By Jill Nolin | Editor
“It’s incredibly important that someone be able to build relationships with their fellow legislators so that they learn the realities to be able to dispel some of the myths and to really recognize the humanity of non-binary and transgender folks here in Georgia.” - Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, referring to the significance of a transgender, nonbinary lawmaker likely being elected to the Georgia Legislature for the first time.
Bentley Hudgins is poised to become the state’s first openly transgender and nonbinary state lawmaker. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
POLITICS
By Ross Williams
In January, the Georgia Legislature is likely to welcome its first openly transgender, nonbinary and Japanese-American lawmaker, and all these firsts could be courtesy of one person.
Bentley Hudgins, whose experience includes serving as Georgia state director for the Human Rights Campaign, was the top vote-getter in last month’s Democratic primary election to represent House District 90, which includes parts of DeKalb County.
Atlanta’s public transit system, MARTA, is under increased scrutiny after a series of violent incidents. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder
COMMENTARY
By Jay Bookman
Maybe MARTA has been a victim of unfortunate timing, with several random, high-profile shootings and stabbings occurring just as thousands of World Cup visitors are scheduled to come to town, setting off a federal investigation into the agency’s security performance.
Maybe.
However, longtime riders of the system can attest to the fact that conditions on MARTA rail have deteriorated significantly. To explain that away as something other than serious bureaucratic failure, you’d also have to ignore other major warning signs of incompetence and neglect.
Democrats on congressional panels who heard from Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano on June 10, 2026, were skeptical that he was giving a full picture of the delays that some Americans face when trying to apply for benefits or ask about an issue they’re having with the program. (Getty Images)
SAFETY NET
By Jennifer Shutt
The head of the Social Security Administration testified before Congress on Wednesday that customer service has drastically improved during the last year, though he declined to offer ways to address the program’s dire financial situation.
Commissioner Frank Bisignano instead deferred to lawmakers, who will need to make changes to the safety net program for tens of millions of Americans before it reaches insolvency in six years.
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