Politically Georgia AJC Podcasts

As pro-Palestinian demonstrations roil
several Georgia college campuses, including confrontations with police at two
and a number of arrests, the podcast today welcomes four Atlanta-area
students to get their perspective on what’s happening at schools in the state
and beyond. The students are:

• Braxton Broady, who attends Morehouse College, where tension already exists over the school's invitation to President Joe Biden to give the commencement speech there in mid-May.

• Mozn Shora, a graduating senior at Spelman College who attended protests at Emory University.

• Talia Segal, a senior at Georgia Tech and the outgoing president of the school's chapter of the Jewish campus organization Hillel.

• Daniella Hobbs, a doctoral student at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She was one of a small group of students who occupied the theology school briefly last week.

Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 

CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWiliams  
Editor- Devan Kortan 
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State Rep. Ruwa Romman, the Georgia Legislature’s only Palestinian American lawmaker, weighs in on recent protests on college campuses over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Romman has spoken out about the arrests of several demonstrators on Emory University’s campus. Speaking to the hosts of “Politically Georgia,” she said, “We owe it to students to teach them, not repress them.” 
  
But first up, former U.S. Rep. John Barrow joins the show. Barrow is running against incumbent Justice Andrew Pinson for a seat on the Georgia Supreme Court. Barrow explains his position on abortion and has a fiery reaction to our interview with Pinson on Wednesday’s edition of “Politically Georgia.” 
  
Plus, it’s bill signing season for Gov. Brian Kemp as the clock runs out for him to sign or veto bills from the legislative session. The hosts talk about immigration and cash bail bills Kemp signed into law.  
  
Links to topics  
Georgia’s only Palestinian American state legislator defends campus protesters 
We owe it to students to teach them, not repress them 
A rare Georgia Supreme Court race could hinge on abortion rights 
Kemp signs bill requiring Georgia sheriffs to enforce federal immigration law 
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWiliams  
Editor- Devan Kortan 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast welcomes Dov Wilker, Southern regional director of the American Jewish Committee, who responds to student demonstrations taking place on campuses in Georgia and across the country. 
  
Wilker says the protests are not “pro-Palestinian” but rather “anti-Israel,” and he says Israel’s response to the barbaric attacks by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 is appropriate to assure the country is safe from future attacks. 
  
But first, the hosts discuss breaking news: U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tells reporters she will “absolutely” call for a vote to remove Mike Johnson from his role as U.S. House speaker “next week.” 
  
Then, Georgia Supreme Court Justice Andrew Pinson talks with the hosts about his race to retain his seat on the state’s high court. He responds to questions about why he chose not to participate in the Atlanta Press Club debate with his opponent John Barrow. 
  
Link to topics 
Tia Mitchell: MTG will call for ouster of Speaker Mike Johnson next week 
Greg Bluestein: How campus protests have created divisions among Democrats 
Patricia Murphy: Empty lecterns for Press Club debates 
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWiliams  
Editor- Matt Owen 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up, the hosts welcome Republican consultant Brian Robinson to discuss how the widespread pro-Palestinian protests on campuses in Georgia and across the country may be making an impact on voters in this election year. 
  
Then, AJC Athens bureau chief Fletcher Page gives the panel a close-up look at the anti-Israel protests that have taken place at the University of Georgia over the past two days. 
  
Plus, the podcast welcomes Democratic state Rep. Billy Mitchell to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Atlanta to promote economic opportunities for Black men.  
  
Links to topics 
NY Times: Three questions about protests 
Fletcher Page reporting on UGA protests 
Bluestein reporting on VP Harris visit to Atlanta 
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWiliams  
Editor- Matt Owen 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast, hosts Tia Mitchell and Bill Nigut are joined by Morehouse College Provost Dr. Kendrick Brown to discuss how the school plans to handle possible protests over the Israel-Hamas war and prepare students for President Joe Biden’s visit to the campus when he gives the commencement speech in mid-May.  
  
Then, Carlos Trujillo, who was the U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States under then-President Donald Trump, joins the hosts to discuss what he believes is Trump’s appeal to Latino voters. 
 
Plus, the AJC’s Greg Bluestein gives the podcast a preview of Vice President Kamala Harris’s 12th visit to Georgia today. She’ll talk about the Biden administration’s work to provide better economic opportunities for Black men. 
 
  
Links to topics: 
Morehouse president addresses anger among some students about Biden visit 
Examining Trump support in Latino community 
Trump promised to flip Black and Latino voters. Is it happening? 
VP Harris kicks off economic tour in Atlanta 
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWiliams  
Editor- Matt Owen 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux told the Politically Georgia podcast that the Israel-Hamas war poses a dire threat to President Joe Biden’s reelection bid. 
The Democrat, who represented a Gwinnett-based district for a term in Congress, said Democrats shouldn’t underestimate the deep divide in the party over the White House’s handling of the conflict. 
She called it a potential “dagger at the heart of the Democratic coalition” that helped Biden eke out a narrow 2020 victory in Georgia. She also discussed her thoughts on why it could take a “miracle” for Biden to recapture the state in November, and why she thinks Biden’s campaign is struggling to reinvigorate voters.  
But first up, AJC reporter Martha Dalton joins the podcast to give her first-hand account of the clash between law enforcement officers and pro-Palestinian protestors who attempted to occupy the Emory University’s central quad on Thursday – and the ongoing tensions on campus.  
Plus, the hosts answer questions from the listener mailbag and share their choices for who’s up and who’s down for the week. 
  
Links to topics: 
Bourdeaux: Democrats won't win Georgia on their own merits  
Police confront pro-Palestinian protestors at Emory University 
Protestors, police back at Emory hours after arrests 
 
Have a question or comment for the show? Call the 24-hour "Politically Georgia" Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the listener mailbag segment on next Friday's episode. 
  
Listen and subscribe to our podcast for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also tell your smart speaker to “play Politically Georgia podcast.” 
 
 
CREDITS  
Executive Producer- Shane Backler 
Producer- Natalie Mendenhall 
Engineer- Matt McWiliams  
Editor- Devan Kortan 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices