by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and otherwise, for Friday, January 12.
- Global heating may breach 1.5°C in 2024—here’s what that could look like
- ‘Astounding’ ocean temperatures in 2023 intensified extreme weather, data shows
- Russia Prepares Legal Battle to Stall Seizure of Frozen Reserves
- British prime minister, in Kyiv, showcases security pact with Ukraine
- Israelis Express Outrage at Genocide Accusation in U.N. Court
- Israel says South Africa distorting the truth in ICJ genocide case
- How the Biden Administration Defends Its Israel Policy (“John Kirby, the White House national-security spokesman, on what the Americans will and won’t tell the Israeli government.”)
- Israel’s war in Gaza isn’t genocide, but is it proportionate?
- Houthis Vow More Ship Attacks After US, UK Airstrikes
- U.S.-led coalition strikes Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen
- What kind of weapons are the US and UK using to strike Yemen’s Houthis?
- Biden should stay restrained in responding to Iran’s provocations
- US strikes in Yemen widen regional conflict (“The Biden administration is desperate to avoid being sucked into a broader Middle East war, but reached a point where action became inevitable”)
- Inside Biden’s decision to strike the Houthis
- China’s Sees Worst Deflation Streak in 14 Years; Exports Drop
- The US relationship with China faces a test as Taiwan elects a new leader
- China names Liu Zhenmin as special envoy for climate change
- Inflatables, hip-hop rallies, and a missile alarm: Taiwan to vote in election that’s too close to call (“On Saturday, the island nation of 24 million people heads into its most closely watched, and closely contested, presidential election since the Asian democracy’s first in 1996. Polls will open at 8am, closing eight hours later, with a result expected in the evening. About 19.5 million people are eligible to vote, and in 2020 almost 75% of them did.”)
- Thousands to rally for Taiwan election, China vows to ‘smash independence plots’
- Cocaine, cartels, and corruption: The crisis in Ecuador, explained (“Ecuador was known for peace, but it has become one of the most violent countries in South America.”)
- ‘Brutal’ Arctic blast expected to bring frigid temperatures to North America (“Extreme cold warning issued in Canada as US forecasters warn of wind chills in Texas and major snow in midwest and east coast”)
- Powerful winter storm set to wallop eastern half of the US
- Who Pays? State-by-State Data (“ITEP Tax Inequality Index”)
- Power companies paid civil rights leaders in the South. They became loyal industry advocates. (“Millions of dollars flowed from utilities to Black leaders and their groups since at least 2009, an investigation found.”)
- Big Oil Launches Propaganda Campaign to Thwart US Energy Transition (EVIL.)
- Biden administration to forgive certain student loan borrowers’ balances early
- Democrats reject Johnson’s border demands as part of Ukraine aid package
- Fear and Chaos in the House GOP: Mike Johnson at Crossroads
- Mike Johnson faces major test as rebels push to blow up spending deal
- After helping push out Kevin McCarthy, Steve Bannon is now trying the same playbook with Speaker Mike Johnson (“Bannon continues to demand that House Republicans shut down the government unless Democrats agree to draconian spending cuts and further border militarization”)
- Is Mike Johnson Going to Lose His Speaker Gig, Kevin McCarthy Style? (“He should have never been hired.”)
- “Trump Is a Monster We Created” (“Wednesday’s Iowa town hall rankled Fox News staffers who see the network—like most of the GOP—falling in line behind the 2024 front-runner.”)
- MAGA Has Devoured American Evangelicalism
- Trump’s Hold on Rural America Is Key to His Resilience
- Jack Smith’s case got stronger over the past month
- Trump ramps up attacks on the justice system when trials and key rulings loom, analysis shows
- Trump II: How Bad It Could Be (“No need to speculate. Just listen to what he’s saying.”)
- Trump Ends His Fraud Trial By Lashing Out at the Judge—Again
- The Greatest Threat Posed by Trump
- Trump Loves to Play With Fire
- Donald Trump turns his legal battles into campaign spectacle
- Trump says he is ‘innocent’ of fraud as bomb threat upends last day of trial (“Police called to judge’s home on Long Island before ex-president lashes out in court and claims ‘what happened here is fraud on me’” Fact: Trump is a wildly corrupt scumbag.)
- The “Chosen One”: Why experts say a new campaign ad from Trump signals impending violence (“People need to understand what comes next, always, is violence”)
- Donald Trump’s 50-Year Mission to Discredit the Justice System (“The former president is in unparalleled legal peril, but he has mastered the ability to grind down the legal system to his advantage. It’s already changing our democracy.”)
- Judge Cuts Trump Off As He Rants At Fraud Trial
- US election 2024: Can Nikki Haley really stop Donald Trump?
- Nikki Haley Is About to Run Straight Into Trump’s Firewall
- The Elusive Promise of a Real 2024 Republican Race Against Donald Trump
- Trump is on track to win in Iowa – but can he deliver a knockout punch?
- The reviews are in: Fox News is once again debasing itself as Trump’s propaganda organ (“Following a prime-time town hall, even Trump himself is commending the network for being so good to him” At best, Fox “News” is a complete joke. But mostly, it’s just 24/7 far-right propaganda masquerading as “news.”)
- MAGA’s sexy beer calendar scandal cracks up the Christian right (“MAGA has learned that sex sells — but it’s undermining the anti-abortion, abstinence-only message”)
- Biden’s ‘democracy’ message is self-serving — but true
- Elise Stefanik’s Ugly “Hostages” Barb Points to Serious GOP Mayhem Ahead
- Trump Judge Spanks Ron DeSantis for Retaliating Against a Democratic Rival
- RFK Jr.’s insurgent bid collides with issues over ballot access
- Elon Musk Is Realizing He Should Have Bought TikTok
- Video: Sen. Mark Warner Rips “radical right-wing group of bullies…in the House…trying to make America look bad”; Hopes Speaker Mike Johnson Can “Do the Math” That He Needs “100 plus Democratic votes on any piece of legislation”
- Rep. Elise Stefanik Refuses to Commit to Certifying the 2024 Election – Will Jen Kiggans?
- Retired Army officer joins race for GOP nomination in VA10 (“Retired Army officer Alex Isaac announced a bid Jan. 10 for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, becoming the fourth Republican to join the race for the open seat.”)
- Virginia’s first Black House speaker talks Youngkin, Trump and his legacy (“I want to be remembered for the person that was the first African-American, but I was also efficient, excellent, capable and got the job done.”)
- VA House, Senate Democrats Respond to Youngkin’s State of the Commonwealth Address: “This past November, voters made it clear…that they do not subscribe to the ideals of this Governor or that of the Republican Party.” (Democrats, in contrast, strive for a future “in which all people of the Commonwealth can find joy, hope, peace, prosperity and love”)
- Abigail Spanberger for Governor Reports More Than $3.6 Million Raised in First 48 Days of Campaign
- Pope & Schapiro: The 2024 General Assembly session is underway
- A change to the voting rights restoration process in Virginia is getting bipartisan support
- Editorial: Reform would strengthen Virginia economic development program (“GO Virginia has successfully forged regional economic development partnerships, but a few changes could unleash the program’s potential.”)
- Gov. Youngkin says he’s at ‘good starting place’ negotiating Virginia tax cuts
- Three interesting bills of the week: animal cruelty offenders, age of marriage and towing fees
- FOIA Friday: Skill game information exemptions and other FOIA bills up this year
- Scott announces special committee on Virginia rural health care access
- Miyares backs bill that would limit parole for inmates over age 60
- Daniel Gade leaving post as Va. commissioner of veterans services
- Dreaming of spring flowers? Guide lists 1600 native plants and how to grow them in Virginia
- Dems express concerns about VDOE as deadline to confirm Coons approaches (“The new chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee is raising concerns about leadership at the Virginia Department of Education weeks ahead of the legislature’s deadline to confirm Lisa Coons, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointee as state superintendent of public instruction.”)
- Hampton Roads braces for effects of Coast Guard’s temporary deactivation of units amid staffing shortages
- Former Governor Bob McDonnell pitching hotel concept for Oceanfront Dairy Queen property
- Port of Virginia now operating 100% from clean energy sources
- Police confirm body that washed up at Norfolk Naval Shipyard was missing 19-year-old from Portsmouth
- Fairfax school leaders talk about rising threat of fentanyl, overdoses
- Judge Rejects Arlington’s Effort To Stop Missing Middle Zoning Lawsuit (“A judge rejected Arlington County’s request for an immediate appeal of the lawsuit over the county’s new Missing Middle zoning policy.” Utterly ridiculous.)
- D.C.-area forecast: Rain and gusty wind late today along with a flood risk
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