Rahul Bali

WABE Politics Reporter

WABE Politics Reporter Rahul Bali covers the State Capitol, local governments, public policy, budget issues and political campaigns. He co-hosts the WABE politics podcast “Plugged In” alongside fellow Politics Reporter Sam Gringlas.

Rahul joined WABE in 2021 after more than two decades in radio and television. Rahul is from Augusta, Georgia and is a graduate of Georgia State University with a business degree in economics.

The first presidential candidate Rahul covered was Bob Dole during a 1996 campaign stop at Georgia Tech.

Sam Gringlas

WABE Politics Reporter

WABE Politics Reporter Sam Gringlas covers campaigns, voting, public policy, the legislature and law, including the Fulton County case focused on former President Donald Trump. He co-hosts the WABE politics podcast, “Plugged In” and his reporting is often heard nationally on NPR.

Sam joined WABE in 2021 after serving as a producer for NPR’s “All Things Considered” in Washington, D.C. and helping cover the 2020 election for NPR’s politics desk. Sam has also worked with NBC News in Washington and WDET, Detroit’s public radio station. He is a native Michigander and earned a degree in public policy from the University of Michigan.

Tharon Johnson

Panelist

Tharon Johnson is the founder and CEO of Paramount Consulting Group, a bipartisan government affairs and communications firm based in Atlanta.

​Tharon is a nationally recognized political strategist and trusted community leader who advises elected officials at the highest levels of government.

He has served at senior levels of federal, state and local campaigns, including for Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, U.S. Reps. John Lewis and John Barrow, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.​

Lisa Rayam

Host

Lisa Rayam is the host of WABE’s “Morning Edition” and the “Political Breakfast” podcast.

She spent 21 years at Fox 5, where she was a reporter and anchor. During her tenure, Lisa developed a reputation as a tenacious, well-connected reporter and trusted anchor. She brings a wealth of experience, extensive contacts and credibility from covering the biggest news stories in Atlanta for over two decades.

Lisa has won numerous awards for her reporting as well as many recognitions for community service.

Brian Robinson

Panelist

Brian Robinson owns Robinson Republic, a communications consulting firm specializing in public affairs messaging throughout Georgia.

Brian is a political commentator in metro Atlanta’s leading media outlets and on national cable news channels.

Prior to opening his own business, Brian worked as deputy chief of staff for communications for Gov. Nathan Deal. He also ran the communications efforts for the Deal campaigns in 2010 and 2014. Robinson also served as a communications director for U.S. Reps. Phil Gingrey and Lynn Westmoreland.