Politically Georgia
Your daily jolt of news and analysis from the AJC politics team.
Gov. Brian Kemp speaks before signing multiple pieces of legislation inside the Georgia state Capitol on Monday. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)
Today’s newsletter highlights:
- The Trump administration plans to scale back medical care at Fort Gordon.
- Burt Jones paints rival Rick Jackson as soft on illegal immigration.
- Geoff Duncan outlines how he’ll win over the Democratic Party’s most loyal voting bloc.
Spending showdown
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a series of education bills at the Capitol earlier this month, including a school literacy bill. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
.yssem teg dluoc oteV yaD
lacsif“ ”.htabdoolb“ t’nerew denraw yeht eht detciderp fo .citamardolem ”.ercassam rekamwal gnieb ta a a nacilbupeR enO ,lotipaC rehtonA dnA
tahw otev ot ot ot eht eht esnepsus ,ngis ngis tes laer ylteiuq snalp ro rallod-noillibitlum .wal si si eh eh lanif yad .tuc nac tegdub sllib emoceb wolla ,yadseuT pmeK .voG s’aigroeG tuB nairB
ot yeht eht eht taht xat gnipeews pirts gnidneps dengis tesffo fo fo evom snoillim otni detresni emocni ni sderdnuh pleh eh rof srallod yranoitercsid tuc dluoc ,tegdub gnicarb era a .yadnoM srekamwaL pmeK
raey lliw lliw ot .sreyapxat xat etats ,dias .eunever nruter ,egakcap naem ssel ni noillib noillib osla a tahT rekaepS noJ tI esuoH snruB 9.2$ 9.2$
tnaw tnaw gnittucrednu elbatrofmocnu pot ot ot taht xat .sulprus etats .tops gniknirhs noisses .ytiroirp gnol evitalsigel sevael ni sih eh sah lanif railimaf dne niard t’nseod t’nseod tuc yb tub neeb osla a a a a tahT pmeK eH POG tuB
er’ew“ ,tey eht taht sdrawets gniyas yas ”.secruoser ruo ylno fo hcum erom .efink t’nsi doog lacsif gnitcepxe era ydaerla .yadseuT srekamwaL pmeK ll’eH
eht .erutangis slasoporp gnidnep rehto fo sih sah ronrevog snezod ,elihwnaeM
dluow gnihctaw ot ot eht xat gnitrats emos secar .stsop rehto fo nasitrapnon erusaem ekam lacol lacol ni ni etaf tcirtsid seitnuoc srenoissimmoc ylesolc ,syenrotta ylppa dna dna a er’eW tI ttenniwG devorppa-POG notluF ,blaKeD ,bboC ,notyalC .8202
dluow elihw oot ot esoht ydeeps sngis ees ylbailer ,noiger gnihsinup ytrap rehto slaiciffo seciffo tsom ekam ekam lacol .larebil lagel slebal .ti ti otni sdaorni fi morf rof reisae egnellahc sa dna osla a silliW gnippirtS snacilbupeR snacilbupeR pmeK s’aigroeG notluF inaF tcepxE tcirtsiD citarcomeD yenrottA
nietspE“ dluow tahw gnihctaw ot ot eht eht eht taht dekcat etarapes .yniturcs cilbup slasoporp no fo fo wen srotalsigel srekamwal evah tnemssarah etaf esopxe debbud sliated smialc dna ”,tnemdnema osla tsniaga esuba er’eW
Things to know
Georgia Technology Authority Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer Nikhil Deshpande (far right) speaks to the AJC at the GTA earlier this month. (Jason Getz/AJC)
:yadot ot eerht sgniht !gninrom wonk rof era ereH dooG
- A federal judge declined to unseal a lawsuit brought by two Democratic-backed candidates for the Georgia Supreme Court, Adam Beam reports.
- Policymakers across the country are debating how to govern artificial intelligence while negotiating President Donald Trump’s staunch warnings to avoid “onerous and excessive” AI laws, the AJC’s Taylor Croft and Caleb Groves report.
- Kemp signed some tax cuts into law on Monday. Now, state officials must figure out how to pay for it, writes the AJC’s David Wickert.
Fort Gordon cuts?
Members of Georgia’s congressional delegation are not happy about proposed cuts to medical services at Fort Gordon. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
ot elacs snalp fo ton lacidem .ti ni yppah noitageled lanoissergnoc erac kcab ta era noitartsinimda tuoba pmurT ehT srebmeM nodroG s’aigroeG troF .atsuguA
tnegru nrut dlot ot ot eht eht eht moor stroper snalp snalp yltnenamrep tsom ti otni tneitapni sah ycnegreme esolc .retnec erac erac ta na osla ycnega WDRW ehT lacideM htlaeH rewohnesiE esnefeD ssergnoC .retneC ymrA ycnegA
efas“ lliw srethgifraw ot ylemit eht dias ytilauq ruo rof noisiced erac ”.seiraicifeneb erussa dna dna lla ssecca eciV aiV .K rotceriD niraD AHD .mdA
ylpeed“ deniarts-ydaerla“ krow ”delbuort ot .ereht eht eht eht metsys gniyas dias desoporp ”.lennosrep ,elpoep no fo ton yratilim yratilim srebmem evil t’nsi si si xulfni htlaeh eh eldnah ylimaf deppiuqe ,stuc .decnivnoc ,nailivic nailivic erac yb htob ,esab dna dna tuoba kconraW .S.U ehT .neS leahpaR ylraeN tarcomeD s’atsuguA atnaltA 000,4 000,03
tA“ litnu ot siht ereht rieht eht ekat dluohs .dias nalp ecalp ruo fo ,muminim yratilim si ni seoreh lluf ”,seilimaf yaled noisiced erac dna a kconraW htlaeH esnefeD ycnegA
ohw dehgiew saw s’tinu ot ot eht eht eht eht eht eht stneserper .redisnocer esiar .ni sah tsrif erusolc ,esab ksa dna na osla mrala tuoba .S.U .S.U .neS kciR nacilbupeR .peR ,ffossO noJ ,tarcomeD AHD atsuguA atnaltA ,nellA
Jackson on ICE
Republican candidate for governor Rick Jackson speaks during the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Republican governor primary election debate last month. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
gnikrow ohw erew eht taht tfos dias lavir tnecer ytreporp gnitniap no no wonk ni ni ni noitargimmi stnargimmi yllagelli lagelli fi sih eh eh sah dah ,ronrevog rof t’ndid etabed yrtnuoc etadidnac neeb sa retfa a a kciR nacilbupeR .tL ,senoJ noskcaJ noskcaJ .voG aigroeG htysroF .ytnuoC truB
uoy htiw nehw ot eht gniffats lareves edivorp erutcip eno etis-no fo lacidem tnioj si seitilicaf segreme tnereffid noitneted .yrtnuoc tcartnoc redisnoc ,ynapmoc seinapmoc noillib dedrawa ta dnuora dna a a .S.U s’noskcaJ noskcaJ noitargimmI ECI ,erachtlaeH tnemecrofnE smotsuC tuB 6.2$
dedleiy tey eht eht yraidisbus nosrepsekops dias eunever fo ton ti etinifedni ni sah .erutuf rof rof yreviled dluoc tcartnoc yna a ,secivreS noskcaJ noskcaJ noskcaJ .erachtlaeH erachtlaeH tnemnrevoG tuB A
erehw erew erew saw owt ot ,neht eht eht eht naht tup kcabhsup snalp snalp ,dennalp lanigiro no wen erom evissam ssam lacol gnidulcni gnidulcni ni ni ni dloh rof seitilicaf gnirud nezod noitneted ,snoitatroped tcartnoc seitinummoc sretnec dliub dedrawa decnuonna retfa .noitartsinimda noitartsinimda a pmurT esohT ehT laicoS ecniS ECI .aigroeG .elcriC nediB 3202
htiw ni seripxe tcartnoc noskcaJ ECI s’erachtlaeH .8202
Christmas in May
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Esteves arrives to speak to community members last week. (Brynn Anderson/AP)
eert oot eht reven rof ylrae ta a s’tI aigroeG samtsirhC .lotipaC
samtsirhC“ erew ”seert ot eht taht dengis seceip .ecnalrap lanigiro no fo elpitlum evitalsigel noitalsigel .wal wal nwonk otni ni deniatnoc sllib .llib dehcatta sa era ehT hcuS etaneS yadnoM pmeK lliB 655
— ohw s’keew ot siht ,sgniht eht s’etats etats stros gnittes .noisses pihsralohcs gninnur selur margorp seitiroirp yramirp eno fo fo fo txen desab-deen tol wal si gnidulcni sedulcni ni egamoh ronrevog remrof rof rof detaler-noitacude seod egelloc sa na osla a a ehT .neS s’pmeK nosaJ tI ,sevetsE .tarcomeD
— hcihw nehw saw ot ot eht eht derosnops ralimis sgnivas snalp no si sesaercni ni eh snoitubirtnoc egelloc pac llib llib kcab a ehT .etaneS sevetsE 925
knahT“ uoy dlot yeht eht etats os dessap hcum .htnom tsal ”,aedi reh taerg rof seugaelloc llib retfa gnitpoda a .neS nacilbupeR miK ,noskcaJ citarcomeD ,atnaltA-D
Duncan’s reset
Democratic candidate for governor Geoff Duncan is a former Republican lieutenant governor. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
niw gnitov ,sretov gniyrt ot ot eht eht snoitseuq snalp s’ytrap revo revo eno fo tsom layol redael si woh sih gnignah :ronrevog remrof rof ngiapmac .colb tseggib rewsna a nacilbupeR .tL .voG ffoeG remroF nacnuD citarcomeD kcalB
tratspmuJ“ gnitov gnisu troppus regnorts selur ,sthgir yad-yniar snoitcetorp desoporp trap seniltuo fo wen wen erom ytironim ,omem gnidulcni .dnuf rof rof ,noisnapxe gnitcartnoc daorb noillib ta dna demia adnega a a a diacideM nI ,sUCBH s’aigroeG ,snaigroeG ”dnuF nacnuD kcalB 71$
eseht meht eht gnigakcaper rednimer .ecar slasoporp gninoitisop tekcap fo fo fo syatsniam si otni ni sih evah egap-ruof neeb .adnega a a tsoM s’nacnuD tuB
gnilliw gnitov ot ,sffirat tops ,ffonur selur .sthgir laitnetop revo ni ni ni flesmih remrof rof truoc gnitcartnoc tnorfnoc stsac elttab sa dna tropria tsniaga a a a a pmurT royaM dekcoL ecnaL ahsieK enuJ nacnuD tarcomeD smottoB atnaltA
gnorw dluow krow erehw saw sweiv otev ot ot ot ot ot troppus syas syas evitcirtser laeper riaper gnitcirtsider hsup lacitilop segdelp nalp no sdon .spam .wal seussi tnednepedni eh eh eh sah derednamyrreg ward .od noissimmoc raelc sa era yna dna dna na osla osla noitroba noitroba erehT eH eH s’aigroeG nacnuD 9102
Listen up
Former state Sen. John F. Kennedy is running for lieutenant governor as a Republican. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
yllacitiloP“ ot eht eht klat etats wohs ,tsacdop no tnanetueil snioj sih .ronrevog remrof rof ngiapmac tuoba yadoT .neS ydenneK nhoJ ”aigroeG .F
yllacitiloP“ ruoy uoy reverehw ot ebircsbus .stsacdop ro no netsil teg eerf rof nac dna uoY yfitopS ,stsacdoP ”aigroeG elppA
uoy su su eht ?wohs noitseuq moc.cja@aigroegyllacitilop ro ro no evig erutuf rof derutaef .edosipe dluoc tnemmoc llac eb ta ta dna a a a evaH liamE 7925-018-077
David Scott’s legacy
Marcye Scott, daughter of the late U.S. Rep. David Scott, speaks during his funeral service at Elizabeth Baptist Church earlier this month. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
ot ot eht eht eht .mret laiceps nur redniamer deifilauq ,desimorp fo etal ni sih sah llifluf noitcele rethguad .S.U s’ttocS .peR divaD sA
ohw saw pu ,owt eerht eht eht laiceps dengis gniyfilauq rehto no fo rof tsrif .noitcele yad setadidnac era dna gnoma ehT ttocS .snacilbupeR kraP eycraM ,selaznoG htyaF raseaC
ohw litnu raey-owt ot ot rieht eht eht taht mret timbus laiceps dias ylsuoiverp laitnetop snalp .krowrepap .m.p rehto si ni ni eh evah lluf rof .noitcele etepmoc setadidnac gningiapmac ta yna dna osla ydaerla yadsendeW eH s’aigroeG notrevE ,tcirtsiD lanoissergnoC ,rialB ht31 1
lliw ,etov eht naht ffonur seviecer eno fo on erom si noitcele eb a ehT yluJ fI .guA %05 .82 .52
Today in Washington
- Trump will depart for his official trip to China.
- The House has evening votes scheduled.
- The Senate could vote on whether to confirm Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve.
Housing bill
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (left) and the Rev. Al Sharpton speak during a morning service at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma, Ala., as part of the events commemorating the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2025)
eciov gnigru pu ot ot ot eht eht sthgir latner hsup .seitreporp tneverp erusserp ffo fo srebmem gnidnel si sih eliforp-hgih morf morf snoitaroproc livic ngiapmac gniyub kcab ,tsivitca a ehT ,notprahS .veR ssergnoC lA
eht taht troppus troppus ,seitreporp no .ti ti denwo-rotsevni sedulcni ni gnisuoh sah .rebmahc htob nasitrapib llib nab dna dna kconraW ehT s’etaneS ffossO
noisrev ot siht ereht eht eht troppus .yllaitnatsbus noitces esiver evomer desaeler ro fo .tnemom ti si ni rehtie dluoc nasitrapib llib eb ta yna ehT esuoH esuoH tuB
dluow ot ot ot erofereht eht dias latner ecuder noisivorp secalp ekam .evil srettel ,sredael ti ni gnisuoh redrah rof dnif seilimaf dluoc dna dna elbadroffa ,notprahS etaneS esuoH
roF“ — — .etorw htiw gniyrt drawot ot ot eseht ”,meht rieht eht ylimaf-elgnis ylpmis sloohcs gnivas efas latner gnidliuber tup ,tnemyap ro nepo ylno netfo doohrobhgien ni semoh doog seilimaf seilimaf nwod rood ,tiderc nerdlihc era a a notprahS
htiw ohw ohw dehgiew tnaw aiv pu ot meht eht eht eht taht taht troppus llits srotanes dias tner gnittup esahcrup tsop gninwo no gnikam egaugnal ti si srotsevni .tcatni ni .semoh semoh eh redrah rof rof seilimaf llib llib nab skcab dna dna demriffa a hturT pmurT ehT laicoS etaneS yadnoM
Shoutouts
State Sen. Drew Echols (right) takes a selfie with students and children of farmworkers as they visit the Georgia Capitol. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)
:yadhtrib s’yadoT
- State Sen. Drew Echols, R-Gainesville.
eht .taht tuotuohs ton ?rettelswen wen tsuj ,sboj detseretni ni ni mrof rof .cte ,stnemegagne .syadhtrib yadhtrib htrib ,stnemecnuonna osla a a er’eW tnaW s’erehT yllacitiloP s’tI aigroeG
Before you go
Don Balfour has been announced as a member of the Keep Our Republic’s Georgia Advisory Council. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC 2014)
tsurt eht eht eht taht .tnednetnirepus etats etats etats setomorp tnediserp noitazinagro no fo fo fo nasitrapnon rebmem sti sedulcni ni remrof remrof remrof remrof remrof remrof snoitcele snoitcele noitacude tnerruc lanoitutitsnoc civic skcehc ,secnalab decnuonna dna dna dna dna a ,netooW ytisrevinU ;renruT .yadseuT tnedutS etatS etatS ;erymS .neS yraterceS tocS ,yeliR ,cilbupeR .peR .peR tnediserP ruO ennyL peeK tI aigroeG aigroeG aigroeG ecnaniF snoitcelE noD retxeD ;xoC ytnuoC ytnuoC licnuoC ;noissimmoC egelloC mahtahC yhtaC nivlaC draoB ylliB ;gninneB wotraB ;ruoflaB yrosivdA ;pma&
ruoy uoy su .yadot ot ,[email protected] dnes ,spoocs [email protected] ti redisni noitamrofni ,[email protected] pissog rof od nac tseb dna dna ,syawla [email protected] ll’tahT sA
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the “Politically Georgia” podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.
Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the “Politically Georgia” podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.
Patricia Murphy is the AJC’s senior political columnist. She was previously a nationally syndicated columnist for CQ Roll Call, national political reporter for the Daily Beast and Politics Daily, and wrote for The Washington Post and Garden & Gun. She graduated from Vanderbilt and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Patricia Murphy is the AJC’s senior political columnist. She was previously a nationally syndicated columnist for CQ Roll Call, national political reporter for the Daily Beast and Politics Daily, and wrote for The Washington Post and Garden & Gun. She graduated from Vanderbilt and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Adam Beam is the deputy politics editor.
Adam Beam is the deputy politics editor.
