Episode Overview

Title: Virginia Is Turning Into A Marxist Hell Hole
Host: Brett Cooper
Episode: 124
Date: January 27, 2026

In this episode, Brett Cooper offers a critical and impassioned analysis of the rapid policy shifts occurring in Virginia following a decisive Democratic victory. She expresses deep concern about a wave of new legislation, framing it as a dramatic and ideologically driven transformation of the state. The episode explores how these changes—ranging from sweeping tax increases to criminal justice reforms—reflect broader trends in American politics, including the differing approaches of the right and left to wielding political power.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Virginia's Political Shift and Immediate Legislative Actions

• Democratic Trifecta: Cooper notes Virginia's shift to complete Democratic control after recent elections, with major offices (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state House, and Senate) now held by Democrats.
  • “Less than a week ago, a Democrat government took power in Virginia and they are ushering in nothing less than a Marxist hellscape.” (01:01)
• Comparison to Trump’s Executive Orders:
  • Cooper differentiates between federal executive orders (describable and temporary) and local legislative actions (enduring and impactful), highlighting why state elections matter more than many realize.
  • “Executive orders... are temporary and the next administration just can undo them... That's why the election in Virginia mattered so much.” (01:42)

2. Highlighted Legislative Proposals

• New Taxes:

  • HB978 — Extends retail sales tax to services like dry cleaning, landscaping, animal care, repairs, and shipping.
  • HB900 — Adds a delivery tax on all packages in Northern Virginia (UPS, Amazon, Uber Eats).
  • HB919 — Proposes an 11% tax on firearms.
  • “You will not believe the insane bills they are trying to pass.” (02:12, Cooper)

• Irony of Campaign Promises vs. Early Actions:

  • Brett points out candidates like Abigail Spanberger campaigned on “affordability,” yet taxes are increasing.
  • “It’s incredibly ironic that, 48 hours after being installed as governor, everything happening under her watch is increasing cost for Virginians.” (03:58)

• Criminal Justice Changes:

  • Proposed elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for crimes such as rape, manslaughter, assaulting an officer, and possession/distribution of child pornography.
  • Reduces penalties and makes it harder to deny bail.
  • “Democrats in Virginia have introduced a bill to eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing for... rape, manslaughter, assaulting a law enforcement officer, [and] possession and distribution of child pornography...” (04:30)

• Election Integrity & Government Transparency:

  • Legislation proposed to prohibit hand-counting ballots for any reason, which Cooper and her quoted commenters argue would make audits nearly impossible.
  • Legislation to stop government from verifying nonprofit eligibility for state funds, which Cooper claims enables fraud.
  • “They have decided that they're going to try to make it illegal for anyone in the Virginia government to request verification or proof of eligibility from a non-profit receiving state funds.” (06:29)

• Education Policy:

  • Legislation aimed at removing graduation standards, allowing non-passing students to receive high school diplomas to “promote equity.”
  • “That is another bill that they are proposing—removing normal standards that are inhibiting students from graduating.” (08:24)

• Additional Bills (Reading of Summary):

  • Automatic restoration of voting rights to felons and the mentally handicapped.
  • Internet voting.
  • Public funding of campaigns at the local level.
  • Taxpayer funding for transgender surgeries.
  • Preferential state contracts for minority- and women-owned businesses, excluding white men (under $10k).
  • Abolition of Confederate license plates and groups’ tax-exemption.
  • Renaming Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.
  • Gun control: bans, taxes, industry liability, restricting carry and sales, and a state “propaganda center” supporting gun control.
  • Housing: allows rent control, raises sales tax in Northern VA, bans gas-powered lawn tools, and more.
  • Education: mental health screenings for students, curtailments on private/homeschool independence, higher school board salaries, free K-12 public education for illegal aliens, removing academic benchmarks for college aid, mandatory unconscious bias training for nurses.

  (See 09:16–12:15 for full rundown.)

3. Media Portrayal & Political Messaging

• Spanberger as a "Moderate":
  • Brett discusses how media and campaign narratives painted Abigail Spanberger as a centrist, anti-radical Democrat, contrasting with newer leftist figures like Mamdani.
  • Cooper contends that this image was misleading given the far-reaching legislative agenda.
  • “Abigail Spanberger was hailed by the media and by her own campaign as being the moderate candidate... People vote her in. They think that they are maybe getting the Democrat equivalent of Glenn Youngkin... The Dems take that trifecta of power and bo, welcome to Cala, Virginia.” (12:34)

4. Conservative vs. Progressive Approaches to Power

• Diverging Philosophies:
  • Conservatives and libertarians view power as something to be limited; progressives use power as a tool for social change and intervention.
  • “Democrats, they wield power because they love authority... Republican... voters, by and large, we want limited government.” (14:08)
• The Cost of Consistency:
  • Cooper challenges her listeners to ask whether philosophical consistency is enough when the opposing side is unafraid to use power to legislate sweeping change.
  • “How does that kind of consistency work out for us in the end when our opponent is the modern left... literal authority, authoritarians?” (14:54)
  • Notable quote cited:
    • “Conservatives treat power as inherently illegitimate, while leftists treat power as the mechanism by which reality is made. And we wonder why one side never wins while the other seemingly cannot lose.” (paraphrased from Christian Hinds at 15:04)
• Trump & GOP in the Power Game:
  • Trump’s use of executive power was meant to counteract leftist activism, but without Congressional codification, such action is temporary or easily undone.
  • “If our Congress, if our Republican majority cannot even codify those, then we are back to where we started in a lot of ways.” (16:12)

5. Reflections & Call to Action

• Wake-Up Call:
  • Cooper suggests Virginia may be a signpost for conservatives nationally—continuing to value moderation and limited power risks being consistently outmaneuvered.
  • She draws a parallel between the "inaction" of online conservative commentary and the decisive legislative activism of the left.
  • “I guess we have to wonder, is this going to be the wake-up call the Republicans really need for the midterms? I guess we'll see.” (17:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On legislative priorities:
  • “No squabbling, no beating around the Bush, no wagging fingers. They got in and they are actively making Virginia, California, possibly even worse.” (02:20, Cooper)
• On criminal justice:
  • “This kind of law is why elderly people get killed or beaten up at San Francisco and the perp gets a few years. Super evil policy.” (Comment quoted by Cooper, ~05:17)
• On proposed standards for education:
  • “Let's blame homeschoolers, let's tell parents that homeschooling is actually abusive and let's make it easier for non passing students in this failing education system to get diplomas. Doesn't really make sense to me.” (08:54)
• On left and right approaches to power:
  • “Those who are afraid of power will inevitably be ruled by those who are addicted to it.” (Quote of Christian Hinds, 16:33)
• On internal conservative tension:
  • “We can and should be consistent, but I think you have to merge that consistency... with a healthy dose of reality, with the political landscape that we are currently living in.” (16:47, Cooper)

Important Timestamps

• 01:01 – Main episode begins: Democrats assume control in Virginia; framing and context for upset.
• 03:27 – Specific tax increases and economic impacts detailed.
• 04:30 – Discussion of proposed criminal justice reforms and elimination of mandatory minimums.
• 06:29 – Cooper accuses new proposals of enabling fraud in state funding and elections.
• 08:24 – Education policy changes: graduation requirements and equity.
• 09:16–12:15 – Complete rundown of proposed legislation read by Cooper, citing Christian Hinds.
• 12:34 – Media messaging and how “moderate” campaigns contrast with aggressive legislative agenda.
• 14:08–17:58 – Power dynamics: Conservative consistency vs. leftist activism, Trump’s use of executive power, challenges for the GOP.
• 17:58 – End of substantive discussion and call to action for conservative listeners.

Summary Takeaway

Brett Cooper delivers a pointed, fast-paced critique of what she characterizes as Virginia's rapid shift to progressive governance, using it as a lens to examine broader ideological battles over political power in America. She underscores the importance of state-level politics, warns of the consequences of conservative philosophical restraint, and questions whether a “wake-up call” is on the horizon for the right.

Listeners are left with urgent questions about political strategy, the role of moderation, and the potential for future electoral backlash—key concerns for anyone invested in the trajectory of American governance and culture.