  On this edition of Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson, Brian Robinson, and Host Lisa Rayam talk about the art of debating.

   The debate season kicks off in Georgia just as early voting gets underway.  Do the candidates truly benefit from participating in this long-established routine? 

  Also, the team focuses on the Gubernatorial candidates and what the debate process specifically means for the top two candidates from each party.

&nbsp; On this edition of Political Breakfast, strategists Tharon Johnson, Brian Robinson, and Host Lisa Rayam talk about the art of debating.
&nbsp; &nbsp;The debate season kicks off in Georgia just as early voting gets underway.&nbsp; Do the candidates truly benefit from participating in this long-established routine?&nbsp;
&nbsp; Also, the team focuses on the Gubernatorial candidates and what the debate process specifically means for the top two candidates from each party.

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning on the Political Breakfast podcast, veteran Atlanta journalist Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, and Republican strategist Brian Robinson deliver Georgia’s best analysis of local politics with a weekly dose of informed, respectful and lively discussion.

During Georgia’s state legislative session, Political Breakfast presents the pop-up podcast Gold Dome Scramble every Friday morning as host Lisa Rayam talks with reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali from the WABE newsroom to break things down for our listeners — the issues being considered, and the bills getting sorted through various committees at the Georgia State Capitol.

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning on the&nbsp;Political Breakfast&nbsp;podcast, veteran Atlanta journalist Lisa Rayam, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, and Republican strategist Brian Robinson deliver Georgia’s best analysis of local politics with a weekly dose of informed, respectful and lively discussion.During Georgia’s state legislative session,&nbsp;Political Breakfast&nbsp;presents the pop-up podcast&nbsp;Gold Dome Scramble&nbsp;every Friday morning as host Lisa Rayam talks with reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali from the WABE newsroom to break things down for our listeners — the issues being considered, and the bills getting sorted through various committees at the Georgia State Capitol.

Political Breakfast from WABE

🔊 WABE Podcasts > News, Politics, Health

Debate or not to Debate

On this week's Political Breakfast, we're starting off with an increasingly contentious local race ahead of the June primary runoff elections: the race for Fulton County Commission Chair. 

Longtime incumbent Robb Pitts is being challenged by former District 4 Commissioner Mo Ivory. Recent debates between the two have been fiery and full of personal attacks. 

One issue voters are bringing up is age. Pitts is now in his mid-80s. How does ageism play into these elections -- from the Fulton Commission Chair, all the way up to the Georgia governor's race? Do these attacks on age have merit?

Plus, Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is now focusing his campaign for governor on safety concerns for Atlanta MARTA riders. 

That's after President Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the feds are launching an investigation into how MARTA spends its money. The transit authority has dealt with a series of violent incidents just weeks ahead of the FIFA World Cup. 

Democratic strategist and attorney Anré Washington is here filling-in for strategist Tharon Johnson this week. Washington, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam sort through this.

On this week's Political Breakfast, we're starting off with an increasingly contentious local race ahead of the June primary runoff elections: the race for Fulton County Commission Chair.&nbsp;
Longtime incumbent Robb Pitts is being challenged by former District 4 Commissioner Mo Ivory. Recent debates between the two have been fiery and full of personal attacks.&nbsp;
One issue voters are bringing up is age. Pitts is now in his mid-80s. How does ageism play into these elections -- from the Fulton Commission Chair, all the way up to the Georgia governor's race? Do these attacks on age have merit?
Plus, Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is now focusing his campaign for governor on safety concerns for Atlanta MARTA riders.&nbsp;
That's after President Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the feds are launching an investigation into how MARTA spends its money. The transit authority has dealt with a series of violent incidents just weeks ahead of the FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;
Democratic strategist and attorney Anr&eacute; Washington is here filling-in for strategist Tharon Johnson this week. Washington, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam sort through this.

Ageism: Is age an increasingly crucial issue for voters? Plus, a murder on Atlanta's MARTA is now politicized in Georgia governor's race

This week on Political Breakfast, we're talking about party unity, and endorsements pouring-in as the dust settles from Georgia's May primary elections. 

U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Georgia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Keisha Lance Bottoms, are joining forces ahead of the general election in November. 

Is the entire Democratic base united to support the former Atlanta Mayor? If elected, Bottoms would become the first Black woman to take the state's highest office.

On the Republican side, unity is dicey. That's as political outsider and billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson and current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones prepare for a June 16th runoff. The winner with face Bottoms in November. 

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break all this down. 

Plus, Republicans are now having mixed feelings about redrawing Georgia's district lines. 

And Georgia's gas tax suspension has ended. Now Georgians are rushing to fill up their tanks, before those prices at the pumps creep-up. 

This week on Political Breakfast, we're talking about party unity, and endorsements pouring-in as the dust settles from Georgia's May primary elections.&nbsp;
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Georgia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Keisha Lance Bottoms, are joining forces ahead of the general election in November.&nbsp;
Is the entire Democratic base united to support the former Atlanta Mayor? If elected, Bottoms would become the first Black woman to take the state's highest office.
On the Republican side, unity is dicey. That's as political outsider and billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson and current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones prepare for a June 16th runoff. The winner with face Bottoms in November.&nbsp;
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break all this down.&nbsp;
Plus, Republicans are now having mixed feelings about redrawing Georgia's district lines.&nbsp;
And Georgia's gas tax suspension has ended. Now Georgians are rushing to fill up their tanks, before those prices at the pumps creep-up.&nbsp;

Unity in Georgia governor's race, and redistricting doubts amongst Republicans? Plus, Georgia gas prices will spike after gas tax suspension lifted 

On this week's Political Breakfast: The campaign for billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson confirmed with WABE he will NOT be part of Monday's Atlanta Press Club debate, in the battle for the Republican nomination in the Georgia governor's race.

His opponent, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, is now prepared to face an empty podium on Monday afternoon at 2:45, and answer questions from a panel of journalists alone. He also criticized Jackson for not showing up on social media. 

Jackson's campaign cited a scheduling conflict: an event with Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. The campaign said in a statement that the APC could not accommodate later dates, so Jackson has accepted Gray TV's invitation to debate on President Trump's birthday, or Flag Day on June 14th, "when runoff voters will be fully engaged and making a decision ahead of Election Day."

Meanwhile, Democratic nominee and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms dominated in the May primary with 56 percent of the vote. She will face either Jones or Jackson in November. 

Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam. 

On this week's Political Breakfast: The campaign for billionaire healthcare CEO Rick Jackson confirmed with WABE he will NOT be part of Monday's Atlanta Press Club debate, in the battle for the Republican nomination in the Georgia governor's race.
His opponent, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, is now prepared to face an empty podium on Monday afternoon at 2:45, and answer questions from a panel of journalists alone. He also criticized Jackson for not showing up on social media.&nbsp;
Jackson's campaign cited a scheduling conflict: an event with Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. The campaign said in a statement that the APC could not accommodate later dates, so Jackson has accepted Gray TV's invitation to debate on President Trump's birthday, or Flag Day on June 14th, "when runoff voters will be fully engaged and making a decision ahead of Election Day."
Meanwhile, Democratic nominee and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms dominated in the May primary with 56 percent of the vote. She will face either Jones or Jackson in November.&nbsp;
Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson go live with host Lisa Rayam.&nbsp;

Debate or not to Debate

In 1 playlist(s)

Political Breakfast from WABE

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips