Wednesday News: “Trump debates bombing Iran in pivotal moment for presidency”; “Images of Handcuffed Democrats Start to Pile Up in Trump’s Crackdown”; “Does America Have Secret Police Now?”; Spanberger-Hashmi-Jones 2025 VA Dem Ticket as “Republicans Fight Uphill”

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, June 18.

• Antarctic seal numbers falling drastically due to melting sea ice, research shows (“British Antarctic Survey finds one breed of seal has declined by 54% since 1977”)
• Global Climate Talks Resumed This Week in Germany, For the First Time in 30 Years Without the United States (“At a Bonn conference on climate, some participants say there’s a chance to make progress with the world’s biggest economy, America, no longer in the room.”)
• UK temperatures of 45C may be possible in current climate, Met Office says (That’s 113 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Brussels drafts law outsourcing EU climate efforts to poorer countries (“An early version of the 2040 climate target aligns with a German proposal on limiting CO2 offsets, officials familiar with discussions say.”)
• Russia fears another loss in Middle East from Iran’s conflict with Israel (“The longer Israel’s military operation goes on, the greater the realisation that Russia has much to lose.” That would be one positive outcome of this…)
• Is Israel trying to destroy Iran’s nuclear program — or topple its government? (Both?)
• Live updates: Iran warns that US involvement would risk ‘all-out war’ as Israel strikes Tehran
• Trump debates bombing Iran in pivotal moment for presidency (“The decision could pull the U.S. into a major conflict, or lead to the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program.”)
• Congress dodges preemptive confrontation with Trump over Iran
• Oil Prices Climb as Trump Calls for Iran’s ‘Surrender’
• Iran Is Preparing Missiles for Possible Retaliatory Strikes on U.S. Bases, Officials Say
• Conflict in Mideast causes battle within MAGA ranks — stay out or fight? (“Trump’s opposition to past wars solidified his political coalition; a decision to attack could strain it.”)
• US spies said Iran wasn’t building a nuclear weapon. Trump dismisses that assessmen
• How Trump Shifted on Iran Under Pressure From Israel
• Thoughts on Israel’s Iran Campaign and Donald Trump
• Trump speaks with Netanyahu after crucial meeting on Israel-Iran war
• Trump’s Shift in Tone Raises Prospect of US Intervention in Iran
• The US may be headed into another Middle East war – and no one is talking about how it ends
• Could US attack Iran’s Fordow nuclear site? Military movements offer a clue
• Trump Says U.S. Knows Where Iran’s Khamenei Is Hiding, Urges Iran’s Unconditional Surrender
• Is Trump About to Get His Own Iraq War? (“Though portrayed as an anti-interventionist, he has no problem with war—as long as America gets something in return. Now he’s on the cusp of entangling the U.S. military in a conflict with Iran.”)
• Iran War Reflects a Changed Middle East and a New Israeli Military Doctrine
• Hegseth defers to general on Pentagon’s plans for Iran (“U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Erik Kurilla is overruling other top Pentagon officials.”)
• It Really Looks Like the U.S. Is Headed for War With Iran
• Tucker Carlson and Trump are falling out over the Iran war (“Trump derided ‘kooky Tucker Carlson’ — the leading right-wing voice opposing involvement in Israel’s Iran war.”)
• G7 leaders are paralysed by their fear of upsetting Donald Trump (“Tyranny is contagious – and western governments’ reluctance to name the threat is helping it spread”)
• Federal judge blocks Rubio’s anti-trans, anti-nonbinary passport policy for all
• Trump’s Conflicting Messages on Workplace Raids Leave Businesses Reeling
• Industry leaders plead with White House on relief from raids after setback
• Trump wavers on workplace sweeps, revealing why they don’t work (“The government cares more about punishing undocumented immigrants than the companies employing them.”)
• The immigrants caring for the nation’s elderly are losing their jobs (Insanity.)
• Images of Handcuffed Democrats Start to Pile Up in Trump’s Crackdown (“Federal agents have arrested a growing number of the party’s elected officials, fueling liberal outrage and conservative accusations that Democrats are carrying out publicity stunts.”)
• Brad Lander Is Arrested by ICE Agents at Immigration Courthouse
• A Disturbing Sign We’ve Accepted a “New Normal” From Trump
• Democrats who have been arrested, detained or charged under Trump
• The Trump Crackdown on Elected Officials (“The arrest of Brad Lander in New York was the latest incident in a pattern of increasingly aggressive actions that the Administration has taken against Democrats.”)
• Does America Have Secret Police Now? (“Of all the things this Trump term, the rapid normalization of masked law enforcement disturbs me the most.”)
• ICE detained University of Utah student after gaining secret access to Colorado deputy’s communications, sheriff’s office says
• Why a Vaccine Expert Left the C.D.C.: ‘Americans Are Going to Die’
• House Policy Bill Would Add $3.4 Trillion to Debt, Swamping Economic Gains
• Hospitals stunned by Senate GOP’s Medicaid plan
• GOP wants people up to age 64 to work for food stamps and Medicaid. Some experts say it won’t work.
• Senate GOP leader faces pushback after members blindsided by Trump bill
• Trump set to grant another extension to avoid TikTok disruption (Why? The law is pretty clear on this, right?)
• Trump’s Own Staffers Don’t Think He’s Fit to Be President
• Trump “Reamed Out” Pete Hegseth for Disastrous Military Parade
• Senate Democrats Are Letting Trump’s Judicial Nominees Off the Hook
• Senate passes landmark crypto regulation bill on a bipartisan vote, sending it to the House
• Senate Passes Cryptocurrency and Stablecoin Rules Bill
• ‘I have never seen such open corruption’: Trump’s crypto deals and loosening of rules shock observers
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem transported by ambulance to DC-area hospital, sources say
• Kristi Noem is ‘alert and recovering’ after trip to hospital over allergic reaction, official says
• FBI Director Kash Patel feeds 2020 election conspiracy theories with documents about unverified tip
• Far-Right ‘Appeal to Heaven’ Flag Flown Above Government Agency in DC (“The “Appeal To Heaven” flag, a popular symbol for Christian nationalists that was waved by January 6 rioters, was raised over the Small Business Administration headquarters last week.” Insanity.)
• Trump Makes More Monstrous Changes to the White House (“TACKY — The president isn’t content ripping up the Rose Garden and splashing the Oval Office with gold. — Donald Trump continued his White House overhaul Tuesday after announcing the installation of two giant flag poles”)
• California court upholds John Eastman’s disbarment for role in Trump 2020 plot
• ‘Insensitive, to say the least’: Mike Lee deletes Minnesota posts amid GOP criticism (Mike Lee is scum.)
• The Minnesota Suspect’s Radical Spiritual World
• The Minnesota Shootings and the Dangerous Trend of Impersonating Law Enforcement (“A new political era has arrived, in which the expectation and the fear of political violence are endemic.”)
• New NYC poll: Cuomo holds sizable lead over Mamdani
• These centrist women on a group chat are leading Democrats in 2025 (“Abigail Spanberger, Mikie Sherrill and Elissa Slotkin, who ascended during President Donald Trump’s first term in 2018, are playing major roles for their party this year, in governor’s races and beyond.”)
• Mark Warner says Senate Intelligence Committee ‘pretty confused’ by Trump’s Iran policy
• Sen. Kaine on Possible War with Iran (“I happen to believe that the United States engaging in a war against Iran, a third war in the Middle East since 2001, would be a catastrophic blunder for this country.”)
• Democratic Party of Virginia Announces Statewide Ticket and Slate of House of Delegates Nominees (“Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, State Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Former Delegate Jay Jones Form Statewide Ticket to Lead Virginia Democrats to Victory in November”)
• Virginia Primary Night June 17, 2025 Results: Live Blog
• Virginia Primary Day June 2025: Open Thread
• Virginia’s governor’s race could be a barometer for how voters feel about Trump
• DLCC: Momentum Is With Virginia Democrats on Primary Election Night (“The DLCC announced an ongoing seven-figure investment to protect and expand the Democratic majority in the Virginia House”)
• 5 takeaways from Virginia’s primary election results
• Jay Jones projected to win Va. Democratic nomination for attorney general
• Jones wins Atty. General nomination, Hashmi claims Lt. Gov. nod in Democratic primary
• Earle-Sears offers GOP vision following Dem primary
• Hashmi, Jones join Spanberger on statewide Democratic ticket
• Jay Jones projected to win Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general
• Republicans Fight Uphill in Virginia Race That Will Test Anger at Trump (“The Democratic candidate for governor, Abigail Spanberger, is raising far more cash than her Republican rival, Winsome Earle-Sears, in a state where federal work force cuts are being acutely felt.”)
• 10 ways that this year’s primaries made history (“Tuesday’s election confirmed that we’re living in a new state. Here’s how.”)
• State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi declares victory in Democratic lieutenant governor primary
• Ghazala Hashmi declares victory in Democratic primary for Virginia lieutenant governor (“State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi led the six-person race with 27.5% of the vote Tuesday night. The next closest candidates were former Richmond mayor Levar Stoney, who had 26.7% of the vote, and state Sen. Aaron Rouse, who had 26.2%.”)
• Hashmi claims victory in Democratic primary for Virginia lieutenant governor
• Richmond voters do not want Stoney to be Virginia’s next lieutenant governor
• Virginia will consider regulation to protect turtles from getting caught in crab pots (Absolutely – this should have been done many years ago!)
• UVa board elects new — and historic — rector and vice rector
• Danny Avula: In RVA, out of crisis comes opportunity
• Williams: Richmond is under water again, but there is a cure
• Update: Part of South Side added to boil water advisory; some residents ‘may experience total loss of water service’
• City watchdog: Richmond elections office wasted money on high-end sofas, gun and bodyguards
• Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Democratic primary: Shannon Jones upsets Howard Gwynn
• Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s race: Fatehi holds off strong challenge from Butler
• BREAKING: Karantonis and Hope well ahead in local primary vote
• Arlington Co. Board member publicly releases death threats
• Primary election results from Roanoke and New River valleys
• Wallace Chadwick wins GOP primary, making him Chesapeake’s presumed next sheriff
• Virginia House District 70 Republican primary: Cynthia Scaturico wins nomination
• Political newcomer Jen Fleisher bests incumbents for Charlottesville City Council seat
• CWG Live updates: Strong storms possible today and tomorrow, then drier and heating up (“Storms tomorrow could be more numerous and longer lasting than today. Sunday starts a stretch of several days with hot highs well into the 90s.”)