by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, January 13.
- The Los Angeles fires won’t affect climate denial. They should. (Everyone should be treating the climate crisis as the emergency that it is. But…nope.)
- Weird weather isn’t always because of climate change — but sometimes it is
- The Bomb Is Back as the Risk of Nuclear War Enters a New Age (“Fears of nuclear conflict are growing again as arsenals expand, alliances shift and treaties dissolve”)
- Zelenskyy offers Ukraine’s help to fight California wildfires after Trump Jr post
- Zelenskiy Seeks to Exchange North Korean Soldiers for Ukrainians
- Seoul’s spy agency says North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine haven’t shown desire to defect
- Chinese Trade Surplus Soars to $1 Trillion Ahead of Trump Return
- As Trump enters the fray, the danger is that a nationalist Europe will fragment, not stick together
- What Imperialist Game Is Donald Trump Playing with Greenland? (“The President-elect’s brand of America First isolationism has always sat awkwardly with his Napoleonic tendencies.”)
- Europe’s Largest Pension Fund Sold Tesla Stake Over Musk’s Pay
- Biden spoke with Netanyahu; Sullivan says hostage deal very close (It’s been “very close” for months now. Let’s hope it actually happens this time!)
- Gaza truce deal final draft presented after ‘breakthrough’
- Hamas Has Another Sinwar. And He’s Rebuilding. (“Militants in Gaza are recruiting new fighters under the leadership of Yahya Sinwar’s younger brother, Mohammed Sinwar, known as ‘Shadow.'”)
- Saudi Arabia plans to enrich and sell uranium, energy minister says
- Biden and Netanyahu discuss Gaza ceasefire talks as momentum builds
- Pope’s pick for Washington archbishop sets stage for conflict with Trump, experts say
- Canada’s Trudeau urges US consumers to consider the harm of Trump’s tariff threats
- Advocates Warn of Climate, Cancer Risks From a Potential Trump Rollback on Electric Big Rigs and Buses
- How Lagging Vaccination Could Lead to a Polio Resurgence
- Childhood Vaccination Rates Were Falling Even Before Kennedy’s Rise (Insanity.)
- Robust US economy may not need Trump’s big reforms (The fact is, Joe Biden is handing off a US economy that is in SUPERB shape in terms of macroeconomic indicators. Now, let’s watch Trump and the GOP f*** it up.)
- How Wall Street Could Wreck The GOP’s Tax Cut Plans (“The need for a debt limit hike of trillions and signs of growing bond market concerns could trim Republican economic plans sharply.”)
- Project 2025’s Plan to Dismantle Public Education—And Screw Over Disabled Kids (“Nearly nine million students rely on DOE-backed disability accommodations.”)
- Both houses and a supreme court supermajority: how Trump’s power compares historically
- Which of Trump’s nominees should get confirmed? We made a chart. (“The comments overwhelmingly criticize the endorsement of Trump’s cabinet nominees, particularly focusing on Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, and Linda McMahon. Many commenters express concern over Bondi’s past actions, such as dismissing charges against Trump University after receiving a donation, and her role in spreading election fraud claims. Noem and McMahon are also criticized for their lack of relevant qualifications for their respective roles. Overall, the sentiment is that the nominees are unqualified and that the endorsements lack credibility.”)
- The corporate lobbyist who will run the Trump White House
- Trump’s Cabinet picks are set for Senate hearings. Here’s the schedule
- Senate braces for ‘train wreck’ as hearings kick off for Trump Cabinet picks
- Defense pick Pete Hegseth repeatedly criticized removing names of Confederate generals from US bases
- Trump frustrated with GOP lawmakers over debt-limit quandary
- Welcome to the Old Abnormal (“Instead of rallying support and taking action to aid his fellow Americans, Donald is using his considerable platform to attack his perceived political enemies and stoke division.”)
- In media and politics, some voices we need right now (“Plus: the great billionaire suck-up rolls on”)
- Insurrectionists Melt Down After Vance Says Trump Shouldn’t Pardon Violent J6ers
- Vance says those who ‘committed violence’ on Jan. 6 ‘obviously’ shouldn’t be pardoned
- Steve Bannon Vows To Oust Elon Musk From Donald Trump’s Inner Circle Before The Inauguration
- Bannon’s Rage at Musk Suddenly Goes Nuclear as MAGA Meltdown Worsens (“As the war between Steve Bannon and Elon Musk intensifies, a leading Never Trump writer explains what all this says about the horrors that Trump-MAGA have in store for us—and how Dems can fight back.”)
- Steve Bannon condemns Elon Musk as ‘racist’ and ‘truly evil’
- Trump’s thuggish response to the California fires is a bad omen (“He still refuses to do the absolute bare minimum.”)
- ‘Particularly dangerous’ wildfire weather returns to California and could linger for months, say experts (“Forecasters say there won’t be winds as strong as last week’s record-setting gusts, but LA’s dry season will get worse”)
- Los Angeles wildfire death toll surges to 24 as firefighters brace for more fierce winds
- Newsom suspends landmark environmental laws to ease rebuilding in wildfire zones
- How Well-Intentioned Policies Fueled L.A.’s Fires
- Their Wealth Is in Their Homes. Their Homes Are Now Ash.
- Thousands expected at ‘People’s March on Washington’ ahead of Inauguration Day (“Organizers expect about 50,000 people to attend the rally in D.C. as part of a nationwide day of action”)
- US House Republicans want to cut Medicaid. Why that’s bad news for Virginia.
- Budget surplus, solar farms and abortion rights likely to dominate General Assembly session
- Virginia General Assembly session resumes Monday after storm delay (“Lawmakers face a packed agenda on tax reform, abortion, and education as Youngkin prepares his State of the Commonwealth address.”)
- Bills to watch in Virginia’s 2025 General Assembly session
- Amy Laufer thinks this will be the year Virginia enshrines abortion rights (It definitely won’t be this year, as the constitutional amendment has to pass again in 2026, then go to voters.)
- These bills would regulate high-risk artificial intelligence use in Virginia
- One state lawmaker thinks Southwest Virginians should have more electric utility options
- State lawmakers to consider another casino project
- Transportation officials seek funding to ease delays at railroad crossings in Hampton Roads
- Why solar power matters for my Augusta County family farm
- For Alexandria’s outgoing mayor, a final run to the finish line (“At the twilight of his long career in local politics, Justin Wilson held a final, frigid ‘running town hall’ with constituents in his Northern Virginia city.”)
- D.C.-area forecast: Milder today before another punishing blast of cold air
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