• What Trump's agenda on the environment and immigration could mean for Georgia
    Nov 22 2024

    President-elect Donald Trump has picked several immigration hard-liners for top posts and he plans to fill key energy and environment roles with oil and gas supporters who have pledged to slash regulations.

    On this week’s episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with immigration reporter Emily Wu Pearson and environment reporter Marisa Mecke about how the incoming Trump administration could affect the state of Georgia.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    20 mins
  • Republicans take power as Democrats regroup
    Nov 15 2024

    Every Georgia county has now certified the results of the 2024 election.

    Historically, this has been a relatively uncontroversial procedural step. Since 2020, that hasn't been the case. But with Donald Trump's victory in Georgia, talk of election fraud has died down.

    In this week's edition of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali describe how the state is grappling with the fallout of the 2024 election.

    Plus, Georgia Democrats assess what went wrong, Georgia Republicans are hyping up for a MAGA-takeover in D.C., a look at what happens to Trump's criminal charges and leadership changes hands in the state legislature.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    20 mins
  • Georgia’s shift right helps propel Trump to second term
    Nov 8 2024

    Former President Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States.

    Nearly 5.3 million Georgians voted, breaking the turnout record set during the 2020 election. Trump received 50.7% of Georgia's vote, turning the swing state red after President Joe Biden's victory four years ago.

    On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali explain how Trump won the Peach State.

    Plus, a look at the results of some competitive down ballot races and three statewide ballot measures dealing with taxes.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    19 mins
  • Election Day is coming
    Nov 1 2024

    Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are making their closing arguments with election day less than a week away. On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali preview what to expect on election night.

    Plus, a look at some of the competitive state legislative races in Metro Atlanta, an examination of Trump's complicated relationship with Governor Brian Kemp and how it could shape the outcome of the election in Georgia and we hear from some local voters.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    37 mins
  • Concerns about political violence come into focus as presidential campaigns push to the finish
    Oct 25 2024

    The FBI is warning that extremists with concerns about the election could turn to violence in the coming weeks.

    In this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take the political temperature in Georgia.

    Plus, former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama return to Atlanta and an explanation of those wordy and confusing ballot measures dealing with taxes.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    21 mins
  • Time to vote: Georgia smashes a turnout record as early voting starts
    Oct 18 2024

    Early voting is now underway in Georgia and over 300,000 voters showed up on the first day, more than doubling the previous record set in 2020.

    With less than three weeks to go until election day, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the latest election news in this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast."

    Plus, two Georgia judges have undercut a series of controversial rules passed by the State Election Board. The rulings amounted to a rebuke of the board's Republican-majority, which has been praised by former President Donald Trump, and brought relief to election officials worried about the last-minute changes.

    And in Sumter County, 100 year-old former President Jimmy Carter has voted by mail for Vice President Kamala Harris.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    21 mins
  • Indian Americans in Georgia continue to expand their political influence
    Oct 11 2024

    Georgia's growing Indian-American community is getting more politically involved, both as voters and as candidates.

    On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take listeners to the Festival of India in Atlanta and discuss how this community could shape local and presidential races in Georgia.

    Plus, more drama with the State Election Board and actress and Smyrna native Julia Roberts campaigns for Vice President Kamala Harris in Canton.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    24 mins
  • Climate change is fueling extreme weather, even in areas far from the coast
    Oct 4 2024

    Hurricane Helene left a path of devastation across the Southeast, killing more than 200 people since making landfall in Florida. Hundreds are still missing.

    On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," climate reporter Emily Jones and environment reporter Marisa Mecke discuss the historic storm, how climate change is making extreme weather worse and what we can learn from the disaster.

    Plus, politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali unpack a judge's ruling overturning Georgia's restrictive abortion law.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    30 mins