Tuesday News: “Beware of Both Siderism”; “The Doctrine of Trumpal Infallibility”; Gillespie in the Gutter

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, October 24.

• Xi Jinping ‘most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong’ (“China’s ruling Communist Party has voted to enshrine Xi Jinping’s name and ideology in its constitution, elevating him to the level of founder Mao Zedong.”)
• Beware the Both Siderism (“The New York Times is in dangerous territory when it comes to Trump.” See here for an absolute demolition – by Eric Umansky of Pro Publica – of the pathetic “both sidesism” NY Times article)
• In sparring with a grieving widow, Trump follows his no-apology playbook (Trump is an unhinged sociopath.)
• Myeshia Johnson Stands Up to Donald Trump (Hero.)
• Trump Opposes 401(k) Change, Roiling Debate Over Tax Bill
• Small Montana firm lands Puerto Rico’s biggest contract to get the power back on (“Whitefish Energy is based in Whitefish, Mont., the home town of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke…Zinke’s office said he had no role in Whitefish securing the contract for work in Puerto Rico. Techmanski also said Zinke was not involved.” Teapot Dome, anyone?)
• How Trump broke conservatism (“Without an objective source of truth, the only way to settle political disputes is power.”)
• Krugman: The Doctrine of Trumpal Infallibility
• Top DCCC aide bullish on 2018 prospects (“[In 2018] we will be 65 to 80 races deep in terms of viability and folks who are able to fight”)
• Russia’s Favored Outlet Is an Online News Giant. YouTube Helped.
• A missive from 2036: I was disgusting to criticize Trump (“We were a ‘free press.’ But we were not a happy one.”)
• High stakes as Trump heads to Hill
• Update on Trump’s Judicial Nominees: Still a Disaster (“Jeff Mateer invoked Nazi Germany while discussing the treatment of Christians in America.”)
• Megyn Kelly blasts O’Reilly, Fox News over harassment allegations
• EPA chief: ‘True environmentalism is using natural resources that God has blessed us with’ (“Another day, another attempt by Trump officials to silence scientists.”)
• Roy Moore Already Rails Against Women and Gays. The Planet Is Next. (“The Alabama Republican, now a Senate nominee, bases most stances in a hard-line interpretation of Christianity.” This guy is absolutely unfit to hold public office at any level.)
• Why is the media reluctant to cover neo-Nazi violence? (“Shooting by white supremacists at Richard Spencer’s Florida event wasn’t a one-off. It’s part of a larger pattern”)
• “Empty barrel”: The real meaning of John Kelly’s slurs against Frederica Wilson (“So much for military honor. Kelly’s attack on Wilson was not just false but redolent of racism and sexism”)
• Congress is on track for a major government shutdown showdown
• Trump’s latest big interview is both funny and terrifying (“POTUS swings and misses at the softest softballs.”)
• One in four troops sees white nationalism in the ranks
• These two upcoming gubernatorial races could spell disaster for Republicans
• What to know about the Virginia gubernatorial race
• GOP’s Jill Vogel utilizes Corey Stewart in bid for lieutenant governor (Disgusting.)
• Gillespie goes after Northam with TV ad on felon rights restoration (Gillespie really down in the gutter…a new low for a disgusting campaign and candidate.)
• Northam touts 212k weekend door knocks in Virginia — while DNC was fretting about race (“Democratic gubernatorial campaign says field operations are better than Clinton, McAuliffe at a similar point”)
• Gun control group Everytown pours another $700k into Virginia elections
• Advocates for the citizens (If you care about newspaper endorsements, the Daily Press gives its nod to Mark Herring for another term as AG, correctly noting that Herring “has done the job he was elected to do, and he has served the state well.”)
• McAuliffe predicts Democrats will ‘sweep’ statewide races, pick up 6-8 House seats (“I do think that Ralph will win. Justin Fairfax, lieutenant governor, and then (Attorney General) Mark Herring. And I think there’s a good shot of us picking up six to eight House of Delegates seats.”)
• Hampton Roads delegation surprised they helped pass a law that weakens opioid enforcement
• Virginia schools chief to retire (“Steven R. Staples, who was appointed as the state superintendent of public instruction by Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2014, is scheduled to depart at the end of the year. His retirement is effective Jan. 1.”)
• Largest Local Newspaper In Virginia Seeks To Cut Nearly 10% Of Staff (“The Virginian-Pilot, the largest local daily newspaper in Virginia, announced today that it was seeking to reduce its staff by nearly 10%.”)
• Are there more than 2,000 MS-13 gang members in Virginia’s wealthy Fairfax County? (Two “Pinocchios” for Gillespie on this one.)
• Swastika spray-painted on school sign in Prince William County
• Northam, Roem speak at Freddie’s Beach Bar
• Virginia Tech faculty express dissatisfaction with provost
• Bad news for Metro riders: Arcing insulators are back with a vengeance
• Washington Nationals TV analyst charged with assault in fracas at his Va. home (“Former major leaguer Ray Knight was arrested early Sunday after a fight with an acquaintance, police said.”)
• Early showers then warm this afternoon, and cooler temperatures roll in tonight