On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, news broke that Gov. Brian Kemp is skipping this summer's state Republican convention. Host Lisa Rayam, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson hash out what Kemp turning down the invitation means for the party. Plus, President Joe Biden is officially seeking a second term in the 2024 election. In an announcement video Biden linked images from the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. See omnystudio.com/liste...
Apr 25, 2023•27 min•Ep. 272
On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civic Circle Executive Director Saba Long join Lisa Rayam to weigh-in on Governor Brian Kemp's latest interview with CNN. Kemp recently made comments during a private Republican National Committee donor retreat in Nashville -- that his fellow Republicans need to leave any claims that the 2020 election was stolen, behind them. Plus, more woes at Fulton County's overcrowded jail, as Sheriff Pat Labat ha...
Apr 19, 2023•35 min•Ep. 271
On this week's live edition of Political Breakfast, Atlanta has lost its bid to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Chicago beat out finalists Atlanta and New York City. Host Lisa Rayam asks Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson for their thoughts on why Atlanta missed out. The Democratic National Committee tweeted that the Midwest is a critical Democratic stronghold, and Illinois is part of a 'Blue Wall,' which was crucial to the 2020 victory of...
Apr 12, 2023•8 min•Ep. 270
With former President Donald Trump pleading "not guilty" to 34 criminal charges in New York, WABE politics reporter Sam Gringlas catches up with Lawfare's Anna Bower, who has been reporting on Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis's case involving the former president. They talk about impacts the case in New York may have on Fulton County, where Willis's investigation stands now and next steps. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 06, 2023•17 min•Ep. 270
This week on Political Breakfast, it's a historic day as host Lisa Rayam, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson follow Donald Trump surrendering to criminal charges in New York City. The former president is pleading not guilty in a Manhattan courthouse to charges related to alleged 2016 hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges. Scores of Trump supporters wearing MAGA hats ralli...
Apr 04, 2023•48 min•Ep. 269
With a wave of last-minute maneuvers and negotiations Sine Die came to a close at the capitol, ending the 2023 state legislative session. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas discuss some of bills headed to the governor’s desk and those headed back to the drawing board See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 31, 2023•27 min•Ep. 268
On this week's live edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson join host Lisa Rayam in a Sine Die roundup. Scores of anticipated bills that our WABE reporters were following under the Gold Dome did not make it to the floor for a final vote before the General Assembly adjourned on Sine Die. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 30, 2023•11 min•Ep. 267
March 29th marks the end of the 2023 Georgia legislative session which means lawmakers are almost out of time to get their bills passed. WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss what hasn’t made much progress, like medical marijuana, what has already passed and big issues that remain on the table, like sports betting and the 2024 budget. Then, Rahul and Sam talk with Maya Prabhu, AJC government reporter, about what she’s watching as Sine Die approaches. See omnystudio.com/list...
Mar 24, 2023•25 min•Ep. 266
This week on Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson are all back for the first week of spring and the final days of the legislative session under the Gold Dome. Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are pushing the Fulton County prosecutors' office to throw out the special grand jury report that looked into alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump’s lawyers also want Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis ...
Mar 21, 2023•38 min•Ep. 265
With fewer than two weeks left of the state legislative session, bills continue to make their way through the capitol. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas cover the return of sports betting, possible changes to the Hope scholarship and more. WABE digital editor Patrick Saunders joins Sam and Rahul to go in-depth on SB-140. If it becomes law, the bill would ban transgender youth from access to most gender-affirming care like surgery and hormone replacement therapy See omnystudio.c...
Mar 18, 2023•26 min•Ep. 264
This week on Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss the latest news from an autopsy of the environmental activist killed while protesting Atlanta's public safety training facility. The family of Manuel Teran is now suing the city of Atlanta. And with years of pent-up momentum, what happened to legalizing sports betting under the Gold Dome? In the end, the votes were just not there before crossover day. Plus, we tackle other bill...
Mar 15, 2023•44 min•Ep. 263
As the dust settles from Crossover Day, WABE politics reporter Sam Gringlas and Axios reporter Emma Hurt talk about the bills that passed and those that didn’t. Plus, WABE reporters Emily Wu Pearson and Chamain Cruz join for a discussion of the growing number of Asian American/Pacific Islander and Latino legislators under the Gold Dome. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 10, 2023•29 min•Ep. 262
On this week's Political Breakfast, WABE’s Lisa Rayam along with the Atlanta Civic Circle’s Executive Director Saba Long and Gainesville's WDUN talk show host Martha Zoller hash out which bills still stand a chance at passing this legislative session under the Gold Dome. Plus, the latest on the arrests from violent protests at the so-called Cop City site in South Dekalb County as dozens are charged with domestic terrorism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Mar 08, 2023•33 min•Ep. 261
From Buckhead Cityhood and gambling to how teachers can talk with students about gender and sexuality, lawmakers were busy this week looking ahead to Crossover Day on Monday. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas talk about which bills have come up short of the deadline and which still have a chance of becoming law. Plus, host of “Lawmakers” on Georgia Public Broadcasting, journalist Donna Lowry, discusses the session so far and what she’s watching for Crossover Day. See omnystudio...
Mar 03, 2023•29 min•Ep. 260
This week on Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson break down the latest political headlines in and out of the Gold Dome as well as take questions from the live audience. The team tackles partisan backlash over the Fulton special grand jury foreperson, who recently went public about witness behavior behind closed doors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 24, 2023•59 min•Ep. 259
Lawmakers have introduced bills that would put restrictions on the kind of care transgender kids can receive. WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss those bills and an effort by the legislature to define antisemitism for use in the context of anti-discrimination and hate crime laws. Later, the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s government reporter, Brian Eason, joins Rahul and Sam to talk about the impact of single-family homes being purchased by investors and then put up for re...
Feb 24, 2023•25 min•Ep. 258
WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take the show to Kennesaw State University to talk about the week in politics in front of a live audience. KSU professor Kerwin Swint provides a history on the changing political landscape of Georgia, plus state representative Rick Jasperse and state senator Sonya Halpern talk about their districts, being a legislator and some of the bills being considered this legislative session. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 17, 2023•52 min•Ep. 257
State legislators are working on a measure to legalize sports betting -- including horse racing. With bipartisan support in the Georgia House and Senate, it might not be much of a gamble. On this week's Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson weigh into conflict over a proposed gun safety bill in wake of yet another mass shooting, this time at Michigan State University. Plus, the Georgia Senate has passed a bill to place...
Feb 15, 2023•10 min•Ep. 256
Crime was a big focus of lawmakers at the legislature this week. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas look at the possible resurrection of Buckhead cityhood as well as bills aimed to reduce crime. Then, WABE and Grist reporter Emily Jones goes over all things environmental, from mining near Okefenokee Swamp to electric vehicles and solar panels. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 10, 2023•27 min•Ep. 255
This week on Political Breakfast, Georgia lawmakers condemn anti-Semitic flyers found scattered in several heavily-Jewish neighborhoods. Now Georgia's only Jewish state lawmaker has filed a bill that would define anti-Semitism in state law and enhance penalties for anti-Jewish attacks. Also host Lisa Rayam and strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson weigh in on Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger considering Georgia for an early presidential GOP primary in 2028. See omnystudio.com/listen...
Feb 08, 2023•34 min•Ep. 254
As the legislative session hits its stride hundreds of bills are being filed and the budget got a vote on the floor. WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali talk about bail reform, crime and where the budget is headed. Plus, AP reporter Jeff Amy joins for a discussion about “hoteling” kids in Georgia’s foster care system and what the legislature might do to address the issue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 03, 2023•23 min•Ep. 253
This week on Political Breakfast, DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond shares the perspective of those residents who have mixed feelings about the proposed police training facility in their neighborhood. Thurmond tells host Lisa Rayam and strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, the Atlanta Police Foundation did not initially consult with his office on the future site of the $90 million facility. He sees it as a political misstep. And a new Atlanta Journal Constitution poll shows voters have trust ...
Feb 01, 2023•43 min•Ep. 252
The Atlanta Journal Constitution released polling numbers this week around popularity of politicians and issues of interest to Georgians. Our politics team of Rahul Bali, Sam Gringlas and Susanna Capelouto talk about the results. They are also joined by WABE health reporter Jess Mador who takes a look at Governor Kemp's Pathway program, which would extend Medicaid to the poor if they work or volunteer 80 hours a week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 27, 2023•22 min•Ep. 251
On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civic Circle Executive Director Saba Long weigh in on the violence at the proposed police training facility in South Dekalb County, and how we can push forward a productive conversation about the future of the facility without violence. Plus, a new Atlanta Journal Constitution poll suggests Georgia should do away with runoff elections. But what is the alternative to the status quo? All this as legisla...
Jan 25, 2023•31 min•Ep. 250
This week Governor Brian Kemp faced criticism for attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. The WABE politics team of Rahul Bali, Sam Gringlas an Susanna Capelouto talk about the fallout. They also discuss budget week at the state capitol and are joined by WABE education reporter Martha Dalton to look at what teachers want out of this year's legislative session. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 20, 2023•26 min•Ep. 249
This week on Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson touch on the frustrations of the Rev. Bernice King. King is frustrated that state and local leaders aren't doing enough to ensure her father's mission to eradicate poverty and racism comes to fruition. Plus, talks about how the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the state Attorney General continue to probe potential fraud in Governor Brian Kemp's low-income cash assis...
Jan 18, 2023•29 min•Ep. 248
This first week of the Georgia legislature included Governor Kemp's inauguration and big budget announcements. Our politics team of Susanna Capelouto, Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas talk about it and welcome AJC reporter James Salzer to the podcast. He's been covering the state budget for the AJC for almost 30 years and give his insights into the wonky Georgia budget process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 13, 2023•20 min•Ep. 247
This week on Political Breakfast, the Fulton County special grand jury that examined potential criminal interference in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election has completed its work and is being dissolved. And Georgia lawmakers elected a new Speaker of the House and a leader of the Senate on the first day of the state’s annual legislative session — without the kind of fights recently seen on the House floor in Washington. Host Lisa Rayam checks in with Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Gain...
Jan 11, 2023•27 min•Ep. 246
State Lawmakers gather for their 40 days session, so WABE's politics reporter Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas share their insights with politics editor Susanna Capelouto in this legislative pop-up podcast from Political Breakfast. We also welcome Jill Nolin, who covers the legislature for the Georgia Recorder. The team talks about what new leadership in the State House and Senate means for the session and which issues are likely to get top billing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...
Jan 06, 2023•19 min•Ep. 245
Political Breakfast is back! The first edition of the year is live with host Lisa Rayam, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civic Circle Executive Director Saba Long, who's filling-in for Democratic strategist Brian Robinson. In the lineup is a paid advertisement Atlanta city councilwomen published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution over the weekend, that calls out council president Doug Shipman for not appointing Black women to key leadership positions. Plus, Robinson and Long di...
Jan 05, 2023•12 min•Ep. 244
