Hey there, 

Welcome back to another edition of Virginia Capital, Dogwood’s economic policy newsletter that puts workers first. 

When the dozens of toys somehow no longer enchant my four-year-old son and I don’t want him watching any more TV for the day, I take him to an indoor playground.

I never knew such things existed before I had kids, and my first visit was kind of overwhelming—for me. But I’ve come to appreciate that it’s actually a good option for families looking for a fun activity with no screens. 

The only problem? It’s not cheap. We go every once in a while as a treat. Such was the case yesterday. Upon my arrival, I got a reminder that I was in a privileged position. 

“FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: FREE ADULT ADMISSION & 10% OFF AT OUR CAFE’S WITH VALID GOVERNMENT ID.” So read the flyer pasted to the door. 

Kudos to this business for looking out for the community and to all the others doing the same. 

Below, I share some thoughts on last week’s gubernatorial debate and report on a press conference in Washington, DC today in protest of the Trump administration’s attacks on federal workers. 

Plus, some new options for sneakerheads who want to show off their love for Virginia.  

This combo image shows Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears, left, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, right. (AP Photo)

Call me crazy, but I wish last Thursday’s gubernatorial debate between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears had been longer. 

It was only about an hour. I wanted to hear more from the candidates about the economy, the shutdown, and attacks on federal workers. It didn’t help that Earle-Sears constantly interrupted Spanberger and then spent much of her time asking Spanberger questions. 

In any case, if you’ve been following the race, you can probably guess what each candidate said. 

Earle-Sears called on Spanberger to pressure Virginia’s Democratic senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, to vote to reopen the federal government, even as Republicans have complete control of the government and have refused to negotiate with Democrats. 

Spanberger criticized Earle-Sears for not standing up for Virginia’s federal workers and contractors who are suffering even more because of the shutdown after dealing with mass layoffs pushed by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

“It is only increasing the challenge that they are facing after months and months of the attacks from this White House under DOGE,” Spanberger said. “The entirety of that time, my opponent has made light of federal workers losing their jobs.”

• Earle-Sears did an interview with Fox News where she was pressed about Virginia’s unemployment numbers. 

                                                                                                                                                              

• Semafor has a look at the data center debate playing out in Virginia politics.

   

• Kunle Falayi with the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO reports on the uncertainty facing Virginia farmers dealing with Trump’s tariffs and immigration crackdown. 

Congressional Democrats from Virginia on Maryland in Washington, DC today. (Michael O’Connor/Dogwood)

I’m writing today’s newsletter in Washington, DC, around the corner from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the office in President Donald Trump’s White House led by Russ Vought, the face of Trump’s mass attack on federal workers. 

Earlier this afternoon, Democrats from Virginia and Maryland held a press conference across the street from the OMB.

The goal was to protest Trump’s threat to withhold backpay owed to federal workers once the government reopens and to criticize Republicans refusing to negotiate an end to government shutdown.

US Sen. Mark Warner was on hand, along with Virginia US Reps. Don Beyer, Suhas Subramanyam, and James Walkinshaw. 

“The law that makes sure that federal employees get backpay was signed by Donald Trump,” Warner said. “So the idea that he doesn’t understand that everybody has to get paid back shows maybe how short his memory span is or how arbitrarily he wants to pick and choose.”  

Once the press conference was over, I bumped into a Department of Education worker who lives across the Potomac River in Virginia.

She worked at the Department of Education for over a decade before getting fired last week. But she was unsure enough about her situation that she didn’t want to get on camera or share her name. 

In speaking with this worker, I was left with the impression of just how chaotic and stressful it must be to work under these conditions. 

“I’m trying to think about what I want to do,” this worker told me. “I feel a little bit like I’m in a bad relationship and I don’t know how to break up.”

(Jon Tyson/Unsplash)

Two sneakers with ties to Virginia recently came across my timeline.

One is part of a line from Nike that aims to pay homage to America’s historically black colleges and universities. The collection features an Air Max 95 in Norfolk State University’s school colors, along with its motto and logo emblazoned on the shoes. 

The other sneakers are some Adidas from Pharrell’s new Virginia brand, but they appear to already be sold out. 

The Nikes look better anyway for those with the money and the fashion sense.

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