Until recently, Virginia was a state where voters had to have a reason to vote early. Now, as Michael Pope reports, the General Assembly is debating ways to make voting easier.

Members of the state Senate are considering a bill that would ban the purchase or sale of assault weapons in Virginia. Michael Pope has the latest from the Capitol.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly are debating crime and punishment – including the use of mandatory minimums. Michael Pope has the latest from the Capitol.

Even before federal agents shot and killed a second U.S. citizen in Minnesota over the weekend, Democrats in Virginia were looking to limit future agreements between federal agencies and state and local law enforcement when immigration is involved. Brad Kutner has this report on efforts made public over the weekend. 

Labor politics are at the center of a debate over collective bargaining. Michael Pope has the latest from the Capitol.

Democrats and Republicans across Virginia are divided about affordability. Michael Pope has the latest from the Capitol.

Virginia has a state tree and a state bird and even a state pollinator. Now, Michael Pope tells us about an effort to add a native state pollinator.

Virginia is on track to get one of its nastiest winter storms in years, but fear of another ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is on the mind of immigrant Virginians. Governor Abigail Spanberger tried to address those concerns this, as Brad Kutner reports.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a multi-state compact that aims to pool resources to address climate change and build resiliency. Former Governor Glenn Youngkin took Virginia out of the agreement, but one of his department heads, kept on by Governor Abigail Spanberger, spoke in favor of rejoining the pact Wednesday morning. Brad Kutner has this report.

Virginia has five historically Black colleges and universities. Three are private and two public. Now, Michael Pope tells us they have new advocates in the halls of power.

Virginia has one of the longest early voting periods in the country. And Michael Pope tells us that it’s here to stay.

Democrats and Republicans from Southwest Virginia agree: Appalachian Power ratepayers have seen unsustainable bill increases and something has to be done. Brad Kutner has this report. 

Courthouses across Virginia have been the scene of arrests made by federal immigration officials. But Michael Pope tells us that members of the Virginia General Assembly are hoping to crack down on that.

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.

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. 

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.

Virginia Democrats won 64 House of Delegates seats last fall. Wednesday morning, they celebrated their wins and outlined how they’ll govern over the 60-day General Assembly session. Brad Kutner was there and has this report.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly are back in Richmond and back in session. Michael Pope is at the Capitol with the latest.

Governor Glenn Youngkin will make his final State of the Commonwealth address tonight. Michael Pope and Radio IQ Politics Analyst Jeff Schapiro discuss what the outgoing governor’s legacy will be.

Senate Democrats are putting a spotlight on kitchen table issues. Michael Pope has a preview of their agenda, as the General Assembly session starts Wednesday.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has set her sights on a number of health-related, cost saving measures leading up to Virginia’s 2026 legislative session. And elected officials from both parties are working on efforts to earn her signature. Brad Kutner has this report.

The ACLU of Virginia is claiming that the state’s corrections department is “over-detaining a significant number of people” as a result of earned sentence credits being improperly applied to individuals’ sentences. Dave Cantor has more.

One of the items on the affordability agenda for Virginia Democrats this year is the Equal Pay Act. Michael Pope explains.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger takes office next weekend, shortly after Democrats in Virginia’s legislature are expected to pass a mid-decade redistricting amendment.

And while Virginia governors usually have little influence on the constitutional amendment process, the timing required for the proposed redraw to have any impact will require the governor-elect, who’s lukewarm on the concept, to act. Brad Kutner has this report. 

As members of the Virginia General Assembly prepare to gavel into session next week, the word to watch is affordability. Michael Pope reports.

Virginia disability advocates will ask for additional funds they say governor Glenn Youngkin failed to include in his outgoing budget. And a federal judge may affirm that need at a hearing Wednesday. Brad Kutner has this report.

Democrats have big plans for the first few days of the General Assembly session next week. Michael Pope reports.

The Federal Communications Commission voted this fall to hike rate caps for phone and video calls that incarcerated people and their families can be charged. It rescinded a reform implemented under the Biden administration.

While Virginia’s rates sit below those limits, prison reform advocates say communications costs are still too high. Dave Cantor has more.

The year is coming to a close, but the last full week of 2025 has had quite a bit of activity in state politics and government. Michael Pope and Radio IQ Politics Analyst Jeff Schapiro discuss.

Members of the General Assembly are about to consider several bills aimed at affordability. Michael Pope has this preview of one involving debt.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger rolled out new details about her policy agenda Thursday. Brad Kutner was in the room at the state Capitol and has this report. 

Members of the General Assembly are about to consider dozens of bills aimed at improving public education. Michael Pope has this preview about some legislation dealing with students who speak English as a second language.

Here’s a link to the report.

Members of the General Assembly are about to consider a bill aimed at addressing some of the concerns about ICE raids across Virginia. Michael Pope reports.

Governor Glenn Youngkin won’t be in office come next month, but he still gets to propose one final budget before leaving office. And Wednesday morning he did just that. Brad Kutner has this report.

A company that makes license plate readers is hoping that the General Assembly will let them operate on interstates, although many lawmakers are skeptical. Michael Pope reports.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger is piecing together her cabinet before her inauguration next month. Michael Pope and Radio IQ politics analyst Jeff Schapiro discuss that and more in state politics and government.

Virginia’s complicated history of racial disparities still has consequences today. Michael Pope reports on that new report from the Commonwealth Institute.

Young people are becoming more interested – and more active – in Virginia politics. Michael Pope tells us about one group of college students who worked to turn out the vote this year.

Paid family and medical leave is one of the issues at the top of the agenda for Democrats who run the Virginia Senate. Michael Pope reports.

Virginia decriminalized marijuana possession back in 2021 with the hopes of creating a legal market the year after. But with Governor Glenn Youngkin opposed, the effort languished and an illegal market flourished. Now, heading into the 2026 legislative session with a sympathetic Governor-elect in Abigail Spanberger, an early version of a new legal market bill is being formed. Brad Kutner has this report. 

Tis the season for shopping. But will holiday shoppers buy as much as they did last year? Michael Pope has the latest numbers from a new Roanoke College poll.

The Virginia House of Delegates will be losing 13 Republican incumbents when the next General Assembly gavels into session. Michael Pope has this look at the delegates who will be saying goodbye.

Governor Glenn Youngkin participated in his final Thanksgiving Tribute Ceremony today. The event in its 348th year honors the relationship between Virginia and its indigenous tribes, and it also highlights the more solemn Thanksgiving holiday Virginia celebrated before the Pilgrims. Brad Kutner has this report.