The General election is over and the dust has settled. Georgia Democrats are left wondering: What happened? As they look inward and search for clarity, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam take a hard look at Democratic voter turnout in Georgia. What does the November 5th voter turnout mean for state Democrats moving forward? Plus, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis soared to re-election. But it seems, her elections interferen...
Nov 14, 2024•21 min
On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team sorts through new developments in Georgia after the November 5th election. There are now calls for the chair of the state Democratic Party to step down after sweeping losses in the House. U.S. Representative Nikema Williams insists she can handle the job even while running for reelection. But, a major push for change is reportedly coming from U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff. Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson bot...
Nov 13, 2024•22 min
Former President Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States. Nearly 5.3 million Georgians voted, breaking the turnout record set during the 2020 election. Trump received 50.7% of Georgia's vote, turning the swing state red after President Joe Biden's victory four years ago. On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali explain how Trump won the Peach State. Plus, a look at the results of some competitive down bal...
Nov 08, 2024•19 min•Ep. 419
Political Breakfast goes live with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam just hours after the Associated Press called a presidential victory for Donald Trump. Analysts call the victory an extraordinary political comeback for Trump, a convicted felon who still stands accused of election interference in Georgia back in 2020 and for sparking the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Despite all of this, Brian and Tharon analyze how Trump ...
Nov 06, 2024•8 min
Heading into November 5th Election Day, Georgia is already on-record with over 4 million voters casting early ballots in a highly contested presidential race. However, that's not the only important contest on the ballot in Georgia. There are city, state and county offices at stake too. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam sort through some of the other prolific races that are drawing voters to the polls. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...
Nov 05, 2024•25 min
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are making their closing arguments with election day less than a week away. On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali preview what to expect on election night. Plus, a look at some of the competitive state legislative races in Metro Atlanta, an examination of Trump's complicated relationship with Governor Brian Kemp and how it could shape the outcome of the electio...
Nov 03, 2024•37 min•Ep. 416
On this week's Political Breakfast, we're roughly a week away from Election Day, and Georgians are early-voting in record numbers according to the Secretary of State's office. Polls still indicate a tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The team wanted to engage with WABE listeners and voters in-person ahead of election day. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined me in front of a WABE studio audience and addressed their questi...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 415
On this edition of Political Breakfast, Host Lisa Rayam asks Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson to share thoughts on the 11th hour of presidential campaigning in Georgia. A small swath of undecideds are at stake. Both flesh out their respective party's strategies to get those still "up in the air" to the polls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 29, 2024•33 min•Ep. 414
The FBI is warning that extremists with concerns about the election could turn to violence in the coming weeks. In this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take the political temperature in Georgia. Plus, former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama return to Atlanta and an explanation of those wordy and confusing ballot measures dealing with taxes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 25, 2024•21 min•Ep. 413
On this episode of Political Breakfast, we talk about Campaign ads. The GOP ads on transgender rights seem to be dominating the airwaves leading up to the November 5th election. While the the Democratic Party continues to focus on reproductive rights.....how is all of this factoring into a very tight race in Georgia? The Political Breakfast team talks about how the strategy plays out as Georgians head to the polls. Executive Director of the Atlanta Civic Circle Saba Long is in for Tharon Johnson...
Oct 22, 2024•31 min•Ep. 412
Early voting is now underway in Georgia and over 300,000 voters showed up on the first day, more than doubling the previous record set in 2020. With less than three weeks to go until election day, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the latest election news in this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast." Plus, two Georgia judges have undercut a series of controversial rules passed by the State Election Board. The rulings amounted to a rebuke of the board'...
Oct 18, 2024•21 min•Ep. 411
Early voting is underway in Georgia and former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are doing 11th-hour stumping here. Are their strategies turning-out voters and packing the polls? Trump is hitting the Peach State a little more aggressively in these next three weeks ahead of Election Day on November 5th. At the time of this Political Breakfast taping, Trump has three Georgia events penciled-in on his calendar: including two rallies in Duluth, and a pre-taped Fox town hall on ...
Oct 15, 2024•27 min•Ep. 410
Georgia's growing Indian-American community is getting more politically involved, both as voters and as candidates. On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take listeners to the Festival of India in Atlanta and discuss how this community could shape local and presidential races in Georgia. Plus, more drama with the State Election Board and actress and Smyrna native Julia Roberts campaigns for Vice President Kamala Harris in ...
Oct 11, 2024•24 min•Ep. 409
Donald Trump is coming to a rally at Gas South Arena in Duluth on October 23rd, roughly 25 miles north of Atlanta. But opponent Vice President Kamala Harris already challenged the former president to another CNN debate that same night, taking place just miles away in Atlanta. Trump has argued it's “too late” to have another presidential debate, because Americans have already started casting their ballots ahead of the November election. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategi...
Oct 10, 2024•17 min•Ep. 408
Both Republicans and Democrats are crossing political lines and banding together to help those devastated by Hurricane Helene. That's as another powerful Hurricane Milton already barrels towards the Florida coast, less than two weeks after Helene. Governor Brian Kemp and Donald Trump made an appearance together last week outside Augusta. Host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss their first appearance together in years. That comes soon...
Oct 08, 2024•6 min•Ep. 407
On this week's Political Breakfast, we discuss President Joe Biden traveling to Georgia Thursday to tour areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. Vice President Kamala Harris was in Augusta Wednesday to survey damage from the storm and former President Donald Trump made a stop in Valdosta earlier this week. Thousands across the southeast are unaccounted for, and remain without power and water. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson wondered where were President ...
Oct 04, 2024•8 min•Ep. 406
Hurricane Helene left a path of devastation across the Southeast, killing more than 200 people since making landfall in Florida. Hundreds are still missing. On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," climate reporter Emily Jones and environment reporter Marisa Mecke discuss the historic storm, how climate change is making extreme weather worse and what we can learn from the disaster. Plus, politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali unpack a judge's ruling overturning Ge...
Oct 04, 2024•30 min•Ep. 405
On this week's Political Breakfast, both presidential candidates Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are being criticized by their response to Hurricane Helene. Harris and President Joe Biden approved emergency declarations for southeastern states including Georgia. But Republicans claim Harris should've cut her West Coast stumping schedule earlier and flown immediately back to Washington D.C., got on a plane and came to the southeast. Meanwhile, Trump visited Valdosta in wake of Helen...
Oct 01, 2024•30 min•Ep. 404
With a little more than a month left until election day, Georgia's State Election Board has approved several last-minute changes to the election process, despite opposition from Republican state officials and local election officials. Tensions on the board are growing as Republican members hint that their work is not done and criticize those who question their motives. On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the new ...
Sep 27, 2024•29 min•Ep. 403
On this week's Political Breakfast, we start with former president Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance stumping in Georgia this week. The pair are traveling separately to cover more ground. Plus, more political theater from Georgia's GOP. Text messages surface that were sent by Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. The texts from Jones, a Trump ally, show he had no problem criticizing fellow state Republicans, including Gov. Brian Kemp. Those were sent in the weeks after the 2020 election as Jones...
Sep 24, 2024•27 min•Ep. 402
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a point this week and further cuts are expected between now and the end of next year. Mortgage rates have already started coming down in anticipation of the rate cuts, making it easier for many to buy a home, but home ownership still remains out of reach for millions of Americans. On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporter Sam Gringlas speaks with housing reporter Stephannie Stokes about the housing policies b...
Sep 20, 2024•26 min•Ep. 401
On the latest edition of Political Breakfast, we hone-in on the role of women voters in Georgia, and the issues that will sway them. A recent Gallup analysis found that women aged 18 to 29 are more liberal than young women in the past on specific issues, particularly abortion and the environment. All this as Vice President Kamala Harris has recently doubled-down on GOP candidate Donald Trump's running mate, JD Vance, and his past comments about how the Democratic party is being controlled by so-...
Sep 19, 2024•7 min•Ep. 400
On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team talks about the second assassination attempt on the life of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. What is this saying about the overall political climate? Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam reminisce on a tumultuous time during the 1960s. Plus both applaud what Georgia state legislators plan to do to tackle gun control and safety issues here in Georgia, weeks after the deadly shoo...
Sep 17, 2024•31 min•Ep. 399
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump debated Tuesday for the first and possibly the only time before Election Day. On this week’s episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," the team shares their stories of watching the debate. Plus, an update on the fight to keep or remove third-party and independent presidential candidates on Georgia's ballot and a rundown of recent proposals put out in response to the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia....
Sep 13, 2024•21 min•Ep. 398
On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang is live soon after the first high-stakes presidential debate between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. We know that debates don't necessarily win elections. But many surveys of voters nationwide, including undecided swing voters, suggest that Harris won the debate. Still, the latest polls show Trump and Harris are still neck-and-neck in Georgia and other battleground states, with Trump having a slight edge. Republican strategist Brian Rob...
Sep 12, 2024•8 min•Ep. 397
On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team talks about a renewed push for gun safety after the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County. Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam address the role Georgia legislators are bound to play. Plus, they ponder the question: Is a gun buyback program a viable solution? This after Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock was pressed about the topic on national television. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...
Sep 10, 2024•33 min•Ep. 396
Two students and two teachers are dead after a 14-year-old student opened fire inside a Barrow County high school on Wednesday. The student, and his 54-year-old father, are now facing multiple charges. In this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how elected officials are responding to the deadliest school shooting in Georgia history and how the tragedy has reignited the debate over the state's gun laws and school safety. See omny...
Sep 06, 2024•17 min•Ep. 395
Vice President Kamala Harris wrapped up a campaign swing in coastal Georgia with a Savannah rally on Thursday. Harris, along with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, visited a marching band practice and a barbecue restaurant, among other local stops. The goal, campaign strategists say, is to show Democrats are serious about winning votes outside of Metro Atlanta, as political reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss on this week’s episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast."...
Aug 30, 2024•20 min•Ep. 394
On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team discusses how influential Georgia Republicans are still conflicted when it comes to supporting former president Donald Trump. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's tense relationship with Donald Trump appears to be fading. He's now attending a fundraiser for Trump in Atlanta. How can this be a win/win for both? Plus former GOP Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan is now endorsing Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. He's now calling on more Republic...
Aug 29, 2024•24 min•Ep. 393
In this edition of Political Breakfast, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson's take of the Democratic National Convention. He was there in Chicago and spent time on the convention floor. Plus Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Tharon both share their take on the stumping that will be ramping-up in the battleground state of Georgia with host Lisa Rayam. Hear why they say spending time in the Peach State will make or break who comes out on top in November. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...
Aug 27, 2024•29 min•Ep. 392
