Transgender athlete ban, NIH budget cuts and Georgia’s 2026 governor’s race

A bill banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports has become a top priority for Georgia Republicans this legislative session. On today’s episode of Politically Georgia, hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell speak with State Senator Greg Dolezal about the bill’s focus, its potential impact and what’s next for the legislation.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s decision to slash billions from the National Institutes of Health has sent shockwaves through the medical community. We explore how these cuts will affect life-saving research at Emory, UGA, and Georgia Tech, and what it means for the future of critical medical trials.

Plus, a new Democratic name is considering a run for Georgia governor in 2026, while two Republican contenders are already building massive war chests for the race.

Finally, at last week’s Politically Georgia On the Road event in Washington, D.C., Tia sat down with Dr. Keneshia Grant from Howard University and Dr. Minkah Makalani from Johns Hopkins University. They explored the decline of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Georgia and discussed whether there’s potential for a reversal amid shifting political priorities.

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.

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