Politics

Last month, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr chided local media for its characterization of activists protesting Atlanta's planned $90 million public safety complex.

• Carr urged media outlets to "stop calling these people protesters," arguing that "rioters" was more fitting for the activists, some of whom broke windows and set a police car on fire during the downtown demonstration.
• The now-national, largely leaderless movement against the complex in southwest DeKalb County has sparked a debate about the language used to describe the people trying to halt the project.

The Democratic National Committee is reportedly close to making a decision on the host city for the 2024 convention.

• Last week, the DNC told Houston the city was out of the running, and sources tell us that Atlanta and Chicago are the frontrunners.

Georgia companies that use big commercial trucks and the local governments who maintain roads are facing off yet again over the amount of weight those trucks can haul.

Why it matters: The seemingly annual — and very wonky — battle at the Georgia Capitol has big effects on infrastructure, safety and the finances of some of Georgia’s biggest employers.

A post-election survey of 2022 Georgia voters by the University of Georgia shows a bit of good news in this polarized political environment: The vast majority of voters polled were pleased with how voting went in November.

Why it matters: After years of debate over voting policy, allegations of voter suppression and of voter fraud, more than 90% of Georgia voters surveyed strongly/somewhat agreed that it was easy to cast a ballot here.

Gov. Brian Kemp authorized the use of up to 1,000 Georgia National Guard troops during a 15-day state of emergency.

State of play: The declaration went into effect Thursday afternoon. It comes after a weekend protest in Downtown over the shooting death of an activist at Atlanta's proposed police and fire academy turned destructive, with protesters breaking windows and setting fire to a police cruiser.

This year, Gov. Brian Kemp is suddenly the most experienced leader at the state Capitol. He's fresh off a resounding victory and a record-high approval rating.

Why it matters: As lobbyists and lawmakers get to know a new Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and new House Speaker Jon Burns, Kemp is the familiar face with an experienced policy team — and therefore an agenda to pay attention to.

Gov. Brian Kemp appeared Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland alongside other American officials, including Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Az.) and fellow Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.).

Why it matters: Kemp's participation indicates how his own prominence has risen in four years. (The panel's Norwegian moderator Børge Brende introduced him with: "We know you well. We've seen you a lot on TV all over the world.")

• It's also an indicator of his push to land even more international economic development projects in Georgia.

What he's saying: Kemp made a direct appeal to companies in the audience as other panelists discussed the recent Speaker election saga on Capitol Hill: "If there's gridlock in Washington, D.C., one thing you can count on is stability and a great economy, a great business environment in the state of Georgia. We're going to keep rocking and rolling."

Yes, and: Earlier in the day, Kemp told state lawmakers that he was going to Davos because it's "a great opportunity for me to be out here to share Georgia's success story with people from around the world. Because I believe they can certainly learn a thing or two from us."

• "I'm very proud of my conservative values. I'm also not afraid to stand up and share them and how good they are and what our state's been doing with others around the country or others around the world — even when I may be surrounded by a few people that disagree with us," he added.
• "Bring home some more jobs," Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin) told Kemp via video call.

Of note: Kemp did maintain his standard aesthetic in Davos — as the sole panelist wearing cowboy boots.

Georgia's pandemic-era revenue hot streak is over, but things don't look dire. That's the high level from state economist Jeffrey Dorfman, who spoke to state lawmakers Tuesday.

Why it matters: Dorfman’s revenue estimates drive the size of the state budget each year.