Political Breakfast from WABE

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Bonus Edition: Primary Day Glitches, Delays & Blame Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

Primary day in Georgia was unlike any other. But even those trading blame for all the problems agree on one thing: they don't want anything like this to happen again. This bonus edition of the Political Breakfast looks into the delays, glitches, and frustration that confronted so many voters. It originally aired live on 90.1 WABE on June 10, 2020. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer welcomed Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Brian Robinson, along with University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock; Gabriel Sterling from the Secretary of State's office; and WABE reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt.

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Can Intentions Turn to Action In Pursuit of Racial Justice? Jun 05, 2020

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After an extraordinary and wrenching week in Atlanta and the rest of Georgia, the question now is: Where do all of us go from here on, in addressing the disease of racism? Meanwhile, a much more recent disease, COVID-19, is still with us, and the recent events have made confronting it a potentially much more complicated thing. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer explores some of the thinking with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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GA Soul-Searching After Minneapolis Death; More Re-opening from Gov. Kemp May 29, 2020

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Governor Brian Kemp again lifts some Coronavirus restrictions, while keeping some others. But he’s making a pitch for the Republican National Convention later this summer, and the numbers for the pandemic in Georgia still don’t give a clear picture of where it’s heading. Meanwhile, Georgia’s law enforcement and political leaders are again examining the relationship between police and African-American communities, after the video-recorded death of an unarmed black man at the hands of police in Minneapolis. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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Numbers Don't Lie--But Could State COVID Numbers Mislead? May 22, 2020

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When it comes to your health, there’s a saying you might have heard: "Know your numbers." Georgia’s COVID-19 numbers have been the subject of a lot of scrutiny lately. Meanwhile, some new polling numbers, if they’re right, forecast a real fight up and down the state ballot in November, while the people who run elections here worry about how to safely handle the numbers of voters who show up in person. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer again welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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Outside Prosecutor for Ahmaud Arbery Case; Georgia's Re-Opening Debate Continues May 15, 2020

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Just days after Georgia’s attorney general announced a state investigation of how local authorities responded to the February killing of an unarmed young black man near Brunswick, two suspects are in custody; the U.S. Justice Department is called in; and some top state leaders are getting behind a hate crimes bill. Meanwhile, Governor Kemp extends some pandemic response measures, and partially lifts others. And some Republican polling predicts close battles with Democrats in the November elections. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer sorts through it all with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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Governor Kemp Faces a Continuing Pandemic, and the Killing of a Young Black Man Near Brunswick May 08, 2020

Show notes

As Georgia slowly re-opens, the Coronavirus continues to spread. And so does the debate about the right things to do, and the possible cost in more lives lost. At the Georgia Capitol, lawmakers start to figure out what the cost will be in services the state can provide. Meanwhile, Georgia again gets the nation’s attention--this time for the killing of an unarmed young black man near Brunswick. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer talks it all over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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Governor Kemp Lifts Stay-at-Home Order for Most Georgians--It's a Gamble May 01, 2020

Show notes

While everyone holds out hope that an experimental drug tested here in Atlanta might help COVID-19 patients, Governor Brian Kemp is conducting a trial of his own, as he lifts more restrictions on businesses in the state. Meanwhile, schools, students and parents are trying to get some idea of what the coming school year will be like. And there are still plenty of questions about whether there’s enough good information to make any of those decisions. And Senate candidates in both parties face some tough strategic decisions of their own. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer talks it over with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.

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Governor Kemp's Partial Re-Opening: Reasons, Risks & Consequences Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to the Georgia lab! No, not the state’s COVID testing lab (we’re still working on getting more of those up and running). The entire state is a now a lab--and we’re all the subjects. Governor Brian Kemp finds support from some government leaders and pushback from others--including President Trump--on his plan to partially re-open the state for business. On that subject, business folks, workers, and state and local governments struggle to adjust to life amid pandemic. And a familiar and controversial politician is getting out of that business--at least for now. 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 Risky Dilemma: How Can Georgia Re-Open Without Enough Coronavirus Data? Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

While President Trump suggests that the nation is past the peak of the Coronavirus outbreak, Georgia certainly is not. And the state continues scrambling for enough tests to tell us exactly where we are. Meanwhile, in electoral politics, there were parades of endorsements and reports of campaign cash in the contests for president and U.S. Senate. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer explored those issues--and more--with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson,

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Tragic Coronavirus Toll Grows, Especially in Georgia's Nursing Homes Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

Despite a few hopeful signs, the terrible Coronavirus toll in Georgia continued. Governor Brian Kemp extended the statewide shutdown, but a shortage of data--and supplies for frontline healthcare workers--continued to hinder the effort to fight the disease. Meanwhile, Georgia’s new GOP senator fought back against questions about her stock trades, and the names of Georgia Democratic women keep coming up as possible vice presidential contenders. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer again welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

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