Politically Georgia

Brad Raffensperger isn’t taking any guff from Hollywood star Larry David. The podcast hosts discuss the playful letter Georgia’s secretary of state sent to David after David’s show, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” poked fun at a state law that prevents the distribution of water and food to people waiting in line to vote within 150 feet of a polling place.   But first, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns discusses his take on the ups and downs of the just-concluded 2024 legislative session. He talks about his reaction to the failure of a bill to suspend mining operations near the Okefenokee Swamp.    The 75th House speaker also explains why the House didn’t pass Medicaid expansion and the so-called culture war issues sent over from the Senate.   And on the other side of the aisle, state Rep. Jasmine Clark joins the podcast to give a Democratic perspective on the outcome of the session.     LINK TO TOPICS What we learned from 2024 legislative session AJC publisher Andrew Morse: protect the Okefenokee With enthusiasm, Raffensperger cautions Larry David to curb his attacks on election law  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- Matt McWilliams Editor- Matt Owen   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former President Donald Trump is headed back to Georgia as the race to the White House heats up. Trump will be here next week for a major fundraiser.   Meanwhile, Democrats fear President Joe Biden's campaign may not invest heavily in winning here. And are Black voters beginning to like Trump’s message?     But first, a look at how the emotionally fraught immigration bill won passage in the final hours of the Legislature's session.   Do local sheriffs have the capacity to uphold federal law requiring them to detain people suspected of entering the country illegally? Gov. Brian Kemp has less than 40 days to sign the bill into law or veto it.   LINKS TO TOPIC   What we learned from 2024 legislative session Trump set to return to Georgia soon Democrats fret about Biden reelection chances in Georgia Are Black voters turning to Trump? Republicans give final passage to new immigration rules  Sheriffs worry about new burden from immigration bills  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- Matt McWilliams Editor- Matt Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts talk to WABE’s Sam Gringlas about the issues that won final approval, and those that went down in flames as the 2024 session came to an end in the early hours of Friday morning.  Then, Andrew Morse, president and publisher of the AJC joins the podcast to discuss why he’d led the charge to save Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp from mining companies setting up operations nearby. And the panel discusses the failure of the legislature to act on a bill that would have provided a temporary halt on mining near the swamp.  And, it’s Friday, so the hosts take questions from the “Politically Georgia” listener mailbag and give their picks for who’s up and who’s down this week.   LINK TO TOPICS Key measures fail in final hours of session Here's why the session went into the early morning hours Sine die: a tale of two chambers Andrew Morse: Swamp must be protected Lawmakers fail to pass Okefenokee protection bill   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- Matt 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, Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch joins the podcast to describe the measures still on the table on the final day of the session.   He indicated the state Senate would likely not take up a measure the House passed overwhelmingly to protect the Okefenokee Swamp. He also said he prefers Governor Kemp’s limited expansion of Medicaid to a measure Democrats tried to pass that would allow a full expansion of the government program.  On the other side of the aisle, Senate minority leader Gloria Butler responds to Gooch’s comments and adds that she thinks rejection of a measure to pass a full expansion of Medicaid is one of the biggest failures of the session.   LINK TO TOPICS Bill to protect Okefenokee from mining is at crossroads AJC calls for protection of swamp from mining Bill for full expansion of Medicaid narrowly fails in committee   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- Matt McWilliams Editor- Devan Kortan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Tamar Hallerman joins the podcast to discuss the in-depth interview she and colleague Bill Rankin conducted with attorney Ashleigh Merchant. Merchant explained the process she went through before deciding to file a motion seeking the dismissal of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the election interference case against former President Donald Trump.   Over at the state Legislature, state House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, a Republican, and Democratic state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver describe the overall tenor of the session as it approaches its end Thursday.   And on Capitol Hill, Tia Mitchell offers her insights on what it’s like to cover one of Washington’s most controversial elected officials, GOP U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is back in the headlines after filing a motion to remove U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson.      LINK TO TOPICS Attorney who filed motion to dismiss Willis says she had to act GOP House majority leader Chuck Efstration Democratic state representative Mary Margaret Oliver Tia Mitchell's Marjorie Taylor Greene profile   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- Matt McWilliams Editor- Matt Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts talk to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle about the bills they’re watching most closely as the session comes down to the final two days. Republican state Rep. Marcus Wiedower of Watkinsville starts the conversation by discussing the sports betting bill that he’s working to pass before the session ends.   Wiedower also comments on immigration legislation introduced following the killing of Laken Riley in his home district.   On the other side of the aisle, Democratic state Rep. Stacey Evans of Atlanta talks with the hosts about her priorities for the final days. She says the Democratic minority's big job is to block what it see as bad bills rather than pass their own legislation.   Then the hosts move from the Legislature to the courtroom, to discuss the extended interview that AJC reporters Bill Rankin and Tamar Hallerman conducted with defense lawyer Ashleigh Merchant, who filed the motion to dismiss Fani Willis from the Trump election conspiracy case.   LINK TO TOPICS   Sports betting: revenue for state vs. potential addiction Lawmakers advance bills targeting immigrant friendly policies Sheriffs worry about new burdens from proposed immigration bills Attorney who filed motion to dismiss Willis says she had to act   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- Micah Middleton Editor- Matt Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to remove Mike Johnson as speaker of the U.S. House. But she says it’s a warning that he needs to embrace issues of importance to her far-right colleagues.   But first, Andy Miller of Georgia Health News joins the podcast to discuss what’s behind the GOP-controlled Legislature’s ongoing rejection of a full Medicaid expansion.   Then, in the state Senate, pressure is ramping up to pass culture war issues in the final days of the legislative session.    And the hosts talk about responses to Geoff Duncan’s extended interview on "Politically Georgia." Now that he won’t run as the No Labels candidate for president, what does his political future look like?   LINK TO TOPICS   Georgia Senate is launchpad for culture war issues Greene threatens to oust Speaker Mike Johnson Geoff Duncan on why he isn't running for president 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- Micah Middleton Editor- Matt Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan is not launching a bid for the White House. Duncan discusses why he won’t be the candidate for president on the No Labels ticket. He also describes his vision for a future for the Republican Party without Donald Trump.   Judith Delus Montgomery, an Atlanta-based lawyer, discusses what’s behind the outbreak of violence in her native Haiti, where gangs have killed at least 24 people, released thousands from prisons, burned police stations, and forced businesses and schools to close.   Then, over at the Legislature, a last-minute effort by Democrats to pass a bill expanding Medicaid fails. The hosts look at what happened.   The hosts answer your questions from the "Politically Georgia" listener mailbag and give their choices for who’s up and who’s down this week.   LINK TO TOPICS Geoff Duncan won't run as No Labels presidential candidate Why is Haiti in turmoil? Surprise bill to expand Medicaid narrowly fails  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- Sawyer Vanderwerff Editor- Devan Kortan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fani Willis faces more challenges in her hope to begin the trial of former President Donald Trump. AJC reporter Dave Wickert joins to discuss the latest in the election interference case. But first up, Kendra Cotton, CEO of the New Georgia Project, joins the podcast to discuss the organization’s effort to energize a liberal coalition of voters for the 2024 election.  She also answers questions about the financial and legal troubles plaguing Fair Fight Action, the organization that was given credit for helping elect Georgia Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to the U.S. Senate in 2021 and delivering the state for Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Plus, Republican legislators are pushing for a resolution to put a statue of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on the grounds of the state Capitol. But Democrats are fighting it fiercely.  LINK TO TOPICS Can Democrats win in Georgia without Fair Fight Action? Judge allows Trump lawyers to appeal his decision allowing Fani Willis to remain as prosecutor of election conspiracy case Legislators clash over Clarence Thomas statue   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- Sawyer Vanderwerff Editor- Devan Kortan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final days of the legislative session, new election bills could be fast-tracked. Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Mark Niesse joined the podcast to discuss the GOP-backed bills. But first, University of Georgia Israel Institute Teaching Fellow Eli Sperling discusses the war between Israel and Hamas. The hosts look at the hornet’s nest of controversy U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer stirred up in a speech on the Senate floor calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “an obstacle to peace” and urging him to allow more humanitarian aid to reach the civilians in the Gaza Strip.  But months earlier Jon Ossoff, Georgia’s first Jewish U.S. senator, gave a floor speech in which he was sharply critical of the toll the Israeli forces fighting Hamas were taking on Palestinians. More recently, Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock called for “an immediate cease-fire” to give aid to the Palestinians caught in the fighting. Then, Gov. Brian Kemp has been a big supporter of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s push to give Texas state and local authorities the power to arrest and prosecute those who are suspected of being in the country illegally. But on Tuesday, a rapid-fire ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court led to confusion over whether the law can take effect.   LINKS TO TOPICS Warnock explains call for cease-fire  Ossoff expresses fear about humanitarian crisis Jewish lawmakers condemn mounting Palestinian death toll Bill aims to make challenges to voter registration easier to file GOP senators call for fewer voting machines in many precincts Kemp backs Texas governor on immigration plan Confusion over Texas law on detaining 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 Backler Producer- Natalie Mendenhall Engineer- Micah Middleton Editor- Matt Owen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices