Political Breakfast from WABE

On today's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam, to talk about a looming partial government shutdown.  Congress has until this Friday to pass a series of appropriation bills, and U.S. Senate Democrats are rallying to reject a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. That's in response to the la...

On this week's live version of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam examine Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's last budget. Kemp laid it all out in his final 'State of the State' address last week, where he also set his priorities at the start of the legislative session. His budget includes a billion in tax rebates for Georg...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, we're going into the first week of Georgia's legislative session -- which means strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam are keeping busy and keeping up with lawmakers' top priorities. In this economy, everyone wants to focus on "affordability."  The Senate wants to start eliminating the state income tax by 2032. A proposal by Repu...

On this live edition of Political Breakfast, we cover how two-time Democratic nominee for governor Stacey Abrams announced that she is not running for office in 2026. Abrams said in a statement that instead she'll continue her work fighting against what's happening in Washington, as "since January 2025, we have watched our nation descend into authoritarianism.” There's already a crowded fiel...

On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam return LIVE and wish our listeners a happy new year! Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was sworn into his second term on Monday, along with all members of the Atlanta City Council.  The crowd also heard from newly sworn-in Atlanta City Council President Marci Collier Ov...

On today's Political Breakfast, someone paid millions for a new attack ad against Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, to wound him in the 2026 primary race for Georgia governor.  Jones is the frontrunner in the race, and has President Trump's endorsement. There's speculation that whoever DID pay, has to be someone on the inside of Georgia's GOP -- masquerading under the name, 'Georgian...

On this week's Political Breakfast, we head northeast, where Georgia Democrats gained a House seat recently during a special election. Democrat Eric Gisler's victory for a Athens-area State House seat came after Republicans won that seat last year -- by more than 20 percent. Gisler will replace Republican Rep. Marcus Wiedower, who resigned to focus on his job. National and Georgia Democratic leade...

On this week's Political Breakfast, we're doing a recap of some local runoff election results. The cities of East Point, Roswell, Sandy Springs and South Fulton were all electing mayors last Tuesday. Voters chose new ones in all except Sandy Springs.  The City of Roswell surprised many as a completely blue flip, as former Democratic State Representative Mary Robichaux nabbed 53 percent of the...

 On today's Political Breakfast, it's runoff election day, when many key races should be decided. Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson join host Lisa Rayam to give insight on a few of them -- including runoff races that involve incumbent mayors in Sandy Springs and Roswell.  Voters in South Fulton and East Point are also selecting new mayors.  See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Georgia U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene dropped a bombshell that strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson said was in the works for some time.  Both agree the signs were there -- even before President Donald Trump called her a traitor.  Still, Greene resigning caught some off guard, maybe even Trump himself. On this episode, Tharon and Brian discuss with host Lisa Rayam M...

On this edition of Political Breakfast: Democrats are calling it "Brian's Blunder." That's referring to a campaign ad for Republicans to unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026. In it, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is supporting former University of Tennessee football coach, and political outsider, Derek Dooley. The ad blames Dooley's opponents who already have power in Washington for the...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, we talk about the very public rift between President Donald Trump, and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene -- who Trump now calls Marjorie "Traitor" Greene. Greene said on CNN this week that she wants to "put down the knives in politics" and is rethinking her past divisive antics.  What do Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican str...

A new AJC poll shows former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is dominating early in the 2026 Georgia governor's race on the Democratic side. Behind her, is former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.  On the Republican side, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones leads, with the endorsement from President Donald Trump. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger trails behind him. It's important to note:...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, the federal government shutdown may be nearing an end, but it hasn't happened just yet. A key vote took place in Washington but Georgia's two Democratic U.S. Senators were NOT on board with the majority. Why not? Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson weigh-in with host Lisa Rayam on what Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock...

On today's Political Breakfast, we talk about some of the most hotly contested races in this November's election across metro Atlanta, and Georgia's only statewide race. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson break down the Georgia Public Service Commission results and their national implications with host, Lisa Rayam. Rising electricity bills have been worry...

It's time for Political Breakfast's Election Day coverage -- but before you listen, if you haven't yet, get to your precinct before the polls close!  The PSC has five elected members who have final say over Georgia Power’s rates and plans for making electricity. All five are currently held by Republicans. Two seats are being challenged by Democrats. Turnout will be key in determining if...

This week WABE presents a special edition of Political Breakfast, broadcasting from the iconic Atlanta meet-up spot, Manuel's Tavern.  Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined host Lisa Rayam to do a wrap-up of the month's top political stories in Georgia: just a few days ahead of Election Day on November 4th.  Some background: Manuel's opened...

   On this edition of Political Breakfast, we discuss the specter of the No Kings Protest in Atlanta.  Thousands turned out and actually PEACEFULLY protested Trump-era politics. Many high-profile speakers addressed enthusiastic crowds. One in particular was two-time Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. She's been quiet lately.  Does her taking the podium signal she's...

Two Republicans who sit on Georgia's Public Service Commission -- Tim Echols of District 2 and Fitz Johnson of District 3 — are being challenged by Democratic candidates Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard. It's a race that has gone under the radar: until now. All five seats are currently held by Republicans. So Democrats are stumping loudly about utility affordability Democratic strategist Tha...

Former Democrat-turned-Republican state Rep. Vernon Jones, who crowd-surfed at Georgia Trump rally, announced Monday he's running for the job of Georgia's chief elections officer.  Jones joins a growing and competitive pool of candidates for Georgia Secretary of State.  That includes former state elections official, Gabriel Sterling, who took a ton of heat in 2020 from Donald Trump and r...

On today's Political Breakfast: Republican candidates are beefing-up their war chests in hopes the money will talk enough to help unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff next year.  Ossoff's campaign reports he has 21 million in the bank.  Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss the numbers that are rolling in from his GOP opponents with ho...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, it's week two of the federal government shutdown, and that's taking a toll on workers who are going without pay at the world's busiest airport in Atlanta.  Many are already living paycheck to paycheck. Now: half a paycheck to half a paycheck, thanks to the stall in Washington. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson an...

This week WABE presents a special edition of Political Breakfast, broadcasting from the iconic Atlanta meet-up spot, Manuel's Tavern.  Opened decades ago by Atlanta's own fiery politician Manuel Maloof, it's well-known watering hole where folks from both sides of the aisle have always sat together, enjoyed a beer or burger, and talked.  Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican...

On today's Political Breakfast, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is the clear frontrunner in the Democratic Primary for Georgia Governor.  The left-leaning Public Policy Polling group surveyed 620 likely Democratic primary voters earlier this month, and found Bottoms is leading by 38 percent. That's while Michael Thurmond got 12 percent, Geoff Duncan 9 percent, Jason Esteves 4 percen...

On today's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam focus on the Tuesday State Sen. special election runoff. That's in deep-red District 21, that covers parts of northern Fulton and Cherokee Counties.  It's getting national attention, as Democratic National Convention Chair Ken Martin is in Georgia campaigning for Demo...