By Adam Siegel: Ideas once on the furthest extreme of the American political system have become mainstream in the Republican Party. Yesterday’s “extremist” is today’s “moderate.” Barbara Comstock is a poster child of this problem. For anyone thinking about decades of American…
By Karen Kirk: Is it time to quit Facebook? I’m not alone in asking this question. There’s #DeleteFacebook on Twitter and various stories in the media about those who’ve gone cold turkey. Maybe it was always too good to be…
By Susan Laume: Despite the known dangers, pet stores in Fairfax County and throughout Virginia can still legally sell puppies and kittens from commercial breeders, commonly called puppy mills. Virginia Democratic legislators sponsored anti-puppy mill bills this session, but the…
By Brad Swanson: Medicaid expansion in Virginia will be a major issue in the special session of the legislature that begins on April 11. To understand the issue better, I looked at other rich Western countries and compared the quality…
By Linda Liner: Despite the blustery cold, I felt my heart lift watching the students of South Lakes High School in Reston stage a 17-minute walk-out on March 14, exactly one month after the slaughter of 17 students in Parkland,…
By Chris King: A vote for Democrats is a vote for … business? That is not what voters usually hear, but it is true. Especially here in Northern Virginia, which is a diverse and dynamic business hub: tech, defense, engineering,…
By Holly Hazard: VA Democracy Forward (VADF) is a local, progressive group working to turn Virginia blue by connecting people, sharing ideas, and taking action toward a better future. Here, Holly Hazard interviews Chris Le Menestrel, its Co-Lead. Q: Other…
By Mary Anne Mulligan: Tired of sitting on the couch, consuming carbs, and fretting about the Mueller investigation? Here are a few ideas for taking action over the next few months. 1. Grassroots groups and Democratic committees in Northern Virginia are…
By Kathi Levin and Maggie Godbold: It was the 14 th of the month, and, just as every month on that date, protesters had gathered outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax to wave signs, encourage drivers to honk…
By Allison Dickert Madson: The outlook was dismal when Terry McAuliffe assumed office in 2014 as Virginia’s governor. A federal government shutdown, coupled with budget sequestration, meant big trouble for the state that receives more federal dollars than any other.…