Fulton County taxpayers could end up paying Trump legal fees; College affordability

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast — Episode Summary

Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Peter Biello (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Main Themes:

• Potential for Fulton County taxpayers to pay Donald Trump’s legal fees
• Shrinking Atlanta Public School enrollment and redistricting impacts
• Push for need-based college scholarships in Georgia
• Updates on local elections, foster care housing, AI in college admissions, MLB drug testing, and a lawsuit involving Johnny Cash’s likeness

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Overview

This episode of Georgia Today focuses on pressing statewide stories: controversial fallout from the dismissal of Trump’s Fulton County election case, urgent calls to reform college financial aid, Atlanta public school closures amid declining enrollment, and other significant local news updates.

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Detailed Breakdown & Key Discussion Points

Fulton County Taxpayers and Trump’s Legal Fees

[00:29 – 01:25]

• State Law Implications: A recently passed law allows a county to be forced to pay a defendant’s legal fees if the District Attorney is disqualified for improper conduct and the case is dismissed.
• This law could now apply to Donald Trump and others after the election interference case in Fulton County, originally prosecuted by DA Fani Willis, was dismissed.
• Expert Analysis:
  • Dr. Tammy Greer (Georgia State University Political Science Professor) calls attention to the fairness of the criminal justice system:

    “The glaring part that goes through my mind is what does this say about how we view the criminal justice system? Who the criminal justice system is intended to provide consequences to?” — Tammy Greer [01:09]

• Next Steps: Trump and co-defendants must petition the court to have their fees covered.

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College Affordability & Need-Based Scholarships

[01:34 – 02:05]

• State Senate Panel Findings: A need-based scholarship is strongly recommended, highlighting that Georgia’s existing HOPE Scholarship (merit-based) doesn’t close the full financial gap for many students.
• Quote:

  “We’ve invested heavily in the HOPE scholarship and we know now that with the economy and the realities that does not even get the job done. People are still left with 5, 6, 6, 10, $12,000 gap to fill.” — Sen. Nan Orrock (Atlanta Democrat) [01:50]

• The legislature will consider related policy changes in January.

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Atlanta Public School Enrollment Declines & Redistricting

[02:05 – 05:49]

• Shrinking Enrollment: While suburbs expand, the number of students in Atlanta proper continues to drop post-pandemic, putting pressure on budgets and infrastructure.
• Community Pushback:
  • Parents, advocates, and students filled a Board of Education meeting to oppose closures.
  • Claire Dozier criticizes the disproportionate impact on Black children and under-resourced communities:

    “When you say that sacrifices must be made, we see that those sacrificed are black children in communities with the fewest resources.” — Claire Dozier [02:44]

• Details of Redistricting Plan:
  • 16 schools targeted for closure or conversion under the APS Forward 2040 Facilities Plan.
  • Consulting data: There are 20,000 extra “desks” (seats) versus enrollment.
  • Closure plan would save ~$25 million/year in operations and $70 million in deferred maintenance.

    “Those dollars get redirected… we spend it on students, we spend it on teachers, we spend all the resources that students need.” — Tracy Richter, consultant [03:53]

• Controversial Arts School Plan:
  • Carver Early College High School will become a district-wide performing arts school for grades 6-12.
  • Criticism from community member Monique Nunneley over access:

    “If it’s not for the kids that can stare at their front yard at this high school, then you’re doing a disservice to my neighborhood because these kids just gonna go and not have what they need... These are my babies, these are my kids, these are my streets. I live here.” — Monique Nunneley [04:23] “An application is a gatekeeper. It’s a barrier. It’s a roadblock. If you ain’t coaching folks all the way through that thing, it’s not going to work.” — Monique Nunneley [04:57]

  • Weighted preference given to local students, but no guarantee of admission.
• Voting Timeline: The Atlanta Public School Board votes on school closures Wednesday.

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Local Elections Update

[06:07 – 07:04]

• Three Atlanta Board of Education seats are on the ballot, plus key mayoral and legislative races in metro Atlanta, Gwinnett, Cordele, and more.
• Cordele City Commission race features candidate Royce Reeves, recently suspended due to an indictment.

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Foster Care Housing for Young Adults

[07:04 – 07:51]

• Wellroot Organization: Opening new housing in Decatur for 18–21+ year-olds transitioning out of foster care.
• CEO Allison Ash:

  “The property, when it opens fully later this month, will have space for 29 young people. So we will be able to keep youth past their 21st birthday, which we’re super excited about.” — Allison Ash [07:35]

• 11,000 kids in Georgia’s foster care system; 600+ lose access to care at age 18 each year.

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Johnny Cash Lawsuit Against Coca-Cola

[07:51 – 08:30]

• Johnny Cash’s estate is suing Coca-Cola for alleged unauthorized use of a voice “remarkably similar” to Cash’s in a commercial, citing Tennessee’s new “Elvis Act.”

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Georgia Tech Uses AI for Transfer Credit Review

[08:30 – 09:00]

• AI tool will automate review of transfer student transcripts, reducing manual work and providing faster answers.
• Georgia Tech plans to expand this system to all high school transcripts.
• Schools clarify that AI assists data processing, not admissions decisions.

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MLB Drug Testing Program Update

[09:00 – 09:40]

• Annual Major League Baseball report: 11,700 drug tests, two adverse cases (including Braves outfielder Jurkson Profire, 80-game suspension).
• Most therapeutic exemptions for ADHD treatment.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Redistricting and Racial Disparities:

  “When you say that sacrifices must be made, we see that those sacrificed are black children in communities with the fewest resources.” — Claire Dozier [02:44]

• On Barriers to School Access:

  “An application is a gatekeeper. It’s a barrier. It’s a roadblock.” — Monique Nunneley [04:57]

• On Educational Investment and Student Gaps:

  “We’ve invested heavily in the HOPE scholarship ... People are still left with ... $12,000 gap to fill.” — Sen. Nan Orrock [01:50]

• On Community Disempowerment:

  “Once Atlanta takes over, the Atlanta Way steps in ... the powerful, influential establishment folks come to the table and ... it’s all done.” — Monique Nunneley [05:33]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump Legal Fees Law Impact: [00:29 – 01:25]
• Need-Based College Scholarships: [01:34 – 02:05]
• Atlanta School Closures Debate: [02:05 – 05:49]
• Local Election Highlights: [06:07 – 07:04]
• Foster Care Housing Update: [07:04 – 07:51]
• Johnny Cash v. Coca-Cola Lawsuit: [07:51 – 08:30]
• Georgia Tech AI Transcript Review: [08:30 – 09:00]
• MLB Drug Testing Update: [09:00 – 09:40]

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Tone & Takeaways

The episode maintains a factual, evenhanded tone but undercurrents of community anxiety and urgency are evident, especially around education equity and political decisions affecting vulnerable populations.

For listeners:
This episode delivers crucial updates on legal, educational, and community issues facing Georgia, spotlighting how legislation, district planning, and new tools like AI are shaping lives statewide.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Fulton county taxpayers could end up paying President Donald Trump's legal fees Atlanta public school enrollment continues to decline and a panel of lawmakers pushes for need based college scholarships saying current options don't get the job done.

[B]

People are still left with 5, 6, 6, 10, $12,000 gap to fill.

[A]

Today is Tuesday, December 2nd. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Fulton county taxpayers could end up footing the bill for President Donald Trump's legal fees In Georgia GPB Sarah Kellis explains a state law passed earlier this year.

[C]

The law says that a county can be ordered to pay attorney's fees for a defendant if the district attorney in the case was disqualified for improper conduct and the case dismissed. That set of circumstances Appl to President Donald Trump and the other defendants in the now dismissed 2020 election interference case brought by DA Fani Willis in Fulton County. Georgia State University Political science professor Tammy.

[B]

Greer says the the glaring part that goes through my mind is what does this say about how we view the criminal justice system? Who the criminal justice system is intended to provide consequences to?

[C]

Trump and the other defendants would have to petition the court to have their legal fees covered for welcome back to GPV News. I'm Sarah Kalis.

[A]

A panel of state senators says Georgia should create a need based scholarship for higher education. Lawmakers looking into college affordability in Georgia released their findings today. Atlanta Democrat Nan Orrock says the state's current merit based HOPE scholarship isn't enough.

[B]

We've invested heavily in the HOPE scholarship and we know now that with the economy and the realities that does not even get the job done. People are still left with fat 6, 10, $12,000 gap to fill.

[A]

Lawmakers will consider legislation to address the policy recommendations when the General assembly convenes in January. School systems in Atlanta's suburbs are growing, but the student population in Atlanta itself is shrinking. That's been the case since the COVID 19 pandemic. As GPB's Amanda Andrews reports that shrinking student population has left Atlanta school leaders and parents with tough choices.

[D]

Parents, students and advocates fill every chair and line the walls at the Atlanta Board of Education meeting in November. People like Claire Dozier are here to speak against the Atlanta Public School redistricting plan. And when you say that sacrifices must.

[E]

Be made, we see that those sacrificed.

[D]

Are black children in communities with the fewest resources. Dozier's talking about Dunbar elementary, one of 16 schools selected to be closed or converted into something else as part of the APS Forward 2040 facilities plan. The new master plan is motivated by shifts in federal funding and demographics in Atlanta, creating budget shortfalls because even as Atlanta's population grows, the city's losing school age children and because every child unenrolled means a missing chunk of federal funding. Lower enrollment leaves APS with less money but the same number of buildings to maintain. Tracy Richter works with the consulting firm leading the redistricting plan. Outside the meeting, he says APS currently has about 20,000 more desks than students to fill them and the new plan will shave off about a quarter of that unused Space.

[F]

It's about 25 million of operational savings annually and it saves about 70 million in deferred maintenance that the district wouldn't have to spend on unneeded square footage. And so those dollars get redirected.

[D]

The money would go towards offering new educational programs across the district.

[F]

By getting the infrastruct and not spending our money on unneeded square footage, we spend it on students, we spend it on teachers, we spend all the resources that students need.

[D]

One plan is to use the money that's maintaining empty desks to focus on performing arts education. APS selected Carver Early College High School to be repurposed into a district wide school of the Arts serving 6th through 12th grade. Monique Nunneley's family has lived on Atlanta's south side for at least three generations. She asks who this development is for.

[E]

For if it's not for the kids that can stare at their front yard at this high school, then you're doing a disservice to my neighborhood because these kids just gonna go and not have what they need. And these are my babies, these are my kids, these are my streets. I live here.

[D]

Students would have to apply to the performing arts school. Applications from the kids in the Carver zone will be given weighted preference, but they're not guaranteed a seat. Nunnelee says the Board of Education should know applications will block south side families from attending the school in their neighborhood. An application is a gatekeeper.

[E]

It's a barrier. It's a roadblock. If you ain't coaching folks all the way through that thing, it's not going to work.

[D]

Atlanta city leaders say the city's divided on a line from northwest to southeast. Southwest of the line are most of the city's black residents, children in poverty and most of the schools on the closure list, which struggle academically. Carver High School, where the performing arts school is planned, is just outside gentrifying Grant park and right on the dividing line border. Nunnally is fighting back even though she believes the plan to convert Carver High School has been decided on.

[E]

Once Atlanta takes over, the Atlanta Way steps in and the powerful, influential establishment folks come to the table and they've decided, I want you, I want this school. I want this to be my experience for my community. I want this thing to happen for my political wins. It's all done.

[D]

The APS Forward 2040 plan predicts closing these schools would save $20 million a year in operational costs. The Atlanta Public School Board of Education will make their final vote on school closures this Wednesday. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[A]

Speaking of Atlanta schools on this runoff Election Day, three Atlanta Public School Board member seats are on the ballot. That includes the at large seat in which candidates Casey Brock and Royce Mann face off in metro Atlanta. Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul is facing a challenger from Dante Carter. It is the second electoral bout between the two. In Gwinnett county, two Democrats are vying to succeed Democratic State Representative Shelley Hutchinson, who resigned her post earlier this year to care for a family member in Cordele. A City Commission candidate, Royce Reeves, is hoping to be returned to office months after governor Brian Kemp suspended him because of an indictment against him on RICO and drug charges. His challenger is Bernard Fenn. Fort Valley, Roswell and Milledgeville are among the other cities holding elections. A metro Atlanta nonprofit is close to opening an apartment complex in Decatur to provide housing for young adults aging out of Georgia's foster care system. GPB's Ellen Eldredge reports.

[G]

The organization Wellroot works with 18 year olds through the state's Transitional Living and Extended Foster Care program. CEO Allison Ash says that with the funding made possible by the state Legislature's Fostering Success Act, Wellroot can serve 24 adults over age 21 if they are pursuing an education.

[B]

Typically, we would serve around 18 through that program. The property, when it opens fully later.

[A]

This month, will have space for 29 young people. So we will be able to keep.

[C]

Youth past their 21st birthday, which we're super excited about.

[G]

There are nearly 11,000 kids in foster care in Georgia, and more than 600 lose access every year at age 18. For GPB news, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[A]

The estate of the country music legend Johnny Cash is suing Atlanta based Coca Cola for allegedly using without permission a voice similar to the iconic musicians for a commercial. In the lawsuit, the John R. Cash Revocable Trust accuses Coca Cola of using a voice remarkably similar to Johnny Cash's in a commercial that began running in August. The trust is suing the beverage giant under Tennessee's Elvis act, which opens up to civil litigation any company that uses the voice of a singer for commercial purposes without getting permission first. In this case, the trust accuses Coke of using a Johnny Cash impersonator, which they argue amounts to infringement on Cash's voice. Coke, Coca Cola has not responded to GPB's request for comment. Georgia Tech this fall is rolling out an AI tool to review the college transcripts of transfer students. The move is expected to replace the need for staff to enter each course manually into a database. The institute's director of enrollment management says AI will allow Georgia Tech to tell applicants more quickly how many transfer credits they'll get, cutting down on uncertainty and wait times. The school hopes to expand the service to all high school transcripts. It comes as some colleges increasingly use AI in admissions, sometimes to a backlash from applicants, parents and students. Schools stress they're not relying on the technology to make admissions decisions, merely using it to reduce data entry tasks and human error. Major League Baseball has released its end of year report on its drug prevention and treatment program. That's the program that aims to catch ballplayers cheating with performance enhancing drugs. Braves outfielder Jurkson Profire received an 80 game suspension last year after testing positive for chorionic gonadotrophin, which is used to mitigate the side effects of anabolic steroids or to boost natural testosterone production. According to this report, Profire was one of only two adverse findings in the entire league dating back to last offseason. MLB conducted all 11,700 drug tests in that period and 57 players received therapeutic use exemptions for otherwise banned substances, and the bulk of those were for treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. That is a wrap on Georgia Today. Come on back tomorrow. Subscribe to this podcast and we will pop up automatically in your podcast feed at about 4:30 or so. And if you would like an update on any of the stories you heard in this podcast today, or if you want to check out the latest headlines, go to gpb.org news your feedback powers what we do at GPB, so we're hoping you will provide some for this podcast. Feedback, story ideas, whatever you've got, send it our way by email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org and I would be remiss if I did not mention that it is giving Tuesday a day when you can support the nonprofits that mean something to you. GPB is a nonprofit and because we mean something to you. We hope you'll make a gift. Now you can do [e-mail] and thank you so much. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.