Reactions to Iran airstrike; Arrest of local journalist; Ga. playwright on Broadway

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary – June 23, 2025

Hosted by Peter Biello | Georgia Public Broadcasting

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1. Georgia Leaders Respond to President Trump's Iran Airstrikes

In the wake of President Trump's decision to carry out U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Georgia's political landscape has been abuzz with reactions from key state leaders.

• Governor Brian Kemp expressed support for the operation, releasing a statement that lauded the mission as "successful" and essential in preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities. [00:51]

• Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene voiced strong opposition, declaring, "I am sick of foreign wars," criticizing the administration's involvement in overseas conflicts. [00:51]

• Public Reaction in Atlanta: Demonstrations erupted in metro Atlanta, with protesters rallying against further U.S. involvement in Iran. Sarah Kalis, reporting for GPB, highlighted the concerns of individuals like Ashlyn Swan, an Iranian American dual citizen, who emphasized the potential for escalation involving Israel. She stated, "I think that is more of a powder keg than anything in and of itself could be sensitive just to Iran." [01:31]

Governor Kemp and his supporters argue that the strikes are a necessary deterrent against nuclear proliferation, while opponents fear increased instability in the region.

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2. Arrest of Local Journalist Mario Guevara Sparks Concerns Over Press Freedom

The detention of Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara by ICE on June 14 while covering a protest in metro Atlanta has ignited alarm among press freedom advocates.

• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Atlanta Press Club have jointly issued a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, labeling Guevara's arrest as "chilling" and calling for his immediate release. [02:08]

• Mike Jordan, Chair of the Atlanta Press Club's Board of Directors, emphasized the organization's commitment to a free press: "We think that speaks directly to our mission... we would like to see more thorough review and better treatment of journalists in Atlanta and beyond." [02:40]

• When questioned about the potential chilling effects on journalists, Jordan asserted, "We are not a group of people that are easily backed down... we are going to do our job to keep the public informed." [05:31]

Guevara, who is not a legal permanent resident but holds authorization to work in the U.S., has faced misdemeanor charges related to his reporting activities. The Atlanta Press Club remains steadfast in its support, advocating for fair treatment and the protection of journalistic integrity.

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3. Georgia Playwright Reinvents "The Crucible" with a Modern Twist on Broadway

Georgia-native and Emory University professor Kimberly Bellflower has made waves on Broadway with her innovative production, "John Proctor as the Villain." This reinterpretation of Arthur Miller's classic play infuses contemporary elements, including a MeToo perspective and Y2K pop influences.

• Sarah Kalis describes the audience's engagement: "Seeing all of these characters that you can relate to... that's really powerful to see happen." [01:31]

• The play features Sadie Sink, known for her role in Stranger Things, and delves into complex themes of power dynamics and sexual assault within a North Georgia high school setting. Bellflower explains her approach: "I assign her plays characters Southernisms without burdening them with stereotypes... depicting them with humanity and dignity." [11:56]

• The production culminates with Lorde's "Greenlight", symbolizing empowerment and resilience, as characters navigate trauma and liberation. Bellflower notes, "We have to show up for each other... harness my pain and turn it into something good." [14:37]

Despite not securing any Tony Awards, the play has ignited meaningful conversations among young audiences about consent, authority, and personal agency.

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4. Funding Cuts Threaten Georgia's National Parks

Supporters of Georgia's national parks are raising concerns over proposed budget cuts under President Trump's mega bill, which threatens to reduce the National Park Service's staff funding by $250 million.

• Preston Goddard, Southeast Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Alliance, highlighted the strain on park operations: "It's a matter of a person having to do the job of two or three to now having to do it for four or five." [07:29]

• Goddard encouraged community involvement, urging supporters to join local park friends groups and contact their congressional representatives to advocate for adequate funding. [07:45]

Georgia's 11 National Park Service units, including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Cumberland Island National Seashore, saw approximately 7 million visitors in 2023. Continued funding is crucial to maintaining these beloved natural resources.

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5. Restoration of Savannah’s Historic Forsyth Park Fountain Underway

Efforts to restore Savannah's iconic Forsyth Park fountain have commenced, marking the first major renovation since 1988. The project involves meticulous disassembly and restoration of the fountain's ornate ironwork.

• Sarah Kalis reports on the restoration process: "Removing that alone is going to give this such more depth and more character... the detail has been lost." [08:55]

• Greg Jacobs from Landmark Preservation elaborated on the restoration techniques, emphasizing the application of "nearly 40 coats of paint" to enhance the fountain's appearance. [08:55]

The $650,000 project is expected to conclude by year’s end, ensuring the preservation of this antebellum landmark for future generations.

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6. Georgia’s Healthcare System Ranked 45th in the Nation

A recent report from the Commonwealth Fund has positioned Georgia’s healthcare system at 45th nationally, citing issues in access, affordability, and disease prevention.

• Sarah Kalis highlighted critical findings: "Georgia saw higher rates of breast cancer deaths than the rest of the country." [09:52]

• Sarah Collins from the Commonwealth Fund stressed the impact of inadequate health insurance: "If you don't have health insurance coverage, it is nearly impossible to get regular cancer screens." [09:52]

The report pointed to challenges in Medicaid enrollment and stringent work requirements within the state's Pathways to Coverage program, underscoring the need for comprehensive healthcare reforms in Georgia.

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7. Atlanta Drivers Plummet in National Road Safety Rankings

According to Allstate's 2025 report, Atlanta ranks 189th out of 200 U.S. cities for driving safety, with drivers being 67% more likely to be involved in a crash compared to the national average—a slight improvement from the previous year.

• Sarah Kalis noted the severity of the ranking: "Atlanta drivers are more than 67% more likely to get into a crash than the national average." [10:36]

In comparison, Boston fares worse, with drivers there being 244% more likely to crash. The report highlights ongoing challenges in traffic management and road safety education within Atlanta.

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8. Sports Update: Braves vs. Mets Showdown

The Atlanta Braves are set to face the New York Mets, with Spencer Schwellenbach pitching on the mound. This follows a recent three-game series loss to the Miami Marlins, placing the Braves 11 games behind the National League East leaders. The team looks to rebound as they host a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies starting Friday. [16:53]

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Conclusion

June 23, 2025, on Georgia Today encapsulated a diverse array of topics affecting the Peach State, from international military actions and local press freedoms to cultural innovations and public safety concerns. Host Peter Biello provided insightful coverage, enriched by interviews and on-the-ground reporting, ensuring listeners remain well-informed on the issues that matter most to Georgia residents.

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For more updates and detailed reports, visit gpb.org/news.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

DBHDD is urging Georgians to store and lock away all medications to prevent theft and keep them away from children and pets. Old medications can be disposed of at Dropbox locations. Dropbox locations can be [e-mail] welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Georgia leaders react to President Trump's bombing of Iran. Local press advocates sound the alarm over a journalist's arrest in metro Atlanta. And a Georgia playwright's new production puts a millennial spin on the Broadway musical.

[Sarah Kalis]

Seeing all of these characters that you can relate to and you can kind of pick out who represents you the most, that's really powerful to see happen.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Monday, June 23rd on I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Georgia leaders are reacting after President Trump announced U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Governor Brian Kemp released a statement thanking the president for a successful operation. ROME Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the bombings, saying she was sick of foreign wars. In the streets of Atlanta on Sunday, protesters gathered in opposition. GPB Sarah Kalis has more.

[Sarah Kalis]

Demonstrators say they do not want to see any additional US Involvement in Iran. Ashlyn Swan is an Iranian American dual citizen and she says the situation is nuanced. Say that for me personally, I think the scariest thing is really just for the potential of escalation due to the involvement of Israel in the U.S. i think that is more of a powder keg than anything in and of itself could be sensitive just to Iran. Supporters of the strikes, like Governor Brian Kemp say they were necessary to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallis in Atlanta.

[Peter Biello]

A Spanish language journalist remains in ICE custody after being arrested while covering a protest in metro Atlanta earlier this month. The arrest of Mario Guevara on June 14 while he was working as a journalist has alarmed press freedom advocates. The Committee to Protect Journalists, along with the Atlanta Press Club have sent a letter to the U.S. department of Homeland Security calling his arrest chilling and demanding his release. Mike Jordan is chair of the Atlanta Press Club's board of directors and he's with me now. Welcome to the program.

[Mike Jordan]

Thanks for having me, Peter.

[Peter Biello]

So why did the Atlanta Press Club want to sign on to this letter?

[Mike Jordan]

The Atlanta Press Club's mission is serving the evolving professional, educational and social needs of the media community here. And we're fostering journalistic excellence, advancing the public's interest in and the understanding of a free press. And so when we talk about a free press. What? Talking about a local journalist here. Mr. Guevara is an Atlanta journalist. This happened in the Atlanta area, and it is important to our organization to speak out whenever situations like these arise and a member of the press is detained. We think that speaks directly to our mission. And we were in contact with CBJ and we said that this is something that we believe in. And our board decided that we wanted to sign on to their letter because we are in solidarity with this situation and we would like to see more thorough review and better treatment of journalists in. In Atlanta and beyond.

[Peter Biello]

What is your understanding of what happened on that day, June 14th?

[Mike Jordan]

Well, my understanding is that he was detained. We are still looking at the facts. But this was covering a protest in the Embry Hills neighborhood. So understand that they're saying that there were several misdemeanor charges filed, some even in previous situations, before he was taken into ICE custody. So we're still awaiting any sort of resolution. We understand that removal proceedings are still in play. So we're waiting like everyone else to see what's happening here. But our understanding is that he was taken into custody. He was improperly entering a roadway. They're saying he obstructed law enforcement officers and there was unlawful assembly. But we don't believe that those charges are justified. And that's why we signed on to the letter from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

[Peter Biello]

Regardless of what the government is trying to do, what message do their actions send, in your view, to journalists trying to cover ICE in the United States?

[Mike Jordan]

Well, they seem to be in conflict with the idea of a Free Press, Mr. Guevara, just like all of the great working journalists that cover protests and anything happening in Atlanta, whether it is related to ICE and whether it is related to the current administration or anything else, we're there to do a job. We're there to inform the public. We are there for the better understanding of how a free press operates. So this falls right into our wheelhouse of what we want to defend, of what we advocate for and what we want to see happen, which is journalists being able to keep democratic society informed and to let people know what's going on in their neighborhoods and communities and beyond. And being connected to a wider network of journalism organizations such as cpj, it helps us to know that we are not alone, such as Mr. Guevara is not alone, and we're all here to advocate and support him and other journalists who may be going through similar situations just doing their jobs.

[Peter Biello]

Whether or not Mr. Guevara is released from detention. Does the fact of his detention instill a chilling effect to some extent on those who are working press?

[Mike Jordan]

Well, I would say that individual members of the press probably have their own feelings and situations. Not everyone covers the same beat. But the job of media is not a job that is always understood. And a lot of times we are put in positions to where we put ourselves, not necessarily in harm's way, but in the way of activity as it's going on. So this is not the first time that journalists have been detained. We don't want to see it happen ever. But I would say in terms of a chilling effect, what I would say we are as an industry, as a community of journalists, of people who report on news and share that information. We are not a group of people that are easily backed down. This is a job that is relied upon the American people, the citizens of Atlanta and Georgia, they rely on our journalists to keep them informed. And that's exactly what we're going to do. So I would tell you that I personally feel no chilling effect. And I can tell you that the Atlanta Press Club board is behind this effort to make sure that Mr. Guevara is treated fair and we want his freedom and we want to see all journalists to not have any sort of situation that would put them in the way of being afraid and intimidated to do their job, which is informing the American press of what's happening in their communities.

[Peter Biello]

Mike Jordan is chair of the Atlanta Press Club's Board of directors. Thank you so much for speaking with me. I appreciate it.

[Mike Jordan]

Always a pleasure.

[Peter Biello]

Peter Guevara is not a legal permanent resident but has authorization to work in the United States. You can follow developments on this [e-mail] News Georgia based supporters of America's national parks are sounding the alarm about funding cuts. Under President Trump's proposed mega bill, the National Park Service stands to lose a quarter billion dollars in staff funding. That's according to the nonprofit National Parks Conservation alliance, ebony. Preston Goddard is the group's Atlanta based Southeast regional director.

[Sarah Kalis]

It's a matter of, you know, a person having to do the job of two or three to now having to do it for four or five. And so as a system values people, the visitors that are coming, it's going to be really hard to manage with any fewer folks. And they were already pretty understaffed.

[Peter Biello]

About 7 million people visited Georgia's 11 National Park Service units in 2023, according to the latest agency figures. Those extend from the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in the Georgia Mountains to Cumberland Island National Seashore on the coast. Preston Goddard has her favorites.

[Sarah Kalis]

I'm in Atlanta. I mean, Martin Luther King Jr. Is certainly in my backyard. But I'll go ahead and tell you a little secret. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield park in Kennesaw. You go to Pigeon Hill. They have one of the most gorgeous hikes that you would never think that you are in the metro Atlanta area. The views are just absolutely amazing. So if you haven't been, I encourage.

[Peter Biello]

You to do so. She urges park supporters to get involved with local park unit friends groups and contact their members of Congress. And what is your favorite National Park Service unit in Georgia? Do you know a spectacular trail or viewpoint that feels like your secret? If you can tell us your secret, email us georgia todaypb.org Crews in Savannah began disassembling the city's iconic Forsyth park fountain today. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports. It's the first step in a major restoration of the antebellum landmark.

[Sarah Kalis]

After a few rusty bolts were removed from the statue of a robed woman topping the fountain, a towering crane carefully hoisted her onto a flatbed truck below. Each piece of the fountain, built in 1858, will get hauled to a repair shop in Alabama, where a contractor will sandblast and restore the ornate ironwork. Greg Jacobs is with Landmark Preservation, a consultant on the project. It's going to look a lot crisper with nearly 40 coats of paint. You can expect that a lot of the detail has been lost, so removing that alone is going to give this such more depth and more character. You're going to be able to see the details. This marks the first major restoration of the Forsyth park fountain since 1988. The $650,000 project is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.

[Peter Biello]

A new report from the Commonwealth Fund ranks Georgia's health care system 45th overall in the nation. GPB's Ellen Eldredge reports on the findings.

[Sarah Kalis]

The ranking looked at health care access, affordability and disease prevention. Among other things, it found Georgia saw higher rates of breast cancer deaths than the rest of the country. Like other diseases, breast cancer is considered a mostly preventable form of mortality because screening is available. Sarah Collins with the Commonwealth Fund says many Georgians cannot afford coverage if you don't have access to providers because you don't have health insurance coverage, it is nearly impossible to get regular cancer screens, she says. The state's Pathways to Coverage program also enrolled fewer people in Medicaid and citing stronger work requirements for GPB news. I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Peter Biello]

Atlanta Drivers have landed near the bottom of a new national ranking for road safety, according to Allstate's 2025 report on the 200 riskiest U.S. cities for driving, Atlanta ranks 189th. That's worse than all but 11 cities. The report says. Atlanta drivers are more than 67% more likely to get into a crash than the national average, and that's down 10 spots from last year. For comparison, Boston came in dead last with drivers there 244% more likely to crash.

[Sarah Kalis]

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

[Peter Biello]

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

[Sarah Kalis]

We show you how money influences everything. Tell me what you like by telling me how you spend your money. And we dig until we get answers. I had a bad feeling you're gonna bring that up. Planet Money finds out. All you have to do is listen. The Planet Money podcast from npr.

[Peter Biello]

A Georgia playwright and college professor is luring teens to Broadway with the theatrical production John Proctor as the Villain. Inspired by a 70 year old play and Y2K pop songs, GPB's Christy York Wooten tells us more from New York and Atlanta.

[Sarah Kalis]

A line of theatergoers snakes through Schubert Alley on a wet Tuesday in May ahead of the evening performance of John Proctor as the Villain. The Broadway hit was written by Georgia native and Emory University professor Kimberly Bellflower, who was inspired to add a MeToo twist to Arthur Miller's allegorical classic the Crucible, which, by the way, premiered a couple hundred feet down 45th street back in 1953. What if both things can be true? What if multiple things are true at the same time? What if in the Crucible, John Proctor does take very moral, essential stands against falsehoods. And also he's incredibly misogynistic and abusive to the other women in the play. And it's like both of and just like in my play, you know Mr. Smith, the teacher character, he's a great teacher. He has positively impacted many lives of his students over the years. And also he's a predator. The play features 22 year old Atlanta film Stranger Things star Sadie Sink and was nominated for seven Tony Awards. Although John Proctor as the villain took home no hardware at the ceremony earlier this month, its fictional portrayal of power dynamics and sexual assault, set in a North Georgia high school classroom, has electrified discussions around how young women process trauma. I think like seeing all of these characters that you can relate to and you can kind of pick out who represents you the most that's really powerful to see happen and also just the overall message. It's just all like a real celebration of girlhood. At their seats, teens and parents chat loudly over a pre show playlist of hits from the 2010s. And when Robyn's Dancing on My Own ramps up, a multi generational sing along ensues. I'm in the corner watching you kiss her. Oh, I'm right over here. Bellflower grew up in White County, Georgia, and assigns her plays characters Southernisms without burdening them with stereotypes. When I'm writing about Southerners and when I'm writing about teenagers, I just love both of those populations of people so much that I feel like it's not a huge effort to depict them with humanity and dignity and complexity because that's how I see them, because that's how they are. Then when I am workshopping a script, and this script in particular, I'm always very conscious of how people who are not from the south encounter these characters. And so I want to make sure, like, oh, is there anything that, like, I just wasn't conscious of as I'm kind of mapping out the world, the climax arrives in the form of New Zealand singer Lorde's 2017 anthem Greenlight, in which the traumatized yet newly liberated classmates dance wildly to pulsating lights.

[Mike Jordan]

I wish I could get my things and just.

[Sarah Kalis]

John Proctor as the villain taps into a pre pandemic mood of America that evokes deep emotions with the current state of the world. Yet the air in the theater is so thick with pheromones and realizations of empowerment, one leaves the play feeling like they just left hot yoga with an agenda. What that song means to me is like what it is to be an artist and to move through something painful or traumatic and reach the other side of that experience and be like, oh, I'm gonn out of that. I'm gonna like harness my pain and turn it into something good. I think that's what Shelby and Raelyn, the characters in my play, are doing in that final moment there. You know, like, the institutions aren't going to protect us. The school didn't protect us. Our parents didn't protect us. The church didn't protect us. So, like, we have to show up for each other. For GPB News, I'm Chris Djorg Wooten.

[Mike Jordan]

In Atlanta, but I hear sound in my.

[Peter Biello]

In sports, the Braves face the Mets in New York tonight with Spencer Schwellenbach on the mound. Over the weekend, the Braves lost the three game series to the Marlins in Miami two games to one. The Braves are 11 games out of first place in the National League east behind both the Mets and the first place Phillies. The Braves host a three game series against the Phillies for their next home stand starting on Friday. Thanks so much for choosing Georgia Today as your source for news about what's happening in the Peach State. We do appreciate you tuning in. We hope you'll come back tomorrow. Make sure you subscribe to this podcast and check gpb.org news for all the updates on the stories you heard today, as well as news stories from our reporters constantly posting new ones there. If you've got feedback, send us an email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org When you email that address, it goes to the whole team. Again, Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[Sarah Kalis]

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

[Peter Biello]

Garbage in New York that was like a controlled substance.

[Sarah Kalis]

We show you how money influences everything. Tell me what you like by telling me how you spend your money and we dig until we get answers. I had a bad feeling you're gonna bring that up. Planet Money finds out. All you have to do is listen. The Planet Money podcast from NPR.