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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, December 19.
- Cop15: historic deal struck to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 (“Agreement on ’30 by 30’ target forced through by Chinese president, ignoring objections from African states”)
- Cop15: key points of the nature deal at a glance (“Main points of the historic agreement signed in Montreal to halt the destruction of Earth’s ecosystems”)
- Nations promise to protect 30 percent of planet to stem extinction (“Close to 200 nations pledged to protect nearly a third of Earth’s land and oceans as a refuge for the planet’s remaining wild plants and animals by 2030.” Good start, now increase that to 50%.)
- Canada’s polar-bear capital Churchill warms too fast for bears
- Their Lives Were Ruined by Oil Pollution, and a Court Awarded Them $9.5 Billion. But Ecuadorians Have Yet to See a Penny From Chevron (“One of the victims says ‘nobody listens to us’ while the spotlight has shifted to his American lawyer, whom the oil giant has pursued in U.S. legal proceedings.”)
- Global stock markets sink under global recession fears
- Brazilian President-Elect Lula’s Climate Actions Must Match His Rhetoric
- Facing blackouts and Iranian-made drones, Ukrainian Jews urge Israel to help
- Night-time drone attack hits Kyiv as Putin heads to Belarus
- Belarus leader says situation ‘escalating’ ahead of rare Putin visit
- American tourists stranded in Machu Picchu as deadly unrest sweeps Peru (That’s unfortunate. BTW, Macchu Picchu, Cuzco, etc. are amazing…when the country isn’t in turmoil.)
- Struggling to crush unrest, Iran turns to public executions
- From Zero Covid to No Plan: Behind China’s Pandemic U-Turn
- Swedish court: Man wanted by Turkey cannot be extradited
- Vaughan shooting: Five killed by gunman in Canada apartment block
- Lionel Messi and Argentina win World Cup in penalty shootout against never-say-die France
- US border cities strained ahead of expected migrant surge
- Major winter storm to bring temperatures of 0°F or colder to 55M in U.S.
- U.S. Scores $4 Billion Windfall on Oil-Reserve Sales (Wow, go “Dark Brandon!”)
- Donald Trump’s “Political Relevance” May Have Delayed DOJ Investigations
- Schiff: ‘Sufficient evidence’ to criminally charge Trump over efforts to overturn election
- Jan. 6 committee finalizes criminal referral plan for Trump
- How Trump jettisoned restraints at Mar-a-Lago and prompted legal peril
- Scoop: GOP shadow committee re-emerges for Jan. 6 report (Complete joke.)
- January 6 committee expected to wrap up its work with a historic call for Trump’s accountability
- Investigations of the January 6 Insurrection Are Far From Over (“The House committee is poised to take significant steps, but big questions and risk of violence still loom.”)
- How Republicans are trying to block voters from having a say on abortion (“Ballot initiatives have proven a winning strategy for abortion rights activists – but Ohio Republicans want to make it harder for voters”)
- The Voters Who Helped Democrats Keep the Senate (“How Democrats broadened Biden’s 2020 coalition in key states.”)
- Schumer reflects on how Senate Democrats went from infighting to big policy wins and a larger majority
- McDaniel faces furious campaign from right in race for RNC chair
- Pushing back against hate does matter (“Taking stands against bigotry moves us closer to a more perfect union.”)
- Proud Boys Trial Is Set to Open, Focusing on Role in Jan. 6 Violence
- ‘THE central issue’: How the fall of Roe v. Wade shook the 2022 election
- Tech Companies Make Final Push to Head Off Tougher Regulation (They desperately need regulation.)
- Manchin Says He Has ‘No Intentions’ of Ditching Democratic Party
- Vaccines saved lives. DeSantis threatens that progress.
- What Kevin McCarthy Will Do to Gain Power (“The Republican leader’s ambition has always been his defining characteristic. Attempting to placate both Trumpists and moderates may lead to his downfall.”)
- ‘He’s Got a Huge Problem’ (“The former vice president wants to return to the White House. But he can’t seem to figure out who he wants to run as.” Pence is an embarrassment.)
- Is a Media-Twitter Breakup Inevitable? (“Even by the standards of Elon Musk’s erratic tenure, the abrupt suspension of prominent reporters is raising questions about news organizations’ relationship to the platform.”)
- The Great Internet Grievance War the Right Has Wanted Is Here. It Ain’t Going Well.
- Exclusive: Probe of Musk’s Neuralink to scrutinize long-criticized U.S animal welfare regulator (Musk is horrible on so many different levels.)
- Elon Musk’s censorship spree exposes the fundamental flaw in the right’s definition of “free speech” (“Liberals aren’t secretly afraid white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ talking points will ‘challenge’ us”)
- Opinion: Congress needs to subpoena Musk and the entire ‘Twitter Files’
- Twitter bans promotion of accounts on other social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram and Truth Social (But not on right-wing social media sites. Fascinating how that “free speech absolutism” works.)
- Elon Musk blamed a Twitter account for a stalker. Police see no link. (Musk is a pathological liar as well as being completely unhinged.)
- At Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk was a jerk with a grand vision. At Twitter, he’s just a jerk.
- Musk asks Twitter users in poll if he should step down as its “head”
- Twitter Users Vote for Musk to Step Down as Chief in Poll
- Musk’s Volatility Is Alienating Twitter’s Top Content Creators
- Twitter deletes controversial new policy banning links to other social platforms
- Trump-Backed Election Loser Kari Lake Hints At Violence At Conservative Gathering (Youngkin actually said the words, “Kari, you are AWESOME!” Anything else you need to know about Youngkin?)
- Video: Sen. Tim Kaine Says “Most Significant” Charge Against Trump is Insurrection, Which Under 14th Amendment Would Bar Him (Or Any Other Insurrectionist) From Ever Again Serving in Elected Office
- RADIO AD: Rep. Bobby Scott Urges 4th District Residents to Vote for Jennifer McClellan for Congress (“Voters in the 4th Congressional District , you have an important election this Tuesday December 20th. That’s right, this Tuesday.”)
- Democrats scramble in one-week primary for open Virginia seat (“Jennifer McClellan could be state’s first Black woman in Congress”)
- Top 100 Most-Viewed Blue Virginia Posts of 2022: The (Mis)Adventures of Glenn Youngkin, Midterm Elections, etc.
- Column: It’s time for Virginia to consider a two-term governor (It’s loooong past time, actually.)
- Virginia’s abortion fight begins (“Language tucked into Gov. Youngkin’s proposed budget sets aside $50,000 to pay to incarcerate people who violate a 15-week abortion ban he is pursuing.”)
- GOP legislators seek to repeal law hitching Va. to Calif. emissions standards (Stupid as usual.)
- Modernizing ABC says counter-service stores are on their way out
- In Virginia, state law hampers zero-fare efforts for Metrobus
- D.C.-area forecast: A dry chill yields to late-week rain before an Arctic blast
