The Ron Show

Ron Roberts
  • 4.7 (11)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED DAILY

Welcome to the Ron Show - Atlanta's only progressive audio platform airing five days a week on Georgia Now, M-F 4-6pm (replaying 8-10am the next weekday). Host Ron Roberts covers Atlanta, metro Atlanta, Georgia and national politics from a pretty unique lens ... he's just your run-of-the-mill Georgia-born gay progressive cat-dad realtor & talk show host. Dime a dozen, right?

  1. 14H AGO

    GA lawmaker's move to shield carpet industry from PFAS fallout should yield a Democratic candidate

    PLUS: a SE Georgia community wants nowhere near a nickel refinery, McBath brilliantly plays Pam Bondi & GA Repub infighting ratchets up In Northwest Georgia, Republican Rep. Kasey Carpenter is reviving legislation that would shield carpet manufacturers from PFAS “forever chemical” lawsuits, even though investigations have found contamination in local water and communities. Democratic Congressional candidate Shawn Harris has the preferable messaging, but he's not running against Carpenter; so where is the Georgia HD 4 candidate who will, Ron wonders. Meanwhile, Richmond Hill residents are fighting a proposed nickel refinery near schools and wetlands, drawing painful parallels to the 2024 Conyers chemical fire. Hear Ron catch up with a friend who moved, with her husband and daughter, from Conyers fresh off a 2024 environmental disaster, who'd like to avoid having moved to the potential for another. Plus, the Georgia GOP governor’s race takes a dramatic turn as new polling shakes up the field, and Ron highlights how the RNC is looking to let Donald Trump decide who should be Georgia Republicans' nominee instead of voters. Then, of course, there's more legal infighting about fundraising, because, of course Repubs who champaign unfettered money in politics can also hate the unfairness of money in politics.Lost in all the Pam Bondi noise was this brilliant, powerful exchange between Rep. Lucy McBath and Attorney General Pam Bondi during a heated House hearing. That said, it's hard not to enjoy / revisit the popcorn-snacking exchanges that has even conservative pundit Erick Erickson calling for Bondi's ouster. AJC contributor Jamie Dupree sums up the fruitlessness of the GOP's clamoring over the SAVE Act as Ron notes the deep flaws that'll even impact MAGA voters. Lastly, between Bondi's antics and the reaction to 'Bad Bunny' by Megyn Kelly, it has to be pointed out that it's notable what MAGA conservative get worked up about and what they don't. Florida-based minister Joe Smith wrote in his Substack about the dichotomy, and there's something for misguided MAGAs (and sometimes even outraged liberals) to do some soul-searching over.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 #CaseyCarpenter #LucyMcBath #PamBondi #RickJackson #BurtJones #PFAS #NickelRefinery #GeorgiaPolitics

    1h 29m

  2. 1D AGO

    Rep. Saira Draper Slams FBI Raid as ‘Regurgitated Conspiracy Theories’

    PLUS: GA GOP can't handle 'affordability,' so it resorts back to 'anti-trans' measures & the fuss over PFAS in NW Georgia The unsealing of an affidavit that was the basis for the FBI raid of Fulton County's 2020 ballots is raising fresh questions, along with derision from legal experts.. Ron spoke with State Rep. Saira Draper (HD 90) to allow for a Democratic party response, Draper calling the move politically motivated and warning about chain-of-custody issues and renewed efforts to undermine trust in Georgia’s elections. The conversation also touches on the SAVE Act, voter ID debates, and the push to revisit hand-marked paper ballots.Ron also covered Senate Republicans adding anti-trans amendments to a bipartisan health care bill. Georgia Equality’s Jeff Graham connected with Ron to explain why advocates say the move targets transgender Georgians and jeopardizes broader health reforms that had broad bipartisan support before the 'poison pill' amendments were added.Then, Democratic Congressional candidate Shawn Harris has been ringing alarm bells since last summer, and a year-long effort between the AJC, Associated Press, AL.com and PBS/Frontline chronicled the carpet industry's use of PFAS ("forever chemicals") in stain resistance while poisoning northwest Georgia water supplies. So of course, Georgia Republicans are racing to sneak a once-dead bill back into relevancy to protest carpet makers from litigation, right? 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 #SyraDraper #JeffGraham #GeorgiaEquality #FultonCounty #GeorgiaPolitics #ElectionIntegrity #TransRights #SAVEAct

    1h 29m

  3. 2D AGO

    Meet the "liberal redneck" & Dr. Kristin Lyerly, too

    Comedian - "liberal redneck" - Trae Crowder is coming to Atlanta later this month for four nights of side-splitting laughs, so he spent some time jawing with Ron about the current state of politics, of course, but also provide a little background on his rise to fame, how he and his wife have managed to raise their sons to be less "redneck," and most importantly, the proper pronunciation of Trae's Tennessee hometown - because in the south, it's never as it would seem. Trae explains how growing up in the rural South shaped his comedy and his political voice, and why changing minds isn’t always the goal. CBS News justice correspondent Jacob Rosen joined Ron to break down the newly unsealed affidavit behind the FBI’s seizure of hundreds of 2020 election ballots from Fulton County—and why legal experts are raising serious questions. Ron took a quick peak into Georgia political fundraising hauls for the state's top two offices, quickly, too, and chronicled another small Georgia town about to be overwhelmed by an uninvited and unwanted ICE detention facility. To cap a thorough show, Ron caught up with famed OB/GYN and radio show and podcast host Dr. Kristin Lyerly, new Georgia NOW (Wednesday nights at 6pm). The two discuss health care, reproductive rights and her recent auto accident bringing her first-hand experience with health insurance shortcomings. 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 #TreyCrowder #JakeRosen #CBSNews #GeorgiaPolitics #FultonCounty #ElectionIntegrity #Trump #GeorgiaNOW

    1h 29m

  4. 3D AGO

    Culture battles galore from the US to Italy while MAGA burns its voters in GA

    Our scheduled conversation with former Dekalb CEO Mike Thurmond got postponed at the last minute, so it was a mad scramble for show fodder today, but ... not too shabby:  Ron caught up with with his "amigo," radio consultant Jose Flores to discuss the Bad Bunny-centered Super Bowl halftime show to hear why the performance resonated with Latin Americans near and far. Not enough "culture war?" Now US Olympic athletes have to be careful not to trigger an avalanche of MAGA "snowflakes" with words of concern.Democratic organizer Seth Taylor shared a firsthand experience witnessing the political shift among longtime MAGA voters facing rising costs and economic uncertainties. Ron offered his "win," too - convincing an under-40 white Nevada male friend to register and vote to alter the course of the country. CBS News congressional correspondent Nicole Killian explains the fight over ICE and DHS funding and why it was carved out of a deal to avoid a government shutdown.The focus then shifts to Georgia, where Senator Jon Ossoff drew sharp contrasts at a College Park rally while, in Social Circle, residents push back against plans for a large ICE detention facility promising to strain that city's resources. 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 #BadBunny #ICE #JonOssoff #NicoleKillian #SethTaylor #GeorgiaPolitics #ImmigrationDebate #SocialCircle

    1h 29m

  5. 6D AGO

    Trump’s racist Truth social post sparks even rare GOP pushback

    A Truth Social post shared by Donald Trump ignites a rare wave of Republican backlash. From Eric Erickson to Senator Tim Scott, the fallout raises new questions about accountability inside the White House. It's Friday, so of course, Ron caught up with close friend, comedian and political satirist Sterling Thrill to lighten up this mood a bit. They cover the racist Truth post, Nancy Mace's hooch & weed issues, dueling halftime shows and more. The conversation then shifts closer to home, as Georgia lawmakers weigh legislation that could weaken local control over water quality just as development pressures grow along the Chattahoochee River. Ron is joined by Jason Ulseth, the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, who explains what’s at stake. The show also tackles ICE detention plans in Georgia and the politics driving them, but the simple math and logistics shooing them away (still). 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 #SterlingThrill #JasonOlseth #GeorgiaPolitics #TrumpNews #TruthSocial #WaterQuality #ICE #GAPolitics

    1h 29m

  6. 6D AGO

    Are they gonna tell us Venezuela 'stole' the 2020 election?

    How does the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro tie in with Tulsi Gabbard being in Fulton County last week to oversee the FBI raiding 700 boxes of 2020 ballots? Is this about concocting a narrative that Maduro - who couldn't keep himself safe from extrication in his own country - altered the outcome of the 2020 election swing states like Georgia? Sounds far-fetched, right? Then, the shifting rationale for Tulsi's presence went from (Trump) "I don't know" to (also Trump) "Pam Bondi sent her." and theorizing Gabbard's role. Warnings from voting-rights attorney Marc Elias about Trump's "plan B" after failing at gerrymandering, which include political prosecutions, dry-running at ballot-seizures and more. Ron then shifts to breaking Georgia political news, including Fulton County’s lawsuit demanding the ballots be returned, Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s decision not to seek reelection, and a dramatic shake-up in the GOP governor’s race fueled by big money, anonymous attack ads, and party infighting. 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 #TulsiGabbard #PamBondi #MarcElias #FultonCounty #GeorgiaPolitics #ElectionIntegrity #GOPPrimary

    45 min

  7. FEB 5

    Atlanta leaders brace for ICE ahead of World Cup

    As Atlanta prepares for the World Cup, fears are growing over a larger ICE presence and what it could mean for residents, visitors, and voter confidence. Ron digs into the data behind ICE arrests in Georgia, sharp words from federal officials, and pushback from local leaders, including Rep. Nikema Williams and Mayor Andre Dickens. Donnell Suggs, editor-in-chief of The Atlanta Voice, joins the show to explain how Black Atlantans are reading the moment, why protests here may look different than in Minneapolis, and how local media is stepping up as major newsrooms shrink. The conversation also turns to Georgia’s crowded 2026 governor’s race, voter engagement in the Black community, and how immigration, civil rights, and politics are colliding just as the world’s eyes turn to Atlanta. CBS News' national environmental correspondent David Shechter joined to discuss new research that show what we all know - American climate (like the world's) is getting hotter, and faster. It's impacting New England (comfortable summers) and the Rocky Mountain states' (ski season snow) tourist draws. Finally, a curious late entry into the Georgia gubernatorial race comes with a tone of (his own) money; which campaign (if any) does his entry impact, and impact most? Ron's theory is it might actually impact a Democrat as much or more. 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 #DonnellSuggs #AtlantaVoice #ICE #AtlantaPolitics #WorldCup2026 #GeorgiaElections #ImmigrationPolicy #LocalJournalism

    1h 29m

  8. FEB 3

    Chidi on the perils of being a journalist in early authoritarianism & Fulton commission chair chimes in

    Atlanta journalist George Chidi of The Atlanta Objective joined the show to analyze the arrest of Don Lemon during a protest at a Minneapolis church, raising serious questions about press freedom, selective enforcement, and the growing risks journalists face while doing their jobs. Chidi also explained why he and many journalists are taking new steps to protect their sources amid federal raids and political pressure. Later, Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts reacted to the FBI’s seizure of hundreds of boxes of 2020 election records, pushing back on reports of an imminent lawsuit and warning that the move could be about future elections, not the past. Meanwhile, the Georgia Gang pundits weighed in, with one - Cathy Woolard - being a former Fulton County Elections Board member with some insight vs the "grasping at nothing" rhetoric of Phil Kent. Finally, Ron addressed how we ought to react to "ex-MAGA" types like comedian / podcaster Andrew Schultz or the "mom" depicted in a recent Saturday Night Live sketch who was ready to come clean to her kids about finally realizing she'd been duped all this time. 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 #GeorgeChidi #RobbPitts #DonLemon #PressFreedom #GeorgiaPolitics #FultonCounty #ElectionIntegrity

    1h 29m
See All (685)

4.7
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Ron Show - Atlanta's only progressive audio platform airing five days a week on Georgia Now, M-F 4-6pm (replaying 8-10am the next weekday). Host Ron Roberts covers Atlanta, metro Atlanta, Georgia and national politics from a pretty unique lens ... he's just your run-of-the-mill Georgia-born gay progressive cat-dad realtor & talk show host. Dime a dozen, right?

Information

  • Creator
    Ron Roberts
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    685
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ron Roberts
  • Show Website
    The Ron Show

You Might Also Like