Michael and Thomas are fresh from their vacations and back at the podcast studio. Their guest this week is John Provo, director of the Center for Economic and Community Engagement at Virginia Tech and the author of Vibrant Virginia, a forthcoming book about the Urban-Rural divide in the Commonwealth. Often framed as weak rural economic development, John reframes the issue as one that really has more to do with our understanding of wealth and class.

We discuss rural broadband and how telecom providers rigged the system against local governments from providing or subsidizing municipal infrastructure.

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The Virginia Clean Economy Act is landmark legislation that set Virginia on a path to a clean energy future by 2050. How exactly does it do that? Isn't 2050 going to be too late? Find out from the bill's patron, Sen. Jennifer McClellan, and Harry Godfrey, at the Virginia Advanced Energy Economy. They negotiated the VCEA and explain the 4 pillars by which it changed the climate on renewable energy.

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The mace of authority is a symbol that traces back to the British Monarchy. So, why does Virginia use a symbol for monarchic power? Mark Greenough is the Tour Supervisor and Historian for the Virginia state Capitol. He explains the history behind the mace and why Virginia even has one in the first place. Who tried to steal it? How heavy is it? Has the Sargent at-Arms ever used it? Find out on this episode of Transition Virginia.

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How can businesses maximize productivity in extreme conditions? Kim Bobo at the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and Rachel McFarland at the Legal Aid Justice Center advocate for worker protections and describe how they successfully urged new regulations to prevent vulnerable workers from developing heat stress.

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The 2021 Democratic Primaries are finally behind us. Now it's time to decompress and analyze the results. This time we're joined by Mark Rozell, Dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government, as well as Kyle Kondik at the UVA Center for Politics.

What do we think about the Democratic statewide nominees? What about the results in the House races? Listen and find out.

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What is Critical Race Theory? Dr. Jatia Wrighten is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at VCU and an expert in Critical Race Theory. Sean Perryman is a democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor and the former head of the Fairfax County NAACP. They help the Transition Team understand what it is, and the role Critical Race Theory plays in American society, and how it's being weaponized against Democrats in the 2021 elections.

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Graham Moomaw, Virginia politics & policy reporter for the Virginia Mercury joins the Transition Team, along with Trevor Southerland, the former Exec. Director of the VA House Dems to discuss the last Democratic gubernatorial debate and the closing arguments that each of the candidates are making.

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How much do you know about Virginia Republican nominees Glenn Younkin, Winsome Sears, and Jason Miyares?

Dr. Quentin Kidd of CNU's Wason Center and Jackie DeFusco of Richmond's News Channel 8 (WRIC) evaluate the GOP nominees for the 2021 statewide elections. They identify likely campaign issues, relative challenges and advantages for the nominees, and the likelihood that any of them might beat a Democratic opponent in November.

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Brad Kutner of Courthouse News and Mel Leonor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch have been covering AG candidates Jay Jones and Mark Herring. What are the issues and which candidate has the edge? Our guests break everything down for the Transition Team and tell us who they think is most likely to win.

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Fmr. Delegate David Ramadan (R-Loudoun) and conservative analyst Matt Colt Hall, a reporter for the Virginia Star, brief the Transition Team on the GOP candidates for governor and assess their chances of winning the nomination.

They also answer some mail from a listener who inquired about the likelihood of there being Republican voters who vote in both the convention and the Democratic primary.