Politically Georgia

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Feb 18, 2026 • 35min

ICE Detention in Small-Town Georgia

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy dig into the federal government’s push to turn warehouses in Social Circle and Oakwood into large-scale ICE detention facilities. They’re joined by AJC immigration reporter Lautaro Grinspan to break down what we know about the 183-acre purchase in Social Circle, the second site in Hall County, and the infrastructure and tax questions local officials are raising. They also examine why city leaders say they have little authority to block the projects, and what these facilities could mean for the communities now preparing for their arrival. 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
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Feb 17, 2026 • 33min

Chambliss, Barnes on Election Integrity

Greg Bluestein sits down with former U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and former Gov. Roy Barnes for a bipartisan conversation about the fallout from the FBI raid on Fulton County’s election office. Both warn against continued efforts to relitigate the 2020 election and argue that repeated investigations risk eroding public confidence in Georgia’s voting system. They also weigh in on calls for a potential state takeover of Fulton County elections and the precedent that could set for future governors of either party. 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
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Feb 16, 2026 • 30min

FBI Raid Fallout

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell tackle a packed Monday mailbag dominated by questions about the FBI raid on the Fulton County Elections office and what it could mean for trust in Georgia’s voting system. They break down the unsealed affidavit, revisit the long-debunked allegations at the heart of the probe, and examine the political response from state leaders, including Brad Raffensperger. The episode also turns to the alleged First Liberty Ponzi scheme and growing concerns about a potential Department of Homeland Security shutdown tied to the immigration debate in Washington. 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
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Feb 12, 2026 • 30min

Georgia’s Open House Seats

Greg Bluestein hosts this episode with AJC Washington bureau chief Tia Mitchell to break down two open congressional seats and the Republican power struggles they have triggered. They examine Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s decision not to seek reelection and the behind-the-scenes maneuvering in a safely Republican district. They also look at northwest Georgia’s 14th District, where President Donald Trump’s endorsement has upended a crowded special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene, and what the broader turnover could mean for Georgia’s delegation. 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
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Feb 11, 2026 • 33min

Rick Jackson Reshapes Race

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down the shock entry of billionaire Rick Jackson into Georgia’s race for governor and what it means for an already crowded Republican field. GOP strategist Stephen Lawson weighs in on how Jackson’s money, outsider message, and alignment with President Donald Trump could scramble the fight for the MAGA base and alter the strategies of rivals like Burt Jones, Chris Carr, and Brad Raffensperger. 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
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Feb 10, 2026 • 31min

Carpet Capital’s Toxic Secret

Greg Bluestein talks with AJC investigative reporter Dylan Jackson about the AJC’s sweeping investigation into PFAS contamination tied to northwest Georgia’s carpet industry. Dylan walks through how decades of chemical use moved through Dalton Utilities and into waterways, soil and residents’ blood, often with little public disclosure. They size up the political response at the Gold Dome, including stalled efforts to shield carpet companies from liability and Georgia’s reliance on federal regulators. The discussion also looks ahead to unresolved questions about cleanup costs, regulation and the long-term impact on communities downstream. Forever Stained: An AJC Investigative Series Contaminated: The Carpet Industry’s Toxic Legacy, a FRONTLINE documentary 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
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Feb 9, 2026 • 32min

Data Center Pushback

Greg Bluestein hosts alongside Patricia Murphy for a look at the growing backlash against data centers under the Gold Dome. State Sen. Greg Dolezal makes the case for repealing tax incentives, arguing the projects drive up power and water costs while delivering limited public benefit. Public Service Commissioner Peter Hubbard weighs how data center growth affects electricity rates and what leverage regulators and lawmakers have as demand surges. 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
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Feb 5, 2026 • 41min

Faith and the Ballot

Greg Bluestein is joined by Tia Mitchell for a look at how faith continues to shape politics in Georgia, from the U.S. Senate to a crowded congressional race in northwest Georgia. They begin with Sen. Raphael Warnock’s reflections on how his pastoral role informs his views on policy, power, and political responsibility, then turn to an interview with Pastor Tom Gray, a Republican candidate in the GA-14 race, who argues that conservative politics are rooted in biblical principles and should guide government decision-making. 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
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Feb 4, 2026 • 31min

What’s Next in Fulton County?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's senior political reporter Greg Bluestein is joined by columnist Patricia Murphy, as the pair discuss what’s next in last week's FBI raid on a Fulton County election warehouse. Murphy and Bluestein discuss the possibility of criminal charges and whether President Donald Trump's allies will try to take over Fulton’s elections. Then, the duo talks about Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger breaking his silence on the raid. Raffensperger is a candidate for Georgia governor in 2026. 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. Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Feb 3, 2026 • 31min

A Drive to District 14

Atlanta Journal-Constitution senior political reporter Greg Bluestein and podcast executive producer Shane Backler drive to Georgia's 14th Congressional District in northwest Georgia to hear how voters are feeling about former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s sudden resignation. AJC senior columnist Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein discuss the wide range of candidates looking to fill the seat as nearly two dozen candidates are running in the special election. 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. Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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