Georgia Today – December 18, 2025

Host: Orlando Montoya (GPB News)
Main Topics: Georgia Power capacity request, 2020 election phone call, Georgia Access health plans, Next Generation 911, community sports grants, high school football, holiday package delivery

Episode Overview

In this episode, Georgia Today delivers an insightful mix of investigative reporting and community updates. The show examines skepticism surrounding Georgia Power’s major energy expansion request, reviews newly released audio evidence tied to Georgia’s role in the 2020 election, explores the state’s lag in updating its 911 system, highlights efforts to increase youth sports participation, celebrates a high school football record, and provides expert advice on holiday package deliveries amid logistical strains.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Georgia Power’s Data Center Capacity Request

[00:36 – 01:45]

• Issue: Georgia Power requests permission to add nearly 10 gigawatts of new generation capacity due to projected demand from new data centers.
• Skeptical Report: Nonprofits Greenlink Analytics and Science for Georgia used public data and Monte Carlo simulations (hundreds of thousands of runs) to assess this projection.
  • Findings: Only 1 in 500 simulations justified Georgia Power’s forecast; the majority predicted much lower demand.
  • PSC staff analysis also suggests trends justify just a third of the requested increase.
• Quote:
  • “Only 1 in 500 simulations agreed with or exceeded their prediction and then everything else was lower than their prediction.” – Amy Sharma, Science for Georgia ([01:22])
• Context: State Public Service Commission to rule on the request imminently.

2. Recap: 2020 Election Phone Call Release

[01:45 – 02:56]

• Background: The New York Times released audio of a 2020 call between former President Trump and Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, where Trump urges a special legislative session to overturn Georgia’s election results.
• Expert Perspective:
  • Andra Gillespie (Emory University):
    • Immediate political implications are unlikely but this further documents the pressure applied on Georgia officials.
    • Quote:
      • “I think when people have some distance from it, they're going to look at evidence like this phone call to come out and actually provide an accurate record of what happened.” ([02:36])
• Legal Outcome: The case against Trump and 18 others for election interference was dropped last month.

3. Georgia Access Health Plans: Enrollment Drop

[02:56 – 03:54]

• Current Stats:
  • 111,000 new enrollments, less than half compared to last year.
  • 444,000 have maintained their plans.
• Issue: Many are facing increased premiums due to expiring federal tax credits.

4. Modernizing 911: Next Generation Initiatives

[03:54 – 04:42]

• Situation: Georgia is behind in implementing Next Generation 911 (NextGen911), which would enhance emergency response and data accuracy.
• Study Committee Report:
  • Chaired by Rep. Chuck Martin.
  • Recommends modernization without increasing the existing $1.50/month 911 phone bill fee.
  • Current fee generates ~$250 million/year; unclear if this will cover upgrade costs, as other states have spent tens of millions.
  • Local governments will incur their own costs; a constitutional amendment for NextGen911 spending will be drafted for voter approval.
• Quote:
  • “That generates somewhere on the order of a quarter billion a year.” – Rep. Chuck Martin ([04:11])

5. Community & Sports Initiatives

[04:42 – 06:16]

• Delta Air Lines: President Glenn Houston to retire; successor not named.
• Urban Development: Historic Joseph Neel’s Department Store sign in Macon restored in new Neil’s Lofts mixed-use building, marking the area’s first new building in decades.
• Youth Sports Grants:
  • Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to give $6.3 million to six metro Atlanta school districts for sports access and cost reduction.
  • Average family’s annual sports cost: $1,000 (Aspen Institute, 2024).
  • Quote:
    • “And a lot of these parents have to make a choice. Am I going to have my child play sports or am I going to put food on the table?… So we want to do our part in trying to help these kids play sport.” – Chris Millman, AMB Sports and Entertainment ([06:02])

6. High School Football Spotlight

[06:16 – 07:14]

• Title Game: Thomas County Central defeats Gainesville 62–21 for the Class 5A championship.
• Star Player: Deuce Lawrence sets new state rushing record.
  • 39 carries, 380 yards, 5 touchdowns (60 yards above the previous record).
  • Quote:
    • “And of course, this will be remembered as the Deuce Lawrence game. 39 carries, 380 yards, blows away the state record by 60 yards and scores five touchdowns.” ([06:40])
• Team Legacy: Senior class exits with 2 state titles and a 53–3 record.

7. Holiday Package Delivery Challenges

Interview with Chris Gaffney, Georgia Tech
[07:36 – 11:39]

• USPS & Carrier Outlook:
  • Holiday surge boosts demand 30–50% above normal.
  • On-time performance suffers—late deliveries up from ~5% to roughly 7.5%, matching last year’s difficulties.
  • Not all USPS facilities are automated, increasing dependency on manual labor.
  • Quote:
    • “Performance is about 50% worse than it would normally be… I think we're going to see about the same level of experience as prior years.” – Chris Gaffney ([08:05])
• Order Deadlines:
  • Time has likely run out for standard/free shipping to arrive by Christmas; expedited shipping (Amazon, UPS) is now recommended.
  • Tip: Choose expedited options if gifts must arrive by Christmas ([09:20]).
• Third-Party Delivery Surge:
  • Shippers like Amazon and UPS rely more on companies like Roadie, Uber, Lyft, and even their own gig networks during surge periods.
  • Quote:
    • “My own Uber driver told me they had the option of delivering packages to your and my home in this last week.” ([10:06])
• On Delays and Lost Shipments:
  • Less than 1% of packages are truly lost; most delays are one to three days, which matters most at the holidays.
  • Promise dates may not account for unique seasonal surges in hub locations.
  • Quote:
    • “Most cases the packages aren't lost ... the incremental delay is one to three days. And most of the year you're not going to sweat it ... but this time of year, one to three days really matters.” ([10:40])

Memorable Quotes

• On Georgia Power’s prediction:
  “Only 1 in 500 simulations agreed with or exceeded their prediction and then everything else was lower than their prediction.”
  — Amy Sharma, Science for Georgia ([01:22])

• On the 2020 election phone call’s legacy:
  “I think when people have some distance from it, they're going to look at evidence like this phone call to come out and actually provide an accurate record of what happened.”
  — Andra Gillespie, Emory University ([02:36])

• On 911 system funding:
  “That generates somewhere on the order of a quarter billion a year.”
  — Rep. Chuck Martin ([04:11])

• On youth sports costs:
  “Am I going to have my child play sports or am I going to put food on the table?… So we want to do our part in trying to help these kids play sport.”
  — Chris Millman, AMB Sports and Entertainment ([06:02])

• On delivery delays:
  “Most cases the packages aren't lost ... the incremental delay is one to three days. And most of the year you're not going to sweat it ... but this time of year, one to three days really matters.”
  — Chris Gaffney, Georgia Tech ([10:40])

Additional Segment Timestamps

• Georgia Power energy prediction analysis: [00:36 – 01:45]
• 2020 Trump-Ralston phone call context: [01:45 – 02:56]
• Georgia Access health care plans update: [02:56 – 03:54]
• NextGen911 modernization efforts: [03:54 – 04:42]
• Youth sports funding announcement: [04:42 – 06:16]
• High school football recap: [06:16 – 07:14]
• Holiday package delivery interview: [07:36 – 11:39]

Tone and Feel

The tone is clear, informative, and focused on public interest. Orlando Montoya’s delivery is even-handed, with expert voices and field reports offering both data-driven insights and human stories. The show mixes policy, community news, and practical advice in a brisk, no-nonsense style.

This summary provides a comprehensive look at the main news stories and practical takeaways from Georgia Today’s December 18, 2025 episode, reflecting the language and perspectives of the speakers.