Georgia Today
515 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago -Georgia Today is the daily podcast from GPB News bringing you compelling stories and in-depth reporting that you won’t hear anywhere else. Peter Biello hosts this quick and convenient way to get the best of GPB News’ extensive coverage of the topics that matter to you, delivered directly to your device every weekday afternoon.
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Episodes
Atlanta Hawks Soar As Trae Young's Stardom Rises
June 25, 2021 17:48 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBThe Atlanta Hawks were not supposed to come very far this season considering injuries, a mid-season coaching change, and a pandemic-ravaged season. But thanks to a 22-year-old team member and phenom named Trae Young, the team is electrifying the city. Mike Conti, Managing Editor of 92.9-FM The Game and analyst for the Atlanta Hawks Radio Network joins us for this episode of Georgia Today.
Behind the Relentless Death Threats Against the Raffenspergers and Georgia Election Officials
June 18, 2021 16:49 - 21 minutes - 30.3 MBImagine receiving anonymous text messages telling you your family will be killed. That’s exactly what happened to Tricia Raffensperger, wife of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. This and other threatening messages first came to light after new reporting into the harassment many elections officials have lived with since Donald Trump lost Georgia in November. The investigation by news outlet Reuters reveals the scope of Trump supporters’ months of menacing tactics and never-before-...
2020, Trump Continue To Define Georgia GOP Ahead Of 2022
June 11, 2021 18:50 - 22 minutes - 31 MBFormer president Donald Trump continues to overshadow the Georgia GOP. But not every Republican in the state is on the same page. Will the GOP unify in time for the next elections? Georgia Today explores that question and more with guest Maya Prabhu, a political reporter at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Small Town Georgia Police Chief Is Hard On Crime But Soft On People
June 09, 2021 19:14 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBPublic trust is a priority for Lou Dekmar, police chief of LaGrange, Ga., since 1995. Chief Dekmar is evolving and adapting his force to an era when police are social workers with guns. This week on Georgia Today, host Virginia Prescott talks with Dekmar about some of his ideas and initiatives in policing.
Hospital Shutters During Pandemic, Leaving Two Georgia Counties With One Ambulance
June 04, 2021 17:13 - 21 minutes - 29.4 MBMore than a year into the pandemic, it’s clear its impacts hit some communities much harder than others. People of color have died in greater numbers in many parts of the state, and COVID-19 death rates are often higher in rural areas with a shortage of medical facilities. On the latest Georgia Today podcast, host Steve Fennessy and Olivia Goldhill, an investigative reporter who covers the pandemic for Stat News, explore how hospital closures are hampering some counties’ efforts to combat the...
Why the Confederate Memorial Carved Into Stone Mountain Is Going Nowhere Soon
May 28, 2021 13:51 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBStone Mountain’s massive monument featuring Confederate leaders has long sparked controversy. Now, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association has announced changes to the park it hopes will help tell a more "balanced" story of Georgia's past. The latest Georgia Today podcast with host Steve Fennessy and guest Tyler Estep, a reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, examines the park’s history and what the future of its Confederate memorial may look like.
The Critical Race Theory Debate: Coming To A School District Near You
May 26, 2021 19:34 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MBThe Cherokee County School Board has voted to ban critical race theory from their curriculum last week. Critical race theory has become an issue for some parents and many conservative politicians, but some are still unsure what it is. This week on Georgia Today, we examine why critical race theory has become such a hot political topic with GPB News' Donna Lowry.
Fragile Coast Further Threatened After Fire Aboard The Golden Ray Shipwreck
May 21, 2021 19:49 - 21 minutes - 29.1 MBIt's been nearly two years since crews began clearing a massive shipwreck from St. Simons Sound. Last week, the already dangerous cleanup operation got even more complex when what's left of the cargo ship caught fire. On the latest Georgia Today podcast, Host Steve Fennessy and guest Larry Hobbs, a reporter with The Brunswick News, bring us the latest on the Golden Ray cleanup effort and how it could affect the state's coastal environment.
Will Georgia's GOP Succeed In 2022 With Trump Still The Head Of The Party?
May 19, 2021 18:41 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBRepublican Party leaders remain solidly behind former President Donald Trump and his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. But as the GOP looks toward the 2022 election, the party is not as unified as it would like, and is at a crossroads moment. This week on Georgia Today, we look at how Georgia’s GOP sees a pathway to winning in 2022 and 2024 with GPB News reporter Stephen Fowler.
How Keisha Lance Bottoms Changed Atlanta And What Her Successor Could Face
May 14, 2021 14:11 - 22 minutes - 31.6 MBAtlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms grabbed headlines with her announcement she won’t seek reelection. Her first term has seen a host of crises, including a cyberattack, the coronavirus pandemic, weeks of racial unrest and a sharp rise in crime. Georgia Today host Steve Fennessy and Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Bill Torpy explore what led to Bottoms' decision, and how the city has changed on her watch.
Is Mayor Bottoms Paying The Political Cost For A COVID Crime Wave?
May 12, 2021 19:49 - 23 minutes - 31.9 MBMayor Keisha Lance Bottoms shocked many people around the metro Atlanta area by announcing last week she will not be running for reelection. She has said that this is coming from a place of strength and not weakness. But her critics have said that what she calls a “COVID Crime Wave” and her handling of the firing of Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe, who shot Rayshard Brooks last summer, has made her vulnerable if she had chosen to run. Police officers in the city of Atlanta feel like Bott...
After 2020, Both Parties Court Women Voters Ahead Of Georgia’s 2022 Elections
May 07, 2021 19:51 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MB2020 was an election year that saw record turnout by men and women from both parties. But the women’s vote was decisive in helping Joe Biden capture the White House and in pushing Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to victory in the tight Senate runoffs. And it’s not just the ballot box where women are making their mark in Georgia politics. More women, and women of color, are also running for statewide office. We look at what's driving this trend with Patricia Murphy, a political report...
What's Behind An Alleged White Supremacist Conspiracy In Floyd County?
April 30, 2021 15:48 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBThe deadly Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol building by a pro-Trump mob was a glimpse into what many experts have long warned: Homegrown extremism is on the rise across the U.S. On Georgia Today, guest Chris Joyner from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution speaks on what’s known about violent white supremacist groups operating in Georgia.
Carterland Documentary Revisits Jimmy Carter’s Presidency
April 28, 2021 20:24 - 20 minutes - 28.4 MBJimmy Carter may be the only American president to have used the White House as a stepping stone. Turned out of office after one term, Carter went on to global esteem as a champion of public health, a geopolitical negotiator, and an advocate for democratic representation. Georgia-born brothers and filmmakers Will and Jim Pattiz, revive the debate over Carter’s White House legacy in their new film “Carterland.”
Is Coal Ash Poisoning The Water In Juliette, Georgia? Residents Say Yes And They Want Answers
April 23, 2021 17:04 - 21 minutes - 30.2 MBStories of unexplained illnesses, cancers and death have been the talk of Juliette, Georgia, for years. The town outside Macon is home to Georgia Power’s Plant Scherer, one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the country. Juliette residents say coal ash from the plant is poisoning their water supply. Now, they’re calling for policymakers to help.
Secret Tapes, Lawsuits, An Embattled Coach: Welcome To Valdosta High School Football
April 16, 2021 19:13 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBSecret tapes, scandal, sanctions. It's a story that strikes at the heart of Georgia's passion for high school football. And Valdosta football is the stuff of legend. The Wildcats claim among the most wins of any team in state history. Now, the organization is the subject of multiple investigations and a broiling scandal that's attracting national attention. We'll get into all that and more on Georgia Today.
After Mixed Calving Season, Advocates Say Time Is Running Out To Save Right Whale
April 09, 2021 17:18 - 21 minutes - 30 MBThe waters off the Georgia coast are a vital calving ground for the North Atlantic right whale. This calving season, which winds down in April, has been a rare bright spot for the critically endangered whales, with scientists counting more babies than in the last three seasons combined. But experts say the gains may not be enough to save the species. On this episode of Georgia Today, we hear the latest on efforts to protect the right whale.
Fallout Intensifies Over Georgia's Controversial Election Law
April 01, 2021 16:23 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MBVoting rights groups continue to push back against the state's sweeping new election law. After a 2020 election that saw record voter turnout statewide, Democrats say the Election Integrity Act will make it harder for many Georgians to vote, especially voters of color. Republicans argue it will expand voter access. The measure signed by Gov. Brian Kemp passed without Democratic support, catapulting Georgia smack into the center of a brewing nationwide battle over how Americans vote. In this e...
Spa Shootings Hit Home For Asian American Reporter
March 26, 2021 16:46 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBAfter the massacre at three Asian-owned massage businesses in and around Atlanta, we're joined by Atlanta-based CNN correspondent Natasha Chen, who says the Georgia shootings could mark the beginning of a new chapter for Asian-American social justice activism in the United States.
How The White House COVID-19 Relief Plan Aims To Help Georgia's Black Farmers
March 19, 2021 14:46 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBMillions of stimulus checks begin hitting most Americans bank accounts this week after passage of the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package. On Georgia Today, we hear how the plan intends to help the state's Black farmers.
Behind Georgia's Sluggish Vaccine Rollout
March 11, 2021 22:09 - 37 minutes - 23 MBWhen will you be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine? On Georgia Today, Andy Miller of Georgia Health News explains why the state is so far behind on its vaccine rollout.
Democrat Wins In Georgia Prompt Likely Voting Restrictions
March 05, 2021 22:47 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBAfter record election turnout that led to big Democratic wins in Georgia, Republican lawmakers are now pushing legislation that would restrict voter access. On Georgia Today, GPB producer Rahul Bali explains how elections could look the next time Georgians head to the polls.
How MLK Jr.'s Prison Sentence Landed JFK In The White House
February 24, 2021 15:27 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBWeeks before the 1960 presidential election, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for participating in a lunch counter sit-in in Atlanta and sentenced to four months of hard labor. Thanks to some back-channel moves by the Kennedy campaign, King was released from prison. On Georgia Today, author Paul Kendrick explains how that changed party allegiances for Black and white voters in the South for generations.
Encore: How The Key To Black Power May Lie In Reversing The Great Migration
February 24, 2021 14:42 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBDuring the Great Migration, six million Black Americans moved from the South up North. They wanted work opportunities and a respite from the sting of racist Jim Crow laws. Guest host Leah Fleming talks with New York Times columnist Charles Blow, who is pushing for a reversal of the Great Migration. He’s written about it in his new book, "The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto."
Georgia Teachers' Long Wait For The Vaccine
February 18, 2021 21:11 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBWith Georgia teachers still not vaccinated, when can our public schools fully reopen? On Georgia Today, GPB health care reporter Ellen Eldridge discusses the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and its impact on teachers.
Georgia A Major Player In Trump's Second Impeachment Trial
February 12, 2021 04:33 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBOn Georgia Today, GPB political reporter Stephen Fowler discusses Georgia's role in former President Trump’s second impeachment trial, and whether there could be criminal charges tied to Trump’s interference in the presidential election.
Gainesville Poultry Plant Tragedy Illuminates Unseen Workers
February 05, 2021 16:13 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBA liquid nitrogen leak last week at a poultry processing plant in Gainesville killed six people and injured a dozen others. The tragedy brought into focus an industry that's lightly regulated and heavily staffed by undocumented workers. On Georgia Today, Richard Fausset of The New York Times talks about the tragedy in the self-professed “Poultry Capital of the World.”
How The Key To Black Power May Lie In Reversing The Great Migration
February 01, 2021 18:55 - 21 minutes - 30 MBDuring the Great Migration, six million Black Americans moved from the South up North. They wanted work opportunities and a respite from the sting of racist Jim Crow laws. Guest host Leah Fleming talks with New York Times columnist Charles Blow, who is pushing for a reversal of the Great Migration. He’s written about it in his new book, "The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto."
The Struggle And Triumph Of Henry "Hank" Aaron
January 29, 2021 17:37 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBHenry "Hank" Aaron, a longtime Atlanta Braves player and Hall of Famer, was laid to rest this week. He died at the age of 86. On Georgia Today, ESPN senior writer Howard Bryant discusses the complicated life of a baseball legend and American icon.
Grady Doctor Combats Vaccine Mistrust Among Communities Of Color
January 21, 2021 17:43 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBHost Steve Fennessy talks with Grady Memorial Hospital physician Kimberly Manning on the roots of distrust amid the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and her personal mission to persuade communities of color to take the vaccine. Dr. Manning is also associate vice chair of diversity, equity and inclusion at Emory University's Department of Medicine.
Retiring Political Columnist Jim Galloway On Georgia’s Altered Political Landscape
January 14, 2021 18:15 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBFor decades, Jim Galloway has been on the frontlines of Georgia’s most consequential political stories. He retires Friday, Jan. 15, after more than 40 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. On Georgia Today, Galloway reflects on a career covering covering Georgia politics, and his worries about the future of the GOP.
Insurrection Shines A Light On Militant Groups
January 14, 2021 02:25 - 31 minutes - 43.4 MBIn the week since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the FBI has announced dozens of arrests, with many more to come. Some of the rioters have lost their jobs, others placed on no-fly lists. Chris Joyner is an investigative reporter with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He discusses his reporting on Georgians swept up in the insurrection.
In Georgia Politics, A Week For The History Books
January 08, 2021 15:03 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBWhat a week. Somewhere between the president's call to Brad Raffensperger on Saturday and the seething and lawless mob in our nation's capitol on Wednesday, Georgia hosted a momentous election. On this week's Georgia Today, host Steve Fennessy talks with GPB political reporter Stephen Fowler on coming to terms with a historic week for Georgia, and for America.
Where Is Georgia's GOP Headed?
December 23, 2020 22:04 - 27 minutes - 37.3 MBPolitical columnist Jim Galloway has been on the frontlines of Georgia’s most consequential political stories. He retires in January from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. On Georgia Today, Galloway reflects on 40 years of covering Georgia politics, and his worries about the future of the Republican Party.
The 30-Day Congressman
December 17, 2020 16:21 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBKwanza Hall is Georgia’s newest congressman, even if he is serving for just a month. On Georgia Today, host Steve Fennessy talks with Rep. Hall about his legislative priorities and what it's like following in the footsteps of his predecessor — the late civil rights icon, John Lewis.
Brian Kemp, Donald Trump, And The Most Acrimonious Of Political Divorces
December 10, 2020 20:42 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBSince the November election, President Trump has mounted pressure on Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to help overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s win in the state. Trump even encouraged a primary challenge against Kemp. On Georgia Today, AJC political reporter Greg Bluestein on the acrimony between President Trump and the man he assumed would always be in his corner, Gov. Kemp.
How Ga. Elections Chief Became Enemy No. 1 In His Own Party
December 04, 2020 17:54 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBSince Joe Biden turned Georgia blue, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has become enemy number one in his own party. As his critics level malicious attacks against him, Raffensperger is adamant: The election was sound, and the results stand. On Georgia Today, AJC political reporter Patricia Murphy talks about the threats that have put him and his wife under 24-hour protection.
Cutting Up The Capsized Golden Ray Cargo Ship
November 25, 2020 19:21 - 23 minutes - 33.3 MBIt’s been over a year since the Golden Ray capsized off the coast of St. Simons Island. Crews recently resumed work to dismantle the giant vessel. On this week’s Georgia Today, Brunswick News reporter Larry Hobbs discusses how the Golden Ray came to capsize in the first place, the tense hours as rescuers tried to free trapped crew members, and what emerged from hearings into the possible causes of the disaster.
How The CDC Was Set Up To Fail During Pandemic
November 20, 2020 17:38 - 23 minutes - 33.3 MBAn inside look at how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lost public trust amid an international health crisis – and how the repercussions of the organization’s unraveling could have long-lasting effects beyond the course of the pandemic. Host Steve Fennessy talks with Pulitzer Prize winning journalists Patricia Callahan and James Bandler about their reporting for ProPublica.
What One Reporter Saw As Clayton County Flipped Georgia For Biden
November 13, 2020 16:55 - 23 minutes - 33.5 MBMore than a week after the presidential election, Georgia is headed for a hand recount prompted in part by allegations of election fraud — despite no evidence. How did we get here? On Georgia Today, Clayton Crescent founder Robin Kemp shares what she saw in the days after the election as the votes that put Joe Biden over the top in Georgia were counted.
How Racial Gerrymandering Divided A South Georgia Town
November 05, 2020 19:16 - 23 minutes - 33.4 MBDeep in southwest Georgia, a local school board has been torn apart over racial gerrymandering. On Georgia Today, New York Times reporter Nicholas Casey discusses how the long shadow of voter suppression manifested in a voting map, and why electoral outcomes often come down to the lines we draw on paper.
Will 2020 Spell The End Of The Southern Strategy?
October 29, 2020 20:29 - 23 minutes - 33.2 MBFor years, the Southern Strategy has been used by Republicans to great effect, but could 2020 spell the end of it? Angie Maxwell, co-author of "The Long Southern Strategy," joins host Steve Fennessy on Georgia Today.
Operation Not Forgotten - Separating Fact From Fiction
October 23, 2020 00:24 - 23 minutes - 33.3 MBA series of raids across metro Atlanta and Macon stoked fears that child sex trafficking is more prevalent than we thought. Johnny Edwards, an investigative reporter with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, describes how the operation perpetuated a narrative of sex trafficking that doesn’t always square with the evidence.
Rebuilding The Falcons Begins
October 16, 2020 15:59 - 23 minutes - 33.2 MBAfter a series of losses, the Atlanta Falcons said goodbye to its head coach, Dan Quinn, and general manager, Thomas Dimitroff. In many ways, it felt like a natural culmination to a chain of events that kicked off in 2017, when the Falcons managed to give up a 25-point second-half lead to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI. The Athletic's Jeff Schultz discusses how the franchise got to this point — and what it will take to rebuild.
Why 1 in 3 COVID-19 Deaths Is In A Long-Term Care Home
October 09, 2020 16:31 - 24 minutes - 34.6 MBThe coronavirus pandemic has been especially deadly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. On Georgia Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigative reporter Carrie Teegardin discusses why facilities caring for the elderly have been so vulnerable to the virus, and how the pandemic has laid bare the state’s inadequate oversight. Then, Washington Post contributor Sidnee King tells us how the virus decimated the staff and residents of one facility in the heart of historic Atlanta.
Georgia Today: Why 1 in 3 COVID-19 Deaths Is In A Long-Term Care Home
October 09, 2020 16:31 - 24 minutes - 34.6 MBThe coronavirus pandemic has been especially deadly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. On Georgia Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigative reporter Carrie Teegardin discusses why facilities caring for the elderly have been so vulnerable to the virus, and how the pandemic has laid bare the state’s inadequate oversight. Then, Washington Post contributor Sidnee King tells us how the virus decimated the staff and residents of one facility in the heart of historic Atlanta.
A Year Later, Finally Dismantling Golden Ray Shipwreck
October 01, 2020 16:53 - 23 minutes - 33.3 MBFor more than a year, a massive cargo ship has lain on its side just off the coast of St. Simon's Island in southeast Georgia. On Georgia Today, Brunswick News reporter Larry Hobbs discusses how the Golden Ray came to capsize in the first place, the tense hours as rescuers tried to free trapped crew members, and what emerged from hearings into the possible causes of the disaster.
Into The Dark Heart Of QAnon
September 24, 2020 16:14 - 23 minutes - 33.6 MBOn this week's Georgia Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigative reporter Chris Joyner untangles QAnon's dark web of conspiracy theories. QAnon's rapidly growing political movement has found fertile ground in Atlanta's far northern suburbs.
The Legacy Of Outgoing Fulton Co. DA Paul Howard
September 18, 2020 14:45 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBThe defeat of Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard in August during a runoff election was both a shock and an inevitability. On Georgia Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Christian Boone discusses Howard’s long tenure, and what his defeat might mean for criminal justice reform movement in Fulton County.
Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s BLM Stance and Atlanta Dream Players In Conflict
September 04, 2020 19:00 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBIn many ways, the WNBA is a trailblazer when it comes to political activism. Some players are even sitting out the entire season in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The Atlanta Dream has been particularly vocal, which has set it in direct opposition with one of the franchise’s owners, U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Georgia). Washington Post sports reporter Candace Buckner discusses how Loeffler is looking to score political points by speaking out against her very own players.