Fulton County document; AJC cuts workforce; Showcase grant

Summary

Georgia Today: Episode Summary

Date: February 4, 2026
Host: Peter Biello
Podcast: Georgia Today (Georgia Public Broadcasting)

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Episode Overview

This episode covers a range of pressing Georgia news stories, including developments in the Fulton County election documents case after an FBI search, major layoffs at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and new opportunities for small businesses in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Additional segments address the rule of law in Georgia, public access proposals for Cumberland Island, efforts to control the state’s wild hog population, literary insights from author Sherry Joseph, and brief updates from across the state economy, politics, and sports.

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Key Segments & Insights

Fulton County Election Documents & FBI Search

[00:29 - 01:37]

• Fulton County has filed a legal motion to retrieve approximately 700 boxes of ballots seized by the FBI from the county’s elections warehouse.
• The county also seeks to unseal the affidavit supporting the search warrant.
• Fulton Commission Chairman Rob Pitts reiterates his commitment to fighting external pressures and defending the county.
  • Quote:
    “Make no mistake, in my opinion, we are the poster child here of all the states, all the counties, all the...”
    — Orlando Montoya, quoting Rob Pitts [01:07]
• The FBI’s action is believed, by local officials, to be tied more to undermining the upcoming 2026 election than investigating the 2020 results.
  • Quote:
    “This is not about 2020. This is about undermining the 2026 election. ... But if you're afraid of losing, you start laying the foundation now to sow doubt.”
    — Rep. Sarah Draper [01:55]
• President Trump’s ongoing claims of 2020 election fraud in Fulton County are noted to be without evidence.
• Georgia lawmakers, including Sen. Raphael Warnock, are seeking more information from the Justice Department.

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Atlanta Journal-Constitution Layoffs

[01:55 - 03:06]

• The AJC is cutting 50 jobs, about half from the newsroom, or 15% of total staff.
• President & Publisher Andrew Morse frames the layoffs as difficult but necessary to ensure the paper's continued viability and journalistic mission.

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Showcase Atlanta Grant Initiative for Small Businesses

[03:06 - 03:54]

• The Showcase Atlanta initiative provides $5,000 marketing grants and expanded resources to downtown Atlanta small businesses ahead of large-scale events like the World Cup.
• Program includes a youth entrepreneurship accelerator for those under 21, offering business training and the possibility of an ATL Youth Vendor License, enabling participation in FIFA World Cup events.
• Quote:
  “Those young entrepreneurs will receive a special ATL Youth vendor license, which will allow them to obtain opportunities, funding and a vendor space to sell their goods during the upcoming FIFA World cup games of 2026.”
  — Amanda Andrews [03:34]

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Rule of Law & Georgia Judiciary

[03:54 - 04:48]

• Chief Justice Nels S.D. Peterson, in his State of the Judiciary address, underscores the importance of respecting court legitimacy even amid unpopular decisions.
  • Quote:
    “But the rule of law will not survive when the legitimacy of judicial decisions in those who make them is routinely questioned every time there's an unpopular outcome.”
    — Orlando Montoya, quoting Peterson [04:18]
• Peterson urges an end to partisan elections for probate judges to help maintain public trust in judicial impartiality.

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Cumberland Island Access Proposal

[04:48 - 06:13]

• The National Park Service proposes increased visitor access to Cumberland Island, including more ferries (from 300 to 700 passengers/day), campsites (from 220 to 275), and beach bike access.
• Longtime advocates warn that more tourism could undermine the island's unique and protected environment.
  • Quote:
    “To overrun it with visitation would destroy what is most sacred and beautiful about the island.”
    — Will Harlan, via Orlando Montoya [05:28]
• The agency is accepting public comments on the proposal through February 21.

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Wild Hog Control Bill

[06:13 - 06:40]

• The Georgia House passed HB 946 to combat invasive wild hogs damaging farms:
  • Residents and nonresidents could trap and kill hogs without a hunting or trapping license.
  • The bill allows shooting from vehicles and using drones for tracking.
• The bill passed overwhelmingly (163-1) and now moves to the Senate.

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Economic & Business Briefs

[06:40 - 07:31]

• Equifax: Reports Q4 earnings of $176 million, crediting verification services growth despite challenges in mortgage and job markets.
• Aerospace in Georgia: Industry recognized at the Capitol as second largest in state, generating $57.5 billion in annual economic impact.

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Author Interview: Sherry Joseph on Angels at the Gate

[07:31 - 15:17]

• Setting & Themes:
  Joseph’s novel is set at a small, conservative Southern college (inspired by University of the South, TN), exploring class privilege, tradition, elitism, and campus sexual politics.
• Plot:
  Centers on Leah Gavin, an outsider navigating a tight-knit, affluent campus culture and unraveling the mystery of Brantley Sims’s death from the Carillon Tower.
  • Quote:
    “She doesn't come from the family income that the others do. She's much poorer.”
    — Orlando Montoya [10:39]
  • Quote:
    “...it's about people finding their way and this great mystery, too.”
    — Orlando Montoya [15:04]
• Greek Life & 1980s Culture:
  Book offers critical insight on fraternity/sorority dynamics, gender roles, and repression on insular campuses.
  • Quote:
    “If you're a woman, you're called a slut. If you're a man, you're called gay.”
    — Orlando Montoya [12:41]
  • Quote:
    “...one of the major problems that everyone is dealing with on campus is sexual repression of different kinds. ... Any queer person doesn't really exist on campus. They are all in the closet, pretty much.”
    — Sherry Joseph [13:00]
• The mystery at the heart of the novel unfolds through Leah’s unique perspective and social connections across differently privileged groups.

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Legislative & Community Highlights

[15:17 - 16:42]

• Aerospace & Defense Day:
  The State Senate recognized the sector’s economic contributions, with Governor Kemp participating in an F-35 simulators event.
  • Quote:
    “Those numbers are literally out of this world.”
    — Rep. Rob Clifton [16:11]
• Girl Scout Day & Habitat for Humanity:
  Marked by a home build at the Capitol.

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Consumer & Sports News

[16:42 - 17:04, 17:04 - end]

• Coca-Cola Releases:
  Launching Cherry Float and Diet Coke Cherry (with vanilla notes, including zero sugar options).
• Atlanta Braves:
  Invited two dozen non-roster players to spring training, including local Aaron Schunk.

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Memorable Quotes

• “Make no mistake, in my opinion, we are the poster child here...”
  — Rob Pitts (via Orlando Montoya) [01:07]

• “This is not about 2020. This is about undermining the 2026 election.”
  — Rep. Sarah Draper [01:55]

• “To overrun it with visitation would destroy what is most sacred and beautiful about the island.”
  — Will Harlan (via Orlando Montoya) [05:28]

• “If you're a woman, you're called a slut. If you're a man, you're called gay.”
  — Orlando Montoya [12:41]

• “Those numbers are literally out of this world.”
  — Rep. Rob Clifton [16:11]

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Additional Noteworthy Segments with Timestamps

• Fulton County election legal action: [00:29 - 01:37]
• AJC layoffs & rationale: [01:55 - 03:06]
• Showcase Atlanta/World Cup grants: [03:06 - 03:54]
• Supreme Court Chief Justice comments: [03:54 - 04:48]
• Cumberland Island access controversy: [04:48 - 06:13]
• Wild hog bill measures: [06:13 - 06:40]
• Sherry Joseph interview: [07:31 - 15:17]

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This episode balances hard news on political and legal developments with community initiatives, cultural conversation, and local author insight, offering a vivid snapshot of Georgia’s diverse interests and ongoing challenges as the state prepares for national events and addresses internal change.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Fulton county is asking for the return of documents related to the 2020 election following a search conducted by the FBI. The Atlanta Journal Constitution cuts 15% of its workforce, and if you run a small business preparing for the World Cup, a new effort may give you some help.

[Amanda Andrews]

The initiative includes marketing grants of $5,000 to eligible small businesses in downtown Atlanta.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Wednesday, February 4th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Fulton county is asking for the return of documents related to the 2020 election following a search by the FBI of a warehouse in Atlanta. GPB Sarah Kalis reports. The legal motion was filed today.

[Sarah Kalis]

In the filing, Fulton Commission Chairman Rob Pitts in the Board of Elections requests the return of the 700 boxes of ballots taken from the Fulton County Elections warehouse and for the affidavit supporting the search warrant to be unsealed. Pitts renewed his promise to use every tool at his disposal to fight Fulton County.

[Orlando Montoya]

Make no mistake, in my opinion, we are the poster child here of all the states, all the counties, all the.

[Sarah Kalis]

Cities that may involve Many questions remain about the FBI operation and what steps the Department of Justice may take next. President Trump has fixated on Fulton county election results after his 2020 loss in Georgia, repeatedly claiming the 2020 election was stolen despite a lack of evidence. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis in Fulton County.

[Peter Biello]

Georgia State Representative Sarah Draper is speaking out about last week's FBI raid on a Fulton county elections office. The Atlanta Democrat says the federal action is an attempt to undermine confidence in this year's elections. Speaking on GPB's lawmakers, Draper says she believes the raid wasn't really about investigating the 2020 election.

[Sarah Draper]

This is not about 2020. This is about undermining the 2026 election. Because if you think you are going to win the 2026 election and your party is going to win the 2026 election, you don't want to undermine the results because that goes against your credibility. But if you're afraid of losing, you start laying the foundation now to sow doubt.

[Peter Biello]

Baseless claims of voter fraud in Fulton county have been a focus of President Trump since he lost the 2020 election. Georgia U.S. senator Raphael Warnock and two Georgia Democratic representatives are pressing the U.S. department of justice for answ. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports it is laying off 50 of its employees and about half of those come from its newsroom. The layoffs amount to 15% of the newspaper's workforce. President and Publisher Andrew Morse says the cuts were made to accelerate the paper's growth. He says while these changes are difficult on a personal level, they will best position the AJC to continue delivering journalism worth paying for Atlanta small business owners can now access an expanded list of resources, including grants and loans to prepare for the World Cup. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports. It's part of the Showcase Atlanta initiative.

[Amanda Andrews]

The initiative includes marketing grants of $5,000 to eligible small businesses in downtown Atlanta. To help prepare for large scale events like the World Cup Showcase, Atlanta will also run a youth entrepreneurship accelerator offering training for people under 21 interested in building a business. Mayor Andre Dickens says there will be additional opportunities for a select few participants. Those young entrepreneurs will receive a special ATL Youth vendor license, which will allow them to obtain opportunities, funding and a vendor space to sell their goods during the upcoming FIFA World cup games of 2026. Applications are open and a full list of grants is available on the Showcase Atlanta website. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Peter Biello]

Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Nels S.D. peterson used his State of the Judiciary address today to stress the importance of the rule of law. Speaking to state House and Senate lawmakers, Peterson said Georgia's judiciary is strong because the state's commitment to the rule of law is strong. He says protecting it means not reflexively questioning the court's legitimacy in the wake of an unpopular opinion.

[Sherry Joseph]

It's okay to disagree, even to protest.

[Orlando Montoya]

But the rule of law will not survive when the legitimacy of judicial decisions in those who make them is routinely questioned every time there's an unpopular outcome.

[Peter Biello]

Peterson also called on lawmakers to support a resolution that would end partisan elections for probate judges. Partisan elections, he says, could undermine the public's perception of the judiciary as impartial. A plan to increase visitor access at a beloved National Park Service unit in Georgia is drawing criticism. GPB's Orlando Montoya reports.

[Orlando Montoya]

Cumberland Island National Seashore is known for its untamed beaches, primitive wilderness, historic sites and wild horses. The coastal Georgia gem is relatively hard to reach compared to barrier islands in nearby Florida. There's no bridge to the island, and the only way to get there is by boat. But the National Park Service has a plan that aims to increase visitor access. The agency has put forward a proposal that would allow more ferries, more campsites and more bikes, among other changes. Longtime island advocate Will Harlan of the center for Biological Diversity says more access would lessen the visitor experience.

[Peter Biello]

To overrun it with visitation would destroy.

[Orlando Montoya]

What is most sacred and beautiful about the island. Some of the proposals include increasing ferry capacity from 300 to 700 passengers a day, increasing campsite capacity from 220 to 275 campers at one time, and increasing the number of miles allowed for bicycle access on the beach. The agency would not comment for this story, but the plan says expanded access to a diverse range of opportunities would provide beneficial impacts for visitors. The Park Service is taking public comments on the plan through February 21st. For GPB News, I'm Orlando. Montana.

[Peter Biello]

The Georgia House passed a bill yesterday aimed at controlling Georgia's invasive wild hogs. Farmers say the animals have wreaked havoc on crops and land. Representative Rob Clifton sponsored the bill addressing the animals.

[Rob Clifton]

House Bill 946 would remove the following barriers, therefore helping to remove even more of these invasive animals. Section one of the bill would allow residents and non residents to trap and kill feral hogs without a hunting or trapping license.

[Peter Biello]

Other provisions in the bill would allow hunters to shoot hogs from a vehicle and use drones to track them. The bill passed 163 to 1 and now moves to the Senate. Atlanta based Equifax reported fourth quarter earnings today of nearly $176 million. The results topped Wall street expectations. The company says the U.S. mortgage and job markets were a drag on business, but Equifax's verification services saw significant growth. A small, conservative southern college on the side of a mountain sets the scene for a new literary thriller and coming of age novel. Atlanta writer Sherry Joseph says she wrote Angels at the Gate in part to explore her own college memories. It's also an exploration of class privilege, misogyny and what happens in the dark corners of fraternities and secret societies. She recently spoke with GPB's Orlando Montoya.

[Orlando Montoya]

When did you get the idea to do this book?

[Sherry Joseph]

Oh gosh. So I've been working on this book for about over 10 years and that was probably around the time that I decided I was. I have three other books of fiction and they are all really far removed from my personal life. And as I approached this book I was thinking I wanted to get a little bit closer to my own experience, my own life. I really wanted to write about my college experience. So that was where I started was really with the setting of the school that is my alma mater. I don't know if I should I talk about it here?

[Orlando Montoya]

Well, the school is called Rock Haven.

[Sherry Joseph]

Yes.

[Orlando Montoya]

And there is a city called Brookhaven that has a liberal arts school, but you didn't go to that one.

[Sherry Joseph]

I saw that I did not. No. I went to Suwanee. The University of the south in Tennessee.

[Orlando Montoya]

Yeah. Just west of Chattanooga. Yes. It's a small liberal arts college. Like the one described in the book.

[Sherry Joseph]

Yes, very much like the one described in the book. There's very little that is changed other than the names of everything.

[Orlando Montoya]

Yes. Because the events of the book mostly surround the mystery of a student's death. A student named Brantley who falls off the top of the Carillon tower.

[Sherry Joseph]

Yes.

[Orlando Montoya]

What are the circumstances that sort of get the plot of the book going?

[Sherry Joseph]

So I have a narrator whose name is Leah Gavin, and she has a sort of contentious relationship with Brantley Sims. And in the present time of the book, he has been dead for a year. His death is ruled an accident. And there's not a lot that is known about the specific details of what happened to him, except that he was drinking. This is a college that's kind of known for its heavy drinking and that he was wearing his academic gown at the time that he fell off the tower. And other details are not known. It's not known if he was alone.

[Orlando Montoya]

It's a mystery.

[Sherry Joseph]

Yes, it's a mystery.

[Orlando Montoya]

That's what keeps you reading the book. Yes. You learn clues along the way. But I also kind of want to talk about the secondary subject of the book. I think if there's two themes, it's this mystery. But there's also Leah's self discovery and finding out who she is. So talk about Leah.

[Sherry Joseph]

Okay. So Leah is kind of an outsider at this school, which has a sort of tight insider culture to it. There are people who come through this sort of affluent family connections. It goes back to the 19th century. There are families tend to send their kids to Rockhaven.

[Orlando Montoya]

But Leah does not fit in. She is more crunchy, more granola, I think you would say a little.

[Sherry Joseph]

Yeah. She doesn't really quite know what her style is. She's lived a pretty isolated life, mainly because she doesn't have siblings and she doesn't have any friends who are in this environment.

[Orlando Montoya]

She doesn't come from the family income that the others do. She's much poorer.

[Sherry Joseph]

Yes. She does not have money. And so part of the first thing that she has to figure out, because this is a school with a lot of traditions, a lot of. One of the traditions for this school is that there's a dress code and it's skirts for women and coats and ties for men. And she doesn't own any skirts. And so she has to figure out how to get herself some skirts with no money. And that just seems very much like a central coming of age concern, figuring out who you are in relationship to other people.

[Orlando Montoya]

I want to talk about fitting in in the fraternity sense, too, because this book is very much focused on what fraternity and sorority life is. Were you a Greek in college?

[Sherry Joseph]

I was. And I was in a sorority at this very particular school, very particular setting. So it's tiny, it's very isolated. It's 1100 students on top of a mountain, and there is nothing to do. So pretty much every student joins a Greek organization.

[Orlando Montoya]

I have to say, I don't like a lot of the guys in these fraternities. They're very drunk all the time. They're very macho, hyper masculine, behavior of the bad kind. Why would anybody want to like these guys?

[Sherry Joseph]

So I think of the guys in this novel, the guys are really very nice. They're very nice boys. But this is the 80s, this is the late 80s, so the. The expectations for male behavior are a little more lax, I would say. And the ethos at this school is that it trains young gentlemen. It's about the education of young gentlemen. So they all do have the mindset of being a gentleman, but they don't act that way. They don't. You don't think so?

[Orlando Montoya]

Well, I mean, the fights, the drunken behavior, basically everyone is either a slut or gay. If you're a woman, you're called a slut. If you're a man, you're called gay.

[Sherry Joseph]

Yes. Yeah.

[Orlando Montoya]

I mean, why does this exist? Why do we have this type of behavior? This is wrong.

[Sherry Joseph]

Yes, it is. It is. And it has changed now, I would hope. But, yeah, this was the culture of the 80s, especially at this little isolated place, which is a fairly conservative school. One of the major problems that everyone is dealing with on campus is sexual repression of different kinds. And so, yes, it is the slut shaming. And any queer person doesn't really exist on campus. They are all in the closet, pretty much.

[Orlando Montoya]

Okay, so we talked a little bit about the culture. I want to get back to the mystery, because this is what keeps the book going along. Brantley has fallen off a carillon tower. We don't know the circumstances. There are some clues, but over the course of the book's beginning, we kind of think that people are involved, but they're not saying they're involved. So it could be suicide, it could be he was pushed, or it could be an accident. Are those sort of the three choices that were presented at the beginning?

[Sherry Joseph]

Yes, those are. That's essentially what has been worked out for everyone on campus to know that it's one of those options. It's ruled an accident because there is nothing otherwise to indicate that anything else has happened.

[Orlando Montoya]

But there are rumors and there are little innuendos here and there and people say things. And so the reader kind of develops this thought of, well, what actually happened.

[Terry Gross]

Yes.

[Sherry Joseph]

And Leah, she gets to know some different people. She's in a particular social group from the beginning. It is a school where you tend to know your own social group.

[Orlando Montoya]

There are circles, there are cliques.

[Sherry Joseph]

Yes, exactly. And so she sort of accidentally winds up being the one person maybe on campus who has access to these different social circles that Brantley was connected to.

[Orlando Montoya]

I think it's a fabulous book.

[Sherry Joseph]

Thank you.

[Orlando Montoya]

It's for really, for anyone who's struggling to fit in and who hasn't struggled to fit in. It's about people finding their way and this great mystery, too. So thank you very much for talking with me about it.

[Sherry Joseph]

Oh, thank you for having me. It's been great.

[Peter Biello]

That was Sherry Joseph talking with GPB's Orlando Montoya about her book Angels at the Gate. Orlando. And I have more good books with Georgia connections on our podcast Narrative Edge. Listen to Narrative Edge on your favorite podcast, Apple, or watch it on YouTube. The Georgia State Senate yesterday recognized Aerospace and Defense Day at the Capitol. An Air Force flight simulator was set up in the rotunda to highlight the industry and show off the country's latest high tech fighter. Governor Brian Kemp took a quick flight in the F35 simulation today.

[Rob Clifton]

As it was mentioned, Aerospace is Georgia's number one export, totaling $12.6 billion in the most recent data that we have. And the industry itself, as was mentioned, is now the second largest in the state, producing an economic impact of over $57.5 billion annually. Those numbers are literally out of this world.

[Peter Biello]

The Senate also celebrated Girl Scout Day and Habitat for Humanity volunteers framed a house across the street from the Capitol for Capital Build Day. Atlanta based Coca Cola says it's launching a few new cherry flavored beverages. The company says Coca Cola Cherry Float and Diet Coke Cherry will be available in the US And Canada this month. Cherry Float features creamy vanilla notes and comes in zero sugar options. Coca Cola first introduced Cherry Coke in 1985.

[Terry Gross]

Hi, it's Terry Gross, host of Fresh Air. Hey, take a break from the 24 hour news cycle with us and listen to long form interviews with your favorite authors, actors, filmmakers, comedians and musicians. The people making the art that nourishes us and speaks to our times so listen to the Fresh Air podcast from NPR and whyy.

[Peter Biello]

The Atlanta Braves announced today that the club has invited two dozen non roster players to major league spring training this season. The group blends younger prospects and veteran players, adding competition as the team evaluates depth across the roster ahead of opening day. Among the invitees is Atlanta native Aaron Schunk, a former standout at the Lovett School and the University of Georgia who previously spent time in the major leagues with the Colorado Rockies and now returns home looking to make an impression as an infielder. That is a wrap on this edition of Georgia Today. Thanks for tuning in. Make sure you come back tomorrow. Subscribe to this podcast now so you don't Forget and check gpb.org news for the latest headlines or for updates to the stories on the podcast today. If you've got feedback, let us know by email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thank you so much for listening. We will see you tomorrow.