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Margaret Barthel

@margaretbarthel.bsky.social

Northern Virginia reporter for WAMU 88.5, the D.C. NPR station. Talk to me at mbarthel@wamu.org or find me on Signal margaretbarthel.37

236 Posts766 Follower315 Folgt
Taniel@taniel.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Nine DAs are coalescing to work on prosecuting federal agents for 'overreach': —L. Krasner in Philly —J. Creuzot in Dallas —M. Moriarty in Minneapolis —L. Conover in Tucson —S. Descano in Fairfax (VA) —R. Fatehi in Norfolk (VA) —S. Morales in Portsmouth (VA) —P. Dehghani-Tafti in Arlington (VA)

Margaret Barthel@margaretbarthel.bsky.social · 9mo ago

A little news: next week is my final one at WAMU, after seven and a half years doing local journalism here. I have loved the chance to report on my own community, and am grateful so many of you have trusted me to listen to your stories.

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Margaret Barthel@margaretbarthel.bsky.social · 9mo ago

This is a good moment to feel proud of the journalists at MPR, who have been demonstrated again and again why local public radio stations are essential in moments of community and national crisis

MPR News@mprnews.org · 9mo ago

Minnesota finds itself again at the center of tense tragedy, struggling for answers with a national and global audience looking on after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a woman Wednesday.

Tom Jackman@tomjackmanwp.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Anyone who watched the Park Police killing of Bijan Ghaisar as he slowly drove away from them in Va. knows how the ICE killing of Renee Good is going to end with the DOJ. Very similar shootings. Video in thread.

Margaret Barthel@margaretbarthel.bsky.social · 10mo ago

The "fit the facts about data centers, AI and energy prices in the D.C. region into 7 minutes" challenge feat. @jennyabamu.bsky.social @alexkoma.bsky.social and me: wamu.org/story/25/12/...

Reporter Roundtable: How rising energy bills and AI demand are fueling local data center debates

Across the region, local officials are debating how to manage the growth of data centers. While the tax revenue is significant, the pressure on the energy grid is also pushing up electricity costs for...

wamu.org

Bobby Allyn@bobbyallyn.bsky.social · 11mo ago

AI financiers are swatting away bubble talk, just as the industry is on track to spend $400B on the hope of fantastical revenue. Companies are investing in each other to prop up demand. Spending is being kept off balance sheets. A look at these bubbly times www.npr.org/2025/11/23/n...

Here's why concerns about an AI bubble are bigger than ever

Tech companies are pouring billions into AI chips and data centers. Increasingly, they are relying on debt and risky tactics. Financial analysts are worried there's a bubble that will soon pop.

npr.org

Margaret Barthel@margaretbarthel.bsky.social · 11mo ago

.@repsuhas.bsky.social has a new letter out to the Federal Reserve and the SEC asking for information about the impact of an AI bubble on the U.S. economy. Includes this possible vision of a Northern Virginia with empty data centers:

Screenshot of text that reads: The AI bubble could also have an impact on my community in Virginia which is over reliant on data centers for local revenue. As billions of dollars are poured into building new data centers, an AI bubble could mean these data center projects are built and unused in the future, leaving huge stretches of abandoned buildings in communities like mine across the country.11 The effects of an AI bubble could result in ballooning unemployment and a recession.
Charles Paullin@cpaullinva.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Virginia voters will hit the polls tomorrow with electricity bills, data centers and renewable energy front of mind. One potential outcome? A Democratic triefcta control with questions over a commitment to the state's decarbonization law. insideclimatenews.org/news/0311202...

In Virginia, Voters Head to the Polls Hot Over Data Centers, Solar Facilities and Rising Electric Bills - Inside Climate News

Virginia, birthplace of the Internet, has more data centers than anywhere else in the world, bringing in billions in tax revenues. But continued data center development is forcing electric rates up, a...

insideclimatenews.org

Jahd Khalil@jahd.bsky.social · 11mo ago

VA's got to spend $3.2 bn more on Medicaid than it has currently budgeted over the next 3 years, according to a DMAS document I obtained. $410 mn this year (FY26), $1.1 bn in FY27, $1.7 bn in FY28. This isn't HR1 related, but its another cost that piles onto federal changes

stephen fowler@stphnfwlr.com · 11mo ago

Earlier this year, "quiet" was one word to describe the Virginia race for governor. Then came DOGE, a text message scandal down ballot, a redistricting surprise, the government shutdown and more. The breakdown you need from @jahd.bsky.social @margaretbarthel.bsky.social @bradkutner.bsky.social

How this week's elections in Virginia became about ... everything

Earlier this year, "quiet" was one word to describe the Virginia race for governor. Then came DOGE, a text message scandal down ballot, a redistricting surprise, the government shutdown and more.

npr.org

Jahd Khalil@jahd.bsky.social · 11mo ago

How this week's elections in Virginia became about ... everything. By your four favorite public radio reporters @margaretbarthel.bsky.social @theshabomb.com @bradkutner.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/11/02/n...

How this week's elections in Virginia became about ... everything

Earlier this year, "quiet" was one word to describe the Virginia race for governor. Then came DOGE, a text message scandal down ballot, a redistricting surprise, the government shutdown and more.

npr.org

Margaret Barthel@margaretbarthel.bsky.social · 12mo ago

"I don’t even know how we’re staying open. Sometimes I think it’s God, or I think it’s my late wife, just watching over this place." A day program for disabled adults in Manassas grapples with coming cuts to Medicaid: wamu.org/story/25/10/...

What Medicaid cuts could mean for one day program for disabled adults in Manassas

The Bright Center was already operating on a shoestring. Now the program's sustainability is even more in doubt.

wamu.org

Markus Schmidt@mschmidtrva.bsky.social · last yr.

NEW: GOP-leaning House of Delegates districts are outpacing Democratic ones in Virginia’s first week of early voting. Of the 20 districts with the highest turnout, 11 are strongly or lean Republican, 5 strongly Democratic, 4 are competitive. #VALeg virginiamercury.com/2025/09/23/g...

GOP districts take early lead in Virginia’s first week of early voting • Virginia Mercury

Early voting in Virginia began just last week, but the first wave of ballots already shows Republican-leaning House of Delegates districts pulling ahead of their Democratic counterparts.

virginiamercury.com

Margaret Barthel@margaretbarthel.bsky.social · last yr.

Snaps from the first day of early voting at Fairfax Government Center, where voters got to hear from John Reid and Abigail Spanberger. It was sunny, it was hot, it was bustling: a good beginning to our annual festival of democracy in Virginia.

Republican Lt. Gov. candidate John Reid addresses press and supporters outside Fairfax Government Center. Photo shows Reid speaking and gesturing with his hands, with supporters standing in the background.Photo shows a crowd of Moms Demand Action volunteers in red shirts waving Abigail Spanberger signs. Photo shows Abigail Spanberger smiling as she speaks to press. Her supporters hold signs in the background.
Sam Shirazi@samshirazi.bsky.social · last yr.

James Walkinshaw is trying to get seated ASAP Will have to turn to government funding deadline in 20 days He has a lot of Federal workers in VA-11 But also a Dem base that wants to take a stand Will there be a deal or does a shutdown actually happens this time?

Margaret Barthel@margaretbarthel.bsky.social · last yr.

Democrat James Walkinshaw is headed to Congress, having won about 75% of the vote in the #VA11 special election this evening. Once he's there, what are his thoughts on the looming federal spending bill deadline? I asked -

Screenshot of text of a news article that reads: Walkinshaw will arrive in Congress a few weeks before funding for the federal government runs out, a situation that offers Democrats an opening to demand their priorities be included in a spending bill — or shut the government down if they are not. Walkinshaw said he didn’t want a government shutdown, but said he’d consider withholding his vote if the funding bill was not bipartisan. “If they’re looking to have my vote on any government funding there needs to be a real bipartisan process in negotiation,” he said. “I’m not going to vote to extend cuts to health care that kick people off their health care. I’m not going to vote to extend DOGE.”