Georgia Today — October 28, 2025

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

• Impacts of the ongoing federal government shutdown on SNAP benefits and food security
• Police accountability and ICE operations in Georgia
• Local headlines: New agriscience building in Towns County, Georgia legislature vacancies, and more

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today brings critical updates on how the prolonged federal government shutdown may leave millions without SNAP benefits, explores the community impact through local food pantries, and discusses the challenges surrounding ICE operations and police accountability. Other highlights include the opening of a new agriscience center in Towns County and notable changes in Georgia's political and business landscape.

1. SNAP Benefits in Jeopardy Due to Shutdown

[01:04–04:53]

Key Points:

• Immediate Risk: If the shutdown continues, over 42 million Americans (including 1.5 million Georgians) could lose access to SNAP benefits for November.
• On the Ground Impact: Local food pantries, already strained by prior federal cuts, brace for increased demand as families turn to them for survival.
• Federal Deadlock: $5 billion emergency SNAP reserve cannot be used except for weather emergencies, per USDA. Political divisions continue over funding and reopening the government.

Voices from the Field:

• Cassie Collins, SNAP recipient
  • "I live alone and my SNAP benefits help me a lot. I'm a widow... they really helped me." ([01:46])
  • On the impact to families: "It's sad, especially with people with the children, you know, that's gonna suffer through this thing." ([02:09])
  • On resilience: "That's why I'm out here in the rain now and I have no business out here like this trying to get me some groceries." ([02:31])
• Kathy McCollum, CEO, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank
  • On food shortages: "You're seeing more empty spaces now than certainly we've had... At the end of January, every rack in here was full." ([03:02])
  • "For example, a few weeks ago, we realized that we didn't have peanut butter in the warehouse... we typically get that from USDA." ([03:24])
  • "We are good at taking money and turning it into food because we can buy what we need." ([03:44])
• Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-GA
  • "We're urging the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize that $5 billion to extend those SNAP benefits so people won't go hungry." ([03:49])

2. Broader Shutdown Effects & Reactions

[04:59–06:49]

Main Points:

• Political Stalemate: Both major parties blame each other as the shutdown drags into its fifth week.
• Federal Employees Impacted: Air traffic controllers in Atlanta received $0 paychecks, highlighting workforce and safety concerns.
• Governor Kemp's Stance: Pressures Georgia’s Democratic senators to approve a temporary funding measure.

Notable Quotes:

• Rep. Lucy McBath, D-GA: "If we are not healthy, if we don't have access to affordable, accessible health care, then we can't work." ([05:20])
• Nicole Cerrunas, Air Traffic Controller: "This is a safety problem... it's just an additional stressor that we don't need." ([06:04–06:30])

3. ICE Operations, Police Accountability & Masking

[06:49–14:22]

Discussion Topics:

• Recruitment & Training:
  • ICE is aggressively recruiting, showing videos of raids and appealing to prior law enforcement and new recruits.
  • Training varies: Former federal agents have abbreviated courses; new agents undergo foundational 12-week CITP training.
• Operations & Use of Aggression:
  • Concerns about adequacy of training for handling potentially aggressive or high-tension situations.
• Masking & Accountability:
  • ICE agents increasingly wear face coverings, citing doxing threats.
  • Raises questions over transparency and safeguarding constitutional rights.

In-Depth Interview with Scott Swedo (Retired ATF Executive)

• On Training:
  • "The law enforcement personnel that are criminal investigators go through quite a lengthy process... deportation officers... go through a much shorter program." ([07:32])
  • "If you were not prior law enforcement... you would have to go through this basic program, the CITP. And CITP right now is about 12 weeks..." ([08:38])
• On Preparedness:
  • "There's really nothing about dealing with riots or civil disturbances... that's very atypical for federal law enforcement. My expectation would be they'd have to modify the training program..." ([09:53])
• On Masking for Anonymity:
  • "The rationale is that the people... are presumed to be at risk because there's intelligence... actively attempting to identify them for the purposes of targeting them for harassment." ([10:59])
• On Accountability:
  • "If you have a civil rights violation accusation... you could file a lawsuit... the agency will match that number to a name and someone will be held accountable. But it's kind of a roundabout way..." ([12:16])
• On Cooperation with Investigations:
  • "If you want to predict the future, look to the past... in cases... dealing with ICE, they have complied so far." ([13:59])

4. Georgia Political and Community Updates

[14:35–17:16]

Political Vacancies:

• Rep. Marcus Weedauer (R-Watkinsville): Resigns to focus on growing real estate business, leading to a total of four legislative vacancies.
• Upcoming Elections: Special elections planned for House Districts 121, 106, 23, and Senate District 35.

Community Milestone:

• Amy Gonzalez Jackson:
  Sworn in as Thomas County's first Hispanic female attorney, dedicating her career to supporting the Hispanic community, especially around legal rights and workplace justice.
  • "It's time to take this knowledge and this help down to a community who needs to know what's out there..." ([15:56])
  • On courtroom moment: "As I was getting sworn in, it kind of felt surreal to me... I just couldn't stop smiling." ([16:58])

5. Education Spotlight: New Towns County Agriscience Building

[17:26–approx. 18:30]

Highlights:

• Facility Features: Supports welding, construction, electrical, plumbing, culinary arts, and agribusiness for middle and high school students.
• Community Impact: Helps keep students local by providing career training and alternatives to leaving for four-year colleges.
• Future Plans: Construction to begin on an agricultural barn for animal science instruction.

Superintendent Darren Barong:

• "We're giving them the opportunity to have a career, to be able to stay home and actually have a high paying job..." ([17:26])

6. Business Headlines

[18:30–20:00]

• UPS: Cut 48,000 jobs in 9 months as part of new Amazon deal and cost-saving measures.
• Delta Airlines: Launching new Atlanta–Riyadh, Saudi Arabia route in October, among its longest.
• Saddle Creek Logistics: Closing Newnan, GA facility, eliminating 128 jobs.

Memorable Moments

• Cassie Collins braving the rain for food:
  "That's why I'm out here in the rain now and I have no business out here like this trying to get me some groceries." ([02:31])
• Discussion of empty food pantry shelves:
  "You're seeing more empty spaces now than certainly we've had back in... At the end of January, every rack in here was full." — Kathy McCollum ([03:02])
• ICE masking rationale and challenges of accountability:
  "It's kind of a roundabout way of doing it, as opposed to the more straightforward way of... simply having a face visible." — Scott Swedo ([13:19])
• First Hispanic female attorney in Thomas County: "As I was getting sworn in, it kind of felt surreal to me... I just couldn’t stop smiling." — Amy Gonzalez Jackson ([16:58])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• SNAP Benefits and Food Insecurity: [01:04–04:53]
• Shutdown’s Broader Impact and Political Reactions: [04:59–06:49]
• ICE Operations and Accountability (Interview): [06:49–14:22]
• Political & Community Updates: [14:35–17:16]
• Towns County Agriscience Building: [17:26–18:30]
• Business Headlines: [18:30–20:00]

This episode delivers a comprehensive look at how national policy decisions ripple through Georgia’s communities and institutions, spotlights efforts to meet immediate needs, and gives voice to those affected most profoundly by government inaction.