Wednesday News: “Biden Tells Allies Polish Blast Caused by Ukrainian Defenses”; Twice-Impeached, Coup-Plotting, Vengeance-Seeking, Criminal Trump Running Again; GOP in “Disarray, “under siege,” prepares to tear itself apart”; “The Big Liar and His Losing Little Liars”

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, November 16.

• ‘Paris agreement’ for nature imperative at Cop15, architects of climate deal say
• A Clash at Climate Talks: Should Nations Keep the 1.5-Degree Goal?
• As climate change progresses, trees in cities struggle
• To Fight Climate Change, Canada Turns to Indigenous People to Save Its Forests
• Elon Musk’s Twitter on ‘collision course’ with EU regulators
• G20 summit deplores war in Ukraine ‘in strongest terms’
• G20 statement: “Most members” condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
• West backs probe of blast in Poland; G-20 leaders’ statement decries war
• Two dead in Poland as Ukraine war spills into NATO territory
• Polish president: Explosion does not appear to be “intentional attack”
• Missile That Hit Poland Likely Launched by Ukraine in Air Defense, Western Officials Say
• Biden: ‘Unlikely’ missile that hit Poland fired from Russia
• Poland calls NATO meeting after Russian-made missile kills two
• Biden speaks with Polish President Duda after Russia missile strike
• Biden holds emergency talks with world leaders on Poland explosion
• Biden Tells Allies Polish Blast Caused by Ukrainian Defenses
• They call it ‘The Hole’: Ukrainians describe horrors of Kherson occupation (Putin’s Russia is pure evil.)
• Kherson’s fall is another triumph for Ukraine’s ‘thousand bee sting’ strategy
• Ukraine Latest: Scholz Says G-20 Unity Shows Putin More Isolated
• Analysis: Amid Crises, Biden Offers the World a Choice of His Way, or Trump’s (“President Biden emphasized his politics of coalition-building and reinforced his differences with Donald Trump on a trip through the Middle East and Asia.”)
• Qatar’s World Cup denounced for ‘washing’ country’s image
• In Colombia, Drilling Pays the Bills. The Country’s Leaders Want to Quit Oil. (We all need to get off of fossil fuels, ASAP!)
• NASA’s mightiest rocket lifts off 50 years after Apollo (“NASA’s new moon rocket blasted off on its debut flight with three test dummies aboard Wednesday, bringing the U.S. a big step closer to putting astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago.”)
• Why The AP Hasn’t Called Control Of The House Yet (“Republicans have been inching closer to seizing the House since voting closed Nov. 8 but weren’t there yet. California alone has seven races remain to be called, and vote counting continues elsewhere.”)
• We can’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Trumpism is far from over (“To ‘move on’ from Trumpism, is to fall victim to the dangerous historical amnesia to which Americans seem so susceptible”)
• Trump is running for president again – but these legal battles might stand in the way
• Trump’s Running and Republicans Have Only Themselves to Blame
• The Real Reason Trump Runs (“Pride and profit are bigger factors than policy—but there’s an even bigger reason…For all the merit of those explanations, though, they pale in comparison to another: He’s scared witless at the possibility of prosecution. “)
• Trump, whose lies about the 2020 election inspired an insurrection, announces third White House bid (Excellent headline by NBC News!)
• Donald Trump, who tried to overturn Biden’s legitimate election, launches 2024 bid (Now THAT is a good headline. Thank you, NPR!)
• Trump Running For President Again In 2024 Despite Criminal Probes Into Coup Attempt
• Trump, twice-impeached and under criminal investigation, launches 2024 campaign (Also an excellent headline, amazingly, by Axios of all publications!)
• The media need a serious overhaul of their election coverage
• Trump offers a dark vision voters have already rejected as he launches his 2024 campaign
• Trump plays the ousted autocrat struggling to recapture past glory
• Why Trump Is Favored To Win The 2024 Republican Presidential Primary
• Trump’s announcement proves it, again: Republicans aren’t tough — they’re a bunch of weenies (“Republicans know Trump is bad for the party, the country and the world — but they’ll still grovel before Daddy” It is truly pathetic.)
• The End of Trump? (“Murdoch may have pulled the plug on him for 2024, but it’s not clear yet if the rest of the G.O.P. will follow.”)
• America Deserves Better Than Donald Trump
• How Is It Possible That We Are Still Talking About This Man?
• Trump’s speech was full of exaggerated and false talking points (“The former president consistently painted a misleading image of his years in office, recalling nonexistent global peace, secure borders and a strong economy”)
• The Big Liar and His Losing Little Liars
• Dumping Trump Is Just the Start of Murdoch’s Ugly New Era
• Just for a Change of Pace, This Time the Republicans Are in Disarray
• As Trump readies possible 2024 White House run, GOP megadonors back DeSantis, Youngkin, other Republicans
• Trump is out for vengeance — and to protect himself from prosecution
• At Trump’s angry announcement, the magic is gone
• Trump’s secret 2024 weapon? He’s ready to burn it all down
• The GOP prepares to tear itself apart
• No. (“To paraphrase Voltaire after he attended an orgy, once was an experiment, twice would be perverse.”)
• Now the GOP can repent for the Trump era by denying him the nomination (By right-wingnut George Will)
• Republicans engage in full-scale brawl after disappointing midterm elections
• GOP acrimony spills over at heated Senate lunch
• Biden world privately makes 2024 moves of their own
• Scoop: Christie applauded after bashing Trump at GOP governor meeting
• Why a second Trump term would be even more dangerous than his first (That would, for sure, mark the end of American democracy, rule of law, constitution, etc.)
• We can now quantify Trump’s sabotage of the GOP’s House dreams
• Cuellar describes GOP pressure to flip parties: ‘Name your price’
• Schumer Urges Republicans to Jettison Trump and Work With Democrats
• Mitch McConnell Stares Down His First Mutiny
• How McConnell can show that the GOP is no longer under Trump’s thumb (“He can keep his party in the minority, or he can finally dump the former president.”)
• GOP leadership under siege
• Why DeSantis Is A Major Threat To Trump’s Reelection
• Ron DeSantis paid over $100K to Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire
• Ron DeSantis Dubs Trump a Big-Time Loser in First Comments Since Midterms (“Oh look, two of the worst people in the world are in fight.”)
• Republican infighting roils Congress as midterms fallout continues
• McCarthy passes first test in his bid for speaker. Now comes the hard part. (“House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy beat conservative Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona to win the GOP nomination for speaker. But he doesn’t yet have the 218 votes to win the job in January.”)
• Rick Scott announces plan to unseat Mitch McConnell as the top Republican in the Senate
• McConnell faces leadership challenge from Rick Scott as conservatives steam
• Kari Lake’s Loss Destroys ‘Stop the Steal’
• Judge overturns Georgia’s ban on abortion around 6 weeks
• Ivanka Trump says she loves her father but does ‘not plan to be involved in politics’ (Why would anyone love Donald Trump? He’s an utterly disgusting, sociopathic, evil person.)
• Some Republicans show appetite for a Manchin deal on permitting reform
• Senate on verge of history with same-sex marriage vote
• Trump’s Money Man Just Linked Him to Tax Fraud Scheme
• Facebook fact-checkers will stop checking Trump after presidential bid announcement (Facebook is a complete joke.)
• Musk issues ultimatum to staff: Commit to ‘hardcore’ Twitter or take severance (“Elon Musk told Twitter employees that they have until 5 p.m. Eastern time Thursday to sign a pledge if they want to be part of the company. Anyone who does not would receive three months of severance pay, the email, which was shared with The Washington Post, added.”)
• “I think he’s battling with his own self”: Inside Elon Musk’s brain (“Musk biographer Ashlee Vance explains why Twitter isn’t Tesla or SpaceX.”)
• Elon Musk Fires Twitter Employees Who Criticized Him (The self-proclaimed free-speech absolutist strikes again! LOL)
• DeSantis aides celebrated success luring migrants onto flights. Then the law stepped in
• Virginia McLaurin, Sharecroppers’ Daughter Who Danced With the Obamas, Dies
• Senate committee interviews Ballou for federal judgeship in Western Virginia
• Video: Senators Warner and Kaine; Reps. Connolly, Beyer and Wexton; Fairfax Chairman McKay; Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; etc. Celebrate Opening of Silver Line Extension (“Do you smell that? That, my friends, is new Metro station smell. It’s like new car smell, but it’s much much better”)
• New Silver Line extension draws in excitement from riders, leaders
• Richmond just got closer to Dulles as Metro Silver Line opens to airport
• The fastest way to Dulles from downtown D.C.: Driving or Silver Line? (Sounds like it’s comparable on time but MUCH cheaper than parking at Dulles or taking Uber.)
• Bolling: Overhaul of Virginia Tax Code Has Been Needed for Years (Yes, it needs to be made a LOT more progressive and environmental.)
• Gov. Youngkin, Sen. Lucas Set 1/10/23 Special Election for VA07 State Senate District
• Special election to fill Kiggans’ state Senate seat set for January
• Youngkin, Lucas set Jan. 10 as date for special Virginia Senate election
• Video: Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D) Announces Candidacy for State Senate in SD16 Against Republican Incumbent Siobhan Dunnavant
• Special election set for Virginia Senate seat Jen Kiggans will vacate
• Del. VanValkenburg is running for the state Senate
• Labor organizers push for stronger collective bargaining in Prince William
• Our dysfunctional relationship with guns rears its ugly head in Virginia
• Fifth person shot at UVa identified; malicious wounding charges added
• University of Virginia mourns for campus shooting victims
• Governor Youngkin gets emotional at UVA memorial: ‘It’s just horrific’
• U.Va. suspect to appear in court Wednesday; new charges filed
• UVA classes to resume Wednesday; No decision yet on football games
• Opinion/Editorial: Gun allegations demand deeper investigations
• Virginia coach Tony Elliott says football team beginning to heal
• Fairfax Co. weighs changes to high school grading policy
• Schapiro: One of the people who minds the people’s business (“Poole is retiring in June 2023 at the ripe old age of 62½. He doesn’t know what he’ll be doing for his next act.”)
• D.C.-area forecast: Becoming brighter and a bit warmer today, but with a chilly breeze