Political Breakfast from WABE

On this week's live edition of Political Breakfast, Donald Trump accepts the GOP's official nomination to run for president this November, along with his running mate, JD Vance. Plus, President Joe Biden has scaled-down appearances this week, and is recovering from COVID-19. Strategists Tharon Johnson, Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss all this from a Georgia lens. See omnystudio.com/list...

Georgia's Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Republican Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance both have complicated relationships with former President and now Republican nominee Donald Trump. Plus, Black communities in swing states like Georgia could be one of the most important voting blocs in the upcoming presidential election, especially for the Democratic Party. WABE politics reporter Rahul Ba...

On a special LIVE edition of Political Breakfast this week, strategists Tharon Johnson, Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break down Donald Trump's decision to select U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate.  Vance is a 39-year-old venture capitalist, Senator, and author of the famous memoir "Hillbilly Elegy."  The team tackles how Democrats view Trump's pick for VP, and h...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson share with host Lisa Rayam their thoughts on the assassination attempt on Donald Trump's life at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. An innocent bystander was killed. Two others were wounded. They ponder what the aftermath means for both the Trump campaign and President Biden's campaign moving forward.&nb...

Georgia and Michigan moved in tandem during the last two presidential elections, elevating Donald Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.  But in the midterms, they elected governors who pushed their states in opposite directions and are now rising stars on the national stage at a time when many voters are unhappy with the choices for president. WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bal...

Despite President Biden refusing to budge and stay in the re-election race, there is more talk about the role Vice President Kamala Harris could and should play come November. On this edition of Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Ben Burnett who is in for Brian Robinson, talk about the perception of Harris here in Georgia. Plus, thousands of delegates wi...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, Ben Burnett of the Ben Burnett Show sits in for Brian Robinson. Ben and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson focus on the urgent calls for President Biden to step aside and not run for re-election. Biden on the other hand is calling on his party to move forward and unify, especially in this battleground state of Georgia. But, is that possible where it seems...

The Peach State could be a deciding factor in the 2024 presidential election, as it was in 2020. But Georgia's status as a critical state in presidential history isn't new. On this week's special Independence Day episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporter Sam Gringlas takes listeners on a summer road trip to a pair of towns that helped shape former presidents Franklin Dela...

On this week's live Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson process a landmark Supreme Court ruling that grants former presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.  How will this trickle down to affect Donald Trump's current indictment and the election interference case here in Georgia? ...

President Joe Biden faced Donald Trump in Atlanta on Thursday night during their first debate ahead of  the November election . It was the first time the two have shared a stage since they last debated in October of 2020. In this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the debate and how it could shape the trajectory...

On this week's second edition of Political Breakfast, Joe Biden and Donald Trump are set to make presidential debate history tonight on CNN in Atlanta.  Despite months of public scrutiny for both candidates and voter fatigue being part of a national conversation, most U.S. adults plan to watch tonight -- and believe the debate is crucial for both campaigns, according to a new poll from T...

On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang talks President Joe Biden and Donald Trump's eleventh-hour efforts to campaign in Georgia, just days away from their CNN presidential debate in Atlanta.  Jen O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s 2020 campaign manager and chair of his reelection bid, said the campaign has scheduled more than 200 events across the state this week. They include news conferences,...

LGBTQ voters are a highly engaged and growing voter bloc in Georgia and throughout the country. They’re also reliable Democratic supporters and a crucial demographic in tight elections. On this week’s special Pride Month episode of the "Plugged In" podcast, WABE politics reporter Sam Gringlas and guest host Patrick Saunders – WABE’s Supervising Digital Editor – discuss the LGBTQ community and how...

Thanks to a new law, SB 189, it could be easier for third party and independent presidential candidates to make it onto Georgia ballots. And since Georgia's last presidential race was decided by less than 12,000 votes, the presence of those candidates could shape whether President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump win in November. On this week’s episode of WABE’s “Plugged In,” politics re...

On this week's second serving of Political Breakfast, MARTA says it’s committed to moving forward with a 230 million dollar renovation of the Five Points station in downtown Atlanta. Mayor Andre Dickens wanted MARTA to pause the overhaul.  The Political Breakfast team addresses the Mayor's concerns about what turned up in a recent audit. Plus, ahead of November former Georgia Sen. Jen Jordan...

On today's Political Breakfast, all the talk about Atlanta's recent water crisis fails to wane. Residents and business owners still have lots of questions. Host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson tackle the biggest question: How could the water crisis help or hurt Mayor Andre Dickens politically? Plus, the team addresses "debate stag...

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is known for being a mayor who seems to be everywhere. But this week, he’s facing criticism over his being absent during the early hours of the city’s water emergency. That’s as Dickens has already faced protests over his support for the Atlanta Police Training Center. On this week's episode, politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss Dickens’ leadership and...

On this week's second serving of Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss a surprise upset in the Georgia primary. In Cobb County, 27-year-old Gabriel Sanchez defeated the ncumbent State Rep. Teri Anulewicz. Sanchez now faces Republican Diane Jackson in this fall's general election. The gang poses the question:...

City of Atlanta residents endured a water crisis over the weekend -- the result of several water main breaks.  Days later, the city's response is still being scrutinized even after repairs were made. Just why did it take so long to communicate what was unfolding to weary Atlantans? On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson a...

A jury in New York City has unanimously found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 criminal counts for covering up hush money payments to an adult film star before the 2020 election. This is the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been convicted of felony crimes. On this week’s episode, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the verdict and what it mea...

On this week's Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam after the Memorial Day holiday.  Brian Kemp has skipped the Georgia GOP Convention twice. Now he's solidifying plans to attend the national RNC this summer in Milwaukee, and offering to help several Republicans down ballot across the country.  Is this signaling a future presiden...

More than a million Georgians voted in the May primary and election officials are now gearing up for another round of voting as races where no candidate got more than 50% of the vote head to a runoff on June 18th. On this week’s episode, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss one of those runoffs and explore whether any primary results provide clues about what's to come in Nov...

On this week's Political Breakfast, the team debates why it seems like there hasn't been a lot of fanfare leading up to Tuesday's primary election. Are Georgia voters, especially in metro Atlanta, missing all that's at-stake?  Plus, Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam assess Biden's Morehouse College commencement speech.  Plus...

Cherokee Rose Sporting Clays in Spalding County recently hosted a GOP debate featuring five primary candidates that are vying to represent Georgia's third Congressional district, which stretches from Atlanta's exurbs to the Alabama border. On this week's episode, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali talk about this race and how it showcases former President Donald Trump's sway in th...

On this week's second episode of Political Breakfast, the team talks about Vice President Kamala Harris playing a vital role in Joe Biden's push for a second presidential term this November.  A recent Biden/Harris campaign ad declares they're "putting the work in for Black America". In turn, what does outreach look like on Donald Trump's side? America's first Black VP has already come to Geor...