The Georgia Politics Podcast

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s episode, we interview former State Senator and current candidate for the Georgia GOP Chairmanship, Josh McKoon.

Sen. McKoon discusses his plan to reshape the state party, including his vision for inclusivity and running candidates everywhere. He also talks about what concerns he hears from party delegates when he is courting their votes and how he thinks Republicans should think about past and future elections.

It’s a jam packed episode full of insights into the possible future of the Republican party in Georgia.

Connect with Sen. McKoon by visiting his campaign website mckoonforchairman.com.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson @pston3

Hans Appen @hansappen

Daelen on Instagram @daelen_lowry

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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GaPol_Trump

This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, Megan sits down with Chris Sandbach to discuss what we know and what we don’t know about the Trump indictment related to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.

There have, of course, been plenty of news articles and commentary on what implications the indictment of Donald Trump could have for the country writ large and Donald Trump’s political future, but we think what is needed is an explainer of exactly what the charges are, what evidence is presented by the Manhattan DA in the indictment, and what we can expect to learn in the next few months.

Attorney Chris Sandbach joins Megan (also an attorney) to go over the details. We want our listeners to be informed of the facts to help them formulate their own opinions on the merits of the case against the former President.

About Chris Sandbach

Chris Sandbach has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Foreign Policy and Received his J.D. from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2015. After law school, Chris Spent over 6 years working as a public defender in the Atlanta area.  In 2022, he took a job with the law firm of Rickard, Drew & Nix and specializes in personal injury litigation and criminal defense. He is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Georgia Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers. Additionally, Chris has worked as a volunteer voting rights/voter protection attorney since 2018, served as the Political Activism Director for the Young Democrats of Atlanta in 2020 and is currently serving on the board of directors for Red Clay Democrats and the Young Professionals Board for Soccer In The Streets. Chris lives in Atlanta with his cat Larsson and enjoys playing/watching soccer and going to see live music.

Connect with Chris on Twitter @sandbach1023

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon-Kane @meganlaneg

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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On The Georgia Politics Podcast today, the DNC picks Chicago and Brian Kemp pitches anyone but Trump in 2024.

Atlanta lost its bid last week to host the next Democratic National Convention in favor of Chicago. Atlanta leaders were thinking up until the final day that it was safely theirs. What happened, and is Georgia still the center of the political world? 

Also last week at the Republican National Committee Meeting in Nashville, Brian Kemp encouraged his party to stay away from the issue of election denial in upcoming campaigns. “To voters trying to pay their rent, make their car payment or put their kids through college, 2020 is ancient history,” he said, adding that voters want to know the GOP’s vision for the future and “couldn’t care less about anyone’s sour grapes.” Is he right?

Meanwhile, a new UGA poll has the former President polling in the 40s in Georgia, despite several other announced candidates. Is Brian Kemp going out on a limb?

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

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.

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Welcome to another special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast!

Professor Stone and Craig sit down to discuss the political rise and fall of Jimmy Carter's chosen Vice President, Walter Mondale. 

Known as a bit of a Washington insider, the Senator from Minnesota was supposed to help balance out Carter's Washington inexperience and be his man on the hill. It didn't quite work out that way, and while Mondale tranformed the role of Vice President, Carter's presidency would go on to be known for his inability to relate with Congress.

In 1984, Wondale won the Democratic primary in a crowded field, but would end up losing one of the most lopsided Presidential elections in American history. To add insult to injury, he would also go on to lose a Senate race in his home state of Minnesota.

America's biggest political loser? You decide.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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On another feature of The Local Option with Dana Barrett, Fulton County, Georgia Commissioner Dana Barrett sits down with Preston to take a deep dive into navigating the political landscapes of (even) local governments. Wouldn't it be better if every conversation about an issue didn't have to end with "and Politics?" 

Then, Commissioner Barrett gives her take on the recent headline-making controversy at the most recent Fulton County Commission meeting before offering thoughts on "Invest Atlanta." 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Like this special series? The Local Option is now its own stand alone podcast! Subscribe wherever you listen to podcast by searching for "The Local Option with Dana Barrett."

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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Welcome to the 4^th annual Sie Die episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show, we dive into the bills that are headed to the Governor’s desk for his signature and which bills are not…and all the shenanigans that happened in between.

Senate Bill 233 was the latest attempt at a school voucher program to not get the votes it needed during a recent legislative session. The voucher would have provided $6,500 to families living in the area of a failing school to be put towards a private school or home schooling. The bill failed by a vote of 85-89. It was then immediately tabled, meaning it can still be considered during 2024’s session. 

House Bill 19, otherwise known as the Annual Budget, made it through both chambers with just hours to spare. It included full funding for the HOPE Scholarship, pay raises for law enforcement and teachers.

HB196, a bill to keep the process moving on Medical Cannabis Oil, once again failed to gain traction on the final day of legislative session. 

Sports Betting failed to get to the floor again, making it several consecutive years that the issue has been hotly debated and then didn’t receive a vote. 

SB63, a bill that would increase or establish cash bail for certain charges, passed out of the house but failed to reach the Senate in time. The bill would have increased bail for several charges ranging from Marijuana Possession to Aggravated Assault.

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

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.

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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, we are joined by Professor Jeff Auerbach to talk about his transition from Political Science Professor to Political Candidate in the 2022 election cycle.

Professor Auerbach talks about what led him to considering a run for office, how he was recruited and who helped him make the decision that it was a good idea to throw his name in the political ring.

He was the Democratic nominee in an Athens area district that was gerrymandered to favor the Republican candidate. So, did he think he had a chance at winning, and what tactics did he employ to give him a better chance at victory in November general?

After he and Preston talk about the particulars of his race, they get into what it takes for candidates to win at a local level, what sorts of institutional support is available, and what questions a candidate should be able to answer before deciding to run.

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.

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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we touch on Stacey Abrams’s future, Senate Bill 140 and local GOP elections.

First up, the AJC ran a story citing several Democratic Party sources that said they were looking for a change at the top of the next slate of candidates. While Abrams is off doing other things, she certainly hasn't ruled a third run out. But should she?

Speaking of elections, recently there have been slates of more conservative, far-right, activists getting elected to local county GOP party positions all across Georgia. What going on there and what’s next? Craig chimes in on what he knows.

Lastly, passing by just 6 votes, Senate Bill 140 made it out of the House and will now go back to the Senate. The bill limits gender-affirming care for children under 18 and creates legal liability for physicians that provide it. The bill is part of a series of measures targeting the transgender community both in Georgia and nationally. 

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

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.

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On this week’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, we examine the life and legacy of the late Barbara Walters with WSB’s Michelle Wright.

Barbara Walters blazed a trail for female journalists in the industry and inspired the likes of Jane Pauley, Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer.

Walters big break came when she joined The Today Show in 1961 and was named co-host of the show in 1974, becoming the first female co-host of a U.S. news program. She would go on to sign a five-year, $5 million contract with ABS, making her the highest paid news anchor – male or female – in the United States.

Throughout her career, Walters would interview every sitting U.S. President and first lady from Richard and Pat Nixon to Barack and Michelle Obama. Some of her most famous, and sometime notorious, interviews include Fidel Castro, Anwar Sadat, Katharine Hepburn, Sean Connery, Monica Lewinsky, Hugo Chávez, Vladimir Putin, and Bashar al-Assad.

Perhaps her most noteworthy accomplishment was creating the talk show “The View” in 1997, which is still on air with ABC today. The all-female hosted program brings together women from different generations, political views and upbringing to dive into cultural and political events of the day.

WSB’s Michelle Wright joins the show to talk specifically about Walters’s signature pull-no-punches style, “scoop” journalism, and impact on women in her profession.

Walters passed away in December of 2022 and The Georgia Politics Podcast is proud to honor her legacy and contributions to political commentary and journalism with this special episode.

Connect with Michelle on Instagram @itsthewrightstuff

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we are pleased to present the new series “The Local Option with Dana Barrett.”

As the District 3 Representative on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner Barrett brings an inside look on how local government is shaping our lives. She’ll be joined every other week by a special guest to dive deep on a particular issue or place, before giving an update on what’s happening in her sandbox of Fulton County.

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we celebrate Crossover Day!

Crossover Day at the Georgia Capitol is the day that pending legislation must pass in either chamber of the state legislature and “cross over” to the other chamber or it dies this session (kind of).

Preston, Craig and Megan highlight some of the bills they have been keeping an eye on this session and discuss where they stand. There have been some surprises, head scratchers, and some very on message moments in this session that lend plenty of fodder for discussion for today’s episode, half way through our 4^th session we’ve covered as a podcast.

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

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.

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This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we are back with Part 2 of our top moments in history we wish we’d have witnessed in person. This time, Craig, Megan and the Professor reveal their Top 5.

Hear from each panelist what their Top 5 moments in history - for whatever reason - they'd have liked to have had a front row seat to. Some moments are on lists to settle debates. Some moments are on lists to celebrate accomplishments. And some are on lists to scratch the burning curiosity of questions left unanswered.

Whatever reasons the panelists had for their list, we know you will be entertained and probably enlightened with the discussion. Enjoy, and make sure to go back and listen to Part 1 if you missed it!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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It’s a jam packed episode on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.

First up, should people that are still alive be immortalized with statues on public property? The subject is timely as Republicans in the state capitol resume conversations on erecting a statue of Clarence Thomas on the capitol grounds. Putting aside the merits for Justice Thomas, is it a wise move?

We are about halfway through this year’s legislative term and so far, Governor Kemp has avoided most of the culture wars that seem to be plaguing most of the rest of the country. Some Republicans under the gold dome, however, seem to have other plans – especially when it pertains to gender affirming treatment for trans kids. Why?

Also, sports betting seems to have renewed life in the legislature. A proposal to roll it into the HOPE Scholarship program would avoid putting a constitutional amendment referenda before the voters this November. Will it finally make it over the finish line?

What seems to be doing the opposite if gaining renewed life are proposals to eliminate statewide runoffs. What once seemed to have near unanimous support has been losing steam in the last few weeks.

And of course, we touch on the big political news not only in Georgia, but in the country, which was the redacted release of the 9 page report on the Fulton County investigation into election interference in the November 2020 elections. Resident attorney Megan walks us through what was in it, what wasn’t, and what we can expect going forward.

Lastly, does Brian Kemp have a future in Washington, D.C.?

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

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson @pston3

Hans Appen @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

This week, on a very special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Craig, Megan and the Professor huddle up to discuss the top moments in history they wish they'd have witnessed in person.

This special episode has been teased for a while, and we finally pulled it together. Hear from each panelist the Top 10 events that - for whatever reason - they'd have liked to have had a front row seat to. Some moments are on lists to settle debates. Some moments are on lists to celebrate accomplishments. And some are on lists to scratch the burning curiosity of questions left unanswered.

Whatever reasons the panelists had for their list, we know you will be entertained and probably enlightened with the discussion. Enjoy, and make sure to come back for Part 2!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we are back with “Part 2” of our recognition of the 30^th anniversary of the HOPE Scholarship.

Joining in studio is Lynne Riley, President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, to talk about the progression of the HOPE Scholarship over the years, and how it has fared since its inception 30 years ago. Due to skyrocket demand and economic downturns, the scholarship has seen changes – some controversial. Of note, Governor Kemp has proposed plans to return fully funding the scholarship for the first time since 2011 in his recent State of the State address.

There are a lot of nuances to the scholarship that not everyone is aware of, or knows that their children can or should be taking advantage of – from a younger age than many would assume. Lynne details some of those nuances and the many opportunities available to Georgia’s youth.

About Lynne Riley

Lynne Riley was appointed President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission in July 2020 to lead the agency in the administration of state and lottery funded scholarship, grant, and loan programs, ensuring access to higher education for Georgians. The nationally recognized HOPE scholarship program has provided two million students with over $13 billion in awards since its inception in 1993.

Riley previously served as Georgia’s first woman State Treasurer and State Revenue Commissioner. Elected in 2010 to serve in the Georgia General Assembly representing House District 50 (Johns Creek), Lynne began her career in public service as Fulton County Commissioner for District 3 (North Fulton) in 2004.

Lynne serves on the Board of the Education Finance Council and serves as CEO of the REACH Georgia Foundation. Riley is an alumnus of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Regional Leadership Institute and the Coverdell Leadership Institute. Lynne is the Chairman of the Emory Johns Creek Hospital Board of Trustees. Lynne was appointed to the Internal Revenue Service Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee in 2018 for a three-year term.

Lynne was Principal of Riley Accounting Services for 32 years. Lynne and her husband Mike made the Johns Creek community their home in 1988 and have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Connect with the Georgia Student Finance Commission online at gafutures.org

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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On today’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, we review Governor Kemp’s first State of the State address since winning re-election in November, the Democrats’ response, and the protests at a planned police training center in Atlanta that protesters have dubbed “Cop City.”

Police have been breaking up camps set up by environmental activists for months, but they turned deadly last week when one protestor was shot and killed after police say he fired on them. No body camera video is available from the event. The panel discuss the entire episode and what it contributes to continued discussion on policing reforms throughout the country.

Also, Governor Kemp issued his first State of the State address since winning reelection in November. In it, he highlighted some of his accomplishments in his first term and laid the groundwork for what he’d like to accomplish in his second. There were many universal applause lines, perhaps more so than the norm, but we did see some dividing lines drawn throughout the speech.

The Democrats were represented by State Senator Elena Parent in their response, and she emphasized the state’s shortfall on healthcare services, underpaid state employees, lifting abortion restrictions and a $15/hour minimum wage. However, the Republicans hold the lever of power in all aspects of state government, so it’s unlikely any of these issues will even see a vote.

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

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson @pston3

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we discuss former Georgia governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller and his landmark achievement – the HOPE Scholarship – which was implemented 30 years ago this year.

Joan Carr, Senator Miller’s former Chief of Staff, joins the show alongside Georgia State University Professor Adam Stone to talk about the late Senator’s legacy.

After serving as Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor from 1975-1991 he won the race to be Georgia’s Governor when he defeated Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and future Governor Roy Barnes in the Democratic primary and then Republican Johnny Isakson in the general. Isakson would later succeed Miller in the U.S. Senate.

He is probably best known for paving the way for the HOPE Scholarship, which paid the college tuitions of all Georgia students who graduated high school with a 3.0 GPA and then maintained the same in college. The scholarship was funded by revenues collected from the state lottery.

After his tenure as Governor, his successor – Roy Barnes – appointed Miller to the U.S. Senate to succeed Republican Paul Coverdell upon his death in 2000. He defeated former U.S. Senator and guest of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Mack Mattingly, in a special election to keep the seat in November of that year.

His tenure in the Senate was often known for his criticism of fellow Democrats, but he is also known for being the only person to serve as the keynote speaker at both national party’s Presidential conventions, doing so for Democrat Bill Cliton’s 1992 run for President and then later for Republican George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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On The Georgia Politics Podcast this week, we preview the 2023 legislative session for Georgia’s state government.

Newly re-elected Governor Brian Kemp gave a rundown of his legislative priorities at a recent Eggs & Issues breakfast put on by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. In it, he detailed his continued focus on economic expansion and highlighted his priority to give Georgia teachers and state employees another raise.

The Georgia House of Representatives unanimously named Jon Burns its next Speaker. What can we expect from the new Speaker in the wake of Speaker Ralston’s long tenure over the chamber?

Also new to the position, newly elected Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones gave a speech of his own where he seemingly didn’t make any waves. The session is young however, and we’ll see how he manages to steer the chamber where Republicans hold more of a strangle on the legislation that comes out of it.

There are a ton of issues and bills that we expect to see out of this session, and we go over a number of them, but by and large we expect a comparatively tame session as compared to the last few. That being said, we’ve been wrong before!

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

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson @pston3

Hans Appen @hansappen

Daelen on Instagram @daelen_lowry

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

On The Georgia Politics Podcast, we dive into the marathon vote for Speaker of the US House and what we can expect now that Kevin McCarthy has finally prevailed.

We knew there would be some drama for this one when the GOP red wave didn’t happen in November and party hardliners gained more leverage in the tightly divided congress, but I don’t think anyone could have anticipated what played out these last few days.

After Kevin McCarthy failed to secure a majority of the votes cast on the first ballot, including holdout Andrew Clyde, from Georgia’s 9^th Congressional District, we witnessed another 14 rounds of voting and republicans nearly came to blows (literally) on the House floor, before McCarthy secured the gavel. Remarkably, perhaps, Georgia’s other oft controversial congressman – Marjorie Taylor Greene – was not among the Matt Gaetz coalition and was Team McCarthy from the get-go. More on that later?

To wrap the show, we touch on a topic that we didn’t get a chance to cover before the news broke and our panel took a holiday, and that is Stacey Abrams’s TikTok Hype House. If you missed this story, we found out that Stacey Abrams 2022 gubernatorial campaign is about $1 million in debt and we are now learning about some lucrative (and perhaps foolish) campaign expenditures. Including, and most notably, a “TikTok hype house” the campaign rented in a luxurious Midtown Atlanta neighborhood.

What does this tell us about they Stacey Abrams comeback bid and the democratic party’s approach more generally to making gains in the state?

All that and much more on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson @pston3

Hans Appen @hansappen

Daelen on Instagram @daelen_lowry

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol