Twenty-two new state lawmakers will take their seats at the State Capitol when the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes on January 13th. Among them is Bryce Berry, who at just 23 is one of the youngest state lawmakers in Georgia history.

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with reporter Jasmine Robinson, who recentlytalked with the freshman lawmaker. Plus, a look inside the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, which provides information and training to help prepare both freshmen and veteran lawmakers for the General Assembly.

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Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam tackle the issue of immigration, and President-elect Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations once taking office.

How are Georgia families dealing with the prospect of possibly being forced to leave?

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Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam talk about the startling social media comments that emerged after the execution-style murder of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.

Some of the comments were so shocking, they sparked both Brian and Tharon to ponder the current state of America.

(Note: Since the taping of this podcast, authorities have arrested a suspect and charged him with murder.)

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a lot of ideas about how to reshape healthcare in America. He's President-Elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Potential changes are worrying public health experts.

Policy shifts are also expected at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali continue looking at how the new Trump Administration could affect Georgia by speaking with health reporter Jess Mador and housing reporter Stephannie Stokes.

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A lot transpired over the Thanksgiving holiday. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr slipped in the announcement that he's running for Governor.

Strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, along with host Lisa Rayam, discuss the strategic timing of his announcement.  Plus, will this news mobilize the Democratic Party and dredge-up familiar names like Stacey Abrams?

Plus, the presidential pardon fallout involving Hunter Biden.

The team also pays tribute to the late Bruce Thompson, Georgia's former Department of Labor Commissioner, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. 

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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