While some Georgians rushed to the gas pumps, folks in Atlanta politics were scrambling to figure out what happens, now that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has decided not to run again this fall. Among those mulling it over: a name familiar to Political Breakfast listeners. Meanwhile, Governor Kemp signs a bunch of bills that will probably be part of next year’s elections. And one candidate’s decision about next year could affect a lot of others. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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A white Atlanta police officer who killed an African-American man nearly a year ago is reinstated to his job. And another weekend of deadly violence in the city takes the life of yet another young girl. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tries to find answers amid mounting criticisms of her administration. Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans are still heading in different directions when Donald Trump calls to them. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, who fills in this time for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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Of all the places he could have gone, President Joe Biden chose Georgia to visit as he marked his 100th day in office. But it wasn’t because of our lovely spring weather. Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans continue to wonder about possible challengers to new Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock. And there are now Federal hate crime charges against the three suspects in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick.  Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson give their insights on all of it, with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.

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The guilty verdicts for Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd produced a lot of relief in Georgia, but they re-opened the debate about police reform in the state. Meanwhile, after postponing for a while, faith leaders re-opened their call for a boycott of The Home Depot over Georgia’s new voting law—and the Governor fired back in a hurry. And the state’s effort to track Coronavirus cases might get some much-needed new momentum, with help from Uncle Sam.  Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson are back, with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.

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The top U.S. Senate Republican told the corporate community to stay out of politics—something in which it’s been involved for eons—but some of Georgia’s big corporations are still walking a tightrope over Georgia’s new voting law, even as a big movie star pulls his new production out of here. The state’s GOP governor thunders at the law’s opponents, and gets a standing ovation from one county’s Republicans, but that’s not good enough for party leaders in two others, who censured him anyway. A couple of Democrats are already facing off for the chance to challenge the Republican attorney general. And a big Korean company praises the Republican governor and a new Democratic senator their roles in a deal to save a big Georgia factory. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson sort through it all with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.

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In most years, the final gavel in the Georgia Legislature means at least a brief period of calm, and a chance to figure out how all those bills will affect everyone. But this year, things just got noisier—with the loss of baseball’s All-Star Game over the new voting law, and even fierce disagreements about what that law says. This special edition, which was broadcast live on 90.1 WABE and on Facebook, features our regulars: WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson. They analyze the escalating clash, with a couple of guests: Republican House Speaker David Ralston, and Senate Democratic Leader Gloria Butler.

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On the final day of this year’s legislative session in Georgia, major companies like Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola, and others blasted the state’s new voting law, after it had already been passed and signed. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer to sift through the debris of “Sine Die” —with some help from WABE political reporter Emma Hurt. They also got into the Governor’s decision to lift most of the state’s Coronavirus restrictions, and the State of the City address by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

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The 2021 General Assembly finished, but not before passing a controversial voting law, a state budget and a lot of other bills. In this virtual live event Host Lisa Rayam is joined by politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt as well as education reporter Martha Dalton, environment reporter Molly Samuel and health reporter Sam Whitehead. They also take audience questions.

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A controversial voting bill sparks at least one lawsuit in the final days of the 2021 Georgia legislative session. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the fallout and about other bills that are still awaiting action this week including the state budget and police funding.

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It was the announcement many Georgians had been anticipating for months: every adult in the state can now get a COVID-19 vaccine. Now, if only Georgia can do as well as other states in getting the available shots into people’s arms. Meanwhile, the pre-adjournment frenzy is on under the Gold Dome as lawmakers battle over several key issues—including sports betting, citizens’ arrest, and a response to the recent mass killing in Atlanta. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson get into it all with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.

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