Politically Georgia

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down new results from the AJC–University of Georgia poll that show former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms as the early frontrunner in the Democratic primary for governor, while Lt. Gov. Burt Jones leads a crowded Republican field. They discuss what the numbers reveal about name recognition, fundraising power, and how undecided voters could still re...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy talk with former Congressman Tom Graves about Georgia’s Public Service Commission races and how energy policy has become one of the most important issues on the ballot. Graves explains why nuclear power could be key to meeting the state’s growing energy demand and why he thinks innovation, not partisanship, should guide Georgia’s future. Then AJC City Hall...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell take listener questions in a new Mailbag Monday edition of Politically Georgia. They dig into the latest developments in the federal government shutdown, how health care subsidies became a flashpoint in Washington, and why some Georgia Republicans and Democrats are finding common ground. Hear producer Natalie Mendenhall’s new reporting on Sandy Springs’ four-w...

Host Greg Bluestein talks with Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell about the month-long federal government shutdown and its growing impact across Georgia. They discuss how unpaid federal workers, food assistance cuts, and airline staffing shortages are putting new pressure on both parties to reach a deal. Then Greg speaks with Democratic Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard about hi...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the latest AJC–University of Georgia poll that shows where Georgia voters stand heading into 2026. Democrats rank the economy and standing up to Donald Trump as their top issues, while Republicans focus on immigration and public safety. The hosts also discuss why Governor Brian Kemp continues to draw support from some Democrats and what that says...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down new results from the AJC–University of Georgia poll showing Donald Trump’s support among Republicans holding strong and Democrats still deeply opposed — signs that Georgia’s political divide remains firmly in place heading into 2026. Then Patricia shares her reporting from the campaign trail with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Michael Thurmon...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell take listener questions in a wide-ranging Mailbag Monday edition of Politically Georgia. They discuss the rise of up-and-coming Democratic hopefuls like LaMario Brown, early voting logistics in the Public Service Commission race, and whether party veterans like former Gov. Roy Barnes still shape Georgia politics. Then they answer questions about the Republican...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell discuss the growing fallout in Washington as the federal shutdown stretches into its fourth week. Tia shares her latest reporting from Capitol Hill, where Senator Jon Ossoff defends his votes amid Republican criticism and Senator Raphael Warnock calls for civility in politics after new revelations of racist text messages from a Trump nominee. Have a question o...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy talk with former Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux about her call for Democrats to move beyond identity politics and focus on a unifying message that appeals to Georgia’s diverse electorate. Bourdeaux explains why she thinks the party risks alienating moderate voters and praises candidates who can “seize the center.” Then Greg speaks with A’shanti Gholar, pre...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy take listeners inside a surprising scene in Atlanta politics — a farewell dinner for former Buckhead City leader Bill White and former U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker, both newly appointed by Donald Trump to diplomatic posts. Patricia shares what she observed as former rivals offered unexpected praise and raised questions about White’s political futur...

Former state senator and 2014 Democratic nominee for governor Jason Carter joins Politically Georgia host Greg Bluestein to discuss why he’s endorsing Jason Esteves for governor, how Democrats can compete statewide, and what lessons his party should take from Georgia’s political shifts. Carter also reflects on his family’s health challenges and the legacy of his grandfather, President Jimmy Carter...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell examine the growing toll of the federal government shutdown on Georgia’s CDC workforce. Producer Natalie Mendenhall brings powerful voices from inside the agency, where hundreds of scientists have faced firings, reversals, and weeks without pay. Then Greg and Tia talk with Yolanda Jacobs, a union leader representing CDC employees, about what she calls a “figur...

Host Greg Bluestein breaks down how Georgia’s 2026 Senate race is taking shape amid the federal shutdown. Republicans Derek Dooley, Mike Collins, and Buddy Carter are all targeting Senator Jon Ossoff, accusing him of putting partisanship over reopening the government. Ossoff, meanwhile, is doubling down on health care and cost-of-living issues to defend his record. Then co-host Patricia Murphy joi...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy dig into one of Georgia’s most competitive and consequential races on the ballot — the fight for the Public Service Commission. Republican incumbent Tim Echols joins the show to defend his record on energy rates, data centers, and rural solar while making his case for another term. Then Democratic challenger Dr. Alicia Johnson talks about affordability, gri...

It’s Mailbag Monday on Politically Georgia. Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell tackle listener questions about what happens next in the Fani Willis election case, how Georgia’s new U.S. treasurer could mint a “Trump coin,” and whether Governor Brian Kemp’s political future depends on Derek Dooley’s Senate campaign. They also weigh in on Kamala Harris’ 2028 ambitions, ICE recruiting ads on Atlan...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell dig into the widening Republican divide over the federal shutdown. Tia shares her recorded interview with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who criticizes her party’s leadership, urges the Senate to use the “nuclear option” to reopen the government, and calls rising health care costs a crisis both parties must address. Greg and Tia also discuss why some De...

At Georgia Democrats’ biggest annual gala, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered a fiery speech denouncing Donald Trump and urging the party to “fight authoritarianism head-on.” Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down how Pritzker’s sharp tone reflects a broader tension among Democrats debating how hard to hit Trump while also reaching swing voters. Then the hosts turn to the Republica...

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr joins Politically Georgia to talk about his campaign for governor, his record on public safety and economic growth, and how he plans to stand out in a crowded Republican primary. Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy press Carr on Donald Trump’s influence, the leadership-committee fundraising fight, and whether “Kemp-style conservatism” still defines Georgia’...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell take listener questions on everything from Atlanta’s most competitive city council race to whether Democrats need more rural voices on the ballot. They also dig into new records showing Governor Brian Kemp was blindsided by the Hyundai immigration raid, and they answer concerns about Donald Trump deploying troops to U.S. cities — and whether Atlanta could be n...

On today’s episode of Politically Georgia, Tia Mitchell shares her interview with Senator Raphael Warnock about the impact of the federal shutdown on Georgia families and workers. Tia and co-host Greg Bluestein also break down the politics of the standoff and what it could mean for 2026. Then Tia takes listeners inside the Congressional Black Caucus conference, where Georgia mayors, lawmakers, and...

Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the latest twists in Georgia politics. A new poll shows Keisha Lance Bottoms with an early lead in the Democratic primary for governor, but rivals are scrambling for attention in a crowded field. They also analyze a suburban Senate race that underscores Republican strength in the exurbs. And they look at the unraveling of Fulton County District A...

The 2026 race for governor is getting more crowded. Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy sit down with state Rep. Ruwa Romman, the first Palestinian-American elected to Georgia’s legislature, to talk about why she’s running, her push for a higher minimum wage, and her call to build a movement of engaged voters. In the second segment, author Bill Johnstone joins the show to share stories from h...

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is now officially a candidate for governor. In an interview recorded after a campaign event, Raffensperger tells Greg Bluestein why he believes his conservative record can win over Republican voters and how his personal story of loss drives his push to fight fentanyl. Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down what his entry means for the 2026...

Former state Representative Mesha Mainor, once a Democrat and now a Republican, joins hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy to discuss her run for state school superintendent. Mainor explains why she’s challenging incumbent Richard Woods, her push for school choice, and her views on issues ranging from teacher autonomy to school safety. The hosts also unpack how her candidacy fits into Georgia’...

On today’s Washington Wednesday edition of Politically Georgia, host Tia Mitchell is joined by the Washington Post’s Kadia Goba to break down the latest twists in the government funding fight after Donald Trump canceled talks with Democratic leaders. They discuss what a shutdown would mean for Georgia, how lawmakers are reacting to rising security concerns after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and w...