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PODCAST

The Virginia Press Room

The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration between VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope, and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps. The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping

government politics

All Episodes

50:14

Transmission Lines, Redistricting Mailers, and a...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/04/06

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Lori D'Angelo of the Daily News Record, covering Democrats' plans to run in the proposed 6th district. Dan Egitto of ARLnow, covering outcry over misleading anti-redistricting mailers. Patrick Larsen of VPM News, covering a controversial transmission line in central Virginia. Plus valedictory addresses, a new Chief Energy Officer, and stone soup at the farmer's market. -- The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast

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83:06

Redistricting Arguments, No Kings Rallies, and FOIA...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/03/30

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by Katherine White of Network NoVA, John Reid of The Reid Revolution, andRich Meagher of RVA's Got Issues, discussing a huge variety of hot topics in Virginia politics: the redistricting referendum, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, Richmond's FOIA transparency concerns, the No Kings rallies, casino bills, and upcoming primary races. -- The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest

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39:28

Worker Protections, Teen Takeovers, and The Latest in...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/03/23

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Karen Graham of the Loudoun Times-Mirror, covering the latest on the unfolding drama in Purcellville. Karri Peifer of Axios Richmond, covering some of the quirkiest bills that moved through the General Assembly this year. Michael O'Connor of Virginia Dogwood, covering several pro-worker bills in the General Assembly session. Plus teen takeovers, No Kings protests, and vape shop crackdowns. -- The

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47:29

The 2026 General Assembly Wrap-Up

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/03/16

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by a whole host of voices from the Virginia press corps--including Michael Martz, Jahd Khalil, Andrew Kerley, Kate Seltzer, Joe Dodson, Charlie Paullin, Charlotte Rene Woods, Nathaniel Cline, and Shannon Heckt--to break down the headlines from 2026 General Assembly session: redistricting, data centers, affordable housing, solar energy, the state budget, and some takeaways from the Democratic trifecta. -- The

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52:48

Redistricting Referendum, Affordable Childcare, and...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/03/09

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Whittney Evans of VPM News, covering the differing state House and Senate bills to make childcare more affordable Cameron Thompson of WTVR, covering the start of early voting on the redistricting referendum.Tyler Englander of WRIC, covering how state Democrats aligned on a 10-1 congressional map on the eve of the redistricting referendum. Plus the winding-down of the General Assembly, Richmond's road-improvement strategy,

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41:19

Redistricting Litigation, Data Center Tax Exemptions,...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/03/02

Megan Pauly of VPM News, covering what the state House and Senate budget proposals mean for early childhood education funding.Charlie Paullin of Inside Climate News, covering debate over ending a tax exemption for data centers.Joe Dodson of Courthouse News, covering the litigation surrounding Virginia's proposed redistricting legislation. Plus public employee collective bargaining, pesticide controversy, and expensive defamation lawsuits. -- The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast

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41:49

Redistricting Twists, Housing Policy, and Menhaden...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/02/23

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal, covering recent funding for a study on menhaden fishing in the Bay. Greg Schneider of the Washington Post, covering the twists and turns in the ongoing redistricting saga.Billy Shields of VPM News, covering controversy over a 300-home housing development in Chesterfield that goes back 20 years. Plus the State of the Union response, oyster filtration, and the new VPM News

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43:03

Housing Bills, Photojournalism Cuts, and VMI Governance

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/02/16

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Elizabeth Beyer of Cardinal News, covering a rewritten bill to reshape the governance of the Virginia Military Institute. Charlotte Rene Woods of the Virginia Mercury, covering the slew of housing bills making their way through the General Assembly.Shaban Athuman of VPM News, covering how the Washington Post's recent job cuts eliminated all of its photojournalists. Plus the 2026 VCCA Gala, the Seal of the Senate, and a

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31:24

Redistricting Maps, Assault Weapon Bans, and the...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/02/09

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Anna Bryson of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, covering the state House's ban on assault weapons. Jahd Khalil of VPM News, covering Virginia's proposed 10-1 redistricting maps. Brandon Jarvis of Virginia Scope, covering how Democrats in the General Assembly arrived at the new district map. Plus personality clashes, taxes & inflation, and the brown-belted bumblebee. -- The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that

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41:09

ICE Bills, Cannabis Markets, and Solar Energy

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Shannon Heckt of the Virginia Mercury, covering a new bill looking to provide guidelines and prevent local-level bans on solar energy. Brad Kutner of Radio IQ, covering several ICE-related bills in the General Assembly. Dean Mirshahi of VPM News, covering the state of new legislation related to the cannabis marketplace. Plus biosolids, Capitol artwork, and gasp-powered leaf blowers. -- The Virginia Press Room is a

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38:59

Rejoining RGGI, Voting Rights Rulings, and Governor...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/01/26

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Kate Seltzer of the Virginia Pilot, covering Virginia's return to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Joe Dodson of Courthouse News, covering a federal judge's ruling that Virginia has been violating a Reconstruction-era law. Sean McGoey of VPM News, covering how the Spanberger administration has been flexing its powers in its early days. Plus redistricting maps, photos from the General Assembly, and Brunswick

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43:05

Data Center Bills, Executive Orders, and Virginia's...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Jeff Schapiro of Virginia Public Radio, covering the official inauguration of Governor Abigail Spanberger. Olivia Diaz of the Associated Press, covering some of Governor Spanberger's first executive orders. Patrick Larsen of VPM News, covering data center reform bills in the General Assembly. Plus the right to repair, affordability, and the who's who of the inauguration ceremony. -- The Virginia Press Room is a

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43:51

Legislative Priorities, Intra-Party Tensions, and...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/01/12

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Lauren Burke of Black Virginia News, covering the issues that Democrats will be tackling during the first few days of the General Assembly. Chris Saxman of Virginia Free, covering tensions between Democrats at the state and local level. Rich Meagher of RVA's Got Issues, covering the proposed constitutional amendment on voting rights restoration. Plus university Boards of Visitors, conflicts with the federal government,

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35:46

Budget Changes, Consolidated Government, and...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2026/01/05

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Charlotte Rene Woods of the Virginia Mercury, covering the effort to reduce Virginia's SNAP error rate. Greg Schneider of the Washington Post, covering how far Virginia Democrats will go with consolidated government in the upcoming legislative session. Jahd Khalil of VPM News, covering the likely winners and losers of the revenue and budget changes this year. Plus redistricting possibilities, a state energy czar, and

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42:16

The Blue Sweep, Youngkin's Legacy, and 2025 In Review

The Virginia Press Room ·

2025/12/08

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Kate Seltzer of the Virginian-Pilot, covering open questions about the state's Homeland Security Task Force. Marcus Schmidt of the Virginia Mercury, covering the purple caucus in this year's General Assembly. Jahd Khalil of VPM News, covering the blue sweep in the 2025 election. Plus cannabis legislation, animal stories, and Governor Youngkin's legacy. -- The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings

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50:45

Student Journalism, Presidential Searches, and...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2025/12/01

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Julia Gwin of Theogany, covering policy-violating patdowns at ACPS football games. Ford McCracken of the Cavalier Daily, covering the conflict between UVA's presidential search committee and governor-elect Spanberger. Andrew Kerley of the Commonwealth Times, covering VCU's altered scholarships for descendants of enslaved people following DEI cuts. Plus FOIA scoops, blue books, and a government simulation. -- The

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49:58

The Revolutionary War, Jefferson's Legacy, and...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2025/11/24

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:Michael Kranish of the Washington Post, covering how the words on the Jefferson Memorial were doctored. Dwayne Yancey of Cardinal News, covering the story of Black Loyalists who escaped slavery in Virginia to go to Nova Scotia. Pam Cressey, Archaeologist for the City of Alexandria, covering how Alexandria was a hotbed for resistance and ideas during the Revolution. Plus the truth behind the destruction of Norfolk,

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45:31

Shutdown Calculus, Legislature Demographics, and the...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2025/11/17

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Liz Crampton of Politico, covering how Virginia Republicans are reckoning with last week's crushing electoral loss. Michael Martz of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, covering how Virginia's Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner handled voting to end the government shutdown. Keyris Manzanares of VPM News, covering the gains in Latino representation in Virginia's legislature with this last election. Plus RPS collective bargaining,

en

42:38

Candidate Speeches, President Trump's Influence, and...

The Virginia Press Room ·

2025/11/10

Lauren Burke of Black Virginia News, covering the thirteen state House seats that Democrats flipped to give them a 64-36 majority.Chris Saxman of the VIP Podcast, covering the waning influence of Donald Trump in Virginia's Republican turnout. Rich Meagher of RVA's Got Issues, covering the victory and concession speeches from Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears. Plus special election dominoes, penned-in press areas, and theater kid energy. -- The Virginia Press Room is a weekly

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59:00

Takeaways from the November Election

The Virginia Press Room ·

2025/11/06

In this episode of ⁠⁠The Virginia Press Room⁠⁠, Michael Pope is joined by ⁠Jahd Khalil ⁠of VPM News, plus Democratic strategist Ben Tribbett and Republican strategist Jeff Ryer to break down this week's elections, which saw a Democratic sweep across races for statewide office and the General Assembly. -- The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in

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67 results

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