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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, March 2.
- A Crisis in the Alps: Airbnb, Climate Change and Americans
- Clock starts ticking for US withdrawal from climate treaty (“The Trump administration will quit the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in one year.”)
- The EU’s climate retreat problem: punishing early movers
(“Green transition pioneers complain they are paying price for rewarding industry laggards”) - Moscow gloats over potential oil price spike from Iran war (“Putin may have lost an ally with the death of Khamenei but an oil price shock is good news for the Kremlin.” Only if it’s a big spike and/or lasts a while.)
- Ukraine Depended on Western Weaponry. Now That Script Has Flipped. (“Kyiv’s European allies are snapping up its military know-how as they seek to build up their own defenses”)
- U.S. crude oil jumps more than 8%, topping $72 a barrel on fears of Iran supply disruption
- War, Oil and the World Economy (“Are we less vulnerable to an oil price shock than we were in 1979?”)
- The Strait of Hormuz crisis explained: What it means for global shipping
- Oil surges and stock futures sink as war in Iran threatens crude supply
- Trump Buries the 20th Century (“Donald Trump’s legacy became clearer than ever with the attack on Iran’s regime, the latest 20th century artifact to crumble in the Trump era.”)
- As Trump Bombs Iran, America’s Allies Watch Fitfully From Sidelines (“Disregarded by President Trump over Iran, Europe’s leaders are adapting to a world in which they are little more than bystanders.”)
- Mideast Conflict Widens Across Multiple Fronts
- ‘I Have Agreed to Talk’ (“Trump tells The Atlantic that Iranian leaders want to resume negotiations.”)
- Trump Says War Could Last Weeks and Offers Contradictory Visions of New Regime (“In a brief interview, he said the country’s hardened military should simply surrender their weapons to the Iranian public.”)
- Pentagon offers no evidence to support claim it attacked Iran in defense (“The Trump administration’s effort to construct a case for war after shots started flying has few historical parallels.”)
- US-Israel war on Iran live: conflict spreads to Lebanon and wider region, as Kuwait reports ‘several’ US warplanes crashing
- Congress gears up for vote on Trump’s war powers in Iran — after the battle began
- Just one in four Americans supports US strikes on Iran, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
- Hunkered at Mar-a-Lago, Trump makes his club a makeshift Situation Room (Crazy.)
- Zero Cheers for Trump’s Regime Change War (“If Iraq was a drunk driving incident on the world stage, the Iran War is the most powerful nation on the planet behaving exactly like what it is: a country led by sociopath”)
- Trump leaves room to claim victory — or avoid blame — in recorded Iran strike messages (“Trump has taken an approach to selling U.S. citizens on military action in Iran that contrasts with his predecessors, seeking to avoid completely owning it”)
- Iran’s Regime May Survive, but the Middle East Will Be Changed (“A badly weakened Iran will no longer intimidate or threaten its neighbors in the same way. The regional impact could be comparable to the collapse of the Soviet Union.”)
- Trump on US troop casualties: ‘There will likely be more’
- CIA closely watched Khamenei for months before fatal strikes in Iran
- At least 153 dead after reported strike on school, Iran says (Horrific.)
- U.S. and Israel delayed original Iran strike by a week, officials say (“The delay gave President Trump another week to choose between the two parallel tracks — diplomacy and war — he had been walking for nearly two months.”)
- America’s Invaluable Ally (“Having sophisticated, creative, and bold partners that can operate at scale is invaluable to the United States.”)
- ‘Our Resources Are Done’ (“Iran’s Islamic Republic may endure, but in a very different form.”)
- New Iranian strikes reported across region, including in Saudi Arabia, as US planes crash in Kuwait
- The money behind the new Iran War (“In private calls over the last several weeks, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) reportedly urged President Trump to attack Iran. Iran is a top regional rival of Saudi Arabia, and MBS had become concerned about Iran’s growing military capabilities.”)
- The irrational strongman we’ve been warned about is here (“His name is Donald J. Trump.”)
- No More Reckless Foreign Wars, He Lied (“As the death toll mounts in Iran and the Middle East region, Donald Trump’s indifference to civilian fatalities is only surpassed by his hypocrisy”)
- The US/Israeli Bombing Of Iran: Means and Ways Without Ends
- The Risky Politics of Trump’s New War With Iran (“There are multiple ways it could backfire.”)
- Trump says ‘we expect casualties’ after Iran strikes but ‘in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world’ (“Trump’s comments come after U.S. Central Command said three U.S. service members had been killed during the operation.”)
- What Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Meant to Iran, and What Comes Next (“The Supreme Leader, who ruled the Islamic Republic for nearly four decades, has been killed by Israel and the United States. Can the regime survive without him?”)
- Lack of a clear Iran plan could suck US into a long conflict: ‘Where does this go?’ (“Fears that decision to strike could be open-ended as Trump comes under pressure to spell out his vision for the country”)
- US allies and foes left scrambling as Trump catches them off-guard on Iran (“War highlights strained alliances, unfettered militaries and a Washington with renewed appetite for regime change”)
- John Bolton Sounds the Alarm on Trump’s Iran Gamble (“In an exclusive, Trump’s onetime national security adviser warns the strike on Iran may deepen conflict, create a dangerous power vacuum — and plunge the region into turmoil.”)
- Khamenei is dead. Regime change will be much harder. (“The US can’t just bomb its way to a new government.”)
- How to Think About Trump’s War With Iran
- “He Could Be Impeached.” Donald Trump’s Base Revolts Over War With Iran (“MAGA leaders are expressing dismay and anger at the president, who campaigned on isolationism and ‘no new wars'”)
- By Striking Its Neighbors, Iran Has Deepened the Gulf’s Resolve to Fight Back (“Diplomats and analysts say Tehran miscalculated with its attacks on Dubai, Doha and Bahrain”)
- US-Israel war on Iran live: Kuwait reports ‘several’ US warplanes crashing, as Iran’s ‘reckless’ attacks threaten regional stability, US and allied Gulf states say
- Trump news at a glance: Congress divided on Iran attack as Trump appears to link operation to 2020 election loss (Trump is insane.)
- Trump’s End Goal in Iran Is Frighteningly Unclear
- Iran’s military options limited as it tries to hit back at US-Israeli attack (“Iran’s military options limited as it tries to hit back at US-Israeli attack” Yep, very unimpressive performance by Iran’s military.)
- US Says Three Fighter Jets Downed in ‘Friendly Fire’ Over Kuwait
- Trump’s Iran Strikes Usher In an Era of Unrestrained American Power (“The targeted attacks and killing of a sitting head of state mark a departure from decades of US policy.”)
- Trump’s Regime-Change Strategy Is Pure Fantasy (“Magical thinking won’t help Iranians overthrow their government.”)
- Khamenei’s death brings Khomeini’s grandson into focus (“Hassan Khomeini has a track record of urging reform; Founder’s grandson has never served in government; Khomeini is a mid-ranking cleric with ceremonial role; Some politicians see him as a rival to hardline candidates”)
- Prediction market trader ‘Magamyman’ made $553,000 on death of Iran’s supreme leader
- Trump presses ahead with Iran war despite warnings of political risk for midterms (“Some White House officials worry the foreign policy gamble may derail Republican chances of holding onto control of Congress at a time when war-wary voters are more concerned with the cost of living than conflicts abroad.”)
- Israeli military says “all options” on the table for potential ground operation in Lebanon
- Netanyahu’s latest war has few critics in an Israel embracing militarism (“Attack on Iran has widespread support, with little questioning of whether it is best option for lasting security”)
- Lindsey Graham Names ‘Next’ Country On Trump’s Hitlist: ‘Their Days Are Numbered’ (“‘Cuba is next,’ said Graham. ‘They are going to fall. This communist dictatorship in Cuba, their days are numbered.'”)
- Republicans Cite Iran Attacks to Pressure Democrats on Shutdown (F*** them.)
- White House says it’s “deeply unserious” to suggest Trump comments on judges may lead to threats. Here’s what judges say. (“Federal District Judge John Coughenour was unprepared for what happened after he temporarily blocked President Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order last year and called it “blatantly unconstitutional.” He said he faced “dozens if not hundreds” of death threats.” Arrest every single one of the people making those threats!)
- Why MAGA suddenly loves solar power (“The Trump-led campaign against solar eases as the right reckons with the technology’s crucial role in powering AI and keeping utility bills from spiraling.”)
- How Talks Between Anthropic and the Defense Dept. Fell Apart
- Epstein’s New Mexico Ranch Gets Scrutiny at Last. It May Be Too Late. (“Heinous allegations have prompted state officials to restart an inquiry, which went cold in 2019, into the convicted sex offender’s lesser-known property.”)
- Feds asked New Mexico to halt its Epstein probe (“Former AG Balderas: Cooperation between state and federal investigators was ‘one-way'”)
- Why Trump’s Biggest Scandal Follows Him Everywhere: Rothkopf (“David Rothkopf argues that the Epstein case isn’t just another criminal controversy—it’s the defining crisis of Donald Trump’s presidency.”)
- Labor Secretary’s Tenure Marked by Frequent Travel and Internal Tumult
- It’s AOC or bust for far-left Democrats in 2028 (Axios loves writing headlines like that.)
- Centrist Dems launch ’28 mission: Stop AOC (Axios also loves headlines like this one! LOL)
- The Push for 875,000 People to Help Get California Billionaire Tax on the Ballot (“New wealth tax faces hurdles, including worries about driving off the biggest taxpayers”)
- Democrats’ Hopes of Retaking the Senate Could Get a Major Boost This Week—Thanks to the Texas GOP
- Texas Senate Primary Is Heated and Republicans Are Worried (“A Republican race between Sen. John Cornyn, state Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt is likely headed to a runoff, while Democrats duke out their own primary.”)
- Senate GOP stalwart John Cornyn may lose his Texas primary and lift Democrats
- Is questioning electability racism? Texas’ tense Dem primary comes to a head. (In and of itself, rival candidates questioning the other’s electability is totally standard, par for the course in campaigns.)
- FBI probing whether Iran attack motivated Austin shooter who killed 2 (“The 53-year-old opened fire at a popular nightspot. He was wearing a shirt that read, “Property of Allah,” and depicted the Iranian flag, people familiar with the matter say.”)
- Video: Sen. Mark Warner Says Trump Has “started a war of choice”; “no intelligence that Iran was on the verge of launching any kind of preemptive strike” (Sen. Tim Kaine: “This is an illegal war…It looks like [Trump] hasn’t learned a thing”)
- An Unwise and Unconstitutional Attack on Iran (Sen. Tim Kaine: “More war isn’t the answer. If it were, the past 70 years would have produced a better outcome than what we see today.”)
- Kaine: Trump strikes on Iran an ‘illegal war’
- Virginia’s congressional representatives react to U.S.-Israeli strike against Iran
- Video: Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07) Says He “will not shed a tear for the Ayatollah,” but “let’s think about how bizarre the last 36 hours were” with Trump’s “illegal war” (“This is all based on hope and prayer and not a plan.”)
- Proposed districts would be more economically diverse than the current ones. Is that good or bad? (There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but it’s really beside the main point, which is to push back on Trump’s assault against our democracy.)
- Spanberger speech gives hope to immigration advocates on ICE limit laws
- Virginia’s new public health leaders take the helm as state agencies weather uncharted waters (“Virginia health secretary Marvin Figueroa and health commissioner Cameron Webb are steering the state’s public health agencies as state health departments nationwide grapple with federal shifts that threaten to drain budgets and slash workforces.”)
- Optimism is fading that legislators will give Virginia teachers hefty raises, advocates say
- Controlling data center costs puts Democrats in a difficult spot (Gotta love the “difficult spot for Democrats” framing here; in fact, it’s just a difficult issue, inherently, one that Republicans would struggle to deal with as well.)
- Va. lawmakers propose guardrails for artificial intelligence use in education (“As Virginia schools adopt AI and students spend more time on screens, state lawmakers question the technology’s impact on students’ safety, critical thinking and learning skills.”)
- Virginia lawmakers reach agreement for first steps to monitor PFAS in biosolids
- On the agenda: Budget discussions for Richmond and Charlottesville schools
- Two dead after I-495 road rage incident leads to stabbing, Virginia State Police shooting (Insanity.)
- Roanoke County Planning Commission to discuss zoning amendments (“The agenda documents for Tuesday’s meeting do not list any discussion of zoning ordinances related to abortion clinics, which will soon be studied by the planning commission.”)
- CWG Live: Wet snow this afternoon, a mix early Tuesday and then a big warmup (“A grassy coating of snow is possible by evening. Some slick spots possible early Tuesday from freezing rain in our colder areas.”)
