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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, September 11 – it’s been 24 years since the day that none of us who lived through it will ever forget. On another topic, it should go without saying that political violence in this country – as in the case of the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk – should NEVER be acceptable, as it’s evil and also antithetical to democracy.
- Mars rock contains “clearest sign” yet of potential past life on Red Planet
- Ahead of COP, Africa aims to become the continent of climate solutions (“The continent’s 54 nations outline a bold vision for climate action and pledges to present a unified position at the global meeting later this year.”)
- World’s Largest Fossil Fuel and Cement Producers Are Responsible for About Half the Intensity of Recent Heat Waves, New Study Shows (“Scientists say such source attribution could help power litigation aimed at holding the fossil fuel industry accountable for damages from heat waves and other extreme weather linked to climate change.”)
- ‘We’ve done it before’: how not to lose hope in the fight against ecological disaster (“Some days it can feel as if climate catastrophe is inevitable. But history is full of cases – such as the banning of whaling and CFCs – that show humanity can come together to avert disaster”)
- Global press freedom suffers sharpest fall in 50 years, report finds (“The International IDEA’s survey of democratic markers finds US is offering ‘encouragement’ to populist leaders”)
- Politicians in at least 51 countries used anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric during elections, NGO finds
- Russia’s drone incursion in Poland demands a U.S. response (“If President Donald Trump won’t punish Russia’s latest provocation, Congress must.”)
- Drone Barrage Over Poland Was a Test for NATO, and the U.S.
- Russia’s Strategy Against the West: Escalate Slowly and See if It Responds (“Ukrainian and European officials say that President Vladimir Putin has become emboldened by a lack of Western pushback.”)
- Russia is brazenly provoking the west. Putin must be left in no doubt of the consequences
- UN security council to hold emergency meeting as Poland plans no-fly zone after Russian drone incursion
- The Beginning of the End of NATO (“This is when the world finds out whether the United States remains committed to Europe’s defense.”)
- Russia’s Reckless Provocation (“Whether by accident or malice, the Russians are risking a wider war in Europe.”)
- Polish PM Tusk vows to press ahead with military modernization after Russian drone incursion
- Trump on Russia’s incursion into NATO: ‘Here we go!’ (What does “Here we go!” mean? Who knows.)
- Trump or no Trump, Europe’s relationship with the US will never recover (Agreed.)
- Trump’s pressure on Europe to slap 100% tariffs on India and China raises eyebrows
- Firms will hesitate to invest in US after raid – S Korea president (Yep; why would any company in its right mind invest in the US now?)
- New French PM Sébastien Lecornu promises ‘profound break’ with past politics (Good luck.)
- Trump Has Heated Call With Netanyahu Over Israeli Strike on Qatar
- When You Try to Kill the Negotiators, Negotiations End (“The Israeli strike on Hamas in Doha may have missed its target while also extinguishing any hope of a deal.”)
- Qatar official says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ of hostage release with strike in Doha on Hamas
- Israel Is Straining Its Hard-Won Ties in the Gulf (So f’ing stupid.)
- Cuba hit with fifth blackout in less than a year with 10m people in the dark
- UK fires US Ambassador Peter Mandelson over links to Jeffrey Epstein
- Boat Suspected of Smuggling Drugs Is Said to Have Turned Before U.S. Attacked It (“Legal specialists who have called it a crime to summarily kill suspected low-level smugglers as if they were wartime combatants said the revelations further undercut the administration’s claim that the strike was legally justified as self-defense.”)
- Plane to purgatory: how Trump’s deportation program shuttles immigrants into lawless limbo (WILDLY unacceptable.)
- A U.S. Citizen Detained by ICE for Three Days Tells His Story (“A conversation with George Retes, an Army veteran swept up in a California raid”)
- 5 takeaways from the producer price inflation report with another key reading on tap (“For the third time this year, the PPI showed outright deflation in what is generally considered a measure of pipeline price pressures. Wall Street economists had been looking for a 0.3% increase. The core PPI, which strips out food and energy, also fell 0.1% though core minus trade services actually rose 0.3%”)
- Supreme Court allows transgender student to use boys’ restrooms at South Carolina school
- John Roberts Just Rewarded Donald Trump for a Blatant Violation of Law. Again.
- Trump Administration Moves to Dismantle Conservation as an Official Use of Public Lands (“The decision means nearly 245 million acres of federal public land would be ineligible for conservation or restoration use designations.” APPALLING.)
- ‘The chaos is the point’: tumult as Covid vaccine boosters deployed under RFK Jr (“People attempting to obtain vaccine report major hurdles amid new limitations brought in by Trump health secretary”)
- Massie’s Epstein discharge petition inches closer to 218 signatures (“Newly sworn-in Rep. James Walkinshaw became the 217th House member to sign the discharge petition Wednesday night.”)
- Why Is The Washington Post Whitewashing Epstein’s Stomach-Churning Birthday Book?
- Epstein’s Emails Detail the Life and Crimes of the Financier—and Ghislaine Maxwell’s Leading Role
- Pete Hegseth Says the Renamed ‘Department of War’ Stands for ‘Peace’ (Pete Hegseth should not be Secretary of ANYTHING, no matter what it’s called.)
- Charlie Kirk’s killing is a tragic marker of the indiscriminate nature of political violence (“Like an infectious disease, it efficiently finds more and more victims. It’s not picky about who they are”)
- The Horrifying Assassination of Charlie Kirk (“The shooting of the conservative activist is the latest act of political violence in the United States.”)
- Charlie Kirk Was Trump’s Envoy to a New Generation (“The conservative activist was one of the most influential unelected people in America.”)
- The Tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s Killing (“The activist’s murder is a disaster for the country.”)
- The Killing of Charlie Kirk Is Part of a Terrible New Era of Political Violence
- Charlie Kirk’s death puts spotlight on rise in political violence
- Our country is not prepared for this (“On the horrible murder of Charlie Kirk — and the threat to democracy it created.”)
- Lawmakers call for prayers, condemn Charlie Kirk shooting
- ‘War Is Here’: The Far-Right Responds to Charlie Kirk Shooting With Calls for Violence (“Prominent far-right figures and elected officials have called for vengeance following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.” These people BADLY want violence, war, etc. – they’re itching for it.)
- Trump Lashes Out at Left in Dark Address After Charlie Kirk Murder (Trump has no ability or desire to rise to the occasion or unite the country – quite the contrary.)
- Killing of Trump ally lays bare America’s bloody and broken politics (“Charlie Kirk’s killing is another episode of gun violence in America and the latest in a line of recent political violence.”)
- Trump blames ‘radical left’ for Charlie Kirk shooting, but does not mention attacks on Democrats as search for suspect continues (That is WILDLY irresponsible – Trump is such an irresponsible “leader”)
- Charlie Kirk: influential rightwing activist and trusted ally of Trump (“Author, activist and host co-founded Turning Point USA and used huge social media reach to push rightwing causes”)
- Charlie Kirk’s death shows political violence is now a feature of US life
- Nation on edge: Experts warn of “vicious spiral” in political violence after Kirk killing
- On the Right, Charlie Kirk’s Death Feels Like “Crossing the Rubicon”
- At the White House, Trump’s Grief and Shock Turn to Rage Over Charlie Kirk (An enraged Trump is a dangerous thing.)
- Charlie Kirk | The latest victim in the war we’re waging with ourselves (“The gruesome shooting death of Kirk – a podcaster popular among the far, far, far right for his controversial, to say the least, views on race, LGBTQ+ rights, abortion and various conspiracy theories – is the latest in an increasingly long line of targeted acts of political violence in our quite clearly hopelessly divided country.”)
- Matthew Dowd Fired From MSNBC for Charlie Kirk Comments
- “THIS IS WAR”: Some Right-Wing Figures Call for Retribution Following Kirk Killing (That’s crazy and irresponsible on multiple levels: 1) we don’t even know who murdered Kirk; 2) even if it was somebody with left-wing views, that doesn’t mean he represents the entire left; 3) at times like this, we need to come together, not escalate and tear each other apart further.)
- Canadian Man Falsely Named as Charlie Kirk’s Shooter on Social Media (Very irresponsible.)
- MSNBC Axes Analyst Who Blamed Charlie Kirk’s ‘Hateful Words’
- Reflections on Charlie Kirk’s assassination (“There’s no justification for it.”)
- At least 3 students injured in shooting at Colorado high school: Officials
- Harris goes there on the Biden question — and Biden world isn’t having it (Ugh.)
- Kamala Harris explains why it wasn’t her fault
- Virginia officials condemn killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
- Youngkin orders flags lowered through Sept. 14 in memory of Charlie Kirk
- Kaine, Warner among senators pressing Trump about Caribbean strike
- Video: After Landslide Election Yesterday, Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA11) Is Sworn In to US House, Gives First Speech, Pledges to Stand Up for District and to Have Gerry Connolly’s Legacy Guide Him Every Day
- Va. Democrats like what they see in N.Va. special election
- Va. Department of Health issues order to ease COVID-19 vaccine access, as federal guidance shifts
- Sentara advises against COVID vaccine prescriptions amid CDC uncertainty
- Winsome Earle-Sears Campaigns Alongside Extreme Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (“Earle-Sears and Huckabee Sanders share an extreme record attacking reproductive rights and supporting abortion bans”)
- VCU poll: Spanberger leads. Why? Independents back her more than 2-1 over Earle-Sears.
- Jay Jones, Democratic Nominee for Attorney General, Releases Plan to Lower Costs and Protect Virginia Consumers (In stark contrast, Jason Miyares is “too weak to stand up to Donald Trump’s attacks on Virginia’s economy that have led to rising unemployment and skyrocketing costs.”)
- RELEASE: DLCC Announces Additional Investment of Nearly $1.5M and Expanded Target Races for Virginia House of Delegates (“Protecting and expanding the one-seat Democratic majority in the Virginia House of Delegates is a top priority for the DLCC in 2025”)
- 2025 legislative races will determine the future of reproductive rights for Virginians (“In 18 of the most competitive House of Delegates races, Democratic candidates support, and nearly every Republican opposes, efforts to protect reproductive rights.”)
- Hashmi makes campaign stop in Richmond, focusing on public education
- Everything you always wanted to know about voting in VA but were too afraid to ask
- Education Secretary Aimee Guidera tells rectors to ignore Senate Democrats (Lawless.)
- Localities are too timid about using Virginia red flag law that can save lives
- The Lone G.O.P. Governor Opposing Trump’s War on Offshore Wind (For once, Youngkin’s kinda/sorta standing up to Trump? Wonder why – because of Dominion $$$?)
- VA NAACP: Federal Judge Finds That Forcing High School Students to Convey Confederate School Names Violates Their Constitutional Rights (“According to the court’s opinion, students in Shenandoah County cannot be compelled to be carriers of the name Stonewall Jackson and the Confederate message that it represents.”)
- Federal judge says restoring Stonewall Jackson name at Shenandoah school violates students’ rights
- SNAP cuts and tariffs threaten Richmond’s Market at 25th and other independent grocers (“President Donald Trump’s policies are making it harder for residents of poorer areas to buy healthy foods.”)
- Virginia locks up more juveniles than comparable states
- Fairfax Co. superintendent describes possible consequences if federal funding gets frozen
- Water authority approves data center agreements (“The Roanoke Valley moved a step closer toward landing a Google data center Wednesday, with a local board voting to support its water needs.”)
- Staunton | Mary Baldwin faculty voice concerns with vote of no confidence in Board of Trustees
- Commentary: GMU’s rector must pick a side: the university, or The Heritage Foundation?
- Former Dominion tower in downtown Richmond approved to become housing
- Sunny, warm and mostly dry for the next week
