Thursday News: “Brett Kavanaugh should be radioactive for Republicans”; “Trump to Hurricane Florence Survivor: ‘Have a Good Time’”; “Two Murders in Iowa”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, September 20.

• North and South Korea just signed a major agreement. It may be bad news for Trump. (“’The needle hasn’t moved at all’ on denuclearization, an expert said.”)
• The Note: Politics flip around Kavanaugh nomination
• How Will the Image of 11 Entitled White Men Propping Up a 12th Play in November? (“Brett Kavanaugh should be radioactive for Republicans in the midterms—and he’s not going away anytime soon.”)
• Republicans Want a Quick and Dirty He Said-She Said They Can Pretend Is an Actual Inquiry (“They’re not interested in a legitimate probe into what Brett Kavanaugh may have done to Christine Blasey Ford.”)
• Kavanaugh’s Supporters and His Accuser Are at an Impasse Over Her Testimony
• The FBI Is Quietly Asserting Its Independence From Trump
• ‘At least you got a nice boat out of the deal,’ Trump tells N.C. man during post-Florence tour (A man with zero empathy, also known as a sociopath.)
• Trump to Hurricane Florence Survivor: ‘Have a Good Time’ (There’s something seriously wrong with Trump.)
• Republicans push to confirm Kavanaugh amid fears it will come at a political cost
• Trump feels angry, unprotected amid mounting crises (Quit! Although then we’d have President Dense…er, Pense. Ugh.)
• Accuser’s schoolmate says she recalls hearing of alleged Kavanaugh incident (“Cristina King Miranda says she recalls it being discussed at their school, but has no first-hand knowledge of the alleged assault by Brett Kavanaugh.”)
• Brett Kavanaugh Liked Female Clerks Who Looked A ‘Certain Way,’ Yale Student Was Told (“Yale professor and ‘Tiger Mom’ Amy Chua, who’s a Kavanaugh cheerleader, told the young woman to look ‘outgoing.'” Another reason to disqualify this jerk.)
• Slow down, Senate Republicans. The FBI should investigate. (“If Mr. Kavanaugh is telling the truth, then he and the Judiciary Committee should welcome an FBI inquiry into sexual-assault allegations.” Yeah, I doubt he’s telling the truth.)
• The most infuriating aspect of the Kavanaugh conversation (“The timeline established by the GOP for completing this process is not sacred.”)
• Mueller and his superposse just keep on coming
• Kavanaugh Is Already Damaged Goods (“Should senators put him on the Supreme Court if there’s even a slight chance he’s guilty?”)
• ‘Pro-life’ groups stand by Kavanaugh after sexual assault allegation (We really need to stop using the Orwellian phrase “pro life,” since that’s not at all what these people are.)
• Two Murders in Iowa (“What the reactions to the brutal killings of Mollie Tibbetts and Celia Barquin tell us about the state of anti-immigrant politics in 2018…Why is it that Celia Barquin’s stabbing has not resulted in a propagandistic tarring of troubled Americans like Collin Daniel Richards—the homeless, those afflicted by drug addiction—while the Mollie Tibbetts case opened the door to abject nativist fearmongering, demonizing America’s undocumented immigrants? Why hasn’t the homicidal collapse of one man become an excuse to criminalize the many, like it happened just a few weeks ago with Cristhian Bahena? The crimes themselves are not that different: two deranged men stealing the lives of two vibrant young women. The difference lies in the perverted political usefulness of nativism.”)
• Trump admits Fox News hosts influenced his decision to declassify key Russia documents (“The great Lou Dobbs, the great Sean Hannity, the wonderful great Jeanie Pirro.” And by “great,” he means “they are pure evil but they defend me so they rock.”)
• Trump Promised Coal Miners the World. He’s Made Their Lives Worse in Every Way That Matters. (“The president* rolled back mine safety standards. And air and water standards. And healthcare protections.”)
• Controversy over Kavanaugh could weigh on Roberts court
• Opposition to Kavanaugh grows, support at historic low: Reuters/Ipsos poll (“Only 31 percent of U.S. adults polled said they were in favor of Kavanaugh’s appointment.”)
• Sen. McCaskill to vote ‘no’ on Kavanaugh
• A pro-Trump troll started a viral hoax about Christine Blasey Ford and Neil Gorsuch, and Rush Limbaugh ran with it
• New racial controversy batters DeSantis (“This is the fifth race-related issue concerning the Florida candidate, his gubernatorial campaign or one of its supporters.” Hey, he’s still way behind Corey Stewart! LOL)
• “All my stuff is gone”: Wilmington residents grapple with destruction days after Florence
• New plan from some House Democrats aims to oust Nancy Pelosi
• 5th District Candidates to Face Off in Madison County for 2nd Debate
• Taylor: I’m a Republican, despite ‘independent’ ads (Kinda like Comstock votes 98% of the time with Trump, despite an ad laughably claiming she’s an “independent voice.” Haha, she really thinks 10th CD voters must be idiots.)
• Senator Tim Kaine and candidate Corey Stewart hold community forum
• Former GOP state delegate wants Republicans to write in her name for US Senate instead of voting for Corey Stewart (“The first black Republican woman elected to the Virginia General Assembly says she wants GOP voters to write in her name for U.S. Senate in November in place of party nominee Corey Stewart, who she called a ‘charlatan.'”)
• Denver Riggleman rolls out first major TV buy in 5th Congressional District race
• Interstate 81, improving economy take focus at forum with House of Delegates candidates
• U.S. approves new taxes to be paid by Virginia hospitals as state moves toward Medicaid expansion
• Montgomery Co. planners support plan to tap into Mountain Valley Pipeline
• Are state utility regulators at last ready to embrace customer-owned solar?
• Will thousands of new Medicaid enrollees inundate an already overloaded social services workforce?
• Editorial: More accolades for Sweet Briar
• Racist, offensive behavior ‘rife’ in Hampton Roads Homeland Security office, EEOC rules
• Editorial: Northam’s tax plan hits hard workers (Just remember, the Republican Times-Disgrace editorial board is far right wing and take everything you read there with a pillar of salt. Better yet, don’t read anything written by these guys.)
• Booty poppin’, body rockin’ – professionalism dropping (“The Portsmouth chief prosecutor’s recent venture into the rap world – via a family video – was a poor decision, like a badly negotiated plea bargain.”)
• Stoney proposes pilot program for dockless scooters and bicycles to Richmond Council; Bird’s flock still scattered across the city
• Monogram announces $30 million expansion in Henry County
• Late summer at its best today, but weekend rain risks grow