Monday News: Trump “Siding With the Enemy”; John Oliver on Trump’s Gibberish Presidency; “Metro needs $500 million a year, and it needs it now”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, November 13.

• Iran-Iraq earthquake: Hundreds killed as border region hit
• Trump Lauds ‘Great Relationship’ With Duterte in Manila (Appalling as usual.)
• Democrats, Don’t Be Fooled by Victory (“The reality is, the Democratic victories occurred almost entirely in areas that had voted for Hillary Clinton last year. In Trump country, Democrats continued to struggle.”)
• Blow: Siding With the Enemy (“This means that he is compromised, in capacity and function, and that means that Trump’s fear of dishonor places the rest of us in danger of future attacks and exploitation. Trump is Putin’s dupe.”)
• This little-discussed part of the GOP tax bill proves what it’s really about (“Repealing the alternative minimum tax would help wealthy tax avoiders.”)
• Trump’s real constituency isn’t the white working class at all (“His rise depended on — and his policies now hinge on — the conservative rich.”)
• ‘They Want to Know If Trump’s Crazy’ (“Inside the secret back-channel North Korea talks” Yeah, so do we…)
• The GOP Tax Plan Breaks All the Rules (“No, really, it does not comply with the rules. Here’s how Republicans will get around that.”)
• Former Intelligence Chiefs: U.S. Is in “Peril” Because Putin Is Manipulating Trump
• Don’t expect Alabama Republicans to turn against Roy Moore (“Southern conservatives already knew Moore was a kooky fundamentalist. These revelations won’t shock them”)
• The Republican Tax Plan Is an Assault on Renewable Energy (“While preserving billions in subsidies for fossil fuel companies, it would slash credits for wind and solar power.”)
• The Right Way to Cut Corporate Taxes (“Here’s why the Republican tax plans are such a boondoggle.”)
• Poll: Nearly half of white Southerners feel like they’re under attack (By whom exactly?)
• Juan Williams: GOP is shackled to Trump (Yep, it’s the party of Trump.)
• Former intelligence chiefs blast Trump’s ‘reprehensible’ attacks, naive embrace of Putin (“It’s either naïveté, ignorance or fear.” My guess is that it’s all three.)
• A straight-faced Kellyanne Conway says anyone in office who committed sexual assault should resign (“Irony is dead.”)
• Breitbart aims to discredit Roy Moore’s accusers (Mistake: Breitbart doesn’t have “reporters,” it has right-wing political operatives masquerading as “journalists” or whatever.)
• Trump and Tillerson Are Gutting the State Department for No Good Reason
• Warner doesn’t dismiss public hearing for Trump Jr.
• Editorial: Another climate study confirms what was known (“The latest National Climate Assessment, released Nov. 3, found the same thing countless other reports have found: Global warming is happening and human activity is driving most of it.” I’m including this mostly because who wrote it – the Republican Times-Disgrace editorial board, of all people! Of course, this comes after they endorsed a bunch of people who would have been horrible for the environment, so as usual they make zero sense.)
• Democrats smell opportunity in the South after Virginia rout (“‘If there’s a wave, by God there will be a sea-change in the South,’ says one top party official. Good luck, say Republicans.”)
• ASCH: Northam’s win in Virginia serves as an example for Democrats nationwide
• Recounts expected following tight races in the Va. House
• CASEY: Voters see a mixed bag with photo ID at the polls (“I took my ancient employee ID badge to the polls on Election Day to see if it would pass muster as a photo ID. And I wasn’t the only voter who decided to test the system.” Virginia Democrats need to work on making it a LOT easier for people to vote.)
• In the green envelopes, Virginia’s political future lies
• Terry McAuliffe may be on his way out in Va., but nationally he’s just arriving
• Outspoken Republican Corey Stewart defends Senate candidate Roy Moore
• Metro needs $500 million a year, and it needs it now (Exactly; stop futzing around.)
• Post-rallies, fewer black students sought early decision at UVa
• Are critical Navy ranges “on the table” for offshore oil, gas development?
• Ice cream, pizza launched into space from Virginia
• Editorial: The right move for Chesapeake schools (“Some schools in Chesapeake are overcrowded, while others don’t have enough students. The answer to that problem seems simple enough – move students from the packed schools to the ones that have more room.”)
• Alexandria’s vice mayor to challenge mayor in June Democratic primary (“Rift has been building between Justin Wilson, Allison Silberberg for two years.”)
• D.C.-area forecast: The cold eases some this week, but it still feels like November