The big chill: Georgia elected officials and AJC reporters head to a frozen Iowa as caucuses approach

Jan 12, 2024

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All eyes are on Iowa as frigid temperatures threaten turnout for that state's caucuses. On this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's “Politically Georgia” podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut discuss what they expect to see from Monday's caucuses.

First up, state Rep. Scott Hilton joins the podcast before packing his heaviest winter coat and heading to Iowa to campaign on behalf of Nikki Haley. He says he’ll be a surrogate for Haley in a Cedar Rapids caucus site on Monday night, when wind chills could drop to 40 below zero. The AJC’s Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell will brave the cold to cover the caucuses and other Georgia elected officials who will act as surrogates in the nation’s first state to case 2024 votes.

Then, Gov. Brian Kemp’s State of the State address mixed his plans for spending a chunk of the state’s $16 billion surplus on education and infrastructure. But he also delivered a strong political message attacking dysfunction in Washington and President Joe Biden’s “failing” agenda.

Plus, the hosts answer questions from the listener mailbag and give their choices for who’s up and who’s down this week.

*Quick programming note: “Politically Georgia” will be live Monday on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will keep you updated on the latest from the Iowa caucuses. And we'll also touch on Dr. King's legacy as a great civil rights leader and Georgian.

Links to today’s topics:

Kemp mixes politics with spending plans in state of state speech

Have a question 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 tomorrow’s episode.

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