Monday (4/6) News: “Unhinged Madman”; “Terrorist in Chief”; “Trump’s Total War Budget”

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, April 6.

Also, check out the video by Jamelle Bouie, which really nails it regarding the dark, dangerous situation we find ourselves in with a madman as president…

• A milestone for Artemis II: Astronauts enter the ‘lunar sphere of influence’ (“For the Orion spacecraft and its crew, the moon’s gravitational pull is now stronger than Earth’s. The crew will reach its closest point to the moon later Monday.”)
• I was the US soft power czar. Our reputation may never recover from this (“Trump’s venal persona and his war on Iran will do untold damage to America’s ability to make a positive difference in the world”)
• Oil climbs anew on mixed signals about Iran war’s future
• Pope calls for peace, and Trump vows hell for Iran on Easter
• The Terrorist in Chief (“It’s time for us to face up to the ugly reality”)
• American Greatness, American Barbarism (“In its war with Iran, the White House is displaying a country that is small, mean, and ugly”)
• Trump Keeps World Off Balance With Ever-Changing Threats (“Global leaders are struggling to find a way to end the American-Israeli war with Iran, and they are spooked about what President Trump might do next.”)
• Living in Hell (“War crimes coming: A horrifying update”)
• Iran mediators make last-ditch push for 45-day ceasefire
• Trump Revels in Threats to Commit War Crimes in Iran (“The president said he would bomb Iran ‘back to the Stone Ages.’ Until this administration, American leaders had insisted they were trying to follow international law in war.”)
• Trump can’t make his mind up about the Strait of Hormuz. It’s more important than he lets on
• Trump to Iran: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait” or face bombing Tuesday
• Trump’s chaotic war on Iran has dragged into its sixth week because he is fighting an adversary he doesn’t understand (“Ignorance and arrogance were his drivers. The idea that the regime plays by different rules, with its own goals, never occurred to him”)
• Trump to Axios: Iran deal possible by Tues., otherwise “I am blowing up everything”
• ‘Unhinged madman’: US politicians react to Trump’s expletive-laden threat to Iran (“Marjorie Taylor Greene and Bernie Sanders among those responding with alarm to Trump writing ‘open the fuckin’ strait, you crazy bastards’”)
• There’s Another Big Reason Trump Is Stuck in the Gulf (“In other words, talk like an insane person and carry a really small stick. He thinks these outbursts make him look stronger but each threat and retreat makes him look weaker and more clearly not in control of the situation. These are the words of a man who has spent a lifetime either TACOing or bullshitting his way out of messes suddenly coming up against an immovable object and at a moment when he already appears to be under some mix of extreme psychic strain and a more general senescent decompensation.”)
• Trump Warns Iran He Could Strike ‘Every Power Plant,’ in WSJ Interviewf
• In New Threats, Trump Seems Emboldened by a Successful Rescue (“In an expletive-filled social media post, Mr. Trump said Iran should open the Strait of Hormuz or he will bomb bridges and power plants.”)
• The Real Intelligence Failure in Iran (“A costly quagmire was predictable. Trump went to war anyway.”)
• Was Trump ignorant to the realities of Netanyahu’s promised ‘easy’ war on Iran? (“It is clear among top officials in the Trump administration that the Israeli president overpromised in his pitch to the US”)
• A Downed Airman, a Mountain Hideout and a High-Risk Rescue in Iran
• Live updates: Israel says it killed the head of intelligence for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
• Doctors warn that Israel is targeting Lebanon’s health care system, as it did Gaza’s (Targeting hospitals, etc. is a war crime.)
• Saudi Arabia’s Grand Vision Slams Into Financial Reality—and the Iran War (“The crown prince’s futuristic agenda was plagued by budget shortfalls and impractical designs. War plunged it deeper into jeopardy.”)
• China Leads the World on Renewables, But It’s Still Addicted to Burning Rocks
• A Hidden Russian Hand in Hungary’s Election? Actually, It’s Quite Open. (“Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made hostility to Ukraine a centerpiece of his campaign. Moscow seems determined to repay the favor.”)
• Hungary’s Orbán has long annoyed the European Union. Now some hope he faces defeat
• Hungarian PM faces ‘false flag’ claims after Serbia says explosives found near pipeline (“Incident prompts political scrutiny across Hungary as Viktor Orbán trails in polls before next Sunday’s election”)
• Newly Obtained Video of Minneapolis Shooting Undermines ICE Account (“Prosecutors did not watch video of the nonfatal shooting until weeks after charging the wounded man, an official said.”)
• ICE Agents Detain Newlywed Spouse of Soldier Training to Deploy (“The 22-year-old wife of an Army staff sergeant came to the U.S. as a toddler. She was taken from a military base where the couple planned to live.” That’s completely insane.)
• GOP’s ICE funding gambit squeezes Republican agenda
• Trump’s Total War Budget (“‘More bombs, less of everything else’ is a tough campaign platform.”)
• Jamie Dimon Warns of Higher Inflation, Interest Rates From Iran War
• Panicked Trump, 79, Rages at Supreme Court in 1AM Meltdown (“The president’s latest outburst came days after he stormed out of oral arguments about birthright citizenship.” Unhinged.)
• The broken database that could upend the 2026 election
• You Can Smell It Now: The Trump Presidency Is in Total Free-Fall (“A loyal army of followers, a huge disinformation network, and a party of soul-selling cowards can crowd out facts for a long time. But eventually, reality catches up.” I’d be VERY skeptical of any/all claims that Trump’s in “free fall”; we’ve heard that a gazillion times previously, and he’s still in power unfortunately.)
• Dems eyeing 2028 want huge tax cuts — but big hikes for the rich
• Little Marco Goes Big Time (“As J.D. Vance and other Trump officials face fallout over Iran, Marco Rubio seems to be on the rise. He faces a perilous path ahead.”)(
• Trump administration agencies post Easter messages celebrating Christ’s resurrection (“The posts drew thousands of comments, with some people expressing joy and others declaring outrage.” Classic “both sides” reporting by Politico. In fact, this is a WILD violation of the constitution’s separation between church and state, and Politico SHOULD SAY SO – but won’t, because they are cowards.)
• Inside Jim Jordan’s quiet preparations for a GOP leadership void (Jim Jordan is utterly heinous.)
• In Race to Replace Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Test for Voters on Iran War
• ‘Proactively fall in line’: Holocaust Memorial Museum quietly changed content after Trump returned to office (“Two former employees said they believed the museum was altering its content preemptively to avoid unwanted negative attention from the Trump administration.” That’s f’ed up.)
• Trump endorses Steve Hilton in California governor’s race (“Some Republicans had argued the party’s best shot at the governor’s mansion depended on Trump staying out of the contest.”)
• How Democrats Can Avoid Disaster in the California Governor’s Race (“The top two primary and scattered Democratic field could guarantee a Republican governor.”)
• Democrats see a chance to win back Latino voters in southern Florida
• Sen. Ruben Gallego considers a 2028 presidential run: ‘We have to look at it’
• Savannah Guthrie returns to ‘Today’ for the first time since her mother’s disappearance
• Tim Kaine calls on Trump to ‘dial back the rhetoric’ after US jet is downed in Iran: Full interview
• Democratic Senator Argues Pam Bondi ‘Sold Out Her Own Integrity’ And ‘Still Got Sacked’ (Sen. Tim Kaine “said Bondi couldn’t even ‘look herself in the mirror’ by the end.”)
• Sen. Tim Kaine says Congress will ‘have a hard time’ reviewing Trump’s military budget request
• Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on Trump’s $1.5T military budget request
• Video: Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA10) Says Trump “from the very beginning has completely misunderstood this Iranian regime and Iranian culture” (Subramanyam also says “Pam Bondi from the very beginning has been breaking the law” & he’d “be surprised if [Todd Blanche] got confirmed by the Senate, disappointed”)
• Democratic VA State Sen. Saddam Salim Announces His Candidacy for the New VA07 (*if* the Redistricting Amendment passes on 4/21) (Pledges to “Champion Empathy, Justice, and Progress”)
• Dialing Up the Heat for “Vote YES”: Star-Studded Nationwide Phone Bank Events (Guest lineup includes Simon Rosenberg, Rachel Bitecofer, Robert Hubbell, Glenn Kirschner, Reed Galen, Cia Price, etc.)
• Virginians deeply divided on Spanberger months after her landslide win
• Bipartisan civility was the rule at Cardinal Way luncheon — but redistricting struck a nerve (“The event brought together House Speaker Don Scott and House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore to talk about hot-button issues. The two agreed on much, but not on redistricting.” Whatever.)
• Virginia set to rejoin RGGI as utilities prepare to pass the cost back to ratepayers (Very negative “framing” on this…fails to mention the large BENEFITS from being in RGGI, only mentions the “cost…to taxpayers.” Bad/biased.)
• Trees take root as Virginia’s frontline defense against urban heat
• Advocates for disabled Virginians, home care workers union unite in fight for better pay
• Virginia Creeper Trail estimated to bring more than $60 million to Southwest Virginia, study finds
• Business owner: Don’t look now, but Roanoke is quietly becoming Virginia’s Music City
• A Virginia church pledges $1M to erase debt for public housing residents (“Alfred Street Baptist Church pledged money to pay off outstanding balances of households living in units maintained by Alexandria’s public housing authority.”)
• After canceling bypass, Prince William Co. to again weigh widening Va. Route 28 (Widening roads, building new roads, etc. is DEFINITELY NOT the answer.)
• CWG Live: A cool start to a beautiful rain-free week (“Freezing temperatures are possible on Tuesday night.”)