The Georgia Politics Podcast

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! This week, we dive into three seismic political shakeups reshaping Georgia and the national landscape. First, we unpack Marjorie Taylor Greene's stunning announcement that she'll resign from Congress on January 5, 2026. We explore what her departure means for GOP power dynamics, who might emerge to fill the vacancy, and how her public break with Donald Trum...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! It's 1975 again, and we're back with our cornucopia episode for Part 15 of our mini-series, exploring five pivotal events from this turbulent year. We begin with the haunting story of the Edmund Fitzgerald , the massive Great Lakes freighter that vanished beneath the waves of Lake Superior, sparking investigations, folklore, and one of the most enduring mar...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On this episode, Sandy Springs mayoral candidate Dontaye Carter joins host Craig Kidd for a frank and wide-ranging conversation prompted by several pointed remarks Craig made in a previous episode. Together, they revisit those comments, and dig into the perspectives that sparked the discussion in the first place. The candidate offers deeper context on his p...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! It's 1975 again, and in this episode we had the honor of interviewing former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Carla Hills. Hills is a pioneering figure whose career helped reshape expectations for women in public life. Hills takes listeners back to 1975, the year she made history when President Gerald Ford appointed her to his cabinet — makin...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today's episode, we unpack a whirlwind election week across Georgia and the nation — one that delivered sweeping Democratic victories and set the stage for next year's midterms. Craig, Lyndsey, and Daelen first break down the stunning Democratic victories in Georgia's Public Service Commission races — the first non-federal statewide wins for the party in...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! This week, we celebrate a landmark moment in television history — the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. On October 11, 1975, the show that would redefine live comedy premiered on NBC, hosted by George Carlin with musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian. From that first night, the blend of sketches, music and fearless satire became a cultural pheno...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! It's 1975 again, and in this episode we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Public Law 94-106, the landmark legislation signed by President Gerald Ford that allowed women to enter the U.S. service academies for the first time in history. We are joined by Lt. Col. Carol Barkalow, a trailblazer and member of the very first class of female cadets at West Point...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We continue our candidate profile series with Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond, who is seeking re-election to his Post 1 At-Large seat. Bond, a veteran public servant with deep roots in Atlanta politics, joins the show to reflect on his decades of service and the lessons he's learned through years of navigating city government. In this convers...

The Georgia Politics Podcast continues its 2025 Candidate Profile series with Andy Bauman, a three term Sandy Springs City Council member now running for mayor. In this in-depth conversation, Bauman shares his perspective on the city's most pressing issues — from responsible growth and transportation infrastructure to housing affordability, public safety, and maintaining the unique character that...

The Georgia Politics Podcast continues its Candidate Profile series with a conversation featuring Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson, who is running for re-election. In this in-depth discussion, Mayor Wilson reflects on his first term in office — from the accomplishments he's most proud of to the challenges that tested his administration and the lessons learned along the way. We dive into Wilson's approach...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this episode, we continue our candidate profile series with Sam Foster, candidate for mayor of Marietta. With Election Day approaching, voters are learning more about the choices that will shape the city's future — and Foster joins the show to share his vision, priorities, and motivations for running. Foster discusses his background and what first inspir...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On this episode, we welcome longtime Johns Creek resident and community advocate Arthur Holst, who joins the show to make the case for the proposed performing arts center that voters will decide on this November. As Election Day approaches, Johns Creek residents are weighing a bond referendum that would fund the construction of a new performing arts center...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We continue our Candidate Profile series with Roswell City Council candidate Jennifer Phillippi. In this in-depth conversation, Phillippi shares her background, what inspired her to run for office, and the experiences that have shaped her approach to leadership. The discussion explores key issues facing Roswell — as well as her ideas for strengthening commu...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We continue our Candidate Profile series with an in-depth interview featuring Roswell mayoral candidate Steve Dorvee. In this wide-ranging conversation, Dorvee shares his perspective on growth and development, and how to preserve Roswell's unique character amid rapid change. He also talks about what inspired him to run, his approach to leadership, and how h...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this episode, we continue our 2025 candidate profile series with a conversation featuring Sandy Springs City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Jody Reichel . As one of the most closely watched local elections in metro Atlanta, the Sandy Springs mayor's race has drawn significant attention for its potential to shape the city's growth, development, and i...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! This week, we tackle one of the biggest stories in Washington with direct consequences here at home: the federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The immediate effects are already rippling through Georgia, where tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors face furloughs or delayed paychecks. Military bases could see disruptions, resear...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this installment of our special mini-series, we're joined by Dr. Mirelle Luecke, curator of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, to revisit the infamous attempts on President Ford's life in 1975. In 1975, President Gerald Ford survived two assassination attempts in California, both carried out by women connected to radical movements. On September 5,...

On this episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, we welcome longtime Johns Creek resident and Rivermont Golf Club owner Chris Cupit to discuss why he is helping lead the effort to encourage residents to vote no on this November's referendum to fund a new performing arts center. With Election Day quickly approaching, Johns Creek voters will see a bond referendum on the ballot asking whether to fund...

The Georgia Politics Podcast continues its Candidate Profile series with Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, who is seeking re-election. Mayor Paul reflects on his years in office and offers perspective on how Sandy Springs has changed since its incorporation and during his tenure as mayor. In this wide-ranging conversation, he discusses the city's approach to growth and development, infrastructure in...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We continue our Candidate Profile series with Mary Robichaux, former Georgia State Representative and current candidate for mayor of Roswell. Robichaux shares why she decided to run, the lessons she brings from her time at the State Capitol, and the values she believes should guide local government. She also outlines her priorities for Roswell — including,...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We begin with the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, gunned down by a rooftop sniper while speaking at Utah Valley University. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson, was quickly arrested, but the killing has left the nation reeling and has reignited urgent conversations about political violence, free speech, and the safety...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! This week, we continue our candidate profile series with a conversation featuring Dontaye Carter, who is running for Mayor of Sandy Springs. Dontaye Carter is the founder of Carter Media Group and a former journalist turned communications strategist, now running for Mayor of Sandy Springs. Raised by a determined, single mother and born in Frankfurt to U.S....

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Democratic Party Chair Charlie Bailey joins the show for a candid conversation about this year's elections and current events. We begin the show by reflecting on the tragic assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, an event that has sent shockwaves through political circles across the country. We then shift focus to Georgia, where Democrats ar...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! This week, we have a conversation with Tate Holcombe, candidate for Alpharetta City Council Post 3. Tate grew up in the city he now hopes to help lead, attending King's Ridge Christian School before heading to Samford University. Today, he is raising his young daughter in the same community where he spent his own childhood, giving him a deeply personal stak...

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Fulton County may have reached a tipping point as Democratic commissioners resist a court order requiring the appointment of two Republicans to the elections board. A judge has ruled that Fulton County Commissioners must appoint Julie Adams and Jason Frazier to its Board of Elections, as the law mandates no discretion for the commissioners to reject them. W...