Politically Georgia

The shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has set off fierce debates about hate speech, cancel culture, and the limits of the First Amendment. On today’s episode of the AJC’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy talk with civil and human rights attorney Nora Benavidez about what’s at stake for free expression, the detention of Atlanta journalist Mari...

Senator Jon Ossoff joins Politically Georgia to discuss the strain Medicaid cuts are putting on rural hospitals, the fight to extend Obamacare subsidies, and the rising threats of political violence. Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell brings the one-on-one conversation from Capitol Hill. Then host Greg Bluestein answers listener questions on the fate of the Fulton County election case, MARTA ex...

Georgia’s race for governor just got more crowded. Host Greg Bluestein breaks down Brad Raffensperger’s entry into the 2026 contest and what it means for both parties as the secretary of state faces Trump loyalists and skeptical GOP activists. Then Patricia Murphy speaks with immigration attorney Charles Kuck about the federal raid on Hyundai’s mega-plant, why Korean executives were mistakenly det...

Host Tia Mitchell sits down with Georgia conservative activist C.J. Pearson to talk about Donald Trump’s growing support among young and Black voters, Pearson’s rise in Republican politics, and his work to bring influencers into the GOP fold. They also discuss political violence in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, tensions with Governor Brian Kemp, and how Georgia’s 2026 races are shaping...

In a Special Edition of Politically Georgia, host Greg Bluestein sits down with former Republican lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan for his first interview since announcing his run for governor as a Democrat. Duncan explains why he left the GOP, how he plans to take on Donald Trump’s influence in Georgia, and what his platform on health care, abortion, guns, and immigration would look like as a Dem...

Patricia Murphy speaks with state GOP chair Josh McKoon about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, how Republicans are responding, and what it means for security at political events. Then Greg Bluestein and AJC reporter Zach Hansen turn to the Rivian electric vehicle plant, where a groundbreaking ceremony signals new momentum but also raises questions about jobs, incentives, an...

On today’s Monday Mailbag edition of Politically Georgia, host Greg Bluestein, with producer ShaneyB, answers your questions about Georgia politics and beyond. This week, listeners want to know how state leaders are reacting to the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, why Governor Brian Kemp hasn’t addressed the Hyundai plant raid more directly, and where Republicans stand...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy talk with Republican strategist Stephen Lawson about the fast-moving races for governor and U.S. Senate — including Brad Raffensperger’s next move and the viability of Derek Dooley’s bid. Then Charlie Hayslett, author of the Trouble in God’s Country blog, joins to discuss alarming population trends in rural Georgia, where more counties now see deaths than b...

It’s Washington Wednesday on Politically Georgia and hosts Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein dig into Governor Brian Kemp’s decision to send more than 300 Georgia National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to support Donald Trump’s federal surge — and why critics say it’s more about politics than public safety. Then Tia shares a taped interview with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who talks ab...

Georgia’s biggest economic development project is now at the center of a political firestorm. Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy unpack the federal raid on Hyundai’s electric vehicle plant and what it means for Governor Brian Kemp’s economic agenda, U.S.–South Korea relations, and the 2026 Senate race. Then AJC president and publisher Andrew Morse joins the show to discuss the decision to en...

Host Greg Bluestein talks with state Sen. Blake Tillery about his campaign for lieutenant governor, his record as Senate Appropriations chair, and his push to eliminate the state income tax. Then producer Natalie Mendenhall sits down with Georgia Behavioral Health Commissioner Kevin Tanner on “988 Day” to discuss the state’s suicide prevention hotline, how it connects Georgians to critical resourc...

Georgia’s 2026 Senate race just got a major jolt. The AJC’s Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell analyze Governor Brian Kemp’s full-throated endorsement of Derek Dooley, delivered at a hometown UGA tailgate. They explore why Kemp is betting on the political newcomer, how Dooley’s football past is shaping his campaign, and why critics say he still lacks a clear pitch to voters. The hosts also examine Bu...

The AJC’s Greg Bluestein sits down with Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter as he launches his campaign for U.S. Senate. Carter lays out why he believes he’s the strongest Republican to take on Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, touts his business and political experience, leans on his loyalty to Donald Trump, and addresses big policy issues from drug prices and Medicaid to immigration, Israel and abortion....

The AJC’s Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein are joined by Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson to break down the fast-developing 2026 races. On the Senate side, they weigh the rise of Congressman Mike Collins, the challenge from Derek Dooley, and the role of Buddy Carter in the Republican primary. Then the panel shifts to the governor’s race, where Democra...

Hosts Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein talk with Fulton County Commissioners Mo Ivory and Dana Barrett about their defiance of a court order to seat two Republican nominees to the county elections board, the contempt ruling against them, and what it all means for Georgia’s upcoming elections. Then, Greg sits down with state Rep. Tanya Miller, who has launched her campaign for attorney general, t...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Riley Bunch break down Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones’ official entry into the race for Georgia governor, his deep ties to Donald Trump and what that means for a crowded GOP field. They also look at how Jones’ candidacy could reshape city-state relations in Atlanta, from Buckhead cityhood to airport control, and why Mayor Andre Dickens is carefully navigating federal polit...

On this Washington Wednesday edition of Politically Georgia, host Tia Mitchell examines the legality and politics behind President Trump’s decision to activate the National Guard in Washington, D.C. Georgia State law professor Anthony Michael Kreis explains why the move is raising constitutional concerns and whether it could happen in cities like Atlanta or Chicago. Later, Tia turns to the economy...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell break down Congressman Mike Collins’ high-profile Senate campaign kickoff and what it signals about Republican divisions in Georgia. They also take a closer look at Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to Peachtree City, where he pitched President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” as a tax cut for working families while Democrats warn about Medicaid and food stamp cu...

Greg Bluestein travels to Gainesville, Georgia, where he sits down with Republican Senate candidate Derek Dooley. Dooley offers a wide-ranging interview about his stance on immigration, the Middle East, term-limits, and his latest meeting with President Donald Trump.  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...

Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein discuss Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to  Peachtree City on Thursday to promote what President Donald Trump calls his “big, beautiful bill.” Then, AJC election guru Mark Niesse joins the duo to talk about a recent mass cancellation of voter registrations and what Georgia voters can do to if their registration was canceled.  Have a question or comment for th...

It’s Washington Wednesday. First up, Tia Mitchell talks to Mayor Van Johnson, who is president of the African American Mayors Association. Johnson gives his thoughts on the Trump administration’s attempt to take over the Washington D.C.'s police department. Then, Tia Mitchell talks to U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., about his latest rally in Georgia, his push to release the Epstein files and if he’...

Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, and Patricia Murphy talk about President Donald Trump backing Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones in the race for governor. Then, the trio moves on to U.S. Rep Mike Collin’s comments about his Senate rivals Derek Dooley and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll p...

Tia Mitchell, Greg Bluestein, and producer ShaneyB open the listener mailbag to talk about the most pressing stories in Georgia politics. They cover missed opportunities for federal climate grants, the impact of the CDC shooting, and the latest developments in the race for governor. Along the way, they tackle voting rights, foreign policy, and local election coverage. Have a question or comment fo...

On this episode of Politically Georgia, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, and Tia Mitchell sit down with former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, who recently entered the Democratic race for Georgia governor. Thurmond reflects on lessons from past campaigns, his vision for bridging political divides, and the urgent issues he says Georgia must address — from Medicaid expansion to rural econo...

Former Tennessee coach Derek Dooley is stepping into Georgia’s high-stakes Senate race, and sports radio veteran Jimmy Hyams joins the show to share stories from Dooley’s time on the sidelines and how those experiences could shape his political run. Then, Georgia Senator John F. Kennedy talks with Greg Bluestein about tackling chronic absenteeism in public schools, his approach to prevention over...