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Politically Georgia

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Join us for the most relevant news and analysis that define the world of politics. From the Gold Dome to the White House, we've got you covered. Hosted by Georgia’s best political team: The AJC’s Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy.

Call in with your questions on the Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at (770)-810-5297‬, and our hosts will answer them on future episodes. Learn more on the AJC Politically Georgia Podcast page.

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  • Thursday · 32 min

    Keep Our Republic takes on Georgia’s election trust crisis

    Greg Bluestein talks with former Secretary of State Cathy Cox and former Republican state Rep. Scot Turner about the growing distrust in Georgia’s elections and the challenges facing the state’s next election officials. They dig into how election administration has changed, why skepticism now crosses party lines, and how Keep Our Republic is working to answer voters’ questions. Cox and Turner also walk through common concerns about voting machines, election-night results, duplicate voting and post-election audits. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Wednesday · 31 min

    Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson backs Ossoff while remaining a Republican

    Greg Bluestein talks with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, a self-described conservative Republican who is backing Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff for reelection. Matheson explains how Ossoff’s work with the city of Valdosta, including hurricane recovery and federal funding, shaped his decision despite criticism from fellow Republicans. He also weighs the GOP’s focus on affordability, the future of the party after Donald Trump and his preferred potential 2028 candidate. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Tuesday · 35 min

    Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rick Jackson clash as Georgia governor’s race sharpens

    Greg Bluestein, alongside Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell, digs into the increasingly personal race for governor after Keisha Lance Bottoms confronted Rick Jackson over attacks involving her husband. They size up Brian Kemp’s push to rally Republicans behind Jackson and the GOP’s broader concerns about enthusiasm heading into November. They also examine Mike Collins’ effort to win over Jewish voters dissatisfied with Jon Ossoff’s Israel votes, along with the complications Collins faces from his son-in-law’s antisemitic and extremist social media posts. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Monday · 34 min

    Atlanta’s DNC snub, campaign cash and the early 2028 field in Georgia

    Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about Atlanta’s bid for the 2028 Democratic National Convention and why the city was left out of the final three. They also discuss how Democrats’ approach to gun safety is shaping up and how campaigns are spending millions on advertising and consultants. Tia digs into whether Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries could face leadership challenges, and Greg and Tia examine Rick Jackson’s what Rick Jackson’s “outsider” label leaves out. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 20 · 30 min

    Flock Cameras and Data Centers put Georgia’s Tech Ambitions Under Scrutiny

    Greg Bluestein is joined by AJC City Hall reporter Shaddi Abusaid to examine the growing backlash over Flock license plate readers, including concerns about police misuse, privacy and who has access to that data. AJC business and climate reporter Kristi Swartz joins Greg to weigh Georgia’s data center boom, the enormous demands on electricity and water, and the growing resistance in communities across the state. They also size up how the debate is shaping the governor’s race and the fight over data center incentives. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 19 · 29 min

    NABJ Convention: Keisha Lance Bottoms, Brad Raffensperger and Stephen A. Smith’s Thumbs Down

    Tia Mitchell and UATL senior editor Ernie Suggs recap a newsmaking National Association of Black Journalists convention in Atlanta, including appearances by gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. They weigh Bottoms’ approach to the governor’s race and Raffensperger’s decision not to endorse Senate nominee Mike Collins. They also dig into NABJ’s decision to give thumbs-down awards to five people and organizations, including ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, and what the move says about the organization’s role in protecting Black journalists. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 18 · 34 min

    Ossoff Turns Up Pressure on Collins as Senate Race Takes Shape

    Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell dig into Jon Ossoff’s aggressive campaign strategy and his effort to turn Mike Collins’ controversies into a broader liability for Georgia Republicans. They break down Ossoff’s large weekend rally, his outreach to conservative voters and the potential down-ballot impact of a decisive win. They also examine Collins’ attempts to broaden his coalition, including outreach to Latino voters, and the fallout from his exchange with a Jan. 6 rioter over taxpayer-funded compensation. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 17 · 32 min

    Georgia GOP tensions, House control and the politics of data centers

    Greg Bluestein answers listener questions about Burt Jones’ refusal to endorse Rick Jackson, the long odds of Democrats taking back the Georgia House and the growing fight over data center development. He also weighs concerns about Georgia’s voting system overhaul, Flock cameras and a missed campaign finance deadline for Keisha Lance Bottoms. The mailbag also takes on how voters can spot politically funded fake news sites as AI and campaign misinformation reshape the information landscape. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 13 · 31 min

    John Cowan’s comeback and a new era for Georgia Republicans in Congress

    Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell talk with Republican congressional nominee John Cowan about his return to politics after losing a 2020 runoff to Marjorie Taylor Greene. Cowan discusses how he believes the MAGA movement has matured, why Republicans may face an enthusiasm challenge in Georgia and how Donald Trump can help candidates heading into November. Cowan also looks ahead at the incoming class of Georgia Republicans in Congress and his goal of building a more collaborative, service-oriented delegation. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 12 · 36 min

    Jordan Fuchs on the GOP’s 2026 Challenges and Brad Raffensperger’s Future

    Greg Bluestein sits down with veteran Republican strategist Jordan Fuchs to assess Georgia Republicans’ challenges heading into November, from weak enthusiasm to concerns about pocketbook issues and swing voters. Fuchs weighs Mike Collins’ struggles against Jon Ossoff and Rick Jackson’s rise in the governor’s race. She also reflects on Brad Raffensperger’s political future, the enduring fight over the 2020 election and the debate over hand-marked paper ballots. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 11 · 31 min

    Ruwa Romman on the progressive path to power in Georgia

    Greg Bluestein and Washington Bureau Chief Tia Mitchell are joined by state Rep. Ruwa Romman to examine what Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate primary victory could mean for Georgia Democrats. Romman talks about how progressive candidates can win by building strong coalitions that reach through party lines to every day voters, emphasizing affordability, healthcare and constituent services. They also discuss what potential democratic socialist wins could mean for the Democratic party, Georgia’s governor’s race, and how candidates can navigate ideological divisions while appealing to swing voters. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 10 · 36 min

    Medicaid Expansion, Kemp and Rick Jackson, and Musk money in Georgia?

    Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell take on listener questions about what a Keisha Lance Bottoms administration could do to expand Medicaid with Republicans still controlling the Georgia Legislature. They also weigh the uneasy political history between Brian Kemp and Republican nominee Rick Jackson, the possibility of Elon Musk spending money in Georgia’s Senate race, and what could be next for Buddy Carter after his primary loss. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 6 · 35 min

    Phil Mattingly on America’s affordability crisis and the political fallout in Georgia

    Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell talk with CNN anchor and chief domestic correspondent Phil Mattingly about Priced Out in America, his series examining the structural pressures behind rising housing, health care and child care costs. Mattingly explains why strong economic indicators often fail to reflect the financial strain many families feel and why neither party has a simple answer. Murphy and Mitchell also weigh how affordability could shape Georgia’s races for governor and U.S. Senate. You can stream Phil Mattingly's series, Priced Out in America, on the CNN App and CNN.com/watch. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 5 · 34 min

    The deeply personal connection between Bottoms and Jackson

    On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Patricia Murphy shares her conversation with Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms about infertility, faith and the journey that led her and her husband to adopt four children. Greg Bluestein and Patricia explore how that experience shaped Bottoms and how it connects with Republican nominee Rick Jackson’s story of growing up in foster care. Then, Greg and Patricia break down Jackson’s staggering $87 million fall advertising reservation. They look at how he plans to use the money, how Bottoms hopes to compete and why Jackson’s spending could make it harder and more expensive for every other Georgia campaign to reach voters. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 4 · 27 min

    Split-ticket voters could shape Georgia’s races for Senate and governor

    Split-ticket voting helped decide Georgia’s 2022 elections, and it could again play a decisive role this November. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Patricia Murphy talks with conservative commentator and AJC contributor Erick Erickson about why some Georgia voters continue to choose candidates over party labels. Patricia is then joined by Tia Mitchell to examine which campaigns are best positioned to win crossover support and how Mike Collins’ controversies could affect his race against Jon Ossoff. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 3 · 28 min

    Rick Jackson’s outreach to Black voters faces scrutiny

    Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy answer listener questions about Rick Jackson’s campaign, including whether his pledge to personally fund Trump accounts raises legal concerns. They also examine the double standard surrounding emotion on the campaign trail and respond to criticism of Jackson’s visits to Black-owned businesses. Plus, they discuss the spread of Flock surveillance cameras and whether Donald Trump’s appearance at Wheeler High School crossed the line from an official event into a campaign rally. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 30 · 33 min

    Georgia GOP chairman warns Republicans must unite to win in November

    Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon says the party cannot afford lingering divisions after a bruising primary season. Host Greg Bluestein, alongside Tia Mitchell, presses McKoon on his lack of direct contact with GOP nominee Rick Jackson, Mike Collins’ path against Jon Ossoff and the party’s need to reach more nonwhite voters. McKoon also weighs Donald Trump’s continued focus on the 2020 election and Georgia’s potential role in the 2028 presidential primary calendar. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 29 · 32 min

    Mike Collins targets Ossoff as controversies follow

    Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell examine Mike Collins’ opening strategy against U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, including attacks over fundraising and immigration. They also assess Collins’ response to reports that his son-in-law shared antisemitic, white nationalist and pro-Nazi content online, along with the unresolved House ethics investigation involving Collins and a former aide. Greg and Tia also discuss the backlash Ossoff faced after offering condolences following U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death and what it says about civility and bipartisanship in modern politics. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 28 · 33 min

    A split Georgia electorate shapes the races for Senate and governor

    A new bipartisan poll shows Jon Ossoff with a clear lead over Mike Collins, while the race for governor remains essentially tied between Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson. On today’s episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politically Georgia podcast, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy examine why the two marquee contests are moving in different directions and how each party is targeting split-ticket voters. They also speak with Keith McNulty, leader of East Cobb Democrats, about the backlash to Donald Trump’s event at the school and what it reveals about the changing politics of Cobb County. Correction: An earlier version of this podcast description incorrectly identified Keith McNulty as a Wheeler High School graduate. The description has been updated to remove that reference. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 27 · 26 min

    Why Rick Jackson’s restaurant photo became a political flashpoint

    Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy unpack the backlash after Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson posed for a photo at a Black-owned Atlanta restaurant. They also discuss the growing presence of democratic socialists in Georgia politics, unresolved questions surrounding Coffee County and the 2020 election, and the shifting balance of power at the state Capitol. Plus, they respond to listeners on political titles, Georgia geography and the proper pronunciation of Albany. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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