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IN THE NEWS:
Republicans opposed the creation of a 45-day window for early voting in Virginia. But then last year, they switched gears After the election was over, several Republican delegates introduced bills to roll back early voting. Now that early voting has started for this cycle, Republicans are trying to embrace early voting...again.

Governor Glenn Youngkin says he stands with law enforcement officials who arrested some students at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University last week. A group of young Democratic opponents say it's important that students continue to have the right to speak their mind and assemble peacefully.

Clean up your act or shut down--that's the message from the Environmental Protection Agency to power plants that use fossil fuels. The new rules issued last week are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.


TRIVIA: When was the state flag of Virginia first adopted?

At the Watercooler:
- The state police crackdown at UVA's peaceful pro-Palestinian protest 
- Michael's upcoming May 9th talk at the Arlington Historical Society about "Shotgun Justice," plus the May 18th Alexandria City Council Candidates Forum
 
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Markus Schmidt of Cardinal News joins the show to break down the interesting Republican Primary in Virginia's 5th Congressional District, as Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good is facing a challenge from John McGuire. Good might be vulnerable after initially endorsing Ron DeSantis for president last year, and now faces accusations of being insufficiently loyal to Trump. What's likely to come from this race, and do Democrats have a chance at taking the seat?

SPONSOR:
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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:
- Congresswoman Spanberger has made her first endorsement--Leslie Mehta, an ACLU lawyer who represented Unite the Right organizer Jason Kessler 
- Even Tennessee's legislature has open conference committees! Why can't Virginia?
 
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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.

SPONSOR:
Burn the Page
LINKS:
Pod Virginia | Patreon
Learn more about Jackleg Media
Check out Black Virginia News

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.
 
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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.

LINKS:
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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.

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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.

LINKS:
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Check out Black Virginia News

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 Friday Power Lunch podcast to talk about how the sausage gets made in Virginia politics, taking lessons from the book Notes from the Sausage Factory

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This week, Michael is joined by former Governor and current Senator Tim Kaine to discuss his latest book, Walk Ride Paddle. Over 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.