Hakeem Jeffries

Your daily jolt of news and analysis from the AJC politics team.

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff speaks at the Georgia Chamber Congressional Luncheon in Columbus last year. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Today’s newsletter highlights:

A Georgia lawmaker blames AI in part for a campaign finance reporting discrepancy.

Mike Collins unveils new policy priorities in his Senate bid.

Everton Blair Jr. makes history in Georgia’s congressional delegation.

Piker backlash grows

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference in Washington in July. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Add Georgia U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff to the growing list of Democrats condemning left-wing commentator Hasan Piker after he suggested that pro-Israel advocacy could fuel violence against American Jews.

Pressed on Piker’s remarks, Ossoff said through a spokesperson that the he “unreservedly rejects reckless and dangerous rhetoric suggesting that policy advocacy invites violence against the Jewish community or any community.”

“American Jews and all Americans must have the freedom and security to speak out and petition their government without fear of reprisal,” he added.

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Things to know

Country music legend Dolly Parton signed this 1996 picture with then-Georgia Gov. Zell Miller. (Russell Library, University of Georgia.)

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Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson both say they will raise teacher salaries if elected governor, Cassidy Alexander reports.

Former Gov. Zell Miller had some help from Dolly Parton for a literacy initiative in the 1990s, Greg Bluestein reports.

The fate of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ signature legislation aimed at tackling the city’s massive wealth divide now rests largely in the hands of the local school board, Shaddi Abusaid and Martha Dalton report.

AI troubles

State Rep. Mitchell Horner, R-Ringgold, seen here at the Georgia Capitol in June. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Policy pivot

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins speaks with reporters at an asphalt plant in Norcross on Tuesday. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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The VORTEX Act, aimed at reducing veteran overdose deaths by improving coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and community providers and preventing duplicate opioid prescriptions.

The PERMIT Act, which Collins says would speed up federal permitting for housing and infrastructure projects and cut regulatory delays.

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Jackson’s plan

An aerial view of off-grid generators being installed, with the data center in the background, in Covington in June. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

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Local support

Local financial benefit

No higher utility bills for residents.

Any tax incentive or other agreements must be transparent and enforceable.

Must meet strict environmental standards.

Listen up

Cathy Cox, seen here during a campaign stop in Augusta in 2006. (Jenni Girtman/AJC)

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Blair becomes the first

Friends, campaign staff and supporters celebrate after former Gwinnett County School Board Chair Everton Blair Jr. (right) wins the special election runoff for Georgia's 13th Congressional District on Tuesday. (Olivia Bowdoin for the AJC)

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Today in Washington

President Donald Trump will speak at a fundraiser in Houston supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign.

The House returns Monday.

The Senate is out until mid-September.

Shoutouts

State Rep. Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners, poses for a portrait at the Georgia state Capitol in March 2023. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

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State Rep. Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners, won the Torchbearer for Education award from the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) for his leadership to keep cellphones out of Georgia classrooms.

State Rep. Regina Lewis-Ward, D-McDonough, was recently appointed to the Clayton State University Alumni Board of Advisors.

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Before you go

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins speaks with reporters after he met with industry leaders at an asphalt plant on Tuesday in Norcross. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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