Political Breakfast from WABE

Latest Episodes:

Live Special: House Speaker David Ralston & Senate Democratic Leader Gloria Butler Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

In most years, the final gavel in the Georgia Legislature means at least a brief period of calm, and a chance to figure out how all those bills will affect everyone. But this year, things just got noisier—with the loss of baseball’s All-Star Game over the new voting law, and even fierce disagreements about what that law says. This special edition, which was broadcast live on 90.1 WABE and on Facebook, features our regulars: WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson. They analyze the escalating clash, with a couple of guests: Republican House Speaker David Ralston, and Senate Democratic Leader Gloria Butler.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GOP vs. CEOs Over Georgia’s Voting Law Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

On the final day of this year’s legislative session in Georgia, major companies like Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola, and others blasted the state’s new voting law, after it had already been passed and signed. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer to sift through the debris of “Sine Die” —with some help from WABE political reporter Emma Hurt. They also got into the Governor’s decision to lift most of the state’s Coronavirus restrictions, and the State of the City address by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold Dome Scramble: Post Georgia Legislative Session Live Event Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

The 2021 General Assembly finished, but not before passing a controversial voting law, a state budget and a lot of other bills. In this virtual live event Host Lisa Rayam is joined by politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt as well as education reporter Martha Dalton, environment reporter Molly Samuel and health reporter Sam Whitehead. They also take audience questions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold Dome Scramble: Controversial Voting Bill Sparks Lawsuit Mar 29, 2021

Show notes

A controversial voting bill sparks at least one lawsuit in the final days of the 2021 Georgia legislative session. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the fallout and about other bills that are still awaiting action this week including the state budget and police funding.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold Dome Crunch Time for Voting Bills and a Bunch of Others Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

It was the announcement many Georgians had been anticipating for months: every adult in the state can now get a COVID-19 vaccine. Now, if only Georgia can do as well as other states in getting the available shots into people’s arms. Meanwhile, the pre-adjournment frenzy is on under the Gold Dome as lawmakers battle over several key issues—including sports betting, citizens’ arrest, and a response to the recent mass killing in Atlanta. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson get into it all with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold Dome Scramble: New Voting Bill And The Medicaid Expansion Dilemma Mar 22, 2021

Show notes

Georgia Lawmakers will consider yet another voting bill this week and as the legislative session winds down a lucrative federal Medicaid expansion proposal is too large to ignore. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporter Emil Moffatt and politics editor Susanna Capelouto about these proposals and other important bills still in play in the 2021 session.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aftermath of a Mass Killing; Corporations Weigh In on Voting Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

Georgia political leaders, already engaged in fights with each other over voting—and sometimes together against a deadly virus—are confronted with another foe that has often gone unseen: the rise in harassment and violence against Asian-Americans, here in Georgia and around the nation. While investigators work to determine the individual motive that drove a man who killed eight people, the wider problem remains. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson are back with WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold Dome Scramble: Restrictive Voting Bills Worry Business Community Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

As controversial voting bills await more action in the legislature, Georgia's business community is expressing concern. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporter Emma Hurt and education reporter Martha Dalton. They're also discussing the fate of controversial school voucher proposals that would use state funds to help pay tuition at private schools.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One More Donald Trump Recording; One More Voting Battle Mar 12, 2021

Show notes

A year after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a pandemic, Georgia is finally seeing signs of spring in more ways than one. The pool of Georgians eligible for a coronavirus vaccine is expanding, case numbers are dropping and so are the numbers of deaths. But the all-out war at the State Capitol over voting bills is only intensifying. And the voice of the man who pushed those efforts—former president Donald Trump—has returned, in yet another recording of him applying pressure to state officials after the November election. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer sorts through it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard, filling in for Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson on this edition.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold Dome Scramble: Crossover Day Edition Where Voting Bills Dominate Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

Crossover Day in the Georgia legislature is when bills must pass in either the House or the Senate to stay alive. Several controversial voting bills "crossed over". Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about which bills survived and which got cut.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.