by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, March 12.
- ‘Global weirding’: climate whiplash hitting world’s biggest cities, study reveals
- Solar farms can host up to three times as many birds as crop fields – new research
- Africa’s solar capacity forecast to double over next four years (“A report from the Global Solar Council says Africa’s solar deployment is set to accelerate in the coming years, but stresses that mobilizing finance and strong regulatory frameworks will be required to attract investors.”)
- A Great Unraveling Is Underway (“Four years of this will not work, folks…You cannot run a country, you cannot be an American ally, you cannot run a business and you cannot be a long-term American trading partner when, in a short period, the U.S. president threatens Ukraine, threatens Russia, withdraws his threat to Russia, threatens huge tariffs on Mexico and Canada and postpones them — again — doubles tariffs on China and threatens to impose even more on Europe and Canada.”)
- Ukraine willing to accept 30-day ceasefire with Russia as U.S. lifts freeze on aid and intelligence
- Ukraine-US Accord on a Ceasefire Proposal Puts Onus on Putin
- Trump said Russia had ‘all the cards,’ but this ceasefire proposal just called Putin’s bluff
- US aid deliveries to Ukraine back to previous levels, Polish foreign minister confirms, as Kyiv agrees to 30-day ceasefire
- Trump’s dream of peace in Ukraine now must meet Russian reality
- A Trump-Putin pact is emerging – and Europe is its target (“US betrayal of Ukraine is the rehearsal for a grander bargain with Moscow and an assault on continental solidarity”)
- In Trump’s new world order, strongmen dominate and might makes right
- Ship owner says arrested captain of cargo vessel involved in North Sea collision is Russian
- The EU retaliates against Trump’s trade moves and slaps tariffs on produce from Republican states
- Trump trade war intensifies as EU, Canada and China hit back vowing strong response to tariffs
- ‘I feel utter anger’: From Canada to Europe, a movement to boycott US goods is spreading
- Hostage rescue in Pakistan train hijacking complicated by suicide bombers
- Greenland opposition party wins election amid Trump takeover talk (“Greenland’s center-right Demokraatit opposition party claimed victory in the territory’s election Tuesday, in what could be one of the most consequential polls in its history.”)
- How Do You Like the Trade War Now? (“Trump is furious that Canada won’t take his tariffs lying down.”)
- Trump imposes sweeping 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imported into the US (Inflation time!)
- Ontario suspending 25% surcharge on provincially generated electricity purchased by U.S. states
- Trump trade war confounds CEOs, deepening economic unease
- Trump allies are blaming Lutnick for Trump’s tariff turmoil
- US Inflation Seen Elevated in February, With Higher Food Prices
- Lutnick says Trump’s policies are “worth it” even if they lead to recession
- Trump’s Economic Messaging Is Spooking Some of His Own Advisers
- Three ways MAGA media are responding to Trump’s tariffs crashing the stock market (“Some hosts on Fox pretended the market didn’t fall, others wrung their hands over the political fallout, and Newsmax told viewers Trump always knows best”)
- ICE Isn’t Delivering the Mass Deportation Trump Wants (“The president promised millions of removals, but reality has intervened.”)
- Trump orders likely to drive species’ extinction, wildlife advocates warn (This is evil and insane.)
- Supreme Court declines to hear Republicans’ ‘Hail Mary’ effort to block climate lawsuits
- The Whiplash Presidency (“The president and his aides are changing their minds at nauseating speed.”)
- The key Project 2025 authors now staffing the Trump administration (Remember: Trump lied during the campaign, claimed he knew nothing about Project 2025, and the media largely bought the Big Lie…because they SUCK!)
- Inside the DOGE Threat to Social Security
- Education Department Fires 1,300 Workers, Gutting Its Staff
- Education Department cuts half its staff as Trump vows to wind the agency down (How is this legal or constitutional? CONGRESS established this agency and CONGRESS appropriated the money to fund it – and specified how it should be spent.)
- Department of Education staff told offices will be closed Wednesday
- “Terrifying”: Trump Press Sec Drops Dark Hint about Coming Crackdowns (“As the White House press secretary signals worsening horrors on immigration, Representative Pramila Jayapal explains the common thread linking them together: an effort to foment fear.”)
- USAID official tells remaining staffers: Shred and burn all your documents (WTF? Isn’t this illegal???)
- Trump’s Latest Weapon Against Critics: Destroying Their Lawyers
- Perkins Coie files suit to block Trump executive order aimed at punishing firm
- Law firm says Trump order targeting it specifically is attack on rule of law
- Fears mount over Kash Patel’s use of FBI to persecute leftwing protest groups (“Concern over crackdown on anti-fascists and Black Lives Matter movement as Trump loyalist takes control of agency”)
- Republicans advance a government funding bill despite Democratic opposition (Jen Kiggans, Rob Wittman, etc. all voted for this crap.)
- Senate Democrats’ Choice: Block the Republican Spending Bill or Dissolve Congress (I mean, why even have Congress at all if it’s not going to stand up for its own powers and just cede them all to Trump and Musk?)
- Senate Democrats appear ready to back down in government shutdown fight
- Trump’s policies are destabilizing mental health care for veterans, sources say (“The Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the largest providers of mental health care in the U.S. Its integrated care model means patients are already feeling the cuts and changes that are underway.”)
- Republicans have hated universities for years. Anti-war protests gave them a reason to punish them.
- E.P.A. Plans to Close All Environmental Justice Offices (This is just nasty and evil.)
- Trump administration eyes cuts to Justice Department public corruption unit, people familiar say (Trump is establishing a kleptocracy.)
- Trump administration halts $1 billion program that keeps aging affordable housing livable (Uh, why???)
- Trump says he will label violence against Tesla as domestic terrorism
- Musk Seeks to Put $100 Million Directly Into Trump Political Operation
- Trump Poses With a Tesla, a Move Aimed Solely at Helping Musk
- Trump Turns White House into Tesla Lot to Boost Struggling Stock
- “I am the alpha in this relationship”: What Musk’s romantic history reveals about his hold on Trump
- Trump names Va. GOP Chair Rich Anderson Air Force assistant secretary (Anderson used to be a reasonable Republican, but over the past few years has gone completely off the MAGA/far-right deep end…)
- Why buyer’s remorse is boiling over in congressional GOP town halls
- Trump official tasked with defending DOGE cuts posted fashion influencer videos from her office
- “Have You No Decency?”: Republican Calls Sarah McBride “Mister,” Dems Erupt And End Hearing
- Republican Refers to Transgender Member as a Man, Cutting Short a House Hearing
- Johns Hopkins Plans Staff Layoffs After $800 Million Grant Cuts (Trump and Musk are systematically, and rapidly, destroying our country.)
- Alexandria Dems ask Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to stop supporting Trump’s cabinet picks
- Kaine pushes bill to reverse veteran layoffs, slams Trump’s federal workforce policies
- Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07) Condemns “Blatant Lies and Intimidation from US Attorney Pushing Trump’s Retribution Campaign” (Rep. Vindman: Trump is “weaponizing government and lying to intimidate and silence public servants like me, and it’s not going to work.”)
- D.C. U.S. attorney targets Ukraine whistleblower Rep. Vindman
- Democratic Rep. Don Beyer on the possibility of a government shutdown (“ABC News’ Linsey Davis speaks with Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) on the House bill to fund the government and avert a shutdown, and his frustrations towards the Trump administration.”)
- From tariffs to DEI, Trump is shaping Virginia’s campaign for governor
- CNN: Virginia House Democratic Caucus “Advertising Blitz” Exposes GOP Delegates for “Following the Leader” on Trump and Elon’s Job-Killing Agenda
- New Report Finds “Virginia added a state record 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in 2024 and now has over 6.8 GW of installed solar capacity, 8th among all states” (Glenn Youngkin, of course, doesn’t get it…)
- Levar Stoney Campaign “Internal” Poll of the 2025 VA Democratic Lt. Governor Primary Has Stoney Up 16%-10%-8%-2% Over Aaron Rouse, Ghazala Hashmi and Babur Lateef; 63% of Voters “Not Sure” (Stoney’s lead increases to 30%-18% over Rouse after descriptions are read)
- Will Youngkin sign another attempt at informing Virginians about invasive plants? (Should be a no-brainer to sign this, but Youngkin is horrible, so…???)
- Loudoun Delegation Reflects on General Assembly Session, Looks to Next Year
- Virginia’s data center expansion impacted by changing local attitudes, taxes
- Data centers are changing the landscape. Here’s how they may affect rural Virginia.
- UVA, GMU respond to Trump admin demands over diversity initiatives
- Open letter demanding transparency around VMI superintendent’s contract gathers more than 650 signatures
- Fairfax Co. leaders weigh possible plans for meals tax to offset $300 million budget shortfall
- CWG Live updates: Staying mild through the weekend; tracking the chance of Sunday rain
********************************************************
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
