Ep 424: Primary Roundup

 

Dave and Doug Shaw cover the Georgia primary runoff matchups, Trump's primary influence and failed coattails, police brutality in South Carolina, and the deaths of Kyle Bush and Barney Frank.

Georgia Primary Runoffs: Governor and Senate

Burt Jones will face Rick Jackson in the Republican gubernatorial runoff — Jones outperformed expectations but Rick Jackson has momentum. Jackson runs the risk of over-indexing on Trump endorsement; he needs to build his own coalition. Lance Bottoms's entry into the race as a Democratic candidate alongside incumbent Ossoff might actually help Republicans. Meanwhile, the lieutenant governor's race heads to a runoff between JFK (who benefited from name recognition — people voting for the dead president) and Dolezal, whose campaign was a mess. His Sharia law flyer targeting Dolezal's Muslim name is tactically stupid in Georgia.

Paulding County: Robert Lane Defeats Colleen Hampton in District Attorney Race

Robert Lane won decisively, 65-35, in the Republican primary for Paulding County District Attorney. Dave had supported the opponent but congratulated Lane afterward. The race was amateur hour on both sides — particularly Hampton's alignment with the "Justice for Heather Turner" group pursuing a 2017 homicide case obsessively, maligning retired Sheriff Gary Gulledge, current Sheriff Ashley Henson, and homicide detective (and Dave's neighbor). Lane has no general-election competition; his challenge now is learning from the race's lessons.

Thomas Massie Loses to Trump-Backed Challenger in Kentucky

Congressman Thomas Massie, perhaps the most constitutionally principled member of Congress, lost to Trump's preferred candidate in a sub-10-point race. Trump won Kentucky by far more, proving his coattails don't stretch to every race. Massie refused to rubber-stamp Trump and maintained separation from the executive branch — the role Congress is supposed to play. His loss signals the GOP increasingly favors loyalty tests over constitutional governance. Rumors suggest Massie may explore a 2028 presidential run; he'd get crushed, but his standing in principle has never wavered.

Kyle Bush Dies at 41: NASCAR Legend's Illness and Legacy

NASCAR driver Kyle Bush, 41, died shortly after testing a new racing simulator in Concord, North Carolina. He'd been coughing up blood and experiencing shortness of breath; reports suggest the infection may trace back to a ceramic stool incident four months prior that required 24 stitches in his calf. Bush was NASCAR's winningest driver across all racing tiers, owned a truck team, and mentored young drivers. He was set to race in the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte and the Truck Series race this weekend.

Robert Busbee, Ogeechee Judicial District Attorney, Dies of Heart Attack

Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Robert Busbee, 44, suffered an apparent heart attack at a local gym. Busbee replaced Daphne Totten, who notoriously jailed a domestic-violence survivor for killing her abuser (conviction later overturned). Busbee restored integrity to the office. 

Police Chokehold on White Teenager at South Carolina Baseball Game

A resource officer in South Carolina placed a white teenager in a chokehold and tased him after the teen's mother questioned a call at a private high school baseball game. The kid stepped on the officer's foot; the cop hit him in the head with a taser. 

Kevin Warsh Becomes New Federal Reserve Chairman

Kevin Warsh, 56, replaced Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair. Warsh looks younger than his age and came from Ohio. Powell remains on the board. Trump praised Warsh in a press conference — then immediately praised President Xi Jinping using the same language, revealing the praise was boilerplate. Interest rate drops expected when the Federal Reserve meets; Connie's new vehicle purchase timing may depend on rate movement.

Georgia School Board Election: Paulding County Votes to Rein In District

Paulding County voters approved a referendum capping property assessment increases at the inflation rate, forcing the school board to actually vote on millage increases instead of pocketing stealth tax hikes via rising home values. The ballot wording was confusing, but after county Republican leadership posted clarification, it passed. This is a meaningful check on property-tax expansion.

Memorial Day Remembrances and Atlanta Radio History

Dave honored Will Zapp, a fellow service member and purple heart recipient who died of brain cancer likely caused by Iraq service. The conversation drifted into Atlanta radio nostalgia — Southside Steve, 96 Rock, the American Pie bar on Sunday afternoons. Legends Distillery (which made Southside Steve whiskey) is closing. Terrestrial radio is dying; nobody listens anymore.

Barney Frank Dies: 2008 Financial Crisis Architect

Congressman Barney Frank died this week. Frank co-authored the Dodd-Frank legislation that enabled the subprime mortgage crisis and the 2008 financial collapse. He packaged bad mortgages together and sold them, leaving borrowers in perpetual uncertainty about who held their loans. Frank was famously disorganized in appearance despite being gay (contrary to stereotype) and ran a gay prostitution ring out of his Washington townhouse. His departure from the Senate improved the institution.

Closing Thought: Primary Fatigue

Dave is experiencing voter fatigue as Georgia heads into runoff season. Campaign ads have completely cluttered his DVR to the point where he's considering a complete deletion and restart.

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