Tuesday News: “Trump hits point of no return as Democrats ready impeachment articles”; “The truth is finally out. The FBI fulfilled its mission.”; House GOP Throws “Daylong Tantrum”; “Nationals, Strasburg reach 7-year, $245 million deal”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, December 10.

• Desperate to Save Diplomacy, White House Blocks U.N. Meeting on North Korean Atrocities
• Aung San Suu Kyi in court as genocide hearing opens in The Hague (“World’s failure to act over Myanmar is ‘stain on collective conscience’, court told”)
• The species the world lost this decade (“This decade has made it clear: Humans are killing Earth’s great biodiversity.”)
• Trump’s “America First” policies defang the WTO’s top court
• Trump’s reaction to the Pensacola shooting was insensitive and insufficient (Yep.)
• U.K. Economy Fails to Grow Ahead of Brexit-Dominated Election
• Trump, Pelosi ready to pass new NAFTA amid impeachment process (“Top trade officials from the U.S., Mexico and Canada are expected to meet in Mexico City on Tuesday for a signing ceremony.”)
• Objection Sustained (“House Republicans throw a daylong tantrum about impeachment procedure.” This party is embarrassing.)
• Nancy Pelosi Has Gotten Impeachment Right (“The latest hearing proved it once again.”)
• Trump hits point of no return as Democrats ready impeachment articles
• GOP Lawyer Refuses to Admit Trump Even Wanted to Discredit Biden (“The most surreal defense of Trump’s extortion yet.”)
• The GOP’s bottom-line Trump defense: Get over it
• Another Inquiry Doesn’t Back Up Trump’s Charges. So, on to the Next.
• FBI Director Chris Wray reacts to DOJ watchdog report on Russia investigation: Exclusive
• The truth is finally out. The FBI fulfilled its mission. (“James Comey is a former director of the FBI and a former deputy attorney general.”)
• Democrats expected to draft two articles of impeachment (“Three officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to be frank, described the likely articles that the Judiciary Committee would vote on later this week: one on abuse of power, the other on obstruction of Congress.”)
• The GOP: If it looks, swims and quacks like a duck, it’s an avocado
• Democrats make a powerful, concise case for impeachment
• Ivanka Trump was friends with British ex-spy Christopher Steele, report reveals
• ‘Dossier’ author Chris Steele met Ivanka Trump years before Russia scandal, source says
• Lies, Damned Lies and Washington (“As President Trump faces impeachment by the House, it is the very concept of truth that often seems to be on trial.”)
• FBI felt it had hit a ‘tipping point’ before investigating Trump campaign, inspector general found
• AG Barr condemns IG report’s finding that FBI probe of Trump campaign was justified (Barr is the absolute worst.)
• The inspector general report just blew up Trump’s lies. So Barr is rushing to the rescue.
• Bill Barr Exposed as Horowitz Report Dismisses Trump’s Conspiracies and Clears Trump’s Enemies
• The Horowitz report busts these right-wing media conspiracy theories (“Not that it’s stopping them from still trying”)
• InfoWars host who called for Obama to be lynched interrupts impeachment hearing: “Trump is innocent” (“A host who pushed ‘Pizzagate’ and Sandy Hook conspiracy theories accuses Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of ‘treason'”)
• Attorney general reschedules Trump hotel holiday party. DOJ won’t disclose the date. (“Emoluments” anyone?)
• In U.K. Vote, Online Disinformation Is the New Normal
• Donald Trump Is Bad for the Jews (“There are things more important than your tax rate.”)
• Congress’s new plan to end surprise medical bills, explained
• Stacey Abrams says she would consider being vice president: ‘I will not diminish my ambition’
• Joe Biden Still Can’t Answer Basic Questions About Hunter and Burisma (This is 99% Republican b.s., but why can’t Biden just come up with a crisp answer and then move on from this?)
• Transcript: NPR’s Full Interview With Joe Biden
• Coverage of Elizabeth Warren’s corporate clients highlights one of the ways headlines are broken
• Memo from 1990s pollution case shows Elizabeth Warren in action as corporate consultant
• McKinsey Gives Pete Buttigieg Permission to Disclose Clients
• New York Deepens Its Investigation Into the N.R.A.
• GOP candidate Ben Loyola slams Scott Taylor over report that he will end Senate bid to seek former House seat
• Former Rep. Scott “Petitiongate” Taylor (R) Ditches U.S. Senate Run, Runs Again for Old VA02 Seat?!? (“On a related note – last night, the WaPo reported on Taylor’s connections to corrupt Rudy Giuliani”)
• Ex-GOP congressman who lost amid voter fraud scandal will run again
• Kim Daugherty Withdraws From VA05 Democratic Nomination Contest, Endorses Dr. Cameron Webb
• Video: Governor Northam Announces Budget Proposals to Combat Maternal and Infant Mortality, Reduce Racial Disparity
• Northam proposes spending to stop black women from dying in childbirth (“Previewing the stamp he’ll put on the state’s budget, the Virginia governor proposed spending nearly $22 million on the problem and plans to highlight other issues before the budget comes out next week.”)
• Three things Northam wants to do to lower maternal mortality rates
• Money given to Virginia Beach victim fund would be tax deductible under Luria’s bill
• Editorial: Medicaid’s untenable link (“A work requirement tacked onto the expansion of Medicaid was never going to be a viable option”)
• EDITORIAL: Let’s get all racist laws off books, finally
• Shortage of Clerks at Crisis Level in Virginia’s District Courts
• “Right to Work” is Wrong. Period. It’s Time for Virginia to Repeal It.
• The Growing Cost of Virginia Elections
• Northam-backed assault weapon bill will include ‘grandfather clause’ for existing guns
• Prison Strip Search of 8-year-old Causes Conern; Some Say it Happens Too Often (Should be “Concern” not “Conern,” btw)
• Shad Plank: Virginia delegate files Green New Deal bill
• Green New Deal Legislation Introduced in Virginia House of Delegates (“Calls for 80% clean energy by 2028, aggressive energy efficiency targets, enviro justice, ‘moratorium on new major fossil fuel projects starting in 2021′”)
• At Capitol rally, Virginia Citizens Defense League promises massive lobbying effort on gun rights next year
• Virginia legal landscape shifts as cannabis support grows
• A political boss who ruled with kindness leaves the stage (“Democrat Sharon Bulova is leaving the Fairfax County board after 31 years. She was key to extending the Metrorail Silver Line toward Dulles airport in Virginia.”)
• Fairfax County Poaches Another Arlington Economic Development Official
• Bedford County declares itself a Second Amendment sanctuary
• Richmond City Council to move forward with hire of Navy Hill consultant despite objections
• Richmond councilman renews push for local control over Confederate monuments
• Richmond couple leaves voicemail saying they were severely burned in New Zealand volcano eruption
• LGBT language added to Loudoun school employment policy after School Board debate
• Using hand-held devices while driving in Richmond will soon be illegal
• Nationals, Strasburg reach 7-year, $245 million deal
• After a mild morning, temperatures fall, and wet snow is possible tonight