by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, February 12.
- Point of no return: a hellish ‘hothouse Earth’ getting closer, scientists say (“Continued global heating could set irreversible course by triggering climate tipping points, but most people unaware”)
- What Does Xi Jinping Want? (“The machinations behind his recent military purge, and whether China sees an opportunity in Donald Trump’s aggression toward Europe.”)
- Poll: Top NATO allies don’t think US helps deter enemies anymore (“The United States’ eroding reputation is raising fresh questions about the stability of the global order that has held for decades, and of the country’s strength on the world stage.”)
- Europe warily awaits Rubio at Munich Security Conference as Trump roils transatlantic ties
- Why most democracies won’t touch Trump’s Board of Peace (“Whether it’s the $1bn price tag or the US president’s outsized power, key allies are steering clear of the board”)
- Manchester United owner praises Farage during anti-migration diatribe (Utterly disgusting.)
Switzerland to vote on far-right proposal to cap population at 10 million (“Referendum on immigration limit could threaten EU agreements and cripple economy, say Swiss businesses”)- Kim Jong Un chooses teen daughter as heir, says Seoul
- Cartel drones become flashpoint between US and Mexico
- Border Officials Are Said to Have Caused El Paso Closure by Firing Anti-Drone Laser
- Trump Tirade Over Bridge to Canada Backfires, Handing Dems 2026 Weapon (“His corrupt threat to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge is about to become a big albatross around the necks of GOP candidates in pivotal Michigan.”)
- GOP-Led House Rejects Trump’s Tariffs on Canada (“The vote is a significant but largely symbolic repudiation of the president’s signature economic policy”)
- Trump Rebuked Over Canada Tariffs as Midterm Anxieties Grow
- 6 Republicans join Democrats to rebuke tariffs on Canada in blow to Trump
- Suspect in Canada shooting is identified as an 18-year-old with history of police visits to her home
- IRS improperly disclosed immigrant tax data to DHS: Report
- Five Basic Truths About America’s Most Polarizing Policy Debate (“Lawmakers need to acknowledge these realities about immigration if they want to implement policy that is both popular and in the nation’s best interest.”)
- Government Loses Hard Drives It Was Supposed to Put ICE Detention Center Footage On
- Border patrol chief praised federal agent who shot US citizen in Chicago (Bovino is a Nazi.)
- Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens (“About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.” EVIL)
- DHS Shot Her and Called Her a “Terrorist.” New Videos Show Something Different. (““It’s time to get aggressive,” a Border Patrol agent said shortly before Marimar Martinez was shot five times.” Arrest that agent immediately.)
- Laughing ICE Goons Seize Dad Who Fled Ukraine War at Walmart
- End ICE Lawlessness
- Partial government shutdown looms as ICE negotiations stall
- U.S. Health Officials Defend Rejection of Moderna’s Flu Vaccine (“The F.D.A.’s refusal to examine the company’s mRNA shot drew widespread criticism from doctors and was divisive within the agency.”)
- Vinay Prasad’s Vaccine Kill Shot (“Does the White House know the harm he’s doing to public health?”)
- Trump Is Totally Willing to Surrender Us to Environmental Collapse
- House Passes Strict Voter ID Bill, Amplifying Trump’s Claims of Fraud (This is an assault on people’s ability to vote – and on our democracy.)
- Trump’s attempt to indict Democrats for video to troops an ‘alarm for democracy’ (“Mark Kelly speaks out after grand jury declines to indict six lawmakers over video urging troops to resist illegal orders”)
- Jeanine Pirro Is the Least Competent Clown in the Trump Circus (“The U.S. attorney’s attempt to indict several members of Congress failed spectacularly.”)
- Trump’s failed attempt to indict Democratic lawmakers, briefly explained (“Trump is struggling to check off his enemies list.”)
- What the Democrats Need to Do Now (“To win back working-class voters, they need to signal more clearly to working people that they are on their side. That means picking fights on their behalf with the bad actors who are making their lives harder—and the democracy-hating billionaires.”)
- The Democrats Aren’t Built for This (“They say they want to save democracy. First they’ll need to get out of their own way.”)
- These Fox News figures claimed to be deeply concerned with presidential corruption. Now they work for Trump.
- Trump’s Director of Election Security Is an Election Denier (“Even in a government full of conspiracists, Kurt Olsen stands out. He made a key referral in the Fulton County, Ga., election case.”)
- Trump’s retribution campaign hits a losing streak
- Affordability and the ‘Epstein Class’ Will Define American Politics
- Pam Bondi Threw an Insolent Tantrum Before the House Judiciary Committee (“And she did so to dodge a simple question about the Epstein files.” This is BY FAR a better, more accurate headline than 99% of the pathetic “mainstream media,” BTW.)
- ‘You’re a washed-up loser lawyer’: Pam Bondi taunts Democrats over Epstein (Pam Bondi is nasty, unhinged, a liar, evil, etc.)
- Bondi dodges questions about Lutnick’s connections with Epstein
- Bondi’s charade (“Pam Bondi dropped the ball on the Epstein case a long time ago”)
- House Democrats think Pam Bondi just helped them in the midterms
- JD Vance vies for the gold medal in coarseness and flippancy
- Scoop: Dems eye protests at Trump’s State of the Union (“Some House Democrats say they plan to defy instructions from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) not to protest President Trump during his State of the Union address on Feb. 24.”)
- Trump Says He Will Now Invite Democrats to Governors’ Meeting (“Even as he reversed course on excluding Democrats, the president repeatedly attacked a Republican governor who had planned to oversee the meeting.”)
- U.S. Attorney Chosen to Replace Trump Pick Is Quickly Fired by White House (“Federal judges had appointed Donald Kinsella, a veteran litigator, as top prosecutor in the Northern District of New York after the Trump administration’s nominee was found to be serving unlawfully.”)
- Gallup to stop tracking presidential approval ratings after 88 years (“Public opinion polling agency says decision ‘solely based on Gallup’s research goals and priorities’” Huh???)
- Minnesota 2026 Poll: Democrats Lead GOP as Voters Cite Threats to Democracy (“In the election to replace retiring Governor Tim Walz, Amy Klobuchar leads the hypothetical matchups against Republican Speaker of the Minnesota House Lisa Demuth, 51% to 38%, and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, 53% to 31%.” It’s appalling that Lindell would get even 3.1% of the vote, let alone 31% of the vote. Those 31% are the absolute dregs of our society.)
- Man pardoned by Trump for attacking US Capitol found guilty of child abuse (“Andrew Paul Johnson was found guilty of five counts including molesting a child under 12 and another under 16”)
- Why is the Washington Post cratering so spectacularly?
- Video: Sen. Tim Kaine Says Trump Using His DoJ to Go After Sen. Mark Kelly, etc. “is tyranny pure and simple…what dictatorships do” (Sen. Kaine praises DC grand jury for refusing to “carry out [Trump’s] illegitimate political retribution campaign.”)
- VA05 Democratic Candidate Mike Pruitt Ends Campaign, Endorses Tom Perriello (“I will keep fighting to make hope a strength, not a liability, for families like mine.”)
- Mike Pruitt drops Congressional bid, endorses Tom Perriello (“Perriello’s campaign confirmed he will run in the new 6th District, where he resides, against Republican incumbent Ben Cline, if redistricting is successful. If not, he will run in the current 5th. “)
- Former Delegate Wendy Gooditis Suspends Congressional Campaign and Endorses Rep. Suhas Subramanyan (D-VA10) for Reelection (“Under this new map, my home has been drawn into a district with a strong incumbent who represents our values.”)
- TV station gives Ben Cline free pass to hype his $17M I-81 nothingburger (“This is access journalism at its absolute lowest. Seriously. Hey, we got Ben Cline here. Should we ask him about the Epstein files? No, he wants to talk about the $17 million he got for I-81 again.”)
- Prospect of new congressional map prompts two exits and one entrance (“The Virginia Supreme Court and voters have yet to weigh in, but some congressional candidates are already making moves in anticipation of redistricting.”)
- Ex-federal prosecutor fired by Trump will run for Congress in Virginia (“J.P. Cooney served as a top deputy to special counsel Jack Smith in two criminal prosecutions of Trump.”)
- Democrat Scott Surovell invokes George W. Bush in tax cheat legislation
- House Finance backs conditions on data center tax exemption (“Data centers would have to meet new environmental and energy standards to remain eligible for a state sales tax exemption on their equipment under legislation that passed a House of Delegates committee on Wednesday.”)
- Bipartisan legislation to regulate and tax skill games will reduce illegal slot machines | Guest column
- Bill to ensure minimum wage for farmers advances in Va. House of Delegates
- Bill that would have required patients receive info on ‘baby boxes’ prior to abortions defeated
- Video: VA House Education Committee Adopts VMI Substitute Bill; Del. Michael Feggans Says “we’ve received commitments from VMI’s leadership that progress will continue” (Feggans says it’s crucial that VMI’s “direction is not steered away by powerful vocal groups resistant to continued progress.”)
- Bill to dissolve VMI board of visitors rewritten; revised school-endorsed version advances (“The rewritten bill by Del. Michael Feggans of Virginia Beach would allow VMI to maintain its governance, with stipulations and changes to the board structure to reduce alumni influence.”)
- Lawmakers retreat from VMI oversight transfer, advance board overhaul
- VMI reorganization bill limited to change in board appointments
- Concerns over rewrite of student demonstrations policy surface at Virginia Beach School Board
- Virginia Tech ends identity-based graduation ceremonies after federal DEI guidance
- Top prosecutor for Mathews County was found dead ‘in the driveway,’ state police say
- Gov. Spanberger orders flags flown at half-staff Thursday in memory of Delegate Poindexter
- Bond set for former UVA Football wideout Jahmal Edrine in rape, abduction case
- CWG Live: Colder through Friday, then briefly mild ahead of Sunday storm (“Sunday’s storm could start as a short period of wintry mix, but it’s mostly a rain event.”)
