Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

S9, Ep. 0: Breakdown Season 9 - Coming June 20th Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

The phone call from the White House came in at about 3 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2021. Then President Donald Trump, his chief of staff and his lawyers were on the line talking to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and members of his staff.

During the recorded phone call, Trump asked Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes,” which would give him one more vote than he needed to flip the outcome of Georgia’s presidential election.

On Monday, a special purpose grand jury will convene in Fulton County to investigate what transpired during this phone call and others the former president made to officials in Georgia in the weeks following the 2020 election. The extraordinary proceeding will be the focus of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s award-winning podcast “Breakdown”.

Episodes of the podcast’s ninth season — The Trump Grand Jury — will be released in the coming weeks. It will be hosted by Bill Rankin, the AJC’s legal affairs reporter, and Tamar Hallerman, a senior reporter who covered the Trump administration when she was the AJC’s Washington correspondent.

To make sure you never miss an episode, subscribe to “Breakdown” anywhere you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Sitcher

For more information on this case and the other eight series of the podcast, go to ajcbreakdown.com.

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S9, Ep. 2: A force of nature Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

The second episode of “The Trump Grand Jury,” the ninth season of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast, focuses on the woman who is overseeing the investigation of former President Donald Trump and his allies.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis grew up in courtrooms, tagging along with her father, an attorney. When Willis became a prosecutor, she rose through the ranks at the Fulton DA’s Office prosecuting homicide and sexual assault cases.

In 2014, Willis oversaw one of the most high-profile cases in state history: the Atlanta Public Schools test-cheating scandal. Thirty-five educators were indicted under the state’s racketeering laws. Many pleaded guilty and of the 12 who went to trial, 11 were convicted.

“I’m still not totally sure how she did it, but she did it,” said Atlanta lawyer John Floyd, a racketeering law expert who assisted Willis in the test-cheating trial. “She was a bit of a force of nature in the sense that she was completely committed to the case.”

Episode 2 will also explain exactly how a special purpose grand jury operates and what it can and cannot do. It will also tell listeners how they will know if, after it adjourns, it is recommending criminal charges be brought.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or your favorite podcasting platform. You can also stream it on your computer in the player above.

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S10 Ep33: The Closings Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

A showdown of closing arguments as to whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should or should not be disqualified from the election interference case is the focus of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s most recent Breakdown podcast.

Episode 33 – “The Closings” – of Breakdown’s 10th season – “The Trump Indictment” – sets up what could be a seminal moment in the case against former President Donald Trump and 14 remaining co-defendants. That’s when Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee decides whether to remove Willis or allow the case to go forward as it has been proceeding so far.

Five defense attorneys argue Willis’ alleged conflict of interest because of her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade warrants her disqualification. Deputy Assistant District Attorney Adam Abbate, arguing with Willis sitting behind him at the prosecution table, contends there has been no proof that Willis financially benefited from the Trump case.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts and Spotify or your favorite podcasting platform. You can also stream it above.

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S10 E32: No Star Witness Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

The former law partner and divorce lawyer of special prosecutor Nathan Wade takes the witness stand once again after the judge finds he can talk about what he learned about Wade’s and District Attorney Fani Willis’ romantic relationship.

But attorney Terrence Bradley doesn’t say what defense attorneys in the election interference case want to hear. So Episode 32 – “No Star Witness” – of Season 10 – “The Trump Indictment” – of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast features withering examinations of Bradley by a number of defense lawyers.

The episode also recaps cellphone data analysis that former President Donald Trump’s lawyers seek to get admitted into evidence. The cellphone records raise fresh questions about Willis’ and Wade’s relationship and when it began.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting platform.

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S10 E31: Under The Microscope Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

The most recent Breakdown episode by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution dissects the recent evidentiary hearing on the motion to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office from the election interference case.

The hearing has enough twists and turns to be an episode of a telenovela. Episode 31 – “Under The Microscope” – of Breakdown’s Season 10 – “The Trump Indictment” – includes testimony from Willis, special prosecutor Nathan Wade and his former law partner, Terrence Bradley, who had been billed at the defense’s star witness.

Allegations from both sides fly back and forth by throughout the hearing. And it features testimony by a former Georgia governor and Willis’ father, John Clifford Floyd III.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting platform.

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S10 E28: Getting Personal Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

The accusations against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis continue to get increasingly personal in nature since her acknowledgment of her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

The latest episode of Season 10 – “The Trump Indictment” – of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast covers more motions that call for Willis’ disqualification from the election interference case against former President Donald Trump and 14 co-defendants.

Episode 28 – “Getting Personal” – also includes interviews with legal experts who give their takes on what has happened since the first motion to disqualify Willis was filed on Jan. 8. And it makes note of the historic ruling by the federal appeals court in Washington, rejecting Trump’s claims of presidential immunity.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or your favorite podcasting platform. You can also stream it above.

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S10 E30: Fani Willis Takes the Stand Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

With the future of Fulton County’s election interference case on the line, District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand to fight back against misconduct allegations.

Defiant, emotional, angry and sometimes even funny, Willis’ testimony was both remarkable and surprising as she pushed back against accusations that could disqualify her and her office from prosecuting former President Donald Trump and his 14 remaining codefendants.

The most recent episode, “Fani Willis Takes the Stand,” of Season 10 — “The Trump Indictment” — of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast analyzes Willis’ combative courtroom appearance.

The episode also looks at the testimony of special prosecutor Nathan Wade and Robin Bryant Yeartie, a former friend of Willis and ex-employee of the DA’s office, who contradicted Wade and Willis’ account of when their relationship began.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favorite podcasting platform. You can also stream it above.

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S10 E27: The Response Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

The most recent episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast covers the highly anticipated response by the District Attorney’s Office to allegations DA Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade were having an improper romantic relationship.

The court filing is at times pointed and blistering and it is highly critical and dismissive of the motion to disqualify Willis and her office from prosecuting the case against former President Donald Trump and 15 remaining co-defendants. “The Response” is the 27th episode of Breakdown’s Season 10 – “The Trump Indictment.”

The DA’s response also answers the question as to whether Willis and Wade did indeed have more than just a professional relationship. And it gets a quick – and powerful – reply from Ashleigh Merchant, the lawyer who represents defendant Michael Roman and first lodged the allegations.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or your favorite podcasting platform. You can also stream it above.

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S10 E29: Setting the Table Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

The judge overseeing the election interference case against former President Donald Trump and 14 others has cleared the way for what could be an explosive hearing focusing on the personal relationship between the district attorney and her special prosecutor.

The most recent episode – “Setting the Table” – of Season 10 – “The Trump Indictment” of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast sets up the upcoming evidentiary hearing.

The episode also focuses on the most recent court filing by defendant Michael Roman’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, and District Attorney Fani Willis’ attempt to quash subpoenas served on her and her staff.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or your favorite podcasting platform. You can also stream it above.

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S10 E23: Bombshell Allegations Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

The allegations are salacious: arguably the most famous district attorney in the country hired her romantic partner to help prosecute a former president and then profited from the arrangement.

An eye-popping, explosive court motion filed on behalf of one of Donald Trump’s lesser-known defendants is the focus of the most recent episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast.

Episode 23 – “Bombshell Allegations” – of Breakdown’s Season 10 – “The Trump Indictment” – explains the court motion filed by attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represents defendant Michael Roman. It also looks at the fallout after the filing became public, both on the legal landscape and in the political arena.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or your favorite podcasting platform. You can also stream it above.

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