Every Tuesday and Thursday morning on the Political Breakfast podcast, veteran Atlanta journalist Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, and Republican strategist Brian Robinson deliver Georgia’s best analysis of local politics with a weekly dose of informed, respectful and lively discussion.
During Georgia’s state legislative session, Political Breakfast presents the pop-up podcast Gold Dome Scramble every Friday morning as host Lisa Rayam talks with reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali from the WABE newsroom to break things down for our listeners — the issues being considered, and the bills getting sorted through various committees at the Georgia State Capitol.
Georgia has been the center of the political universe this year. Again. Will the Peach State fade from view, or will there be ripe headlines in 2023? Political Breakfast host Lisa Rayam and strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson reflect on the most meaningful and dramatic moments of the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on Political Breakfast, Democrat Stacey Abrams' campaign manager put out a 52-tweet thread last Wednesday, claiming that Abrams paved the way for U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock's runoff win. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson weigh in. In a Buckhead gated community, a 77-year-old grandmother was stabbed to death in her home. Atlanta police say the suspect is now in custody. Now the controversial Buckhead cityhood movement is once again gaining m...
On this week's live edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Brian Robinson weigh in on Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock's narrow win over Herschel Walker. Walker lost by less than 3 percent, and as returns came in, there were moments when the former UGA football star had a lead over Warnock. With a record-high turnout on Election Day, combined with such narrow margins, host Lisa Rayam asks Tharon and Brian if Georgia's seen the last of Walker. See om...
Former Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Tanya Miller reflects on the recent deadly shooting at Atlantic Station that left at least one child dead and several other children injured. Miller joins host Lisa Rayam, and strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson to discuss citywide solutions, youth gun violence and Georgia's loosened gun legislation. Plus, as Georgia's U.S. Senate race nears its final days of early voting ahead of the runoff election, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock pounced...
Donald Trump's plan to run for President again is resonating with Republican Strategists Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson. Both express MAJOR concerns. On this edition, The Political Breakfast team ponders: *How will the Trump announcement impact Georgia's current U.S. Senate race that remains in limbo until a December 6th runoff? *Will senate candidate Herschel Walker play up or play down his years-long friendship with Trump? *Can Senator Raphael Warnock's campaign use th...
Political Breakfast goes live as Georgia's midterm election results continue to trickle in. Stacey Abrams lost to GOP incumbent Governor Brian Kemp by about 10 points. What happened with the Abrams campaign? Where does Georgia's Democratic party go from here? Plus, the U.S. Senate race is likely going into a runoff. With voter fatigue building around the holidays, will that runoff work in one candidate's favor? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock has a new Thanksgiving ad – where he shows concern about the very likely possibility that he’s heading into a runoff with GOP challenger Herschel Walker. Both are neck-and-neck in the polls. Plus, Governor Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams clashed over abortion in the final gubernatorial debate on Sunday before the state’s Nov. 8 election. Kemp avoided promising to not sign further abortion restrictions in Georgia – currently a woman can get an abort...
Georgia's early voting turnout numbers keep breaking records. We get a temperature check of what issues are driving rural Georgians, women, and people of color to the polls. Plus, reports that the voting rights non-profit Fair Fight Action -- founded by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams -- spent millions over the last two years on legal fees. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Georgia candidates sparred in some high-stakes debates this week, including the governor's race that features the rematch between Democrat Stacey Abrams against incumbent Republican Brian Kemp. But Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson also hash out one surprising standout, Libertarian candidate Shane Hazel Plus, a recap of Friday night's debate between U.S. Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and GOP challenger Herschel Walker in Savannah. Then we get more...
Herschel Walker’s campaign has been fighting fires the last few weeks but the polls have Walker and Warnock neck-and-neck. A few GOP U.S. Senators travel to Georgia to support Walker as he preps for his first debate against incumbent Raphael Warnock. Also, how Democrats and Republicans are mobilizing on the ground to seal votes just weeks ahead of the midterm elections. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's been nearly a week since a federal judge ruled that Georgia's election law does not violate voter's constitutional rights. State Republicans are celebrating the win against Fair Fight Action, the voting rights group aligned with gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Will this ruling galvanize voters? Plus, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker has made it clear his position on abortion is "no exception." Now Walker is denying reports that he paid for an abortion for his girlfriend in 2...
The closer we get to the Georgia midterm elections, the more money candidates are throwing into campaign attack ads. You've probably seen or heard them playing in your home, at the airport, at bowling alleys, and even on the homepage of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It's hard to escape them. So this week on Political Breakfast, we take a closer look at yet another ad involving the high-profile U.S. Senate Race between Republican Herschel Walker and the Incumbent, Democrat Raphael Warnock. Pl...
With fewer than seven weeks left before the mid-term election, WABE presents this bonus episode from our Georgia Votes 2022 podcast. WABE Deputy Managing Editor Susanna Capelouto, Politics Reporters Sam Gringlas and Raul Bali, and Reporter Emma Hurt of Axios break down these final weeks and what to watch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hundreds of WABE fans joined us for a live broadcast from Georgia State University -- about 7 weeks out from Georgia's midterms. One race that's in a statistical dead heat in the polls is for the U.S. Senate seat between incumbent Raphael Warnock and his GOP challenger, former NFL and University of Georgia football star Herschel Walker. Plus, the power of negative campaign ads. And what is the real influence of the 18 through 29-year-old voting block? That’s on this week's episode of Political B...
What, if any, are the political ramifications of Governor Kemp asking President Biden, to cancel the student loan forgiveness plan just weeks before the election? Plus Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams says she's on Kemp's heels, and is closing the gap. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Georgia judge has said Governor Brian Kemp must testify before the Fulton special grand jury, but he can wait until after the November election. Meanwhile some are praising President Biden’s decision to forgive $10,000 in student loans for most borrowers, but others aren’t so sure. In Columbus, Democrats hold a joint campaign event to share their platforms. And we remember Georgia’s former first lady Sandra Deal, who leaves a lasting legacy in the wake of her recent passing. See omnystudio.com...
Tensions are high between the offices of Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, as Willis seeks to compel testimony on attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, while Kemp's team says it's a political move. And how effective is a new campaign ad from Herschel Walker calling out Senator Warnock's use of a particular canine in the democrat's last run for office? That and more on this week's episode of political breakfast, available now on your favorite pod...
Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams says she’s working to address the challenges of Black men because if they vote for her like she knows they can, she can win the Georgia Governor’s race… but is it enough to outweigh Governor Brian Kemp’s strong economic message and track record of appointing Black officials? Meanwhile, how will Black voters navigate the racial politics as things get heated between Republican Herschel Walker and Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock? See omnystudio.com/listener for...
Political rhetoric or possible reality? California Governor Gavin Newsom wants Georgia's billion-dollar film and TV industry to move to HIS state. Why? Newsom says California is free of controversial, conservative, and restrictive abortion laws like the one active in Georgia. Martha Zoller fills in for Brian Robinson The team also talks about Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' diligent effort to crack down on illegal guns used to commit a recent rash of violent crimes. See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
What will the political and economic ramifications be after organizers canceled the annual Music Midtown festival, reportedly due to Georgia’s lax gun laws? Will Stacey Abrams be able to build up enough momentum in the governor’s race ahead of November to overcome a gap in the polls? And what does it mean that one commentator said Herschel Walker is ‘what Republicans want from their Negroes?’ Saba Long fills in for Tharon Johnson to discuss that and more, on this week’s episode of Political Brea...
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is finding out which high-profile GOP lawmakers she can, and cannot, subpoena as part of the grand jury investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. And senate candidate Herschel Walker has not confirmed whether he will participate in the October 16, Atlanta Press Club debate with incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock, but he says he’s ready and working out the details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Money is pouring into Georgia ahead of the November general election, but is it going where it’s most needed? What chance does a Democrat have at unseating Marjorie Taylor Greene, and how would Charlie Bailey lead a Republican-majority state senate if elected Lieutenant Governor? These questions, and an update on Fulton County special grand jury investigation, on this week’s episode of Political Breakfast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
As the debate over abortion remains top of mind for many Georgia voters, advocates on either side of the issue are rallying their base, but also trying to find ways to best help women in the state. Former Planned Parenthood president and CEO Staci Fox and Georgia Life Alliance Leadership Director Elizabeth Reed join Political Breakfast to discuss how their supporters are receiving the news and how the organizations are responding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Now that the Supreme Court has rolled back Roe V. Wade and sent the decision back to the states, will it galvanize Democrats and how will Republicans push back? Conservative commentator Martha Zoller fills in for Brian Robinson to give her analysis of how each side arrived at this point, as well as to discuss last week’s runoff elections. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Political Breakfast Team talks about Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's re-election campaign. His appearance before the US House Select Committee investigating the insurrection at the Capitol launched him front and center, just months ahead of the November general election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson don't hold back when analyzing comments made by some of the high-profile candidates running for office. Democratic candidate for Governor, Stacey Abrams and Republican candidate for Senate, Herchel Walker are some of those being called on to explain certain statements made on and off the campaign trail. The team also discusses the U.S. House Select Committee hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and how all the Georgia connections h...
State Rep. Bee Nguyen and former State Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler joined Political Breakfast a day after taking the debate stage to make their case to voters. With two weeks left until the primary runoff, they both took shots at Republican opponent incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger as they tried to set themselves apart. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With the primary over and the runoff still a few weeks away, the candidates at the top of the ticket are already gearing up for the November general election. How will strategies change now that the candidates know their opponents and must appeal to a broader voter base? Will Herschel Walker be driven to speak up more? Will Warnock emulate his winning strategy from 2020? And what does Gov. Brian Kemp's sizeable margin of victory mean for the Georgia GOP? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Georgia’s primary election saw wins for several frontrunners, including incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp, fellow Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and Democratic Congresswoman Lucy McBath. But many Trump-backed candidates didn’t fare well against their Republican opponents, with Herschel Walker the only big name remaining with the former president’s endorsement. On this live episode, we look at how the primary wins and losses set up both parties to do in the general elect...
**Disclaimer**: This episode contains language some may not find suitable for all listeners. As the country is still reeling from the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, people on both sides of the aisle are processing how to think about this latest tragedy. Meanwhile early voting numbers in the final week before the primary reveal thousands who previously cast Democratic ballots are voting in the Republican primary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
