Politically Georgia

The World Series is stage is so big, politics is also playing a role. In this week’s Politically Georgia Podcast, our AJC political insiders Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy discuss how Gov. Brian Kemp is using Atlanta’s World Series appearance to his advantage. Plus, why a major battle could be brewing for Gov. Kemp’s job next year and finally how Herschel Walker’s opponents are bringing up his past domestic abuse allegations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats fail to get a debate going on the voting rights bill in the Senate. Our political insiders Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell look at what that means going forward, how it will affect other legislature President Biden is trying to pass and will they remove the filibuster to do it. Plus, how Herschel Walker is going against Donald Trump for the first time and why it’s a risky move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a special edition of the Politically Georgia Podcast. AJC political insider Greg Bluestein is joined by city hall reporters Wilborn P. Nobles III and J.D. Capelouto to continue our in-depth coverage of the Race for City Hall. In this episode we look at what has really mattered from an onslaught of mayoral debates in the last week. Why Kasim Reed and Felicia Moore are starting to separate themselves and what to the other candidates need to do to pick off undecided voters. We also dig into what our journalists found asking residents of seven Atlanta neighborhoods what they want from the next mayor. Finally why this is considered silly season in the campaign.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The AJC’s political insiders Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy have been around the state (and other states) this week to make sure you know what’s really going on. In this episode, we preview former President Donald Trump’s rally in Perry to support senate candidate Herschel Walker and others. Plus what Stacy Abrams is saying about her political future as she starts her nationwide tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the latest push to reshape Georgia’s voting system as lawmakers race toward the end of the legislative session. They talk with state Rep. Saira Draper about the fight over QR codes, a possible delay to major election changes, and the political pressures driving the debate. Then Greg and Patricia turn to a previously recorded interview with state Sen. Sonya Halpern, who outlines concerns about sweeping tax proposals and the broader stakes for Georgia’s economy and political landscape. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the high-stakes final stretch of Georgia’s legislative session, where election-year politics are shaping major decisions on taxes, data centers and voting rules. They outline where key proposals stand as lawmakers race toward adjournment and tensions build between the House and Senate. Then Greg and Patricia sit down with House Speaker Jon Burns to discuss his push for a sweeping literacy overhaul, the path forward on tax relief and how he is navigating competing priorities in the closing days. Burns also weighs in on election changes, health care workforce plans and the broader political climate at the Capitol. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the political and real-world impact of massive TSA lines at Hartsfield-Jackson as the partial government shutdown drags on. They talk with the AJC’s Shaddi Abusaid from the airport, where travelers are facing hours-long waits and growing frustration, and examine how the standoff in Washington is spilling into Georgia’s Senate race. Then Greg and Patricia turn to rising gas prices and a newly signed law suspending the state gas tax. State Rep. John Carson joins to explain how the measure came together and what relief drivers can expect. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions on the surge of anonymous attack ads targeting Burt Jones and the speculation surrounding who is funding them. They also break down the increasingly unpredictable lieutenant governor’s race, including Nabila Islam Parks’ late entry and the fallout inside Democratic circles. Greg and Tia examine the Democratic primary for governor, where Keisha Lance Bottoms appears to have an early edge, and why rivals are targeting each other instead. Plus, they discuss Georgia’s nonstop election cycle, the state’s battleground status, and the impact of the partial government shutdown on Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the rapidly intensifying Republican primary for Georgia governor, where billionaire Rick Jackson’s massive ad spending has triggered a bitter clash with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. They discuss how the attacks, lawsuits and legislative maneuvers are reshaping the GOP contest while sidelining other candidates such as Brad Raffensperger and Chris Carr. Then they turn to the Democratic primary, where former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms leads early polls as rivals focus on battling each other for a runoff spot. Along the way, Greg and Patricia explore how strategy, money and messaging are shaping both parties’ paths to November. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell look at how national politics is playing out in Georgia. They start in northwest Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, where Democrats are testing whether a coalition candidate like Shawn Harris can compete in one of the reddest corners of the state after a rally featuring former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Then they turn to the partial federal government shutdown and the growing strain on TSA workers in Atlanta who are still required to work while missing paychecks. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein presents an interview he and Patricia Murphy recorded with Republican Senate candidate Derek Dooley about his new “Georgia First” campaign contract. Dooley outlines proposals including term limits, a ban on congressional stock trading, and a pledge to forgo pay during government shutdowns. He also discusses Trump’s tariff strategy, the conflict with Iran, and his support for the SAVE Act and stricter immigration enforcement. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein is joined by Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell to answer listener questions about Georgia politics. They explain the residency rules for candidates seeking office and why members of Congress do not have to live inside the districts they represent. Greg, Patricia and Tia also break down what Crossover Day really means at the Capitol and which proposals, including sports betting, appear stalled for the year. They also discuss the early advertising advantage in the governor’s race, where wealthy Republican Rick Jackson is dominating the airwaves while cash-strapped Democrats hold back their limited campaign funds. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein hosts alongside Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell to break down the results of the special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Democrat Sean Harris and Republican Clay Fuller are headed to a runoff after a crowded field and a bitter fight inside the GOP helped sideline hard-right candidate Colton Moore. They explain why Republican leaders quietly worked to consolidate support behind Fuller and what Moore’s defeat says about divisions within the party. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell break down what survived Crossover Day at the Georgia Capitol and what likely died for the year. They discuss a scaled-back property tax proposal, a failed push to legalize sports betting and a controversial bill tied to billionaire Rick Jackson’s run for governor. Then Patricia turns to the growing role of corporate investors buying single-family homes across metro Atlanta. Tia Mitchell explains how Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are pushing federal legislation aimed at curbing large investors and opening more opportunities for homebuyers. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell break down the chaotic race to replace former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in northwest Georgia, a contest that could require voters to cast ballots in as many as five separate elections this year. They revisit Greene’s abrupt resignation and the fallout from her split with Donald Trump, including the personal and political tensions that led to her exit. Greg and Tia also examine the crowded Republican field, where Trump-backed Clay Fuller faces a challenge from former state senator Colton Moore and several other contenders. And they discuss whether Democrat Sean Harris could benefit from the fractured GOP field in one of Georgia’s deepest red districts. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about Georgia’s crowded governor’s race, including why Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was still able to qualify despite a GOP resolution aimed at blocking him. They also explain how the growing number of Atlanta‑based candidates could shape the race and break down the differences between full Medicaid expansion and Georgia’s Pathways program. The conversation also touches on the timing of Georgia Supreme Court elections, Atlanta’s chances of landing a future Democratic National Convention and the emerging race for the open seat next to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s district. Greg and Tia also discuss AI‑generated campaign ads and what to watch as Congressman David Scott seeks another term. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell break down how U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran are suddenly shaping Georgia’s biggest political contests. They examine how top Republicans are lining up behind President Donald Trump while Democrats like Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock push back and call for Congress to assert its authority over war powers. Greg and Tia also explain how the foreign policy fight is colliding with a partial government shutdown centered on funding the Department of Homeland Security. Then they turn to qualifying week at the Georgia Capitol and the early signals emerging in several key races across the state. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein reports from the Georgia Capitol as qualifying week gets underway, with candidates lining up to formally enter races for governor, Senate and down-ballot offices. He catches up with contenders on both sides of the aisle, from Jon Ossoff and Buddy Carter in the Senate race to Chris Carr and Keisha Lance Bottoms in the race for governor, capturing the early messages and emerging lines of attack. Then Greg sits down with state Rep. Ruwa Romann to discuss her decision to suspend her gubernatorial bid and pivot to a Gwinnett-based state Senate race, and what she says it reveals about money, momentum and the Democratic field. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein sits down with former state Sen. Jen Jordan and trial attorney Miracle Rankin, two Democratic-leaning attorneys mounting rare challenges to sitting Georgia Supreme Court justices. They argue the court has been shaped by gubernatorial appointments and say voters deserve a clearer choice in low-turnout May elections that have long protected incumbents. Jordan, who is running against Justice Sarah Warren, and Rankin, who is challenging Justice Charlie Bethel, outline a strategy centered on turnout and voter education rather than big-dollar spending. They also make the case for why this election cycle could test a system that has protected incumbents for more than a century. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell break down the online firestorm over California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s comments in Atlanta and explain how his remarks about dyslexia were reframed on social media. They also dig into billionaire candidate Rick Jackson’s healthcare empire and the questions surrounding his state contracts as he runs for governor. They explore long-shot challenges to sitting Georgia Supreme Court justices, fallout from the FBI raid on the Fulton County Elections office and scrutiny over a costly ICE property purchase in Social Circle. And they discuss a fatal ICE-related chase in Savannah and the broader debate over immigration enforcement and employer accountability. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices