Politically Georgia

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...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the mounting pressure on Gov. Brian Kemp as election law changes left lawmakers with unfinished business and no easy path forward. They explain why a special session could collide with primary and runoff politics, and why letting the courts sort it out could create even more uncertainty. Greg and Patricia also look at the stack of major bills still awa...

Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell break down the Georgia runoff results, including a closer-than-expected margin in the 14th District. They examine what the numbers may signal about voter enthusiasm, shifting coalitions and the stakes for statewide races. Then Patricia and Tia turn to listener questions on the unsettled Republican field challenging Jon Ossoff, the role of Georgia’s runoff system an...

Patricia Murphy sits down with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Stephen Lawson to assess how Georgia’s legislative session sets the stage for campaign season. They break down what Republicans and Democrats can claim as wins and where unresolved issues could spill into legal fights or a special session. The conversation turns to the GA-14 runoff, where a narrower-than-...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy sit down with House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones as she prepares to step down after more than two decades under the Gold Dome. Jones reflects on her rise through Republican leadership, her focus on education policy, and why she decided now was the time to leave office. She also discusses her approach to power behind the scenes and her role in shaping legislation and...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy answer listener questions about a late-session push to make some metro Atlanta elections nonpartisan and the legal fight likely to follow. They also unpack the strategy behind Rick Jackson’s ad using praise from Burt Jones and what it reveals about the governor’s race. Then Greg sits down with congressional candidate Rob Adkerson, a former top aide to Barry Loude...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy wrap up Georgia’s 2026 legislative session after a chaotic final night under the Gold Dome. They break down competing Republican tax priorities, a last-minute collapse over property tax limits and the broader push to frame the session around affordability. Greg and Patricia also examine the unresolved fight over voting systems, including the possibility of a spec...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy take listeners inside the final hours of Georgia’s legislative session as Sine Die unfolds at the Capitol. They break down a late-session breakthrough on a sweeping literacy bill and what it means for House Speaker Jon Burns’s agenda and legacy. Greg and Patricia also examine the lingering tensions beneath the surface, including fights over the state budget, elec...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the final days of the legislative session from the Capitol, starting with a push to expand Georgia’s school cellphone ban to high schools. Greg and Patricia speak with state Rep. Scott Hilton, who makes the case for the bell-to-bell ban and outlines how schools would phase it in. They also examine the broader education agenda, including a literacy over...

Greg Bluestein speaks with Democratic candidate Shawn Harris about the high-stakes runoff in Georgia’s 14th District and his pitch to voters in a deeply Republican seat. Harris discusses national security, rising costs and his criticism of Republican leadership as he tries to build a coalition of Democrats, independents and GOP voters. Then Greg turns to AJC contributor Meagan Hanson for a look at...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions on perks for members of Congress at Atlanta’s airport and the political fallout after Delta scaled them back. They also break down the latest in the TSA funding standoff, including Senator Jon Ossoff’s response as the shutdown drags on. Greg and Tia walk through the evolving debate over Georgia’s election bill and the push to delay changes...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the latest push to reshape Georgia’s voting system as lawmakers race toward the end of the legislative session. They talk with state Rep. Saira Draper about the fight over QR codes, a possible delay to major election changes, and the political pressures driving the debate. Then Greg and Patricia turn to a previously recorded interview with state Sen. S...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the high-stakes final stretch of Georgia’s legislative session, where election-year politics are shaping major decisions on taxes, data centers and voting rules. They outline where key proposals stand as lawmakers race toward adjournment and tensions build between the House and Senate. Then Greg and Patricia sit down with House Speaker Jon Burns to dis...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the political and real-world impact of massive TSA lines at Hartsfield-Jackson as the partial government shutdown drags on. They talk with the AJC’s Shaddi Abusaid from the airport, where travelers are facing hours-long waits and growing frustration, and examine how the standoff in Washington is spilling into Georgia’s Senate race. Then Greg and Patric...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions on the surge of anonymous attack ads targeting Burt Jones and the speculation surrounding who is funding them. They also break down the increasingly unpredictable lieutenant governor’s race, including Nabila Islam Parks’ late entry and the fallout inside Democratic circles. Greg and Tia examine the Democratic primary for governor, where Kei...

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the rapidly intensifying Republican primary for Georgia governor, where billionaire Rick Jackson’s massive ad spending has triggered a bitter clash with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. They discuss how the attacks, lawsuits and legislative maneuvers are reshaping the GOP contest while sidelining other candidates such as Brad Raffensperger and Chris Carr. Then the...

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell look at how national politics is playing out in Georgia. They start in northwest Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, where Democrats are testing whether a coalition candidate like Shawn Harris can compete in one of the reddest corners of the state after a rally featuring former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Then they turn to the partial federal governm...