by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, March 9. Also, this video by Jamelle Bouie is excellent; I definitely recommend it!
- A deadly climate change effect is even worse than feared, study finds (“Climate change may threaten tens of millions more people than previously believed, according to a new study…”)
- How Gambling Ate the World (“In less than a decade, betting apps swallowed sports. And now they’re doing the same to the news.”)
- The Iran war’s economic blowback is getting real
- Oil Surges Past $110 — What It Means for Gasoline and Diesel Prices
- Why has the Iran war sparked fears of stagflation for the global economy? (“With oil prices soaring and stock markets falling, economists warn that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East risks knocking growth worldwide and boosting prices”)
- G7 nations to hold emergency meeting on oil as stock markets sink (Feels like the 1970s again. What next, is disco going to stage a comeback? Leisure suits? Yeah, gallows humor…)
- Oil Remains Potent Geopolitical Tool, Decades After Energy Crisis (“The war in the Middle East has sent prices soaring, showing how much the world continues to depend on reliable supplies of oil and gas.” We should have gotten off fossil fuels several decades ago. The fact that we haven’t is heavily the fault of the fossil fuel companies and the politicians who are owned/operated by the fossil fuel industry…)
- Trump’s energy chief blames oil price spike on market fear (Trump’s energy chief is a liar, imbecile, corrupt fossil fuel industry puppet, etc.)
- Asia markets moderate losses after reported Saudi oil release slightly ease prices
- Oil Prices Are Barreling Toward All-Time Highs
- Iran names Khamenei’s son supreme leader as oil price soars past $100 a barrel
- Appointing a new leader is the least of Iran’s troubles (“Regime hands Khamenei’s son the top job in a country reeling from the US-Israeli onslaught and virtually at war with its Gulf neighbours”)
- The Long-Feared Persian Gulf Oil Squeeze Is Upon Us (“Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has ground to a virtual halt, unleashing the most severe energy crisis since the 1970s and threatening the global economy”)
- On the Road With Zelensky, Weathered, Weary and Fighting On
- Ukraine Sent Drone Experts to Protect U.S. Bases in Jordan, Zelensky Says
- Iran’s choice defies Trump, signals hardliners firmly in charge (“Iran’s clerical leadership chose confrontation over compromise in appointing Mojtaba Khamenei.”)
- Iran names Khamenei’s hardline son Mojtaba as new supreme leader, oil surges
- Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father as supreme leader and Saudi sharpens warning (A hereditary theocratic dictatorship, huh? Greeeaaaaat. Not.)
- Iran defies Trump, elevates Khamenei’s son Mojtaba as successor
- Fareed Zakaria on Iran’s new supreme leader: ‘It’s a very bad sign for the war’ (“Fareed Zakaria, host of Fareed Zakaria GPS, says that the selection of Khamenei’s son as Iran’s new Supreme Leader shows that ‘the Iranian regime is dug in.'”)
- Scoop: U.S. dismayed by Israel’s Iran fuel strikes, sources say (“The U.S. is concerned Israeli strikes on infrastructure that serves ordinary Iranians could backfire strategically, rallying Iranian society to support the regime and driving up oil prices.”)
- Israeli Strikes on Fuel Depots Send Black Clouds Over Iranian Capital (“Immense dark plumes of smoke enveloped Tehran after the Israeli military expanded attacks on energy infrastructure.”)
- U.S. Tomahawk Hit Naval Base Beside Iranian School, Video Shows (“The evidence contradicts President Trump’s claim that Iran was responsible for a strike at the school that killed 175 people, most of them children.” Wait, you mean Trump was…wait for it…are you sitting down?…LYING??? Shocked! Shocked I say!)
- U.S. Tomahawk missile hit naval base beside Iranian school, video shows (“A newly released video adds to the evidence that a U.S. missile likely hit an Iranian elementary school where 175 people, many of them children, were reported killed.”)
- Trump to Times of Israel: It’ll be a ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu regarding when Iran war ends (“US president, in phone interview, clarifies that he’ll make final call to end operation ‘at right time’; says he and PM ‘worked together’ against Islamic Republic: ‘We’ve destroyed a country that would have destroyed Israel’” This is f’ed up in so many ways, including saying “destroyed a country” – why would we want to destroy the COUNTRY, as opposed to the REGIME? So we’re waging war on the theocratic dictatorship or on the people of Iran???)
- Israeli ambassador to US declines to rule out putting boots on the ground in Iran
- ‘Dark, like our future’: Iranians describe scenes of catastrophe after Tehran’s oil depots bombed (“Residents report terror of smoke-filled city, from potentially toxic rain, air and water to food scarcity and difficulty of escape”)
- U.S. and Israeli Military Campaign Tests Limits of Air Power (“Airstrikes have toppled regimes, but only when combined with ground forces.”)
- How the Rapture Explains the Rupture Over Israel on the Right
- Why Escalation Favors Iran (“America and Israel May Have Bitten Off More Than They Can Chew”)
- Trump’s Iran War Is As Unpopular As He Is (“Public support for the Iran war is already low, and it’s likely to drop”)
- Trump, Iran, Nuclear Weapons (“A grim topic that Congress and the American people should be discussing”)
- How the Iran War Could Consolidate China’s Energy Dominance (“Amid global oil and gas disruptions, China stands prepared for the electrostate era.”)
- How We’re All Now Paying the Price for the Myth of Trump’s Competence (“The administration’s war with Iran is setting a mountain of taxpayer dollars on fire every day—mostly because he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”)
- US military kills six in strike on alleged drug boat in Pacific (All they ever can say is that these boats are “alleged” drug boats. If they’re just fishermen or whatever, these are war crimes.)
- Explosion at US embassy in Oslo investigated as possible terror act
- ICE picks untested firms to oversee new warehouse detention centers (What could POSSIBLY go wrong?)
- Yardeni Raises Odds of US Market Meltdown to 35% on Iran War
- Trump Looks Increasingly Desperate to Restrict Voting Rights (“He is now threatening not to sign any other bills until Congress passes the SAVE America Act.” Trump is completely insane. Also a fascist.)
- Key Details of 13-Year-Old Trump Accuser’s Accounts Are Verified (“The newly corroborated details suggest the woman was truthful about numerous aspects of her life.”)
- After slashing federal jobs, Trump administration ramps up hiring (“The reversal reflects a retreat from one of the president’s early priorities. It could give the White House greater influence over a civilian workforce of 2 million.”)
- Health care costs and access will feature prominently in 2026 congressional midterms (“Amid clinic closures, projected hospital funding, and estimates of people at risk to lose insurance, Democrats may go on the offensive on health care against Republicans.”)
- Fox News apologizes for showing old video of a hatless Donald Trump at a dignified transfer ceremony (The media needs to put “News” in air quotes when it’s talking about Fox and make crystal clear that it’s a right-wing-propaganda outfit, NOT real news.)
- House Republicans face internal and external headwinds as they gather to map out 2026 (“The party’s annual policy retreat comes amid challenges posed by the Middle East war and weakening economy.”)
- Ken Martin’s dysfunctional DNC alarms Democrats (For the record, I supported Ben Wikler, was never impressed with Ken Martin – and still am not. Apparently, Martin won mostly because the insiders knew him and liked him or whatever, not really based on who would make the strongest DNC Chair.)
- Senator mocked ‘green energy crap.’ His house runs on it. (“Montana Republican Tim Sheehy voted to scrap solar tax credits after installing panels and battery storage at his Bozeman home.” What a f’ing a-hole.)
- As Potomac River advisories lift, public concerns remain after sewage spill
- Video: Sen. Tim Kaine Says Trump Administration Is “trying to avoid debates and votes in Congress on the Iran war right now” (Kaine says he made a “big mistake” in voting to confirm Kristi Noem, but adds, “Stephen Miller is calling the shots)
- Sen. Tim Kaine says supporting Kristi Noem as DHS secretary was a “big mistake” (I mean, ya think? LOL)
- Senate Democrat says Stephen Miller was ‘calling the shots’ at DHS under Noem (Could certainly be the case, but still doesn’t AT ALL absolve the utterly evil, sadistic Kristi Noem from her disgusting behavior.)
- Senate Democrat says Congress should fund 4 agencies under DHS, continue ‘reform discussion’ for ICE and CBP (That Senate Democrat is Tim Kaine)
- Video: Sen. Mark Warner Says “I just don’t know what will be the item that will bring this [Iran] conflict to an end” (“Should [Iran] fall into a failed state, that would be devastating to the region.”)
- Virginia Senator wants to ‘even the playing field’ for candidate filing deadlines (“It’s a bit inside baseball, but Pekarsky and others argue those deciding not to run at the last minute open the door for those with inside info who get an unfair chance at office.”)
- 2026 VA General Assembly Heads Into Its Final Week; Here’s a Great Recap by VAPLAN (Some serious items, plus one amusing one (peanuts as “state snack”?) and one baffling one (House Rules punts on study re: paying off students’ unpaid meal debt))
- To end data center tax incentives early or not — is that the question holding up the budget? (“The 11-person conference committee will need to smooth over differences in budget proposals between the two chambers within the coming days.”)
- Virginia Democrats look to expand window to pay off back rent before eviction
- Businesses owned by minorities, women lobby to reauthorize federal program
- Gambling is big business in Virginia: It’s also a problem for too many people
- Data center regulation was a hot topic in General Assembly. But many bills fell by the wayside.
- Virginia lawmakers pass reduced penalties for invasive plant violations
- Buchanan County wants to save Appalachian School of Law. It may need to think in terms of long-term funding, not a one-time cash infusion. (“Financial records show the law school in Grundy has lost money for 10 of the past 11 years, a total of $19.37 million.”)
- CWG Live: Springlike warmth through midweek, then a sharp cool down
