Friday News: Impeachment Vote; “Tim Morrison just confirmed the quid pro quo”; “Republicans convene the cult of Trump”; On Tuesday in Virginia, “the Right to Vote Is on the Ballot”; “Nats’ postseason upset run was MLB’s greatest ever”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, November 1. Virginia polls open in just 95 hours!

• Rising seas are a much bigger danger than experts thought
• 8 Countries (Besides the US) With Solar Under $25 per Megawatt-Hour (“Around the world, solar power price records just keep on coming.” Super-cheap solar power to the rescue?)
• U.S. Troop Withdrawal Creates Opening for Revitalized Syrian Regime (Brilliant, eh?)
• Exclusive: U.S. withholding $105 million in security aid for Lebanon – sources (“The officials did not say why the aid was blocked. One of the sources said the State Department did not give Congress a reason for the decision. The State Department declined to comment”)
• Trump says Johnson’s Brexit could rule out US trade deal
• In Ukraine, the quid pro quo may have started long before the phone call
• Tim Morrison just confirmed the quid pro quo. That’s the big story here.
• If Republicans think Tim Morrison’s testimony is good news for Trump, they’re grasping at straws
• White House Aide Confirms He Saw Signs of a Quid Pro Quo on Ukraine
• Vindman’s Identical Twin May Be Called to Testify in Impeachment Inquiry
• ‘We think we’re ready’: Democrats near end of closed-door impeachment testimony
• “He’s No Mr. Nice Guy”: Impeachment Comes for Trump (“The President says that he wants to argue the facts, but the facts are bad for him—and are getting worse.”)
• Analysis: On Impeachment Fight, Neither Side Seems Willing to Give an Inch
• U.S. Jobs Report Expected to Show Weaker Hiring, Strike Impact
• GM Strike Expected to Cloud Friday’s Jobs Report
• To Beat Trump, Focus on His Corruption (“Personal attacks don’t hurt him. Substantive ones do.”)
• The GOP’s defense of Trump has me sinking into cynicism
• ‘There’s no model for this’: Impeachment timeline crashes into Democratic primary
• At Long Last, Launch: Impeachment May Gain Momentum From First Big Moment
• Republicans convene the cult of Trump
• Trump’s audacious impeachment defense (“The President is heaping pressure on Republicans to buy a factually dubious but bold message: Not only did he not abuse power in Ukraine but his conduct is that of a tough guy President beset by corrupt elites and boosting the US abroad.”)
• Impeachment is going public. Republicans will find it harder to hide.
• What We Learned From The First House Vote On Impeachment
• Democrats Are Already Bringing A Wave Of Voting Rights Lawsuits
• Judge critical of Trump administration’s attempt to control testimony of former official
• ‘Good riddance’: New York governor cheers Trump changing residency to Florida
• The GOP tax cut failed. Their response? Let’s do it again! (Morons.)
• US Cracks 100GW of Wind as Post-Subsidy Era Looms (“Discussions are progressing on Capitol Hill about additional support for renewable energy, AWEA chief executive Tom Kiernan said.”)
• Warren Leads Tight Iowa Race as Biden Fades, Poll Finds (“Ms. Warren garnered 22 percent in a New York Times/Siena College poll, to 19 percent for Bernie Sanders. Pete Buttigieg has surged, while Mr. Biden’s travails have put the race in flux.”)
• Elizabeth Warren did not have a plan for this (“The candidate has dug herself in a hole on a top-of-mind concern for voters.”)
• Manchin says he wouldn’t back Sanders against Trump in presidential race
• Rudy Had a Secret Meeting With Zelensky’s Rival, Too
• Leak in Keystone pipeline spills 9,000 barrels of oil in North Dakota (This pipeline is a mess.)
• White House is on verge of naming Chad Wolf acting DHS secretary (Not Cuccinelli? LOL)
• We’re Checking In On All Those 2020 Senate Races. A Few GOP Incumbents Look Vulnerable.
• The Humiliation of Katie Hill Offers a Warning
• Donald Trump Jr., Thinks His Rust Belt Boarding School Made Him the Salt of the Earth (Don., Jr. is one of the most vile people in America, no question.)
• With another departure from Fox, it is obvious that the network belongs to the propagandists
• Democrats facing tough races receive suspicious packages after impeachment vote (“Packages sent from National Republican Congressional Committee prompted Capitol Police to investigate”)
• Spanberger Drug Prices Bill Likely to Become Law
• Western Va. congressmen follow GOP line against impeachment inquiry; 6 Va. Democrats back it
• Virginia Members of Congress Comment on U.S. House Impeachment Resolution Vote (All Virginia Dems support defending the constitution; all Virginia Republicans oppose doing so)
• With 5 Days to Go Until State and Local Elections, Virginia Republicans’ Closing Argument Is…STOP THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT
• Democratic stars tap anti-Trump sentiment in bid to win total control of Virginia government
• What’s At Stake Nov. 5th: Reproductive Freedom
• On Tuesday, the Right to Vote Is on the Ballot (“Democratic victories in several key races would have huge implications for voting and representation.”)
• Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Invites Virginia Republican General Assembly Candidates to VP Pence Rally
• ‘The party needs to have a tough conversation’: Republicans play catch-up when it comes to diversity
• The One that Didn’t Get Away: The Atlantic’s Largest Menhaden Fishing Fleet Faces Penalties
• ‘This is unprecedented’: Last-minute money floods Virginia campaigns ahead of Nov. 5
• Some Campaigns Report Last-Minute Six-Figure Donations
• Shad Plank: When Virginia elections turn national (yes, it’s another money tale)
• FWIW Virginia: “Races We’re Watching on Election Night”
• Terry McAuliffe stepped up when Va. Dems looked doomed. They bounced back, but he’s not quitting.
• Free Press endorsements for 2019 Virginia elections (“In the 10th Senate District, we endorse Democrat Ghazala F. Hashmi…In the 12th Senate District, we urge voters to cast their ballots for Democrat Debra H. Rodman…We endorse Sheila C. Bynum-Coleman, a Democrat, in the 66th House District…”)
• Shad Plank: Will Virginia take a gamble on gambling machines?
• We now know that Russia specifically targeted Virginia elections in 2016
• The lonely battle of the last Republican lawmaker from northern Virginia (“Hugo’s recipe for winning a ninth term in Richmond may be short on some ingredients” Let’s hope; he’s awful.)
• Protesters criticize event partnership between NAACP and Dominion Energy
• In contest for Black’s seat, focus on gun violence, response to Justin Fairfax allegations (The Higgins ads are appalling and false, too, as it’s not like Bell personally blocked anything.)
• Henrico’s top prosecutor faces challenge from attorney she fired when taking office
• Criminal justice reform, management of prosecutor’s office are central issues for candidates in Henrico race
• With three incumbents retiring, Henrico School Board to see change in leadership before redistricting decision
• Democrat Miles faces Republican challenger Davenport in Chesterfield Commonwealth’s Attorney’s race
• Stoney names third interim director for Human Resources since taking office
• Michael Hallmark column: To help fund Richmond’s priorities, we need a complete downtown
• Three candidates vying to replace retiring Henrico sheriff
• Hollins University enacts new policy allowing transgender students to graduate
• Civil rights group sues Fairfax County for rejecting voter eligibility of almost 200 George Mason students
• Green Machine to Transform Fairfax County Public Schools: Improved Educational Outcomes w/Reduced Costs, Less Pollution, Leadership
• Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Hires Lt. Gov. Fairfax’s Former Policy Director as Executive Director
• Virginia Beach Human Rights commissioner who said homosexuality is an “abomination” resigns but says he doesn’t regret his postings
• For the first time in 40 years, Virginia Beach will elect a new city treasurer
• Reclaiming More Abandonded Coal Mines in SWVA
• Are Cigars a Proper Use of Campaign Funds? Delegate Chris Collins (R-HD29) Seems to Think So.
• Attention Prince William County: If You Want to Continue Having the Lowest Per-Pupil School Funding in the Region, By All Means Vote Republican on Tuesday!
• Independents struggle for attention in Arlington County Board race
• Nats’ postseason upset run was MLB’s greatest ever, with moments we’ll never forget (“The Nats were up against incredible odds as they survived five elimination games.”)
• Power outages in Hampton Roads, Coastal Virginia after night of rough weather
• Bundle up. It’s sunny but gusty today, and chilly through the weekend.