The governor-elect picks and chooses which members of the press can attend certain events
Choose cop-friendly journalists for events involving police officers.
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Youngkin limits press attendance for third time as he visits with CCPD
Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin met with Chesterfield law enforcement officials over the weekend as he continues a ‘thank you’ tour across the commonwealth since winning earlier this month. Only a select few journalists were allowed to attend part of the meeting on Saturday, however, which is a pattern for Youngkin when he visits with law enforcement in Chesterfield.
“Today, I met with local and state law enforcement members to learn about the public safety challenges facing the Commonwealth,” Youngkin tweeted after the event. This marks the third visit with Chesterfield Police Department that Youngkin has not advised the full press list prior to his visit. The first two times Youngkin met with Chesterfield law enforcement were prior to the election and only WTVR reporter Jon Burkett was in attendance. (One of those visits caused some trouble.)
Burkett was also in attendance at the latest event Saturday, as was a Richmond Times-Dispatch editor.
Burkett published an article last week profiling a Richmond Police officer who is leaving the department. In the article, the officer’s reasoning for leaving the department was described from her point-of-view, while complaints from the community about the officer’s past actions were ignored.
As for the actual event on Saturday with officers, Chesterfield Police chief commented on the visit with Youngkin and praised the governor-elect for talking with his officers.
“It was a good day. Our Governor-elect hasn’t taken office yet. He’s not being paid. He’s not pandering for anyone’s vote. He has no obligation at this point and we can fulfill no need - yet, he came, he listened, and he took notes - asked questions, and encouraged thoughtful collaboration from a diverse array of stakeholders,” Chesterfield County Police Chief Jeffery Katz said after the visit. “Gov-Elect Youngkin came to Chesterfield because he said our county serves as a shining example of an excellent public safety infrastructure. It was our pleasure to host and it is our honor to serve. We are all committed to a safer Virginia!”
As he often stated during his campaign, Youngkin vowed on Saturday to “focus on bringing everyone to the table to work on solutions to keep all Virginians safe.”
McGuire quietly announces his congressional run to unseat Spanberger
In a fundraising email sent to his supporters Friday night, state Del. John McGuire (R-Goochland) stated publicly for the first time that he is running for Congress. He has already filed the paperwork to run in the seventh congressional district as he is hoping to earn the Republican nomination to run against Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Henrico).
“Friends,” the email from McGuire begins. “I am reaching out to my strongest supporters with this special announcement. After many prayers, and countless requests to run for Congress over the last year, I am jumping into the race to represent the people of Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. I need your help.”
McGuire is only one among a large field of Republicans looking to earn the nomination to face Spanberger next year. In addition to state Sen. Amanda Chase, who announced her candidacy earlier this week, Sen. Bryce Reeves, Tina Ramirez, and Taylor Keeney have also officially announced their candidacy.
In the email sent to his supporters Friday night, McGuire attacked Spanberger by blaming her for all of the hot-button issues in politics right now. “Under Democrat Abigail Spanberger our borders are open, the FBI is targeting parents for speaking up at school board meetings, we botched the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and gas prices are crippling working class families,” he said.
Related: John McGuire faces criticism after he reveals that he attended the Jan 6. rally in D.C.
Spanberger is a two-term representative in the 435-member House of Representatives. After first defeating the Republican incumbent Dave Brat in 2018, she won reelection by a slightly wider margin in 2020. However, now she is facing national headwinds with a new Democratic president who is suffering from low approval ratings. Republicans also made gains in state-level races earlier this month by flipping seven seats in the House of Delegates winning three statewide races.
Virginia's incoming lieutenant governor questions Covid vaccines for those who've had the virus before - CNN
By Aaron Pellish
Republican Virginia Lt. Gov.-elect Winsome Sears on Sunday refused to say whether she'd received the Covid-19 vaccine while repeating a series of falsehoods and misconceptions about the vaccines and infections.
Sears, who did not reveal her vaccination status during her successful campaign for the second-highest seat in Virginia, told CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" that revealing it would create a "slippery slope" to being asked to reveal other personal information about her "DNA" and medical history.
Virginia’s Election calendar lawsuit at standstill - Virginia Mercury
Republicans narrowly gained control of the House of Delegates in November, but their majority might only last a year if a three-judge panel sides with Paul Goldman, a Democratic lawyer and onetime aide to former Gov. Doug Wilder, who says the elections were invalid.
Goldman claims in his lawsuit that because the elections were held using an old political map that didn’t reflect the new U.S. Census data, the districts don’t accurately reflect population shifts that have happened since 2010. A ruling in favor of Goldman could mean that all 100 members of the House will have to run again next year.
As the GOP eyes Virginia swing district, is the Biden agenda enough for Democrats? - NPR
By Barbara Sprunt
At a busy pub in Midlothian, Virginia, a group of voters are gathered at long wooden tables, ordering burgers and pimento cheese fries and talking about the Democrats' legislative agenda.
"I think universal pre-K is a good idea," said Lindsay Sherrard, a local physician. "The [child] tax credit is fantastic," added Yael Levin, who works on education issues. "I love the tax credit because that gives the choice back to people."
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Wait... Doesn't the First Amendment to the US Constitution protect the rights of a free press to report on events unfettered by political exclusion and censorship? Glenn, have you read the document? Or are you just like your puppeteer, ignoring our supreme law?