by Lowell
Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, March 20.
- Cyclone Idai ‘might be southern hemisphere’s worst such disaster’ (Also see Climate change making storms like Idai more severe, say experts)
- Mozambique Cyclone Rescuers Struggle to Reach Victims in ‘Inland Ocean’ (“Rescue workers struggled Tuesday to reach areas devastated by a huge cyclone in Mozambique, as heavy rains swelled rivers and further isolated flooded communities in what aid agencies called the worst natural disaster in southern Africa in two decades.”)
- ‘Tropical Trump’ is harnessing racism to destroy the Amazon (“The pace of devastating rollbacks is mind-boggling.” This guy is evil incarnate, so of course he’s tight with Trump.)
- Trump, Brazil’s Bolsonaro flaunt nationalist bromance (Demented.)
- Trump Wants to Reward Brazil’s Far-Right President With Special NATO Status (Batshit crazy.)
- Under investigation and up for reelection, Netanyahu’s kinship with Trump has never been clearer (Trump yet again bonds with one of the sleaziest leaders in the world.)
- New Book Details Jared Kushner’s Alleged Middle East Peace Plan, Which Is Preposterous (“… the alleged plan would involve no less than five countries (plus Palestine) coordinating to give aid or renegotiate boundaries in the most politically convoluted region on the planet. Note that the proposal, as detailed, does not require the Netanyahu government — a close ally of Kushner’s — to make any significant concessions.”)
- Exclusive: Cockpit voice recorder of doomed Lion Air jet depicts pilots’ frantic search for fix – sources
- F.A.A. Approval of Boeing Jet Involved in Two Crashes Comes Under Scrutiny
- The U.S. needs to treat white supremacism as the worldwide killer it is
- The Mueller Report Is Highly Anticipated. Here’s What We Already Know
- Midwest voters in Trump country face historic floods and call for climate action (“Farm groups say the situation is worse than ever and that’s causing pain in states that flipped from Obama to Trump.”)
- Midwest Floodwaters Threaten Millions In Crop And Livestock Losses (“The water rose so quickly that farmers in many areas had no time to get animals out.”)
- US to stop detaining some migrant families apprehended at border (“The decision was made due to overcrowding at facilities.”)
- America Cares About Climate Change Again (“For the first time in years, a broad spectrum of climate advocates is playing offense.”)
- Trump Is Living in an Economic Fantasy World, Says Trump’s Economics Team
- New Mueller probe revelations explain Trump’s rage
- Cindy McCain posts stranger’s hateful message about John McCain and their daughter
- Why Is the Trump Administration Always Getting Shut Down in Court?
- Biden Has Started Telling Supporters He Plans to Run for President, Source Says (“Former vice president would enter as Democratic front-runner. Biden would have enormous advantages, and some liabilities”)
- In early campaigning, 2020 Democrats try out tactics for taking on Trump
- DCCC raises record sum in February (“The $11.6 million haul is the most House Democrats’ campaign arm has brought in any February, even in election years.”)
- Romney knocks Trump over McCain criticism
- Bernie Sanders hires former reporter who secretly advised campaign, deleted 20K tweets: report
- Bernie Sanders Just Hired His Twitter Attack Dog (“David Sirota had been working unofficially for Sanders while savaging the other Democratic candidates on Twitter.”)
- Trump’s unrealistic promises to the Rust Belt may come back to haunt him (“Trump made extravagant promises when he wooed voters in 2016. And they haven’t forgotten.”)
- Joe Biden could solve a lot of problems by choosing a running mate early (“A young, progressive woman of color on his ticket is exactly what he needs.” Biden-Abrams?)
- World leaders urging Biden to run (“The former vice president would bring deep relationships and heavyweight credentials to a 2020 Democratic field lacking in national security experience”)
- Biden’s challenge: Satisfying the left
- Democrats Have Long Been Terrified of the White Moderate. Elizabeth Warren Apparently Has No Such Fear.
- What the Media Missed in Its Beto Backlash (“Americans still love white, male candidates.”)
- The Supreme Court Is Doing What It Was Rigged to Do (“The 5-4 majority ruled that the government can detain non-citizens indefinitely, even years after they went to jail.”)
- Devin Nunes is having a cow (“Gird your loins, congressman. It’s a tough battle ahead.”)
- Devin Nunes Is Suing His Imaginary Mom, His Imaginary Cow, and Twitter (“No really.”)
- Senate GOP poised to go ‘nuclear’ on Trump picks
- A Top Interior Department Press Secretary Has a Disturbing History of Islamophobic Comments (“Faith Vander Voort once argued attacks by radical Muslim groups pose a bigger threat than climate change.”)
- Pesticide residues found in 70% of produce sold in US even after washing (“Strawberries, spinach and kale among most pesticide-heavy. Conventionally farmed kale could contain up to 18 pesticides.”)
- Disney Closes $71.3 Billion Deal for 21st Century Fox Assets (“Deal for $71.3 billion merges ‘Simpsons’ and ‘Star Wars,’ and it builds a bigger competitor to Netflix”)
- Hawaii Could Be The First State To Ban Most Plastics In Restaurants
- “Everyone Thinks They’re Going to Sell”: Hellfire at Fox as Hannity Mulls Leaving and Lachlan Goes Full Donna Brazile on Trump (“Inside Fox, staffers believe that C.E.O. Lachlan Murdoch is likely to nudge the network in a less pro-Trump direction. Is this the first step in a larger strategy to sell the newly spun-off company?”)
- Gorsuch Provides Decisive 5th Vote In Case Interpreting Treaty With Indian Tribe (Stolen Supreme Court seat, ergo illegitimate decision?)
- From the border of tragedy, Kaine calls for help for Venezuela
- Sens. Tim Kaine, Mark Warner introduce bill aimed at strengthening mental health services for veterans
- Dominion promised $870 million for energy conservation. Now it’s walking back its commitment. (“VPLC strongly condemns Dominion’s surprise attempt to reduce its energy efficiency commitment. Dipping into the amount promised for energy efficiency programs violates the original agreement and severely impairs Virginians’ ability to lower relentlessly increasing costs.”)
- A revised generation plan leaves Dominion’s case for its pipeline in shambles (“On March 8, Dominion came back with a revised plan. And sure enough, when it plugged in the more realistic demand projections used by independent grid operator PJM and accounted for some energy efficiency savings, the number of planned new gas plants dropped in half. Instead of eight to 13 new gas combustion turbines, the revised plan listed only four to seven of these small ‘peaker’ units. Yet there is a good chance Dominion is still inflating its demand numbers.” This company is completely corrupt. Virginia should break it up or shut it down.)
- Anatomy of a Farce, Part 2: How Virginia AG Mark Herring & the State Water Control Board Ignored the Law to Protect Corporate Criminal Mountain Valley Pipeline
- In Virginia, health outcomes follows geographic and racial lines
- VA Senate Dems Get 2019 Messaging Partly Right, Partly Wrong
- New consortium sets vision for Washington region to be national leader in finding digital solutions to problems
- Invest in the Grassroots: We Are Shaking the Table and Making Change.
- APPALLING: Leading Climate Science Denier Coming to Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean Tomorrow Night
- Gov. Northam Vetoes Two Party-Line, Anti-Immigrant Bills
- Representatives must be more thoughtful about townhalls (“U.S. Reps. Elaine Luria, D-Virginia Beach, and Robert C. ‘Bobby’ Scott, D-Newport News, held concurrent townhall meeting Monday evening, at the same time, in separate locations — 36 miles apart…A joint townhall meeting involving both Reps. Luria and Scott would have benefited everyone involved.” Uh, they represent different districts.)
- Elaine Luria holds unusual Town Hall (“The 2nd Congressional District’s new voice in D.C. didn’t hog the stage during her first public forum, held at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.She brought the Beach’s voter registrar and police chief, the head of its affordable housing effort and one of its state delegates with her to help field questions from the more than 250 people attending.”)
- Griffith: Innovation will reduce carbon emissions (Griffith, as always, is a joke, minimizing the dangers of climate change and talking about continued dependence on planet-heating fossil fuels. Idiot.)
- ‘Hear Me By Any Means Necessary’ — Charlottesville Is Forced To Redefine Civility (“‘There has been a lot of very strong emotion expressed in our chambers by people who are deeply traumatized,’ Signer says. ‘How do you have that happen when you also need to do the public’s business?'”)
- Editorial: Why we need a redistricting commission
- New rankings show healthiest, least healthy counties in Virginia
- In Richmond, former New Orleans mayor calls for honest dialogue on race
- Improving I-81, And Doing It Fairly — April Moore Throws Down the Gauntlet to Mark Obenshain
- Endorsement: Laura Jane Cohen for Fairfax County Public School Board (Springfield District)
- Endorsement: Ricardy Anderson for Fairfax County School Board
- A visit from Dick Saslaw convinced me to support Yasmine Taeb (Amazing this was posted on a Democratic committee’s blog, but I guess the times they are a changin’…)
- Stoney defends his budget, tax proposals at the first of four town halls
- Two dead, dozens injured in Virginia charter bus crash, charges pending against driver
- Former Virginia state lawmaker pleads guilty to contracting fraud
- A little warmer today, with rain likely tonight and tomorrow, then a gusty Friday
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