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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, January 2.
- Microplastics linked to organ lesions while scientists may have found how to clean them from nature
- ‘Extraordinary longevity’: great whales can live a lot longer than we thought – if we leave them alone
- Are Russian Sanctions Working? Debate Takes New Urgency With Trump.
- The endgame in Ukraine: How the war could come to a close in 2025
- Emmanuel Macron was the great liberal hope for France and Europe. How did it all go so wrong?
- UK needs to ban full hybrid cars by 2030 or face net zero ‘catastrophe’, says motoring body (“Electric Vehicles UK says hybrids without a plug should be banned or else confidence in electric cars will be damaged”)
- Impeached South Korean president issues defiant message as he faces possible detention
- Hamas police chief among 11 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza, medics say
- Pro-Palestinian activists lambasted Biden and Harris. Trump will be an even bigger dilemma.
- Heat Is Claiming Mexico’s Young People (“Elderly people are at high risk from extreme heat. But in one of the fastest-warming countries in the Americas, the worst rates of heat deaths are hitting young adults and children.”)
- John Roberts Absurdly Suggests the Supreme Court Has No ‘Political Bias’ (Roberts appears to be completely delusional.)
- The chief justice takes a swipe at JD Vance (“The vice president-elect has repeatedly suggested that government officials may defy court orders.”)
- How Sheriffs Might Power Trump’s Deportation Machine
- The Plot to Poison Children’s Minds (“Social media should be treated like alcohol. But money got in the way.”)
- Trump Voters Are in for a Rude Awakening (“He sold them countless, often conflicting fantasies. In 2025, he’ll face political reality.”)
- As Musk gains influence, questions hover over US probes into his empire
- Enshittification Comes to Washington (“Our tech overlords have ruined the online platforms that Americans depend on. Now, as Donald Trump returns to the White House with Elon Musk in tow, expect the same to happen to our government.”)
- Johnson allies warn that a speakership battle could delay Trump’s victory certification
- Mike Johnson faces “growing number” of threats to his gavel
- Johnson protected, diversity office scrapped in new House rules
- Biden to Honor Liz Cheney for Jan. 6 Investigation in Latest Swipe at Trump
- “DOGE” is a Lie and a Crypto Ad (So, call it the “Musk-Ramaswamy Task Force”…or the “Billionaire Beavis and Butthead Brigade”, but please don’t spread their self-serving deceptions.)
- Trump to hold DC rally day before inauguration
- Progressives face an existential crisis under Trump (“Not only are they at odds with their own party, with many Democrats seeking to pin the blame for their November losses on them, but some on the left are also openly fearful that an emboldened GOP will use its influence against their flank.”)
- Schumer backs Wisconsin’s Wikler for DNC chair (“The Democratic Senate leader called Wikler a ‘tenacious organizer’ with ‘proven results.'”)
- Weaponizing Tragedy: Lies Spread After the New Orleans Terrorist Attack
- New Year’s Violence Rattles U.S. (“New Orleans attack and Las Vegas explosion come as authorities have warned of rising threats”)
- Trump Stokes Hate With False Insinuations About New Orleans Truck Attack Suspect (Trump is pure evil, a pathological liar, a f’ing disgrace, etc.)
- Trump uses New Orleans attack to rant about ‘Democrats and the Fake News Media’
- Trump Falsely Suggested New Orleans Suspect Was an Immigrant
- New Orleans attack suspect named, accused of killing at least 10, injuring dozens
- Officers search Texas site thought to be linked to New Orleans suspect
- Biden vows to keep public informed about investigation into ‘despicable’ New Orleans attack
- Suspect in New Orleans Attack Is Identified as a Texan and Had an ISIS Flag With Him
- Suspect in deadly New Orleans attack was 13-year US army veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar (“Texas man, 42, who was killed by police, served in Afghanistan and held rank of staff sergeant”)
- MAGA Senator Insults Media in Off-the-Rails Terror Attack News Conference (“Sen. John Kennedy made political digs and drank from a red solo cup as officials delivered an update about an apparent terror attack in New Orleans that killed 15.”)
- Sugar Bowl postponed until Thursday due to terror attack in French Quarter, sources say
- Police treating vehicle explosion at Trump Las Vegas hotel as possible act of terror: Official
- Fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel used in Tesla cybertruck explosion outside Las Vegas Trump Hotel
- BREAKING: Mass shooting in Queens leaves at least 10 people injured
- Democrats’ Battleground Leader, Exiting Congress, Reflects on What She Learned
- Virginia gubernatorial contender Spanberger speaks about ‘chaos’ of Congress (It was absolutely NOT this way when Democrats were in charge – in fact, it was highly productive back then. The problem, of course, is REPUBLICANS.)
- Important Special Elections Next Tuesday, Then Virginia General Assembly Convenes Next Wednesday for Youngkin’s FINAL Session as Governor (Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell provides his “2025 Pre-Session Update”)
- Minimum wage in Virginia increases in 2025, but advocates say it’s not enough
- Two years after council push for local investment, Hampton Roads Ventures has yet to deliver
- Gerald Massengill, former state police superintendent who oversaw Virginia Tech shooting report, dies (“He oversaw the state’s response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the D.C. sniper shootings. Twice, he was called out of retirement by Virginia governors for special assignments.”)
- Pregnant giraffes still at Natural Bridge Zoo year after seizure
- “Largest” explosives cache “in FBI history” seized from farm, prosecutors say
- Research grant gives Emory & Henry students up-close look at Southwest Virginia health and wellness challenges
- The last days of a bizarre, glorious and outdated underground mall (“The Crystal City Underground was a vision of the future when it opened half a century ago. Now this Northern Virginia mall is about to become part of the past.”)
- D.C.-area forecast and updates: Sunny and blustery today with snow threat by Sunday night
