In this special edition of The Georgia Politics Podcast, we continue our series on 1975 with a spirited debate about one of the most consequential figures of American history.

Partnering with Student Leadership North, the podcast goes live with a group of high school leaders who take the stage to wrestle with a question that is as much about values as it is about history: Were Congress and President Gerald Ford correct to pardon Confederate General Robert E. Lee?

The students dive deep into the context surrounding Lee’s role in the Civil War, his life after it, and the symbolic weight of his eventual pardon. They bring fresh eyes and diverse perspectives, weighing themes of forgiveness, justice, reconciliation, and accountability. Along the way, they challenge each other to consider how we confront uncomfortable history, and whether healing can come without consequence.

This episode captures the energy of young leaders testing ideas in real time, sharpening their arguments, and learning to see politics not just as policy, but as people wrestling with hard choices. It’s a lively, thoughtful, and sometimes surprising debate that reminds us why civic education matters, and why the voices of the next generation deserve a platform.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Lyndsey Coates on Instagram @list_with_lyndsey

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! This week, we break down the candidates who qualified for municipal elections across metro Atlanta.

From mayoral races to city council contests, we walk you through who’s running and where the most competitive fields are shaping up. Whether you’re a voter in the suburbs or following metro Atlanta politics more broadly, this episode gives you a clear snapshot of the names to know heading into campaign season.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Lyndsey Coates on Instagram @list_with_lyndsey

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today's episode, host Lyndsey Coates sits down with Debra Shigley to discusses her decision to run for office and the experiences that have shaped her campaign.

The conversation explores her vision for Senate District 21, which covers parts of North Fulton and Cherokee counties, and how she hopes to address some of the area’s most pressing issues — from improving public education and expanding economic opportunity to tackling healthcare challenges and ensuring responsive local representation. Shigley also shares insights into how her background informs the way she engages with voters.

Whether you’re a constituent in District 21 or simply following the evolving landscape of Georgia politics, this episode offers an in-depth look at a first-time candidate’s perspective, priorities, and approach to leadership.

Connect with Debra HERE

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Lyndsey Coates on Instagram @list_with_lyndsey

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, host Craig Kidd welcomes Lyndsey Coates and Daelen Lowry for an in-depth conversation on three major political storylines making headlines across the South and beyond.

The trio begins with the Georgia governor’s race, unpacking the latest campaign developments and candidate strategies. From fundraising battles to grassroots momentum, the discussion covers the dynamics that will define one of the state’s most-watched races.

Next, the panel turns to former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan’s headline-grabbing decision to switch political parties. What motivated the move, how it’s being received by Georgia’s political establishment, and what it could signal for the state’s shifting political landscape are all on the table.

Finally, the conversation moves west to Texas, where lawmakers are engaged in a contentious redistricting effort with potentially far-reaching consequences for both state and national politics. The hosts break down the legal, demographic, and political stakes in one of the nation’s most closely watched legislative battles.

Packed with sharp analysis, insider perspectives, and spirited debate, this episode offers listeners a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping the political map in Georgia—and beyond.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Lyndsey Coates on Instagram @list_with_lyndsey

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Today, former Roswell City Council members Nancy Diamond and Steve Dorvee join us to discuss the letter they - along with 19 other former elected officials - sent to the current mayor and council demanding change and transparency.

They’ll dive into the now-public letter - hand-delivered to City Hall on August 6 -signed by 21 former elected officials demanding greater accountability from current Roswell leadership. At the heart of their concerns: vast tree removals on the historic Mimosa Hall & Gardens site, and what Diamond - speaking at the press conference alongside others - called “a city in crisis at a critical crossroads."

Nancy and Steve will discuss the broader ramifications: erosion of public trust, transparency in budgeting and land-use decisions, and calls for independent third-party audits on city contracts, spending, and development promises. They’ll also reflect on the significance of these issues heading into Roswell’s upcoming municipal elections this fall.

Tune in for an episode that brings local values and politics into sharp relief.

Click here to read the letter.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! In our return to 1975, we’re joined by Georgia State University Professor of Law Emerita Andrea Curcio for a fascinating look back at a pivotal moment in social and legal history.

In 1975, The New York Times published an article that marked the first recognized use of the term “sexual harassment.” We explore the cultural and workplace climate of the mid-1970s, the origins and impact of the term, and how it shaped legal protections in the decades that followed.

Professor Curcio brings historical context and legal insight, connecting that moment nearly 50 years ago to ongoing conversations about gender, power, and workplace rights today.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! We are joined by Decaturish editor Dan Whisenhunt to discuss Congress’s recent decision to slash federal funding for NPR and PBS.

What’s behind this dramatic move to defund some of the most trusted sources of news, culture, and education in the country? Craig, Professor Stone, and Dan unpack the political calculations driving the cuts, including the growing skepticism among some lawmakers about the role and reach of publicly funded media. The conversation also explores what this decision could mean for local stations across Georgia, many of which rely heavily on federal dollars to provide educational programming, rural access to news, and local reporting that isn’t covered by for-profit outlets.

Together, the panel debates whether this funding decision reflects shifting media priorities, partisan animosity, or broader trends in public trust. They also consider the long-term implications for journalism, civic engagement, and the communities that count on these services the most.

If you care about the future of media, politics, and public discourse in Georgia and beyond, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Brice Futch, a Cherokee County firefighter and Republican candidate for Georgia’s open Senate District 21 seat.

With longtime Senator Brandon Beach now serving as U.S. Treasurer in Washington, D.C., the race is wide open—and Brice Futch is running as a grassroots conservative focused on faith, family, and freedom.

We talk about what inspired his run for office, his top policy priorities—including school choice and parental rights—and how his frontline experience as a first responder shapes his approach to leadership.

Tune in for a candid conversation about his vision for District 21, the unique challenges facing Georgia families, and why he believes now is the time for bold, conservative action under the Gold Dome.

Connect with Brice online, HERE.

Doing the Right Thing: Making Moral Choices in a World Full of Options featuring Chuck Colson, click HERE.

Brice’s podcast The Way Forward with Brice Futch can be found anywhere you download podcasts, including on Apple Podcasts, HERE.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On this anniversary of Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance, we revisit one of the most enduring mysteries in American history.

Hoffa, the infamous Teamsters boss with deep ties to organized crime and political power, vanished on July 30, 1975, from a Detroit-area parking lot—and hasn’t been seen since. Was it the mob? A deal gone wrong?

We dive into the facts, the fiction and the theories that won’t die. Nearly five decades later, one question still haunts the nation: What really happened to Jimmy Hoffa?

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, we are joined by Sandy Springs City Councilman Tibby DeJulio for Part 2 of our mini-series on the incorporation of the City of Sandy Springs.

Sandy Springs City Councilman Tibby DeJulio joins to recount the decades-long push to incorporate Sandy Springs and the grassroots movement that powered it. He reflects on the community’s determination and the 2005 vote in which an overwhelming 94% of residents supported cityhood.

DeJulio offers a behind-the-scenes look at how residents transformed a long-standing vision into one of Georgia’s most successful incorporations.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol