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

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.

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

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.” |

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

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.

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.