Greene on U.S. Senate race; Teacher recruitment; New Dem. Party Chair Charlie Bailey

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary Release Date: May 7, 2025

Host: Peter Biello
Featured Guests: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Charlie Bailey
Topics Covered: Marjorie Taylor Greene's potential U.S. Senate run, teacher recruitment challenges, and Charlie Bailey's leadership as the new Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party.

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1. Marjorie Taylor Greene Considers U.S. Senate Run

Overview: Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared on the episode to discuss the possibility of running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Governor Brian Kemp, who has decided not to seek the position. Greene remains non-committal but hinted at her intentions to continue representing Georgia's conservative values.

Key Points:

• Governor Kemp’s Decision: Greene acknowledged Governor Kemp's choice not to run, expressing well wishes for his future endeavors.

  "[01:18] Marjorie Taylor Greene: We're really wishing Governor Kemp well and his future endeavors."

• Republican Leadership Critique: Greene criticized the Republican leadership in Georgia for neglecting the needs of everyday Georgians, particularly in healthcare infrastructure.

  "[03:15] Marjorie Taylor Greene: ...the Republican leadership of the last 22 years... the fact that they might have to drive two hours to get to an emergency room."

• Electoral Strategy: She emphasized the necessity of electing more Democrats to counteract Republican policies that she believes harm public services and community welfare.

  "[03:33] Marjorie Taylor Greene: ...we're going to have to elect more Democrats."

Notable Quotes:

• On healthcare challenges:

  "[04:16] Marjorie Taylor Greene: ...the choice of Republican leadership has made in this state to not honor and care about everyday Georgians." (04:16)

• On closing hospitals:

  "[03:33] Marjorie Taylor Greene: Over the last 12 years, 12 hospitals have closed in our state... 18 are at risk of closure." (03:33)

2. Challenges in Teacher Recruitment

Overview: The podcast addressed the inefficacy of House Bill 385, a state law aimed at mitigating Georgia's teacher shortage by encouraging retired teachers to return to classrooms. Despite intentions, the initiative saw minimal impact, leaving thousands of teaching positions unfilled.

Key Points:

• House Bill 385 Details: Allowed retired teachers with at least 30 years of service to return with full pay and pension after a one-year hiatus.

• Impact Assessment: Only 350 retirees returned under this bill, starkly contrasting the 6,000 vacant or uncertified positions remaining.

  "[08:00] Peter Biello: A 2022 state law aimed at recruiting teachers out of retirement had minimal effect on Georgia's continuing teacher shortage..." (08:00)

• Legislative Future: Georgia lawmakers are anticipated to revisit and potentially revise the initiative before its expiration next summer to better address the shortage.

Insights: The restrictive requirements of HB 385 suggest a need for more flexible and incentivized approaches to attract retired educators back into the workforce.

3. Charlie Bailey Leads Georgia Democratic Party with Healthcare Focus

Overview: Charlie Bailey, elected as the new Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party with 53% of the vote, discussed his vision to unify the party's moderate and progressive factions. Bailey emphasized healthcare as a cornerstone issue, aiming to expand Medicaid and address public health concerns exacerbated by long-standing Republican policies.

Key Points:

• Unifying the Party: Bailey aims to bridge the gap between moderates and progressives by focusing on relatable issues that affect everyday Georgians.

  "[02:09] Charlie Bailey: Welcome to the program."
  (Note: Transcript attributes some of Bailey’s comments to Marjorie Taylor Greene, likely a transcription error.)

• Healthcare Prioritization: He criticized the Republican stance against Medicaid expansion and highlighted the detrimental impact of hospital closures on rural communities.

  "[03:15] Charlie Bailey: ...the choice of Republican leadership has made in this state to not honor and care about everyday Georgians." (03:15)

• Housing and Infrastructure: Bailey addressed the rising housing costs and the need for Democrats to facilitate the construction of multifamily housing and reduce governmental barriers.

  "[05:30] Marjorie Taylor Greene: ...we need to make it easier to build housing..." (05:30)

Notable Quotes:

• On Medicaid expansion:

  "[03:33] Charlie Bailey: Well, we're going to have to get more Democrats in the General assembly because so far not a sufficient number of Republicans have exhibited the courage to do the right thing for the people of Georgia." (03:33)

• On housing challenges:

  "[05:30] Marjorie Taylor Greene: ...setting up barriers and not making government work is an anathema to again, the whole point." (05:30)

Strategy for Democrats: Bailey emphasized the importance of clear policy contrasts between Democrats and Republicans, focusing on fundamental issues like healthcare, housing, and economic opportunities to garner support from Democrats and independents alike.

4. Additional Highlights

Child Health and Wellbeing Report: A report from Emory University highlighted varied concerns among parents across different demographics, with education and school quality being top priorities. The data underscores the need for targeted policies addressing specific community needs.

Federal Disaster Relief for Farmers: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins announced imminent federal disaster relief for Georgia farmers affected by Hurricane Helene, addressing delays in fund distribution and ensuring timely assistance.

Environmental Concerns in Poultry Industry: Debate arose in Northeast Georgia over the proposed poultry processing plant by Pilgrim's Pride. Environmental groups and residents expressed worries about air and water quality impacts, leading to the exploration of alternative locations and increased scrutiny of wastewater treatment plans.

FIFA World Cup Preparations: Atlanta prepares to host the FIFA World Cup with local festivities such as Decatur Watchfest, enhancing community engagement and leveraging the event to boost local economies and cultural exchange.

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Notable Media Segments:

• Naloxone Awareness: An initial segment encouraged listeners to include naloxone in their first aid kits, emphasizing its role in reversing opioid overdoses without the need for a prescription.

  "[00:00] Charlie Bailey: DBHDD is urging people to ask a pharmacist about getting naloxone..." (00:00)

• Advertisements and External Content: The transcript includes mentions of "Planet Money" and other non-related content, which were omitted from the main summary to maintain focus on pertinent topics.

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Conclusion: The May 7, 2025 episode of Georgia Today delved into significant political shifts within Georgia, highlighting Marjorie Taylor Greene's contemplative stance on a Senate run, the challenges and shortcomings in teacher recruitment, and Charlie Bailey's strategic leadership aimed at unifying the Democratic Party with a strong focus on healthcare and infrastructure. Additional reports shed light on community health, agricultural relief efforts, environmental debates, and cultural events tied to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, painting a comprehensive picture of the current socio-political landscape in Georgia.

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*For more detailed discussions and updates, subscribe to the Georgia Today podcast and visit gpb.org/news.

Transcript

[Charlie Bailey]

DBHDD is urging people to ask a pharmacist about getting naloxone for their first aid kits at home or work. No prescription is needed. Naloxone can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing opioidresponse.info.

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we feature the latest reports from the GPB news team. On today's episode, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene considers but does not commit to a run for U.S. senate. A law designed to recruit teachers doesn't pan out. And the new chair of the Democratic Party in Georgia says health care will be a fundamental issue for his party going forward.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

That's a choice the Republican leadership has made in this state to not honor and care about everyday Georgians and what they deal with and the fact that they might have to drive two hours to get to an emergency room.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Wednesday, May 7th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia today. Now that Governor Brian Kemp has decided not to run for U.S. senate, potential candidates are weighing their options. GPB's Sarah Kalis spoke with one of them, Rome Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Last night. The conservative firebrand remained non committal.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

We're really wishing Governor Kemp well and his future endeavors.

[Steven Patrick]

He's still our governor and he's done.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

A great job as our governor. And of course, that's just a choice that I have to make.

[Peter Biello]

Some Republicans are worried about a potential green bid, believing she'd do well in a GOP primary but not in a general election. Other possible candidates include Congressman Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and Rich McCormick. Incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Jon Ossoff is running for re election.

[Charlie Bailey]

The Democratic Party of Georgia has a new leader, Charlie Bailey, a former candidate for attorney general and lieutenant governor. Elected with 53% of the vote, Bailey aims to unite the moderate and progressive wings of a party that has not held the majority in the Georgia Legislature or the governor's office in more than two decades. Charlie Bailey is with me now to.

[Peter Biello]

Talk about the party's path forward.

[Charlie Bailey]

Welcome to the program.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

Thanks for having me. Peter.

[Charlie Bailey]

You're planning on trying to unite progressives and moderates in the party.

[Peter Biello]

So tell me a little bit about that.

[Charlie Bailey]

How do you plan on going about that?

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

We're going to do what, you know, I think it's foundational to the Democratic Party, which is talk about the issues. You know, the vast majority of people wake up every day and they think about is my kids safe? How are they doing in school? If I get a hospital bill, can I pay it? And all of those things have, you know, increasing level anxiety for the people of Georgia because of the Republican leadership of the last 22 years. And at the heart of the Democratic Party is we fight for and protect the, the dignity of every person and the ability for them to achieve the American dream. And in this state, that's been made harder by Republican leadership. That's how we're gonna unite not just Democrats, but independents and others behind a party that is working to get things done for people and not just line the pockets of billionaires and big corporations.

[Charlie Bailey]

You mentioned healthcare. So let me ask you about Medicaid expansion because that's one thing you've criticized Republicans for preventing, preventing the expansion of Medicaid. Here in Georg, how do you plan on accomplishing the expansion of Medicaid as Democrats? Is it simply a numbers game for you, electing as many Democrats as possible, or is there another strategy you'd like to try?

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

Well, we're going to have to get more Democrats in the General assembly because so far not a sufficient number of Republicans have exhibited the courage to do the right thing for the people of Georgia. You know, Peter, you know this. Over the last 12 years, 12 hospitals have closed in our state. And of the 30 rural hospitals that are open today, 18 are at risk of closure. And that is because of a choice. That's a choice of Republican leadership has made in this state to not honor and care about everyday Georgians and what they deal with and the fact that they might have to drive two hours to get to an emergency room. That's a public policy choice. So we're going to have to elect more Democrats.

[Charlie Bailey]

You've run two campaigns of your own in Georgia. You've lost both of them. But what lessons have you learned about what it takes for Democrats to win in Georgia based on your personal experience?

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

And I will just Note, I got 49% in 2018 against an incumbent and in.

[Charlie Bailey]

So you came close.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

You know, Chris Carr didn't want to give me 49% of the office. So, you know, but, but, but came close and in 2022 had the smallest margin of any Democrat not named Raphael Warnock. I say that to say I understand how to cut into margins.

[Charlie Bailey]

Well, tell me a little bit about how you can cut into those margins. Like what is the thing you need to do?

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

It's along the lines of what we've been talking about. You have to draw a clear contrast. And we are going to draw clear contrast with what our priorities are and what the Republicans have done with the power that they have.

[Charlie Bailey]

Let me ask you about housing, because housing costs are rising across the country, including here in Georgia. Some have accused leaders of blue cities elsewhere in the country of making it too hard to build new housing, whether it's restrictions or laws or environmental, what have you, they're accused of this. I'm wondering if you see this happening in Georgia and if so, what do you think Democrats should do in Georgia going forward to make it easier to build more housing and perhaps lower the cost of it?

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

I think sometimes politicians and some Democrats included in this, get in their own way. They forget that setting up barriers and not making government work is an anathema to again, the whole the whole point. And so we've got to make sure that, yes, we need to have environmental regulation, obviously, we need to make sure things are built safely and according to the kind of parameters where you want to have safe and healthy communities. But the NIMBYism that goes on and we're not immune to it, that's not about protecting people's rights, safety or health. That's about trying to design what you want a particular neighborhood to be be like and that kind of thing. We have got to be the party of expanding those kinds of opportunities and making it easier to build housing, which includes multifamily housing and condos and that kind of thing. And as you got greater density, you got to have that kind of housing so that we cannot be a state where we've got an increased number of people living in their cars that requires public policy decisions to be different than they've been.

[Charlie Bailey]

Oh, Charlie Bailey, new leader of Georgia's Democratic Party, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. We really do appreciate it.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

Thank you.

[Peter Biello]

Peter and Charlie Bailey and I also spoke about workers, young voters and the desire to see more of a fight from Democrats in Georgia. And you can find a full video of our [e-mail] news. An inaugural report from Emory University School of Public Health aims to understand the challenges facing today's kids. GPB's Sophie Gradis has more.

[Steven Patrick]

Nearly 1,000 parents were surveyed this year for the State of Child Health and Wellbeing report across counties and demographics, says researcher Steven Patrick.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

And we asked parents to rank issues.

[Charlie Bailey]

That they were worried about across the board.

[Steven Patrick]

Education and school quality was a top concern, but responses varied. White parents had social media use up top, while Hispanic and black parents were most worried about gun violence. There were some other divides, like in healthcare use and across rural and urban lines. Patrick said the data is a starting.

[Amanda Andrews]

Point and I think what this is.

[Charlie Bailey]

Is a call to action for all of us.

[Steven Patrick]

And there were through lines in the survey only. Only 23% of parents felt confident in school safety and 91% said they support free or reduced lunch at school. For GPB News, I'm Sophie Gradas.

[Peter Biello]

A 2022 state law aimed at recruiting teachers out of retirement had minimal effect on Georgia's continuing teacher shortage. That's according to a report published on Monday by the state Department of Audits and accounts. House Bill 385 allowed retired teachers with three 30 years of service to return to the classroom with full pay and pension provided they sat on the sidelines for one year. The report counted 350 full time retirees employed, a number substantially smaller than the 6,000 positions it reports as vacant or not fully certified. It says the law's requirements are more restrictive than similar laws in other states. Georgia lawmakers are expected to revisit the initiative before the law expires next summer. U.S. agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins says federal disaster relief for Georgia farmers hit hard by Hurricane Helene should begin flowing within weeks. Congress approved a $21 billion aid package in December, but that money has been slow in coming. Pressed on the issue Yesterday by Georgia U.S. senator Jon Ossoff, Rollins said a separate $10 billion emergency commodity assistance program provides an example of how fast her agency can move.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

We on March 17 announced it. On March 20, funds were moving out and into farmers.

[Peter Biello]

When will the portal be open for the disaster?

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

By the end of the month.

[Peter Biello]

Georgia farmers are facing billions of dollars in losses from the storm. Governor Brian Kemp is expected to sign a state level relief package tomorrow. A northeast Georgia community is up in arms about the potential for a new poultry processing plant in town. Food giant Pilgrim's Pride said last week that it would not build a chicken rendering facility in Franklin Springs and would explore locations elsewhere in Georgia. But the city's mayor has vowed to push ahead with a wastewater treatment facility to entice another poultry company. That worries nearby resident Donna Bennett.

[Donna Bennett]

I have a grandbaby that was born premature and we have to be really careful with his lungs, like he can't get lung infections or whatever. I don't think I'd be able to take him outside to play in my yard if that was going on. And this is a half a mile from a state park, a half a mile from a golf course, a quarter mile from Emanuel University.

[Peter Biello]

Northeast Georgia is a hotspot for the state's $6 billion poultry industry, but environmental groups have voiced concerns about its effects on air and water the dust up over the now scuttled Pilgrim's Pride facility has put pressure on Franklin county officials to rescind its wastewater agreement with Franklin Spring.

[Tim Livingston]

Planet Money helps you understand the economy. We find the people at the center of the story.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

Garbage in New York, that was like a controlled substance.

[Tim Livingston]

We show you how money influences everything.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

Tell me what you like by telling me how you spend your money.

[Tim Livingston]

And we dig until we get answers.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

I had a bad feeling you were.

[Charlie Bailey]

Gonna bring that up.

[Tim Livingston]

Planet Money finds out, all you have to do is listen. The Planet Money podcast from NPR.

[Peter Biello]

Atlanta is gearing up to host the FIFA World cup next year in the city of Decatur is making its own plans for soccer fans to watch the games. GPB's Amanda Andrews has more.

[Tim Livingston]

Decatur Watchfest will take place in Decatur Square, broadcasting all 104 World cup games and offering food, drinks and music for soccer fans. Mayor Patty Garrett says the best part is, is the 34 days of festivities are all on top of the Decatur MARTA train station.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

You can be at the official FIFA Fan Fest and matches in downtown Atlanta in less than 15 minutes. You can't drive that fast, let me just tell you.

[Tim Livingston]

MARTA will be running additional trains to and from downtown Atlanta after all eight local matches. The World cup games will begin on June 11, 2026. For GPP JPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Peter Biello]

That is it for Georgia today. We do appreciate you tuning in. And remember, you can find all the latest headlines [e-mail] news. More news will be coming your way tomorrow and you won't want to miss any of it. So make sure you subscribe to this podcast and send us your feedback if you have any. The best way to reach us is by email. That email address is georgia [e-mail] I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

Kickoff for Super Bowl 34.

[Amanda Andrews]

The Titans Rams 2000 Super bowl, an instant classic. Hours after the game, two men were stabbed in the street. Accused of being in the middle. The greatest linebacker in NFL history, Ray Lewis, and two friends are charged with murder. The nation's eyes were glued to their televisions. The trial concluded and the verdicts came back not guilty.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

What you can learn from all this is that big cases make for big mistakes.

[Amanda Andrews]

Look what happened to O.J.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

Simpson. And look what happened in Ray Lewis.

[Amanda Andrews]

Lewis went on to have a Hall of Fame Fame career, but questions around that night in Atlanta still remain. So where do you think they're hiding?

[Donna Bennett]

They know what happened.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene]

They know exactly what happened.

[Amanda Andrews]

After 20 years, it's time to get to the bottom line. Truth From Tenderfoot tv. I'm Tim Livingston, and this is the Raven. Listen for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.