Political Breakfast from WABE

Latest Episodes:

Vaccine Rally, Medicaid Expansion, Capitol Riot Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

Many of us in Georgia are moving away from talking about COVID-19, but the nation’s Democratic vice president and Georgia’s Republican governor haven’t finished—though they look at things differently. Meanwhile, a former Atlanta U.S. Attorney is at the center of new revelations about the Trump administration’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election. And a former Atlanta city administration’s spending habits are the subject of an audit—just in time for this year’s mayoral race. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer gets into it all—and more—with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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GOP Convention Fallout; Kasim Reed Returns Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

Did someone say, “summer vacation?” Around here, politics will not take a summer vacation. From a governor who faced loud booing from a faction of his own party, to a former Atlanta mayor who wants the job again, to state hearings on Atlanta’s violent crime problem—it’s already a hot summer, with no vacation from politics. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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Take Me Out to the Lawsuit Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

The fight in Congress over a national voting rights bill intensifies in Washington, with Georgia as one of the main exhibits. Meanwhile, right here, lawsuits are flying on both sides. Looking to the elections this year and next, one familiar name could end up in a new contest, while another talks about why she passed up a bid for another term. And Georgia’s COVID-19 restrictions continue to disappear, but the fight over the state’s response will continue for a long time. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer digs into all of it with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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A Year After George Floyd’s Death, Racial Reckoning Continues in Georgia May 28, 2021

Show notes

It has now been one year since the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. And the often-heated debates about race continue, around the nation and here in Georgia: from a decision on changes to the Stone Mountain memorial, to arguments about critical race theory, to votes on how to respond to the killings of Asian-Americans here in Atlanta, to the increasing furor over a Georgia congresswoman’s remarks on the Holocaust. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist and former congressional candidate Nabilah Islam, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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2022 Candidates Launch Campaigns, Even Before Some 2021 Hopefuls Decide May 21, 2021

Show notes

We’ve now got two election years rolled into just one. Republican governor Brian Kemp launched his re-election campaign; so did GOP secretary of state Brad Raffensperger. Meanwhile, Republican lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan opened a scramble for his job, when he said he won’t run again; he’ll be working to build a GOP not tied to Donald Trump. And more candidates jumped into this fall’s race to succeed Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, even as she confronted another weekend of deadly violence. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer gets into it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Cobb County Democratic chairman Michael Owens, who’s filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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Behind Atlanta Mayor’s Decision—and a Familiar Possible Candidate May 14, 2021

Show notes

While some Georgians rushed to the gas pumps, folks in Atlanta politics were scrambling to figure out what happens, now that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has decided not to run again this fall. Among those mulling it over: a name familiar to Political Breakfast listeners. Meanwhile, Governor Kemp signs a bunch of bills that will probably be part of next year’s elections. And one candidate’s decision about next year could affect a lot of others. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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Atlanta Officer Reinstated; Violent Crime Continues; New Poll for State Leaders May 07, 2021

Show notes

A white Atlanta police officer who killed an African-American man nearly a year ago is reinstated to his job. And another weekend of deadly violence in the city takes the life of yet another young girl. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tries to find answers amid mounting criticisms of her administration. Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans are still heading in different directions when Donald Trump calls to them. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, who fills in this time for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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Biden Celebrates Day 100 in Georgia; Big GOP Names Missing for Senate Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

Of all the places he could have gone, President Joe Biden chose Georgia to visit as he marked his 100th day in office. But it wasn’t because of our lovely spring weather. Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans continue to wonder about possible challengers to new Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock. And there are now Federal hate crime charges against the three suspects in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson give their insights on all of it, with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.

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Policing After Chauvin; GA Voting War Fought in DC Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

The guilty verdicts for Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd produced a lot of relief in Georgia, but they re-opened the debate about police reform in the state. Meanwhile, after postponing for a while, faith leaders re-opened their call for a boycott of The Home Depot over Georgia’s new voting law—and the Governor fired back in a hurry. And the state’s effort to track Coronavirus cases might get some much-needed new momentum, with help from Uncle Sam. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson are back, with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.

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Voting Law, A Hollywood Ending, and an Eternal Election Season Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

The top U.S. Senate Republican told the corporate community to stay out of politics—something in which it’s been involved for eons—but some of Georgia’s big corporations are still walking a tightrope over Georgia’s new voting law, even as a big movie star pulls his new production out of here. The state’s GOP governor thunders at the law’s opponents, and gets a standing ovation from one county’s Republicans, but that’s not good enough for party leaders in two others, who censured him anyway. A couple of Democrats are already facing off for the chance to challenge the Republican attorney general. And a big Korean company praises the Republican governor and a new Democratic senator their roles in a deal to save a big Georgia factory. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson sort through it all with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.

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