Trusted Source: How a Virginia Non-Profit Defied Polarization

Monday, October 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Journalist and author David Poole will discuss his timely book about recent Virginia political history. “Trusted Source” tells the unlikely success story of the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), which in 1997 provided a sputnik-like leap in making state politics more accessible to non-insiders. Most significantly, as faith in our institutions eroded, VPAP gained and maintained bipartisan trust.

Poole, who founded VPAP and retired as the director in 2023, brings unique insights into recent Virginia political history. He will describe the frequent interplay between VPAP and political events, including the McDonnell gift scandal that shook Virginia’s lax ethics rules to the core. Poole also will answer your questions about state elections, past and present.

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