Dr. Marc-Antonie Cooper is Assistant City Manager of South Fulton, GA and a career public servant. He has added the title of author, as he just released "Unabridged: The Paradox of Public Leadership."We touch on why public service is not easy, how it tests your patience, and more importantly, how perilous it can be when a few people can decide to terminate your employment out of nowhere. You can find the book on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/UNABRIDGED-Paradox-Leadership-Marc-Antonie-Cooper-ebook/dp/B0FNBKZXH2

State Senator Harold Jones joins us to discuss what is in store for the Georgia Legislature, and more broadly, Georgia elections in the ever critical year of 2026. We discuss the process to replace legislators who step down, the proposal to eliminate the state income tax, voting rights, healthcare, and whether the state will do anything about the proliferation of data centers. He also discusses why he is supporting former State Senator Jason Esteves for Governor.

Dr. Jacquelyn McCray, an urban planner and Director at Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP, explains the complex factors driving housing unaffordability. She discussed how a lack of supply, vacant properties, rising building material costs, and reduced development incentives have contributed to the problem. Dr. McCray outlined strategies to address affordable housing, not the least of which involves collaboration between local governments, community residents, and developers. You may reach her at [email protected]  or +1 (513) 394 7369 (office).

Host Janice Allen Jackson reviews the highlights of 2025, including our growth during the year and our status as one of the most shared podcasts on Spotify. She also applauds ProPublica for its role in holding instiutions accountable, most notably, their recent work, Sick in a Hospital Town. Finally, she discusses how important it is to be thankful, be safe, and be vigilant in preparation for the upcoming 2026 elections. Stay with Local Matters in 2026!

Paula F. Casey is a journalist and podcaster. She chronicles the history and the importance of Tennessee in ensuring that women could place their stamp on civic engagement and democracy. We also ask how we can get more accountability in an era where traditional newspapers have been rendered powerless. Learn more about Ms. Casey at the following: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-casey-736110b/. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP3NoP1YjkuK9_aHhTUrAYA. Websites: www.theperfect36.com and https://tnwomansuffrageheritagetrail.com

https://womenalsoknowhistory.com/individual-scholar-page/?pdb=2539

Beverly Myers Tarver, a lifetime student of politics, joins us to talk about the major elections happening in 2026. We touch on why so many people have declared an intent to run for Georgia Governor. Senator Ossof's chances to win reelection, and whether the recent victories of Democratic candidates for the Georgia Pubilc Service Commission are an indicator of a major shift.

Clarence H. Carter, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, enlightens us on how the social safety net works for some and not for all. Too often, the system is a "hammock" that traps people in poverty, rather than a "trampoline" that helps people achieve self-sufficiency. The discussion explored current system inefficiencies and the need for restructuring, why there are so many programs, and how those programs aren't cohesive. "Our Safety Net Has Holes In It" is available on Amazon.

Sam Toles, Founder of CiviSocial, reminds us of how social media has changed the game. We talk about how we now consume news, how social media can help organizations recruit employees, cybersecurity concerns, deep fakes, and how vulnerable adults are being scammed. We also tackle the most important of issues, which is building broad based community engagement. Sam's newest book is "The Social Media Playbook for Elected Officials." Learn more about Sam at https://civisocial.com/

Courtney Teasley, a Tennessee lawyer, shares her journey into law and her work fighting against injustices in the criminal justice system. She addresses overcharging and inadequate representation by public defenders, systemic issues that disproportionately affect marginalized minorities, particularly African Americans, in the criminal justice system. Ms. Teasley stressed the need for proactive advocacy, community involvement in judicial elections, and the importance of understanding legal rights to achieve sustainable social change.She also addressed the evasive issue of how voters can identify bad judges and unseat them. Learn more about Ms. Teasley at cteasley.com. She is the author of The Easy Way to Learn Your Rights.

In this episode of the Local Matters podcast, we sit down with Dr. Malinda Cobb, the newly appointed superintendent of the Richmond County School System in Augusta, Georgia. From her roots in Saluda, SC to leading 48 schools and 29,000 students, Dr. Cobb shares how her journey as a classroom teacher shapes the way she leads today.