Dear friends, There’s no doubt fewer and fewer people believe at first glance what they read online, on TV and in the newspaper. Both right and left seem to have developed a deep distrust for the news business. As a former journalist I’d say some of the skepticism is based on the coverage of different agendas. If you believe that diversity is more important than excellence you won’t appreciate coverage of someone who has a new leadership role unless you also hear about their minority status. The other side will be very skeptical (in my opinion justifiably) if race or minority status is the leading element in a story. How do we fix this mistrust and get back to facts and objectivity in news gathering and reporting? Mike Emanuel who has risen to be the Chief Washington Correspondent for FOX News will address these issues this coming Thursday night at the Virginia Forum. Tickets are available here. In addition, Mike will tell stories about covering numerous Presidents and scandals and scuffles on Capitol Hill. I first met Mike when we were both new reporters in Waco, Texas and he has become one of America’s foremost and most serious journalists. I know you will want to be with us for this remarkable evening. Only a few VIP tickets remain, and a shrinking number of general admission tickets are still available. Get yours today! I’ll see you Thursday night!   John Reid Founding Chairman of The Virginia Council Get your tickets today for our next event! Mike Emanuel March 20, 2025 at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center VIP Reception begins at 5:45pm Program Begins at 7pm with doors opening at 6:15pm for General Admission ticket holders.  PURCHASE TICKETS HERE Want to know more about Mike Emanuel?? Mike Emanuel currently serves as chief Washington correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined FNC in 1997 as a Los Angeles-based correspondent. Emanuel also anchors FOX NEWS LIVE on Sunday afternoons at 1pm and was in the chair during an historic moment in the 2024 campaign. It was Sunday, July 21st when President Biden suddenly dropped out of the campaign and Emanuel had it first on Fox. Previously, Emanuel provided the latest breaking election news from Washington, DC during FNC’s Democracy 2020 election coverage. Additionally, Emanuel has covered both the House and Senate proceedings surrounding both impeachments of President Donald Trump, lawmakers passing tax reform, the confirmation hearings for the Trump and Biden Cabinets, and the confirmation hearings for President Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees. He also covered Secretary Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. In his role, Emanuel has reported on key congressional races, the IRS scandal, the hearings surrounding the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya attacks and President Barack Obama’s 2012-2016 State of the Union addresses from Capitol Hill, among other events. Come hear him speak about how the Washington D.C. press will cover the exciting and historic second term of President Trump in 2025! Virginia Election Updates: Jones and Taylor campaign for the chance to take on Miyares in November By Brandon Jarvis To win in 2025, Virginia Republicans may need to rev up the rural vote even more than they did in 2021. How will they do that? - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey Virginia’s major political parties both enter 2025 election with new leadership | WVTF By Brad Kutner Top Industry Donors to Candidates for the Virginia House By VPAP.ORG  Virginia Assembly, Senate & Governor updates: Governors to laid-off federal workers: We’ll hire you • Virginia Mercury By Robbie Sequeira Virginia Officials Are Bracing for an Exodus as Federal Employees Lose Their Jobs - NOTUS (Allbritton Journalism Institute) By Amelia Benevides-Colon Exclusive | FBI's new task force arrests 214 criminals, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangbangers, in two weeks By Diana Glebova Virginia sheriffs discuss cooperation with ICE under a new executive order signed by Governor Youngkin | 13newsnow.com By Emily Harrison Some Northern Virginia leaders say local economy is too dependent on federal government - WTOP News By Scott Gelman Virginia university votes to remove DEI office | Fox News By Brie Stimson Rep. Vindman condemns letter from U.S. attorney requesting business details | Headlines | insidenova.com By Sebastien Kraft Trump admin considers sale of Richmond's Federal Office Building - Axios Richmond By Karri Peifer & Isaac Avilucea Court freezes order on Virginia’s RGGI exit - E&E News by POLITICO By Niina H. Farah Va.'s plan to restrict social media for minors faces pushback and calls for tighter safeguards • Virginia Mercury By Nathaniel Cline Governor Youngkin should veto Prescription Drug Affordability Boards, again - Cardinal News By Harry Gewanter (3) C'villeBubble on X: "🚨UVA is on list of 60 schools being investigated by the DOE for Antisemitic Discrimination & Harassment. There have been numerous Anti-Israel activities on UVA Grounds since 10/7. ➡️The Federal Civil Rights Title VI complaint was filed during the Biden Admin, which did not https://t.co/CL2rmyCU8y" / X Invasive species bills aim to close retail gap, educate consumers in Virginia By Sarah Hagen Va. lawmakers direct researchers to review book bans, court funding methods, storm risk studies • Virginia Mercury By Nathaniel Cline Pending law could allow anesthesiologist assistants to work in Va., bolster health care workforce • Virginia Mercury By Charlotte Rene Woods TikTok 'Tunnel Girl' can keep tunnels after permit approval for Virginia home | wusa9.com By Katie Lusso & Alanea Cremen Richmond’s Leigh Street Armory history removed in national DEI purge By Dean Mirshahi  The Arlington Reconciliation Memorial Needs to Be Restored to Arlington National Cemetery ASAP by Dr. Ann McLean and Patricia N. Saffran President Trump created Executive Order 13933 on June 26, 2020, "Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues and Combating Recent Criminal Violence", with its Purpose, "The first duty of government is to ensure domestic tranquility and defend the life, property, and rights of its citizens.” He then summarizes the dramatic traumatic events and violence over five weeks starting at the end of May 2020 that led to Confederate and other monuments and statues being vandalized and torn down, writing, "Many of the rioters, arsonists, and left-wing extremists who have carried out and supported these acts have explicitly identified themselves with ideologies—such as Marxism—that call for the destruction of the United States system of government.” Trump's order rewrites existing code which goes back much further such as to the Travel Act, section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, and subsequent acts, so protections have been on the books for quite some time. President Trump recently updated his protections for monuments with Executive Order 14189 of January 29, 2025, "Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday." He's also ordering a new sculpture park, the National Garden of American Heroes. (To read the rest of editorial, please click here.)  Articles, News, & Quotes: The Big 250 - richmondmagazine.com By Harry Kollatz Jr. Virginia lawmakers divided on House GOP plan to avoid a government shutdown | WRIC ABC 8News By Tyler Englander ‘I just don’t know what to do .’ Flood survivors face uncertainty as they await disaster decision | WVTF By Roxy Todd UVA, George Mason among colleges Trump targeting for alleged antisemitism - Axios Richmond By Karri Peifer & Sareen Habeshian UVA, GMU respond to Trump admin demands over diversity initiatives By Megan Pauly George Mason University approves antisemitism resolution but sparks free speech debate | FFXnow By Vernon Miles Trump's English-only order: The impact on Virginia's language access - Axios Richmond By Sabrina Moreno After audit found lax oversight of Richmond’s grants to nonprofits, the city will now call them gifts By Graham Moomaw City releases records showing improperly funded nonprofits By Samuel B. Parker Former Richmond city employee charged with misusing public assets By Sarah Vogelsong Former Richmond DPU employee allegedly stole and misused public funds | WRIC ABC 8News By Katelyn Harlow Richmond residents unknowingly pay millions in hidden utility charges - Axios Richmond By Sabrina Moreno Business leaders: Make sure work continues at Dahlgren - Fredericksburg Free Press By Jonathan Hunley Virginia nurse now charged with abusing three babies at Henrico hospital By Melissa Hipolit & Mike Bergazzi Regulate It, Make It Unaffordable, Subsidize It — Kerry: By Kerry Dougherty Give Me Liberty | Virginia Museum of History & Culture Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Give Me Liberty highlights Virginia’s leading role in the American Revolution. Audit reveals state horse racing agency lacked key policies By Dean Mirshahi 'Road to Kentucky Derby' to wind through Virginia for first time By Robert Kieckhefer  Interviews & Videos of Interest The Latest Headlines With MIKE EMANUEL State of Surveillance: Who’s Watching You? | Podcast Episode on RSS.com By Dutchie Jessee Stu on X: "In February, Virginia Congressman Eugene Vindman held a town hall on helping federal workers. I was going to report on this, but then it didn't feel as important. However, with a slurry of federal layoffs coming this week, I thought people may want to see how Democrats are trying https://t.co/Cx9iCmBmwp" / X TONYA J. POWERS Discusses FEMA's Review of Migrant Aid Virginia Explorer 250 Virtual Tour | Virginia Museum of History & Culture As part of commemorating America’s 250th, this virtual experience takes visitors on a journey across the Commonwealth. 6 – Give Me Liberty: The Revolutionary Spring of 1775 | Virginia Museum of History & Culture  The Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Liberty Permanently End the WHO and Pandemic Treaty: Sign Petition Today By Dr. Sheila Furey Virginia March for Life 2025 - March for Life Richmond, VA | April 2, 2025 The Virginia Council has been blessed with unwavering support from the community since its founding a few years ago. And we decided to add some new ways to thank you for your ongoing assistance in our efforts to educate and inform Virginians. "Announcing The Virginia Council membership reward program. Sign up today on our website for the various levels of support!" Member level: Simple membership is free when you sign up for our email newsletter or attend a monthly meeting. Liberty level: For an annual contribution of $100 you get the newsletter, access to our monthly meetings and a commemorative Virginia Council lapel pin. Patriot level: When you step up to make an annual contribution of $250 you receive first access to tickets to our annual Christmas and Patriot Parties, the commemorative Virginia Council pin, and the newsletter and monthly meeting access. President's Council level: For a commitment of $1000 you receive the newsletter, access to our monthly meetings, 2 lapel pins, 2 invitations to both of our annual parties, and 2 VIP tickets to one Virginia Forum lecture of your choice. We hope you'll find these rewards an added incentive to help fund our efforts to restore a full view of Virginia's history, monuments & role that government plays in our lives. We appreciate all your support and encouragement and look forward to bringing you more compelling voices of liberty, freedom, and conscience over the next year. To become a Liberty, Patriot, or President's Council member, please make a contribution here. To volunteer, click here. The Executive Board of the Virginia Council If you are interested in donating appreciated securities, we now have an account to make it easy for you (see the information below). Contact us HERE for more details.  The Virginia Council Preserving Virginia’s history and creating a more prosperous future for all Virginians. Stay Hopeful. Stay Connected. P. O. Box 5 Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103, United States |
