Politically Georgia

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s "Politically Georgia" podcast, Greg Bluestein makes his way home from New Hampshire. Bluestein discusses Donald Trump’s convincing win in New Hampshire. Bluestein describes Nikki Haley’s response to finishing a distant second. What will she do next? AJC Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell, AP politics reporter Meg Kinnard and political analyst Rick Dent join the discussion. Then, President Joe Biden’s write-in campaign carried him to first place in the Democratic contest that held little meaning since Biden chose not to compete in the nation’s traditional first primary in the nation. The panel discusses what’s at stake for Biden when South Carolina holds its Democratic primary. Plus, AJC staff writer Maya Prabhu joins the podcast to discuss top stories unfolding in the General Assembly, including a new effort to launch a formal investigation of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.  Links to today’s topics: Trump wins New Hampshire. Haley vows to soldier on Biden works to energize Black voters in South Carolina State senator calls for committee to investigate Fani Willis   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.   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’s "Politically Georgia" podcast, Greg Bluestein reports from Manchester, New Hampshire, on the closing rallies for the two remaining candidates for the GOP presidential nomination: Nikki Haley and Donald Trump. Will Haley surpass expectations and live to fight another day? Or will Trump become the de facto nominee of the GOP with a big New Hampshire victory?    Meanwhile, Democrats are hoping for a big write-in victory for President Joe Biden, who skipped New Hampshire to make South Carolina the first primary state in his campaign.  Then, a look at the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr’s son Dexter King, who died yesterday at age 62.    Plus, AJC reporter Tamar Hallerman joins the podcast to discuss the latest news about allegations that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has had a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the lawyer she hired to oversee the Trump election conspiracy case.    Links to today’s topics: Is New Hampshire do or die for Nikki Haley? Joe Biden supporters hope for big NH write in campaign New Hampshire Biden supporters scramble to ramp up write in campaign Dexter King dies of prostate cancer Cobb judge unseals Wade divorce records, frees Willis from testifying in case for now   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.   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’s "Politically Georgia" podcast, Bill Nigut, Tia Mitchell, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy handle the latest developments in the New Hampshire primary.  Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein report live from the Granite State. Both were with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley when she learned that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had ended his presidential bid. The hosts discuss how this development affects the dynamics of the GOP primary race. Some Georgia Republicans are now endorsing former President Donald Trump even before New Hampshire votes.    Plus, President Joe Biden’s New Hampshire supporters are mounting a write-in campaign for the incumbent.   Then, a new development in the controversy surrounding the allegations of an inappropriate relationship between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Nathan Wade, her special prosecutor in the election interference case against Trump. A Cobb County divorce court will hear motions on whether Willis should be required to give a deposition in the divorce case between Wade and his estranged wife.    Links to today’s topics: Cobb judge to consider Willis deposition in Wade divorce case Bank records show Wade and Willis traveled together New Hampshire Biden supporters scramble to ramp up write in campaign DeSantis quits race. Haley says "may best woman win" Trump wins new Georgia endorsements  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.   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 presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson previews the New Hampshire primary. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia,” the hosts welcome Hutchinson, who earlier this week ended his long shot bid for the GOP presidential nomination. Hutchinson ran as a mainstream conservative Republican who warned that putting Donald Trump back in the White House would be bad for the country. He dropped out of the race when he finished sixth in the Iowa caucuses and acknowledged that “my message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front-runner did not sell in Iowa.”  Then, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed a fiery motion responding to allegations that she had been in an inappropriate relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired to oversee the Trump election conspiracy case. Willis attempted to quash a subpoena from Wade’s estranged wife to testify in the couple’s divorce case. Willis says Wade’s wife is trying to derail her prosecution of Trump and his co-conspirators.   Plus, the U.S. House and Senate passed a continuing resolution to keep the government running for another two months. But five Georgia Republicans voted against the measure. Tia Mitchell explains why. Links to today’s topics: OPINION: Asa Hutchinson warns GOP is “headed toward a cliff.’ Congress approves shirt term funding resolution Fulton DA accuses special prosecutor's wife of interference in Trump case  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.   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

The cost of Atlanta’s training center jumps to $109 million. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia,” the cost of Atlanta’s public safety training center has increased by $19 million.   Plus, the team breaks down highlights from the AJC’s new poll. Among them are Georgians' feelings about the fairness of the state’s elections.   And, Cobb County Democrat Jerica Richardson has announced she’ll continue to run for the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District seat. It’s a race that pits her against U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath and a reversal on what she told us on a show a few weeks ago. What changed her mind?   Then, Patricia and Greg are set to head to New Hampshire to cover the first primary election of 2024. It’s a crucial election for Nikki Haley, who hopes to defeat Donald Trump in the Granite State.   Links to today’s topics:  Cost of Atlanta’s training center jumps to $109M Most voters trust Georgia’s 2024 election will be fair, AJC poll finds Georgia 6th: Richardson plans to run against fellow Democrat McBath for Congress  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.   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

New polling sheds light on school voucher debate. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia,” education reporter Martha Dalton joins the podcast to talk about anew AJC poll finding that a majority of Georgia registered voters oppose a GOP legislative measure to establish vouchers for private or home-school education. Dalton also shares what she learned when U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visited with AJC reporters and others Tuesday.  Then, a look at another key result from the AJC poll revealing more than two-thirds of Georgians surveyed support Medicaid, which for the first time, Republican leaders in the Legislature are considering.  Plus, state Rep. Carl Gilliard, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, joins the podcast to talk about issues it is supporting in the current session. And he drops some big news: The caucus is backing a measure to create a study committee that would be empowered to look at creating a possible path for reparations for Black Georgians.  Links to today’s topics: Georgians support Medicaid expansion Watch AJC conversation with Miguel Cardona  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.   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

As Iowa overcomes frigid temperatures, some flurries make their way to Atlanta. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia,” Tia Mitchell joins the podcast from Iowa to report on former President Donald Trump's caucus victory and the roll Georgians played in helping him win big. And as she headed back to Atlanta, Patricia Murphy filed a report on her takeaways from Iowa.   Then, the hosts discuss the results of a new AJC poll on the presidential race in Georgia. At this stage of the contest, registered voters told pollsters they favor Trump over President Joe Biden 45% to 37%. And they say they’re very unhappy with the job Biden is doing as president and feel pessimistic about the direction of the country.   Plus, Tia Mitchell updates us on negotiations on Capitol Hill over passing a budget continuing resolution to keep the government open past this weekend.  Finally, Tamar Hallerman joins with a report on the court filing accusing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis of having a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she hired to lead the Trump RICO case. And she shares a look at how Willis defended herself in a church appearance over the weekend.    Links to today’s topics: Trump wins Iowa handily AJC Poll: Trump leads Biden in early stage of race Filing alleges improper relationship between DA and special prosecutor Fani Willis defends hiring of special prosecutor  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.   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

 All eyes on are icy Iowa ahead of the caucuses there tonight. Today on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's ‘Politically Georgia’, Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy join the show to report on their adventures covering the run-up to the Iowa caucuses as sub-zero temperatures grip the state. Rick Dent offers insights based on his years of work as an adviser to three Southern governors and as a political consultant.    Then, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks publicly for the first time about the allegation that she is engaged in a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she appointed to head the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. She calls the charges, filed in a motion by the attorney for one of Trump’s co-defendants, racist attacks.   Plus, on this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Tia Mitchell discusses her profile of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, the inheritor of King’s pulpit as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.  Links to today’s topics:  Fani Willis defends hiring of special prosecutor A profile of "Senator-Reverend" Raphael Warnock  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.   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

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.   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

Gov. Brian Kemp provides a temperature check on the Peach State with his State of the State address. On this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's “Politically Georgia” podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein discuss what they expect to see in the governor's speech.     Then, the AJC's Adam Van Brimmer discusses the narrowing GOP field in the race for president. On Wednesday, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ended his campaign. But it was not without controversy, as a hot mic moment revealed Christie’s real feelings about opponents Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. But the pair remained focused on Iowa as they squared off Wednesday night in a CNN debate just days before the Iowa caucuses.    Plus, on this podcast edition of "Politically Georgia," we let you in on the bonus recording from Greg and Patricia's interview with Speaker Jon Burns. The duo gets the speaker's thoughts on Medicaid expansion, presidential endorsements and passing the antisemitism bill introduced during the last session.  Links to today’s topics:  Kemp dives into polarizing debates in election-year address Vocal anti-Trump candidate Chris Christie exits presidential race with hot mic moment PG A.M.: Speaker Burns puts legislative focus on the ‘politically possible’  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.   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