Georgia Today – Episode Summary

Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Sophie Gradas (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Featured Story: Federal Government Shutdown Updates & Interview with Author Oyin Shangoyomi

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today brings timely updates on the extended federal government shutdown and its local impacts—especially for furloughed workers in Georgia—and features an in-depth interview with author Oyin Shangoyomi about her debut novel, Masquerade. The conversation delves into Africa’s pre-colonial history, women's roles in society, and the sacrifices required in the pursuit of power.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Government Shutdown: State Response and Local Impact

• Resources for Furloughed Workers:
  • Georgia Department of Labor offers unemployment insurance to furloughed federal employees, though recipients must pay back benefits after receiving back pay ([01:30]).
  • The Department can connect job seekers with private sector jobs in Georgia.
  • Quote:
    • "There are certainly personal decisions that furloughed workers will have to make, but it's important for us to share that there are resources available."
      — Georgia Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes ([01:20])
• Political Reactions:
  • Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) highlights potential negative effects on rural hospitals, referencing his visit to Evans Memorial Hospital in Claxton.
    • Quote:
      • "That hospital may well lose its ICU. It's already lost its labor and delivery unit."
        — Raphael Warnock via Oyin Shangoyomi ([02:13])
    • "That's part of the urgency of this moment."
      — Raphael Warnock via Oyin Shangoyomi ([02:23])
  • Divides remain: Republicans blame Democrats for the funding lapse, while Democrats want an extension of ACA health benefits.
• Fani Willis Subpoenaed:
  • Fulton Co. DA Fani Willis to testify before the state Senate about her handling of the Trump election interference case ([02:58]).
    • Quote:
      • "We will reissue the subpoena for November 13, 10am and that her counsel has indicated that she is available on that date and will honor the subpoena..."
        — Josh Belafonte ([02:58])
  • New state law clarifies subpoena procedures; only two Senators may question Willis.

2. Science Breakthrough: Wearable Robotic Exoskeleton for Stroke Patients

• Georgia Tech researchers release study on an assistive exoskeleton that learns a patient's movements to provide tailored support ([03:47]).
  • Aaron Young (Associate Professor):
    • "It's learning how you're walking so that basically it can synchronize better to your pace, to your, you know, asymmetry potentially and other factors in the gait."
      ([03:47])
  • The device operates offline, next steps include clinical trials and insurance approval.

3. Coastal News: Oyster Season Opens

• Georgia's commercial shellfish harvest season begins.
• 14 entities have leases for 23 water bottoms; $383,000 value in oyster production (2024) ([04:36]).

4. Spotlight Interview: Oyin Shangoyomi, Author of "Masquerade"

Interviewed by: Orlando Montoya
Segment begins: [05:37]

Themes and Plot of "Masquerade"

• Set in medieval West Africa; follows Ododo, a blacksmith's daughter, from poverty to the royal palace.
• Explores self-determination, betrayal, love, war, and the divine.
• Main Character:
  • Ododo is abducted by King Oremo, and must navigate palace politics.
    • "At this time in West Africa, blacksmiths were largely ostracized ... She's kind of at the bottom of the social ladder...and one day she's kidnapped by a king, and she's brought to his home, where he lives in luxury."
      — Oyin Shangoyomi ([05:58])
  • Ododo aspires to power, recognizing that noble status doesn’t guarantee respect for women ([07:04]).

Power, Transformation, and Sacrifice

• Ododo’s journey to power comes at a personal cost.
  • "When you are seeking power, you can't go through that process unchanged. There will have to be sacrifices ... in relation to your humanity and maybe even your morality."
    — Oyin Shangoyomi ([08:05])

Relationships, Violence, and Complexity

• Ododo's relationship with King Oremo is "hot and cold," genuine yet shaped by his violence.
  • "The love is no better than the lover. And so stupid people love stupidly. Violent people love violently. Weak people love weakly. Mean people love meanly."
    — Oyin Shangoyomi, paraphrasing Toni Morrison ([09:03])
  • "Even though the love that he shares with Ododo, it's genuine, ... he's a violent person. And so the way that he loves isn't always good."
    — Oyin Shangoyomi ([09:50])

Rediscovering Pre-Colonial African History

• Motivation to set the novel in 15th century Africa:
  • "Most of what we see about African history ... begins when the British or the Dutch or the French arrived. And I really wanted to explore Africa before all of that ..."
    — Oyin Shangoyomi ([10:26])
• The royal city, its gold, luxury, and status of blacksmiths are all drawn from history, though the city "Shangote" itself is fictional.
  • "In the kingdom of Ghana, the king ... did not live in a palace. He lived in kind of like a city is how big his palace was. And it was filled with so many of those luxuries of the gleaming gold."
    — Oyin Shangoyomi ([11:38])

Writing Advice

• "The only way this got finished was through passion, and it was something that I genuinely cared about and that I looked forward to doing."
  — Oyin Shangoyomi ([12:35])
• She encourages aspiring writers to listen to their own voice and not let outside opinions deter them.

5. Georgia Sports & Events

• Atlanta Braves Manager Opening:
  • Brian Snitker steps down; several candidates are being considered, including David Ross, Walt Weiss, Freddie Gonzalez, and others ([13:46]).
• 2026 FIFA World Cup Tickets:
  • Over 4.5 million apply for tickets, including for matches in Atlanta; prices range from $60 to $6,000 ([14:41]).

Notable Quotes

• "There are certainly personal decisions that furloughed workers will have to make, but it's important for us to share that there are resources available."
  — Georgia Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes ([01:20])
• "That hospital may well lose its ICU. It's already lost its labor and delivery unit."
  — Raphael Warnock via Oyin Shangoyomi ([02:13])
• "When you are seeking power, you can't go through that process unchanged. There will have to be sacrifices ... in relation to your humanity and maybe even your morality."
  — Oyin Shangoyomi ([08:05])
• "Most of what we see about African history ... begins when the British or the Dutch or the French arrived. And I really wanted to explore Africa before all of that ..."
  — Oyin Shangoyomi ([10:26])
• "The only way this got finished was through passion, and it was something that I genuinely cared about and that I looked forward to doing."
  — Oyin Shangoyomi ([12:35])

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [00:27] – Episode Headlines
• [01:30] – Federal Shutdown: Resources and Political Debate
• [02:58] – Fani Willis to Testify; Legislative Subpoena Law
• [03:47] – Georgia Tech’s Wearable Exoskeleton for Rehab
• [04:36] – Oyster Season Begins
• [05:37] – Interview: Oyin Shangoyomi on Masquerade
• [08:05] – Discussion on Power and Personal Sacrifice
• [09:03] – Love, Power, and Toni Morrison’s Influence
• [10:26] – Pre-Colonial African History and Setting
• [11:38] – Historical Inspiration for the Royal City
• [12:35] – Writing Process and Advice
• [13:46] – Braves Manager Search, FIFA World Cup Ticket Demand

Memorable Moments

• Shangoyomi’s reflection on how power transforms the individual ([08:05]).
• Her insights on the erasure of pre-colonial African narratives and the importance of restoring them ([10:26]).
• The candid discussion of the realities and hardships facing furloughed federal workers in Georgia ([01:30]).

For further details and stories, visit gpb.org/news.