How Georgia Democrats are finding ways to fight Donald Trump’s policies

Look at what’s happening in the Georgia Senate, where state Sen. Josh McLaurin is turning some of his floor speeches into a running gag. Dubbed “Trump Morning News,” the Sandy Springs Democrat adopts the persona of a newscaster ticking through Trump-tinged topics.

Near the end, McLaurin the newscaster invites McLaurin the senator to comment. That’s when he steps into his real voice to deliver his outrage.

“Are you guys watching this?” an incredulous McLaurin said Monday after summarizing what he said was a “private takeover of the federal government” at the hands of Elon Musk.

Much of it is “had to be there” comedy, but it has so far amused his Republican colleagues more than angered them. That might be the point.

“If you just go up to the well and you scold everybody … people get tired of that very quickly,” he said. “The wrapper for this daily speech, or near daily speech, is just a little bit of flavor — almost like a sugar pill around medicine — so that it can go down a little easier.”

The bit is more than just comic relief. It’s also his take on how Democrats should change their messaging following their defeats in the November general election.

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

His colleague, Democratic state Sen. Nikki Merritt of Grayson, has a more straightforward approach. As chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, she warns of the fallout from Trump policies, from tariffs to transgender rights.

She also cautions that Georgia Republicans should “walk carefully” if they attempt to mirror Trump’s efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at the state level.

“We’re not splintered or demoralized at all,” she said of the party’s plight. “We’re regrouping.”

Senior Republicans, meanwhile, continue embracing more MAGA-aligned policies. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has  echoed Trump’s national agenda by proposing a review of state agencies, similar to what Musk is doing with the advisory group dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency. And Jones wants to crack down on fentanyl-related crimes with his own effort to toughen penalties tied to the drug in Georgia.

“Georgia will continue to fight back,” said Jones, who is expected to run for governor. “With the support of President Trump and the new administration working tirelessly to secure the border, this is a fight we can and must win.”

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Credit: John Spink/AJC

Credit: John Spink/AJC

GOOD MORNING! It’s Firefighter Recognition Day at the Georgia Capitol. Firefighters from across the state will gather under the Gold Dome to talk to lawmakers and participate in a 2:30 p.m. ceremony in the South Wing of the Capitol. But the real fun is tonight, when the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department’s award-winning barbecue team cooks dinner for everyone at the Georgia Freight Depot.

Here are four things to know for today:

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Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

SECOND THOUGHTS. State Sen. Billy Hickman was one of four Republicans to co-sponsor a Democrat-backed bill that would expand eligibility for Georgia’s Medicaid program.

But the Statesboro Republican removed his name from Senate Bill 50 recently. When asked why, Hickman told the AJC’s Michelle Baruchman, “I’m not going to answer that question, but I’ll talk about anything else.”

While 40 other states have expanded Medicaid, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has steadfastly opposed it. Instead, he’s created the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program that offers Medicaid to people who meet certain requirements, including going to school, volunteering or working.

Kemp’s office said they did not pressure lawmakers to shun the Medicaid measure, which state Sen. Russ Goodman confirmed. The Cogdell Republican is still a co-sponsor of the legislation.

But in remarks on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, made clear that the Republican caucus is standing behind Kemp and his Pathways program.

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Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

SORTING THROUGH THREATS. House Speaker Jon Burns’ school safety package, unveiled on Monday, aims to make it easier for students to anonymously report threats while also warning them not to spread unfounded rumors.

As recent history suggests, sometimes students have difficulty distinguishing between the two.

Burns’ proposal includes an anonymous way for students to report concerns about their peers or other potential threats. He described it as an app offering students a “safe, confidential method” to report tips to law enforcement.

Meanwhile, Burns also said the bill would create a “mandatory penalty for students who make terroristic threats, which will include immediate suspension.”

Last year, the AJC’s Cassidy Alexander wrote about a Cobb County public school student expelled for texting his friends and warning them not to go to school because there might be a shooting. He had seen a video online of someone else threatening to shoot up several Cobb County schools. This was just a few days after an actual school shooting in Georgia left four people dead.

The message caused a lockdown at the school and spread fear throughout the campus, prompting parents to pick up their kids early.

Any system that includes reports from children will undoubtedly require some nuance. Burns seemed confident his proposal would do that.

“This approach balances the immediate need to secure the safety and security of other students with the need to provide discretion to law enforcement and the school system,” he said.

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Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

THREAT LEVEL. Georgia’s top law enforcement agency is getting so many threats — to public officials and others — that it wants to expand its counterterrorism unit.

The Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center, also known as GISAC, collects counterterrorism and criminal intelligence information throughout the state.

Last year, the center tracked 447 “threats to life,” GBI Director Chris Hosey said. These included threats to schools, public officials, state facilities and potential acts of self-harm.

“I give GISAC a pretty tall order of work to do,” Hosey said. “I call them my crystal ball. I ask them to go out and find the threat before it gets to our front door.”

Hosey said threats against public officials are on the rise — a fact he probably didn’t have to tell public officials. At least four state senators and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, were the victims of “swatting” calls in 2023. Greene was targeted again in December with a hoax bomb threat that police say came from Russia.

Hosey’s proposal would add two sworn officers to GISAC to handle increased threats not just to elected officials, but also schools, elections, special events and Georgia’s ports.

It would cost a little over $510,000, which includes salaries and “startup costs.”

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Credit: Adam Beam/AJC

Credit: Adam Beam/AJC

UNDER THE GOLD DOME. It’s the 11th day of the legislative session. Some happenings:

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Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

LISTEN UP. Today on “Politically Georgia,” Democratic state Sen. Kim Jackson joins the show to talk about her new bill to mandate equal treatment for boys and girls sports in Georgia schools. And Caylee Noggle, the CEO of the Georgia Hospital Association, discusses proposals to expand health care this session.

Be sure to download the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Have a question for the show? Give us a call at 770-810-5297. Episodes are uploaded by noon each day, just in time to have lunch with us. You can also listen live at 10 a.m. EDT on 90.1 FM WABE.

On Monday’s show, Cody Hall, political adviser to Gov. Brian Kemp, talked about the governor’s legislative priorities and political future. Then, state Sen. Nikki Merritt, D-Grayson, discussed Senate Bill 1, which would ban transgender athletes from competing against women in high school and collegiate sports.

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Credit: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Credit: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

COLLINS’ DAY. Around lunchtime, former Georgia U.S. Rep. Doug Collins is likely to become the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Senate has scheduled Collins’ confirmation vote for 12:15 p.m. It could take up to an hour for everything to finish.

Collins is expected to be confirmed with bipartisan support. Twenty-nine Democrats and two Independents joined Republicans in a procedural vote Thursday night to advance his nomination to a final vote.

Both of Georgia’s Democratic senators voted to advance Collins’ nomination, including Sen. Raphael Warnock, who defeated Collins in a special election in 2020.

Warnock’s counterpart, Sen. Jon Ossoff, missed votes last week because of an illness. But he is back this week and is expected to be present for the Collins vote today.

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Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

BLACK HISTORY MONTH. For the 10th year in a row, our AJC colleagues are marking Black History Month with daily content on the notable people and events of Atlanta’s Black history.

This year’s project, led by Ernie Suggs, is called “Atlanta Unveiled, How African Americans shaped Atlanta and the World.” It includes features on the Black mayors, architects, business leaders, and families who helped make Atlanta what it is today.

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Credit: TNS

Credit: TNS

TODAY IN WASHINGTON:

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Credit: Courtesy photo

Credit: Courtesy photo

SHOUTOUTS. Today’s birthdays:

Want a birthday shoutout in the Politically Georgia newsletter? There’s a form for that! Click here to submit the shoutouts. It’s not just birthdays. We’re also interested in new jobs, engagements, birth announcements, etc.

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Credit: Jason Getz /AJC

Credit: Jason Getz /AJC

PHOTO OF THE DAY. AJC photographer Jason Getz captured Waduda Muhammad (center) of Georgians for the Arts, talking with an aide who represents state Sen. Sonya Halpern, an Atlanta Democrat. She and other advocates visited with lawmakers at the Capitol on Monday to discuss arts funding.

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AS ALWAYS, send your best scoops, gossip and insider info to greg.bluestein@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com, patricia.murphy@ajc.com and adam.beam@ajc.com.