by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, June 17 – primary day 2025 in Virginia; you can vote at your regular polling location!
- The World’s Banks are Still Betting on Fossil Fuel Industry Growth (“The biggest funders of fossil fuel expansion are U.S. banks that, like those in other countries, are retreating on their climate commitments.”)
- World’s largest banks pledged $869bn to fossil fuel firms in 2024, new report finds (“Two-thirds of the biggest 65 banks increased financing by $162bn from 2023 to 2024, walking back climate promises” APPALLING.)
- Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine kills 15, injures 116
- Trump Renews Embrace of Putin Amid Ongoing Rift With Allies
- At least 15 die in Russian strikes on Kyiv in ‘one of most horrific attacks’ of Ukraine war – Europe live (Putin is pure evil, yet Trump loves him!)
- Trump news at a glance: Axing Russia from G8 was a mistake, says Trump before leaving summit early (Trump’s brain is completely broken, as are the brains of those who still support him.)
- Russia fears Israel’s conflict with Iran could cost it another Mideast ally (“When Israel first started bombing Iran, many in Russia saw it as an opportunity, drawing support and attention away from Ukraine.”)
- Trump is at a moment of choosing as Israel looks for more US help crushing Iran’s nuclear program
- Israel’s strikes on Tehran broaden as Trump issues ominous warning
- Trump signals escalation in Israel-Iran conflict as he leaves G7 summit early (“G7 leaders affirmed unified support for Israel and condemned Iran for being the ‘principal source of regional instability and terror.'”)
- Trump reverses position, signs G-7 statement criticizing Iran and backing Israel’s right to defend itself
- Shares slide and crude oil gain more than $1 as Israel warns people in Iran’s capital to evacuate
- Trump team proposes Iran talks this week on nuclear deal, ceasefire
- How Tough Is Iran? A String of Military Losses Raises Questions.
- Israel bombs Iranian state TV during live broadcast
- Netanyahu tells ABC he’s not ruling out taking out Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
- ‘This War Is Not Helping Us’ (“Members of Iran’s opposition want change, and fear for their lives.”)
- Trump knocks ‘kooky’ Carlson over Iran criticism (Crazy person calls other crazy person “kooky”)
- Trump Urges All Of Tehran To Evacuate ‘Immediately’ In Truth Social Post
- What Is Israel’s Endgame with Iran? (“There appears to be no off-ramp yet, as the destruction and death toll mount in both countries.”)
- At least 51 Palestinians killed in Gaza waiting for food trucks, says health ministry (Horrific and unacceptable!)
- Now we are six: G7 leaders try to salvage their summit after Trump’s early exit
- US and UK announce a trade deal, but steel imports are still being negotiated
- Trump officials reverse guidance exempting farms, hotels from immigration raids
- FIFA Club World Cup Ticket Sales TANK After DHS Says Agents Will Be At Stadium (“Tickets to the opening match that were once $349 (and up) could be had for just $4.”)
- The worst thing Trump is doing to the economy isn’t tariffs (“Fidelity to blind justice and institutional integrity made the U.S. economy exceptional. No more.”)
- Many Exporters No Longer Want Dollars, US Bank Executive Says
- Trump’s Trade and Tax Policies Start to Stall U.S. Battery Boom (UGH.)
- Nasa data reveals dramatic rise in intensity of weather events (“Extreme events such as floods and droughts are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting and more severe, study says”)
- We Better Pray That No Unexpected Crisis Hits While Trump Is President (“It’s a world exploding with crises waiting to happen. Donald Trump has made us less prepared for every one of them.”)
‘Set up for failure’: Trump’s cuts bring climate and energy agencies to a standstill, workers say (“Federal workers say taxpayers are now getting far less from the government because of the DOGE-led effort to cut the workforce.”)- Judge rules some NIH grant cuts illegal, saying he’s never seen such discrimination in 40 years (This judge is “an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan”)
- We Are Less Safe, Plain and Simple
- The Tyrant Test (“A leader who uses military force to suppress his political opposition ought to lose the right to govern.”)
- https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5352650-senate-republicans-trump-agenda-taxes-medicaid-green-energy/
- The Worst Part of Trump’s Big Bill Is Getting Almost No Attention (“The Republican budget bill is stuffed with terrible policies, but Democrats have been largely silent on perhaps its most destructive component.”)
- Medicaid keeps getting more popular as Republicans aim to cut it by $800 billion
- US Senate budget bill proposal keeps cuts to solar, wind incentives (Totally unacceptable.)
- GOP senator says he will oppose Senate tax, Medicaid bill
- Senate picks fight with House GOP on the “big, beautiful bill” (The media continues to use Trump’s ridiculous, false nickname for this horrible bill.)
- Proposed Medicaid cuts could lead to thousands of deaths, study finds (“Several provisions in the bill passed by House Republicans last month, including Medicaid work requirements, would lead to the loss of coverage for millions of people.”)
- Senate GOP tax bill would hit politically explosive Medicaid provision
- Trump approval steady at 42%, support weakens for his immigration policy, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds (It’s appalling that 42% of Americans approve of this guy…)
- Trump Has Reawakened the Resistance
- Right-wing disinformation machine spins up a false profile of Minnesota shooting suspect (“The suspect is reportedly a Trump supporter who railed against abortion and the LGBTQ community. But as the public waited for more information, conservatives spun a profile of a far-left Tim Walz ally who assassinated Democratic lawmakers over immigration”)
- MAGA Whips Up Conspiracy Theories To Muddy An Act Of Right-Wing Violence
- Minnesota lawmaker shootings: Who was on Vance Boelter’s hit list? (“Federal prosecutors confirmed 45 Democrats were listed, including dozens of Minnesota lawmakers and members of Congress such as Rep. Angie Craig, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Sen. Tina Smith. It also included members of Planned Parenthood, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the organization, and several healthcare centers across the Midwest. “)
- More Dems from outside Minnesota found in shooting hit list
- Mike Lee confronted by Minnesota colleague over shooting comments
- ‘This is not a joke’: Sen. Amy Klobuchar rips Mike Lee for posts about a deadly Minnesota shooting (Mike Lee is EVIL.)
- Mike Lee Draws Outrage for Posts Blaming Assassination on the Far Left (The NY Times easily could have added the word FALSELY before “Blaming” – why didn’t they???)
- Chilling details emerge in Minnesota shootings as Vance Boelter faces federal charges: ‘Stuff of nightmares’
- No Kings for a Day (“Donald Trump’s long-desired military parade in Washington was overshadowed by millions of Americans speaking out in thousands of towns and cities. Let’s hope Democratic leaders were paying attention.”)
- Trump ‘Reamed Out’ Hegseth for Flop Birthday Parade: Author (“The president wanted a ‘menacing’ military parade but got the opposite instead, Michael Wolff tells The Daily Beast Podcast.”)
- The Trump Mobile T1 Phone looks both bad and impossible
- Trump’s Smartphone Can’t Be Made in America for $499 by August
- MyPillow Founder Mike Lindell Defamed Election Security Expert, Jury Finds
- Fired ABC News journalist stands by his post criticizing Trump and adviser (“Terry Moran was effectively dismissed from the network after calling Stephen Miller and Trump ‘world-class’ haters” Terry Moran was 100% correct; ABC “News” is a f’ing joke.)
- Washington Post – Big Changes Coming to Print Edition (The WaPo guts is already weak Metro section, which barely ever reports on Virginia politics, and when it does so, it’s all stenography, sanewashing of far-right extremism, etc.)
- Senators Warner and Kaine hosting back-to-back virtual town halls (“Both of Virginia’s U.S. Senators will host back-to-back virtual town hall meetings on Monday, June 23.”)
- “FOLDED”: Kiggans and Wittman Skewered in Local Press for Breaking Promise Not to Cut Medicaid (“If Wittman and Kiggans had done what they said they would, the bill would have failed.”)
- Ben Cline, John McGuire condemn Minnesota political violence: Kudos? (“The assassin, an evangelical MAGA wannabe cop named Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested late Sunday night not far from his home in Green Isle, Minn., about an hour southwest of Minneapolis…As much as I’d like to see our guys, Cline and McGuire, add to their condemnations a throaty voice of dissent to the sentiments of Trump and Musk, at least they didn’t pull a Mike Lee and use the politically motivated brutal murders as fodder for memes. Kudos, I guess.”)
- Video: Winsome Earle-Sears Says “We always know who our enemy is…we’ve got huge firepower…we’ve got grenades even; we’re going to use them.” (“Your enemies are people who look like yourself. They’re our fellow citizens.”)
- Virginia primary elections on Tuesday could be a barometer ahead of 2026 midterms
- As Va. Democrats head into crowded primary Tuesday, fractures remain for Republicans
- The VPM News 2025 Primary Voter Guide
- Political Analyst Sam Shirazi’s 2025 Virginia Primary Predictions for Lt. Governor, Attorney General, House of Delegates
- Democrats smash primary early voting, ramp up for final day of in-person voting
- Virginia Democratic Party LG, AG primary endorsements: I want a redo
- Spanberger looks to unite party after primary day
- The curious campaign of Levar Stoney
- 757 Votes: The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2025 primary election guide
- 4 trends in the early voting that could determine who wins Tuesday’s primaries
- Editorial: Go to the polls (“While today’s primary election only features a handful of races, these are important decisions that deserve Hampton Roads voters’ time and energy.”)
- Food banks in Southwest Virginia say demand may escalate if Congress reduces SNAP funding
- Not outside of their purview’: Augusta County defends move to cancel library’s Pride Day
- 2 Democrats For Arlington County Board Compete In June 17 Primary (Go Takis!)
- CWG Live updates: Much warmer with 80s today, 90s tomorrow and storm chances
