SPONSOR: Burn the Page LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media 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…

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

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. …

SPONSOR: Burn the Page LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media 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 press…

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. …

LINKS: Sponsor: My Own PAC Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media 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 drums…

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News 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 histor…

LINKS: Sponsor: My Own PAC Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media 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…

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media 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 Virgini…

LINKS: Sponsor: My Own PAC Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media 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 …

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: The secretive plan to bring a sports arena to Alexandria is over--and the folks involved seem to be blaming everybody but themselves. Back in December, Governor Glenn Youngkin proposed a new digital tax for consumers. If you bought a digital book…

LINKS: Sponsor: My Own PAC Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media This week, Michael is joined by political analyst for WAMU, Tom Sherwood, to discuss the breaking news as the Monumental Arena deal is now officially dead. What happened, and what does it mean for Virginia going forward?…

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: Next week is the final deadline for candidates who want to run for Congress this year, which means that the politics for this year's congressional races are already starting to take shape. The primary election that's currently attracting the larg…

LINKS: Sponsor: My Own PAC Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media This week, Michael is joined by Greg LeRoy of Good Jobs First to break down the latest on the Northern Virginia arena deal which died in the General Assembly Session. While there's still a chance it'll get resurrected this year, that's looking unlikely--with Senator Lu…

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: House Speaker Don Scott says he didn't appreciate Governor Glenn Youngkin showing up on the last day of the General Assembly session and asking Republicans to vote against the budget. The governor has a line item veto, which he can use to make al…

LINKS: Sponsor: My Own PAC Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News This week, Michael and Lauren are joined by none other than House Speaker Don Scott to discuss his first session as Speaker--his relationship with the governor, the balance of power in the legislature, and the state of bills on gun control…

LINKS: Sponsor: My Own PAC Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: This week, Governor Glenn Youngkin stood outside the Capitol talking about a proposed sports arena in Alexandria -- speaking about it in the past tense. Leading the charge against the arena proposal is Senate Finance Committee…

On this week's live-to-tape game show, Michael sits down with Delegate Alfonso Lopez, Delegate Marcus Simon, Alexandria Assistant City Manager Sarah Taylor, and pinch hitter Senator Jeremy McPike to get their takes on the end of the latest General Assembly Session: from passive-aggressive policies to "peace in the valley," invasive plants, and Jim …

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: During session, Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears publicly misgendered Senator Danica Roem, leading to chaos in the chamber, public outcry, and not much of an apology. Michael and Lauren discuss what happened and to what extent i…

This week, Michael is joined by Professor of Public Administration Heywood Sanders, as well as journalist and blogger Neul DeMause (author of Field of Schemes) to break down the one-page jobs report for the proposed Alexandria arena, recently shared by Monumental after months of requests. They discuss the plausibility of the estimates, the question…

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: The AFL-CIO is opposing the proposed arena and entertainment district in the Potomac Yard area of Alexandria, dealing a major blow to legislation now under consideration at the state Capitol in Richmond. The labor groups say the developer should …

Former House candidate Susanna Gibson joins Michael and Lauren for her first-ever podcast appearance, discussing the Washington Post story and the Republican smear campaign that brought her race under scrutiny--all from videos that she never consented to being recorded, re-hosted, and distributed years after they were streamed. They discuss her sup…

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: Democrats say they're not worried about the governor's threat to veto a raise in the minimum wage. They campaigned on the issue, and now they have made this their top priority -- House Bill One and Senate Bill One. License plate readers can read …

Learn more about Jackleg Media Everyone's favorite General Assembly game show is back as Michael sits down with Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Delegate Alfonso Lopez, and Delegate Marcus Simon, to get their takes on the Alexandria arena getting voted down, Governor Youngkin's partisan speech, kicking members off committees, bill hearings, a…

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: Protestors gathered in Captiol Square to oppose the proposed Alexandria arena. Supporters of the arena say it'll create 30,000 jobs, but they have yet to provide information about what kind of assumptions were made to calculate those numbers. Dem…

Learn more about Jackleg Media Virginia's left and right wings join together on Pod Virginia once more; this time, as Michael is joined by Shawn Weneta of the ACLU of Virginia and Ben Knotts of Americans for Prosperity. They're working together to advocate for bills reform the state prison system. One bill would grant incarcerated people a "second …

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: Democrats and Republicans are standing together in a rare bipartisan effort to get rid of legacy admissions in colleges and universities. But while the Governor has signaled his approval, his comments also suggest his dismissal of affirmative act…

Learn more about Jackleg Media Former Delegates-turned-lobbyists Brian Moran (D-46) and David Ramadan (R-87) join Michael from the General Assemby building to talk about the strategy and prospects of a whole host of bills making their way through the General Assembly this year--from marijuana licensing to the car tax, plus the fall of Democratic pr…

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media IN THE NEWS: Members of the Senate are considering a bill that would allow Virginia's sixth casino, in Fairfax County. Some legislators say they're hearing strong negative feelings from constituents. Senator Creigh Deeds has introduced a bill to ban assault weapons in Virginia, and it's n…

Learn more about Jackleg Media VPLC This week, Michael is joined by Jay Speer and Christie Marra of the Virginia Poverty Law Center, to learn what bills the VPLC are supporting in this year's General Assembly sessions. Those bills include ones to combat shady practices from realtors, loophole payday loans, and unfair fees and rent increases from pr…

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: During the pandemic, convenience store owners and truck stop owners benefited financially from having games similar to slot machines in their businesses. Now lawmakers are considering a bill that would bring them back permanently. Senator Danica …

Learn more about Jackleg Media This week, Michael is joined by Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, Delegate Joshua Cole, and Delegate Adele McClure to break down some of their proposed bills to address Virginia's ongoing housing crises: rising rents, increased homelessness, and Virginians getting priced out of home-buying across the state. These bills …

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: Delegate Don Scott has become the new Speaker of the House--the first Black Speaker in Virginia's history. And his election came alongside several new Committee Chairs that could mean big changes in the balance of power in Richmond. House Majorit…

Everyone's favorite General Assembly game show is back as Michael sits down with Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Delegate Alfonso Lopez, Delegate Marcus Simon, and Alexandria Assistant City Manager Sarah Taylor to get their takes Governor Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth Address, proposed taxes and tax cuts, the Potomac Yard arena deal, …

LINKS: Pod Virginia | Patreon Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: Democrats, who are about to control the General Assembly have a variety of viewpoints on Governor Glenn Youngkin's proposal to create a new tax on "digital personal property" -- especially considering the governor wants to pair it with a huge inc…

LINKS: Learn more about Jackleg Media Good Jobs First This week, Michael is joined by Greg LeRoy, author of The Great American Jobs Scam: Corporate Tax Dodging and the Myth of Job Creation to break down the proposal to build a $2 billion sports arena in Alexandria. The proposal claims 30,000 jobs will be created in return for Virginia taxpayers foo…

LINKS: Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: Governor Youngkin's legacy budget proposal is out, and to kick off the year, Michael and Lauren break down some of the biggest takeaways. Youngkin is proposing cutting the top income tax bracket from 5.75% to 5.1%, giving a huge tax cut to the wealthiest Virginians -- …

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News This week, Michael, Thomas, and Lauren sit around the fireplace and talk about 2023 in Virginia politics--from Chinese farmland in the State of the Commonwealth through upset primary victories in redistricted seats all the way to the Democrats winning…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News This week, Michael, Thomas, and Lauren sit around the fireplace and talk about 2023 in Virginia politics--from Chinese farmland in the State of the Commonwealth through upset primary victories in redistricted seats all the way to the Democrats winning…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media This week, Michael is joined by Steve Babson, a labor educator and author of Forgotten Populists: When Farmers Turned Left to Save Democracy. The book explores a forgotten chapter of history--the 1890s, before the era of Jim Crowe, when Black and white farmers allied under the man…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: Virginia has seven news deserts, and the news blackout is only growing. A new report from the State of Local News Project shows that in the last 20 years, one third of America's newspapers have stopped the presses. . The license plate on …

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media This week, Michael is joined by Kim Bobo, Executive Director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, to discuss a bill that'll soon be in front of the General Assembly. The bill would require Virginia businesses to provide employees 5 paid sick days per year, with 1 p…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: With two years to go before the election of Virginia's next governor, the field seems largely set. Republicans are likely to nominate either Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears or Attorney General Jason Miyares. As for the Democrat, R…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media This week, Michael is joined by Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson to discuss Alexandria's recent move to approve Zoning for Housing/Housing for All -- a bid to expand the city's housing supply by eliminating single-family-only zoning and to fight discriminatory housing policies. He t…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: The amendment to the Virginia Constitution introduced by Democrats protects the fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Supporters say it's a way to safeguard against future efforts to roll back existing rights. Opponents worry that th…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media This week, we're joined by Laura Stokes, the campaign manager for Senator-Elect Saddam Salim, who successfully primaried incumbent Senator Chap Petersen this summer before winning the general this month. Laura breaks down her campaign strategy--including win numbers, voter-outreac…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media Next week sees the release of The New Dominion: The Twentieth-Century Elections That Shaped Modern Virginia--which we've covered a few times on the show. The book traces six key statewide elections that altered Virginia politics, how they shaped (and were shaped by) the state's cu…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media No full episode this week, but Thomas and Michael want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving—and a quick discussion on the origins of the tradition. This episode originally aired for Thanksgiving 2022.By Jackleg Media

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media Check out Black Virginia News IN THE NEWS: While Democrats have a majority in the state House and Senate, those margins are razor-thin--which leaves open some questions about the balance of power. Can Republicans peel off votes for specific issues? What happens if Democrats are si…

LINKS: Sponsor: Early Impact Virginia Learn more about Jackleg Media Karl Frisch, Vice Chair of Fairfax County's School Board, joins Michael to discuss last week's elections in terms of school boards across the Commonwealth. By and large, it was a rejection of book-bannings and anti-trans policies, with big wins for moderate and Democratic candidat…