Last month, we had what felt like a national election only in Virginia. These were state elections, but the focus was on national concerns. When Bold Dominion launched in 2019, we were struck by how many people closely follow national politics but know very little about how our own state government works. Or the power of state government to impact people's lives.

David Toscano has written a book about exactly this: Fighting Political Gridlock: How States Shape Our Nation and Our Lives. He's the former Democratic leader in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 57th District from Charlottesville.

This week on Bold Dominion, we talk about the power of state legislatures, how citizens can engage with them, and how states can shape national priorities.