Political Breakfast from WABE

In the final episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali, along with producer Brendan Rivers, discuss the last four unprecedented years in Georgia politics. Plus, a preview of what the WABE newsroom will be keeping an eye on over the coming months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pool of candidates running for Georgia Governor has grown by three this week alone. Former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, now a Democrat, jumped in the race, along with Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Then came the lesser known businessman and board chair of the YMCA of metro Atlanta, Clark Dean.  That's who strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson wanted to talk...

On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss the "amplified discussions" surrounding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that are taking place online and around the coffee table. Plus, a look back at political violence and its consequences throughout American history. The team also tal...

Georgia Republicans spent years building ties with companies in South Korea, culminating with Hyundai building a multi-billion dollar electric vehicle plant outside of Savannah. But last week, a battery factory at the site was raided by federal immigration agents, who detained more than 300 South Korean citizens. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahu...

On today's Political Breakfast, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam reflect on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.  The controversial debater and podcast host was fatally shot Wednesday at Utah Valley University. Thousands showed up to Kirk's first fall 2025 college event, which was set to kick-off a national tour.  Kirk is credited with...

On today's Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam broadcasts live with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson to give the rundown on Raffensperger. The Secretary of State has not officially announced a campaign for the Georgia Governor's race in 2026, and is also rumored to be exploring a run for U.S. Senate.  But the Republican is not universally supporte...

Earlier this year, state lawmakers created a new process for compensating Georgians who have been wrongfully convicted and jailed. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take listeners inside some of the first hearings, where judges and lawyers are trying to navigate a new process somewhat on the fly. Plus, Governor Brian Kemp has officially end...

  Georgia Governor Brian Kemp finally did it!  He endorsed Republican Derek Dooley for a run for United States Senate.   Dooley's name is popular but the man himself is considered "an outsider" ; "a newcomer" to Georgia politics.  Kemp hopes that will be the draw to topple the Democratic incumbent, Senator Jon Ossoff.     Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharo...

The Trump administration is looking to fire two top federal officials with Atlanta ties that would likely have national implications. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss moves to fire a Georgia-born Federal Reserve Governor and the director of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Plus, Governor Brian Kemp has...

On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang taps into rumors of former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who recently converted to the Democratic Party, running for Georgia Governor. The 2026 race is crowded and competitive on both sides of the aisle.  Plus, Gabe Sterling, one of the faces of Georgia's Secretary of State's office, is stepping down from his position as Chief Operating Officer...

Two national figures made stops in Georgia this week to test out political messaging for the 2026 elections. Meanwhile, four major U.S. Senate candidates all gathered in one room. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Rahul Bali and Brendan Rivers discuss the early start to the campaign season. Plus, Fulton County Commissioners defy a judge’s order and could face ja...

This week Atlanta is paying final respects to DeKalb County Officer David Rose, who was killed during a shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month.  Authorities say Patrick Joseph White targeted the CDC, and blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his mental health issues. He died by suicide after firing roughly 500 shots at CDC buildings.  The union representi...

Employees at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been left shaken after a man fired hundreds of bullets at the Atlanta headquarters and killed a police officer. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” WABE Criminal Justice Reporter Chamain Cruz and WABE Health Reporter Jess Mador join hosts Rahul Bali, Sam Gringlas and Brendan Rivers with an update on the inv...

On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react to former DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond's long-awaited campaign launch for the Democratic primary in the Georgia Governor's race.  One question being addressed: Will a more moderate Thurmond be able to bring Democrats together at a time when what unites most i...

Former President and Georgia native Jimmy Carter created the U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Emergency Management Agency back in 1979. But now President Donald Trump is calling for these two departments, among others, to be dismantled. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali look at how debates over the shape of the federal governmen...

It's official: Derek Dooley is the latest Republican to jump into the race to eventually challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff. The former University of Tennessee football coach joined the GOP primary and announced his campaign in a video that honored his late father, the legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley.  Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democ...

Last week there was speculation that U.S. Rep. Mike Collins was going to jump into the Georgia Senate race for the Republican nomination. The Trump ally made it official on Monday, and set the stage for an even more competitive primary. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson join host Lisa Rayam to discuss this on this week's live edition of Political Breakfa...

In 2021, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association agreed to install an exhibit about the park's history, including Ku Klux Klan cross-burnings. Construction for the new exhibit is underway, but the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is suing to stop it. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how the Confederate group is...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam talk about the Republicans who are "hinting" about jumping into two key Georgia races: The race for Governor and a U.S. Senate seat.  It's all talk at this point for U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Collins. But why? See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

On this episode of Political Breakfast, the team talks about an ethics complaint filed by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr against his GOP opponent, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, after Jones loaned his own campaign ten million dollars. The conversation took place just hours before the State Ethics Commission rejected Carr's complaint based on the fact there was not enough cause to investigate...

Tariffs have become a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s second term, but the on-again, off-again taxes on imports have led to uncertainty in the economy. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with WABE Business Reporter Marlon Hyde about Trump’s trade policies and how they’re impacting Georgia businesses and consumers...

U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is talking tough on the campaign trail. Recently in Savannah, he called out the Trump administration for its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Ossoff also lashed out at Trump for his so-called 'big, beautiful bill.'    Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson join host Lisa Rayam to dissect all this. Plus, prominent Georgi...

On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, Georgia's Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones wants in on the 2026 gubernatorial race.  Jones kicked-off his campaign for Georgia Governor in grand style and to the tune of 10 million dollars. Jones loaned himself the money and made a pretty bold statement in doing so. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson discu...

Congress has narrowly approved President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, with most Republicans voting in favor and every Democrat opposed. Under the law, which includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, about 300,000 Georgians could lose health coverage, tax incentives for clean energy will be cut and states like Georgia may end up having to shoulder more of the costs associated with...

On this week's Political Breakfast: Campaign fundraising is ramping-up.  Strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam tackle the latest numbers in the 2026 Georgia Governor's race.  On the Democratic side,  Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and state Senator Jason Esteves have surpassed the 1 million mark over roughly 2 months since both entered the rac...