Political Breakfast from WABE

Latest Episodes:

Georgia's New Voters; Abortion Law Blocked; Senate Stampede Oct 04, 2019

Show notes

It’s football season now, but the real head-knocking is happening in politics--where some of the players are going after each other without helmets. Meanwhile, the state’s strict new abortion law ran into a block in Federal court, and it’s a blitz of candidates who want to succeed Johnny Isakson in the U.S. Senate. We’ve got great seats for you in this edition of the Political Breakfast. Brian Robinson is back; he's a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is away; former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard is filling in. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer is in the middle of it all.

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Senate Casting Call; Ossoff Jumps In; APS Faces Future Sep 20, 2019

Show notes

Got your resume up to date? Then you, too, can apply for the soon-to-be open job of U.S. Senator from Georgia! But President Trump might be reading that resume, and pass on his thoughts to the Governor who’ll make the decision. Meanwhile, the race for the other Georgia Senate seat got a high-profile new contestant. And the Atlanta school system has to figure out what next, after the superintendent’s contract was not renewed. So there's a whole smorgasbord in this serving of the Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer is back--along with our regulars: Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal.

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Isakson Succession Free-for-All; More Hazardous Emissions Fallout Sep 06, 2019

Show notes

2020 was already forecast to be a very windy political year in Georgia. Then Senator Johnny Isakson’s resignation announcement guaranteed it’ll be a category 5! There’s also a continuing storm over hazardous emissions at a Cobb County chemical plant. And it hasn’t exactly been calm at Atlanta’s City Hall, either. So much to dive into on this edition of the Political Breakfast. And we finally have both of our regulars on hand at the same time. Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer tries to keep the whole thing on the rails.

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A Conversation with Senator Isakson Aug 31, 2019

Show notes

Georgia's senior U.S. Senator, Republican Johnny Isakson, is speaking about his resignation, and what he wants to do before he leaves the Senate at the end of the year.

Isakson made the announcement on Wednesday, August 28.

The three-term Senator, who began his political career in 1974, cited increasing health problems as the reason for his resignation. Isakson suffers from Parkinson's Disease, and recently had a growth removed from his kidney.

He spoke by phone on August 30 with Political Breakfast host Denis O'Hayer.

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Something Toxic in the Air; Meter Runs on New Vote System Aug 23, 2019

Show notes

There’s something in the late summer air--and it’s got a lot of Georgia folks concerned, along with the people who ask for their votes. Speaking of voting, the timer is running on the state’s new elections system, even as a legal fight continues. Meanwhile, the legal battle lines are more clearly drawn in the showdown over the state’s new abortion laws. There's all that and more in this helping of the Political Breakfast! WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson, a communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal, and--filling in for Tharon Johnson this time--Gwinnett County Democratic chair Bianca Keaton.

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Gun Bills Under Gold Dome; Toxic Chemicals Near Neighborhoods Aug 09, 2019

Show notes

It’s August, but the folks who run things in Georgia are not getting much of a vacation. They face some very serious questions: Does this state needs tougher gun laws? What to do about hazardous chemicals in the air near some Atlanta area neighborhoods? Should Governor Kemp finally expand the state’s Medicaid program for low-income Georgians? And how can lawmakers do all of this when the Governor is warning state agencies that funding cuts are coming? We get into all of that in this serving of the Political Breakfast. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is back; he’s a public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Republican strategist Brian Robinson is away. Filling in this time: former Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens, a Republican who’s also a former chair of the Cobb County Commission. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer hosts the proceedings.

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Democratic & GOP Strategies Post-Mueller; Threats to Georgia's Election Security Jul 26, 2019

Show notes

Now that Robert Mueller has spoken to Congress about Russian interference in the last presidential election, what’s being done here in Georgia to ensure the security of the next one? And it’s not just the 2020 presidential contest that’s stirring things up around here; there are quite a few would-be members of Congress in both parties. And a former Georgia governor has been busy lately in his new job as Agriculture Secretary. Those are just a few of the items on the bill of fare for this Political Breakfast, and we’ve got a place waiting for you! WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer returns with Tharon Johnson, who is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Republican strategist Brian Robinson is away; filling in this time: former Georgia Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, who knows a thing or two about high-profile hearings. During his time in Congress, he was a member of the House Intelligence Committee and the Select Committee on Benghazi.

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Democratic Senate Scramble; GOP Healthcare Dilemma Jul 12, 2019

Show notes

While Georgia Republican Senator David Perdue builds his re-election war chest, another Georgia Democrat jumps into the race to challenge him. But is the party waiting and hoping for someone else? Meanwhile, the new child sex trafficking charges against Jeffrey Epstein in New York have brought new focus to Georgia’s efforts to fight sex trafficking. And, if Georgia and some other states win their lawsuit against Obamacare, do Republican leaders have a plan for what next for patients here? A lot to think about on this Political Breakfast! WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer serves it up--with the help of some very bright political minds. Tharon Johnson is back; he’s a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign. Republican strategist Brian Robinson is away. Filling in this time: former Georgia Republican Party chairman Chuck Clay, now with the law firm Hall, Booth, Smith.

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A Choice for Georgia Democrats, and the Difficult Details for Affordable Housing Jun 28, 2019

Show notes

While the Democratic presidential candidates debated in Miami, we’ll see if local Democrats need to focus on a different battle here, Meanwhile, Atlanta’s mayor unveiled an affordable housing plan, which critics argue isn’t very specific. And the Supreme Court blocked a census citizenship question, while Atlanta’s immigrant community waits to see if President Trump’s threatened raids will actually happen. All that and more is on the table for this Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer welcomes Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal. Our other regular, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, is away this time. Filling in: Gwinnett County Democratic chair Bianca Keaton.

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Keys to GA Democratic Primary; GOP Governor's Appointment Strategy Jun 14, 2019

Show notes

Could it be the presidential campaigns will actually treat Georgia as more than just a cash machine? Democratic candidates made all the right noises during their recent visits. But do they have the keys to winning the state? Meanwhile, the state’s Republican governor makes some key appointments by selecting African-American and Hispanic candidates--and Stacey Abrams goes to Hollywood. It’s a big and varied menu for this edition of the Political Breakfast, which also includes the possible role of African-American sororities in the Georgia Democratic presidential primary. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer sits down again with our regulars: Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff to former Governor Nathan Deal, and Tharon Johnson, a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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