<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></title><description><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></description><link>https://www.gafirstnews.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Im38!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F12b6dc51-7806-4885-a963-458700d8c115_1024x1024.webp</url><title>Georgia First</title><link>https://www.gafirstnews.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 11:19:41 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.gafirstnews.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[gafirstnews@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[gafirstnews@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[gafirstnews@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[gafirstnews@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[INTRODUCING GEORGIA FIRST NEWS: FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE LAMESTREAM MEDIA]]></title><description><![CDATA[Uncovering the Truth, Exposing Corruption, and Holding Leaders Accountable in Georgia]]></description><link>https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/introducing-georgia-first-news-fight</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/introducing-georgia-first-news-fight</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:02:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fe237bbc-c1f5-4830-9f64-791b0d014f0e_1024x768.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let&#8217;s get straight to the point&#8212;<strong>Georgia First News</strong> is here because the <strong>Atlanta media</strong> has completely failed us. They&#8217;re too busy pushing their liberal agenda and protecting the Democrats to actually report the truth. The <strong>fake news</strong> has been spinning and lying to us for far too long, and we&#8217;re done with it.</p><p>This is where we step in. We&#8217;re not here to play nice. We&#8217;re here to <strong>call out the corrupt</strong>, <strong>expose the lies</strong>, and give <strong>patriots</strong> like you the real story, no matter what.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>We know the media&#8217;s game. They&#8217;re out there protecting their <strong>radical left-wing</strong> buddies, like <strong>Elena Parent</strong>, who wants <strong>boys in girls&#8217; locker rooms</strong> and <strong>competing in girls&#8217; sports</strong>. That&#8217;s not just wrong&#8212;that&#8217;s destroying the very essence of <strong>fairness</strong> in our society. We&#8217;re going to keep calling out folks like her and every other leftist who tries to push their agenda on Georgia families.</p><div><hr></div><h3><strong>Let&#8217;s Talk About the Incompetent Republicans</strong></h3><p>Now, let&#8217;s be clear. It&#8217;s not just the <strong>Democrats</strong> that need to be held accountable. Some of these so-called <strong>Republicans</strong> aren&#8217;t much better. <strong>Brad Raffensperger</strong>, for example&#8212;the man is a <strong>disaster</strong>. We all remember how he bungled the 2020 election, and he&#8217;s still stumbling around, surrounded by bad staff and completely incapable of leading Georgia to election integrity. This isn&#8217;t someone we need in office if we&#8217;re going to take back control of Georgia and restore trust in our elections.</p><p>And then there&#8217;s the <strong>useless RINOS</strong> who voted to protect the corrupt <strong>speed cameras</strong>. These cameras aren&#8217;t about <strong>safety</strong>&#8212;they&#8217;re about <strong>cashing in</strong>. Any Republican who voted to keep them in place is a perfect example of why this site is necessary. We&#8217;re not letting that slide. Not now, not ever.</p><div><hr></div><h3><strong>Why We Need This Fight</strong></h3><p>Look, we all know what&#8217;s really going on here. The <strong>Atlanta media</strong> isn&#8217;t doing their job. They should have been all over the fact that <strong>Macon-Bibb County</strong> broke the law when they installed those speed cameras. But instead, they let it slide. It&#8217;s the same story over and over again: the people in power protect their own, and the rest of us get left in the dust. <strong>Georgia First News</strong> is the solution. We&#8217;re here to make sure you get the truth and keep the pressure on everyone in power&#8212;Democrat or Republican.</p><p>Let&#8217;s be real: some of our <strong>Republican</strong> leaders are a mixed bag. Sometimes they do the right thing, but we need someone who isn&#8217;t afraid to keep the pressure on. That&#8217;s where we come in. <strong>Georgia First News</strong> is here to make sure our leaders stay on track and that the people in charge remember who they&#8217;re really working for&#8212;the people of Georgia.</p><div><hr></div><h3><strong>What We&#8217;re All About</strong></h3><p>At the end of the day, <strong>Georgia First News</strong> isn&#8217;t just about headlines or articles. It&#8217;s about <strong>standing up to the fake news</strong>, <strong>exposing the corruption</strong>, and holding everyone&#8212;<strong>Democrats</strong>, <strong>Republicans</strong>, and even so-called conservatives&#8212;<strong>accountable</strong> for their actions. We don&#8217;t care if you&#8217;re a politician in a suit or a reporter with an agenda&#8212;we&#8217;re here to tell the truth and make sure Georgia&#8217;s <strong>patriots</strong> have a voice in the fight.</p><p>If you want <strong>real news</strong>, if you want leaders who are actually <strong>accountable</strong> and don&#8217;t get away with <strong>corruption</strong>&#8212;then this is where you need to be. <strong>Georgia First News</strong> is on the front lines, fighting for your <strong>freedom</strong>, your <strong>values</strong>, and your <strong>future</strong>.</p><p>This fight is just getting started. Stick with us, because we won&#8217;t back down.</p><p>Stay tuned, stay involved, and keep pushing back. <strong>Georgia First News</strong> is your source for <strong>real news</strong>, <strong>real accountability</strong>, and the fight for <strong>Georgia&#8217;s future</strong>. Let&#8217;s make it happen.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[School Speed Cameras Catch the AJC Asleep at the Wheel]]></title><description><![CDATA[Macon-Bibb Breaks the Law on Speed Cameras&#8212;And It Took a Talk Show Host to Find Out]]></description><link>https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/school-speed-cameras-catch-the-ajc</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/school-speed-cameras-catch-the-ajc</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:46:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f90af335-fc3a-44d5-8bb5-24c0b1752bdc_1024x768.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let&#8217;s be real here: <strong>Atlanta&#8217;s media</strong> has dropped the ball&#8212;big time. If you&#8217;re looking for investigative reporting, look <strong>anywhere</strong> but the Atlanta news outlets. How did it take <strong>a local talk show host</strong> to discover that <strong>Macon-Bibb County</strong> violated the law when it installed <strong>speed cameras</strong> at private schools that didn&#8217;t want them? You&#8217;d think <strong>Atlanta&#8217;s media</strong> would be all over this&#8212;after all, this is a <strong>clear case of illegal activity</strong> by local government. But nope, the real work fell on a talk show host while the big media outlets slept on the job. The story was originally brought to light by a talk show host, and then <a href="https://www.mymcr.net/free/did-bibb-county-break-law-putting-cameras-at-schools-that-didn-t-want-em/article_a4d912a2-046d-11f0-bcc4-4f0fcfdbe571.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJHtLdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdjLa8IOPl5ROPBPlHKbx0qepcVvcA1_arnMM_Xe8Aq4FBZI7sZ0ZIDQag_aem_Se-qfIH-fF5xMlRmc6njCA">reported on by a local paper</a>. </p><h3><strong>Macon-Bibb and the Broken Law</strong></h3><p>Here&#8217;s the situation. <strong>Macon-Bibb County</strong> decided to install <strong>speed cameras</strong> in front of private schools in 2023. The problem? The county completely skipped over <strong>the law</strong>. According to Georgia law, <strong>schools</strong> have to <strong>apply to the Department of Transportation (DOT)</strong> before these cameras can be installed. But Macon-Bibb didn&#8217;t bother with that step.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>In 2023, <strong>Macon Mayor Lester Miller</strong> met with the heads of private schools in the area, under the guise of talking about the <strong>Christmas parade</strong>. But while he had their attention, he casually mentioned that the county was installing speed cameras in front of public schools, and suggested private schools could get them too. But here&#8217;s where things took a turn. After some back-and-forth, <strong>officials</strong> showed up at private schools with forms for the heads of those schools to sign, <strong>demanding signatures</strong> for the cameras to go up, regardless of whether the schools wanted them. That&#8217;s <strong>not how the law works</strong>.</p><h3><strong>The Law Was Clear, But Macon-Bibb Didn't Care</strong></h3><p>The law is <strong>straightforward</strong>: before installing speed cameras, schools must <strong>apply to the DOT</strong>. But that didn&#8217;t happen. <strong>Macon-Bibb</strong> skipped that process and installed cameras without the proper <strong>permissions</strong>. And the <strong>Atlanta media</strong>? They were too busy covering irrelevant stories to catch this <strong>blatant violation of the law</strong>. In fact, it took <strong>Erick Erickson</strong>, a talk show host, to expose it. That&#8217;s a real shame.</p><h3><strong>Macon&#8217;s Response: A Lot of Backpedaling</strong></h3><p>After the cameras were installed, complaints started rolling in. Drivers were getting tickets&#8212;even for speeding outside of school hours. And when the <strong>complaints</strong> reached the mayor, he tried to backpedal. <strong>Mayor Lester Miller</strong> claimed that no one was forced to sign the papers. He also said the cameras were only meant as a <strong>deterrent</strong>, and some schools had requested the cameras. But that&#8217;s not what the headmasters were saying. They were <strong>told</strong> the cameras were going up, no questions asked.</p><p>After the backlash, Miller finally <strong>turned off the cameras</strong> at some schools. But let&#8217;s be real: the damage was already done. Not only was this whole thing <strong>illegal</strong>, it was an <strong>abuse of power</strong>. The fact that this was swept under the rug by <strong>Atlanta&#8217;s media</strong> is beyond frustrating.</p><h3><strong>Why This Matters at the Gold Dome</strong></h3><p>Now, let&#8217;s talk about why this is so relevant under the <strong>Gold Dome</strong> in Atlanta. <strong>Rep. Dale Washburn&#8217;s bill</strong> to <strong>ban</strong> these speed cameras has already passed the Georgia House with overwhelming support. The bill is aimed at stopping local governments from using these cameras as <strong>cash grabs</strong> and ensuring they don&#8217;t violate the law. The <strong>Atlanta media</strong> should have been all over this story from the start, tracking down these illegal practices, but instead, they were more focused on fluff stories.</p><p>Instead, <strong>Erickson</strong>&#8212;not a journalist, mind you&#8212;had to be the one to bring this issue to light. And now, the <strong>state legislature</strong> is debating whether to pass <strong>Washburn&#8217;s bill</strong> to <strong>ban</strong> these cameras statewide. Why didn&#8217;t the <strong>media</strong> step up and report on this earlier? It&#8217;s their job to keep local governments in check, not let them get away with illegal actions.</p><h3><strong>The Real Issue: Government Overreach and Cash Grabs</strong></h3><p>At the heart of this issue is <strong>government overreach</strong> and the relentless push to make <strong>more money</strong> off citizens. We&#8217;re talking about millions in <strong>fines</strong> from these cameras, all while <strong>violating the law</strong> to do so. Macon-Bibb County took in <strong>$11 million</strong> from these cameras, and it&#8217;s clear that this was never about public safety&#8212;it was about <strong>taking more money</strong> from people.</p><p>The fact that Macon-Bibb broke the law to do it should be a <strong>huge</strong> concern. But instead of holding the county accountable, the <strong>Atlanta media</strong> let this slip through the cracks, and now the <strong>state legislature</strong> is left cleaning up the mess.</p><h3><strong>What Should the Media Be Doing?</strong></h3><p>The <strong>Atlanta media</strong> should have been digging into this <strong>months ago</strong>. They should&#8217;ve been <strong>investigating</strong> how Macon-Bibb installed these cameras without following the law. They should&#8217;ve been <strong>questioning</strong> the county and demanding answers. But instead, they missed the boat, and a <strong>talk show host</strong> had to step in and <strong>expose</strong> it.</p><p>It&#8217;s time for the <strong>media</strong> to do their job. They had time for a stupid puff piece about the best dressed legislators, but made no effort to investigate one of the most watched issues in Georgia politics. They need to stop covering the <strong>fashion</strong> and start <strong>investigating government actions</strong> that affect everyday Georgians. If they don&#8217;t, we&#8217;ll keep seeing this kind of thing&#8212;<strong>illegal actions</strong> being brushed under the rug while <strong>taxpayers</strong> get taken advantage of.</p><h3><strong>What&#8217;s Next?</strong></h3><p>With <strong>Rep. Washburn&#8217;s bill</strong> making its way through the legislature, we&#8217;ve got a chance to <strong>ban these cameras</strong> and stop the <strong>local governments</strong> from using them to <strong>exploit</strong> citizens. But this isn&#8217;t just about <strong>Macon-Bibb</strong>&#8212;this is happening all over Georgia. It&#8217;s time the <strong>media</strong> starts doing their job and holding local governments accountable before more of these <strong>scams</strong> slip through the cracks.</p><p>Until then, we&#8217;ll keep calling out the <strong>corruption</strong> and <strong>inefficiency</strong> of local governments and the <strong>media</strong> that refuses to hold them accountable. Stay tuned, folks. There&#8217;s more to this story, and it&#8217;s far from over.</p><div><hr></div><p>For more updates on <strong>speed camera scandals</strong> and the fight for <strong>real reform</strong>, stay tuned to <strong>Georgia First News</strong>&#8212;where we hold the government accountable and demand the <strong>truth</strong>.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Doug Collins to the Lamestream Media: Well Bless Your Heart]]></title><description><![CDATA[Georgia's Former Congressman Takes on Media Rumors: Defending Veterans and Pushing for Real Reform]]></description><link>https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/doug-collins-to-the-lamestream-media</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/doug-collins-to-the-lamestream-media</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:38:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/940b53f8-3001-453c-8dc7-2bf0b41d11ba_1600x900.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a fiery and viral exchange that has been making the rounds on social media, <strong>VA Secretary Doug Collins</strong> took on the <strong>mainstream media</strong> and set the record straight about rumors swirling around the <strong>Department of Veterans Affairs</strong>. In an interview that quickly gained attention, Collins confronted a reporter over an article based on unverified claims about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its supposed actions at the VA.</p><p>In the now-infamous clip posted to Collins' <strong>X</strong> account, Collins pulled out a printed copy of the article and accused the reporter of spreading unconfirmed &#8220;rumors&#8221; that were <strong>scaring veterans</strong>. &#8220;All I seem to be doing lately is fighting back against innuendo and rumor stories&#8230; In fact, part of it is with you,&#8221; Collins said, holding the paper up for the reporter to see.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Collins didn&#8217;t mince words: "I just need your help because when you start headlines with &#8216;There&#8217;s a rumor going around,&#8217; that hurts my veterans, that scares my veterans. That scares my employees. Because it's not true."</p><h3><strong>Fighting Back Against Media Innuendo</strong></h3><p>It&#8217;s clear that Collins is done letting the media create <strong>false narratives</strong>. His job isn&#8217;t just to run the <strong>Department of Veterans Affairs</strong>, it&#8217;s to ensure that veterans are <strong>protected</strong> and that <strong>truth</strong> is at the forefront. When it comes to the inaccurate report about <strong>DOGE&#8217;s supposed access to veterans' data</strong>, Collins was not about to let it slide. He scolded the reporter, stating that spreading such <strong>unsubstantiated claims</strong> is <strong>irresponsible</strong>.</p><p>He emphasized that the claims about DOGE&#8217;s involvement at the VA were either <strong>true or false</strong>&#8212;but there was no room for <strong>half-truths</strong> or <strong>rumors</strong> that only fuel <strong>unwarranted fear</strong>. &#8220;So, Patricia, I want to work together with you, but I need you to commit to me that you&#8217;re not gonna do this,&#8221; Collins pressed.</p><p>He also pointed out that if the reporter had any concerns, she should have gone straight to the <strong>DOGE liaison</strong>, which, according to Collins, would have cleared up any confusion.</p><h3><strong>The Real Issue: Protecting Veterans</strong></h3><p>What&#8217;s most telling in this exchange is <strong>Collins&#8217; commitment to veterans</strong>. &#8220;When you start headlines with &#8216;There&#8217;s a rumor going around&#8217; and that &#8216;we&#8217;ve heard that,&#8217; that hurts my veterans, that scares my veterans,&#8221; he said. For someone who has spent their career working to improve the lives of veterans, seeing their <strong>well-being</strong> jeopardized by false reports is something Collins simply won&#8217;t stand for.</p><p>This interview was a reminder that veterans deserve <strong>respect</strong> and <strong>transparency</strong>&#8212;and when <strong>rumors</strong> take center stage, it can lead to <strong>misinformation</strong> that hurts those who need the most help. Collins called for more responsible reporting, making it clear that it&#8217;s not just about the <strong>VA</strong>&#8212;it&#8217;s about <strong>veterans</strong> and ensuring they feel <strong>safe</strong> and <strong>supported</strong>.</p><h3><strong>Collins Defends VA Reform Efforts</strong></h3><p>Collins is no stranger to criticism, but this showdown underscored his resolve to protect veterans and defend the <strong>reforms</strong> he&#8217;s implementing at the <strong>Department of Veterans Affairs</strong>. Collins has been <strong>leading the charge</strong> on overhauling the VA to better serve its beneficiaries, including cutting waste, improving efficiency, and <strong>redirecting resources back</strong> to health care services.</p><p>His <strong>commitment to transparency</strong> is a key factor in this effort. Collins is <strong>openly engaging</strong> with the media, holding press conferences, and constantly pushing to address the issues facing veterans, both within the VA and beyond. He&#8217;s been vocal about his goal to <strong>reform the department</strong> and ensure that the <strong>focus remains on results</strong>, not distractions from sensational media stories.</p><h3><strong>Collins' Message: Focus on the Facts</strong></h3><p>Ultimately, Collins&#8217; message was simple: <strong>Stop the speculation and focus on the facts</strong>. He didn&#8217;t mince words when he said, &#8220;I&#8217;m the most transparent VA secretary we&#8217;ve had yet. I&#8217;m on video, I&#8217;m on interviews, I do everything I possibly can to push back against everything I&#8217;m hearing.&#8221; For Collins, the focus should be on <strong>getting the work done</strong> for veterans, not getting caught up in <strong>rumors and hearsay</strong>.</p><p>The clip quickly went viral, with over a million views in less than 24 hours, showing that the public is <strong>tired of media spin</strong> and more interested in <strong>real accountability</strong>.</p><h3><strong>Collins: A VA Secretary Who&#8217;s Here to Work</strong></h3><p>At the end of the day, Collins&#8217; interaction with the media was about more than just one reporter&#8212;it was about standing up for veterans and <strong>holding the media accountable</strong> for spreading <strong>false information</strong> that harms them. It was a reminder that <strong>substance matters</strong>&#8212;and Collins is all about the hard work, not the headlines.</p><p>As <strong>Secretary of Veterans Affairs</strong>, Doug Collins is focused on real solutions, real reform, and <strong>real change</strong> for veterans. It&#8217;s time the media starts doing the same.</p><div><hr></div><p>For more updates on <strong>Doug Collins</strong> and the ongoing reform efforts at the <strong>Department of Veterans Affairs</strong>, stay tuned to <strong>Georgia First News</strong>, where we focus on <strong>real leadership</strong> and <strong>accountability</strong>.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Best-Dressed List: A Who's-Who of Empty Suits and Political Performances]]></title><description><![CDATA[The AJC just released their &#8220;Best Dressed&#8221; list of Georgia legislators.]]></description><link>https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/the-best-dressed-list-a-whos-who</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/the-best-dressed-list-a-whos-who</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 13 Mar 2025 20:04:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/20276612-0563-43d2-b52d-0cf7b8dc8fb8_1920x1080.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3><strong>The Best-Dressed List: A Whos-Who of Empty Suits and Political Performances</strong></h3><p>The AJC just released their &#8220;Best Dressed&#8221; list of Georgia legislators. </p><p>Let&#8217;s get something straight: this <strong>Best Dressed List</strong> is not about accomplishments or substance&#8212;it&#8217;s about who&#8217;s wearing the <strong>right clothes</strong> and looking good in front of the camera. The <strong>politicians</strong> on this list may look sharp, but when it comes to their <strong>political work</strong>, most of them have <strong>nothing to show</strong> for it. Particularly when it comes to the Democrats and <strong>Rep. Charlice Byrd</strong>&#8212;a woman who deserves a spot on the list, but not for fashion. Let's break it down.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><h3><strong>The Democrats: Masters of Fashion, But Masters of Nothing Else</strong></h3><p>Take the <strong>Democrats</strong> on the list, for example. Rep. <strong>Michelle Au</strong> from Johns Creek, an anesthesiologist by trade, looks well put together and dresses "timelessly" with an eye for classic style. But when it comes to pushing for conservative values, <strong>crickets</strong>. Her accomplishments in the legislature? Not so impressive. Her fashion may be on point, but where is her <strong>track record of legislative success</strong>? Nowhere to be found.</p><p>Then there&#8217;s <strong>Sen. RaShaun Kemp</strong> from Atlanta, who draws inspiration from <strong>Barack Obama</strong> and <strong>Coleman Domingo</strong> for his fashion choices. Great. But let's be honest: he&#8217;s got <strong>style</strong> but not much <strong>substance</strong> when it comes to actual legislative action. It&#8217;s all about making an impression, not getting anything done. And don&#8217;t even get me started on <strong>Sen. Harold Jones II</strong> and <strong>Rep. Inga Willis</strong>, who spend more time curating their wardrobe than they do fighting for actual reforms.</p><h3><strong>Charlice Byrd: The One Who Destroyed the Freedom Caucus</strong></h3><p>And then there&#8217;s <strong>Rep. Charlice Byrd</strong>, the <strong>notorious</strong> Woodstock Republican. While Byrd may have impeccable fashion taste&#8212;emulating <strong>Jackie O</strong>&#8212;she&#8217;s <strong>singlehandedly destroyed</strong> the <strong>Freedom Caucus in the House</strong>, turning it into <strong>nothing more than a party of one</strong>. She might look like a million bucks, but politically, she&#8217;s done more to <strong>undermine conservative values</strong> than most could imagine. The <strong>Freedom Caucus</strong>? A shadow of what it once was, thanks to Byrd&#8217;s <strong>strategic sabotage</strong>. But hey, at least she&#8217;s got the right earrings and shoes, right?</p><h3><strong>Is This Really What We Should Celebrate?</strong></h3><p>At the end of the day, the <strong>Best Dressed List</strong> tells you everything about the <strong>appearance</strong> of Georgia&#8217;s lawmakers, but <strong>nothing about their effectiveness</strong>. Fashion is fun and all, but it&#8217;s not going to fix the <strong>education system</strong>, <strong>cut taxes</strong>, or fund <strong>law enforcement</strong> in Georgia. We need legislators who are <strong>focused on real work</strong> and <strong>policy changes</strong>, not who can wear the most elegant <strong>suit</strong> or <strong>pair of shoes</strong>.</p><p>This list is a <strong>who&#8217;s-who of people who can look great on the surface but have no real accomplishments</strong> to back it up. <strong>Georgia First News</strong> believes that <strong>fashion</strong> should never take the place of <strong>substance</strong> in politics. Let's keep our focus where it belongs: on the issues that matter and the <strong>real change</strong> that needs to happen.</p><p>If Georgia&#8217;s lawmakers want to be remembered for anything more than their wardrobe, it&#8217;s time to start acting like leaders, not just <strong>well-dressed puppets</strong>.</p><div><hr></div><p>Stay tuned to <strong>Georgia First News</strong>, where we&#8217;re focused on the issues that truly impact <strong>Georgia&#8217;s future</strong>.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Georgia House Passes Two Bills to Curb School Zone Speed Cameras – Finally, A Win for Drivers!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Finally, some sanity is being restored in Georgia! The Georgia House of Representatives has just passed two bills aimed at reining in those pesky, money-grabbing school zone speed cameras.]]></description><link>https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/georgia-house-passes-two-bills-to</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/georgia-house-passes-two-bills-to</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Mar 2025 17:13:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/75b03091-8180-4132-a2d8-3dc02fdeee1b_1024x768.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3></h3><p>Finally, some sanity is being restored in Georgia! The <strong>Georgia House of Representatives</strong> has just passed two bills aimed at <strong>reining in</strong> those pesky, money-grabbing school zone speed cameras. The cameras that were supposed to be about safety, but let&#8217;s be real, we all know they&#8217;re mostly about <strong>lining pockets</strong>.</p><p><strong>House Bill 225</strong> completely bans these automated ticketing systems, overturning that disastrous 2018 law that allowed them to exist in the first place. <strong>House Bill 651</strong> is the compromise&#8212;keeping the cameras, but adding strict guidelines on when and how they can operate. Yeah, we&#8217;ll let the cameras stay, but they won&#8217;t be free to abuse drivers anymore.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Here&#8217;s the deal: It&#8217;s <strong>way overdue</strong>, and the state Senate better not mess this up.</p><h4><strong>What&#8217;s the Problem with These Cameras?</strong></h4><p>The system was set up with the claim that it would protect students. But if you&#8217;ve been anywhere near Memorial Drive or Riverdale High School, you&#8217;ve probably seen the issue. Drivers getting ticketed at <strong>all hours of the day</strong>, <strong>outside of school hours</strong>, or even on weekends. Not to mention the cameras that are <strong>wrongly set up</strong> in areas where children don&#8217;t even walk. And the worst part? The fines aren&#8217;t even criminal&#8212;they&#8217;re civil citations. So, guess what? <strong>No consequences</strong> if you just toss the ticket in the trash, and no one is going to stop you.</p><p>The cameras aren&#8217;t about <strong>protecting students</strong>&#8212;they&#8217;re about <strong>easy revenue</strong> for local governments and out-of-state camera companies. Rep. <strong>Dale Washburn</strong> hit the nail on the head: &#8220;We&#8217;ve probably taken $50 million out of Georgia&#8221; through these fines.</p><h4><strong>House Bill 651: The &#8220;Compromise&#8221; Bill</strong></h4><p>If you can&#8217;t completely kill the cameras, let&#8217;s at least <strong>make them less of a cash grab</strong>. That&#8217;s exactly what <strong>House Bill 651</strong> aims to do. It limits ticketing to <strong>two-hour windows</strong> during school arrival and dismissal times. And hey, guess what? Now there will be <strong>warning signs</strong> to let drivers know their speed before they get hit with a fine. Sounds fair, right? Plus, it puts the <strong>brakes</strong> on cities and counties collecting <strong>too much revenue</strong>, capping it at 35% of their police budget.</p><p>But don&#8217;t get too excited yet&#8212;this bill still has some serious flaws. While it might rein in the abuse, we&#8217;re still <strong>letting these cameras operate</strong> at all. And that&#8217;s a problem.</p><h4><strong>What&#8217;s at Stake?</strong></h4><p>The political donations behind this entire camera racket are a <strong>huge</strong> part of the issue. Over the past <strong>four years</strong>, camera companies have funneled <strong>$700,000</strong> in donations to Georgia&#8217;s politicians. <strong>$400,000</strong> of that came just this year. <strong>How much influence do you think that&#8217;s bought?</strong> Too much. These donations are coming from companies that make their money by <strong>trapping</strong> innocent drivers.</p><p>If these bills pass in the Senate, we can finally put an end to the scam and keep our roads safer <strong>without the trickery</strong>. Rep. <strong>Alan Powell</strong> might have a point when he said that <strong>House Bill 651</strong> is &#8220;a second choice,&#8221; but we need to <strong>start somewhere</strong>.</p><h4><strong>The Senate: Don&#8217;t Screw This Up</strong></h4><p>The House has <strong>done its job</strong>&#8212;now it&#8217;s time for the Senate to step up. They&#8217;ve got two options to choose from, but the <strong>real solution</strong> is simple: ban the cameras completely. <strong>No more entrapment. No more abuse.</strong> This isn&#8217;t about fighting for <strong>safety</strong>, it&#8217;s about protecting <strong>drivers</strong> from predatory practices.</p><p>Let&#8217;s see if the Senate can stand up to the camera companies&#8217; influence and pass something that actually makes sense. This isn&#8217;t just about political games&#8212;it&#8217;s about standing up for <strong>everyday Georgians</strong> who are tired of being taken advantage of.</p><div><hr></div><p>For more updates on Georgia politics and the fight to stop the <strong>speed trap madness</strong>, stay tuned to <strong>Georgia First News</strong>. We&#8217;re not done yet!</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Georgia House Passes the "Riley Gaines Act" – A Win for Women’s Sports!]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Georgia House put a major win on the board&#8212;House Bill 267, also known as the &#8220;Riley Gaines Act,&#8221; just passed, and it&#8217;s about time!]]></description><link>https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/georgia-house-passes-the-riley-gaines</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.gafirstnews.com/p/georgia-house-passes-the-riley-gaines</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Georgia First]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:01:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6e3e9113-02a3-42f3-91ad-8332f84f8656_1024x768.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3><strong>Georgia House Passes the "Riley Gaines Act" &#8211; A Win for Women&#8217;s Sports!</strong></h3><p>This bill <em>finally</em> stops transgender athletes from competing against biological girls and women in sports.</p><p>The bill is named after <strong>Riley Gaines</strong>, who&#8217;s been fighting for fairness in women&#8217;s sports ever since she had to compete against <strong>Lia Thomas</strong>, a biological male who claimed an NCAA swimming title. Since that fiasco, Riley has been calling out the woke idiots who think it&#8217;s &#8220;fair&#8221; for a man to compete with women. Now, Georgia is stepping up with this legislation. <strong>102-54 vote</strong> in favor&#8212;<strong>ZERO Republican no votes</strong>. It&#8217;s clear that the majority of Georgia&#8217;s lawmakers are ready to get back to common sense.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><h4><strong>Riley Gaines &#8211; A True Champion</strong></h4><p>Let&#8217;s get something straight: <strong>Riley Gaines</strong> is a fighter for REAL women&#8217;s sports. She&#8217;s not out there to get attention. She&#8217;s out there fighting for fairness. This bill is for the women who deserve a chance to compete without being at a disadvantage to someone who was born a man. <strong>Rep. Josh Bonner</strong> of Fayetteville, who&#8217;s sponsoring the bill, gets it&#8212;&#8220;Female athletes deserve fair competition,&#8221; he said. And that&#8217;s what this is all about. It&#8217;s about not letting men dominate women&#8217;s sports just because they feel like dressing up as women.</p><p>The Democrats are having a meltdown over this, and it&#8217;s no surprise. <strong>Rep. Karla Drenner</strong>, the same Democrat who has been crying about this bill, called it &#8220;dangerous&#8221; and &#8220;discriminatory.&#8221; <em>Yeah, right</em>&#8212;because protecting women&#8217;s sports from biological males is somehow &#8220;dangerous.&#8221; These liberals will say anything to protect their woke agenda. Well, guess what? This bill&#8217;s heading to the Senate, and there&#8217;s a lot of us who are ready to make sure it becomes law.</p><h4><strong>Why It&#8217;s Time to Stand Up</strong></h4><p>Here&#8217;s the deal: <strong>25 states</strong> have already passed laws like this, and Georgia&#8217;s finally getting in the game. <strong>Riley Gaines</strong> isn&#8217;t backing down, and neither should we. This bill is about <strong>protecting the future of our girls</strong>&#8212;athletes who work their butts off and deserve a fair shot at success. The NCAA and the woke left are trying to ruin sports for women, but Georgia&#8217;s saying, &#8220;No way!&#8221;</p><p>The libs can call it whatever they want, but here&#8217;s the reality: <strong>Transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete against biological women</strong>. This is common sense. If you want to compete, fine&#8212;but not in the same category as women who&#8217;ve spent their whole lives training to get where they are.</p><h4><strong>The Battle Continues</strong></h4><p>This bill is going to the Senate next, and we need to keep the pressure on. We&#8217;ve got to stand up to the woke mob that&#8217;s trying to destroy women&#8217;s sports. This isn&#8217;t about hating on anyone&#8212;it&#8217;s about ensuring that our daughters and granddaughters have the same opportunities as every other woman.</p><p>We&#8217;ve seen enough of this nonsense. <strong>Kudos to the 102 representatives who voted for the bill</strong>&#8212;now let&#8217;s make sure it gets passed through the Senate and signed into law. The left is going to scream and shout, but they&#8217;ve lost this one. <strong>Women&#8217;s sports are for women, and nothing is going to change that.</strong></p><div><hr></div><p>For more updates on Georgia politics and to see how we're kicking liberal nonsense to the curb, stay tuned to <strong>Georgia First News</strong>. We&#8217;re just getting started!</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.gafirstnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>