Politically Georgia

In the final days of the legislative session, new election bills could be fast-tracked. Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Mark Niesse joined the podcast to discuss the GOP-backed bills.  But first, University of Georgia Israel Institute Teaching Fellow Eli Sperling discusses the war between Israel and Hamas. The hosts look at the hornet’s nest of controversy U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer stirred up...

Laken Riley’s father sits down for an interview with NBC about his daughter’s tragic killing. He is angry that her tragic death is being politicized.  But first, lawmakers are still looking for answers after electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian paused construction indefinitely on a $5 billion plant planned for Georgia.   Rep. Tim Fleming, (R) Covington joins the ‘Politically Georgia’ podcast to di...

With just a handful of working days left, time is running out for bills to pass in the Legislature. The stakes are even higher as the biennial session wraps up.   Atlanta Journal-Constitution legislative reporters Maya T. Prabhu and James Salzer join the podcast to look at some of the major bills that are still being debated as the session winds down to a finish.    Emory University law professor...

Just an hour before “Politically Georgia” aired, Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could continue prosecuting the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. But only if she drops her special prosecutor and former love interest Nathan Wade from the case.     Atlanta Journal-Constitution editor Shannon McCaffrey and Georgia State law pro...

There's new momentum building around a bill to provide school vouchers to Georgia families. Gov. Brian Kemp helped turn up the heat, posting on X: "When it comes to getting school choice done in Georgia, there are no more next years."  The state House had a scheduled vote on the matter an hour after "Politically Georgia" aired.    But first, state House Minority Leader James Beverly joins the podc...

Georgia gave President Biden the votes to make him the Democratic nominee, and the state joined three others that voted Tuesday to put former president Trump over the top. On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell give a complete presidential primary night recap.      Then: AJC reporter Zach Hansen joins the podcast to d...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein talk primary day. Democratic U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams joins the podcast to talk about President Joe Biden’s chances to win Georgia once again in November. Will turnout today give us clues?     Then: Democratic state Rep. Ruwa Romman tells the hosts why she’s u...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell Georgia's presidential primary. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Mark Niesse and political science professors Charles Bullock and Karen Owen assess the low turnout and discuss what we may nevertheless learn about the state's voter preferences in a low-turnout primary Tue...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell discuss President Biden’s State of the Union speech with Republican Congressman Buddy Carter and Democratic state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver. They ask whether Marjorie Taylor Greene’s disruption of the speech, which she’s done before, is adding to a growing lack of...

Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia Podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein are joined by AP politics reporter Meg Kinnard and top Georgia Nikki Haley supporter Eric Tanenblatt to discuss how Donald Trump President Biden will work to attract Haley supporters now that she’s dropped out of the race. Then, they look at what to expect when both Trump and Biden both go...

After being soundly defeated in the Super Tuesday primaries across the country, Nikki Haley has suspended her presidential campaign Wednesday morning. On today's episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy look at how the matchup between President Biden and Donald Trump will impact Georgia's primary as the general election essen...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz is in the middle of a storm of controversy. Some Athens residents blame him for lax enforcement of immigration laws in the community after a man authorities say illegally entered the country in 2022, Jose Ibarra, was charged in the death of nursing student Laken Riley. Girtz joins the podcast to...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" the panel reacts to breaking news. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously against the state of Colorado, which had removed Donald Trump from its ballot, calling him an insurrectionist. Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis takes a first look at how SCOTUS made the decision. Former Lt. Gov. Geoff...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, the hosts discuss the top issues that passed out of the Georgia House and Senate on Crossover Day, which ended at midnight last night.   Crossover Day hits and misses.  Then: Greg, Patricia, and Executive Producer Shane Backler take listeners inside the halls and chambers of the state Capitol for a firsthand lo...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, state Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch talks about key measures on how cities enforce immigration law, the rights of parents to determine the books their children have access to in schools, his support for a GOP-sponsored religious rights bill and more.  Then: Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves offers his pa...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, the panel looks at the anger, fear and political dynamics that have been sparked by the killing of Laken Riley and charges of murder in the case against a man who authorities say entered the country illegally.  Then, the panel looks at the results of the presidential primaries in Michigan. Does the large number...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut the podcast welcome state Rep Michelle Au to discuss the bills that she’s watching closely as Crossover Day approaches on Thursday.  Au believes there’s a slim hope a full expansion of Medicaid might still be in the works. And the hosts ask Au, an anesthesiologist, for her v...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell talk to their colleague Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Shannon McCaffery and Nikki Haley surrogate Eric Tanenblatt.   First up, McCaffrey joins the podcast to discuss a new motion from Donald Trump alleging that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Na...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, and Bill Nigut  talk to their boss, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editor-in-Chief Leroy Chapman, and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.    First up, Congressman Clyburn discusses the presidential race in his home state on the eve of the GOP primary.  Then, the host...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut talk to Rep. Sanford Bishop and candidate Marcus Flowers.  First up, the podcast starts with Patricia Murphy’s exclusive interview with Nikki Haley, who tells Patricia she hopes to stay in the race through the March 12 Georgia primary.  Then, th...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell talk to The Associated Press’ Meg Kinnard, Georgia Equality’s Jeff Graham and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution colleague Maya Prabhu.    Kinnard joins from South Carolina where she is covering the run-up to that state's Republican presidential primary on Saturday.    Then, the...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein and Bill Nigut talk to Insurance Commissioner John King and attorney Charlie Bailey.  King is a native of Mexico with a background in the military and law enforcement, and so he has a unique perspective on the border security debate that has become a top issue in the 2024 election.  Then, t...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell talk to Georgia African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Reginald Jackson. Bishop Jackson talks about the coalition of churches that is coming together to encourage Black voters to reengage in politics in this election year.    Then, Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Nedra Rhone...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Patricia Murphy, and Tia Mitchell talk to Norm Eisen, who served as ethics czar in the Obama administration. Eisen discusses the implications of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ explosive testimony pushing back on defense lawyers who want her severed from the election conspiracy ca...

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein and Bill Nigut talk to former State Sen. Jen Jordan and colleague Mark Niesse. Jordan discusses the hearing that could determine whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade should be disqualified from the election conspiracy case a...