Sen. Mark Warner , D-Va., expects to have some tough things to say about Richmond’s mail service when he sits down soon with U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , he told the Richmond Times Dispatch editorial board on Friday.

Virginia has the worst on-time mail delivery record in the nation, and a recent audit of the Richmond Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Sandston found an egregious lack of attention to detail, ranging from losing mail that falls off conveyor belts, to poor coordination between processing machines and trucks moving mail.

“We’re going to take the inspector general’s report and so I expect to have a frank and candid exchange,” Warner said, referring to the audit.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Times-Dispatch reporters and editors, Warner said he hopes the recent breaking of Congressional logjams on aid to Ukraine and Israel, reauthorizing targeted collection of intelligence from non-Americans in foreign countries and trying to force China to sell TikTok means Capitol Hill dysfunction may be ending.

He said he thinks his focus on ways to give a hand to first-generation, first-time home buyers, and to help hard-pressed businesses in distressed communities gain access to capital can build bridges across partisan divides.

But he said America still needs to do more to protect itself against cyber threats.

Mail service

“This the second time I've seen this movie,” Warner said of Richmond’s mail problems.

The three-term senator and former Virginia governor said he started looking into Charlottesville's mail problems three years ago and the disruption "was not nearly as great as it was in Richmond."

“In Richmond, it’s obviously enormously frustrating,” Warner said, noting that members of the Virginia congressional delegation “hear from folks all the time” about important items sent through the mail – like bill payments - that did not reach their destination in a timely manner.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., speaks to the editorial board of the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Friday. When asked about protests at universities, Warner said, “I think we’re unique in the fact that we’ve got a First Amendment. You’ve got a right to protest. But I also believe, as well, that while you protest, that doesn’t mean you can shut down a school or cancel classes. And if you break the law, I think the law needs to be enforced."

Warner said the performance numbers “have ticked up” in recent months, from a “trough” between November through February, but the Postal Service has farther to go.

A surge effort to deal with Charlottesville’s basic problem – not enough staff – helped there, he said.

A similar surge is needed in Richmond, where the Postal Service rolled out a new approach to processing and moving mail, he said.

He said making Richmond the “rollout location” for DeJoy’s Delivering for America system, without fully informing the community ahead of time, was a mistake.

“It appears that the success of the program was only being viewed in terms of the routes and the amount of money saved and they didn't even include customer satisfaction as one of the criteria, which is stunning,” Warner said.

“If you go back," before the rollout of the new system, Richmond already was in the bottom 10 of customer and performance delivery, Warner said.

Why the Postal Service would "start with one of the least-performing centers in the country for this rollout and not have customer satisfaction" as part of the criteria for success, "is beyond me,” Warner added.

Israel and Gaza

Warner, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, spoke amid news that pro-Palestine demonstrations have led to encampments at a number of universities across the country. Jewish students and faculty say some of the protests have led to intimidation and antisemitism.

As for protests at universities: “I think we’re unique in the fact that we’ve got a First Amendment. You’ve got a right to protest,” Warner said.

“But I also believe, as well, that while you protest, that doesn’t mean you can shut down a school or cancel classes. And if you break the law, I think the law needs to be enforced."

Warner said the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel was horrific, but that he worries that realization of how terrible it was has begun to fade.

Warner said he thinks Israel made a mistake in not disseminating videos of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks more widely. "The horrificness of that … event faded as the horrificness of Israel bombing … across Gaza took preeminence,” he said.

On Wednesday Hamas released a hostage video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was born in Berkeley, Calif. and spent his childhood years in Richmond before moving with his family to Israel.

Warner said the U.S., Israel, and Sunni Arab states thought that the Israel Defense Forces would be more successful at this stage. More than 200 days into the conflict, Warner said, the latest "guesstimates" are that Israel has only eliminated 40% to 45% of Hamas fighters and penetrated about 40% to 45% of the tunnel network.

"They've been much more resistant than expected. And I think for a while there ... the thought that Israel was much militarily more superior - they lost a little of that image," he said.

Warner said that when Iran launched missiles at Israel and Israel repelled them, with U.S., French, British, Jordanian and Saudi help, “there was a moment” that reestablished Israel’s military primacy, but also demonstrated that “Israel is stronger with allies.”

Warner said of the Jordanians, British, French and Saudis: “They are not going to continue to help if this war in Gaza continues.”

He added: "Israel, I think, has been still in somewhat of a shell-shocked position post-October, so I'm not sure that all Israelis really appreciate how much loss of support that's happening ... around the world, and frankly, amongst the generation of young Americans."

Foreign aid

Warner said finally getting a vote on aid to Ukraine and Israel felt like a huge victory – and added that he is crossing his fingers about whether it makes change in the usual gridlock.

“Gosh, I wish, I hope, it’s a breakthrough,” he said.

“In 2023, what kept me motivated a little bit was I kept thinking, you know, 2021 wasn't that long ago when we got the infrastructure bill … we had ARPA (the American Rescue Plan) and we had veterans" legislation. "We were being viewed as maybe the most bipartisan Congress in 50 years.”

He’s encouraged that the votes on aid to Ukraine and Israel, and cracking down on TikTok, were about 80% in favor, while even the more controversial intelligence collection bill passed with a 2-to-1 margin.

“So, I will hope for a breakthrough rather than simply a burst of rationality, he said.

Warner sponsored the foreign collection bill – formally the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

National security issues

The Intelligence committee was not where he expected to land when first elected to the Senate in 2008.

“It really has opened up for me … this is still a bipartisan committee,” he said.

“It was our committee to first point out the problems of Huawei and 5g issues,” he said, referring to concerns that the Chinese telecommunications firm and its technology facilitated spying.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., speaks to the editorial board of the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Friday. Warner was not yet ready to tip his hand on whether he will seek a fourth term in 2026.

"Cyber still remains one of our greatest vulnerabilities," he said. Protecting data from hacking could get even more challenging with the development of artificial intelligence, he added.

“I'm up to my eyeballs on AI,” he said.

He said trying to find guardrails so that artificial intelligence technology doesn’t unleash the kind of fake video, photo and audio that could disrupt financial markets and elections is still a major challenge.

“This tech combination with national security, that's kind of my sweet spot,” he said.

Taxes

Warner said he expects some of the affordable housing issues he’s focused on will be in the mix of tax legislation when Congress decides next year what to do as former President Donald Trump’s tax cuts expire.

The senator's ideas include tax credits for rehabilitating houses, subsidies so that first-time homebuyers can take out 20-year mortgages with monthly payments closer to the lower levels prevailing for 30-year loans, and tax credits for employers willing to help employees with downpayments.

Like his work on the intelligence committee, Warner said he hopes to win some GOP allies for his initiatives on affordable housing, with their focus on helping moderate-income families build wealth.

He said he has already seen that with efforts to expand funding for Community Development Financial Institutions as a member of a bipartisan caucus trying to promote this way of lending to business in lower-income communities.

His political future

Warner was not yet ready to tip his hand on whether he will seek a fourth term in 2026.

"I like my job," Warner said. "I feel I'm being productive," he added, noting that he is part of "every bipartisan gang there is."

Two years into war, thousands of Ukrainians search for missing loved ones

Natalia Sheleshei, 39, and her children Yehor, 12, and Anastasia, 5, wait Feb. 12 for the return of Serhii at their apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine. Serhii Sheleshei, 49, a Ukrainian serviceman, disappeared Oct. 12, 2022, with three of his comrades during fighting at the frontline near Zaitseve, Donetsk region. "For a year and five months, I've lived with the uncertainty of whether my husband is alive or not," said Natalia, who juggles two jobs. "He adored the children. Whenever he could, he would call, saying 'I love you' and 'I worry about you.'"

They are among thousands of Ukrainians desperately seeking news of loved ones who have disappeared in the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. According to Ukraine’s National Police, more than 30,000 people have been reported missing in the last 24 months.

Iryna Reva, 59, waits for her son Vladyslav at her apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 9, 2024. Vladyslav Reva, 25, a Ukrainian soldier with the 72nd Mechanized Brigade went missing during fighting against Russian forces near Vuhlehirsk Power Station in the Donetsk region on July 24, 2022. Iryna's son-in-law, Oleksandr Dygalo, who served in the 95th brigade has also disappeared. He was last seen on March 12, 2023 in Donetsk region.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says since February 2022 its team has been contacted more than 100,000 times by families searching for their loved ones.

Maria Lezhnova, 52, sits surrounded by her pets as she waits for her son Hryhorii inside her apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 15, 2024. Hryhorii Polevyi, 29, a military medic with the 120th Battalion went missing at the frontline in Mayorsk, Donetsk region, on November 4, 2022. Along with him, ten other servicemen disappeared. The day before he vanished, he sent a message to his mother saying simply: "Love you very much, I will go without connection for some time."

Larysa, 31, with her 4-year-old daughter, Olha, await the return of her husband Mykola at their apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 14, 2024. Mykola, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 30th Mechanized Brigade went missing during fighting at the frontline in Ozarianivka, Donetsk region on Nov. 2, 2022. Ukrainian forces later reclaimed the positions, finding his armored vest, phone, and military ID card. "My husband was taken captive by Wagner forces, but I don't know anything about his fate or whereabouts," Larysa said, her voice heavy with uncertainty. "On Oct. 22, 2022, we had our last meeting. He came to Kyiv to drive a car to the frontline. That day, he told me that a few days before some guys from his unit were captured. With a sinking heart, I asked him to share his phone's live location, to which he replied that it wouldn't make any sense. 'And where will I look for you then?' I jokingly asked. 'It'll be as it'll be,' he calmly replied, as if already accepted what was to come in a week," Larysa recounted, reflecting on their final encounter.

Olena Diachenko, 38, along with her children Maksym, 13, Margaryta, 10, and Myroslava, 5, await the return of husband and father Oleksandr in Mala Ofirna, Kyiv region, on Feb. 14, 2024. Oleksandr Diachenko, 37, serviceman of the 30th Mechanized Brigade missed during fighting at the frontline in Bohdanivka, Donetsk region, on March 4, 2023. "Children don't wish for presents on their birthdays; they wish for their father to come back," Olena said.

Tetiana, 60, with her son Klim Khvostenko, 35, await the return of her husband in their rented apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 13, 2024. Oleh Khvostenko, 62, a civilian, went missing after being arrested by Russian military police in Dniprorudne, Zaporizhzhia region on July 2, 2022. Since then, the family has struggled to obtain information about his fate and whereabouts.

Valentyna Yeremenko, 95, sits in her daughter's home while waiting for the return of her husband Mykola in Bucha, Kyiv region, on Feb. 11, 2024. Mykola Yeremenko, 96, a veteran of World War II, went missing during the Russian occupation of Irpin, Kyiv region on March 19, 2022. Valentyna, who celebrated their 70-year wedding anniversary with Mykola just a few years ago, longs for his return. "We haven't heard anything about Mykola, only the tear-off calendar on the wall remains, and March 19 is the last day a leaf was torn off… that's when he vanished," said Valentyna's daughter Liudmila Yeremenko reflecting on his disappearance. This is not the only tragedy in Valentyna's family. During the Russian occupation in March 2022, a sniper killed her granddaughter Tetiana Yeremenko. She was 47 years old.

Natalia, 35, waits for her missing husband Yuriy at her apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 8, 2024. Yuriy, 39, a Ukrainian serviceman, disappeared during fighting against Russian forces on Aug. 14, 2022 near Bakhmut, Donetsk region. He joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the beginning of the full scale invasion, took part in defending the Kyiv region and was later sent to fight in the east. "He loves his family, his son, and truly loves Ukraine," Natalia said, recalling her beloved husband.

Svitlana Klymenko, 53, and her son Viacheslav, 31, wait for her husband at her apartment in Ivankiv, Kyiv region on Feb. 10, 2024. Oleh Klymenko, who worked as an emergency medical responder went missing on March 6, 2022 during the Russian occupation of Ivankiv. He vanished on his way home from work and since then his family have had no news of his whereabouts. "On the tenth day of the occupation, he went home to change clothes, to keep functioning normally, to continue working, but he didn't return to work. This happened in broad daylight," Viacheslav said. The war took the family's father but also a son Mykola, who was killed during the fighting against Russian forces in the besieged city of Mariupol in March 2022.

Liubov Opanasenko, 72, sits at home waiting for the return of her husband Oleksandr in Svitilna, Kyiv region, Ukraine on Feb. 11, 2024. A local resident Oleksandr, 71, chose to remain behind when his wife and son evacuated. He disappeared on March 9, 2022, during the Russian occupation of Svitilna. He was taken from his home by Russian forces and no one has seen him since. "Hope is all that's left, but it's there. Whenever someone returns from captivity, I immediately look to see if it's him," Liubov said.

Daryna Herasymenko, 26, waits for her missing husband Serhii in an apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 13, 2024. Serhii Herasymenko, 29, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 46th Separate Air Assault Brigade disappeared during fighting at the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region on Dec. 10, 2022. "Mentally, I am still in December (2022)," said Daryna, who has been with Serhii for seven years. "All I know is that they went on the assault, and that's it," she added.

Nina Kovalyk, 47, sits in her apartment while she waits for the return of her brother Andrii in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 11, 2024. Andrii, 48, a Ukrainian serviceman from the Territorial Defense disappeared during the fighting against Russian forces in Mariupol on March 21, 2022. His wife and two children were forced to evacuate from Mariupol through Russia and Belarus and they currently live as refugees in Poland. "He got surrounded with his battalion, no one made it out… they all disappeared without a trace," Nina says. According to an investigation's findings, Andrii's whereabouts, along with his battalion remain unknown.

Hanna Rudak, 27, sits in her rented apartment while waiting for the return of her husband Andrii in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 12, 2024. Andrii Rudak, 28, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 30th Mechanized Brigade disappeared during the fighting against Wagner forces at the frontline in Odradivka, Donetsk region on Oct. 15, 2022. Hanna often dreams of Andrii returning to her alive. "Disappearance without a trace is a huge problem. You look at Russian Telegram channels, there lies a body, unrecognizable, and you scrutinize it by the uniform, by the hands, by the hair, hoping it's not him," Hanna says of her search for Andrii.

Former wife Olha, 35, father Arthur, 64, mother Sofia, 69, and daughter Eva, 7, await the return of Rostyslav at their apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 14, 2024. Rostyslav, 40, a serviceman with the 30th Mechanized Brigade went missing during fighting at the frontline in Mykolaivka Druha, Donetsk region, Ukraine on Sept. 13, 2022. "After some time, I found his military ID on one of the Russian telegram channels. I still believe that he is alive," said Olha.

Nina Tkachenko, 47, sits with her daughter Polina, 7, awaiting the return of her husband Vasyl at their rented apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 15, 2024. Vasyl Yurchuk, 39, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 77th Air Assault Brigade went missing during an evacuation operation of an injured comrade at the frontline in Paraskoviivka, Donetsk region, on Jan. 27, 2023. Before the full-scale invasion he was a former private businessman selling windows.

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