Politically Georgia

At a campaign stop in Savannah on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump touted his pledge to boost domestic manufacturing by luring foreign companies with tax cuts and the threat of tariffs. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein talk about Trump’s visit to Savannah yesterday and discusses what led to Trump’s high praise for Governor Brian Kemp. In a visit to the state just seven weeks ago, Trump had harsh words for Kemp, calling him a bad governor. Then, as election day approaches, dozens of polls will be released that will purport to give a snapshot of where the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump stands. Emory University professor of political science Andra Gillepsie and campaign advertising expert Rick Dent join the podcast to offer insights about how to determine which polls are offering the most accurate picture of where the contest stands.  Links to today’s topics: Trump reverses course, calls Gov. Kemp "fantastic"Kamala Harris to roll out economic plan in contrast to TrumpAJC poll finds Trump, Harris locked in tight raceRealClear politics poll compilation  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.”      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former President Donald Trump is returning to the Georgia today for the first time in nearly two months with a campaign stop in Savannah. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, former Savannah state Senator Eric Johnson joins the podcast to discuss the mood of voters along the Southeast coast as they prepare to vote in the presidential election. They also put Trump’s visit in the context of his recent encouragement of MAGA members of the state election board to pass new rules that could have a major impact in voe counting and certifying by local election officials.Then, AJC education reporter Martha Dalton joins us as Apalachee High School students return to class today for the first time since a gunman killed four people at the school a little more than two weeks ago.  Links to today’s topics: Preview: Trump's visit to SavannahTrump works to blunt Harris momentum with visit to SavannahTrump is returning to Georgia for first time in almost two monthsState election board passes rule that could delay results of Georgia's presidential vote"Huge step:" Apalachee students return to school after deadly shootingNew details about Apalachee High shooting revealed as school reopens todayHealing through joy: The Rock meets with Apalachee High school football teamHave 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.”     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Georgia’s election board on Friday approved new rules requiring poll workers to count the number of paper ballots by hand after voting is completed.  On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell are joined by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia state Senator Gloria Butler to discuss the rules changes being made by the MAGA-dominated state election board. Raffensperger believes the board may be acting outside its authority to pass rules that could create chaos at local polling sites on election night. Then, after a long absence from Georgia, Donald Trump returns to the state to hold an event in Savannah on Tuesday. His absence has worried state Republicans because most agree thatTrump must win Georgia to retake the White House. His running mate JD Vance campaignsin Flowery Branch in Hall County on Thursday.   Links to today’s topics: State election board passes rule that could delay results of Georgia's presidential voteHow new election board rules could lead to disputes over resultsTrump is returning to Georgia for first time in almost two months   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.”    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’sPolitically Georgia podcast, Seneca Project co-founder Tara Stemayer joins the podcastto discuss the organization’s bi-partisan effort to motivate women in swingstates to turn out to vote. They look at Kamala Harris’ visit to Atlanta todaywhere she’ll highlight the numbers of women who have died or had medicalemergencies when strict abortion laws like Georgia’s have prevented them fromgetting care. Then, Yana Batra joins the podcast todiscuss the planned walkout of students in schools across Georgia as they callof stricter gun safety laws in the aftermath of the mass shooting at ApalacheeHigh School in Barrow County. And later, the hosts answer questionsfrom the Politically Georgia listener mailbag and give their choices for who’sup and who’s down this week.  Links to today’s topics: KamalaHarris travels to Atlanta after reports of two women who died due to Georgiaabortion restrictionsAJCpoll: Will abortion be a top issue in Georgia? Harris hopes soGeorgiastudents plan walkout to demand tougher gun safety measures  Have a question or comment for theshow? 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 segmenton next Friday's episode. Listen and subscribe to our podcastfor free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Youcan also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.”      Credits Executive producer- Shane BacklerProducer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Shane Backler 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, hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell are joined by Secretary of State COO Gable Sterling for his response to the new exclusive AJC poll which shows that some two-thirds of Georgia voters have faith that the November election will be conducted fairly and accurately. But that number drops to well below 50% among Republicans.  Then,  AJC Macon bureau chief Joe Kovac joins the podcast to discuss his conversations with Middle Georgia voters as election day approaches. What are the top issues on their minds? And the hosts look at a report from Propublica which alleges that two pregnant Georgia women died when they didn’t receive emergency medical attention when their pregnancies were incrisis.  Links to today’stopics: Georgia voters are increasingly confident election will be fair, accurateDemocrats challenge inclusion of independents West, De la Cruz on Georgia ballot Tim Walz talks gun violence in MaconKamala Harris and Donald Trump are the talk of this South Georgia hair salonPatricia Murphy: Georgia's abortion law left these pregnant women in shambles  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 BacklerProducer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Shane Backler 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, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell are joined by UGA’s Trey Hood and GSU’s Amy Steigerwalt to take a deep dive into the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s new Georgia presidential general election poll. It shows that Kamala Harris is picking up ground against Donald Trump in Georgia, with the race here a statistical tie.Later, State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver joins to discuss her thoughts on how the legislature should respond to the mass shootings at Apalachee High School and gives her thoughts on the status of the Kamala Harris campaign in Georgia today.Plus, Garren Gayor, White House correspondent and managing editor of politics for the Grio discusses what he learned as a moderator of the National Association of Black Journalists interview with Kamala Harris yesterday.Links to today’s topics:AJC poll finds Trump and Harris locked in tight race in GeorgiaTop Georgia Republican open to gun safety bills in aftermath of Apalachee High School shootingsIn an interview with NABJ Harris condemns hate speech about Springfield, Ohio immigrants  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 BacklerProducer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Shane Backler Editor- Matt Owen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voting in the 2024 presidential election is about the begin, but controversy over counting the ballots of two independent candidates - Cornell West and Socialist Party candidate De la Cruz - remains unresolved.On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, host Bill Nigut is joined by deputy secretary of state Jordan to discuss that and other issues surrounding the election. Then, AJC elections reporter Mark Niesse continues the conversation about the upcoming election.And Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander discusses the star-studded celebration in music of Jimmy Carter’s upcoming 100th birthday, and gives her take on President Carter’s legacy.  Links to today’s topics: Want to vote in Georgia? National Voter Registration Day is todayVotes for Cornell West & Claudia De la Cruz will count - for nowWhy Tim Walz is visiting Georgia todayJD Vance blames "ridiculous" political rhetoric for Trump assassination attemptFox Theater celebration in music of Jimmy Carter's 100th birthday Musicians share stories about Jimmy Carter ahead of birthday concertHere are Georgia events planned to mark Carter 100th birthday 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 BacklerProducer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Shane Backler Editor- Matt Owen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance’s speech in Atlanta tonight will be the Republican vice presidential candidate’s first major remarks since the Sunday’s incident which the FBI called an apparent “assassination attempt” against former President Donald Trump. On today’s epidose of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell and Greg Bluestein discuss the latest threat against the former president.  You’ll also hear about Vance’s upcoming appearance at the Faith and Freedom Coalition dinner in Atlanta and Tim Walz’s future stop in Macon. But first, the AJC’s Tamar Hallerman joins the podcast with the latest information about the decision by a special prosecutor to not pursue criminal charges against Lt. Governor Burt Jones in the Fulton County Trump election conspiracy case. Plus they look at a decision by Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee to drop several charges against Donald Trump.Plus, AJC business and economics reporter Michael Kannell joins the podcast to take a deep dive into the economic issues being raised by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.Plus the hosts discuss the visits to Georgia this week by vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance.  Links to today’s topics:Trump was the subject of an apparent assassination attempt at his Florida golf club, the FBI saysBurt Jones won't be charged in Trump election interference caseFulton County judge drops more charges in election conspiracy caseAnalysis of Trump tax and economic proposalsJD Vance to speak at conservative evangelical gathering in AtlantaTim Walz to campaign in Georgia tomorrw  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 BacklerProducer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Shane Backler 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, hosts GregBluestein and Tia Mitchell react to the new development that former PresidentDonald Trump announced he won’t participate in a third presidential debate. They ask U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris, about Trump declining to debate again. They also ask Khanna about the campaigning he’ll do for Harris inGwinnett County. Then, they askconservative AJC contributor Meagan Hansen about the latest with the GeorgiaGOP. Hansen discusses House Speaker Jon Burns' gun safety proposal and Gov.Brian Kemp saying now is not the time for new policy. Plus, it’s Friday, so weanswer your listener mailbag questions and go through picks of who’s up andwho’s down.   Links to today’s topics:Trump rules out another debate against Harris as her campaign announces $47M haul in hours afterwardBrian Kemp says it’s still too soon to weigh in on Georgia’s gun policy debateFani Willis plans to defy subpoena and skip Senate hearingGeorgia judge strikes more counts in Trump election interference caseHave a question or commentfor the show? Call the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listenermailbag 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 “playPolitically Georgia podcast.”      Credits Executive producer- Shane BacklerProducer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Shane Backler Editor- Devan Kortan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Speaker Jon Burns endorsed efforts Thursday to expand mental health care access, offer incentives for gun safety purchases and toughen penalties against people who make terroristic threats after a mass shooting at a Georgia high school brought fresh scrutiny of the state’s firearms policies. On today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts up hosts Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, and Bill Nigut talk to state Senators Jason Esteves, (D-Atlanta), and Steve Gooch, (R-Dahlonega) for their takes on House Speaker Jon Burns’ new gun safety proposals.   And another lawsuit has been filed against the state election board over last-minute rule changes. Paulding County Election Director Deidre Holden, who’s in charge of implementing the 11th hour rules on a local level, joins today’s podcast.    Then, the dust has settled from the debate Tuesday night where Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump faced off for what could be the first and last time. Now we’re learning both campaigns have plowed almost $60 million dollars of tv ads into must-win Georgia.     Links to today’s topics: Top Georgia Republican endorses gun safety proposals after Apalachee High School shooting Campaigns ran nearly 700 ads in Atlanta on day of the Harris, Trump debate Republican lawsuit tries to stop new Georgia Election Board rules    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- Shane Backler  Editor- Devan Kortan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices