by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, July 2.
- As nations lag on climate action, their cities are stepping up. Here’s proof. (“A new report documents how cities around the world are becoming more liveable and sustainable in the face of climate change.”)
- Tracking sea ice is ‘early warning system’ for global heating – but the US is halting data sharing
- Three die in Spain as extreme temperatures grip Europe
- Key climate change reports removed from US government websites (Absolutely insane.)
- “Watershed moment:” Big battery storage prices hit record low in huge China auction (“The knockout price was a bid of $US51.59/kWh for a four hour battery (the average was $US59c/kWh), which Energy Storage News says represents a 30 per cent drop from 2024 levels, and others side was a 15 per cent fall from recent record lows.”)
- New EU Climate Law Being Built on Loopholes and Hollow Promises
- Lack of New U.S. Sanctions Allows Russia to Replenish Its War Chest
- US won’t send some weapons pledged to Ukraine following a Pentagon review of military aid (Trump wants Putin to win, obviously. Also, this is illegal and unconstitutional, as Congress already appropriated these funds. Not that the Supreme Court gives a rat’s hindquarters…)
- The US Bombing Iran Was a Win for … Putin (“The possibility of another war in the Middle East has sucked attention, energy and resources away from Ukraine.”)
- Iran Likely to Have Moved Nuclear Components Ahead of Fordow Attack: Iranian Nuclear Scientist (“Despite the Trump administration’s claims, Iran’s nuclear program has not been ‘totally obliterated.'”)
- ‘A billion people backing you’: China transfixed as Musk turns against Trump
- China Is Quickly Eroding America’s Lead in Global AI Race
- Solar Industry Says Senate Plan Would Cede Production to China
- Trump Said Trade Deals Would Come Easy. Japan Is Proving Him Wrong.
- Hamas says it’s ready for a ceasefire but wants a complete end to the war in Gaza
- Trump’s ceasefire statement raises hopes in Gaza as Israel presses on with attacks
- Mamdani on Trump’s deportation threat: We won’t ‘accept this intimidation’ (“His statements don’t just represent an attack on our democracy but an attempt to send a message to every New Yorker who refuses to hide in the shadows: if you speak up, they will come for you. We will not accept this intimidation”)
- Trump Falsely Claims Mamdani Is an Illegal Immigrant and Threatens to Arrest Him (This type of rhetoric – and thinking – is EXTREMELY dangerous and wildly unAmerican.)
- Trump OKs using National Guard as immigration judges at Florida detention center
- The Grand Opening of an American Concentration Camp (“The Republicans are proudly calling it “Alligator Alcatraz.” Let’s call it what it is.”)
- Trump Launches America’s Newest Concentration Camp, Complete With Tacky Merch
- Judge blocks Trump from ending temporary protected status for Haitians (“A federal judge ruled the Trump administration could not cut short the protection for migrants from Haiti, which has been under a state of emergency since March 2024.”)
- Amid increase in ICE arrests, many wonder what’s legal and what isn’t in agents’ tactics
- How the Supreme Court has opened the way for citizenship chaos
- Federal Reserve chair blames Trump’s
- Trump’s National Security Council is Flailing
- The supreme court is cracking down on judges – and letting Trump run wild (This court’s far-right majority is utterly heinous.)
- RFK Jr. Says AI Will Approve New Drugs at FDA ‘Very, Very Quickly’ (“‘We need to stop trusting the experts,’ Kennedy told Tucker Carlson.” We truly are living in the stupidest timeline.)
- A Big, Bad, Very Ugly Bill
- They Didn’t Have to Do This (“By passing Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, congressional Republicans have talked themselves into an incomprehensibly reckless plan.”)
- Republican Bill Puts Nation on New, More Perilous Fiscal Path
- Republicans now own America’s broken health care system
- The Disaster That Just Passed the Senate (EVERYONE who voted for this monstrosity needs to be defeated. They all won’t be, of course, but as many as possible need to lose in 2026 or whenever…)
- Poorest Americans Would Be Hurt By Trump’s Big Bill
- At least 17 million Americans would lose insurance under Trump plan
- The Senate budget bill is even worse: Healthcare system on verge of being gutted
- Thune’s big, bold bill has rattled House Republicans
- Lisa Murkowski says it was ‘agonizing’ to vote for the megabill (F*** you Lisa Murkowski.)
- Some House Republicans Already Plan to Vote Against Trump’s Agenda Bill
- Dems plot to use Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” to oust GOP in 2026
- Johnson on the megabill: ‘I’m not happy with what the Senate did to our product’
- House members scramble to return to DC for megabill vote
- The Biggest Anti-Abortion Victory Since ‘Dobbs’ (“The legislation that just passed the Senate represents a big win for anti-abortion advocates—and a subtle shift in their strategy.”)
- The GOP Bill Passed the Senate, Proving Republicans Just Don’t Care About the American People (“When the negative effects set in, the Democrats will somehow be blamed for them. Just watch.”)
- Senate Republicans pass Trump’s big bill – but it may cost them in the future
- The Senate’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” Will Create a Disaster for Rural Mothers and Babies
- Trump Tells States He’s Holding Back $6.8 Billion for Schools (Illegal/unconstitutional)
- Trump’s Finances Were Shaky. Then He Began to Capitalize on His Comeback. (MASSIVE corruption, on a scale we’ve never seen before in this country’s history.)
- Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Who Threatened Police Joins Justice Dept. (We are living in the Upside Down.)
- The New President of the National Sheriffs’ Association Participated in the Jan. 6 Protests
- Trump Suggests He’s Open to Deporting Musk as Musk Threatens Some Kind of TBD Nuclear Option
- Musk proposes a new political party, Trump suggests DOGE ‘might have to go back and eat Elon’
- Elon Musk vs. Steve Bannon War Explodes With Prison and Deportation Threats (Two very fine people, lol.)
- CBS owner Paramount settles Trump lawsuit over Harris interview for $16M (And with that, nobody should ever take CBS “News” seriously again.)
- Trump administration targets CNN coverage of migration app
- The Line of Fire (“The Idaho shootings didn’t shock those in the know about what firefighters now face.”)
- Penn Agrees to Limit Participation of Transgender Athletes
- Texas Forbids Law That Keeps Guns Away From Unhinged People (Bonkers.)
- Sen. Mark Warner 7 am Update Rips Republicans’ “terrible, cruel, bullshit bill,” Also JD Vance Calling Medicaid Policy (and People’s Healthcare Coverage) “minutiae”
- Senators Warner and Kaine; Abigail Spanberger; Virginia Dems Blast Senate Passage of “partisan megabill that slashes Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and other critical programs…in order to pay for massive tax breaks to the very rich” (Remember: “All five Republican members of Virginia’s congressional delegation previously voted to advance the bill to the Senate”)
- Walkinshaw, Whitson to face off in 11th Congressional District special election
- Warner, Kaine say GOP budget bill would strip insurance from 323,000 Virginians
- [UPDATED with Video of the Event] Billboard Truck Highlights GOP Ticket Chaos and Infighting Outside of Winsome Earle-Sears’ Campaign Event (“Glenn Youngkin to John Reid: ‘STEP DOWN.’ John Reid to Team Youngkin ‘CEASE AND DESIST from publishing lies.’”)
- GOP nominees share stage, but not unity
- Va. GOP’s ticket campaigns together, but not side-by-side
- SC GOP taps Virginia governor to headline Silver Elephant Gala fundraiser (LOL, ok…)
- Virginia Democrats Launch 2025 Coordinated Campaign: “Operation Virginia Victory” (“All eyes are on Virginia, and with early voting starting on September 19, we are wasting no time in taking our message directly to voters” – Abigail Spanberger)
- “Attorney General [Jason Miyares] is a coward who refuses to defend our state’s laws [against so-called ‘conversion therapy’] that demonstrably prevent suicide”; “Glenn Youngkin is simply despicable”
- Five Years Since Virginia Clean Economy Act Became Law, Is It Actually “delivering lower energy bills, new jobs, and a healthier environment?” (The short anwer is: somewhat, but not nearly what was hoped for or needed…and much of it not related specifically to VCEA)
- Energy demands, regulations and federal funding challenge Virginia Clean Economy Act
- Court rules talk-based conversion therapy is legal in Virginia
- State’s first-ever audit of campaign finance report leaves many questions unanswered
- Faculty, staff groups at UVA pushing Board of Visitors on forced departure of Jim Ryan
- Trump nominates Gilbert for U.S. attorney job in Western Virginia
- Editorial: Hoos your daddy, Virginia? (“Youngkin and the UVa board left the gate open and then stood by while Trump’s DOJ rushed in, took out the switch and publicly whipped Virginia’s highest-profile university, and its president — in our own backyard…Turns out growing campus diversity was just too much to bear. So Youngkin and UVa’s board members tucked their tails, kept their mouths shut and looked the other way as the DOJ gave Trump his trophy kill. Rest assured, it won’t be the last time. Thanks to Youngkin, the gate’s now wide open.”)
- Editorial: Relocating HUD from D.C. to Northern Virginia will come at a cost (“Virginia should work to ensure the National Science Foundation remains headquartered in the commonwealth.”)
- Meet the candidate: Jessica Anderson (“Democratic House of Delegates candidate Jessica Anderson is challenging Republican incumbent Del. Amanda Batten in the 71st District.”)
- Clean energy tax credits are powering Hampton Roads’ future
- CWG Live updates: Showers linger this morning, then drying out in time for the Fourth
********************************************************
Sign up for the Blue Virginia breaking news newsletter
