Wednesday News: “Bipartisan Senate Report Shows How Trump Colluded With Russia in 2016”; “Jill Biden feels America’s pain”; “Biden’s Big Tent Trumps GOP’s Sweaty Clown Car”; “The Postmaster General just backed down, but Democrats must keep up pressure”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, August 19.

• Another two years lost to climate inaction, says Greta Thunberg (“Two years on from her first school strike, activist attacks ‘ignorance and unawareness’”)
• Ocean-sieving expedition reveals huge amounts of microplastic in the Atlantic (Plastic is a disaster.)
• Trump Cancels China Talks, Raising Questions About Trade Deal
• Former DHS official: Trump will ‘align with dictators around the world’ if he wins
• John Kerry: Trump is a ‘blooper reel’ when he travels overseas
• Bipartisan Senate Report Shows How Trump Colluded With Russia in 2016
• The Senate Report on Trump and Russia Is a Triumph for Truth
• Report Details Manafort’s Ties During 2016 Trump Campaign to a Russian Agent
• Trump campaign’s Russia contacts ‘grave’ threat, Senate says (“The Senate panel’s conclusion came it detailed how associates of Donald Trump had regular contact with Russians and expected to benefit from the Kremlin’s help.”)
• Mueller prosecutor says there are new revelations in Senate Russia report
• The Postmaster General just backed down, but Democrats must keep up pressure
• Postmaster general hits pause on USPS changes until after election amid public outcry
• Trump’s post office blunder will test GOP loyalty
• The post office backed off, but the damage is already done
• Bipartisan majority of Americans want more money for Postal Service: Reuters/Ipsos Poll
• Democrats, Republicans Probe for Opening on Stimulus Talks
• Senate Republicans preparing $500B virus relief proposal
• A former DHS official is putting other Trump insiders to shame (“We need more patriotic truthtellers.”)
• Don’t Breathe Easy About the Postal Service Yet (“The postmaster general said he’ll stop screwing with the mail—but he left some wiggle room.”)
• Mitch McConnell: US House’s Postal Service bill may be negotiating opportunity
• 13 Republicans who cheered Susan B. Anthony pardon but voted against equal pay
• ‘Climate Donors’ Flock to Biden to Counter Trump’s Fossil Fuel Money
• Democrats nominate Joe Biden for president, vowing he will end Trump ‘chaos’
• Sally Yates appears at Democratic convention to rip Trump travel ban (She’s a hero!)
• Jill Biden outshines Bill Clinton, and more takeaways from Night 2 of the Democratic convention (Jill was great!)
• Jill Biden feels America’s pain
• Democrats officially nominate Joe Biden for president (“Jill Biden, in school where she once taught, reflects on sorrow in U.S.”)
• AP Exclusive: Cindy McCain video on Joe Biden to air at DNC
• Colin Powell latest Republican to be featured during Democratic convention
• A risky roll call turns into a surprise moment of national unity
• Obama expected to denounce Trump’s ‘cynical moves’ on mail-in voting – US politics live
• The security guard blurted ‘I love you’ to Joe Biden in an elevator. One viral video later, she nominated him for president.
• There Were No Balloon Drops or Funny Hats. The Democratic Convention Reflected the National Mood. (“And no one did so as effectively Kristin Urquiza, who told the story of her father”)
• Biden’s Big Tent Trumps GOP’s Sweaty Clown Car (“Democrats are telling voters that they are trying to help. Next week, Republicans will counter that Dems will steal your guns and teach your daughters the words to Cardi B’s WAP.”)
• The DNC’s second night was about normal, decent people. We need more of them.
• Ady Barkan delivers powerful DNC speech demanding quality healthcare (“Activist who lost his voice because of ALS urged Americans to vote for Joe Biden and called Trump an ‘existential threat’”)
• Hearing Health Care Activist Ady Barkan Was One of the Night’s Most Moving Moments
• Ocasio-Cortez Uses Her 1 Minute At DNC To Call Out Injustices
• 4 Takeaways From Night 2 Of The Democratic National Convention (“Jill Biden worked to put character on the ballot and offer a hopeful message…The remote roll call vote nominating Biden was better than the traditional convention floor routine”)
• Highlights from the second night of the 2020 DNC As it happened / DNC Night 2 top moments and analysis
• Democratic Convention: Best and Worst Moments of Night 2
• Much Changed World, Same Joe Biden Seeking to Undo What Trump Has Done (“Night 2 of the Democratic National Convention focused on how much work awaits the next president, and all the reasons Democrats think voters should trust Mr. Biden with the job.”)
• The Memo: Democrats pitch Biden as the back-to-normal candidate
• ‘He’s Destroyed Conservatism’: The Republican Case Against Trump’s GOP
• The DNC’s Roll Call Made Me Feel More Patriotic Than I Have in Years
• Conventions Should Always Be Virtual (“The format is snappier, the tone meets the moment, and speakers can’t go over their time.”)
• Sally Yates at convention: Trump ‘treats our country like it’s his family business’
• 5 winners and 2 losers from night 2 of the Democratic convention
• Trump campaign sues New Jersey after its decision to mail ballots in November election (Trump continues his campaign to discredit voting by mail, which is 100% fine by the way.)
• Far-Right Agitator Laura Loomer Wins GOP Primary in Florida District Including Mar-a-Lago (Ladies and gentlemen: the Party of Trump.)
• Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier are anchoring Fox’s convention coverage. They have utterly failed to cover 2020 responsibly.
• BREAKING: Around 20 States, Including Virginia, Announce Postal Service Lawsuit
• Sen. Warner on USPS suspending mail changes, Senate’s final report on Russian interference in 2016 election
• Senate Intel Chair Mark Warner Statement on Release of Volume 5 of the Bipartisan Russia Report (“Volume 5 stands as the most comprehensive examination of ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign to date”)
• Sen. Mark Warner weighs in on the DNC, party unity
• Sen. Mark Warner Discusses Latest Report On Russia’s Influence On 2016 Election
• Kaine: ‘We need to trade out the Trump administration for one that stands for character, compassion, and competence.’
• Sen. Tim Kaine says ‘stakes are high’ after first night of DNC; encourages Virginians to vote
• Senators Warner, Kaine Urge Virginia Registrars to Ensures All Virginians Can Access Their Right to Vote
• Scott Taylor sends cease and desist letter to Elaine Luria alleging defamatory statements (Riiiight.)
• American Maritime Partnership Names Representative Elaine Luria ‘American Maritime Hero’
• Congresswoman Luria’s Campaign Statement On Scott Taylor’s Desperate Attempt to Mislead the Public
• Protesters Rally Against Good, but Good Does Not Arrive
• Group Co-Chaired by Norfolk Councilwoman Andria McClellan Releases New Climate Change Agenda (NewDEAL Forum working group report is entitled, “Climate Solutions: Policy Proposals for Growing a Clean Economy and Protecting Communities: A Guide for State and Local Policymaker)
• Tuesday (8/18) Virginia Data on COVID-19 Finds +861 Confirmed/Probable Cases (to 108,282), +82 Hospitalizations (to 8,849), +11 Deaths (to 2,396) From Yesterday
• Could antigen tests solve Virginia’s testing problems? Experts say it’s not so simple.
• SCC: Dominion under-earned last year, but excess profits have topped half a billion since 2017
• Northam pitches policies to make it easier to vote absentee in the November elections
• Editorial: Special session requires financial prudence
• Virginia lawmakers haggle over details of meeting in special legislative session (“Democrats in House of Delegates try to move meeting online, while Republicans argue rural lawmakers will have tough time connecting.”)
• Northam cuts spending priorities to fill $2.7 billion shortfall
• Governor Northam Proposes Voter Protection Measures Ahead of November General Election
• ‘Their preparation was not enough’: Virginia Tech reacts as UNC, others close campuses
• Virginia lawmakers launch a special session where they’ll tackle coronavirus impact and police reforms (“The House will meet remotely for the rest of the session, while the Senate will hold some hearings online and some in person in Richmond.”)
• Opinion: For Virginia, an unprecedented moment for racial honesty (This op-ed by former Gov. Bob McDonnell is really pathetic – massive false equivalency, “both sides-ism,” intentionally inaccurate history, etc, etc. It still astounds me that this guy was ever governor of our state. Ugh.)
• Gov. Ralph Northam outlines coronavirus-related spending changes; House likely to shift to meeting online
• Northam halts non-emergency admissions at full state mental hospitals; four have virus outbreaks
• Transportation funding down, even though gas taxes have gone up
• Virginia Republicans React with Class, Dignity and Restraint to Sen. Lucas News? Hahahaha, Of *Course* They Don’t!
• Democratic lawmakers question if charges against Sen. Lucas are politically motivated
• Lucas Charges Had Lawmakers Buzzing on First Day of Special Session
• Virginia Museum of History & Culture agrees to accept Lee statue from U.S. Capitol
• Richmond judge to rule within a week on state AG’s request to toss lawsuit blocking removal of Lee statue
• It Looks Like Former Del. Tim Hugo (R) Is Running for Lt. Governor of Virginia
• Demonstrators Call for Housing and Education Reforms
• Richmond Councilwoman requests investigation into mayor’s handling of Confederate statue removal contract
• Richmond mayoral candidates square off virtually in first forum of campaign (“In a year of turmoil, Richmond’s mayoral candidates shared their respective ideas Tuesday on how to build a more equitable city in the wake of months of civil unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic.”)
• Almost 6 months in, Black and Latino residents are still 80% of Richmond’s COVID cases. Health officials point to why
• Guzman: The dignity of the Latino community is on the ballot in November.
• Local and federal candidates appear at Back the Blue rally in Roanoke
• Mayor Stoney asks School Board to open schools for emergency child care
• Franklin County board says it won’t use new powers to regulate firearms locally
• Not too hot or humid as shower chances persist; a bit more like August this weekend