On this episode of Political Breakfast, host Lisa Rayam, the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and Republican strategist Brian Robinson focus on Georgia's 2026 gubernatorial race.

Democrat and Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is considering running. That's after serving as an international trade advisor to President Joe Biden. 

But that's as candidates on both sides are starting to make bids.

Georgia GOP Attorney General Chris Carr has already raised roughly 2.2 million in the first 40 days of his campaign for governor. He launched his campaign this past November. 

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President Donald Trump has been president for a week -- and it's already hard to keep up with his barrage of executive orders. 

One controversial move: Trump shuttered communications from federal health agencies, including the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, until February 1st. Agencies subject to this include the CDC, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. 

Plus, as promised throughout his presidential campaign, Trump is enacting mass deportations. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it arrested nearly a thousand migrants nationwide over the weekend, including here in Georgia.

The Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss the weight of these ICE raids, and how they'll affect all Georgians.

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As temperatures plunged, Georgia and Washington, D.C. prepared for the start of President Donald Trump’s second term.

On this week’s “Plugged In,” WABE Politics Reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the first week of the new administration, the ongoing court fight over Georgia’s redistricting maps and the state’s response to bird flu in two commercial flocks.

We also hear from one of the January 6th defendants from Georgia who received a pardon – and a prosecutor who worked on many of the cases.

The legislature returns to session on Monday.

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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp delivered his seventh State of the State address at the State Capitol on Thursday. In it he applauded the state’s resilience through natural disasters, the pandemic, economic upheaval and a deadly school shooting and cast Georgia’s approach to health, budgeting and public safety as a model for other states to emulate, declaring “the Georgia Way is indeed the better way.”

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss some of their big takeaways from the speech as Kemp kicks off his second to last year in office.

Plus, the legislative session gets underway as lawmakers bring up transgender student athletes and push to further investigate Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis.

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On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson reflect with host Lisa Rayam on the first week of Georgia lawmakers getting back to business under the Gold Dome. 

Both attended one of the most anticipated political events of the new year: Eggs and Issues. That's when every January, thousands of the state's top elected officials, business leaders and policy stakeholders convene in Atlanta to set the agenda for what's to come. 

Plus, the pair predict what we'll hear from Governor Brian Kemp ahead of his annual state of the state address. 

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Georgia’s only president, Jimmy Carter, was laid to rest this week in the rural corner of Southwest Georgia where he was born a century ago.

On this week’s episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali share what they saw and heard as Carter’s life and accomplishments were celebrated throughout Georgia. Plus, a preview of the 2025 legislative session, which kicks off next week.

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As the start of the new legislative session looms, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson say the issue of public safety is sure to be a top priority.

Just last week MARTA bus driver Leroy Ramos was shot and killed outside the Decatur station, allegedly over a fare dispute. Three juveniles were swiftly arrested. 

Tharon and Brian join host Lisa Rayam to weigh-in on public safety and gun violence, plus other issues that should get tossed around under the Gold Dome. 

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Here on the first Political Breakfast podcast of 2025, we pay tribute to the late-President and humanitarian Jimmy Carter. 

Also, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson share with host Lisa Rayam their wish-list for state legislators, as they prepare to head back to work soon. 

The start of Georgia's new legislative session is just days away.

Plus, thoughts the New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans.

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Former President Jimmy Carter died Sunday at 100. On this encore episode, WABE's Sam Gringlas looks at how two tiny towns in South Georgia shaped two U.S. presidents. We also preview six days of tributes planned to celebrate the life of the 39th president.

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On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team reflects on the legacy of Vincent Fort. The former Georgia lawmaker recently lost his battle with cancer. During his time as a state senator, Fort was known as a voice for the underserved. He took on housing reform and a host of civil rights issues. Host Lisa Rayam along with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson share their personal insights.

Plus, wrapping up 2024. The team talks about some of the biggest political stories that impacted Georgia over the past 12 months.

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