Thursday News: “The only way out of this delta variant misery is through vaccinations”; “Republican ‘law and order’ hypocrisy is off the charts”; “Trump Cards”; “Youngkin’s policy rollout is overshadowed by the ‘big lie’”; “The danger of that ‘election integrity’ rally”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, August 5.

• As bad as covid-19 has been, a future pandemic could be even worse — unless we act now
• Facebook let fossil-fuel industry push climate misinformation, report finds (Facebook is a disgrace in almost every way. Also a menace.)
• World Records 200 Million COVID-19 Cases As New Variant Wreaks Havoc On Unvaccinated (“More than 4.2 million people have died worldwide from the virus.”)
• Delta variant is ravaging the world but it’s pushing Southeast Asia to breaking point (“Frustrations among citizens forced to endure yet more curbs on their freedoms and ability to work are reaching boiling point — and protests against their governments’ handling of the outbreaks have broken out in Malaysia and Thailand. Meanwhile, Myanmar is on the verge of collapse as a February military coup and ensuing bloody crackdown has shattered the health system and vaccinations have completely stalled.”)
• Europe’s Pandemic Aid Is Winding Down. Is Now the Best Time?
• Israel launches airstrikes in Lebanon in response to rockets
• A Near Press Blackout in Afghanistan (“The war that Americans forgot is ending in chaos and secrecy.”)
• Mexico sues US gun manufacturers over arms trafficking
• New COVID-19 cases peak in Sydney as Australia battles Delta variant
• Some researchers fear the lambda variant could be even more dangerous than delta (“Lambda’s spike protein mutation makes it particularly squirrelly — and 81 percent of cases in Peru are now lambda”)
• $5,800 Whiskey Bottle, a Gift From Japan to Pompeo, Is Missing, U.S. Says
• Rage and sorrow as Lebanon marks the first anniversary of the Beirut port explosion
• The Tokyo Olympics Haven’t Felt Like Must-See TV
• This year’s summer of climate extremes hits wealthier places
• Carmakers, Biden to Roll Out Emission Cuts and EV Sales Goal
• Biden Sets U.S. Goal of 50% Clean Cars as Carmakers Ask for Help
• U.S. to Set Electric-Vehicle Sales Target of 50% by 2030
• The US power sector is halfway to net zero emissions, but it gets harder now, analysts say (“Renewables led the power sector’s recent energy transition, but breakthroughs are needed to decarbonize the transportation, building and industrial sectors.”)
• Senate GOP poised to give Biden huge political victory
• Senate eyeing possible weekend finish for $1T infrastructure bill
• The only way out of this delta variant misery is through vaccinations
• Americans have had it with vaccine refusers and anti-mandate politicians
• The delta variant is surging. How should that change how we live?
• U.S. COVID-19 cases hit six-month high at over 100,000 – Reuters tally
• Even for vaccinated people, now is the time for masks and testing, public health experts say (“With the delta variant ripping through the country, health experts suggest most Americans get back to early pandemic basics.”)
• EXCLUSIVE U.S. developing plan to require foreign visitors to be vaccinated -official
• A Quick Reminder That Mandating Vaccines Is Totally Constitutional
• What Is Biden Waiting For? (“The Delta variant is making clear what the Administration should have done back in January: mandate vaccines, mandate passports and crack down on the denialists. Now time is running short. — Why is it taking the Delta variant to get the Biden administration to do what it should have done in January?”)
• Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates Split Corporate America (“With Delta cases rising, Tyson and Walmart are insisting employees get the shot; others are sticking with persuasion and cash incentives” It’s long past time for mandates.)
• Democrats haven’t given up on their democracy-protection bill
• Democrats Introduce Bill To Give Every American An Affirmative Right To Vote
• With eviction victory in hand, Democratic lawmakers in Congress turn their attention to student loans
• Biden thinks his new eviction moratorium may be doomed. Here’s why he’s trying it anyway. (“He’s hoping the courts give it a little more time.”)
• Biden Includes Historic LGBTQ Pick In Latest Judicial Nominees (“If confirmed, Beth Robinson could become the first openly LGBTQ woman to serve on any U.S. appeals court.”)
• How Democrats plan to win in 2022 (“The push to sell Biden’s agenda is underway.”)
• Biden Loses Ground On His Handling Of COVID-19 Response, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Infrastructure Bill Gets A Thumbs Up By A 2 To 1 Margin
• Republican ‘law and order’ hypocrisy is off the charts (“It is unfathomable that a party that disdains those who defend democracy should be entrusted with power.”)
• Five big questions as Jan. 6 panel preps subpoenas (“Should lawmakers like McCarthy and Jordan be called to testify?” Absolutely!)
• Facebook Boots NYU Disinformation Researchers Off Its Platform And Critics Cry Foul (Why always frame things as “critics say?” Can’t the media look into the situation and determine what the actual situation is?)
• The lesson from Ohio: Democrats want to fight Trump, not Biden
• In String of Wins, ‘Biden Democrats’ See a Reality Check for the Left
• Ohio special election: A good day for Democrats
• Ohio special election win cements Jim Clyburn’s kingmaker status
• Yes, Trump tried to stage a coup. By denying it, the right is laying the groundwork for another one.
• House GOP Campaign Chair Won’t Rule Out Backing Candidates Who Attended Jan. 6 Riot
• Liz Cheney says her father is ‘deeply troubled’ about the state of the Republican Party
• Trump Is Wrong About Congress and His Tax Returns
• This Jeffrey Clark Revelation Is Revalatory
• Top Republicans move to protect Trump from Capitol attack fallout (Disgraceful and deranged.)
• A key witness emerges in probe of Trump’s DOJ election scheme
• Feds Arrest ‘George Washington’ In Jan. 6 Case Using Phone Tracking, Facial Recognition
• Seeking Immunity From Suit Over Jan. 6th Attack, Rep. Mo Brooks Tells Judge He Was Simply ‘Cooperating’ with the ‘White House’
• ‘The stuff of which violent insurrections are made:’ Federal judge punishes Colorado lawyers for 2020 election lawsuit
• The governors of the 4 largest states in the country are all under fire right now
• Biden’s sharp rebuke of GOP governors should prompt a Democratic rethink (“If Republicans are going to impair our covid-19 response, Democrats must forcefully take that on.”)
• ‘The Pied Piper leading us off a cliff’: Florida governor condemned as Covid surges
• Florida governor turns his ire on Biden instead of Covid-19
• Maricopa County and Dominion Are Sticking It to the Cyber Ninjas
• Andrew Cuomo teeters on the edge of a spectacular fall from grace
• Andrew Cuomo’s grotesque behavior was an assault on women — and on the idealism of public service
• Andrew Cuomo Didn’t Act Alone (“His inner circle enabled him. They should go down with their leader.”)
• HRC president Alphonso David colluded with Cuomo’s office to smear accuser, AG report finds (Yikes.)
• Cuomo’s office sought help from liberal advocates as it attempted to discredit accuser
• Facing Loss of Supporters, Cuomo Gains Attention From Prosecutors
• Majority of NY Assembly would oust Cuomo if he doesn’t quit
• Cuomo impeachment process could take months, legislators warn
• CNN’s Cuomo Conundrum: A Star Anchor With a Brother in Trouble (It’s not just that Andrew is Chris’ brother, it’s that Chris has repeatedly been involved in strategizing for Chris, etc.)
• Texas GOP Official Mocked COVID Five Days Before He Died of Virus
• Tucker Carlson Has Seen the Future, and It Is Fascist Orban’s Hungary is the road map for American authoritarianism.
• Janey says no plans for NYC-type restrictions, invoking slavery, birtherism
• New York City’s Vaccine Mandates Are Working (“Vaccinations have increased significantly since Mayor de Blasio announced that city employees must prove they signed up for a shot.”)
• Mike Richards in Advanced Negotiations to Become Permanent Host of ‘Jeopardy!’ (EXCLUSIVE)
• Washington NFL team bans fans from wearing Native American dress
• Video: Sen. Tim Kaine Applauds Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passage Of His Bill to Repeal 1991, 2002 AUMFs
• Virginia Sen. Kaine’s proposal to repeal decades-old war authorization advances to the Senate floor
• Warner, Kaine say more covid-19 relief essential for restaurants in plea to Senate leadership
• “Something of a gut punch…Youngkin seems out of touch with rural reality… Would hurt actual Republican constituents in rural Virginia.” (“When it comes to the economic challenges facing rural Virginia, [Youngkin] seems incapable of anything except clichés.”)
• Glenn Youngkin’s policy rollout is overshadowed by the ‘big lie’
• Bloomberg Article Reports Youngkin “flamed out” of Carlyle Group, “Racked Up Bad Bets,” Had “checkered record and “little choice but to leave”
• Editorial: The choice before Youngkin (“Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin has a choice at his scheduled appearance at an “election integrity” rally this weekend: Tell people the truth or feed into the lies.” Speaking of “Big Lies,” the Daily Press and Virginian-Pilot falsely claim that Youngkin has “positioned himself as a moderate conservative,” when in fact he’s a combo of far right and refusing to reveal his positions at all.)
• Virginia lieutenant governor race could decide the fate of abortion rights in the state
• Gov. Ralph Northam weighs in on accusations against New York Gov. Cuomo
• Video: Virginia House of Delegates Passes Democratic Budget Bill to Allocate $4.3b in American Rescue Act Funds; Vote Is 71-25, Including All Democrats and 18 Republicans
• House OK’s State Budget, But Virginia Senate Adds a Few Amendments
• Virginia Senate breaks ranks before passing budget; House sticks to Democrats’ plan
• Virginia Senate tinkers with pandemic relief, dashing hopes for fast-tracked bill
• Democrats hold secret discussions to narrow down Court of Appeals applicants
• Wednesday (8/4) Virginia Data on COVID-19: With Delta Now Dominant, Hospitalizations At Highest Level Since Mid-May, 1-Day New COVID Cases (+1,716) Highest Since 4/13; 10-Day New Cases (+12,758) Highest Since 4/24
• Gov. Northam ‘actively considering’ vaccine mandate for state employees, Dr. Avula says (Do it.)
• Northern Virginia health directors issue joint recommendation on indoor mask-wearing
• Public health officials urge masking as Northern Virginia sees more coronavirus transmission (Yep, no brainer.)
• Regulators approve Dominion bill increase for participation in carbon trading network (“Commissioner warns of ‘potential costly duplications’ in state carbon reduction efforts”)
• Editorial: The danger of that ‘election integrity’ rally (“Republicans will conduct a two-day rally in Lynchburg this weekend.” Appalling.)
• Nelson County Activists Say Atlantic Coast Pipeline Should Rescind “Zombie Easements”
• COVID-19 Hospitalizations At Ballad Health Nearly Triple In A Week (“COVID-19 hospitalizations at the health system that serves portions of southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee have nearly tripled in one week. And officials at Ballad Health fear the delta variant surge will be even worse than last winter’s caseload.”)
• City of Richmond introduces first employee vaccine mandate in Virginia
• York County School Board votes to make masks optional for students and staff; Hampton schools requiring them
• Slain Pentagon officer was attacked without provocation, FBI says
• On first day of classes, EVMS announces abrupt change in leadership after special board meeting
• D.C.-area forecast: Comfortably dry and sunny today, but heat creeps back in for the weekend