Politically Georgia

The U.S. Senate reached an agreement on a bipartisan stopgap spending bill to keep the government open, but hard-line Republicans are unlikely to support the compromise. In this episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Bill Nigut, Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, and Tia Mitchell break down the impasse in Washington and the impact a government shutdown could have on Georgians.Plus, Greg Bluestein joins us from California where he will be covering tonight’s second GOP primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. We’ll get a preview of the debate and hear Greg’s interview with Governor Brian Kemp during his one-on-one with the governor at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Texas.And Patricia Murphy talks Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s rise from a political backbencher to a major power player in Washington, D.C. 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:What a government shutdown could mean in GeorgiaCarter presidential library moves birthday plans amid shutdown threatGOP rivals seek a ‘breakout’ moment in another Trump-free debateOPINION: The Greene New Deal: She’s in chargeSubscribe to the AJC: If you aren’t a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to get unlimited digital access to the AJC at a special price.   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 episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut look at how Marjorie Taylor Greene – one of Speaker McCarthy’s strongest allies in the House – turned against him and joined hardliners in refusing to pass the rule to allow the Department of Defense budget bill to come to the floor for an official vote. Greene’s surprising defection from McCarthy’s side was triggered by her opposition to the new funding for Ukraine embedded in the DoD bill. Then, Tia Mitchell leads a discussion of an emotional appearance on the Hill by Atlanta rapper Quavo - a member of the popular rap group Migos – who is lobbying for new gun safety measures in the aftermath of the shooting death of his nephew, known as Takeoff, last year.Finally, the panel looks at how Georgia Republicans are rallying to support the building of the Atlanta police and fire training center as a necessary step toward making the city’s streets safer. Their strong support comes even as Mayor Andre Dickens continues to face concerns about the center from some prominent Democrats.Plus, questions from listeners called into the Politically Georgia podcast hotline at (404)526-AJCP…and the panel weighs in on who’s up and who’s down this week.   Links to today's topics:Marjorie Taylor Greene turns against House Speaker over UkraineRapper Quavo brings gun violence advocacy to Congress, White HouseOssoff backs new public safety training facilities in Atlanta  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 at a special price. Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is facing questions from some key Democrats about how the city will count signatures collected by those supporting a referendum on the city’s planned police training center. In this episode of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia, Patricia Murphy, Tia Mitchell, Greg Bluestein, and Bill Nigut ask whether Dickens is losing support from allies in his commitment to building the facility.Also, some Georgia Republican members of Congress say they’re fine with a government shutdown if they don’t get what they want included in the budget bill.Plus, a conservative organization begins running ads in Georgia to pressure GOP congress members to vote for continued aid to Ukraine – and Patricia Murphy talks to voters who say that despite their issues with President Biden, they’ll vote for him because they don’t want four more years of Donald Trump.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:  Atlanta’s training center referendum becomes new political battlegroundGeorgia Republicans in Congress divided on consequences, benefits of federal shutdownTension over Ukrainian aid divides Georgia Republicans as fiscal deadline nearsThe Jolt: Georgia lawmakers get mixed marks on Ukraine by GOP groupOPINION: Biden’s 2020 voters still ridin’ with Biden in Georgia   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 at a special price.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atlanta leaders said they were willing to go into ‘war mode’ against dangerous apartments. More than a year later, residents feel they’re on their own. In this special edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, host Bill Nigut sits down with AJC investigative reporter Willoughby Mariano, who follows up on the AJC’s 2022 special investigation Dangerous Dwellings. Hear how tenants of more than 250 apartment complexes identified in this special series continue to live in unsafe and unhealthy conditions that make their homes all but uninhabitable. And why the sense of urgency by local leaders to address the issue has faded.   Links to today's topics:AJC Dangerous Dwellings Series  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 at a special price. Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google 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 Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, Bill Nigut and Riley Bunch sit down with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to discuss the continued controversy over the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.Hear why Mayor Dickens opposes an effort by a city council member to bypass an ongoing petition effort and place the public safety training center directly on the ballot.The mayor also shares his thoughts on a variety of topics from the city’s process for verifying petition signatures to the sweeping indictment of dozens of training center opponents charged with violating the state’s anti-racketeering act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Georgia Republicans’ message as Congress careens toward a possible government shutdown?Plus, you’ll hear how a federal redistricting trial ending today could open the door for Democrats to win an additional seat in the U.S. House. We’ll look at the stakes in the trial.And you’ll hear our hosts discuss how new indictments of Hunter Biden could complicate Democrats’ re-election strategy. You’ll also hear answer to your questions in our listener mailbag segment, which you can now call into. The number to the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline is 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:Speaker McCarthy directs the House to open an impeachment inquiry into President BidenGeorgia’s ‘MAGA’ wing lauds launch of Biden impeachment inquiry The Jolt: Why Kemp continues to challenge Trump and his misleading claimsGeorgia redistricting trial begins with focus on Black representationFirst lady Jill Biden to tour Emory cancer research programs on FridayHunter Biden indicted on federal firearms charges in long-running probe weeks after plea deal failedSubscribe to the AJC: If you aren’t a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to get unlimited digital access to the AJC at a special price.Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google 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 episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, Bill Nigut, and Tia Mitchell discuss the demands from Georgia Republicans that helped trigger an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden.Plus, you’ll hear why former Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue were in the crosshairs of the Fulton County probe into Donald Trump. And what happens next in the standoff between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan.Our hosts also look into the conditions of the Fulton County Jail and what needs to be done about the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has gained the attention of the Department of Justice.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: Speaker McCarthy directs the House to open an impeachment inquiry into President BidenJudge denies Meadows’ bid to move Fulton case to fed court OPINION: Sentenced to death, but never convicted, at the Fulton County Jail The Jolt: Angry activists say Democrats continue to ‘turn their back on us’New report hints at why Loeffler, Perdue were in Fulton probe’s crosshairs 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 at a special price.   Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's next in Fulton County's case against Donald Trump? The trial of the former president and 18 co-defendants enters a new, more unpredictable phase now that each of them have pleaded not guilty. In a live episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy and Bill Nigut head to Athens to explore what to expect over the next few months -- and the legal challenges awaiting Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. They also discuss the racketeering charges leveled against activists who are trying to block construction of the public safety complex in Atlanta. And they take questions from an audience of more than 100 students and faculty members from the heart of UGA's campus. 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:19 not guilty pleas as Trump Georgia defendants all waive arraignmentFulton judge ‘very skeptical’ of trying all 19 Trump defendants togetherProsecutor says Trump racketeering trial would take four monthsOPINION: Bullets are flying across Georgia and mayors are asking for helpMore than 60 Atlanta training center activists named in RICO Indictment    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 at a special price. Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just two years ago, state lawmakers convened at the Capitol to redraw Georgia’s political boundaries. Now they could be poised to revisit the map if a federal judge rules the Republican-backed Legislature illegally weakened Black voters’ electoral power.In this episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, Bill Nigut, and Tia Mitchell discuss the two-week federal trial that could reshape the 2024 election. They also explore the latest attempts to punish Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for bringing charges against Donald Trump. And they talk about President Joe Biden’s attempt to reframe the narrative around his economic agenda.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 redistricting trial begins with focus on Black representationSenate returns ahead of shutdown showdownWill Georgia Senate sanction ‘grifter’ in ranks?Georgia’s Calvin Smyre selected by Biden to serve as UN delegateSubscribe to the AJC: If you aren’t a subscriber to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to get unlimited digital access to the AJC at a special price.Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A pattern resembling the Donald Trump-fueled misinformation that spread in 2020 is reemerging in 2023. In this episode of Politically Georgia from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, hosts Greg Bluestein, Patricia Murphy, Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut dive deeper into the Trump-fueled feud over District Attorney Fani Willis’ investigation. Plus, hear about the push state Senator Colten Moore is making that has caught the attention of Governor Brian Kemp.   Our hosts also discuss the victory for Fulton County election workers Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman and why a watchdog group says U.S. Rep Andrew Clyde’s gun legislation violates ethics rules. 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 rejects talk of special session, says punishing Fani Willis carries risksTrump indictments roil Republicans in Georgia’s SenateGOP leaders battling misinformation in their ranksFederal judge rules in favor of Fulton County election workers’ defamation suitWatchdog group says Rep. Clyde’s gun legislation may violate ethics rules   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 at a special price. Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices