In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by a whole host of voices from the Virginia press corps--including Michael Martz, Jahd Khalil, Andrew Kerley, Kate Seltzer, Joe Dodson, Charlie Paullin, Charlotte Rene Woods, Nathaniel Cline, and Shannon Heckt--to break down the headlines from 2026 General Assembly session: redistricting, data centers, affordable housing, solar energy, the state budget, and some takeaways from the Democratic trifecta. 

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:

Whittney Evans of VPM News, covering the differing state House and Senate bills to make childcare more affordable

Cameron Thompson of WTVR, covering the start of early voting on the redistricting referendum.
Tyler Englander of WRIC, covering how state Democrats aligned on a 10-1 congressional map on the eve of the redistricting referendum.

Plus the winding-down of the General Assembly, Richmond's road-improvement strategy, oyster filtration, and the official state snack.

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

Megan Pauly of VPM News, covering what the state House and Senate budget proposals mean for early childhood education funding.

Charlie Paullin of Inside Climate News, covering debate over ending a tax exemption for data centers.
Joe Dodson of Courthouse News, covering the litigation surrounding Virginia's proposed redistricting legislation.

Plus public employee collective bargaining, pesticide controversy, and expensive defamation lawsuits.

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:

Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal, covering recent funding for a study on menhaden fishing in the Bay.

Greg Schneider of the Washington Post, covering the twists and turns in the ongoing redistricting saga.
Billy Shields of VPM News, covering controversy over a 300-home housing development in Chesterfield that goes back 20 years.

Plus the State of the Union response, oyster filtration, and the new VPM News headquarters.

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:

Elizabeth Beyer of Cardinal News, covering a rewritten bill to reshape the governance of the Virginia Military Institute.

Charlotte Rene Woods of the Virginia Mercury, covering the slew of housing bills making their way through the General Assembly.
Shaban Athuman of VPM News, covering how the Washington Post's recent job cuts eliminated all of its photojournalists.

Plus the 2026 VCCA Gala, the Seal of the Senate, and a doggy kissing booth.

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:

Anna Bryson of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, covering the state House's ban on assault weapons.

Jahd Khalil of VPM News, covering Virginia's proposed 10-1 redistricting maps.

Brandon Jarvis of Virginia Scope, covering how Democrats in the General Assembly arrived at the new district map.

Plus personality clashes, taxes & inflation, and the brown-belted bumblebee.

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:

Shannon Heckt of the Virginia Mercury, covering a new bill looking to provide guidelines and prevent local-level bans on solar energy.

Brad Kutner of Radio IQ, covering several ICE-related bills in the General Assembly.

Dean Mirshahi of VPM News, covering the state of new legislation related to the cannabis marketplace.

Plus biosolids, Capitol artwork, and gasp-powered leaf blowers.

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:

Kate Seltzer of the Virginia Pilot, covering Virginia's return to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Joe Dodson of Courthouse News, covering a federal judge's ruling that Virginia has been violating a Reconstruction-era law.

Sean McGoey of VPM News, covering how the Spanberger administration has been flexing its powers in its early days.

Plus redistricting maps, photos from the General Assembly, and Brunswick Stew.

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:

Jeff Schapiro of Virginia Public Radio, covering the official inauguration of Governor Abigail Spanberger.

Olivia Diaz of the Associated Press, covering some of Governor Spanberger's first executive orders.

Patrick Larsen of VPM News, covering data center reform bills in the General Assembly.

Plus the right to repair, affordability, and the who's who of the inauguration ceremony.

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by:

Lauren Burke of Black Virginia News, covering the issues that Democrats will be tackling during the first few days of the General Assembly.

Chris Saxman of Virginia Free, covering tensions between Democrats at the state and local level.

Rich Meagher of RVA's Got Issues, covering the proposed constitutional amendment on voting rights restoration.

Plus university Boards of Visitors, conflicts with the federal government, and mid-decade redistricting.

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The Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings listeners the latest insights and analysis on Virginia’s most important stories directly from the journalists covering them. Produced in collaboration by VPM and the Virginia Public Access Project, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.