The Virginia Press Room

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Lauren Burke of Black Virginia News (and formerly Pod Virginia), covering last week's Republican unity event--and whether it dispelled rumors of internal tensions. Chris Saxman of the VIP Podcast, covering the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill on Virginians and upcoming elections. Rich Meagher of RVA's Got Issues, covering meeti...

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Anna Bryson of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, covering Virginia's GOP ticket holding its first united rally of the campaign. Brandon Jarvis of the Virginia Scope, covering ICE agents operating out of the Chesterfield court house. Brad Kutner of Radio IQ, covering how the candidates for governor respond to an immigrant mother conc...

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Shannon Heckt of the Virginia Mercury, covering Virginia's patchwork data center regulation policies. Graham Moomaw of the Richmonder, covering how Richmond voters overwhelmingly voted against their former mayor, Levar Stoney. Teo Armus of the Washington Post, covering some of the top takeaways from last week's primaries. Plus:...

In this episode of ⁠The Virginia Press Room⁠, Michael Pope is joined by political analyst Sam Shirazi to break down the results from Tuesday's primaries. -- 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 Ac...

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Margaret Barthel of WAMU, covering what the candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general have to say about policy issues. Ryan Murphy of WHRO, covering local primary races that are heating up in Hampton Roads. Jahd Khalil of VPM News, covering how the candidates for lieutenant governor envision their job description....

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Sabrina Moreno of Axios Richmond, covering why Virginia is a hotspot for immigration enforcement. Michael O'Connor of the Virginia Dogwood, covering how federal Medicaid cuts will affect Virginians' coverage and home healthcare workers. Michael Martz of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, covering the continued uncertainty around Pres...

In this episode of The Virginia Press Room, Michael Pope is joined by: Elizabeth Beyer of Cardinal News, covering the competition to decide the next U.S. Attorney for Virginia's Western District. Tyler Englander of WRIC, covering DHS' list of sanctuary cities, including several conservative Virginia counties. Chris Suarez of VPM News, covering Richmond's second water crisis. Plus: lingering tensio...

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 projects in Southwest Virginia. Plus: more budget ba...

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 Kutner of Radio IQ, covering some non-traditional...

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 healthcare funding. Dean Mirshahi of VPM News, coverin...

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 of Radio IQ, covering the state budget with spendi...

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 McGoey of VPM, covering the confusing facts and que...

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 exemptions for coal emissions, including Dominion E...

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 Virginia Press Room is a weekly podcast that brings liste...

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 Virginia Mercury,  covering federal cuts to Virgi...

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 the dispute over the Earned Income Tax Credit. Plu...

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 cut to the Virginia Department of Health as the fe...

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 signature submissions for Virginia's statewide candid...

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. Rich Meagher of RVA's Got Issues, covering Winsom...

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 the stalling of Henrico County's GreenCity develop...

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 Mirshahi of VPM, covering the drop in the number of peop...

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 anxiety among federal workers in Virginia. Plus a surpri...

 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 Anderson's reporting on the residency of Senator Ch...

 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 Courthouse News, covering a bill to reduce penalties for...

 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 tension around the Trump administration and Virg...