BLACK VIRGINIA NEWS

EP75 - A Lively Data Center Town Hall in Manassas, Virginia

One thing that was made clear during a data center listening tour stop in Manassas, Virginia on June 15: Many citizens in Virginia really hate data centers. There were no speakers in favor of data centers who came to the mic over two hours. Many who spoke are worried about the environment, against tax breaks for data centers and tired of studies on the issue when so much is already known. Black Virginia News podcast episode 75 features the views of residents of Virginia from Loudoun, Gainesville, Fairfax, Manassas and many other locations on the issue of data centers. At a time when the Virginia General Assembly is debating billions in tax breaks over years for the wealthiest companies in the world, Senator L. Louise Lucas launched a listening tour to hear from the public. On June 15, 2026 in Prince William, she was joined by Senator Danica Roem and Senator Russet Perry. The three spent two hours listening to citizens in the local community discuss data centers. Thank you for listening and thanks to all of our subscribers. RATE THIS PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-virginia-news/id1663695162] 🥰 Contact us at: Tips@blackvirginia.news Subscribe to Black Virginia News [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/]! Follow us on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/blackvirginianews.bsky.social] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blackvirginianews] | We give you the no BS truth in an era of lying. Get full access to BLACK VIRGINIA NEWS at blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

EP74 - Rep. Bobby Scott on the Virginia Supreme Court, Redistricting and Voting Rights

EP74 - Congressman Bobby Scott on the Virginia Supreme Court Redistricting Ruling, the Fight Over Voting Rights, and What Comes Next. Over the course of 10 days, Democrats in Virginia and across the nation suffered three major political setbacks. How they respond in the weeks and months ahead could shape the long-term future of voting rights, political power, and democracy itself. On April 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Just days later, on May 6, Senator L. Louise Lucas — a central figure in Virginia’s newly drawn congressional maps — saw her office and business raided by Trump’s FBI in Portsmouth. Then, on May 8, the four Republican justices on the Supreme Court of Virginiainvalidated the votes of more than 3 million Virginians who had participated in the April 21 ballot referendum to change the state’s congressional maps. On this episode of the Black Virginia News podcast, Bobby Scott discusses the stunning May 8, 2026 ruling by the Supreme Court of Virginia that nullified the votes of more than 3 million Virginians who participated in the April 21 ballot referendum to redraw the state’s congressional maps. Rep. Scott, an attorney, breaks down the decision by the four Republican appointed members of the Virginia Supreme Court and the lack of legal logic behind their decision. Rep. Scott, represents the third district of Virginia and is the most senior Democrat on the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce [https://democrats-edworkforce.house.gov/]. Scott is widely regarded as one for the smartest members of Congress. In this podcast he and Lauren Burke will also discuss the politics of voting rights and the way forward as Donald Trump threatens the core tenants of democracy in America. Thank you for listening and thanks to all of our subscribers. RATE THIS PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-virginia-news/id1663695162] 🥰 Contact us at: Tips@blackvirginia.news Subscribe to Black Virginia News [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/]! Follow us on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/blackvirginianews.bsky.social] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blackvirginianews] | We give you the no BS truth in an era of lying. Get full access to BLACK VIRGINIA NEWS at blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

EP73 - Is the Sleeping Giant of Black Voters About to Wake Up?

EP73 - Black Voters: Is the Trumpian Attack on Voting Rights About to Wake a Sleeping Giant? Five members of the Congressional Black Caucus discuss a rising level of energy and interest they’re witnessing in their districts after the U.S. Supreme Court severely damaged the 1965 Voting Rights Act [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_Rights_Act_of_1965] on April 29, 2026. All five CBC members will have altered congressional districts as a result of Republicans quickly moving to rig the maps so more Republicans can be elected and re-elected in November 2026. The five CBC members, Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Troy Carter (D-LA), Shomari Figures (D-AL) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) all mention an increased level of interest and engagement as news of their congressional districts being changed by Republicans to make it more difficult to win makes headlines. On Saturday, May 16, 2026, thousands are expected to gather at a mass rally [https://blackpowerwarroom.com/dayofaction/] in Montgomery, Alabama for a voting rights mobilization. That mobilization is set to be the launch of Freedom Summer 2.0 as Republicans around the country attempting to change the rules and redistrict congressional seats before the 2026 midterm elections. Thank you for listening and thanks to all of our subscribers. RATE THIS PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-virginia-news/id1663695162] 🥰 Contact us at: Tips@blackvirginia.news Subscribe to Black Virginia News [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/]! Follow us on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/blackvirginianews.bsky.social] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blackvirginianews] | We give you the no BS truth in an era of lying. Get full access to BLACK VIRGINIA NEWS at blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

EP72 - Trump's FBI Targets Sen. L Louise Lucas

EP72 - Trump’s FBI Targets Sen. L Louise Lucas with Dr. Fergie Reid. The growing list of political adversaries of Donald Trump who have been the focus of investigation or indictment from Trump’s DoJ now includes one of the most powerful elected officials in Virginia. On May 6, 2026, the business and office of Senator L. Louise Lucas, one of the most powerful women in Virginia, were raided by the FBI. The raid took place 15 days after Senator Lucas and Virginia House Speaker Don Scott scored a massive political victory over Republicans on April 21 by winning a referendum that would drastically change the congressional maps in Virginia. The raid in Portsmouth, Virginia was yet another example of the Trump DoJ focusing on a Democrat or political adversary. On episode 72 of the Black Virginia News [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/] podcast, Lauren Burke and Fergie Reid Jr. discuss the political state of play as MAGA Republicans desperately cling to power and change maps in the South to eliminate Black districts — and as the pivotal midterm elections are only 180 days away. Thank you for listening and thanks to all of our subscribers. RATE THIS PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-virginia-news/id1663695162] 🥰 Contact us at: Tips@blackvirginia.news Subscribe to Black Virginia News [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/]! Follow us on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/blackvirginianews.bsky.social] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blackvirginianews] | We give you the no BS truth in an era of lying. Get full access to BLACK VIRGINIA NEWS at blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

EP71: Why Was the Mayor of Martinsville Removed from Power with No Due Process?

EP71: Why was the Mayor of Martinsville Removed from Power? Richmond-based attorney Paul Goldman walks through the story of what happened to LC Jones, the Mayor of Martinsville, Virginia [https://www.martinsville-va.gov/directory.aspx?eid=90]. A recall petition with no evidence attached to it led to a Black Mayor being removed from power. Mayor Jones was removed from office in February for two months after “allegations” of wrongdoing. The problem: There was no evidence, criminal charges, indictment, testimony or formal investigation. It gets even better: A friend of the Mayor who later became a political rival joined with a petition drive featuring signatures from the white part of Martinsville presented no evidence of wrongdoing by the Mayor. You’re Guilty Cause I Say So. But talking without evidence works. Goldman talks about how a prosecutor conducted a “personal investigation” on the Mayor. Meanwhile, local media did stenography on unproven allegations from a member of the Martinsville City Council who loves doing interviews and being in front of the camera. That member of City Council is still pushing for Jones’ suspension. On this episode of the Black Virginia News podcast we discuss the backstory of what happened to the Mayor of Martinsville, Virginia in the “do whatever you want” era of Donald Trump. Thank you for listening and thanks to all of our subscribers. RATE THIS PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-virginia-news/id1663695162] 🥰 Contact us at: Tips@blackvirginia.news Subscribe to Black Virginia News [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/]! Follow us on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/blackvirginianews.bsky.social] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blackvirginianews] | We give you the no BS truth in an era of lying. Get full access to BLACK VIRGINIA NEWS at blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe [https://blackvirginianews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]