Monday News: “Butcher of Tehran” Dead; President Biden Condemns “poison of white supremacy,” Declares “Democracy is still the way,” Asks What Trump Would Have Done “if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol?”; Under Youngkin, “Parole in Virginia Has Nearly Vanished”

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, May 20.

• The Race to Decarbonize Heavy Industry Heats Up
• Solar and wind generation will soon pass nuclear, hydro (“The solar growth rate of 22% per year is equivalent to doubling every 3 years. At this growth rate, solar generation will reach 100,000 TWh per year in 2042 which is enough to fully decarbonize the global economy.”)
• The Bezos Earth fund has pumped billions into climate and nature projects. So why are experts uneasy? (“Jeff Bezos’s $10bn climate and biodiversity fund has garnered glittering prizes, but concerns have been voiced over the influence it can buy – and its interest in carbon offsets”)
• Is Fungus Fabric Really Taking Off? Vegan Leather Could Help Reduce Waste, But May Be Struggling to Scale
• Europe Sees Signs of Russian Sabotage but Hesitates to Blame Kremlin
• Climate change impacts millions in India. But as the country votes, some politicians skirt the issue
• Iranian president, foreign minister died in helicopter crash, state media saysz (Raisi was a horrible person, a protegei of the “Supreme Leader,” who is pure evil, and known as the “Butcher of Tehran.” Let’s just hope the’re a hell…)
• Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, known for brutal crackdowns against political opposition, dies at 63
• Ebrahim Raisi, 63, ‘Butcher of Tehran’ and Khamenei protégé who died in chopper crash
• Who was Ebrahim Raisi and what were his policies at home and abroad? (Bad, worse and worst.)
• Analysis: Helicopter crash comes at a fraught time for region — and Iran itself
• Who Would Benefit From Ebrahim Raisi’s Death?
• Who Will Be Iran’s Next President Following Raisi’s Death? (“Constitution would have Mohammad Mokhber be temporary leader. New question becomes who succeeds Khamenei as Supreme Leader” The entire regime is rotten to its core.)
• Airstrike kills 27 in central Gaza and fighting rages as Israel’s leaders are increasingly divided
• ‘Only Hamas can defend us’: Israeli raids and Fatah failures boost support in West Bank (That’s ridiculous; in fact, Hamas has brought disaster on its people.)
• Occupation Has Corrupted the Humanity of Israel’s Military
• Palestinians Struggle for Food and Water After Fleeing Rafah
• US security adviser urges Netanyahu to connect war to ‘political strategy’ (The problem is, just like with Trump, Netanyahu’s political strategy is to stay in power at all costs and save his own sorry ass, no matter how much damage he does…)
• Xi’s Minister Probe Marks Biggest Shakeup to Cabinet in Years
• Taiwan’s new President Lai in his inauguration speech urges China to stop its military intimidation
• A London court is set to decide whether WikiLeaks founder Assange is extradited to the US
• South Africa’s ex-leader Zuma barred from standing in election
• Plans unveiled for massive $3.5 billion wind and solar powered green iron project for Queensland
• Hungary’s far-right PM Viktor Orbán has made “some smart decisions,” Sen. J.D. Vance says (Vance demonstrates yet again that HE IS A FASCIST.)
• Mexico Opposition Candidate Says She’d Get Tough With Cartels
• Supreme Gaslighting (“Once again, Alito says the quiet part out loud. Is anyone listening?” Alito should be off the Court. NOW!)
• Opinion Lies, damned lies and Trump trial
• Stakes are high for prosecutors to rescue Cohen testimony as Trump trial enters endgame
• Judge Merchan faces critical decisions as Trump’s trial nears its end
• At Morehouse, Biden says dissent should be heard because democracy is ‘still the way’
• Biden vows to fight ‘poison of white supremacy’ at Morehouse speech (This headline SHOULD red, “At Morehouse speech, Biden voews to fight…” Because he’s not just vowing to fight it AT the speech. It’s just such a common mistake by the media, it’s like nobody studied English at all.)
• Biden: what would Trump have done if the Capitol riots had been led by Black Americans? (“The US president Joe Biden asks at civil rights event: ‘what do you think he would have done … if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol?’”)
• At Atlanta fundraiser, President Biden tells supporters that Georgia shows the “power of the vote”
• Senate Democrats don’t believe Biden’s bad polls, either
• How Biden’s debate performance could blow open the race (“He needs to goad Trump to be Trump, while reassuring voters about his own fitness for another term.”)
• Local TV Station Catches Donald Trump In A Lie About ‘Never Coming Back’
• Sen. Marco Rubio won’t commit to accepting 2024 election results (Boot Rubio off the Senate Intel Committee.)
• Add Rubio to the List of GOP Invertebrates Who Won’t Say if They’d Certify 2024 Election Results (Rubio is scum.)
• Ill-fated cargo ship Dali will be refloated and hauled from the Baltimore bridge wreckage site Monday, officials say
• The General Assembly is technically still in session…
• Virginia Politics Insider: Youngkin’s contraception veto
• Under Glenn Youngkin, Parole in Virginia Has Nearly Vanished (“What’s the point of having a second chance available when you’re not willing to give it?”)
• Rural Virginia sees same population growth rate as Nashville. That growth just isn’t evenly distributed.
• State budget includes money to study tapping into natural gas pipeline in Tazewell and Russell counties
• An amphitheater and a sports complex spotlight quality of life as an economic development goal (“In localities including Lynchburg and Pulaski County, economic development efforts are focused on adding amenities, not just shell buildings.”)
• D.C.-area forecast: Sunnier and warmer than last week, but weekend is a question mark