Live in Atlanta for Georgia Primary | Balance of Power: Early Edition 5/18/2026

Summary

Bloomberg's Balance of Power airs from Georgia Tech in Atlanta on the eve of Georgia's primary elections. The episode covers the high-stakes primaries, the impact of AI on higher education, the Iran conflict's effect on Georgia's economy, and interviews with Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and rapper Killer Mike. Market updates note rising oil prices and a jury decision in the Elon Musk-OpenAI case.

• Georgia holds primary elections in six states, with key races for governor and Senate likely headed to runoffs.
• Record early voting of one million people in Georgia, with higher Democratic turnout.
• Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera discusses AI's transformative impact on education and the need for students to leverage AI tools.
• Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin emphasizes infrastructure investment and the importance of nonpartisan governance.
• Rapper Killer Mike highlights hyper-local voting issues, including Georgia Supreme Court races and redistricting concerns.
• Market updates show stocks lower, oil prices above $110 on Iran tensions, and a temporary U.S. waiver for Russian crude at sea.
• A California jury rejects Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, citing statute of limitations, removing a legal overhang for the company.