Monday News: Trump Vows to Save Jobs…in China; U.S. Moves Embassy to Jerusalem; Bolton Threatens Allies; Virginia Government Shutdown Coming as Senate GOP Digs in Heels?

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, May 14.

• In About-Face, Trump Vows to Save Tech Jobs at Chinese Firm (Trump’s new slogan: Make China – and Russia – Great Again!)
• Schumer hits Trump for offering aid to Chinese firm: ‘How about helping some American companies?’
• Former Obama aide ‘speechless’ at Trump reversal on ZTE
• Old U.S. nemesis Muqtada al-Sadr and Iran ally Fatah fare well in Iraq vote
• As votes come in, Iraqi PM’s hold on power looks shaky
• Israel Feels Pride but Senses Peril as U.S. Moves Embassy
• As Israel Celebrates Dream of Independence, Many See Nightmare Taking Shape (“The embassy’s move from Tel Aviv and President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital — reversing decades of American foreign policy — comes at a moment so fraught with both pride and peril that Israelis seem not to know what to feel.”)
• Romney denounces pastor slated to speak at US embassy in Jerusalem (“Robert Jeffress says ‘you can’t be saved by being a Jew,’ and ‘Mormonism is a heresy from the pit of hell.’ He’s said the same about Islam. Such a religious bigot should not be giving the prayer that opens the United States Embassy in Jerusalem”)
• Opening of U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Features Two Religious Leaders Accused of Bigotry
• John Bolton threatens allies with sanctions over Iran, as U.S. ties with Europe erode (“I think the Europeans will see that it’s in their interest ultimately to go along with us.” Bolton is a disaster.)
• Juan Williams: Trump’s dangerous lies on Iran
• Donald Trump and Sean Hannity Like to Talk Before Bedtime (“Life inside the bunker of Fox News’ resident Trumplegänger.”)
• Putin isn’t as all-powerful as he looks (“In local elections, which are harder to rig, the opposition is rising.”)
• America after Trump (“Don’t believe the skeptics: The left has new ideas for the economy, including getting jobs to those who need them the most.”)
• A near-universal health-care plan that wouldn’t break the bank
• White House Aide’s Plan to Stop Leaks: Spy on His Co-Workers (“Ezra Cohen-Watnick ran intelligence for the National Security Council. There, he decided collecting his colleagues’ phone and email data was a good idea.”)
• Following Trump’s Lead, White House Will Not Apologize for McCain ‘Dying’ Remark
• All the problems at NBC News aren’t just coincidence. They’re symptoms.
• Michael Avenatti’s Mother’s Day bombshell, explained (“Stormy Daniels’ lawyer doesn’t take a day off.”)
• How a fake-news story spreads (I actually just “unfriended” someone on Facebook who not only shared a fake-news story but didn’t take it down after being informed it was fake. I’m going to keep doing that.)
• Education Department Unwinds Unit Investigating Fraud at For-Profits
• Bloomberg delivers blistering critique of politicians (like Trump) who don’t accept science (“It’s called science — and we should demand that politicians have the honesty to respect it.” It’s very simple: if you deny science, you shouldn’t hold public office in America.)
• How a Court Ruling on Joe Arpaio Could Undermine Civil Rights and the Mueller Investigation (“A case on Trump’s pardon of the controversial ex-sheriff could have huge implications for federal separation of powers.”)
• The man in the middle: DEQ director David Paylor, a lightning rod for critics, begins serving under fourth governor (This epitomizes everything wrong with the corrupt “Virginia way.”)
• As Va. budget fight resumes, hospitals balance benefits of expanding Medicaid, cost of tax to pay for it
• Va. election officials assigned 26 voters to the wrong district. It might’ve cost Democrats a pivotal race. (In short, it’s HIGHLY likely that Shelly Simonds should have been in the House of Delegates this term, which means that Democrats would have been tied with Republicans 50-50.)
• ‘It’s tragic’: Students go hungry in Northern Virginia
• No speedy end in sight in Virginia budget impasse, government shutdown looms (“The Senate is set to revisit the state budget discussions Monday, but with no set plans when a full budget might be voted on. GOP Senate leaders who oppose Medicaid expansion say they want an update on state revenues before moving forward.”)
• Concerns for the 6th District
• ‘Act boldly,’ McAuliffe tells the University of Richmond’s class of 2018 (TMac acted boldly as governor…to do whatever Dominion Energy wanted him to do. LOL)
• Reeves sponsoring bill to require bond for solar farm cleanup (Because remember, when there’s a “solar spill” it’s known as a sunny day! LOL)
• Editorial: The most entertaining editorial you’ll ever read about Virginia’s rainy day fund (Uh, guys? It’s spelled Ripken, not “Ripkin,” as you misspell it three times in one editorial. Copy editors, anyone? Ugh.)
• Capitals-Lightning Game 2: Washington crushes Tampa, takes 2-0 series lead back to D.C. (“The Capitals completely dominated the Lightning in the final two periods, scoring five goals to prevail 6-2 and take a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference finals.” Amazing.)
• A sticky, stormy and very unsettled week (“Rain is possible every day this week and some big storms could pop, too, especially late in the day early this week.”)