Pod Virginia

IN THE NEWS:

Out of the 40 seats in the Virginia Senate, only seven districts will conduct Republican primaries. Meanwhile, Democrats will hold primary elections in more than twice that number of districts. Republican voters who go to the polls on June 20 will see some familiar names from the House of Delegates: Dave LaRock, Emily Brewer, Tim Anderson and Tara Durant will all be on the ballot seeking a promotion from the House to the Senate.

Your license plate might be coming to a database soon. That's because local law enforcement agencies are about to get new high tech license plate reader technology from pandemic stimulus recovery money.

Virginia's new law gives individuals a right to bring a lawsuit if they feel a website that shows adult material has failed to verify the age of a minor.


At the Watercooler:
- Saddam Salim, the Democrat primarying Senator Chap Petersen, gets a key labor endorsement
- Roben Farzad's Full Disclosure podcast interviewed Face the Nation's Margaret Brennan live in Charlottesville

TRIVIA: What is Virginia's state salamander?

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Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

This week, Michael and Thomas are joined by Bob Brink, former Chairman of Virginia's State Board of Elections, to discuss the ERIC system-- the Electronic Registration Information Center, which allowed neighboring states to share voter registration information with each other and help prevent voter fraud. Governor Youngkin has pulled Virginia out of ERIC, so what does that mean for elections going forward?


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Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

IN THE NEWS:

Virginia is the capital of gun trafficking in America according to data compiled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco showing Virginia has the shortest time to crime ratio. That’s the amount of time between the last known legal purchase of a firearm and its use in the commission of a crime.

Norfolk is considering a proposal to install 35 acres of solar panels on a former landfill.

Governor Glenn Youngkin's campaign against the word "equity" continues, and he's now railing against environmental and social governance on corporate boards, also known as ESG. Last week he told reporters DEI and ESG have gone "off the rails."

At the Watercooler:
- Report cards from the Family Foundation and Repro Rising for the members of the General Assembly.

TRIVIA: What is Virginia's state beverage?

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Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

This week, Michael and Thomas are joined by Bill Leighty, former Chief of Staff to Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and author of "Capitol Secrets", where he dives into his long history in Virginia politics--from Kaine and Warner's leadership styles, the legislative tricks of Senator Ed Willey, and convincing Tom Hanks to film a historical miniseries in Virginia.

Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia

Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

IN THE NEWS:

Governor Glenn Youngkin has removed "equity" from the title of his director of diversity, equity and inclusion, calling the term "confusing." But experts say the term is important to capture the unequal playing field in the United States, and the governor now faces calls for his DOI chief to resign.

The latest campaign finance disclosures show several incumbent members are falling behind the competition: Senator Joe Morrissey, Senator Amanda Chase and Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler. Some say that shows controversial candidates are not appealing to the donor base.

Public funds are for public schools. That's the message from supporters of Virginia schools, who say the governor should not be appropriating money from the lab school fund to private institutions.


At the Watercooler:
- Adult video sites are threatening to pull out of Virginia
- Arlington County Board Elections and the "missing middle"

Shows Mentioned:
- Bold Dominion
- CNalysis
- BURKEFILE
- Full Disclosure

TRIVIA: Which British monarch was the first to call Virginia his “old dominion”?

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Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

This week, old friend of the show Trevor Southerland joins the Thomas and Michael to discuss the chaotic upcoming primaries for Virginia's state legislature--including campaign fundraising numbers, the influence of Dominion Energy and Clean Virginia, and some of the latest drama across the aisle.

- Senator Louise Lucas vs Senator Lionel Spruill in Senate District 18
- Senator Jeremy McPike vs Delegate Elizabeth Guzman in Senate District 29
- Senator Joe Morrissey vs Delegate Laschrese Aird in Senate District 13
- Delegate Suhas Subramanyam vs former Delegate Ibraheem Samirah in Senate District 32.
- Senator Amanda Chase vs Tina Ramirez vs Glen Sturtevent in Senate District 12.
- Delegate Kelly Fowler vs Susan Hippen, Brandon Hutchins, and Sean Monteiro in House District 96

Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia

Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

IN THE NEWS:


Both parties are showing huge fundraising numbers, suggesting this election cycle will be one of the hardest-fought in recent memory--as some incumbents race against each other and many new seats have opened up to challengers. Democrats have a fundraising edge, but they may burn through a significant amount of cash before the June 20 primary.

Virginia is finally seeing a labor force participation rate that is slightly higher than it was before the pandemic started. While some of that is due to rising wages, some is also due to the end of stimulus funding and emergency Medicaid availability.

Richmond city leaders are considering an expansion to the bus rapid transit system known as the Pulse--and similar systems are under consideration in Fairfax County, Arlington, and Alexandria.



At the Watercooler:
- Senator Louise Lucas is throwing shade at Northern Virginia senators who put their names on an invitation to a fundraiser for her primary challenger, Senator Lionell Spruill.
- Lots of endorsements in Virginia races, including from Lt. Governor Winsome Earl-Sears and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert.


TRIVIA: What is the highest peak in Virginia?

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Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

In this second half of our interview with, Colonel Larry Wilkerson, Thomas and Aaryan ask about his thoughts on the failed Ford electric vehicle plant, the threat of white supremacy in society and the military, and how China's biggest threat to the US is economic, rather than physical--and how we might just want to have more faith in America's ability to compete in the market.

Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia

Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

IN THE NEWS:


Governor Youngkin recently proposed an amendment to a bill that would allow non-utility third parties to compete to operate offshore wind turbines. The amendment had lots of support, but the General Assembly rejected it without a vote.

Labor leaders want to make sure Virginia's labor history is part of the history standards currently under consideration by the Virginia Board of Education.

Virginia's budget negotiations are still apparently at a standoff, as lawmakers adjourned their one-day reconvene session this week without voting on the budget. Local organizations are still waiting to see exactly how much money they'll have to budget around next year.

Chaz Nuttycombe of CNalysis joins us to discuss his forecast for a host of Virginia races that'll be on the ballot this year.


At the Watercooler:
- Cong. Jennifer Wexton revealed a recent Parkinson's diagnosis.
The Dept. of Elections revealed they accidentally provided user data to an unauthorized third party, but claim they recovered the data before it was accessed.
- The latest fundraising numbers for key Senate races provide some insight into how they might shake out.


TRIVIA: Name the seven states that were once part of Virginia.

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Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

In this first of a two-part interview, Colonel Larry Wilkerson joins Thomas and Aaryan to discuss a variety of topics related to national security--why the Pentagon considers climate change to be the biggest threat to America, how the balance of geopolitical power involves the energy sector, and the role Virginia will have in these issues going forward.

Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JacklegMedia

Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia