Democrats buy groceries, too

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Qualifying week was last week for legislative races and your regular crew is here to hit the highlights.

But first, let’s talk about the State of the Union. President Biden offered an optimistic, though at times loud and forceful vision for America’s future. These speeches have unto themselves become far more political and certainly theatrical than days bygone. Craig and Preston talk about their utility and what they got out of last week’s edition.

Then, they get into qualifying week under the gold dome, with a few surprises but mostly a ho hum slate of races that should be largely predictable this November. There are no statewide races to drive out turnout for either party, though certainly Biden v. Trump Round 2 should have an effect.

Craig also does his bi-annual tradition of analyzing some of the candidates’ listed profession, which are always good for a laugh and a head scratch or two.

Then, we get into the bizarre happenings in Catoosa County involving party officials refusing to qualify candidates that they deem unworthy of the Republican label, and the judge who has had quite enough of the shenanigans. It is wild, and Craig is here to break it down for us.

Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode. 

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Rep. Scott Hilton joins the show to discuss the halfway point of the 2024 Georgia legislative session.

Crossover Day marks the midway point of the legislative session, which means that it is the last day for bills to pass out of one chamber (either the House or the Senate) to remain eligible for consideration during that legislative session. If a bill fails to pass its chamber of origin by Crossover Day, it typically cannot proceed further in the legislative process during that session.

Rep. Hilton discusses some of the notable bills that did and did not make it from one chamber to the next and where we go from here.

Connect with Rep. Hilton on Twitter @ScottHiltonGA

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! You asked, we delivered. I know you’ve wanted our hot takes on the effort to have Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade removed from the Fulton County Trump case, but we’ve been waiting for more details to emerge. Well, on February 15^th we got a truckload of details and now we have a few things to say.

The misconduct hearing concerning Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis's potential disqualification from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump took place 10 days ago and included plenty of fireworks.

Defense attorneys scrutinized the credibility of Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade, but faced setbacks when Wade's former law partner invoked attorney-client privilege.

The hearing primarily focused on whether Willis and Wade's romantic involvement began before his appointment as special prosecutor. Willis then provided unexpected testimony about cash reimbursements for trips with Wade. The outcome of the hearing carries significant implications for the prosecution of Trump and his co-defendants.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s special episode we take a look back in history to examine the Top 9 most untimely deaths in American politics.

It’s a bit morbid sounding, we know, but it is a fascinating discussion involving some of the most consequential leaders our country saw after 1900. From Martin Luther King to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we’ve compiled a list of 9 people that had untimely death, be that the very nature of their deaths or the circumstances surrounding it.

How did we do? Did we leave anyone out?

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, Fulton County DA Fani Willis responds to misconduct allegations, Governor Kemp visits Texas and sports betting in Georgia clears a hurdle.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had remained relatively mum after one of the defendants her office is prosecuting alleged she was having an improper relationship with an attorney on her team. That changed last week when she filed a response acknowledging a sexual relationship, but denying an improper professional relationship. Where do we go from here?

Also, Governor Brian Kemp flew to Texas to stand alongside dozens of other GOP governors in solidarity with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is in a stand off with the federal government over border practices. Preston makes the argument that these are not the actions of a term limited governor with no political aspirations. What do you think?

In the state legislature, sports betting in Georgia cleared a major hurdle when it passed the Senate 35-15. There is, however, one major caveat that could eventually doom any chances of it becoming law.

Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode. 

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We are back with Part 2 of our interview with Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond to discuss the legacy of his father, Julian Bond, a longtime civil rights activist and Georgia State Senator.

In Part 2, we will focus on his 1986 run for Congress against the eventual winner John Lewis, but we will also touch on his run for President in 1976, his time as Chair of the NAACP, and what he was like as a father.

First up, we have to talk about Bond’s run for President of the United States in 1976 as a candidate for the Democratic nomination. While his campaign was largely symbolic, aiming to bring attention to issues of racial and social justice, his candidacy marked an important moment in American politics, emphasizing the intersection of civil rights activism and electoral engagement.

Then, in the 1986 Democratic primary for Georgia's 5th Congressional District, Julian Bond and John Lewis faced off for the nomination. The race was significant as it pitted two titans of the civil rights movement against each other. Councilman Bond also talks about how it was particularly hard because Lewis was a close family friend and his godfather.

The primary was highly competitive, with both candidates having strong support within the African American community and among progressive voters. Ultimately, John Lewis emerged victorious and went on to win the general election, continuing his impactful career in Congress. The race highlighted the evolution of civil rights leaders into mainstream political figures, contributing to the ongoing narrative of their dedication to public service.

In addition to his continued commitment to teaching and education, Bond would go on to serve as Chairman of the NAACP from 1998 to 2010, the longest serving Chairman for the 114-year-old organization focused on civil rights. Bond, a charismatic leader and veteran of the civil rights movement, revitalized the organization, focusing on voter registration, economic equality, and education.

Connect with Councilman Michael Julian Bond on Twitter @Michael_J_Bond

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Is it just us, or does it seem like the more things change, the more they stay the same?

A new poll published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows that at least 57% of Georgians are at least somewhat confident the presidential election will be fair and accurate. You wouldn’t know that though if you were watching this year’s legislative session.

Lawmakers recently grilled Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over QR codes on paper ballots, and they didn’t get answers they liked. Raffensperger said there is not enough time to have them removed before this year’s elections. A Senate panel OK’d Senate Bill 358 anyways, that would allow the State Election Board to investigate Raffensperger. Governor Kemp signaled he isn’t on board, but if signed into law, the bill would also remove Raffensperger as a non-voting member of the state’s election board.

Also in the legislature, the Senate passed an antisemitism bill 44-6 and it was quickly approved by the House and sent to the Governor’s desk for his approval. The bill would the measure 44-6, followed by a quick 129-5 vote in the House. The proposed law would incorporate antisemitism into the state's current hate crimes legislation which enables more severe criminal consequences for individuals found guilty of crimes motivated by prejudice.

By now you have probably heard about the blowback Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is receiving from her alleged romantic relationship with one of her prosecuting attorneys in the Donald Trump election subversion case. Preston and Craig talk about the different dynamics at play and why they think that ultimately it won’t have much of an impact on the Trump trial – but Craig suggest it may well have an impact on Willis’s future in politics.

Lastly, former President Trump won the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary. Now, the only person left standing in his way his former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Will she make it to Georgia?

All that and more on this jam packed episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.

Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today's special episode, Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond joins Craig to talk about the legacy of his late father, civil rights leader Julian Bond.

Julian Bond was a prominent American civil rights activist, scholar, and politician. Bond became a key figure in the struggle for civil rights during the 1960s. He co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and played a crucial role in organizing protests against segregation and discrimination.

Bond's commitment to justice extended beyond activism; he served in the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate for over two decades, making history as the first African American to be nominated for Vice President of the United States by a major party in 1968.

As a professor, Bond taught at various institutions, including the University of Virginia and Harvard University. Throughout his life, Julian Bond remained a tireless advocate for equality, leaving an indelible mark on the civil rights movement and American history. His legacy continues to inspire future generations in the ongoing pursuit of social justice.

Connect with Councilman Michael Julian Bond on Twitter @Michael_J_Bond

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome BACK to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We begin Season 5 of the podcast with Governor Kemp’s State of the State address and the kickoff to this year’s legislative session.

But first, we want to wish Megan a fond farewell as she departs the show to focus more on her health and career. We wish her all our very best and thank her for her years of contributions to this podcast. We will miss her, but hopefully she will be able to make an appearance from time to time to offer her perspective on current events.

We begin the show today with a recap of Governor Brian Kemp’s State of the State address and touch on all the highlights. There was some Washington bashing, but we also got a preview of what we might expect from this year’s legislative session. School vouchers appears to be near the top of the list. Craig and Preston offer their thoughts and predictions on what Georgians should expect in the next few weeks.

You can watch Governor Kemp’s State of the State here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKQwh1xnXLY

Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast and Merry Christmas! On today’s episode we are joined by two members of the Georgia House to talk about the upcoming session and what bills they expect to get attention from legislators.

Representatives Chuck Martin (R-49) and Scott Hilton (R-48) join Craig in studio to give listeners a sense of what they expect the 2024 session to look like. The Governor has made clear he wants to prioritize a tax cut, but there are other lesser known efforts that both legislators expect to also get traction.

Find out what they are, how bills that didn’t get signed into law last session may still be alive, and of course some fun Christmas related questions to cap the show.

Thanks for listening to the podcast in 2023. We hope you’ve enjoyed it and learned some things! We look forward to getting back in your feeds in the new year.

Connect with Rep. Chuck Martin on Twitter @Martin4GA

Connect with Rep. Scott Hilton on Twitter @ScottHiltonGA

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol