Battleground: Ballot Box

Donna Lowry explores the history and legacy of Warm Springs, Georgia—a place of healing for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a catalyst for modern rehabilitative care. Lawmakers discuss recent efforts to restore its therapeutic pools and reflect on the state's role in the fight against polio.

This week on Lawmakers Huddle, host Donna Lowry recaps the end of Georgia’s 2025 legislative session and explores concerns over the state budget and potential federal funding cuts. The episode also features the swearing-in of Barbara Rivera-Holmes as Georgia’s first female labor commissioner.

As Sine Die arrives, legislators face a packed agenda—including the 2026 state budget—after late-night sessions and surprise protests. From a heated debate over gender-affirming care in prisons to election law changes and efforts to ban DEI programs in schools, tensions run high. Plus, the team celebrates a milestone for longtime GPB photojournalist Wesley Nichols.

Georgia’s legislative session is wrapping up, but not without a few surprises. GPB’s Donna Lowry and Pamela Kirkland break down the unexpected last-minute salary raises for top state officials, a revived push to ban DEI policies in schools, and bipartisan support for protecting IVF. Plus, a longtime state senator gets a big new role in Washington.

With just weeks left in Georgia’s legislative session, lawmakers are racing to pass key bills, including Gov. Kemp’s tort reform effort, which faced strong opposition but narrowly advanced. Budget debates continue, with the Senate prioritizing scholarships for private schooling while the House focuses on public school funding, setting up a showdown before the session ends on April 4.

This week GPB’s Pamela Kirkland and Lawmakers host Donna Lowry break down the latest action under the Gold Dome as lawmakers push through key bills in committee, including tort reform, education funding, and prison staffing. With the session winding down, they also highlight a surprising change to hunting gear regulations and preview the debates still to come.

This week GPB’s Pamela Kirkland and Lawmakers host Donna Lowry break down the latest action under the Gold Dome as lawmakers push through key bills in committee, including tort reform, education funding, and prison staffing. With the session winding down, they also highlight a surprising change to hunting gear regulations and preview the debates still to come.

Georgia lawmakers worked late into the night on Crossover Day, passing a record-breaking 75 bills in the House, including income tax cuts and school safety measures, while the Senate approved similar safety bills but failed to pass legislation on sports betting, DEI bans, and firearms safety.

With Crossover Day approaching, Georgia lawmakers are racing to pass key legislation. Lawmakers host Donna Lowry helps to break down where things stand on the state budget, a bill restricting transgender athletes in female sports, and a bipartisan measure expanding access to in vitro fertilization. Plus, a look ahead at what’s still on the table before the deadline.

With Crossover Day fast approaching, Georgia lawmakers are racing to move key legislation forward. From tax relief for farmers to child care tax credits and tort reform, GPB's Pamela Kirkland and Lawmakers host Donna Lowry break down the major bills making their way through the General Assembly.

With the legislative session nearing its midpoint, Georgia lawmakers are moving forward on a range of key issues — from voting legislation to school safety and protections for in vitro fertilization (IVF). GPB’s Pamela Kirkland catches up with Lawmakers host Donna Lowry to get up to speed on the flurry of activity happening under the Gold Dome.

This week, the Georgia General Assembly passed its first bills of the session, including an amended budget to fund hurricane relief, prison upgrades, and school safety measures. Meanwhile, the Senate advanced a controversial ban on transgender athletes, and Democrats pushed to put abortion rights on the ballot.

As the Georgia General Assembly wraps up its third week, lawmakers are tackling a packed agenda — making up for delays caused by wintry weather. In this week's Lawmaker Huddle, GPB's Pamela Kirkland spoke with Lawmakers host Donna Lowry about the latest updates from the Gold Dome.

This week, the Georgia General Assembly was pretty quiet. This is budget week, but even with a light week, we're staying on top of what our legislators have been up to. Donna Lowry, host of GPB's Lawmakers, joins for this week's Lawmaker Huddle. 

In our first Lawmakers Huddle, Lawmakers host Donna Lowry joins GPB's Devon Zwald to discuss what happened during the first week of the 2025 legislative session and what lawmakers will prioritize.

A GPB special program looking back at the life and legacy of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, highlighting his accomplishments, relationships, and enduring impact. In this episode, you'll hear about his environmental conservation efforts, close relationship with his wife Rosalynn, lifelong passion for music, and lasting influence on American politics and culture.

A GPB special program looking back at the life and legacy of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, focusing on his work through the Carter Center to promote human rights, conflict resolution, and the eradication of preventable diseases worldwide. Plus, his role in establishing Georgia's film industry and the impact of his presidency and post-presidency on the state and the nation.