Georgia has seen record numbers in absentee and early voting, which began on Monday. In this episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, AJC reporter Mark Niesse discusses the first week of early voting and provides tips for people planning to vote early, absentee or in person on Election Day.

Politically Georgia

The first week of early voting + tips for casting your ballot

In this episode of Politically Georgia, we introduce Patricia Murphy, the newest member of the AJC Georgia Politics team. Murphy and Bluestein discuss the last week in politics, and how national news has impacted politics in the state, with less than a month until Election Day.

Recapping the last week in Georgia politics

In this episode of Politically Georgia, we share audio from the AJC's virtual town hall. AJC deputy managing editor Leroy Chapman serves as our host as he engages members of our politics team in a discussion about our recent exclusive poll, the presidential and senate races and the mood of Georgia voters. Our panelists are politics editor Susan Potter, Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell, politics reporter Greg Bluestein, columnist Jim Galloway, reporter Mark Niesse and reporter Patricia Murphy.

AJC Town Hall

We are six weeks from Election Day and the AJC shared results from a new poll of Georgia voters. The poll is intended to provide a snapshot of the state of the presidential and U.S. Senate elections, not a prediction of who will win, and it was conducted Sept. 11-20 by the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs. Host Greg Bluestein and AJC Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell discuss the results of the survey of 1,150 likely voters, the impact of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death and President Trump’s expected visit.

Analyzing results from new poll of Georgia voters

The census counts every person living in the United States and its territories once every 10 years, and the government uses that data in all sorts of important ways - from deciding how to distribute resources to redrawing political boundaries.  A recent federal report showed Georgia ranks second to last among the 50 states with its response rate, lagging behind only Alabama.  Joining us on this episode of Politically Georgia is Rebecca DeHart, CEO of Fair Count, an organization working to “ensure Georgians & communities across the country get a Fair Count in the 2020 Census.”

The 2020 Census

Find the transcription of this week's episode here: https://www.ajc.com/politics/election/the-biggest-question-marks-ahead-of-georgias-2020-election-season/XMJKHMT7JJGZLJZFZNB2LEJBI4/ In this episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, host Greg Bluestein and AJC Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell discuss the biggest question marks ahead of Georgia’s 2020 election season. The conversation includes a recap of the conventions and a preview of what to expect before and after Election Day in Georgia.

The question marks ahead of election season

In this episode of Politically Georgia, host Greg Bluestein and AJC reporter Jeremy Redmon discuss Gov. Brian Kemp’s latest executive order, which allows local mask mandates for the first time.

Kemp reverses course to allow mask mandates

In this episode of Politically Georgia, host Greg Bluestein and AJC Washington correspondent discuss Marjorie Taylor Greene's primary runoff win in the 14th Congressional District, how other Republicans have reacted and how the win may impact the party in the general election.

Marjorie Taylor Greene's primary runoff win

In this episode of Politically Georgia, host Greg Bluestein and AJC statehouse discuss the special session called by Gov. Kemp. In the second part of the episode, AJC Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell and Bluestein discuss Mitchell’s interview with presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Special session; Biden interview

In this episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, host Greg Bluestein and AJC reporter Jeremy Redmon discuss Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s “encouragement” of masks, his ban on counties and cities from mandating residents wear them and his lawsuit against the city of Atlanta for retightening other restrictions related to the pandemic. This episode was recorded on July 17.

Mask mandates and related lawsuits in Georgia

In this episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, host Greg Bluestein and AJC statehouse reporter Maya T. Prabhu discuss Georgia Democratic Chairwoman Nikema Williams, the candidate chosen to replace John Lewis on the ballot in November. The two discuss Williams' career thus far, the process to decide on her to replace Lewis and why the decision happened so quickly.

John Lewis' Successor

In this episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, the AJC’s Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell serves as guest host. Mitchell and AJC race and culture reporter Ernie Suggs discuss the life and legacy of U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who passed away on July 17 at the age of 80. Mitchell and Suggs discuss: His childhood, family, role in the civil rights movement - which ranges from sit-ins, his speech at the March on Washington, his role and ousting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and more - as well as his time on the Atlanta City Council and the 1986 race against his friend Julian Bond. The episode ends with a discussion of Lewis’ legacy and why he was named the “conscience of congress.”

John Lewis' Life and Legacy

In this episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, host Greg Bluestein and AJC education reporter Marlon A. Walker discuss the latest in Peoplestown, a historic Atlanta community made up of largely low- and middle-class Black residences and homegrown businesses, which has been upended by recent events. Walker shares how the area is grappling since the police shooting of Rayshard Brooks, which Walker says took away the peace many found in the community: https://bit.ly/2WwhvMH

Peoplestown grappling with recent events

In this episode of the Politically Georgia podcast, host Greg Bluestein and AJC statehouse veteran James Salzer recap the legislative session. The two discuss the budget, the bills that passed and failed, the environment at the Capitol post-shutdown, session surprises and more.

Legislative Session Recap

The Georgia Legislature has passed a hate-crime bill earlier this week and Gov. Brian Kemp has signed it. In this episode of Politically Georgia, host Greg Bluestein and AJC government reporter Maya T. Prabhu discuss how the bill came about, what's in it, and why Georgia didn't have hate-crimes legislation before. The bill now heads to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature.

Gov. Brian Kemp signs hate crime bill into law

Get the latest news and analysis from Georgia’s Political Insiders - presented by the AJC's Georgia Politics team.