25 APR 2024 · SPONSOR: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/656274/burn-the-page-by-danica-roem/ LINKS: https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia Kelly McBride, a journalist and Senior VP at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, joins Michael to talk about her long experience on the crime beat and the problems with crime reporting -- how framing sets the narrative and misses the big picture, the peer pressure and race-to-the-bottom nature in some newsrooms, and the long fight for journalistic ethics in the modern world.

22 APR 2024 · SPONSOR: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/656274/burn-the-page-by-danica-roem/ LINKS: https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/ IN THE NEWS: Forget public hearings and committee meetings--Virginia’s next budget will be crafted in secret behind closed doors with no input from the public and no transparency after lawmakers couldn't come to an agreement this week. One of the most contentious debates in the General Assembly this year was the debate over what happens with slot-machine style gaming machines in convenience stores and truck stops. The governor's amendment limiting where the machines can be located was overwhelmingly rejected by the Senate. Schools across Virginia are crumbling, which is why Senator Jeremy McPike of Prince William County introduced a bill to allow local governments to impose a sales tax to finance school construction.  Some Republicans supported the original bill. But McPike was unable to persuade enough of them to get a supermajority vote to override the governor's veto. TRIVIA: How many budget amendments were lawmakers considering last week? At the Watercooler: - Uri Berliner's article criticizing NPR for a liberal bias causing a lack of public trust - Alexandria City Council debates--another will be held on May 4th, then a mayoral debate on June 8th.   Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia

18 APR 2024 · LINKS: Sponsor: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/myownpodva https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia On this week's live-to-tape game show, Michael sits down with Delegates Cia Price, Alfonso Lopez, and Marcus Simon to break down the latest news out of the veto session--the Governor's vetoes and amendments, tell-all memoirs, part-time legislatures, and ice cream drumsticks.

15 APR 2024 · LINKS: https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/ IN THE NEWS: Lawmakers are weighing the odds about how to handle the governor's amendment to their legislation allowing skill games in convenience stores and truck stops.  The amendment says skill game machines cannot be within 35 miles of a casino or a historic horse racing facility--which knocks out a lot of possible locations. Now supporters have a choice: Do they want to accept a limited program now and try to expand in the future, or do they want to bag it for now and try again next year? Governor Youngkin now has the record for the most number of vetoes of any governor in recent memory, and he rolled out new abortion vetoes last weekend--including a bill that would have protected women and providers from being extradited to Tennessee or Texas, where abortion is much more restricted. Glenn Youngkin got the nomination to run as the Republican candidate for governor in a ranked-choice vote at a party convention. But now he's vetoing a bill that would have clarified how the process is supposed to work in local elections. TRIVIA: Which Senate Democrat had zero bills vetoed by the Governor this year? At the Watercooler: - The US House vote on FISA made strange bedfellows--Rep. Bobby Scott siding with Republicans on protecting warrant requirements for police surveillance, while Rep. Jen Kiggans sided with Democrats against it - Pro-Palestinian protestors are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in public forums at the local, state, and federal level--and this is what the campaign season is likely to hinge on. Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia

11 APR 2024 · LINKS: Sponsor: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/myownpodva https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia As it happens every year in Virginia, primary season is just around the corner! And this week, Michael is joined by political analyst Sam Shirazi to break down a few of the most competitive Congressional primaries heading into the 2024 race. Those include the open seat in the 10th District following the retirement of Jennifer Wexton, as well as the open 7th District as Abigail Spanberger sets her sights on the Governor's Mansion. Plus, Bob Good in the 5th District faces a primary from the pro-Trump wing of the Republican Party and Gerry Connolly in the 11th District takes heat from a candidate running on a pro-Palestinian platform.

8 APR 2024 · LINKS: https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/ IN THE NEWS: The new six-week ban on abortion in Florida will change the dynamics of abortion across the South. Advocates on both sides agree this means more people will come to Virginia to seek services that are not available in other states. But can Virginia handle the need? Governor Glenn Youngkin is vetoing to a bill that would have expanded the availability of instructional materials about climate change in public schools. He says the bill is redundant because schools already teach about climate change and buying new materials would be an unfunded mandate.  The retirement of incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton is attracting the largest number of candidates in any race this year. So far, 13 Democrats are running in the Democratic primary and more might enter the race before the deadline this week. The list includes a former Speaker of the House of Delegates, three incumbent delegates and two incumbent senators. Because the election cycle differs from Virginia's state elections, many of these candidates have nothing to lose by throwing their hats into the ring. TRIVIA: What was the name of the old General Assembly Cafeteria? At the Watercooler: - A meeting in Portsmouth to plan for the fallout of the bridge collapse in Maryland; how will local, state, and federal officials deal with the diverted sea traffic that will come to Virginia in the next few years? - Michael was on the https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friday-power-lunch/id1737783264 podcast to talk about how the sausage gets made in Virginia politics, taking lessons from the book https://www.amazon.com/Notes-Sausage-Factory-Barnie-Day/dp/1556182104 Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia

4 APR 2024 · LINKS: Sponsor: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/myownpodva https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia This week, Michael is joined by former Governor and current Senator Tim Kaine to discuss his latest book, https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Ride-Paddle-Life-Outside/dp/1400339456Over the last few years, Senator Kaine hiked the Appalachian Trail, biked Skyline Drive, and canoed the James River. Along the way, he discusses the last few years of American politics, reflects on a lifetime of public service, and admires the natural beauty that exists across the state of Virginia.

1 APR 2024 · LINKS: https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/ IN THE NEWS: The secretive plan to bring a sports arena to Alexandria is over--and the folks involved seem to be blaming everybody but themselves. Back in December, Governor Glenn Youngkin proposed a new digital tax for consumers. If you bought a digital book, for example, you would have to pay the same sales tax as a hard copy book you got at the bookstore. Now the General Assembly is agreeing with the governor about consumers and adding businesses to the governor's proposal.  "Cocktails-to-go" was one of the innovations of the pandemic. Now the governor is agreeing with lawmakers to allow the temporary fix to become permanent-- although the jury is still out on third-party vendors like DoorDash and Uber Eats. TRIVIA: Which year did the cardinal become the state bird of Virginia? At the Watercooler: https://virginiamercury.com/2024/03/28/youngkin-administration-reviews-race-dei-syllabi-for-vcu-george-mason-courses/ - The Governor also vetoed a bill that would give the minimum wage to farm worker--which started as an explicitly racist Jim Crow-ear policy. Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia

28 MAR 2024 · LINKS: Sponsor: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/myownpodva https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia This week, Michael is joined by political analyst for WAMU, Tom Sherwood, to discuss the breaking news as the Monumental Arena deal is now officially dead. What happened, and what does it mean for Virginia going forward?

25 MAR 2024 · LINKS: https://www.patreon.com/PodVA http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/ IN THE NEWS: Next week is the final deadline for candidates who want to run for Congress this year, which means that the politics for this year's congressional races are already starting to take shape.  The primary election that's currently attracting the largest number of candidates is the Tenth Congressional District, which is open because Jennifer Wexton is vacating the seat. "30,000 jobs" has become a rallying cry for supporters of a proposal to create a sports arena in Alexandria. But is that a credible number? A request for more information about how that number was calculated was initially met with silence and delays. Finally, 54 days after the request, city officials responded with a one-page document that lays out some but not all of the details. For now the arena proposal is in a holding pattern after the General Assembly failed to include it in its budget proposal.  How many people should be working on trains that come through Virginia? Democrats say all those trains should have at least a two-person crew, and they sent the governor a bill that requires that. But the governor is vetoing that bill. His veto message says the proposed regulations disrupt the ability of railroad companies to access new markets.  TRIVIA: Which Virginia mayor in the 1990s worked with James Comey on the initiative "Project Exile"? At the Watercooler: - Operation Ceasefire--Speaker Scott and AG Miyares were at an event last week to announce a reduction in violent crime in parts of Virginia. - What exactly is going on with the "radio silence" communications strategy from advocates behind the arena? Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia