Saturday News: GOP Must Decide “The Constitution or The Donald”; Sunrise Movement Kids vs. Dianne Feinstein on Tackling Climate Crisis; “Northam meets with Richmond 34 at private breakfast closed to press”; “Budget deal reached as assembly looks for exit”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, February 23.

• Italian Investigators Just Uncovered a Major Russian Election Meddling Plot
• 2 Killed at Venezuela Border as Aid Standoff Heads to Critical Moment (Progressives should be standing with the people of Venezuela and most definitely against the heinous government of Venezuela.)
• Chinese Official Extends U.S. Trade Trip as Tariff-Hike Threat Endures
• Trump, Xi summit being discussed for late March as China commits to buying $1.2 trillion in US goods
• Trump’s Trade Chief Lectures His Boss and Gets an Earful in Return
• Average tax refund down 17 percent, IRS reports
• An Emergency for the G.O.P. (“The Constitution or The Donald? Why is this such a hard choice for congressional Republicans?”)
• Democrats introduce disapproval of Trump’s border emergency declaration
• South Dakota governor says Trump trade wars have ‘devastated’ the state
• For the second time in two days, a building called Trump Place decides to take down the president’s name
• Cohen Gave Prosecutors New Information on the Trump Family Business
• New York Has Prepared Paul Manafort Charges If Trump Pardons Him
• Asked about real election fraud in North Carolina, Trump rants about imaginary fraud elsewhere (“Election fraud apparently doesn’t matter when it’s committed by a Republican.”)
• 5 different members of Trump’s cabinet were caught in scandals this week (“Four different secretaries, along with Trump’s pick to be the next U.N. ambassador, have been ensnared in controversy.”)
• The Government’s Trillion-Dollar Student Loan Office Is a Train Wreck (“A ‘damning’ inspector general report reveals shady tactics on the business side of the American education system”)
• House Democrats gear up for fight over Mueller report
• Sarah Sanders says Trump condemns violence against journalists. Here’s video of him praising it. (“The president is typically one of the first people to condemn the violence.” Yep, Huckster Slanders keeps spewing out blatant, brazen lies.)
• Trump administration issues rule to strip millions from Planned Parenthood (Disgraceful, as always.)
• Trump abortion rule has both sides digging in (“Both parties admit the next two years will largely be a fight to preserve the status quo and rally their bases on the divisive issue.”)
• Damaged GOP faces tough path in North Carolina election do-over (“It’s unclear who will run in the Republican primary in North Carolina’s 9th District after state officials ordered a new election Thursday.”)
• Republican Cries Against Voter Fraud Go Mostly Quiet After Scheme Tied to Party (“Republican politicians across the country have for years railed against the threat of voter fraud. Some have made unproven claims about how rampant it has become in order to pass voter ID laws and open sweeping investigations. The sanctity of the vote, they have said, must be protected at all costs. But when a hard-fought congressional election in North Carolina — in which a Republican candidate appeared to narrowly beat his Democratic opponent — was overturned this week because of election fraud by a Republican political operative, the party was measured, and largely muted, in its response.”)
• How Amy Klobuchar Treats Her Staff (“As Ms. Klobuchar joins the 2020 presidential race, many of these former aides say she was not just demanding but often dehumanizing — not merely a tough boss in a capital full of them but the steward of a work environment colored by volatility, highhandedness and distrust.”)
• Florida human trafficking: Billionaire equity firm owner John Childs wanted on prostitution charge in Vero Beach(“He’s a prominent donor to several Republican politicians and groups, including former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, Club for Growth and 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney.”)
• Patriots owner Robert Kraft charged with soliciting prostitution in Florida spa
• Trump: Acosta has ‘done a great job as labor secretary’ (“Controversial Epstein plea deal ‘seems like a long time ago,’ the president said.” Uhhhhhh…)
• Trump says Kraft being charged in prostitution ring is ‘very sad’ (Oh yes, heartbreaking. Not.)
• The Grave Threats of White Supremacy and Far-Right Extremism
• Prepare for Mueller to Ghost (“If we can learn anything from the special prosecutor’s style, it’s that Mueller is most likely to drop the report and then disappear.”)
• Judge Rules Against State Department In Same-Sex Couple’s Citizenship Lawsuit
• Trump picks envoy to Canada Kelly Craft for U.N. ambassador
• Meet the new UN ambassador nominee – a billionaire GOP donor and science denier who gave Trump millions (Scum, in other words.)
• Bernie Sanders Is Already Repeating Some Crucial 2016 Mistakes (“Sanders marched with King, and has decried Trump as a racist. But many political operatives suggest he’s out of touch when it comes to America’s conversations about race.”)
• R Kelly in police custody after being charged with 10 counts of sexual abuse (“Indictment filed in Illinois and seen by Guardian includes nine counts involving victims aged between 13 and 17”)
• The Corruption of the Vatican’s Gay Elite Has Been Exposed (“Many of the Vatican gays — especially the most homophobic — treat their vows of celibacy with an insouciant contempt. Martel argues that many of these cardinals and officials have lively sex lives, operate within a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ culture, constantly hit on young men, hire prostitutes, throw chem-sex parties, and even pay for sex with church money. How do we know this? Because, astonishingly, they tell us.”)
• Pay attention to the growing wave of climate change lawsuits (“Kids, farmers, fishermen, cities, and states are suing the fossil fuel industry and governments. Could they win?”)
• Dianne Feinstein Fumbles in Meeting With Young Climate Activists Over Green New Deal (Feinstein gives exactly the wrong answer to these awesome kids: “You know what’s interesting about this group, is I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I know what I’m doing. You come in here, and you say it has to be my way or the highway. I don’t respond to that. I’ve gotten elected, I just ran. I was elected by a million vote plurality. And I know what I’m doing. So maybe, you should listen a little bit.”)
• After weeks of scandal in Richmond, lawmakers head home — and prepare to face voters
• Amid Blackface Scandals, Virginia Black Caucus Talks About Racist Policies
• The Latest: Fairfax blasts GOP’s proposed public hearing
• Va. Republicans plan public hearings into sex assault allegations against Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax
• Republicans, Democrats spar over hearings on Lt. Gov.
• Northam meets with Richmond civil rights icons, expresses regret for scandal (But he won’t got to Union Hill.)
• The Northam regime’s abuse of power must stop (“In siding with corporate interests against the better judgment of affected communities and citizens and ignoring key environmental issues, Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration has revealed a fact pattern in its efforts to suppress justice in the commonwealth.”)
• Virginia Dems Have Completely Failed When It Comes to Believing Women
• VA House Dems: “The Speaker and House Republicans are attempting to politicize these serious, criminal allegations. All parties involved deserve better.”
• Video, Transcript: Powerful Speech by Del. Jay Jones (D-Norfolk) on Black Virginia, White Virginia, and Ending the Scourge of Racism NOW
• Walmart, Target and other retailers want to get out from under Dominion. Here’s how that could impact you.
• “This Just Went Nuclear”: Virginia House GOP Plans Hearings on Justin Fairfax Sexual Assault Allegations
• Saying he was once a victim, Democrat breaks with caucus to back hearings on Fairfax allegations (The House Dem Caucus completely ignored Del. Carter’s speech.)
• Budget deal reached as assembly looks for exit (“Senate Republican Caucus spokesman Jeff Ryer said the House and Senate plan to post the proposed changes to the state’s existing two-year budget online by 10 a.m. The two chambers will convene at noon and immediately recess in order to receive briefings on the budget proposals. Waiving the 48-hour rule in order to vote on the package Saturday would require the assent of 27 senators and 67 delegates.”)
• Editorial: Does Virginia need a truth and reconciliation commission? Does Roanoke?
• Rural coastal residents overlooked in sea level rise impacts, solutions
• Helsel retires from House of Delegates (“Helsel, 72, has quietly decided not to see re-election to a body where, as he says, he’s made friends for a lifetime over the course of nine sessions.”)
• Northam meets with Richmond 34 at private breakfast closed to press
• Last-minute effort to establish funding for I-81 fixes comes to a stop
• After ‘masculine arrogance,’ could women of color rescue Virginia from scandal?
• Chesapeake solar energy project that could power 3,000 homes approved on 234 acres of farmland
• Amazon Executive Makes Rare Public Appearance In Arlington, But Faces Few Tough Questions
• Arlington anticipates triple the site plans with Amazon’s arrival
• Rain arrives today, and it’s heavy at times tonight, then strong winds take over Sunday (“A soaker moves through before the next cold front delivers hefty gusts.”)