A power play in Georgia and Crossover Day in the Gold Dome
Today’s episode of the AJC’s “Politically Georgia” podcast features a conversation with Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns.
But first, hosts Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell discuss the latest developments in the 2026 race for Georgia governor after U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath made the first move toward a likely run.
McBath, a four-term congresswoman who’s emerged as a powerful voice in Washington for gun control restrictions, is the first Georgia Democrat to launch an exploratory committee that allows her to start fundraising ahead of a potential gubernatorial campaign.
The AJC reported McBath’s decision hours after President Donald Trump called out wasteful government spending during his address to a joint session of Congress – and falsely claimed that Stacey Abrams, a former Democratic candidate for Georgia governor, stole $2 billion in tax payer funding.
PolitiFact rated Trump’s claim false. Abrams defended herself on X.
Over at the Georgia State Capitol, it’s Crossover Day. That’s the deadline for bills to pass from one chamber to another.
“[It’s] just like final inspection in the military. You gotta pass it. You gotta be ready for it,” said veteran state Sen. Ed Harbison, D-Columbus, of the legislative deadline. “Not one Russian rope or Irish pennant can be out of place.”
House Speaker Jon Burns spoke with the AJC about the rest of the legislative session, including school safety as a top priority.
“I hope that the Senate will join with us and we will move forward school safety because it is so critically important to the learning process,” said Burns.
New episodes of the “Politically Georgia” podcast are available every week wherever you get your podcasts. If you haven’t yet, be sure to subscribe for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcast platform. You can also ask your smart speaker to “play the Politically Georgia podcast.”
About the Author
Natalie Mendenhall is an award-winning producer for the "Politically Georgia" podcast. She also steps in front of the mic, creating compelling segments for the show. Before joining the AJC, the Chicago native worked as a senior producer at Georgia Public Broadcasting.
