Same questions, same format. A flag is about the language, not whether an answer was true or which candidate is right. Speakers are identified from the broadcast captions and checked by a person.
Claims checked
Factual claims each candidate made in their own words, looked up in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting, as of the debate date. A verdict that a claim is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an independent primary source, and its confidence is not low.
Good evening. This is a race between Georgia and Georgetown. Somebody that has created jobs and opportunities right here in Georgia on this red clay versus a globe-trotting trust fund kid who got to the Senate and then at every turn has voted to make our life less safe, more expensive, and worse off.
Black-and-White Fallacy Frames the election as a binary contrast between 'Georgia' and 'Georgetown', reducing the choice to two opposed camps.
Name Calling Uses a derogatory label to discredit the opponent rather than address his record. Flagged: “globe-trotting trust fund kid”.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Overstates the opponent's record as making things worse at every single turn. Flagged: “at every turn has voted to make our life less safe, more expensive, and worse off”.
I mean, behind this highly skilled, scripted online clips is a coward, a A coward who lies about his accomplishments and views his success not as what he does for Georgia, but the number of clicks that he gets on social media and the praises that he gets from his radical friends. You see, while John Ossoff spent his time raising our taxes and putting men in women's domestic violence centers and leaving the borders wide open, I went to work for you, passing two bills signed by two presidents, two different parties improving the lives of Georgians. But John Ossoff, He raised our taxes.
Name Calling Labels the opponent a 'coward' and a liar and calls his associates 'radical' to discredit him rather than address arguments.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged words like 'coward' and 'radical' are used to provoke a reaction.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Overstates the opponent's record with sweeping claims like leaving the borders 'wide open'. Flagged: “leaving the borders wide open”.
Appeal to Fear Evokes a threat of men entering women's domestic violence centers and open borders to stoke anxiety. Flagged: “putting men in women's domestic violence centers”.
We need a U.S. Senator who represents Hollywood, Georgia, not Hollywood, California.
Black-and-White Fallacy Frames the choice as representing local Georgia versus Hollywood, California, implying only two options. Flagged: “represents Hollywood, Georgia, not Hollywood, California”.
And tonight we're going to continue asking tough questions of Congressman Mike Collins. We're going to pick up right where we left off last week and ask him questions he refused to answer. why he voted for the tariffs and the war and the health care cuts that have driven prices to record highs, why he won't commit to testifying in the ongoing federal probe of his office, and we'll ask him again to explain his widely documented and completely disqualifying ties to white nationalism and neo-Nazi ideology.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged phrasing about ties to extremist ideology and 'completely disqualifying' frames the target negatively rather than stating specifics.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Attributing 'record highs' in prices to his votes and calling ties 'widely documented' and 'completely disqualifying' overstates the evidence.
Thank you for the question, Faith. You know, Iran, we have been at war with this Islamic terrorist regime for over 47 years. They've been killing Americans ever since.
Loaded Language Labels the Iranian government an 'Islamic terrorist regime', an emotionally charged term meant to provoke hostility rather than describe facts.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Claims the US has been 'at war' with Iran for over 47 years, an overstatement of a long, mostly non-war hostile relationship.
Appeal to Fear Asserts a continuous threat of Iran killing Americans to stoke fear and justify action. Flagged: “They've been killing Americans ever since.”.
And they were this close to getting a nuclear weapon. And thank goodness we had the leadership to send people over there to take care of those nuclear weapons that they were trying to create. Now we need to make sure that they don't have a bomb.
Appeal to Fear Stresses how near 'they' were to a nuclear weapon to create anxiety about an imminent threat.
Euphemistic State Language Sanitised phrasing obscures a military strike by describing it as sending people to 'take care of' weapons.
Glittering Generalities Vague praise of 'leadership' with no specifics serves as self-congratulation.
Because my opponent and the Democrats, all they're interested in is sending more money to Iran. Send over cash, over $1.3 billion in cash. But John Ossoff, we want to understand about the border down there.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Claims the only interest of the opponent and Democrats is sending money to Iran, an absolute overstatement. Flagged: “all they're interested in is sending more money to Iran”.
Loaded Language Frames a payment as 'cash' sent over to Iran to provoke outrage rather than explain context.
Thank you, Donna. Well, the question was about the war in Iran, 21 Americans dead, a global energy crisis. You see, what we have right here is the Washington establishment.
Appeal to Fear Stacks grim threats (war, American deaths, energy crisis) to provoke anxiety rather than analysis. Flagged: “21 Americans dead, a global energy crisis”.
Name Calling Labels political opponents as 'the Washington establishment' as a derogatory tag to discredit them instead of addressing arguments.
Congress is full of congressmen's sons who are only in Congress because their daddies were congressmen, just like Mike Collins, who are perfectly happy to send other people's children to die in war. How is this war a success, Mike? Why don't you respond?
Name Calling Discredits Mike Collins and other members of Congress by labeling them as privileged nepotism beneficiaries rather than addressing their arguments. Flagged: “only in Congress because their daddies were congressmen”.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged accusation that lawmakers are cheerfully sending others' children to die, intended to provoke outrage. Flagged: “perfectly happy to send other people's children to die in war”.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Sweeping overgeneralization that Congress is 'full of' such people and all are happy to send children to die.
You know, the only thing my parents gave me was the opportunity to go to work. John Ossoff, the only thing he knows about work is working the ATM machine, getting his granddaddy's money out of it. Now, we're in Iran to make sure they don't get a nuclear bomb and destroy America, because that's what they want to do.
Name Calling Derogatory mockery of a named opponent as an entitled rich kid who has never worked, instead of addressing his arguments. Flagged: “the only thing he knows about work is working the ATM machine, getting his granddaddy's money out of it”.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Absolute overstatement that the opponent knows nothing about work beyond withdrawing money. Flagged: “the only thing he knows about work”.
Appeal to Fear Invokes the threat of a nuclear attack destroying America to justify military action. Flagged: “they don't get a nuclear bomb and destroy America”.
And I've got kids and grandkids, and we want to make sure that they have a future. And we have leadership. We finally have leadership that understands that and is making sure that we put America first.
Glittering Generalities Vague, positive slogan-like language praising leadership and 'America first' without any specific policy or substance. Flagged: “We finally have leadership that understands that”.
They've been rounding up people with no criminal history, with no criminal record. They've been separating children from their parents. They've unleashed masked federal agents on the streets of our cities who have killed American citizens with impunity.
Loaded Language 'Rounding up' evokes roundups of people and frames enforcement in emotionally charged terms.
Appeal to Fear Evokes a vivid threat of masked agents killing citizens in our cities to stir anxiety. Flagged: “on the streets of our cities who have killed American citizens with impunity”.
Yes, ma'am. You know, the Lake and Riley Act has been responsible for removing over 20,000 illegal criminals from our streets, making this country safer. Well, let's get back to that border, because John Ossoff's been out there running ads protecting children, paid for by one of Jeffrey Epstein's friend, Reid Hoffman, a man who visited the Epstein Island and is also a leading million-dollar super PAC that's supporting his legislation, supporting his campaign.
Loaded Language The charged label 'illegal criminals' frames immigrants emotionally rather than neutrally.
Name Calling Discredits Ossoff and Hoffman through guilt by association with Epstein rather than addressing the substance of the ads. Flagged: “one of Jeffrey Epstein's friend, Reid Hoffman”.
I voted to release those files. But here's the hypocrisy in this thing. John Ossoff, his number one donor, one of his largest donors is Reid Hoffman, the same guy that's in the Epstein files, the same guy that sent ice cream, ice cream to Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday and said, this is for the girls.
Loaded Language The charged word 'hypocrisy' frames the opponent negatively before any evidence is given.
Card Stacking Selectively presents a donor link and an unverified insinuation of association with Epstein to imply wrongdoing by the opponent, omitting context. Flagged: “the same guy that's in the Epstein files”.
Repetition The repeated phrases 'the same guy' and 'ice cream' stress guilt by association through familiarity.
Yeah, you know, Joe Biden went into office and boy, Georgians paid for it. Look at what happened during the Biden years. Look at what happened with John Ossoff voting for that Bidenomics mess that caused historic inflation.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Sweeping claim that Georgians 'paid for' Biden taking office, with no specifics.
Loaded Language Dismissive, emotionally charged label for economic policy in place of a factual description. Flagged: “that Bidenomics mess”.
That's what caused your prices to go up, people. That's what caused all of your housing, your food, your clothing, your cars, you name it. Whatever you buy went up because of John Ossoff and the Democrats with that Bidenomics debacle.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Sweeping claim that a single cause drove price increases across all categories of goods, beyond what evidence supports. Flagged: “all of your housing, your food, your clothing, your cars, you name it”.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged term 'debacle' frames the economic policy as a disaster rather than describing it factually.
He voted for the largest tax increase in the history of this country. He wanted to take more of your money when he provided the high prices on what you have to pay for out there. That's where this inflation is coming from.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Uses an absolute superlative claim about the tax increase that goes beyond what is evidenced. Flagged: “the largest tax increase in the history of this country”.
Loaded Language Frames the politician's action emotionally as taking people's money and causing high prices. Flagged: “He wanted to take more of your money”.
You know, let's talk to my farmers down in South Georgia on tariffs. You know, they've been struggling because these South American countries, these socialist countries, communist countries, which I'm sure you like, They've been just flooding the cotton into this state and into this country, destroying the prices. That's one reason we had to raise reference pricing, which John Ossoff voted against, by the way.
Name Calling Labels countries with ideological epithets and insinuates the opponent likes them to discredit them. Flagged: “these socialist countries, communist countries, which I'm sure you like”.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged verbs portray imports as a flood that destroys prices. Flagged: “just flooding the cotton”.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Overstates the effect of imports as total destruction of prices. Flagged: “destroying the prices”.
I mean, he hangs his hat on this Abdul El-Sayed. You know, the guy that hates Israel, the best friends with Hassan Piker that said that America deserves 9/11. Where's his condemnation of that, of those two?
Loaded Language Emotionally charged characterization ('hates Israel', 'America deserves 9/11') used to provoke a reaction and tie the target to an inflammatory claim.
well how weak a person do you have to be to be unable to stop someone under your own roof from disseminating neo-Nazi propaganda while you run for the Senate. The paper reported it's still going on to this day. How about this, Mike?
Name Calling Attacks the target's character as 'weak' through a rhetorical question instead of addressing facts. Flagged: “how weak a person do you have to be”.
Loaded Language Uses the charged label 'neo-Nazi propaganda' to provoke a strong emotional reaction against the target.
There's a crazy person in jail right now because of your rhetoric. And you threatened my son-in-law and threatened to kill me. Had another threat just yesterday.
Loaded Language Uses the emotionally charged label 'crazy person' to provoke a reaction and blame the target's rhetoric.
We all know it's happening. Why can't you stop it? Why won't you commit right now to stopping it?
Bandwagon Appeal Asserts universal agreement that something is happening, implying the claim must be true because everyone accepts it. Flagged: “We all know it's happening.”.
False Urgency Demands an immediate commitment, pressuring action without deliberation. Flagged: “commit right now”.
So you can't stop the production of neo-Nazi propaganda from your own house? You don't know people that give you $20 or $15 or $10, but you know the people that max out to you. You know the people pumping a million dollars into your supermax.
Loaded Language Charged accusation of producing 'neo-Nazi propaganda' is meant to provoke an emotional reaction.
So you're going to allow neo-Nazi propaganda to continue to be produced from your home while you run for the U.S. Senate, is that correct? You're just going to let the neo-Nazi propaganda continue, is that right?
Loaded Language The loaded label 'neo-Nazi propaganda' is used in a leading, accusatory question to provoke a strong emotional reaction.
look secretary rubio has been a deep disappointment but not as deep a disappointment as Secretary Hegseth, who has lied repeatedly about the war in Iran. I want everybody to remember that they told us last year that they'd obliterated Iran's nuclear program. And then they told us this year that it posed an imminent threat and they had to take us to war.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged characterisation of officials as 'a deep disappointment' who 'lied repeatedly' is meant to provoke disapproval rather than present specifics.
That's why he's for Iran because Abdul El-Said and the whole DSA movement is They hate Israel. They would rather vote for Iran than to support Israel.
Name Calling Labels a named person and an entire political movement as pro-Iran and hateful toward Israel instead of addressing their positions. Flagged: “he's for Iran”.
Loaded Language Uses the emotionally charged claim of 'hate' to characterize a whole movement.
Black-and-White Fallacy Frames the choice as only supporting Iran or supporting Israel, ignoring any nuance. Flagged: “They would rather vote for Iran than to support Israel.”.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Overstates the movement's position by claiming it would prefer Iran over Israel. Flagged: “They would rather vote for Iran”.
Yes, Joe Biden was the president. And yes, we saw the results of the Biden presidency along with John Ossoff. Folks, you saw what happened under that debacle of an administration, whether it was the Bidenomics that they passed.
Loaded Language The word 'debacle' is an emotionally charged label that dismisses the administration instead of citing specific facts.
Name Calling Describing the administration and its economic policy as a 'debacle' and using the pejorative 'Bidenomics' discredits them without argument.
That's what caused all this high inflation. He's trying to, he'll talk about anything he can except his record. That's why we're going to continue to talk about his record tonight, to make sure that you understand the reason that everything is so high.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged words chosen to trigger a reaction rather than convey facts.
Your groceries, your clothes, you name it. It's because of what they put on the backs of the American people and that Green New Deal. You're talking about farmers?
Loaded Language The phrase 'put on the backs of the American people' is emotionally charged imagery of burden and oppression rather than a factual description.
And Mike Collins is on record supporting handing your tax dollars to the violent thugs and criminals who sacked the US Capitol and tried to overturn the election. Aren't you, Mike?
Loaded Language Emotionally charged labels like 'violent thugs and criminals' and 'sacked' are used to provoke outrage rather than convey neutral facts.
Name Calling Derogatory labels are applied to the Capitol rioters, and by association to Mike Collins, to discredit them. Flagged: “violent thugs and criminals”.
He sent Epstein ice cream and said, "It's for the girls." You claim to fight against the Epstein class, but I'm gonna tell you, this call is coming from inside the house, and the Epstein class is on stage right now, and it's you. Will you condemn Reid Hoffman and apologize for your hypocrisy tonight?
Name Calling Labels the opponent as part of the 'Epstein class', a derogatory association meant to discredit rather than address arguments.
Loaded Language Uses the emotionally charged insinuation of child-abuse association ('It's for the girls', 'Epstein class') to provoke outrage.
It's important to understand. When Congress was voting on whether to release that evidence, we all knew what had happened. But you voted to cover up the evidence even though you knew 14-year-old girls had been raped because Donald Trump told you to.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged accusation invoking the rape of 14-year-old girls and a 'cover up' to provoke outrage.
Name Calling Portrays the addressees as obedient to Trump and complicit in a cover-up, discrediting them rather than addressing their arguments. Flagged: “because Donald Trump told you to”.
Donald Trump, who by the way is named a thousand times in the Epstein files. Have you ever met with Jeffrey Epstein's victims? When they ask you why you voted to cover up the Epstein files, do you have an answer?
Card Stacking Presents a striking, unverified numerical claim about mentions in the files without context, implying wrongdoing. Flagged: “named a thousand times in the Epstein files”.
Loaded Language Uses the charged accusation 'cover up' to frame a vote as concealment of wrongdoing.
You know, he never answered the question. He won't answer the question because he's part of that crowd. That's the people he caters to, people like Reid Hoffman.
Name Calling Dismisses the person by labeling him part of a disreputable 'crowd' instead of addressing the unanswered question.
Disgusting. That's a data center billionaire Epstein elite class. That's part of John Ossoff.
Name Calling Attaches a derogatory stacked label tying a group to Epstein and billionaires to discredit it rather than argue a point. Flagged: “data center billionaire Epstein elite class”.
Loaded Language Uses the emotionally charged association with Epstein to provoke disgust rather than convey facts. Flagged: “Epstein elite class”.
And that's due to John Ossoff, the Democrats, who don't even want you in gas automobiles. As a matter of fact, John Ossoff doesn't really care how high gas prices get. because what he actually wants, he wants you to ride in mass transit.
Scapegoating Blames a politician and his whole party for the broad, complex problem of gas prices, with a sweeping claim about what they want. Flagged: “that's due to John Ossoff, the Democrats, who don't even want you in gas automobiles”.
Loaded Language Attributes callous indifference to the opponent to provoke anger rather than present facts. Flagged: “doesn't really care how high gas prices get”.
If it wasn't so, he wouldn't have voted for that Green New Deal. If it wasn't so, they wouldn't have killed the Keystone Pipeline. If it wasn't so, they'd be helping to get us to where we're energy independent.
Repetition The refrain 'If it wasn't so' is repeated at the start of each sentence to make the implied claim feel true through familiarity.
Loaded Language 'Killed' is an emotionally charged way to describe cancelling a pipeline permit.
He voted against that. He would rather have us be dependent on foreign countries out there to produce our oil when we've got more right here under our own earth, more than we'll ever need. But it's people like that that don't understand economics, that vote against this stuff.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Claims domestic oil reserves exceed anything we will ever need, an unsupported absolute overstatement. Flagged: “more than we'll ever need”.
Black-and-White Fallacy Frames the opponent's vote as a choice to prefer foreign dependence over domestic production, ignoring other motives or options. Flagged: “He would rather have us be dependent on foreign countries”.
Name Calling Discredits the opponent and those like him as ignorant of economics instead of addressing their arguments. Flagged: “people like that that don't understand economics”.
We could have passed her bill under President Biden, but you wouldn't lift a finger. I mean, were you too cowardly to stand up for what's right? Or was it just politically convenient to wait until it was going to pass anyway?
Loaded Language The word 'cowardly' is an emotionally charged label meant to provoke a reaction and shame the target rather than address the substance.
Name Calling The rhetorical question brands the addressee a coward to discredit them instead of engaging with their arguments. Flagged: “were you too cowardly”.
Mike, you know I voted for the bill. You're not just lying about my record. You're lying about a young woman's death because your campaign is in collapse.
Name Calling Labels the opponent a liar to discredit him rather than addressing the substance of his claims. Flagged: “You're not just lying about my record.”.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged framing invoking a young woman's death and a 'collapse' to provoke outrage.
He deflects when we finally get into talking about his record of how he actually votes, what he actually thinks. You want to know, if he'd have been in the private sector, he'd have been fired because he was responsible for that young woman's death. He allowed that border to stay open.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged accusation that the politician was personally 'responsible for that young woman's death' is meant to provoke outrage rather than present evidence.
Appeal to Fear Evokes the threat of an open border tied to a death, implying danger without supporting detail. Flagged: “He allowed that border to stay open.”.
He knew that border was open. He knew that criminals were flooding across that border down there, killing and harming Americans. He didn't help lift a finger on that bill.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Claims the border was simply 'open', overstating the situation beyond what evidence supports.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged words like 'flooding' and 'killing and harming' are used to provoke alarm rather than convey facts.
Appeal to Fear Creates anxiety by depicting criminals pouring over the border to kill and harm Americans. Flagged: “killing and harming Americans”.
But you stand here and say you're going to be a champion for black Georgians when you elevate to positions of leadership in your political organization people with ties to the Ku Klux Klan? You want to explain that to folks across Georgia? Did you accidentally put people with Klan ties in your political organization?
Loaded Language Invoking the Ku Klux Klan as an accusation is meant to provoke a strong emotional reaction and discredit the opponent. Flagged: “people with ties to the Ku Klux Klan”.
Donald Trump is enriching himself and his family to the tune of billions of dollars. I wonder if Mike Collins can defend that. I wonder if Mike Collins can defend voting to double your health insurance premiums.
Loaded Language 'Enriching himself and his family' is a charged framing of alleged personal profiteering rather than a neutral statement of fact.
Appeal to Fear Frames a vote as a direct threat to the audience's finances ('double your health insurance premiums') to provoke anxiety. Flagged: “voting to double your health insurance premiums”.
You know, the problem is that we have voter ID here in Georgia, we do. But when offered the opportunity, at least five times, John Ossoff voted against the SAVE Act to get voter ID for all across this country. Y'all, we live in the best country in the world.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Absolute superlative claim about the country that cannot be supported by evidence. Flagged: “we live in the best country in the world”.
Glittering Generalities Vague, emotionally positive patriotic flourish with no specific content. Flagged: “the best country in the world”.
There's no reason we shouldn't have the most secure elections in the world. But people like John Ossoff, they don't believe that. But I tell you, it's something else.
Glittering Generalities Vague, positive-sounding claim about 'the most secure elections in the world' with no specifics.
Name Calling Implies a named political opponent opposes secure elections, discrediting him without argument. Flagged: “people like John Ossoff, they don't believe that”.
He's all for abortion up until in past birth. You talk about extreme? That's John Ossoff and his position on abortion.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Overstates the opponent's position as supporting abortion even after birth, a claim beyond the evidence. Flagged: “all for abortion up until in past birth”.
Loaded Language Uses the charged label 'extreme' to provoke a reaction instead of giving facts.
Name Calling Ties the named politician to the 'extreme' label to discredit him instead of engaging his arguments. Flagged: “That's John Ossoff and his position on abortion.”.
But my opponent, he's definitely for abortion all the way up to--
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Frames the opponent's position in the most extreme, absolute terms ('definitely', 'all the way up to') without nuance, overstating it beyond what is evidenced.
Well, we can immediately save tens of billions of taxpayer dollars by ending this disastrous war in Iran. a war that's based on lies, a war that Mike Collins has continued to defend all night, even as he insists falsely that gas prices are in fact coming down. But Mike, you want to talk about waste, fraud and abuse?
Loaded Language The emotionally charged word 'disastrous' frames the war negatively without supporting facts.
It's a nothing burger. This is just a hit job, political hit job, and the Democrats are keeping it going just so that he can continue to talk about everything except for his record of why he has made our life less safe and more expensive. Thank you so much.
Loaded Language Dismissive slang to trivialize the matter rather than address facts. Flagged: “nothing burger”.
Appeal to Fear Claims the subject's record has made life less safe, invoking threat without evidence. Flagged: “made our life less safe and more expensive”.
Because of people like John Ossoff, who's out there taking away child care credit, who's out there taking away, he voted against school choice. Think about that. He didn't have to worry about that.
Loaded Language Framing the senator's votes as 'taking away' child care credit is emotionally charged phrasing meant to provoke anger rather than describe the vote neutrally. Flagged: “who's out there taking away child care credit”.
Let's talk about high taxes. You voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history. You voted for that Bidenomics, that Green New Deal.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Uses an absolute superlative claim about tax increases beyond what is evidenced. Flagged: “the largest tax increase in U.S. history”.
Name Calling Uses disparaging labels for opponents' policies to discredit them rather than argue substance. Flagged: “that Bidenomics, that Green New Deal”.
You see that that's why he stays on that That's why he doesn't want to talk about things like our active military our veterans that he has continuously lied to you on his stance on where he has been out there even held press conference Talking about how he took credit for military increases when he lies about that.
Name Calling Repeatedly labels the opponent a liar to discredit him rather than addressing specific facts. Flagged: “he has continuously lied to you”.
Thank you, Donna. Look, first things first, we're going to repeal the tariffs that have driven grocery prices to their record high. We're going to end the disastrous war Mike Collins supported that has triggered a global energy crisis and driven diesel to its all-time high.
Loaded Language The word 'disastrous' is an emotionally charged judgment of the war rather than a neutral description.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Attributes a global energy crisis and record diesel prices solely to one war, overstating a single cause for a complex outcome. Flagged: “triggered a global energy crisis and driven diesel to its all-time high”.
is make sure that we produce our own products right here and that we don't have to depend on all these foreign countries that hate us to send us their oil or their finished products. Things that we haven't built a refinery in over 50 years. Thank goodness the Trump administration fast tracked the Baytown, Texas refinery so that we can do that.
Appeal to Prejudice Paints all foreign countries as hating the nation, stirring distrust of foreigners by nationality. Flagged: “all these foreign countries that hate us”.
Appeal to Fear Frames dependence on foreign oil as a threat from hostile nations to provoke anxiety. Flagged: “we don't have to depend on all these foreign countries that hate us to send us their oil”.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Sweeping overstatement that all foreign suppliers hate the country. Flagged: “all these foreign countries that hate us”.
Loaded Language Emotive praise phrase used to elicit approval of the administration. Flagged: “Thank goodness”.
But John Ossoff, he can't do that. You see, while I delivered the largest tax cuts in U.S. history, brought home more than $200 million for Georgia rural hospitals, and wrote the law, the Lake and Riley Act, which has removed over 20,000 illegal criminals from our streets, John Ossoff worked against us. I mean, he spent his time in Washington focused on how he could defund our greatest ally, Israel, how he could block our farmers from getting that critical aid, all to just try to defund Border Patrol and ICE, and how he could impress his donors that don't even care about our state or represent our values.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole Superlative self-praise claiming the largest tax cuts in history, beyond what is verified. Flagged: “the largest tax cuts in U.S. history”.
Loaded Language Emotionally charged label 'illegal criminals' used to provoke a reaction.
Card Stacking Lists only the speaker's favorable achievements and frames the opponent as simply working against 'us', omitting complicating context. Flagged: “while I delivered the largest tax cuts in U.S. history”.
You see, John Ossoff is a man who doesn't care about Georgia. He's just telling us these things because he's using this as a platform. Georgians are hardworking people and we deserve a senator that will work as hard as us for us.
Name Calling Discredits the opponent by attacking his motives and character rather than addressing his arguments. Flagged: “a man who doesn't care about Georgia”.
Glittering Generalities Uses vague, flattering praise of the audience and a noble-sounding standard with no specific content. Flagged: “Georgians are hardworking people”.
Full transcript
From the AI transcript of the broadcast; highlighted answers are where the model found a technique.
Hello, I'm Donna Lowry, host of Lawmakers on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Welcome to the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk Young Debate Series from the studios of Georgia Public Broadcasting. The 2026 debate series was made possible by grants to the Atlanta Press Club from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Robert Charles Loudermilk Sr. Foundation. This is the debate for candidates running for U.S. Senate. We have two journalists who will question the candidates. Greg Blustein is the chief political reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Faith Jesse is a news anchor and reporter at 11 Alive in Atlanta. I'm going to kick off today's debate asking each of the candidates to introduce themselves and tell viewers why they should be the next U.S. Senator from Georgia. Candidates will have 60 seconds to introduce themselves. We will go in alphabetical order, starting with Representative Mike Collins.
Good evening. This is a race between Georgia and Georgetown. Somebody that has created jobs and opportunities right here in Georgia on this red clay versus a globe-trotting trust fund kid who got to the Senate and then at every turn has voted to make our life less safe, more expensive, and worse off. I mean, behind this highly skilled, scripted online clips is a coward, a A coward who lies about his accomplishments and views his success not as what he does for Georgia, but the number of clicks that he gets on social media and the praises that he gets from his radical friends. You see, while John Ossoff spent his time raising our taxes and putting men in women's domestic violence centers and leaving the borders wide open, I went to work for you, passing two bills signed by two presidents, two different parties improving the lives of Georgians. But John Ossoff, He raised our taxes. We need a U.S. Senator who represents Hollywood, Georgia, not Hollywood, California.
Well, Donna, thank you so much for moderating, and thank you to the Press Club for hosting us. Congressman, it's good to see you again. You all know that I believe in asking tough questions, whether it's of the postmaster general when the mail is late in Georgia, or of those defense contractors up at Fort Gordon who are abusing Georgia military families, or of a secretary of defense when he lies us into war. And tonight we're going to continue asking tough questions of Congressman Mike Collins. We're going to pick up right where we left off last week and ask him questions he refused to answer. why he voted for the tariffs and the war and the health care cuts that have driven prices to record highs, why he won't commit to testifying in the ongoing federal probe of his office, and we'll ask him again to explain his widely documented and completely disqualifying ties to white nationalism and neo-Nazi ideology. We'll see tonight if the Congressman has the courage to respond.
Thank you very much. For the full set of debate rules, please visit atlantapressclub.org. Our panel will now ask a question to an individual candidate. And we'll start with Greg Blustein, who will ask a question for John Ossoff. And once again, you have 60 seconds for your answer. Senator Ossoff, you've repeatedly said you won't run for president in 2028, but your name continues to surface as a potential contender. So will you pledge right now tonight to serve your full six-year term if you win?
Yes, I will. I have zero interest in running for president I'm not running for president. I'm running for reelection to the Senate. And tonight, the contrast could not be clearer between these two Senate candidates. So let's hear from Congressman Mike Collins, who told us last week, you'll recall if you were watching, that these tariffs were, quote, "making things fair." Just exactly what he meant by that. Folks are going to the grocery store. They're paying more than ever to stock their fridge, Ground beef is up 30% since Donald Trump took office. Coffee is up 30% since Donald Trump took office. Those were your votes, Mike, tariffs you supported. Last week, you said the tariffs were making things fair. And I think that you should explain to Georgia voters why you voted for the tariffs and what you mean by that.
Yeah, you know, tough questions are going to come out tonight. No one's ever challenged, though, John Ossoff on anything he's ever voted on. So what we're going to do tonight is we're going to go through John Ossoff's record. We're going to make sure that you understand exactly what he's been doing while he's been in Congress. Because I'm like Blustein, he is running for president. He's going to be your DSA candidate. We're going to start out, though, with making things left safe. Because John Ossoff is out there talking about protecting children, protecting them out there. But we're going to get to that in just a second. Thank you very much.
We're out of time on that. We want to go to another question. We want to get as many questions in as possible. Faith, Jesse, please ask your question of Mike Collins. Thank you, Donna. Representative Collins, the military now reporting that 21 U.S. service members have been killed since the war in Iran has begun. If the president requests American ground troops in Iran, will you support that deployment, even if it means more American casualties?
Thank you for the question, Faith. You know, Iran, we have been at war with this Islamic terrorist regime for over 47 years. They've been killing Americans ever since. And they were this close to getting a nuclear weapon. And thank goodness we had the leadership to send people over there to take care of those nuclear weapons that they were trying to create. Now we need to make sure that they don't have a bomb. Because my opponent and the Democrats, all they're interested in is sending more money to Iran. Send over cash, over $1.3 billion in cash. But John Ossoff, we want to understand about the border down there. Why you went out there saying you were protecting children and the whole time you would not shut that border down when children were being trafficked across that border for heinous reasons, for who knows what that they were doing to those kids. And you had the opportunity to shut that border down and stop that child trafficking, but you wouldn't.
Thank you, Donna. Well, the question was about the war in Iran, 21 Americans dead, a global energy crisis. You see, what we have right here is the Washington establishment. Congress is full of congressmen's sons who are only in Congress because their daddies were congressmen, just like Mike Collins, who are perfectly happy to send other people's children to die in war. How is this war a success, Mike? Why don't you respond?
You know, the only thing my parents gave me was the opportunity to go to work. John Ossoff, the only thing he knows about work is working the ATM machine, getting his granddaddy's money out of it. Now, we're in Iran to make sure they don't get a nuclear bomb and destroy America, because that's what they want to do. And I've got kids and grandkids, and we want to make sure that they have a future. And we have leadership. We finally have leadership that understands that and is making sure that we put America first. And we do it through peace through strength.
Thank you. We're going to have to go to another question. I'm sorry. Faith, Jesse, your question for John Ossoff. Senator Ossoff, you voted for the Lake and Riley Act, which mandates detention for certain immigrants accused of crimes, even without a conviction. Do you stand by that vote, knowing that some may never be found guilty?
Faith, thank you for the question. Here's the bottom line about that law. It is right that immigration enforcement should focus on those who are convicted of or wanted for crimes. If you're in the United States illegally and you commit a crime, you've got to leave. It is also right that provisions of that law were overbroad, and we need to address that. But look at what Mike Collins and Donald Trump have been doing. They've been rounding up people with no criminal history, with no criminal record. They've been separating children from their parents. They've unleashed masked federal agents on the streets of our cities who have killed American citizens with impunity. Mike Collins called for killing immigrants by throwing them to their deaths out of helicopters. I'd like to hear if Mike Collins stands by that statement. Do you still believe in the extrajudicial killing? of immigrants?
Yes, ma'am. You know, the Lake and Riley Act has been responsible for removing over 20,000 illegal criminals from our streets, making this country safer. Well, let's get back to that border, because John Ossoff's been out there running ads protecting children, paid for by one of Jeffrey Epstein's friend, Reid Hoffman, a man who visited the Epstein Island and is also a leading million-dollar super PAC that's supporting his legislation, supporting his campaign.
Yeah, Mike, you want to raise the Epstein files? You voted to cover up the Epstein files. I want folks across the state to know this. When we took those votes, we knew that 14 and 15-year-old girls had been raped and trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices. He wouldn't vote to release those files until Donald Trump gave him permission. Have you ever spoken to those victims? Do you have tonight a message to Jeffrey Epstein's victims after you voted to cover up that evidence, Mike?
I voted to release those files. But here's the hypocrisy in this thing. John Ossoff, his number one donor, one of his largest donors is Reid Hoffman, the same guy that's in the Epstein files, the same guy that sent ice cream, ice cream to Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday and said, this is for the girls. John, the call's coming from inside the house. Epstein class that you're talking about, I'm looking at him right now.
Unfortunately, we're going to have to move on. Greg, please ask your question of Mike Collins. Congressman Collins, you've said as recently as June that President Trump, quote, won the 2020 election. Do you still believe that Trump defeated Joe Biden in 2020?
Yeah, you know, Joe Biden went into office and boy, Georgians paid for it. Look at what happened during the Biden years. Look at what happened with John Ossoff voting for that Bidenomics mess that caused historic inflation. That's what caused your prices to go up, people. That's what caused all of your housing, your food, your clothing, your cars, you name it. Whatever you buy went up because of John Ossoff and the Democrats with that Bidenomics debacle. And then to put on top of that, the Green New Deal. And then you can take that even further when we had the opportunity to put money back in your pockets. Oh, no, he doesn't think you deserve that. He voted for the largest tax increase in the history of this country. He wanted to take more of your money when he provided the high prices on what you have to pay for out there. That's where this inflation is coming from.
Well, let's talk about what's driving inflation and the cost of living crisis, because we still didn't get an answer at the beginning of this debate on the tariffs. Mike, you said last week the tariffs are making it fair. Why don't you explain that statement? 30 seconds.
You know, let's talk to my farmers down in South Georgia on tariffs. You know, they've been struggling because these South American countries, these socialist countries, communist countries, which I'm sure you like, They've been just flooding the cotton into this state and into this country, destroying the prices. That's one reason we had to raise reference pricing, which John Ossoff voted against, by the way. Timber. I've been in the timber industry all my life. I've seen Canada just flood lumber into this country. They don't care what they make for it. As long as they get a dollar, they're getting a dollar. But it is destroying American jobs and business.
Thank you. Thank you, Mike Collins. Faith, please ask another question of Mike Collins. Congressman Collins, in the last debate, Senator Ossoff called you a bigot and that you hired her half of the Third Reich. This was in connection to former members of your staff and their potential connections to white nationalists, according to reports. So I want to get your response to that. And I just want to ask you directly here, Are you a white nationalist? And what do you say to black Georgians who question whether you will represent them equally?
No, I condemn any sort of hate speech. Anti-Semitism, hate of any kind. It's abhorrent. You know, and I've fired people when things happen. Fired them. The problem is John Ossoff never has done that. I mean, he hangs his hat on this Abdul El-Sayed. You know, the guy that hates Israel, the best friends with Hassan Piker that said that America deserves 9/11. Where's his condemnation of that, of those two? Where's his condemnation of Reid Hoffman, the guy that's been funding his campaign? You don't hear that. I'll tell you, young people, young people, they're on both sides, Republicans and the whole DSA wing of the Democrat Party. We do have a problem with anti-Semitism and hate around the world. these people these young people feel like they've been forgotten and they're just lashing out and this hate speech has got to stop and we've got we've got to educate them we've got to help them by giving them
well how weak a person do you have to be to be unable to stop someone under your own roof from disseminating neo-Nazi propaganda while you run for the Senate. The paper reported it's still going on to this day. How about this, Mike? We can shake hands on it. Will you commit tonight that for the remainder of this campaign, it's just three weeks, Mike, you won't allow any more neo-Nazi propaganda to be produced from your house? Can you make that commitment?
Yes, ma'am. You know what? I'm a little tired of this, John. There's a crazy person in jail right now because of your rhetoric. And you threatened my son-in-law and threatened to kill me. Had another threat just yesterday. That's because of you and your rhetoric that you're out there spewing. Just vitriol, hate. But what about you? You have not denounced. You've not condemned. Give me Reid Hoffman, one of your largest donors out there. One that's been supporting you with over a million dollars. Why don't you denounce that? Why don't you return that money?
Mike, if any of these folks were based in my house, then I'd understand you to ask me to take responsibility for them. What I asked you, Mike, was can you commit for just three weeks to stop the production of neo-Nazi propaganda from your home? It's happening. We all know it's happening. Why can't you stop it? Why won't you commit right now to stopping it? All right.
What I'm going to ask you is why don't you denounce Reid Hoffman right now? Why don't you give that money back to Reid Hoffman? the Epstein files class guy. So you can't stop the production of neo-Nazi propaganda from your own house? You don't know people that give you $20 or $15 or $10, but you know the people that max out to you. You know the people pumping a million dollars into your supermax.
So you're going to allow neo-Nazi propaganda to continue to be produced from your home while you run for the U.S. Senate, is that correct? You're just going to let the neo-Nazi propaganda continue, is that right?
thank you very much we're going to move on greg you have the final question of this round for john ossoff yeah senator ossoff you've called the war against iran a disastrous war of choice but you voted to confirm secretary of state marco rubio a few months ago who of course he's helped lead the administration's foreign policy so knowing what you know today do you regret that vote
look secretary rubio has been a deep disappointment but not as deep a disappointment as Secretary Hegseth, who has lied repeatedly about the war in Iran. I want everybody to remember that they told us last year that they'd obliterated Iran's nuclear program. And then they told us this year that it posed an imminent threat and they had to take us to war. Both times they were lying. The president declared victory on the fourth day of the war. It's been months and months. Twenty-one Americans have been killed, hundreds wounded, It's never cost more to fill up your truck. We have a global energy crisis. And Congressman Collins, to this day, continues to defend the war. I think that Georgians deserve to know, Congressman, how this war has helped them. Iran still has its uranium, its drones, its missiles. How has this war helped Georgians? Simple question.
You know, you talk about the war in Iran. I think it's... hypocritical and ironic at the same time that John Ossoff, you know, you take a look, everybody needs to remember this. That's his word. Remember Georgia. Remember this. He's the guy that's out there recruiting, supporting and endorsing people like Abdul El-Said. That's his guy. He can't go again. That's why he's for Iran because Abdul El-Said and the whole DSA movement is They hate Israel. They would rather vote for Iran than to support Israel.
Yeah, Mike Collins is raising a Senate candidate in Michigan when the question, and a question that Georgians deserve to hear an answer to, is how this war has been in our interests. Folks can't fill up a whole tank of gas. Agriculture is getting crushed. Everything's more expensive. 21 Americans dead. Hundreds wounded. Iran still has its uranium, its drones, its missiles. Just answer the question, Mike. How has this war been a success?
We're going to move on because that concludes our first round now. Each candidate will now ask two questions of their opponent. You will have 30 seconds to ask the question, 60 seconds to respond, and the person who asks the questions will get a 30-second rebuttal. And Senator John Ossoff, please ask your first question of Representative Mike Collins.
Yeah, Mike, the press has heard the tape. I've heard the tape. I think you've heard the tape. Donald Trump demanding that Brad Raffensperger deliver the votes to win in a state he'd lost. You didn't answer earlier. Answer now. Did Donald Trump win the 2020 election?
All right. Thank you. You know, the 2020 election, everybody's seen my views on that. What are they? They know my views on that. There was a lot of doubt in that election. Yes, Joe Biden was the president. And yes, we saw the results of the Biden presidency along with John Ossoff. Folks, you saw what happened under that debacle of an administration, whether it was the Bidenomics that they passed. That's what caused all this high inflation. He's trying to, he'll talk about anything he can except his record. That's why we're going to continue to talk about his record tonight, to make sure that you understand the reason that everything is so high. Your groceries, your clothes, you name it. It's because of what they put on the backs of the American people and that Green New Deal. You're talking about farmers? How much property has gone from farmland to solar panels because of the money that they were shelling out?
Well, Donna, I didn't hear an answer to the question. The question was whether Donald Trump won the 2020 election. Not only will Mike Collins refuse to answer tonight, But he's on record repeatedly insisting that Donald Trump did in fact win the 2020 election, an election that he lost. And Mike Collins is on record supporting handing your tax dollars to the violent thugs and criminals who sacked the US Capitol and tried to overturn the election. Aren't you, Mike?
You know, John, one of your largest donors is Reid Hoffman. He slept on the Epstein Island. He stayed at his Manhattan townhouse. He sent Epstein ice cream and said, "It's for the girls." You claim to fight against the Epstein class, but I'm gonna tell you, this call is coming from inside the house, and the Epstein class is on stage right now, and it's you. Will you condemn Reid Hoffman and apologize for your hypocrisy tonight?
Mike, who on your team advised you to raise the Epstein files? You voted to cover up the evidence, Mike. Listen folks, I want to repeat it again. It's important to understand. When Congress was voting on whether to release that evidence, we all knew what had happened. But you voted to cover up the evidence even though you knew 14-year-old girls had been raped because Donald Trump told you to. Donald Trump, who by the way is named a thousand times in the Epstein files. Have you ever met with Jeffrey Epstein's victims? When they ask you why you voted to cover up the Epstein files, do you have an answer? What would you say to them tonight, Mike, after you voted to cover up evidence of the most notorious sex trafficking ring in American history? The vote is public record. You voted to cover up the Epstein files. You should explain that vote to Jeffrey Epstein's victims right now.
You know, he never answered the question. He won't answer the question because he's part of that crowd. That's the people he caters to, people like Reid Hoffman. Disgusting. That's a data center billionaire Epstein elite class. That's part of John Ossoff. And by the way, John, I did vote to release the Epstein files. I voted to release them.
Well, Mike, diesel's at its all-time high. Unleaded's at $4. 40% of Americans are cutting food and health costs because they can't afford gas. Last week, you said gas prices were coming down. Explain that statement to voters across Georgia.
You know, diesel prices are coming down. Diesel's high. It's too high. But the fact of the matter is that we've done things to get more supply. It's a supply and demand issue. And the problem is that we've spent decades, people, decades of just decimating our own refineries here to where we can't refine. And that's due to John Ossoff, the Democrats, who don't even want you in gas automobiles. As a matter of fact, John Ossoff doesn't really care how high gas prices get. because what he actually wants, he wants you to ride in mass transit. If it wasn't so, he wouldn't have voted for that Green New Deal. If it wasn't so, they wouldn't have killed the Keystone Pipeline. If it wasn't so, they'd be helping to get us to where we're energy independent. He voted against that. He would rather have us be dependent on foreign countries out there to produce our oil when we've got more right here under our own earth, more than we'll ever need. But it's people like that that don't understand economics, that vote against this stuff.
Diesel's up 70% since Trump took office, Mike. You said last week gas prices were coming down. You didn't explain the statement. You want another try? Are gas prices coming down?
Diesel prices are high. Diesel prices high. The supply is coming. The supply is coming now, and the prices will continue to come down. They're already coming down, but they're going to continue to come down. What needs to be explained is why John Ossoff, he really doesn't care about the gas prices. They can be as high as whatever. It doesn't matter. He's a Green New Deal guy. He doesn't want you in gasoline or diesel vehicles. We just want you riding on mass transit.
Thank you. We are going to have to move on. We really want to get more questions. Now, you get the last question in this round, Mike Collins, for John Ossoff.
Okay, yeah. John, you like to talk about constituent services. You know, when I was in your office, I asked you to help our shared constituent, Lake and Riley, to get justice, and you just stared at me. We could have passed her bill under President Biden, but you wouldn't lift a finger. I mean, were you too cowardly to stand up for what's right? Or was it just politically convenient to wait until it was going to pass anyway?
Mike, you know I voted for the bill. You're not just lying about my record. You're lying about a young woman's death because your campaign is in collapse. And your campaign is in collapse because the whole state knows that you're currently under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars. And last week you said you wanted the House Ethics Committee to release all those files. Well, here's what the Office of Congressional Conduct said. It said the board recommends that the Committee on Ethics issue a subpoena to Representative Mike Collins to force him to testify because there is quote, substantial reason to believe that Rep Collins used congressional resources for unofficial or otherwise unauthorized purposes. Those are public money. Don't lie about my record. Explain why you won't testify right now.
Wow, Georgia, did you hear that? Do you understand that? All he does is deflect. He deflects when we finally get into talking about his record of how he actually votes, what he actually thinks. You want to know, if he'd have been in the private sector, he'd have been fired because he was responsible for that young woman's death. He allowed that border to stay open. He knew that border was open. He knew that criminals were flooding across that border down there, killing and harming Americans. He didn't help lift a finger on that bill. He only voted for it when it was politically convenient. Thank you. And he knew it was going to pass.
Thank you both. You are watching the general election debate for U.S. Senate and we'll now go back to the panel who will ask questions to the candidate of their choice until we run out of time. And Faith, Jessie, we're going to start with you. Thank you so much, Donna. Congressman Collins, my first question is for you. Black Georgians face persistent disparities in home ownership, household wealth, and access to capital in our state. Just a number for you here. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2024, white Georgians owned about, or excuse me, about 80% of white Georgians own homes compared to just about 53% of black Georgians. Can you name one federal policy you would champion specifically to narrow those gaps for black Georgians?
Yeah, you know, I can I was sitting there trying to write to stay ahead of you. Empowerment zones. Huge, huge. I think we need to expand them and push them even further. But when you talk about housing, look at what's happened here in Atlanta. I mean, 25 percent of the houses are now owned by corporate ownership. We voted to get rid of that. And the problem is John Ossoff voted against that. He voted against that. We voted to make sure that young people have that opportunity to get out there and chase their version of the American dream, to make sure that they have that opportunity. Those are two great examples of what we need to do.
So, first of all, false. I voted for the bill to crack down on corporate home ownership. It was Donald Trump who refused to sign it, Mike. But you stand here and say you're going to be a champion for black Georgians when you elevate to positions of leadership in your political organization people with ties to the Ku Klux Klan? You want to explain that to folks across Georgia? Did you accidentally put people with Klan ties in your political organization?
What we need to do for the people of the state of Georgia is make sure that they have money in their pockets, make sure that they have opportunities. You do that by getting interest rates down. You do that by getting this economy back to rolling again. And how do you do that? You do that through lower taxes. You do that through making sure that regulations are off the backs of the American people and American businesses out there. there. See, John Ossoff doesn't talk about things like that. It's because he can't. He'd rather throw smears and accusations and lies out there about me instead of talk about actual problems.
Thank you, Mr. Collins. We are going to go to Greg, and it's your turn to ask a question. Senator Ossoff, if Democrats take the U.S. House in November, would you support a push to impeach President Trump? And if so, would you vote to convict him?
Well, Greg, in my view, based upon the evidence I've seen thus far, the president's misconduct, abuse of power, and corruption already exceed any prior standard for impeachment. If the U.S. House does send us articles of impeachment, then I'll consider them on the merits as a juror in the Senate. It's worth reminding everybody that while you pay more for everything when it costs more than any time in American history, to power your home, stock your fridge, fill up your truck because of the tariffs Mike Collins voted for, because of the war Mike Collins continues to defend, because of the health care cuts he voted for. Donald Trump is enriching himself and his family to the tune of billions of dollars. I wonder if Mike Collins can defend that. I wonder if Mike Collins can defend voting to double your health insurance premiums. You didn't explain it last week, Mike. Why did you vote to double health insurance premiums for your own constituents?
You know, there's a lot that John Ossoff didn't explain last week. Let's talk about expensive because, boy, he's made our life more expensive. You know, first of all, you voted against the child care tax credit. Moms, think about that. He voted against that to let it expire. He wanted to do away with it. The problem is he doesn't care how much it costs. He won't ever have to fool with that. He won't ever have to fool with health care because he doesn't care. He doesn't need to. He's a trust fund kid. He'll always have that money there.
Thank you very much. We're going to go back to our panelists. And, Faith, we go back to you for a question for one of the candidates. Thank you. Senator Ossoff, my next question is for you. In the last debate you said that Israeli forces violated the international humanitarian law. You also support military assistance to Israel. So should Congress place any conditions on that aid to Israel? And do you believe any violations should trigger a cutoff?
Well Faith, first of all let me say that the security of the Israeli people matters to me. I have relatives living in Israel. the safety and security of Palestinians matters to me and it should matter to all of us. And here's the bottom line: when it comes to selling weapons or giving weapons to a foreign government, we should assess in every case whether that foreign government is acting consistent with our interests, our laws, and our values. Israel had every right to go to war with Hamas. after the despicable October 7th terrorist attack. I also believe that it's right for U.S. senators to ensure that American laws and international laws are being respected by those who fight with our weapons. And I stand by those votes.
Thank you. Greg, please ask another question. Congressman Collins, this one's for you. Should the Trump administration intervene in Georgia's election system or have a role in declaring whether the state's voting machines are legal or illegal?
You know, I believe that voting should always be a state's right. And Georgia, People have, if they don't have confidence in our elections, then we need to make sure that they do. And that needs to go for any state. You know, the problem is that we have voter ID here in Georgia, we do. But when offered the opportunity, at least five times, John Ossoff voted against the SAVE Act to get voter ID for all across this country. Y'all, we live in the best country in the world. There's no reason we shouldn't have the most secure elections in the world. But people like John Ossoff, they don't believe that. But I tell you, it's something else. What he does believe in is making sure that you have an ID if you want to go to one of his rallies.
Yeah, Mike, we have voter ID in Georgia. The question is about election administration. You still haven't answered tonight whether you believe Donald Trump actually won the 2020 election. Here's your third chance. Did Donald Trump really win the 2020 election? You want to answer, Mike?
We're going to move on. Faith, it's your turn to ask a question. Thank you. This question is for both of the candidates. I would love for you to both weigh in on the issue of maternal health. According to Georgia's Department of Public Health, 87% of pregnancy-related deaths here in our state between 2020 and 2022 could have been prevented So, Senator Ossoff and Congressman Collins, if either of you are elected, how much funding will you commit to securing for direct maternal care here in Georgia, and by what deadline? Senator Ossoff?
Faith, thank you for the question. It's going to require not just billions of dollars of federal support, but also Medicaid expansion here in Georgia, which is why it is crucial that we elect Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the next governor of our state, for her commitment to expand Medicaid. We are in the middle of a maternal mortality crisis. And you know, when the congressman voted for those Medicaid cuts, the largest in history, he knew that 50% of all births in our state are covered by Medicaid. He still voted for them. And as a result, a labor and delivery unit in his own district had to shut down. Talk about our maternal mortality crisis. This is also a congressman who supports a total ban on abortion with no exceptions, even if the mother will die for lack of health care. And I bet he'll try to change his position right now, but it was right here on this stage four years ago when he said a total ban with no exceptions. Is that still your position?
Yes, ma'am. You know, we need to make sure that we dedicate all the money necessary to give these mothers the help that they need, period. We need to make sure that, and we do, we've got great healthcare here in this country. You're going to continue to see just true advancements with the onset of AI out there. But the problem with the Medicaid expansion that John Ossoff is talking about, he voted for that. He voted for that back in the Biden administration, and they made it sunset. If it was so good, he should have made it permanent. But those were subsidies for the pandemic. He could have fixed that right then, but he didn't. And the other thing that I want to say is, you know, he voted against the $50 billion that we put out there for rural hospitals. I brought in $200 million here in the state of Georgia to help our rural hospitals. And the reason that they're suffering, the reasons they're going down, is because of Obamacare, that Affordable Care Act that really wasn't affordable at all. Because I was in the private sector. I know what it felt like that first year we had to go through.
First of all, you're getting Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act mixed up despite reading from your notes. But it was four years ago on this stage when you said you wanted to ban abortion with no exceptions. Take a look at this man. He believes that if you are in a late-term pregnancy and you risk hemorrhaging to death or irrevocable injury, you must not be able to terminate that pregnancy. That's what he said. Let's see if he tries to change his position tonight.
I've been pro-life all my life, forever. I also believe that the Georgia legislature got it right, that the governor and legislature allowed for three exceptions with the heinous rapes or incest are in the life of the mother. But my opponent, John Ossoff, is completely the opposite. He's all for abortion up until in past birth. You talk about extreme? That's John Ossoff and his position on abortion.
Mike, I support the standard of privacy that was established in Roe v. Wade. You supported a ban with no exceptions. I want everybody who's clipping this debate for television news across Georgia and online tonight to roll that tape. You stood here right on this stage and you said a total ban, no exceptions, even for rape, even for incest, even to save the mother's life. That was your position, and now you're changing it.
Yeah, they need to roll that tape back because it said without exception. That means without exception my entire life I have been pro-life. I believe that the Supreme Court got it right when they remanded it back to the state. It's also out there on video that I have constantly said that I believe the Georgia legislature got it right too. That the governor and the legislature here that allows for the exception. under rape or incest or the life of the mother. But my opponent, he's definitely for abortion all the way up to--
- Thank you, we're gonna move on, sir. Greg, it's your turn to ask a question. - Yeah, this next question is for both of you gentlemen, but starting with you, Congressman Collins. It's about federal spending. The federal government continues to run enormous deficits. Name one federal program that you would cut or reduce spending on to help bring that deficit down.
- Yeah, you know, Greg, it would help if we looked at doing our job up there. Not just one program, but if we would get back to just doing the... We don't have a very hard job description up there. We don't pass our appropriation bills. If you don't pass your appropriation bills, you don't bring these federal agencies in and call them in on the carpet. And you don't get to cross out and cut their budgets. And when we continuously just pass omnibus bills and continuous resolutions, there's no accountability. We just throw a check out there and say, "See you next year." There's plenty of waste, fraud, and abuse. Waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, Medicare. You've seen that in Minnesota. So we've got to continue to get rid of the waste, fraud, and abuse. We've got to continue to do our jobs with appropriations. Thank you.
Well, we can immediately save tens of billions of taxpayer dollars by ending this disastrous war in Iran. a war that's based on lies, a war that Mike Collins has continued to defend all night, even as he insists falsely that gas prices are in fact coming down. But Mike, you want to talk about waste, fraud and abuse? How about a congressional office under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars? You've tried to dismiss this. over and over and over again. I want folks to hear what the Office of Congressional Conduct said. This is a nonpartisan body. In fact, there are Georgia Republicans who sit on it. They said, quote, several witnesses expressed to the Office of Congressional Conduct concerns about possible retaliation for their cooperation with the investigation of Congressman Collins. Yes or no, will you testify?
Georgia, here's the truth. The Office of Congressional Conduct is a group of lawyers that Nancy Pelosi put in place when she was the speaker. They're not even my peers. They're not elected members of Congress. The Ethics Committee makes up and is made up by members of Congress. We have fully complied with them. It's a nothing burger. This is just a hit job, political hit job, and the Democrats are keeping it going just so that he can continue to talk about everything except for his record of why he has made our life less safe and more expensive. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much. Faith, it's your turn to ask a question. One of the candidates. Thank you, Donna. Congressman Collins, my next question is for you. If elected, you will serve alongside Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, who, of course, represents the same families here in Georgia. What specific legislation would you commit to crossing the aisle and working with the senator on within the first 100 days, even if it means breaking from President Trump and your party?
You know, I don't have a specific legislation out there, but you can look at the pieces of legislation that I've passed, Georgia. I mean, think about this. I've had two pieces of legislation that were passed and signed into law by two presidents of two different parties, and they were both bipartisan. And as a matter of fact, I had over 46 Democrats that went with me on the Lake and Riley Act that second time, over 30 the first time. I don't mind working with anybody. I don't care if you're a Republican, Democrat, independent. I'll be for a dog if they'll bark for my policy. But we've got to continue to make sure that we set this up. The reason I went to Congress in the first place was to make sure that the next generation has the opportunities that I had because they don't have them right now. Because of people like John Ossoff, who's out there taking away child care credit, who's out there taking away, he voted against school choice. Think about that. He didn't have to worry about that. But you do, and you deserve to have your child's education. to be the best.
Thank you. Back to you, Greg. Senator Ossoff, if Democrats controlled Congress and the White House, would you support adding justices to the Supreme Court's bench to change the court's ideological balance?
Greg, I don't rule out any judicial reform, but I think we have to take the long view whenever we consider anything like that. And I think our focus should be a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court justices, because the American public is rightly offended when they see Supreme Court justices accepting lavish gifts from people who have business before the court or from people who have a record of ideological or partisan advocacy. We also need a much stronger code of ethics in the United States Congress. And that includes Congressman Mike Collins, who continues to deflect day after day in debate after debate about the federal investigation of his office for the illegal misuse of tax dollars. Here's something else the Office of Congressional Conduct said. They said Congressman Collins refused to cooperate and recommended he be subpoenaed. If you're subpoenaed, will you testify?
You know, let's continue down the list here. Let's continue down the list about how you've made our life more expensive. Because I think this people of the state of Georgia need to know that because all you do is deflect. Let's talk about high taxes. You voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history. You voted for that Bidenomics, that Green New Deal. You voted against S corporations. You voted against every small business, every farmer in this state when you voted to not allow 100% depreciation on new equipment.
You didn't answer the question. You talk about deflection. It's a very simple question. Look, the Office of Congressional Conduct has recommended that you be subpoenaed because you quote, "refused to cooperate in a federal investigation of your own office." I think it's the fourth time tonight. It's a very simple question. If you are in fact subpoenaed by the House Ethics Committee, Why can you not just commit once and for all to testify in the investigation? Yes or no, will you testify? Answer your voters, Mike.
The Office of Congressional Conduct Sends it to the ethics committee and I have fully committed fully complied with the ethics committee anything they got to ask They're more than welcome to ask me as a matter of fact. I encourage them go ahead release the files Because this is a nothing burger. It is a hit job. You see that that's why he stays on that That's why he doesn't want to talk about things like our active military our veterans that he has continuously lied to you on his stance on where he has been out there even held press conference Talking about how he took credit for military increases when he lies about that.
Thank you, Representative Collins. Faith? Thank you so much, Donna. Another question. Congressman Collins, I do have another question for you. We've had some horrific shootings here in Georgia, including school shootings and shootings that we talk about every day on the news. Will you commit to supporting federal background checks for private firearm sales if you're elected?
No, we have plenty of checks right now and we need to continue to make sure that we protect our Second Amendment. We also need to make sure that we protect our students. They deserve to be able to go to school and not be worrying about somebody coming in and shooting them. There's numerous ways that we can do that. You know, whether it's metal detectors at the entrance. I mean, you've got to go through a metal detector to get into the airport. And that's to get on a plane. But we don't want to do that for our kids and our children out there. I'll give you another example of things that we can do to protect our children out there. What about former military, our veterans out there? They're always looking for another mission. They would love to be out there to help and make sure that our children have easy access and safe access to their schools so that they can learn, that they get the opportunity. And that's the bad thing. That's what I was talking about with school choice. John Ossoff, he went to private schools. He doesn't have to worry about that. He went to elite Ivy schools in Northeast.
The question was about background checks for firearm sales. Court after court after court has found that background checks are constitutional. This is like an 80/20 issue, Mike. It's a simple background check before the sale or the transfer of a firearm. He just said he opposes that. Why?
We already have background checks. When you go into the store to buy a weapon, you have a background check. I've got a concealed carry permit. I know that for a fact, John.
Thank you very much. Greg, you can ask a question. Yeah, this question is next for both of you. Senator Ross, I'll have you first. As artificial intelligence replaces more tasks performed by human workers, what should Congress do to protect Americans whose jobs are threatened?
It is a vital issue, Greg. It is perhaps the most complex and important legislative question of our time. And here are a few things that we need to do right now. We need federal inspectors. inside these frontier labs to report honestly and transparently to the federal government what's happening without requiring or relying upon voluntary disclosure from the frontier labs. We need to be fortifying the nation against the threat of bioterrorism. That's one of the most significant threats that we face. And we have to recognize that we cannot allow the Trump administration, which is opposed to any regulation whatsoever to put jobs at risk or our national security at risk. But speaking of artificial intelligence, the same bill that slashed Medicaid The same bill that allowed your health insurance premiums to double included a $70 billion tax break for data center developers. Mike didn't answer last week if he'll commit to repeal it. It's a simple question, Mike. Will you commit to repealing the $70 billion tax break for data center developers?
Yeah, I think I got it down from you, Greg. I was trying to write that pretty fast. Listen. We're in a race. We're in a race with China for AI. It's coming. It's already here. We need to make sure that it's for the good, though. And the problem is there's a lot of bad actors out there in anything that you have, anything that you do. So we've got to make sure that, first of all, that the bad actors are held accountable. But before we even get there, we need to make sure that these data centers are not harming the local infrastructure, like the water and electricity. They need to pay for the infrastructure. And if you want a data center in your area, I'm going to help you get it. And if you don't, I'll make sure that you don't get it.
Thank you very much. We are, I'm going to ask a question. I know we've talked about the affordability issue a little bit. The grocery store, gas pump, housing, people are feeling the affordability pinch. I'd like each one of you to tell me what your plan is to help Georgians when it comes to this. And we'll begin with you, Senator Ossoff.
Thank you, Donna. Look, first things first, we're going to repeal the tariffs that have driven grocery prices to their record high. We're going to end the disastrous war Mike Collins supported that has triggered a global energy crisis and driven diesel to its all-time high. And we're going to repeal the Medicaid cuts and the cuts that allowed health insurance premiums to double for more than a million Georgians. It's the same bill that cut Medicaid that took that money from your health care and gave it to data center developers. You just heard Mike Collins say that data center developers should pay their own way. Then why did you vote to give them $70 billion of taxpayer funding? And will you commit to repealing that provision?
Yes, ma'am. You know, we're going to continue down the road of energy independence. That's the number one thing that we can do. is make sure that we produce our own products right here and that we don't have to depend on all these foreign countries that hate us to send us their oil or their finished products. Things that we haven't built a refinery in over 50 years. Thank goodness the Trump administration fast tracked the Baytown, Texas refinery so that we can do that. We've got to get healthcare under control. Folks are struggling with healthcare. Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, has been a disaster. I know the first year that Obamacare was enacted, my insurance went up 62%. We've got to get back to where healthcare is meant for the patient, that they have control over it. Not these health insurances that are getting rich out there off our backs.
Thank you very much, gentlemen. That is all the time we have for questions. Now, the candidates will have 60 seconds for a closing statement. And Mike Collins, we will start with you.
Okay. All right. You know, Georgia, I wish we could have spent more time debating our record and debating our results. But John Ossoff, he can't do that. You see, while I delivered the largest tax cuts in U.S. history, brought home more than $200 million for Georgia rural hospitals, and wrote the law, the Lake and Riley Act, which has removed over 20,000 illegal criminals from our streets, John Ossoff worked against us. I mean, he spent his time in Washington focused on how he could defund our greatest ally, Israel, how he could block our farmers from getting that critical aid, all to just try to defund Border Patrol and ICE, and how he could impress his donors that don't even care about our state or represent our values. You see, John Ossoff is a man who doesn't care about Georgia. He's just telling us these things because he's using this as a platform. Georgians are hardworking people and we deserve a senator that will work as hard as us for us. And I need your help. I need your vote. Y'all send me to the Senate and I'll continue to deliver. I'll deliver for us.
Well, Donna, first of all, thank you for moderating. Thank you to our panelists. Thank you to the Atlanta Press Club and Georgia Public Broadcasting. Most of all, thank you to the people of the great state of Georgia for the privilege of representing you in the Senate. And I want you to know that I will always stand up to powerful interests on your behalf. when state officials here were denying the abuse of foster kids in Georgia. I investigated it, I exposed it, and then I passed a bipartisan bill to crack down on child trafficking. When drug companies were ripping Georgians off for insulin, I stood up to the pharmaceutical industry and capped the cost of insulin at $35 on Medicare. And when big tech companies were allowing child predators to run rampant on their platforms, I wrote and passed a bipartisan law forcing them to report child predators to the authorities early voting opened today you can find your polling place at iwillvote.com i hope i've earned your support and thank you so much
thank you early voting is underway and runs through friday october 30th election day is tuesday november 3rd we thank all the candidates and our panel of journalists we'd also like to thank the atlanta press club and georgia public broadcasting for arranging today's debate i'm donna lowry thanks for joining us for the Atlanta Press Club, Loudermilk Young Debate Series.
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