Thursday News: “Democratic House candidates hold fundraising edge after 1st quarter”; 170 House, Senate Dems Call for Pruitt’s Firing; Del. Glenn Davis (R) to Run for VB Mayor After Sessoms Steps Down?

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, April 19. Regarding Del. Glenn Davis (R-Virginia Beach), if he runs for mayor of Virginia Beach and wins, then Democrats have a shot at picking up his 50/50 House of Delegates district and getting to…yep, 50/50 in the House of Delegates! Go Glenn Davis? LOL

• North Korea wants total denuclearisation, says Seoul
• South Korea Confirms Talks to Formally End War With the North
• Cohen Would Turn Against President if Charged, Counselor Warned Trump
• Trump Says He’ll Walk Out of a Planned Meeting With Kim if It Is ‘Not Fruitful’
• Iran’s Moves in Syria Raise Risk of Conflict With Israel (“A confrontation could embroil the U.S. and Russia; ‘the situation is ripe for a single miscalculation’”)
• Mike Pompeo’s secretary of state position uncertain amid opposition
• The UK may commit to net-zero carbon emissions. That’s a big deal. (“It would be the first G7 nation to formally commit to zero.” We all need to do that, and fast. And yeah, that includes natural gas, which is indeed a fossil fuel, with both CO2 and the potent greenhouse gas methane.)
• 11 House Republicans call for prosecutions of Clinton, Comey, Lynch, and others (“The authoritarianism is coming from inside the House.” And one of them is Dave Brat. For god’s sake, get this guy OUTTA THERE in November!)
• This Whole Thing Reeks of Authoritarian Vengeance (“New depths of shame for the House Republican caucus.”)
• Trump’s Lawyer Forgets to Pretend He’s Innocent, Also Compares Him to Mobster
• House Republicans Lay the Groundwork for Trump to Fire Rosenstein
• Smearing Robert Mueller (“Sean Hannity and others are blaming Mueller for one of the F.B.I.’s worst scandals. But there is no evidence to back up their charges.”)
• Democratic House candidates hold fundraising edge after 1st quarter (“Virginia is another state to watch. Incumbent Rep. Barbara Comstock (VA-10) posted one of the largest hauls of the quarter — taking in over $800,000 — but faces a formidable field of opponents, with four separate Democrats in the district posting fundraising hauls of more than $200,000. Meanwhile, Rep. Dave Brat (VA-07) raised $250,000, while Abigail Spanberger, one of his Democratic opponents, raised $330,000, and another, Dan Ward, took in $230,000.”)
• The G.O.P. Is Bowing and Scraping Its Way to Disaster
• ‘Some people just can’t be saved’ (“Dozens of House Republicans continue to trail Democratic opponents in fundraising, and party strategists warn they can’t expect a super PAC rescue in the fall.”)
• Trumpism Without Trump (“Good-bye Paul Ryan, hello to a new Republican Party that embraces the president’s politics but not his person.”)
• House, Senate GOP compete for cash
• Haley spat fuels political chatter around White House
• Some doubt McCarthy or Scalise will ever lead House GOP
• Trump finally tweets about Stormy Daniels, accidentally incriminates himself
• 170 lawmakers sign resolution calling for Scott Pruitt’s resignation, including zero Republicans (“A few GOP lawmakers have been critical of Pruitt — but none signed the latest resolution.” Complete lack of ethics or respect for the rule of law in today’s GOP.)
• Here’s what happens when you tell people the scientific consensus on climate change (“You can turn red states green” “The overwhelming majority of climate scientists  —  97 percent   — understand that humans are the primary cause of climate change.”)
• The GOP House’s Farm Bill Would Gut a Key Conservation Program (“It incentivizes farmers to prevent erosion, protect natural resources, and help bees.” These people are sociopaths.)
• This Poll Is Extremely Bad News for Ted Cruz (“Everything is bigger in Texas, except for the incumbent Republican senator’s shrinking lead.”)
• Democrats now have 5 competing plans to expand government health care (“It’s the No. 1 issue in America. The polls are clear.”)
• Haley sets a red line for Trump (“The U.N. ambassador made crystal clear after initially being blamed for ‘confusion’ on Russia sanctions that she will not tolerate public humiliation quietly.”)
• Judge Holds Kobach In Contempt Of Court
• Senate panel moving ahead with Mueller bill despite McConnell opposition
• Carbon Markets Pay Off for These States as New Businesses, Jobs Spring Up (“A 3-year review found $1.4 billion in economic benefits across the 9 RGGI states, no harm to electric grid reliability, and long-term benefits for residents.”)
• With McCain in hospital, Arizona lawmakers push bill that would delay vote to replace him
• Sell Off Public Resources, Live Large on the Public Dime (“The gospel according to Pruitt and Zinke”)
• Tim Kaine ‘Heartened’ by Pompeo’s Secret Trip to North Korea
• Senator Kaine Introduces New Legislation, Hopes to Help Kick Drug Addictions
• GOP General Assembly can’t override Governor’s vetoes of sanctuary cities, 9 other bills
• Editorial: Tim Kaine is still right about military force
• Virginia House Republicans block Metro tax hikes, which means a bigger drain on funds for roads (Remember this in November 2019.)
• Va. legislator Freitas raises nearly $350,000 in bid to take on Tim Kaine (“Freitas (Culpeper), who officially announced his bid in January, took in $343,712 in the first quarter of the year and had more than $250,000 on hand, his campaign told The Washington Post on Wednesday.” It’s absolutely crazy that you can still file by paper and that it can take weeks to appear on the FEC website. That undermines the point of disclosure. So why would Corey/Nick/Ewwww file that way???)
• Legislature fails to override Northam vetoes but pushes back on amendments (“The new governor only vetoed 10 bills, far fewer than his predecessor.” Right, because many fewer far-right bills made it through, given the Republicans have a bare majority in the House of Delegates and are worried about losing that in 2019. Plus, “Sideshow Bob” Marshall is gone. LOL)
• Williamsburg police arrest 10 people, including 8 William & Mary students and a professor, on narcotics charges (“Ten people — including eight College of William & Mary students and a professor — were arrested this week on narcotics distribution charges following a monthslong investigation, Williamsburg police said.”)
• Del. Glenn Davis expected to run for Virginia Beach mayor, which could affect balance in House (Yep, this will be an excellent chance for Democrats, assuming Davis is elected mayor and thus vacates his House of Delegates seat, as this was a 50/50 district in 2017.)
• Virginia Beach Mayor Sessoms announces he’s resigning (Verrrry interesting!)
• Anger over pipelines spills into General Assembly
• Lawmakers Call Out Treatment of Pipeline Protester in Trees (“Democratic lawmakers say a Virginia woman who has spent weeks up in trees protesting a natural gas pipeline that would cross her property is being treated inhumanely by authorities, who have cut off her deliveries of food and water.”)
• Today’s passing front lacks much rain but packs a windy punch (“Winds may gust to 40 mph this afternoon, with subfreezing wind chills late tonight. Highs during the day will be in the upper 50s to low 60s.”)