| Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, November 15.
- Cop30 was meant to be a turning point, so why do some say the climate summit is broken? (“Swamped by lobbyists and hobbled by a lack of urgency, there are fears Cop could become a sprawling spectacle that betrays those who depend on it most”)
- Yellow fever and dengue cases surge in South America as climate crisis fuels health issues (“Disease outbreaks from South America to Europe have been worsened by rising global temperatures, experts say”)
- As Glaciers Melt, the Earth’s Cryosphere Is on Thin Ice (“A glaciologist and climate scientist is sounding the alarm at COP30 about the rapid shrinking of glaciers all over the world, setting the stage for flooding, sea level rise and mass migration.”)
- Protesters blockade Cop30 summit over plight of Indigenous peoples (“Munduruku people demand to speak to Brazil’s president, saying they are never listened to”)
- From Australia to Turkey and, reluctantly, Germany: the tug-of-war over hosting Cop31
- Ukraine’s $200 Billion Lifeline From Europe Stumbles on Pushback in Belgium (“Belgian government fears financial fallout, Russian retaliation from EU plan to fund Kyiv using Moscow’s money held in Belgium”)
- Russia Tried to Cut Ukraine’s Lights. Now It’s Aiming for the Heat. (“Moscow’s attacks on gas supplies, the main source of warmth for most Ukrainian households, could plunge millions into the cold”)
- Russia increasingly targeting trains as attacks on Ukraine’s rail network intensify (“Ukrainian minister says more than 800 attacks recorded since start of year as Moscow seeks to destroy country’s logistical capabilities”)
- Once a shadowy dealmaker, former Zelenskyy associate is accused in Ukrainian corruption scandal
- Switzerland wins US tariff rate cut to 15%, pledges $200 billion in US investments
- Trump says he will take legal action against BBC over Panorama edit
- Trump says he will take legal action against BBC, despite its apology (“US president says he will sue the corporation for ‘anywhere between a billion and $5bn’” Bonkers.)
- Large far-right German delegation to visit Washington, Trump ally says (“The invitation to the capital comes as Alternative for Germany politicians seek to build closer ties to the U.S. government.” It’s like we’re living in the Man in the High Castle reality where Nazi Germany won the war and occupied the eastern U.S. Or maybe Philip Roth’s “The Plot Against America?”)
- Orbán’s claims of Trump summit triumph mask growing doubts over his grip on power (“Embattled Hungarian leader says he won an indefinite reprieve from sanctions on oil and gas from Russia, but the US has since disputed this”)
- Trump Organization Said to Be in Talks on a Saudi Government Real Estate Deal (WILDLY corrupt; just imagine if Obama, Biden, etc. had done anything remotely like this???)
- US military planning for divided Gaza with ‘green zone’ secured by international and Israeli troops (“Exclusive: Almost all Palestinians have been displaced to ‘red zone’ where no reconstruction is planned”)
- Record settler attacks in West Bank opening up rifts within Israel
- As Trump Escalates Pressure on Venezuela, the Endgame Is Unclear
- Trump says he ‘sort of made up’ his mind on Venezuela
- Trump weighs Venezuela strikes as U.S. forces prepare for attack order
- Trump Boat Bombings Take Dark, Unnerving Turn with Leaked Memo Stunner (“A new Trump administration memo argues that those carrying out the boat attacks can’t be prosecuted. Why? Because the administration says so!”)
- Just 29% of Americans support US military killing drug suspects, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds (That gives a decent estimate for hardcore fascists – 29%?)
- Border Patrol plans to expand Trump’s immigration crackdown to Charlotte and New Orleans, with armored vehicles and special agents
- Amid Trump’s Deportation Push, More Families Are Being Torn Apart (“Maribel Lopez was hastily deported to Guatemala despite a pending asylum appeal, leaving behind a toddler. Her case highlights a growing pattern of speedy deportations.”)
- Trump goes on defense over tariffs as prices on everyday items keep rising
- Trump scraps tariffs on beef, coffee and tropical fruit in a push to lower grocery store prices
- Trump Implements Major Rollback of Food Tariffs (“President moves to lower duties on beef, coffee and dozens of other goods as cost-of-living concerns rise”)
- Trump’s latest tariff TACO probably won’t make your life more affordable
- Fox & Friends praises Trump for “quick fix” on affordability by lowering his tariffs — which Fox used to celebrate (“Fox was an evangelist for Trump’s tariff policies throughout the campaign and his first year back in office”)
- The Rise of the Anti-Trump Jury (“All across the country, juries are rejecting prosecutorial overreach.”)
- The Supreme Court is about to rule on whether Trump can use troops against Americans (“Thus far, the justices have signaled they may not let him — yet.”)
- These Reagan-appointed judges have had it with Trump (“A handful have lashed out against Trump in their rulings. Now, one judge has resigned from his post in order to speak out more forcefully.”)
- Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits (“Food aid recipients are already required to recertify their information regularly. But the move is part of USDA chief Brooke Rollins’ effort to overhaul the program.”)
- House Republicans float bill mirroring Trump’s health care demands
- Kash Patel, the FBI’s Agent of Chaos (“The biggest little scandal in Washington right now is how bad Patel is at being FBI director.”)
- FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff (“As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau background check is unprecedented, insiders say.”)
- Halligan and Bondi push back on judge’s suggestion that Comey grand jury materials were ‘missing’
- Here’s what the House vote on the Epstein files could mean (“After months of delay, passage of the bill could set the Epstein saga on a new trajectory”)
- The Epstein Email Cache: 2,300 Messages, Many of Which Mention Trump
- Trump resorts to the “Look, there goes Elvis” defense
- Justice Department to Investigate Epstein Ties, but Not to Trump
- Trump calls on Justice Department to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship with political and other figures
- Epstein texted with House Democrat during Cohen hearing, documents show
- The Epstein Emails Are Hinting at a Bombshell Revelation About Trump (“Even with the feds closing in on him, Epstein was seemingly auditioning for a chance to throw the president to the wolves.”)
- Steve Bannon advised Jeffrey Epstein for years on how to rehab his reputation, texts show
- Trump’s redistricting campaign isn’t going well (“After Indiana opts out, is Republican redistricting backfiring?”)
- Indiana redistricting push likely dead despite White House pressure (“It’s a massive blow to the White House’s efforts to shore up a Republican House majority next year.”)
- Talking With Margaret Sullivan (“The state of the media in Trump Two Year One”)
- How a Cable News Channel Starts Over: A Candid Chat With MS NOW’s Anchors
- The hysteria over Biden’s pardons seems extra ridiculous now (“Trump’s abuse of the pardon power makes everything else look like child’s play.”)
- Trump administration takes formal step toward freeing Tina Peters (“President Donald Trump has threatened retaliation if Colorado doesn’t release his political ally from prison.”)
- Epstein Confidant Larry Summers Guiding CAP’s ‘Project 2029’
- Shorter Megyn Kelly: F*cking 15-Year-Olds Isn’t So Bad. F*ck You.
- Megyn Kelly Ignores Viral Outcry, Insists She’s the Real Source of Truth on Jeffrey Epstein (“The Megyn Kelly Show host was torn apart for apparently equivocating on Epstein’s behalf—but is sticking to her guns, saying she resents ‘these Johnny-come-latelies finally getting interested in the story.'”)
- Michelle Obama says America is ‘not ready’ for a female president
- The Decline and Fall of the Heritage Foundation (“Its descent into conspiracy-mongering and blatant bigotry was utterly predictable”)
- Marjorie Taylor Greene questions if Trump is still the ‘America First’ president
- Trump withdraws support for Marjorie Taylor Greene
- Trump cuts ties with ‘Wacky’ Marjorie Taylor Greene, once among his top MAGA-world defenders
- Trump Pulls His Endorsement Of Marjorie Taylor Greene (“In a response on X, Greene wrote Friday that Trump had ‘attacked me and lied about me.'”)
- Democrats inject “Epstein files” into special election that’s scaring GOP
- The Politics Hour: Sen. Tim Kaine voted to end the shutdown, drawing fire from some Democrats
- Audio: On The Politics Hour, Sen. Tim Kaine Says “I’m getting some holy hell, but I’m getting a lot of thanks from Virginians” for Voting to Reopen the Government (Sen. Kaine warns if Republicans don’t act on health care, “next November’s midterms are going to look even worse than the November 2025 elections”)
- A Democratic primary expected in the 9th Congressional District race (“Joy Powers would be the second Democrat to announce their intention to challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Morgan Griffith for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.”)
- Ken Mitchell announces 2026 bid for Virginia’s Sixth District seat in Congress
- Virginians should see full SNAP benefits arrive no later than Tuesday, governor’s office says (“Some recipients will be paid as early as Saturday. Federal SNAP funding now extends through September 2026, which should provide some stability for the program going forward.”)
- Governor-Elect Spanberger Announces Transition Policy Committees & Co-Chairs (Spanberger: “They Will Play a Critical Role in Delivering Results for Virginia Families”)
- Spanberger inaugural team: People who wrote big checks to get her ear
- Video: “After Virginia Votes” Looks Back at 2025 VA GOV Campaign – Trump, Government Shutdown, Earle-Sears’ Bizarre Debate Behavior, Jones’ Texts, Messaging on Economy vs. “Obsessive” Focus on “Culture War Issues,” “I am speaking!” etc. (GOP strategist says Virginia is blue; Spanberger CM says it’s purple)
- [UPDATED with Jim Ryan’s Letter] In Response to Youngkin’s “Sad, Whiny” Letter to Spanberger About UVA, VA Senate Majority Leader Surovell Says He’s “truly embarrassed for Gov Youngkin…After 4 yrs he has no understanding of basic VA govt structure” (Sen. VanValkenburg: “What do they say about digging when you’re in a hole?”)
- Column: Governor-elect defended UVa’s integrity. Sitting governor attacked her for it.
- In blistering letter, former U-Va. head blasts Justice Dept. and board over ouster (“James E. Ryan speaks out for the first time about his resignation from the University of Virginia amid DOJ pressure over his diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.”)
- Jim Ryan tells all: ‘What did the Governor know, when did he know it?’
- Jim Ryan Breaks Silence on UVA Resignation
- Ryan speaks, claims UVa rector is lying about what led to his resignation
- Ryan and Sheridan provide full accounts of Ryan’s resignation. They differ significantly (“In their first full public accounts since this summer, the former president and current rector dispute the circumstances which led to Ryan’s resignation”)
- Andrew Payton got within 1 percent in HD 34: Recount territory?
- Richmond airport expects much fewer cancellations, delays this weekend
- DNA links suspected serial killer to 1988 slaying, Virginia police say (“Police say DNA ties the 1988 stabbing of Laurie Ann Powell to Alan W. Wilmer Sr., who died in 2017.”)
- Nearly 40 years later, Gloucester teen’s slaying is fourth tied to Colonial Parkway murder suspect
- CWG Live: Near and above 60 this weekend ahead of the next cooldown
