Ya all,
What a great show on Friday. We danced in to our unique mash up of Avengers: Endgame Cast singing “We Didn’t Start the Fire and VA Senator Lucas boxing MAGA extremism.
You showed us the LOVE by showing up to the top breaking news. We gained 4 new Patreons! Thank you to February ❤️: Marta Calderon, Joy Cunningham, Jean Morris, Deborah Asberry and Sandy Whitt.
“Extra, extra read all about it!”
Friday, it was about about breaking news. First, news reporter Michael Pope literally got called away from the program because of all the breaking news. That didn’t stop us from dropping the good news on the room:
“Supreme Court of Virginia greenlights redistricting referendum.”
“Now it’s up to voters,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger said Friday in response to the high court’s order.
This announcement hit the national news as well. Last week, we shared VA Delegate Marcia Price speech on the House floor that chided naysayers of the proposed redistricting amendment to level the playing field due to Trump’s midterm election rigging that what happens in other states legislatures impact all of us. She explained how NC Republicans redistricting efforts right before the 2024 election gained the seats necessary to keep the U.S. House in GOP control. This power grab has resulted in the BIG BAD BILL and other horrible legislation depriving Americans access to healthcare and other life affirming policy. (Learn more about how gerrymandering in 2024 tilted the House in GOP favor).1
Virginia is prepared to fight back — and the grassroots are directly in the trenches punching back with direct voter outreach initiatives. We didn’t wait for permission to fire up our networks, we jumped feet first by meeting with the California PROP 50 grassroots warriors and then directly with the Virginia for Fair Elections c4 organization that is leading the effort in Virginia.
GRASSROOTS UPDATE: Luisa Boyarski
Luisa Boyarski: “If you care about it, you have to lobby for it.”
Luisa’s main report was about the Virginia General Assembly — and the urgency of legislative engagement right now.
She walked viewers through:
The crossover deadline timeline
Bills moving through committee
Why showing up during session matters
How grassroots advocacy shapes outcomes
Her message was clear:
Holding the majority does not guarantee results.
Bills need pressure.
Bills need testimony.
Bills need calls and emails.
She urged viewers not to assume Democratic leadership means automatic progress. Grassroots groups must still lobby for bills they care about — from reproductive rights to climate, voting access, and worker protections.
The chat reflected that understanding. People asked how to:
Track specific bill numbers
Submit testimony
Attend lobby days
Coordinate through coalition partners
The energy here was focused and disciplined.
Organizing does not stop after Election Day.
It intensifies during session.
🖤 BLACK MEDIA IS INFRASTRUCTURE
Lauren V. Burke: “If we don’t tell it, it disappears.”
Lauren Burke, founder & publisher at Black Virginia News brought clarity and history.
She reminded us that journalism — especially Black journalism — has always existed under pressure. From formerly enslaved publisher Peter Henry Woolfolk co-founding The Virginia Star in 1877, to Richmond Free Press, to Black Virginia News today, the through-line is simple:
Record what power would prefer forgotten.
Lauren spoke about:
The erosion of independent journalism
Media consolidation under billionaire ownership
Shrinking newsrooms
The vulnerability of Black journalists
The danger of sanitized narratives
The chat responded immediately:
“Erasure of history does not provide sanity!”
And later:
“Repetition is KEY!”
Lauren’s segment wasn’t about media nostalgia. It was about infrastructure.
Black-owned outlets are not niche — they are democratic record-keepers.
And in a moment when legacy outlets hollow out or retreat, that role becomes even more essential.
GRASSROOTS LEADERS: Talk Vote YES!
Need I say more — or show you more ways we are leading the way to fight back! We are creating the vibe for the Vote YES campaign! Lady Liberty is ready to knock out MAGA! Go to VoteYES.us website to get involved.
➡️ YARD SIGNS: Bulk orders! Fill out form here.
Watch the conversation led by Carrie (COVA Coalitions) with Robbin (Postcards, yardsigns, graphics), Finale (messaging,events), Lynlee (Rural GroundGame) above. Go to 36:55 minute mark to view.
Virginians for Fair Elections
Virginia for Fair Elections (VFFE) is coordinating a state wide effort to include phone banks, text banks, and canvassing. The VA Democratic Party and all the committees will be key in making sure polling places are managed and covered - this is key as early voting starts March 6 and election day is April 21, 2026. “Short landing strip” cannot be overstated! Go here to get involved with VFFE. Sign & share the petition.
TAKE ACTION:
From Virginia? You can canvass - go here.
Host an event: VoteYes events are great ways to engage voters about issues, the midterms, and the #VoteYES campaign. Email Denis Orsinger (denis4blueva@gmail.com) to add your event details to the list.
Visit the #VoteYES VA Grassroots website find the many ways to volunteers- go to VoteYES. us.
💰 LIVE ACTION DURING THE SHOW
During the broadcast:
Funds were raised live for the Rural GroundGame yard signs and text banking.
Postcards were pledged: Go to (Postcar4VA)
Bulk signs were ordered
Volunteers signed up in real time (Go to VoteYES.us)
Democracy happened inside the chat.
TOP 5 TAKEAWAYS
Donate! You can donate to our efforts to contact voters - go here.
1. The referendum is officially moving forward.
This is now a voter decision.
2. The runway is short.
Early voting begins March 6. April 21 is Election Day.
3. Grassroots energy is real and measurable.
Thousands of postcards already in motion.
4. Black media is democratic infrastructure.
Memory preservation is resistance.
5. This requires offense, not passivity.
The room wasn’t waiting for instructions. It was already organizing.
We didn’t start the fire 🔥
But Virginia is not stepping away from it.
In gratitude and grit,
BIG MIC – Katherine White
SHOW MESSENGER – Finale Norton
COASTAL CARRIE – Carrie Short
And the Friday Power Lunch Crew
Learn more: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/how-gerrymandering-tilts-2024-race-house
