Husband, father, aspiring mensch. AJC politics reporter 🗞 analyst 📺 Politically Georgia podcast host 🎧 Sirius Radio 📻 Author of FLIPPED📕 Jolt Newsletter 💻https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mu5emtke7k2eU.S. Rep. Mike Collins keeps trying to pivot away from the controversies surrounding people in his political orbit. And each time the Senate nominee tries, another one seems to surface. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/mike-collins-struggles-to-outrun-his-aides-problematic-posts/28 Aug 2026 12:32 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5emtke7k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtyp6p4e3s2z“I’m open for discussion but it’s their move to make, to have a genuine conversation about it,” Lt. Gov. Burt Jones told me. “Let’s not forget they filed a defamation lawsuit against me.” #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/burt-jones-pours-cold-water-on-rick-jackson-reconciliation/26 Aug 2026 15:58 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtyp6p4e3s2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtyb7qn7oc2lEven as governors from Texas to Pennsylvania are pumping the brakes on data centers, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is pressing ahead with full-throated support for the industry in his final months in Georgia’s top job. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/how-georgias-governor-became-the-champion-of-its-data-center-future/26 Aug 2026 11:48 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtyb7qn7oc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtvojdyfnc2yThe assertion by the GOP nominee for governor comes amid an ongoing fight over whether the military will be deployed to polling sites across the country during the election. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/jackson-suggests-kemp-will-use-national-guard-to-monitor-polling-places/25 Aug 2026 11:08 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtvojdyfnc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mturh7af5k2yGOP nominee for governor Rick Jackson is still running against the establishment, even with the state’s top Republican for much of the last decade standing beside him. https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/backed-by-brian-kemp-rick-jackson-sticks-to-outsider-message/25 Aug 2026 02:28 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mturh7af5k2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtubpet2ns2fOssoff and Collins are both multimillionaires. Both have much of that money in investments. But they manage their portfolios very differently. A closer look: #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/ossoff-collins-are-millionaires-but-handle-their-money-very-differently/24 Aug 2026 21:46 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtubpet2ns2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtp3y34wq222It was a remarkable campaign moment between the two rivals for Georgia governor, one more suited for a debate stage than a parking lot outside a swanky Atlanta hotel. But the confrontation has jolted the race for Georgia governor. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/georgia-governor-rivals-bottoms-jackson-spar-in-atlanta-encounter/22 Aug 2026 20:20 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtp3y34wq222https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtlvmrickk2bWeeks after Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Collins sought to put the furor surrounding his son-in-law’s extremist posts behind him, David Alan Scheer II is still stirring online outrage. 1/ #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/mike-collins-son-in-law-sparks-fresh-outrage-online/21 Aug 2026 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlvmrickk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtllskdiwc25Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson are teasing new ethics overhauls as they race for Georgia’s top job, putting public trust at the forefront of a contest where both are trying to fend off fierce attacks on their own records. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/why-keshia-lance-bottoms-rick-jackson-are-trying-to-out-ethics-each-other/21 Aug 2026 10:53 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtllskdiwc25https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtj6dsnz6c2eThe decision extends a four-decade DNC drought for Atlanta and is a stinging disappointment for boosters who mounted a more aggressive campaign to land the convention after losing the 2024 event to Chicago, which was also eliminated on Thursday. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/atlanta-loses-out-on-hosting-2028-democratic-national-convention/20 Aug 2026 11:46 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtj6dsnz6c2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtgsstvkws2rGOP Senate nominee Mike Collins is trying to exploit one of Ossoff’s most personal fault lines: his criticism of the Israeli government, which has put Georgia’s first Jewish U.S. senator at odds with some influential members of his own community. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/for-some-jews-in-georgia-choosing-ossoff-or-collins-for-senate-isnt-simple/19 Aug 2026 13:15 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgsstvkws2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mtblabz7v22tSen. Jon Ossoff leads Republican challenger Mike Collins in every major public poll, holds a massive fundraising advantage and is now trying to peel away GOP voters. At his Sunday rally in Atlanta, Ossoff made plain that he sees no reason to let up. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/jon-ossoff-wants-more-than-a-win-against-mike-collins/17 Aug 2026 11:16 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtblabz7v22thttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mswhf5vq2k2hhttps://substack.com/@gregbluestein/note/c-313375786?r=n2hxp&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action13 Aug 2026 01:08 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mswhf5vq2k2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3msuw3ctjks26President Donald Trump is trying to play peacemaker between Rick Jackson and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, personally stepping in to try and broker a truce after one of the nastiest Republican primaries for governor in Georgia history. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/donald-rump-tries-to-broker-truce-between-rrick-ackson-and-burt-jones/12 Aug 2026 10:25 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3msuw3ctjks26https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3msqda36pkc2eThe GOP nominee for Georgia governor is entangled in a costly battle to keep a Montgomery hospital from shutting its doors. Here’s what it tells us about his healthcare strategy. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/why-georgia-governor-candidate-rick-jackson-spent-millions-on-failing-hospital/10 Aug 2026 14:37 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqda36pkc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3msopqmby6k2bRick Jackson spent more than $108 million of his own cash during the GOP primary. But new reports show he is taking outside money, including $10 million from a Republican PAC. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/georgia-governor-race-rick-jackson-raises-13m-in-outside-money/09 Aug 2026 23:16 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3msopqmby6k2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3msip2aznms26U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and Rick Jackson haven’t campaigned together since winning the GOP nominations for U.S. Senate and governor. Georgia Democrats want to turn that distance into a campaign issue. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/georgia-democrats-press-rick-jackson-to-denounce-mike-collins/07 Aug 2026 13:47 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3msip2aznms26https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3msgmegpvkc23The Atlanta home of a top aide to Georgia’s chief elections official was struck by gunfire during an early Thursday shootout, though he said there was no indication the incident was politically motivated. https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/atlanta-home-of-georgia-secretary-of-states-top-aide-struck-by-gunfire/06 Aug 2026 17:54 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3msgmegpvkc23https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3msfutrtsj227Two Republican mayors from the reddest parts of Georgia are breaking ranks to back Sen. Jon Ossoff’s reelection bid, telling the @ajc.com that the Democrat’s work for their communities outweighs partisan differences. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/why-two-republican-georgia-mayors-are-crossing-party-lines-for-jon-ossoff/06 Aug 2026 10:53 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3msfutrtsj227https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mse7bp3bws2vAbdul El-Sayed’s Senate candidacy poses a critical challenge for Democrats’ progressive wing: Can an insurgent candidate, with unabashedly liberal positions, win a general election in a moderate state? https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/el-sayed-michigan-senate-primary-win.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share05 Aug 2026 18:55 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mse7bp3bws2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3msdlwl6n3c23Keisha Lance Bottoms is launching her first general election attack ad, trying to tether Republican Rick Jackson to the one figure Democrats most want front and center during the November campaign: President Donald Trump. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/bottoms-launches-first-attack-ad-over-jacksons-trump-ties/05 Aug 2026 13:08 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdlwl6n3c23https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3msauqknv7s2v“Character matters.” U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff picked up the endorsement today from former U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican whose clashes with President Donald Trump prompted him to back other prominent Democrats. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/former-gop-sen-jeff-flake-backs-jon-ossoff-saying-character-matters/04 Aug 2026 11:08 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3msauqknv7s2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3ms6kiyv4zk2lDemocrats face an uphill climb to flip control of chambers at the Georgia Capitol or the congressional delegation in the midterms. But majority control of one policymaking body is within the party’s reach: the Georgia Public Service Commission. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/georgia-democrats-seek-crucial-third-vote-on-psc/03 Aug 2026 13:00 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6kiyv4zk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3ms2q422ii22n“Adults in the room.” Georgia Democrats focus messaging on cost-of-living challenges and GOP leadership under President Donald Trump at the party’s annual convention in Savannah today. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/08/changing-political-winds-democrats-make-midterms-case-at-state-convention/02 Aug 2026 00:29 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms2q422ii22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mrukgrubbc25“We can absolutely win. But it’s going to take the entire Republican team. We all need to be on the same page. We all need to be rowing in the same direction, and now is the time to make that happen.” https://open.substack.com/pub/gregbluestein/p/a-party-divided?r=n2hxp&utm_medium=ios30 Jul 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrukgrubbc25https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mrv5wmdv5s2lFORSYTH — Every campaign faces an unwelcome test when controversy strikes. Address it too little and it festers. Dwell on it too much and it overwhelms the message. Senate nominee Mike Collins is finding out how difficult that balancing act can be. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/07/collins-healthcare-event-derailed-by-questions-about-his-son-in-law/30 Jul 2026 19:21 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrv5wmdv5s2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mrukgrubbc25“We can absolutely win. But it’s going to take the entire Republican team. We all need to be on the same page. We all need to be rowing in the same direction, and now is the time to make that happen.” https://open.substack.com/pub/gregbluestein/p/a-party-divided?r=n2hxp&utm_medium=ios30 Jul 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrukgrubbc25https://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mrujzl2qwk2hReinforcements are coming for Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Collins. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/07/mike-collins-gets-multimillion-dollar-boost-from-gop-group/30 Jul 2026 13:24 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrujzl2qwk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mrufavfh2k2yTom Murphy ruled the Georgia House for nearly three decades. At a roundtable in Carrollton, allies, rivals and protégés reflected on the lessons the legendary speaker left behind — and why his influence still echoes under the Gold Dome. #gapol https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/07/the-king-of-the-georgia-house-and-the-lessons-tom-murphy-left-behind/30 Jul 2026 11:59 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrufavfh2k2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bluestein.bsky.social/post/3mrt7ucwjkk2fhttps://open.substack.com/pub/gregbluestein/p/collins-two-front-fight?r=n2hxp&utm_medium=ios30 Jul 2026 00:50 +0000at://did:plc:vfyoabc5oeobgnddttqjf5vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrt7ucwjkk2f