Georgia Today Podcast Summary

Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Sophie Gradas (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Major Segments: Senate Runoff, Georgia’s Economic Outlook & Inflation, Hyundai Immigration Raid, Affordable Housing, Heart Disease & Mental Health, Coca-Cola Disinformation, Sports Updates

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today covers a broad range of timely topics affecting Georgia:

• The start of early voting in Fulton and Cherokee counties for a Senate runoff that could hint at shifting political winds.
• Georgia’s slight economic edge over national inflation trends and significant business investments.
• Local impacts of a recent Hyundai plant immigration raid.
• Atlanta’s progress on affordable senior housing.
• New research on the link between mental health and heart disease.
• A revealing interview with Murray Carpenter on his new book exposing Coca-Cola’s efforts to downplay sugar’s health risks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fulton and Cherokee County Senate Runoff ([00:38])

• Early voting begins for a special election to fill the seat of former Senator Brandon Beach (now U.S. Treasurer).
• Candidates: Democrat Deborah Shigley (won nearly 40% in the primary) vs. Republican Jason Dickerson.
• Potential Significance:
  • Democrats view a victory as a sign of growing discontent with President Trump and the possibility of future gains, while Republicans remain confident due to recent wins.
  • The region is traditionally conservative, so results could hint at evolving political dynamics.
• Commentary:
  • “Democrats have performed well in low turnout special elections in recent years, and parties typically perform better locally when they aren’t in control of the executive branch...” (Host, 01:33)
• Notable quote:
  • “It’s unclear whether it means a coming blue wave in the area.” (Host, 01:50)

2. Immigration Raid at Georgia Hyundai Plant ([01:55])

• Raid Results: About 300 Korean workers detained and deported; nearly 200 non-Korean workers remain in legal limbo.
• Family Impact:
  • Rosie Harrison (Grow Initiative) describes panicked calls from families lacking basics like food and baby formula.
  • “Many of the families calling say their detained relatives were the sole breadwinners in the household, leaving them desperate for basics like baby formula and food.” (Host, 02:36)
• Legal Complexity: Some detained workers had legal authorization; others are unaccounted for.

3. Rivian Plant Lawsuit Fees Denied ([03:09])

• Legal Decision: Attempt to force residents who sued to block the Rivian EV plant to pay over $300,000 in fees was rejected.
• Significance:
  • Protects citizens’ ability to challenge government actions without fear of financial penalty.
  • Sets important precedent for public participation in development decisions.

4. Senior Housing Milestone in Atlanta ([03:38])

• Legacy at Eastlake: $35M redevelopment puts Atlanta over halfway toward its 20,000-unit affordable housing goal by 2030.
• All 149 units now affordable for seniors; major upgrades in utilities and amenities.
• Community Focus:
  • “As we develop new affordable housing units, we are developing for the persons who have labored and have been in these communities for years to come.” (Terry Lee – Atlanta Housing CEO, 04:04)
• Reporter: Amanda Andrews

5. Georgia’s Economic Growth & Inflation ([04:28])

• Record Investment: $26.3 billion in new and expanded businesses during the last fiscal year.
• Job Growth: 23,000+ new private sector jobs expected.
• Distribution: 77% of investments outside metro Atlanta, but Atlanta remains a business hub.
• Inflation Factors:
  • Georgia’s unemployment rate is slightly better than the national average (4% vs. 4.3%).
  • Healthcare sector, specifically, cited as a stabilizing force.
  • “Jobs and healthcare has proven to be an anti-recessionary, well-to-do segment...” (Esfandor Masoomi, Emory University, 05:42)
  • High cost of housing remains an issue, and overall affordability has declined even as the inflation rate drops.

6. Mental Health and Heart Disease Study ([06:11])

• New Emory Study: Certain mental health conditions may double the risk of heart disease.
• Integration Challenge: Current healthcare often fails to connect mental and cardiovascular care.
• Call to Action:
  • “Having a heart attack or stroke can trigger a mental health condition...this creates a spiraling of risk, bidirectional spiraling between the mind and the heart.” (Viola Vaccarino, Emory University, 06:40)
• Reporter: Ellen Eldredge

Featured Interview: How Coca-Cola Spreads Disinformation ([07:10]–[14:44])

Guest: Murray Carpenter, author of Sweet: How Coca-Cola Spreads Disinformation and Makes Us Sick
Interviewer: Peter Biello

Journalist’s Investigation Prompt ([07:52])

• Carpenter’s earlier work on caffeine led him to soda, the largest source of dietary caffeine.
• Shifted focus from caffeine health questions to sugar’s impact, especially via sodas.

Disinformation Strategies ([09:05]–[13:10])

• Coca-Cola consistently funds research that presents sugary beverages as harmless.
  • “It’s been a consistent habit of Coca-Cola...to find and support the research that makes the habit of sugar sweetened beverages appear to be more benign than it is.” (Murray Carpenter, 09:05)
  • Industry often supports like-minded researchers, rather than directly influencing research output.
• Disclosure Lapses:
  • Some studies reveal Coca-Cola funding, others don’t.
  • Most impactful ‘exonerating’ research often lacks disclosure.
• Nonprofit Funding for Legitimacy:
  • Coca-Cola funded the Global Energy Balance Network to promote the “calories in, calories out” narrative.
  • “Coca-Cola worked very hard not to have their name on that group...they wanted it to appear to be an independent group.” (Murray Carpenter, 10:40)
• Broader Industry Tactics:
  • Beverage industry supports groups opposing soda taxes under neutral-sounding names.

Debunking “Calories In, Calories Out” ([11:35])

• Outdated Claim: Coke and allies argue all calories are equivalent; recent research shows sugar is metabolized differently, with greater health risks compared to foods with fat, protein, or fiber.
  • “A calorie of sugar is rapidly metabolized...has different effects on your body than a calorie of almonds.” (Carpenter, 12:31)

Policy and Future Solutions ([13:10])

• Carpenter’s View: “I don’t think that the industry is going to do anything. I mean, they’re doing exactly what they need to do, which is sell more product.” (13:10)
• Proven Measures: Advocates support soda taxes and warning labels, which have been successful elsewhere.
• New SNAP/Waiver Policy:
  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. enabling states to bar soda purchases with SNAP (food stamps).
  • Up to 12 states have requested such waivers; outcome will be tracked over 1–2 years.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Coca-Cola’s funding of misleading science:
  • “It’s been a consistent habit of Coca-Cola is to find and support the research that makes the habit of sugar sweetened beverages appear to be more benign than it is.” (Murray Carpenter, 09:05)
• On the incomplete disclosure of industry funding:
  • “Certainly the most impactful research that has sort of exonerated sugar sweetened beverages has often not disclosed that.” (Carpenter, 09:58)
• On calories and metabolism:
  • “What research is increasingly finding is that a calorie of sugar is metabolized quite differently than other products that also have some fat or protein or fiber in them.” (Carpenter, 12:08)
• On policy impacts:
  • “We know that there are things that work to reduce consumption of sugar sweetened beverages: soda taxes work and warning labels work...” (Carpenter, 13:13)

Sports Updates ([14:44])

• Atlanta United Soccer: Eliminated from playoffs after a 5–4 loss to Columbus Crew.
• Atlanta Dream (WNBA): Open first-round win against Indiana Fever, led by Alicia Gray and Ryan Howard.
• College Football:
  • Georgia Tech upsets #12 Clemson with a last-minute field goal.
  • Consequence: School fined $50,000 after a crowd rushes the field; Tech rises to #18 in the AP Top 25.

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------- |------------ | | Senate runoff overview | 00:38 | | Hyundai plant immigration raid | ~01:55 | | Rivian plant lawsuit | ~03:09 | | Senior housing ribbon-cutting | 03:38 | | Economic/inflation report | 04:28 | | Mental health & heart disease | 06:11 | | Coca-Cola/book feature start | 07:10 | | Carpenter interview | 07:52–14:44 | | Sports updates | 14:44 |

Overall Tone and Language

• The reporting is brisk, concise, and data-driven, with a focus on public impact.
• The interview segment adopts a more probing tone, with clear and candid explanations from Murray Carpenter about the misleading tactics of the sugary beverage industry.

Takeaway

This episode provides a comprehensive snapshot of Georgia’s shifting political and economic terrain, shining light on both grassroots and systemic challenges—from immigration and affordable housing to the public health battles surrounding sugar in the American diet. The featured interview with Murray Carpenter is particularly revealing, exposing how a beloved Georgia brand shapes science and public opinion, and spotlighting emerging policy battles that could affect health outcomes across the country.