On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team reflects on the legacy of Vincent Fort. The former Georgia lawmaker recently lost his battle with cancer. During his time as a state senator, Fort was known as a voice for the underserved. He took on housing reform and a host of civil rights issues. Host Lisa Rayam along with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson share their personal insights.

Plus, wrapping up 2024. The team talks about some of the biggest political stories that impacted Georgia over the past 12 months.

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On this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," we take stock of the year in Georgia politics, including a recent court decision removing Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election interference case, which represents the last remaining criminal charges against President-elect Donald Trump.

Plus we look ahead to 2025 and test our editors' knowledge of the news in 2024 with a "Plugged In" game show.

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On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang talks about another Georgian who's been tapped to serve alongside President-elect Donald Trump. 

Trump announced Saturday that he's picked former Buckhead cityhood leader Bill White to serve as his ambassador to Belgium.

White donated millions to Trump's 2024 campaign. Simultaneously, White pushed for Georgia lawmakers to split the affluent Atlanta Buckhead neighborhood into its own municipality. 

In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said that White earned the nomination because he's a "highly respected businessman, philanthropist, author and advocate" for the U.S. Military, veterans and first responders. 

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This week the Political Breakfast team talks tort reform, and how Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is making this a top priority during the 2025 legislative session. That starts in just a few weeks after the new year.

Kemp has been bringing it up at gatherings like the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's Congressional Luncheon for years. 

He told lawmakers in 2023 that the laws on our books make it "too easy to bring frivolous lawsuits against Georgia business owners" which eventually drives-up the price of insurance and stops "new, good-paying jobs from ever coming to communities that need them the most."

Kemp brought it up again recently to state lawmakers.

Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam weigh-in on how this affects average Georgians and small-business owners, not just large corporations and insurance companies.

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Twenty-two new state lawmakers will take their seats at the State Capitol when the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes on January 13th. Among them is Bryce Berry, who at just 23 is one of the youngest state lawmakers in Georgia history.

On this week’s episode of “Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast,” hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with reporter Jasmine Robinson, who recentlytalked with the freshman lawmaker. Plus, a look inside the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, which provides information and training to help prepare both freshmen and veteran lawmakers for the General Assembly.

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Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam tackle the issue of immigration, and President-elect Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations once taking office.

How are Georgia families dealing with the prospect of possibly being forced to leave?

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Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam talk about the startling social media comments that emerged after the execution-style murder of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.

Some of the comments were so shocking, they sparked both Brian and Tharon to ponder the current state of America.

(Note: Since the taping of this podcast, authorities have arrested a suspect and charged him with murder.)

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a lot of ideas about how to reshape healthcare in America. He's President-Elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Potential changes are worrying public health experts.

Policy shifts are also expected at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In this week's episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali continue looking at how the new Trump Administration could affect Georgia by speaking with health reporter Jess Mador and housing reporter Stephannie Stokes.

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A lot transpired over the Thanksgiving holiday. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr slipped in the announcement that he's running for Governor.

Strategists Tharon Johnson and Brian Robinson, along with host Lisa Rayam, discuss the strategic timing of his announcement.  Plus, will this news mobilize the Democratic Party and dredge-up familiar names like Stacey Abrams?

Plus, the presidential pardon fallout involving Hunter Biden.

The team also pays tribute to the late Bruce Thompson, Georgia's former Department of Labor Commissioner, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. 

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President-elect Donald Trump has picked several immigration hard-liners for top posts and he plans to fill key energy and environment roles with oil and gas supporters who have pledged to slash regulations.

On this week’s episode of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali speak with immigration reporter Emily Wu Pearson and environment reporter Marisa Mecke about how the incoming Trump administration could affect the state of Georgia.

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Hefty pay raises are being proposed for all city council members come 2026, including for the Mayoral position. 

The Mayor could see a salary increase from $202K to $271K, and city council members would go from roughly $72K to $127K. 

Republican strategist Brian Robinson, the Atlanta Civic Circle's Saba Long and host Lisa Rayam share their thoughts on those raises, and reforms that should come with them. 

Plus, early voting starts this Saturday for a December 3rd runoff election, to fill a vacant Atlanta city council seat. It's between former Atlanta Public Schools principal Nicole Evans Jones, and attorney and former APS teacher, Eshé Collins.

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