Political Breakfast from WABE

On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, we're starting the new year off with a double dose of Georgia's top political issues. Now you can join the dynamic trio – host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson – every Tuesday and Thursday for lively discussions.  It's also the first week Georgia lawmakers are gathering under the Gold Dome...

This week on Political Breakfast -- It's a year in review. The team sorts through Georgia's best and worst political stories of 2023.    Host Lisa Rayam along with strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson sort through some of the top stories that once again thrust Georgia into the national spotlight.    The fight for and against the Atlanta public safety training...

On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss a jury awarding $148 million to Fulton election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, following the defamation trial of former New York Mayor and ex-Donald Trump lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.  Giuliani falsely claimed the mother and daughter illegally t...

On this week's LIVE edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss the defamation case engulfing former Donald Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.  The federal trial started this week in Washington, DC to decide how much Giuliani must pay in damages to two former Fulton County election workers. Giuliani falsely...

This week on Political Breakfast, it's all about redrawing Georgia's Congressional and state political maps ahead of this Friday's deadline. Democrats are preparing for a court fight over the new U.S. House map proposed by Georgia's GOP majority. The new map does create a majority Black district in west Atlanta, but at the expense of Democrat U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath's seat in Gwi...

It's back to the drawing board on this week's live episode of Political Breakfast. State lawmakers are convening at the Georgia Capitol for a special session to redraw maps for Congress and the state legislature.  U.S. District Judge Steve Jones recently found the current GOP-drawn maps from 2020 violate the federal Voting Rights Act, and dilute the power of Black voters.  But voting rig...

On this week's episode of Political Breakfast, the FBI intercepted a letter sent to the Fulton County Elections hub in Fairburn that is possibly laced with the powerful opioid fentanyl. The letter is connected to mail sent to Washington state elections offices. The FBI is currently running tests.  Gainesville's WDUN talk show host Martha Zoller fills-in for Republican Strategist Brian Robinso...

This week on Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson look at the latest New York Times poll showing despite his several felony indictments, Donald Trump is leading in 5 critical battleground states, including Georgia.  According to the poll, voters said they trusted Trump over President Joe Biden on the economy, foreign policy and immigration.  Plus, Trump's ou...

Georgia has been tasked with drawing new congressional and state legislative maps before the 2024 election. This comes after a federal judge ruled the current GOP-backed maps violate the federal Voting Rights Act and dilute the power of Black voters.   Host Lisa Rayam has strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson weigh-in on the bipartisan boundary shifting that has a Dec. 8th d...

On this week's Political Breakfast, Project South's La'Die Mansfield joins the podcast to represent opposition to Atlanta's planned public safety training center -- dubbed 'Cop City.'  Mansfield specifially responds to Mayor Andre Dickens' stance on moving ahead with the center's construction and his promises that the entire process will stay transparent.  Plus, host Lisa Rayam and strat...

This week on Political Breakfast, as the U.S. House of Representatives strives to elect a new speaker, Georgia Congressman Austin Scott, volunteers to pit himself against Representative Jim Jordan for the job. Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson break down what the wrangling could mean for state Republican leaders. Plus, their reaction to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' stance in favor...

On this week's Political Breakfast, a long-anticipated appearance from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.     Dickens gives the latest on so-called 'Stop Cop City' ballot referendum efforts.    Dickens has seen the body camera footage of former Atlanta police officer Kiran Kimbrough trying to arrest Atlanta church deacon Johnny Hollman.    Hollman died a...

A new poll suggests most Georgians seem to support the construction of Atlanta's planned public safety training center. Why were Georgians polled and not just Atlantans? Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civic Circle Director Saba Long weigh-in. Plus, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's leading political action group launches a campaign to reform Georgia's tort laws. See omnystudio.c...

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is still injecting himself into the national conversation, as a potential government shutdown looms.  During a conversation with The Jolt's Greg Bluestein during the Texas Tribune Festival on Friday, Kemp slammed far-right Republicans for in-fighting and delaying passing legislation to fund the federal government before money runs out on September 30th. A shor...

City of Atlanta officials say they'll scan and release copies of petition signatures against the proposed public safety training center. Mayor Andre Dickens says he wants to know "exactly what is in those boxes," and that he supports allowing the process to run its course in a transparent manner.  Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson weigh-in on if there are 116 thousand signatures o...

This week on Political Breakfast, Governor Brian Kemp declares a state of emergency in Georgia over record-high inflation and suspends the state's gas tax.  Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson also weigh-in on Kemp being a part of the national conversation for a potential run for U.S. Senate. And the latest in Atlanta's so-called 'Cop City' saga. City officials announced Monday...

This week on Political Breakfast, far-right Republican and Georgia state Senator Colton Moore recently ranted online that civil war could break out over the prosecution of Donald Trump, saying "I don't want to have to draw my rifle." Moore also called for de-funding Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis. Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam also talk gun safety mea...

On this week's Political Breakfast, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam react to Donald Trump's historic mug shot selling mugs.  Trump's election campaign announced that the scowling photo of the former president taken during booking in the Fulton County Jail has raised more than 7 million dollars, with much of the money coming from merchandise.  Plus, the l...

On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, the team talks about Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' critics. Or at least one in particular---State Senator Clint Dixon. After Donald Trump and others were indicted for election tampering, Dixon took to social media to say he's filing a complaint against Willis with the newly created Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Com...

This week on a live version of Political Breakfast, the team tackles the news of the Fulton County grand jury's 41-count indictment of Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants, accusing them of conspiring to overturn Trump's 2020 presidential loss in Georgia. Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones was NOT named in the indictment, but many believe he played an integral role. Brian and Tharon discuss the fact tha...

This week on Political Breakfast, the team tackles the prospect of a former president being indicted by a Fulton County grand jury. Host Lisa Rayam along with strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson address the severity of another Trump indictment and how that could weigh on Georgia's constituency. Plus, the race for Georgia governor in 2026 is simmering with more and more names of...

On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, more on Georgia Rep. Mesha Mainor's switch-a-roo. Formerly a Democrat, Mainor is now the first Black Republican woman to ever serve in the state General Assembly. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civic Circle head Saba Long discuss what Mainor's move means for both Democrats and Republicans. Plus, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says he w...

On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, will Georgia Governor Brian Kemp seriously consider running for President? More and more Republicans are calling on Kemp to join the crowded pool vying for the GOP nomination . Kemp hasn't taken any concrete steps to run, but he remains a part of the national conversation.  Plus, the Political Breakfast team reflects on the lives of Mar...

On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is calling on lawmakers to make tampering with a voting machine a felony that carries a minimum sentence of 10 years.  That's Raffensperger's response to critics who say he should instead upgrade the Dominion Voting system software ahead of the 2024 presidential election.  Host Lisa Rayam asks De...

On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, the national spotlight was once again on former President Donald Trump and his fractured relationship with some of Georgia’s top politicians. Trump again reiterated his false claims about election fraud in Georgia. Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson also weigh in on delegates picking former state Sen. Josh Mc...