Monday News: U.N. Climate Summit; “Republican Party is a climate crisis”; Ukraine Scandal Shows Trump “a clear and present danger to the country”; “The Press Is Embracing False Equivalence—Again”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, September 23.

• At UN, leaders of a warming world gather (“The planet is getting hotter, and tackling that climate peril will grab the spotlight as world leaders gather for their annual meeting at the United Nations this week.” This is a huge crisis and they need to treat it as such.)
• U.N. Climate Summit Sets Stage For New National Emissions Promises
• Climate effort must be boosted five-fold to limit global warming to 1.5°C
• Countries must triple climate emission cut targets to limit global heating to 2C (“United in Science report ahead of UN summit says climate is changing faster than forecast, and current plans would lead to ‘catastrophic’ global temperature rise” Yep, it turns out the forecasts of the climate crisis’ impact have been far too CONSERVATIVE, if anything.)
• UN secretary general hails ‘turning point’ in climate crisis fight (“UN secretary general António Guterres said recent action by some countries and businesses, as well as the stunning rise of the youth climate movement, gave him hope that international goals to avoid catastrophic global heating could be met.” The biggest obstacle is Trump and, more broadly, the science-denial Republican Party. Both of them need to be voted out of power at the next opportunity.)
• China and India must step up on climate change
• The United Nations is trying to pressure the world into faster action on climate change (“Three things to watch for at the UN Climate Action Summit on Monday.”)
• Iran Frees Tanker to End Standoff Ahead of U.N. Summit
• UK says Iran responsible for attack on Saudi oil facilities
• Give Up Meat (for a Day, at Least) (“Vegetarianism isn’t for everyone. But small changes in diet can mean big gains for the climate.”)
• The Republican Party is a climate crisis
• There’s another expert player warming up to online election interference. We should worry.
• Iran’s Foreign Minister: ‘Abandon The Illusion’ That Tehran Will Cave To Pressure
• A Year Later, Iran Finds Evaporating Sympathy at the U.N.
• Boost for Netanyahu as three Arab politicians refuse to back rival (“Israeli president tasked with choosing candidate to form Israel’s next government after inconclusive election”)
• Boris Johnson: Don’t expect ‘New York breakthrough’ on Brexit (“British PM to meet EU leaders at UN summit, says he is still ‘cautiously optimistic’ about securing a deal.”)
• Trump suggests he mentioned Biden in call with Ukrainian president
• This may be the worst Trump scandal yet
• Trump doubles down on call to investigate Biden after whistleblower complaint: ‘That’s the real story’ (Just remember, when you go to the polls on November 5, that Republicans are giving Trump a free pass to corrupt our government and undermine our democratic institutions.)
• Ukraine drama could give Democrats no choice but to impeach Trump (“If Trump used his power to try to coerce a foreign leader into influencing US elections, it may precipitate the worst political crisis of this presidency”)
• Donald Trump vs. the United States of America (“The full picture reveals a man who presents a clear and present danger to the country.”)
• Trump’s Firing Away on Fifth Avenue, and We Are Fucked (“The president has all but ’fessed up to his latest impeachable offense, and Republicans are shrugging. That’s on them—not the Democrats.” Agreed – it’s overwhelmingly on Republicans.)
• Why Trump gets away with everything (“But when the greatest threat to our country is the corruption of our constitutional system, might at least some of the GOP’s leading politicians decide that there are worse things than losing a primary, or being upbraided by Fox News?”)
• Trump’s takeover of GOP leads many House Republicans to head for exits (“Nearly 40 percent of House Republicans have left or lost since President Trump’s inauguration, and some in the GOP say in private that he is the reason.”)
• Romney: Trump asking Ukraine to investigate political rival ‘would be troubling in the extreme’ (So what’s Romney going to *do* about this?)
• The Press Is Embracing False Equivalence—Again (“Coverage of the president’s pressure on Ukraine suggests the media learned nothing from 2016”)
• ‘We’ve been very weak’: House Democrats decry their oversight of President Trump
• Inside the Trump legal team trying to stop impeachment before it starts
• Pelosi warns White House over whistleblower complaint (“Pelosi wrote in a rare weekend letter to lawmakers that President Donald Trump would enter ‘a grave new chapter of lawlessness’ if he succeeded in blocking Congress from learning about his reported conversations pressing Ukranian officials to investigate the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic frontrunner in the 2020 presidential contest.”)
• Trump, Unrestrained (“America’s vulnerability is exploited by its president.”)
• Elizabeth Warren is becoming Trump’s greatest threat
• Climate Forum Reveals a Democratic Party Remarkably Aligned with Science on Net Zero Emissions (“Almost every Democrat running for president has now talked at length about climate policy. Details differ, but the goals are similar across the spectrum.”)
• D’Souza compares young climate change activist to Nazi propaganda (Speaking of D’Souza, remember this? Video: Unhinged Extremist, Bigot and Felon Dinesh D’Souza Addresses VA 6th CD GOP Dinner)
• Corey Lewandowski Wants to Run for Senate. He’s Spent the Last 3 Years in Trump’s Swamp. (Crazy.)
• 2019 Emmy Awards: ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Fleabag’ Win Big, One Last Time
• Out of “99 House Districts That Will Determine Dems’ Fate” in 2020, Seven Districts Are In Virginia
• Why Rep. Abigail Spanberger is all in on gun control
• Video: In HD88 Debate, Far Right-Wing Republican Mark Cole tries to Appeal to…Anyone. Jess Foster Shines Bright Like a Diamond.
• Photos: Sen. Tim Kaine, Sheila Bynum-Coleman, Ghazala Hashmi
• In 2017, Virginia was the bellwether of the blue wave: Will it happen again?
• Suffolk HOD Challenger Clint Jenkins Tells NOVA: “We’re A Team Working to Turn Virginia Blue”
• Critics Worry A Trump Administration Proposal Could Limit Virginia’s Ability to Help Poor Families
• How Virginia’s new student loan ombudsman helps borrowers
• Report: Abortion Rate Drops in Virginia, More than Almost Any Other State
• Hadwin: Roanoke Gas customers will pay for MVP
• Arlington schools were named best in Virginia, but a growing chorus of black parents is disrupting that narrative (“The county system is excellent, they say, for wealthy, able-bodied white children. Not so much for others.”)
• Climate activists plan to block streets on Monday. Here’s what to know.
• Former WTOP political analyst Mark Plotkin dies at 72
• Norfolk touts benefits a casino would bring. But studies show they’re no sure bet.
• NSU conference includes national speakers, politicians to discuss America’s evolution after 1619 (Bob McDonnell? LOL)
• John Broderick, James Shaeffer, Daniel Lufkin, John Dever & Gregory DeCinque: Improving college mobility serves students, region (“The Mobility Pass Program allows better access for students between area community colleges and Old Dominion University.”)
• It’s the first day of fall, but summer isn’t going anywhere (This weather is seriously f’ed up…and of COURSE hotter than normal in a climate changed world.)