Shutdown now longest in U.S. history; Ga. Gubernatorial candidates pitch to voters

Summary

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Georgia Today – November 6, 2025

Host: Peter Biello (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Main Themes:

• Longest government shutdown in U.S. history and the effects on Georgia communities
• Governor’s race preview: 2026 candidates pitch policies
• Rome International Film Festival features Napoleon Dynamite creators

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Episode Overview

This episode covers the ongoing federal government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—exploring its impact on Georgia’s most vulnerable, specifically those relying on safety net food programs. It also features a recap of the recent Georgia gubernatorial candidate forum, with an emphasis on affordability, and spotlights the Rome International Film Festival, including a candid interview with Jerusha Hess, co-creator of Napoleon Dynamite.

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Breakdown of Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Longest Federal Government Shutdown: Real Life Consequences

[00:36–04:25]

• Direct Impact on Food Programs
  • The shutdown has halted federal funding for programs like SNAP/Emergency Food Assistance, straining families and food pantries across Georgia.
• Personal Stories from Atlanta and Jefferson
  • Karen Stewart in Sweet Auburn, Atlanta is stretching her $23 monthly EBT. (01:12–01:27)
    • “That $23 made a big difference. It didn’t have to come out of my pocket.” – Karen Stewart (01:24)
    • Relies now more on food pantries; calls for leaders to reach consensus:
      • “People are hurting and that they need to try to come to some agreement as quickly as possible because a whole lot of people are hurting a lot worse than I am.” – Karen Stewart (01:50)
  • Bernice Jackson in Jefferson, runs a food pantry that can’t meet soaring demand. Thanksgiving donations are crucial.
    • “I’ve worked other food banks... and I’ve never seen it this bad.” – Bernice Jackson (02:23)
    • Timothy Williamson, pantry user:
      • “You know, if it wouldn’t be for them, sometimes I wouldn’t have food.” (02:56)
      • On losing SNAP: “She don’t have no food... with me and my sister and with the churches. They’ll help out, but that’s not enough.” (03:13)
• Food Bank Perspective from Middle Georgia
  • Cathy McCollum, CEO, says usual hunger is bad and now unmanageable:
    • “I would need seven warehouses like this full of food.” – Cathy McCollum (03:38)
    • Emphasizes that direct cash donations are most helpful for buying food in bulk.
    • “The fastest way for us to be able to help is to be able to take dollars that are donated to us, spend that at wholesale prices on large quantities of food.” (04:15)

2. Local and Corporate Responses

[04:36–05:26]

• Atlanta’s Fulton County Assistance
  • Commissioners allocate $700,000 to nonprofits and senior programs; moratorium on water shutoffs.
• Delta Air Lines Adapts
  • Continues flights, offers flexibility for travelers impacted by shutdown.

3. Georgia Gubernatorial Candidates: Affordability in the Spotlight

[05:26–06:39]

• Democratic Candidates
  • Keisha Lance Bottoms leads with 40% per AJC poll, focuses on housing, food, and gas:
    • “Affordability is a huge issue. It means we’ve got to expand affordable housing in this state. We’ve got to make sure that people can put food on their table and gas in their car.” – Keisha Lance Bottoms (05:38)
• Notable Republican Candidates
  • Brad Raffensperger (Secretary of State), polls second at 15%, emphasizes jobs:
    • “The best way, really, I feel, of addressing affordability, number one is creating great paying jobs. Great paying jobs solves a lot of issues.” – Brad Raffensperger (06:11)
  • Bert Jones and Kris Carr also noted; Bert Jones absent due to scheduling.

4. Rome International Film Festival: Napoleon Dynamite Filmmakers Honored

[06:39–12:26]

• Highlights of the Festival
  • US premiere from horror director Josh Waller
  • Spotlight on Georgia productions
  • Flannery O’Connor Award for Jared & Jerusha Hess (Napoleon Dynamite creators)
• Interview with Jerusha Hess [conversation: 07:16–12:21]
  • On the festival:
    • “It just seems like a very cool film festival and a vibrant city. And so we were pumped to hear about this award. I say we because my husband and I share everything.” – Jerusha Hess (07:16)
  • On collaborating with husband Jared:
    • “We’re kind of lazy writers. We write for maybe two to four hours a day and then we’re like, okay, let’s go get lunch. So we find ways to reward ourselves when we get pages done.” (07:53)
    • “There’s tears and screaming, but I think that just makes it better. I think someone you trust can trash your work and you’re like, oh yeah, I see, let’s go a different way…” (08:27)
  • On Napoleon Dynamite origins:
    • “Jared originally wanted Napoleon Dynamite to be a story about a kid who was into sci fi… There was some extraterrestrial elements and government conspiracies… I kept telling him, like, hey, we have zero dollars to make this movie. Let’s just do Slice of Life.” (09:02)
  • On Napoleon Dynamite’s enduring popularity:
    • “It’s wild. It doesn’t even feel like our movie anymore. It feels like the world’s movie.” (09:47)
  • On new projects and family-friendly films:
    • “We love making independent films… Small, weird, quirky stories of characters we haven’t seen.” (10:55)
    • “We make movies that the entire family watches, and yet it’s the adults that are like, that was so odd. We loved it.” (11:29)
  • Influence of upbringing and parenthood:
    • “We grew up Mormon, and I think that definitely influenced the films we were watching and what we wanted to put out there… We have four children… and we want to make movies that they enjoy.” (11:57)

5. Other News Highlights

[12:28–end; not detailed in transcript but summarized]

• Atlanta Symphony Orchestra extends Music Director Nathalie Stutzman’s contract
• Gerardo Tata Martino returns as Atlanta United coach
• Atlanta Braves Holdings posts robust revenue growth

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Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker & Quote | |-----------|-----------------| | 01:24 | Karen Stewart: “That $23 made a big difference. It didn’t have to come out of my pocket.” | | 01:50 | Karen Stewart: “People are hurting and that they need to try to come to some agreement as quickly as possible because a whole lot of people are hurting a lot worse than I am.” | | 02:23 | Bernice Jackson: “I’ve worked other food banks... and I’ve never seen it this bad.” | | 02:56 | Timothy Williamson: “You know, if it wouldn’t be for them, sometimes I wouldn’t have food.” | | 03:38 | Cathy McCollum: “I would need seven warehouses like this full of food.” | | 04:15 | Cathy McCollum: “The fastest way for us to be able to help is to be able to take dollars that are donated to us, spend that at wholesale prices on large quantities of food.” | | 05:38 | Keisha Lance Bottoms: “Affordability is a huge issue... make sure that people can put food on their table and gas in their car.” | | 06:11 | Brad Raffensperger: “The best way... of addressing affordability, number one is creating great paying jobs...” | | 09:02 | Jerusha Hess: “Jared originally wanted Napoleon Dynamite to be a story about a kid who was into sci fi… I kept telling him... Let’s just do Slice of Life.” | | 09:47 | Jerusha Hess: “It’s wild. It doesn’t even feel like our movie anymore. It feels like the world’s movie.” | | 11:29 | Jerusha Hess: “We make movies that the entire family watches, and yet it’s the adults that are like, that was so odd. We loved it.” | | 11:57 | Jerusha Hess: “We grew up Mormon, and I think that definitely influenced the films we were watching and what we wanted to put out there.” |

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:36–04:25 – Effects of government shutdown on Georgia families/pantries
• 04:36–05:26 – Local government and corporate response (Fulton County, Delta, etc.)
• 05:26–06:39 – Gubernatorial candidate forum: affordability and policy
• 06:39–12:26 – Rome Film Festival; conversation with Jerusha Hess

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode strikes a tone of urgency and compassion as it presents the stories of those impacted by the shutdown. The candidate forum segment is brisk, highlighting the focus on economic pain points. The film festival interview is lively, friendly, and candid, showing the creative process behind beloved independent films.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode of Georgia Today delivers an on-the-ground look at the record-breaking government shutdown’s effect on Georgia’s struggling families and the community’s response, sharpens the lens on political leaders vying for 2026 gubernatorial nominations with a focus on affordability, and offers an engaging glimpse into the creative partnership behind Napoleon Dynamite, celebrating the persistence of indie film storytelling in Georgia.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode. The ongoing government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history. Georgia gubernatorial candidates pitched to voters ahead of the 2026 election. And this year's Rome International Film Festival features the makers of Napoleon Dynamite, who share a bit about what didn't make the final cut.

[B]

There was some extraterrestrial elements and, and government conspiracies, and it was just too big of a movie. And I kept telling him, like, hey, we have zero dollars to make this movie. Let's just do Slice of Life.

[A]

Today is Thursday, November 6th. I'm Peter Biello, and this is Georgia Today. The federal government shutdown, the one we're living through right now, is officially the longest in U.S. history. And that means safety net programs like those that help people afford food have, have lost federal funding. GPB reporters went out to hear from people hurt by the shutdown and the people trying to take up the slack.

[C]

I'm Sarah Kalis in Atlanta. In Atlanta's Sweet Auburn neighborhood on a recent Monday, Karen Stewart walked to the new low cost market to spend the last of this month's EBT card balance.

[D]

I do a lot of fresh produce, some meat items. I don't do a whole lot of meat items.

[C]

Stewart. Stewart receives $23 a month, which she says is hard to stretch.

[E]

But that $23 made a big difference.

[D]

It didn't have to come out of my pocket.

[C]

That's the point of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Stewart says that she's trying to cut back on other spending as much as she can now that more money for food needs to come out of her pocket and rely on food pantries like the one at Ebenezer Baptist Church where Senator Raphael Warnock is pastor. Stewart says leaders like Warnock need to fix this.

[D]

People are hurting and that they need to try to come to some agreement as quickly as possible because a whole lot of people are hurting a lot worse than I am.

[F]

In Jefferson, just outside Athens, Bernice Jackson loads dry goods into paper bags, pasta, canned fruit and toilet paper. The pantry is open only two days a week for a couple hours a time. But Jackson says lately supply cannot keep up with demand.

[B]

Been at this food bank two years.

[D]

I've worked other food banks, Hebrew and Barnabas, and I've never seen it this bad.

[F]

The paper bags have been lighter than.

[D]

Normal, which isn't good because you're not supposed to last them a month.

[F]

Small pantries like this rely on donations from regional food banks that get federal money and from retailers here. Volunteers say the nearby Publix plays a big role, But Jackson says 75% of their supply for the winter actually comes from an annual Thanksgiving food drive. Jackson says if people want to help, that's the time to do it.

[A]

Thank you.

[G]

Beautiful.

[F]

It would help out pantry regular Timothy Williamson.

[G]

You know, if it wouldn't be for them, sometimes I wouldn't have food.

[F]

Williamson loads two bags into his car. He'll sort out the supplies at home and split them with his mom, who normally gets $125 a month in SNAP benefits. I ask him what happens if she doesn't get any in November.

[G]

She don't have no food. You know, I will help out as much as I can with me and my sister and with the churches. They'll help out, but that's not enough.

[F]

For GPB News, I'm Sophie Gradas in Jackson County.

[D]

Middle Georgia Community Food Bank CEO Cathy McCollum says even in normal times, about a quarter of the people in Macon struggle with hunger. And now a November without food stamps.

[E]

Somebody asked me the other day, so what are you doing to prepare for this? And I said I would need seven warehouses like this full of food, during.

[D]

A press conference to announce a $150,000 donation from Mickinbit county government to the food bank. Most of the shelves were bare and shipping pallets were few at the loading dock. McCollum says many in the community are aware of. And while she appreciates the proceeds from the food drives popping up around town.

[E]

It does require us to do some sorting when it gets back to the food bank.

[D]

And sometimes the donations won't work for people with diabetes or other health issues.

[E]

So the fastest way for us to be able to help is to be able to take dollars that are donated to us, spend that at wholesale prices on large quantities of food.

[D]

She says the $22,000 she just spent on spaghetti noodles might keep enough of that around to make it to December. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon.

[A]

Commissioners in Atlanta's Fulton county have approved $700,000 to help with the loss of SNAP benefits for county residents. The money will go to 9 non profits that already have existing contracts with the county, as well as three senior nutrition programs. The resolution passed yesterday also directed county staff to refrain from shutting off water services because of nonpayment through the end of the year. Delta Air Lines says it expects to operate the vast majority of its flights as scheduled, despite an order to reduce flights at its Atlanta hub because of the government shutdown. The airline said today it would extend opportunities to change, cancel or refund impacted flights. Georgia gubernatorial candidates made their pitches to voters a year ahead of the 2026 election at a forum last night hosted by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports.

[C]

Candidates from both parties took the stage to discuss their visions for a better Georgia. Affordability was top of mind for many, including former Atlanta mayor and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.

[B]

Affordability is a huge issue. It means we've got to expand affordable housing in this state. We've got to make sure that people can put food on their table and gas in their car.

[C]

An AJC poll showed Bottoms leading the Democratic field with 40% of the vote. Former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thur, former Lt. Governor Jeff Duncan and former state Senator Jason Estevez also polled high enough to qualify for the forum. On the Republican side, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger also spoke about the cost of living.

[D]

The best way, really, I feel, of addressing affordability, number one is creating great paying jobs. Great paying jobs solves a lot of issues.

[C]

Raffensperger came in second in the AJC poll, with 15% of respondents choosing him. Lieutenant Governor Bert Jones, the top polling Republican, skipped the forum, citing a scheduling conflict. Attorney General Kris Carr also spoke for GPB News. I'm Sarah Kallis in Atlanta.

[A]

Independent films from around the world are coming to northwest Georgia's Rome this weekend. It's part of the 22nd annual Rome International Film Festival. The five day event includes, among other highlights, a US premiere from Action horror film director Josh Waller, a special focus on Georgia productions and an award for the filmmakers behind the Beloved 2004 Indie comedy Napoleon Dynamite. Those filmmakers are the husband and wife duo of Jared and Jerusha Hess. They'll accept the festival's Flannery O' Connor Award for Storytelling. GPB's Orlando Montoya spoke with Jerusha Hess on Wednesday. She said that she admires the Georgia writer o' Connor and is excited to come to the festival.

[B]

I had heard about it from our friend Tim Blake Nelson, who was honored while last year and it just seems like a very cool film festival and a vibrant city. And so we were pumped to hear about this award. I say we because my husband and I share everything. We feel like an award for me is an award for him.

[G]

Yeah, I was going to ask about that. How is it like working with your husband? I mean, you've been working together for such a long time. What's the secret to staying in a relationship while working together so closely. It seems like such a fraught thing.

[B]

I know. I mean, we've been married for 24 years and so something is working. And I think a lot of it is we are able to take off the writing hat after, after we're done. And we're kind of lazy writers. We write for maybe two to four hours a day and then we're like, okay, let's go get lunch. So we find ways to reward ourselves when we get pages to done. And it is just really fun to bounce ideas off of someone who you respect.

[G]

And how about not letting work disagreements become personal.

[B]

Oh no. We take it so personally. No, you have to. Oh no. There's tears and screaming, but I think that just makes it better. I think someone you trust can. Can trash your work and you're like, oh yeah, I see, let's go a different way. And I do it back to him. He does it to me. I think it makes it. It boils. It boils the projects down to their best form.

[G]

Well, do you have any examples of that from some of your more well known movies? Maybe even Napoleon Dynamite? Was there disagreements that you guys had on that?

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

So Jared originally wanted Napoleon Dynamite to be a story about a kid who was into sci fi. And he was. And you know, you get that a little bit from Napoleon, but he was. There was some extraterrestrial elements and government conspiracies and it was just too big of a movie. And I kept telling him like, hey, we have zero dollars to make this movie. Let's just do Slice of Life. Keep it in high school. Keep it just this kid's dumb day to day experiences. And so we finally were able to, you know, get it down to this small, tiny little story.

[G]

Have you been surprised by the enduring appeal of that movie? I mean, we're going on 20 years and we're talking about it.

[B]

It's wild. It doesn't even feel like our movie anymore. It feels like the world's movie. And so it's our kids when they watch it and they react to it, that really is like, wow. It's mind blowing. We never expected it.

[G]

This year Jared worked on a huge commercial success, Minecraft, based on the video game. And obviously you both have had much success, but this one was huge in terms of box office. How did it feel to have a true blockbuster?

[B]

It takes us by surprise. You never expect anything to be as great as it is. And I think keeping that humility is key in this industry because sometimes, you know, Sometimes things are bombs, and that's okay, too. But, yeah, that one is a very special IP that so many kids and young adults love so much. So, yeah, it was. It was a ride.

[G]

I know you're working on a lot of projects. You've got an animated feature deeply Dave, that you're working on, some TV projects as well. What does the future look like for you? What are you looking forward to next?

[B]

You know, we love making independent films. This is the thing we love the most. Small, weird, quirky stories of characters we haven't seen. And so in between these big, giant blockbusters, we hope to keep making and writing small movies that tell local stories.

[G]

Keep film weird eggs.

[B]

Exactly. We're kind of known for this edgy PG genre.

[G]

Edgy PG drama, yes.

[B]

Like, we make movies that the entire family watch, watches, and yet it's the adults that are like, that was so odd. We loved it. So I don't know. That's our sensibility. And so I think we just want to keep making these weird movies. You're absolutely right.

[G]

Yeah. And I can't help but come in and jump in there and make a connection with your religion and being Mormon. You've spoken about that before. Is that part of it, you think?

[B]

Yeah, I think definitely. You know, we grew up Mormon, and I think that definitely influenced the films we were watching and what we wanted to put out there. But it also, I think, is greatly influenced by just being parents. We have four children ranging from 22 to 12, and we want to make movies that they enjoy. And those are the things, you know, we're absorbing their stories.

[G]

Jerusha Hess, it has been a pleasure. Good luck with all your projects.

[B]

Thank you. You too.

[A]

That was GPB's Orlando Montoya with filmmaker Jerusha Hess. Learn more about the Rome International film [e-mail] the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has extended Natalie Schutzman's term as music director for three years. That puts her at the orchestra's helm through the 2028-2029 season. Stutzman is entering her fourth season in the role. She is the second woman to lead a major American orchestra and the first at the aso. Atlanta United is bringing back Gerardo Tata Martino as coach, the team announced today. He's been signed through the 2027 season. Martino led the team to the Major League soccer title in 2018 and was named Coach of the Year. Martino left Inter Miami nearly a year ago citing pretty personal reasons. After one season with the club. He's won 11 trophies on the club and international level in North America, South America and Europe. And Atlanta Braves holdings reported revenue growth in the third quarter of this year. The company that owns the Braves says baseball revenue increased 4%, while mixed use development revenue, driven by rental income from the battery grew by 56%. The Atlanta Braves are one of two Major League Baseball teams with corporate ownership, and the other is the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays, owned by Rogers Communications. And that is a wrap on Georgia Today. We do appreciate you tuning in, and we hope you come back tomorrow. The best way to remember to do that is not a sticky note on your fridge. It is to subscribe to this podcast. When you do that, it will pop up automatically in your podcast feed tomorrow afternoon. If you've got feedback for us, or maybe a story idea we should be pursuing, let us know by email. The email will go to the whole team if you send it to Georgia Today at gpb. Org. And as always, check gpb.org news for any updates. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.