Podcasts · Government · News
The Virginia Press Room
VPM & VPAP
96 episodes
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 between 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.
Episodes page 1 of 2
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Close Congressional Races and a State Senator Indicted
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Kate Seltzer of the Virginian-Pilot, covering the latest on the indictment of State Senator Louise Lucas. Joe Dashiell of WDJB, covering the…
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House Races, Pedestrian Safety, and a Marriage Amendment
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Greg Schneider of the Washington Post, covering Democrats' attempt to flip Virginia's 1st Congressional District. Sabrina Moreno of Axios…
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Teacher Strikes, Midterm Shifts, and Sealing Court Records
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Megan Pauly of VPM News, covering a strike at a Richmond childhood education center. Luca Bailey of the Cavalier Daily, covering rating changes…
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House Races, Diesel Prices, and the State Energy Plan
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Michael Martz of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, covering three Virginia House races appearing to shift in favor of Democrats. Patrick Larsen of VPM…
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Fuel Prices, Social Media Limits, and a Cannabis Marketplace
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Haley Sandlow of the Daily Progress, covering Rep. John McGuire's claim that the Iran war is not to blame for high fuel prices. Andrew Kerley of…
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Cancelled Debates, Luxury Towers, and Amendment Fundraising
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Rich Meagher of RVA's Got Issues, covering NextEra's promise of a luxury tower to sweeten the merger with Dominion Energy. Dutchie Jessee of the…
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Data Center Backlash, Debate Challenges, and an Energy Cost Listening Tour
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Sabrina Moreno of Axios Richmond, covering data center backlash spilling into the midterms. Ethan Hunt of the Roanoke Times, covering a debate…
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Flock Cameras, PFAS Concerns, and the Proposed Dominion Energy Merger
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal, covering concerns over forever chemicals in the Richmond airport's stormwater discharge. Tyler…
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Energy Policy, Amazon Drones, and Marriage Equality
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Karri Peifer of Axios Richmond, covering the plan for Amazon drones to come to Virginia. Michael O’Connor of the Virginia Dogwood, covering the…
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Confederate Renaming, Town Hall Troubles, and a Failed $52M IT Project
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Lori D'Angelo of the Daily News Record, covering frustration over the lack of town halls and lawmaker availability. Ryan Fitzmaurice of Northern…
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Data Center Battles, Anti-Establishment Candidates, and Teacher Contract Negotiations
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Keyris Manzanares of VPM News, covering a contract standoff leaving Richmond teachers without a new agreement as the school year begins. Marty…
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License Plate Readers, Emergency Response Drones, and Primary Election Fallout
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Eleanor Shaw of the Richmonder, covering Chesterfield's decision to use drones as part of emergency responses, despite concerns over privacy.…
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Takeaways from the Virginia Primaries
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by Politifact's Louis Jacobson and VPM's Rich Meagher to break down the August 5th primary elections, including Virginia's 1st, 2nd, and 5th…
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Previewing Virginia's Primary Elections
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Kate Seltzer of the Virginian-Pilot, covering the Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional District, currently held by Rep. Jen Kiggans.…
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Data Centers, Toxic Waste, and Off-Year Elections
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Shannon Heckt of the Virginia Mercury, covering how data centers building their own gas turbines could skirt renewable energy laws. Brandon…
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Rural Voters, Crowded Primaries, and Statewide Legal Battles
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Kate Zernike of the New York Times, covering the difficulty Democratic candidates are having with converting rural voters. Lyndon German of VPM…
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Cannabis Corrections, House Subpoenas, and the Proposed Dominion Energy Merger
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Kate Seltzer of the Virginian-Pilot, covering the Virginia Code Commission's correction of some confusion over new cannabis legislation. Dan…
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Data Center Deals, Defamation Lawsuits, and Reflecting On Virginia Politics
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Julie Carey of NBC 4, covering a million-dollar defamation lawsuit in Fairfax County. Tom Sherwood of WAMU, covering the General Assembly's data…
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Semiquincentennial Special: Lessons From 250 Years of American History
In this special episode of The Virginia Press Room celebrating America's 250th birthday, Michael Pope is joined by: Dr. Jatia Wrighten of VCU, discussing the complex relationships that marginalized groups have to the…
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Plumbing Overhauls, Data Center Lawsuits, and Teacher's Union Elections
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: James Libresco of the Alexandria Times, covering controversy in Alexandria's teacher's union after a candidate for president was removed from the…
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Energy Mergers, Voting Rights Restoration, and Purcellville Issues Continue
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Elizabeth McGowan of WHRO, covering the potential merger between Dominion Energy and Florida's NextEra Energy. Hanna Pampaloni of LoudounNow,…
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Civilian Review Boards, Shifting School Zones, and a Marijuana Bill Veto
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Victoria Ifatusin of the Richmonder, covering the Richmond Civilian Review Board's growing restlessness over a small caseload. Meghan Mangrum of…
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Vetoed Legislation, Historical Education, and Martinsville Controversy
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Emily Leayman of the ALXNow, covering controversy over Arlington House materials on Robert E. Lee. Tad Dickens of Cardinal News, covering the…
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Redistricting Ruling Fallout, Cyberattack Impacts, and Gun Law Changes
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Cat Pizzarello of the Collegiate Times, covering the hack of the learning management system, Canvas. Ford McCracken of ABC News, covering recent…
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FBI Raids, Sheriff Races, and the Redistricting Ruling
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Jahd Khalil of VPM News, covering the Virginia Supreme Court's nullification of the redistricting referendum. Mechelle Hankerson of WHRO,…
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Universal Pre-K, Public Housing Contracts, and the Virginia Supreme Court
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Megan Pauly of VPM News, covering what's been holding Virginia back from offering universal preschool. Ryan Murphy of WHRO, covering a no-bid…
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Budget Negotiations, Redistricting Tactics, and the Special Session
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Michael Martz of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, covering the special session's focus on redistricting. Kate Seltzer of the Virginian-Pilot,…
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Fairfax Murder/Suicide, County Budget Debates, and Spanberger's Moderate Couse
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Sabrina Moreno of Axios Richmond, covering Abigail Spanberger's policy positioning as a moderate. Tom Lappas of the Henrico Citizen, covering…
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Tax Debates, Turning Points USA, and Thomas Jefferson's Birthday
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Sandy Hausman of Radio IQ, covering the 283rd birthday of Thomas Jefferson. Nathan Alderman of C-ville Weekly, covering controversy over Turning…
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Transmission Lines, Redistricting Mailers, and a Chief Energy Officer
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Lori D'Angelo of the Daily News Record, covering Democrats' plans to run in the proposed 6th district. Dan Egitto of ARLnow, covering outcry over…
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Redistricting Arguments, No Kings Rallies, and FOIA Transparency
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by Katherine White of Network NoVA, John Reid of The Reid Revolution, and Rich Meagher of RVA's Got Issues, discussing a huge variety of hot topics in…
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Worker Protections, Teen Takeovers, and The Latest in Purcellville
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Karen Graham of the Loudoun Times-Mirror, covering the latest on the unfolding drama in Purcellville. Karri Peifer of Axios Richmond, covering…
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The 2026 General Assembly Wrap-Up
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…
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Redistricting Referendum, Affordable Childcare, and Richmond Road Improvement
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,…
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Redistricting Litigation, Data Center Tax Exemptions, and Early Childhood Education Funding
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…
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Redistricting Twists, Housing Policy, and Menhaden Fishing
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…
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Housing Bills, Photojournalism Cuts, and VMI Governance
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…
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Redistricting Maps, Assault Weapon Bans, and the Brown-Belted Bumblebee
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…
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ICE Bills, Cannabis Markets, and Solar Energy
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…
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Rejoining RGGI, Voting Rights Rulings, and Governor Spanberger's First Week
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…
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Data Center Bills, Executive Orders, and Virginia's New Governor
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,…
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Legislative Priorities, Intra-Party Tensions, and Constitutional Amendments
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…
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Budget Changes, Consolidated Government, and Redistricting Possibilities
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Charlotte Rene Woods of the Virginia Mercury, covering the effort to reduce Virginia's SNAP error rate. Greg Schneider of the Washington Post,…
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The Blue Sweep, Youngkin's Legacy, and 2025 In Review
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Kate Seltzer of the Virginian-Pilot, covering open questions about the state's Homeland Security Task Force. Marcus Schmidt of the Virginia…
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Student Journalism, Presidential Searches, and Scholarship Changes
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Julia Gwin of Theogony, covering policy-violating patdowns at ACPS football games. Ford McCracken of the Cavalier Daily, covering the conflict…
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The Revolutionary War, Jefferson's Legacy, and America's Semiquincentennial
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Michael Kranish of the Washington Post, covering how the words on the Jefferson Memorial were doctored. Dwayne Yancey of Cardinal News, covering…
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Shutdown Calculus, Legislature Demographics, and the Republican Reaction
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Liz Crampton of Politico, covering how Virginia Republicans are reckoning with last week's crushing electoral loss. Michael Martz of the Richmond…
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Candidate Speeches, President Trump's Influence, and The Blue Tsunami
Lauren Burke of Black Virginia News, covering the thirteen state House seats that Democrats flipped to give them a 64-36 majority. Chris Saxman of the VIP Podcast, covering the waning influence of Donald Trump in…
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Takeaways from the November Election
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by Jahd Khalil of VPM News, plus Democratic strategist Ben Tribbett and Republican strategist Jeff Ryer to break down this week's elections, which saw…
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SNAP Backup, Business Sentiment, and This Week's Election
.In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Karina Elwood of The Washington Post, covering the report that says allegations of school-assisted abortions in Fairfax County are likely false.…
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