u/snooka77_

There’s now a $1.8 billion federal fund for people who believe they were harmed by the “weaponization” of government over the last few years. According to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, there are “no limitations on the claims,” and the program isn’t just for Republicans or January 6 defendants.

Anybody can apply, and I’m starting to think maybe we should all file something. Whether you voted for Trump, voted against him, stopped watching the news entirely every American has been dragged through the psychological mud pit that the January 6 United States Capitol attack and 2020 election aftermath turned this country into.

No, we are obviously not the same as the people who stormed the Capitol but all of us have had to live inside the fallout ever since.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/politics/we-are-all-j6ers-now.html

Philadelphia’s Nysa returned to Richmond on Friday night for a packed four-band bill at The Camel featuring local favorites Dayfiction, Artschool and Wrong Worshippers. The lineup brought together a cross-section of Richmond’s underground punk, garage, and post-punk scene for a loud and chaotic night inside one of the city’s longtime independent music venues. 

Dayfiction marked the release of their new EP with a set that mixed newer material alongside some of the band’s heavier and more atmospheric post-punk influences. 

Photos by Vinny Candela

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more:  https://rvamag.com/music/post-punk/photos-nysa-rips-at-the-camel.html

Join us for Salon de Résistance on May 28 at Black Iris for an unfiltered conversation about surviving on the frontlines of global conflict in a world growing more violent, fragmented, and unable to protect civilians — with three of Virginia’s most seasoned experts in humanitarian response, peacekeeping operations, and wartime medicine.

The world is becoming more dangerous. Global power is fractured, and the old alliances are breaking down. The institutions once meant to alleviate conflict through peacekeeping, development, and humanitarian assistance, have been replaced by militarization, instability, and permanent crisis.

USAID has been dismantled. The US Institute of Peace has been gutted. International NGOs have had their budgets stripped. And the UN is trying to meet historic challenges with ever-shrinking resources. Meanwhile, global military expenditure reached $2.887 trillion in 2025 — the highest ever recorded — as governments make preparations for war by surging unprecedented resources into their militaries.

The warning lights are flashing red. Civilians are being caught in the crossfire, and we need to understand where this is all leading.

This salon will explore what conflict looks like on the ground in 2026. Not from the distant perspective of geopolitical experts, but from the experience of the humanitarians, peacekeepers, and trauma surgeons triaging the actual consequences on the ground. We’ll look at the stress, speed, and moral uncertainty of working in modern war zones, and see how civilians and responders face impossible choices as drones, surveillance technologies, and disinformation make conflict harder to escape and even harder to navigate.

We’ll explore these realities through the prism of Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, three humanitarian catastrophes that reveal in different ways what happens when the systems meant to protect civilians are abandoned.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/events/salon-de-resistance/salon-de-resistance-living-under-fire.html

Governor Abigail Spanberger has vetoed Virginia’s long-debated marijuana retail legislation, halting plans to create a regulated adult-use cannabis market and exposing deep divisions between legalization advocates, hemp businesses, and state leadership over the future of cannabis in the Commonwealth.

The veto of HB 642 and SB 542 leaves Virginia in the same legal gray area it has occupied since marijuana possession was legalized in 2021: adults can legally possess, share, and grow cannabis, but there is still no legal retail market for recreational sales.

In a statement released Tuesday, the CannaJustice Coalition, which includes Marijuana Justice, RISE for Youth, Justice Forward Virginia, and Virginia Student Power Network, called the veto “profoundly disappointing” and accused the administration of extending confusion around cannabis policy instead of moving toward a safer and more equitable system.

“For five years, Virginia has been stuck in a limbo where adults can legally possess, share and grow cannabis, but there is still no regulated way to purchase it,” the coalition wrote.

The group argued the decision undermines broader cannabis reform efforts, including resentencing measures for marijuana-related convictions and recent protections for parents who legally use cannabis.

“By rejecting the retail bill, the Governor has chosen to extend that chaos rather than move us toward a transparent, accountable retail system that centers public health, public safety and justice,” the statement continued.

But the veto also revealed a growing split inside Virginia’s cannabis and hemp industries themselves.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/politics/virginia-politics/spanberger-vetoes-virginia-cannabis-retail-bills-leaving-market-in-limbo.html

While running for Mayor in 2024, candidate Avula’s top priority in the “Thriving neighborhoods and affordable housing” section of his platform stated: 

As Mayor, he will:

• Fight displacement of long-term residents and expand the supply of deeply affordable housing for low-income and working residents.

His third bullet point in that part of his policy platform claimed he would “strengthen protections and resources available for our most vulnerable residents.”

Somewhere between that lofty rhetoric and today’s reality, Mayor Avula has pushed back against any type of relief for property owners since taking office. Last year, he fought successfully against a four cent reduction in the real estate tax rate that he said would be a disaster and favored targeted tax relief. Last week, however, the administration once again professed their opposition to relief in general. This time, it is opposition to a proposed ordinance that would provide targeted tax relief and disrupt the pace of gentrification and offer a deferral to those who qualify and help people stay in their homes until they decide it’s time to sell instead of being driven out by ever increasing assessment and tax bills.

The administration spoke out against 4th District Councilwoman Sarah Abubaker’s plan at the April Finance Committee meeting, according to Sarah Vogelsong at The Richmonder. They claimed this one program alone would cost too much and require 20 new financial analysts in the Department of Finance. The entire department currently employs 20 such analysts (including management). At one point during the discussion, the city’s director of revenue administration Ken Martinez also said “we don’t feel this is really a core function of the Department of Finance.”

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/community/rva-5x5-is-targeted-tax-relief-just-the-first-step.html

Around 8 pm on Tuesday, May 11th, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously to approve the 2026-2027 budget, which included at least $1.2 million to be invested into maintaining RPD contracts. One such contract is for the ninety-nine Flock cameras installed throughout the city. During the bulk of the meeting up to that point, the council entertained (and heard, and saw, they assured) citizen comments regarding the budget. 

During public comment, speaker after speaker criticized the surveillance system. No one spoke in support of it.

Council President Cynthia Newbille demanded decorum when some members of the Richmond chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America in attendance shouted “shame!” as they exited the council chamber. 

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/community/richmond-kept-flock-cameras-in-the-2027-budget.html

The Drake we once knew is gone. What began as one of the most prophetic artists to hit the rap and hip-hop scene over the past two decades has again reached another breaking point with the release of three new albums on Friday, May 15th. Iceman, Drake’s mainline promotional project, was released alongside bonus albums Habibti and Maid of Honour. These are the latest full-length projects to come from the Canadian artist since his very public and very damaging feud with rapper Kendrick Lamar in 2024, with fans speculating that this would be a return to form following his two-year sabbatical.

But what they got is more of the same. Drake obtusely makes an attempt to reignite his beef with Kendrick, throwing shots at non-rapper and NBA star LeBron James, among others, in an expression of dissatisfaction with those who betrayed and disparaged him in what can be considered a musical trilogy of sorrow, scorn, and mistaken identity.

Not only is Drake gone, but he also doesn’t know who he is.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/music/hip-hop/op-ed-drakes-issue-with-identity-an-icemans-melting.html

On Saturday May 16, hundreds rallied at the Virginia Capitol and then took to the streets of Richmond for the kickoff campaign for the November election for reproductive freedom.

“This amendment will be on the ballot on November 3rd and every day until then we need to talk our family, friends and neighbors about what is at stake.” Virginians for Reproductive Freedom‘s campaign manager Han Jones told the crowd outside of the Virginia Capitol.

This amendment to the Virginia Constitution would ensure a fundamental right to abortion care, miscarriage management, and fertility care

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/community/rally-on-broad-street-and-virginia-capitol-for-reproductive-freedom-amendment.html

John Martin, the lead singer of Mick’s Jaguar, may be one of the most influential individuals in 21st century lifestyle media. I’ve been lucky to know him for most of that time and even had a chance to work with him directly a while back.

Today, for our purposes, he’s simply the lead singer of a fucking raucous, spittle-and-leather, denim-and-body-odor, capital-R’s Rock and Roll band. Because he made me promise that I would only focus on that.

I’m not a dick. At least not completely. I am adhering to his wishes, but if this is all a little too cryptic for you, just Google him. I totally understand when you can’t escape telling the same story forever because you did some cool shit everyone wants to talk about. Imagine Luke Skywalker having to replay the Death Star story over and over again for every new rebel at the base.

Mick’s Jaguar is on a short tour and coming to Richmond. I remember telling John about how cool Richmond was twenty-three years ago when I met him at a Beauty Bar party in Las Vegas. This is the second time Mick’s Jaguar is coming through RVA, and we should be stoked. We live up to my hype.

They’re playing Fuzzy Cactus on the 22nd, and you should go. Outside of his long list of credits, he’s also the downest motherfucker and a great hang. You should meet him.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/music/rock-indie/subway-grime-rock-n-roll-sleaze-micks-jaguar-at-fuzzy-cactus.html

Dry Cleaning chose to return to Howard Theatre three years after their first ever stop in our nation’s capital. An eclectic queue formed around the theatre, with businessmen, grunge folk, and families all lining up for a rather unconventional headliner. 

The scheduling of the show itself faced its own storyline, with delays and a change of venue from Black Cat in favor of a larger hall, creating discourse on whether the show would sell out… and yet it did! Though Dry Cleaning has an underground essence to them, they are far from an unknown indie collective. Adopting D.C. in D.C. as their slogan, the band was geared up for an enthralling experience.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/music/post-punk/dry-cleaning-and-hotline-tnt-deliver-a-fascinatingly-awkward-night-in-d-c.html

Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Senate Bill 62 into law late Thursday night, creating a pathway for courts to revisit certain marijuana-related convictions handed down before legalization.

The bill, officially titled “Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses,” establishes a resentencing process for people still incarcerated or under supervision for qualifying cannabis offenses committed before July 1, 2021, when Virginia legalized personal marijuana possession.

Unlike expungement legislation, SB 62 does not automatically erase convictions from a person’s record. Instead, the law creates a court review process that allows judges to reconsider sentences handed down under Virginia’s previous marijuana laws.

The legislation applies to certain felony marijuana offenses, including some convictions tied to possession with intent to distribute, manufacturing, transportation, conspiracy, and related probation or supervision violations connected to cannabis offenses.

One of the bill’s most significant provisions is that hearings for eligible individuals are intended to be automatic rather than requiring incarcerated people to independently navigate the court system themselves. Under the legislation, individuals still incarcerated or under active supervision as of July 1, 2026, would qualify for review, with courts expected to begin scheduling hearings by January 1, 2027.

The Virginia Department of Corrections is also expected to help identify and notify eligible individuals, shifting some of the burden onto the state rather than leaving the process entirely up to incarcerated people or their families.

Rather than automatically vacating convictions or releasing individuals, the legislation gives judges the authority to review sentences on a case-by-case basis. Judges would be allowed to consider current law, rehabilitation efforts, time already served, and the circumstances surrounding the original conviction when determining whether a sentence should be modified.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/community/what-virginias-marijuana-resentencing-bill-means-for-incarcerated-residents.html

We got some loud shows and some really soft shows this week. Lots of exciting releases just around the corner, come hear em live before it’s on your phone.

Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit me up at griffin@rvamag.com.

----------------------
NYSA, DAYFICTION, ARTSCHOOL, WRONG WORSHIPPERS
FRIDAY, MAY 14TH
THE CAMEL

Like rain hitting the ground of a droughted land, Nysa returns to Richmond, Virginia. This Philly band sits somewhere between garage, psych, and punk, and without fail they hit town like a tornado. They rank high in energy among the hundreds of artists I’ve seen. For a quick reference on what they’re like live, the last time I saw them at The Camel, the singer was, at one point, at the bar, in the crowd, on the crowd, and outside, all while singing. This group gets people moving like no other. They are an absolute cannot-miss act. The group is putting out their newest single that day, which will be followed up by an album, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

On the topic of releases, local post-punkers Dayfiction are dropping their newest EP that same day. I had the chance to listen to it early, and I genuinely think it is some of the greatest music to come out of Richmond, Virginia. It’s really in line with all that exciting new stuff coming out of Europe, think Shame, Fontaines D.C., etc. The songs are fantastic, and they always deliver live.

My band Artschool will be in support. I usually try to avoid writing about bills I’m on, but the other bands here are just too good. We recently released our debut record. It’s a moody mix of punk and post-punk. There are moments that are real fast and loud, and others that are slow and soft.

Last up, we have Wrong Worshippers. These guys have been a staple in the scene for years now. Their live shows are always chaotic and off the wall, and their two-piece sound is surprisingly versatile. They know how to turn any show into a party, and I think this show is going to be one too.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/music/rva-live-music-this-weekend-nysa-sluice-plunky-oneness.html

I am rarely speechless, especially about theatre. Since I don’t get paid if I remain silent, I will make myself criticize a play I don’t feel I have any right to judge. Gotta pay the rent, and all that.

I came into this performance of WitchDuck by Cadence at Firehouse Theatre with a vague understanding that this had some historical relevance to “witch” dunking (or ducking, as they would have said it at the time) in Virginia in the late 1600s and early 1700s. I knew it had something to say about feminism.

What I didn’t expect was a surgically precise vivisection of historical (and current) male fragility in the service of a savage patriarchy. And oh, the sarcasm. The jokes are served up thick, rapid-fire, potent, damning in their truth, and not shy of being baldly insulting, in the best ways.

This is the world-premiere run of the play, but it feels like it’s been in residence for decades.

This all-female cast delivered an experience that everyone should have to sit through. It characterizes so well the pervasiveness of misogyny and its violent absurdity with broad, but stinging, comedy. I was left in stitches as often as I was left in awe. Imagine the most socially relevant Monty Python’s Flying Circus performance and make it somehow funnier, while it sharpens its cultural spears against the grain of white male supremacy.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/art/theatre/review-ducking-awesome-witchduck-is-smart-sharp-and-ruthless.html

Governor Abigail Spanberger speaking today at the Big Dipper Innovation Summit on the Virginia Supreme Court decision to void the state’s redistricting vote.

via RVA Magazine

Big Dipper Innovation Summit isn’t just happening inside Main Street Station this week. The conversations are spilling out into Richmond, with a full slate of after-hours events under the Extended Play banner.

From receptions and garden socials to rooftop sets, intimate performances, and a Scott’s Addition block party, Extended Play is built around the idea that some of the best connections happen after the panels wrap. 

RVA Magazine is part of that lineup with After The Summit, happening Wednesday, May 13 from 6–9 PM at The Library at Harry’s at The Hof + Rooftop. Our event is free to attend and designed as a relaxed landing spot after the day’s programming, with Manifesto Hour from 6–7 PM, live music from Theocles on the rooftop, and DJ sets from Elliott and Aimée Lauren inside The Library.

Other Extended Play events include The Kickoff Reception at Havana ’59, The Garden Social at Agecroft Hall, Get Tight Takeover, the BDIS26 Summit Block Party in Scott’s Addition, Ant the Symbol & Friends at Common House, and Rebuild the Algorithm at Bingo Beer Co.

https://rvamag.com/music/extended-play-big-dipper-keeps-the-conversation-going-after-hours.html

I sat down with Salaam Bhatti to talk about redistricting, campaign finance, and a government operating outside the interests of its donor class. What stood out to me most was his sincerity and the kindness in his politics. He presented a connection between empathy and a functional democracy. But beyond that tone, what emerged in our conversation was a candidate deeply focused on structural reform and the mechanics of how government actually works.

Bhatti offers a version of American politics rooted in kindness, but also one grounded in policy and lived experience. Here, I want to explore the core themes of my interview with Salaam: the importance of community, the fight against the donor class, and how structural reform might actually take shape.

I was initially drawn to Bhatti’s campaign because of its focus on kindness and love, something that feels largely absent from modern politics. When I asked what values he believes are missing most, his answer was immediate: “Love is not just saying hi, but actually caring like they’re your family… knowing if they’re struggling, if they have food in their bellies.”

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/politics/virginia-politics/we-are-the-ones-weve-been-waiting-for-bhattis-vision-for-a-different-politics.html

According to the Virginia Department of Health, there were 1,548 drug overdose deaths among Virginia residents in 2024, a 37% decrease from 2023. Emergency department visits for overdoses also declined, with 18,292 reported, down 16% year over year. While those numbers mark a significant drop from the peak of 2,622 deaths in 2021, the impact remains widespread across the state.

A new report ranks Virginia among the states with the lowest overall drug problems in the country, placing it 46th out of 51 nationwide. The study, released ahead of National Prevention Week May 10-16th, compares states across 20 metrics, including overdose rates, opioid prescriptions, drug arrests, and access to treatment.

But like most national rankings, the data comes with limits. Statewide averages often flatten what’s happening at the local level, and in cities like Richmond, the picture can feel very different.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/community/overdose-deaths-fall-in-virginia-but-richmond-providers-warn-of-strain.html

According to the Virginia Department of Health, there were 1,548 drug overdose deaths among Virginia residents in 2024, a 37% decrease from 2023. Emergency department visits for overdoses also declined, with 18,292 reported, down 16% year over year. While those numbers mark a significant drop from the peak of 2,622 deaths in 2021, the impact remains widespread across the state.

A new report ranks Virginia among the states with the lowest overall drug problems in the country, placing it 46th out of 51 nationwide. The study, released ahead of National Prevention Week May 10-16th, compares states across 20 metrics, including overdose rates, opioid prescriptions, drug arrests, and access to treatment.

But like most national rankings, the data comes with limits. Statewide averages often flatten what’s happening at the local level, and in cities like Richmond, the picture can feel very different.

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/community/overdose-deaths-fall-in-virginia-but-richmond-providers-warn-of-strain.html

Writer’s Block is RVA Magazine’s series highlighting contemporary writers working in Richmond and across the Commonwealth. We feature original poems, short stories, or essays. Just real voices writing right now.

“Big Flame is Gonna Break My Heart in Two” by Richmond writer Nate Waggoner drifts through the blur of early college years, where friendships, parties, and half-formed relationships collide into something harder to shake than it should be. 

Waggoner’s work has appeared in Barrelhouse, Electric Lit, Peach Mag, and elsewhere, and he runs the Wild at Heart reading series at Gallery5.

If you’d like to be featured, send your work to hello@rvamag.com with the subject line “Writer’s Block.”

via RVA Magazine

Read more, see more: https://rvamag.com/art/literature/writers-block-big-flame-is-gonna-break-my-heart-in-two-by-nate-waggoner.html