by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, July 20.
- Is Climate Change an Existential Threat? (Michael Mann: “I don’t think there is any question. In our forthcoming book, Science Under Siege, Peter Hotez and I identify three existential threats that currently conspire to threaten human civilization. They are the climate crisis, deadly pandemics, and—most critically—the rising tide of antiscience and disinformation that impairs our ability to address those crises. It seems very unlikely that extinction is on the table for any but the most severe scenarios of climate negligence. However, it is easy to envision a collapse of human civilization.”)
- Ukraine proposes new round of peace talks with Russia next week (“Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterates willingness to meet the Russian president Vladimir Putin face to face”)
- Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says peace negotiations ‘must be stepped up’
- Condoleezza Rice: Trump’s aggressive stance on Putin is ‘turning point’ in Russia-Ukraine war (Doubtful, but let’s hope Rice is right.)
- Parades, flags and songs: The campaign to force Ukrainian children to love Russia
- EU to Prepare Retaliation Plan as US Trade Stance Seen to Harden
- Japan heads to polls in key test for Prime Minister Ishiba
- Trump doubles down on claim Iran strike ‘completely destroyed’ nuclear sites
- More than 1,000 people killed in south Syria clashes with ‘tense calm’ now in place in Sweida
- Syria struggles to quell deadly Bedouin-Druze clashes in south
- At least 14 dead in South Korea floods and landslides
- Brazilian president: Trump is not ‘the emperor of the world’
- Rubio revokes visas of Brazilian judge, allies over Bolsonaro prosecution (Just a reminder that the US Senate confirmed his scumbag by a 99-0 margin. What does that say about the US Senate???)
- National security elites accept Trump is creating a new world order (Why would they “accept” that???)
- ‘Direct retaliation’: Hispanic journalist detained by ICE speaks out (“In an exclusive interview from an ICE detention facility, Mario Guevara talks about his month behind bars and his once positive feelings toward Donald Trump.”)
- For Women Seeking Asylum in the United States, Things Are About to Get Harder (This is totally f’ed up.)
- Firing Powell Would Shatter the Economy’s Inflation Defenses
- Unraveling the legal, economic and market ramifications if Trump tries to fire Fed Chair Powell
- How Bessent Made the Case to Trump Against Firing Fed Chair Powell (“Some Republicans have laid the groundwork to oust the central-bank chief, but the Treasury secretary cited practical obstacles and economic hazards”)
- Trump news at a glance: How Robert F Kennedy Jr is cancelling medical science (Disastrous.)
- Without weather forecasters, our canaries in the storm, expect disaster
- Why MAGA hates science so much (“Billionaires hate the rest of us — and Trump’s loyalists would rather suffer, even die, than face the truth”)
- Exclusive: Trump’s funding cut stalls water projects, increasing risks for millions
- Trump’s Perversion of Justice Has Reached a New Phase
- Trump survived many scandals, but Epstein story poses new test
- Trump once hosted party for ‘young women’ where Epstein was the only guest, says report (“President under pressure to release all files related to his former friend Epstein”)
- Inside the Long Friendship Between Trump and Epstein (“For nearly 15 years, the two men socialized together in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Fla., before a falling out that preceded Mr. Epstein’s first arrest.”)
- Why Donald Trump’s Jeffrey Epstein Cover-Up Matters (“The conspiracism that propels MAGA has turned on its host.”)
- 5 big questions about Trump’s ties to Epstein
- Trump says releasing Epstein files wouldn’t satisfy ‘troublemakers,’ as pressure mounts
- Gabbard Feeds MAGA an Obama Conspiracy Amid Epstein Blowback (Completely deranged individual.)
- Trump says ‘left lunatics’ won’t be satisfied with Epstein grand jury testimony (Who are these “left lunatics” Trump always refers to? Sounds like he just wants to demonize ANYONE who isn’t a MAGA Republican and/or opposes HIM in any way.)
- These Right-Wingers Won’t Shut Up About Epstein, No Matter What Trump Says (“The case of the late sex trafficker has been a sticking point for MAGA faithful who ordinarily have no problem trusting the president”)
- Donald Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Reporters, Rupert Murdoch for $10 Billion Over “FAKE” Epstein Letter (“A sitting US president filing a lawsuit against a news outlet over a story is an unprecedented move, according to First Amendment experts.”)
- Another Hegseth aide exits as Pentagon churn continues (“Justin Fulcher was at the center of two unusual controversies, and officials had speculated in recent days that his days in the Trump administration were numbered.”)
- Here’s where Democrats stand in polls at Trump’s six-month mark (“Months after Democrats suffered a major blow with Trump sweeping all seven battleground states and the GOP winning control of both houses of Congress, the party is still seeking to put the pieces back together.”)
- JD Vance flew to Montana for secret meeting with Rupert Murdoch and Fox News executives (“A source familiar with the trip told The Independent that the vice president spoke to both Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, as well as a group of executives from the right-wing network”)
- Colbert and Capitulation (“The end of “The Late Show” isn’t ultimately about budgets, it’s a sign of the ideological shift at CBS that will take place under David Ellison’s Skydance Media.”)
- Skydance CEO met with FCC chair ahead of CBS canceling “The Late Show” (“Skydance CEO David Ellison and his lawyer met with Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr and an FCC lawyer on Tuesday, a new regulatory filing shows.” Super sketchy/slimy.)
- Car strikes crowd outside Los Angeles venue, injuring 30. Bystanders attack driver, who was shot
- Founder of Right-Wing Group Behind Project 2025 Dies at 83
- Williams: From Texas to Virginia, we’re drowning in climate denialism
- Tech company CEO resigns after controversy over video captured at Coldplay concert
- Top Dem Deflates Gabbard’s Obama ‘Coup’ Claims in Two Words (“Democratic Sen. Mark Warner was at the Aspen Security Forum when he gave a scathing rebuke.”)
- Mark Warner calls out Tulsi Gabbard on odd Obama ‘treasonous conspiracy’ claim
- Kaine: Trump’s new law threatens healthcare for 322,000 Virginians (“Richmond NAACP joins senator in discussion about impacts of legislation that increases defense spending while cutting food assistance and Medicaid programs”)
- DCCC: Health Care Costs “Expected to Soar” Thanks to Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman (“People who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act could see increases of more than 75% each month”)
- Editorial: Gov. Youngkin must advocate for FEMA, Virginia as part of reform council
- Video: “Friday Power Lunch” Features Three Competitive HoD Dem Candidates (Jessica Anderson, Virgil Thornton, Mark Downey); and Rachel Bitecofer on How “Virginia is set up to have a monster [blue] wave if it builds it correctly”
- Spanberger Runs to Northam’s “Right” on Campaign Finance & Ethics Reform (What we need, in fact – and need BADLY – is comprehensive campaign finance reform, including a ban on contributions from state-regulated monopolies, limits – $10k or whatever? – on contributions from wealthy individuals, etc.)
- Virginia politicians’ spending gives glimpses into campaign tactics
- Commentary: Virginia deserves leaders who will stand up for workers (Sen. Scott Surovell is right; so definitely do NOT vote Republican, that’s for sure!)
- SCC tells Dominion Energy it needs to better plan ahead for future needs
- Is this the end of the line for light rail in Hampton Roads? (“In a post-pandemic world, expansion of The Tide seems uncertain. Nationally, costs have skyrocketed, experts say, and the number of riders locally has dwindled significantly.”)
- Commentary: Richmond has a future. Let’s make it pay
- New committee rakes in big dollars to influence Virginia Beach election referendum
- CWG Live updates: Another steamy day with a storm risk, then nicer weather (By the way, meteorologists really should avoid subject words like “nicer” and just stick to what the weather is going to be – drier? cooler?)
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