by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, May 24.
- Climate Change Is Taking a Toll on Mites and Springtails, a New Analysis Finds (“Heat and drought are taking a toll on the tiny soil creatures that help to lock away planet-warming carbon, according to a new analysis.”)
- Norway sued over deep-sea mining plans (“WWF says the government has breached the law ‘without adequately assessing the consequences’”)
- Russia denies Trump’s claim he can free US journalist if he wins election
- Ukraine war briefing: US-supplied glide bombs struggle against Russian jamming (“‘Extremely cruel’ attacks kill at least seven in Kharkiv; Blinken told to get rid of ban on Ukrainians firing US weapons into Russia”)
- Exclusive: Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines (The problem is, that will give Russia time to regroup, rebuild, and continue the war at a time and place of its choosing.)
- Ukraine Hits Russian Complex in Occupied Crimea With U.S.-Supplied Missiles (“The strike was the latest in a mounting campaign against Russian air-defense systems, war planes and other military infrastructure”)
- US preparing $275 million weapons package for Ukraine, officials say
- Top Russian military officials are being arrested. Why is it happening?
- Are Russia and North Korea planning an ‘October surprise’ that aids Trump? (“U.S. officials are bracing for Pyongyang to take military actions close to the U.S. presidential election, possibly at the urging of Vladimir Putin.”)
- Pentagon: Over 1 million pounds of aid reaches Gaza via U.S. pier
- Democrats grapple with “discomfort” of attending a Netanyahu speech
- Israel’s army says the bodies of 3 more hostages killed on Oct. 7 were recovered overnight from Gaza
- Out of the Gaza war, there is an opportunity (“The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have been pursuing a way out. Can they get Israel on board?”)
- Israel Faces More Pressure Over Gaza as U.N. Court Readies Ruling
- China testing ability to ‘seize power’ in second day of military drills around Taiwan
- Tories Have Received £8.4 Million from Fossil Fuel Interests, Polluters, and Climate Deniers Since 2019 Election (“‘Outrageous’ findings show that the Conservative Party ‘is clearly in bed with the fossil fuel lobby’, say MPs and campaigners.”)
- ‘We’re up for this fight’: Labour plans to make climate key focus of election
- Obama makes an appearance at White House’s Kenya state dinner
- Biden hosts a state dinner for Kenya, with a cameo from Obama
- Fox moved the goal posts on immigration after CBP report shows fewer migrant encounters at the border
- Solar hits above its weight in powering US energy transition
- Republicans Unite To Block Border Bill Again As Election Year Fight Heats Up
- The Supreme Court Has No Beef with South Carolina’s Racial Gerrymandering (“Another day on the front lines of this court’s crusade against voting rights.”)
- The Supreme Court’s new voting rights decision is a love letter to gerrymandering (“Thanks to an opinion by Sam Alito, rigged maps now enjoy the Supreme Court’s unambiguous support.”)
- Supreme Court rejects claim that South Carolina’s congressional map was racially gerrymandered (Appallingly bad ruling by this out-of-control, rogue, extremist Court.)
- Clarence Thomas attacks Brown v. Education ruling amid 70th anniversary …
- Elena Kagan Sees Exactly What Samuel Alito Is Doing
- “No blaming it on his spouse”: Critics say seditious Alito flags expose his “Christian nationalism”
- Democrats see Supreme Court crisis in second Alito flag controversy (This should not be just “Democrats see,” it should be EVERY AMERICAN!)
- This Supreme Court Term Was All About Undoing Democracy (“The justices made racist gerrymandering easier—and that’s just the start.”)
- Trump’s fascist talk is what’s ‘poisoning the blood of our country’
- Most believe Trump probably guilty of crime as his NYC trial comes to an end, CBS News poll finds
- Trump’s Money Problems Are Becoming a Crisis for the Entire Country (“The ex-president’s financial troubles make him beholden to his wealthy friends. If he’s president again, they will want something in return.”)
- Donald Trump’s Pattern of Sowing Election Doubt Intensifies in 2024 (“A false, familiar claim by the former president — that the contest in which he’s participating is ‘rigged’ — has reached a fever pitch in this cycle.”)
- Take it from conservative national security experts: Trump is unfit
- Opinion: Trump’s video referencing Nazi Germany isn’t exactly a surprise (“Trump’s admiration of Hitler is no secret.”)
- Will the Jury Convict Trump? Here Are the Clues. (“As we approach closing arguments on Tuesday, here’s what we can say: It appears that the odds of Trump being convicted are fairly good — but not overwhelming. Perhaps slightly more likely than not. The likelihood of an acquittal, which would require all 12 jurors to unanimously conclude that Trump is not guilty, appears slim at best.”)
- Senate Democrats Open Inquiry Into Trump’s $1 Billion Request of Oil Industry
- This Memorial Day weekend heralds a bitter campaign season ahead (Very “both sides”…)
- Trump Turned Boilerplate FBI Language Into a Tall Tale of an Assassination Plot Against Him (“Biden did not try to…Jesus, I can’t believe I’m writing this…he did not send the FBI to kill Trump during the Mar-a-Lago search.”)
- Trump’s Assassination Fantasy Has a Darker Purpose (“The ex-president’s stories of his own victimization make violence by his supporters far more likely.”)
- Trump’s “Biden the assassin” fantasy is pure projection
- How the right-wing echo chamber constructed a Biden assassination plot against Trump
- Trump has now amplified QAnon-promoting accounts over 800 times on Truth Social
- Do You Want a ‘Unified Reich’ Mind-Set in the White House?
- Is the Biden Campaign Running on False Hope? (“Most polls show Donald Trump leading in swing states, but the Democratic Party strategist Simon Rosenberg believes the President’s chances are better than the surveys suggest.”)
- Top Biden campaign official held Zoom call with Haley supporters hours after she endorsed Trump
- “Unhinged,” “Not Qualified,” “Can’t Win a General Election”: All the Things Nikki Haley Said About Donald Trump Before Announcing She’ll Be Voting for Him in November
- There Is Literally Nothing Trump Can Say That Will Stop Republicans from Voting for Him (“On Nikki Haley’s announcement that she’s backing her party’s ‘unhinged’ nominee.”)
- Tom Cotton Emerges as a Top Contender in Trump’s V.P. Race (Disgusting.)
- The Democratic War Room Against RFK Jr.
- Nikki Haley Surrendered, but Not Her Voters
- ‘Ron, I love that you’re back’: Trump and DeSantis put an often personal primary fight behind them (Yuuuuuuck.)
- Kamala Harris Is Gaining Swing-State Voters’ Trust to Step In for Biden
- Donald Trump Tells Bronx Rally Of His Heroic Wardrobe Struggles
- Gavin Newsom signs bill allowing Arizona doctors to perform abortions in California
- Ohio governor calls special session to ensure Biden gets on ballot
- Louisiana Legislature approves bill classifying abortion pills as controlled dangerous substances
- Louisiana is set to make possessing abortion pills without a prescription punishable by up to 10 years in prison (Complete insanity.)
- Louisiana Republican Says Criminalizing Possession of Abortion Pills Is “Good for Women”
- Florida attorney general says state will investigate Starbucks for DEI practices
- GOP Senate Candidate Spent Thousands in Donor Funds on Strip Clubs, Luxury, and Mysterious Wire Transfers (“Star athlete and conspiracy theorist Royce White just landed the Minnesota GOP’s endorsement for Senate. They must not have seen his previous campaign expenses.”)
- Minnesota Republicans Just Endorsed an Alex Jones Acolyte for Senate
- At least 66 members of far-right group in rural Oregon standing for office (“Revealed: anti-government People’s Rights Network, founded by Ammon Bundy, appearing to follow ‘entryism’ strategy”)
- Some NFL fans see disparities in its responses to Harrison Butker and Colin Kaepernick
- North Carolina public universities board repeals policy in vote that likely cuts diversity jobs
- Steven Kramer Charged with Voter Suppression Over AI-Generated President Biden Robocalls
- Video: Sen. Mark Warner Talks Border Security, Judges, Turks and Caicos Gun Case, Foreign Interference/Disinformation in Our Elections, etc.
- VA GOP Senate Candidates Oppose Bipartisan Border Security Bill And Won’t Keep Virginians Safe (“Cao, Parkinson, and Emord Oppose One Of The Toughest Border Bills In Modern History Supported By Two In Three Americans”)
- FACT CHECK: Jen Kiggans Voted to Cut Veterans Benefits – Then Lied About It
- GOP U.S. Senate candidate from NoVa doubles down on ‘podunk’ comments, says driving to Abingdon for debate is ‘just ridonkulous’ (“Hung Cao, who is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to oppose the Democratic incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine, has a significant lead in the money race.”)
- Schapiro: VP talk an unnecessary distraction for Va. governor
- Va. Attorney General Miyares challenging heavy truck emissions rule and other federal proposals (Miyares is a f’ing disgrace, not much better than Virginia’s worst Attorney General in history, Ken Cuccinelli.)
- Virginia Has the Biggest Data Center Market in the World. Can It Also Decarbonize Its Grid?
- FOIA Friday: AG’s university protest guidance, former Petersburg superintendent’s pricey trips
- Racially regressive policies and actions move Virginia in the wrong direction
- Bills to help kids avoid foster care, social media safety among final legislation signed by Youngkin
- Editorial: Virginia agriculture thrives despite mounting challenges (“We shouldn’t take for granted those who work the land or the food they produce. Virginia farmers are a tremendous benefit to us all.” A lot of them are, yes, *immigrants*, and thank goodness for them!)
- Youngkin outlines efforts to ‘Accelerate Southwest Virginia’
- Virginia Beach offshore wind farm construction begins
- City manager’s pending departure sets up complex scenario for Roanoke City Council (“With elections looming that could change the city council’s makeup, candidates may be wary of the job, observers say.”)
- Charlottesville group asks about future of Lee statue bronze
- Diamond District bonds help Richmond achieve first AAA credit rating from Fitch
- Commentary: At Richneck, 6-year-old shooter exposes a broken system
- D.C.-area forecast: Moderately muggy Memorial Day weekend, with occasional storms
