state officials from holding a November election to fill two seats. The ruling likely will lead to an overhaul of how commissioners are now elected. State law now requires commission members to live in one of five districts but allows voters from across the entire state to cast ballots for all commission seats. The panel discuss.
Lastly, this year’s Music Midtown festival was canceled last week in part due to the state’s laws surrounding guns in public parks. A 2019 Georgia Supreme Court ruling has made it more difficult for private groups to restrict guns from short-term events held on public land. Big deal, little deal, or no deal?
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Back by popular demand, we once again welcome you to another special “political history” episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast. This time, Craig and Professor Stone sit down to discuss the life and legacy of the late Senator Ted Kennedy.
The Kennedys are the closest equivalent America has to political royalty. John F. Kennedy was, of course, the 35th President of the United States and his brother Bobby Kennedy served as his Attorney General, and later as a Senator from New York and Presidential candidate. Various other Kennedys have served in other appointed and elected political positions. Ted Kennedy, the younger brother of John and Bobby, is known for his long tenure in the United States Senate, where he served from 1962 until his death in 2009.
His political and personal life was full of both promise and controversy. Long considered the heir to the Kennedy dynasty, the focus of Part 1 of this episode is on his run for the Presidency in 1980 – what went wrong, what went wrong, and why he never tried again.
Clips used in this episode:
CBS NEWS and Roger Mudd interview Senator Ted Kennedy (1979)
"The Dream Shall Never Die" speech at the 1980 Democratic National Convention
NBC News coverage of Day 4 of the 1980 Democratic National Convention
NBC News coverage of Day 2 of the 1980 Democratic National Convention
About Professor Adam Stone
Adam Stone is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Associate Department Chair for Social Sciences at the Alpharetta Campus of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. Adam was born in San Francisco, California, and he grew up in Los Gatos, California. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and earned a Master of Arts degree in Politics from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Professor Stone has followed politics since his childhood. His “first” election commentary and analysis were delivered in 1966, 56 years ago, at the age of four. He is in his thirty-first year of teaching at Perimeter College. His areas of research and writing include the U.S. Courts of Appeals, the Electoral College, Presidential Greatness, Southern Politics, and Georgia Politics. His most recent research examines U.S. Senate confirmation votes for nominees to the federal Courts of Appeals. Adam was a contestant on the Jeopardy! episode that aired on May 20, 2019. He came in third and the game was won by “Jeopardy!” James Holtzhauer, the second greatest player in the history of the game.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Last week, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals allowed HB481, Georgia’s “Heartbeat Bill”, to stand, based on the Dobbs ruling from the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. The panel discuss what’s next for the pro-life community and reproductive services in the state.
Also, the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor, Burt Jones, has been asked to testify in the Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s probe into January 6th and surrounding actions. Jones is one of 16 Republicans who served as an “alternate” presidential elector for Donald Trump in December 2020. All of them were recently subpoenaed by a special grand jury and informed by Willis’s office that they could be indicted. Jones’s attorneys are calling foul, citing a June fundraiser that Willis held for the now Democratic nominee Charlie Bailey’s campaign at a Southwest Atlanta grocery store not long after the grand jury was seated, as well as a $2,500 donation she made to his campaign in January. Fair or foul? The panel discuss.
Legal experts say the fake electors may have violated laws including election fraud and forgery statutes.
As mentioned by Preston: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Atlanta History Center present “War in our Backyards”
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Craig continues his interview with Senator Mack Mattingly (R-GA), the first Republican Senator from Georgia since Reconstruction. As discussed in Part 1, Senator Mattingly unseated a titan of Georgia politics, Herman Talmadge, and served from 1981 to 1987.
Part 2 focuses on the Senator's career both before and after the U.S. Senate. The Senator reflects on his time as Assistant Secretary of Defense at NATO, the issues facing the Western alliance in the late 1980s and the sensitive interaction of the 16 members of the defense organization. Craig and Senator Mattingly also discuss the future of NATO and the current war in the Ukraine and its implications for the United States.
Senator Mattingly then relays his time as Ambassador to the Seychelles Islands, how he had a front row seat for the formulation of their constitution and the small nation's role in the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union.
Craig and the Senator then go back to the 1960s and 1970s by discussing how the Georgia Republican Party started and its difficult travails during the Senator's years as party chairman in the mid '70s. The two reflect on the 1964, 1968 and 1976 Republican national conventions and the influence of other party leaders including Paul Coverdell and Newt Gingrich.
Senator Mattingly discloses his opinions on political movies and what contemporary leaders he wished he had met during his career. He also reveals what he and Walter Cronkite discussed over a beer in Kansas City at the 1976 GOP convention!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, the focus is on the June 30th fundraising numbers for Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp, and yet more bad news surrounding Herschel Walker.
First up, the numbers from the June 30th fundraising deadline have come in, and the candidates are breaking all sorts of records. Abrams has raked in $50 million dollars since announcing her campaign, with $22 million coming in the last two months alone, and Governor Kemp has brought in over $22 million in total. These numbers are due is in large part to a bill passed last session that effectively allows candidates to skirt most campaign finance regulations by establishing their own coordinated committees. Should Brian Kemp be worried?
And in other news, the Walker campaign has had bad news after bad news over the last few weeks, and it looks like it’s starting to take its toll. Most recently the left leaning outlet Daily Beast obtained texts from the campaign painting a tumultuous behind the scenes picture, and one staffer even noted Walker spits out falsehoods like he’s breathing. Will any of it stick?
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining Craig on The Georgia Politics is former U.S. Senator Mack Mattingly. In 1981, Senator Mattingly became the first Republican to serve Georgia in the Senate since Reconstruction in the 1870s. He served one term from 1981-1987.
The focus of Part 1 of this 2 part interview is the Senator's dramatic and unexpected defeat of Senator Herman Talmadge in 1980. The campaign was part of a red wave that resulted in Republicans taking control of the Senate for the first time since 1955. Craig also asks about the role the media played in the campaign, critical "new voters" Republicans gained, and the Senator's success in attracting African American voters to his campaign.
Senator Mattingly also discusses his term in the Senate, his committee work and his reflections about his colleagues and other key political players he met during his term. During Craig's "lightning round," Senator Mattingly shares personal anecdotes about some of the more famous Senators of the time including Bob Dole, Joe Biden and Gary Hart.
Part 2 of this interview will cover the Senator's time at NATO Headquarters in Brussels and his Ambassadorship to the Seychelles Islands. The Senator also discusses his role in building the modern Georgia Republican party in the 1960s and 1970s and his personal relationships with such noteworthy Republicans as Newt Gingrich, Bo Callaway, Paul Coverdell and John Linder. He also recounts the role of the 1964 Presidential campaign in Georgia of Barry Goldwater and the key issues that established the GOP as a true 2nd party in the state.
Clips
Candidate Mack Mattingly’s 1980 campaign ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx6tfDrJdD4
Ted Koppel reports that candidate Mack Mattingly lost his Senate race (1:35-2:15): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIMuqG-1KMY
Ted Koppel reports that candidate Mack Mattingly actually won his Senate race (9:30-10:20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuhDhqm6UGU&t=1358s
Senator Mack Mattingly gets a mention in President Ronald Reagan’s 1985 State of the Union speech (19:45-20:08): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnbQc9NHXJM&t=1293s
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining Megan on The Georgia Politics Podcast is attorney and former public defender, Chris Sandbach, to discuss the role of public defenders in our criminal justice system and what the appointment of Kentanji Brown Jackson means for the makeup of the Supreme Court.
Public defenders are attorneys who represent people who have been charged with a crime and who cannot afford to pay for private counsel. They face the possibility of time behind bars if convicted. The 6th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that if someone cannot afford private counsel, a judge will appoint a public defender to defend them in a court of law, for free.
Chris, who spent over 6 years of his professional life as a public defender, talks with Megan about the ways in which our criminal justice system works, where it has room for improvement, and the role public defenders play in both.
He also talks about the recently sworn in Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson and what her experience as a public defender brings to the court, for the first time in its existence.
About Chris Sandbach
Chris Sandbach has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Foreign Policy and Received his J.D. from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2015. After law school, Chris Spent over 6 years working as a public defender in the Atlanta area. In 2022, he took a job with the law firm of Rickard, Drew & Nix and specializes in personal injury litigation and criminal defense. He is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Georgia Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers. Additionally, Chris has worked as a volunteer voting rights/voter protection attorney since 2018, served as the Political Activism Director for the Young Democrats of Atlanta in 2020 and is currently serving on the board of directors for Red Clay Democrats and the Young Professionals Board for Soccer In The Streets. Chris lives in Atlanta with his cat Larsson and enjoys playing/watching soccer and going to see live music.
Connect with Chris on Twitter @sandbach1023
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On Friday, the Supreme Court released its opinion in the Dobbs case and has now officially overturned Roe v. Wade. Women no longer have a constitutional right to an abortion which is now, according to Dobbs, decided by state governments. So, what’s the current state of abortion law in Georgia?
Believe it or no, we also had primary runoffs last week in Georgia, and the panel discuss the winners and losers. Get ready for November, folks!
Lastly, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his Chief Operating Officer, Gabriel Sterling, testified in front of the January 6th committee.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Kicking off the show today is a discussion on a few runoffs we have here in Georgia before the race to November begins. There are four notable nominations left to be determined for the Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate, 6th District Republican nominee, 10th Congressional District Republican nominee, and the Democratic candidate for the Secretary of State race. What dynamics are in play for what will almost certainly be a low turnout runoff, and importantly, who will win?
Next up, the now 7th District Democratic nominee, Lucy McBath, saw her federal red flag bill pass in the House last week as part of a surge in Democratic bills after the shooting in Uvalde. What's the current state of play for gun reform bills in Georgia politics?
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to Part II of The History of Politics Podcast! Joining the show again today is Professor Adam Stone, an associate professor of political science at the Alpharetta Campus of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. He and Craig sit down this time to discuss another 50th anniversary – this time for the assassination attempt of Alabama Governor and Presidential candidate George Wallace.
Professor Stone and Craig discuss the political events of the era that led up to the attempt and the political consequences afterward. Wallace was and continues to be a controversial figure in American politics, but his story and the events of that fateful day are important and interesting none the less.
About Professor Adam Stone
Adam Stone is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Associate Department Chair for Social Sciences at the Alpharetta Campus of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. Adam was born in San Francisco, California, and he grew up in Los Gatos, California. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and earned a Master of Arts degree in Politics from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Professor Stone has followed politics since his childhood. His “first” election commentary and analysis were delivered in 1966, 56 years ago, at the age of four. He is in his thirty-first year of teaching at Perimeter College. His areas of research and writing include the U.S. Courts of Appeals, the Electoral College, Presidential Greatness, Southern Politics, and Georgia Politics. His most recent research examines U.S. Senate confirmation votes for nominees to the federal Courts of Appeals. Adam was a contestant on the Jeopardy! episode that aired on May 20, 2019. He came in third and the game was won by “Jeopardy!” James Holtzhauer, the second greatest player in the history of the game.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
The Georgia Politics Podcast crew gets together for a very special post-election episode to go over the results, surprises, and interesting storylines.
STATE RACES
Governor
Republican – Brain Kemp (I)
Democrat – Stacey Abrams
Lieutenant Governor
Republican – Burt Jones
Democrat – Runoff – Kwanza Hall, Charlie Bailey
Secretary of State
Republican – Brad Raffensperger (I)
Democrat – Runoff – Bee Nguyen, Dee Dawkins Haigler
Attorney General
Republican – Chris Carr (I)
Democrat – Jen Jordan
Insurance Commissioner
Republican – John King (I)
Democrat – Runoff – Janice Laws Robinson & Raphael Baker
State School Superintendent
Republican – Richard Woods (I)
Democrat – Alisha Thomas Searcy
Labor Commissioner
Republican – Bruce Thompson
Democrat – Runoff – William Boddie, Nicole Horn
Agriculture Commissioner
Republican – Tyler Harper
Democrat – Nakita Hemingway
FEDERAL RACES
US Senate
Republican – Herschel Walker
Democrat – Raphael Warnock (I)
Congressional District 6
Republican – Runoff – Rich McCormick, Jake Evans
Democrat – Bob Christian
Congressional District 7
Republican – Runoff –Michael Corbin, Mark Gonsalves
Democrat – Lucy McBath (I)
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
It’s Primary Election Eve on The Georgia Politics Podcast! Before those who did not vote early head to the polls, the regular crew give one last update on the state of play.
It’s looking like Governor Kemp will again be the nominee from the Republican Party to compete with Stacey Abrams in November. If the Kemp/Perdue race goes as expected, will the Perdue camp be able to take any positives away from the defeat?
Also, another expected victor on Tuesday night is Herschel Walker, who finds himself in more hot water after an AP News story came out about his association with a veterans organization he supposedly co-founded, and the organizations role in “preying upon veterans and service members while defrauding the government.”
The article states that, “even before entering the race, Walker drew attention for his past mental health struggles, as well as allegations that he threatened his ex-wife’s life. He’s dramatically inflated his record as a businessman, as the AP previously reported. And his claim that he graduated at the top of his class from the University of Georgia, where he led the Bulldogs to a 1980 championship, was also untrue. He didn’t graduate, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported.”
What are voters to make out of all this drama, and will it matter on Tuesday, November, or not at all?
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Last week, Politico released a draft of a decision by the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade. Chief Justice John Roberts later confirmed that it was authentic, but cautioned that it was not a final version of the decision. How will the news affect the dynamic of Georgia’s elections? Will this make abortion more of an issue going into the last few days of primary season?
Next up, the Georgia High School Association voted unanimously (with one abstention) to restrict participation in high school sports for athletes to their gender listed at birth to "protect competition." A few episodes ago on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we mostly dismissed this as a possibility when the legislature gave GHSA this authority, because we didn’t think it was a likely outcome. When you’re wrong…you’re wrong. GHSA seems to have jumped at the opportunity. Why?
Wrapping up the show, the candidates for Governor on the Republican side have now debated multiple times. Did we learn anything?
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The History of Politics Podcast! Just kidding…sort of.
Joining the show today is Professor Adam Stone, an associate professor of political science at the Alpharetta Campus of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. He and Craig sit down to discuss the birth (50 years ago) of modern day presidential primaries.
About Professor Adam Stone
Adam Stone is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Associate Department Chair for Social Sciences at the Alpharetta Campus of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. Adam was born in San Francisco, California, and he grew up in Los Gatos, California. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and earned a Master of Arts degree in Politics from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Professor Stone has followed politics since his childhood. His “first” election commentary and analysis were delivered in 1966, 56 years ago, at the age of four. He is in his thirty-first year of teaching at Perimeter College. His areas of research and writing include the U.S. Courts of Appeals, the Electoral College, Presidential Greatness, Southern Politics, and Georgia Politics. His most recent research examines U.S. Senate confirmation votes for nominees to the federal Courts of Appeals. Adam was a contestant on the Jeopardy! episode that aired on May 20, 2019. He came in third and the game was won by “Jeopardy!” James Holtzhauer, the second greatest player in the history of the game.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
You asked, we answered...it's a mailbag episode on The Georgia Politics Podcast! Preston and Craig dive in to your burning questions about Disney, Herschel Walker, the Governor's race, and unfortunately...the evidentiary hearing for Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining The Georgia Politics Podcast today is Sen. Butch Miller, Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor.
Sen. Butch Miller talks about his experience in the State Senate, his upbringing and life experiences, and what he would bring to the office of Lieutenant Governor should he be nominate din May, and elected in November.
#gapol
Connect with Senator Butch Miller
On Twitter @butchmillerga
On Facebook @butchmillerga
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The Georgia Politics Podcast will interview as many candidates as time permits before the November election. Our goal is to give voters the information they need in order to make informed decisions on election day.
If you are a candidate that would like to appear on the show, email georgiapolitics(a)appenmedia.com
Jam packed episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast as the crew recaps the major bills that survived Sine Die, and the ones that did not.
Bills included in the conversation are the late night trans sports amendment which passed; gambling legislation which once again fails to hit the floor; a tax cut which gradually lowers the state’s income tax rate from 5.75% to 4.99%; the abortion pill bill that failed to reach the floor; the GBI elections bill which gives the GBI stronger police powers over elections; the mental health bill signing; teacher and state employee raises; and a bill that would have approved a ballot amendment asking voters to approve pay raises for legislators.
We also have a quick Candidate Corner update covering a new Emerson Poll and the Newt Gingrich endorsement (?) of Vernon Jones.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining The Georgia Politics Podcast today is Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to talk about law enforcement in Georgia.
Attorney General Carr gets into the nitty gritty of his office and what he’s accomplished since being appointed by former Governor Nathan Deal in 2016 and then elected in 2018.
The show dives into his work to suppress gang violence in the state, stop human trafficking, and his thoughts on the 2022 election outcomes.
We get an update on his office’s involvement in the U.S. Justice Department’s suit against SB 202 and why he thinks he has a winning case.
All that and more on today’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with Attorney General Carr on Twitter @ChrisCarr_Ga
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, the crew talk about Donald Trump's trip to Georgia and the state of play under the Gold Dome.
President Trump was in Commerce Georgia last night with his slate of candidates for races across the State. Speakers included Marjorie Taylor Greene, David Perdue, Herschel Walker, and of course Trump himself. One of the more notable moments was David Perdue appearing to egg on a “lock him up chant,” this time referring to Governor Brian Kemp for “stealing the election in 2020.”
The State legislature is rapidly approaching its Sine Die or final day on April 4th, and we thought we’d talk about some of the major takeaways from this session as we head into the spring and campaign summer.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
The field is set. Qualifying for this November’s elections in Georgia ended Friday at noon with candidates getting their names on the ballot up until the last minute. The panel goes through the highlights and talk at length about the number of candidates and what it might mean for each party.
Next up, we get into some legislation as the House passed its version of “Constitutional Carry” on Friday, and with it, an all-time “Gurtler Alert!” from Rep. Josh McLaurin.
When we talk to you next, crossover day will have come and gone, so be sure to tune in next time for a run down of which bills still have a chance at passing, and which didn’t make it through one of the chambers.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! This week’s episode is largely focused on education issues under the Gold Dome, most notably school vouchers and anti-CRT legislation.
Kicking off the show is a discussion involving a conservative national advocacy group, The American Federation for Children, who sent out mailers related to school vouchers to at least 16 Republican legislative districts. It backfired in a big way, as it definitely looks like it ended up sending the wrong message to Republican leadership and Speaker Ralston has said the issue is now dead.
Next up is Anti-CRT legislation. It has now been rebranded to target “divisive concepts” and seeks to limit how race is taught in Georgia Schools.
Also on the so-called Parents Bill of Rights, which passed the Senate last week and moves onto the house. Senate Bill 449’s biggest impacts would be on parents’ ability to review instructional materials and allow an opt-out from sex education. The specific provisions around material review, it should be noted, are already codified law in Georgia.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining The Georgia Politics Podcast today is Jake Evans, Republican candidate for the 6th Congressional District. Jake talks about his upbringing in Georgia Republican politics, his legal career, why he's running for office, and much more.
#gapol
Connect with Jake Evans
On Twitter @JakeEvansGA
On Facebook @JakeEvansGA
On Instagram @jakeevansga
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The Georgia Politics Podcast will interview as many candidates as time permits before the November election. Our goal is to give voters the information they need in order to make informed decisions on election day.
If you are a candidate that would like to appear on the show, email georgiapolitics(a)appenmedia.com.
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! This week on the show the panel is discussing Gwinnett and Cobb County Commission and School Board maps, candidate fundraising numbers, the race between Stacey Abrams, Brian Kemp, and David Perdue, and much more.
First off, checking in on the legislative chambers, the crew discuss and what’s moving forward and last week, it was all about local redistricting. Cobb County Commission and School Board maps went through a very similar procedure that the Gwinnett maps did, and the conversation develops into something much more big picture.
In this week’s Candidate Corner, the panel discuss the latest fundraising numbers, as we’ve now seen the numbers from the January 31st reporting deadline. There are some surprises.
Race for Governor:
- Stacey Abrams at $9.2 million raised with $7.2 million in the bank
- Brian Kemp at $7.4 million raised with $12.7 million in the bank
- David Perdue at $1.1 million raised with $900k in the bank
Race for Senate:
- RaphaelWarnock at $9.8 million raised with $23 million in the bank
- Herschel Walker at $5.4 million raised with $5 million in the bank
- Gary Black at $440k raised and $920k in the bank
Other Notables:
- Lieutenant Governor candidates Burt Jones and Butch Miller neck and neck at $1.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively
- Charlie Bailey raised $527k in just three weeks
- Jody Hice raised over $1 million
- Bee Nguyen raised $691k and ended up with nearly a million in the bank
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
It’s a jam-packed show today as the crew jump into updates on this year’s legislative session, starting with the Speaker’s mental health bill. It is destined for bipartisan support, but what roadblocks may still stand in its way?
Sen. Jeff Mullis is backpedaling on a bill he introduced (with 17 co-sponsors) that would have effectively banned public schools from requiring vaccines. He says he got bad legal advice, and it was intended to address Covid vaccine mandates, but some on the panel aren’t buying it.
And last up for session – for now – is the shenanigans happening in Gwinnett County, which show regular Craig Kidd describes as an exercise in raw political power. What’s next for the bill, and do can Democrats in Gwinnett do anything to stop it?
The last topic of the day involves a recent AJC poll that shows that a majority of Georgians are not in favor of the Governor’s proposal for constitutional carry, and would prefer that Roe v. Wade stand as is. But is it bad news for the Governor? The panel discuss.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining the show today to talk about the legacy of the late Senator Johnny Isakson is his former Chief of Staff, Joan Kirchner Carr. Senator Isakson passed away December 19th after a long and storied career in Georgia politics. Isakson is the only Georgia politician to successfully win elections for the State House, State Senate, United States Congress and United States Senate.
A member of the Georgia Air National Guard and graduate of University of Georgia, Isakson ran a successful real estate firm that at its peak had over 1,000 agents working for it. After an unsuccessful and then successful bid for the Georgia State House in 1974 and 1976, Isakson was the Republican candidate for Governor in 1990, which he would go on to lose to Democrat Zell Miller. Joan talks about his relationship with Governor Miller after that election and the now rare bipartisan working relationship they formed.
In 1992 he would run successfully for a seat in the Georgia Senate, where he served one term, before unsuccessfully running for the United States Senate in 1996 – a race that eventually saw Democrat Max Cleland elected with a 1 point margin.
Isakson then ran in a 1999 special election to replace then US Congressman and Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, which Isakson would handedly win. Finally, he ran for US Senate in 2004 after then Senator Zell Miller opted not to run again, which Isakson won by a wide margin and would go on to be reelected twice – the only Republican Senator from Georgia to win 3 US Senate races.
Joan talks about his time in the Senate Chairing the Veterans Affairs and Ethics Committees, his commitment to constituent services, and his reputation for reaching across the aisle to get bills passed.
After he retired from the US Senate at the end of 2019, he led the formation of The Isakson Initiative, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness and funding for research related to neurocognitive diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and related dementia.
You can read more about The Isakson Initiative HERE.
You can watch Senator Isakson’s UGA Graduation commencement address on the “Six Silent Secrets” HERE.
Connect with Joan Kirchner Carr on Twitter @jkirchnercarr
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
The show kicks off this week with a discussion on President Biden and Vice President Harris’s trip last week to Georgia to show their support for voting rights legislation and ending the filibuster to make it happen. The reception was at best mixed, with voting rights group boycotting the event and Georgia’s own Stacey Abrams absent due to a scheduling conflict. What does it all mean? Was the reception a reflection of President Biden, the appetite to reform the filibuster or pass voting rights legislation, or something different?
Next up, Governor Kemp delivered the annual “State of the State” address, where he laid out his plans for upcoming budget discussions. What was included? What was missing? The panel discuss.
And last week, the Legislative session kicked off under the gold dome. The panel do a quick wrap-up of the issues that are likely to come up.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
It’s our year end episode! Preston is joined by Megan and Craig to discuss the most underrated and overrated political stories of 2021.
But first, the panel kick things off by discussing the passing of longtime Georgia legislator and US Senator, Johnny Isakson. Isakson served as a Georgia Representative, State Senator, Congressperson, and Senator. How will he be remembered?
A special year end Play-Along-At-Home segment and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On today’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Preston hosts Megan and Craig to discuss a few story lines amongst primarily Georgia Republicans.
First off, earlier last week, state Republican legislators came together to establish a local chapter of the “freedom caucus” that has gained popularity among DC Conservatives for the last decade. This comes as several legislators as well as David Perdue who we’ll get to later, have promised to ban the State Income Tax. Is this more evidence of a divide in the party or something just for show?
Last week we covered the launch of David Perdue's campaign for Governor. Since then we’ve seen a preview of what his message is going to be over the next several months. Most notably, he was quoted saying that if he had been Governor in 2020 he would have overturned the Georgia election results. How front and center is this election issue for this primary?
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining Megan for a special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast to discuss economic issues of the day is Bob Buschman, Associate Director of the Fiscal Research Center at Georgia State University.
There is a lot of economic news lately involving topics like supply chain issues, the threat of inflation and the effect of President Biden’s legislative priorities on the national debt. Some of them are a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of them are not.
On the show, Megan and Bob get into the nitty gritty to talk about exactly what causes these issues, how worried we should be, and what we can be done about it. If you have ever wondered about what causes inflation, or what impact our national debt has on policy decisions for today and future generations, this is the show for you.
About Robert D. Buschman, Ph.D.
In addition to serving as the associate director of the Fiscal Research Center (FRC), Buschman is as a senior research associate at the Center for State and Local Finance.
He is FRC’s key contact for fiscal note analyses of proposed Georgia revenue legislation. His research interests include corporate and personal taxation, growth and equity effects of tax reform, state and local fiscal policy, and other topics. Prior to joining the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Buschman worked for several years in corporate banking and corporate financial management. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Duke University, an MBA in finance from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, and a master’s degree and doctorate in economics from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Preston is BACK in the host chair after weeks down at the Capitol and it is another jam packed episode on The Georgia Politics Podcast with Craig and Megan.
Kicking off the show is the long anticipated announcement that Stacey Abrams is officially in the race for the Democratic nomination for the 2022 Georgia Governor’s election. The crew discuss the timing, what’s next, and what this could mean for incumbent Governor Brian Kemp.
Speaking of Brian Kemp…the rumblings continue that former Senator David Perdue will launch a challenge to Governor Kemp for the Republican nomination. How does Stacey Abrams official entrance to the race change Senator Perdue’s calculus, if at all, and how might Governor Kemp be able to ward off a challenger that has President Trump’s backing?
Show note: It looks like David Perdue is now officially in the race.
And last, but not least, Andre Dickens is the next Mayor of Atlanta after he defeated Felicia Moore in last week’s runoff. Mayor Elect Dickens, who narrowly beat former Mayor Kasim Reed to make the runoff, win the runoff by a wide margin. The panel discuss how he did it and what can be learned about today;s Atlanta politics by the outcome.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining Megan for this special episode on the role of civil disobedience in our political discourse is Kareem El-Hosseiny, Government Affairs Director for the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
The episode is a direct result of discussion had on a panel episode a few weeks back when Rep. Bee Nguyen was arrested in Washington, D.C. protesting a lack of movement on voting legislation. Craig and Megan got into a back and forth on the role of civil disobedience in today’s political environment, and whether it was helpful or effective. Megan promised a special episode to dive into the topic, and here we are!
Kareem and Megan discuss all things civil disobedience from how its defined, how it has evolved, and whether it is an effective tool for making progress on issues.
All that and more on today’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast!
About Kareem:
Originally from Ohio, Kareem El-Hosseiny is a government relations expert, seasoned community organizer, and political advocacy trainer. With a degree in Political Science and International Relations, he has a deep understanding of policy combined with skills in political organizing, strategic planning, and team building. At CAIR-Georgia, Kareem serves to bridge the gap between policy making and community engagement.
In the past, Kareem joined the movement for democracy in the streets of Egypt, advocated for meaningful change in policy in Congress, and served on a number of political campaigns to mobilize voters. He also coordinated a legislative campaign to free a wrongfully imprisoned Muslim. In December of 2020, Kareem led CAIR Georgia’s first ever civic engagement field team.
Connect with Kareem on Twitter @kelhosseiny
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
In the last episode before the Thanksgiving holiday, Hans fills in again for Preston to talk politics with show regulars Megan and Craig.
Candidate Corner: Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, published a blog post urging former US Senator David Perdue to challenge incumbent Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in the Republican primary next year. Senator Perdue, so far, as not shied away from the encouragement, which seems to be picking up steam in political circles in the state. Will Senator Perdue see a path to victory, or does Governor Kemp still have enough Republican clout to withstand a challenge?
It’s infrastructure week! And what a long week it has been…5 years in fact. After the Trump administration was unable to get through an infrastructure in its 4 year administration, 2 years of which saw Democrats in control of the House of Representatives, President Biden has at long last signed into law the largest investment in American infrastructure in the country’s history. In the Senate, 19 Republicans joined every Democrat, and in the House 13 Republicans joined all but 1 Democrat to push through the bill that made it to the President’s desk for his signature. What does it do? What will be the political impact on the midterms? And how will Georgia stand to benefit from the influx of federal dollars?
Lastly, the Georgia special legislative session is wrapping up and we have new maps for state and federal seats. Of note, Georgia’s 6th and 7th Congressional districts saw dramatic changes and will make it much harder for Congresswoman McBath to win reelection in the redrawn 6th. Will she move to the 7th and primary incumbent Congresswoman Carolyn Bordeaux?
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Hans Appen @hansappen
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the podcast this week, Megan sits down with Professor Eric Segall to discuss the state of the Supreme Court and the fate of abortion rights across the country.
Professor Eric Segall is the Ashe Family Chair Professor of Law at Georgia State University, author of Supreme Myths: Why the Supreme Court Is Not a Court and Originalism as Faith, and host of the Supreme Myths podcast.
We all recognize that we live in a country where our politics are ultra-polarized. We’ve seen evidence of this recently in the confirmation processes for Supreme Court Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett.
So, to kicks things off, Megan and Professor Segall discus how we got to this moment. Has the Supreme Court always been such a divisive institution? If not, when did that change?
As the two discuss, Roe v. Wade may have been an inflection point for the Court and had ramifications for decisions in many cases since, most notably District of Columbia v. Heller. The Court may soon look to correct what it sees as judicial injustice as it hears arguments for laws passed in Texas and Mississippi that erode abortion rights.
Where do we go from here? Is it possible to repair the credibility of the Court and return it to the purpose that the country’s founders intended?
All that and more on this week’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with Professor Eric Segall on Twitter @espinsegall
PODCAST: Supreme Myths
BOOK: Supreme Myths: Why the Supreme Court Is Not a Court
BOOK: Originalism as Faith
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the podcast today, Hans guest hosts alongside Craig and Megan to discuss a busy two weeks in politics.
The Atlanta mayoral race has turned to a runoff…and Kasim Reed is not in it. After a surprising third place finish, the former mayor is on the outside looking in as Felicia Moore and Andre Dickens place one and two in last November’s general election.
Elsewhere in Georgia, we saw wider than expected margins in notable mayoral and city council races, particularly in the suburbs. Craig reasons that this is a reflection of Republican strength and poor candidate recruitment from democrats.
Finally, the show turns to the election night results in Virginia and New Jersey, where Democrats lost huge ground compared to the 2020 Presidential results. In Virginia, Republican Glenn Youngkin upset Democrat and former Governor Terry McAuliffe in the Governors race and are favored to take back the house of delegates when absentee and mail in votes are finalized. In New Jersey, a typically Democratic stronghold, incumbent Governor Phil Murphy held off a challenge from Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a state that saw Joe Biden win by 16 points. What does this mean for the 2022 midterms across the country, but specifically here in Georgia, where Sen. Raphael Warnock is running for a full term?
Candidate Corner, Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Hans Appen @hansappen
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the podcast today, Preston is back in the host chair and joined by Craig and Megan to discuss a wide ranging slate of topics including: Geoff Duncan in New Hampshire promoting a book, Bee Nguyen arrested in DC at a voting rights protest, Raphael Warnock’s eye popping fundraising numbers, the state of the Gary Black and Herschel Walker race, and the Atlanta Chapter of the NAACP essentially endorsing anyone but Kasim Reed.
Candidate Corner, Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On this special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Preston sits down with Craig in studio for the 3rd installment of the “Meet the Panel” mini-series.
It is important to the panel that the show’s listeners understand where each of them is coming from, that each has different life experiences and conscious or subconscious biases. They feel that it is in the best interest of the listener to always be transparent and open about those details before they provide their takes on political topics, so that the listener can decide for themselves what information is most important to them as they formulate their own opinions.
We hope you will appreciate why we are doing these and hope to hear feedback on how we can make the show even better.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the podcast today, Hans fills in for Preston who has had a busy few weeks down at the Capitol. Joining him are Megan and Craig to discuss the two AJC reports – one on the Department of Labor’s potential misuse of Covid relief funds and another on lobbyist spending during this summer’s redistricting tour.
First off, the panel discuss the AJC report that the Georgia Department of Labor spent more than $1 million on free meals for employees, from state and federal funds designated for unemployment benefits. Commissioner Mark Butler is already under a lot of fire for his handling of the department during the pandemic, and this certainly won’t help.
Then, the crew move on to the AJC report that found that Georgia Capitol lobbyists spent at least $6,300 on food and drinks for lawmakers traveling the state to get public feedback on redistricting. Fair or foul? The panel discuss.
Candidate Corner, Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On this special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Craig sits down with Megan for the 2nd installment of the “Meet the Panel” mini-series.
It is important to the panel that the show’s listeners understand that each of them is coming from a different life experience and have different conscious and subconscious biases. They feel that it is in the best interest of the listener to be transparent and open about where they are coming from, before they provide their takes on political topics, so that the listener can decide for themselves what information is most important to them as they formulate their own opinions.
We hope you will appreciate why we are doing these and hope to hear feedback on how we can make the show even better.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the podcast today, the panel discuss Donald Trump’s rally in Perry over the weekend, the most recent court hearing for HB481 (the heartbeat bill), the November special session and the latest on the Atlanta mayoral race.
First up, at his rally this past weekend President Trump and his allies once again called for a “forensic audit” of the 2020 election after falsely claiming widespread fraud in support of President Biden. Trump was joined by Statewide Candidates Jody Hice, Herschel Walker, and Vernon Jones. Also there was Chair of the State GOP David Schafer.
Next up, HB481 continues to make its way through the court system. The 6-week abortion ban which passed in 2019 had another hearing in Federal court this past Friday.
The November special session, the Atlanta Mayor’s race, Candidate Corner, Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On this special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Megan sits down with Preston to kick off the “Meet the Panel” mini-series.
It is important to the panel that the show’s listeners understand that each of them is coming from a different life experience and have different conscious and subconscious biases. They feel that it is in the best interest of the listener to be transparent and open about where they are coming from, before they provide their takes on political topics, so that the listener can decide for themselves what information is most important to them as they formulate their own opinions.
The show’s regular host, Preston Thompson, agreed to be the guinea pig and kick us off. He is interviewed by another show regular, Megan Gordon-Kane, as each panelist will interview another in off week special episodes.
We hope you will appreciate why we are doing these and hope to hear feedback on how we can make the show even better.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the podcast this week, the panel discuss the Supreme Court’s decision on the Texas abortion law, and President Biden’s new plan to combat the spread of Covid-19.
A big piece of political news that could have long lasting implications is the Supreme Court’s decision NOT to issue a stay for the Texas bill (SB 8) that limits abortions to under 6 weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest. The panel discuss what the decision means and what possible implications it could have for Georgia and its own abortion laws.
Next up the panel discuss the latest plan from President Biden to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, which includes mandatory vaccination for all federal employees and directing the Department of Labor to mandate vaccinations for employees of businesses with more than 100 employees or weekly testing.
Also on the show, a brief Candidate Corner segment, Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the panel gather to share some of their thoughts on where they were when they first heard the news and in what ways it changed America.
They offer their thoughts on how the recent withdrawal from the Afghanistan war puts this anniversary in perspective and how there could be generational differences to the perception of that infamous day, America’s 20 year occupation of Afghanistan, and our country’s role in the world.
Most importantly, we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001 and send all first responders our prayers and gratitude for their service to our communities and this country.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining Megan on the show today for a special episode is the Executive Director of Georgia Conservation Voters, Brionté McCorkle, to discuss environmental justice issues.
As always, Megan kicks off the show with the basics to help set the stage for the listeners on exactly what climate justice is and what politicians are or are not doing to initiate progress toward a more equitable climate future.
And who should be responsible for slowing climate change and lowering pollution? We as individuals often feel the need to shoulder that responsibility, but Brionté and Megan discuss why its just not that simple.
All that and much more on today’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
More Information:
Book: Project Drawdown
Website: Drawdown Georgia
Connect with Georgia Conservation Voters (GCV) ONLINE
On Twitter @GCVoters
On Instagram @gcvoters
On Facebook @gcvoters
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast
On Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
We kick off the show today with the news that has consumed all political coverage these last two weeks: the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the consequent unraveling of order that left 13 soldiers dead. The panel discuss how we got here, what this means for the region and America’s standing in the world – and lessons learned (if any).
Next up, the big Georgia political news is that former University of Georgia running back Herschel Walker has officially made his long awaited entrance into the Republican race for the right to challenge incumbent US Senator Raphael Warnock in 2022. He has the backing of former President Donald Trump, but will that be enough to beat Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture, who has deep roots in Georgia politics? The panel discuss.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s installment of The Georgia Politics Podcast!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining Megan on this special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast is Cindy Battles, Policy & Engagement Director for The Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda.
Georgia is in the middle of a redistricting year and its legislature will soon convene for a special session to determine the boundaries of state senate and house districts for the next 10 years. Megan and Cindy discuss some of the history behind this process, and what Georgia’s citizens can expect going forward.
They also discuss many of the nuances of gerrymandering, why they say it is a problem, and how to address it through legislation and activism.
All that and more on this episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast!
At the end of the show, Cindy recommends three books. They are:
Redistricting: The most political activity in America
Rat F**ked
Unrigged: How Americans are battling back to save democracy
And for more information:
Georgia Redistricting Alliance
Fair Districts GA
Districtr
Connect with The Peoples’ Agenda ONLINE
On Twitter @gcpagenda
On Facebook @GCPAgenda
On Instagram @gcpavote
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast
On Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Kicking off the show this week, the panel take a look Democratic field for next year’s statewide races.
Also, a couple of newsworthy updates for regular listeners if the podcast: Suspended Insurance Commissioner Jim Beck was convicted of fraud and money laundering, smoothing Interim Commissioner John King’s race for a full term. And also, surprising no one, Speaker Ralston announced that he will not be challenging Raphael Warnock for US Senate.
Governor Kemp announced his plans to call a special session to deal with violent crime. He is proposing to spend $2 million to pay for 20 new state troopers and $1 million to double the size of GBI’s anti-gang task force. The announcement follows Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced plan to invest $70 million in fighting Atlanta’s recent crime wave.
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s installment of The Georgia Politics Podcast!
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the show this week the panel kicks off the conversation with Candidate Corner to discuss election results for HD 34, and the two latest entrants to the GOP primary field in the Georgia 6th.
Last week the MLB All-Star game was played in Denver. The game was originally slated to be played in Atlanta until MLB decided to move it after the passage of SB 202. What have we learned and where do we go from here?
Fulton County elections are back in the news after 200 ballots were found to have been scanned twice by election workers. Is this vindication for those looking for fraud in the election?
Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Joining Preston on the show today is Georgia House Representative Chuck Martin (R – 49) to discuss HB 617, a bill Rep. Martin authored that would allow athletes in Georgia to receive compensation for the use of their name, image or likeness, contingent action from Congress, the NCAA or other athletic association acts.
A unanimous Supreme Court ruling in June stated that college sports organizations violate antitrust laws by limiting education benefits to their athletes and in turn has enabled Rep. Martin’s bill to become law.
It's a big win for students across the country who have been arguing for decades that the organization for which they are a part of profit off their athletic feats without appropriate compensation.
Preston and Rep. Martin discuss the political environment around the issue, what has changed in recent years that have led us to this moment and what future actions may be in store.
All that and more on this episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with Rep. Chuck Martin
On Twitter @Martin4GA
On Facebook @ChuckMartinGA
By email chuck.martin(a)house.ga.gov
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson @pston3 or by email preston(a)appenmedia.com
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
The panel kicks off the show discussing the Biden justice department’s lawsuit over Georgia’s new elections bill, Senate Bill 202. In a statement they allege that the bill was passed with “discriminatory purpose.” Governor Kemp quickly condemned the suit, calling it a “politically motivated assault on the rule of law.”
There is also of course Candidate Corner, where the discussion involves Rudy Giuliani’s fundraiser for Republican candidate for Governor, former State Senator, Vernon Jones. Also, State Senator Bruce Thompson announced he is running for Labor Commissioner, which makes for a crowded field to challenge incumbent Republican Mark Butler.
And the last subject before Overhyped/Underhyped is about the news that the agribusiness company Archer-Daniels-Midland reportedly sold Sonny Perdue, the University System of Georgia’s proposed candidate to be its new chancellor, property worth over 5.5 million dollars for just 250,000 just before he was appointed commissioner of agriculture.
All that and more on this episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3 or by emailed preston(a)appenmedia.com
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On this week’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Craig Kidd hosts Ginger Howard and Jason Thompson to discuss the Republican National Committee, its history, recent elections, and what issues it is working on now.
Ginger and Jason are two of Georgia’s three committee members for the RNC, along with the recently re-elected chair of the Georgia Republican Party, David Shafer. They discuss the origins of the RNC and how it has evolved over time, both in substance and demographics.
Many listeners also may not know what exactly the RNC does, and Ginger and Jason talk about their committee work, fundraising efforts and the ways in which it helps guide candidates on modern issues.
Lastly, Craig asks about recent elections, what issues may have impacted the races and what the RNC is doing to help win back the suburbs, specifically in Metro Atlanta.
All that and more on this episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with the Republican National Committee online
On Facebook @GOP
On Twitter @gop
On Instagram @gop
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the show today Preston is joined by Craig and Megan to discuss a wide range of political issues.
Up first, the panel touch on the announcement that occurred RIGHT after the recording of the last episode: Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black entering the race to challenge incumbent US Senator Raphael Warnock (D) in the 2022 election.
In other election news, there were two special elections in Georgia to discuss. One for HD34, vacated by Rep. Bert Reeves. Devan Seabaugh (Rep) and Priscilla Smith (Dem) advance to runoff. Surprisingly the Kennesaw Councilmember David Blinkhorn only pulled 12 percent of the vote. The two Republicans pulled a total of just under 60 percent of the vote.
Also, HD156 is advancing to a runoff between two Republicans, Leesa Hagan and Wally Sapp.
Both elections will be held on July 13th.
And finally, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is entering the race to get his old job back after current mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced she would not be seeking re-election.
Redistricting meetings have begun, the state GOP had its annual conference, and the panel play Overhyped/Underhyped and Play Along-At-Home.
All that and more on this episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On today’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Preston sits down with the panelist you know and love – Megan Gordon-Kane – to discuss the state of abortion laws in Georgia and across the country.
In 2019 the Georgia legislature passed, and Governor Brian Kemp sign, a controversial bill (HB 481) that outlawed abortions after the detecting of a “fetal human heartbeat,” which usually occurs in the first six weeks of pregnancy. The punishment for performing an abortion after the first six week of pregnancy was made punishable by up to ten years in prison.
Preston and Megan discuss the circumstances around the bill, including President Trump’s appointment of three new justices to the Supreme Court. In 2020, a federal judge ruled that the Georgia bill is unconstitutional. He quoted the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade which stated that before viability, a State cannot prohibit a woman from receiving an abortion.
Georgia is not the only state that has recently sign so called “heartbeat bills” into law. Since 2019, Ohio, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Kentucky and Texas have passed similar legislation, and Iowa, Kentucky and Mississippi have seen theirs thrown out by the courts.
We may soon know where the Supreme Court stands on these laws it plans to take up Mississippi’s 15-week ban next term. Megan explains what possible outcomes we may see and how each would effect heartbeat bill laws across the country and in Georgia.
All that and more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On today's episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast the crew kick off the show with a discussion on the House passed, and then Senate filibustered, January 6th Commission.
Then, there are a number of Candidate Corner updates, starting with Sen. Butch Miller announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination to replace Geoff Duncan, who is not seeking reelection.
Rep. David Clark also announced that he is not going to seek re-election and the panel discuss his long running feud with Speaker David Ralston and how that may have factored in to Re. Clark's decision.
And lastly, speaking of Speaker Ralston, there has been a lot of buzz about the Speaker running to oust US Senator Raphael Warnock (D) given a slate of notable Republicans declining to run AND a recent picture he took with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee Rick Scott.
The show ends of course with Over Hyped or Under Hyped and Play Along at Home.
All that and more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On this week’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Megan sits down with Shannon Clawson, State Outreach Manager for Georgia Equality, to discuss the national trend of legislation aimed at restricting transgender rights, particularly for young people.
In Georgia, as in other states, there have been bills written specifically to target involvement of transgender youth in sports. Megan and Shannon discuss the arguments on both sides and the status of legislation.
All that and more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with Georgia Equality
On Facebook @GAEquality
On Instagram @GAEquality
On Twitter @GAEquality
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
A lot to cover in this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast as Preston takes a seat in the host chair while Jeffrey is out on a well deserved vacation.
Governor Brian Kemp has now officially launched his re-election campaign. What position is he starting in politically? Also, his assumed Democratic opponent Stacey Abrams has NOT announced a rematch campaign. What is she waiting for?
Also for Brian Kemp, an effort from some state Republican chapters to admonish the Governor failed (for the most part), but the AJC has reported that the GOP meetings are seeing some new faces at local meetings. So what’s the current state of the GOP at this point given our new national leadership?
Getting into the nitty gritty, the panel discuss the current unemployment benefits model which has recipients making just over $15 an hour for a 40 hour work week. Those recipients are required to make three reportable potential job contacts per week. Is this a political football or a legitimate economic issue?
Candidate Corner, Overhyped or Underhyped?, and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Here is the link to the New York Times “Do You Live in a Political Bubble?” project that the panel use for the end of show game: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/30/opinion/politics/bubble-politics.html
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
In this special episode Megan hosts Christopher Bruce, Political Director for the ACLU of Georgia, to discuss trends, issues and solutions to problems involving race in our criminal legal system.
Christopher was pivotal in Georgia Governor Nathan Deal's Criminal Justice Reform initiative, especially regarding bail reform, and he and Megan discuss some of the ways continued reform is necessary in Georgia.
Why is the United States the world leader in incarcerated people per capita? How is unconscious bias playing a role in our criminal justice system and what can we do about it?
All that and more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with Christopher
Instagram @attorneycbruce
Facebook @ChristopherDeuceBruce
Connect with the ACLU of Georgia
Online at acluga.org
Facebook @ACLUofGA
Twitter @acluofga
Instagram @acluofga
Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
It is a jam packed show this week as the panel discusses a wide range of topics from polling results, changes to Stone Mountain, candidate updates and more.
AJC produced a poll recently that covered a wide range of topics important to Georgia, and the show kicks off discussion on the results. The polls questions dealt with topics like Major League Baseball moving the All-Star Game out of Georgia, the state’s new elections reform bill and corporate activism.
Candidate Corner: Megan and Preston introduce the show’s new ‘Candidate Corner” segment by briefly touching on Georgia House Rep. Bee Nguyen (D) entry into the 2022 race for Secretary of State and two June special elections for a house seats in Vidalia and Cobb County.
Megan also introduces the proposed changes to Stone Mountain’s park, a result of the recent appointment of a new leader for its governing body.
And in big political news, with plenty of possible implications, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that she will not be seeking a second term as mayor. What’s next for her, the race to replace her in Atlanta, and why is she leaving? The crew discuss.
Lastly, the show ends with two new segments: Overhyped or Underhyped and Play Along at Home.
All that and more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the show today Hans guest hosts with Preston to discuss…elections!
Yes, we JUST got done with the November 2020 elections and the January Senate runoffs in Georgia, but believe it or not the 2021 election cycle, and the upcoming cycle for 2022 elections, is already well under way.
This November we will see local elections being held for city council, mayoral and county commission posts all across the state. Hans and Preston discuss what listeners should expect, how things have changed since November, trends and what candidates who are still contemplating a run of their own should be considering. Hint: do it!
They also touch on where we are at in the 2022 cycle for federal offices and the presumed rematch between Governor Brian Kemp and his 2018 opponent Stacey Abrams. There are also some interesting dynamics going on that could make the Republican primary season in 2022 a lot more interesting – and competitive – under similar circumstances in previous years.
All that and more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Hans Appen @hansappen
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the show this week Jeffrey is joined by Craig and Megan to discuss a Georgia death row inmate who was seeking execution by firing squad, Stone Mountain's first black chairman of the board, the George Floyd trial and much more.
Michael Nance was sentenced to death by a Gwinnett County jury in 2002 for fatally shooting 43-year-old Gabor Balogh when he resisted giving up his car to Nance. Nance doesn’t deny his crime or argue his sentence, but claims that his veins are too narrow to attempt a lethal injection execution without excruciating pain. Instead, he requested a death by firing squad. Last week a federal appeals court in Atlanta refused to reconsider an earlier ruling that denied the request.
Also on the show, the panel discuss Governor Brian Kemp’s appointment of Rev. Abraham Mosley of Athens to chair the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, a state board that oversees the park and its confederate memorial. He is the first African-American to serve in the role and comes to the position during a time of increasing public protest regarding the memorial.
Lastly, the panel discuss the biggest piece of political news of the week in the conviction of Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd last summer.
All that and more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Dr. John Tures, professor of political science at LaGrange College, joins the show for a special episode of the Georgia Politics Podcast to discuss redistricting, reapportionment and gerrymandering.
The process of reapportionment is conducted every 10 years after the national census. It carries significant political ramification to federal and state elections. Gerrymandering, labeled “the most political activity in America,” and independent redistricting commissions are also covered.
Tures is a frequent columnist in statewide and regional outlets.
On March 31, the Georgia General Assembly adjourned its 40-day legislative session and is expected to take up redistricting in the coming months. The finalized census data, the key ingredient to this process, has not been released.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the show this week the panel discuss Joe Biden's proposed American Jobs Act, its implications and potential effects for Georgia. They also touch on the President's proposed new reforms to the classifications for "ghost" guns.
Turning to the Gold Dome the panel recap Sine Die, what passed, what failed and what we should continue to watch for in the upcoming months.
All that and more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politcs Podcast.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
It’s been a busy week in Georgia politics and Jeffrey is joined by the usual crew to discuss the latest goings on.
They kick off the shop with GOP challenges for Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger as Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga 10th) and former Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle have announced they are running and the buzz is that Brian Kemp may face a primary challenge from Herschel Walker.
Next up, the discussion turns to SB202, the sweeping election bill that passed and was signed by Governor Kemp last week. The panel discuss the process, response and the arrest of Rep. Park Cannon who was handcuffed after knocking on the Governor’s door in an attempt to witness the bill’s signing.
The panel wraps up with a look forward at what to expect next under the Gold Dome before the session wraps.
All that and more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On the show today Preston interviews Pamela Winn for his second installment on prison and criminal justice reform.
Pamela is an activist in Atlanta who served a 78-month federal sentence for a white-collar crime while pregnant. During her incarceration, she was shackled, causing her to fall and miscarry, and then placed in solitary confinement.
She tells Preston about her story and how her experiences empowered her to become active in advocating for reform, most recently through HB345 – Georgia’s anti shackling legislation that passed unanimously this year.
Pamela also founded RestoreHER US.America, a policy advocacy reentry organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of directly impacted women and work in partnership with those women to end the mass incarceration of women of color and pregnant women.
Connect with RestoreHER US.America
www.restoreher.us
Twitter: @RestoreHER_US
Facebook: @restoreher.us
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson @pston3
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
It is a lively episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast as Jeffrey sits down with Preston, Megan and Craig sit down to discuss the latest in Georgia politics.
To quick off the show the panel discuss the biggest piece of political news and its implications for Georgia – the passage of the American Recovery Act recently signed into law by President Biden. A little over $8 billion dollars is headed to Georgia in state and local funds and most Georgians will be receiving a $1,400 stimulus check in the coming days.
Under the Gold Dome the Georgia Legislature has officially crossed over, which means any bills that did not get passage out of one of the chambers (technically) must wait until next session for future consideration. The most notable bills are of course HB 531 and SB 241, both elections and voting related bills that crossed over without any Democratic support.
Lastly, the panel discusses a rare moment of unified bipartisanship when HB 470, a bill that would revise the state’s citizen’s arrest law, passed the House in a 173-0 vote.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
In today’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Preston sits down with Georgia State House Rep. Josh McLaurin (District 51) to discuss criminal justice reform.
Preston asks about the bills that Rep. McLaurin is currently involved with that would change the way we think about and approach questions about sentencing, probation, and more.
One bill, HB 335, would restrict probation to 24 months and end probation for life.
Rep. McLaurin talks about why he is focused on this issue and what it will take for more legislators to join him and see reform through to its finish.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Preston Thompson @pston3
Rep. Josh McLaurin @JoshforGeorgia
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
A lot going on under the Gold Dome and your regular panel is back to get you up to speed.
Host Jeffrey Albertson is joined by Preston Thompson, Megan Gordon-Kane and Craig Kidd to go over the bouquet of elections and voting reform bills being considered (there are a lot). As always, the panel gives deep to give you the highlights on what you need to know.
After that lengthy the panel moves on to discuss HB281 which would prohibit local counties and municipalities from cutting public safety budgets by more than 5% in any one year, with some exceptions. The bill is being viewed by most as an effort to preempt the “defund the police” movement, but many Democrats are pointing to the hypocrisy of usurping local control – a position that would put Republicans at odds with their previous legislative priorities.
All that and much more on today’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast!
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Hans Appen sits down with Daniel Lettenberger-Klein, CEO of Stella Maris, an organization in the Greater Cleveland, OH area that has provided drug and alcohol treatment services since 1948. They discuss the state of mental health in a post-COVID world, particularly as it pertains to addiction, depression and anxiety.
Daniel and Hans talk about what issues the country was already dealing with leading up to the pandemic, and how increased isolation due to quarantining, use of social media and an absence of physical connections with people have only made those issues worse.
They catch up on how America’s children are coping and ways in which parents can help reduce the stresses and increased amounts of anxiety they are experiencing.
Both Hans and Daniel agree that this is a mental health crisis that we will collectively be dealing with for years, if not decades, to come and the ways in which we can rethink how we structure our medical institutions to prioritize treatment and our government agencies to recognize the urgency of the moment.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.
1-800-273-8255
Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL)
For immediate access to routine or crisis services, please call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225. GCAL is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year to help you or someone you care for in a crisis.
Connect with Stella Morris:
www.stellamariscleveland.com
www.facebook.com/stellamariscleveland
www.twitter.com/StellaMaris216
DONATE: stellamariscleveland.com/how-to-help/donate/donation-form.html
Atlanta Area Resources:
Talbott Recovery: www.talbottcampus.com
The Summit Counseling Center: www.summitcounseling.org
Blue Ridge Mountain Recovery Center: www.blueridgemountainrecovery.com
North Fulton Community Charities: www.nfcchelp.org
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Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
Guest hosting today’s show is Hans Appen to discuss with Preston Thompson and Megan Gordon-Kane bills being considered in this year’s legislative session. It’s a rapid fire style show with Preston and Megan hitting all the highlights of the notable bills being considered, including those related to trans kids, elections reforms, and yes, daylight savings time.
Stay in the know with today’s Georgia politics round up!
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Hans Appen @hansappen
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meglaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
#gapol
On today’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Jeffrey sits down with two members of the Anti-Defamation League to discuss extremist groups nationwide and here in Georgia. The ADL is a leading anti-hate organization founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry.
Dr. Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president of the Southern Division, and Amy Iandiorio, investigate researcher at the Center on Extremism, took questions and provided research analysis about extremist group growth and how tracking has changed since being removed from popular social media platforms.
On the day of the recording, the Center on Extremism released an annual report, “Murder and Extremism in the United States in 2020.” The ADL launched a podcast last September titled “Extremely,” as a medium for more information about modern hate and extremism.
Information about the ADL’s research and ongoing outreach is available at the web address ADL.org
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Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
The theme of the episode is belligerence, ballots and budgets as the crew is rejoined by returning champion, Craig Kidd.
Jeffrey leads the discussion through the latest developments of Georgia House member David Clark’s refusal to take a COVID test and the ensuing fallout. We then turn to the bills under consideration to amend Georgia elections laws and wrap the show with status of the supplemental budget and what we can expect to see going forward.
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Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meglaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
Mike Luckovich joined a special episode of the Georgia Politics Podcast on Jan. 22 to discuss his methodology and career as an editorial cartoonist. Since 1989, Mike has worked for the Atlanta Journal Constitution and earned two Pulitzer Prize in 1995 and 2006. At age 13, Luckovich drew his first political themed cartoon.
Since high school Luckovich thought he would be a cartoonist. Studying political science in college directed that path to an editorial route.
Earlier in the day of the episode, Atlanta Braves legend Hank Aaron passed away at age 86. Hammerin’ Hank played 23 seasons in the major leagues and came to national fame after surpassing Babe Ruth’s 714 home run record. Aaron hit his 755th home run in 1976, a record that was held until Barry Bonds broke it in 2007.
In honor of Aaron’s legacy on and off the field, Luckovich shared a cartoon he drew of Hank touching home plate in front of heaven’s gates.
Be sure to tell your friends about the show and rate and review us! It helps others find us.
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Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Mike Luckovich @mluckovichajc
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
The crew is back together to discuss the last two weeks in politics, in DC and under the Gold Dome in Georgia, as the State Legislature is back in session and everyone is excited to talk about something OTHER than elections.
Joined by newcomer to the panel - Harrison Lance - Preston, Megan and Ben kick off the show to discuss the latest developments in the 2nd impeachment of Donald Trump and the political calculus of both Democrats and Republicans moving forward.
Also topics on the show are the increased security at the capitol as we approach Inauguration Day, Brandon Beach and #StopTheSteal Republicans, redistricting and the Governor’s State-of-the-State address.
It’s a jam-packed show. Thanks for checking it out! #gapol
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Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meglaneg
Harrison Lance @HarrisonLanceGA
Ben Burnett @benburnett
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
What a week!
Since we last recorded, the President of the United States pressured Georgia's Secretary of State to change the results of the November election, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock defeated David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the battle for control of the US Senate , and a violent mob infiltrated the US Capitol while a joint session of congress was certifying the election of Joe Biden.
Other than that, not much going on.
Jeffrey and crew discuss all this and more on today's episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.
Be sure to tell your friends about the show and rate and review us! It helps others find us.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meglaneg
Hans Appen @hansappen
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
The runoffs that will decide the majority party in the US Senate is TOMORROW! In GEORGIA!
Needless to say, there is a lot to talk about on the show today. Host Jeffrey Albertson is joined by regulars Megan Gordon-Kane and Preston Thompson to discuss final updates and predictions for the races between Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock, and David Perdue and Jon Ossoff.
They then jump into a preview of the 2021 Georgia legislative session and what we might expect to see while the state is still suffering from the pandemic. Will the attention go to continued COVID relief, or will election fraud conspiracies still be front and center as legislators look at election reforms.
Be sure to tell your friends about the show and rate and review us! It helps others find us.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meglaneg
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
We're BACK! After a long covid hiatus the GaPol crew is back, better than ever. Jeffrey Albertson takes over the helm to moderate the panel discussion with familiar voices Preston Thompson, Megan Gordon-Kane, and newbies Ben Burnett and Jamie Bendall.
On the show today, topics include a recap of lessons learned from the November general election, trends in electoral politics in Georgia, a preview of the upcoming January 5th Senate runoffs and more.
Be sure to tell your friends about the show and rate and review us! It helps others find us.
Connect with us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Jeffrey Albertson @ja1bertson
Preston Thompson @pston3
Megan Gordon-Kane @meglaneg
Ben Burnett @benburnett
Jamie Bendall @hamiethehost
Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.
After a long hiatus sheltering in place Hans and Preston have been busy planning the re-launch of the podcast and jump on the show today to tell you listeners what to expect from the new and improved version of Georgia's premier politics podcast.
Get a rundown of what to expect on YOUR ballot this November (or earlier if you are voting early or by mail) and what the state of politics in Georgia looks like just a few weeks before the results start coming in.
For information on voting:
Go to the "Georgia My Voter Page". Check your voter registration status, mail-in application and ballot status, poll location, early voting locations, who your elected officials are, registration information on file with the county office, a sample ballot for the upcoming election or your provisional ballot status: mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do
Get started at www.predictit.org/promo/gapol and PredictIt will match your first $20.
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#gapol
On the show today Preston gives the show's listeners some of his reaction to the national protests we're watching and the state of racial injustice in America.
It has been a troubling few days across the country as we all grapple with how to feel about the death of another unarmed black man at the hands of police in Minneapolis, and the public's response since.
Preston offers his perspective, and some thoughts on where we go from here. Have anything you want to share or get off your chest? Give us a call. Our number is 770-376-7403.
Follow and connect with the show on twitter @gapoliticspod
Member of the Appen Podcast Network. #gapol
The Georgia Politics Podcast crew is BACK after a few weeks off quarantining. Well, half back. They're still maintaining appropriate social distances so while not back in the studio, they manage to catch up on the latest and greatest in Georgia politics via a Zoom call and Facebook Live.
Due to technical difficulties we join the discussion after some initial introductions and pleasantries and jump right into the Joe Biden sexual assault allegations and what that could mean for Stacey Abrams in her quest to be his running mate.
Also on the show the panel discuss the latest on mailed ballot requests and what the precedent could mean for November and the upcoming resumption of the legislative session.
The crew ends the show with some positive, non-coronavirus news and some listener questions.
Thanks for tuning in - and we'll see you again soon!
Preston, Craig and Megan almost manage to keep this week's show under an hour. Hard feat to accomplish considering that it's qualifying week and Crossover Day is Thursday.
Along with the rapid shifts in national and local candidates, the panel covers a new statewide poll and the role dollars have played this election cycle.
Don't forget- early voting opened Monday and you can always make real-money predictions with PredictIt.
Get started at www.predictit.org/promo/gapol and PredictIt will match your first $20.
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Jam packed episode!
On the show this week the crew talk about the most recent Democrats debate and what implication there are for Georgia.
On top of that, what are the implications for the latest updates to the Georgia state budget and where are we at in the Georgia 9th CD?
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Wow! It was quite a busy week in politics. The crew get all the big national news out of the way at the top before moving in to the latest in Georgia politics.
In the race to replace Senator Johnny Isakson, Ebenezer Baptist Church Minister Dr. Raphael Warnock has declared his candidacy, and immediately becomes the front runner with an endorsement from Stacey Abrams.
For the Republicans, the feud between Congressman Doug Collins and Senator Kelly Loeffler heats up, and the Georgia House of Representatives goes into recess.
A PredictIt segment and much more in this week's jam packed episode!
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Joining Preston on the show is Richard Woods, Georgia School Superintendent. Topics include Mr. Woods background and what led him to seek the state's top elected position in education, standardized testing, advancements (and challenges) in technology, the Governor's proposed additional $2,000 teacher pay raise and more!
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This morning on an episode of Fox & Friends, Congressman Doug Collins, who had been rumored to have been contemplating the move for a while, officially declared his intention to enter the race to replace retired US Senator Johnny Isakson. This complicates things for Republicans as Kelly Loeffler, Governor Kemp’s handpicked appointment to the seat, is already in the race and spending money. To make matters even more dubious for Republicans, the panel agrees that this increases the chances that Democrats could win the race outright considering a fractured Republican voter base, and a possible Trump vs. Kemp showdown.
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On this week’s episode of the show the crew break down the Governor’s State of the State address, talk about the current entrants to the 14th Congressional District race to replace retiring Rep. Tom Graves, a recent AJC poll on issues and the Governor’s approval rating.
As always we end with a segment from our sponsors over at PredictIt.
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This week on the show the regular crew kick off the year with a 2020 legislative preview, discuss where the Governor might find cuts in the budget, bills that both parties may try to avoid in an election year and much more. As usual, they end the show with a PredictIt segment and discuss the state of the Iowa caucus market.
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This week on the podcast the panel talk about the winners in Georgia politics in 2019, the most underrated stories of the year and a look back at the top storylines of the decade. They end the show by introducing the show’s own PredictIt account and what market they plan to enter.
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On the show this week the regular panel is joined by Alpharetta City Councilman Ben Burnett to discuss Senator Johnny Isakson’s recent farewell address, the blowback Governor Kemp has received from his own party after naming businesswoman Kelly Loeffler to the US Senate, and the PredictIt market for what the balance of power in congress will look like after the 2020 elections.
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Joining Preston on the show is Chris Clark, the President & CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. They discuss the Chamber's recent petition to "stop socialism in Georgia", why it felt the need to lead such an effort and what it hopes to accomplish. Other topics of discussion were the Governor's plans to partially expand Medicaid, HB481, economic development in rural Georgia and more.
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On the show this week the panel discuss the DNC debate at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, the President’s ask of Governor Kemp, the narrowing of the field to challenge Congresswoman McBath in the 6th, odds for impeachment in the PredictIt markets and more!
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To read the article Preston mentions in his sign off, click here: https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/can-version-cap-and-trade-save-rural-hospitals-georgia/qkc2vg15r2yMRGJx3vGLgP/
Joining the usual panel this week is Jack Miller, fresh off running Paul Moore’s successful campaign for Milton City Council. After months of waiting, the Governor announced details of his Medicaid Waiver plans. The panel discuss the pros, cons, and what it leaves out. Also the team talks about what they’re watching for with 12 months to go before 2020’s election.
As usual, the team ends the show by discussing a PredictIt market and talking about what they are watching for in the weeks to come.
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On this week's show the panel discusses the fundraising totals for the US Senate candidates and for the candidates in congressional districts 6 and 7. Also, they are joined on the show by Joe Parker, Appen Media’s sports editor, to discuss the announcement of a bill in the Georgia House that would allow college student athletes to profit from use of their likeness, hire an agent and more.
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On this week's show, the panel discuss the first Democratic candidate for the Johnny Isakson seat, Georgia GOP primary rules changes and much more.
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On this special edition of The Georgia Politics Podcast Preston interviews David Belle Isle, the Republican Party chair for Congressional District 6 and former Mayor of Alpharetta. They discuss last year's race for Secretary of State, all things 6th District and how Georgia looks heading into 2020.
Use the code GaPol to get a $20 bonus from PredictIt
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This week's show covers Governor Kemp's recruitment strategy and why less than 5% of voters cast ballots in a recent Fulton County election. What are you watching for this week?
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Joining Preston on the show for a 1 on 1 interview is Sarah Riggs Amico, candidate for the Democratic nomination for US Senate to challenge Senator David Perdue. Learn more about her platform and what she thinks separates her from the other 3 candidates vying for the nomination.
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Former US House candidate Jon Ossoff officially enters the race for US Senate...but with a surprise! The panel talks about the state of the race AND the Governor's latest demands to cut budgets across various state agencies. As always, the team ends with another tasty segment of "Buy or Sell" sponsored by PredictIt.
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Joining Preston on the show for a 1 on 1 interview is Ted Terry, the mayor of Clarkston and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for US Senate. Learn more about his platform, his experience as mayor of one of the most diverse cities in America and why he thinks he is the best candidate to challenge Senator David Perdue next November.
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It was a busy week for Georgia politics! On the show Preston and panelists Hans Appen and Craig Kidd discuss Senator Johnny Isakson's announcement that he is retiring at the end of the year, who Governor Kemp may appoint to replace him, and the possible Democratic challenger in the November 2020 jungle primary. Also, Sarah Riggs Amico jumps in the Democratic field to challenge Senator David Perdue and lastly the NEW segment "Buy or Sell" sponsored by PredictIt.
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This week Preston welcomes returning guests Craig Kidd, First Vice Chair for the Fulton County Republican Party and Hans Appen, Publisher of Appen Media Group and the Appen Podcast Network, to discuss the state of gun legislation in Georgia, the state Republican Party's new strategy and the (really bad) air in the Smyrna area.
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This week Preston welcomes returning guests Craig Kidd, First Vice Chair for the Fulton County Republican Party and Hans Appen, GM of Appen Media, to discuss Utah's health care plan and its national implications, Georgia Power's opportunity with climate change, House races and more!
Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/2Q0b8x6l3Tg
Check out our new website: https://www.thegeorgiapoliticspodcast.com/
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Sponsored by Wix.com
On this special edition of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Preston welcomes Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach to discuss his Congressional run for District 6, his policies, political history and more!
Find out more about Sen Beach:
http://www.beachforcongress.com/
Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/q59Lj73xBJ0
Visit our new site at thegeorgiapoliticspodcast.com/
Sponsored by Wix.com
This week Preston welcomes returning guests Craig Kidd, First Vice Chair for the Fulton County Republican Party and Hans Appen, GM of Appen Media, to discuss President Trump's controversial remarks, another one of Speaker Ralston's cases that is making headlines, the new state healthcare report and more!
Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/2Q0b8x6l3Tg
Check out our new website: https://www.thegeorgiapoliticspodcast.com/
Follow us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Sponsored by Wix.com
On this special edition of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Preston interviews Georgia Representative Josh McLaurin as they discuss his career as an attorney, his lawsuit against the GOP, his thoughts on the presidential race and more!
Find out more about Rep. McLaurin:
http://www.joshforgeorgia.com/ @JoshforGeorgia Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/w6dA3AbxT0g
Visit our new site at thegeorgiapoliticspodcast.com/
Sponsored by Wix.com
This week Preston welcomes returning guests Craig Kidd, First Vice Chair for the Fulton County Republican Party; Hans Appen, GM of Appen Media; and Charlie Bailey, the 2018 Democratic nominee for state attorney general, to discuss gerrymandering, the recent Supreme Court decision on the census question and more!
Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/Vem5VMVRQnI
Check out our new website: https://www.thegeorgiapoliticspodcast.com/
Follow us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
Sponsored by Wix.com
On this special edition of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Preston interviews former Mayor of Columbus, GA and Democratic candidate for the Georgia Senate, Teresa Tomlinson!
Find out more about her campaign:
https://teresatomlinson.com Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/HrWThzj0fgw
Follow us on YouTube by searching Georgia Politics Podcast
This week Preston welcomes returning guests Carson Cook, Editor of Johns Creek Herald; Craig Kidd, First Vice Chair for the Fulton County Republican Party & Hans Appen, GM of Appen Media, to discuss the impeachment process, Tommy Hunter suing Gwinnett and more!
Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/EmuOD3n7-ZA
Follow us on YouTube by searching Georgia Politics Podcast
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This week Preston welcomes returning guests First Vice Chair for the Fulton County Republican Party, Craig Kidd & GM of Appen Media, Hans Appen to answer questions sent in from the fans in our second Mailbag Episode!
Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/WY148HW1QUk
Follow us on YouTube by searching Georgia Politics Podcast
Follow us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
On this special edition of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Preston interviews the Mayor of Alpharetta, Jim Gilvin, to discuss he re-election campaign, the city's transportation needs, the future of Alpharetta and much more!
Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/Nsny-nB0jYY
Follow us on YouTube by searching Georgia Politics Podcast
@jimgilvin
@alpharettagov
@gapoliticspod
This week Preston welcomes returning guest Hans Appen, GM of Appen Media Group and making his debut on the show Community Activist, Brad Sturgeon.
Today the panel discusses the highly controversial House Bill 481, also known as the "Heartbeat Bill", as well as David Schafer's election as chair of Georgia's GOP, and more!
Follow us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
And watch the episodes on YouTube by Searching Georgia Politics Podcast
This week Preston welcomes returning guests First Vice Chair for the Fulton County Republican Party, Craig Kidd & GM of Appen Media, Hans Appen and welcomes newcomer and 2018 Attorney General candidate, Charlie Bailey to discuss the 2020 elections, Hurricane Michael relief, the newly signed Heartbeat Bill and more!
Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/YLNmrIuS8qc
Follow us on YouTube by searching Georgia Politics Podcast
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On this special edition of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Preston interviews Joshua Sharpe, Journalist for AJC and Atlanta Magazine to discuss his recent story "Why are so many people getting rare cancers in this small Georgia Town?" about the strange cases of rare cancers in Waycross, GA
Read the full article here:
https://www.atlantamagazine.com/great-reads/why-are-rare-cancers-killing-so-many-people-in-a-small-georgia-town/
Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/BlbkbBf4810
Follow us on YouTube by searching Georgia Politics Podcast
@AtlantaMagazine
@AJC
Follow us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
This week Preston welcomes returning guests Democratic Strategist, Pallavi Purkayastha and First Vice Chair for the Fulton County Republican Party, Craig Kidd to review Governor Kemp's first 100 days, CD District 7 candidate news and more!
Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/FGgIya_VhL0
Follow us on YouTube by searching Georgia Politics Podcast
Follow us on Twitter @gapoliticspod
This week Preston welcomes returning guests First Vice Chair of the Fulton GOP Craig Kidd and Alpharetta City Councilman Ben Burnett
Today the panel discusses Crossover Day, what did and did not make it through and upcoming national and local elections
Follow us on Twitter @gapoliticspod And watch the episodes on YouTube by Searching Georgia Politics Podcast
This week Preston welcomes returning guests Craig Kidd - First Vice Chair of the Fulton County GOP and Hans Appen - President of Appen Media Group and the Appen Podcast Network. And, making her Georgia Politics Podcast debut, is Appen Media reporter and host of the Pod With The Wind podcast, Carson Cook.
Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/vAS7OQRuB80
Today the panel discusses the the biggest issues from the end of session including monument protection, the heartbeat bill, airport takeover and more!
Follow us on Twitter @gapoliticspod.
Preston and Hans preview topics for Monday's special episode covering the end of the 2019 session and take a listener question about the 7th congressional district.
Want to ask Preston and panel a question?
Leave a voicemail at 770-376-7403.
Email us at georgiapoliticspodcast@appenmediagroup.com.
Tweet us @gapoliticspod.
This week Preston welcomes returning guests Craig Kidd; First Vice Chair of the Fulton GOP and Hans Appen; GM of Appen Media and unofficial Chief of Staff to Beto O'Rourke. And making his Georgia Politics Podcast debut is Alpharetta City Councilman and host of the North Fulton Serves podcast, Jason Binder.
Today the panel discusses the failed MARTA referendum in Gwinnett and some new developments with the Airport Takeover involving the Jet Fuel Tax Break.
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On this week's episode Preston welcomes back Hans Appen, GM of Appen Media Group, to answer questions sent in from the fans in our first Mailbag Episode!
Want to ask Preston and his guests a question?
Leave a voicemail at (770) 376-7403
Email us at GeorgiaPoliticspodcast@appenmediagroup.com
Tweet us @gapoliticspod