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Former Virginia Gov. Youngkin launches new conservative policy group

Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is launching a new conservative policy group, marking the first major move since Youngkin, a potential 2028 Republican presidential contender, left office in January. 

The group, called Empowering America’s Parents, will focus on expanding awareness about the Education Freedom Tax Credit, a federal scholarship tax credit that has been adopted in 30 states. 

Youngkin’s group plans to target the 20 remaining states that have not adopted the program with a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, according to a source familiar with internal planning. 

Among the targets are Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania — all key battleground states that went for President Trump in the 2024 presidential election. 

Glenn Youngkin
Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin

Oliver Contreras /AFP via Getty Images

The tax credit program, which officially launches in January 2027, allows taxpayers to donate up to $1,700 to scholarship-granting organizations in participating states and receive a federal income tax credit. Proponents say it supports scholarships for K–12 education tuition expenses. 

A source familiar with the program said internal polling showed a lack of awareness around the tax credits, and they saw an opportunity to educate voters on its benefits. 

Youngkin’s group plans to “aggressively target persuadable voters, primarily in the suburbs, who support school choice,” according to a source familiar with internal plans. 

The announcement comes amid speculation about potential 2028 presidential contenders on the Republican side. Youngkin, who has a significant donor network and has not explicitly laid out his future political plans, told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in April that he has “more to give” when it comes to his political future. 

2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck discovered off coast of Sicily

Italian divers have discovered the 2,100-year-old wreck of a Roman ship off Sicily, piled high with hundreds of well-preserved ancient clay jars, known as amphorae, which were likely used to transport wine.The wreck, dubbed by Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli as "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years", was found some three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo.Divers from the cultural heritage protection arm of Palermo's police said Saturday they had located the ship, thought to date to between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, some 150 feet down, after a tip-off from fishermen. In an Instagram post, underwater fishermen Giacomo De Mola described seeing "something" on his boat's underwater scanner which resembled a rock. De Mola said he decided to dive and investigate anyway, when he stumbled upon what he described as "without a doubt, the most incredible discovery of my life.""Visibility wasn't the best... I got closer. And my heart stopped. Below me was a vast expanse of amphorae," De Mola said in the instagram post, along with video footage of the discovery.He said he "immediately" reported the discovery to the Superintendent of the sea of the Sicilian Region.Screenshot from video posted by Italy's Ministry of Culture showing the discovery of an underwater Roman shipwreck laden with amphorae, believed to be more than 2,000 years old.
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