Friday News: “John Bolton Has Wanted War With Iran Since Before You Were Born”; Trump Immigration Plan “Dead on Arrival”; “The GOP’s Assault on Abortion Rights Is Tyranny of the Minority”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, May 17.

• China Downplays Chances for Trade Talks While U.S. Plays ‘Little Tricks’
• Trump administration pressure on Iran strains Bolton-Pompeo relationship (“The Secretary of State has bridled at the seasoned national security adviser’s grip on the policy process, but is more in sync with the president they serve.”)
• Trump Tells Pentagon Chief He Does Not Want War With Iran
• Trump Admin Moves Fueled Iran’s Aggression, U.S. Intel Says (“‘Most of the activities that the Iranians are undertaking are in response to our very aggressive posture in the region,’ one member of the House Intelligence Committee said.”)
• Top Trump administration officials update Congress on Iran as lawmakers’ frustration grows
• John Bolton Has Wanted War With Iran Since Before You Were Born
• What’s Trump’s plan for Iran? Nobody knows. (“There is no sign that Washington and Tehran are ready to set aside hostilities and talk.”)
• Up ‘Til Now, the Trumpists Have Been Clumsy Vandals. The Iran Thing Is Something Different. (“It seems to be based on a damning photo…that they won’t release.”)
• Flynn told Mueller that people tied to Trump and Congress tried to obstruct probe (“The communications could have affected the ex-national security adviser’s ‘willingness to cooperate,’ Robert Mueller wrote in court filings.”)
• Judge orders public release of what Michael Flynn said in call to Russian ambassador
• Frustrated House Democrats Pin Hopes on Mueller Testimony (“They had a plan: Stoke public anger about President Trump by dramatizing Robert S. Mueller III’s report on national television in their committees. But so far Mr. Trump and his allies have successfully stonewalled their efforts. Mr. Mueller, who was invited to testify, has not agreed to do so.”)
• Trump wants his border barrier to be painted black with spikes. He has other ideas, too.
• Trump Can’t Stop Talking About His Border Wall Designs: Report
• Tracking Trump On Immigration: Despite Focus, Many Ideas Are Stalled Or Blocked
• Trump’s immigration push faces Capitol Hill buzzsaw
• Trump’s ‘merit-based’ immigration plan declared ‘dead on arrival’ by opponents
• Trump’s Twin Attacks Against Huawei Leave U.S. Companies Reeling
• Trump’s big deals appeal only to his supporters
• Why so many Democrats are running for president (“The epidemic of random white men running for president, explained.”)
• Biden shows early strength, but pitfalls loom in 2020 U.S. presidential race
• These anti-abortion lawmakers have no idea how pregnancy works
• Post-Roe America Won’t Be Like Pre-Roe America. It Will Be Worse. (“The new abortion bans are harsher than the old ones.”)
• How Gerrymandering and Voter Suppression Paved the Way for Abortion Bans (“Attacks on democracy have turned into attacks on reproductive freedom.”)
• The GOP’s Assault on Abortion Rights Is Tyranny of the Minority
• House GOP leader says Alabama abortion law goes too far
• Early-Term Abortion Bans Open Rift in Anti-Abortion Movement
• Why the Anti-Abortion Movement Stopped Making Allowances for Rape and Incest
• Three Reasons There’s A New Push To Limit Abortion In State Legislatures (“The appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court…The rise of one-party-rule states…Republicans aren’t that worried about a backlash”)
• ‘We have to fight’: Alabama’s extreme abortion ban sparks wave of activism (“Pro-choice groups see an increase in donations and are mobilizing supporters and resources in several states to combat the laws”)
• Jay Sekulow parroted Seth Rich conspiracy theories on Hannity’s Fox show — then became the president’s lawyer (Sick.)
• Fox Business host Charles Payne says he cringes when critics call Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “dumb”
• Undistorting the Civil War (“A new museum in the former capital of the Confederacy situates the conflict in the history of slavery and freedom.”)
• Momentum grows in Congress for fix to national parks’ woes (“Before TV cameras near the east steps to the Senate on Wednesday morning, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., joined House and Senate colleagues for a press conference that called on Congress to make headway on the parks’ long-overdue maintenance work.”)
• Rep. Luria challenges top Navy leadership over lack of female representation
• Virginia Abortion Law Will Be Challenged In Court (“A Virginia law that only allows doctors to perform first-trimester abortions will go to trial in Richmond next week after a federal judge rescinded his decision permitting nurse practitioners and physician assistants to conduct them.”)
• Following UN Report, Sen. Udall and Rep. Beyer Introduce Bipartisan Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act (“Goal: to Protect America’s Precious Biodiversity and Help Combat Mass Extinction Crisis”)
• Do minimum sentences protect victims of domestic violence?
• Justin Fairfax’s law firm won’t reveal status of investigation of him
• FWIW Virginia: Fundraising But Make It Digital
• Sen. Amanda Chase Claims Her Official “Senator Amanda Chase” Facebook Page Is Actually a “Friends of Amanda Chase” Page. WTF?
• Video: Fredericksburg Dems Candidate Forum for VA Senate District 17, VA House Districts 28 & 88
• Sun Gazette endorsements: Morrogh, Favola for renomination
• Sun Gazette endorsements: Favola, Lopez for renomination
• FCPS School Board Candidate Laura Jane Cohen Powerfully Opens for Elizabeth Warren
• Republican Extremists Running for Fairfax County Public School Board (Special guest appearance: George “Felix Macacawitz” Allen!)
• A cease-and-desist letter adds to discord in Virginia’s Peace-Wyatt clash
• In Crystal City, Va., Amazon plans two eco-friendly towers with parks, day care and bike path (“Retail giant describes its ‘National Landing’ headquarters campus in a blogpost.” FYI, “blog post” should be two words.)
• Black Virginians are far more likely to be charged with disorderly conduct
• Editorial: Pillion finds the Republican voice for November (This editorial is really bizarre, starting with the headline.)
• “Our family is broken apart”: Administrator of Jamycheal Mitchell’s estate blasts settlement
• Vote means Hopewell will become first district in Virginia to have all schools open year-round
• Hands Across the Sand set for Hampton Roads to oppose offshore drilling
• Editorial: Norfolk moves to address foster care
• Gov. Northam announces new money available for reclaiming old mines in Southwest Virginia
• Richmond schools are overcrowded, especially on the South Side. Officials say rezoning alone won’t fix it.
• Justin Hannah for Loudoun County Sheriff Statement on Chris Harmison NRA Videos
• Days of warmth ahead, with slight shower and storm chance today (“Temperatures in the 80s and some mugginess through Monday. Around 90 on Sunday?”)