This Political Breakfast, the gang dives into a recent New York Times article about Georgia U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff -- the state's first Jewish Senator -- losing Jewish support. The Times wrote some Democratic donors and Jewish leaders are unhappy with Ossoff's position and criticism of the Israel-Hamas war. A bipartisan group of Jewish leaders even urged Georgia GOP Governor Brian Kemp to run against Ossoff in next year's Senate race. Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategi...
Feb 20, 2025•21 min
On this week's first Political Breakfast, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp responds to Donald Trump's administration firing roughly 13-hundred workers at Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Employees told NPR they wish to remain anonymous, and reported the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency cut about 10 percent of the workforce. Meanwhile, is Kemp setting the stage to announce a U.S. Senate run next year? Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tha...
Feb 18, 2025•25 min
Georgia state lawmakers this week started digging into Governor Brian Kemp’s signature policy push this session – overhauling the state’s civil litigation rules, often referred to as tort or lawsuit reform. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali bring listeners into the first committee hearing on the issue, where lawmakers and a packed room of observers got to hear from people on different sides of the debate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...
Feb 14, 2025•18 min•Ep. 449
New candidates are hinting they'll run to replace Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in 2026. On this epidose of Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss two in particular: GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Democratic State Senator Jason Esteves. The team re-visits former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms interest in a possible gubernatorial run, and Governor Kemp possibly running for U.S. Senate. See omnyst...
Feb 11, 2025•8 min
Lawmakers are wrapping up a busy week at the State Capitol as they take their first votes on the budget and banning transgender girls from playing on girls school sports teams. On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss these and other new legislative proposals including on school safety. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 07, 2025•20 min•Ep. 447
On this week's second edition of Political Breakfast, we focus on Governor Brian Kemp's highest legislative priority this session: Tort reform. Kemp has been pushing the issue for years, and believes that the laws on our books make it too easy to bring "frivolous lawsuits against Georgia business owners." He's said excessive civil litigation drives up the price of insurance, and stops job growth in communities that need them the most. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategis...
Feb 06, 2025•17 min
On this week's Political Breakfast, we reflect on Black History Month amid attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives in the workplace from President Donald Trump's administration. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam touch on Trump blaming the recent horrific Philadelphia plane and helicopter crash on DEI. Plus, tariffs. Trump is threatening to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, but those are now hel...
Feb 04, 2025•18 min
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has outlined his top legislative priority – reigning in civil litigation, often referred to as tort reform. Also on this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a closer look at Democrats' effort to expand Medicaid in Georgia, and their proposal's difficult path ahead. Plus, President Donald Trump's moves to reshape the government are already starting to play out in Georgia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...
Jan 31, 2025•23 min•Ep. 444
On this episode of Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and Republican strategist Brian Robinson focus on Georgia's 2026 gubernatorial race. Democrat and Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is considering running. That's after serving as an international trade advisor to President Joe Biden. But that's as candidates on both sides are starting to make bids. Georgia GOP Attorney General Chris Carr has already raised roughly 2.2 million in the first 40 da...
Jan 30, 2025•20 min
President Donald Trump has been president for a week -- and it's already hard to keep up with his barrage of executive orders. One controversial move: Trump shuttered communications from federal health agencies, including the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, until February 1st. Agencies subject to this include the CDC, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. Plus, as promised throughout his presidential campaign, Trump is enacting mass dep...
Jan 28, 2025•20 min
As temperatures plunged, Georgia and Washington, D.C. prepared for the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. On this week’s “Plugged In,” WABE Politics Reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the first week of the new administration, the ongoing court fight over Georgia’s redistricting maps and the state’s response to bird flu in two commercial flocks. We also hear from one of the January 6th defendants from Georgia who received a pardon – and a prosecutor who worked on many of th...
Jan 24, 2025•25 min•Ep. 441
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp delivered his seventh State of the State address at the State Capitol on Thursday. In it he applauded the state’s resilience through natural disasters, the pandemic, economic upheaval and a deadly school shooting and cast Georgia’s approach to health, budgeting and public safety as a model for other states to emulate, declaring “the Georgia Way is indeed the better way.” On this week’s episode of “Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali...
Jan 17, 2025•24 min•Ep. 440
On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson reflect with host Lisa Rayam on the first week of Georgia lawmakers getting back to business under the Gold Dome. Both attended one of the most anticipated political events of the new year: Eggs and Issues. That's when every January, thousands of the state's top elected officials, business leaders and policy stakeholders convene in Atlanta to set the agenda for what's to come. Plus, ...
Jan 16, 2025•8 min
Georgia’s only president, Jimmy Carter, was laid to rest this week in the rural corner of Southwest Georgia where he was born a century ago. On this week’s episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali share what they saw and heard as Carter’s life and accomplishments were celebrated throughout Georgia. Plus, a preview of the 2025 legislative session, which kicks off next week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 10, 2025•20 min•Ep. 438
As the start of the new legislative session looms, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson say the issue of public safety is sure to be a top priority. Just last week MARTA bus driver Leroy Ramos was shot and killed outside the Decatur station, allegedly over a fare dispute. Three juveniles were swiftly arrested. Tharon and Brian join host Lisa Rayam to weigh-in on public safety and gun violence, plus other issues that should get tossed around under the Gold...
Jan 09, 2025•7 min
Here on the first Political Breakfast podcast of 2025, we pay tribute to the late-President and humanitarian Jimmy Carter. Also, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson share with host Lisa Rayam their wish-list for state legislators, as they prepare to head back to work soon. The start of Georgia's new legislative session is just days away. Plus, thoughts the New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 07, 2025•32 min
Former President Jimmy Carter died Sunday at 100. On this encore episode, WABE's Sam Gringlas looks at how two tiny towns in South Georgia shaped two U.S. presidents. We also preview six days of tributes planned to celebrate the life of the 39th president. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 03, 2025•24 min•Ep. 435
On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team reflects on the legacy of Vincent Fort. The former Georgia lawmaker recently lost his battle with cancer. During his time as a state senator, Fort was known as a voice for the underserved. He took on housing reform and a host of civil rights issues. Host Lisa Rayam along with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson share their personal insights. Plus, wrapping up 2024. The team talks about some of the biggest ...
Dec 25, 2024•30 min
On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," we take stock of the year in Georgia politics, including a recent court decision removing Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election interference case , which represents the last remaining criminal charges against President-elect Donald Trump. Plus we look ahead to 2025 and test our editors' knowledge of the news in 2024 with a "Plugged In" game show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 20, 2024•45 min•Ep. 433
On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang talks about another Georgian who's been tapped to serve alongside President-elect Donald Trump. Trump announced Saturday that he's picked former Buckhead cityhood leader Bill White to serve as his ambassador to Belgium. White donated millions to Trump's 2024 campaign. Simultaneously, White pushed for Georgia lawmakers to split the affluent Atlanta Buckhead neighborhood into its own municipality. In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social...
Dec 19, 2024•9 min
This week the Political Breakfast team talks tort reform, and how Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is making this a top priority during the 2025 legislative session. That starts in just a few weeks after the new year. Kemp has been bringing it up at gatherings like the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's Congressional Luncheon for years. He told lawmakers in 2023 that the laws on our books make it "too easy to bring frivolous lawsuits against Georgia business owners" which eventually drives-up the price of...
Dec 18, 2024•25 min
Twenty-two new state lawmakers will take their seats at the State Capitol when the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes on January 13th. Among them is Bryce Berry, who at just 23 is one of the youngest state lawmakers in Georgia history. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with reporter Jasmine Robinson, who recently talked with the freshman lawmaker . Plus, a look inside the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, which pro...
Dec 13, 2024•25 min•Ep. 430
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam tackle the issue of immigration, and President-elect Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations once taking office. How are Georgia families dealing with the prospect of possibly being forced to leave? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 12, 2024•20 min
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam talk about the startling social media comments that emerged after the execution-style murder of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson. Some of the comments were so shocking, they sparked both Brian and Tharon to ponder the current state of America. (Note: Since the taping of this podcast, authorities have arrested a suspect and charged him with murder.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
Dec 10, 2024•14 min
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a lot of ideas about how to reshape healthcare in America. He's President-Elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Potential changes are worrying public health experts. Policy shifts are also expected at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali continu...
Dec 06, 2024•26 min•Ep. 427
A lot transpired over the Thanksgiving holiday. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr slipped in the announcement that he's running for Governor. Strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, along with host Lisa Rayam, discuss the strategic timing of his announcement. Plus, will this news mobilize the Democratic Party and dredge-up familiar names like Stacey Abrams? Plus, the presidential pardon fallout involving Hunter Biden. The team also pays tribute to the late Bruce Thompson, Georgia's form...
Dec 03, 2024•46 min
President-elect Donald Trump has picked several immigration hard-liners for top posts and he plans to fill key energy and environment roles with oil and gas supporters who have pledged to slash regulations. On this week’s episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with immigration reporter Emily Wu Pearson and environment reporter Marisa Mecke about how the incoming Trump administration could affect the state of Georgia. See omnystudio.com/listener ...
Nov 22, 2024•20 min•Ep. 425
Hefty pay raises are being proposed for all city council members come 2026, including for the Mayoral position. The Mayor could see a salary increase from $202K to $271K, and city council members would go from roughly $72K to $127K. Republican strategist Brian Robinson, the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and host Lisa Rayam share their thoughts on those raises, and reforms that should come with them. Plus, early voting starts this Saturday for a December 3rd runoff election, to fill a vacant A...
Nov 21, 2024•23 min
On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team discusses strategy on the part of the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party as she prepares to leave the post. There was a concerted call for U.S. Representative Nikema Williams to resign after Democrats showed up poorly on November 5th. Leading the charge is U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff who is up for reelection in 2026. The Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long is in for Tharon Johnson this week. Saba, along with Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and ho...
Nov 19, 2024•27 min
Every Georgia county has now certified the results of the 2024 election. Historically, this has been a relatively uncontroversial procedural step. Since 2020, that hasn't been the case. But with Donald Trump's victory in Georgia, talk of election fraud has died down. In this week's edition of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali describe how the state is grappling with the fallout of the 2024 election. Plus, Georgia Democrats assess what went wrong, Georgi...
Nov 15, 2024•20 min•Ep. 422
