by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, February 20. As Paul Krugman says “Why the frantic lying? I suspect that it’s because Musk, Trump and their Congressional allies are flailing. I don’t think any past administration has ever failed so thoroughly in its first month…As I see it, the explosion of lies is a sign that the Musk/Trump Administration is cracking up after just one month in office. So what should Democrats do? Nothing. Trump and Musk have created this situation, even as they try to undermine our democracy. They should be forced to own the disaster they made, and not a single Democrat should vote to help them out.”
- Two-thirds of the Earth’s surface experienced record heat in 2024. See where and by how much – visualised (“In oceans and on land, from the north to the south pole, records were smashed for the monthly average temperature”)
- Climate advocacy groups file two lawsuits against Trump administration
- Climate change: World’s glaciers melting faster than ever recorded
- Opinion | What Are You Supposed to Do With Climate Numbers Like These?
- Elon Musk’s Empty Hunt for Condoms Is Causing Real Harm (“The false claim that USAID was supplying Hamas with $50 million worth of condoms threatens to undo decades of work battling HIV”)
- Trump Turns on Zelenskiy, Leaving Ukraine Few Options Amid War
- A Terrible Milestone in the American Presidency (“Trump switches sides in the war for freedom.”)
- Trump’s “dictator” slam of Zelensky rocks Capitol Hill (In fact, Zelenskyy is a democratically elected and popular leader whose country was invaded by forces under the orders of Russian DICTATOR Vladimir Putin, who is Trump’s BFF. Yes, we really are living in the “Upside Down” at this point.)
- Republicans Are Mum as Trump Turns Toward Russia and Against Ukraine
- Trump’s Unnerving New “Dictator” Rant Forces GOP into Wild Contortions (“As Trump unleashes a deranged diatribe blaming “dictator” Volodymyr Zelenskiy for Russia’s invasion, writer Brian Beutler explains what GOP evasions over this really mean—and how Democrats can capitalize.”)
- Russia seems to have time on its side as the war in Ukraine reaches its third year
- Starmer backs Zelensky after Trump calls him ‘dictator’
- Trump echoes Russia as he upends US position on Ukraine
- Trump’s Ukraine envoy to meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv amid growing rift
- Kyiv’s White House wooing implodes as Zelenskyy tells the truth about Trump (“All America’s allies know that Trump is trapped in a disinformation bubble, but Zelenskyy said it out loud”)
- Trump Is the American President of Putin’s Dreams (“Trump is repeating Putin’s lies about the war in Ukraine and ready to give Russia everything it wants, no matter the cost to Ukraine, our European allies, or even our own country.”)
- US politics briefing: Trump rails against Zelenskyy and derails Senate Republicans’ budget proposal
- Bucha Has a Question: Does Trump Remember the Russian Massacre? (TRUMP DOES NOT CARE!)
- Abandoning Ukraine would damage U.S. credibility (The moronic WaPo editorial board as always is waaaayyy behind and waaayyy too timid. In fact, Trump has ALREADY greatly damaged U.S. credibility, maybe beyond repair. Wake up, WaPo!)
- A Trump outrage that stands apart (“The president blames Ukraine for its own brutalization.”)
- Trump tells ‘dictator’ Zelenskiy to move fast or lose Ukraine (“The extraordinary attacks heightened concerns among U.S. allies in Europe that Trump’s approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict could benefit Moscow.”)
- Trump’s Attack on Zelensky Signals a New World Order Taking Shape
- Trump Is Holding the Door Open for China
- While Musk dismantles a pro-democracy group, America’s enemies cheer (“DOGE targets the National Endowment for Democracy, a longtime Republican-supported organization.”)
- Hamas returns bodies of 4 Israeli hostages said to include a mother and her 2 young children (Hamas is pure evil, no better than Al Qaeda or ISIS, and really needs to be destroyed.)
- Hamas Turns Handover of Dead Hostages Into a Grim Spectacle (Disgusting – the worst of humanity.)
- Hold your breath and look to Germany: its election could decide the fate of Europe – and the UK (“If the country holds out against the Trump-assisted AfD, it shows rightwing populism can be resisted in Europe’s heartland”)
- Germany votes Sunday for a new government that will shape Europe’s response to an assertive Trump
- US adds Mexican cartels to list of foreign terrorist organisations
- How Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum could hit you at the grocery store
- Bird Flu Is a Slow-Motion Disaster
- ‘Stagflation’ fears haunt US markets despite Trump’s pro-growth agenda
- Trump’s appeal on birthright citizenship order rejected by court
- How Trump Is Undermining His Own Constitutional Crusade (“A haphazard approach makes it more likely the Supreme Court rules against him.”)
- We’re about to learn just how eager the Supreme Court is to help Trump (“The first Supreme Court showdown of Trump’s second term is upon us.”)
- Trump makes another power grab (“The president is claiming total control over agencies that, by law, are independent.”)
- Trump Again Claims He Put Musk ‘In Charge’ Of DOGE, Contradicting His Own DOJ (“The statement could help the Trump critics who’ve sued to stop job cuts and contract cancellations, on the grounds that Musk does not have authority to make those calls.”)
- DOGE Has ‘God Mode’ Access to Government Data (“The president’s special commission now has an unprecedented ability to view and manipulate information at many federal agencies.” WILDLY unacceptable!)
- Investigate Chuck Schumer For Threats Against DOGE Workers? We’re Off the Diving Board Now (“The acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia is nothing if not a loyal acolyte of the Compendium of Wingnut Magic.”)
- Commerce Secretary Lutnick: Trump’s goal is to abolish the IRS (That’s completely bonkers.)
- “They’re Scared Shitless”: The Threat of Political Violence Informing Trump’s Grip on Congress
- Hegseth orders major Pentagon spending cuts (“With the president smashing norm after norm, even lawmakers within his party have feared for their personal safety, and at least one has told confidants that it has swayed his decision-making.”)
- A Cautionary Tale for Trump Appointees (“The evidence of the past few days suggests that they are all deluding themselves.” Rubio, for instance, completely sold his soul and will be an eternal disgrace to America.)
- Stay strong, cat ladies! After Trump’s first month back, personal defiance matters more than ever (“MAGA didn’t vote for DOGE, but to bring liberals to heel. Fight back by not giving them the satisfaction”)
- Trump receives widespread backlash to social post calling himself ‘king’
- RFK Jr., Onetime Environmentalist, Kills NIH Climate Change Programs (Heinous.)
- Exclusive: FDA memo bans the words ‘woman,’ ‘disabled,’; White House calls it an error
- CNN Poll: Americans worried by Trump’s push to expand power (“A broad majority feel the president isn’t doing enough to address the high prices of everyday goods. And 52% say he’s gone too far in using his presidential power, with similar majorities wary of his push to shutter federal agencies and elevate Elon Musk to a prominent role in his efforts to reshape the government.”)
- Eric Adams Is Wobbling. Could Kathy Hochul Deal the Finishing Blow? (Let’s hope.)
- 4 Takeaways From the Hearing on Dismissing Charges Against Eric Adams
- Why Trump’s Decision to Kill Congestion Pricing Feels Like Such a Gut Punch
- Elon Musk Is Trying to Buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court (“His attack on democracy isn’t limited to gutting the federal government. He wants it all.”)
- Now Trump Wants the Federal Government to Take Over D.C. (“What next?”)
- Warner argues staffing cuts to IRS could delay tax returns
- Video: Sens. Tim Kaine, Martin Heinrich, Environmental Leaders Hold Press Conference on Trump’s War on Affordable, American-Made Energy (On a related note, “Kaine and Heinrich introduced legislation to terminate the national energy emergency President Trump declared.”)
- Warner, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Fight Avian Flu Outbreak
- Commentary: Virginia’s GOP delegation chooses Trump over the Constitution
- How another Trump trade war could hurt Virginia
- Video: Rachel Maddow Mocks Glenn Youngkin for “Support[ing] Donald Trump 1,000%,” Including in Devastating Cuts that Will Harm Virginia, But Supposedly “feels deep concern” for Federal Workers (“Did I mention that Virginia has elections this year in just a few months? You feel like your Republican politicians in Virginia are looking out for you?”)
- Abigail Spanberger: “Virginians deserve a Governor who is committed to making our schools the best in America” (“Unfortunately, our current Governor has vetoed bipartisan efforts to more quickly bring Virginia up to the national average in teacher pay.”)
- Bills to ban personal use of campaign funds clear Virginia legislature (This is like the bare minimum they could do. Unfortunately, they didn’t do the big things, like banning contributions from state-regulated companies like Dominion Energy, limiting the amount of money that any single donor can contribute, etc.)
- Could Virginia finally rein in its loose campaign finance laws? (Doesn’t look like it – not in the ways we really need to do it, anyway.)
- Maternal health bills move forward, now Youngkin holds the final say
- State lawmakers consider additional protections for federal contractors
- Virginia cracks down on illegal street takeovers and reckless driving
- LaRock is considering a run for governor after grassroots push to get him on the ballot (LaRock is Amanda Chase-level extreme and crazy.)
- Del. Marshall, ‘voice for Southside Virginia’ in House for almost quarter-century, decides not to seek re-election (“On the other side of this surgery that I’m going to have done, I hope to be 100%. I’m not one who can sit on the sidelines and watch the flowers grow”)
- Williams: In D.C. offices and Richmond streets, our privacy is being violated
- Study finds critical barriers to mental health care for Greater Richmond’s Latinos
- As more Amish move into rural Virginia, crashes between buggies and motor vehicles are on the rise. Finding a solution is complicated.
- UVA to release long-delayed report on 2022 campus shooting (Three years???)
- UVa board to host ‘special meeting’ to discuss trans services at hospital
- ‘Small lot’ zoning opens up a new type of Henrico neighborhood
- Snow will continue into Thursday thanks to 2nd storm system hitting Hampton Roads (“Snow totals could be close to a foot in some areas of Hampton Roads.”)
- CWG Live updates: Snow showers this morning could cause slick spots, then turning windy
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