Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions in this Monday mailbag episode of Politically Georgia. They start with whether Senate Republicans made a strategic mistake by voting against Affordable Care Act health care subsidies as costs rise for Georgians. They explain why Democrats forced those votes, how GOP candidates are defending them, and why the issue is likely to loom large in the U.S. Senate race. They also touch on a brewing fight over “academic redshirting” in Georg...
Jan 26, 2026•30 min
Host Greg Bluestein is joined by Patricia Murphy for an in-depth conversation with Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. Carr lays out an anti-corruption proposal that he says would be the toughest in the nation, and explains why cleaning up state and local government is a central plank of his campaign for governor. Greg and Patricia discuss how Carr’s pitch fits into a crowded GOP primary, the growing voter frustration with ethics and transparency, and how his record as attorney general shapes h...
Jan 22, 2026•30 min
Host Patricia Murphy devotes the episode to education policy as Georgia’s legislative session gets underway. She speaks with Rep. Scott Hilton about expanding Georgia’s cellphone ban from middle schools to high schools, the early results from existing restrictions, and why lawmakers say limiting screen time is improving student engagement and mental health. In the second segment, Patricia is joined by Rep. Stacey Evans to discuss Governor Brian Kemp’s proposal to create Georgia’s first need-base...
Jan 21, 2026•30 min
Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down Governor Brian Kemp’s State of the State address, where he dipped deeper into Georgia’s surplus while warning future leaders against draining the rainy day fund. They analyze the political message behind Kemp’s final budget, including tax rebates, a surprise push for need-based scholarships, and why he pushed back on sweeping income tax elimination plans. Then, Greg and Patricia turn to the escalating money wars shaping Georgia’s 2026 races. They exa...
Jan 20, 2026•31 min
On this special Martin Luther King Jr. Day episode, host Greg Bluestein is joined by Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy for a look back at one of the most consequential civil rights battles in Georgia politics. Producer Natalie Mendenhall tells the story of Julian Bond, who was elected to the Georgia House in 1965 but blocked from taking office by fellow lawmakers, sparking protests, national outrage, and a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The episode also features Natalie’s interview with Michael J...
Jan 19, 2026•27 min
Host Greg Bluestein is joined by Patricia Murphy to break down the early tone of Georgia’s legislative session, as lawmakers shift their focus toward affordability and major tax proposals instead of the culture-war battles that have dominated recent years. They examine Governor Brian Kemp’s emerging agenda, including billions in transportation spending and a surprise push to address homelessness, and why Republicans say rising costs are now impossible to ignore. Patricia then shares her recorded...
Jan 15, 2026•38 min
Greg Bluestein is joined by AJC Washington bureau chief Tia Mitchell to break down the high-stakes fight over expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and what it could mean for hundreds of thousands of Georgians facing higher premiums or losing coverage altogether. They examine how the issue is shaping campaign messaging, why some Republicans broke ranks in the House, and how health care is emerging as a central political fault line ahead of the 2026 elections. The conversation then turns to the ...
Jan 14, 2026•33 min
Host Greg Bluestein is joined by Patricia Murphy as Georgia’s 2026 legislative session gets underway. They break down the mood inside the Capitol on opening day, lingering tensions between the House and Senate after last year’s abrupt finish, and how a crowded field of lawmakers running for higher office is shaping the dynamics from the start. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and a...
Jan 13, 2026•35 min
As Georgia’s 2026 legislative session begins, host Greg Bluestein is joined by Patricia Murphy to preview the fights and priorities lawmakers will tackle under the Gold Dome. Patricia shares highlights from her one-on-one interview with House Speaker Jon Burns, recorded at his home in rural Newington, where he outlines his focus on affordability, literacy, and property tax relief. The hosts break down the emerging tension between House and Senate leaders over competing tax plans, the political s...
Jan 12, 2026•37 min
Host Greg Bluestein is joined by AJC Washington bureau chief Tia Mitchell to break down the political aftershocks from the fifth anniversary of the January 6 attack, including testimony from former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and its impact on Georgia’s governor’s race. They examine how 2020 election claims continue to influence GOP politics, particularly as candidates like Bert Jones and Duncan stake out sharply different paths. Then, Tia walks through a new ethics investigation involving a top aide ...
Jan 08, 2026•29 min
Host Greg Bluestein is joined by AJC Atlanta City Hall reporter Riley Bunch to break down Mayor Andre Dickens’ second term as he begins his final years in office. They examine how Dickens enters with a stronger political position, fewer organized opponents, and an ambitious agenda, while looking ahead to the challenges facing City Hall, from shrinking federal support to major redevelopment plans and preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24...
Jan 07, 2026•27 min
Hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, and Tia Mitchell break down the political shockwaves from Marjorie Taylor Greene’s decision to step away from Congress and publicly split with former President Donald Trump. They explore what her resignation says about fractures within the MAGA movement, whether her populist message could still resonate with Georgia voters, and why her next political move remains an open question. Then the conversation widens to Georgia’s reaction to a dramatic U.S. militar...
Jan 06, 2026•32 min
Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy kick off the new year by laying out the biggest questions that will shape Georgia politics in 2026. They examine whether Democrats can sustain recent momentum, how closely Republicans will continue to align with Donald Trump, and what early polling says about the governor’s race. The hosts also dig into the crowded Senate contest, Governor Brian Kemp’s final year in office and future ambitions, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s next chapter, and the issues most li...
Jan 05, 2026•31 min
Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy look back at the questions they thought would define Georgia politics in 2025 and how events actually unfolded. They examine Donald Trump’s renewed influence on the state, from federal policy shifts to actions at the Capitol, and the political fallout from the collapse of the Fulton County election interference case. The episode also looks ahead to 2026, including Governor Brian Kemp’s decision not to run for U.S. Senate, the crowded Republican field that follo...
Dec 31, 2025•32 min
Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy dig into the growing use of AI-generated political ads in Georgia, including concerns that the technology could mislead voters as the 2026 campaign cycle ramps up. They explain why state lawmakers want clearer disclosure rules, how those efforts could clash with federal law, and why both parties expect AI to become a permanent feature of modern campaigning. In the second segment, the hosts turn to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and scrutiny surroun...
Dec 30, 2025•30 min
On the one-year mark since President Jimmy Carter’s death, hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy reflect on Carter’s lasting legacy in his hometown of Plains and what it means for Georgia today. Patricia shares voices from the community that helped shape Carter’s life and values, offering a portrait of how the small town continues to carry his example forward. Then they turn to the 2026 campaign trail, as Patricia takes listeners inside her reporting with two Democratic candidates for governo...
Dec 29, 2025•27 min
Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell examine the deepening divide over health care as enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expire, threatening steep premium increases for more than one million Georgians. They break down why Congress failed to act, the political risks for both parties, and how health care affordability is shaping the 2026 election landscape. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your que...
Dec 23, 2025•23 min
Hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell examine how Donald Trump continues to loom over Georgia politics, from congressional battles in Washington to the early maneuvering for the state’s 2026 elections. They break down how Trump’s influence is shaping Republican strategy, complicating policy debates like health care and government funding, and forcing Democrats to calibrate their messaging in a deeply divided state. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Geo...
Dec 22, 2025•32 min
Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the explosive testimony from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis before a newly formed Georgia Senate investigative committee. They describe a tense, highly political hearing marked by sharp exchanges, questions about her handling of the Trump election interference case, and clear ambitions from Republican lawmakers eyeing higher office. The hosts also examine what the testimony means for Willis’ future, how lawmakers could still try to...
Dec 18, 2025•23 min
Host Greg Bluestein is joined by Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King, who warns Republicans are at risk of falling behind after recent Democratic victories and urges the party to sharpen its message on affordability, insurance costs, and voter engagement ahead of 2026. Then, Georgia Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon joins Greg to assess what went wrong in recent elections, defend the party’s record on the economy, and lay out the GOP’s strategy for holding the Senate seat currently held by...
Dec 17, 2025•34 min
Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy are joined by Rep.-elect Eric Gisler, who explains how Democrats flipped a northeast Georgia House seat by focusing on affordability, health care access, and voter fatigue with partisan extremes. In the second segment, Georgia Democratic Party chair Charlie Bailey joins the show to discuss what the victory means for 2026, how Democrats plan to compete in traditionally Republican territory, and why party leaders believe recent wins point to a broader openi...
Dec 16, 2025•36 min
Host Greg Bluestein breaks down the surprise Democratic victory in a northeast Georgia special election and what it signals for 2026 as both parties recalibrate their affordability messaging. Then Washington bureau chief Tia Mitchell joins Greg for the Monday Mailbag segment to answer listener questions on independent voters, political labels, and Georgia’s fast-growing data center debate. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 77...
Dec 15, 2025•24 min
Greg Bluestein and AJC Washington bureau chief Tia Mitchell break down the Senate vote on health care subsidies and the political risks as Congress races toward year-end deadlines. They also examine Marjorie Taylor Greene’s upcoming resignation, her split with Donald Trump, and the early maneuvering to fill her seat in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your ...
Dec 11, 2025•32 min
AJC Washington bureau chief Tia Mitchell sits down for an extended and candid conversation with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene as she reflects on her decision to resign from Congress, her high-profile split with President Donald Trump, and the political and personal pressures that shaped her final months in office. Greene discusses the evolution of her relationship with Trump, growing policy rifts, her push to release the Epstein files, and the threats and backlash that followed. She also ...
Dec 10, 2025•43 min
Hosts Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down what to expect from Georgia’s 2026 legislative session as lawmakers brace for a turbulent election-year showdown under the Gold Dome. With Governor Brian Kemp entering his final session, five senators running for lieutenant governor, and multiple statewide candidates shaping their agendas from inside the Capitol, Greg and Patricia Murphy outline why Republicans fear appearing chaotic and why Democrats see opportunity. Have a question or comment...
Dec 09, 2025•35 min
Host Greg Bluestein and AJC business reporter Zach Hansen break down Georgia’s fast-growing data center boom, including a proposed $21 billion project in Forsyth that’s raising questions about power demand, water use, and local pushback. Then Washington bureau chief Tia Mitchell joins Greg for the Monday Mailbag to answer listener questions on 2026 politics, tax proposals, and the latest moves from Georgia’s biggest contenders. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Po...
Dec 08, 2025•30 min
Host Greg Bluestein and Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell break down Congress’ return to the Hill for a packed December, with only a handful of working days to address health care subsidies, shutdown pressures, and new scrutiny facing Congressman Mike Collins. Then, Greg talks with AJC reporter Zach Hansen about the fallout from the Hyundai immigration raid and why it’s straining relations between Georgia and South Korea. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Poli...
Dec 04, 2025•32 min
Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy are joined by Tia Mitchell for a conversation with state Rep. Houston Gaines, the early Republican frontrunner for the open Northeast Georgia congressional seat. Gaines outlines why he’s running for Congress, his record on immigration, public safety, and parental leave, and why affordability is the issue he hears most from voters. Then Patricia shares her reporting from the campaign trail with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Esteves. She follows him at...
Dec 03, 2025•32 min
Hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, and Tia Mitchell break down the stunning decision that ended Fulton County’s election interference case against Donald Trump and his co-defendants. AJC senior reporter Tamar Hallerman explains how misconduct allegations, a failed search for a new prosecutor, and a blistering review of key charges led to the case’s collapse. She also details what it means for Georgia’s “fake electors,” the Ruby Freeman investigation, and why Fulton County taxpayers could now...
Dec 02, 2025•30 min
On Politically Georgia, host Greg Bluestein talks with Sam Foster, the 24-year-old IT specialist who came within 87 votes of unseating Marietta’s four-term mayor. Foster explains why he jumped into the race, how TikTok and grassroots organizing fueled his surge, and what his campaign says about Georgia’s push for generational change in local politics. Then Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell joins Greg for a segment of Monday Mailbag, where they answer questions about Georgia’s income-tax deba...
Dec 01, 2025•28 min
