Tuesday News: Adam Schiff Opening Statement; Comey Confirms Possible Trump/Kremlin Coordination; GOP Puts Party Over Patriotism

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, March 21.

• FBI chief confirms probe of possible coordination between Kremlin and Trump campaign (Worse than Watergate? Sure looks like it.)
• Trump’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Twitter day (“The president’s Twitter accounts were active during testimony on Trump-Russia ties. But the posts were misleading, inaccurate or simply false.”)
• Russia scandal creeps on: White House is badly compromised after Comey’s testimony (“FBI Director James Comey confirms that Trump’s campaign is under investigation as the White House flails and spins”)
• FBI’s Trump-Russia probe knocks White House on its heels
• Trump is dealt his hardest truth: He was wrong
• Does the FBI’s trail lead to Russia? (“Agents should scrutinize Moscow connections to Trump’s businesses and close associates such as Roger Stone.”)
• All the President’s Lies (“Comey, as much as liberals may loathe him for his 2016 bungling, seems to be one of the few public officials with the ability and willingness to pursue the truth. I dearly hope that Republican members of the Senate are patriotic enough to do so as well. Our president is a liar, and we need to find out how serious his latest lies are.”)
• Rep. Adam Schiff’s short speech crisply lays out the evidence connecting Trump and Russia (Superb job by Schiff. Disgraceful, pathetic job by Republicans.)
• Republicans read Trump’s cue cards on Russia and wiretapping (“At intelligence hearing, the GOP follows Trump’s tactics of distraction and misdirection.” Republicans continue to put party over patriotism.)
• No, Republicans, the ‘real story’ is not the leaks (“Faced with damning testimony on Russia and wiretapping, members of the House Intelligence Committee choose misdirection over investigation.”)
• 7 psychological concepts that explain the Trump era of politics (e.g, “Evolution has left us with an ‘immune system’ for uncomfortable thoughts.” The problem is, this is no longer adaptive…could be disastrous, in fact, for the future of humanity.)
• Trump’s Kentucky speech was most notable for what he didn’t say (“In his first appearance after an explosive hearing, he didn’t say one word about the investigation into his campaign.”)
• Gorsuch’s first day of hearings features sharp-edged differences alongside a familiar confirmation script
• House Republicans unveil health-care-bill changes to corral votes
• The new Republican health care bill doesn’t fix the old bill’s problems (“Work requirements for Medicaid, bigger tax cuts for the rich, but nothing for the uninsured.”)
• The American presidency is shrinking before the world’s eyes (Trump: making America weak, disgraced, and most definitely NOT “great again.”)
• Republicans’ arguments against Obamacare are in a death spiral (“Unable to defend their health-care plan, Republicans doomsay about the ACA.”)
• Trump’s Weary Defenders Face Fresh Worries (Stop defending the treasonous, incompetent crook. Duh.)
• Comey’s Haunting News on Trump and Russia (We’d have none of these problems, I’d remind everyone, with Hillary Clinton.)
• Gorsuch Faces the Senate (“Here’s a good question for Judge Gorsuch: Why are you here?” Easy answer: because Republicans stole this seat!)
• U.S. Limits Devices on Foreign Airlines From 8 Countries (Yet again, targeting ONLY majority-Muslim countries — why???)
• How Dare You Question Our Precious Nominee? (“Republicans broke every rule to block Merrick Garland. Now, they’re outraged that anyone would challenge Neil Gorsuch.” Republicans really are “special snowflakes,” aren’t they?)
• What Is the Point of Rex Tillerson? (Pathetic situation no matter how you look at it.)
• Sean Spicer now argues Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, played a “very limited role” for a “limited time”
• Why Steve Bannon Wants You to Believe in the Deep State (“What better way to decimate the bureaucracy than to convince Americans it’s treacherous?” When in fact Bannon is the one who’s treacherous.)
• Clinton camp unloads on Comey
• Ivanka Trump set to get West Wing office as role expands (“The first daughter will not, however, become a government employee, raising ethics questions.” Third-world style kleptocracy.)
• Editorial: A rationale between lines (“Let’s stop the charade. It’s time for the General Assembly to stop gerrymandering. If it won’t, it’s time for Virginia voters to draw some lines of their own: As in: Mr. or Ms. Member of the House Leadership, we’re crossing you off our list of politicians we support.”)
• Kaine and Warner push for federal recognition for 6 Virginia tribes (“The proposed law comes on the 400th anniversary of the burial of Pocahontas.”)
• Hillary Clinton’s running mate Tim Kaine chats with Gay Star News (“A lot of people are nervous and worried right now”)
• Sen. Kaine Warns About Potential Impact of Trump’s Proposed Budget Cuts on Metro
• Northam, Perriello Slam Gillespie Tax Plan, Get Disrupted
• McAuliffe signs compensation bill for exonerated man
• A year after Va.’s deadliest tornado, officials ask residents to register for statewide drill
• Primary challenger running against top Va. House Democrat says he’s faced resistance from his own party (Sounds like it’s been resolved, with David Toscano “[saying] he agrees Mittiga should have access to the party’s data, but not his own.”)
• Trump Winery in Virginia seeks more foreign workers (What do they grow there, the grapes of wrath?)
• New Virginia laws target puppy mills and allow lifetime pet licenses (Puppy mills are a disgrace.)
• Lt. Gov. Northam calls for reinstatement of ‘one gun a month’ policy
• Virginia Tech community rallies in support of Jewish community
• Uber driver charged with raping Virginia Beach passenger admitted having sexual contact with her, search warrant says
• Casey: Thousands of electric customers hit with unwarranted late fees
• Editorial: Beach sets the stage for new arena (“IT NOW APPEARS all but certain that Virginia Beach will soon be home to the largest arena in the state.”)
• Richmond police and fire chiefs ask for $2.1M bump in public safety spending over mayor’s proposal
• D.C.-area forecast: We’ll hit 60 today if the clouds break, then winter returns (“By weekend, we should see spring return with showers to quench our thirsty soil.”)