by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, October 8.
- Global Renewable Power Capacity Expected to More than Double by 2030 (“The expansion comes despite a dramatic decrease in the projection for growth in the United States.” “The renewables revolution is unstoppable”)
- Pakistan’s catastrophic floods show why we need just and effective climate finance
- Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi share Nobel Prize in chemistry
- Gold Tops $4,000 for First Time Fueled by US Shutdown
- Ukraine struggles to find homes for millions of refugees (“People fleeing Russian attacks face huge difficulties in finding new homes and getting compensation for lost or destroyed property.”)
- EU Sees New US Trade Demands Hollowing Out Deal Struck by Trump
- UK plastic waste exports to developing countries rose 84% in a year, data shows (“Campaigners say increase in exports mostly to Malaysia and Indonesia is ‘unethical and irresponsible waste imperialism’”)
- The Guardian view on political chaos in France: the gift that keeps on giving to Marine Le Pen and the far right (Reminder: if you want to be well informed, read The Guardian every day. And ditch the WaPo, pretty much…)
- Israeli military intercepts another flotilla heading to Gaza and detains scores of activists
- US special envoy and Trump’s son-in-law to join Gaza peace talks in Egypt (“The arrival of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner comes as a second day of talks ended without tangible results, a Palestinian official tells the BBC.”)
- Diplomacy’s lowest point: how the Israel-Gaza conflict was mishandled (“In two years there have been many versions of a ‘day after’ plan for Gaza and many obstacles to overcome”)
- ‘It broke the entire family apart’: Israel’s 7 October trauma remains plain to see
- At least 24 killed as army paraglider bombs Myanmar Buddhist festival
- Netanyahu prolonged the war to save himself. It may have worked. (“The Israeli prime minister’s unlikely political survival — and the devastating toll of two years of war.”)
- How Israel’s invasion has shattered lives, livelihoods and learning in Gaza
- Trump says there is ‘natural conflict’ with Canada during Carney visit (“US president offers few concessions on tariffs after durable alliance fractured by trade war and annexation threats”)
- Herschel Walker confirmed as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas (That is COMPLETELY f’ed up.)
- ICE bought vehicles equipped with fake cell towers to spy on phones
- Federal agents taunted Chicago woman to ‘do something’ before shooting her, attorney claims
- Why MAGA is outraged at Zach Bryan over ICE lyric
- Texas National Guard arrives in Illinois, as Gov. Pritzker calls for end of Trump administration’s ‘authoritarian march’
- Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children (If this happened in a Democratic administration, which obviously it would NOT, Republicans would be going APESHIT!)
- Emergency Triad: The Chicago Rubicon and What Comes Next (“We aren’t at the worst-case scenario yet. But if you squint, you can see it looming out there, just over the horizon.”)
- The Civil-Military Crisis Is Here (“The leaders of the U.S. military may soon face a terrible decision.” They HAVE TO – at least, they’ve all sworn oaths to – follow the RULE OF LAW and the CONSTITUTION, and to NOT follow any illegal orders. Period. So what’s going to happen???)
- Trump Is Not Afraid of Civil War. Neither Is Stephen Miller.
- Hundreds of US National Guard troops arrive in Chicago (For absolutely no good reason – definitely NOT to “fight crime,” as the Trump authoritarians claim.)
- Inside Stephen Miller’s Secret Plan to Normalize Trump’s Dictator Rule
- White House confident courts will greenlight their Portland plan. Trump is telegraphing Plan B. (“Even as the White House insists the president is on firm legal ground in sending troops to Oregon, the president has floated invoking the Insurrection Act.”)
- The Supreme Court fights over whether medical expertise actually exists (“The Republican justices seem eager to kill state bans on anti-LGBTQ conversion therapy.” So much for science, expertise…or federalism!)
- Is the Supreme Court Teeing Up a Broader Attack on LGBTQ Rights?
- Trump to Axe All 7 Hydrogen Hubs, Bucking Bipartisan Law (“A new list of Department of Energy grants slated for termination will hit clean energy and oil majors alike, including Exxon and Chevron.”)
- The Unofficial Jobs Numbers Are In and It’s Rough Out There (“In a federal data blackout, Wall Street numbers and surveys are filling the void”)
- Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr. (“We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.”)
- Senate confirms scientist with ties to ‘Sharpiegate’ as top NOAA official (“Neil Jacobs was assistant secretary for environmental observation at NOAA when Trump displayed a map altered with a black Sharpie to incorrectly show Hurricane Dorian’s path.”)
- Speaker Johnson said he’d swear in new House Democrat ‘as soon as she wants.’ Now Republicans are backtracking
- Johnson: Not swearing in Democrat has ‘nothing to do’ with Epstein files (Translation: it has a TON to do with the Epstein files. Also, Mike Johnson lies every time his lips are moving.)
- Defiant Bondi Stonewalls Democrats on Epstein and Homan Investigations
- How Trump Is Using the Justice Department to Target His Enemies
- Bondi tells Schiff he should ‘apologize’ for impeaching Trump (To the contrary, Trump should have been convicted!)
- Republicans Used Pam Bondi’s Contentious Senate Hearing to Launch a Ludicrous New Conspiracy Theory (“At this rate, both the 2016 and 2020 elections are in danger of being tangled up in a web of unreality.”)
- “Insurrectionists”: Trump blasts Democrats over shutdown, immigration (This is *extremely* dangerous rhetoric, also WILDLY false – and psychological “projection,” as the actual “insurrectionists” were actually pro-Trump on January 6, 2021.)
- Why the right-wing media apparatus is suddenly yelling about Jack Smith supposedly spying on GOP senators (“Their allegations were quickly promoted by MAGA media outlets and on Tuesday morning were highlighted by Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee as they sought to shield Bondi from criticism. But legal reporters explained that there’s not much to the story — the FBI needed to review the toll records of senators in order to establish who Trump and his alleged co-conspirators were trying to contact before and during the January 6 insurrection. “)
- Democrats Are Winning the Shutdown Fight (“Turns out Republicans still haven’t figured out the politics of health care.”)
- How Trump uses federal cash that’s not his to spend to pursue his questionable goals
- There is no budget “deal” to be made (“President Trump has so broken the constitutional framework as to make joint normal, responsible government impossible.”)
- Delays spread to major airports across the country, as the government shutdown impacts travelers
- GOP senator: ObamaCare messaging ‘very challenging,’ polls ‘asking the wrong questions’
- Trump says he can pick and choose which feds get back pay. Republicans in Congress mostly disagree (“Asked if furloughed workers will get retroactively paid, Trump say ‘it depends.'”)
- White House draws out mass federal firings timeline as GOP grows squeamish in funding fight
- Republican leaders clash on emergency troop pay vote
- Congress erupts over Trump’s shutdown back-pay threat
- Trump’s off-script comments cause shutdown headaches for GOP (“President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are straining to project a united front against Democrats.”)
- Federal government shutdown grinds into a second week, but quiet talks emerging
- Marjorie Taylor Greene doubles down on her unexpected break with Republicans over health care in shutdown fight (“The MAGA firebrand sparked criticism from GOP leadership after giving voice to a key Democratic demand — extending expiring Obamacare funding to avoid premium hikes.”)
- Editorial: At Navy event, Trump focuses on himself and his grievances (“Sunday’s event in Norfolk should have celebrated the U.S. Navy. Predictably, President Trump made it about himself.”)
- Are Trump’s voters turning against him? (“Many of his newest supporters are having doubts.”)
- Former FBI Director James Comey to be arraigned Wednesday (This is OUTRAGEOUS!)
- Ex-FBI director James Comey to appear in court on lying to Congress charge (Members of Trump’s administration have lied like CRAZY to Congress – do they have to appear in court too???)
- FBI shuts down corruption group, fires agents after they monitored GOP lawmakers
- Trump calls for investigation into Blumenthal over allegations he lied about military service (Trump is a thug.)
- Trump administration cuts federal support for disabled Americans facing homelessness (Appalling.)
- Exclusive: White House says it has funding to save food aid program
- Memo to Bari Weiss Re: CBS News: You’re doomed
- Bari Weiss is a weird and worrisome choice as top editor for CBS News (“When Weiss was named editor-in-chief, it was the latest turn in the network’s confounding departure from its roots”)
- Trump-backed Van Epps to face progressive Behn for U.S. House seat in Tennessee
- Jesse Watters’ history of inflammatory and dehumanizing remarks (Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Earle-Sears, etc. have gone on that show repeatedly.)
- Will federal workers lose back pay? Virginia lawmakers say that would be illegal (Actually, only Virginia *DEMOCRATIC* lawmakers are saying that; but of course the f’ing media – in this case the godawful WUSA9 – won’t say that.)
- Virginia Delegation Democrats Slam White House Threat to Furloughed Workers’ Back Pay (“This proposal is both preposterous and unlawful, as it would misrepresent congressional intent and contradict established legal interpretation”)
- Virginia faces steep losses as shutdown drags on
- Warner, Kaine demand removal of partisan messages from federal websites
- The latest with Ben Cline | Our congressman’s phony war on mifepristone continues
- Sixth District race | Pete Barlow making strides in getting campaign off the ground (“The Pete Barlow congressional campaign reported on Tuesday that it has raised more than $63,000 toward its 2026 primary run. Not much, but it’s a start…I’m also hearing that there will be a third candidate entering the Democratic primary in the Sixth District in the coming days.”)
- Youngkin won’t send appointments to assembly until January
- Financial disclosure gaps, questionable gifts cloud Earle-Sears’ bid for governor (“Virginia’s Republican nominee omitted high-value gifts and donor-funded travel from ethics filings, part of what experts call a troubling pattern of secrecy and self-policing failure.”)
- Winsome Earle-Sears’ website falsely claims she serves on two Virginia boards (“The Republican gubernatorial nominee’s website says she serves on one board that has not existed since 2017.”)
- FINAL AD BEFORE DEBATE (on Thursday): Winsome Earle-Sears Puts Loyalty to Donald Trump Ahead of Virginia Families (“Earle-Sears will always put President Trump first, no matter the cost to Virginia families”)
- Video: New VoteVets Ad Says “Winsome Earle-Sears is way too weak for Virginia” (“VoteVets Action Fund brings its total investment in the Virginia gubernatorial race to $1.5 million, with another $500,000 media buy that runs statewide.”)
- Republicans dump another $1.5M into Virginia governor race (“The infusion brings the organization’s investment in Earle-Sears’ bid up to $5 million, according to her campaign.”)
- Northern Virginia voters tell how Jay Jones text controversy affects their decision (“A Republican voter who planned to split his ticket and cast a ballot for Jones said he voted for incumbent Jason Miyares instead.”)
- Democrats’ response to Jay Jones violent texts worries some in party (“Party leaders are largely standing by their nominee for Virginia attorney general after revelations that he once mused about killing a GOP lawmaker. That concerns some Democrats.”)
- Questions remain regarding attorney general candidate Jay Jones’ community service with PAC (“Jay Jones was pulled over for driving 116 mph in a 70 mph zone. His attorney cut a deal to allow him to do 1,000 hours of community service, but it’s unclear how any of those hours were spent.”)
- Scoop: Jay Jones cancels Virginia fundraiser amid “two bullets” backlash (“Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general in Virginia, has canceled a Thursday night fundraiser at the home of novelist David Baldacci, according to a person with the matter.”)
- 2025 legislative races will determine the future of Virginia’s gun safety laws (“In 18 of the most competitive House of Delegates races, Democratic candidates support, and nearly every Republican opposes, efforts to keep guns out of the hands of kids and dangerous individuals.”)
- Study: Most school boards give their districts ‘A’ or ‘B’ but the public doesn’t rate them so highly
- Hampton Roads’ growth faces challenges, federal shutdown could worsen economy, ODU economists say
- If Virginia legalizes retail weed, should localities be able to opt out?
- Critics challenge new prison policy, punishing all inmates in a pod for violations by one
- Richmond outlines water infrastructure budget asks for General Assembly
- Fairfax Co. extends car tax payment deadline, considers other ways to support federal workers
- Fairfax Co. extends car tax payment deadline, considers other ways to support federal workers
- Montgomery dumpsite for construction waste adjacent to residences could get five times bigger (“Expanding operations would allow for disposal of 2 million cubic yards of debris over a 40-year period, including soil, brick, concrete block and broken concrete.”)
- Portsmouth woman admits to stealing more than $1.5 million from state government’s charity drive (Disgusting.)
- UVA may not have made a decision on Trump compact, but faculty strongly oppose it
- Francine, the West Broad Street Lowe’s cat, is back in Richmond (“She was found Monday morning in a distribution center in North Carolina.”)
- CWG Live updates: Skies clear and winds gust after early raindrops
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