Wednesday News: “Trump’s Folly” on Climate Change; Trump Voter Suppression Commission Chugging Along

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, August 13.

• Russia Sought A Broad Reset With Trump, Secret Document Shows (“A Russian proposal obtained by BuzzFeed News reveals Moscow’s ambitious plan to break with the past and launch a major rapprochement with the United States.”)
• Trump administration will waste billions by disregarding science in hurricane recovery (“Refusing to factor in projected sea level rise will put those who rebuild at risk.”)
• Trump’s Folly (“But when faced with an actually high-probability, high-impact threat called climate change, we should do nothing and poke both our eyes out, even though if the impact is less severe — and we prepare for it anyway — we will be left healthier, stronger, more productive, more resilient and more respected around the world. That is the Pruitt-Trump Doctrine — soon to be known as ‘Trump’s Folly.'”)
• Hurricane Irma and the Definition of Insanity (“Rebuilding efforts obviously should consider climate change. But, given that America is now a nation run by deniers, it’s hard to imagine that happening.”)
• Bernie Sanders’s Medicare-For-All Bill Is Missing Key Details, But That’s Not the Point (“…when Sanders introduces his bill on Wednesday he’ll have the support of at least 15 Democratic senators, including potential 2020 presidential candidates Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Al Franken, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Elizabeth Warren.”)
• Trump’s tax lieutenants face a critical stretch
• GOP senators make last-ditch bid to repeal ObamaCare (“The plan faces extremely long odds, but Senate GOP leadership is not fully ruling it out, though leaders are taking a decidedly hands-off approach.”)
• Sanders’ single-payer push splits Democrats (“Most liberals are on board with the bill being introduced Wednesday, but Democratic leaders and vulnerable incumbents largely steer clear.”)
• When the Planet Looks Like a Climate-Change Ad
• Bring back the ombudsman (“Public editors can be a pain in the neck, and their criticism can sting, but they broaden public trust.” Absolutely.)
• What it took for Republicans finally to feel betrayed by Trump (“Republicans can stomach just about anything as long as Trump remains a member in good standing of the tribe. But if he favors enemy tribesmen over his own, that’s taboo.”)
• Trump’s push for tax cuts faces familiar test: A divided GOP
• Supreme Court agrees with Trump administration, says some refugees can be barred for now (This court sucks.)
• Why Would Russia Try to Foment Protests in the U.S.? (“A report that Kremlin operatives tried to organize rallies via Facebook is a rare example of an attempt at direct action, and echoes Putin’s allegations that the U.S. stirred up demonstrations in Moscow.”)
• Steve Bannon’s Intellectual Reputation Is a Charade (“His erudite-sounding arguments ignore facts and revise history to coincide with his nationalist worldview.”)
• Next up, the animals: GOP moves to strip protections from endangered species (“With the trophy-hunting Trumps in power, the Endangered Species Act is under attack from anti-environmental zealots” Evil.)
• White House defends foreign leader under DOJ investigation, says it was fine to stay at Trump hotel (“The White House doesn’t believe the Malaysian prime minister was trying to curry favor when he stayed at the Trump International.”)
• ‘He masturbates to pictures of poor people without healthcare’: Jimmy Kimmel nails Ted Cruz’s porn ‘like’
• Corporate media hearts Javanka: Why Trump’s daughter and son-in-law get such good press (“CNN, Politico, the New York Times and others have burnished Jared and Ivanka’s image in grossly unethical ways”)
• Congress sends Trump legislation denouncing Charlottesville violence, white supremacy (The fact that this was an incredibly thing for Trump, Sessions, etc. to do is VERY telling.)
• There’s Blood In The Water In Silicon Valley (“The blinding rise of Donald Trump over the past year has masked another major trend in American politics: the palpable, and perhaps permanent, turn against the tech industry. The new corporate leviathans that used to be seen as bright new avatars of American innovation are increasingly portrayed as sinister new centers of unaccountable power, a transformation likely to have major consequences for the industry and for American politics.”)
• Over liberals’ objections, Supreme Court says Texas need not draw new districts now (Did I mention that this Court sucks?)
• It’s a Beautiful Day for Wasting Taxpayer Dollars (“Dispatches from Kris Kobach’s ‘election integrity’ commission in New Hampshire.”)
• With Claims of Rampant Voter Fraud, Trump Election Commission Lays the Groundwork for New Restrictions (“In the commission’s second meeting, its vice chair doubled down on an unfounded claim of illegal voting in New Hampshire.”)
• Democrat Captures State House Seat in GOP-Majority District (“A Democratic school teacher defeated a Republican businessman Tuesday in a special election for a House seat in west Norman, making it the third Republican-held seat Democrats have captured in special elections this year.”)
• Edith Windsor, Whose Same-Sex Marriage Fight Led to Landmark Ruling, Dies at 88
• Sen. Rand Paul gains key ally as Kaine joins him in combat authorization fight
• Tim Kaine doesn’t get advance copy of Hillary Clinton’s campaign memoir, which barely mentions him
• Sens. Lamar Alexander and Tim Kaine find bipartisanship — in music
• After insurer departures, 70,000 Virginians will not be able to purchase health coverage in 2018
• Could our next Lt. Gov. bring single payer health insurance to Virginia”
• Free speech expert: Restricting weapons at Virginia rallies ‘could be done’ (“Gillespie is getting a $1.8 million boost from Koch brothers-backed Americans for Prosperity.”
  That alone should disqualify Gillespie in voters’ minds. The Koch brothers are heinous.)
• EDITORIAL: This year, Virginia voters have a choice in many legislative races
• One-on-one with Lt. Gov. candidate Justin Fairfax
• Schapiro: That ka-ching you hear is out-of-state money
• Metro gets a surprise lifeline from an unlikely source (“In a reversal, Maryland’s governor puts cash — and a challenge for his partners — on the table.”)
• Metro general manager welcomes Hogan’s $2 billion funding proposal
• Protecting the ‘mountain gold,’ Virginia cracks down on illegal ginseng harvesting
• The Navy’s 4 public shipyards are in bad shape, and it will take 19 years to restore their facilities, study says
• ‘The coolest guy’: Washington’s media and political elite pay tribute to the late Jim Vance (“During a two-hour service at Washington National Cathedral, the popular news anchor was celebrated with laughter, jazz, a line of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a guest list of D.C. elite.”)
• VMI leaders say military college will keep Confederate statues
• Task Force on Public Safety Preparedness holding first meeting
• Editorial: Why Roanoke should make a pitch for Amazon
• Richmond mayor calls for ‘any legal means necessary’ to address crime after 9 fatal shootings in 8 days
• HRSD first aquifer plant slated for James City
• Loudoun County creates ad-hoc committee in hopes of landing Amazon’s HQ2
• Charlottesville protesters shroud Jefferson statue at UVA’s Rotunda, decry school’s response to rallies
• Brightening skies later today; Irma-related showers likely tomorrow