Sunday News: SNL Does “Fatal Attraction”; Trump Supporters as Special “Snowflakes”; Northam Campaign Pushes Back on Perriello

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, February 12.

• Are Democrats Falling Into Trump’s Trap? (“Yelling has an impact, but it takes you only so far if you don’t choose your battles, marshal your fiercest energy for ones that can yield concrete results, and buckle down to the nitty-gritty of electing legislators who can actually vote against Trump’s worst initiatives in numbers that exceed those of his abettors.”)
• State G.O.P. Leaders Move Swiftly Under One-Party Rule (VERY dangerous; we’d better not let this happen in Virginia, or we are screwed big time.)
• A restive, active and aggressive base is a gift — and a challenge — for Democrats
• Republicans Hold On to a Myth to Hold On to Power (“Republicans are using their enhanced clout to continue their campaign playing up the mythical threat that voter fraud abounds in the nation.”)
• Trump’s supporters believe a false narrative of white victimhood — and the data proves it(“Trump voters believe that whites and Christians face discrimination — but they call the left sensitive snowflakes” Amazing, and not in a good way.)
• North Korea test-fires missile, apparently challenging Trump
• Melissa McCarthy returns to SNL as an even more frustrated Sean Spicer
• Immigrant community on high alert, fearing Trump’s ‘deportation force’
• Kellyanne Conway Goes Fatal Attraction On Jake Tapper on Saturday Night Live
• An Unintended Side Effect of Trump’s Border Wall(“Since the Great Recession, more Mexicans have left the United States than migrated there. Constructing a barrier along the southern border may discourage more from going.”)
• A top Putin critic on how to oppose Trump: “making him look like a loser is crucial” (“A conversation with chess champion Garry Kasparov.”)
• Chaffetz says paid protesters are hounding him. Reporters can’t find a single one. (“The Republican from Utah won’t accept that his constituents are fed up.”)
• State’s 2017 Governor Race Could Mirror 2016 (It’s wildly simplistic – and actually not accurate – to say that Perriello is “mount[ing] a challenge to Northam from the party’s progressive wing.” The two are really not that different on the issues, when it comes down to it.)
• ‘I’m not scared to be bold’ Perriello defends progressivism in first big campaign rally(The Northam campaign goes after Perriello: “’When it came time to stand up to big oil, stare down the NRA or commit to being pro-choice, Tom’s boldness vanished,’ Northam campaign spokesman David Turner said. ‘Dr. Northam has been standing up for women’s health care, civil rights and gun reform his entire career, winning the fights in Virginia.’”)
• Protesters ‘grill with #BratWorst’ outside congressman’s office
• Planned Parenthood supporters, opponents rally in Virginia
• Schapiro: When you’re explaining in politics, you’re losing (No idea what the headline means vis-a-vis the article, but there’s some interesting info in here, like this: “Michael Bills, the Charlottesville investment wizard…has given the front-runner for the 2017 nomination $150,000 of the $3 million that the lieutenant governor has raised since January 2015. Bills’ wife, Sonjia Smith, recently gave $500,000 to Northam’s last-minute challenger, Tom Perriello.” Also interesting that Ralph Northam wants a review of Gov. McAuliffe’s pipeline proposals, but doesn’t outright oppose them or support them.)
• Protesters mob Republican Va. governor candidate defending Confederate statue
• Activists plan to hold town hall in Rep. Comstock’s district — with or without her
• Roanokers turn out for rally to support refugees
• Virginia pays for the upkeep of Confederate graves. Two historic black cemeteries are asking for the same aid.
• Hurst will seek Democratic nomination in 12th House District race
• Pipeline easement agreements stir questions, strong feelings
• As Metro weighs now-familiar budget tactic, some officials warn of pitfalls of ‘financial trickery’ (“With the transit system staring down a $290 million budget shortfall for the coming year, former insiders warned that shifting federal money to day-to-day needs could have long-term implications.”)
• Editorial: In credits, a great value (“LEGISLATIVE UNCERTAINTY, at least in downtown Suffolk, comes with a price tag of $30 million. It may also cost that city a huge project with potential to revive reinvention of the city core.”)
• Temporary replacement for Glover’s seat on Henrico Board of Supervisors likely to be announced Tuesday
• Arlington says ‘no thanks’ to Georgetown-Rosslyn gondola
• Mildish temperatures with showers today, followed by big winds