Thursday News: Samantha Bee Asks, “Is This Racist Racist?”; Trump=Fake President; As GOP Kills Bill After Bill, Northam Says “there was a mandate on Nov. 7”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, January 18.

• Donald Trump faces backlash as he reveals ‘Fake News Awards’ winners (“President highlights journalists’ errors despite anger from some in his own party over his treatment of the media”)
• Is Trump gunning for a government shutdown? Signs point to yes. (“With just two days left before the government runs out of funding, the president looks to be rooting to shut it all down.”)
• Just ignore Trump’s media “awards” (“The best thing media outlets could do in response to President Trump’s latest cynical stunt is to give it absolutely zero coverage”)
• When Trump Tried to Give Out “Highly Anticipated” Fake News Awards the GOP Website Crashed
• Blow: John Kelly, Deacon of Deportation
• Trump Was Not ‘Fully Informed’ on Border Wall, Kelly Says (Or anything else. Ignorant, bigoted buffoon.)
• Trump Hands Out ‘Fake News Awards,’ Sans the Red Carpet (Demented.)
• Trump averages a ‘fake’ insult every day. Really. We counted.
• Is Trump’s doctor okay? (“Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson was so effusive in extolling the superbly stupendous health of the president that he sounded almost Trumpian.”)
• Republicans coo reassurances at ‘dreamers.’ They’re false.
• World’s Approval of U.S. Leadership Drops to New Low (“U.S. approval dropped substantially in 65 countries and areas”)
• Ready for an anti-Trump wave in November? Look at Wisconsin. (“A surprising Democratic victory in a state Senate race could have a national ripple effect.”)
• Trump’s dangerous threat to the third-largest Hispanic group in America (“Don’t uproot Salvadorans contributing to the United States.”)
• This is why the Stormy Daniels story is so dangerous (“A sex scandal that is actually important.”)
• Jews and Latinos join forces on Capitol Hill, risk arrest to demand DACA fix (“You have the power to change our lives.”)
• Congress Produces Drama While Mueller Produces Results (“Steve Bannon stonewalled a House committee, then promptly agreed to an interview with the special counsel—the latest example of how Mueller is moving ahead as lawmakers feud and spin their wheels.”)
• Republicans are trying to push a false choice between saving children’s health care or DREAMers (“It’s not an either/or situation.” Exactly – do both!)
• GOP snowflakes: Trump administration wants to let doctors, nurses discriminate (“Now the government wants to let anti-abortion and anti-LGBT health providers refuse care on religious grounds”)
• The dangerous national fault line emerging from Trump’s lies (“Two Americas, divided by dishonesty.”)
• Sinclair defends Trump’s racist “shithole” remarks as mere “salty language” (Again, if you live in Northern Virginia, do NOT watch Sinclair’s WJLA-7 local “news” show)
• The Republican Plan to Give Trump His ‘Good’ Shutdown (What a joke.)
• Lindsey Graham Spent a Year Courting Trump, But on Immigration He’s Being Shut Out (Lindsey Graham is so pathetic.)
• How Would Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Have Affected His Own Team? (“I traced their family histories. Their ancestors wouldn’t have been welcome.”)
• Republicans lack votes to prevent a shutdown (“But House leaders are confident they can round up enough support before a vote Thursday.”)
• Trump’s credibility crisis on Capitol Hill (“Lawmakers find it difficult or impossible to negotiate when the president can’t seem to stick to a position for more than a few hours.”)
• Rattled by Wisconsin loss, GOP looks toward upcoming races
• Dems harden line on stopgap measure
• Del. Sam Rasoul calls 2015 law that froze electricity rates ‘corrupt (We live in a system of “legalized corruption.”)
• House Appropriations chairman meets with governor, promises ‘nonpartisan’ budget
• CASEY: Some good bills the General Assembly has already killed (“When it comes to legislation dealing with guns or electric utilities, average Joes can’t necessarily count on the Virginia General Assembly. Here are three examples that demonstrate why.”)
• Virginia Gov. safeguards LGBTQ state workers while Republicans block statewide protections
• OPINION: About that inauguration fiesta, governor (“Dominion, in fact, is the biggest giver to the political campaigns of our state legislators, too — both Republicans and Democrats. And it has the darndest good luck getting its way down at the Capitol.”)
• Va. gov.: Ready to work with GOP lawmakers, urges Congress to avoid shutdown (“‘We have to remind our legislators that there was a mandate on Nov. 7. People spoke loudly and clearly and they want responsible gun ownership,’ Northam said. ‘They also want health care for all Virginians. … The people spoke.'”)
• Distant sites for public hearing won’t get all views on offshore drilling
• Here we go again: Republicans want to rename Gravelly Point after Nancy Reagan (To quote the Reagans, “just say no.”)
• Senate Republicans stop bill to give localities power to move Confederate monuments (Because of course they do!)
• Dominion to eliminate nearly 400 positions after review of power generation group (Start at the top!)
• The vice-chair doesn’t care (“State Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Montross, should resign his position as vice-chair of our commonwealth’s Freedom of Information Act Council. Actually, he should resign his seat on the council altogether.”)
• Virginia assembly bills seek to curb the state’s school-to-prison pipeline(“Virginia schools referred students to law enforcement at nearly three times the national rate. “)
• Del. Chris Hurst introduces bill aimed at preventing workplace violence like 2015 WDBJ shooting
• Editorial: Regional jail needs higher staffing
• “Corporate welfare” in Virginia Beach? Residents speak out against proposed Oceanfront pier
• A wintry chill today but notably milder and sunny this weekend