The Georgia Politics Podcast

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! The big news this week is that the first Biden/Trump debate will be in Atlanta, but we’ve got a lot more than that for you. Buckle in! Joe Biden and Donald Trump have agreed to a June 27 debate hosted by CNN here in Atlanta. First of all, how strange is it to have a debate before the candidates go through their conventions? The Georgia Republican Party has removed First Vice Chair Brian Pritchard after an administrative law judge found he voted illegally nine times after moving to the state. The state Republican Committee voted 146-24 on Friday to remove him. Chairman Josh McKoon is chalking it up as a victory for election integrity. Former congressman John Barrow has turned some heads with his race for the Supreme Court, making the race explicitly about protecting abortion. He is challenging incumbent Justice Andrew Pinson and Gov. Brian Kemp has committed $500,000 from his leadership committee in support of Pinson.  Races We’re Watching, Underhyped/Overhyped, Play Al

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we are going back in time to the last great Republican National Convention: 1976. The 1976 Republican National Convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri, and showcased a fierce battle for the party's nomination between incumbent President Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the former Governor of California. Ford narrowly clinched the nomination after a tense floor fight, highlighting deep divisions within the party between its moderate and conservative wings. Despite Reagan's spirited challenge, Ford ultimately emerged as the nominee, setting the stage for a heated general election against Democrat Jimmy Carter. Joining us on the show to discuss is Sherry Shealy Martschink, who was a delegate from South Carolina, served on the vital Rules Committee, and spoke to the nation against a seminal rules change that helped decide the Presidential nomination. Ms. Martschink, a native of South Carolina, was a junior at the University of South Carolina when she was

Welcome to a special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast! Students protesting the war in Gaza is all over the news this week, but these types of protests are nothing new to American culture.  Student protests in the USA have long been catalysts for change. Dating back to the Civil Rights Movement, students fought for racial equality, leading sit-ins and marches. The Vietnam War era witnessed widespread anti-war protests, notably culminating in the Kent State shootings. Organizations like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) emerged, advocating for various causes. In the 1980s and 1990s, student activism shifted to include protests against apartheid and nuclear proliferation, as well as advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and environmental concerns. The new millennium brought movements like Occupy Wall Street, focusing on economic inequality. Recent years have seen student-led protests against gun violence, notably after events like the Parkland shooting, and significant involvement in the Black Lives Matter mov

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We’ve got a newsy episode for you today: Rudy Giuliani’s request for new trial in Georgia is denied, Special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis now investigating Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and much more! But first, we’ve got an update on the Catoosa County GOP debacle from field reporter Craig “The” Kidd. The drama continues. Also, you may remember that in December, a jury in the U.S. District Court in D.C. granted Fulton County poll workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss over $148 million in damages. Giuliani had falsely accused them of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. A judge has now rejected Rudy Giuliani’s request for new trial. Another legal update: special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis has been appointed to investigate Georgia GOP Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. Skanadalakis is the current Executive Director of the prosecuting attorney’s council of Georgia.  And Attorney General Chris Carr joined forces with six other states in a lawsuit aimed at halting

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast and Happy Patriots’ Day to all who celebrate! Patriots' Day is a holiday primarily observed in the states of Massachusetts and Maine. It commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. Patriots' Day is celebrated on the third Monday of April each year. In Massachusetts, it's a state holiday, marked by various events including reenactments of the battles, parades, and ceremonies. Schools and many businesses in Massachusetts typically close for the day. In Maine, it's also observed, although it's not as widely celebrated as in Massachusetts. Beyond commemorating the historical events of the Revolutionary War, Patriots' Day also often coincides with the running of the Boston Marathon, one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. 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 Net

Welcome to The Georgia Politics podcast! On today's show, Rep. Matthew Gambill joins to discuss what it means to serve as one of the Governor’s floor leaders during legislative session. A Governor's floor leader is a prominent position within the state's legislative body. This individual is appointed by the Governor to serve as their liaison and representative on the legislative floor. He or she plays a crucial role in promoting the governor's legislative agenda, coordinating with other legislators to garner support for proposed bills, and ensuring communication between the governor's office and the legislative branch. They often work closely with other legislative leaders and members of the governor's administration to strategize and negotiate the passage of key legislation. Connect with Rep. Gambill on Twitter @matthew_gambill 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. #ga

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we recap the last day of the 2024 legislative session – what got through both chambers, what didn’t, and what we learned about the state of politics in Georgia. In short, a lot of the cultural war bills got left on the cutting room floor and the bills that most Georgians say they care about it, didn’t. As Speaker Jon Burns said, “You know, some folks choose politics. The House chooses results.” We saw pay raises for teachers and police, income and property tax cuts, a bill involving immigration detention requirements, $6,500 vouchers for students to attend private schools and more. In other news, Georgia GOP Vice Chair Brian Pritchard was found guilty of violating state election laws and voting illegally 9 times. GOP Chair Josh McKoon has called for his resignation, but Pritchard is standing resolute. Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s jam packed episode.  Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspo

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! There is no way that A.I. could do this show better than us…right? We are nearing the end of this year’s legislative session and there are a few major updates we want to hit on this episode. First, Governor Kemp lit a fire under some legislators to get moving on school vouchers, and get moving they did. After stalling in the House last year, the powers that be were able to flip enough Republicans from a ‘nay’ in order to get it through 91-82. Also, somehow, some way, the great Clarence Thomas statue debate is back. GOP legislators are once again attempting to have him added in eternity to the Georgia Capital grounds. Why? We’re also going to discuss last week’s news that EV maker Rivian is backing out of its grand bargain with Georgia…for now. A slowdown in EV sales has caused the company to pump the brakes on its $5 billion battery plant and the 7,500 jobs that were to come with it after the state doled out $1.5 billion in economic incentives. Lastly, let’s talk about

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 offi

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. #gapol

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 15th 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 ca

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

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

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

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 mov

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=nKQwh1xnX

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 Twit

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On this special episode we discuss Homeowners Associations and the similarities they have with today’s politics. Michael Crew, Owner and CEO of Homeowner Management Services, joins Craig in studio to talk about what an HOA is, how they work, and what they can and cannot do. A Homeowners Association (HOA) is a private governing body established within a residential community to enforce and manage certain rules and regulations. Typically, HOAs maintain common areas, such as parks or pools, ensuring they are well-kept and enhancing property values. They administer architectural guidelines to maintain aesthetic standards and regulate property modifications. Additionally, HOAs collect fees from homeowners to fund communal services and amenities. Acting as a mediator, an HOA resolves disputes among residents and facilitates community cohesion. Through these functions, HOAs aim to preserve property values, foster a harmonious living environment, and uphold a sense of communit

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this special episode, we shine a spotlight on the City of Milton, which recently transitioned its local elections from Fulton County to an in-house process this year. Joining Craig in studio to discuss are Steve Krokoff, Milton City Manager, Stacey Inglis, Deputy City Manager, and Judy Burds, who took on the role of Milton’s Poll Manager. Craig and crew discuss the origin for the idea, the many steps it took to get operational over the course of many months, the costs and lastly, how everything fared on election day. Krokoff and Inglis also offer advice for other municipalities who may be considering making a similar change in future elections. 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