Welcome to Atlanta where the players play, and we ride in the fast lane of the American news highway. We don’t mean to brag, but when it comes to politics, Atlanta is pretty much the center of the universe: Politicians love us (or love to hate us), our celebs get voters to turn out (for what), and, most importantly, we’re the capital of Georgia, which has emerged as one of the biggest battleground states in the 2024 presidential election.
Here’s a look at Atlanta’s headline-making moments over the last four years.
Illustration by Zac Crawford
The call that started it all: In the wake of his 2020 election loss, outgoing President Donald Trump makes his infamous appeal to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, urging him to help Trump “find 11,780 votes” (January 2021).
Illustration by Zac Crawford
Fulton County poll workers Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman testify to Congress about the horrendous impacts on their lives from Rudy Giuliani’s “Stop the Steal”–motivated harassment campaign (December 2023).
Illustration by Zac Crawford
Fani Willis secures the first (and, so far, only) mug shot of Donald Trump after his arraignment for his Georgia election interference trial (August 2023) . . . then lands in hot water for her relationship with case colleague Nathan Wade (March 2024).
Illustration by Zac Crawford
The state’s new election law prohibiting “line warming” gets the Hollywood treatment when Larry David is arrested for passing out water to voters during an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and poses for a mug shot that looks suspiciously familiar (February 2024).
Illustration by Zac Crawford
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s mega-MAGA outfit for the State of the Union address goes viral, as does President Biden’s reaction to it (March 2024).
Illustration by Zac Crawford
Donald Trump and Joe Biden choose Atlanta for their first and only debate; Biden’s disastrous performance leads him to withdraw from the race, while Trump accidentally glues himself to the term “Black jobs” (June 2024).
Illustration by Zac Crawford
Newly minted Democratic nominee Kamala Harris returns to Atlanta for her second-ever campaign rally, where Megan Thee Stallion performs under a “Hotties for Harris” banner and homegrown legend Quavo tells the crowd, “One thing I learned from working with Vice President Harris is she always stands on business” (July 2024).
Illustration by Zac Crawford
After calling Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, a “bad guy” at his Atlanta rally, Donald Trump walks it back on X, thanking the governor for his support in Georgia—a state, he notes, “where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country” (August 2024).
Illustration by Zac Crawford
Georgia takes the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention when Atlanta native Lil Jon does a surprise performance of “Turn [Out] for What” during the delegate roll call (August 2024).
Illustration by Zac Crawford
All-Georgia bonus: JD Vance visits a Valdosta doughnut shop for a little chitchat with the staff . . . and finds out the hard way that Valdostans don’t always share his enthusiasm for publicity stunts (August 2024).
This article appears in our November 2024 issue.
