The New Blue Wave?

Coming up on today’s show:

• Democrats won big on Tuesday, with candidate Ralph Northam securing victory over Republican candidate Ed Gillespie in the Virginia’s gubernatorial race. In addition to winning the governor’s office, Democrats in the Old Dominion State overwhelmed Republicans in local legislative races. Democrats also took the governor’s office in New Jersey, and in Maine, voters said yes to expanding Medicaid. One year after President Donald Trump’s election, what should we make of these results? For answers, The Takeaway turns to Michael Pope, a reporter at Virginia Public Radio, and Nancy Solomon, managing editor for New Jersey Public Radio.

• On Tuesday, a three judge panel on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans heard arguments in the case of Senate Bill 4, a Texas law that effectively bans sanctuary city policies. The ruling, as well as the arguments for and against the law, could have an effect on immigration issues nationally. Denise Gilman, director of the Immigration Clinic at Texas Law, discusses the implications of the case. 

• Puerto Rico is home to tens of thousands of veterans. Many of those veterans have experienced PTSD as a result of the severe conditions that have come in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. After the island’s infrastructure was severely damaged, workers with the Department of Veterans Affairs are fighting to get their patients the care they need. Jay Price, a reporter covering the military for WUNC, has the story.

• National outrage moved Puerto Rico’s power authority to cancel a contract with Whitefish Energy. But another deal with Cobra Acquisitions is raising similar concerns. Kate Aronoff, a contributor to The Intercept and a writing fellow at In These Times covering climate and American politics, weighs in. 

• The documentary series, “What Happens Next,” from our friends at Retro Report continues this week with an exploration of “The Future of Home” and solar energy. Lonny Grafman, engineering lecturer at Humboldt State University and author of the new book “To Catch The Rain,” is featured in the new doc. He joins us on The Takeaway to discuss the future of home and energy. 

• Mass shootings at houses of worship are particularly gruesome, and they fundamentally alter the way congregants think about sacred spaces. After a horrific event like the shooting at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, how do people of faith move forward? We speak with Pardeep Kaleka, a member of the Oak Creek Sikh Temple, which experienced its own mass shooting in 2012.

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.