Politically Georgia

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy examine the political fallout over a Texas data center project linked to Georgia Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson, as residents raise concerns about transparency, environmental impacts and local control. They weigh the promised economic benefits against questions about community input and how the dispute is shaping Georgia's governor's race. Then, Tia Mitchell reports from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual legislative conference, where newly sworn-in Rep. Everton Blair Jr. was playing a new role this year. Greg and Tia discuss Blair's plans to support other candidates, Jasmine Clark's preparations to enter Congress and the political relationships taking shape ahead of the November elections. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy examine how Georgia's next governor could shape immigration enforcement and public education with AJC reporters Lautaro Grinspan and Martha Dalton. Grinspan explains how state and local cooperation with ICE affects enforcement in Georgia, where Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms differ on immigration, and how detention policies could affect immigrant workers and the state's economy. Dalton breaks down the candidates' competing education proposals, from universal pre-K and higher teacher pay to literacy initiatives and property tax cuts, and explains the funding and legislative hurdles each would face. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy examine the growing influence of metro Atlanta on Georgia politics and what that could mean for rural communities and policy priorities. They also sit down with Atlanta News First political reporter Doug Reardon to preview the upcoming debates between Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson and between Jon Ossoff and Mike Collins. Reardon explains how the gubernatorial town hall will put voters directly in the spotlight and what he'll be watching when the Senate candidates face off. Plus: what the debates could reveal about the candidates beyond their carefully crafted campaign messages. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy tackle listener questions about the closely watched governor's race, including the stark spending gap between Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms and the possibility of split-ticket voting. They also dig into the Republican debate over whether to keep investing in Mike Collins' Senate campaign as national groups shift resources elsewhere. Plus, they answer questions about Cobb County school board politics, the impact of ICE detentions on Georgia's foster care system and when to expect the next AJC-UGA poll. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy sit down with Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson to discuss Keisha Lance Bottoms' campaign for governor, including the debate over her record as Atlanta mayor and the Republican effort to draw split-ticket voters. Johnson also weighs the candidates' competing approaches to data centers, Medicaid expansion and the governor's relationship with a Republican-controlled Legislature. He discusses the Democrats' “whole ballot energy” strategy and the different ways Rick Jackson and Mike Collins are aligning themselves with Donald Trump. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Georgia's Choice examines the competing affordability plans in the governor's race, from Rick Jackson's push to cut state income and local property taxes to Keisha Lance Bottoms' targeted tax breaks for teachers, groceries and other essentials. AJC budget reporter David Wickert breaks down how the proposals would affect state and local revenues and what trade-offs could be required to pay for them. The discussion also looks at the state's shrinking budget cushion and what the candidates' plans could mean for government services. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell dig into Tia's interview with former gubernatorial candidate Jason Carter, who weighs Donald Trump's role in Georgia's midterm races and the challenges facing Keisha Lance Bottoms. They also examine Carter's defense of Jon Ossoff and why he thinks that Ossoff is focused on the Senate race, not a presidential bid. Carter also discusses his wife Kate's recovery and his work with the Carter Center on nonpartisan election observation. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about Georgia's November ballot measures, the huge fundraising gap in the governor's race and what the latest mail-in ballot rules mean for voters. With Producer ShaneyB, they dig into the candidates' records on data centers, the ongoing fight over Brad Raffensperger's place in the Georgia GOP and which congressional races are drawing attention. They also weigh what Buddy Carter may be considering for his political future and why most Georgia congressional races remain safely partisan.   Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy sit down with Attorney General Chris Carr to assess Georgia's 2026 political landscape, including the Republican Party's approach to independent voters and the governor's and Senate races. Carr also weighs in on license plate readers, criminal justice reform and his work on a $17 billion settlement with Meta over social media and children. He discusses the need for state and federal rules around artificial intelligence and explains why he declined to join a lawsuit over changes to mail-in voting. Carr also talks about what could come next after his term as attorney general ends. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy dig into the competing health care plans from Georgia's two gubernatorial nominees with veteran health care reporter Ariel Hart. They examine Keisha Lance Bottoms' push for full Medicaid expansion, Rick Jackson's proposed “intelligent Medicaid expansion,” and the questions surrounding how either plan could work. Hart also weighs the strain on rural hospitals, the loss of ACA coverage and what the next governor can realistically change. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy dig into the contrasting strategies shaping Georgia's Senate and governor's races. Ossoff is stepping up attacks on Mike Collins while courting Republicans, as Collins continues to lean into his ties to Donald Trump. Greg and Patricia also dive into the intensifying fight between Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson over healthcare, state contracts and the rapid growth of data centers. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Washington Bureau Chief Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about the Republican midterm convention in Dallas and what Mike Collins' attacks on Jon Ossoff reveal about his campaign. They also dig into the level of national Republican investment in Georgia, the continued deployment of Georgia National Guard troops to Washington, uncertainty over mail-in voting rules, and the push for new guardrails on Flock cameras. Mitchell also weighs how Keisha Lance Bottoms' Atlanta mayoral legacy compares with Kasim Reed's. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy dig into the competing strategies shaping Georgia's Republican ticket, with Mike Collins leaning into Donald Trump and Rick Jackson targeting voters who backed Brian Kemp and other Republicans in recent elections. They weigh what a strong Jon Ossoff showing could mean for Keisha Lance Bottoms and the rest of the Democratic ticket as Bottoms works to overcome Jackson's massive financial advantage. They also examine why the spouses of the four marquee candidates have largely stayed off the campaign trail and what that says about changing expectations, family priorities and the risks of modern campaigns. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein talks with Democratic state congressional nominee Tony Kozycki about immigration, including his call for secure borders alongside due process and changes to the legal immigration system. Kozycki explains how the Laken Riley act has impacted immigration enforcement, and how his experience as an immigration attorney shaped his campaign in a deeply Republican district. Then, Tia Mitchell joins Greg to talk with newly sworn-in Rep. Everton Blair about his short tenure in Congress, voting rights, affordability and what he wants Democrats to do differently in Washington. Blair discusses his historic place in Georgia politics and his plans to be more visible and accessible in the 13th District. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Socialism” has become a major political talking point in Georgia, but what does the movement actually stand for? Atlanta Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) co-chair Brayan Ramirez breaks down the organization's goals, how it chooses candidates and why it operates independently of the Democratic Party. Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy also dig into where the DSA overlaps with mainstream Democrats, where it sharply differs and what its growing presence could mean for Georgia politics. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell tackle listener questions about Keisha Lance Bottoms' strategy against Rick Jackson, the growing Democratic push into Georgia's outer suburbs and the debate over Flock cameras. They also weigh how candidates shape their personal stories and size up the possibility of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock both considering presidential bids in 2028. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein talks with longtime Democratic strategist Billy Linville about his decision to cross party lines and support Republican Rick Jackson for governor. Linville argues that Keisha Lance Bottoms' record as Atlanta mayor makes her unfit to lead Georgia. He also explains his effort to organize Democrats and independents behind Jackson and why he believes metro Atlanta voters could be pivotal. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy host Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, who defends her record as Atlanta mayor, responds to ethics attacks from Republican rival Rick Jackson, discusses the action she'd take on affordability and makes the case for a pause on new data center construction. She also weighs election security, Medicaid expansion, Flock cameras and how she would work with a Republican legislature and a Trump White House. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy examine growing scrutiny of Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins over extremist views expressed by people in his orbit, including his son-in-law and former campaign associates. They also weigh how Collins has responded, what voters have learned from that response and why the issue is drawing particular attention from Jewish voters. Plus, Patricia details Charlie Bailey's efforts to build a more aggressive, better-funded Georgia Democratic Party ahead of November and the challenges Democrats still face despite a favorable political environment. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about why Burt Jones still isn't endorsing Rick Jackson and what it means for the Republican gubernatorial nominee to embrace the party establishment while calling himself an outsider. They also dig into what data centers could mean for local taxes, the cost of living and Georgia communities. Other questions cover Rick Jackson's comments about the National Guard at polling sites, campaign payments tied to an endorsement, voter-checking software and the next round of redistricting. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein talks with former Secretary of State Cathy Cox and former Republican state Rep. Scot Turner about the growing distrust in Georgia's elections and the challenges facing the state's next election officials. They dig into how election administration has changed, why skepticism now crosses party lines, and how Keep Our Republic is working to answer voters' questions. Cox and Turner also walk through common concerns about voting machines, election-night results, duplicate voting and post-election audits.  Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein talks with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, a self-described conservative Republican who is backing Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff for reelection. Matheson explains how Ossoff's work with the city of Valdosta, including hurricane recovery and federal funding, shaped his decision despite criticism from fellow Republicans. He also weighs the GOP's focus on affordability, the future of the party after Donald Trump and his preferred potential 2028 candidate. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein, alongside Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell, digs into the increasingly personal race for governor after Keisha Lance Bottoms confronted Rick Jackson over attacks involving her husband. They size up Brian Kemp's push to rally Republicans behind Jackson and the GOP's broader concerns about enthusiasm heading into November. They also examine Mike Collins' effort to win over Jewish voters dissatisfied with Jon Ossoff's Israel votes, along with the complications Collins faces from his son-in-law's antisemitic and extremist social media posts.   Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell answer listener questions about Atlanta's bid for the 2028 Democratic National Convention and why the city was left out of the final three. They also discuss how Democrats' approach to gun safety is shaping up and how campaigns are spending millions on advertising and consultants. Tia digs into whether Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries could face leadership challenges, and Greg and Tia examine Rick Jackson's what Rick Jackson's “outsider” label leaves out. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein is joined by AJC City Hall reporter Shaddi Abusaid to examine the growing backlash over Flock license plate readers, including concerns about police misuse, privacy and who has access to that data. AJC business and climate reporter Kristi Swartz joins Greg to weigh Georgia's data center boom, the enormous demands on electricity and water, and the growing resistance in communities across the state. They also size up how the debate is shaping the governor's race and the fight over data center incentives. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tia Mitchell and UATL senior editor Ernie Suggs recap a newsmaking National Association of Black Journalists convention in Atlanta, including appearances by gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. They weigh Bottoms' approach to the governor's race and Raffensperger's decision not to endorse Senate nominee Mike Collins. They also dig into NABJ's decision to give thumbs-down awards to five people and organizations, including ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, and what the move says about the organization's role in protecting Black journalists. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell dig into Jon Ossoff's aggressive campaign strategy and his effort to turn Mike Collins' controversies into a broader liability for Georgia Republicans. They break down Ossoff's large weekend rally, his outreach to conservative voters and the potential down-ballot impact of a decisive win. They also examine Collins' attempts to broaden his coalition, including outreach to Latino voters, and the fallout from his exchange with a Jan. 6 rioter over taxpayer-funded compensation. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein answers listener questions about Burt Jones' refusal to endorse Rick Jackson, the long odds of Democrats taking back the Georgia House and the growing fight over data center development. He also weighs concerns about Georgia's voting system overhaul, Flock cameras and a missed campaign finance deadline for Keisha Lance Bottoms. The mailbag also takes on how voters can spot politically funded fake news sites as AI and campaign misinformation reshape the information landscape. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell talk with Republican congressional nominee John Cowan about his return to politics after losing a 2020 runoff to Marjorie Taylor Greene. Cowan discusses how he believes the MAGA movement has matured, why Republicans may face an enthusiasm challenge in Georgia and how Donald Trump can help candidates heading into November. Cowan also looks ahead at the incoming class of Georgia Republicans in Congress and his goal of building a more collaborative, service-oriented delegation. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein sits down with veteran Republican strategist Jordan Fuchs to assess Georgia Republicans' challenges heading into November, from weak enthusiasm to concerns about pocketbook issues and swing voters. Fuchs weighs Mike Collins' struggles against Jon Ossoff and Rick Jackson's rise in the governor's race. She also reflects on Brad Raffensperger's political future, the enduring fight over the 2020 election and the debate over hand-marked paper ballots. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Washington Bureau Chief Tia Mitchell are joined by state Rep. Ruwa Romman to examine what Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan Senate primary victory could mean for Georgia Democrats. Romman talks about how progressive candidates can win by building strong coalitions that reach through party lines to every day voters, emphasizing affordability, healthcare and constituent services. They also discuss what potential democratic socialist wins could mean for the Democratic party, Georgia's governor's race, and how candidates can navigate ideological divisions while appealing to swing voters. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell take on listener questions about what a Keisha Lance Bottoms administration could do to expand Medicaid with Republicans still controlling the Georgia Legislature. They also weigh the uneasy political history between Brian Kemp and Republican nominee Rick Jackson, the possibility of Elon Musk spending money in Georgia's Senate race, and what could be next for Buddy Carter after his primary loss. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patricia Murphy and Tia Mitchell talk with CNN anchor and chief domestic correspondent Phil Mattingly about Priced Out in America, his series examining the structural pressures behind rising housing, health care and child care costs. Mattingly explains why strong economic indicators often fail to reflect the financial strain many families feel and why neither party has a simple answer. Murphy and Mitchell also weigh how affordability could shape Georgia's races for governor and U.S. Senate. You can stream Phil Mattingly's series, Priced Out in America, on the CNN App and CNN.com/watch. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, Patricia Murphy shares her conversation with Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms about infertility, faith and the journey that led her and her husband to adopt four children. Greg Bluestein and Patricia explore how that experience shaped Bottoms and how it connects with Republican nominee Rick Jackson's story of growing up in foster care.   Then, Greg and Patricia break down Jackson's staggering $87 million fall advertising reservation. They look at how he plans to use the money, how Bottoms hopes to compete and why Jackson's spending could make it harder and more expensive for every other Georgia campaign to reach voters.   Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Split-ticket voting helped decide Georgia's 2022 elections, and it could again play a decisive role this November. On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, Patricia Murphy talks with conservative commentator and AJC contributor Erick Erickson about why some Georgia voters continue to choose candidates over party labels. Patricia is then joined by Tia Mitchell to examine which campaigns are best positioned to win crossover support and how Mike Collins' controversies could affect his race against Jon Ossoff. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy answer listener questions about Rick Jackson's campaign, including whether his pledge to personally fund Trump accounts raises legal concerns. They also examine the double standard surrounding emotion on the campaign trail and respond to criticism of Jackson's visits to Black-owned businesses. Plus, they discuss the spread of Flock surveillance cameras and whether Donald Trump's appearance at Wheeler High School crossed the line from an official event into a campaign rally. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon says the party cannot afford lingering divisions after a bruising primary season. Host Greg Bluestein, alongside Tia Mitchell, presses McKoon on his lack of direct contact with GOP nominee Rick Jackson, Mike Collins' path against Jon Ossoff and the party's need to reach more nonwhite voters. McKoon also weighs Donald Trump's continued focus on the 2020 election and Georgia's potential role in the 2028 presidential primary calendar. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell examine Mike Collins' opening strategy against U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, including attacks over fundraising and immigration. They also assess Collins' response to reports that his son-in-law shared antisemitic, white nationalist and pro-Nazi content online, along with the unresolved House ethics investigation involving Collins and a former aide. Greg and Tia also discuss the backlash Ossoff faced after offering condolences following U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham's death and what it says about civility and bipartisanship in modern politics. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new bipartisan poll shows Jon Ossoff with a clear lead over Mike Collins, while the race for governor remains essentially tied between Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson. On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy examine why the two marquee contests are moving in different directions and how each party is targeting split-ticket voters. They also speak with Keith McNulty, leader of East Cobb Democrats, about the backlash to Donald Trump's event at the school and what it reveals about the changing politics of Cobb County. Correction: An earlier version of this podcast description incorrectly identified Keith McNulty as a Wheeler High School graduate. The description has been updated to remove that reference. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy unpack the backlash after Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson posed for a photo at a Black-owned Atlanta restaurant. They also discuss the growing presence of democratic socialists in Georgia politics, unresolved questions surrounding Coffee County and the 2020 election, and the shifting balance of power at the state Capitol. Plus, they respond to listeners on political titles, Georgia geography and the proper pronunciation of Albany. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump came to Cobb County to promote a new savings program for children, but his appearance at Wheeler High School quickly took on the feel of a campaign rally. On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy break down Trump's attacks on U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, his enthusiastic support for Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins and the political significance of holding the event in a county that has shifted sharply toward Democrats. They also examine Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson's emotional speech and his proposal to provide an additional $1,000 for Georgia children enrolled in the new federal savings accounts. Plus, Greg and Patricia discuss how Democrats are working to tie Georgia's Republican ticket to Trump and turn the November election into a referendum on his presidency. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump's return to Georgia puts his influence over the state Republican Party back in focus. On today's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy speak with Republican strategist Stephen Lawson about how Rick Jackson and Mike Collins can appeal to swing voters without alienating Trump's base. Lawson also assesses Collins' difficult path against U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, lingering GOP tensions after the governor's runoff and the possibility of another redistricting session later this year. The discussion also covers health care, competitive state House races and the growing debate over data centers. Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions at PoliticallyGeorgia@ajc.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices