On this week's Political Breakfast: Lately it's been less about politics in our news feed, and all about the FIFA World Cup! As we recorded, Atlanta was getting ready for its second knockout stage match at Mercedes Benz Stadium, with Argentina battling Egypt.

In the heat of Atlanta hosting the World Cup, a recent U.S. Census Bureau report estimates Georgia's population has grown by more than a half million people in the past five years, and continues to diversify. 

The data shows that nonwhite residents account for all of the growth. 

Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam break down how these changing demographics could play an integral role in who get's elected come November.

Plus, Republican Rick Jackson has spent 108 million of his own money on his campaign for Georgia Governor. That broke a campaign spending record. And recently we saw Georgia's Democratic nominee for Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms campaign in Savannah with U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff.

On this week's Political Breakfast: Lately it's been less about politics in our news feed, and all about the FIFA World Cup! As we recorded, Atlanta was getting ready for its second knockout stage match at Mercedes Benz Stadium, with Argentina battling Egypt.
In the heat of Atlanta hosting the World Cup, a recent U.S. Census Bureau report estimates Georgia's population has grown by more than a half million people in the past five years, and continues to diversify.&nbsp;
The data shows that nonwhite residents account for all of the growth.&nbsp;
Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam break down how these changing demographics could play an integral role in who get's elected come November.
Plus, Republican Rick Jackson has spent 108 million of his own money on his campaign for Georgia Governor. That broke a campaign spending record. And recently we saw Georgia's Democratic nominee for Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms campaign in Savannah with U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff.

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

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FIFA and a diversifying Georgia, Big billionaire spending in governor's race, Bottoms and Ossoff joined at the hip ahead of November election

On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist AnréWashington is filling-in for Tharon Johnson, alongside Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam. 

We start with FIFA fever in Atlanta! It's the last week of the 2026 World Cup. England will face Argentina at 3 pm at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Will the soccer culture and spirit stay in Atlanta when the World Cup run ends?

Plus, more polls are out, a few weeks after the competitive Georgia primary elections. Even though polls don't tell the WHOLE story, our strategists believe they take a pretty good pulse of how Georgia voters are feeling. 

One from Fox News shows Democrats leading by a significant amount in both the Governor's race and the race for U.S. Senate. But another poll from Wick Research shows both races are deadlocked. 

Plus, the group reacts to South Carolina Republican Lindsay Graham's death over the weekend, after what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.” Even though he never represented the Peach State, he became intertwined with Georgia politics over the years. 

On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Anr&eacute; Washington is filling-in for Tharon Johnson, alongside Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam.&nbsp;
We start with FIFA fever in Atlanta! It's the last week of the 2026 World Cup. England will face Argentina at 3 pm at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Will the soccer culture and spirit stay in Atlanta when the World Cup run ends?
Plus, more polls are out, a few weeks after the competitive Georgia primary elections. Even though polls don't tell the WHOLE story, our strategists believe they take a pretty good pulse of how Georgia voters are feeling.&nbsp;
One from Fox News shows Democrats leading by a significant amount in both the Governor's race and the race for U.S. Senate. But another poll from Wick Research shows both races are deadlocked.&nbsp;
Plus, the group reacts to South Carolina Republican Lindsay Graham's death over the weekend, after what his office described as a &ldquo;brief and sudden illness.&rdquo; Even though he never represented the Peach State, he became intertwined with Georgia politics over the years.&nbsp;

Atlanta fired-up for last FIFA match, Post-primary polls show slight Democratic advantage in Georgia Governor's race, GOP Titan Lindsay Graham passes away

On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, we're addressing a surprise move during a special session called by Governor Brian Kemp. 

The plan was to redraw Georgia's congressional and state legislative districts. That's in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted a key portion in the Voting Rights Act on redistricting.
Now critics say Republican-held states across the South could likely redraw their maps and put seats typically held by Democrats at risk. 

But yesterday, Republican House leaders wrote a letter to Kemp, and decided that changes to the maps will not happen this summer during the session. They cite the changes should only happen after a deliberative process, providing the public enough time for input. 

Democrats are celebrating the news. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is one of them. He, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break down the news.

On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, we're addressing a surprise move during a special session called by Governor Brian Kemp.&nbsp;
The plan was to redraw Georgia's congressional and state legislative districts. That's in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted a key portion in the Voting Rights Act on redistricting. Now critics say Republican-held states across the South could likely redraw their maps and put seats typically held by Democrats at risk.&nbsp;
But yesterday, Republican House leaders wrote a letter to Kemp, and decided that changes to the maps will not happen this summer during the session. They cite the changes should only happen after a deliberative process, providing the public enough time for input.&nbsp;
Democrats are celebrating the news. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson is one of them. He, Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam break down the news.

Georgia Republicans say for now, NO redistricting before the 2028 elections

After months of candidates stumping for high-profile endorsements, spending millions of dollars on attack ads and traveling across the state, today's the day. 

The polls are open for Georgia's primary runoff election. 

Some of the most contentious races are on the Republican ballot, including the runoffs for U.S. Senate and Governor. 

One race that's gotten some extra attention this week: the race for Democrat Jon Ossoff's U.S. Senate seat. President Donald Trump gave an 11th-hour endorsement of current Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins. But strategists ask: why so late? Trump posted his endorsement on Truth Social at 1 am on Sunday. 

The runoff election pits Collins against Republican Derek Dooley, a former football coach at the University of Tennessee, who has the support of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

How will the Kemp versus Trump endorsement play-out among voters? Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam discuss. 

After months of candidates stumping for high-profile endorsements, spending millions of dollars on attack ads and traveling across the state, today's the day.&nbsp;
The polls are open for Georgia's primary runoff election.&nbsp;
Some of the most contentious races are on the Republican ballot, including the runoffs for U.S. Senate and Governor.&nbsp;
One race that's gotten some extra attention this week: the race for Democrat Jon Ossoff's U.S. Senate seat. President Donald Trump gave an 11th-hour endorsement of current Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins. But strategists ask: why so late? Trump posted his endorsement on Truth Social at 1 am on Sunday.&nbsp;
The runoff election pits Collins against Republican Derek Dooley, a former football coach at the University of Tennessee, who has the support of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
How will the Kemp versus Trump endorsement play-out among voters? Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and host Lisa Rayam discuss.&nbsp;

FIFA and a diversifying Georgia, Big billionaire spending in governor's race, Bottoms and Ossoff joined at the hip ahead of November election

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