Two national figures made stops in Georgia this week to test out political messaging for the 2026 elections.

Meanwhile, four major U.S. Senate candidates all gathered in one room.

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Rahul Bali and Brendan Rivers discuss the early start to the campaign season.

Plus, Fulton County Commissioners defy a judge’s order and could face jail time and a Georgian who rose to national prominence during the 2020 election considers running for Secretary of State.

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This week Atlanta is paying final respects to DeKalb County Officer David Rose, who was killed during a shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month. 

Authorities say Patrick Joseph White targeted the CDC, and blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his mental health issues. He died by suicide after firing roughly 500 shots at CDC buildings. 

The union representing CDC workers warns about the continued spread of vaccine disinformation, especially by leaders like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. They say the violence is a result of the vilification of government employees, fueled by the Trump Administration. 

Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, and host Lisa Rayam break down all of this.

Plus, both Tharon and Brian agree: As candidates for Georgia Governor like Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Attorney General Chris Carr show their allegiance to Trump, one new name could shake things up. 

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger may soon jump into the race. Raffensperger defied Trump in 2020 as the president allegedly conspired to overturn Georgia's election results.

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Employees at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been left shaken after a man fired hundreds of bullets at the Atlanta headquarters and killed a police officer.

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” WABE Criminal Justice Reporter Chamain Cruz and WABE Health Reporter Jess Mador join hosts Rahul Bali, Sam Gringlas and Brendan Rivers with an update on the investigation and how the shooting is the latest example of increasing threats, and sometimes violence, directed at public officials and institutions.

Plus, more candidates jump into Georgia’s 2026 statewide races.

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On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react to former DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond's long-awaited campaign launch for the Democratic primary in the Georgia Governor's race. 

One question being addressed: Will a more moderate Thurmond be able to bring Democrats together at a time when what unites most is just hating President Donald Trump?

Plus, the legal drama brewing between the gubernatorial candidates. Attorney General Chris Carr sues Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Meantime, Jones nabs a critical endorsement from President Trump.

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Former President and Georgia native Jimmy Carter created the U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Emergency Management Agency back in 1979. But now President Donald Trump is calling for these two departments, among others, to be dismantled.

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali look at how debates over the shape of the federal government during Carter’s time can shed light on what’s happening today.

Plus, a look at bathroom parity at the State Capitol, off-schedule redistricting appears to be off the table for Georgia Republicans, an update on drama over appointments to the Fulton County Board of Elections and census data suggests that Metro Atlanta’s population boom may be slowing.

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It's official: Derek Dooley is the latest Republican to jump into the race to eventually challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff. The former University of Tennessee football coach joined the GOP primary and announced his campaign in a video that honored his late father, the legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley. 

Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam agree: there's power in the Dooley name. But the endorsements are also rolling in for U.S. Rep. Mike Collins.

Plus, Republican Janelle King sits on the State Election Board. Her husband, Kelvin King, is running for Secretary of State. Both are part of the Black Voices for Trump Coalition and have been critical of the current office and its handling of Georgia's elections. 

But King says she won’t surrender her position just because her husband is running, citing there’s no legal obligation for her to do so. If he wins, “that’s a different discussion,” she said.

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Last week there was speculation that U.S. Rep. Mike Collins was going to jump into the Georgia Senate race for the Republican nomination. The Trump ally made it official on Monday, and set the stage for an even more competitive primary.

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson join host Lisa Rayam to discuss this on this week's live edition of Political Breakfast. 

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In 2021, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association agreed to install an exhibit about the park's history, including Ku Klux Klan cross-burnings.

Construction for the new exhibit is underway, but the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is suing to stop it.

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how the Confederate group is using a state law to challenge the planned exhibit, which aims to tell a broader story about Stone Mountain.

Plus, we take a look at a new committee reviewing Georgia election laws and catch up on the investigation into a lending firm whose founder is a big donor in Georgia Republican politics.

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On this edition of Political Breakfast, Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam talk about the Republicans who are "hinting" about jumping into two key Georgia races: The race for Governor and a U.S. Senate seat. 

It's all talk at this point for U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Collins. But why?

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On this episode of Political Breakfast, the team talks about an ethics complaint filed by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr against his GOP opponent, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, after Jones loaned his own campaign ten million dollars.

The conversation took place just hours before the State Ethics Commission rejected Carr's complaint based on the fact there was not enough cause to investigate.

Then, strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam sort through the importance of the "very sleepy" Public Service Commission Democratic runoff race that was settled last week and what it means for Georgia in 2026.

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