Politically Georgia

Democratic state Rep. Scott Holcomb joins the podcast first to offer an emotional perspective on the Legislature’s failure to pass his Wrongful Conviction Compensation Act, which would provide those whose convictions are overturned with state financial aid to build a new life. And Holcomb responds to Gov. Brian Kemp’s declaration on our show that he will never support a full expansion of Medicaid. Then, the podcast welcomes Robert Schwartz, leader of the Haley Voters for Biden effort. Plus, the hosts discuss the AJC’s exclusive story reporting that President Joe Biden will give the commencement speech at Morehouse College in mid-May. It’s an appearance that has potential benefits as well as downsides.   Links to topics Last-ditch effort to pass wrongful conviction compensation fails Gov. Brian Kemp on 'Politically Georgia': 'I'm in the "no" camp on Medicaid expansion' Morehouse leaders wrestle with potential criticisms of president's speech to grads  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

It will be a big week for news about former President Donald Trump. As his hush money trial begins in earnest today in a Manhattan courtroom, the podcast welcomes Anthony Michael Kreis to discuss what to expect from both prosecutors and defense attorneys. Who will be the first witnesses for the prosecution? How will Trump's lawyers counter testimony from his former lawyer Michael Cohen. Kreis also looks ahead to Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court hearing that will determine whether the former president is immune from prosecution for actions he took while in office. Then, "Weekend Edition Sunday" host Ayesha Rascoe talks about her time covering the Trump White House and her book on historically Black colleges and universities: “HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience.” Plus, Marjorie Taylor Greene is facing backlash from conservative media for her efforts to oust Speaker Mike Johnson for pushing a vote on Ukraine funding. And Tia reports on Sen. Raphael Warnock’s private audience with the pope at the Vatican.   Links to topics Politico: Will jury buy prosecution charge that Trump hush money was election interference? Dave Wickert: Trump's immunity argument could scuttle or delay Georgia prosecution Ayesha Rascoe discusses her book on the HBCU experience Ayesha Rascoe bio MTG faces backlash for effort to oust Speaker Johnson Tia Mitchell talks with Warnock about audience with Pope Francis  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

On today’s edition of “Politically Georgia,” the hosts travel to Athens, where they tape a live show on the University of Georgia’s campus. First, the crew sits down with Gov. Brian Kemp for a wide-ranging interview about what bills he’ll sign following the legislative session that ended last month, the Okefenokee Swamp and who he’ll vote for come November.  Then, the hosts answer questions from our audience members about all things Georgia politics.Links to topics Kemp backs $6,500 school voucher bill A surprise bill to expand Medicaid narrowly fails Kemp says growing up in Athens led him to race for governor  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

The podcast welcomes state Rep. Michelle Au, a physician and advocate for women’s health issues. Au is in the forefront of advocating for reproductive freedom for women and access to IVF in the aftermath of the Alabama Supreme Court decision declaring that in vitro frozen embryos are living beings. Then, Cole Muzio, president of the conservative Frontline Policy Alliance , discusses the issues his organization worked to advance during the recent session of the General Assembly. Muzio is a strong anti-abortion advocate and found himself at odds with former President Donald Trump’s declaration that each state should decide laws governing abortion. Finally, Greg and Patricia discuss a federal court hearing to decide whether Republican Party leaders in Catoosa County have the right to deny ballot access to those who don’t pass a purity test establishing them as MAGA-style Republicans. Greg writes that the case could have implications for the entire state.   Links to today’s topics  Alabama court ruling has some Georgia abortion rights advocates on edge Alabama Supreme Court ruling in in vitro embryos Patricia Murphy: Muzio doesn't object 'for now' to state House resolution supporting IVF Cole Muzio biography Greg Bluestein: Court takes up push from GOP faction to keep 'traitors' off the Republican ballot 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

The hosts discuss growing anger among Georgia members of Congress over the U.S. Postal Service’s inability to solve serious delays in mail delivery in metro Atlanta. It’s part of a larger national problem.   But first, the podcast welcomes former Georgia Republican Congressman Tom Graves, who served in the U.S. House for a decade before retiring in 2020. The hosts ask him for his observations about the infighting among GOP members of the House today and about the extreme partisanship on both sides of the aisle. He also offers his take on Marjorie Taylor Greene, who now represents the same district Graves did.   Then, Davante Jennings, chairman of the Young Democrats of Georgia Black Caucus and an organizer at the New Georgia Project, joins the podcast to talk about what’s inspired him to become a political activist after he was disillusioned by Donald Trump’s victory in 2016.   Links to topics The arc of Tom Graves career in the U.S. House: from Tea Party conservative to bipartisan advocate Disillusined by Trump's 2016 victory, this young Black Georgian has gotten engaged for 2022 Ossoff, others in Georgia delegation demand USPS solve mail delivery delays   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 podcast welcomes Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. The hosts ask Carr why he joined other Republican attorneys general in signing on to a multistate lawsuit challenging President Joe Biden’s new student loan forgiveness plan. He said the matter should be up to Congress to decide.   Carr also told the hosts that the state has looked into whether charges should be brought against any individuals who worked to overturn the results of the 2020 election and decided there were no grounds for bringing state charges against anyone.   But first, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene may be pulling back from her threat to call for the ouster of House Speaker Mike Johnson, even as Johnson says he plans to call for military aid packages for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. But as the hosts were recording the podcast, Greene gained an ally: Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie said he, too, wants Johnson out as speaker.   And the hosts discuss the possible impact former President Donald Trump’s trial in New York could have on District Attorney Fani Willis’ Fulton County election conspiracy case.    Links to topics   Carr signs on to challenge to Biden student loan plan What to know about Biden student loan forgiveness plan House speaker pushes for vote on aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan  Is Greene rethinking call to oust Speaker Mike Jonson Could Trump New York trial impact Fulton County election conspiracy case?    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 podcast welcomes Michael Thurmond, Eric Tanenblatt and Kerwin Swint to discuss the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president as Donald Trump's New York City hush money trial gets underway with jury selection today. They look at whether that trial could have an impact on the Georgia election conspiracy case, in which Trump and 14 other defendants are charged with illegal efforts to overturn the results of the state’s 2020 presidential election.   Then, Republican and Democratic elected officials are sparring over how to respond to Iran’s attacks on Israel. And in Washington, there are questions about whether the U.S. House will now be able to pass a stalled $95 billion military aid package for both Israel and Ukraine. Far-right members such as U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene have held up the bill the Senate passed weeks ago.   And Tia Mitchell describes how Georgia Congressman Mike Collins has used social media -- for good and ill -- to make himself one of the highest profile freshmen in the House.   Links to Topics Could New York hush money trial influence Georgia case? Will House pass military aid package for Israel and Ukraine? Speaker trying to thread needle on military aid package Mitchell: The double life of Georgia's 'meming' congressman    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

There’s been a new development in Georgia's election conspiracy case against former President Donald Trump. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones will now be investigated in connection with his role as one of 16 GOP electors who cast Electoral College votes for Trump even though Joe Biden had won the state in the 2020 presidential election.   But first, a preview of what to expect when the first of four criminal trials against Trump begins Monday in New York City. The podcast welcomes Bob Wilson, who served three terms as district attorney for DeKalb County after working as the county’s chief public defender, to discuss issues in the case: Will Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have solid evidence to convict Trump of felony campaign violations involving hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels? How difficult will it be to seat a neutral jury for the trial? How likely is it that if convicted, Trump will be sentenced to prison time?   And it’s Friday, so Bill and Greg answer questions from the Listener Mailbag and offer their choices for who’s up and who’s down this week.   Links to topics   What to know about Trump hush money trial State prosecutor to investigate Burt Jones in Trump election conspiracy case  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

The podcast welcomes the senior adviser to the Georgia Biden campaign, Jonae Wartel. She talks about the new $30 million Biden ad campaign that features stories of women who have experienced health crises with pregnancies in states that have enacted significant restrictions on abortion.   But first, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy both covered Donald Trump’s visit to Atlanta on Wednesday. They report on his comments on an Arizona Supreme Court ruling all but outlawing abortion in that state, on who attended his $5 million fundraising luncheon, his stop at a Chick-fil-A in College Park and more.   Links to topics   Biden ad blames Trump for near death of woman denied abortion Trump says Arizona abortion ban goes too far Trump luncheon shows split in Georgia GOP  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

Greg Bluestein reports from the scene of Donald Trump's fundraising luncheon, which is expected to bring in several million dollars. But the event reveals once again the split among GOP leaders over support for Trump.   The panel shifts to look at Trump’s declaration Monday that he doesn’t support a federal abortion law but believes each state should make individual decisions on how to handle abortion. A day later, the Arizona state Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 law outlawing almost all abortions is still legal and enforceable there.   Plus, the panel looks at Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ramped-up attacks on U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson.   Links to the topics Trump in Atlanta for high-dollar fundraiser Trump declines to support national abortion law What to know about Arizona Supreme Court abortion decision Greene escalates attacks on speaker   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