by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, December 5.
- ‘Climate bomb’ warning over $200bn wave of new gas projects (“New liquefied natural gas projects could produce 10 gigatonnes of emissions by the end of the decade, close to the annual emissions of all coal plants” Insanity.)
- Fury as US argues against climate obligations at top UN court (“US says current climate rules are satisfactory, prompting condemnation from activists and vulnerable countries”)
- U.S. Defends Climate Accord as Nations Call for Stronger Global Action
- Bitcoin Exceeds $100,000 on Trump’s Pro-Crypto Pick for SEC
- Russian General Calls U.S. Chairman of Joint Chiefs (“In a highly unusual call, the two men ‘discussed a number of global and regional security issues, to include the ongoing conflict in Ukraine,’ a spokesman said.”)
- UK uncovers vast crypto laundering scheme for gangsters and Russian spies
- Ukraine’s Top Diplomat Rules Out Territorial Compromise
- Romania’s presidential frontrunner benefited from Russia-style booster campaign, declassified docs say
- Georgia opposition leader arrested as mass anti-government protests stretch into seventh night (“Nika Gvaramia among numerous other opposition members to be arrested on Wednesday as police raid homes and offices”)
- The South Korean coup is a perfect coda to the Biden presidency (“Joe Biden’s Indo-Pacific policy of pursuing detente against China at all costs meant embracing Yoon, whose anti-democratic attitude has always been clear”)
- South Korea Opposition Chief Says Ousting Yoon Will Be Difficult
- South Korea just gave Donald Trump a warning — if his opponents are listening
- S Korean leader under pressure as impeachment vote looms
- South Korea police investigate President Yoon as ruling party vows to block impeachment (Anyone who attempts a coup – Yoon, Trump, etc. – should, of course, be impeached IMMEDIATELY. Why is this even a question???)
- French government collapse turns the screws on Macron
- Macron’s Grand Project in Ruins After French Government Falls (“The country has never been closer to a Le Pen administration — the one thing President Macron has sought to avoid at all costs.”)
- No end in sight for France’s political crisis
- Macron to address nation after Barnier government collapse
- Israel gave Hamas updated proposal for Gaza deal as Trump pushes for resolution
- Israel says body of hostage Itay Svirsky recovered from Gaza (Hamas is pure evil.)
- Israel’s war in Gaza amounts to genocide, Amnesty International report finds (“Human rights group says Israel ‘brazenly, continuously and with total impunity … unleashed hell’ on strip’s 2.3m population” Ugh.)
- Syrian rebels surround strategic city of Hama after Aleppo takeover (“Rebels within kilometres ‘on three sides’ of city, seen as crucial to Assad regime’s defence of the capital, Damascus”)
- Syrian Rebels Are Closing In on Assad. What Does It Mean?
- How climate risks are driving up insurance premiums around the US – visualized (“‘Tight correlation’ between premium rises and counties deemed most at risk from climate crisis, experts say”)
- Biden is racing to dole out clean energy cash before Trump cuts it off
- Trump’s immigration crackdown could reduce caregiving workforce (Big time.)
- Revealed: Biden lays groundwork to expand immigration jails as Trump readies for office
- Big Insurer Sets Time Limits On Anesthesia Coverage During Surgeries (This seems like it has to be a really bad joke. But it’s real!)
- The US supreme court’s trans rights case threatens decades of civil rights precedent, experts say (“Oral arguments laid bare how a healthcare case could have vast consequences for LGBTQ+ equality and sex discrimination”)
- Supreme Court seems likely to uphold ban on gender-affirming care
- Analysis: John Roberts leads the charge to uphold bans on trans care
- Meet Donald Trump’s Brick-Shittingly Scary New Cabinet, and Everyone Else Advising Him in a Second Term (“Stephen Miller at the border. RFK Jr. running Health and Human Services. Jared Kushner’s dad as ambassador to France. Welcome to the Trump administration 2.0.”)
- The Creep Cabinet Is No Accident
- Trump’s Project 2025 May Not Be What It Seemed. It’s Worse.
- Vivek Ramaswamy: Firing federal workers will be good for them (This is bonkers.)
- Elon Musk Works Congress as He Targets $2 Trillion Budget Chop
- Trump Taps Fiserv CEO Bisignano for Social Security Chief
- Donald Trump is ready to make Republicans touch the third rail
- Trump Picks Cryptocurrency Advocate Paul Atkins For SEC Chair
- Conspiracy theories and cosying up to dictators: why intelligence experts are spooked by Tulsi Gabbard
- Trump chooses billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman to run NASA
- Trump names Peter Navarro, jailed for contempt of Congress, trade adviser
- Trump and the GOP will have a historically tiny House majority. What that means.
- Mike Johnson’s Newest Headache: The Smallest House Majority in History
- House GOP braces for tiniest vote margin possible: ‘We have nothing to spare’
- Trump Nominee Pressured IRS To Crush The Humane Society (“Donald Trump’s pick to head the Internal Revenue Service pressed the agency to investigate and consider stripping the country’s leading animal welfare group of its tax status after it supported an initiative to protect dogs, according to documents reviewed by The Lever.” EVIL.)
- Trump Replaces His White House Counsel Before He Even Started the Job
- Defense Chief Rebukes Hegseth’s Stance on Women in Combat Roles
- Hegseth’s history with alcohol shadows Pentagon selection
- Hegseth is unfit to be defense secretary. Trump has better options.
- Hegseth signed NDA, received six-figure severance payment after leaving veterans’ group, sources say
- Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense should alarm all of us (“Pete Hegseth, who has been accused of drunken, irresponsible and predatory behavior, would be in charge of the world’s most powerful military”)
- Trump used Fox to vet his defense secretary. It isn’t going well — but now the network is fighting back.
- Pete Hegseth’s Troubles at Work Raise Questions About Leadership
- Hegseth nomination sinking fast in the Senate
- Hegseth Is Reportedly Vowing to Stop Drinking, Having His Mom Call Senators
- The Sound of Fear on Air (“It is an ominous sign that Morning Joe felt it had to apologize for something I said.” – David Frum)
- What’s Happening at MSNBC? (“David Frum just shared a disturbing anecdote from an appearance this morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. According to his short article at The Atlantic, he made a flippant reference to reporting that Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth was known for drinking on the job at Fox News…According to David, after he said this, an MSNBC producer piped up in his ear objecting to his comments and warning him not to repeat them. Not long after, David was ushered off the set, apparently sooner than expected. Then Mika Brzezinski read out an apology for what he’d said. Bizarre.”)
- Biden White House Is Discussing Preemptive Pardons for Those in Trump’s Crosshairs
- Scoop: Pelosi backing “some” House Dem committee ousters
- Jeffries stays out of the way as Dems mutiny against senior panel leaders
- Nadler to Relinquish Democrats’ Top Judiciary Post, Bowing to Calls for Change
- Jeff Bezos Says He Is “Proud” of Decision to End Endorsements at Washington Post, “Very Optimistic” About Second Trump Term (What a douchebag.)
- Police investigate killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO in New York City
- Questions of Motive Emerge in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Killing
- Bullets used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO had words written on them, law enforcement official says
- Video: Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08), Protect Our Care Virginia, Healthcare Advocates Rip RFK Jr. as “fueled by conspiracy theories and lies,” “existential threat to our health care,” making polio great again,” etc. (“We need someone who’s qualified to do that and believes that HIV exists and causes AIDS”)
- Video: Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) Discusses Race for Top Democrat on House Oversight Committee (Rep. Connolly also says he’s “feeling good…prognosis is good” re: his fight against esophogeal cancer)
- Will Trump and Republicans quash the FBI headquarters move to Maryland, pivot to Virginia instead?
- An abortion extradition bill was vetoed last session; will it fare better in 2025?
- Virginia House Democratic Caucus Announces Jenner Foster as Executive Director (VA Speaker Don Scott: “His ability to build coalitions, craft winning strategies, and win will be critical as we prepare to expand our majority and fight for progress in Virginia.”)
- Virginia licensing reform effort reduces wait time, some professional experience requirements
- VDOT estimates another year of work to repair Helene damaged roads and bridges
- Records: Pro-Palestine demonstrations drove university policy changes (“A majority of Virginia’s public universities have tightened rules on students’ use of campus space.”)
- Why Sen. Sturtevant wants to stop big investment firms from buying homes in Virginia
- Virginia Tech drone sub fleet will search for microplastics in Chesapeake Bay
- Editorial: Two years after UVA shooting, report about the tragedy remains secret (“The investigation into a deadly on-campus shooting at the University of Virginia in 2022 should be made public.”)
- Williams: Focus more on locker rooms, less on bathrooms
- Plan to pave hotly-contested wooded trail hinges on Virginia Beach council vote
- Students speak out about changes to admissions process at Loudoun Co.’s career and technical academy
- Richmond registrar resigns following reports of code violation, misuse of public funds
- Roanoke examines housing strategy as legal challenges linger
- D.C.-area forecast: Gusty showers early today are followed by bitter wind chills (“Wind gusts could top 40 mph as temperatures hold steady or fall throughout the day.”)
