On this week's second serving of Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss a surprise upset in the Georgia primary. In Cobb County, 27-year-old Gabriel Sanchez defeated the ncumbent State Rep. Teri Anulewicz. Sanchez now faces Republican Diane Jackson in this fall's general election. The gang poses the question: IF elected to the Georgia House, will Sanchez be able to govern alongside moderate Democrats and make fr...
Jun 06, 2024•16 min•Ep. 361
City of Atlanta residents endured a water crisis over the weekend -- the result of several water main breaks. Days later, the city's response is still being scrutinized even after repairs were made. Just why did it take so long to communicate what was unfolding to weary Atlantans? On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam sort through what feels like a lifetime without water for some. Plus, a follow-up on Do...
Jun 04, 2024•33 min•Ep. 360
A jury in New York City has unanimously found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 criminal counts for covering up hush money payments to an adult film star before the 2020 election. This is the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been convicted of felony crimes. On this week’s episode, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the verdict and what it means for the 2024 election in Georgia. Plus an update on Trump's criminal case in Georgia. See omnystu...
May 31, 2024•15 min•Ep. 359
On this week's Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam after the Memorial Day holiday. Brian Kemp has skipped the Georgia GOP Convention twice. Now he's solidifying plans to attend the national RNC this summer in Milwaukee, and offering to help several Republicans down ballot across the country. Is this signaling a future presidential or U.S. Senate run? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 30, 2024•9 min•Ep. 358
More than a million Georgians voted in the May primary and election officials are now gearing up for another round of voting as races where no candidate got more than 50% of the vote head to a runoff on June 18th. On this week’s episode, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss one of those runoffs and explore whether any primary results provide clues about what's to come in November. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 24, 2024•16 min•Ep. 357
On this week's Political Breakfast, the team debates why it seems like there hasn't been a lot of fanfare leading up to Tuesday's primary election. Are Georgia voters, especially in metro Atlanta, missing all that's at-stake? Plus, Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam assess Biden's Morehouse College commencement speech. Plus, internal divisions and pro-Donald Trump energy persisted at the recent Georgia GOP Convention in Columbus. Geo...
May 21, 2024•46 min•Ep. 356
Cherokee Rose Sporting Clays in Spalding County recently hosted a GOP debate featuring five primary candidates that are vying to represent Georgia's third Congressional district, which stretches from Atlanta's exurbs to the Alabama border. On this week's episode, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali talk about this race and how it showcases former President Donald Trump's sway in the modern GOP. Plus a look at other Congressional and state house races ahead of Tuesday's primary. S...
May 17, 2024•20 min•Ep. 355
On this week's second episode of Political Breakfast, the team talks about Vice President Kamala Harris playing a vital role in Joe Biden's push for a second presidential term this November. A recent Biden/Harris campaign ad declares they're "putting the work in for Black America". In turn, what does outreach look like on Donald Trump's side? America's first Black VP has already come to Georgia several times this year. Recently she kicked off a swing state tour in Atlanta. The team talks about i...
May 16, 2024•17 min•Ep. 354
This week on Political Breakfast, we've got a full spread of politics. Strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson join host Lisa Rayam and start with the fallout in Washington, after Georgia GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene tried to oust fellow GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson. It was quite a sting for Greene when the House swiftly turned down her effort to remove Johnson. Tired of chaos, many fellow Republicans, including Georgia representatives, took aim at Greene. She's still loved b...
May 14, 2024•33 min•Ep. 353
Former President Donald Trump, the top defendant in the Georgia election interference case, isn't the only one on the 2024 ballot. So is the judge, Scott McAfee, and the prosecutor, District Attorney Fani Willis. In this week's episode, WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas discuss these and some of the other big candidates you can expect to see on the ballot in Georgia's May election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 10, 2024•21 min•Ep. 352
From Emory University, to Columbia, to Ole Miss, where's the line between a peaceful protest and when demonstrations start to go south? On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang discusses the fallout of one recent protest at the University of Mississippi. Republican Georgia U.S. Congressman Mike Collins recently re-tweeted a controversial video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that has many crying foul. The video of a pro-Palestinian protest and a group of mostly-white, counter-protesters at ...
May 09, 2024•16 min•Ep. 351
On this week's Political Breakfast, Nathan Wade is breaking his silence on his past romantic relationship with Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis, and the gang is back to talking about the prosecution team, and former lovers. The former special prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump is speaking out for the first time. Wade resigned from the case after Fulton Judge Scott McAfee ruled his past romantic relationship with Willis created a conflict of interest. Ma...
May 07, 2024•28 min•Ep. 350
Protests against the war in Gaza are continuing at Emory University and other campuses across the country. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas speak with criminal justice reporter Chamian Cruz, who was at Emory as law enforcement began removing protestors, and education reporter Juma Sei, who's been tracking the fallout at Emory and other colleges, where students are calling on their schools to divest from companies that do business with Israel. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...
May 03, 2024•27 min•Ep. 349
On this week's second helping of Political Breakfast, the gang talks about how early voting is underway for Georgia's primaries and non-partisan elections on May 21st. The early voting period ends on May 17th. That's as elections officials and voters also face complications with lost mail and delays with the U.S. Postal Service. Host Lisa Rayam, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson break down some key races here in metro Atlanta. See omnystudio.com/listen...
May 02, 2024•11 min•Ep. 348
This week on Political Breakfast, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson talk with host Lisa Rayam about Vice President Kamala Harris' most recent visit to Atlanta. Hours before her arrival Monday the gang analyzed her timing, her target audience and above all, her messaging. Harris' visit comes amid a divisive time on college campuses nationwide as demonstrators gather to protest against the Israel-Hamas war -- and Atlanta has been no different over the last week, with protests at Moreho...
Apr 30, 2024•31 min•Ep. 347
With less than 200 days until Election Day 2024, right-wing grassroots activists and progressive organizers are gearing up for the campaign ahead. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas bring listeners along as they attend two events, just forty miles apart but on polar opposites of the political spectrum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 26, 2024•24 min•Ep. 346
On this week's second helping of Political Breakfast, the gang discusses opening statements that began this week for former president Donald Trump's hush-money trial in New York. The trial centers around allegations the former president falsified his company’s internal records when making alleged hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. Some folks in Georgia are watching this case very closely, like Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian R...
Apr 25, 2024•18 min•Ep. 345
Launching this Friday from the team behind " Gold Dome Scramble ," " Plugged In" is a Georgia politics roundup from the WABE newsroom. From under the Gold Dome or across the state, reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali talk to politicians and experts to break down each week’s biggest headlines. "Plugged In" premieres on Friday, April 26. Episodes will publish here in the " Political Breakfast " feed, and subscribe to " Plugged In" wherever you find podcasts . For more, visit wabe.org/pluggedin S...
Apr 24, 2024•2 min
It's time for this week's Political Breakfast! Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is one of several GOP lawmakers threatening to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, now that he's voted with Democrats to send billions in aid to Ukraine, Israel and other nations. Greene recently filed a motion to vacate the Republican speaker. Johnson joined with Democrats on Saturday to advance a 95 billion foreign aid package. It now heads to the Senate, which is expected to give final approval...
Apr 23, 2024•9 min•Ep. 344
On this week's second edition of Political Breakfast, the conversation continues from news earlier this week about special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis being appointed to investigate Georgia GOP Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. The case is over Jones' role in former president Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In 2020, Burt Jones signed on as a fake elector for Donald Trump, after Joe Biden's victory in Georgia. Prosecutors allege this was part of a plan to overturn Trump’s loss...
Apr 18, 2024•21 min•Ep. 343
This week on Political Breakfast, the team responds to a recent Newsweek article that has attorneys for former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows calling the Georgia election interference case "unglued." Meadows was indicted along with former president Donald Trump and others as part of the RICO case being prosecuted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam share throughts on whether the Me...
Apr 16, 2024•22 min•Ep. 342
Georgia first lady Marty Kemp recently said she would not vote for Donald Trump in November - and she'd "write Brian Kemp's name in. He'd make a darn good president." Trump has targeted Governor Kemp for declining to help interfere with Georgia's 2020 election result. But despite that animosity, Kemp hasn't lashed-out - and pledged to support the GOP's ultimate nominee. The Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss with host Lisa Rayam. Democratic strategi...
Apr 11, 2024•14 min•Ep. 341
On this week's first episode of Political Breakfast, A Biden/Harris campaign ad declares they're "putting the work in for Black America." In turn, are they forcing the Trump campaign to amplify it's putting in the work? The Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson share their perspectives with host Lisa Rayam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 09, 2024•23 min•Ep. 340
On this week's Political Breakfast, it's Republican strategist Brian Robinson, host Lisa Rayam and Atlanta Civic Circle director Saba Long, who's filling-in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson. The crew discusses former President Donald Trump returning to Georgia for a luncheon in Atlanta on Wednesday. Big Georgia money will flow into Trump's campaign from this luncheon. Just a photo with the former president costs 25 thousand dollars per couple. Among those hosting: former U.S. GOP Senator...
Apr 04, 2024•14 min•Ep. 339
On this week's Political Breakfast, the dust clears and the 2024 legislative session is over under the Gold Dome. But there's still business to hash through. The big question is, will Governor Brian Kemp sign all of the bills passed by the general assembly and sent to his desk? Some are of more interest to Republican strategist Brian Robinson, host Lisa Rayam, and Atlanta Civic Circle Director Saba Long, who's filling-in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson this week. See omnystudio.com/list...
Apr 02, 2024•24 min•Ep. 338
Lawmakers pass a flurry of bills before the last day of the legislative session, sine die, but not every big ticket item made it to the governor's desk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 29, 2024•21 min•Ep. 337
We're two days away from Sine Die, the last day of the 2024 Georgia legislative session. It's a chaotic race to the finish where lawmakers are reviewing and voting-on hundreds of bills. Host Lisa Rayam is out this week. But Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson take us through a few bills they're focused on, and some insight they're getting from walking the halls of the Gold Dome. That includes one bill that would compensate exonerated people who lost year...
Mar 26, 2024•26 min•Ep. 336
With just a few days left in this year's legislative session, lawmakers are jamming through bills any way they can. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas discuss the proposals they're tracking as the session starts wrapping up. Plus, a conversation with WABE'S environment reporters Emily Jones and Marisa Mecke. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 22, 2024•43 min•Ep. 335
It's time for this week's second edition of Political Breakfast, where strategists Tharon Johnson, Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam address Democrats' fears about President Joe Biden's chances in Georgia. The Atlanta Journal Constitution published an article this week that cited several lawmakers voicing concerns, that Georgia won’t get the same focus as battleground voters in other states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux says Biden’s campaign is li...
Mar 21, 2024•23 min•Ep. 334
On this week's Political Breakfast, we're still seeing calls from the right for Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis to step aside from the Georgia election Interference case - even though her former special prosecutor Nathan Wade resigned from the case on Friday. A judge ruled one of them would have to go last week, because of a conflict of interest and their past romantic relationship. In a letter accepting Wade's resignation, Willis complimented him for his QUOTE "professionalism and dignity....
Mar 19, 2024•17 min•Ep. 333
