Politically Georgia AJC Podcasts

The podcast welcomes state Rep. Michelle Au, a physician and advocate for women’s health issues. Au is in the forefront of advocating for reproductive freedom for women and access to IVF in the aftermath of the Alabama Supreme Court decision declaring that in vitro frozen embryos are living beings. 
Then, Cole Muzio, president of the conservative Frontline Policy Alliance , discusses the issues his organization worked to advance during the recent session of the General Assembly. Muzio is a strong anti-abortion advocate and found himself at odds with former President Donald Trump’s declaration that each state should decide laws governing abortion. 
Finally, Greg and Patricia discuss a federal court hearing to decide whether Republican Party leaders in Catoosa County have the right to deny ballot access to those who don’t pass a purity test establishing them as MAGA-style Republicans. Greg writes that the case could have implications for the entire state. 
  
Links to today’s topics  
Alabama court ruling has some Georgia abortion rights advocates on edge 
Alabama Supreme Court ruling in in vitro embryos 
Patricia Murphy: Muzio doesn't object 'for now' to state House resolution supporting IVF 
Cole Muzio biography 
Greg Bluestein: Court takes up push from GOP faction to keep 'traitors' off the Republican ballot 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWilliams 
Editor- Devan Kortan 
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The hosts discuss growing anger among Georgia members of Congress over the U.S. Postal Service’s inability to solve serious delays in mail delivery in metro Atlanta. It’s part of a larger national problem. 
  
But first, the podcast welcomes former Georgia Republican Congressman Tom Graves, who served in the U.S. House for a decade before retiring in 2020. The hosts ask him for his observations about the infighting among GOP members of the House today and about the extreme partisanship on both sides of the aisle. He also offers his take on Marjorie Taylor Greene, who now represents the same district Graves did. 
  
Then, Davante Jennings, chairman of the Young Democrats of Georgia Black Caucus and an organizer at the New Georgia Project, joins the podcast to talk about what’s inspired him to become a political activist after he was disillusioned by Donald Trump’s victory in 2016. 
  
Links to topics 
The arc of Tom Graves career in the U.S. House: from Tea Party conservative to bipartisan advocate 
Disillusined by Trump's 2016 victory, this young Black Georgian has gotten engaged for 2022 
Ossoff, others in Georgia delegation demand USPS solve mail delivery delays  
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWilliams 
Editor- Matt Owen 
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The podcast welcomes Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. The hosts ask Carr why he joined other Republican attorneys general in signing on to a multistate lawsuit challenging President Joe Biden’s new student loan forgiveness plan. He said the matter should be up to Congress to decide. 
  
Carr also told the hosts that the state has looked into whether charges should be brought against any individuals who worked to overturn the results of the 2020 election and decided there were no grounds for bringing state charges against anyone. 
  
But first, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene may be pulling back from her threat to call for the ouster of House Speaker Mike Johnson, even as Johnson says he plans to call for military aid packages for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. But as the hosts were recording the podcast, Greene gained an ally: Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie said he, too, wants Johnson out as speaker. 
  
And the hosts discuss the possible impact former President Donald Trump’s trial in New York could have on District Attorney Fani Willis’ Fulton County election conspiracy case.  
  
Links to topics 
  
Carr signs on to challenge to Biden student loan plan 
What to know about Biden student loan forgiveness plan 
House speaker pushes for vote on aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan  
Is Greene rethinking call to oust Speaker Mike Jonson 
Could Trump New York trial impact Fulton County election conspiracy case? 
  
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWilliams 
Editor- Matt Owen 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast welcomes Michael Thurmond, Eric Tanenblatt and Kerwin Swint to discuss the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president as Donald Trump's New York City hush money trial gets underway with jury selection today. They look at whether that trial could have an impact on the Georgia election conspiracy case, in which Trump and 14 other defendants are charged with illegal efforts to overturn the results of the state’s 2020 presidential election. 
  
Then, Republican and Democratic elected officials are sparring over how to respond to Iran’s attacks on Israel. And in Washington, there are questions about whether the U.S. House will now be able to pass a stalled $95 billion military aid package for both Israel and Ukraine. Far-right members such as U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene have held up the bill the Senate passed weeks ago. 
  
And Tia Mitchell describes how Georgia Congressman Mike Collins has used social media -- for good and ill -- to make himself one of the highest profile freshmen in the House. 
  
Links to Topics 
Could New York hush money trial influence Georgia case? 
Will House pass military aid package for Israel and Ukraine? 
Speaker trying to thread needle on military aid package 
Mitchell: The double life of Georgia's 'meming' congressman 
  
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWilliams 
Editor- Matt Owen 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s been a new development in Georgia's election conspiracy case against former President Donald Trump. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones will now be investigated in connection with his role as one of 16 GOP electors who cast Electoral College votes for Trump even though Joe Biden had won the state in the 2020 presidential election. 
  
But first, a preview of what to expect when the first of four criminal trials against Trump begins Monday in New York City. The podcast welcomes Bob Wilson, who served three terms as district attorney for DeKalb County after working as the county’s chief public defender, to discuss issues in the case: Will Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have solid evidence to convict Trump of felony campaign violations involving hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels? How difficult will it be to seat a neutral jury for the trial? How likely is it that if convicted, Trump will be sentenced to prison time? 
  
And it’s Friday, so Bill and Greg answer questions from the Listener Mailbag and offer their choices for who’s up and who’s down this week. 
  
Links to topics 
  
What to know about Trump hush money trial 
State prosecutor to investigate Burt Jones in Trump election conspiracy case 
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWilliams 
Editor- Devan Kortan 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast welcomes the senior adviser to the Georgia Biden campaign, Jonae Wartel. She talks about the new $30 million Biden ad campaign that features stories of women who have experienced health crises with pregnancies in states that have enacted significant restrictions on abortion. 
  
But first, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy both covered Donald Trump’s visit to Atlanta on Wednesday. They report on his comments on an Arizona Supreme Court ruling all but outlawing abortion in that state, on who attended his $5 million fundraising luncheon, his stop at a Chick-fil-A in College Park and more. 
  
Links to topics 
  
Biden ad blames Trump for near death of woman denied abortion 
Trump says Arizona abortion ban goes too far 
Trump luncheon shows split in Georgia GOP 
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWilliams 
Editor- Devan Kortan 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices