Political Breakfast from WABE

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Plugged In: Senator Ossoff scolds Trump administration as he soft launches reelection campaign in Atlanta Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff soft launched his reelection campaign at a boisterous rally in Atlanta this week.

On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how Ossoff and other Democrats are trying to channel frustration and fear about President Donald Trump's moves to slash government and punish political enemies.

Plus, lawmakers grapple with the fallout from a contentious vote on Governor Brian Kemp's legislative priority, state lawmakers look to force cities and counties to follow immigration laws and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene questions the chief executives of NPR and PBS as federal funding is on the line.

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Sen. Jon Ossoff tears into Trump and Musk, Georgia tort reform a reality Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Nearly two years before Election Day 2026, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff held a rally in Atlanta over the weekend, promising his supporters that, “Georgia will bow to no king.”

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson both tell host Lisa Rayam, this will likely be an expensive and competitive Senate race. But their opinions differ on what kind of impression Ossof's event made.

Plus, tort reform is headed to Governor Brian Kemp's desk, after passing both the state House and Senate. That's as the end of the 2025 Legislative Session nears.

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Plugged In: Gov. Kemp's top legislative priority clears major hurdle Mar 21, 2025

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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's top legislative priority has cleared a major hurdle.

On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how the effort to curb civil lawsuits narrowly passed in the House.

Plus, as this year's legislative session nears its end, lawmakers have been debating possible responses to the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School and the Georgia Supreme Court is weighing whether or not to uphold controversial rules passed by Republicans on the State Election Board last fall.

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Political Breakfast takes a road trip down to Atlanta's own Spelman College Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

This week the Political Breakfast team was pleased to be a guest on the campus of Atlanta's Spelman College.

Students at the HBCU peppered the auditorium and engaged with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam.

The students navigated through the issues facing both the nation and the state of Georgia.

The audience of mostly Black women had pertinent questions.

Many asked about the issue of President Donald Trump's Administration attacking policies that support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives in the federal workplace, and in public schools and universities.

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Democratic Georgia Sen. Elena Parent accepts PB invitation on controversial bill vote Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Tax dollars supporting gender-affirming surgeries for transgender inmates? In Georgia, it's still a 'tough sell' for the majority of the Democratic electorate in this economy, says Georgia Sen. Elena Parent.

The Democrat has been getting some criticism because of her vote, where she stood with Republicans in banning that practice.

Parent tells Political Breakfast host Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson, that she's defended, and still stands in strong solidarity, with the LGBTQ community during this "treacherous" time in our country.

But all agree that the attacks on Parent are worth a larger conversation, on how lawmakers shouldn't cater to extremism on both sides of the political aisle.

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Plugged In: Senator Warnock faces voters as Trump official visits Georgia Capitol Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock went live on social media this week where the Georgia Democrat spent roughly 35 minutes answering questions from voters.

On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas discuss how Warnock and other Democrats are grappling with the flurry of changes coming from Washington.

Plus, President Donald Trump's new Secretary of Agriculture visits Georgia and we check in on Governor Brian Kemp's top legislative priority, which is hitting some speed bumps.

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Democrats divided over some bills as Georgia nears the end of its legislative session Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

We only have a few weeks left in the Georgia legislative session, and one issue dividing Democrats is if tax dollars should be used to fund gender-affirming surgeries, for transgender inmates in Georgia prisons.

Georgia Democratic State Senator Elena Parent is getting some criticism because of her vote where she stood with Republicans, in Senate Bill 185.

The bill already passed the state Senate.

Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson break down this divide, and what it's a deeper symptom of in the Democratic Party, with host Lisa Rayam.

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Bills Bills Bills: Georgia's chaotic Crossover Day Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

On this week's Political Breakfast, the dust settles now that Georgia lawmakers have officially crossed-over Crossover Day: the sprint for key bills to pass either the state House or Senate.
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam talk about issues that did, or did not get over the hump.

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Plugged In: Georgia lawmakers scramble to pass bills before key legislative deadline Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

Georgia lawmakers were working late on Thursday night as they raced to pass dozens of bills before the end of Crossover Day – a deadline for bills to advance out of at least one chamber of the legislature.

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a closer look at some of the proposals that did and didn’t make it past this key deadline.

Also on this week’s episode, a massive school safety bill advances out of the House, the debate shifts on bills affecting transgender Georgians and a conversation with Health Reporter Jess Mador on the turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

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Trump's White House meeting with Zelenskyy: tactic or tantrum? Plus, it's crossover week under Georgia's Gold Dome Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

This week on Political Breakfast: Georgia reactions to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. That has resulted in Trump pausing all military aid to Ukraine.

Georgia Democrats are calling it a disgraceful spectacle. Republicans are mostly backing Trump.

Ben Burnett of the Ben Burnett Show is filling-in for Republican strategist Brian Robinson. Also joining host Lisa Rayam is Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

Plus, the gang looks ahead to crossover day on March 6th - or the deadline for bills to pass at least one chamber.

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