My column on why Virginia should start off the Democratic Presidential 2028 Primary Calendar has been published by FXBG Advance. open.substack.com/pub/fxbgadva...

Virginia Belongs at the Front of the Democratic Presidential Primary Line

THE FXBG ADVANCE TUESDAY 8/4/26 MORNING READ

open.substack.com

This is election interference.

On CTV News Canada talking about President Trump's efforts to secure a much-needed political win by obtaining a better deal for the US over the yet-to-open Gordie Howe bridge. www.ctvnews.ca/video/2026/0...

President Trump 'really needs a win' in American public opinion: analyst

Political analyst Stephen Farnsworth breaks down what Trump was able to secure for the U.S. by delaying the opening of the Gordie Howe bridge.

ctvnews.ca

Graham Platner’s history of sexual assault proves he does not belong in the US Senate. He belongs on the Supreme Court. by Susan Collins

My analysis of the long-running disagreements among Virginia Democrats has been published in the FXBG Advance. www.fxbgadvance.com/p/dont-expec...

Don’t Expect Virginia Democratic Disputes to Cool Off Any Time Soon

THE MIDDAY READ. FXBG Advance, Monday, July 6, 2026

fxbgadvance.com

Talking with WVTF public radio about the Virginia budget compromise. www.wvtf.org/news/2026-06...

Legislators, advocates on Virginia’s new data center tax and regulation scheme: ‘A good first step’

"It's important to recognize compromises don't lead to happiness, but they do lead to relief."

wvtf.org

“The reflecting pool is open and everyone is having a wonderful time.”

Thanks to Jonathan Hunley, who recognized my retirement from Mary Washington in his Fredericksburg Free Press column today. www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2026/06/15/c...

🧵 The students are right to be confused. So are the professors, who are being told by presidents & chancellors that AI is the most important thing at the university & the teaching center tells us students should do things like illegally record our lectures & use those recordings to make AI notes.

Jeff Sharlet@jeffsharlet.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Several students wrote of the moral confusion implicit in a college that promotes AI and says don't cheat but makes it really, really easy to cheat. One said they don't pay attention to AI policies because they don't think the college really wants to know what's going on. 9/

“Although it’s military history, it’s also women's history, and she was on the front lines with the Green Mountain Boys,” said Tom Hughes, leader of the Friends of Ann Story.

New roadside marker celebrates Ann Story, 'Mother of the Green Mountain Boys'

Vermonters gathered at the Ann Story cabin in Salisbury to celebrate the Revolutionary War heroine.

vermontpublic.org

who among us has not leased a late night timeslot from CBS for $15 million in order to air unfunny slop nobody wants

Colbert’s Replacement Pushes Back After Ratings Disaster

The new CBS host addressed his show’s 85% decline in viewership following Colbert’s exit.

thedailybeast.com

Had a great time at El Sabor de Wheaton yesterday. Great food and music! #lovedc

In honor of the Virginia Democratic plan to kick off the 2028 presidential nomination contest - my 2012 Washington Post opinion column suggesting that very thing. wapo.st/4r09kUw

Opinion | Virginia belongs at the top of the presidential-election calendar

Virginia belongs at the front of the line.

wapo.st

Reminder that banning elected officials from trading stock is a total no brainer. They can use privileged information to make money on the stock market, while they’re supposed to be working for you. Make no mistake — it’s legalized corruption.

The Justice Department tried to erase the history of Jan 6. We restored if. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

The Justice Department Erases History; Lawfare Restores It

Last week, the Justice Department deleted thousands of press releases related to the Jan. 6 insurrection and other matters. Here they are.

lawfaremedia.org

we need a clear regulatory line between bike-type devices and motorcycle-type devices. and a scooter this fast should probably not be legal at all. dude was wearing a full face helmet and he still died

man that's awful. those ridiculously overpowered e-bikes and such are a menace nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/05/28/t...

Two Dead After Illegal Scooter Rider And Cyclist Crash On Queensboro Bridge - Streetsblog New York City

Street safety advocates have been criticizing city officials for failing to fully grasp the dangers of e-motos and illegal stand-up scooters for years.

nyc.streetsblog.org

AG Sulzberger calls out media owners that have settled flimsy lawsuits and transformed their coverage to placate the president: "Such capitulation, even seemingly small instances of it, serves only to embolden the administration to keep attacking the press." www.nytco.com/press/ag-sul...

AG Sulzberger: ‘We Will Not Compromise’ on Independent Reporting | The New York Times Company

The New York Times publisher spoke in defense of a free press hosted by Yale Law School’s Floy Abrams Institute.

nytco.com

Political humor is the best humor.

In The Guardian UK today talking about political humor and Stephen Colbert. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

‘He had a unique ability to be human’: late-night TV says goodbye to Stephen Colbert

The Late Show, and its much-loved host, will bid farewell this week after a controversial cancellation leaving behind a challenging TV landscape

theguardian.com

We had another great meal at the annual Armenian Food Festival in DC today. They are open tonight and again on Sunday for this annual treat.

Happy "House Listing Day" to those who celebrate - wish us luck !

"The Supreme Court has frequently admonished judges not to interfere in election cases when the process is already underway, but it is now being accused of doing exactly that in recent decisions favoring Republicans in redistricting fights." www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

Supreme Court faces new criticism for redistricting decisions so close to the 2026 elections

Justices have said judges shouldn’t interfere in election disputes so close to the primary process, but their own rulings have triggered a frenzy to draw new congressional maps.

nbcnews.com

People have been asking for the Purple Line for over a decade. Today, we put the FINAL piece of rail in the ground. Thanks to everyone who made this milestone possible and delivered on a project that’s been stalled for far too long.

Thanks to my UMW Political Science colleagues for hosting a wonderful retirement event for me yesterday. It's been a great 30+ years for me in DC-area higher education!

Congrats to Associated Press investigative reporter Byron Tau on his Pulitzer Prize. Here's my first former student to win a Pulitzer meeting with my Mass Media Politics class at Mary Washington last spring. Congrats!

The United States has expressed "strong support for Poland’s accession to the G20 as a permanent member" following talks in Warsaw, after which it also emphasised "strong and growing" Polish-American relations.

US supports permanent G20 membership for Poland

notesfrompoland.com

Grim www.browndailyherald.com/article/2026... Can't pretend the world hasn't changed

I will be talking about the Virginia gerrymandering referendum at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday on CSPAN. Please join us. (Polls open on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Election Day voting).

Thanks to Mary Washington graduate and presidential campaign and Google alum Zach Wineburg for meeting with my Mass Media Politics students last week.