The Ron Show

Senator Jon Ossoff met with hundreds of constituents in Marietta at the Cobb County Civic Center Friday morning, with designs on pointing out the disparity in approaches on healthcare access and reproductive rights. Those in attendance - many recently fired (or "RIF'ed") CDC employees, others frazzled voters seething for impeachment - had questions completely divergent from the topics he set the table with. All the same, he answered questions for nearly an hour after an opening statement, and unlike at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's hellish scene in Acworth more than a week ago, no one was tased, arrested or asked to leave. That, and Ossoff took the heat aimed at him and his staff in-stride and vowed to do more for those with grievances. Take a listn

With Senator Jason Esteves' announcement that he's officially in the 2026 race to be Georgia's next governor comes open speculation; where are the other Democrats for the field? The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's chief political reporter, Greg Bluestein, is ⁠notably fixated on whether Stacey Abrams wants in⁠. ------ Senator Jon Ossoff, with the 2026 cycle on his radar for obvious reasons, ⁠scheduled a town hall⁠ for constituents in Marietta Friday. While he opened the gathering wanting to bring attention to the need for Medicaid expansion and the ⁠dire consequences of Georgia's six-week abortion ban⁠, those in attendance had other concerns to address. More on that in a follow-up podcast. ------ "Protest music" hasn't gone away; it's just adapted and evolved. Remember us all discussing and debating the meaning and message behind Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance? Yeah, hip-hop has long been the vehicle for many kinds of "protest" messages, and it was earlier this week my dear sister-in-law sent me ⁠this gem⁠ from D.C.-based viral band Sub-Radio. In it, they roast Elon Musk relentlessly. Then there's my friend Randy Cahall, who was in Atlanta recently to record a session for me. His is more the old-school "folk singer with a guitar" type, but its amazing how even decades-old songs carry messaging that still resonates today.

Remember that 2020 pandemic "fresh air" vibe, that summer? How crisper, clearer and cleaner the air over Atlanta seemed? Well since then we've of course regressed; that's according to ⁠new American Lung Association report cards⁠. Atlanta, in particular, ⁠slipped from C to F.⁠ On to discuss the results and speculate as to what could be done to reverse the trend, along with some ⁠disturbing signals in the current political climate⁠, the ALA's Danna Thompson. ------ The field appears to have cleared (so far, anyway) for Senator Jason Esteves to be the Democratic gubernatorial option in 2026, but who else is out there? I touch on it a little, with thanks to some ⁠savvy "Politically Georgia" reporting. ⁠ ------ All the talk about development and traffic and how Georgia and metro Atlanta addresses (or doesn't) its mass transit needs, it's interesting that ⁠this social media post ⁠crossed my radar. The message? "Bigger Isn't necessarily better." "Should cities focus on growing their population, jobs, and development? Absolutely not." I weigh in. ------ Lastly, a ⁠venerable voice on the left took her final bow ⁠on the radio Wednesday. Here's to Randi Rhodes ... with some well wishes.

It's easy to grouse about "NIMBYism" in situations where organized neighbors push back against "progress," but in the case of Atlanta's Amsterdam Walk, the neighbors weren't against sensible development of a nearby commercial lot; in fact, they supported zoned usage. Instead, they were steamrolled by city council (with the mayor's blessing) and Portman Holdings, who ⁠now has the go-ahead⁠ to cram 1100 apartments and 1400-plus parking spaces and retail onto a parcel of land with but one two-lane connection to an already over-trafficked four lane corridor. Oh and the prospects of ⁠rail transit for the foreseeable future were crapped on by said mayor⁠ weeks ago. Joining me to discuss the varying impacts of a development of that size ... from traffic to quality of life to ⁠even air quality⁠ ... is Charlie Kaften with ⁠A Better Amsterdam Walk⁠.

With ⁠seven city council seats (eight if you count the Council presidency) and the mayor's office⁠ up for grabs in 2025, the otherwise sleepy "off cycle" calendar has some intrigue in Georgia's most populous city. To lean into it, I'm hosting a series of 'meet the candidate' shows between now and election day in November. Each announced candidate and incumbent will be (some already have been) invited on the show. First up: Council at-large 1 challenger ⁠Mat Rinker. ⁠ Matt and I discussed the issues driving him to challenge incumbent Julian Michael Bond, which included transit, budget realities and ethics, to name a few.

With ⁠the passing of Pope Francis ⁠comes a litany of American and global tributes - ⁠Marjorie Taylor Greene's awful tweet ⁠notwithstanding. Among them are the thoughts from ⁠DignityUSA's executive director Marianne Duddy-Burke⁠, who joined me to opine on his somewhat-progressive papal legacy and provide some insights into where the Catholic Church will go, ideologically, next. ------ I've mentioned him as the kind of quality candidate Georgia Democrats could succeed with atop their 2026 ticket, and lo and behold, Senator Jason Esteves made it official: ⁠he's running⁠. ------ Last week, ⁠I spoke with Dustin Baxter at Kuck Baxter Immigration Law⁠ about their 'mass action' lawsuit in defense of international students whose visas were suddenly (and surprisingly) revoked. Good news Friday in that ⁠a judge issued a temporary restraining order⁠ keeping their status intact, pending further hearings later this week. ------ Pete Hegseth was a disastrous choice for defense secretary, and that's not just me saying so; ⁠former Trump administration Pentagon insiders are⁠, too. The 'DUI hire' fired three top aides, likely in an effort to snuff out any hint of the leaking that he again - again - ⁠used the Signal app to share sensitive military secrets in a group chat ⁠... this time with family members in the mix. Was Pete's mom in the loop? ⁠NPR is reporting⁠, by the way, that this may have been the final blow and that the White House is now looking to replace him. ------ Okay, so even Joe Rogan thinks "disappearing" people to El Salvaodran prisons and skirting due process ⁠makes Trump and ICE "monsters."⁠ I mean, he still spews (in caricature 'MAGA moron' voice, no less) ignorant and bigoted spew about Latin American immigrants, but still ... oh and this gives me the occasional opportunity to remind everyone that ⁠Donald Trump actually allowed in more criminal migrants in his first term⁠ than Joe Biden did in his. ------ Lastly, by now you've likely heard about ⁠Nancy Mace verbally accosting a man ⁠for having the audacity - as one of her constituents - to ask when she'll host another town hall. So much to unpack there: she presumed the man was gay and thus should have been happy with her that she voted in support of gay marriage (because gay men are single issue voters, I guess?), is unaware what "Daisy Duke" shorts are or that men's fashion has evolved from the dreaded "cargo shorts" era to five-inch inseams, insinuated the guy was in her face (from 5-6 feet away?) and dropped a litany of f-bombs insisting he get out of her face (as he was already walking away). Need I remind the "lady" about t⁠he code of conduct of her alma mater,⁠ The Citadel? Something about "honor, duty, and respect, with a focus on ethical behavior and personal responsibility." I mean, at least she was spotted in the skincare aisle. That worn look on her face screams "moisturize and sunscreen, lady!"

A south Georgia woman had a miscarriage, and to some in law enforcement, that ⁠necessitated an arrest. ⁠No, that's not a plot line from an episode of ⁠"The Handmaid's Tale,"⁠ that's reality for women in their reproductive years while living in Georgia. With me to discuss the fallout of that miscarriage (of justice by local law enforcement) is Melita Easters of the Georgia WIN List. Of particular note: "the Friendly City" police ⁠press release⁠. Disgusting. We also chew on the looming danger that is the SAVE Act, having passed the House and now in the US Senate's hands with Democrats promising a filibuster to block it. ⁠Dom Kelly⁠⁠, joined me, as well, today to cover a batch of issues. Dom is co-founder/CEO of ⁠New Disabled South⁠ & ⁠New Disabled South Rising⁠. We cover a lot ... from traveling abroad (but returning to MAGA America) to "anti-D.E.I." affecting the disabled (and veteran disabled) workforce to Trump targeting eco-friendly non-profits on 'Earth Day' to the spate of student visas being revoked and pro-Palestinian student protests leading to funding threats from the White House under the (thin) veil of combating 'antisemitism.' Pretty thorough coverage of much what the nation's discussing with two fantastic guests today. Oh, and the ugly scourge of white supremacy - once the FBI's top domestic terror threat - ⁠reared its ugliness, again, this time on the Florida State University campus.⁠. Ho hum, America.

⁠Despite her office's best efforts⁠, Marjorie Taylor Greene had to come within shouting range of - get this - hecklers at her staged town hall. What's rich, ⁠according to the AJC's Patricia Murphy⁠, is that she's a well-known heckler, herself, but had the audacity to amp up Acworth PD to pounce on anyone even so much us ⁠uttering a simple "boo."⁠ Credit to the Cobb County Democratic Party folks for organizing he peaceful outdoor protests and to the protestors for essentially taking all the attention from Marjorie's in-person MAGA infomercial. No one's talking about her spin; instead many are talking about the heckler being a hypocrite. ------ Chaotic town halls, ICE "disappearing" people to a deadly el Salvadoran prison, Donald Trump's beefing with Harvard, and student visas getting revoked for hundreds if not thousands of international students have taken a lot of eyes off the biggest issue dragging the Trump presidency into the red, polling-wise: the economy. Heather Cox Richardson made that point in ⁠her daily Facebook post yesterday⁠, noting the Dow had lost about 700 points Wednesday (another 500 today) which explains why Trump and his sycophants are only too eager to stir up anger where their base is more angaged: immigration and social issues. ------ Speaking of student visas, a hat tip to opinion writer Jay Bookman with the Georgie Recorder, whose latest is a deep-dive into the many (and there are many) ways scaring off international students will ⁠negatively impact the American economy and college and university's bottom lines. ⁠

Atlanta-based immigration law firm ⁠Kuck & Baxter⁠ have stepped up to take on ⁠a "mass action" suit on behalf of more than 130 international students⁠ whose student visas have suddenly (and in many cases, inexplicably) revoked for flimsy causes (if any cause(s) even exist). On today to discuss his firm's work and what his clients are dealing with, ⁠Dustin Baster⁠ from Kuck & Baxter. ------ I'll weigh in more tomorrow on ⁠Marjorie Taylor Greene's dumpster-fire of a "town hall" ⁠(air quotes) tomorrow, but suffice to say, a "town hall," by definition, it was not, and because attendees came for a legitimate "town hall" only to wind up at a political MAGA infomercial, someone naturally had to be tased, right? Not to be "out-fascisted," the City Schools of Decatur board took umbrage with an attendee calling them "cowards" so those ⁠thin-skinned public servants had her physically removed⁠, too. These were people who largely agree with the attendee, in principle, but "how dare she speak ill of them, flexing her First Amendment rights in their presence," right? ------ My second guest today was Patty Durand, ⁠once a Georgia public service commission (PSC) candidate⁠, now head of ⁠Georgia Utility Watch⁠, a consumer utility watchdog ready to be a thorn in the rubber stamp-wielding PSC and the profiting utility providers said commission has been doing the bidding of. With two PSC seats up for grabs in an election "off-year" and with consumers searing mad about untenable cost-of-living increases, might this be a rare occasion for such usually down-ballot races to get the attention needed? Patty and I seem to think so - and it goes beyond the wallet. Cost overruns at Plant Vogtle were costly - which ⁠Georgia Power made you pay for⁠; they'll seek to have you ⁠absorb 'em for post-'Helene' efforts⁠, too, and since the General Assembly didn't directly address it, you will likely be o⁠n the hook for for-profit data center energy needs ⁠as well. Enter the watchdog.

An Atlanta-based law firm is ⁠taking up the plight of more than a dozen college students⁠ who've had their student visas ⁠revoked by the Trump administration⁠ in recent days. Between this and people "disappearing" to el Salvador (⁠admittedly by mistake!)⁠ ... with the ⁠Oval Office now ignoring a unanimous Supreme Court ⁠they largely crafted to be so conservative-leaning, has it sunk in yet that we're already in a "Constitutional crisis," as ⁠Tad Stoermer forewarned two months ago on this very show⁠? ------ ⁠Bill Maher went to the White House and came away with souvenirs⁠ and a quizzical, new perspective on Donald Trump that, to me, makes him a now-useful tool for MAGA. I'll elaborate.