Tax breaks are meant to grow and develop an industry. Not last forever.
Data centers are doing fine. We need to invest those dollars into people and into the broader economy.
That’s how we get broad based prosperity and a more dynamic economy.
My latest post on my MAGA congressman, John McGuire from #VA-05. open.substack.com/pub/watchman...
My latest post on Substack: John McGuire's support for the SAVE Act will make voting harder for more than 50,000 of his own constituents. (And no, that's not him in the photo; that's an AI-gen guy who doesn't resemble Butt-head nearly as much as McGuire does.)
www.watchmanva5.com/p/john-mcgui...
The silence of my congressman, John McGuire from #VA-05, is both baffling and infuriating. His staff is telling callers they haven't talked to him about the violence in Minnesota. Meanwhile, he fou8nd time to propose a tax break for people who sell vacation homes. open.substack.com/pub/watchman...
This has been the plan all along.
- Foment violence and chaos in the streets of MN
- Implement the Insurrection Act
- Declare Martial Law
- Suspend elections
But the bill will help so many people! To qualify you just have to:
- be at least 65
- sell your home for $500,000 or less
- sell to a first-time buyer
- either be selling your 2nd home or make so much profit that the existing $250k/$500K cap gains exemption doesn't apply to you.
Huge numbers. Huge!
Just last night I was working on a whole piece about this for my Substack, but you made the point better in two sentences that I did in my entire draft.
www.watchmanva5.com/p/a-script-f...
Yeah. I’ve wondered if Periello got in the race because pollsters and money people are seeing better odds. Maybe they’re hanging their hats on redistricting. Or just believe in good old-fashioned competing even in the hard districts.
What’s your take on VA-05, assuming no redistricting? McGuire won by 15 in 2024, Earle-Sears by 8. Still a comfortable margin for the GOP or no?
Sam what are you hearing about the timing of the districting? A public referendum can’t happen before April 15, and the primary filing deadline is April 2. How would that work?
ice out of virginia sunday january 11 longston 10am springfield 11:15 am arlington 12pm, martinsville 12pm, vienna 12pm, falls church 1pm, lynchburg 1pm, woodbridge 1pm, south arlington 2pm, alexandria 2pm, charlottesville 2pm, haymarket 2pm, orange 2pm, williamsburg 2pm, annandale 2:30pm -- no ice no fear
fixed it
Dave Parrish Photography (https://www.facebook.com/DaveParrishPhoto/posts/pfbid034DF8QXWhM6NwqRuYjaau51oTR1gyjLEw4nJirhensR9VYxCoPntzgkaZRyiPjpZYl) photos from anti-ICE protest Saturday in Richmond, VA
Great photos by Dave Parrish Photography (@RVAphotog)! bluevirginia.us/2026/01/sund...
I know I'm late with this, but here's my rundown of my congressman's first year in office. open.substack.com/pub/watchman...
Yeah, I say go ahead and judge. They certainly did.
Tomorrow: Raccoon elected newest member of Virginia Congressional delegation
Have you seen an informed explanation of what needs to happen under (current) state law to do this? I think they'll have to move the filing deadline if they do this. And there's VERY little wiggle room in scheduling the public vote. But I'm no expert. www.watchmanva5.com/i/179008399/...
I read up on VA law to understand the ins and outs of redistricting here. (I'm not an expert, just looking at primary sources online.) The timeline is very tight, and as far as I can tell, would require the Assembly to move the candidate filing deadline. www.watchmanva5.com/i/179008399/...
Here's one that's flying under the radar--a bill that would increase the tax on remittances from 1% to 15%.
Austin has the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. I haven't lived in Austin for a couple decades, so I don't know what it's like now, but back then it was exactly what you're describing. A real treasure and something I looked forward to every year.
"We can never unring the bell that has been rung," @judgeluttig.bsky.social says of Trump's impact on the nation. "Never again will the world view America in the same way that it has for the past 250 years."
"So, if this is flawed thinking, a fair question is what should happen differently? I don’t have the whole answer. But: Certainly, at minimum, we should see much more collective action on the part of news organizations when Trump attacks journalists or disparages the truth. Certainly, at minimum, there should be public statements of mission that acknowledge that things have changed, and that the news media has a role in addressing it. And certainly, there should be an absolute end to the “both sides” coverage that equates truth and falsehood in the name of fairness. The excellent James Fallows sees progress along these lines; too bad that progress took so darn long and is far from complete." https://margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/america-has-tragically-changed-but
"Certainly, at minimum, there should be public statements of mission that acknowledge that things have changed"; "certainly, there should be an absolute end to the 'both sides' coverage that equates truth and falsehood in the name of fairness" - @sulliview.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2025/12/mond...
The Virginia Department of Transportation has proposed a $700 million plan to potentially develop a multi-use trail and restore a deteriorated rail corridor in the Shenandoah Valley. But some transit leaders and a lawmaker representing the area aren't on board. virginiamercury.com/2025/12/15/v...
I wrote up every bill that Rep. John McGuire of #Virginia's 5th district (20 counties plus Lynchburg, Danville, and Charlottesville) sponsored this year. It's telling to see what's not on the list: health care, the economy, education... #VApolitics #VA05
www.watchmanva5.com/p/the-john-m...
These are just nuts. open.substack.com/pub/watchman...
Lie after lie after lie by Trump...as always. Thanks to @SenTimKaine for calling it out. bluevirginia.us/2025/11/wedn...
"Mrs. McGuire, can we get a picture of you with the clown?"
"Sure. Let's get Ronald McDonald and the Hamburglar in here too."
My latest post - McGuire and the blue wave, what it takes for VA to redistrict, and a gratuitous Muppets reference.
open.substack.com/pub/watchman...
I don’t think US taxpayers should subsidize treason against the United States
I read my congressman’s socials so you don’t have to. I dug around in his financial disclosure and list of donors too. #VA-05
open.substack.com/pub/watchman...
