Welcome to another special episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this episode, we turn our focus to the storied history of the Speakers of the House, a pivotal and often unsung role in the world of politics.

Craig and Professor Stone cover the early days of the United States, with the first Speaker of the House, Frederick Muhlenberg, whose gavel-wielding presence in Congress laid the foundation for this prestigious office. We'll delve into the dynamic personalities and pivotal moments that have defined the role throughout history. From Henry Clay's legendary tenure during the "Era of Good Feelings" to Sam Rayburn's unmatched leadership during turbulent times, we'll explore the key figures who have shaped the Speakership and, by extension, the nation itself.

But it's not just about politics; the Speakers of the House have been at the forefront of major historical milestones. Discover how Joseph Gurney Cannon, with his iron grip on power, changed the rules of Congress, and how Tip O'Neill's legendary camaraderie with President Ronald Reagan transcended partisan politics.

Our journey through history wouldn't be complete without exploring the groundbreaking moments led by groundbreaking individuals. What impact did Nancy Pelosi, the first female Speaker of the House, have during her tenure? How did John Boehner navigate the tumultuous waters of the Tea Party movement, and what can we learn from his leadership style?

Join us as we examine the power, influence, and challenges faced by these remarkable men and women who have held the Speaker's gavel. Along the way, we'll uncover the fascinating stories, anecdotes, and controversies that have made the Speakers of the House integral to the fabric of American democracy.

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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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show the crew gets into Kevin McCarthy getting voted out, the State Senate investigating Fulton County Jail and Colton Moore getting ousted from the GOP caucus.

We all knew it was coming. Some thought it would happen sooner, but we all knew it would happen: Matt Gaetz made a motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair and it them democrats and a handful of disgruntled Republicans made it happen. How did we get here? Where do we go from here?

Also, the Republicans in the State Senate have decided to launch an investigation into Fulton County Jail. What should we expect from the committee?

Lastly, State Senator Colton Moore has been ejected from the GOP caucus over his theatrics surrounded Fulton County DA Fani Willis and the resulting threats that colleagues of Sen. Moore received as a result. Craig gets the stage for this one.

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

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today it’s all about Cop City. How did we get here? Why did it turn into such a mess? And where do we go from here?

Most people in Georgia have probably heard about the proposed public safety training center in Atlanta and all the ways it has made news since its inception under Mayor Bottoms’ administration. They have also probably heard about the ballot referendum that opponents are seeking to get in this November’s election.

What they may not know are some of the details of how we got here and why so many people are opposed. We dive into the details and debate what happens next.

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

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today we discuss another recent SCOTUS ruling that will have far reaching implications on environmental regulation, but didn’t get as much publicity as some of the higher profile rulings last term.

Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency was a case decided over the summer that dealt with the scope and limitations of the Clean Waters Act.

The case was focuses in large part on defining terms like "waters of the United States", “adjacent”, and “wetlands”. While nuanced and seemingly ambiguous to the non-lawyers listening to the show, the definitions are critical in giving guidance on where developers can build, what permits property owners need receive prior to building, and what properties are protected and regulated by the government.

Geoff Toy, an environmental lawyer with Trustees for Alaska, joins the show to help us understand some of these nuances and explain why the case may have not gotten as much attention as some of the others, despite its far reaching impact and its implications.

About Geoff Toy

Geoff joined Trustees for Alaska in August 2022. Prior to joining Trustees, Geoff spent three years as a staff attorney with the Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University School of Law, working on land use, pollution, and agricultural issues in the Southeast and helping teach environmental law students. He also worked in civil litigation in Atlanta, Georgia after graduating from Emory Law in 2016. During law school, Geoff worked in the Turner Environmental Law Clinic and also interned with the environmental law department at Coca-Cola. Outside of the office, Geoff likes to read, cook, hike, and paint.

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

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today we get into the release of the Fulton County special purpose grand jury report and the $2 billion problem that is the need for a new Fulton County jail.

Grand Jury Recommendations

The Fulton County special purpose grand jury report in the case of the 2020 election was released last week. It included recommendations to charge 39 individuals in connection with the attempt to overturn the election, of which Fani Willis narrowed down to 19. The grand jury recommended charges for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, and former Georgia U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Does this show a measured process for the Fulton County DA’s office? What does this mean for the futures of former Senators Perdue and Loeffler?

Fulton County Jail

6 inmates have died in 6 weeks at the Fulton County Jail as the county faces a crisis situation. Also, the AJC released a special report this week on juvenile sentencing practices in Georgia. Quoting from the report: “Georgia has seen a 100% increase in its number of juvenile lifers — young people, under 18, sentenced to life without parole — since 2012 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the sentence should be reserved for the rarest of cases.”

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

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today we discuss the rare example of someone roundly despised by both ends of the political spectrum.

Henry Kissinger was born in Germany in 1923, and is a prominent figure in the realm of international diplomacy and American politics.

Henry Kissinger's early years were marked by adversity. Fleeing Nazi persecution, his family emigrated to the United States in 1938, where they settled in New York City. Despite facing the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language, Kissinger excelled academically. He attended Harvard University, where he pursued a Bachelor's degree in political science and later a Ph.D. in government. His academic prowess foreshadowed the intellectual depth that would become a hallmark of his diplomatic career.

In the early 1950s, Kissinger joined the faculty at Harvard and began crafting his influential theories on foreign policy and international relations. His 1957 book, "Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy," established him as a leading authority in the field. His ideas on nuclear strategy and the balance of power would shape American foreign policy for decades.

Kissinger's entrance into the world of practical diplomacy came in 1969 when he was appointed National Security Advisor by President Richard Nixon. His role in negotiating the end of the Vietnam War and his secret diplomacy with China during the Cold War made him a prominent figure on the global stage.

In 1973, he became the U.S. Secretary of State, where he played a pivotal role in the Middle East peace process and the détente with the Soviet Union. His realpolitik approach, characterized by a focus on national interest and pragmatic diplomacy, earned both praise and criticism.

Henry Kissinger's contributions to international relations earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, recognizing his role in negotiating a ceasefire during the Vietnam War. However, his tenure was also marked by controversy, particularly regarding U.S. involvement in covert actions in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

After leaving government, Kissinger continued to influence global affairs through his writings, speaking engagements, and advisory roles. His legacy remains a subject of debate, with some lauding his diplomatic achievements and others critiquing the ethical dilemmas associated with his policies.

Throughout his life, Henry Kissinger's dedication to the study and practice of international diplomacy has left an indelible mark on the world stage, making him one of the most influential figures in American foreign policy in the 20th century.

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

Welcome to the Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today we discuss potential fallout for Fani Willis, the GOP debate, trouble brewing on Sapelo Island and local qualifying in metro Atlanta for November elections.

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

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! Megan is joined by Poy Winichakul, a Senior Staff Attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, to discuss Alabama’s failed attempt to chip away at the Voting Rights Act and disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of black voters in the state.

The Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 was a direct response to decades of racism and Jim Crow in the deep south that created an unequal playing field for non-white voters. Section 2 of the VRA is a provision that prohibits state governments from imposing any rules or regulations around voting that would "result in the denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen to vote on account of race or color". This provision has been used for decades to prevent legislatures from packing and cracking minorities into unfair congressional districts through the redistricting process.

Megan and Poy discuss the Allen v. Milligan case that made it all the way to the Supreme Court and, somewhat surprisingly, reinforced the necessity and importance for Section 2.

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

Welcome to the Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, Fani Willis is wrapping up, Copy City protesters are nearing 70,000 signatures and Plant Vogtle is producing electricity.

Looming Fulton County Indictment

By the time you’re listening to this podcast it’s possible that President Trump has been indicted in Fulton County for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. What could this mean for his electoral prospects next November and can the country handle a televised prosecution of a former President?

Cop City Vote

Residents of Atlanta are attempting to put the planned Public Safety Training Center on the ballot this year, and they need 70,000 signatures to do it. They have just a few days left and recent reporting suggests that it will be close. If they get the votes and the referenda passes, what will that mean? If they get the votes and it doesn’t, what changes?

Plant Vogtle

Years late and billions of dollars over budget — the nation’s newest nuclear power plant is now operational and producing electricity. Is this the future of green energy?

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

Jim Galloway joins the show to help us pay tribute to a man who became an institution in Georgia politics for over 50 years.

Bill Shipp made a name for himself in Georgia in 1953 when, as editor of UGA’s student newspaper, he wrote a column calling for the school of law to admit a black student, Horace Ward. It angered the powers that be to such an extent, that the state legislature drafted a bill to have him expelled from school. Instead, he left UGA and joined the Army and was stationed in West Germany.

When he returned to the States, he started work at what was then the Atlanta Constitution, where he worked for over 30 years covering politics, the civil rights movement, and breaking news from around the world.

He befriended and made enemies of Georgia’s political elite. He was considered both a confidant and a persona non grata by governors and legislators for decades. He was the first to break the news to the country that Jimmy Carter was running for President.

Later in life, he was one of the first newsmen to make the jump to the internet, publishing Bill Shipp’s Georgia, a newsletter and online hub for the latest political happenings in the state.

For his 80th birthday party, a crowd of former Georgia governors, U.S. Senator Max Cleland and others joined to both celebrate the man and roast him at the same time.

Bill Shipp died on July 9th at the age of 89 and we at The Georgia Politics Podcast pay tribute and honor to him with today’s special 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