Political Breakfast With Denis Ohayer

With astonishing and frightening speed, Coronavirus has reshaped life in Georgia, at least for now. State leaders are trying to shape a unified response, amid unpredictable signals from the administration in Washington. Meanwhile, the predicted internal Republican Senate fight continues to intensify, while a Democratic mayor finds her prediction in the presidential race is looking pretty good right now. Just some of what's on the table for this edition of the Political Breakfast. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson talk it over with WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Crossover day is this week, which means time is running out for some bills to become law. Lisa Rayam talks with WABE's Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about what still need to pass either the Georgia House or Senate to stay alive. Meanwhile, the Coronavirus is having  politicians keeping their hands to themselves. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Georgia used to be just a fundraising pit stop for presidential campaigns, but this year national Democrats promise they’re going to pump resources into the Peach State. President Trump is opening what he calls a Black Voices for Trump Community Center. With all this attention and energy aimed at Georgia voters, how come some of them just stay home. And will the state's new voting machines pass their big test?  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Georgia lawmakers wrangle over hands-free driving fines and Uber/Lyft fees in committees as the legislature reaches its half-way point in this year's session. Lisa Rayam talks with WABE's Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt. Environment reporter Molly Samuel also pays a visit to talk about coal ash bills. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Georgia's governor and state lawmakers were already arguing about the budget and tax cuts, but then something new and potentially serious complicated things further: the coronavirus. At the same time, Georgia Democrats are waiting to get their their say in the presidential race. But how many of their party’s candidates will still be around by then? And there's more in this serving of the Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer again welcomes Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lawmakers are marred in budget battles as they move forward on surprise medical billing and foster care legislation. Also, the idea of digital billboards makes a quick appearance. Lisa Rayam talks with politics reporter Emil Moffatt and WABE health reporter Sam Whitehead. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hard to believe, but in just about a month, Georgia Democratic voters will have a say in the still-crowded presidential race. Republican voters will cast ballots, too, but there’s not quite as much suspense there. What we don’t know is how Georgia's rapidly changing voter demographics will affect the outcome. Plus, a look at the ongoing state capitol budget battles, and the push for affordable housing in Atlanta.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agony over the state budget continues as Georgia lawmakers figure out how to pay for proposed teacher pay raises pushed by Governor Brian Kemp. WABE's Lisa Rayam talks with politics reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the nuances in the struggle over state dollars. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lots of unity talk, but not much evidence of it in both major political parties as their big internal showdowns get closer. Loeffler, Collins, Warnock, Tomlinson, Riggs Amico, Ossoff, and Abrams are just a few of the names you’ll hear on what you might call an endorsement edition of the Political Breakfast. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer is back with our highly-endorsed political strategists. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal; Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Policy-making comes to a screeching halt so that Georgia's legislature can figure out the state's money woes. Plus, President Trump promises to get involved in a Georgia senate race. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE's Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about these and other issues, including a look at Georgia's lucrative film tax credit, which got some scrutiny from lawmakers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the Georgia legislative session rolls along, we look at Governor Kemp's proposed crackdown on gang-related activity, and his push for a Medicaid waiver expansion program. Also, a high-profile retirement in Gwinnett could be a sign of how the county's political base is changing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Governor Brian Kemp's pick for the U.S. Senate, Kelly Loeffler, gets some unwanted competition as Republican Doug Collins jumps into the race. Host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE political reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt about the drama surrounding the open Senate race, which now also includes prominent Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock. We also talk about gambling, adoption, and foster care proposals. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It finally happened: a couple of high-profile potential Senate candidates decided to realize that potential—one right after the other. So, Georgia Republicans are again learning what happens when you’re the majority party: you fight internal battles. Meanwhile, Georgia Democrats are working with some Republicans in one of those fights. But right now, the toughest fights of all are over where the state budget axe will fall. It’s a giant buffet set for you on this edition of the Political Breakfast! WABE political contributor Denis O'Hayer is back, with two very busy political strategists. Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal; Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lawmakers are struggling with the reality of tough budget cuts to Education, Health, Agriculture and other state agencies. Politics Reporters Emma Hurt and Emil Moffatt and Health Reporter Sam Whitehead join host Lisa Rayam to bring insight and context to the numbers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Democratic presidential candidates might be in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other cold places up north right now, but Georgia will be on their minds sooner than any of us might think. And after the presidential race leaves Georgia, the state will still be dealing with some difficult issues of health, life and death.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hearings at the Georgia State Capitol this week will tackle a tight budget to find ways to give teachers the full $5,000 pay raise promised by Governor Brian Kemp during his campaign in 2018. Education Reporter Martha Dalton and Politics Reporter Emma Hurt Join host Lisa Rayam this week. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We all expected 2020 to be crazy busy in politics from the start, and it’s certainly fulfilled that promise. So, let’s do the sensible thing, and jump right in with a new Political Breakfast! This edition is the first on our new weekly schedule--twice the heaping helpings from now on! We’ve got big stuff going on from the nation’s capital, to the State Capitol, to Atlanta’s City Hall and beyond. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer, again welcomes our regulars, who are well rested--at least for now: Brian Robinson is a Republican strategist, communications consultant, and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Nathan Deal; Tharon Johnson is a Democratic strategist, public affairs and government consultant, and former national southern regional director for the Obama 2012 campaign.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

WABE reporters Emil Moffatt and Emma Hurt join host Lisa Rayam for a look ahead to the week in the Georgia General Assembly.  They discuss the expected fight over a shrinking state budget and possible changes to Georgia’s lucrative film and television production tax credit.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the 2020 legislative session gets underway in Georgia, WABE has a new podcast to keep you in the know. “Gold Dome Scramble” is a pop-up podcast from "Political Breakfast." Every Monday morning, host Lisa Rayam talks with WABE reporters about the big issues that may become state law – from casino gambling to expanded gun rights. It’s your chance to learn about what’s happening in the Georgia legislative session. We’ll make it fun. We’ll make it informative. And we’ll keep it short.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2020 will be a huge political year in Georgia, of course. Many of the upcoming big stories are obvious: impeachment; elections; and--at the state Capitol--a push to legalize gambling (in some form, at least) in Georgia. But there's a lot more ahead in 2020, and we get your ready for it with some inside information from our regulars on the Political Breakfast. 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 is your host.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.