Politically Georgia

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell discuss President Biden’s State of the Union speech with Republican Congressman Buddy Carter and Democratic state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver. They ask whether Marjorie Taylor Greene’s disruption of the speech, which she’s done before, is adding to a growing lack of decorum in the halls of congress.   Plus, the shocking announcement that electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is suspending indefinitely plans to build a $5 billion assembly plant in Northeast Georgia.   Finally, the hosts answer questions from the Politically Georgia listener mailbag, and give their choices for who’s up and who’s down this week.   LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   ‘It’s about Laken Riley,’ MTG shouts during Biden’s State of the Union   Rivian pauses plan to build $5B Georgia factory   Fulton DA Fani Willis faces two challengers in reelection bid  Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Devan Kortan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia Podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein are joined by AP politics reporter Meg Kinnard and top Georgia Nikki Haley supporter Eric Tanenblatt to discuss how Donald Trump President Biden will work to attract Haley supporters now that she’s dropped out of the race. Then, they look at what to expect when both Trump and Biden both go head-to-head in rallies in Georgia on Saturday.   Plus, AJC reporter Tamar Hallerman joins the podcast to discuss the latest developments in the effort to disqualify Fani Willis and Nathan Wade from prosecuting the Trump Georgia election conspiracy case. She and Greg Bluestein talk about their major scoop: Judge Scott McAfee has drawn a serious opponent in his bid for election to the Fulton County bench. They also discuss defense attorney Ashley Merchant’s testimony on her evidence for why Willis and Wade should be dismissed from prosecuting Trump case.    LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   Civil rights attorney to challenge Scott McAfee, judge in Fulton Trump case Opinion: The Biden-Trump rematch is officially here Georgia GOP leaders line up for Trump after Super Tuesday Senate committee hears testimony on DA Fani Willis  Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Devan Kortan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being soundly defeated in the Super Tuesday primaries across the country, Nikki Haley has suspended her presidential campaign Wednesday morning. On today's episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy look at how the matchup between President Biden and Donald Trump will impact Georgia's primary as the general election essentially starts today.   LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   Nikki Haley suspends her campaign and leaves Donald Trump as the last major Republican candidate  Dueling visits: Biden and Trump are both set to campaign in Georgia on Saturday  Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's 404-526-2527. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Matt Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz is in the middle of a storm of controversy. Some Athens residents blame him for lax enforcement of immigration laws in the community after a man authorities say illegally entered the country in 2022, Jose Ibarra, was charged in the death of nursing student Laken Riley. Girtz joins the podcast to discuss his response to the concerns and to lay out plans to improve security measures in the city. The panel looks at what the Athens-Clarke County Commission may do to enhance security when it meets tonight to discuss proposals.  Then, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock visits the podcast. In a live interview he discusses his call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war so that hostages can be released and new humanitarian aid can be delivered to Palestinians caught in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. Warnock describes his reaction to the anti-Israel protesters who staged a silent demonstration Sunday at his church – Ebenezer Baptist Church. Plus, the hosts look at what to expect as voters go to the polls today in more than a dozen states for Super Tuesday primaries. Donald Trump will likely win a huge cache of delegates and could secure the GOP nomination in Georgia next Tuesday.   LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   Athens mulls new security measures in aftermath of killing What to know about Super Tuesday and why it matters Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's 404-526-2527. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Matt Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" the panel reacts to breaking news. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously against the state of Colorado, which had removed Donald Trump from its ballot, calling him an insurrectionist. Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis takes a first look at how SCOTUS made the decision. Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and Emory University emeritus professor of political science Alan Abramowitz weigh in.   Then, the panel discusses how Super Tuesday elections in nearly 15 states will affect the trajectory of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, as they are likely to move closer to the unsurprising conclusion each will win his party’s nomination for president. And they look at what Nikki Haley’s next steps may be after Tuesday.   LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   Supreme Court restores Trump to Colorado ballot What to know about Super Tuesday Super Tueday preview  Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's 404-526-2527. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Matt Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, the hosts discuss the top issues that passed out of the Georgia House and Senate on Crossover Day, which ended at midnight last night.  Crossover Day hits and misses. Then: Greg, Patricia, and Executive Producer Shane Backler take listeners inside the halls and chambers of the state Capitol for a firsthand look at the buzz of activity that marks Crossover Day. Plus it's Friday. So the hosts answer questions from the listener mailbag and share their picks for who’s up and who’s down this week. LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   Crossover Day hits and misses Religious freedom bill passes senate Patricia Murphy on different approaches of senate and house  Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's 404-526-2527. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Devan Kortan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, state Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch talks about key measures on how cities enforce immigration law, the rights of parents to determine the books their children have access to in schools, his support for a GOP-sponsored religious rights bill and more. Then: Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves offers his party's concerns about bills Gooch supports.  Plus: Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are headed to the southern border today. The killing of Athens student Laken Riley and the arrest in her death of Jose Ibarra, who authorities say entered the country illegally in 2022, has heated up the national debate over border security and will almost certainly be addressed during the Biden and Trump visits today.   LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   AJC legislative tracker Votes set on key measures this crossover day Killing of Laken Riley becomes national immigration flashpoint Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's 404-526-2527. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Devan Kortan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, the panel looks at the anger, fear and political dynamics that have been sparked by the killing of Laken Riley and charges of murder in the case against a man who authorities say entered the country illegally. Then, the panel looks at the results of the presidential primaries in Michigan. Does the large number of Democrats who voted for “uncommitted” spell trouble for President Joe Biden? What does it mean that 25% of Republicans did not vote for Donald Trump? Finally, the panel discusses the latest news in the effort by defense attorneys to have Fani Willis and Nathan Wade disqualified from prosecuting the Georgia election conspiracy case against Trump and his co-defendants.   Plus, a look at Patricia Murphy’s column arguing that the focus of the Fulton County case has inappropriately shifted from the alleged efforts to overturn Georgia’s election results to the behavior of Willis and Wade.  LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   Demonstrators disrupt Athens mayor's news conference Reaction to Athens slaying in legislator and in Washington Patricia Murphy: losing the forest for the trees Defense attorney's "Star witness" testimony fizzles  Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's 404-526-2527. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Matthew Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut the podcast welcome state Rep Michelle Au to discuss the bills that she’s watching closely as Crossover Day approaches on Thursday. Au believes there’s a slim hope a full expansion of Medicaid might still be in the works. And the hosts ask Au, an anesthesiologist, for her views on the Alabama Supreme Court decision ruling that in vitro embryos have the legal protections of children. Then, Stephen Stetson, director of the Alabama chapter of Planned Parenthood, joins the podcast with a close-up look at how the Alabama Supreme Court decision on in vitro embryos is influencing fertility clinics in the state and more. Finally, the killing of student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus – and the arrest of a man in her death who authorities allege entered the country illegally – is sparking a strong political response from Gov. Brian Kemp and Republican legislators. Murphy and Nigut discuss the measures that lawmakers are considering.  LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's 404-526-2527. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Matthew Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell talk to their colleague Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Shannon McCaffery and Nikki Haley surrogate Eric Tanenblatt.  First up, McCaffrey joins the podcast to discuss a new motion from Donald Trump alleging that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Nathan Wade lied about aspects of their romantic relationship in an effort to combat an attempt to disqualify Willis from the election conspiracy case.  Then, the hosts welcome Tanenblatt, the national finance co-chair for Nikki Haley, to discuss the future of Haley’s campaign after losing to Trump by a wide margin in her home state of South Carolina.   Finally, the hosts discuss Republican reaction to the arrest of a man authorities allege was in the country illegally in the homicide of Athens student Laken Riley. Republican legislators are looking at measures to crack down on unauthorized immigrants in Georgia, and Gov. Brian Kemp is calling on President Joe Biden to shut down the border now.   LINKS TO TODAY'S TOPICS   Cellphone data raises questions about when Willis-Wade relationship started Trump victory humbles Haley in her home state Legislators poised to crack down on undocumented immigrants after Athens killing  Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's 404-526-2527. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday's episode.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”  CREDITS  Executive Producer- Shane Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Matthew McWilliams Editor- Matthew Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices