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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, November 25.
- US, Russia and Saudi Arabia create axis of obstruction as Cop30 sputters out
- The Guardian view on UN climate talks: they reveal how little time is left (“A fragile Cop30 consensus is a win. But only a real bargain between rich and poor nations can weather the climate shocks that are coming”)
- ‘Fossil fuel giants finally in the crosshairs’: Cop30 avoids total failure with last-ditch deal (“It took some oblique wording, but Saudi Arabia made a last-minute decision to sign deal that marks departure for Cop”)
- Global grid-scale BESS deployment rises 38% through October (“Global grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) deployments have hit 156 GWh year-to-date. Over 153 GWh are still slated for commissioning in 2025, though delays and cancellations are likely to trim that total by year-end.”)
- Perovskite solar cell based on Mxene achieves record-breaking efficiency of 25.75% (“A research team in Spain has built what it claims to be the world’s most efficient perovskite solar cell using MXenes or any other type of 2D-materials.”)
- How the U.S. Drafted a Russia-Friendly Peace Plan for Ukraine (“Crucial input from a Kremlin confidant influenced the document that for a week roiled relations between the U.S., Ukraine and Europe.
- The Guardian view on a viable peace framework for Ukraine: with Europe’s help, Zelenskyy can have better cards (“The 28-point plan outlined last week by the US would have delivered peace on Putin’s terms. EU leaders must help Kyiv resist the bullying”)
- Russia’s tiny advances in 2025 sold Putin on inevitable victory in Ukraine
- U.S., Ukraine move closer together on peace plan after lengthy talks
- Russia strikes Kyiv after U.S., Ukraine report progress on Trump peace plan
- Rubio changes the tack of Trump’s Ukraine negotiations after week of chaos
- Scoop: Rep. Don Bacon weighed resignation over Trump’s Ukraine plan
- How Rubio Tried to Bring a Pro-Russia Peace Plan to Middle Ground
- Europe Toils to Have a Say in Trump’s Push to End the Ukraine War
- The European Union proposes deepening defense industry ties with Ukraine
- US and Russia to hold Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi after overnight strikes
- Ukraine touts Trump-Zelenskyy meeting to finalize Russia peace deal this week (“Kyiv and its allies voiced optimism Tuesday that talks with an American delegation had produced changes to the plan, while the Kremlin said it was waiting to see the latest draft.”)
- Xi Puts Biggest US-China Flashpoint Back on Agenda in Trump Call
- China’s Xi Calls Trump in Unusual Move to Discuss Taiwan, Ukraine
- China’s solar installations up 30% month-on-month in October
- Zelenskyy’s grim choice: Take Trump’s peace deal or rely on flaky European friends (“Despite celebrating ‘good progress’ in talks in Geneva, European countries are still too weak or too timid to save Ukraine, even with a loan from frozen Russian assets.”)
- Scoop: Trump ready to talk with Maduro over Venezuela drug strikes
- The Incomprehensible March Toward Regime Change in Venezuela
- Senate Democrats ask Hegseth, Bondi to declassify DOJ memo on drug boat strikes
- Controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ends aid operations
- Binance founder Changpeng Zhao accused of facilitating payments to Hamas (Appalling.)
- Noem ends temporary protected status for Myanmar migrants (Noem is EVIL.)
- Trump administration moves to reinterview refugees admitted to US under Biden (There’s absolutely no need to do that.)
- Trump administration orders review of Biden-era refugees, memo shows
- Venezuela rejects ‘ridiculous’ US plan to designate Cartel de los Soles as terrorist organization
- Big solar grabs record 30.6 pct share of Australia’s main grid, before being shunted aside by rooftop PV
- $10 Billion and Counting: Trump Administration Snaps Up Stakes in Private Firms
- Speaker Johnson Flashes Red on Trump’s Healthcare Push (“Top House Republican warns of little GOP support for extending expiring ACA subsidies”)
- Trump Is Considering a Push to Extend Obamacare Subsidies (“President Trump has not made a final decision. But he is under pressure to address the cost of health care, which for many Americans will jump if the subsidies expire.”)
- Trump was going to roll out a health care plan. Then Republicans weighed in.
- DOGE Was a Harbinger of Trump’s Assault on Decency and Privacy (“Democrats will have to repair the damage”)
- Republicans dumbfounded by Trump’s calls for harsh retribution against Democratic lawmakers
- Pentagon says it’s investigating Sen. Mark Kelly over video urging troops to defy ‘illegal orders’ (By the way, NPR f’ed up and erroneously said “LEGAL orders,” later had to correct itself. So bad.)
- Mark Kelly hasn’t breached military law (Nope, but Trump and Hegseth definitely have!)
- Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats (“A group of liberal senators is quietly challenging the minority leader over his approach to the midterms and President Trump, in a sign of the party’s deep frustration.”)
- Majorities of Latinos Disapprove of Trump and His Policies on Immigration, Economy (“70% of Latinos disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job as president.”)
- The One Place Trump’s Power Remains Constrained (“In the criminal-justice system, when the president’s bluster collides with facts and evidence, he keeps losing.”)
- The U.S. Judge on the Comey Case Basically Just Told Trump and Pam Bondi to Shove It (“Once these theatrics are behind us, Lindsey Halligan’s law license will be hanging on by a thread.”)
- Turns Out Prosecuting People Purely out of Rage Isn’t a Good Legal Strategy
- The Gang That Couldn’t Indict Straight (“Trump’s revenge lawfare on James Comey and Letitia James gets thrown out of court.”)
- Trump’s revenge campaign falls flat (“Why Trump’s favorite prosecutor is out of a job.”)
- Federal judge dismissed indictments against Letitia James and James Comey
- Fairfax-Based Attorney James Abrenio on Comey Indictment Being Unlawful: “It’s clear that this was a vindictive prosecution” at the Urging of Trump; Pam Bondi “went along with it” (“That is the court saying these facts matter and what Donald Trump says actually matters.”)
- Lindsey Halligan is disqualified — but there are major questions about what comes next
- Comey: ‘I know that Donald Trump will probably come after me again’
- X’s New Feature Reveals Why Trust & Safety Work Was Never About The ‘Censorship Industrial Complex’ (“The scale of the problem isn’t just about foreign actors exploiting the platform—it’s about Musk creating the economic incentives that make it profitable. As the popular Derek Guy account noted, Musk instituted an “engagement-based” payment structure that pays out money based on how many views, retweets, and comments you get. For people in lower income regions, trolling on politically sensitive topics in America to generate likes and clicks (especially now that they can use AI to do so) isn’t just easy—it’s an actual business model that Musk built into the platform.”)
- Elon Musk’s Worthless, Poisoned Hall of Mirrors (“How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature”)
- America’s Polarization Has Become the World’s Side Hustle
- It’s Not Just MTG: Other Republicans in Congress Are Reportedly Eyeing an Exit (“This entire White House team has treated ALL members like garbage.”)
- Trump’s Mamdani embrace complicates Elise Stefanik’s path to governor
- Former Sen. Doug Jones launches Democratic bid for Alabama governor
- Marjorie Taylor Greene is staying out of the election to replace her
- Sen. Tim Kaine Rips Trump Administration’s “Sham Investigation” Into Sen. Mark Kelly; On Comey Case Dismissal, Says Trump’s “blatant persecution effort blew up in his face”
- Beth Macy faces tough crowd in Waynesboro, first stop on listening tour
- Youngkin advisers ‘cautiously optimistic’ about future tax revenues (Great, except that Youngkin is a pathological liar like Trump, so we can’t believe a word he says on ANYTHING.)
- Brady PAC Executive Director Says Incoming VA Dem Trifecta and the Fact That “Governor-elect Spanberger has been a longtime champion on this issue” Means “The sky is the limit going into this next session” (“No one’s taking guns. We are trying to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a danger to themselves or to others.”)
- Virginia data center tax incentives nearly doubled last year, meaning the state lost out on $1B (“Virginia data centers have not had to pay the commonwealth $2.7 billion in sales and use taxes over the past decade, according to a report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission”)
- Falling enrollment, higher expenses complicate Virginia’s K-12 budget outlook (“State analysts warn millions in new costs are coming, but delayed attendance data and federal policy changes are clouding funding projections.”)
- Virginia’s tough rules for felons to regain their voting rights could soon be changing
- Gov.-elect Spanberger’s affordability plan is going to be electric
- Va. House Democrats make energy efficiency a key priority for legislative session (“Lawmakers have filed bills to create an energy efficiency task force and to mandate utilities give qualified customers efficiency upgrades by 2031.”)
- Is Va.’s grass about to get greener with a retail marijuana market in spring ’26?
- Virginia shoppers, store owners see higher prices ahead of holiday season
- Editorial: Newest state park adds to Virginia’s impressive system
- Write-in winners prepare to take school board seats across Virginia (“Elections for at least eight school board seats this November in Virginia were determined by write-in vote.”)
- CWG Live: Showers later today and tonight; warm on Wednesday before cold shot
