| Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, September 18. Early voting in Virginia starts in just two days!
- Fossil fuel companies sponsor $5.6bn in global ‘sportswashing’ deals
- Norway: electric cars outnumber petrol for first time in ‘historic milestone’ (“Nordic country, paradoxically a major oil producer, has set target for all new cars sold to be zero emission”)
- Global spending on subsidies that harm environment rises to $2.6tn, report says (“Exclusive: analysis finds $800bn increase in direct support for activities including deforestation and fossil fuel use” Insanity on a global scale.)
- Flooding in Central Europe a ‘Clear Reminder’ of the Threat of Extreme Weather (“Climate change is influencing extreme weather events like the flooding across six European countries that has led to mass evacuations of cities …”)
- Ukraine claims to have destroyed large Russian ammunition depot in overnight drone attack
- Russia propaganda group behind fake Kamala Harris hit-and-run story, says Microsoft (If you see almost any negative story about Kamala Harris in the closing weeks of this election, there’s a very good chance it comes from Putin’s henchmen. Treat the story accordingly.)
- Russian election interference efforts focus on the Harris-Walz campaign
- Elon Musk Shared Memes Made by FSB Propaganda Machine (Musk has gone completely off the deep end. The US government should cut off ALL ties with him
– on an urgent basis.) - US still unprepared for Russian election interference, Robert Mueller says
- Exploding Hezbollah pagers in apparent Israeli attack made by Hungarian company, Taiwanese firm says
- Hezbollah hit by a wave of exploding pagers and blames Israel. At least 9 dead, thousands injured
- Blinken heads to Egypt but not Israel with prospects for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal bleak (This is an ongoing nightmare…)
- The ominous implications of the pager attack against Hezbollah (“An apparent masterstroke of Israeli sabotage could quash cease-fire talks in Gaza and spark a wider war.”)
- Fed Officials Are Expected to Cut Rates Today. The Question Is How Much.
- Fed to Kick Off Rate Cuts, Signal Next Steps
- The Fed’s biggest interest rate call in years happens Wednesday. Here’s what to expect
- Judge Aileen Cannon Failed to Disclose a Right-Wing Junket (Corrupt.)
- Judge Who Tossed Trump’s Docs Case Repeatedly Violated Disclosure Rule: Report (Not a legitimate judge/justice.)
- NPR Exclusive: U.S. overdose deaths plummet, saving thousands of lives
- Democrats blame abortion bans for Georgia woman’s death (100% accurate.)
- The FBI is investigating suspicious packages sent to election officials in more than 15 states
- Trump traps Senate GOP with flip-flop on taxes
- Republicans block Democratic bill on IVF protections
- Senate Republicans Block I.V.F. Protection Bill a Second Time, Breaking With Trump
- Senate Republicans again block legislation to guarantee women’s rights to IVF
- Johnson schedules doomed show vote on funding plan before pivoting to next step
- Johnson’s colleagues baffled by his shutdown strategy (Johnson is an extremist and an IDIOT)
- McConnell: Government shutdown before election ‘politically beyond stupid’
- Could Mike Johnson Be Trump’s Last Resort Next January 6?
- WATCH >> Vice President Harris Decries Trump-Vance Behavior on Springfield: ‘It’s a Crying Shame’ (“And we’ve gotta say that you cannot be entrusted with standing behind the seal of the President of the United States of America engaging in that hateful rhetoric”)
- Harris Campaign Says She Will Meet the Press (on Her Terms)
- Trump Knows What He’s Doing in Springfield. So Does Vance.
- Vance had better buckle up: His debate might go as badly as Trump’s (“Ninety minutes is more than enough time for Trump’s running mate to remind women why so many dislike him.”)
- Kamala Harris has neutralized Donald Trump’s “high-dominance” advantage (“It’s finally occurred to the Democrats that Trump and the Republicans are bullies and cowards who will fold”)
- ‘Only consequential presidents get shot at,’ Trump tells event (That’s utterly ridiculous/false, of course, like almost everything Trump says.)
- Harris spoke with Trump to denounce political violence following assassination attempt (That’s what a LEADER does – nice job, Kamala Harris!)
- Trump: When I Win, The People Who Tried To Defeat Me Are Going To Prison (That’s fascism.)
- Harris victory seen as most likely election outcome in latest CNBC Fed Survey
- Harris Ramps Up Hispanic Outreach With Swing States in Balance
- Vance to speak about immigration in Wisconsin city where tensions flared over refugee resettlement
- Why Laura Loomer Literally Ate Dog Food (“Trump’s conservative, extremist right-hand woman isn’t helping Republicans’ image when it comes to animals.”)
- How the Trump Campaign Ran With Rumors About Pet-Eating Migrants—After Being Told They Weren’t True
- Vance warns calling a candidate a ‘fascist’ can lead to violence but doesn’t mention that’s what Trump calls Harris
- JD Vance got a former professor to delete a blog post Vance wrote in 2012 attacking GOP over anti-immigrant rhetoric (“A significant part of Republican immigration policy centers on the possibility of deporting 12 million people (or ‘self-deporting’ them),” Vance wrote. “Think about it: we conservatives (rightly) mistrust the government to efficiently administer business loans and regulate our food supply, yet we allegedly believe that it can deport millions of unregistered aliens. The notion fails to pass the laugh test. The same can be said for too much of the party’s platform.”)
- A quick explanation of how bomb threats work, to help JD Vance
- J.D. Vance’s Admission Shouldn’t Shock You—They’ve Done This for Years
- Springfield’s GOP Mayor to Trump: Stay Away After Dog Slurs
- After false pet claims, Springfield mayor says Trump visit would be ‘an extreme strain’ on resources
- President of college in Springfield denounces ‘falsehoods’ after bomb threats force classes online
- Trump and Vance’s pet-eating claims pose dilemma for endangered House Republicans
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders Jabs At Harris For Not Having Biological Children (Huckabee Sanders is a heinous person in every way.)
- The Trump Sons Really Love Crypto (Yuck.)
- Trump’s Latest Grift Just Dropped: He’s Getting Into Crypto
- Trump-allied Pac fires canvassing vendor in crucial states weeks before election (“Elon Musk’s America Pac replaces voter turnout operations in Arizona and Nevada with less than 50 days until election”)
- Trump requests more time to reply to appeal of Florida case dismissal
- “Depressed, disgusted and horrified”: These lifelong Republicans say they’re finally done with Trump
- J.D. Vance Reveals How Trump Will Use Musk to Target Social Security
- GOP Sen. John Kennedy To Arab American Witness: ‘You Support Hamas, Don’t You?’ (Kennedy is a disgrace to America, to the US Senate, to Louisiana, to humanity, etc.)
- ‘Flat Out Illegal’: MAGA Sheriff Is Keeping Note of Homes With Harris Yard Signs
- Georgia Ban Kills Young Mother
- The Bureaucrat Who Could Make Trump’s Authoritarian Dreams Real (“Russ Vought has a plan to take presidential power to new heights.”)
- The Man Behind the End of Roe v. Wade Has Big Plans for America
- AOC calls the US Green party ‘not serious’ – can it be more than a ‘spoiler’ in the election? (“Jill Stein, the party’s presidential nominee, is polling at about 1%, and of 500,000 elected positions it holds just 149” Total joke.)
- “Get this under control”: Mark Robinson’s anti-birth control tirade spoils Trump’s Project 2025 spin (“Don’t lay down and act like you’re making a baby til you’re ready to have a baby”)
- Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ indictment alleges he used his power to build an empire of sexual crime (Pure evil.)
- REMINDER: GOP Senate Candidate Hung Cao Opposes IVF Protections For Virginians
- Meet the GOP’s gift to Tim Kaine and Democrats. If you can find him. (“In the Virginia Senate race, nominee Hung Cao does not bode well for the party of Donald Trump” “Cao seems to be appearing primarily at events starring Youngkin, Trump or others from the Trump orbit”)
- Virginia’s Senate race: Tim Kaine, Hung Cao on military aid and right to contraception (Cao thinks the great problem facing our nation today is the supposed “open border,” which, of course, doesn’t exist – we do NOT have an “open border,” not even close!)
- Cao struggling to keep up with Kaine in recent polling (As well he should; Kaine is superb, Cao is an extremist/nutjob.)
- Gov. Glenn Youngkin visits Chatham for McGuire/Cao rally luncheon (Youngkin, that supposed “moderate,” just happens to keep supporting/campaigning for extremists – Kari Lake, Mark Robinson, Hung Cao, Yesli Vega, Tudor Dixon, Paul LePage, etc, etc. Funny how that works…)
- Video: In VA07 Forum, Democrat Eugene Vindman Sounds Like Someone Who Should Be in Congress; Right-Wing Republican Derrick Anderson Spews Out B.S., Lies, Distortions, etc.
- 9th District: Griffith says he likes to ferret out government problems; Baker says Griffith is invisible in the district (Griffith is actually worse than worthless, as he actively HARMS his district. Nobody should vote for him.)
- VDOE releases cell phone-free education guidelines
- Virginia Department of Education Releases Executive Order 33 Enhanced Cell Phone-Free Education Guidance (A recent poll found “69% of Virginia parents of school-aged children support Cell Phone-Free Education, including during lunch and class breaks.”)
- State issues final guidance for school cellphone ban
- VDOE’s final guidance on cellphone-free education stricter than numerous local policies
- Virginia’s students, colleges and Senators dive into campus unrest
- Virginia’s rural healthcare committee considers unique challenges, possible solutions
- CHWs are making an impact in Virginia. Let’s find sustainable funding for their future
- Scathing report calls for a ban of prone restraint tactics (“disAbility Law Center of Virginia investigation finds that Irvo Otieno’s death was preventable”)
- Chesapeake approves 41-acre solar project; farmers say it will provide ‘security’
- Virginia Beach leaders ‘blindsided’ by Something in the Water cancellation, want more proactive role in future (“Mayor Bobby Dyer recommended that in order for the festival organizers to rebuild trust, they should commit to a long-term partnership, and that the city must take a more proactive role in the decision-making.”)
- Virginia Republican Party tells Lynchburg GOP it can’t censure or expel mayor and vice mayor (LOL)
- How the Boar’s Head plant closure could wreck this tiny Virginia town
- Albemarle teachers vote ‘overwhelmingly’ in favor of union representation
- Trial begins for ex-Fairfax officer charged with involuntary manslaughter (“Former Fairfax County police officer Wesley Shifflett has said he believed he saw the man he fatally shot reaching for a weapon. Police did not find a weapon.”)
- D.C.-area forecast: Scattered showers today, then trending drier into the weekend
