Georgia leaders react to Sydney terror attack; Trump tariffs affect small businesses

Summary

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Episode Overview

Georgia Today’s December 15, 2025 episode covers Georgia leaders’ responses to a tragic anti-Semitic terror attack in Sydney, Australia, the potential impacts of a pivotal Supreme Court voting rights case, the effect of Trump-era tariffs on small businesses in Georgia, and other major state news. The episode features interviews, quotes from public officials, and on-the-ground perspectives from local business owners.

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Major Topics & Key Insights

1. Georgia Reacts to Sydney Anti-Semitic Attack

• [00:43] Host Orlando Montoya reports on the recent terror attack during a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which resulted in at least 16 deaths.
  • Sen. Jon Ossoff (GA): “This brutal attack has shaken the Jewish community in Georgia and nationwide, but Jews refuse to be intimidated by cowardly anti-Semitic violence.”
  • Rabbi Eliyahu Shusterman (Chabad Intown Atlanta): “The way to navigate this is not to negotiate with the darkness but to succeed at shining bright.”
  • Chabad of Georgia Statement: Encouraged public Hanukkah celebration as a show of unity and resilience.

2. Supreme Court Considers Voting Rights Act Case

• [02:08] Reporter Sarah Kalis covers the pending Supreme Court case from Louisiana, which could significantly weaken protections against racial gerrymandering in the Voting Rights Act.
  • Fair Fight (Advocacy Group): Predicts up to 20 Democratic seats in Georgia’s legislature could flip to Republicans if protections are weakened.
  • Lauren Groh-Wargo (Fair Fight Executive Director): “We’re going to need to look at passing things like a state Voting Rights Act and other bills to create a fair representation system in the state.”
  • Timing: Arguments heard this fall, ruling expected by March 31.

3. Health Care Costs & ACA Subsidies

• [02:47] As ACA open enrollment ends, health care affordability takes the spotlight.
  • Sen. Raphael Warnock (GA), on NBC’s Meet the Press: Expresses concern over expiring ACA subsidies, especially impacting rural Georgia.
  • Florence Allen (Business Owner): Describes the risk to rural communities: “If you live in Claxton, Georgia... even if you have wealth and resources and you’re having a stroke and there’s no ICU within a reasonable distance because of these draconian cuts, you are impaired, your life is imperiled.” [03:13]

4. Trump Tariffs & Small Business Pressures

• [04:49] Peter Biello interviews Florence Allen of Williams Fun Smart Toys in Macon about how ongoing tariffs affect her small business.
  • Inventory & Pricing: Allen has absorbed average tariffs of ~15%. She pre-stocked inventory and tries to limit price hikes, but must plan carefully.
    • Quote: “Well, it’s about the same as it was back the last time we talked. I tried to bulk up my inventory before a lot of the tariffs hit, and since that time my average tariff hit is running about 15%. And, you know, we’re making price adjustments where we can.” [05:06]
    • Quote: “We’re trying to keep a handle on it... I wouldn’t say I’m knocking it out of the park this year, but I’m hitting the numbers that I thought I was going to hit this year considering the economic environment we’re in right now.” [05:53]
  • Holiday Season Trends: Little to no growth over last year, but an increase in new local customers and steady sales.
    • Quote: “We hit all our numbers that we hit last year. We were about the same. We didn’t get much of a big bump... More people are shopping local. We are picking up more local customers than it seems like last year.” [06:54]
  • Future Outlook:
    • Quote: “Right now I will say prices are going to have to go up. I may be able to delay that a little bit... The question will be how much of this inventory that’s left come January 1st is sellable inventory to take me into the first quarter, which would be good, or am I going to have to start reordering in mid to late January...” [08:33]

5. Other Georgia News Highlights

Healthcare Recognition and Data

• [09:30] U.S. News & World Report recognizes seven Georgia hospitals for maternity care quality.
  • Jennifer Winston (U.S. News & World Report Data Scientist): “The state’s best maternity care hospitals are hospitals that have met our really high standards for a number of metrics of quality. Most we most heavily weight C section and severe, unexpected newborn complications for that recognition.” [10:11]

Fort Stewart Shooting Case

• [10:39] Sgt. Cornelius Radford to face trial by court martial after August shootings at Fort Stewart.

Disaster Relief Funding

• [11:03] FEMA announces $350 million in disaster relief following Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debbie; additional agriculture aid pending.

World Cup Ticket Prices

• [12:33] FIFA faces backlash as World Cup ticket prices for Atlanta matches range from $140 to over $3,000, much higher than originally promised—a “monumental betrayal,” according to fans.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rabbi Eliyahu Shusterman: “The way to navigate this is not to negotiate with the darkness but to succeed at shining bright.” [00:43]
• Sen. Jon Ossoff: “Jews refuse to be intimidated by cowardly anti-Semitic violence.” [00:43]
• Florence Allen: “If you live in Claxton, Georgia... and there’s no ICU within a reasonable distance because of these draconian cuts, you are impaired, your life is imperiled. You are in trouble. We can do better than this.” [03:13]
• Florence Allen, on absorbing costs: “We’re making price adjustments where we can... We’re trying to keep a handle on it.” [05:06-05:53]
• On the necessity of future price hikes: “Right now I will say prices are going to have to go up. I may be able to delay that a little bit.” [08:33]
• Jennifer Winston: "We most heavily weight C-section and severe, unexpected newborn complications for that recognition." [10:11]

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Timed Topic Guide

• 00:43 – Georgia leaders respond to Sydney terror attack
• 02:08 – Voting Rights Act Supreme Court case implications
• 02:47 – ACA subsidies and health care affordability
• 04:49 – Interview and check-in with small business owner Florence Allen on tariffs and retail challenges
• 09:30 – Recognition of hospitals for maternity care
• 10:39 – Update on Fort Stewart shooting case
• 11:03 – Disaster relief and FEMA aid update
• 12:33 – World Cup ticket pricing controversy

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Conclusion

This episode of Georgia Today delivers a mix of immediate reactions to breaking international events as filtered through Georgia leaders, detailed coverage of legal and economic challenges affecting the state, on-the-pulse reporting from local businesses, and a snapshot of other top local news stories, all in a concise, information-rich format faithful to GPB’s tone and public service mission.

Transcript

[Orlando Montoya]

Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. On this podcast, we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Georgia leaders react to an anti Semitic terror attack in Australia. The US Supreme Court considers a Louisiana voting rights case which could weaken protections against racial gerrymandering. And how are rising prices caused by President Trump's tax tariffs affecting small businesses in Georgia?

[Florence Allen]

I wouldn't say I'm knocking it out of the park this year, but I'm hitting the numbers that I thought I was going to hit this year considering the economic environment we're in right now.

[Orlando Montoya]

This is Georgia Today for Monday, December 15th. I'm Orlando Montoya. Georgia leaders are reacting to the anti Semitic terror attack in Australia. Two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah Sel celebration on Sydney's Bondi beach yesterday, killing at least 16 people in what Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an act of evil anti Semitic terrorism. Georgia US Senator Jon Ossoff wrote in part, this brutal attack has shaken the Jewish community in Georgia and nationwide, but Jews refuse to be intimidated by cowardly anti Semitic violence. One of the victims in the Bandai beach attack was a Chabad emissary, and Rabbi Eliyahu Shusterman of Chabad Intown in Atlanta wrote in part, the way to navigate this is not to negotiate with the darkness but to succeed at shining bright. Chabad of Georgia released a statement encouraging people to attend public Hanukkah celebrations, writing, this is our moment to stand together, to comfort one another and to reaffirm who we are. The U.S. supreme Court is considering a Louisiana case that could weaken a key provision of the Voting Rights act that guards against racial gerrymandering. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports on how a ruling in that case could impact Georgia.

[Sarah Kalis]

Voting rights advocacy group Fair fight says that 20 Democratic seats in the Georgia Legislature could flip Republican if the Voting Rights act is weakened. Fair Fight's executive director Lauren Groargo says she hopes Georgia's legislature will consider making changes at the state level. We're going to need to look at passing things like a state Voting Rights act and other bills to create a fair representation system in the state. But the court heard arguments over the Voting Rights act this fall and will issue a decision by March 31, when their current term ends. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis.

[Orlando Montoya]

As a deadline looms for many Americans choosing health insurance options, Georgia US Senator Raphael Warnock is talking about rising health care costs. Speaking yesterday on NBC's Meet the Press, the Georgia Democrat said he's worried about Affordable Care act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. He pointed to the potential impact of cutting the subsidies in places like southeast Georgia's Evans County.

[Florence Allen]

If you live in Claxton, Georgia, if you live in rural America, even if you have wealth and resources and you're having a stroke and there's no ICU within a reasonable distance because of these draconian cuts, you are impaired, your life is imperiled. You are in trouble. We can do better than this.

[Orlando Montoya]

Congress so far has failed to reach an agreement to extend the subsidies, which lower monthly premiums for millions of Americans. Open enrollment on the ACA Marketplace ends today for coverage beginning January 1st. Northwest Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is among Republicans pushing back against President Donald Trump's shocking comments on the death of beloved actor Rob Reiner and his wife in an apparent homicide. The president today blamed Reiner's killing on the Hollywood icon's outspoken opposition to him. Green, whom Trump branded a traitor for disagreeing with him, responded by saying, this is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies. President Donald Trump's tariffs have made the cost of some consumer products rise. Earlier this year, we spoke with Florence Allen, the owner of Williams Fun Smart Toys in Macon, about what she was doing to prepare her business for the cost hike. Recently, we stopped by her store again to ask her how those tariffs have impacted her business since we last spoke. Here's her conversation with GPB's. Peter Biello.

[Peter Biello]

It's been several months. The tariff situation has changed a variety of times. But let's start broadly. How has it been for you, knowing that a lot of your products come from overseas, come from China, and the tariff situation has been so volatile this year?

[Florence Allen]

Well, it's about the same as it was back the last time we talked. You know, we're just, I'm just carefully picking and choosing what I'm reordering and the quantities and stuff. I tried to bulk up my inventory before a lot of the tariffs hit, and since that time my average tariff hit is running about 15%. And, you know, we're making price adjustments where we can. A few people have commented it's like, well, your prices are not going up as high as other stuff. And I'm like, well, we're, we're trying to keep a handle on it because.

[Peter Biello]

You'Re not increasing prices as quickly as perhaps your competitors. Are you eating some of the lost profit?

[Florence Allen]

Yes, it really is coming down to each individual item as and how the tariff is impacting my cost on that particular item, you know, If I paid 225 for an impulse item and with the tariff, it goes up to 250. I already had a little built in room in there to absorb some of that. But it's when it gets outside of where I feel comfortable trying to absorb that we're going up, but we're also trying to like keep it to the minimum. I wouldn't say I'm knocking it out of the park this year, but I'm hitting the numbers that I thought I was going to hit this year considering the economic environment we're in right now. So we're just, you know, holding our breath and seeing how it looks on Christmas Eve when we close the door.

[Peter Biello]

Compared to last year. How was this year's post Thanksgiving shopping blitz during, you know, the Black Friday events and whatnot?

[Florence Allen]

We were about the same. We hit all our numbers that we hit last year. We were about the same. We didn't get much of a big bump. It looked like we might were headed towards that towards the end of October, early November, but then it kind of leveled out. More people are shopping local. We are picking up more local customers than it seems like last year. And I think part of that is just where I am in middle Georgia is there's a customer base that values and wants to keep the small businesses in their communities going.

[Peter Biello]

You say you're making your numbers and that's great news. Are you making your numbers while selling fewer products that are more expensive?

[Florence Allen]

You know, I really won't know that until I go back at the end of the season and look at things. We've got more people that are coming in on average, probably 10% more that are telling us, hey, this first time I've been in here, I didn't know you were here. I've lived here all my life, so, you know, that's a factor.

[Peter Biello]

It sounds like you've made a variety of adjustments over the course of the year to make sure that your fourth quarter, strong quarter in your calendar is what it should be. But things are going to change in January, as you mentioned. Do you think next year you're going to be able to make similar adjustments to have a similar positive result? Or is it just going to be unavoidable in your view, that just prices are going to have to go way up to make ends meet?

[Florence Allen]

Right now I will say prices are going to have to go up. I may be able to delay that a little bit. It kind of depends on where my inventory levels are in January this year. I don't know. It seems like we're going through our inventory a little bit faster than we usually do in in November and December. The question will be how much of this inventory that's left come January 1st. Is it sellable inventory to take me into the first quarter, which would be good, or am I going to have to start reordering in mid to late January so I can have a good Spring and Easter? I'm going to hold off as long as I can to see what happens.

[Peter Biello]

Florence Allen, owner of Williams Fun Smart Toys and Macon thank you so much for speaking with me again. I really appreciate it.

[Florence Allen]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Orlando Montoya]

That was Florence Allen, the owner of Williams Fun Smart Toys in Macon, talking with GPB's Peter Biello. U.S. news and World Report is recognizing seven Georgia hospitals for maternity care quality and nine for maternity care access. That's more than double last year's number. GPB's Helen Eldridge has more Georgia has.

[Sarah Kalis]

Made significant improvement in low risk cesarean births since last year, but the state still ranks 45th for preterm birth with a rate near 12%. Jennifer Winston is a Health Data Scientist with U.S. news & World Report. She says the state's best maternity.

[Florence Allen]

Care hospitals are hospitals that have met our really high standards for a number of metrics of quality. Most we most heavily weight C section and severe, unexpected newborn complications for that.

[Sarah Kalis]

Recognition. Atrium health in Milledgeville and Rome and Northside hospitals in Canton and Lawrenceville are some of the hospitals who received high ratings for GPV News, I'm Ellen.

[Orlando Montoya]

Eldredge. An army sergeant will stand trial in a military court in the shootings of five people at southeast Georgia's Fort Stewart. Army prosecutors announced on Friday that Sgt. Cornelius Radford will be tried by a general court martial on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and domestic violence. Authorities say Radford opened fire with a personal handgun on members of his supply unit at the military base in August. Four soldiers and a civilian worker were wounded. Officials say the domestic violence charge stems from one of the victims being Radford's romantic partner. No hearings have been scheduled yet. Phone and email messages to Fort Stewart's Trial Defense Service office were not immediately returned. The Federal Emergency Management agency has announced $350 million in funding for relief efforts following Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debbie. The agency's statement on Friday comes two months after U.S. senator Raphael Warnock reported that nearly $500 million in relief was unpaid. The Georgia Democrat said FEMA was withholding $600 million meant for debris removal and repairs. Governor Brian Kemp requested $12 billion in federal disaster funding. Georgia farmers are also weighing $531 million from the U.S. department of Agriculture, pending final.

[Sarah Kalis]

Approval. How does AI even work? Where does creativity come from? What's living longer? TED Radio Hour explores the biggest questions with some of the world's greatest thinkers. They will surprise, challenge and even change you. Listen to NPR's TED Radio Hour wherever you get your.

[Orlando Montoya]

Podcasts. Soccer fans are accusing the sports world governing body of a, quote, monumental betrayal after prices for World cup tickets began circulating last week for matches in Atlanta. The cheapest tickets are listed for $140 as of last Thursday, as listed by FIFA. Those offer seats in the stadium's uppermost section for a pair of group stage games featuring Uzbekistan and South Africa against teams yet to be determined. The highest priced tickets top $3,000 for a semifinal match. FIFA previously claimed $60 tickets would be available for group stage games in the tournament next summer. And back when U.S. soccer was bidding for the tournament seven years ago, the target was $21 tickets. And that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. We have many of the stories that you hear on Georgia Today in greater detail on our webpage. That's gpb.org news we always encourage you to hit subscribe on the podcast that helps you keep current with us in your feed. And we also always encourage you to send feedback good, bad or neutral. Send that our way. Our email address is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Orlando Montoy and I'll be back with you again tomorrow and all this.