Politically Georgia

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy sit down with state Sen. Elena Parent as she explains why she’s stepping away from the Georgia Legislature after years as one of Senate Democrats’ most prominent voices. Parent reflects on the realities of serving in the minority party, the growing demands of legislative life, and how the rise of Donald Trump reshaped debate under the Gold Dome. She also discusse...

AJC editor-in-chief Leroy Chapman sits down with John Hope Bryant to discuss Bryant’s new book, Capitalism for All, and his argument that economic mobility is the unfinished work of the civil rights movement. Bryant explains why he believes Atlanta is uniquely positioned to lead what he calls a “third reconstruction,” centered on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and broader access to opportuni...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about Georgia’s post-primary landscape, including Keisha Lance Bottoms’ sweeping Democratic win, the money gap between Republican and Democratic candidates, and legal questions around newly passed legislation. They also examine how self-funded candidates use personal loans and what those numbers signal in the governor’s race. In segment two...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell sit down with Senator Raphael Warnock for an extended conversation about the Supreme Court ruling that weakened a key section of the Voting Rights Act and the political fallout now unfolding in Georgia. Warnock argues the decision could reshape representation in the South, weighs in on Georgia Republicans’ push for new congressional maps, and explains why he believe...

Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell break down a dramatic primary night in Georgia, where several of the state’s biggest races are now headed to high stakes runoffs. They examine Derek Dooley’s surprise surge into the GOP Senate runoff against Mike Collins, the outsider message reshaping Republican politics, and why Gov. Brian Kemp remains such a powerful force in the race. The episod...

On Georgia’s high-stakes primary day, Greg Bluestein is joined by Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell to break down the races most likely to shape the state’s political future. They examine whether billionaire candidate Rick Jackson can buy his way into a GOP governor runoff, whether former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms can avoid overtime in the Democratic race, and why Georgia’s Supreme Court c...

On the eve of Georgia’s primary, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell dig into listener questions about the races, controversies and legal fights shaping Tuesday’s vote. They explain why judicial races can be confusing on the ballot, unpack backlash to a provocative ad from gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, and break down why Brad Raffensperger isn’t leaning harder into his 2020 election record as...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down Gov. Brian Kemp’s final bill-signing deadline and why his latest decisions offered a clear window into how he wants to leave office. They unpack his sweeping income tax cut package, the $300 million in new spending he slashed from the budget, and what those cuts reveal about his long-term fiscal strategy as Georgia’s next governor’s race heats up. They...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the increasingly volatile race for second place in Georgia’s governor’s contest, where Democrats are scrambling to emerge as the strongest alternative to Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republicans remain locked in an expensive fight over who can take on Burt Jones. They dig into Michael Thurmond’s pitch to cut the state sales tax, why Jason Esteves may be ga...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy examine why Georgia’s lieutenant governor race has become one of the most revealing contests of the 2026 cycle. They break down the Republican field, from insider-outsider candidates like Greg Dolezal to more establishment-aligned contenders such as John F. Kennedy. Then Greg and Patricia speak with Kennedy about tax relief, redistricting, voting machines and how...

Greg Bluestein hosts alongside Patricia Murphy as they answer listener questions ahead of Georgia’s May 19 primaries. They dig into early voting numbers, high undecided rates, Rick Jackson’s massive spending and Keisha Lance Bottoms’ answer on whether she would serve two terms. They also examine Fulton County’s latest 2020 election fight, Republican pressure on Gov. Brian Kemp over redistricting a...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell break down the political fallout from a sweeping U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakens a key section of the Voting Rights Act and could reshape Georgia’s political maps. They examine why Republicans are already eyeing new congressional and legislative districts, why Gov. Brian Kemp says new maps won’t come before the 2026 elections, and which Democratic-held seats...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the latest AJC poll of Georgia Democrats and why Keisha Lance Bottoms holds a commanding lead in the governor’s race without locking up the nomination. They examine the scramble for second place between Michael Thurmond, Jason Esteves and Geoff Duncan, and what the large bloc of undecided voters could mean for a runoff. They also dig into what the poll...

Greg Bluestein hosts with Patricia Murphy to dig into the AJC’s new polling on Georgia’s Republican races for governor and U.S. Senate. They size up Rick Jackson’s close contest with Burt Jones, the large share of undecided voters and what the numbers suggest about Donald Trump’s influence in the GOP primary. They also weigh Mike Collins’ lead in the Senate race, Buddy Carter’s attacks and Derek D...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy answer listener questions with producer Shane Backler, starting with how competitive Democratic primaries could change the usual crossover voting patterns in Georgia. They also examine whether a recent Supreme Court ruling could trigger another round of redistricting, why Rick Jackson is already targeting Keisha Lance Bottoms, and what counted as a win in the lat...

Greg Bluestein hosts alongside Patricia Murphy as Georgia Supreme Court Justice Sarah Hawkins Warren discusses her reelection campaign and warns about partisan pressure on officially nonpartisan judicial races. Warren also talks about her recent breast cancer diagnosis, her work on the court and why she says Georgia’s judiciary should not become another political branch of government. Then Tia Mit...

Greg Bluestein hosts with Patricia Murphy for a look at two major Republican debates in the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series. They break down the sharp exchanges between Burt Jones and Rick Jackson in the governor’s race, including attacks over immigration, campaign money and allegations tied to Jones’ use of power. Greg and Patricia also examine the Republican U.S. Senate debate,...

Greg Bluestein sits down with Patricia Murphy and former state Sen. Jason Carter to examine how Georgia Democrats are thinking about the governor’s race, Donald Trump’s influence and the party’s path beyond metro Atlanta. Carter explains why he is backing Jason Esteves, what he sees in the crowded Republican field and how Democrats could make gains in the Georgia House. Then Greg speaks with Dr. J...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about the flood of campaign ads in Georgia’s governor’s race and why many focus more on attacks and endorsements than policy details. They break down what low turnout at a JD Vance event in Athens could signal about youth engagement, and why Democrats are targeting long-shot challenges in Georgia Supreme Court races. The conversation also e...

Greg Bluestein opens with breaking news on the death of longtime Congressman David Scott, tracing his decades-long career from the Georgia legislature to Congress and reflecting on his political legacy. He discusses Scott’s role as a centrist Democrat, his deep ties to constituents, and the uncertainty now facing his seat. Then Greg speaks with Georgia Supreme Court Justice Charlie Bethel about th...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell talk with Jonathan Martin about his sit-down interview with Gov. Brian Kemp at the Masters and what it reveals about Kemp’s political future. They examine Kemp’s push for Derek Dooley in the Senate race, concerns about the GOP bench, and the shifting outlook for Jon Ossoff’s reelection chances. The conversation also explores Kemp’s uneasy alignment with Donald Trump...

Tia Mitchell sits down with Marjorie Taylor Greene for a wide-ranging conversation about her post-Congress political role and ongoing influence inside Republican politics. Greene sharply criticizes Donald Trump over foreign policy and campaign promises, arguing a growing divide between what she calls “old MAGA” and a shifting coalition inside the party. She also outlines why she believes Republica...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell break down the sparse crowd at Vice President JD Vance’s event in Athens and what it could signal about Republican enthusiasm among young voters. They also answer listener questions about why transgender issues dominate GOP messaging despite limited voter focus, and how that strategy could backfire. The episode explores a defamation lawsuit in the governor’s race as...

Greg Bluestein breaks down what he heard moderating a Democratic gubernatorial forum in Atlanta, where candidates emphasized affordability, health care and opposition to Donald Trump while still introducing themselves to voters. He explains why the race remains unsettled, with many Democrats undecided and major contrasts still ahead. Then Greg sits down with Gabe Sterling to discuss his bid for se...

Greg Bluestein goes inside one of Georgia Democrats’ biggest annual gatherings, the Carter-Lewis dinner, alongside Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell. They break down the message party leaders and candidates are trying to carry into 2026, from affordability and stability to tying Republicans to Donald Trump. They also examine where Democrats think they can compete, why down-ballot and rural races st...