Pod Virginia

The Transition Team discusses the recent contentious Gubernatorial debate and evaluates the policy differences between Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin. Then they check a voicemail about prison gerrymandering from Buckingham County Supervisor Thomas Miles. Miles wants to know why it's more fair for people in prison to be counted in their home localities than the localities in which they reside....

The Transition Team analyzes Rep. Don Beyer's proposal to mandate COVID vaccines for train and air travel. Then they answer a listener message about the state of House of Delegates races. Thomas and Michael also interview David Broder and Tammie Wondong of SEIU 512 about collective bargaining for public employees, and reasons why localities should support it. Transcript at www.transitionva.com Pat...

Michael and Thomas interview former House Democratic Leader David Toscano, who has a new book out this week called "Fighting Political Gridlock: how states shape our nation and our lives." They also discuss the lawsuit from rural counties seeking to reinstate prison gerrymandering, and listen to a voicemail about the Red Flag Laws the General Assembly passed in 2020. Get the book here: https://bit...

Available only for Patrons: Michael and Thomas reminisce about their first meeting during a campaign victory party and what Michael almost caught on a live mic in 2015. Then they debrief after their interview with Christie Marra of the Va Poverty Law Center to discuss implications of the eviction crisis. Access the patron feed here: https://www.patreon.com/transitionva

Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Del. Jeff Bourne will introduce legislation to grant reparations to the decedents of people prevented from building generational wealth. Did Democratic primary challengers actually run from the left? What happens now that landlords can proceed with evictions? Michael and Thomas interview Christie Marra of the Virginia Poverty Law Center about the implications of the SCOT...

We've launched a new feed exclusive to our patrons. Click the link below to join the Transition Team and access to the feed from your regular podcast app. Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/transitionva

Two professors from Virginia Tech explain how legacy telecoms cornered the market on broadband in Virginia, and how they harmed communities and municipalities. They provide their recommendations to expand high speed internet throughout the Commonwealth. Michael and Thomas also discuss new developments from the redistricting commission and speculate about what certain outcomes might be. Transcript...

Former Del. Dave Ramadan (R-Loudoun) joins the Transition Team to discuss a measure in the COVID relief budget that has upset some school districts. Michael objects to the names of new judicial appointees not being published and Ramadan and Thomas explain the nuances of the judicial appointee system. Then they take a listener voicemail on whether Democrats should repeal the so-called Right to Work...

The Transition Team covers what the VA legislature did in the special legislative session to spend federal stimulus money. Then they analyze how accurate their primary predictions were. Brad Kutner briefs you on the General Assembly’s effort to unpack the court and appoint enough judges to the Appellate Court that will let Virginians finally have their right to an appeal. Join the Transition Team...

Michael and Thomas are fresh from their vacations and back at the podcast studio. Their guest this week is John Provo, director of the Center for Economic and Community Engagement at Virginia Tech and the author of Vibrant Virginia, a forthcoming book about the Urban-Rural divide in the Commonwealth. Often framed as weak rural economic development, John reframes the issue as one that really has mo...

The Virginia Clean Economy Act is landmark legislation that set Virginia on a path to a clean energy future by 2050. How exactly does it do that? Isn't 2050 going to be too late? Find out from the bill's patron, Sen. Jennifer McClellan, and Harry Godfrey, at the Virginia Advanced Energy Economy. They negotiated the VCEA and explain the 4 pillars by which it changed the climate on renewable energy....

The mace of authority is a symbol that traces back to the British Monarchy. So, why does Virginia use a symbol for monarchic power? Mark Greenough is the Tour Supervisor and Historian for the Virginia state Capitol. He explains the history behind the mace and why Virginia even has one in the first place. Who tried to steal it? How heavy is it? Has the Sargent at-Arms ever used it? Find out on this...

How can businesses maximize productivity in extreme conditions? Kim Bobo at the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and Rachel McFarland at the Legal Aid Justice Center advocate for worker protections and describe how they successfully urged new regulations to prevent vulnerable workers from developing heat stress. Transcript at www.transitionva.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/transi...

The 2021 Democratic Primaries are finally behind us. Now it's time to decompress and analyze the results. This time we're joined by Mark Rozell, Dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government, as well as Kyle Kondik at the UVA Center for Politics. What do we think about the Democratic statewide nominees? What about the results in the House races? Listen and find out. Transcript at www.transitio...

What is Critical Race Theory? Dr. Jatia Wrighten is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at VCU and an expert in Critical Race Theory. Sean Perryman is a democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor and the former head of the Fairfax County NAACP. They help the Transition Team understand what it is, and the role Critical Race Theory plays in American society, and how it's being weaponized a...

Graham Moomaw, Virginia politics & policy reporter for the Virginia Mercury joins the Transition Team, along with Trevor Southerland, the former Exec. Director of the VA House Dems to discuss the last Democratic gubernatorial debate and the closing arguments that each of the candidates are making. Transcript at www.transitionva.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/transitionva Facebook: https://ww...

How much do you know about Virginia Republican nominees Glenn Younkin, Winsome Sears, and Jason Miyares? Dr. Quentin Kidd of CNU's Wason Center and Jackie DeFusco of Richmond's News Channel 8 (WRIC) evaluate the GOP nominees for the 2021 statewide elections. They identify likely campaign issues, relative challenges and advantages for the nominees, and the likelihood that any of them might beat a D...

Brad Kutner of Courthouse News and Mel Leonor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch have been covering AG candidates Jay Jones and Mark Herring. What are the issues and which candidate has the edge? Our guests break everything down for the Transition Team and tell us who they think is most likely to win. Transcript at www.transitionva.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/transitionva Facebook: https://ww...

Fmr. Delegate David Ramadan (R-Loudoun) and conservative analyst Matt Colt Hall, a reporter for the Virginia Star, brief the Transition Team on the GOP candidates for governor and assess their chances of winning the nomination. They also answer some mail from a listener who inquired about the likelihood of there being Republican voters who vote in both the convention and the Democratic primary.

Chaz Nuttycombe the Executive Director of CNalysis evaluates the Democratic House Primary races with the Transition Team. Which races does he think will prove most competitive? Are any incumbents going to lose? This episode covers all that and more.

Delegate Danica Roem and Chris Hurst discuss their transition from journalists to lawmakers and how it informs the issues they care about. We cover everything from FOIA laws to local issues. See more online at www.transitionva.com

Dr. Quentin Kidd from CNU joined the Transition Team to analyze what happened at the first televised Democratic primary debate for Governor. Is Terry McAuliffe still the front-runner? What the heck did Justin Fairfax say this time? Kidd is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Government and Director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University.

Former Delegate David Ramadan (R-Loudoun) gives us a rundown on the many candidates vying to be the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2021 and evaluates their chances of winning the May "unassembled convention."

Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) and Doris Crouse-Mays, President of the Virginia AFL-CIO brief the transition team on the congressman's PRO Act to protect the right to organize. All of Virginia's Democratic house members and Sen. Tim Kaine are co-sponsors of the bill, which would weaken state Right-to-Work laws at the national level and enforce penalties for worker misclassification. Read the tr...

There are 8 Democratic candidates vying to be the next Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. They all came together at the "Peoples' Debate," the first time many voters have had a chance to meet them. What happened and how did everybody do? We break it down with Trevor Southerland. Transcript at www.transitionva.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/transitionva Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Transi...