Tuesday News: R.I.P. Gwen Ifill; Trump “Turn[s] On the Hate” with Bannon Pick; Colbert Skewers Trump

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, November 15. Also check out Stephen Colbert talk about how, as Trump “fills his cabinet with questionable figures and works to fulfill his campaign promises, many Americans are looking for some reassurance.”

• Gwen Ifill, who overcame barriers as a black female journalist, dies at 61 (More horrible news in what’s rapidly turning into one of the worst years ever.)
• Trump’s disturbing choice to put the alt-right in the White House (“The president-elect’s decision to appoint Stephen Bannon as chief strategist sends a troubling message.”)
• ‘Turn On the Hate’ (“Donald Trump’s pick of Steve Bannon for chief Oval Office strategist is unacceptable.” So are the other picks I’ve seen, although Bannon might – just might – be the worst of all.)
• Trump and Putin, in call, talk of ‘strong and enduring relationship’ (What a pathetic joke.)
• Clinton was too civilized in defeat (“The protesters in the street have the right response.”)
• White nationalists see advocate in Steve Bannon who will hold Trump to his campaign promises
• Where I wish President Trump failure (“His cruel initiatives must not be allowed to succeed.”)
• Why on earth is President Obama smiling? (“His above-the-fray response to the election result may well be that of a man who believes his approach will be vindicated by history, but right now that’s of little comfort.” Yeah, I’m not feelin’ it at all.)
• ‘Knife fight’ as Trump builds an unconventional national security cabinet (This is going to be a disaster. Congratulations to everyone who voted for this…not!)
• The triumphant GOP is mired in crisis after crisis (“Trump has left Republicans in Congress with no real agenda to follow.”)
• Resignation of SEC head clears way for Trump to cut regulations, investor protections (This will be very harmful to the “white working class” that so eagerly embraced Trump. Of course, so will the rest of Trump’s agenda.)
• Democrats begin soul-searching, jockeying after Clinton loss
• House GOP Seems Ready to Renew Ryan, Other Leaders for 2017
• Rudy Giuliani Seen as Top Pick for Secretary of State (This is wayyyy beyond a bad joke. Giuliani is absolutely unfit, with no requisite experience and a bizarre-if-not-unhinged mind, to be Secretary of State.)
• Trump’s Holdings Raise Potential for Conflict of Interest (This will also very likely be the most corrupt presidency in U.S. history.)
• Obama Races to Protect His Achievements From Trump (“From the Iran nuclear deal to the Paris climate change agreement to Obamacare, President Obama and his team plan to spend the next two months aggressively defending and implementing these policies, despite President-Elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises to end them once he takes office.”)
• The Myths Democrats Swallowed That Cost Them the Election (“A certain kind of liberal makes me sick. These people traffic in false equivalencies, always pretending that both nominees are the same, justifying their apathy and not voting or preening about their narcissistic purity as they cast their ballot for a person they know cannot win. I have no problem with anyone who voted for Trump, because they wanted a Trump presidency. I have an enormous problem with anyone who voted for Trump or Stein or Johnson—or who didn’t vote at all—and who now expresses horror about the outcome of this election. If you don’t like the consequences of your own actions, shut the hell up.” Agreed 100%.)
• Renegade Facebook Employees Form Task Force To Battle Fake News (“The group is hoping to challenge the position by CEO Mark Zuckerberg that the platform has no responsibility to address the issue following the election of Donald Trump.”)
• Trump team seeks top-secret security clearances for Trump’s children (Absolutely unacceptable.)
• Obama: I don’t think Trump is ideological (Perhaps not, but the people around him most certainly are!)
• Virginia has been vulnerable to fraud for more than 2 decades, state auditors find
• Editorial – Donald Trump’s first casualty (“Gov. Terry McAuliffe has headed overseas for a nine-day trade mission to the Pacific Rim. The governor has worked hard to advance Virginia’s exports, but his efforts this time will face headwinds from the election of Donald Trump.”)
• Virginia’s schools are growing more racially and economically segregated (Disastrous.)
• Report finds disarray at Va. economic development partnership, urges withholding money (“Legislators today called the watchdog agency’s report ‘damning’ and ‘devastating.'”)
• Major companies call for more renewable energy options in Virginia
• Virginia’s Oct. general fund revenues up 3.4 percent over October 2015
• Editorial: Who were Virginia’s ‘missing voters’? (“The real ‘missing votes’ in Virginia were suburban Republicans.”)
• McClellan announces run for McEachin’s state Senate seat (My guess is that she will be unopposed.)
• PolitiFact Va.: Pat Robertson absurdly says Sanger, MLK conspired in black genocide
• Library of Virginia official to retire after budget cuts announced
• Richmond City Council votes down funding for Reedy Creek stream restoration project
• Norfolk Treasurer Anthony Burfoot waived penalties for a friendly developer, employee says
• Partly sunny and chilly today, some warmth returns later this week