• 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
  • Proposed city council pay raises raise eyebrows, Special runoff election for vacant Atlanta city council seat
    Nov 21 2024

    Hefty pay raises are being proposed for all city council members come 2026, including for the Mayoral position.

    The Mayor could see a salary increase from $202K to $271K, and city council members would go from roughly $72K to $127K.

    Republican strategist Brian Robinson, the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and host Lisa Rayam share their thoughts on those raises, and reforms that should come with them.

    Plus, early voting starts this Saturday for a December 3rd runoff election, to fill a vacant Atlanta city council seat. It's between former Atlanta Public Schools principal Nicole Evans Jones, and attorney and former APS teacher, Eshé Collins.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    23 mins
  • The chair of Georgia's Democratic Party plans her exit. The state GOP takes notes as it prepares for 2026
    Nov 19 2024

    On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team discusses strategy on the part of the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party as she prepares to leave the post.

    There was a concerted call for U.S. Representative Nikema Williams to resign after Democrats showed up poorly on November 5th.

    Leading the charge is U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff who is up for reelection in 2026. The Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long is in for Tharon Johnson this week.

    Saba, along with Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam, talk about how the move to push Williams out is not based on job performance, but good ole fashioned politics.

    Plus, why state Republicans have an interest in how all this plays out?

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    27 mins
  • Plugged In: 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
  • Tumultuous time for Georgia Democrats after Harris' loss, Democratic Party blame game
    Nov 14 2024

    The General election is over and the dust has settled.

    Georgia Democrats are left wondering: What happened?

    As they look inward and search for clarity, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam take a hard look at Democratic voter turnout in Georgia.

    What does the November 5th voter turnout mean for state Democrats moving forward?

    Plus, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis soared to re-election. But it seems, her elections interference case against President-elect Donald Trump is fading from the spotlight.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    21 mins
  • Calls for the Georgia chair of the Democratic Party to step down after the November 5th election, President-elect Trump hones-in on Georgia for trusted leadership positions
    Nov 13 2024

    On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team sorts through new developments in Georgia after the November 5th election.

    There are now calls for the chair of the state Democratic Party to step down after sweeping losses in the House.

    U.S. Representative Nikema Williams insists she can handle the job even while running for reelection.

    But, a major push for change is reportedly coming from U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff.

    Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson both weigh-in.

    Plus, they talk about how president elect is tapping members of Georgia's GOP for jobs in Washington. Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler is one of them.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    22 mins
  • Plugged In: 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
  • Donald Trump heads back into the White House, Kamala Harris loses Georgia, other key battleground states flip red in divided nation
    Nov 6 2024

    Political Breakfast goes live with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam just hours after the Associated Press called a presidential victory for Donald Trump.

    Analysts call the victory an extraordinary political comeback for Trump, a convicted felon who still stands accused of election interference in Georgia back in 2020 and for sparking the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

    Despite all of this, Brian and Tharon analyze how Trump recaptured Georgia handily and flipped other battleground states.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    8 mins