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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 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 shapin ...
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Recall Petitions, Council Chaos, and Coal County Ventures
41:59
41:59
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41:59
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Karen Graham of the Loudoun Times-Mirror, covering recall petitions in Purcellville. Bill Atkinson of the Progress Index, covering internal strife and council meetings and financial distress in Hopewell. Ben Paviour of the New York Times, covering coal magnate-led development pr…
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Ticket Diversity, Amendment Rejections, and Non-Traditional Candidates
39:01
39:01
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39:01
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Olivia Diaz of the Associated Press, covering the diversity of Virginia's Republican candidates against the backdrop of a federal crackdown on DEI. Charlotte Rene Woods of the Virginia Mercury, covering the Virginia House Clerk rejecting three of Governor Youngkin's vetoes. Brad…
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Intra-Party Chaos, Fraud Accusations, and Americorps Funding Cuts
37:59
37:59
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37:59
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Kate Seltzer of the Virginian-Pilot, covering the ousting of Laura Hughes, former chairwoman for the Virginia Beach Republican Party. Greg Schneider of the Washington Post, covering accusations of fraud between the Youngkin administration and the Nansemond Indian Tribe over heal…
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Early Voting, Budget Cuts, and Controversy On The Republican Ticket
31:30
31:30
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31:30
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Laura Vozzella of the Washington Post, covering controversy on the Republican ticket as Governor Youngkin tried to oust Lieutenant Governor John Reid. Dwayne Yancey of the Cardinal News, covering early voting for both statewide and local primaries around Virginia. Jeff Schapiro …
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ICE Raid, Right-to-Work, and Trouble in Purcellville
35:37
35:37
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35:37
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Hanna Pampaloni of Loudoun Now, covering the scandal surrounding a state police investigation of Purcellville's Vice Mayor. Luke Weir of the Roanoke Times, covering the Democratic debate for Lieutenant Governor, where all candidates voice support for ending Right-to-Work. Sean M…
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Coal Emissions, Public Housing, and High School Reshuffling
42:10
42:10
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42:10
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: James Libresco of Theogony, covering the difficulties around Alexandria's City High School's four-campus system--and the school district's new policy mandating Theogony's articles be approved by administration. Charles Paullin of Inside Climate News, covering President Trump's e…
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Special Edition: The Latest Campaign Finance Numbers
46:32
46:32
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46:32
In this special episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by Ben Tribbett of Pocket Aces Consulting, and Jeff Ryer, former spokesman for the House and Senate Republicans, to break down the latest campaign finance disclosures for the candidates in Virginia's statewide and local races. VPAP: Q1 Campaign Finance Reports -- The Virgini…
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Research Cuts, TSA Picketing, and the Bills That Passed
33:30
33:30
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33:30
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Sage Tanguay of the Bold Dominion podcast, covering some niche bills passed during the latest General Assembly session. Michael O'Connor of the Virginia Dogwood, covering Richmond TSA workers picketing to get their union back from the Trump Administration. Nathaniel Cline of the…
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Budget Dispute, Filing Deadlines, and the Virginia Supreme Court
38:27
38:27
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38:27
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Kate Seltzer of the Virginian-Pilot, covering the latest on the filings for the fall ballot. Joe Dodson of Courthouse News, covering a Virginia Supreme Court ruling an officer not liable for the attempted suicide of a detainee. Jahd Khalil of VPM, covering Virginia's budget and …
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Unemployment Claims, Health Department Cuts, and Record-Setting Veto Numbers
35:18
35:18
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35:18
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Karri Peifer of Axios, covering the rising number of unemployment claims in Virginia. Cameron Thompson of WTVR, covering Governor Youngkin's record-setting number of vetoes pushed through last week (and VPAP has visualized the numbers) Chris Suarez of VPM, covering $425 million …
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Education Cuts, Unemployment Claims, and Signature Submissions
37:38
37:38
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37:38
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Whittney Evans of VPM News, covering how cuts to the federal Department of Education will impact Virginia's students. Tyler Englander of WRIC, covering rising unemployment claims in Virginia as President Trump cuts the federal workforce. Brad Kutner of Radio IQ, covering the sig…
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Leadership Changes, Attack Ads, and Education Politics
35:52
35:52
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35:52
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Lauren Burke of Black Virginia News (and formerly Pod Virginia), covering leadership changes in both of Virginia's major political parties. Chris Saxman of the VIP Podcast, covering how cuts to the federal Department of Education impact Virginia's schools and upcoming elections.…
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Library Funding, GreenCity Development, and the Governor's Pardon
33:14
33:14
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33:14
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Olivia Diaz of the Associated Press, covering Governor Youngkin's pardon of a former police officer convicted of reckless firearm use. Greg Schneider of the Washington Post, covering Warren County stripping funding for Samuels Public Library. Lyndon German of VPM News, covering …
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Competitive House Races, Voting Rights Restoration, and the Republican Primary for Governor
31:29
31:29
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31:29
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Anna Bryson of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, covering Amanda Chase and Dave LaRock's entry into the Republican primary race for Governor. Brandon Jarvis of Virginia Scope, covering three competitive state House races--Republican seats that Kamala Harris won last year. Dean Mirsha…
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Stalled FOIA Reform, Federal Worker Anxiety, and A Visual Dispatch
33:46
33:46
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33:46
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Charlotte Rene Woods of the Virginia Mercury, covering the last-minute stalling of a FOIA reform bill. Shaban Athuman of VPM, showcasing a visual dispatch from the 2025 General Assembly. Elizabeth Beyer of Cardinal News, covering Governor Youngkin's acknowledgement of the anxiet…
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Sales Tax Surcharge, Residency Issues, and the Latest Casino Bill
30:10
30:10
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30:10
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Dave Ress of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, covering bills to establish a legal cannabis market and to impose a sales tax surcharge to pay for schools. Rich Meagher, political science professor at Randolph-Macon College and the host of VPM's "VA's Got Issues," following Natalie An…
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Free Clinics, Immigration Enforcement, and Animal Rights
29:24
29:24
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29:24
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Keyris Manzanares of VPM News, covering Richmond Public Schools' official resolution on immigration enforcement on school grounds. Kate Seltzer of the Virginian-Pilot, covering Virginia's free clinics and the possibility of cuts to federal Medicaid funding. Joe Dodson of Courtho…
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Child Care Subsidies, Offshore Wind, and the 2025 Race for Governor
43:05
43:05
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43:05
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Olivia Diaz of the Associated Press, covering how the upcoming election is affecting the current General Assembly session. Megan Pauly of VPM News, covering the waitlist for Virginia's child care subsidy program. Brad Kutner, Richmond Bureau Chief for Radio IQ, who discusses the…
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School Choice, Sourcing Stories, and What President Trump Means for Virginia
42:35
42:35
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42:35
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Elizabeth Beyer of Cardinal News, with the potential consequences for Virginians if the federal government rescinds Medicaid expansion Tyler Englander of WRIC, covering the Republican push for school choice in the legislature Jahd Khalil of VPM News, who talks about Governor You…
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Constitutional Amendments, Data Center Regulation, and the State of the Commonwealth
47:19
47:19
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47:19
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Charlotte Rene Woods of Virginia Mercury, with the latest on the proposed amendments to Virginia's Constitution Cameron Thompson of WTVR, covering Governor Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth address Patrick Larsen of VPM News, who talks about the latest efforts to regulate dat…
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Richmond Water Crisis, Race for Governor, and a Death in Prison
28:58
28:58
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28:58
In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Anna Bryson of the Richmond Times-Dispatch with the latest on Richmond's water crisis Michael O’Connor of the Virginia Dogwood, who talks about the latest poll for the 2025 Governor's race Dave Cantor of VPM News, who talks about the death of a man incarcerated at Red Onion pris…
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Red Onion Prison, Hampton Roads Investment, and Riggleman's Potential Run
29:28
29:28
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29:28
In this inaugural episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Laura Vozzella of The Washington Post, who talks about Denver Riggleman's potential run for statewide office Jahd Khalil of VPM News, who talks about Del. Michael Jones' (D-Richmond) unannounced visit to the Red Onion prison Markus Schmidt of Virginia Mercury, who talk…
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