Wednesday News: Trump Trial Found Constitutional, With Just 6 GOP Votes; “The Trump Defense Team Were Beamed In From Dimension X”; “The First Trial Seemed Abstract. This One Is a Visceral Reckoning Over Trump.”; Amanda Chase Sues Virginia GOP; Roanoke Trends on Twitter

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, February 10.

• WHO says an ‘intermediary host species’ is most likely how Covid-19 was introduced (That’s been the obvious, “Occam’s Razor” answer all along.)
• China birthrate slumps as experts blame changing attitudes (“One-child policy fallout and rejection of marriage said to be among reasons for drop of about 15% in 2020”)
• How a Dangerous Virus Variant Thwarted Poorer Countries’ Vaccine Hopes (“A finding that the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine had little effect on a fast-spreading variant was bad news for South Africa and other countries.”)
• Cyberspace Plus Trump Almost Killed Our Democracy. Can Europe Save Us? (“If we don’t find a solution fast, China will pass us economically.”)
• Protests rock Myanmar for fifth day, West condemns security response
• Myanmar’s coup protests are different from past demonstrations, researcher says
• J&J CEO says people may need annual Covid vaccine shots for the next several years
• Since 1850, These Historical Events Have Accelerated Climate Change
• Four huge new energy deals show the future of decarbonization (“European oil majors see their future in offshore wind…Tech giants are key buyers of zero-carbon electricity…China will defend its title as king of renewable energy…Time is running out for countries exporting natural gas”)
• Trump hid his calls with Putin. Now, Biden has access to them.
• Covid-19 Live Updates: After a Brutal Winter Rise, U.S. Virus Deaths Are Declining
• Large bipartisan majority of Americans favor more COVID economic relief
• The First Trial Seemed Abstract. This One Is a Visceral Reckoning Over Trump. (“At issue will be many aspects that defined Donald Trump’s presidency: his relentless assaults on truth, his fomenting of divisions, his shattering of norms and his undermining of an election.”)
• Why the Second Impeachment of Donald Trump Is More Important Than the First (“His betrayal of the nation was profound and existential. There must be a full reckoning.”)
• Senate votes trial constitutional; six Republicans vote ‘yes’
• Senate votes to pursue Trump impeachment trial after declaring the proceedings constitutional
• Horrific mob scenes dominate Trump’s impeachment trial
• How Long Can Democracy Survive QAnon and Its Allies? (“Politicians and political scientists wonder if there are electoral reforms that might blunt the lunacy.” Need to fix social media, ASAP!)
• Rep. Jamie Raskin Recounts the Horror of Capitol Riot
• That wrenching video alone makes an utterly damning case against Trump
• Jamie Raskin won the impeachment trial before it began (“Eloquence and evidence demonstrated how depraved Republicans are.”)
• Why Jamie Raskin’s Speech Resonated
• The Latest: Aides say Trump impeachment case ‘devastating’
• McConnell Signals to GOP Trump Impeachment Is a Conscience Vote
• Meandering Performance by Defense Lawyers Enrages Trump (What DOESN’T “enrage” that freakazoid?)
• House managers look to shift public opinion during Trump impeachment trial
• In impeachment trial, a clarifying moment for the GOP
• Bruce Castor: The Disaster Artist (“Bruce Castor’s opening statement in defense of former President Donald Trump was one of the worst presentations I have ever seen by a public speaker, in any context.”)
• Impeachment trial 2, day 1: Now the Republicans are the party of terrorism
• Senate Republicans take note: The public is moving in favor of conviction (“More Americans — including more Republicans — understand why Trump must be held accountable.”)
• The Rambling, Stumbling Case for Trump’s Acquittal (“The ex-president’s lawyers present a bizarre and shapeless opening impeachment defense.”)
• This Is Not Representative Democracy (“The American people overwhelmingly favor conviction, and there is no chance the Senate will convict.”)
• Trump won’t be convicted. Impeachment is still worth it. (“Impeachment is the first step toward real democracy reform.”)
• One of Trump’s impeachment lawyers sued him last year — and accused him of making claims about fraud with ‘no evidence’
• GOP senators ‘perplexed’ by ‘unfocused’ and ‘weaker’ Trump legal defense
• Why Trump’s defense team failed miserably
• The Trump Defense Team Were Beamed In From Dimension X
• In an avalanche of words, there’s no sign of regret from Trump
• Trump’s Lawyer Rambles Through Hilariously Incoherent Impeachment Defense (“Bruce Castor was sick the day they taught law in law school”)
• Lie After Lie: Listen to How Trump Built His Alternate Reality
• House Democrats Made The Case To Impeach Trump. His Legal Team Made Threats. (“The House impeachment managers made a clear and emotional case for why the Senate must hold an impeachment trial. Trump’s lawyers? Not so much.”)
• Trial of Former President Is Found Constitutional, With 6 G.O.P. Votes
• Indifference Reigns in Trump World as Impeachment Trial Begins (Sociopaths.)
• Impeachment minefield awaits 2024 GOP field
• Republicans will exonerate Trump, but they can’t ignore the horrors
• The GOP response to losing in 2020? Make it harder to vote. Again.
• ‘There’s Nothing Left’: Why Thousands of Republicans Are Leaving the Party (“Voting registration data indicates a stronger-than-usual flight from the G.O.P. since the Capitol riot, with an intensely fluid period in American politics now underway.”)
• Can some sort of voting reform pass? (It had better!)
• Capitol Riot Prompts A Reckoning Over Extremism In The Ranks
• The Pentagon Finally Admits It Has an Extremism Problem in the Ranks. But Fixing It Won’t Be Easy.
• ‘I’m Not a Cat,’ Says Lawyer Having Zoom Difficulties
• Fox’s effort to clean up its post-election misinformation is not terribly convincing
• Sadly, Fox News can’t be impeached (Can it be bankrupted?)
• Parkland survivor David Hogg launches his own company in a ‘pillow fight’ against Mike Lindell
• Shirkey falsely claims US Capitol attack was staged, not carried out by Trump supporters (This guy’s utterly unfit to hold public office of any kind.)
• Rep. Spanberger: Combatting extremism on social media ‘incredibly important’ (Agreed 100%.)
• Luria: U.S. must include regional allies in Iran negotiations (“Rep. Elaine Luria was recently selected as the vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee”)
• Tuesday (2/9) Virginia Data on COVID-19 Finds +3,291 Confirmed/Probable Cases (to 534,116), +172 Hospitalizations (to 22,339), +78 Deaths (to 6,898)
• A Few Highlights From the Virginia Department of Elections’ November 3, 2020 Post-Election Report
• ‘Not an ideal rollout’ – CVS brings more vaccine to Va., amid confusion, concerns about fairness and equity
• Amanda Chase Sues as GOP Nomination Process Deadlocks
• Amanda Chase complicates Virginia GOP’s path to governor’s mansion
• Ex-think tank CEO Peter Doran announces GOP bid for governor (Another right winger.)
• Northern Virginia executive Peter Doran announces GOP bid for governor
• Sen. Janet Howell: Where Major Virginia Bills Stand at “Crossover”
• 2021 VA GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Pete Snyder Touts Endorsement By Extremist EW Jackson, Who Ranted About “Homocracy,” “Demon Possession,” Yoga and Satan, etc.
• As Impeachment Trial Unfolds and the Horrors of 1/6 Are Recounted, VA GOP 2021 Gubernatorial Candidate Kirk Cox is Scrambling to Double Down On Trumpism
• Video: Sam Rasoul Introduces Virginia Marshall Plan for Moms
• Amanda Chase filed a lawsuit against the Republican Party of Virginia
• Virginia Republican sues own party over nominating process for top office (“State Sen. Amanda Chase suggested the GOP leadership is trying to go around voters.”)
• Lawmakers weigh how far to go in changing a decades-old law criminalizing HIV
• After hectic 2020 election, Virginia might change the way absentee votes are counted
• Some lawmakers running statewide will utilize loophole to raise money in session
• Virginia Senate Considering Legislation Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis
• Jennifer Carroll Foy Releases Plan to Protect LGBTQIA+ Rights
• Virginia police should not fear more accountability
• Virginia Judicial Interviews Go “Off the Rails”; “Like a courtroom drama”; “This is a f**king shitshow”
• Democrat Irene Shin Announces Primary Campaign for House of Delegates District 86
• Cat Fight in Richmond (“You could call it a ‘cat fight.’ Virginia lawmakers are now debating a bill that would make it easier for volunteers to trap, neuter and release feral felines. Many animal rights advocates oppose it.”)
• Richmond schools officials cite ‘significant concerns’ about reopening buildings by Gov. Northam’s March 15 deadline
• Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor on Sentencing of Ku Klux Klansmen Who Attempted to Assault Protesters
• While spring semester COVID-19 cases decline, Virginia Tech misses positivity rate goal
• First Groups Of Fairfax Students Expected To Return On Feb. 16
• Arlington students to return for hybrid learning in March
• Vytal Studios to build corporate headquarters in Richmond, bringing hundreds of jobs
• Henrico manager announces $54.8M ‘generational’ salary increase across 10,000-employee workforce
• Watch Now: Karen Carpenter, ‘The Dating Game’ and a Twitter LOL make Roanoke trendy
• Busy pattern offers multiple chances of winter weather starting late today