Political Breakfast from WABE

Political Breakfast went live this week, as Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam react to thousands flooding the streets of Atlanta for 'No Kings' protests, part of broader demonstrations across the nation.

They happened the same day as a military parade in Washington for the Army's 250th Anniversary -- which also coincided with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. 

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Data centers are growing faster in Atlanta than anywhere else in the country.

That rapid growth has left communities grappling with how these new developments will impact the environment and their neighborhoods.

WABE has been taking a closer look at data centers as part of our series, “Server South.”

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali are joined by WABE and Grist ...

 On this edition of Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson along with host Lisa Rayam, respond to the immigration crackdown taking place in Los Angeles. What message is it really sending to America?

  Plus, they analze an immigration raid that took place at home, inside a busy Marietta nail salon. A dozen undocumented workers were arrested. The PB team talks about how fear among the undocumente...

  On this episode of Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson, Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam discuss a hodge-podge of political news.

   What do they make of the so called breakup between Elon Musk and President Trump?  Plus, how Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger finds himself in a precarious situation after the GOP state Covention.

   Plus, political fatigue--what is it exactly...

Data centers are growing faster in Atlanta than anywhere else in the country.

That rapid growth has left communities grappling with how these new developments will impact the environment and their neighborhoods.This week, “Plugged In” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali are joined by WABE Business Reporter Marlon Hyde and WABE Southside Reporter DorMiya Vance for the first of two episodes exploring WABE’s series, Se...

This week the Political Breakfast team was pleased to record the podcast in front of a live studio audience, alongside legends from Sesame Street and the Muppet Show at Atlanta's own Center for Puppetry Arts! It's home to more than 5 thousand puppets and artifacts. 

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson joined host Lisa Rayam to answer questions from some of our loyal listeners. 

We...

Two Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) incumbents are on the ballot this year after a lengthy legal battle and their challengers are taking aim at the current commission’s performance.

Voting in the primary is already underway.

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with WABE and Grist climate reporter Emily Jones about the PSC and some of the challenges the stat...

On this week's second serving of Political Breakfast, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is officially running to replace Governor Brian Kemp. But are Dems pleased?

Bottoms tells WABE that we are "facing chaos and uncertainty and anxiety" based on the policies that are coming out of Washington and "Georgians want and need a fighter.”
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host...

On this week's live edition of Political Breakfast just after the Memorial Day holiday, strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam discuss the 2026 U.S. Senate race against incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff. 

Governor Brian Kemp decided not to run. He and President Donald Trump met recently in Washington earlier this month to mull-over who will face Ossoff. 

In the race so far: U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, from...

Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old nurse and mother, was about nine weeks pregnant in February when doctors declared her brain dead after she suffered a medical emergency.

Smith’s family says doctors at Emory University Hospital have been keeping her on life support because she is pregnant, citing Georgia’s restrictive abortion law.

In this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali ta...

Historic Medicaid cuts are advancing in Washington under President Donald Trump, as nearly 2 million low-income Georgians depend on the program for health insurance.

That includes Georgians with disabilities and seniors, as Medicaid pays for their daily help with basic needs.

The proposed federal cuts are all part of Trump's attempts to slash government spending. But Republican strategist Brian Robinson says on this week's Politica...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team talks about the life of Adriana Smith, her unborn child and a Georgia law that appears to be holding her grieving family hostage.

Adriana is brain dead, but has been kept on life support since February because she's pregnant.

Her family says it's time for Adriana to rest in peace -- peace that's entangled in a restrictive law that bans most abortions after six weeks.

It's an issue pe...

This week, judges heard appeals in two major Georgia voting cases.

One panel is considering whether conservative group True the Vote illegally intimidated voters when they helped file tens of thousands of voter challenges while another is reviewing Georgia’s political maps in the ongoing fight over redistricting.

In this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss what’s a...

Chair of the Georgia Republican Party Josh McKoon joins this week's Political Breakfast. 

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam have some questions about McKoon managing party unity.

They ask McKoon if he agrees with everything that President Donald Trump has been ordering in Washington, and what he thinks about Republicans who refuse to come together under Trump, and su...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team talks to the newly-elected Georgia Chair of the Democratic Party Charlie Bailey.

Bailey talks about the bread and butter issues that are key to his party winning in 2026.

In addition, he rebuffs the notion that there are major fractures within the Democratic Party, and Bailey addresses how his main mission is to rebuild trust.

Join strategists Brian Robinson, Tharon Johnson and host ...

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has announced that he will not run for Senate.

Of all the states President Donald Trump won in the 2024 election, only Georgia has a Democratic senator defending their seat. Republicans had seen Kemp as the strongest candidate to challenge incumbent Jon Ossoff.

On this week's episode, hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss what the two-term governor's decision to opt out of the race signals about Kemp...

On this week's second edition of Political Breakfast, the gang talks about the plight of federal student loan borrowers who are now expected to start paying them back. That's after being given a reprieve during the Biden Administration. 

Plus, Georgia Democrats picked former two-time statewide candidate and Atlanta attorney Charlie Bailey to head the party. He replaces Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams. 

Democratic st...

On this edition of Political Breakfast, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join Morning Edition, live, to talk about Governor Brian Kemp's decision not to run for U.S. Senate.

The speculation suddenly ended Monday, when the second-term Georgia Governor took to social media, writing: "Being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family."

So then, who is the right pe...

Since taking office for the second time, President Donald Trump has moved swiftly to reshape every facet of government, often testing the boundaries of presidential power, with far-reaching implications for Georgia, the country and the world.

On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss how Trump's first 100 days in office have left a mark on the Peach State.

See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...