Voters turn out on Election Day; Furloughed CDC workers set up mutual aid system

Summary

Georgia Today – November 4, 2025

Episode Title: Voters turn out on Election Day; Furloughed CDC workers set up mutual aid system
Host: Chase McGee (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Theme: Reporting on Georgia’s Election Day turnout, community responses to the ongoing federal shutdown, and major updates in state news.

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today combines on-the-ground impressions from Election Day across Georgia, a look at how furloughed CDC workers are supporting each other through mutual aid during the government shutdown, the reopening of Atlanta’s Center for Civil and Human Rights, and brief updates on other key Georgia news. The tone is informative, community-focused, and grounded in direct quotes from citizens and leaders.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Election Day in Georgia

Voters Cast Ballots for Public Service Commission and Local Officials

• Main Focus: Georgians are voting for two Public Service Commission (PSC) seats, with PSC responsible for regulating utilities such as electricity.
• Voter Motivation:
  • Concerns over rising utility bills are a driving force for many voters.
  • Local elections in Atlanta and Augusta include mayor, city council, and county commissioner races.

Notable Quotes:

• [00:49] Cliff Abraham (Marietta voter):

  "We just want to make sure that we were voting for the people who weren't going to take care of what we needed to like our, you know, utilities bills, pretty much make sure that we are not going be underwater."

• [01:02] Krista Krieger (Atlanta voter):

  "The utilities are high and the prospect of it getting even higher, not even just for me, but for people who are really in need and are really struggling right now like this feels like an important time to be voting."

---

2. CDC Workers Organize Mutual Aid Amid Shutdown

Furloughed Federal Employees Support Each Other

• Situation: Continuing federal government shutdown has resulted in hundreds of CDC workers in Atlanta being furloughed, following an earlier reduction where about a quarter were terminated.
• Community Response:
  • CDC staff have set up a mutual aid fund.
  • The fund is experiencing a surge—150 applications for assistance last week, three times the usual volume.
  • Over $80,000 has been raised and distributed based on need.

Notable Quotes:

• [01:59] Ben McKenzie (CDC researcher, fund coordinator):

  "We got 150 applications for help last week, which is three times the number that we've received over the rest of the year."

• [00:20 & 02:11] Ben McKenzie:

  "It's certainly not enough money to replace a career, but it is enough money to help pay some bills and give people a little bit of breathing room."

• [02:20] Sophie Gradas (GPB Reporter):

  "While donations to the Fund are up, McKinsey expects applications to follow suit as long as paychecks are paused."

---

3. National Center for Civil and Human Rights Reopens

Expansion Seeks to Amplify Legacy and Relevance

• Reopening Details:
  • Four years of construction; $57 million expansion.
  • Additions: two wings, six galleries, three classrooms, a terrace—24,000 sq ft, nearly double the original size.
• Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony:
  • Attended by former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, philanthropist Arthur M. Blank, and Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr.

Notable Quotes:

• [03:13] Bernice King:

  "They [the exhibits] speak urgently to our time, a time of rising authoritarianism, fractured democracies and communities under siege. My father's words always remind us that we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality."

---

4. Brief Statewide News Updates

• [03:37] Peyton Anderson Historical Marker—Macon:

  • Journalist and philanthropist Peyton Anderson honored; marker to be dedicated next week.

• UGA College of Education Receives NSF Grant:

  • $5 million awarded to train and support science educators through new statewide programs.

• Hyundai Mobility Training Center Opens:

  • New center in Ellabelle, GA will train workers for Hyundai’s near-Savannah plant; Gov. Brian Kemp to attend opening.

• Global Payments Surpasses Expectations:

  • Atlanta-based company reports over $635 million profit in Q3; attributes success to "Genius" platform.

• Atlanta Braves Name Walt Weiss as Manager:

  • Former bench coach and ex-shortstop steps up after Brian Snitker’s departure.

---

Memorable Moments & Tone

• The candid concerns of everyday voters about utility affordability underscore the real-life impacts of public policy ([00:49], [01:02]).
• The sense of solidarity and practical support among CDC workers reveals resilience amid hardship ([01:59], [02:11]).
• Bernice King’s remarks at the civil rights center opening connect history to today’s political climate in a deeply personal way ([03:13]).

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Election Day coverage & voter quotes: 00:27 – 01:12
• CDC mutual aid fund details & interviews: 01:47 – 02:32
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights reopening: 02:32 – 03:37
• Brief statewide news round-up: 03:37 – end

---

This episode offers a snapshot of Georgia’s civic life, from ballot boxes to community-driven mutual aid and the ongoing legacy of civil rights—capturing both current challenges and enduring hopes.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, voters head to the polls on this Election Day. Atlanta's national center for Civil and Human Rights is reopening and furloughed. CDC workers set up a mutual aid system to support each other.

[B]

It's certainly not enough money to replace a career, but it is enough money to help pay some bills and give people a little bit of breathing room.

[A]

Today is Tuesday, November 4th. I'm Chase McGee and this is GEORGIA Today. It's Election Day, and voters across the state are deciding on two Public Service Commission seats. The PSC regulates many utility rates, including electricity. Cliff Abraham of Marietta says his vote was motivated by high utility bills.

[C]

We just want to make sure that we were voting for the people who weren't going to take care of what we needed to like our, you know, utilities bills, pretty much make sure that we are not going be underwater.

[A]

Big utility bills also motivated Krista Krieger's vote in Atlanta.

[D]

The utilities are high and the prospect of it getting even higher, not even just for me, but for people who are really in need and are really struggling right now like this feels like an important time to be voting.

[A]

Voters in some cities like Atlanta and Augusta will also cast their ballots for mayor, city councilors and county commissioners. GPB will be covering the key races on this podcast and at gpb.org news furloughed workers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta are among those going without a paycheck as the federal government shutdown continues. A mutual aid fund organized by CDC staff is managing a surge in applications to help them make ends meet. GPB Sophie Gradis has more.

[E]

It's estimated that about a quarter of CDC staff have been terminated. Now hundreds more are furloughed. Ben McKenzie, a furloughed CDC researcher, helps coordinate the fund. He says they got 150 applications for.

[B]

Help last week, which is three times the number that we've received over the rest of the year.

[E]

The fund has collected over $80,000 in donations, giving it out to fired and furloughed CDC staff based on need.

[B]

It's certainly not enough money to replace a career, but it is enough money to help pay some bills and give people a little bit of breathing room.

[E]

And while donations to the Fund are up, McKinsey expects applications to follow suit as long as paychecks are paused. For GPB news, I'm Sophie Gradas.

[A]

The national center for Civil and Human Rights is reopening after four years of construction. Atlanta leaders and donors gathered earlier today for a ribbon cutting. GPB's Amanda Andrews has more on the $57 million expansion.

[F]

The additions to the national center for Civil and Human Rights include two wings, six galleries, three classrooms and a terrace. In total, the museum added 24,000 square feet, nearly doubling in size. Speakers included former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Home Depot co founder and philanthropist Arthur M. Blank and Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. King said the exhibits remind her that her father's words still have work to do. They speak urgently to our time, a time of rising authoritarianism, fractured democracies and communities under siege. My father's words always remind us that we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. The center reopens to the public this Saturday. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[A]

The Georgia Historical Society is commemorating Peyton Anderson with a new historical marker in Macon. Anderson was a journalist and owner of the Macon Telegraph. After his passing in 1988, Anderson's estate established a foundation in his name which advocates for education and opportunity in Middle Georgia. The marker will be dedicated at the Cotton Avenue Plaza in Macon Monday of next week. The National Science foundation has awarded $5 million to the university of Georgia's College of Education in order to train and support science educators across the state. The funding will create three distinct programs, one of which will identify leading science educators in Georgia so they can share their expertise with other teachers. Members of the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Science Supervisors association will join the program, housed at uga. On Wednesday, governor Brian Kemp is scheduled to attend the grand opening of the Hyundai Mobility Training center in southeast Georgia's Ellabelle. The facility will train Georgians to work at the carmakers Meta Plant America in Bryant county near Savannah and other affiliate locations. It's the result of a partnership between Hyundai Motor Group and Georgia Quick Start, a state workforce training program. The announcement comes after an immigration raid detained nearly 500 workers in early September, most of which were South Korean nationals. Atlanta based Global Payments reported third quarter profit today of more than 635 million doll. The results beat Wall street expectations. The electronic payment processing company says the rollout of its Genius platform, which facilitates payments at restaurants, is part of the quarter's success. The Atlanta Braves have hired Walt Weiss as their next manager. Weis has been the Braves bench coach since 2018 and was on staff when they won the World Series in 2021. This is Weiss's second major league managing job after four seasons with the Colorado Rockies. Weiss finished his playing career as a shortstop with Atlanta from 1998 to 2000. Former manager Brian Snitker announced early in October he would not be returning for an 11th year with the club. That's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. If you'd like to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org news if you haven't hit subscribe on this podcast, take a moment right now and keep us current in your podcast feed. If you've got feedback, we'd love to hear it. Email us at Georgia [e-mail]. i'm Chase McGee. We'll see you tomorrow.