On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell, Bill Nigut, Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein review the first night of the Democratic National Convention. Guests Georgia Democratic political strategist Tharon Johnson and state Representative Saira Draper join the podcast to discussing the prime time speech of Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. And they look at the ...
Aug 20, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell, Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell discuss the excitement Georgia delegates are feeling as they arrived in Chicago with the belief that Kamala Harris’ ascension to the top of the ticket gives them a stronger chance to win the White House in November. And they preview the expected celebration of President Biden’s long career in public life and thank him for making the difficult decis...
Aug 19, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast First up: Nigut and Bluestein look at former President Donald Trump’s second news conference in a week. This one was arranged for him to highlight the high prices of groceries and housing since President Joe Biden took office. But Trump deviated from his prepared remarks and launched more personal attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris. Plus, Bluestein and Nigut discuss the first joint campaign appearance of Harris and Biden, who celebrated the negotiations that will lower the costs Medicare pa...
Aug 16, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast State representative Shelly Hutchinson is headed to Chicago as a delegate to next week’s Democratic National convention. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Hutchinson talks about how Kamala Harris has sparked new excitement and “joy” among Democrats who now believe they have a good chance to win the White House. Later, Melita Easters, founder and executive director of the Georgia WIN List joins the podcast to look at how Kamala Harris’ ascension...
Aug 15, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Shirley Franklin’s parallels with Kamala Harris are significant: Franklin became the first African American woman to be elected mayor of a major southern American city. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, the AJC’s Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell hosts ask the former mayor if she learned lessons during her campaign that may be of value for Vice President Harris’ campaign. Later, Josh McKoon, the chairman of Georgia’s Republican Party joins the podcas...
Aug 14, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, AJC elections reporter Mark Niesse joins the podcast to discuss how the MAGA-controlled state election board appears to be passing rules that could allow Donald Trump to challenge the results of the Georgia election is he loses the state. Then, the hosts discuss the conversation between Trump supporter Elon Musk and Trump on Musks’ platform X. Trump used the opportunity to attack Fulton County DA Fani Willis fo...
Aug 13, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, prominent Georgia immigration attorney Charles Kuck joins the AJC’s Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell to fact check claims being made by both the Trump and Harris campaigns about the crisis at the southern border. But first, Rep. Sanford Bishop joins the podcast to discuss Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s voting record and ability to work across the aisle during Walz’s six terms in the U.S. House. Pl...
Aug 12, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Senator Jon Ossoff joins the AJC’s Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut to discuss the bill now signed into law that creates an oversight mechanism to monitor federal prisons. The new law is the result of an investigation Ossoff led for some two years, looking into dangerous conditions for both inmates and staff. Then, Greg Bluestein reports live from Erick Erickson’s Gathering, a national conference of conservative lea...
Aug 09, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast School superintendent Richard Woods has reversed his initial decision to deny state funding for a new Advanced Placement African American history curriculum. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, state Senator Nikki Merritt joins the AJC’s Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein and Bill Nigut to discuss the decision to move forward with funding for the program in Georgia’s public schools. But first, Stephen Lawson, a former top aide to Republican Speaker ...
Aug 08, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vice President Kamala Harris holds her first rally with her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell talk with Democratic DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond about the roll out of the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz ticket at a rally in Philadelphia. Thurmond weighs in, too, on the decision by state school superintendent Richard Woods to reject certifying the new African American s...
Aug 07, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vice President Kamala Harris chooses Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut look at Harris’ choice of running mate and the official Democratic ticket. Former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan weighs in on the vice presidential picks and he discusses the Georgia GOP effort to drum him out of the Republican Party for his endo...
Aug 06, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast At his Saturday rally in Atlanta, former President Donald Trump attacked Governor Brian Kemp and other Georgia Republicans wile claiming he won the 2020 presidential election. On today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy look at Donald Trump’s grievance-filled weekend rally in Atlanta. Then, a discussion of Kamala Harris’ top choices for a running mate as she prepares to announce her pick....
Aug 05, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former President Donald Trump holds his first joint rally in Atlanta Saturday with his newly christened running mate U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. On today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, host Bill Nigut and former AJC politics columnist Jim Galloway look ahead to the rally being held at the same location as Vice President Kamala Harris’ rally this past week. AP national politics reporter Meg Kinnard joins to look at why Democrats have embraced so quick...
Aug 02, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a short yet combative interview at the National Association of Black Journalists’ convention, former President Donald Trump repeated campaign trail falsehoods and questioning whether Kamala Harris is Black while disparaging his hosts. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, AJC Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell joins the podcast to talk about how Donald Trump was received by journalists as he sparred with interviewers during his contentious se...
Aug 01, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast It was an event some are calling a uniquely Atlanta event that combined a fiery campaign stump speech with high-energy hip-hop performances. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein discuss Kamala Harris’ first rally in Atlanta since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. Katy Gates of “Voters for Tomorrow” joins the podcast with thoughts on whether the Harris campaign is energizing young voters ...
Jul 31, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in Atlanta today holding her first rally is the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic ticket. On today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, host Bill Nigut and special co-host Tamar Hallerman preview this evening’s rally with State Democratic Party Chair, Congresswoman Nikema Williams. They also discuss how the campaign is ramping up the effort to win Georgia. Greg Bluestein is covering the Vice President’...
Jul 30, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear campaigns in Georgia Kamala Harris. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia Podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein discuss why the location of Beshear’s rally is of particular interest. But first, former Democratic Governor Roy Barnes joins the podcast to share his thoughts on what the ascension of Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket may mean for Democrats’ chances of victory in Georgia and natio...
Jul 29, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast A look back at one of the most extraordinary weeks in recent American political history. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein look at new polling that indicates Trump still leads in swing states, with Harris closing gap. We’ll also look at how Georgia members of congress responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington as well as the prime minister’s meeting with Vice Presiden...
Jul 26, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Joe Biden’s addressed the nationa last night from the Oval Office, explaining to the American people why he decided to end his reelection bid. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Congressman Buddy Carter and State Senator Derek Mallow join the program with reaction. Then, a look at Donald Trump’s attacks on Kamala Harris at his rally in North Carolina. Plus, a discussion of state School Superintendent Richard Woods’ decision not to allo...
Jul 25, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, now a senior adviser to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, describes how the candidate is bringing new energy to Democrats, who feared that President Joe Biden would have struggled to beat former President Donald Trump. But despite the new enthusiasm Black female voters are feeling for Harris, and the possibility that young voters could embrace her, Bottoms acknowledges that Trump will still be challenging to beat. Then, former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan,...
Jul 24, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast The AJC’s Politically Georgia On the Road tour continues in Savannah, Georgia. On today’s episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock joins the show live just hours after President Joe Biden ended his bid for reelection and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Warnock was the fourth in a quartet of guests for the live show, following Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in Atlanta, Gov. Brian Kemp in Athens and former Gov. Sonny Perdue in Macon. M...
Jul 23, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast The podcast looks at the aftermath of the stunning turn of events Sunday when President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the Democrats' likely new presidential candidate. The hosts talk with Van Johnson, mayor of Savannah and a member of the Democratic National Committee. The mayor said he supports Harris for the Democratic nomination. Then, Democratic state Rep. Shelly Hutchinson, who will be a delegate to the party's convention next month, tells the...
Jul 22, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell discuss Donald Trump’s acceptance speech and summarize how the week went for Republicans in Milwaukee. Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon joins the podcast with his thoughts on this week’s convention. Plus, it appears that President Biden is reaching a point where he will make the final decision to stay in or leave the race. Links to today’s topics T...
Jul 19, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance, who until this week had never attended a national political convention, took to the stage to introduce himself to delegates and to the American people. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein play highlights from Vance’s speech that appealed to swing voters.. Democratic Georgia State Senator Josh McLaurin offers his take on JD Vance’s convention s...
Jul 18, 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, Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut recap Day 2 of the Republican National Convention where Donald Trump’s former rival for the GOP nomination took to the stage to endorse him. Nikki Haley said she didn’t agree with Trump all of the time, but called him a far better choice than Joe Biden. Georgia delegates tell Politically Georgia they believe Haley’s endorsement will move Georgia...
Jul 17, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the same day that Republican delegates formally named Donald Trump their candidate for President, the former president announced that his running mate will be Ohio Senator JD Vance. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell have reaction from Georgia delegates and Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon. Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke at the convention last night. Hear high...
Jul 16, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler joins the podcast to discuss how the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump may change the tone and tenor of the presidential race. The Georgia Republican also discusses how the mood of the Republican National Convention may shift in the aftermath of the violent attack that left at least two people dead and Trump injured. Then, the hosts discuss how Democrats are responding to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and how it changes the de...
Jul 15, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast As doubts about whether President Biden can defeat Donald Trump in November, a coalition of prominent Black church leaders issued a ringing endorsement of Biden’s bid for re-election. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitutions Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell welcome the leader of the group, Georgia AME Bishop Reginald Jackson. Also on the podcast, Donald Trump is expected to name his vice presidential running mate soon. One of the leadi...
Jul 12, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Democrats continue to quarrel over whether President Biden should step down from the ticket, we look back at a comparable moment in recent history. On today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell look back to 1980 when Maryland Democratic congressman Michael Barnes was among those who worked to replace President Jimmy Carter because they believed Carter, struggling with low appproval ratings and a myriad of national and i...
Jul 11, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast In an exclusive AJC survey of Georgia Democratic delegates to the Democratic National Convention, one thing remains very clear: a near-unflinching loyalty to President Joe Biden. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell discuss the findings of the survey with AJC senior reporter Tamar Hallerman. Then, AJC education reporter Martha Dalton joins the podcast to discuss how Louisiana and Oklahoma are now injecting religio...
Jul 10, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
