Thursday News: “‘On every roof something is possible’: how sponge cities could change the way we handle rain”; “US and Saudis Near Defense Pact Meant to Reshape Middle East”; “If he wins” – “Trump gives his strongman’s ambitions free rein on a day off from court”

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, May 2.

• Big oil spent decades sowing doubt about fossil fuel dangers, experts testify (That SHOULD be criminal!)
• Methane emissions from gas flaring being hidden from satellite monitors (“Use of enclosed combustors leaves regulators heavily reliant on oil and gas companies’ own flaring data”)
• ‘On every roof something is possible’: how sponge cities could change the way we handle rain (“Amsterdam is home to 45,000 sq metres of ‘blue-green’ roofs, which absorb rainwater and allow it to be used by building residents to water plants and flush toilets” Bingo!)
• Chimps are dying of the common cold. Is great ape tourism to blame?
• US official urges China, Russia to declare only humans, not AI, control nuclear weapons
• Ukrainian soldiers say rear defensive lines barely exist as Russia advances
• Russia using choking agents in Ukraine, US says
• Ukraine opposition is building with Senate GOP hopefuls, a warning sign for McConnell (Insanity.)
• US and Saudis Near Defense Pact Meant to Reshape Middle East
• Saudis push for ‘plan B’ that excludes Israel from key deal with US (“Riyadh seeks more modest agreement with Washington in absence of Gaza ceasefire and Netanyahu resistance to Palestinian state”)
• Colombia to cut diplomatic ties with Israel
• Israel tells U.S. it will punish Palestinian Authority if ICC issues warrants
• Israel accused of possible war crime over killing of West Bank boy
• U.S. and Israel Struggle With Clashing Visions on Ending Gaza War
• Fed Chair Projects Optimism Despite Stubborn Inflation
• Powell Keeps Rate Cuts on Table But Leaves Timing Less Certain (“The Fed chief also set a high bar for further rate hikes, saying it’s unlikely the next policy move will be an increase.”)
• Media outlets are blaring about nonexistent “stagflation.” Economic experts say they’re wrong. (“Media are hyping worries about stagflation when none of the conditions exist — the economy is growing, unemployment is low, and inflation is stable”)
• New US climate rules for pollution cuts ‘probably terminal’ for coal-fired plants (Good riddance.)
• Trump Says He Wouldn’t Stop States From Tracking Individual Pregnancies So They Can Prosecute People Caught Getting Abortions (“Just a small glimpse at what we can expect from him in a second term.”)
• Trump Trial Reveals the Real Fake News (“The National Enquirer did all the things Trump has accused the media of doing.”)
• In new Time interview, Trump appears to green light MAGA media hyping political violence (“The Trump-MAGA media feedback loop is setting the stage for vigilantism in 2024”)
• Trump Spends Day Off From Court Ranting About Judge: ‘He Gagged Me!’
• Trump gives his strongman’s ambitions free rein on a day off from court
• Trump Is Now Raging at His Own Lawyer—and Wrecking a Big MAGA Fantasy (“Because Donald Trump must always be seen as wielding absolute mastery over his hapless, flailing opponents, he and his propagandists want you to believe his hush-money trial in Manhattan has proven nothing but a smashing political success for him.”)
• Trump tries to paint college campus anti-Israel protests as a Biden political liability (Trump wants an even stronger “Muslim ban”; he’s also 100% pro-Israel.)
• He’s not even trying to hide it (“Trump’s Time Magazine interview exposes a malevolent fool.”)
• Video: President Biden Takes on Trump for Saying States Should Be Allowed To Punish Women for Seeking Reproductive Healthcare (“There seems to be no limit to how invasive Trump would let the state be.”)
• Trump confirms he wanted to go to Capitol on Jan. 6 (Yes, Trump wanted to overthrow the government of the United States of America. So why wasn’t he thrown in prison shortly afterwards, along with all the other coup plotters???)
• Trump Isn’t Wrong That Lots of People Like Dictatorship
• How the overturned Harvey Weinstein conviction could echo in Donald Trump’s hush money trial
• Trump’s campaign emails more panicked during his Manhattan trial
• “Losing all credibility”: Trump’s hush money lawyer the latest to torch his reputation for nothing (“Todd Blanche was once regarded as a great lawyer, but now he’s making embarrassing arguments to please his client”)
• Democrats grudgingly save another Mike Johnson bill
• The 8 Types Of Democrats And Republicans In The House
• McConnell says he’s ready for ‘chaos’ in House to end
• Democrats laugh off Greene’s plan to force Johnson ouster vote
• Republicans, Democrats, and Donald Trump Agree on One Thing: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Move to Oust Mike Johnson Is a Dumb Idea
• Nothing Passes in the House If Hakeem Jeffries Doesn’t Want It to Pass (“Marjorie Taylor Greene is campaigning against Mike Johnson, and there’s a new de facto speaker in town.”)
• Greene’s motion to vacate vote leaves conservatives with no easy options
• House passes divisive antisemitism bill as GOP denounces campus protests (“Critics argue the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which gained overwhelming GOP and Democratic support, is an effort to silence criticism of Israel”)
• STUDY: Tradwife influencers are quietly spreading far-right conspiracy theories (Sick, sick shit.)
• How Democrats plan to turn abortion ballot wins into state-level gains
• “Our patients are screwed:” Florida’s ban cuts off abortion access in the South
• Inside the ground game to win Florida abortion referendum votes
• A Huge Gender Gap Is Emerging Among Young Voters
• RFK Jr. embraces California ballot nomination from party with history of far-right ties
• RFK Jr.’s VP Pick Parrots Right-Wing Abortion Talking Points
• The Biden Campaign’s High-Powered Effort to Define R.F.K. Jr.
• RFK Jr. is all over conservative media. Trump’s camp is concerned.
• Campus protests live updates: Police move in to clear UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment after protesters defy orders to leave (“The standoff came as New York protesters were arraigned in court after authorities broke up the occupation of a Columbia University building.”)
• Giuliani’s Bankruptcy Creditors Demand to Know His Spending
• Arizona’s Democratic leaders get enough votes to repeal 19th century abortion ban
• Biden to expand two California national monuments Thursday
• Trump Sheds Light on How Jen Kiggans and House Republicans Will Fall in Line to Make his Dangerous Agenda A Reality If Elected To Second Term (“Kiggans will back Trump’s dangerous, anti-American agenda – full stop. She is not the moderate she pretends to be.” )
• Early voting for June primaries starts on Friday
• Planned Parenthood Discusses Impact of Florida’s Near-Total Abortion Ban: “Time and again, we’ve seen voters stand up against these draconian laws through ballot initiatives.” (“…after today I am increasingly concerned about not just Floridians but the entire region and the critical role Virginia plays”)
• VA Sen. Ghazala Hashmi Launches Her Campaign for the 2025 Democratic Nomination for Lt. Governor; Exclusive Blue Virginia Interview (“I think I’ve proven myself to be someone who takes a lot of hard hits on the issues that I care about, and I have taken those hits.”)
• Virginia state Sen. Ghazala F. Hashmi joins race for lieutenant governor (“The former literature professor and Indian immigrant is the fourth Democrat — and the first woman — to seek the Democratic nomination.”)
• Ghazala Hashmi files to run for lieutenant governor, joining crowded Democratic field (“Hashmi joins a 2025 Democratic contest that includes Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, Sen. Aaron Rouse and Prince William School Board Chairman Babur Lateef.”)
• Bill banning certain driveway, pavement sealants to take effect this July
• Editorial: Virginia should raise its cap on film and TV tax incentives
• Chesapeake infrastructure projects will cost millions more due to inflation, city officials say
• Energy Strategy Series 2024: Setting energy policies that can help drive cleaner, greener future (“‘We’re undergoing a big transition from a mostly carbon-based energy production system to a more renewable-based system,’ Virginia Sen. Scott Surovell said. Surovell, whose 34th District includes much of Fairfax County, has been heavily involved in energy issues.”)
• Students, faculty arrested at Virginia Tech now face possibility of university discipline
• Petersburg mayor says city ‘told the truth’ about casino pressure from legislature
• Montgomery County School Board releases statement about investigation into events leading up to two teen deaths in Blacksburg
• Days after clash at VCU, demonstrators take to streets in Jackson Ward
  
• Here are the numbers that show why Russell County is looking at closing schools
• D.C.-area forecast: Summery heat today before a much cooler and showery weekend