by Lowell
Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, October 22.
- Climate change will bring global tension, US intelligence report says
- With Xi-Biden meeting, U.S. aims to show responsible handling of China ties
- Where civilization emerged between two rivers, climate change poisons land and empties villages
- ‘The UK really is in trouble’: Doctors warn of a dire Covid crisis as officials reject restrictions (“The U.K. is seeing rampant Covid infections and a slowly increasing number of hospitalizations and deaths. The warnings come just as government officials have insisted that more restrictions on public life are not yet necessary.”)
- With Coercion and Black Boxes, Russia Installs a Digital Iron Curtain (“The Kremlin’s new censorship tools give it sweeping powers to block and slow down websites that it does not want the Russian public to see. The program, quietly built over two years, is the start of perhaps the world’s most ambitious effort outside of China to bring the internet to heel.”)
- The Vindication of Angela Merkel
- Biden says US will defend Taiwan if China attacks (“But a White House spokesman later told some US media outlets that his remarks did not signify a change in policy. The US has a law which requires it to help Taiwan defend itself. But it pursues a policy of ‘strategic ambiguity,’ where it is deliberately vague about what it would actually do if China were to attack Taiwan.”)
- Poaching is altering the genetics of wild animals (“Elephants and other species are quickly adapting to human threats. Will that help them survive?” Poachers are among the worst in humanity.)
- Ivory poaching has led to evolution of tuskless elephants, study finds (Killing an elephant for its ivory is pure evil. Anyone who buys the ivory can also f*** themselves.)
- Evergrande’s tortuous restructuring, asset sales in focus after default averted
- Want faster decarbonization? Look to consumer action first, study says (“The study by Brattle Group and Oracle found that consumer actions like adopting residential solar could cut emissions twice as much as utility action alone.”)
- How varied energy storage can enable a low-cost renewable energy future (“Analysis from NREL shows that high-renewable operation is possible, and less expensive, when a variety of energy storage technologies are used.”)
- Meeting state offshore wind, renewable goals requires up to $3.2B in transmission, PJM says
- U.S. Warns Climate Poses ‘Emerging Threat’ to Financial System
- CDC approves Moderna and J&J Covid vaccine boosters, allowing people to mix-and-match shots
- Moderna and J&J Covid-19 Booster Shots Backed by CDC
- Why are Democrats afraid to use their power? American democracy depends on it (“Biden and the Democrats face a fast-closing window to salvage democracy. They must act forcefully — and act now”)
- Stephen Bannon Is One Step Closer to a Possible Year in Prison
- House holds Trump ally Steve Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress (“Contempt citation for Bannon approved by 229 votes to 202”)
- Biden, predicting a deal on his agenda, gives inside details of talks
- Biden says he’s open to altering, eliminating filibuster to advance voting rights
- Biden Says He Doesn’t See Votes to Raise Tax Rates in Deal
- Biden Says U.S. Gasoline Prices Will Remain High Into 2022
- Biden returns to retail politics to rescue his biggest deal yet
- Democrats brush off risks of paring down spending package
- Black candidates for US Senate smash fundraising records for 2022 midterms (“Third-quarter hauls raise hopes of transforming a body in which only 11 African American senators have ever sat”)
- How Not to Let Corporations Kill Biden’s Agenda
- Biden: Jan. 6 Capitol riot “was about white supremacy”
- Adam Schiff Says ‘There’s No Magic Button To Push’ To Protect Democracy (Nope, we all need to fight for it day in, day out. No rest for the weary!)
- Who Killed Colin Powell? (“How vaccine refusers endanger everyone else.”)
- The Texas Gerrymander Is an Atrocity
- Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan Put on a Clown Show in the United States Congress
- ‘You’re a joke’: Greene clashes with Cheney, Raskin on House floor
- Cheney reveals GOP’s Banks claimed he was Jan. 6 panel’s ranking member
- Kevin McCarthy or Liz Cheney? Consultants Forced to Choose
- Mastodon’s Founder Says Trump’s New Social Network Is Just Mastodon
- Trump’s new social media platform won’t allow users to ‘disparage’ it
- Inside the “weird” world of DWAC, Trump’s already soaring social media SPAC (“I don’t know enough to say it’s unprecedented, but it’s weird”)
- Why Trump’s pathetic social media platform is probably doomed (“It won’t help him become president again. But he might be able to milk his supporters for a few bucks.”)
- Justice Dept. Adds Two Top Prosecutors to Matt Gaetz Case
- The Next Facebook Will Be a Tartarus, an Endless Prison for Humanity. I Can’t Wait.
- Mark Zuckerberg Can’t Wash Away Facebook’s Toxic Image With a Rebrand
- Republicans have given Joe Manchin the perfect reason to end the filibuster (“After every one of his GOP colleagues voted to kill his voting rights bill, there can be no more illusions.”)
- Joe Manchin is wrong about spending on climate change. It would be good for his state.
- In an attempt to undermine the Build Back Better plan, Fox has mocked and misrepresented its climate and environmental justice provisions (Fox=Evil)
- Democratic frustration with Sinema rises
- Sinema’s attack on Biden’s tax plan may be great news for the 1 percent
- We’re Starting to Learn Just How Big Democrats’ Kyrsten Sinema Problem Is
- Liberal backlash against Sinema grows on Capitol Hill as potential Arizona challenger emerges
- Climate advocates who backed Sinema exasperated by blocking of Biden bill
- Alec Baldwin Fired Prop Gun That Killed Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Injured Director
- Human remains found in Florida reserve confirmed to be Brian Laundrie, FBI says
- All Four Virginia Congressional Republicans Refuse to Enforce January 6 Committee Subpoena of Bannon (“All four Republican members of Congress from the Commonwealth (Ben Cline, Bob Good, Morgan Griffith, and Rob Wittman) voted to give Bannon – and indirectly, his fellow Trumpists up to and including the ex-president himself – a free pass for inciting, supporting, and now gloriously retconning the insurrection.”)
- At U.S. House Hearing, McClellan Calls on Federal Government to Certify Ratifications of Equal Rights Amendment (“McClellan Serves as Witness Before U.S. House Oversight Committee in Hearing on ERA”)
- One State Lawmaker to Congress: It’s Time to Add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution
- Sen. Bryce Reeves jumps into GOP fray for 7th District congressional seat
- Vice President Harris, campaigning with McAuliffe, calls Virginia’s election crucial to nation
- Video: At Rally with Terry McAuliffe, VP Kamala Harris Says “Four Years Is a Long Time,” as We Just Saw with Trump, So Make Sure You VOTE! (VP Harris: “we will not be distracted, dissuaded or deterred – this election is too important!”)
- After “MAGA” Fan’s Threat to “shoot Terry,” Close Glenn Youngkin Ally/Surrogate Amanda Chase Mocks “Snowflake Democrats” Who “Whine and Cry About Threats” (Chase also floats conspiracy theory: “Is it a coincidence that this threat comes the day after a new poll shows Terry and Glenn neck and neck?”)
- Chase calls Democrats “Snowflakes” after McAuliffe reports death threat
- Youngkin tries to harness Virginia parent anger in possible ’22 GOP preview (More to the point, Youngkin is fomenting and stoking anger in a wildly irresponsible, dishonest way.)
- Glenn Youngkin Financed PAC Backing Capitol Rioters While Denouncing Jan. 6 in His Campaign
- Blank Slate to Best Hope: Can Youngkin Rescue the Va. GOP? (“Democrats see an extremist with softer packaging. They have accused Youngkin of promoting democracy-eroding election fraud conspiracies. Youngkin has embraced Trump’s endorsement and kept up ties to far-right figures. He’s dodged when pressed for details on policies on abortion rights and gun control, and leaned into culture war fights over schools and pandemic precautions. Like many Republicans, he’s preferred interviews with right-leaning news organizations. His opponent, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, calls Youngkin a ‘Trump wannabe.'”
- Biden to campaign for McAuliffe again in tight Virginia governor’s race (“Former President Barack Obama will campaign with the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful this weekend.”)
- FWIW Virginia: “#VAGov is neck and neck…or is it?” Also, “one of the most brutal delegate ads we’ve seen this cycle”
- The Irony in Glenn Youngkin’s Push for Early Voting in Virginia(“Glenn Youngkin, the Republican nominee for governor, is encouraging early voting despite catering to the Trump base that believes the former president’s election conspiracies.”)
- The Democratic coalition will be tested in the Virginia governor’s race (“Virginia has trended Democratic as it’s gotten more diverse. But this year’s race for governor seems set to be close. That’s in large part because Democrats are fighting apathy among their base.”)
- Virginia Democratic Congressional Delegation Condemns AG Candidate Jason Miyares for Accepting Money from Republican Who Funded Jan. 6
- Virginia’s Democratic congressional delegation calls on Miyares to renounce support from a group that was involved in promoting the Jan. 6 rally
- ‘Our Very Democracy on the Line’: Women Leaders Across Virginia Share a Powerful Message
- DLCC: Virginia Republicans Commit to Gutting Public Schools and Demonizing Teachers (“Republican candidates for the legislature have committed to making education worse in Virginia”)
- Could removing parking requirements help revitalize Virginia’s cities? (Do it!)
- Virginia electric utilities and co-ops weigh in on possible transmission reforms
- Thursday (10/21) Virginia Data on COVID-19: 1-Day New Cases +1,779; 10-Day New Cases +24,941; Hospitalizations at 1,311
- Video: Del. Chris Hurst’s Right-Wing Republican Opponent Refuses to Respond to Question About Why He’s Campaigning With “Big Lie conspiracy theorist who led Donald Trump’s effort to overturn Wisconsin” (Instead, Hurst’s opponent turns it over to the 2020 election “Big Lie” guy, who proceeds to…well, LIE about the 2020 election!)
- SCOVA Says No to a Rehearing in Lee Monument Case
- Email from Loudoun Co. superintendent alerted school board on day of bathroom assault (“The school board is often notified of major incidents at schools, but rarely given the specifics or told about who is involved because the board may be involved in student disciplinary actions.”)
- Editorial: An alternative court path (“Alternative court program in Newport News helps those with serious mental illness who are charged with crimes, the sort of criminal justice reform making a real difference.”)
- These Virginia moms are fighting back against the right’s war on schools
- Charlottesville ‘Unite the Right’ trial set to begin four years after rally (“Nine plaintiffs injured at the 2017 rally in Virginia are seeking financial compensation from organizers. Jury selection begins Monday.”)
- UVa employees must get vaccinated by Dec. 8, officials announce
- ‘This is an act of vandalism and hatred’: Arthur Ashe Mural in Battery Park vandalized with white supremacist tags
- Maggie Walker removes part of standardized admissions test in move aimed at boosting equity
- D.C.-area forecast: Cooler air takes over as fall weather returns to the region
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