Spanberger address General Assembly, calls for affordability and bipartisanship
Jan 20, 2026
Show notesGov. Abigail Spanberger enters the House chamber at the capitol in Richmond on January 19, 2026. (Credit: Michael Pope)
Newly inaugurated Governor Abigail Spanberger spoke to a joint assembly of the House and Senate Monday afternoon.
Michael Pope tells us she was focused on affordability.
Democrats want to create a “bubble” around Virginia abortion clinics
Jan 19, 2026
Show notesCredit: NPR
Members of the Virginia state Senate are considering a bill that would prevent abortion rights opponents from blocking access to clinics. Michael Pope is at the Capitol with the latest.
Changes to Virginia’s food to alcohol sales ratio appear more likely than ever
Jan 19, 2026
Show notesA few bottles of liquor in a cabinet. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)
Virginia law requires restaurants that sell liquor to sell an almost equal amount of food. Efforts to change that so-called food to booze ratio have faced hurdles, but many longtime opponents in the legislature are gone and a bipartisan, younger crop of lawmakers is looking to make changes. Brad Kutner has this report.
Pope & Schapiro: The inauguration and first actions of Governor Abigail Spanberger
Jan 19, 2026
Show notes
A new administration is settling into the governor’s office.
Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the inauguration of Abigail Spanberger and her first acts as governor.
Spanberger EO “gives new Governor the option” to end relationship between ICE and Virginia State Police
Jan 18, 2026
Show notesGov. Abigial Spanberger signs day one executive orders, including one to potentially remove Virginia State Police from agreement that saw the state agency support deportation work. (Credit: Governor’s Office livestream)
Governor Abigail Spanberger was inaugurated Saturday, and with it issued a series of day one executive orders.
Among them is one giving her the option to end a relationship initiated by former governor Glenn Youngkin between Virginia State Police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Brad Kutner has this report.
Spanberger becomes 75th Governor of Virginia
Jan 18, 2026
Show notesGovernor Abigail Spanberger speaks at her inauguration. (Credit: Michael Pope)
Over the weekend, Abigail Spanberger was inaugurated as Virginia’s 75th governor.
Michael Pope was there and has this report about her inaugural address.
Senate takes action to send constitutional amendments to voters
Jan 16, 2026
Show notesSenators gather on the floor of the Virginia Senate at the start of the 2026 General Assembly session. (Credit: Michael Pope)
In the first three days of the General Assembly, Democrats passed four constitutional amendments.
Michael Pope tells us they’ll go to voters later this year.
Pope & Schapiro: Youngkin’s farewell, constitutional amendments, and Abigail Spanberger’s inauguration
Jan 16, 2026
Show notes
It’s a time of transition at the State Capitol.
Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.
Investigations validate one complaint at Greensville prison, none at Red Onion
Jan 16, 2026
Show notes
The ombudsman who monitors the Virginia Corrections Department completed two investigations into a pair of prisons during fiscal year 2025.
Dave Cantor has more.
Affordability takes center stage in early days of this year’s session
Jan 15, 2026
Show notesCredit: NPR
Members of the Virginia General Assembly are back in session this week. And as Michael Pope tells us, they are debating the merits of affordability.
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