Trump election interference cased dismissed; Stranger Things Airbnb

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast – November 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode, hosted by Orlando Montoya, covers breaking legal and cultural news in Georgia, including the dismissal of the Trump election interference case, a new study on sea level rise risks to Georgia's coast, challenges with homelessness counts, the lasting impact of a prominent Black minister, innovations in sustainable aviation fuel, and a unique “Stranger Things” Airbnb experience. The episode closes with reflections on Thanksgiving traditions in the South.

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Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Trump Election Interference Case Dismissed

(00:41 – 01:55)

• Prosecutor Pete Scandalakis announced the dismissal of Georgia’s election interference case against Donald Trump and 18 others, citing lack of clear evidence of a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results.
• Challenges faced by the case included prior removal of District Attorney Fani Willis and broad momentum against prosecution.
• Anthony Michael Kreiss (Georgia State University law professor) offered analysis:
  • Quote: “I think this is really fundamentally a gut check about whether you believe the president of the United States tried to…” (C, 01:18)
  • The decision was not surprising, considering legal hurdles and diminished momentum.
• The judge quickly dismissed charges, ending the final attempt to prosecute Trump in Georgia for actions post-2020 election.

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2. 2026 Homelessness (PIT) Count in Fulton County

(01:55 – 02:57)

• Fulton County’s Continuum of Care (CoC) is preparing the annual Point-In-Time (PIT) count of unhoused people for January 2026.
• 2025’s count identified 241 unsheltered individuals—a decrease from 2024, though numbers may be underestimated due to weather.
• Maggie Goldman (CoC leader) highlighted a need for more direct follow-up with unhoused residents:
  • Quote: “It appears that the point in time count data does not stay with us directly to act on and we’d like to make sure that the people that we touch are able to get some kind of follow up…” (C, 02:30)
• Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for the upcoming count.

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3. Thanksgiving Dinner for Former Foster Youth

(02:57 – 03:56)

• Nonprofit Fostering Success Act hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for Georgians ages 18-26 who aged out of foster care.
• Heidi Carr (Executive Director) explained the dinner’s important function:
  • Quote: “…all the things that many of us really maybe we weren’t sat down and taught, but we got to witness through how our parents interact with others.” (E, 03:29)
• The organization provides supports including job access, housing, and scholarships.

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4. Mourning Bishop Reginald Jackson

(03:56 – 05:03)

• Bishop Reginald Jackson, a major political and religious leader in Georgia’s Black community from 2016-2024, passed away unexpectedly at 71.
• He organized boycotts, rallies for progressive causes, supported Democratic candidates, and advanced civic engagement within the AME church.
• Condolences from prominent figures like Senators Raphael Warnock, John Ossoff, and Rep. Nekima Williams.

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5. Sea Level Rise Threats to Georgia’s Coast

(05:03 – 05:51)

• A new study in Nature Communications warns that a dozen industrial/defense sites in Savannah, Brunswick, and other coastal areas are at risk of flooding by 2050—even in best-case climate scenarios.
• Dr. Soby Wilson (Univ. of Maryland) outlined health risks:
  • Quote: “You have both short term effects to chemical microbial contaminants in flood waters and also long term effects in float. And let me not forget mold, of course…” (G, 05:25)
• The study recommends improved disaster planning.

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6. Expansion of Georgia’s EV Charging Network

(05:51 – 06:40)

• Georgia DOT secured $24M to add 26 new electric vehicle charging stations along highways/interstates with federal funds from the 2021 Infrastructure Act.

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7. Stranger Things Airbnb: Fan Experience in Fayetteville

(06:40 – 07:43)

• Airbnb located in the real Byers’ house (from “Stranger Things”) in Fayetteville offers immersive, show-themed experiences:
  • Dungeons & Dragons games, wall art with Christmas lights, and classic 1980s soundtracks (Kate Bush’s music).
• Alejandro Choza (property owner):
  • Quote: “You know, for me it’s like going in and listening to some records in Jonathan’s room. That’s my favorite part.” (B, 07:14)
  • Quote: “…we hope to do a lot of cool stuff over the next coming years.” (B, 07:35)
• The property is booked through April, proving its popularity among fans.

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8. Recent Industrial and Environmental News

(08:40 – 10:12)

• Lanzajet, based in Treutlen County, started commercial production of sustainable aviation fuel from ethanol—the world’s first facility at this scale.
• The project received over $3M in federal grants and aims to provide a template for sustainable aviation across the U.S.
• OSHA fined three companies nearly $27,000 after a worker’s deadly forklift accident at the Hyundai plant near Savannah.

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9. Reflections on Thanksgiving Traditions in the South

(10:12 – 13:40)

• Chuck Reese (Salvation South editor) reflects on the meaning and evolution of table blessings:
  • He recalls discussions and stories on how Southern families give thanks, noting changing traditions in a divided era.
  • Quote (from Ann Byrne): “…the blessing of food on the Southern table, saying grace, is alive and well. But like our world, it has changed.” (J, ~10:40)
  • Quote: “First, I think there is the table itself and the people who gather around it…Second, there is the food…Third, there is that phrase… ‘bless the hands that prepared it.’” (J, 11:55)
• Offers a message of unity: cherish the table, the people, and hands that prepared the meal.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Anthony Michael Kreiss:
  “I think this is really fundamentally a gut check about whether you believe the president of the United States tried to…” (01:18)

• Maggie Goldman:
  “It appears that the point in time count data does not stay with us directly to act on and we’d like to make sure that the people that we touch are able to get some kind of follow up…” (02:30)

• Heidi Carr:
  “…all the things that many of us really maybe we weren’t sat down and taught, but we got to witness through how our parents interact with others.” (03:29)

• Dr. Soby Wilson:
  “You have both short term effects to chemical microbial contaminants in flood waters and also long term effects in float. And let me not forget mold, of course…” (05:25)

• Alejandro Choza:
  “You know, for me it’s like going in and listening to some records in Jonathan’s room. That’s my favorite part.” (07:14)
  “…we hope to do a lot of cool stuff over the next coming years.” (07:35)

• Chuck Reese (Salvation South):
  “First, I think there is the table itself and the people who gather around it…Second, there is the food…Third, there is that phrase… ‘bless the hands that prepared it.’” (11:55)
  “I hope your Thanksgiving dinner is free of conflict. Better yet, I hope it’s delicious.” (13:30)

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:41 – Trump case dismissed
• 01:55 – Fulton County homelessness count
• 02:57 – Foster care Thanksgiving dinner
• 03:56 – Bishop Reginald Jackson’s passing
• 05:03 – Coastal flood risk study
• 05:51 – EV charging station expansion; Stranger Things Airbnb
• 08:40 – Lanzajet sustainable fuel; OSHA fines
• 10:12 – Chuck Reese on Thanksgiving blessings

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Tone and Language

The episode maintains an informative and measured tone, blending news updates with personal reflections and candid interviews. Quotes and reports from GPB journalists intersperse objective reporting with poignant, locally resonant storytelling, especially in the Thanksgiving segment.

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For more Georgia news and stories, visit gpb.org/news.

Transcript

[A]

Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. On this podcast, we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, the election interference case against President Donald Trump and others has been dismissed. A new study details the risk of sea level rise to Georgia's coast. And ahead of the final series of Stranger Things, an Airbnb in Fayetteville gives guests a unique and immersive experience tied to the popular series.

[B]

I mean, ultimately it's them that get excited about the property and they love to visit and we hope to do a lot of cool stuff over the next coming years.

[A]

Today is Wednesday, November 26, the day before Thanksgiving. I'm Orlando Montoya and this is Georgia Today. Georgia prosecutor Pete Scandalakis is dropping the state's election interference case against President Donald Trump and other defendants. In a court filing this morning, Scandalakis said he did not find clear evidence that there was a viable conspiracy to overturn the Results of the 2020 election. Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreiss says momentum was against the case and and he isn't surprised by the decision.

[C]

I think this is really fundamentally a gut check about whether you believe the president of the United States tried to.

[A]

Overturn the 2020 election or not. Trump and 18 co defendants were indicted in 2023, but the case was plagued by challenges, including the removal of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as prosecutor. With the charges dropped, a judge quickly dismissed the case today, ending a multi year saga and the last effort to prosecute Trump for his efforts to overturn his election loss. Atlantis Fulton county is Preparing for the 2026 point in time or pit count of unhoused people. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports leaders of the county's Continuum of Care, or coc, are looking for volunteers to help.

[D]

The COC includes local officials and service providers. They use the PIT count to identify service gaps. In Fulton county this year they identified 241 individuals who were unsheltered, which was a decrease from 2024. But they say challenges, including weather, likely caused an undercount. Maggie Goldman leads the effort. She says this time they're considering running an additional survey.

[C]

It appears that the point in time count data does not stay with us directly to act on and we'd like to make sure that the people that we touch are able to get some kind of follow up through either coordinated entry or another available group.

[D]

The Fulton County Pit count takes place January 22nd and 23rd. Volunteers can sign up online for GPB News. I'm Amanda Andrews.

[A]

A Georgia foster care advocacy group held a Thanksgiving dinner last week for young adults who recently aged out of the foster care system. GPB's Sarah Kellis has that story.

[E]

At the Fostering Success act dinner, former Foster children ages 18 to 26 enjoyed a sit down dinner with waiters and heard from Jackson Health CEO Rick Jackson, who is a former foster child himself. Fostering Success Act Executive Director Heidi Carr says the dinner helped attendees learn life skills that may have been otherwise hard for them to practice. Just all the things that many of us really maybe we weren't sat down and taught, but we got to witness through how our parents interact with others. Fostering Success act is a nonprofit that provides resources to youth that have aged out of the foster care system and helps them access jobs, housing and college scholarships. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis.

[A]

Political and religious leaders are mourning the death of one of the most politically influential black ministers in Georgia. For many years, from 2016 to 2024, African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Reginald Jack presided over more than 400 Georgia congregations before moving to a new post serving the church in the Washington, D.C. area. His family announced his unexpected death in a social media post today. Over the years, Jackson organized boycotts and rallies for progressive causes, supported Democratic candidates and pushed church members to vote, as well as leading various religious and educational institutions. Words of condolence poured in today from Georgia Democrats including U.S. senators Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff and Atlanta Congresswoman Nekima Williams. Bishop Reginald Jackson was 71 years old. A new study published in the journal Nature Communications details the risks of sea level rise to industrial facilities, including those on Georgia's coast. GPB's Chase McGee has more.

[F]

Researchers found around one dozen industrial production and defense facilities in coastal Georgia at risk of flooding by 2050 in its best case scenario, including sites in Savannah and Brunswick. Dr. Soby Wilson is a professor of environmental health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. He outlines the risks these industrial and production sites can pose should they be flooded.

[G]

You have both short term effects to chemical microbial contaminants in flood waters and also long term effects in float. And let me not forget mold, of course. So to those going back after the event could be exposed to mold that could also have respiratory effects.

[F]

The study recommends better disaster planning and mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of harm posed to people. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.

[A]

State transportation officials have awarded $24 million in federal funding to expand Georgia's network of charging stations for electric vehicles. The state Department of Transportation last week announced six winning bidders for 26 new stations on interstates and highways across Georgia. This was the second round of funding from the 2021 Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act, a priority during the Joe Biden administration. The Netflix original series Stranger Things is back today for its final season. It's a milestone for both fans and Georgia's entertainment industry. The show features now iconic locations across the state. GPB's Sophie Gratis takes us to one of them.

[H]

A flickering 80s style TV welcomes you to the Airbnb in suburban Fayetteville, the actual home of characters Joyce, Jonathan and Will Byers. From Stranger Things. Guests can play Dungeons and Dragons. I don't know how to play Painted on the wall in Alphabet lined by rainbow Christmas lights Twisted vines in a red lit hallway mimic the upside down from the show. In a bedroom on the left, there's a record player teed up with canon music from the TV show, like this song by Kate Bush.

[B]

You know, for me it's like going in and listening to some records in Jonathan's room. That's my favorite part.

[H]

Alejandro Choza is a real estate investor who bought the buyer's home in 2022. He says it took over a year to style, but since then thousands of fans have bought shares to own a piece of the property. Choza hopes they and other guests will keep the house busy long after the series finale.

[B]

I mean, ultimately it's them that get excited about the property and they love to visit and you know, we hope to do a lot of cool stuff over the next coming years.

[H]

The buyer's House is currently booked through April of next year. For GPB News, I'm Sophie Graudis.

[I]

A toxic fire, a plume of smoke and a community demanding answers In Conyers, Georgia, the Biolab disaster left residents searching for truth and accountability. This season, GPB uncovers system failures, hears from whistleblowers and follows neighbors still fighting to be heard. I'm Pamela Kirkland. Join me for season two of Manufacturing Danger. The Biolab Story. Listen now at gpb.org podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[A]

Jet fuel maker Lanzajet has begun commercial scale production of sustainable aviation fuel from ethanol at its facility in Middle Georgia's Truthland County. The company this month said the milestone was the world's first non oil based renewable jet fuel compatible with today's aircraft and the culmination of 15 years of research and development. Federal aviation officials hope the production becomes a model for a new wave of sustainable aviation fuel. Lanzajet and Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport shared more than $3 million in federal aviation Administration grants announced last year to help deploy saf. Federal workplace safety officials have fined three companies nearly $27,000 for violations that contributed to the death of a worker at the Hyundai vehicle plant in southeast Georgia. The worker died in a gruesome forklift incident days before the plant's grand opening in March. Tomorrow, families all over Georgia will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving. At most of those tables, someone will say grace over the meal. There are probably as many ways to bless the food on a Southern table as there are Southerners waiting to eat it. We asked Salvation south editor Chuck Reese for his thoughts on table blessings.

[J]

When Thanksgiving is coming, I often think about my friend Ann Byrne, who was a food writer based in Nashville. Many years ago, Ann and I had a conversation about table blessings, and we talked about the various ways we had heard people say grace around our tables. I asked Ann to write about that, and later that year, as Thanksgiving rolled around, I published a beautiful story she wrote called Our Ways of Saying Grace. For that piece, Ann spent, and I quote from her story here, several months talking to religious leaders, folklorists, teachers, friends and families all over the South. I learned that the blessing of food on the Southern table saying grace is alive and well. But like our world, it has changed. I'm sure it is still changing, particularly when political issues have become so divisive in our country this time of year, it is easy to find stories in newspapers and magazines about people who ban the discussion of politics around the Thanksgiving table, or people who refuse to celebrate the holiday with this family member or that one because of their political beliefs. So what can unite us this year? There are bound to be things we can all be thankful for. First, I think there is the table itself and the people who gather around it. In her story, Ann quoted the late Nashville journalist John Edgerton a couple of sentences from his landmark book, Southern Food. Family life often revolved around the kitchen and the dining table. Prayers were said at the table, important decisions were made, and the principle of family unity was repeatedly reinforced there. And second, there is the food that will sit on our tables. Whether your Thanksgiving dinner will be a grand feast for an extended family of a couple dozen folks, or a more meal, meager meal, the chance to nourish one's body for one more day of life must always be a source of gratitude. Third, there is that phrase that's so common among Southern table blessings and the hands that prepared it. Somebody once told me a story about a gathering of friends around a takeout meal to go barbecue that was bought from a chain that has locations all over the south. And the person who volunteered to say grace ended the prayer this Bless this food and the hands that prepared it. Sonny's Even when the cook isn't someone in your own family, blessing the hands that prepared it is never a bad idea. And those three pieces, I think, make a fine recipe for a table blessing. In times like these, we're grateful for the chance to gather at this table and for the food that sits upon it, and for the people who work to prepare it. I hope your Thanksgiving dinner is free of conflict. Better yet, I hope it's delicious. Come see us [e-mail].

[A]

And that's it for today's edition of Georgia. Today. We'll be taking off the rest of the week for the Thanksgiving holiday, and we'll be back with more Georgia News on Monday. If you'd like to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org news we'd love it if you hit subscribe to this podcast that helps you to stay current with us in your feed. If you have feedback for us, email us@georgia todaypb.org I'm Orlando Montoya. Thankful for you being here and thankful for all that Thanksgiving pie we're going to enjoy tomorrow. Have a happy turkey day and enjoy the rest of the week.