On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s "Politically Georgia" podcast, Greg Bluestein reports from Manchester, New Hampshire, on the closing rallies for the two remaining candidates for the GOP presidential nomination: Nikki Haley and Donald Trump. Will Haley surpass expectations and live to fight another day? Or will Trump become the de facto nominee of the GOP with a big New Hampshire victory? Meanwhile, Democrats are hoping for a big write-in victory for President Joe Biden, ...
Jan 23, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s "Politically Georgia" podcast, Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy handle the latest developments in the New Hampshire primary. Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein report live from the Granite State. Both were with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley when she learned that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had ended his presidential bid. The hosts discuss how this development affects the dynamics of the GOP primary race. Some...
Jan 22, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson previews the New Hampshire primary. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia,” the hosts welcome Hutchinson, who earlier this week ended his long shot bid for the GOP presidential nomination. Hutchinson ran as a mainstream conservative Republican who warned that putting Donald Trump back in the White House would be bad for the country. He dropped out of the race when he finished sixth in the Iowa caucus...
Jan 19, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast The cost of Atlanta’s training center jumps to $109 million. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia,” the cost of Atlanta’s public safety training center has increased by $19 million. Plus, the team breaks down highlights from the AJC’s new poll. Among them are Georgians' feelings about the fairness of the state’s elections. And, Cobb County Democrat Jerica Richardson has announced she’ll continue to run for the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District seat. It’s a race...
Jan 18, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast New polling sheds light on school voucher debate. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia,” education reporter Martha Dalton joins the podcast to talk about anew AJC poll finding that a majority of Georgia registered voters oppose a GOP legislative measure to establish vouchers for private or home-school education. Dalton also shares what she learned when U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visited with AJC reporters and others Tuesday. Then, a look at another key re...
Jan 17, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Iowa overcomes frigid temperatures, some flurries make their way to Atlanta. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia,” Tia Mitchell joins the podcast from Iowa to report on former President Donald Trump's caucus victory and the roll Georgians played in helping him win big. And as she headed back to Atlanta, Patricia Murphy filed a report on her takeaways from Iowa. Then, the hosts discuss the results of a new AJC poll on the presidential race in Georgia. At this stage...
Jan 16, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast All eyes on are icy Iowa ahead of the caucuses there tonight. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's ‘Politically Georgia’, Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy join the show to report on their adventures covering the run-up to the Iowa caucuses as sub-zero temperatures grip the state. Rick Dent offers insights based on his years of work as an adviser to three Southern governors and as a political consultant. Then, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks publicly for the first time a...
Jan 15, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast All eyes are on Iowa as frigid temperatures threaten turnout for that state's caucuses. On this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's “Politically Georgia” podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut discuss what they expect to see from Monday's caucuses. First up, state Rep. Scott Hilton joins the podcast before packing his heaviest winter coat and heading to Iowa to campaign on behalf of Nikki Haley. He says he’ll be a surrogate for Haley in a Cedar Rapids caucus site...
Jan 12, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gov. Brian Kemp provides a temperature check on the Peach State with his State of the State address. On this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's “Politically Georgia” podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein discuss what they expect to see in the governor's speech. Then, the AJC's Adam Van Brimmer discusses the narrowing GOP field in the race for president. On Wednesday, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ended his campaign. But it was not without controversy, a...
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast New allegations against District Attorney Fani Willis energize critics of Fulton County's election-interference case against former President Donald Trump. On this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein talk with professors Anthony Michael Kreis and Fred Smith about the latest legal headlines. First up, no evidence has yet emerged supporting a motion filed in Fulton County Superior Court alleging an inappr...
Jan 10, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vice President Kamala Harris touches down in Atlanta today. On this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein talk with Georgia House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration about GOP priorities this session. Then, moving to the other side of the political aisle, the podcast welcomes Democratic strategist Justin Kirnon. He discusses the importance of Democrats not only mobilizing Black voters to turn out for Preside...
Jan 09, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Georgia legislature gavels in for 2024. On this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell cover the issues that are on lawmakers' plates this go-round, including expansion of Medicaid; a push to establish vouchers for private school education and an effort to pass the bill that would establish a definition for antisemitism. Plus, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has signed on to a legal brief supporting Donald Trump’s effo...
Jan 08, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell talk with Georgia Democratic Congresswoman and Chair of the State Democratic Party Nikema Williams. Williams discusses her concerns that Republicans in the U.S. House don’t appear to have a plan for addressing key issues facing Congress in the weeks ahead. We also hear from Secretary of State spokesman Gabe Sterling, who talks about his ongoing concerns that ele...
Jan 05, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein and Bill Nigut narrow in on the legislative session. Up first, a heated election year might bring more changes to Georgia voting laws. The AJC's Mark Niesse explains a long list of potential election measures could be debated in the Republican-run General Assembly. Then, on the other side of the aisle Democrats Sen. Harold Jones II and Rep. Sam Park let us in on their agend...
Jan 04, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast A federal judge has rejected a Democratic lawsuit claiming illegal efforts to suppress votes in 2022 Georgia election. In today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hists Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell discuss the impact of the ruling by federal Judge Steve Jones, rejecting a lawsuit filed by Fair Fight Action against True the Vote accusing the group of illegally working to suppress the votes of hundreds of thousands of Georgians in the 2022 election. Plus, T...
Jan 03, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Political news did not take a break while you were ringing in the new year. On today’s episode of the AJC’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut cover the big political stories that broke over the holidays, including federal Judge Steve Jones’s approval of the newly drawn legislative and congressional maps in Georgia. Also making headlines was a spate of so-called “swatting” incidents involving elected Georgia officials. Our hosts also look ahead to n...
Jan 02, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today's episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut look at the top political moments of 2023 and share what they are looking for in 2024. From Peachtree Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, our hosts also look at Georgia’s important role in determining who wins the White House in 2024. Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can ...
Dec 29, 2023•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut look at the 2024 agenda from the perspectives of the right and the left. GOP Congressman Buddy Carter and Executive Director of Care in Action, Hillary Holley discuss the issues they’ll be focused on in the coming year. Plus, Tia and Bill answer questions from the listener mailbag and name those who they think are up and down this week. Have a question for the show? Call the 24...
Dec 22, 2023•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger managed to avoid a formal investigation by the State Election Board into his actions during the 2020 election. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein explain how the attempt is sounding alarm bells under the Gold Dome. Ed Lindsey who serves on the board joins, and voted yes to investigate Raffensperger, joins the podcast. Plus, Judge Steve Jones has begun the hearing to determ...
Dec 21, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a historic decision, the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that former President Donald Trump cannot hold office again and issued a ruling that his name be removed from the state’s Republican primary ballot. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell examine whether the Colorado ruling disqualifying trump could have implications here in Georgia. GSU law professor Anthony Michael Kreis joins the program with his insigh...
Dec 20, 2023•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas for state employees and educators here in Georgia. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein and Bill Nigut discuss the $1,000 bonus Governor Brian Kemp has approved for 308,000 state employees, teachers and school staff at the cost of about $330 million. AJC education reporter Martha Dalton joins the podcast with details on the bonuses. Looking ahead to tomorrow, Judge Steve Jones will r...
Dec 19, 2023•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Republican leadership in Georgia is looking at the possible expansion of Medicaid in Georgia. In this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell look at the idea floated by Georgia Republicans of expanding Medicaid in exchange for rolling back Certificate of Need regulations. Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver and political strategist Brian Robinson join the discussion. Plus, Republicans continue to hold out for a deal to increase U.S. bor...
Dec 18, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this special edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, we share with you this week’s live Politically Georgia launch party event at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta. Hear AJC president and publisher Andrew Morse lay out plans to transform this storied newspaper into a major modern media company. Morse introduces to the stage Politically Georgia hosts Greg Blustein, Patricia Murphy, Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut and talks about Georgia’s influence on 2024 presidential ...
Dec 16, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The hosts start off with another exclusive from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. We found the apology letters written by two of the attorneys who struck plea agreements in the Fulton County election interference case are just one sentence long and handwritten on lined notebook paper. Then, Georgia U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson will retire at the end of his term. As his seat is drawn now, his 3rd District is still a GOP stronghold. But Georgia's congressional map is currently under a judge's review. F...
Dec 15, 2023•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast The hosts start with news that broke just before they began the podcast: Republican U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson announced he won’t run for reelection after four terms in the U.S. House. Then, Hallerman joins the podcast to discuss the revealing interview she and AJC reporter Bill Rankin conducted with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Will she run for higher office? Will she be in the courtroom as a prosecutor in Fulton's election conspiracy case against former President Donald Trump? How...
Dec 14, 2023•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politcially Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell discuss a wide-ranging interview Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein conducted with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Then, State Rep. Mesha Mainor talks about her support for another effort by GOP legislators to pass a school voucher bill during the 2024 session of the General Assembly. Mainor’s frustration with Democrats’ refusal to support the measure las...
Dec 13, 2023•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, The AJC Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut talk with former Governor Chris Christie as he continues his campaign for the GOP nomination for president. In comments related to Georgia, Christie says the road to the White House passes through our state. Then, AJC health policy reporter Ariel Hart explains what appears to be a significant effort among GOP legislative leaders to consider a full expansion of Medicaid ...
Dec 12, 2023•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell dive into a new poll from CNN, published overnight, that gives Donald Trump a five-point lead over President Biden in Georgia. Meanwhile, a new Wall Street Journal poll shows Donald Trump ahead of President Biden for the first time in the national race. What do these snapshots tell us as we’re less than a year ahead from the election? WABE’s Tharon Johnson and Sam Gringlas help...
Dec 11, 2023•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast First up on "Politically Georgia": We’ll dive deeper into Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign with South Carolina-based Associated Press reporter Meg Kinnard. Plus, Republican lawmakers made U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath’s reelection to the House more difficult. But what if they've actually made her a stronger candidate down the road? Then, a federal jury will soon consider how much Rudy Giuliani should pay for spreading pernicious lies about the 2020 presidential election. And it’s Friday, so we’ll dip...
Dec 08, 2023•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast First up: A look at an Atlanta Journal-Constitution exclusive: Tamar Hallerman joins the podcast to discuss the list of potential witnesses Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis may call in the election conspiracy case against Donald Trump. Former members of the Trump administration on the list obtained by the AJC include Vice President Mike Pence and Attorney General Bill Barr, plus state GOP leaders including Gov. Brian Kemp, Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffen...
Dec 07, 2023•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
