Politically Georgia

A federal judge has rejected a Democratic lawsuit claiming illegal efforts to suppress votes in 2022 Georgia election. In today’s episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hists Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell discuss the impact of the ruling by federal Judge Steve Jones, rejecting a lawsuit filed by Fair Fight Action against True the Vote accusing the group of illegally working to suppress the votes of hundreds of thousands of Georgians in the 2022 election. Plus, Tia Mitchell leads a discussion on the many issues facing the U.S. House and Senate as members return to the Capitol after a long holiday break. And we take a swing around the state looking at news from outside North Georgia. Savannah bureau chief Adam Van Brimmer and Columbus veteran reporter Chuck Williams join the program. Links to today’s topics:True the Vote wins intimidation case over Georgia voter challenges 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 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

Political news did not take a break while you were ringing in the new year. On today’s episode of the AJC’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut cover the big political stories that broke over the holidays, including federal Judge Steve Jones’s approval of the newly drawn legislative and congressional maps in Georgia. Also making headlines was a spate of so-called “swatting” incidents involving elected Georgia officials. Our hosts also look ahead to next week’s start of the 2024 legislative session with Democratic Rep. Saira Draper and veteran Republican operative Stephen Lawson. Links to today’s topics:Georgia General Assembly gavels back in on MondayGeorgia U.S. House lawmakers eye new districts in the new yearRise in so-called “swatting” incidents involving elected Georgia officials 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 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

In today's episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut look at the top political moments of 2023 and share what they are looking for in 2024.From Peachtree Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, our hosts also look at Georgia’s important role in determining who wins the White House in 2024. 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.” And finally, from all of us at the podcast: Happy New Year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut look at the 2024 agenda from the perspectives of the right and the left. GOP Congressman Buddy Carter and Executive Director of Care in Action, Hillary Holley discuss the issues they’ll be focused on in the coming year.   Plus, Tia and Bill answer questions from the listener mailbag and name those who they think are up and down this week.   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 next Friday’s episode.   Links to today’s topics: An unproductive year in Congress A crisis of care – Will Congress act?   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.”   And finally, from all of us at the podcast: Happy Holidays!!!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger managed to avoid a formal investigation by the State Election Board into his actions during the 2020 election. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Greg Bluestein explain how the attempt is sounding alarm bells under the Gold Dome. Ed Lindsey who serves on the board joins, and voted yes to investigate Raffensperger, joins the podcast.   Plus, Judge Steve Jones has begun the hearing to determine if Georgia’s newly drawn legislative and U.S. House maps comply with his order to give Black voters additional power to elect candidates of their choice. Hear how the hearing began with an unexpected wrinkle.   And later, when is a Republican not a Republican? We’ll talk about the two GOP leaders in Chattooga and Pickens counties recently adopted new rules to let local activists determine who is eligible to qualify as Republicans in county races.   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 next tomorrow’s episode.   Links to today’s topics: Republican move to investigate Raffensperger over 2020 election falls short Judge pledges quick turnaround on Georgia redistricting maps When is a Republican not a Republican?   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

In a historic decision, the Colorado Supreme Court hasruled that former President Donald Trump cannot hold office again and issued aruling that his name be removed from the state’s Republican primary ballot. Ontoday’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgiapodcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell examine whether the Colorado rulingdisqualifying trump could have implications here in Georgia. GSU law professorAnthony Michael Kreis joins the program with his insights. Then, efforts over the decades to find a workablesolution to how to secure the Southern border and at the same time find arealistic solution for dealing with waves of immigrants and refugees who wantto come to the United States have failed. Former Senator Saxby Chambliss joins our hosts to talk about his timeserving in the Senate and worked to find ways to work across the aisle. And later, Rev. Jane Fahey joins the show. Hear whyFahey was one of the celebrants at the funeral service for Justice Sandra DayO’Connor at the National Cathedral. Have a question for the show? Call the 24-hour"Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's404-526-2527.  We’ll play back yourquestion and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday’sepisode. Links to today’s topics:Colorado ruling disqualifying Trump could haveimplications in GeorgiaSenate to leave for holidays with border dealJustice Sandra Day O’Connor, lauded as “a human being,extraordinary,” lies in repose at the court Listen and subscribe to our podcast forfree at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smartspeaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas for state employees and educators here in Georgia. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein and Bill Nigut discuss the $1,000 bonus Governor Brian Kemp has approved for 308,000 state employees, teachers and school staff at the cost of about $330 million. AJC education reporter Martha Dalton joins the podcast with details on the bonuses.   Looking ahead to tomorrow, Judge Steve Jones will review Georgia lawmakers’ recent efforts to redraw electoral maps. But will the maps pass muster on being more racially in line with federal voting rights laws? We hear more about the litigation from Democratic Party of Georgia lawyer, Sachin Varghese.   Plus, a group of well-known evangelical leaders have now put their weight behind the measure to combat antisemitism, a bill that stalled this year in the Georgia senate.   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 next Friday’s episode.   Links to today’s topics: Kemp plays Santa to 308,000 Georgia teachers, state employees with $1K bonus Judge to review lawmakers’ efforts to redraw electoral maps Evangelicals join dispute over definition of anti-Jewish hate   Subscribe to the AJC: If you aren’t a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to get unlimited digital access to the AJC.    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

Republican leadership in Georgia is looking at the possible expansion of Medicaid in Georgia. In this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut and Tia Mitchell look at the idea floated by Georgia Republicans of expanding Medicaid in exchange for rolling back Certificate of Need regulations. Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver and political strategist Brian Robinson join the discussion.   Plus, Republicans continue to hold out for a deal to increase U.S. border security measures before approving wartime funding for Ukraine and maybe also Israel. Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver and political strategist Brian Robinson   Our hosts also look at a federal judge’s decision that Rudy Giuliani must pay $148-million to the Fulton County election workers that he falsely accused of tampering with the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.   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 next Friday’s episode.   Links to today’s topics: Georgia House Republicans looking at full Medicaid expansion Giuliani must pay more than $148 million for defaming Fulton election workers Vice President Harris touts Biden funding for HBCUs   Subscribe to the AJC: If you aren’t a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to get unlimited digital access to the AJC.    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

In this special edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, we share with you this week’s live Politically Georgia launch party event at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta.Hear AJC president and publisher Andrew Morse lay out plans to transform this storied newspaper into a major modern media company.  Morse introduces to the stage Politically Georgia hosts Greg Blustein, Patricia Murphy, Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut and talks about Georgia’s influence on 2024 presidential elections.Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger joins Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy on stage to discuss how he will ensure fair, honest, accurate elections here in Georgia. The secretary also answers questions from our live audience.Subscribe to the AJC: If you aren’t a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to get unlimited digital access to the AJC.  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 hosts start off with another exclusive from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. We found the apology letters written by two of the attorneys who struck plea agreements in the Fulton County election interference case are just one sentence long and handwritten on lined notebook paper.   Then, Georgia U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson will retire at the end of his term. As his seat is drawn now, his 3rd District is still a GOP stronghold. But Georgia's congressional map is currently under a judge's review. Former 3rd District Republican Lynn Westmoreland offers his insights on the dynamics of the current Congress.   Plus, Vice President Kamala Harris announced she'll attend the Celebration Bowl right here in Georgia. Harris will support her alma mater, Howard University, as it faces Florida A&M University in a showdown between two historically Black colleges and universities. But will this help move the political football, as polls suggest the Biden-Harris ticket has to work on consolidating Black voters? Georgia American Civil Liberties Union staffer Chris Bruce gives us some insight.  And we answer listener questions from the mailbag as producer Natalie Mendenhall makes her "Politically Georgia" debut.  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 next Friday’s episode.    Links  EXCLUSIVE: Apology letters surface in Fulton Trump case US Rep. Drew Ferguson announces he will not seek reelection in 2024 OPINION: Nearly 50 congressmen and senators are quitting. Can you blame them? Vice president to attend Celebration Bowl in Atlanta Poll: A fifth of Black voters want ‘someone else’ instead of Trump or Biden   Subscribe to the AJC: If you aren’t a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to get unlimited digital access to the AJC.    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