The Virginia Press Room

Data Center Backlash, Debate Challenges, and an Energy Cost Listening Tour

September 14, 2026·35 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

In this episode of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Virginia Press Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Michael Pope is joined by: Sabrina Moreno of ⁠Axios Richmond, covering data center backlash spilling into the midterms. Ethan Hunt of the Roanoke Times, covering a debate challenge in the 9th District that's unlikely to happen. Drew Wilder of NBC4, covering Lt. Governor Hashmi's listening tour on energy costs. Plus psilocybin legislation, metro funding, and Flock cameras. -- 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 Access Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the series is hosted by journalist and author, Michael Pope and features a rotating cast of reporters from the Virginia press corps.The Virginia Press Room offers a behind-the-scenes look at state politics, policy and the issues shaping communities across the commonwealth from the people who know it best, helping listeners stay informed about what’s happening in their state from the halls of the Capitol to their local neighborhoods.

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