Political Breakfast from WABE

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How did Georgia founder James Oglethorpe go from slave trader to abolitionist? DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond's new book uncovers gaps in our state history. Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

On this week's Political Breakfast, we're joined by special guest, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, who is also an author and longtime historian!

His new book is titled, 'James Oglethorpe: Father of Georgia, A founder's journey from slave trader to abolitionist.'

It's been a decades-long journey for Thurmond.

In 1996, he was part of a delegation that traveled to England to celebrate the 300th birthday of British native Oglethorpe, who founded the British colony of Georgia in 1733.

Thurmond starts by telling host Lisa Rayam and strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson that the idea for the book struck while Thurmond explored the legacy of Georgia’s founder at his grave in London.

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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp refers to the murder of a nursing student on the UGA campus as a point of "inaction" by the Biden Administration when it comes to protecting the nation's borders Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

On this Edition of Political Breakfast, we discuss the tragic murder of nursing student Laken Hope Riley on the UGA campus and the subsequent politicking that has followed.

The suspect arrested in the murder case, 26-year-old Venezuelan national Jose Ibarra, unlawfully crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022.

Now, Governor Brian Kemp is calling out the Biden Administration for allegedly not protecting the nation's borders properly. State Republicans are also calling for new and stiffer immigration laws.

Is this an appropriate response?

Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson take on some tough questions from host Lisa Rayam regarding the immigration issue.

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Gold Dome Scramble: Haley and Trump campaigns head to SC ahead of 'First in the South' primary Feb 23, 2024

Show notes

The “First in the South” Republican Presidential Primary is this Saturday in South Carolina. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas speak with South Carolina Public Radio's Maayan Schechter about the primary and more. Plus, a roundup of what's been happening at the Georgia Capitol.

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As Atlanta's population swells and wages don't keep-up wtih housing costs, state lawmakers talk rent control under the Gold Dome Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

On this week's Political Breakfast, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civic Circle Director Saba Long discuss Atlanta's housing crisis. Wages have not grown with housing costs. There's also an overall scarcity on the market.

Are rent control and restrictions on landowners the solution? Or is it building more housing?

With Atlanta's population expected to grow to around eight million people by 2050, Democrats and Republicans are now taking up the issue under the Gold Dome.

Democrat Donzella James introduced Senate Bill 125 earlier this month. It would allow local cities and counties to set their own rates.

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Fallout from Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis' raw testimony Feb 20, 2024

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As a judge considers whether to disqualify Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis from the election interference case, Republican Strategist Brian Robinson and Atlanta Civil Circle Director Saba Long weigh-in on Willis's testimony during last week's hearing.

Willis is accused of having an improper relationship with Nathan Wade, who's the special prosecutor working on the case.

A political conversation is also brewing about headlines describing Willis as combative, defiant and angry, in her testimony to defend her ability to lead the Georgia election interference case.

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Gold Dome Scramble: Fulton DA Fani Willis fights push to remove her from Georgia election case Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand in an Atlanta courtroom Thursday to defend her ability to continue helming the Georgia election interference case involving former President Donald Trump. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas discuss what ended up being a dramatic day in court. Plus, a roundup of the week's news from the capitol and a conversation with WABE business reporter Marlon Hyde about Georgia's film tax credit, a bill that could make it harder to organize a labor union and more.

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Georgia Democratic Congressman David Scott challenged by Marcus Flowers, who once challenged Marjorie Taylor Greene Feb 14, 2024

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Georgia's long-serving Democratic U.S. Rep. David Scott has a challenger in the party's May primary.

Democrat Marcus Flowers raised more than 16 million dollars to challenge alt-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and represent Georgia's 14th Congressional Distict. He lost in the general election in November of 2022.

We discuss the chatter surrounding the opposition to Scott.

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Atlanta represents at the Super Bowl, Kemp says Trump versus Biden will be "a race to the bottom" Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

This week on Political Breakfast, Atlanta and politics mixed with the Super Bowl.

Besides the 75-yard touchdown the Kansas City Chiefs pulled to win in overtime Sunday night, Atlanta's own R&B singer Usher put on a star-studded halftime performance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He represented with Atlanta performers and singers, even shouting at the end "I turned the world to the A."

Strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam also discuss Super Bowl ads that played the political field.

And the group turns back to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp stressing that Republicans need to move away from the 2020 election and issues like the age of Joe Biden and Donald Trump. We take a dive into the internal GOP debate on the future of the party.

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Gold Dome Scramble: Bill awaiting Gov. Kemp's signature could keep more people in jail for longer Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

Advocates are calling a bill headed to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s desk a step back from years of criminal justice reform. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas speak with criminal justice reporter Chamian Cruz about Senate Bill 63, which would add more than two dozen offenses to the list of charges requiring cash bail while limiting charitable bail funds from securing the release of no more than three people a year from jail.

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'Find Me The Votes' investigative reporting into the prosecution of Donald Trump and 18 co-conspirators in Atlanta, Republican resistance to Trump and political tensions across Georgia Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

On this week's Political Breakfast, the team talks about a new book called 'Find Me the Votes' by investigative journalists Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman.

They share intimate details about Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis "the person" and her prosecution of former president Donald Trump, and 18 co-conspirators, in their alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election results.

The book also focuses on the Georgia Republicans who resisted Trump, and endured notorious threats on their families and on their lives.

A note of disclosure: The book was released before accusations were made against Willis and her special prosecutor Nathan Wade having a romantic/improper relationship.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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