Georgia Today Podcast Summary

Episode Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Orlando Montoya (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Episode Focus: DOJ lawsuit over Fulton County 2020 election records, Senate health care bill battles, naturalization ceremony in Atlanta, Savannah hotel ban, ProPublica’s Albany health report, Georgia Ports Authority, cellist Joshua Roman’s long Covid journey, Beltline FIFA preparations, and Atlanta Braves updates.

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today provides a snapshot of pivotal news from Georgia: breaking legal actions over election records, divided national health care reform efforts, immigration and citizenship celebrations in Atlanta, tensions over tourism policy in Savannah, a deep-dive into healthcare disparities in Albany, updates from Georgia’s ports, an intimate portrait of a musician’s recovery from long Covid, community endeavors ahead of the FIFA World Cup, and key Atlanta Braves offseason moves.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DOJ Sues Fulton County for 2020 Election Records | [00:33–02:22]

• Summary:
  The U.S. Department of Justice has filed suit against the Fulton County Board of Elections, seeking access to sealed records from the 2020 presidential election.

  • The subpoenaed records include all used and void ballots, ballot stubs, signature envelopes, and digital files.
  • The DOJ argues that the Federal Civil Rights Act allows for these documents to be made available, drawing parallels to historic voting rights documentation.

• National Context:
  The Justice Department is also suing states such as Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Nevada for voter roll access.

2. Senate Rejects Health Care Bills; Focus on Pharmacy Benefit Managers | [02:22–03:40]

• Summary:
  Two partisan bills aimed at tackling rising health care costs were voted down in the U.S. Senate.

  • A bipartisan group in the House—featuring Georgia’s Buddy Carter (R) and Sanford Bishop (D)—is targeting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who are accused of inflating drug prices.

  Notable Quote:

  • Sarah Kalis:

    "We want accessible, affordable, quality health care. That's what Representative Bishop wants. That's what I want." [02:22]

  • Orlando Montoya:

    "That's what every member of Congress wants." [02:30]

• Legislative Effort:
  The "Florida Pharmacists Fight Back Act" aims to rein in PBMs.

3. Atlanta Naturalization Ceremony | [02:57–03:40]

• Summary:
  About 90 new citizens were sworn in at an Atlanta event, though some ceremonies were canceled amid heightened immigration scrutiny following new federal restrictions.

  Memorable Moments:

  • Emotional stories from new citizens:

    "People have been so kind... it's been a good journey." – Cindy Reyno Seguelar [02:57]

  • Federal action:
    Recent presidential suspensions on immigration from 19 countries, including Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela.

  • Local uncertainty:
    Three immigrant ceremonies were canceled without explanation.

4. Savannah Hotel Ban Amid Overtourism Concerns | [03:40–04:20]

• Summary:
  Savannah city council voted to ban new hotels (16 rooms or more) in the Victorian, Streetcar, and Kyler Brownsville neighborhoods, reflecting residents’ concerns about overtourism.

  Notable Quote:

  • Joshua Roman:

    "Everybody wants to visit Disneyland, but nobody wants to live in Disneyland." [04:06]

  • Sarah Kalis:

    "We're a great place to visit for even a more phenomenal place to live." [04:14]

• Context:
  The ban balances economic tourism income and residents' quality of life. Inns and B&Bs are still allowed.

5. ProPublica Report: Albany's Health Care Disparities | [04:20–12:22]

• Summary:
  Ginger Thompson details ProPublica’s five-part series "Sick in a Hospital Town," which investigates why major health inequalities persist in Albany, Georgia, despite the dominance of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, Albany was an international hotspot, revealing longstanding vulnerabilities in local health.
  • Phoebe Putney Memorial acting like a “company town” (akin to GM in Detroit): central, powerful, but its growth hasn’t translated into improved community health.

  Notable Quotes:

  • Ginger Thompson:

    "Albany to some extent acted as a microcosm for the rest of the country's relationship to healthcare." [06:01]
    "The reason that the community was so vulnerable to Covid was because it had been so sick in the first place." [06:11]

  • On Dr. Anthony Parker’s story:

    "If anyone should get good care at Phoebe Putney Memorial, it is Dr. Anthony Parker... he was a part of the Phoebe family." [08:16]

  • Hospital CEO Scott Steiner on balancing care and finances:

    "That is part of our mission statement, that we provide that service regardless of race, religion and the ability to pay. But we're always trying to balance that out to paying the bills." [10:15]

  • On health care in America:

    "We as Americans... cling to this idea of our healthcare system as a public service. And in many wealthy countries it is just that. But in the United States, it's a business." – Ginger Thompson [10:42]

6. Georgia Ports Authority Record Month | [12:22–13:04]

• Summary:
  The Appalachian Regional Port in Murray County moved almost 4,000 containers in November—a 35% jump year-over-year.
  • Opened in 2018, the port alleviates traffic and provides regional economic benefits through its rail link to Savannah.

7. Joshua Roman: Long Covid & "Immunity" Album | [13:27–17:12]

• Summary:
  Cellist Joshua Roman describes his journey with Long Covid and creative recovery.

  • Initially lost his sense of taste and smell, suffered intense fatigue and neurological symptoms, and considered leaving music.
  • His return to the cello—described as feeling "like a hug"—restored his sense of purpose.

  Notable Quotes:

  • Joshua Roman:

    "I just didn’t get better... a crash looks like me not being able to open my eyes, not being able to speak..." [14:01] "The cello... is the size of a human and you put it against your chest... People have described it as like a hug." [15:36] "It was one of the few times in my life that I've been moved to tears just by the feeling of music moving through me." [15:50]

• Event:
  Roman’s performance at ABV Gallery, Atlanta, includes music from his "Immunity" album tracing his recovery.

8. Beltline Preps for FIFA World Cup | [17:12–18:00]

• Summary:
  The Beltline announces a small business toolkit to help local businesses get ready for the surge of visitors during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

  Notable Quote:

  • Kelvin Collins (Beltline VP):

    "This toolkit is designed to help small businesses prepare, position and profit." [17:53]

• CEO Clyde Higgins’ top priority: public safety, aiming for "zero incidents" during the tournament.

9. Atlanta Braves Roster Moves | [18:00–19:24]

• Summary:
  • Braves acquire pitcher Robert Suarez and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (two-year, $23 million contract).
  • Yastrzemski’s commitment:

    "I want to be a part of an organization that wins... gives me the availability to 100% buy in, be the best teammate I can." [18:37]

  • Team flexibility in the outfield; new manager Walt Weiss faces lineup decisions.

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• "Everybody wants to visit Disneyland, but nobody wants to live in Disneyland." – Joshua Roman [04:06]
• "If anyone should get good care at Phoebe Putney Memorial, it is Dr. Anthony Parker... he was a part of the Phoebe family." – Ginger Thompson [08:16]
• "We as Americans... cling to this idea of our healthcare system as a public service. And in many wealthy countries it is just that. But in the United States, it's a business." – Ginger Thompson [10:42]
• "The cello... People have described it as like a hug." – Joshua Roman [15:36]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• DOJ Sues Fulton County / Election Records: 00:33–02:22
• Senate Health Care Bill Battle / PBMs: 02:22–03:40
• Naturalization Ceremony: 02:57–03:40
• Savannah Hotel Ban: 03:40–04:20
• Albany Health Disparities / ProPublica Interview: 04:20–12:22
• Georgia Ports Record: 12:22–13:04
• Joshua Roman Long Covid Interview: 13:27–17:12
• Beltline FIFA Prep: 17:12–18:00
• Braves Offseason Moves: 18:00–19:24

Summary Tone & Style

The episode balances clear, factual reporting with human stories and direct, often empathetic, participant quotes, maintaining a professional and conversational public radio tone throughout.

This summary provides a thorough yet concise guide to every major story in the episode, with clear speaker attribution and timestamps for listeners who want to revisit or further explore each topic.