Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, October 1.
*Kevin McCarthy’s truthful gaffe on Benghazi (“So now we know: One of the principal reasons Republicans spent so much public money investigating the tragic Benghazi episode was to bring down Hillary Clinton’s poll numbers.”)
*Clinton Camp Senses Moment to Expose Benghazi Committee (“House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy unleashes the perfect talking point for Democrats pushing for the panel to be dismantled and investigated.”)
*Hillary Clinton Camp Is Making Moves to Check Joe Biden (“Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign, increasingly worried about the threat of a challenge from Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., is making a sudden and urgent effort to throw roadblocks into his path.”)
*Russians Strike Rebel Targets in Syria, but Not ISIS Areas (Dangerous situation.)
*‘This wasn’t an abortion’: CNN forces anti-Planned Parenthood group to admit Fiorina was wrong (Why does anyone give this group of anti-choice extremists any credibility at all?)
*Pro-Lifers Embarrassed By Planned Parenthood Hearing, Call It ‘GOP Freak Show’ (Bingo.)
*Sanders nearly matches Clinton fundraising, putting new pressure on the front-runner
*Congress passes spending bill, averting government shutdown (Most Virginia Republicans – Morgan Griffith, Bob BADlatte, Dave Brat, etc. – voted to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood. They all need to be voted out of office.)
*The GOP Argument for Defunding Planned Parenthood Is Incoherent (“Republicans should want the clinics to get more federal funding.” Exactly, because most of what PP does reduces the number of abortions, arguably by a a lot.)
*Elizabeth Warren Just Gave the Best Response to Black Lives Matter (“She went further than any other mainstream politician has gone so far, but it’s still not enough.”)
*Warner, Kaine, vote for CR, against shutdown
*Jeb Bush: Crying Out Loud (“Ah, Mr. Bush, you always seem to be missing something.”)
*Breaking down the proposals on congressional redistricting
*Editorial: Herring aims for more good cops
*McAuliffe promises to keep fighting for gun control
*Pope urges McAuliffe to spare Prieto one day before scheduled execution
*Execution delayed over challenges involving drug, disability
*Legislation expected to address state Supreme Court FOIA ruling
*Norment v. Saslaw debate to be live streamed, broadcast (This should be, uh…”interesting?” Or not.)
*Needless secrecy on ABC report
*McCollum TV ad blames his bio error on military clerical mistake
*Hampton Roads officials, residents brace for impact of Hurricane Joaquin
*Roanoke’s flood control project passed test, but no guarantees if it rains like 1985
*NTSB recommends reclassifying Metrorail, fortifying federal oversight
*A deaf man’s jail ordeal in Arlington: ‘I felt stuck. I was stuck.’
*In Jonathan Papelbon, Nationals got their closer – and then fell apart (This series by Barry Svrluga is painful to read, but very well done.)
*D.C. area forecast: Increasing rain and wind through Friday; Possible impact from Hurricane Joaquin Sunday-Monday