Kelly Loeffler joins Trump administration, Rivian’s big boost and Democrats’ post-election strategy

Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler is heading to Washington to lead the Small Business Administration under the Trump Administration. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein and Bill Nigut examine what Loeffler’s appointment means for Georgia politics and the 2026 governor’s race.

We also speak with state Rep. Tim Fleming about the recently announced $6 billion federal loan that could jumpstart construction on the long-delayed Rivian electric vehicle plant in his district. Fleming shares his insights on what this development could mean for Georgia’s economy.

Finally, we turn to the Democratic Party’s next steps following their losses in November. DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry, a self-described progressive, offers his perspective on how Democrats should regroup and redefine their approach moving forward.

Links to today’s topics:

Donald Trump picks Kelly Loeffler as head of the Small Business Administration

After months of uncertainty, Rivian’s Georgia plant appears primed to restart

Georgia’s House speaker wants to ban transgender girls from women’s sports

New audit could reignite debate about Georgia’s school funding formula

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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