politicos

Lawmakers scramble to keep their bills alive on Crossover Day. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas discuss some of the major bills that are still making their way through the legislature and those that didn't make the cut this session. Plus a conversation about immigration with WABE's immigration and communities reporter Emily Wu Pearson.

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As a judge considers whether to disqualify Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis from the election interference case, Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civil Circle Director Saba Long weigh-in on Willis's testimony during last week's hearing.

Willis is accused of having an improper relationship with Nathan Wade, who's the special prosecutor working on the case.

A political conversation is also brewing about headlines describing Willis as combative, defiant and angry, in her testimony to defend her ability to lead the Georgia election interference case.

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Advocates are calling a bill headed to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s desk a step back from years of criminal justice reform. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas speak with criminal justice reporter Chamian Cruz about Senate Bill 63, which would add more than two dozen offenses to the list of charges requiring cash bail while limiting charitable bail funds from securing the release of no more than three people a year from jail.

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On this week's Political Breakfast, the team talks about a new book called 'Find Me the Votes' by investigative journalists Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman.

They share intimate details about Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis "the person" and her prosecution of former president Donald Trump, and 18 co-conspirators, in their alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election results. 

The book also focuses on the Georgia Republicans who resisted Trump, and endured notorious threats on their families and on their lives.

A note of disclosure: The book was released before accusations were made against Willis and her special prosecutor Nathan Wade having a romantic/improper relationship. 

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Republicans under the Gold Dome have pounced on misconduct allegations lodged against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the lead prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has joined a motion seeking to disqualify Willis from the case. Also this week, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with their colleague Stephanie Stokes who recently published a story in partnership with ProPublica titled: "When families need housing, Georgia will pay for foster care rather than provide assistance."

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On this week's second episode of Political Breakfast, Georgia politicians are starting to kick up dust under the Gold Dome week 3 of the legislative session.

Republicans and Democrats are both moving forward with hot-button issues.

Host Lisa Rayam asks strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson what kitchen-table issues are being pushed so far.

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On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, it's our first time airing a second episode – the podcast is now airing twice a week in 2024. 

Host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and former Georgia GOP Chair Chuck Clay (in for Brian Robinson) debate the general voter climate. 

Are voters on both sides really ready for 2024? Or is there an overall weariness surrounding the presidential election. 

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This week on Political Breakfast, it's all about redrawing Georgia's Congressional and state political maps ahead of this Friday's deadline. Democrats are preparing for a court fight over the new U.S. House map proposed by Georgia's GOP majority.

The new map does create a majority Black district in west Atlanta, but at the expense of Democrat U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath's seat in Gwinnett and north Fulton.

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson weigh-in with host Lisa Rayam. 

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It's back to the drawing board on this week's live episode of Political Breakfast.

State lawmakers are convening at the Georgia Capitol for a special session to redraw maps for Congress and the state legislature. 

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones recently found the current GOP-drawn maps from 2020 violate the federal Voting Rights Act, and dilute the power of Black voters. 

But voting rights plaintiffs -- including the ACLU of Georgia -- say they still have "legal concerns" about a newly-proposed state Senate political map released this week. 

The maps must be redrawn by Dec. 8th. 

Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and CEO of the Atlanta Civic Circle Saba Long weigh-in with host Lisa Rayam on a live edition of Political Breakfast.

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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is still injecting himself into the national conversation, as a potential government shutdown looms. 

During a conversation with The Jolt's Greg Bluestein during the Texas Tribune Festival on Friday, Kemp slammed far-right Republicans for in-fighting and delaying passing legislation to fund the federal government before money runs out on September 30th. A short-term bill is possible, but the GOP can't agree on what should be in it: including omitting Ukraine aid in the spending package, and border security policies. 

Strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson weigh-in. 

Plus the latest high-profile endorsement for so-called 'Cop City.' Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff backs the need for a new public safety training center, but says "where those facilities are located is a decision for Atlanta." 

And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are coming to town in November to square-up in a debate for the GOP presidential nod. Other high-profile lawmakers are also coming to Georgia. 

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City of Atlanta officials say they'll scan and release copies of petition signatures against the proposed public safety training center. Mayor Andre Dickens says he wants to know "exactly what is in those boxes," and that he supports allowing the process to run its course in a transparent manner. 

Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson weigh-in on if there are 116 thousand signatures of Atlanta's electorate protesting the planned training site, and who want to force a ballot referendum. 

Then the latest in the indictment saga against former president Donald Trump and 18 others in Fulton County, and defendants' fight to move the case to federal court. 

Plus, the gang weighs-in on Bidenomics and Joe Biden's approval ratings in Georgia. 

And wrapping up the podcast -- "Prime Time" Deion Sanders makes his home coaching debut with the Colorado Buffaloes.

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This week on Political Breakfast, Governor Brian Kemp declares a state of emergency in Georgia over record-high inflation and suspends the state's gas tax. 

Strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson also weigh-in on Kemp being a part of the national conversation for a potential run for U.S. Senate. And the latest in Atlanta's so-called 'Cop City' saga. City officials announced Monday they are not able to start verifying tens of thousands of signatures submitted by activists trying to stop the planned public

training center. 

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This week on Political Breakfast, the team tackles the prospect of a former president being indicted by a Fulton County grand jury. Host Lisa Rayam along with strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson address the severity of another Trump indictment and how that could weigh on Georgia's constituency.

Plus, the race for Georgia governor in 2026 is simmering with more and more names of potential Democratic and Republican candidates.

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On this week's edition of Political Breakfast, more on Georgia Rep. Mesha Mainor's switch-a-roo. Formerly a Democrat, Mainor is now the first Black Republican woman to ever serve in the state General Assembly. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civic Circle head Saba Long discuss what Mainor's move means for both Democrats and Republicans.

Plus, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says he will support any GOP nominee picked to run against President Joe Biden, including Donald Trump. The team analyzes Kemp's latest appearance on national tv.

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