by Lowell
Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, May 18.
- Is Trump Getting Played by North Korea? (“Given what we know about Trump’s attention span, he himself may not understand the significance and ramifications of what he and his top foreign policy officials are saying.”)
- Donald Trump’s warning to Kim Jong-un: make a deal or suffer same fate as Gaddafi (“Asked about ‘Libya model’, Trump says: ‘That model … was total decimation. That model would take place if we don’t make a deal’” WTF???)
- China denies it has offered a $200 billion package to slash U.S. trade gap
- North Korea ‘declines’ South Korea media for nuclear site event; China urges ‘stability’
- Nafta Countries ‘Nowhere Near Close to a Deal,’ Trump’s Negotiator Says
- Did China Just Bribe Trump to Undermine National Security?
- Gina Haspel, Trump’s controversial pick for CIA director, has just been confirmed (“Despite Haspel’s role in a Bush-era torture program, the Senate voted 54 to 45 to confirm her.” Disgraceful.)
- Donald Trump and the disturbing power of dehumanizing language
- Bannon Is Still Advising Trump Allies on Their War With Mueller
- Bill Gates: Trump twice asked me the difference between HIV and HPV (“Microsoft co-founder tells foundation meeting it was ‘kind of scary’ how much Trump knew about what Gates’ daughter looked like”)
- Washington insiders ‘betting’ Sarah Huckabee Sanders is about to get bounced from the White House: reporter
- The Republican Party’s Generational Bet (“The GOP is doubling down on its older white base—and hoping the more diverse Millennials don’t show up to the polls.”)
- The Cruelty of Breaking Up Immigrant Families
- Trump Administration to Tie Health Facilities’ Funding to Abortion Restrictions (Totally f’ed up.)
- The Grave Consequences of Trump Equating Immigrants With Crime (“The president has always blurred the distinction between immigrants and crime.”)
- Exclusive: Manafort’s former son-in-law cuts plea deal, to cooperate with government – sources
- ‘Bigger than Watergate’: Trump joins push by allies to expose role of an FBI source
- Congressional Candidates, Not Mueller, Could Decide Trump’s Future
- An Aggrieved Trump Wants Better Press, and He Blames Leaks for Not Getting It
- Man yelling about the President opens fire at Trump golf resort
- Ryan and McCarthy collide over immigration (“Behind the scenes, the speaker and his potential successor have been pulling in different directions on an effort to force a vote to help Dreamers.”)
- Immigration fight threatens GOP farm bill (Good; that’s a HORRIBLE bill in so many ways!)
- McCarthy: There will be a June vote on Goodlatte immigration bill (If it’s Goodlatte, you know it’s got to be BAD.)
- Is the Human Race Too Dumb to Survive on This Planet? (“A visit with the Republicans on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.”)
- John McCain’s Last Fight(“The Arizona senator’s twilight struggle with Donald Trump is so bitter because they’re more alike than you think.”)
- White House staff brace for personnel moves after leak (“Changes are expected in the communications and press offices as soon as Friday amid the furor over leaked comments about terminally ill Arizona Sen. John McCain”)
- Sinclair is gearing up to compete with Fox — by being even worse than Fox
- After a career built on lies, Rex Tillerson slams leaders like Trump who lie (“Former CEO of Exxon, the leader in climate disinformation, rebukes those who push ‘alternative realities.'”)
- Far-right Freedom Caucus schemes to block House DACA vote with parliamentary shenanigans (“Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) may use farm policy as a bargaining chip to prevent a vote on bipartisan legislation.”)
- The Virginia GOP wants to get this creationist elected to Congress (“Cynthia Dunbar wants a ‘biblical litmus test’ for politicians, and has called for making the judicial branch ‘subordinate’ to Congress.” Actually, I think Ben Cline, not Dunbar, is the GOP “establishment” favorite.)
- Virginia GOP Primaries Overwhelmed by Personal Attacks, Candidates Say (“Racist attacks on candidates’ names, fake blog posts on penis enlargement among the attacks” Crazy crew.)
- Two Democrats in 2nd District primary try to show differences in forum (“Teacher Karen Mallard and businesswoman Elaine Luria had what is likely to be their last debate before the June 12 party primary. ‘I think what differentiates us is that I can run a campaign that can win,’ said Luria, drawing loud groans from some of the more than 100 people in the Ocean Lakes High School auditorium…Several minutes later, Mallard argued that she was the better choice because she has lived, worked and been politically active in the district most of her adult life. She also indirectly reminded the audience that Luria voted for Taylor two year ago in the GOP primary and the general election.”)
- Lovelace and Sims: A growing list of Governor Northam’s broken promises
- Rob Wittman’s Hanover advantage (We need a big wave and excellent candidates this November to beat horrible Republicans like Wittman.)
- Wade: ALL Delegates Must Show Up for 6th District Convention (By the way, I must say that Bearing Drift’s coverage of the VA-06 GOP convention has been FAR superior to the corporate media’s. Not surprising, actually.)
- Third FEC Complaint Filed Against 6th District’s Scott Sayre
- Chaos has defined 6th District Republican nominating process (Far-right freak show.)
- Editorial: Will 6th District Republicans cannibalize themselves? (“The main exception is if Republicans nominate a candidate so far out of the mainstream that even ordinary conservatives recoil — and Democrats decide to nominate a candidate close enough to the center to take advantage of that unique opportunity.” The Republicans are trying VERY hard to lose this overwhelmingly “red” district.)
- Environmental justice tour making its way through Virginia
- Metro says it will do independent inspections of Silver Line concrete
- Lynch won’t run for re-election in Henrico, says peers ‘focused on not rocking the boat’ (Bizarre.)
- Roanoke group meets with Governor, shares pipeline concerns (So he listened, FINALLY, now what is he going to DO???)
- Forest Service slammed with lawsuit after Virginia pipeline protestor denied medical access (“What is a compelling state interest here for a private corporation to stop someone from getting medical treatment?”)
- Szabo: Virginia Supreme Court ruling on license plates creates dangerous speed bumps for law enforcement
- Dave Matthews Band said to fire violinist Boyd Tinsley amid sexual misconduct allegations
- For whatever reason, the Capitals are not at home on their own ice (“The Capitals returned home looking like — get this — a favorite to win the big trophy, up two games and having wounded Tampa Bay’s psyche. They leave here having injected the Lightning with confidence and instilled — I’m sorry, but it’s true — some of the same old questions in their own fan base, which can’t help but be jittery based on 44 years of crumbles.”)
- Heavy rain may lead to an increased flooding risk today
