by Lowell
Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, January 26.
- Blow: A Lie by Any Other Name (“We all have to adjust to this unprecedented assault on the truth and stand ready to vigilantly defend against it, because without truth, what’s left? Our president is a pathological liar. Say it. Write it. Never become inured to it. And dispense with the terms of art to describe it. A lie by any other name portends the same.”)
- Kristof: The War on Women Begins (“So in 2017 we reach a mortifying moment for a great democracy: We must decide whether our 45th president is a liar or a crackpot. Yet the costliest presidential falsehoods and delusions are not the ones that people are talking about, such as those concerning the inauguration crowd or electoral fraud. The most horrific chicanery involves Trump’s new actions on women’s health that will cause deaths around the globe.”)
- Make America torture again: President Trump looks for ways to revive the illegal “enhanced interrogation” program (If he does this, he should be investigated and/or indicted for war crimes.)
- Donald Trump’s team is afraid to tell him the truth, according to reports, and he’s not giving up his unsecured phone (“Trump’s Android — despite not being secure — is still being used” Can you imagine if Hillary did this? They’d be screaming “LOCK HER UP!” But with Trump it’s ok???)
- It’s Breitbart’s White House now: House organ of the alt-right builds a power base in the West Wing
- Don’t look now: It’s President Pence! Donald Trump can be deposed, even without impeachment (“Given Trump’s erratic behavior in his first few days, Washington is starting to murmur about the 25th Amendment ” Do it, and fast!)
- Democrats launch scorched-earth strategy against Trump (“‘They were entitled to a grace period and they blew it,’ says one governor. ‘It’s been worse than I could have imagined, the first few days.'” Yep.)
- Trump’s flashy executive actions could run aground (“The White House failed to consult with many of the agencies and lawmakers who will be critical for their success.”)
- Mexican President Considers Canceling Trip to U.S. (“Mexicans called Mr. Trump’s push to build a wall “an offense to Mexico,” a ‘slap in the face’ and a ‘monument to lies.'”)
- In Swirl of ‘Untruths,’ Calling Out a Lie (“Mr. Trump’s repeated baseless assertion about widespread voter fraud has challenged the news media to find words to describe it.” Just call them “lies,” it’s not that hard.)
- Editorial: The Cost of Mr. Trump’s Wall
- Maybe Trump isn’t ‘lying’ (“The shorter version: If he cannot accept reality, he is not fit to carry out the duties of the president.” Correct. He needs to be impeached, or it’s time for “invocation of Section 4 of the 25th Amendment.” Either way, Trump has to go…replace him with Pence, who is hard right and an idiot, but at least not insane, dangerous to our nation’s survival, etc.)
- The real truth about Washington: There’s no swamp (“Trump’s notion that the ‘people did not share’ in government’s wealth is preposterous.” To the contrary, the vast majority of money coming into Washington goes back out to individuals for Social Security and Medicare. Add in the military and debt payments, and you’ve pretty much got where the money goes…)
- Hill Republicans seek answers from Trump, instead find new questions (“GOP lawmakers hoped to discuss health care and the tax code at a retreat this week. They found themselves talking about President Trump’s actions instead.”)
- What’s the method in Trump’s madness? (“So far in this ‘1984’ presidency, it’s hard to tell.” I think he’s simply mad.)
- Don’t get distracted by Trump’s ‘dead cats’ (“The president detonates daily, and the fallout is dangerous.”)
- People were taking Trump seriously. Now they’re starting to take him literally.
- Kellyanne Conway Is the Slipperiest Political Flack in History (“TV journalists need to find a new way to handle her.” How about when she lies, just stop the interview and spend the rest of the time explaining why she’s a liar? And if she keeps doing it, simply don’t invite her back. Ever.)
- Donald Trump Declares War on Muslims (“The president’s executive orders reveal his intent to fulfill his horrifying campaign promises.”)
- The One SCOTUS Nominee Democrats Should Stop at Any Cost (“William Pryor has no place on the Supreme Court”)
- Today Was the Worst Day Yet (“On Wednesday, the president of the United States made historic moves to recast the country as an angry, insular nation, one that recoils from the world around it and casts suspicion on those within and without. This is the America Donald Trump envisoned; this is the America he campaigned on; this is the country he’s delivering.”)
- Trump Prepares Orders Aiming at Global Funding and Treaties (Insane, stupid and dangerous.)
- A new House rule is a gift to lawmakers trying to hide criminal acts (“Republicans have closed a window into whether they’ve misspent taxpayer funds.” Republicans are antithetical to open, honest, clean government.)
- Trump’s effort to profit off presidency gets underway in earnest (Impeach.)
- Ben Carson sailed through his confirmation process. WTF.
- Why liberal senators like Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown voted for Ben Carson (“They simply don’t think he’s a particularly devastating choice for HUD — and they think Trump might replace him with someone far worse if Carson were rejected…Yet to much of the left’s grassroots base, voting for Carson looks like an unforced act of capitulation to the enemy.”)
- Trump’s war on EPA regulations will kill jobs and a lot of people (“Clean air and water standards create jobs, spur innovation, and save lives.”)
- The wall is the least aggressive part of Trump’s executive actions on immigration (“The biggest single-day changes to immigration policy in recent memory.”)
- D.C., other ‘sanctuary cities’ defiant in the face of Trump’s threats
- Bipartisan leaders of governors’ group blast Trump’s false claims of voter fraud (“Virginia Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Nevada Republican Brian Sandoval call for cooperation on infrastructure and cybersecurity.”)
- Editorial: Advice to marchers: Run (Agreed. Or get involved in other ways — locally.)
- Poll finds Virginians willing to pay more taxes for education
- GOP budget leaders urge 3 percent raises for state workers, higher pay for new state troopers
- ‘Enormous’ raises for state police in GOP budget proposal
- Sen. Chap Petersen spars with Dominion over campaign donations (It’s about time someone took these corrupt scumbags on.)
- Fracking bills draw concern from environmentalists, McAuliffe
- Ask the Governor: Terry McAuliffe, January 25, 2017
- Businessman and former Army captain Philip Bilden nominated to be Navy secretary (“The selection of Bilden comes after weeks of reports that Trump was also considering former Rep. Randy Forbes of Chesapeake for the Navy Secretary nomination.”)
- Trump’s order for “major investigation” into voter fraud is based on misquoted ODU research
- Citing Trump and unsettled law, school board declines to add LGBT protections for employees (“The Loudoun County School Board voted down two measures that would affirm protections for LGBT employees.” #FAIL)
- Editorial: Focusing the community, state on mental health
- Is BRAC back? Sen. McCain revives debate over military base closings
- State Del. Morris arrested, released on $1,500 bond
- Wife defends Del. Richard L. Morris, says he is not guilty of domestic abuse
- Alexandria to close ‘spite garage’ loophole
- Interstate 73 funding gains traction in General Assembly
- Mild air exits on gusty winds; much colder weekend
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