Thursday News: Climate Week Plans “Still Add Up to a Lot of Warming”; “America’s Zombie Democracy”; “White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a potential shutdown”; Obama Rips Trump’s “violence against the truth”; Earle-Sears Tries to Rerun Trump’s “They/Them” Messaging

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, September 25.

• The Guardian view on the climate crisis: green energy is booming – but fossil fuels need to shrink too (“The planet is nearing dangerous limits. Yet progress on clean energy shows what’s possible. With political will, cooperation can still avert the worst of the climate crisis”)
• At Global Climate Summit This Week, U.S. Isolation Was on Full Display
• China’s plans to cut emissions too weak to stave off global catastrophe, say experts (“Xi suggested US is not rising to the climate challenge in his UN speech, but critics say new cuts fall ‘far short’ of what is necessary”)
• China leads nations with new climate plans, defying US climate denial
• World’s oceans fail key health check as acidity crosses critical threshold for marine life (“Scientists call for renewed global effort to curb fossil fuels as seven of nine planetary boundaries now transgressed”)
• New National Climate Action Plans Trickle in During Climate Week, But Still Add Up to a Lot of Warming (“United Nations climate summit discussions suggest that overshooting 1.5 degrees of warming is inevitable.”)
• No, the U.S. Doesn’t Need Fossil Fuels to Win ‘an AI Arms Race’ Against China (“These industry players and allies push a misleading narrative the Trump administration now parrots.”)
• Australia’s horrifying climate future in four charts – and how we can avoid the worst
• WHO rejects Trump’s claims of link between Tylenol and autism (“Body says research has found ‘no consistent association’ and urges pregnant women to follow doctors’ advice”)
• Trump calls for ‘triple sabotage’ investigation over UN escalator, teleprompter, audio issues (Trump is completely insane.)
• Ukraine’s Zelenskyy issues a stark warning about a global arms race and AI war (Excellent speech, in stark contrast to Trump’s raving lunacy/idiocy.)
• Ukraine’s Plan to Starve the Russian War Machine (“Negotiations have stalled. Trump keeps changing his policies. Ukrainians, backed by Europeans, are taking matters into their own hands. ​​​”)
• Exclusive: Russian officials must end war or find bomb shelters, Zelensky says
• “Russia is a real bear”: Kremlin responds to Trump’s Ukraine comments
• The Guardian view on Trump’s support for Ukraine: a welcome but not reliable vote of confidence (“Having exhausted a failed policy of appeasement, the US president may at last be ready to put pressure on Moscow”)
• Trump’s rhetoric toward Russia is a ‘negotiating tactic,’ White House says (“The president’s apparent flip in favor of Ukraine taking back its full territory is a marker of Trump’s frustration toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, a senior official said.”)
• With His Pivot on Ukraine, Trump May Be Washing His Hands of the War (“President Trump has shown dwindling interest in mediating a peace accord, joining European “security guarantees” for Ukraine or providing aid and intelligence.” Trump PROMISED, many times, that he’d solve this war on Day 1. FAIL!)
• Denmark Investigates Potential Russia Link After Drone Attacks at Multiple Airports
• Exclusive: Chinese drone experts worked with sanctioned Russian arms maker
• Colombia’s president calls US attacks on alleged drug boats ‘act of tyranny’
• South Korea Warns US Projects Remain in Limbo Without Visa Fix
• Israeli attempt to annex West Bank would be ‘red line’ for US, says Macron (“French president said Trump assured him that would also mean ‘end of Abraham accords’ on Arab-Israeli relations”)
• Former French president found guilty but acquitted of some charges in criminal case linked to Gaddafi regime (“Sarkozy innocent of passive corruption and illegal campaign financing but guilty of criminal conspiracy in case tied to favours for late Libyan dicator”)
• Why Is Trump Bailing Out Argentina? (“This is about ideology and Trumpian fealty, not America’s interests”)
• Trump’s Border Czar Involved in Detention Contract Talks Despite Recusal
• RFK Jr.’s Team Wanted to Tout an Autism Therapy. He Went After Tylenol Instead. (“A meeting with Tylenol’s maker convinced Kennedy to put the emphasis on acetaminophen” Unhinged.)
• A President’s ‘Surreal’ Advice Worries Pregnant Women
• Trump administration reviewing abortion pill
• Obama says Trump linking paracetamol to autism is ‘violence against the truth’ (“Former president says successor’s claims about drug branded Tylenol in US ‘undermines public health that can do harm to women’”)
• Climate Forward: Newsom Assails Trump’s Retreat From Climate Action
• Trump energy secretary to return billions set aside for green projects (Evil. Corrupt. Illegal?)
• States get a blueprint to speed up heat-pump adoption (“A new report offers more than 50 useful strategies for states to help residents replace fossil-fuel-burning furnaces and water heaters with cleaner heat pumps.”)
• America’s Zombie Democracy (“Its trappings remain, but authoritarianism and AI are hollowing out our humanity.”)
• Donald Trump is the greatest threat to our free speech rights (“The president’s new comment demolishes the pathetic argument some elements of the right have pushed over the last week”)
• For Trump, Data Is Often ‘Phony,’ Unless It Supports His Views
• The MAGA Media Takeover (“Trump and his powerful friends are creating a dangerous moment for free speech.”)
• A Diminished Social Security Work Force, and Its Customers, Feel the Strain (“After this year’s staffing cuts, some people wait for hours, while others sail through. But overburdened field office workers carry the weight.”)
• The Dirty Move Republicans Could Pull to Keep the House (“Election-denying Trump allies could use a rare procedural maneuver to overturn a Democratic midterm win in 2026.”)
• Billions in Taxpayer Dollars Have Become Virtually Untraceable
• Russ Vought dares Dems to shut it down
• ‘Unforced errors’ weigh on GOP’s shutdown posture (“Top Republican officials are pursuing diverging messages as Democrats seek to pounce.”)
• White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a potential shutdown
• GOP, Democrats both see incentives in a shutdown that looks inevitable
• White House budget office threatens mass firings if government shuts down
• Democratic Report Says Disorder at DOGE Jeopardized Americans’ Data
• Newly appointed US Attorney will attempt to charge James Comey despite prosecutors finding no probable cause: Sources
• The Situation: Choose Your Own Adventure: Lindsey Halligan Edition
• The Wildly Unqualified Lawyer Trump Just Named to Prosecute His Enemies
• Va. federal prosecutors preparing to seek Comey indictment, people familiar with matter say
• Inside the White House Struggle to Tame the Epstein Crisis (“Finger-pointing, disorganization and unforced errors by Trump advisers made the problem worse; ‘Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?’”)
• Trump DOJ retracts letter that implied Sandy Hook FBI agent was under investigation
• ICE shooting | MAGA doesn’t really want to tone down the ‘rhetoric’
• Dallas ICE Facility Shooting Leaves One Detainee Dead and Two Injured
• I Wish I Could Trust What Government Officials Are Saying About the Dallas ICE Shooting (“Conservative politicians are quickly leaping to conclusions without considering the facts.”)
• Vance blasts ‘Democrats like Gavin Newsom’ for immigration rhetoric following shooting at Dallas ICE center (This headline should say “FALSELY” or indicate in some other way that Vance is FULL OF SHIT.)
• As Texas flooded, key staff say FEMA’s leader could not be reached
• The Right​’s Baseless​ Project to ​Link Trans People​ With Extremism (“A campaign for the FBI to adopt a new designation of “transgender ideology–inspired violence and extremism” is less about law enforcement than politics.”)
• Vance, Who Called Trump “Hitler,” Says Calling People Nazis Is Bad
• The right wants Charlie Kirk’s death to be a “George Floyd moment”
• Trump “Walk of Fame” trolls Biden with autopen signature in place of portrait (Trump is basically a far-right internet troll. No better.)
• Schumer becomes a campaign trail punching bag for some Democrats
• Kimmel nods to big ratings, heckles Trump as an ‘80s-movie-style bully’ in second post-suspension show
• 6.2 million tune into Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night return
• Trump Just Accidentally Wrecked MAGA’s Dumb New Lie about Jimmy Kimmel (“As Trump threatens more action against the comedian, the author of a new piece on his suppression of dissent discusses why this is the stuff of dictators—and how civil society is finally mobilizing in response.”)
• Trump Official Gave Free Tickets to GOP Group to Heckle Black Artist (“Kennedy Center interim president Richard Grenell made sure to invite a group of MAGA Republicans to musician Yasmin Williams’s performance after the two had an argument.”)
• Oklahoma official says all high schools will have Turning Point chapters after Charlie Kirk killing (“Conservative youth group chapters will counter ‘woke indoctrination’, says Ryan Walters” Deranged.)
• In conversation: Tim Kaine on Palestine, defence and the future of Canada–U.S. relations (“In an exclusive interview, the U.S. senator and former vice-presidential candidate weighed in on Carney’s decision to recognize Palestine, defence diversification and anti-Americanism”)
• Far-Right-Republican VA State Senator Bryce Reeves, Who Talked About “Taking Dems to the Train Station” (a Dark/Violent “Yellowstone” Reference), Announces Campaign Against Sen. Mark Warner Next Year (Reeves also claimed that the 1/6/21 violent, pro-Trump insurrection was actually just “the epitome of the American people who were frustrated with their government”)
• Who in Virginia is running for US Senate in 2026?
• GOP state Sen. Reeves launches 2026 US Senate bid, aims to unseat Warner (This article is pathetic; doesn’t even mention Reeves’ far-right rhetoric and policy views. What is wrong with these “journalists?”)
• Video: DNC Launches New Digital Ads in VA-01 and VA-02 Slamming Trump’s Attacks on Free Speech (“…Trump only cares about silencing his critics — and now, voters across Virginia are going to hear about it.”)
• CASEY: Rep. Ben Cline to hold 1st ‘town hall’ meeting of 2025 – this evening in Lexington (“But it’s going to be darned inconvenient for constituents from Roanoke — the largest city in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District.”)
• Video: U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA03), Don Beyer (D-VA08), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA10) and James Walkinshaw (D-VA11) Join Protect Our Care to Call on Congress to Protect Premium Tax Credits
• After voting to slash Medicaid, Rep. Kiggans wants to go after ACA subsidies next
• Youngkin, Megyn Kelly headline Turning Point USA’s stop at Virginia Tech
• Thousands of people attend Turning Point USA event at Virginia Tech
• Virginia governor’s race puts ‘they/them’ back on the ballot (“Republican Earle-Sears’s campaign sees votes in transgender issues. But have voters moved on?”)
• John Reid falsely claims Medicaid cuts won’t lead to hospital closures (“Both Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid and Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears are falsely telling voters $1 trillion in federal health care cuts won’t reduce access to medical care.” Now THIS is a good – and accurate – headline/subheader! Appparently, most of the media is incapable of doing so.)
• Will Virginia step up for its rooftop solar industry? (“The coming end of federal tax credits has goosed the U.S. solar market in the near term and poses an opportunity for developers, legislators and Virginians, writes columnist Ivy Main.”)
• Virginia taxpayers will receive up to $400 in tax rebates
• Editorial: Virginia’s school cellphone ban is an investment in students
• A year after Southwest Virginia was devastated by flooding and wind, local officials are applying the lessons they learned from Helene to prepare for the next disaster
• Case over proposed Chesterfield gas plant begins at SCC
• George Mason board postpones meeting: Too few members to meet
• Man killed by special agent in Virginia Beach was Navy veteran, married father of 2 young girls (“A state police special agent shot and killed a man last month after the man allegedly tried to break into the officer’s home. Investigators said at the time that the man was experiencing homelessness, but his obituary and a social media post from his wife suggested otherwise.”)
• Judge tells Natural Bridge Zoo manager: Turn over missing baby giraffes or go to jail (“Circuit Judge Christopher Russell found Gretchen Mogensen in contempt of court for failing to notify the state that the giraffes had been born.”)
• CWG Live updates: Showers and storms today, then drier on Friday (“The weekend forecast is complicated with continued rain chances.”)