Tuesday (3/24) News: “The unraveling of the war in Iran”; “Treason in the Futures Markets”

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, March 24.

• What are zettajoules – and what do they tell us about Earth’s energy imbalance? (“A zettajoule is a billion trillion joules. Typed out on a calculator or computer screen, the row of 21 zeros looks absurdly long – a train of seven carriages, each with three empty windows”)
• Climate-Fueled Wildfires and Dust Storms Drove Up Air Pollution Around the World Last Year (“A new report shows air pollution threatens the majority of the world’s population, while information gaps increase the risks.”)
• Earth’s climate swings increasingly out of balance (BTW, the reason I always put climate news at the top of these news clips is because maintaining a habitable, healthy planet is absolutely existential, by far the most important thing for humanity, etc. Even if the media and most people don’t treat it that way.)
• The U.S. Is No Longer the Leader of the Free World
• Middle East crisis live: Iran dismisses Trump claim of talks; von der Leyen says global energy situation is ‘critical’ (“Iranian parliament speaker says ‘no negotiations’ held with US, as Trump postpones energy strikes for five days”)
• Oil rises with Brent climbing back above $100 as optimism fades over Iran war de-escalation
• Oil traders bet millions ahead of Trump’s Iran talks post (Sounds pretty corrupt!)
• Treason in the Futures Markets (“People close to Trump are trading based on national secrets”)
• Bets on US-Iran ceasefire show signs of insider knowledge, say experts
• Trump Faces Blowback on Easing Iran Oil Sanctions (“President Trump once assailed the Obama administration for giving cash to Iran. Now he supports relief that could give the country a $14 billion windfall.”)
• White House says plans for Iran talks remain ‘fluid’, as oil price climbs back above $100
• Is Trump Actually Having ‘Very Good’ Talks With Tehran? (“The disconnect between the president’s claims and Iran’s denials underscores how little control either side has over the conflict—or its narrative.”)
• Ending Iran war now would cede Hormuz to the enemy, Trump’s former Defense secretary says (“‘You’d see a tax for every ship that goes through’ Hormuz if Trump quits now, Gen. Jim Mattis said.”)
• Exclusive: Trump approved Iran operation after Netanyahu argued for joint killing of Khamenei, sources say
• “We’re in a tough spot”: Mattis delivers harsh Iran assessment
• The unraveling of the war in Iran
• Trump says ‘good’ talks ongoing with Iran – but offers few details (As always, assume Trump is full of crap on anything/everything – unless and until proven otherwise.)
• Iran pours missiles into Israel and mocks Trump’s talk of joint control of strait
• Europe Is Quietly Playing a Crucial Role in the Iran War (“Bases across the continent are proving vital to fueling, arming and launching U.S. attacks”)
• ‘Everything After This Will Be Harder’: Gen. Stanley McChrystal on Iran
• Ultimatums, diplomacy and a trip to Graceland as Trump eyes a deal with Iran
• Iran Strikes Gulf Countries as Optimism Fades
• Europe’s Far Right Is Turning on Trump (“The president’s attempt to influence elections across the Atlantic is backfiring.”)
• The global authoritarian right loves Orbán – and that could cost him in Hungary’s elections (“The PM is figurehead of the international rightwing movement but that has alienated his most loyal voter base”)
• Australia and EU agree sweeping trade deal in face of global uncertainty
• Voice of America journalists allege Trump wants to make outlet a propaganda source (Correct.)
• ICE officers at airports a ‘test run’ for midterms, Steve Bannon suggests – US politics live
• ICE agents seen ‘terrorizing’ woman and child at SFO, Calif. senator says (“The widely circulated footage has since caused furor online”)
• Trump Blows Up DHS Deal, Chooses ICE Airport Chaos Instead
• ICE deployments created chaos for cities and cost them millions, NPR analysis finds
• ICE Agents Deployed To Nation’s Swamped Airports To Stand Around And Do Nothing
• Trump’s shambolic policy-making by Fox segment hits the airports
• GOP senators see path to ending DHS shutdown after Trump meeting (“The breakthrough comes a day after the president threw a wrench into negotiations with a 11th-hour ultimatum.”)
• ‘Don’t Make Any Deal’: Trump Tells Republicans to Hold Firm on Shutdown Talks
• Republicans seek elusive path to restoring DHS funding
• American Aviation Is Near Collapse (“Fatal crashes, overstressed controllers, and endless security lines reveal a system teetering on the brink of failure.”)
• Nobody Needs ICE at the Airport (“Trump’s idea to deploy federal officers to aid TSA during the government shutdown might be one of his worst. Needless to say, I won’t be flying for a while.”)
• Markwayne Mullin Confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary
• The Crazy Bill for ICE Barbie’s Cowboy Cosplay Is Revealed (When all of this is over, Noem needs to stand trial for multiple crimes.)
• The Alito Wing of the Supreme Court Sure Sounds Sold on Trump’s Voter Fraud Lies
• Fox News-Pilled SCOTUS Invents Wild Hypotheticals to Justify Curtailing Right to Vote by Mail
• The Supreme Court seems alarmingly willing to trash thousands of ballots (“At least four justices appear to be on board with a frivolous lawsuit attacking voting by mail.” None of these people should be Supreme Court justices.)
• Trump Wants to End Mail Voting. The Supreme Court’s Conservative Justices Appear Eager to Assist.
• The Supreme Court’s Conspiracy-Brained Justices Are Ready to Limit Mail-In Voting (“Trump’s Big Lie about the 2020 election is getting the six-justice conservative supermajority treatment.” Insanity.)
• Supreme Court worries Trump’s attack on late ballots could also threaten early voting
• Trump casts a mail ballot again in Florida even as he calls the method ‘cheating’ (“The president cast a mail ballot in an upcoming Florida special election, according to county records.”)
• Trump Administration to Pay $1 Billion to Energy Giant to Cancel Wind Farms (“In exchange, the French company TotalEnergies would invest in oil and natural gas projects in Texas and elsewhere.” This is completely insane.)
• How Trump Killed Conservatism (“The president has cultivated and encouraged the ugliest passions within the GOP, dousing the embers of hate with kerosene.”)
• Pentagon Adopts New Limits for Journalists After Court Loss (“The Defense Department said it would close the Pentagon’s work area for journalists, among other changes, after a judge found the existing media policy unconstitutional.”)
• Press groups denounce Pentagon’s new media rules
• Media will be restricted to a new Pentagon annex under new policy
• How Silicon Valley Borrowed Ideas From Sci-Fi and Bastardized Them (“Tech barons like Elon Musk love science fiction. They also misunderstand it completely.”)
• Folks, We’ve Got Yet Another Right-Wing Media Payola Scandal (“This one involves Jack Abramoff’s crypto venture!”)
• Conservation groups sue to block Trump efforts to ‘hastily gut’ the Kennedy Center (“The suit seeks a court order blocking the shuttering and demolition of parts of the center until the administration’s plans are reviewed, vetted and approved by Congress.”)
• Newsom Talks Trump, 2028 — and Where He Draws the Line on Israel
• ‘We’re harvesting the sun’: A huge solar project grows in California (“A sweeping plan to build 21 gigawatts of solar plus batteries on 136,000 acres could be a lifeline for Central Valley farmers facing devastating water shortages.”)
• Bill Cosby Loses Sex Assault Lawsuit and Faces a $59 Million Judgment (“A California jury found that Mr. Cosby had abused Donna Motsinger in 1972 after inviting her to attend one of his comedy shows.”)
• On 16th anniversary of Affordable Care Act, Va.’s federal lawmakers and health leaders weigh risks (“Virginia’s Democratic federal lawmakers and health care providers met in Hampton Roads to discuss lapsed parts of the ACA program and steep cuts to Medicaid funding.”)
• On the 16th Anniversary of the ACA, Va. Republicans Are To Blame For Families Facing Rising Health Care Costs (Virginians will “remember that Kiggans, Wittman, and McGuire are all responsible for these skyrocketing bills when they head to the polls in November”)
• Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02) Talks Clean Energy — Then Votes Against It (Another great reason to vote out this Trump cheerleader, and instead elect a Democrat who actually cares about the citizens of VA02)
• Democratic congressman denounces Iran war, saying it jeopardizes US alliances
• McClellan, advocates call for subsidies to be restored as ACA anniversary approaches
• Four weeks before April 21 referendum, early voting shows stronger turnout in GOP-leaning areas (“Democrats hold fundraising edge as analysts warn enthusiasm gap and messaging challenges could shape outcome.”)
• Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi Launches Next Chapter PAC (PAC aims to “back leaders, policies, and values that strengthen the Commonwealth and inspire Virginians…”)
• Clean Virginia: “Lawmakers largely fail to protect Virginians from rising electric bills and data center impacts, Governor can still act” (“Clean Campaigns Act,” “Power Without Politics Act,” “Fair Share Energy Act,” etc. all were killed)
• Legislators ponder a different way to tax data centers. Should that new way also be based on a locality’s economic status? (“The proposal, which Gov. Abigail Spanberger recently talked about, is to tax data centers based on how much electricity they use. Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick County, says this should be a tiered system with lower tax rates in rural areas to encourage data centers to locate in rural areas that want them.”)
• Virginia AG, elected officials praise new Vape Enforcement Act
• Dominion Energy’s Virginia offshore wind project delivers its first power (“The electric utility has fully constructed two turbines and a third is underway.”)
• First Power Flows from Biggest US Offshore Wind Farm
• Virginia Beach offshore wind farm has started producing electricity
• Doctor says his diagnosis was ‘inflated’ in Aaron Rouse lawsuit against NFL (“After reading The Times-Dispatch’s report on Rouse’s federal lawsuit, neuropsychologist Dr. Scott Sautter wrote in an email to the paper…”)
• After bills passed, NoVa lawmakers urge SCC to consider burying transmission lines
• Neighbors raise concerns about noisy data center in Loudoun (“News4 measured the sound using an app, and it hit 90 decibels — a level considered high and requires ear protection if there is sustained exposure.”)
• ROTC instructor killed during ODU shooting “was protecting his kids”
• Waynesboro: Why is the center-left majority allowing the MAGAs to run the city?
• Quadruple amputee wanted for murder arrested in Charlottesville (Bizarre.)
• Dancing through blood, sweat and tears, undaunted Virginia tops Iowa in all-time classic (“The Cavaliers authored one of the greatest upsets in NCAA Tournament history”)
• UVA Basketball: Well, Virginia, looks like we have a Sweet 16 team after all
• CWG Live: Chilly today, warmer by Thursday and then another cooldown