Politically Georgia

Patricia Murphy sits down with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Stephen Lawson to assess how Georgia’s legislative session sets the stage for campaign season. They break down what Republicans and Democrats can claim as wins and where unresolved issues could spill into legal fights or a special session. The conversation turns to the GA-14 runoff, where a narrower-than-expected margin raises questions about Republican strength and Democratic momentum. They also dig into the crowded governor’s race and U.S. Senate contest, examining strategy, spending, and how national politics could shape both races. 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 answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy sit down with House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones as she prepares to step down after more than two decades under the Gold Dome. Jones reflects on her rise through Republican leadership, her focus on education policy, and why she decided now was the time to leave office. She also discusses her approach to power behind the scenes and her role in shaping legislation and mentoring the next generation. Greg and Patricia then examine what her departure means for the balance of power in the Georgia House and the Republicans looking to move up. 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 answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy answer listener questions about a late-session push to make some metro Atlanta elections nonpartisan and the legal fight likely to follow. They also unpack the strategy behind Rick Jackson’s ad using praise from Burt Jones and what it reveals about the governor’s race. Then Greg sits down with congressional candidate Rob Adkerson, a former top aide to Barry Loudermilk, to discuss his campaign, views on Congress and foreign policy, and how he would represent a solidly Republican 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 question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy wrap up Georgia’s 2026 legislative session after a chaotic final night under the Gold Dome. They break down competing Republican tax priorities, a last-minute collapse over property tax limits and the broader push to frame the session around affordability. Greg and Patricia also examine the unresolved fight over voting systems, including the possibility of a special session or court intervention. They close with a look at how tensions, unfinished business and internal divisions now spill into campaign season. 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 answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy take listeners inside the final hours of Georgia’s legislative session as Sine Die unfolds at the Capitol. They break down a late-session breakthrough on a sweeping literacy bill and what it means for House Speaker Jon Burns’s agenda and legacy. Greg and Patricia also examine the lingering tensions beneath the surface, including fights over the state budget, election rules, data centers and a last-minute push to overhaul time zones. As lawmakers race the clock, they explain what could still unravel before the gavel falls. 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 answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the final days of the legislative session from the Capitol, starting with a push to expand Georgia’s school cellphone ban to high schools. Greg and Patricia speak with state Rep. Scott Hilton, who makes the case for the bell-to-bell ban and outlines how schools would phase it in. They also examine the broader education agenda, including a literacy overhaul and tensions between the House and Senate. Then they dig into accusations that Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is stalling legislation tied to the governor’s race and what it signals about power struggles under the Gold Dome. 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 answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein speaks with Democratic candidate Shawn Harris about the high-stakes runoff in Georgia’s 14th District and his pitch to voters in a deeply Republican seat. Harris discusses national security, rising costs and his criticism of Republican leadership as he tries to build a coalition of Democrats, independents and GOP voters. Then Greg turns to AJC contributor Meagan Hanson for a look at how the partial federal shutdown fueled chaos at Atlanta’s airport. Hanson connects the funding fight to the broader political standoff in Washington and what it could mean for voters. 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 answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions on perks for members of Congress at Atlanta’s airport and the political fallout after Delta scaled them back. They also break down the latest in the TSA funding standoff, including Senator Jon Ossoff’s response as the shutdown drags on. Greg and Tia walk through the evolving debate over Georgia’s election bill and the push to delay changes to QR code voting. Plus, they tackle concerns about ICE near polling places, housing legislation loopholes, and how power and priorities shape which bills move under the Gold Dome. 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 answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the latest push to reshape Georgia’s voting system as lawmakers race toward the end of the legislative session. They talk with state Rep. Saira Draper about the fight over QR codes, a possible delay to major election changes, and the political pressures driving the debate. Then Greg and Patricia turn to a previously recorded interview with state Sen. Sonya Halpern, who outlines concerns about sweeping tax proposals and the broader stakes for Georgia’s economy and political 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 question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the high-stakes final stretch of Georgia’s legislative session, where election-year politics are shaping major decisions on taxes, data centers and voting rules. They outline where key proposals stand as lawmakers race toward adjournment and tensions build between the House and Senate. Then Greg and Patricia sit down with House Speaker Jon Burns to discuss his push for a sweeping literacy overhaul, the path forward on tax relief and how he is navigating competing priorities in the closing days. Burns also weighs in on election changes, health care workforce plans and the broader political climate at the Capitol. 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 answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices