Breakdown

May 20 2024 168 ep. 42.1k
Breakdown Podcast artwork

True crime investigations from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Veteran legal affairs journalist Bill Rankin takes you inside the courtroom to break down the story and the criminal justice system. This award-winning series investigates Georgia’s most important cases with fact-based reporting. Season 10 will focus on the historic indictment of former President Donald Trump in Fulton County, Georgia, led by District Attorney Fani Willis. Co-hosted by senior reporter Tamar Hallerman and editor Shannon McCaffrey. Learn more about our reporting at ajc.com/breakdown. 

  News  True Crime
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


S10 Ep41: Goodbye For Now

May 20 2024 32 mins  
The most recent episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast looks at the elections of two of the most prominent players in the racketeering conspiracy case against former President Donald Trump. District Attorney Fani Willis faces a challenge in the Democratic primary and Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee is being challenged in a non-partisan race to be decide

S10 E40: Hello 2025?

May 09 2024 21 mins  
The most recent episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast explores the ramifications of the Georgia Court of Appeals decision to hear the defense’s challenge to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the case. About six weeks after being asked to decide the issue, the appeals court said it would take it up. This almost certainly means

S10 E39: The Case is Submitted

Apr 30 2024 32 mins  
The most recent episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast focuses on the presidential immunity arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court. How the nation’s highest court decides the issue – whether former President Donald Trump has absolute immunity from prosecution – directly impacts the election interference case brought against him in Fulton County. Ep

S10 Ep38: The Appeal

Apr 11 2024 23 mins  
The latest episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast focuses on a First Amendment challenge by former President Donald Trump’s lead attorney. Lawyer Steve Sadow argues at a hearing that Trump should not be prosecuted for core political speech. Fulton County prosecutor Donald Wakeford counters that the former president is not being prosecuted just for what

S10 Ep37: Your Burning Questions

Mar 29 2024 31 mins  
The most recent episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast answers several questions from listeners. A possible trial date, the ongoing appeal and a potential replacement for former special prosecutor Nathan Wade are among the topics of discussion. Episode 37 – “Your Burning Questions” – of Breakdown’s Season 10 – “The Trump Indictment” – al

S10 Ep36: Merchant Speaks Out

Mar 26 2024 44 mins  
The lawyer who filed the motion to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sits for an interview for Breakdown. Attorney Ashleigh Merchant explains her motivations for filing the motion and gives her reactions to Willis’ surprise testimony at the evidentiary hearing. Episode 36 – “Merchant Speaks Out” – is the most recent installment of Season 10 – “The

S10 Ep35: Fani's Choice

Mar 16 2024 23 mins  
The most recent episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast covers Judge Scott McAfee’s decision as to whether District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified from the election interference case. McAfee, in a 23-page order, didn’t decide the issue. Instead, the judge left it up to the district attorney to decide which course to take. And McAfee had a

S10 Ep34: The Cases for Keeping or Disqualifying

Mar 11 2024 42 mins  
Breakdown’s last episode covered the highlights of the closing arguments made by the defense and prosecution as to why Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should or should not be removed from the election interference case. In Episode 34 – “The Cases for Keeping or Disqualifying” – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast lets two legal experts – N

S10 Ep33: The Closings

Mar 07 2024 47 mins  
A showdown of closing arguments as to whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should or should not be disqualified from the election interference case is the focus of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s most recent Breakdown podcast. Episode 33 – “The Closings” – of Breakdown’s 10th season – “The Trump Indictment” – sets up what could be a seminal mom

S10 E32: No Star Witness

Feb 29 2024 30 mins  
The former law partner and divorce lawyer of special prosecutor Nathan Wade takes the witness stand once again after the judge finds he can talk about what he learned about Wade’s and District Attorney Fani Willis’ romantic relationship. But attorney Terrence Bradley doesn’t say what defense attorneys in the election interference case want to hear. So Episode 32 – “No Sta