Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, we are joined by Professor Jeff Auerbach to talk about his transition from Political Science Professor to Political Candidate in the 2022 election cycle.

Professor Auerbach talks about what led him to considering a run for office, how he was recruited and who helped him make the decision that it was a good idea to throw his name in the political ring.

He was the Democratic nominee in an Athens area district that was gerrymandered to favor the Republican candidate. So, did he think he had a chance at winning, and what tactics did he employ to give him a better chance at victory in November general?

After he and Preston talk about the particulars of his race, they get into what it takes for candidates to win at a local level, what sorts of institutional support is available, and what questions a candidate should be able to answer before deciding to run.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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This week, on the next installment of The Georgia Politics Podcast special series with Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett, we take a look at affordable housing after Commissioner Barrett attended a roundtable discussion on the topic in the City of Atlanta.   What can be done to not just house the unhoused, but to support them afterwards?   Also, Dana and Preston run through the lively Board of Commission meeting, including the Counties stance on Wellstar Hospital System and an ongoing struggle in the court system.  

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at [email protected].

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we touch on Stacey Abrams’s future, Senate Bill 140 and local GOP elections.

First up, the AJC ran a story citing several Democratic Party sources that said they were looking for a change at the top of the next slate of candidates. While Abrams is off doing other things, she certainly hasn't ruled a third run out. But should she?

Speaking of elections, recently there have been slates of more conservative, far-right, activists getting elected to local county GOP party positions all across Georgia. What going on there and what’s next? Craig chimes in on what he knows.

Lastly, passing by just 6 votes, Senate Bill 140 made it out of the House and will now go back to the Senate. The bill limits gender-affirming care for children under 18 and creates legal liability for physicians that provide it. The bill is part of a series of measures targeting the transgender community both in Georgia and nationally. 

Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

 

On this week’s special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, we examine the life and legacy of the late Barbara Walters with WSB’s Michelle Wright.

Barbara Walters blazed a trail for female journalists in the industry and inspired the likes of Jane Pauley, Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer.

Walters big break came when she joined The Today Show in 1961 and was named co-host of the show in 1974, becoming the first female co-host of a U.S. news program. She would go on to sign a five-year, $5 million contract with ABS, making her the highest paid news anchor – male or female – in the United States.

Throughout her career, Walters would interview every sitting U.S. President and first lady from Richard and Pat Nixon to Barack and Michelle Obama. Some of her most famous, and sometime notorious, interviews include Fidel Castro, Anwar Sadat, Katharine Hepburn, Sean Connery, Monica Lewinsky, Hugo Chávez, Vladimir Putin, and Bashar al-Assad.

Perhaps her most noteworthy accomplishment was creating the talk show “The View” in 1997, which is still on air with ABC today. The all-female hosted program brings together women from different generations, political views and upbringing to dive into cultural and political events of the day.

WSB’s Michelle Wright joins the show to talk specifically about Walters’s signature pull-no-punches style, “scoop” journalism, and impact on women in her profession.

Walters passed away in December of 2022 and The Georgia Politics Podcast is proud to honor her legacy and contributions to political commentary and journalism with this special episode.

Connect with Michelle on Instagram @itsthewrightstuff

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we are pleased to present the new series “The Local Option with Dana Barrett.”

As the District 3 Representative on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner Barrett brings an inside look on how local government is shaping our lives. She’ll be joined every other week by a special guest to dive deep on a particular issue or place, before giving an update on what’s happening in her sandbox of Fulton County.

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com.

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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Today on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we celebrate Crossover Day!

Crossover Day at the Georgia Capitol is the day that pending legislation must pass in either chamber of the state legislature and “cross over” to the other chamber or it dies this session (kind of).

Preston, Craig and Megan highlight some of the bills they have been keeping an eye on this session and discuss where they stand. There have been some surprises, head scratchers, and some very on message moments in this session that lend plenty of fodder for discussion for today’s episode, half way through our 4th session we’ve covered as a podcast.

Underhyped/Overhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much, much more on today’s episode!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon on Twitter @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson on Twitter @pston3

Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we are back with Part 2 of our top moments in history we wish we’d have witnessed in person. This time, Craig, Megan and the Professor reveal their Top 5.

Hear from each panelist what their Top 5 moments in history - for whatever reason - they'd have liked to have had a front row seat to. Some moments are on lists to settle debates. Some moments are on lists to celebrate accomplishments. And some are on lists to scratch the burning curiosity of questions left unanswered.

Whatever reasons the panelists had for their list, we know you will be entertained and probably enlightened with the discussion. Enjoy, and make sure to go back and listen to Part 1 if you missed it!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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It’s a jam packed episode on this week’s episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast.

First up, should people that are still alive be immortalized with statues on public property? The subject is timely as Republicans in the state capitol resume conversations on erecting a statue of Clarence Thomas on the capitol grounds. Putting aside the merits for Justice Thomas, is it a wise move?

We are about halfway through this year’s legislative term and so far, Governor Kemp has avoided most of the culture wars that seem to be plaguing most of the rest of the country. Some Republicans under the gold dome, however, seem to have other plans – especially when it pertains to gender affirming treatment for trans kids. Why?

Also, sports betting seems to have renewed life in the legislature. A proposal to roll it into the HOPE Scholarship program would avoid putting a constitutional amendment referenda before the voters this November. Will it finally make it over the finish line?

What seems to be doing the opposite if gaining renewed life are proposals to eliminate statewide runoffs. What once seemed to have near unanimous support has been losing steam in the last few weeks.

And of course, we touch on the big political news not only in Georgia, but in the country, which was the redacted release of the 9 page report on the Fulton County investigation into election interference in the November 2020 elections. Resident attorney Megan walks us through what was in it, what wasn’t, and what we can expect going forward.

Lastly, does Brian Kemp have a future in Washington, D.C.?

Overhyped/Underhyped, Play-Along-At-Home and much more on today’s episode!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Megan Gordon @meganlaneg

Preston Thompson @pston3

Hans Appen @hansappen

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

This week, on a very special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, Craig, Megan and the Professor huddle up to discuss the top moments in history they wish they'd have witnessed in person.

This special episode has been teased for a while, and we finally pulled it together. Hear from each panelist the Top 10 events that - for whatever reason - they'd have liked to have had a front row seat to. Some moments are on lists to settle debates. Some moments are on lists to celebrate accomplishments. And some are on lists to scratch the burning curiosity of questions left unanswered.

Whatever reasons the panelists had for their list, we know you will be entertained and probably enlightened with the discussion. Enjoy, and make sure to come back for Part 2!

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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This week on The Georgia Politics Podcast, we are back with “Part 2” of our recognition of the 30th anniversary of the HOPE Scholarship.

Joining in studio is Lynne Riley, President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, to talk about the progression of the HOPE Scholarship over the years, and how it has fared since its inception 30 years ago. Due to skyrocket demand and economic downturns, the scholarship has seen changes – some controversial. Of note, Governor Kemp has proposed plans to return fully funding the scholarship for the first time since 2011 in his recent State of the State address.

There are a lot of nuances to the scholarship that not everyone is aware of, or knows that their children can or should be taking advantage of – from a younger age than many would assume. Lynne details some of those nuances and the many opportunities available to Georgia’s youth.

About Lynne Riley

Lynne Riley was appointed President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission in July 2020 to lead the agency in the administration of state and lottery funded scholarship, grant, and loan programs, ensuring access to higher education for Georgians. The nationally recognized HOPE scholarship program has provided two million students with over $13 billion in awards since its inception in 1993.

Riley previously served as Georgia’s first woman State Treasurer and State Revenue Commissioner. Elected in 2010 to serve in the Georgia General Assembly representing House District 50 (Johns Creek), Lynne began her career in public service as Fulton County Commissioner for District 3 (North Fulton) in 2004.

Lynne serves on the Board of the Education Finance Council and serves as CEO of the REACH Georgia Foundation. Riley is an alumnus of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Regional Leadership Institute and the Coverdell Leadership Institute. Lynne is the Chairman of the Emory Johns Creek Hospital Board of Trustees. Lynne was appointed to the Internal Revenue Service Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee in 2018 for a three-year term.

Lynne was Principal of Riley Accounting Services for 32 years. Lynne and her husband Mike made the Johns Creek community their home in 1988 and have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Connect with the Georgia Student Finance Commission online at gafutures.org

Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod

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