Monday News: “Trump’s Long Shutdown Could Destabilize the World “; Ocasio-Cortez Says (Accurately) That Trump’s a Racist; Golden Globes, Christian Bale, Dick Cheney and “Satan”; “Surge of Climate Lawsuits”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, January 7.

• Trump Faces Pressure From Calendar as Shutdown Stretches On
• Let China Get to Yes on Trade (“Slowing growth could lead Beijing to compromise — but only if the U.S. lets it.”)
• Viktor Orbán’s Far-Right Vision for Europe (“The Prime Minister of Hungary, who thrives on conflict, has consolidated power in his own country. Now he is turning his attention to the E.U.” Very disturbing.)
• Super-rich Trump says he can ‘relate’ to federal workers who can’t pay bills due to his shutdown (“People going without their pay can simply ‘make adjustments,’ the president said.” Yep, that’s Trump for you.)
• Trump campaign moves to stave off mayhem at 2020 convention (“For Trump adversaries, the possibilities for mischief in Charlotte would be endless. They could attempt headline-grabbing floor protests, demand prime-time speaking slots for presidential detractors, or even wage a long-shot bid to nominate someone else.”)
• While Trump wallows in the White House, America’s allies are left on their own (“His conduct gives Putin and other bad actors room to step up their aggression.”)
• Contradicting Trump, Bolton says U.S. will stay in Syria until ISIS is eradicated (So crazy John Bolton is the sane one in that “family?” LOL)
• This is what democracy looks like (“Protecting and enhancing democracy should be the central cause of the new House majority. Democracy is, after all, what allowed it to come into being, and Trump’s hostility to democratic norms must be challenged at every turn.”)
• China is trying to woo U.S. allies. The White House’s response contains glaring failures. (“Trump’s unwillingness to listen to reason is driving away our allies.”)
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says “no question” Trump is a racist in 60 Minutes interview (Gotta love how the corporate media reports this. First, they focus on their bright, shiny new thing, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in this case. Second, they present the question whether Trump’s a racist as if there’s any doubt about it, that it’s not 100% verifiable based on Trump’s words and actions over the years, etc. Pathetic.)
• As shutdown drags on, Trump officials make new offer, seek novel ways to cope with its impacts (How about just open the damn government already???)
• Graham: GOP wants a Democrat ‘that’s not crazy’ for shutdown talks (Speaking of “crazy”…how about Lindsey Graham???)
• Trump’s Long Shutdown Could Destabilize the World (“Political dysfunction is about more than which party is winning. The international system is depending on Washington’s leadership.”)
• Republicans are crying ‘extreme’ over Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s tax idea. It’s actually pretty moderate. (It basically would bring us back to pre-Reagan days, where we were for much of the 20th century.)
• Sarah Huckabee Sanders gets fact-checked over wall claims during Fox News Sunday appearance
• Trump pushing for steel barrier instead of concrete wall at border (“Democrats have said their opposition to the wall is a matter of morals and effectiveness. Democratic lawmakers have argued the wall would not be a good deterrent to illegal immigration, and that investments should be made in technology to secure the border.”)
• Warren’s early 2020 bid raises stakes for rest of Dem field (“Several would-be candidates – Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), among them – are expected to launch presidential bids in the coming weeks, and party officials in early primary states are anticipating a slew of visits from would-be candidates and their advisers.”)
• ‘More aggressive and in your face’: Newsom takes power in California (“The incoming governor has a powerful ally in fellow San Franciscan House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but a president eager to use the state as a foil.”)
• Trump aides may be in legal jeopardy as Democrats give evidence to Mueller (“Adam Schiff says he will hand over transcripts of interviews withheld by Republicans when they controlled committee”)
• Antarctic sea ice is “astonishingly” low this melt season (“Across the entire continent, there are more than 750,000 square miles of sea ice missing” This is really, really bad.)
• A Surge of Climate Lawsuits Targets Human Rights, Damage from Fossil Fuels (“Cities, states and the fishing industry want courts to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for global warming. Others argue government inaction violates rights.”)
• Biden in 2020? Allies Say He Sees Himself as Democrats’ Best Hope
• When Mueller Issues Report, Trump May Try to Suppress Some of It (“Democrats in Congress will demand public airing of the report”)
• American ISIS Member Caught on Syrian Battlefield, Militia Says
• CBS News Names Its First Female President As Head Of Network’s News Division
• Christian Bale Thanks Satan in Globes Speech for Inspiring His Role as Dick Cheney
• Night of Surprises (“The 76th Golden Globe Awards telecast was filled with shocking upsets — ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ won best drama over ‘A Star Is Born’ — and politically charged speeches.”)
• The Golden Globes Just Threw a Wrench Into the Oscars Race (“The presumed awards-season frontrunner, A Star Is Born, failed to win big, while Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody took home the biggest trophies.”)
• The Golden Globes Were an Embarrassment Not Even Sandra Oh Could Save (“From two of the most mind-blowingly bad Best Picture winners—’Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Green Book’—to an awkward dance with politics and #MeToo, the show was a disaster.”)
• 2019 Golden Globes: See the Full Winners List
• The Worst 40 Virginia Politicos Since 2005
• Republicans want to take up tax conformity and policy together, which could make filing and refunds difficult for Virginians
• Powerful Comments from Southern Environmental Law Center Request Air Board Reject Union Hill Compressor Station
• How will air board weigh site ‘suitability’ on major compressor station vote? (“Is an African-American community in rural Virginia the right place to put a massive compressor station for a natural gas pipeline? This is the question the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board will consider at its meeting Tuesday.”)
• Editorial: ODU report warns that Trump’s immigration policies hurt Virginia’s economy
• LOOKING AHEAD: Will budget concerns sink eviction diversion program or will lawmakers go further?
• Virginia receives $10 million from federal government to improve preschool
• Local leaders issue joint statement calling for end to government shutdown
• Opinion/Editorial: License suspension gets its comeuppance
• Rakes: General Assembly should pass constitutional amendment to create independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
• Adams: Northern Virginia doesn’t owe Southwest Virginia
• Video, Photos: Packed House (300+) of Fire-Up Dems for “Road to Richmond” Event in Fairfax [UPDATED with Complete Video]
• Temperatures bounce around into Tuesday before winter starts settling in