by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, December 1.
- Battle over curbing plastic output jeopardises UN treaty hopes
- A surprise solar boom reveals a fatal flaw in our climate change projections (“Solar is surging, but so is humanity’s energy appetite. We need better models.”)
- A landmark climate change case will open at the top UN court as island nations fear rising seas
- Zelenskyy says NATO offer for Ukraine-controlled territory could end ‘hot stage’ of war
- Joe Rogan Claims Ukraine’s Zelensky Asked for Interview Opp
- China Is Studying Russia’s Sanctions Evasion to Prepare for Taiwan Conflict
- Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine US dollar
- Canada’s Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table
- New Hamas video: U.S. hostage held in Gaza calls on Trump to push a deal
- UN halts aid shipments through Gaza’s main crossing after looting. It blames the crisis on Israel
- A Power Vacuum in Gaza Could Empower Warlords and Gangs
- Israel Accuses World Central Kitchen Worker of Role in Oct. 7 Attack
- Setbacks for Russia, Iran and Hezbollah Turn Into a Catastrophe for Assad (“The loss of Aleppo to Islamist rebels represents a stunning defeat for the Syrian regime, highlighting its dependence on enfeebled allies.”)
- The illusion of Assad’s grip on Syria shatters, as Russia, Iran and Hezbollah let their guard down
- Syria sends in reinforcements to halt insurgents from advancing after seizing Aleppo
- What to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria’s 13-year war and why it matters
- More Russian strikes as Syrian rebels push south from Aleppo
- Who are the rebels seizing control of Syria’s second city? (“The attack was led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – which has a long and involved history in the Syrian conflict.”)
- Trump nominates Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner, as US Ambassador to Franc
- Charles Kushner, pardoned in 2020, to be nominated ambassador to France (This guy is a criminal.)
- Iceland Opposition Social Democrats Set for Election Victory
- Taiwan president stops in Hawaii during Pacific tour, drawing ire from China
- Republicans eye tax breaks, border funds and clean energy cuts when Trump returns (“Top Republicans tell NBC News they plan to quickly pass a slew of conservative priorities without Democratic votes. They’ll need to navigate party divisions and a tiny House majority.”)
- Trump picks loyalist Kash Patel to head FBI (“Patel has called for stripping the FBI of its intelligence-gathering role and purging its ranks of any employee who refuses to support Trump’s agenda.”)
- Patel has mused about targeting journalists, government officials
- Ex-FBI Deputy Director Sounds Alarm On Trump’s Kash Patel Pick: ‘Profoundly Unqualified’ (“Andrew McCabe said Trump’s controversial choice is a ‘terrible development’ for those at the agency and his lack of qualifications aren’t up for ‘debate.'”)
- What To Know About Kash Patel, Trump’s Pick To Lead The FBI (“Kash Patel has called for radical changes at the FBI and was a fierce and vocal critic of the bureau’s work as it investigated ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.”)
- Trump Picks Loyalist ‘Deep State’ Critic Patel to Head FBI (“Patel rose to prominence expressing outrage over the agency’s investigation into whether Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.”)
- The Kash Patel Principle (“Trump’s choice for FBI director speaks volumes about his real second-term agenda”)
- Trump says he will replace FBI Director Wray with loyalist Kash Patel (This headline doesn’t at ALL make clear who Patel is, how dangerous he is, etc.)
- Trump taps Kash Patel for FBI director, an ally who would aid in his effort to upend law enforcement
- Trump picks hardline loyalist Kash Patel to head FBI
- Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, Received an Email Saying He Mistreats Women—From His Mom (“‘I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for his own power and ego,’ Penelope Hegseth wrote in a 2018 email she now regrets, per New York Times.”)
- ‘He is one of us!’: US anti-vaxxers rejoice at nomination of David Weldon for CDC (Complete insanity.)
- Trump taps Florida sheriff as DEA administrator
- Trump’s Commerce Pick Hawked Buzzy Investments That Went Bust (“Cantor Fitzgerald’s Howard Lutnick made a fortune running an empire with niches like SPACs.”)
- A Second Trump Term Poses a Crucial Test of the Senate’s Independence
- Democrats Weigh New Leadership to Resist Trump (“Rep. Jamie Raskin, an anti-Trump star, is mulling a challenge to take charge of the Dems on the House Judiciary Committee.”)
- How Republicans held the House: It’s the gerrymander, stupid (“Sure, both sides do it — but Republicans have ruthlessly redrawn the maps to bake in a nearly unbeatable advantage” Here in Virginia, if Democrats had drawn the lines, we’d have won VA02 almost certainly, meaning that the US House would be *tied* for several months…)
- I Viewed the Rise of ‘Barstool Conservatism’ With Alarm. And Rightly So.
- Journalists flock to Bluesky as X becomes increasingly ‘toxic’ (No-brainer.)
- Democrats Face an Existential Crisis on X
- Sen. Tim Kaine: “Message to Elon Musk – The Vindman family embodies patriotism and public service. You know nothing about either.” (Martina Navratilova: “Musk is toxic. This is so not ok. But he owns the platform so can do and say whatever the fuck he wants with no consequences”)
- Sen. Tim Kaine part of effort to get Congress to address childcare needs
- Four centuries in, Virginia could be on track for its first female governor (This is going to be the WaPo’s angle/framing all year? Ugh. Massive disservice to their readers.)
- Virginia gubernatorial race finds 2 women vying to make history (Ugh, the media…)
- Editorial: Why can’t Richmond become a real metro?
- D.C.-area forecast: Cold today with a slight chance of snow flurries
