As the dust settles from Election Night, both major parties are grappling with internal shifts, especially those on the political fringes. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein speak with former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan about the future for never-Trump Republicans like him and where they fit into the GOP over the next four years. Former President Trump’s record support among Latino voters played a signific...
Nov 08, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vice President Kamala Harris concedes as Georgia’s GOP celebrates victory and prepares for action. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein break down Harris’s concession speech and her commitment to a smooth transition as former President Donald Trump returns to the White House. We also discuss the potential Republican-controlled Congress, including which Georgia lawmakers may be headed to Washin...
Nov 07, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump has reclaimed the White House and will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in January. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, Tia Mitchell, and Bill Nigut examine Trump’s decisive win in Georgia, where he flipped a 2020 defeat into a 100,000-vote victory over Kamala Harris. Election data analyst Ryan Anderson joins us to break down how Trump turned rural counties even redder and ...
Nov 06, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Election Day has arrived, with an estimated one million Georgia voters expected to join the more than 4 million who have already cast their ballots. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy discuss the final campaign pushes from Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, along with their appeals to Georgia voters in the race’s closing hours. AJC reporters are stati...
Nov 05, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast With one day to go before what many consider a historic Election Day, more than 4 million Georgians have already cast their ballots, while millions more are expected to vote tomorrow. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell speak with political ad expert Rick Dent to analyze the final campaign messages from Donald Trump and Kamala Harris as they make their last push to win over voters. Then, we speak with Gabe Sterli...
Nov 04, 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, and Greg Bluestein sit down with State Election Board chairman John Fervier. Fervier discusses his opposition to controversial ballot processing rules and shares his perspective on the future of election oversight in Georgia. Next, we explore the intersection of music and politics. With stars like Bruce Springsteen making appearances for candidates and popular songs played at ral...
Nov 01, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast With early voting nearing its end, more than 3 million Georgians have already cast their ballots in the presidential election. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, and Bill Nigut are joined by Ryan Anderson of Georgia Votes to analyze the latest trends and voter turnout. We then hear directly from Gen Z voters. UGA College Republican Michael O’Leary explains why he switched his voter registration from Florida...
Oct 31, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast With Election Day less than a week away, Kamala Harris delivers her closing campaign message, promising unity and inclusion, even for those who oppose her—setting a sharp contrast with Donald Trump’s rhetoric. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell break down Harris’s final pitch and the impact it could have on the race. The second half of the episode features a deep dive into electi...
Oct 30, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast With just one week left until Election Day, nearly 3 million Georgians have already cast their ballots. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut speak with famed pollster Nate Silver. We’ll get his pulse on the Georgia race and hear his thoughts on critiques that some of his models are biased in favor of Donald Trump. We also break down Trump’s latest campaign push in Atlanta, with a rally at Georgi...
Oct 29, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell interview the legendary James Carville, whose unorthodox strategies helped Bill Clinton become president. Once critical of Biden’s reelection chances, Carville now says Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to win the presidency. Bill and Tia discuss what changed his mind, why he’s clashing with “woke” Democrats, and how his personal and professional journey—featuring his marriage t...
Oct 28, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast First up, Tia, Greg and Bill discuss the star-studded Kamala Harris rally last night in DeKalb County. Bruce Springsteen, former President Barack Obama, Tyler Perry and other luminaries urged the 20,000-plus crowd to turn out to vote for Harris. Then, Maya Prabhu joins the podcast to discuss how Georgia’s Asian American community is sizing up the presidential race. Korean American state Rep. Sam Park and Dr. Fun Fong, a fourth-generation Chinese American, join the conversation. Plus, it’s Friday...
Oct 25, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Early voting numbers are soaring in Georgia—and so is the spending on TV ads by both the Harris and Trump campaigns. On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell explore the staggering $55 million ad blitz launched by both campaigns in the final stretch before Election Day. Political ad guru Rick Dent joins the podcast to break down the messaging strategies both sides are using to win over Georgia voters. Later, we take a...
Oct 25, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast First up, state House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration discusses former President Donald Trump's rally last night in Gwinnett County. The Republican from Dacula tells the co-hosts to pay attention to Trump's policies, not necessarily his rhetoric. Then former Democratic state Senator Jen Jordan talks about the gender gap revealing that women voters favor Vice President Kamala Harris by wide margins while a majority of men remain firmly committed to Donald Trump. And the hosts preview Harris' upc...
Oct 24, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Politically Georgia hosts Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut hosted a live-to-tape recording of ‘Politically Georgia’ in Atlanta. First up, Greg and Patricia are joined by special guests Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Then, Tia and Bill Nigut interview Congresswoman Lucy McBath. Plus, Tia sits down with our AJC political contributors Carolyn J. Bourdeaux, Geoff Duncan and Meagan Myers Hanson, and Dekalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. Links: Live AJC events...
Oct 23, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast With just two weeks until Election Day, a new AJC poll shows former President Donald Trump pulling slightly ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, and Bill Nigut speak with UGA pollster Trey Hood to unpack the numbers and what they reveal about shifting voter sentiment. Former Congressman Doug Collins, a Trump ally, joins the podcast with his take on Georgia’s b...
Oct 22, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kamala Harris is making a targeted appeal to Black men with new economic and health proposals, but will it be enough to win over this critical voting group? On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, Tia Mitchell, Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein speak with AJC reporter Ernie Suggs and Darius Jones of the National Black Empowerment Council to explore Harris' efforts and their potential impact. WABE political reporter Rahul Bali joins the podcast to explain...
Oct 18, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast A judge’s ruling has nullified seven last-minute rule changes by Georgia’s State Election Board, intensifying debate over election oversight. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, we hear from Republican board member Janelle King about the impact of the decision. Former State Rep. Scot Turner joins the podcast to explain his legal fight against the board—and why he’s challenging members of his own party. Plus, Democratic State Rep. Saira Draper off...
Oct 17, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Georgia voters are making their voices heard early—and in record numbers. On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell break down the nearly 300,000 ballots already cast on the first day of early voting, shattering previous records. The conversation also covers former President Donald Trump’s two rallies in metro Atlanta, where he criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies and called the U.S. “an oc...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast The race for Georgia is heating up with just three weeks until Election Day. On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, and Bill Nigut break down the latest moves by the 2024 presidential campaigns. Former President Trump is hosting a town hall in Forsyth tonight, and Vice President Kamala Harris will return to Georgia later this week as both candidates focus their attention on the state. We also feature an exclusi...
Oct 15, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast The AJC's Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell take a deep dive into the role that unions are playing in this year’s presidential race. You’ll hear from Yvonne Brooks, president of Georgia’s AFL-CIO and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, about how organized labor is shaping the political landscape both locally and nationally. Next, Tia Mitchell interviews Anna Johnson, the Washington bureau chief for the Associated Press, to explore how the AP calls the winner on election ...
Oct 14, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode, we begin by discussing the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School that claimed four lives. Georgia legislators, including Speaker Jon Burns, have promised to revisit gun safety and student mental health measures in the upcoming legislative session. The AJC’s Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell, and Greg Bluestein are joined by Dr. Mark Rosenberg, a leading national advocate for stricter gun laws, to discuss the path forward for Georgia. Next, Tia Mitchell shares her interview with Ken...
Oct 11, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode, we begin by discussing the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School that claimed four lives. Georgia legislators, including Speaker Jon Burns, have promised to revisit gun safety and student mental health measures in the upcoming legislative session. The AJC’s Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell, and Greg Bluestein are joined by Dr. Mark Rosenberg, a leading national advocate for stricter gun laws, to discuss the path forward for Georgia. Next, Tia Mitchell shares her interview with Ken...
Oct 11, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast First up, AJC elections reporter Mark Niesse joins the podcast to discuss the latest developments in the controversial rules for counting votes that the state election board has put in place just weeks before the presidential election. Then, residents of Augusta are still struggling to get back to normal after the ravages of Hurricane Helene. Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson discusses the recovery effort. And the hosts talk with Brandon Hutchinson, general manager of the Atlanta Motor Speedway, who...
Oct 10, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Hurricane Milton heads toward the Florida coast, lies and misinformation about FEMA’s response to recent natural disasters are being spread through the 2024 presidential campaign. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan joins us to talk about how the lies being told by Donald Trump and his Republican allies about the Biden administration and FEMA failing to respond to the needs of communities impacted by Hurricane ...
Oct 09, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Lt. Governor Burt Jones joins the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about gun safety measures (including his own proposal to pay teachers to carry guns), the status of the presidential race in Georgia, the decision not to charge him in the Fulton County Trump election conspiracy case and more. Then, a look at the issues on the minds of Muslim voters as the presidential election approaches with Edward Ahme...
Oct 08, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the anniversary of the barbaric attacks on Israelis by Hamas, American Jewish Committee Regional director Dov Wilker discusses the challenges Israel faces continuing to fight a war to secure safety in its borders against growing criticism of Israel’s tactics. But first, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, a longtime leading expert on the U.S. military and foreign affairs discusses his concerns about the importance of the next president surrounding him or herself with foreign policy experts who can ...
Oct 07, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, host Tia Mitchell and AJC Editor-in-Chief Leroy Chapman talk to U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, about the lingering toxic plume from the BioLab fire in Conyers. Johnson believes that the plant shouldn’t reopen, and he says he’ll be meeting with BioLab leaders today. Then, the pair talk to AJC staff writer Michelle Baruchman about down-ballot legislative races and what campaigns you need to watch. Plus, it’s...
Oct 04, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast A federal judge in Washington released the most comprehensive narrative to date of the 2020 election conspiracy case against former President Donald Trump. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Georgia State University professor Anthony Michael Kreis joins us to break down the filing and what it means for Trump’s case in Georgia. But first, Georgia’s attorney general is appealing a judge’s ruling that struck down the state’s heartbeat abortion law....
Oct 03, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast In what is likely to be the final debate between the campaigns this election season, Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz debated a wide range of issues Tuesday night in the CBS News vice presidential debate. Though it was a largely civil debate, there were some false and misleading claims made by the candidates. Politifact editor-in-chief Katie Sanders joins the podcast to fact check the claims made by Vance and Walz. Then, AJC reporter Dave Wickert gibes us a look at the more ...
Oct 02, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, we first mark President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday today - a milestone never before reached by a former president. AJC reporter Ernie Suggs talks about what life is like for the former president as he continues at age 100 in his 19th month of home hospice in Plains. Bill Nigut interviews Chuck Leavell, who was a member of the Allman Brothers band when they formed a lasting relationship with Jimmy Carter. The...
Oct 01, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
