Hurricane Helene is already becoming a campaign issue. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein discuss Donald Trump’s planned visit to hurricane-ravaged Valdosta and look at other state elected officials who have been touring areas of the state that have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. Later, we talk to Georgia OB-GYN Dr. Nisha Verma who talks about what it's like to practice under Georgia's rest...
Oct 01, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Governor Brian Kemp joins the podcast to talk about the widespread devastation that much of Georgia has experienced as Hurricane Helene roared through the state. Top political aide to Governor Kemp, Cody Hall, describes the importance of bipartisan cooperation between the GOP state government and the Democratic Biden Administration as the weather emergency unfolded. Then, Harris campaign strategist Dan Kanninen...
Sep 27, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Democrats announced that they have filed a lawsuit against Governor Brian Kemp in an effort to force the governor to act on an ethics complaint they filed earlier against three members of the State Election Board. On today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Fulton County Election Board chair Cathy Woolard, who filed the complaint, joins us to talk about the suit. Then, A.M.E. Bishop Reginald Jackson, who has overseen 500 A.M.E. churches in Georgia has be...
Sep 26, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast At a campaign stop in Savannah on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump touted his pledge to boost domestic manufacturing by luring foreign companies with tax cuts and the threat of tariffs. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein talk about Trump’s visit to Savannah yesterday and discusses what led to Trump’s high praise for Governor Brian Kemp. In a visit to the state just seven weeks ago, Trump ha...
Sep 25, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former President Donald Trump is returning to the Georgia today for the first time in nearly two months with a campaign stop in Savannah. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, former Savannah state Senator Eric Johnson joins the podcast to discuss the mood of voters along the Southeast coast as they prepare to vote in the presidential election. They also put Trump’s visit in the context of his recent encouragement of MAGA members of the state elect...
Sep 24, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Georgia’s election board on Friday approved new rules requiring poll workers to count the number of paper ballots by hand after voting is completed. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell are joined by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia state Senator Gloria Butler to discuss the rules changes being made by the MAGA-dominated state election board. Raffensperger believes the board may be acting ...
Sep 23, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Seneca Project co-founder Tara Stemayer joins the podcast to discuss the organization’s bi-partisan effort to motivate women in swing states to turn out to vote. They look at Kamala Harris’ visit to Atlanta today where she’ll highlight the numbers of women who have died or had medical emergencies when strict abortion laws like Georgia’s have prevented them from getting care. Then, Yana Batra joins the podcast t...
Sep 20, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell are joined by Secretary of State COO Gable Sterling for his response to the new exclusive AJC poll which shows that some two-thirds of Georgia voters have faith that the November election will be conducted fairly and accurately. But that number drops to well below 50% among Republicans. Then, AJC Macon bureau chief Joe Kovac joins the podcast to...
Sep 19, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell are joined by UGA’s Trey Hood and GSU’s Amy Steigerwalt to take a deep dive into the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s new Georgia presidential general election poll. It shows that Kamala Harris is picking up ground against Donald Trump in Georgia, with the race here a statistical tie. Later, State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver joins to discuss her thoughts on how the legislature shou...
Sep 18, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Voting in the 2024 presidential election is about the begin, but controversy over counting the ballots of two independent candidates - Cornell West and Socialist Party candidate De la Cruz - remains unresolved.On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, host Bill Nigut is joined by deputy secretary of state Jordan to discuss that and other issues surrounding the election. Then, AJC elections reporter Mark Niesse continues the conversation about the upcom...
Sep 17, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance’s speech in Atlanta tonight will be the Republican vice presidential candidate’s first major remarks since the Sunday’s incident which the FBI called an apparent “assassination attempt” against former President Donald Trump. On today’s epidose of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein discuss the latest threat against the former president. You’ll also hear about Vance’s upcoming appearance at the F...
Sep 16, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell react to the new development that former President Donald Trump announced he won’t participate in a third presidential debate. They ask U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris, about Trump declining to debate again. They also ask Khanna about the campaigning he’ll do for Harris in Gwinnett County. Then, they ask conservative AJC contributor Meagan ...
Sep 13, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast House Speaker Jon Burns endorsed efforts Thursday to expand mental health care access, offer incentives for gun safety purchases and toughen penalties against people who make terroristic threats after a mass shooting at a Georgia high school brought fresh scrutiny of the state’s firearms policies. On today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts up hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, and Bill Nigut talk to state Senators Jason Esteves, (D-Atlanta), a...
Sep 12, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced each other on the debate stage Tuesday night for the first time, and possibly the last time, in Philadelphia. On this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast chief correspondent for Politifact, Lou Jacobson, fact-checks claims from Trump about abortion and Haitian migrants. Then, former U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux offers her take as a Democrat. She says Harris had great moments taking on Trump....
Sep 11, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced each other on the debate stage Tuesday night for the first time, and possibly the last time, in Philadelphia. Georgia was mentioned twice on the debate stage. Trump referenced the election-interference case in Fulton County brought by District Attorney Fani Willis. Then, Trump also mentioned Georgia as he continued his false claims that he did not lose the 2020 election. Plus, a discussion about what’s next on the campaign trai...
Sep 11, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump take the stage tonight in Philadelphia for the first and likely only presidential debate this election cycle. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein and Bill Nigut preview tonight’s debate with Kamala Harris surrogate and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Georgia state GOP chairman Josh McKoon. The hosts discuss what leading Georgia Democrats and Republ...
Sep 10, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell bring on AJC crime reporter Caroline Silva who explains what voters need to know about where Donald Trump and Kamala Harris stand on dealing with gun violence and crime. Then, political advertising expert Rick Dent joins the podcast to look at ad spending in Georgia for the presidential race, and at the messages Harris and Trump are emphasizing in their ads. Plus, a preview of ...
Sep 09, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell discuss how the mass shooting at Apalachee High School has once again exposed the divide between Democrats and Republicans on gun safety measures. First up, Democratic state Rep. Michelle Au talks about a bill she sponsored, and Senate Republicans rejected, to give tax breaks to individuals who buy gun safes and other devices to lock up firearms. Then, former Cobb County Republican Party Chair Jason Shepherd emphasize...
Sep 06, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast First up, the hosts discuss what we’re learning about the Apalachee High School mass shooting and look at whether there will be a new effort by Democrats in the Legislature to roll back the permissive gun laws that the GOP-dominated General Assembly approved. Then, Republican consultant Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join the podcast to talk about how the shooting is affecting the presidential race. Plus: Democratic state Rep. Shea Roberts discusses her red flag legislat...
Sep 05, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast First up, state Rep. Esther Panitch discusses the connection that slain American Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin had to Georgia. And we ask Panitch for her take on whether antisemitism is declining. Plus, what are the issues she sees as crucial to voters in her legislative district? Then, Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver joins the show. He talks about what he’s looking to do as a third-party candidate with about two months left in the election cycle. And, hosts Tia Mitchell and...
Sep 04, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast First up: Gabe Sterling, the chief operating officer of Georgia's secretary of state's office, joins the show to talk about the decision to give four candidates, in addition to former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, a place on the state's presidential ballot. Then, Georgia Young Democrats leader Parker Short talks about his organization’s annual conference this past weekend and describes how it will work to get potential Gen Z voters out to vote. He talks about a gender ...
Sep 03, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today's Labor Day edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, host Bill Nigut you some of our best segments from recent podcast episodes. We’ll start with our conversation with U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff about his success in passing a comprehensive federal prison oversight bill that has been hailed as a measure to protect prison workers, and to assure humane treatment of prisoners. Then, polls show that immigration and border security are top issues for voters. We’...
Sep 02, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut are joined by Savannah’s Democratic Mayor Van Johnson to discuss the Harriz-Walz two-day bus tour through Southeast Georgia, which culminated with the Harris rally in Savannah. The mayor is also asked for his thoughts on the first one-on-one interview Harris did with CNN’s Dana Bash. Then, GOP 1st District Congressman Buddy Carter represents much of the district where Harris sp...
Aug 30, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Harris-Walz campaign continues its two-day sweep across South Georgia. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, and Bill Nigut are joined by Savannah State Senator Derek Mallow to discuss what he sees as the impact of the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz bus tour through South Georgia, and looks at what he expects for the Harris rally in Savannah tonight. Then, Georgia Republican Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper g...
Aug 29, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell discuss Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s two-day bus tour through territory often overlooked by Democrats - South Georgia. State Rep. Debbie Buckner, rural Georgia legislator, joins the conversation. Then, state Rep. Ruwa Romman, the first Palestinian-American elected to the legislature, joins the podcast. Although she wasn’t a delegate, she was in the center of a failed effort at ...
Aug 28, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut discuss two significant election-related stories: An administrative court judge has ruled that four independent candidates for president are ineligible to be on the Georgia ballot. The final decision will be up to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. You’ll also hear about the lawsuit challenging the Kamala Harris campaign has joined fighting new election r...
Aug 27, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, top Kemp adviser, Cody Hall, joins to discuss Donald Trump’s extending of an olive branch to Governor Kemp. Georgia Republicans had been worried about Trump’s recent attacks on Kemp, whose political machine is important to Trump’s chances of winning Georgia. Plus, Cody Hall talks about rules the MAGA majority on the state election board is passing. Then, Harris/Walz campaign advisor Quentin Fulks, a Georgia nat...
Aug 26, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Tia Nitchell and Patricia Murphy talk with Senator Warnock about the response to his powerful opening night speech at the Democratic convention, and then ask for his thoughts on Kamala Harris’ Thursday night acceptance speech, and what he thought the convention accomplished in reaching out to voters. Then, a discussion about Georgia Representative Lucy McBath’s convention speech, which was par...
Aug 23, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Congresswoman Lucy McBath joins us to preview the speech she’ll give tonight at the Democratic National Convention. Since the loss of her son to a gun incident, she’s been a fierce advocate for better gun safety laws, and that will be her subject tonight. Then former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan discusses the speech ge have to the convention last night. Duncan became one of a number of Republicans who have...
Aug 22, 2024•54 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 are joined by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and former President Jimmy Carter’s grandson, Jason Carter to review the second night of the Democratic National Convention. They discuss the speeches by Michelle and Barack Obama, how the Georgia delegation created a viral moment by having rapper Lil Jon join surprise the convention with a live performa...
Aug 21, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
