by Lowell
Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, April 13. Also, thanks to Paul Anderson or the Trump cake/nukes GIF.
- Donald Trump recounts eating “the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake” with Xi Jinping while launching missiles “heading to Iraq” (“The president spent an awful long time talking about what he was eating while ordering a bombing” Trump’s like a demented king in medieval times or something…)
- Rex Tillerson’s first visit to Moscow showed that the Trump-Russia lovefest is dead (“A very awkward, and revealing, press conference.”)
- Paul Manafort received payments from ‘pro-Russian’ party while Trump campaign chairman (Manafort for Prison!)
- Trump Tells Reporters He Might Blow Up Obamacare if Democrats Won’t Negotiate With Him (Bluffing.)
- Jared and Ivanka Are Not Good People. They Are Enablers. (“Also, there is no evidence that suggests they have ever actually done anything positive for the country.”)
- Trump backs off fiscal pledges, adopts centrist policies he once fought (“The president said he wouldn’t label China a ‘currency manipulator’ and that he is open to reappointing Janet Yellen as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, reversals that come amid a period of rapid evolution for Trump on both domestic and foreign policy issues.”)
- Tillerson meets with Putin amid deepening tensions over U.S. missile strikes in Syria
- The Kansas Democrat who nearly pulled off the impossible has some advice for his party (“James Thompson says Democrats can’t ignore red states.”)
- How to Stand Up to Trump and Win (“The main message Sharp and Raqib offered is that effectiveness does not come from pouring out into the street in symbolic protests. It requires meticulous research, networking and preparation…the Women’s March on Washington, which had its first protest the day after Inauguration Day, will ideally become anchored in a larger strategy for change. “)
- Inside Bannon’s struggle: From ‘shadow president’ to Trump’s marked man
- The unforgivable mistake Sean Spicer makes every day (“It’s the White House press secretary’s assault on the English language.
- Trump’s weather-vane presidency gyrates wildly with the winds
- The Broken Supreme Court (“Making a court vacancy a highly visible part of a Republican electoral strategy stamps the court as an electoral prize, pure and simple.”)
- Betsy DeVos rescinds protections for student loan borrowers (DeVos is horrible, part infinity.)
- The dangers of Sean Spicer’s soft Holocaust denialism (“What concerns me the most about anti-Semitism is that it doesn’t exist in a vacuum.”)
- Putin Hoists Trump on His Own Fake News Petard
- GAO says it’s investigating Trump transition team (“The Government Accountability Office will investigate whether members of President Donald Trump’s transition team followed federal guidelines and ethics rules during the presidential transition, following complaints lodged by Democratic lawmakers in November.”)
- The Murderers’ Row of Voter Suppression Is Here (“Batter up.”)
- How Bill O’Reilly’s sexual harassment problem fits Fox News’s ideology (“The network consistently sends the message that women exist to serve men.”)
- Something is breaking American politics, but it’s not social media (“A new study finds political polarization is increasing most among those who use the internet least.”)
- In Virginia, a Democrat Tacks Left in Race to Capture Governor’s Mansion (How is it “left” when the majority – in many cases a large majority – of Virginians support the policies he’s advocating?)
- Mark Warner’s Russia roadshow (“The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee tells voters the Trump-Russia probe is ‘the most important thing I’ve ever done.’”)
- How Sen. Tim Kaine plans to make change as a minority in the Senate
- Tim Kaine is back at his old Senate job. It’s never seemed more important.
- In Richmond, Warner calls on Trump to create coherent policy on Syria (There’s almost no chance of that!)
- Female Virginia Senate clerk’s salary brought up to male counterpart’s (Amazing that they were ever not equal.)
- Editorial: Two months out, here’s where primaries stand
- Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine describes how he learned about the Virginia Tech shooting
- Liberty U is the setting for televised debate among GOP candidates in Va.
- Smithfield Foods to sell pig parts for human skin, organ transplants
- Congressman Tom Garrett Endorses Bryce Reeves for Lt. Governor (They’re both horrible. Of course, Jill Vogel’s no better.)
- Crowd hears Northam in Yorktown as Lt. Gov. travels state
- Senator Mark Warner stops in Lynchburg hoping to re-invent business
- Tom Perriello hosts town hall campaign event (“Democratic gubernatorial candidate visits U.Va. as part of college tour ahead of June primary”)
- McAuliffe tours Virginia Living Museum
- Sen. Tim Kaine visits Ferrum College, Roanoke VFW post to discuss education, veterans’ issues
- Pleasant spring conditions through the weekend
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