Former President Donald Trump, the top defendant in the Georgia election interference case, isn't the only one on the 2024 ballot. So is the judge, Scott McAfee, and the prosecutor, District Attorney Fani Willis. In this week's episode, WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas discuss these and some of the other big candidates you can expect to see on the ballot in Georgia's May election.

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From Emory University, to Columbia, to Ole Miss, where's the line between a peaceful protest and when demonstrations start to go south? 

On this week's Political Breakfast, the gang discusses the fallout of one recent protest at the University of Mississippi.

Republican Georgia U.S. Congressman Mike Collins recently re-tweeted a controversial video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that has many crying foul.

The video of a pro-Palestinian protest and a group of mostly-white, counter-protesters at Ole Miss has circulated all over social media. One was making monkey noises and gestures at a Black student.

Collins quoted the tweet, with "Ole Miss taking care of business."

Collins later came out with a statement, saying that he does not tolerate any form of discrimination, and there seems to be potentially inappropriate behavior in the video that no one should seek to glorify. 

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On this week's Political Breakfast, Nathan Wade is breaking his silence on his past romantic relationship with Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis, and the gang is back to talking about the prosecution team, and former lovers.

The former special prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump is speaking out for the first time. 

Wade resigned from the case after Fulton Judge Scott McAfee ruled his past romantic relationship with Willis created a conflict of interest.

Many Republicans and Democrats believe that relationship put the Georgia election interference case against Trump and alleged co-conspirators in jeapordy.

In an interview with ABC's Linsey Davis on Good Morning America, Wade said he hated how his "personal life began to overshadow the true issues" in the case, and that workplace romances are "as American as apple pie."

Trump and others charged have appealed the ruling that allowed DA Willis to stay on the case. 

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Protests against the war in Gaza are continuing at Emory University and other campuses across the country. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas speak with criminal justice reporter Chamian Cruz, who was at Emory as law enforcement began removing protestors, and education reporter Juma Sei, who's been tracking the fallout at Emory and other colleges, where students are calling on their schools to divest from companies that do business with Israel.

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On this week's second helping of Political Breakfast, the gang talks about how early voting is underway for Georgia's primaries and non-partisan elections on May 21st. The early voting period ends on May 17th. 

That's as elections officials and voters also face complications with lost mail and delays with the U.S. Postal Service. 

Host Lisa Rayam, Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson break down some key races here in metro Atlanta.

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This week on Political Breakfast, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson talk with host Lisa Rayam about Vice President Kamala Harris' most recent visit to Atlanta.

Hours before her arrival Monday the gang analyzed her timing, her target audience and above all, her messaging.

Harris' visit comes amid a divisive time on college campuses nationwide as demonstrators gather to protest against the Israel-Hamas war -- and Atlanta has been no different over the last week, with protests at Morehouse College, Emory University and on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. 

How will these protests reverberate in November?

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With less than 200 days until Election Day 2024, right-wing grassroots activists and progressive organizers are gearing up for the campaign ahead. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas bring listeners along as they attend two events, just forty miles apart but on polar opposites of the political spectrum.

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On this week's second helping of Political Breakfast, the gang discusses opening statements that began this week for former president Donald Trump's hush-money trial in New York.

The trial centers around allegations the former president falsified his company’s internal records when making alleged hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign.

Some folks in Georgia are watching this case very closely, like Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson.

There's always the chance it will set a precedent for Trump's election interference case here.

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Launching this Friday from the team behind "Gold Dome Scramble," "Plugged In" is a Georgia politics roundup from the WABE newsroom. From under the Gold Dome or across the state, reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali talk to politicians and experts to break down each week’s biggest headlines.

"Plugged In" premieres on Friday, April 26. Episodes will publish here in the "Political Breakfast" feed, and subscribe to "Plugged In" wherever you find podcasts.

For more, visit wabe.org/pluggedin

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It's time for this week's Political Breakfast!

Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is one of several GOP lawmakers threatening to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, now that he's voted with Democrats to send billions in aid to Ukraine, Israel and other nations.

Greene recently filed a motion to vacate the Republican speaker.

Johnson joined with Democrats on Saturday to advance a 95 billion foreign aid package. It now heads to the Senate, which is expected to give final approval this week.

But Johnson can't afford to lose much Republican support in the House, with a slim majority. Greene pointed that out in a heated interview after the vote over the weekend, calling Johnson a "lame duck." 

Democratic Strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson break down Greene's reaction to the vote with host Lisa Rayam. 

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On this week's second edition of Political Breakfast, the conversation continues from news earlier this week about special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis being appointed to investigate Georgia GOP Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones.

The case is over Jones' role in former president Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. 

In 2020, Burt Jones signed on as a fake elector for Donald Trump, after Joe Biden's victory in Georgia. 

Prosecutors allege this was part of a plan to overturn Trump’s loss. Jones claims he did nothing illegal.

Pete Skandalakis, executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, appointed himself after Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified from taking the case. 

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican Strategist Brian Robinson break down the politics surrounding the case with host Lisa Rayam. 

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