SB-140, the anti-trans youth "gender affirming care" blocking legislation that made it out of the Senate, was before a House subcommittee today and we go through a big chunk of it. 

Rest assured, Democrats, your team didn't win the vote, but they sure as heck came away looking knowledgeable on the subject, while their opposition looked completely befuddled and lacking in data. Shocking, right?

Allergies finally got me so today's sort of a half-show with a rerun of my IMPORTANT conversation with White Flag app founder Jonny McCoy on the back half. Sort of a "group project" mental health experience - totally free to download and use.

Before then, we'll review some headlines - first the good news: Georgia Power is sending you some money back and all those voter eligibility queries were too much even for Georgia Republicans so there's a move afoot to roll back those MAGA challenges.

Also, after the family of the slain forest defender released their private autopsy findings, it's important to point out what their autopsy *didn't* make mention of .Journalist Sean Keenan has a poignant Twitter thread I'll share today, that points out what was missing in their report.

There's a concerted effort, of late, to show the local involvement to at least ask questions about the future Atlanta Police Training Center - aka "Cop City." Between a local clergy organization and a Thursday night protest at the King Center, maybe now we can stop accepting that most of those against the use of the South River watershed land for the training facility are from "outside Georgia."

That whole "outside agitator" rhetoric smacks of Jim Crow-era sneering anyhow.

Well, on that note, Eric Teusink, a local real estate attorney & GSU professor, also a former South River Watershed Alliance volunteer, joined me today to give me (and anyone who needs it) an abridged history and in-depth synopsis of this conversation. 

There's also talk of renaming Lake Lanier and Buford Dam, because their names are tied to Confederate soldiers. You know who's against it already, but I've a suggestion to handle the one given complaint about such issues. Please, hear me out ... 

Also, did you also know Lake Lanier rests atop a former black community named 'Oscarville?' Well, now you know, thanks to 11 Alive. 

Get your popcorn; that GOP "civil war" me be triggered by NewsMax aiming for Tucker Carlson, who - oh by the way - had some things to say ON January 6, 2021 that are worth revisiting, so I do. 

I have FOOMO, or maybe it's FOYMO - and I don't want you to miss out on "The Problem with Jon Stewart." So subscribe to Apple TV+ so you can enjoy episodes like last week's. I'll review a bit.

Jeff Graham , executive director at Georgia Equality, leads off talking SB140 - a bill seeking to outlaw gender-affirming care for trans youth, along with some discussion about school voucher discrimination & the new Tennessee anti-drag law. 

It's definitely not a good time to be Tucker Carlson these days, but then he and most Fox News opinion spinners seem to lack self-awareness anyhow. 

Lastly, the DOJ reports back on Louisville KY police discrimination & acts of overt racism in its findings, following the wrongful death of Breonna Taylor. Hear AG Merrick Garland lay out the findings.

Now that Georgia legislative "crossover day" is behind us, I'll take a look at what bills made it and which ones didn't. Notably, we'll be living "Final Destination" cosplay on state highways with heavier logging trucks, apparently, and Republicans just can't quit trying to starve public education funding by coughing up taxpayer dollars to private (mostly parochial) schools, either.

Then there's the anti-trans youth vitriol. Conservatives love bullying the marginalized, don't they? They speak about protecting "children" and covet "limited government," except when it's the needs of trans youth and their medical decisions in concert with their parents. One such parent happens to be a state senator, Sally Harrell. She joined me today for a pretty frank, real and honest conversation about the measure leaving the Senate now in Georgia House hands. She also shares some pretty personal insights and details about her and her family facing the very real nature of having a trans child to nurture.

Then I'll wrap today by noting how the local (and now even national) media attention focuses a lot on terms like "domestic terrorism" while ignoring sizable peaceful protests that occur - even with local folks - and I share some audio from a local Methodist minister and Muskogee tribesman to bring that point home.

The Atlanta "cop city "argument" features two sides - both seemingly unaware of poor optics. Here's the thing: we're supposed to expect better of "the side of the law," and having cops with long-range rifles on their shoulders walking up to bounce-houses to point those rifles in and wave people out at an otherwise peaceful music festival at a public park is a bade look. That said, burning privately-owned construction equipment, throwing Molotov cocktails and fireworks at anxious and jittery cops is, too.

WATCH HERE, courtesy of Unicorn Riot

Buckhead City pushers throw in the towel - sort of, with some sour grapes shade at Governor Brian Kemp. 

Melita Easters of the Georgia WIN List joins me to promote their upcoming International Women's Day Reception, plus discuss recent findings that Georgia's 2019 abortion law would have kept 91% of women seeking abortion care from getting it between 2007-2017. We'll also discuss the seemingly targeted scrutiny district attorneys suddenly have now that minorities, women and women of color are increasingly winning DA races and serving in those capacities.

Mikayla Arciaga with the Intercultural Development Research Association joins me to start the show, reviewing the hits & misses at the state legislative level so far when it comes to public education. 

Then, let's be honest: Marjorie Taylor Greene's spokesman said it best: "do you think they (her MAGA base) give a f**k about your bulls**t fact checking?" That tribe seems irreproachable ... not worth the time to try and have persuasive dialogue with because, if decades of Fox News exposures haven't taught them, what will?

Listen as the arguments for and against unfold on the Georgia Senate floor before we get the results as I produced today's show.

Also, h/t to Jay Bookman for his piece in today's Georgia Recorder pointing out it's her stupidity that MAKES Marjorie Taylor Greene succeed within the modern GOP. I've the link to that in today's show notes at RonShowATL.com. 

Whew; the news we awoke to today from Athens, where Athens-Clarke police laid out their findings that detailed a raucous night of drinking and street-racing on January 15th, leading to two UGA football-related deaths. For potential top NFL draftee Jalen Carter, it was not a good day for him. He bowed out of media time at the combine earlier today, likely because he'd be asked why he fled the scene of the accident only to return 90 minutes later.

Next up, there appears to be growing consensus that the "city of Buckhead city" movement will die a Senate floor death tomorrow (good). Even Brian Kemp's administration is crapping on it. Also some bad news for the North Fulton municipal folks eyeing detaching themselves from the rest of Fulton County when it comes to administering elections: it's too damned expensive. Also, a warning: Georgia Power already got a rate increase, and they're telling us - on top of that - we can expect a 17% increase come June to handle fossil fuel costs. In 2023. Sad.

Listen, I know folks fete the likes of Brad Raffensberger and Gabriel Sterling for fending off the illegal Trump meddling in Georgia's election results three years ago, but I maintain that "career Republicans" are only being attacked by the monsters they coddled and raised all along. Hear what Gabe had to endure whilst sitting next to Marjorie Taylor Greene at a "Georgia Election Integrity Caucus" last night. 

Lastly, some good news on the education front: Ben Hill County bigots only brought the rest of the county together to rally behind an out-lesbian superintendent candidate. Go figure! Also, Georgia's "Don't Say Gay!" bill is stalling out - mostly because religious school & camp folks are concerned the scrutiny may also come to their indoctrination offerings. Oops.