Ron walks listeners through a fast-developing national story: the remarkably swift and nearly unanimous congressional vote to release the long-sealed Jeffrey Epstein files. After months of hesitation from Republican leaders, both the House and Senate reversed course and advanced the bill with overwhelming support. Ron explores what led to this sudden change, why observers across the political spectrum are questioning the timing, and what the next steps may look like as the Department of Justice prepares to respond.
Ron highlights commentary from comedian Trae Crowder, who articulates the public’s skepticism about the pivot, and then examines House Speaker Mike Johnson’s evolving explanations for his position. The episode breaks down how internal GOP disagreements, procedural maneuvering, and shifting public pressure turned a stalled issue into a rapid bipartisan movement — and what this could signal for future congressional oversight. Oh, and the Trump White House vows retribution towards Democrats for .... forcing him to do what he campaigned that he'd do?
The discussion then turns to an Air Force One exchange in which President Trump directed a dismissive remark toward Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey. Ron uses the moment to examine broader concerns about Trump’s tone toward journalists - particularly female journalists. Comedienne Raeshonda Lias-Lockhart was having none of it.
Even former conservative editors, by the way, are noticing his cognitive decline.
Trump seems upset American journalists are covering the Epstein files and his visit with the Saudi prince and not the (ahem) "$21 trillion" in investments he claims to be securing. Last month it was $17 trillion, and even then, half had been secured in the prior presidency. Oops.
From there, Ron shifts to key Georgia news. He recaps Geoff Duncan’s recent visit with Forsyth County Democrats, the upcoming Senate District 35 runoff, and new polling data that suggests most Georgians favor property tax relief over eliminating the state’s income tax.
Ron previews his upcoming conversation with Dr. Daniel Kanso of the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute, who will offer deeper insight into the state revenue implications behind these debates.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#HearGeorgiaNow #TheRonShow #TreyCrowder #MikeJohnson #DonaldTrump #JeffDuncan #DanielBlackman #CatherineLucey #GeorgiaPolitics #EpsteinFiles
PLUS: Georgia (nearly) stand alone in its embrace of touchscreen voting technology that runs afoul of its own law
Georgia Republicans are racing toward a Florida- and Tennessee-style dream: wiping out the state income tax and pitching it as an overnight “5% raise” for struggling families.
Ron digs into what the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute says really happens if lawmakers eliminate the 5.19% personal income tax that currently brings in nearly half of Georgia’s revenue. Their analysis shows the state would likely need something like a 12% state sales tax, pushing the average household’s tax bill up about $1,000 a year and shifting the burden onto low- and middle-income Georgians while the top 5% reap nearly half the savings.
Ron walks through how tourism-dependent states like Florida and Tennessee balance their books, and why Georgia’s very different economy makes copying them a recipe for a regressive tax hike dressed up as relief.
From there, the conversation widens to the “K-shaped economy.” Drawing on reporting from Sasha Rogelberg and economist Peter Atwater, Ron connects the dots between flat or falling wage growth for the bottom 90%, rising subprime debt, and booming stock gains for the wealthiest households. It’s not just about the numbers, he argues, but about feelings: a sea of despair at the bottom versus overconfident invulnerability at the top. That emotional gap is reshaping politics, fueling resentment, and creating a messaging test Democrats failed at in 2024 - and Trump continues to - when they insist the economy is “great” while groceries, utilities, and rent keep climbing.
Then Marilyn Marks of the Coalition for Good Governance joins Ron to sound the alarm on Georgia’s voting system. She explains how Dominion ballot-marking devices, giant touchscreen displays, and QR-code ballots violate both the spirit and letter of Georgia’s secret-ballot laws, enable subtle hacks that leave no audit trail, and create real intimidation risks in small communities and church precincts.
Marks walks through the Coffee County breach, the Curling lawsuit, and why federal experts have warned Georgia for years to fix obvious vulnerabilities. Her solution is surprisingly simple—and cheaper: warehouse most of the touchscreens, keep a few for accessibility, and join the 70% of America already using hand-marked paper ballots fed into the same scanners Georgia uses now.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#MarilynMarks #DanielKanso #GeorgiaTaxes #ElectionSecurity #KShapedEconomy #GAPol #VoterPrivacy #EconomicJustice #IncomeTaxDebate #HearGeorgiaNow #TheRonShow
PLUS: John Williams aims to slide into Georgia's open state Senate seat tomorrow w/a locally focused platform
Ron breaks down the growing rift between former President Donald Trump and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene—a split that has quickly shifted from quiet tension to an open political break. Their disagreement over releasing the Epstein files has triggered new divisions inside the GOP and raised questions about how Greene’s recent attempts at moderation are being received by voters in Georgia’s 14th District.
Ron is joined by Wendy Davis, co-host of The Kudzu Vine podcast and former Democratic candidate in GA-14, who offers local insight into Greene’s evolving tone, her increased visibility on national media, and how these changes compare with her long-standing record. Davis explains why many constituents remain skeptical and highlights how Greene’s positions on major legislation continue to shape opinions in the district.
The conversation also digs into the broader Republican landscape, including the reactions of Georgia’s 2026 Senate hopefuls. Potential GOP challengers to Greene—such as Colton Moore and Laura Loomer—are on the radar, raising the prospect of a competitive primary that could reshape the district’s political dynamics. The conversation closes with a look at the Democratic field, including Shawn Harris, and the qualities that may resonate with voters amid these shifting dynamics.
Even Eric Erickson's conservative insights prove to be somewhat valuable here.
Then there's "dirtbag" Congressman Mike Collins, who signaled support for releasing the Epstein files after Trump reversed his own position. Ron notes only his and his GOP Senate combatants' pivoting upon Trump's sudden change-of-heart re: Epstein Files release, and what this all means for party alignment and how GOP leaders are adjusting their views in real time.
Oh, and libertarian talk radio firebrand Eric von Hessler agrees that Mike Collins is a "dirt bag." Ron speaks with Georgia Senate District 35 candidate John Williams, highlighting John's locally-focused platform for a state-level special election.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#MarjorieTaylorGreene #DonaldTrump #WendyDavis #MikeCollins #GA14 #EpsteinFiles #GeorgiaPolitics #SeanHarris #HearGeorgiaNow #TheRonShow
This episode of The Ron Show centers on one of the most consequential developments in Georgia politics: the appointment of Pete Skandalakis as the new prosecutor overseeing the Fulton County election interference case involving Donald Trump and multiple co-defendants.
Ron and Georgia NOW News Director Alexis Young walk through what his appointment means, why so many prosecutors reportedly turned down the role, and how the eight-terabyte evidence load sets the stage for a complicated legal path forward.
Ron and Alexis also examine the broader political environment surrounding the case, including the recent round of federal pardons issued to several figures tied to Trump. While those pardons have no bearing on state prosecutions, they add another layer to an already high-profile legal battle. They also discuss concerns about political pressure, prosecutorial discretion, and what Georgia law requires when reviewing evidence and making charging decisions.
From there, the episode expands into other key news stories shaping Georgia and national politics. Ron covers the AI-generated deepfake circulated by Congressman Mike Collins’ campaign, which used synthetic audio to imitate Senator John Ossoff. The segment outlines the ethical questions raised, the response from both parties, and how AI manipulation may impact campaign messaging in 2026 and beyond.
The show also touches on the ongoing divide between Donald Trump and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, recent reporting on misconduct by FBI Director Kash Patel, and the Eleventh Circuit’s decision to uphold hate crime convictions in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.
Listeners get a clear, grounded overview of the week’s major stories — with Alexis providing additional context from the Georgia NOW newsroom and Ron connecting the dots across statewide and national developments.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com. #AlexisYoung #PeteSkandalakis #GeorgiaPolitics #FultonCountyCase #MikeCollins #JohnOssoff #AhmaudArbery #GAnews #HearGeorgiaNow #TheRonShow
The release of long-suppressed Epstein investigation files threatens to reshape national politics while Georgia prepares for critical 2026 races, but locally, two key Democratics Barry Wolfert, running for Georgia’s 11th Congressional District to challenge Rep. Barry Loudermilk, and Scott Sanders, the lone Democrat in the House District 23 special election, hop on calls to introduce themselves.
But the biggest story of the day centers on the newly released Epstein estate emails and the House vote advancing a discharge petition to force release of the full DOJ archive. Heather Cox Richardson’s step-by-step breakdown of what happens over the next 7–10 days is quite useful.
Why Donald Trump is fighting desperately to stop these documents from seeing daylight is the mystery - because he's totally innocent, y'all.
The emails already released contradict Trump’s past claims—suggesting awareness of Epstein’s predatory behavior, discussing girls at Epstein’s properties, and hinting at damaging leverage Epstein believed he held. Even conservative voices like Howard Kurtz expressed concern about the revelations.
Ron also analyzes Laura Ingraham’s awkward/bizarre White House interview with Trump, where he was openly dismissive of American workers’ abilities, while defending expanded visa labor, and made questionable economic claims. You can almost hear Laura's "BS meter" going off with her tone. Also, are she and Sean Hannity openly trying to sink Trump? It sort of feels like it.
Also at Fox, Howard Kurtz throwing a little shade, himself.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#HearGeorgiaNow #TheRonShow #BarryWolfert #ScottSanders #GeorgiaPolitics #EpsteinFiles #TrumpNews #GA11 #GA23 #ProgressiveVoices
Ron Roberts breaks down the AJC/Politically Georgia forum and a new survey of 1,000 likely Democratic primary voters: Keisha Lance Bottoms holds 40%, Michael Thurman 11%, Jeff Duncan 5%, Jason Estevez 3%, Derek Jackson and Rua Roman 1%, with a massive 40% still undecided.
Duncan courts skeptics with a $1.4B “Jumpstart Fund,” vows to expand Medicaid, overhaul QBE, and sign a Day One order against Georgia’s six-week abortion ban—then stumbles in the lightning round by naming Nathan Deal as his favorite Georgia governor, before redeeming himself with a homelessness-focused book pick.
Bottoms touts executive chops—$180M in reserves, 7,000 affordable units, and worker pay boosts—positions herself as results-first over ideological labels, and defends the Public Safety Training Center.
Thurman leans on deep state and county experience, early work on CAPS and transitional Medicaid, and a pledge to finally expand Medicaid statewide.
With Raffensperger and Carr in the Q&A—and Burt Jones a no-show—Ron connects the dots to a choppy economy and travel turmoil that could shape 2026. The race isn’t settled; the stakes are now clear.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#JeffDuncan #KeishaLanceBottoms #JasonEstevez #MichaelThurman #BradRaffensperger #ChrisCarr #DerekJackson #RuaRoman #HearGeorgiaNow #TheRonShow
A rare Georgia storyline: Democrats flipped both Public Service Commission seats—and they did it on kitchen-table economics, not party labels.
Host Ron Roberts and strategist Andrew Heaton (manager for Dr. Alicia Johnson) detail how frustration over Georgia Power rate hikes built an unlikely coalition of Democrats, independents, and crossover Republicans, flipping even longtime red counties.
With quick hits from news director Alexis Young on what PSC terms mean for your bill, and analysis from Melita Easters (Georgia Win List) on the surge of women contenders and a 2026 map full of open seats, the episode turns wins into a playbook: run candidates who fit their districts, follow the energy, and speak plainly about budgets, housing, and utilities.
Ron spotlights field-first campaigns like Chelsea Bond’s and the youth wave reshaping local races, then zooms out to national signals—from independents breaking blue to the debate over message discipline in the “107 days” of Kamala Harris’s sprint. Bottom line: affordability wins, organization matters, and Georgia just wrote a blueprint for 2026.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#AndrewHeaton #MelitaEasters #AliciaJohnson #PeterHubbard #GeorgiaPSC #KitchenTableIssues #ZoranMamdani #GeorgiaPolitics #HearGeorgiaNow #TheRonShow
In one of the most politically charged episodes yet, The Ron Show dives into the aftermath of a historic government shutdown, a pivotal Supreme Court decision, and a growing divide inside the Democratic Party. Host Ron Roberts brings together national and local voices to unpack the political earthquakes shaking Georgia and the nation.
CBS News correspondent Olivia Rinaldi joins live from Washington, D.C., breaking down the shocking last-minute decision by eight Senate Democrats to join Republicans in ending the government shutdown. But did they get anything meaningful in return? Ron and Olivia explore the political math, the airport chaos that spooked lawmakers, and the brewing fury on the progressive left. Even with polling on their side, Senate Democrats blinked—and voters are asking, “What was the point?”
Later in the episode, Bentley Hudgens, Georgia Director of the Human Rights Campaign, shares a personal and political reaction to the Supreme Court’s refusal to revisit marriage equality, putting an end—at least for now—to Kim Davis’ long crusade against LGBTQ+ rights. With her own wedding on the horizon, Bentley speaks from the heart about what this means for queer couples across the South—and why the fight for full equality is far from over.
Plus: Ron sounds off on President Trump’s controversial federal pardons tied to election interference, many of which involve fake electors right here in Georgia. As the GOP doubles down, Georgia’s political spotlight only grows hotter.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#TheRonShow #HearGeorgiaNow #OliviaRinaldi #BentleyHudgens #GovernmentShutdown #MarriageEquality #SenateDemocrats #LGBTQRights #GeorgiaPolitics #KimDavis
On this special Veterans Day episode of The Ron Show, host Ron Roberts delivers a raw, urgent, and fact-driven commentary on a troubling political contradiction: Why are so many U.S. veterans continuing to support Donald Trump and the GOP—despite policies that appear to directly harm them?
Drawing from deeply personal experience as the nephew and grandson of Army officers, and growing up in a military town near Fort Gordon, Roberts speaks from a place of reverence and respect for those who serve. But he also brings receipts. Using exit poll data, VA reports, investigative journalism, and government sources, Ron outlines how Trump’s second term has led to sweeping federal workforce layoffs, deep cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and a rollback of hard-won services for disabled and marginalized veterans.
The numbers are chilling: Over 6,000 veterans were laid off from federal jobs. VA staffing shortages now affect nearly every single health center in the U.S. Suicide prevention resources are vanishing. Research on PTSD, veteran suicide, and even the impact of poverty and race on veteran health is being halted by executive order.
And yet, in 2024, 65% of veterans still voted for Donald Trump. Why?
Ron doesn't just ask the question — he dissects the politics, the psychology, and the messaging failures on the left that allow this dynamic to persist. He also ties in current political battles, including the Senate's ACA subsidy negotiations and the broader healthcare debate, to show how veterans—and all working Americans—are being used as political pawns.
This is a can't-miss episode for anyone who cares about veterans, healthcare, and the future of American democracy.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#TheRonShow #HearGeorgiaNow #VeteransDay #VAHealthcareCrisis #TrumpVsVeterans #MilitaryVote #GOPCuts #VeteransDeserveBetter #ProgressiveVoices #GeorgiaPolitics
CBS News Washington correspondent Aaron Navarro joins The Ron Show to unpack the newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails that may undercut Donald Trump’s long-time claims that he barely knew what Epstein was doing. Navarro explains what CBS found in a 20,000-document trove, why Democrats say the emails show Trump knew “more than he let on,” and how the Trump White House and Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt are dodging the substance while blaming Democrats and the media. Ron adds crucial context on why Biden’s DOJ couldn’t simply “unseal everything” and how Trump himself once campaigned on releasing the “Epstein files.”
From there, Ron zooms out to the broader MAGA disinformation ecosystem. He exposes Rep. Mike Collins’ AI deepfake ad using a fabricated John Ossoff video, even as Georgia Republicans push legislation to criminalize deceptive deepfakes. As both political host and working realtor, Ron also tackles the 50-year mortgage idea pushed by FHFA Director Bill Pulte and briefly embraced by Trump, explaining why it would gut equity and generational wealth for regular families while enriching banks and builders. Finally, guest Bruce Fanger joins to assess the end of the government shutdown, the looming Affordable Care Act subsidy fight, and why forcing Republicans to fully own their votes may be Democrats’ only real leverage left.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#AaronNavarro #BruceFanger #JeffreyEpstein #DonaldTrump #Deepfakes #HousingCrisis #50YearMortgage #GeorgiaPolitics #HearGeorgiaNow #TheRonShow
Atlanta’s Friday gridlock collides with FAA-ordered flight reductions as The Ron Show asks a bigger question: why does the U.S. still rely on one fragile travel mode?
Ron makes the case for high-speed rail to cut short-haul flights, ease congestion, and protect families and business when aviation stalls. Locally, we examine BeltLine rail, MARTA expansion, and the leadership test for Mayor Andre Dickens. Then Jay Bookman (Georgia Recorder) breaks down Georgia’s landslide PSC flips and whether a run of “anomalies” is becoming a purple-state trend heading into 2026.
Finally, a revisit to Ron's June conversation with new Democratic state party chair Charlie Bailey as he then detailed a nuts-and-bolts rebuild: recruiting in every district, cheaper data tools, voter protection, and a kitchen-table message on hospitals, utilities, and public safety. One fast, newsy listen that connects flight boards and freeways to ballots and budgets.
Tune in to catch the Ron Show weekdays from 4-6pm Eastern time on Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.
#HearGeorgiaNow #TheRonShow #JayBookman #CharlieBailey #AtlantaTraffic #HighSpeedRail #GApol #PSC #GovernmentShutdown #FAA
Marjorie Taylor Greene has gone from "butt of Bill Maher jokes" to "guest on Bill Maher's show," in a span of five-ish years, but the pace with which it occurred just within the year 2025 is what's so breathtaking. It's almost as if the MAGA stalwart is coming to grips with "buyer's remorse" right before our eyes and ears. Make no mistake: she still adores Donald Trump; but she disagrees with him AND their Republican Party an awful lot. Where's this going?
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Hey, so what's up with so many of Donald's Cabinet officials holing up on military bases? Do they know something we don't or as my 'Paradise' paranoia (referring to the ABC/Hulu series) getting the better of me? Even MTG was unaware of this.
Also, why is the Pentagon putting together 500-unit National Guard "rapid response units" in each state?
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Sunday night we got to see President Donald Trump's sit down (or lean into with the ridiculously long tie dangling perilously close to the ground) with '60 Minutes' Norah O'Donnell. Plenty to dissect there, but can I just say - I thought Norah did as credible a job as is possible when entering the cage with a feral individual like Donald. I mean, he got checked by her plenty, and he didn't sneer or call her a 'nasty woman' or storm off in a huff (that we know of). It's the little things, no?
His ironic embrace of 'Insurrection Act' logic isn't lost on me, though it's lost on American history. Nor is it lost on me he's gone well beyond his campaign rhetoric by continuing to have ICE deport non-criminal immigrants, despite his own enterprises having relied on their labor time and time again.
Senator John Fetterman likens the Democratic posture to "playing chicken" with the food security of 42 million Americans. I happen to think the analogy is wrong. What's actually occurring is the GOP holding those 42 million Americans in a headlock with a knife to their throat insisting Democrats put their one weapon down "or else."
Undeterred, Georgia Democrats are taking the fight to Republican House members in a new ad, and at their public service commission seat-holders in another. Good - Democrats polled recently want to see more "fight" out of their party.
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A Georgia state House member - Marcus Wiedower - stepped down, leaving an immediate vacancy in the 121st House district, and Wiedower's last opponent - Eric Gisler - was already campaigning for 2026 so it's "all system's go" for the yet-to-be scheduled special election, too. Eric joined me today to give us a profile on his district, himself and his campaign pitch.
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Looming Georgia state park fee increases are - my opinion - worth the cost. Hear me out, please, then go to Cloudland Canyon State Park and I swear you'll feel guilty you aren't paying more.
First, a good chuckle from The Lincoln Project: The Epstein Memorial Ballroom. Brilliant!
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President Donald Trump challenging Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to take the same cognitive test given to patients under physicians' scrutiny for dementia or Alzheimer's Disease isn't the "own" he thinks it is, but it begs the question: why's a guy who's had two MRIs in six months and showing clear signs of decline still in office when it was his party that had massive(ly overblown?) concerns about a similar (was it?) scenario just a year ago?
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Steve Bannon's confident there'll be a third Trump presidency (wouldn't Trump need to be alive and in good mental health?) in 2029, but polling indicates that Americans are remembering why they soured on a Trump presidency the first time. Trump's hemorrhaging Hispanic American support (this should surprise no one), but he's also under water with Georgia voters.
New Atlanta Journal Constitution polling shows about one in five Republicans agree the nation is on the "wrong track." Overall, GOP support for Trump remains stubbornly strong, but not as strong as disdain for him from outside the GOP. His clout in 2026 races? Not that big a deal, according to likely GOP voters, but then neither is the endorsement of Governor Brian Kemp.
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Are CNN staffers right to be concerned their boss is gently nudging his network to lighten up on coverage of the East Wing demolition? Hmm; why, after his visit to The White House would he be doing that? Also, is it that Americans can actually visualize Trump destroying our nation's institutions and it's a bad look?
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Frequent show guest, Jay Bookman with the Georgia Recorder, has weighed in on the 2026 Democratic field for Georgia's governor's race, boiling it down to a likely generational rumble between the 72-year old Mike Thurmond and 42-year old Jason Esteves. His reasons for discounting the early polling leader (Keisha Lance Bottoms) aren't new to consider on this show, but noteworthy, still. Also noteworthy, he didn't even mention Rep. Ruwa Romman, who's galvanizing energy with a small army of campaign volunteers and already door-knocking and doing interviews aplenty to grow awareness of her and her progressive bona fides.
On with me to discuss his time with Rep. Romman is Atlanta Voice editor-in-chief Donnell Suggs.
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Then, state Senator Nikki Merritt joined me to discuss her bold idea: asking Governor Brian Kemp to call for a special general assembly session to tap into the state's $14.6 billion in reserve funds to keep SNAP benefits going for the state's 1.3 million recipients. She and other members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus held a press conference Monday to validate their rationale, and there's plenty of merit in it.
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This one's wild: a Cobb County school board member (it's vice chair!) is fielding calls for his resignation after he and a business of his has been named in a $250,000 civil lawsuit. On with me to discuss this story, Cobb County Courier's Rebecca Gaunt.
Donald Trump seems to think he's playing a verbal game of "poker," claiming he's only targeting "Democrat programs" ... and Democrats are calling his bluff. They know (but does he?) that benefits cuts to programs like SNAP bring bipartisan pains. But it isn't just SNAP benefits: special education and the Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund with its grants boosting private-public partnerships supporting low-income communities are impactful to Americans no matter their political leanings.
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I'm a Cathy Woolard fan; any time she's on 'The Georgia Gang' on WAGA-TV / Fox 5, it's "must watch." Her barbs are sharp and I *almost* feel for the conservative pundits in her crosshairs. Almost. She made a rather valid point when discussion of the Cartersville crazy at the Atlanta airport with an AR-15 came up: that Georgia Republican legislators passed a law letting anyone carry a concealed weapon into airports without a permit in the first place. Boom.
I've finally made contact with her, by the way, and once she's back from some international travel, I look forward to having her on the show!
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You can align with someone, ideologically, and still react to their transgressions with some questions about their rationale. Such is the odd case of Patty Durand, caught on camera, allegedly lifting "trade secrets" (stupidly labeled as such and left unattended on a table, by the way) and leaving a hearing room with them.
The video is pretty damning, though I must say - it feels like a baited trap, no?
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Finally, and indulging tirade for me, the beleaguered, vastly less-interested Atlanta Falcons' fan who's grown weary of poor personnel decisions for going on nearly a decade now. The parallels between that time period of poor planning with a football team and my preferred political party, incidentally, aren't lost on me.
It was three years ago this month that I launched this show and my first guest then was Melita Easters, executive director at the Georgia WIN List.
She rejoined me today to discuss the legacy of Rosalynn Carter setting up office in the now-bulldozed East Wing of the White House. We bemoaned that destruction, together, before wandering into topics of the day like "what will Stacey do" and "do Democratic women trust Geoff Duncan" and "why is Keisha Lance Bottoms leading polls right now?"
Also on tap: on November 1st, Georgia WIN List celebrates 25 years with Dr. Joyce Vance doing a Q&A with Melita and the viewing of "Command Ground," following the work of Georgia Rev. Senator Kim Jackson.
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Also joining me today, Ava Davis, local black and trans activist, actor, writer and the "duchess of Grant Park," to speak to me on the dearth of black participants in 'No Kings Day.'
A Cartersville man "off his meds" drove all the way to Hartsfield-Jackson International AIrport in Atlanta after going on social media to tell his followers he was going there to 'shoot it up.' It was only a call from a family member to law enforcement that prevented this from happening - not stricter gun laws. Fortunately, that tip and swift action from airport and Atlanta law enforcement that apprehended Billy Joe Cagle, but the question remains: how'd a mentally unwell man have access to an AR-15? Who's AR-15 is it? Why is that person not being prosecuted?
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Democracy Docket's Yunior Rivas joined me after filing an article that illustrates what we said was going to happen all along: Georgia's SB202 disproportionately stymied voters of color from participating in elections since its passage.
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Indivisible Georgia's Laura Judge joined me to provide insights into the planning that went into the 2nd 'No Kings Day' in Atlanta and future plans, as well. I also asked when we can expect our checks from George Soros.
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Fired for comments made on someone else's social media post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination, former Emory University professor and cancer research associate Anna Kenney joined me. In the conversation, we discussed the confusion about a meme erroneously associated with her concocted by a right wing account and all the hate-filled comments that came her way on her own account - mostly on posts having nothing to do with politics.
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Kenney isn't the only person who's had her job threatened. An Oglethorpe County teacher has been asked to resigns (she has thus far refused and is suing), and an LGBTQ+ professor targeted by Turning Points USA's "professor watch list" lost a speaking gig. He penned an op/ed that I read and shared here.
I'm old enough to remember when the right mocked "cancel culture."
I wanted to give a lot of my platform today to voices from the Atlanta "No Kings Day" event, from local grassroots activists like Dom Kelly of the New Disabled South to Rev. Senator Raphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams.
There was also appearances from former state senator Jason Esteves and Atlanta City Council Presidential candidate Rohit Mahlotra.
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There's also this: the Atlanta Journal Constitution profiled Ashley Merchant, the attorney central in the exposing of the Fani Willis / Nathan Wade coupling that formed the basis for Trump co-conspirators' 'conflict of interest' claims (not that a conflict even existed ...). There's just something gross about the legal profession when this is something journalism would laud. Not sorry to say so.
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MAGAs and their unintended consequences ... an Augusta conservative talk radio host posted a close-up, zoomed in photo of someone wearing blue gym shorts. Clearly we were looking at someone's genital "bulge," but have no idea whose, but in the post, host Austin Rhodes wrote "There have been more scholarship players with ding-dongs on the Augusta University Women’s Volleyball Team, than there have been KINGS in the U.S. government."
Never mind the pivot from "No Kings Day" and its historic precedent; no, as right wing pundits are wont to do, Austin felt the need to play "hey, look over here! Back to banging on trans people!" game with his audience. The problem is, he didn't make it clear the alleged trans athlete no longer plays at the local university, but only after his followers openly stated they'd be uh "scrutinizing" the current roster. That poor girl, named "Hunter," with her ample shoulders and thighs. Oops.
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My guest today: Amir Badat, Fair Fight's senior policy advisor and southern states director, to weigh in on the looming evisceration of Section of the Voting Rights' Act by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Also, his Fair Fight co-hort Max Flugrath, shared on social media a 2019 New Yorker piece that brought attention to the "master of modern Republican gerrymandering." A timely look back as the intent of the VRA is set to be done away with by a Trump-packed Supreme Court.
Georgia Conservation Voters, and their action fund, have a slate of 2025 endorsements: but they're going hard at incumbent Republican Public Service Commission candidates for raising utility rates multiple times in their terms.
Paul Glaze, Media & Public Affairs Strategist with GCV, joined me to discuss what's at stake and on the ballot with the two PSC races this election cycle for voters with concerns about affordability and sustainability.
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The conservative majority of the US Supreme Court seems to be indicating they're ready to dismantle Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. I discuss why conservative arguments for an expiration date only make sense in a vacuum where we're pretending the last sixty-ish years of conservative obstruction and sabotage didn't occur.
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As a pack of "young" Republicans face repercussions for antisemitic and racist slurs in a sea of Telegram dispatches, here in Atlanta, a former Emory professor and researcher today finds herself unemployed for using two words on social media: "good riddance."
Not to Charlie Kirk as much his ideology, she says, and yet, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Georgia) made the concerted effort to see to it he lambasted her on social media and pressured Emory to fire her.
The folks who railed against "cancel culture" suddenly love "cancel culture," eh?
Briana Boyd with 50501 Georgia joined me just as word was breaking that the city of Atlanta had granted the organization's permit to march this Saturday for the second nationwide network of 'No Kings Day' rallies. Hear - from her perspective - what was causing such a fuss and trepidation on the city's part.
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The New Georgia Project and its associated PAC are no more, as word broke this morning. Fret not, however; there are other voter registration organizations in the state ready to step up. They include Fair Count, GLAHR Action Network and We Vote We Win.
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Trump's latest bluster, targeting FIFA World Cup host U.S. cities with a claim he could pull games from Boston, Santa Clara (he means San Francisco but the fool isn't aware the stadium is 45 minutes from the city in Santa Clara) and Seattle, has no relevance to Atlanta and Georgia ... or so you'd think. While we're in a state with a GOP governor (though one he isn't fond of), what happens if a Democrat wins the office in 2026 with the 2028 Super Bowl slated for February here?
Also, how's it help blue cities in blue states meet his demands to combat crime (already lower than in his first term) if he's pulling terrorism funding from those same states?
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Lastly, time to stop calling those "young" Republicans exposed for their Telegram chatter "young;" they're all adults in their mid-20s or older. That doesn't make them "mature," but it sure doesn't make them "kids," either.