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 breaks down President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address with Tia Mitchell, focusing on the political implications for Georgia as midterms approach. They examine Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting, his clashes with the Supreme Court over tariffs and how Democrats responded, including walkouts and counterprogramming. Later, Greg is joined by Patricia Murphy and Savannah Bureau Chief Adam Van Brimmer for a look at the open 1st Congressional District race and Buddy Carter’s Senate bid. Adam also reports on a fatal ICE-related chase in Savannah that has divided local officials, and the latest developments on zoning and the Gullah Geechee community on Sapelo Island. 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 why the State Election Board stopped short of moving to take over Fulton County’s elections after the FBI raid of the county’s election offices. Greg talks with AJC politics reporter Caleb Groves about what happened during the board’s two-day meeting and how Georgia law could allow a state intervention before 2026. Then Greg and Patricia sit down with State Election Board Chair John Fervier, who calls talk of a takeover “political theater” and argues there is no justification for state control of Fulton’s elections. 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

President Donald Trump returned to Georgia and largely left the 2026 landscape unchanged. Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down his renewed endorsement of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the governor’s race, his decision to stay neutral in the GOP Senate primary, and what that means for Mike Collins, Buddy Carter and Derek Dooley. They also unpack a federal judge’s ruling that blocks Jones from spending leadership committee funds and how that could reshape the race. And they examine Trump’s revived claims about the 2020 election and calls to scrutinize Fulton County’s elections, along with the political fallout for both parties. 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

Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell break down the crowded Democratic primary in Georgia’s 13th District, where longtime Congressman David Scott faces multiple challengers, including reality TV star and dentist Dr. Heavenly Kimes. Tia presses Kimes on her leap from a planned state House run to Congress and on whether her Married to Medicine persona helps or hurts her candidacy. Patricia and Tia also examine how her rivals are framing the race and whether concerns about Scott’s limited visibility in Washington could fuel calls for generational change. 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 competing tax plans reshaping the debate under the Gold Dome. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is pushing to phase out the state income tax, House Speaker Jon Burns wants to eliminate property taxes on homesteads, and Gov. Brian Kemp is urging a more incremental approach. AJC reporter David Wickert joins to walk through the math behind the proposals, including projected multibillion-dollar revenue losses and what they could mean for schools, local governments, and the broader state budget. 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 dig into the federal government’s push to turn warehouses in Social Circle and Oakwood into large-scale ICE detention facilities. They’re joined by AJC immigration reporter Lautaro Grinspan to break down what we know about the 183-acre purchase in Social Circle, the second site in Hall County, and the infrastructure and tax questions local officials are raising. They also examine why city leaders say they have little authority to block the projects, and what these facilities could mean for the communities now preparing for their arrival. 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 U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and former Gov. Roy Barnes for a bipartisan conversation about the fallout from the FBI raid on Fulton County’s election office. Both warn against continued efforts to relitigate the 2020 election and argue that repeated investigations risk eroding public confidence in Georgia’s voting system. They also weigh in on calls for a potential state takeover of Fulton County elections and the precedent that could set for future governors of either 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 and Tia Mitchell tackle a packed Monday mailbag dominated by questions about the FBI raid on the Fulton County Elections office and what it could mean for trust in Georgia’s voting system. They break down the unsealed affidavit, revisit the long-debunked allegations at the heart of the probe, and examine the political response from state leaders, including Brad Raffensperger. The episode also turns to the alleged First Liberty Ponzi scheme and growing concerns about a potential Department of Homeland Security shutdown tied to the immigration debate in Washington. 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 this episode with AJC Washington bureau chief Tia Mitchell to break down two open congressional seats and the Republican power struggles they have triggered. They examine Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s decision not to seek reelection and the behind-the-scenes maneuvering in a safely Republican district. They also look at northwest Georgia’s 14th District, where President Donald Trump’s endorsement has upended a crowded special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene, and what the broader turnover could mean for Georgia’s delegation. 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 shock entry of billionaire Rick Jackson into Georgia’s race for governor and what it means for an already crowded Republican field. GOP strategist Stephen Lawson weighs in on how Jackson’s money, outsider message, and alignment with President Donald Trump could scramble the fight for the MAGA base and alter the strategies of rivals like Burt Jones, Chris Carr, and Brad Raffensperger. 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 talks with AJC investigative reporter Dylan Jackson about the AJC’s sweeping investigation into PFAS contamination tied to northwest Georgia’s carpet industry. Dylan walks through how decades of chemical use moved through Dalton Utilities and into waterways, soil and residents’ blood, often with little public disclosure. They size up the political response at the Gold Dome, including stalled efforts to shield carpet companies from liability and Georgia’s reliance on federal regulators. The discussion also looks ahead to unresolved questions about cleanup costs, regulation and the long-term impact on communities downstream. Forever Stained: An AJC Investigative Series Contaminated: The Carpet Industry’s Toxic Legacy, a FRONTLINE documentary 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 for a look at the growing backlash against data centers under the Gold Dome. State Sen. Greg Dolezal makes the case for repealing tax incentives, arguing the projects drive up power and water costs while delivering limited public benefit. Public Service Commissioner Peter Hubbard weighs how data center growth affects electricity rates and what leverage regulators and lawmakers have as demand surges. 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 Tia Mitchell for a look at how faith continues to shape politics in Georgia, from the U.S. Senate to a crowded congressional race in northwest Georgia. They begin with Sen. Raphael Warnock’s reflections on how his pastoral role informs his views on policy, power, and political responsibility, then turn to an interview with Pastor Tom Gray, a Republican candidate in the GA-14 race, who argues that conservative politics are rooted in biblical principles and should guide government decision-making. 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

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's senior political reporter Greg Bluestein is joined by columnist Patricia Murphy, as the pair discuss what’s next in last week's FBI raid on a Fulton County election warehouse. Murphy and Bluestein discuss the possibility of criminal charges and whether President Donald Trump's allies will try to take over Fulton’s elections. Then, the duo talks about Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger breaking his silence on the raid. Raffensperger is a candidate for Georgia governor in 2026. 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. Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atlanta Journal-Constitution senior political reporter Greg Bluestein and podcast executive producer Shane Backler drive to Georgia's 14th Congressional District in northwest Georgia to hear how voters are feeling about former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s sudden resignation. AJC senior columnist Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein discuss the wide range of candidates looking to fill the seat as nearly two dozen candidates are running in the special election. 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. Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein is joined by Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy to break down questions from across Georgia, starting with a bill that would shift securities regulation away from the Secretary of State’s office as the state investigates the collapse of First Liberty Banking and Loan. They also take up concerns over kindergarten enrollment rules in Gwinnett County, weigh how much stock to put in election betting markets versus polling, and assess early signs of tension and strategy in Georgia’s emerging governor’s race. 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