Politically Georgia

Greg Bluestein hosts a look at Georgia’s lingering 2020 election fights with Tamar Hallerman, who explains the FBI’s review of Fulton County election records and the political questions it raises for Republicans heading into November. Greg also talks with Riley Bunch about new Georgia laws now in effect, including changes to school cell phone rules, literacy efforts, medical cannabis, paid materni...

Tia Mitchell looks at the unusual race to succeed the late U.S. Rep. David Scott in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District. She speaks with state Rep. Jasmine Clark, who won the Democratic primary for the next full term, about why she did not enter the special election and how she is preparing for Congress. Tia also talks with Dr. Everton Blair and Marcye Scott, who are running in the special elect...

Democratic socialists won one major Georgia House race, came close in others and are now forcing a broader debate inside the state Democratic Party. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy look at how candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America performed in Georgia’s primaries and why younger voters are...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about the prospect of another special session if Democrats win key statewide offices in November. They also break down Mike Collins’ continued embrace of Trump’s false 2020 election claims, the fight over Fulton County election board nominees and the stalled effort to replace Georgia’s QR code voting system. Greg and Tia close with a look a...

Greg Bluestein breaks down three Supreme Court rulings that could shape Georgia’s 2026 elections, including new campaign finance rules, the fight over birthright citizenship and laws banning transgender female athletes from girls and women’s sports. He explains how the campaign finance decision could help Mike Collins narrow Jon Ossoff’s fundraising advantage with support from the Republican Natio...

Tia Mitchell talks with social media influencer Qondi Ntini about how online fandom, humor and “thirst trap” politics became part of Georgia’s U.S. Senate campaigns. Qondi explains how her “Thirst for Democracy” brand grew from organic posts about Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock into fundraising, campaign access and a broader conversation about political influencers. She also weighs the tension bet...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy are joined by outgoing AJC president and publisher Andrew Morse on his final day in the office. Andrew discusses the AJC’s move away from print, the push to grow digital subscribers and the changes he helped lead across audio, video, live events and regional coverage. He also talks about the future of local news, the role of AI in journalism and what surprised hi...

Brian Kemp’s influence in Georgia Republican politics faces new questions after his preferred candidates lost major runoff contests. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about what a Rick Jackson governorship could mean for state agencies, why statewide tickets do not always campaign together...

The Georgia Senate race is already turning personal as Jon Ossoff and Mike Collins move quickly to define each other for a high-stakes general election. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell break down the early ads, church appearances and campaign messages shaping the matchup. They also look at Ossoff’s push to energi...

The Republican ticket is set in Georgia, but the first days after the runoff show that party unity is still a work in progress. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy look at Rick Jackson’s absence from the Georgia GOP’s rodeo fundraiser and what it says about his relationship with party activists. They...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy begin with the sad news that their friend and conservative commentator Martha Zoller died Monday after wrapping up her radio show last week. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, they reflect on Zoller’s legacy before turning to the special legislative session at the state Capitol. They break down how a session that...

Greg Bluestein hosts alongside Patricia Murphy for a listener-driven look at a turbulent week in Georgia politics. They discuss Rick Jackson’s costly victory in the Republican runoff for governor, Brian Kemp’s late endorsement of Burt Jones and what it says about Kemp’s influence inside the GOP. Greg and Patricia also examine the stalled push for a redistricting special session, MARTA funding and...

Greg Bluestein hosts alongside Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy for a special episode recorded as lawmakers returned to the Capitol after Georgia’s primary runoffs. They break down the abrupt decision by Republican legislative leaders to shelve redistricting during the special session, despite pressure from Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to move forward. The episode also looks at what the...

Greg Bluestein hosts a special edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast with Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy after Georgia’s primary runoff elections delivered two major Republican verdicts. Rick Jackson defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the GOP race for governor despite late support from Donald Trump and Brian Kemp, while Mike Collins beat Derek Dooley in the Senat...

Greg Bluestein, alongside Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell, takes on both sides of the Republican runoff as Georgia heads to the polls. The conversation centers on Brian Kemp's surprise endorsement of Bert Jones in the governor's race, a Sunday night move that caught even veteran operatives off guard, and what it means for Kemp's own political future if his picks don't deliver. Trump's 1 a.m. Trut...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell take listener questions the day before Georgia's Republican runoff, sizing up what's at stake for both the governor's race and the Senate contest. They weigh how much of Brian Kemp's political legacy rides on Derek Dooley's performance, whether Trump's endorsement still carries the same force it did in 2018, and what the Democratic coalition actually needs from Kemp...

Greg Bluestein is joined by Patricia Murphy and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin to dig into the collision of events bearing down on the city: the World Cup, a redistricting special session, and growing organizing around voting rights. Franklin weighs in on the Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act ruling, what it could mean for Georgia's congressional map, and Keisha Lance Bottoms' path in the g...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy dig into Jon Ossoff's on-the-record pushback against 2028 presidential speculation, including what Patricia heard directly from the senator and why both of them think the chatter says as much about the Democratic Party's search for a leader as it does about Ossoff himself. They also size up the Republican Senate runoff, now days away, with Buddy Carter's 25 perce...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy dig into the redistricting fight ahead of Georgia's special session, set to begin June 17th. AJC reporter Tamar Hallerman walks through which congressional and state legislative districts are most at risk, why the Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act ruling gives Republicans new legal cover, and what tools Democrats have left to challenge new maps in court. State Re...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell take on listener questions ahead of Georgia's upcoming runoffs and a special legislative session. They dig into the Rick Jackson ad that leans on Brian Kemp's words without an actual endorsement, and size up how both Republican governor's race candidates are racing to claim the MAGA lane while also courting Kemp's political brand. Greg and Tia also weigh in on Keish...

Greg Bluestein examines the high-stakes Republican U.S. Senate runoff between Mike Collins and Derek Dooley, arguing that the race has become a broader test of the future direction of Georgia's GOP. He breaks down the competing visions driving the campaign, the key voter blocs that could decide the outcome, and what the runoff could reveal about the balance of power between Brian Kemp's coalition-...

Patricia Murphy is joined by Riley Bunch to break down what stood out from Georgia’s latest primary runoff debates and what the performances could mean ahead of the June 16 election. They discuss Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ solo appearance at a debate after rival Rick Jackson skipped the event, Jones’ efforts to align himself with Gov. Brian Kemp, and his answers on abortion, redistricting and the afterm...

Patricia Murphy and AJC Election Reporter Riley Bunch discuss the recent Republican Georgia US Senate debate and the first joint rally between Democrats Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can...

Greg Bluestein hosts with Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell for a listener-driven episode on Georgia’s shifting political coalitions. They examine how Democratic and Republican bases have changed since 2020, why Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms are already campaigning in tandem, and how Black women voters continue to shape Democratic politics in Georgia. They also explain the fight over Georgia’...

Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell examine the fast-moving alliance between Senator Jon Ossoff and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms as Georgia Democrats try to project unity ahead of 2026. They discuss why Ossoff sees political upside in aligning closely with Bottoms, how Republicans are already preparing attacks tied to her tenure as Atlanta mayor, and why Black...