by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, December 24.
- 2024 will be the hottest year on record, even hotter than expected (Broken record alert: I’ve been saying this for many years now, but the fact is, we need to GET OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS ASAP!)
- Solar, EVs and a Big Exit From Coal: 2024’s Good Climate News (Good but not nearly sufficient.)
- Global hunger crisis deepens as major nations skimp on aid
- Nasa solar probe to make its closest ever pass of sun on Christmas Eve
- Inside a secret Ukrainian drone command post, where Russian soldiers are seen as prey
- Russian cargo ship sinks in Mediterranean after explosion, Russian Foreign Ministry says
- With election over, Biden eyes parting blow to Putin war chest (DO IT!)
- Iran Oil Tycoon ‘Hector’ Plays Key Role in Arms Sales to Russia
- The ‘Invisible Wall’ Amplifying China’s Population Doom Loop (“A two-tier system that has long made workers leave children behind in villages is cutting into birthrates.”)
- Trump Will Confront a More Vulnerable but Determined Iran
- Iran Energy Crisis Hits ‘Dire’ Point as Industries Are Forced to Shut Down
- Syria’s Rebel Leaders Have Control of the Country. Now What? (“The new Islamist-led government promises moderation, but officials aren’t committing to such issues as women’s rights or free elections”)
- Jordan’s FM meets Syria’s new leader, calls for ‘government representing all spectrums’
- Europe’s far-right tap into fears over German market attack — despite the suspect’s Islamophobic views
- Take Over Greenland?? Why Not! (“We’ve heard this before.”)
- Greenland PM reiterates ‘we are not for sale’ after Trump suggests US ownership
- Trump’s Wish to Control Greenland and Panama Canal: Not a Joke This Time (Why would the NY Times think Trump’s threats ever WERE a joke???)
- Donald Trump, American Imperialist
- Trump dreams of empire expansion (Nutjob.)
- A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own
- Trump Wants to Bring Back the American Imperium (“Don’t worry, the president-elect’s plans to seize Greenland and the Panama Canal aren’t serious. But they sure are weird.” No, we need to take them seriously.)
- Trump’s 25% tariff could be an existential threat to Canada’s recovering auto industry
- Biden Pulled Off a $370 Billion Miracle for the Climate. Where Did the Money Go? (“Turns out, it’s surprisingly hard to spend government cash.”)
- The long decline of the American death penalty, explained
- Relief, defiance, anger: Families and advocates react to Biden’s death row commutations
- As Biden commutes death row sentences, how Trump plans to expand executions
- Biden signs defense bill despite objections to ban on transgender health care for military children
- Biden vetoes bill that would have created dozens of new federal judge slots (“The president didn’t want to hand Trump a chance to appoint more judges.”)
- Misinformer of the Year: Anti-media intimidation
- We cannot abide Donald Trump’s wish for a compliant news media
- Matt Gaetz ethics report finds evidence he paid for sex with minor (“House report finds he made payments totalling tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex and drugs on at least 20 occasions”)
- Bombshell Texts Reveal Full Scope of Matt Gaetz Sex Scandal (“The much-anticipated House Ethics probe is finally public—along with a slew of cringey texts involving the former lawmaker’s allegedly sordid sex life.” Yuuuuck.)
- Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use
- Takeaways From the House Ethics Committee’s Investigation on Matt Gaetz
- Scoop: How the Matt Gaetz ethics report finally came out
- NEW: Donald Trump’s “Friend” and Former AG Pick Matt Gaetz Likely Violated Statutory Rape and Prostitution Laws, per Bipartisan Investigation (“Donald Trump’s judge of character is on full display today”)
- Not the Life Matt Gaetz Was Planning On
- The Trumpian Attitude at the Heart of the Gaetz Report
- Gaetz report renews debate about how he escaped federal charges
- Trump’s FCC pick sends stern letter to Bob Iger, blasting ‘erosion in public trust’
- Trump Pick of Billionaire Feinberg for Pentagon Bolsters Hegseth
- Conservatives hope to enlist Trump in their spending war. It won’t be that easy.
- Republicans’ Anti-Trans Attacks Have Left Democrats Flat-Footed
- How RFK Jr. and His Underlings Will Make America Sick Again (“One of the Democrats’ foremost experts in Congress explains the clear and present danger of Trump’s ‘Four Horsemen’ of America’s health apocalypse”)
- A Pro-Trump Group’s Risky Bet on Infrequent Voters Seems to Have Paid Off
- Trump downplays talk of Elon Musk’s increasing influence in Republican politics (“Musk’s intervention helped derail a crucial government funding bill, but some political observers question how long the alliance can last”)
- Dems finally get some good news: GOP dysfunction (“Democrats were bracing for full Republican control of government. Now they’re hoping the last week has been a preview.”)
- Trump hasn’t learned how to work with Congress
- Elon Musk Is a Paid Subscriber to Shockingly Racist Pro-Apartheid South African X Account
- Elon Musk can easily use Donald Trump’s greatest advantage against him
- Bill Clinton is hospitalized for observation and testing after developing a fever
- An ex-Washington police officer is convicted of lying about leaks to the Proud Boys leader
- Former D.C. police intel chief found guilty of tipping off Proud Boys leader ahead of Jan. 6 attack
- Luigi Mangione’s attorney blasts police, mayor for using the accused CEO killer as ‘political fodder’ (No doubt about that.)
- Man charged with murder after woman set ablaze on New York City subway train (Horrific.)
- Biden admin withdraws trans student athlete proposal as Virginia continues Title IX challenge
- Judge rules Arkansas law allowing criminal charges against librarians is unconstitutional
- Schapiro: Youngkin’s Nightmare Before Christmas (“There was that half-term wasted running for the White House; And dodging the State Capitol press corps liked a scared little mouse. But that was part of the plan for becoming a big deal, For making a presidential candidacy become real.” LOL)
- We suspected data centers were creating an energy crisis for Virginia. Now it’s official. (“Legislators tend to be optimists, and they are already betting on bright, shiny objects like SMRs, fusion, and anything else not close enough for its costs and drawbacks to be fully evident.”)
- As drone sightings multiply, a Virginia Tech team is working on better ways to detect and identify the unmanned fliers
- Virginia’s top viral moments of 2024
- Biden commutes federal death sentence of 7 connected to Virginia
- UVa board member is a no on all future construction until budget is reigned in (Yes, that IS a typo in the Daily Progress headline – should be “REINED in,” not “REIGNED” – as in to RULE. Sloppy.)
- Then & Now: Danville’s riverfront projects take shape
- Driving a Tesla Cybertruck in Richmond draws constant attention – and sometimes the finger
- D.C. area forecast and updates: Icy spots this morning, then calmer through Christmas (“Freezing rain or drizzle this morning gives way to a partly sunny and somewhat warmer afternoon.”)
