Wednesday (4/1) News: “Trump Threatens Jaw-Dropping Revenge Against Allies Who Humiliated Him”; “The Nonsense Case Against Birthright Citizenship”

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, April 1. Also, check out the video of Jamelle Bouie asking – and answering – the question, “So what is the deal with this birthright citizenship case at the Supreme Court?” Bottom line: he “think[s] the outcome will have almost nothing to do with the law or the Constitution, which is straightforward.”  Also, check out the video of last night’s intro to the Bruce Springsteen concert in Minneapolis, in which Springsteen said “The America that I love, the America that I’ve written about for 50 years, that’s been a beacon of hope and liberty around the world, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration” – and that we must choose ““resistance over complacency, unity over division and peace over war.” Now *that* is leadership; thanks Bruce!

• Fusion power unlikely to become competitive (“While nuclear fusion power is often hailed as a future source of abundant, clean energy, current dominant fusion designs, magnetic and laser inertial, are unlikely to become competitive due to their expected low experience rates. Accordingly, policymakers should not rely on, or fund, fusion power as a core pillar of future clean energy systems unless designs with different characteristics are developed.”)
• Opinion | This Energy Crisis Is Going to Change the World (“Higher oil prices and limited supply will accelerate a turn toward cleaner technologies, especially in Asia and Europe.”)
• Asia ramps up use of dirty fuels to cover energy shortfall triggered by Iran war (UGH.)
• ‘Get your own oil’: Trump launches tirade against Europe for not joining Iran war (Trump is deranged and dangerous.)
• Trump Threatens Jaw-Dropping Revenge Against Allies Who Humiliated Him (“The president gives a strong indication he wants the U.S. to end its NATO membership.”)
• Trump interview: I am strongly considering pulling out of Nato (Isn’t it fascinating how Trump keeps doing Putin’s bidding, helping our enemies and attack our own allies/interests?)
• Get ready for $200 a barrel oil prices if Hormuz stays closed
• No Good Way Out (“Trump has options to end the war with Iran, but they all come with serious liabilities.”)
• Russian military plane crash in Crimea kills 29 people
• Ukraine Is Having a Surprisingly Good Iran War
• Trump hints at an end to military action in Iran, saying U.S. will leave in 2-3 weeks
• Trump’s blurry vision of victory in Iran
• Iran threatens Nvidia, Apple and other tech giants with attack
• Iran and Houthis launch fresh attacks, as Trump says war could be over in a few weeks
• Trump’s threats of targeting water plants in Iran, a potential war crime, alarm Gulf allies
• U.A.E. Wants to Force Hormuz Open and Is Willing to Join the Fight
• Iran Takes Aim at the Industries Behind the Gulf’s Pivot From Oil (“The region’s diversification into tourism, metals and banking is giving Tehran a wider range of targets to strike.”)
• Trump Has a Way Out of the War
• Two-thirds of Americans want quick end to Iran war even if goals unachieved, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
• American journalist Shelly Kittleson abducted in Iraq (“The State Department said a suspect taken into custody by Iraqi authorities had ties to Kataib Hezbollah.”)
• Israel to destroy ‘all houses’ near Lebanon border, defence minister says (WTF?)
• Israel’s Message to Southern Lebanon: Shiites Must Go (“Israel has issued sweeping evacuation warnings, and pressed some Christian and Druse leaders to expel Shiite Muslims from their towns, the leaders said.”)
• NASA is shooting for the moon. A guide to the Artemis II mission
• The Nonsense Case Against Birthright Citizenship
• Birthright Citizenship Shouldn’t Be Up for Debate (“The text and history of the 14th Amendment are clear, yet the case is at the Supreme Court.”)
• Trump suggests he will attend birthright citizenship arguments at Supreme Court (“The president floated a visit as he jawbones the justices to end automatic citizenship for those born on U.S. soil.”)
• Johnson digs in after GOP resistance torpedoes DHS funding deal
• Backdoor Funding of Homeland Security Agency Could Weaken Congress Anew
• BREAKING: Trump will sign sweeping order attacking mail-in voting
• Trump signs order directing creation of a national voter list, a move already facing lawsuit threats
• Trump signs order limiting mail-in voting (“The order directs the Postal Service to only send mail-in ballots to an approved list of voters.”)
• Markets rally, oil prices fall as Trump prepares to address nation on Iran war
• With gas prices on the rise, Trump officials discuss feared $150 oil
• Why an 8-1 Supreme Court just ruled in favor of anti-LGBTQ+ “conversion therapy”
• On Trans Day of Visibility, Supreme Court Sides With Conversion Therapy (“The 8-1 ruling threatens to overturn bans on the discredited practice in 23 states.”)
• If these whales go extinct, we’ll know who to blame (“Just 51 of these whales are left on Earth. Trump officials may have just doomed them.”)
• Citing First Amendment, federal judge blocks Trump order to end funding for NPR and PBS
• ‘God squad’ waives endangered species law to allow US drilling in Gulf of Mexico (“Critics say exemption for fossil fuels exploits White House’s ‘self-made gas crisis’, and could doom the rare Rice’s whale” PURE EVIL.)
• Invisible plumes and ‘terrible pollution’: the reality of the US gas sites rated ‘grade A’
• CNN Poll: Trump’s approval rating on the economy hits a new low
• Justice Dept. Struggles to Respond to Trump’s Suit Against I.R.S.
• Trump Rages After Judge Blocks White House Ballroom Construction (“Judge Richard Leon wrote that Congress must authorize the project before it can move forward”)
• Republican judge says Trump can’t build his $400M White House ballroom
• Weeks After Denouncing Government Censorship On Rogan, Zuckerberg Texted Elon Musk Offering To Take Down Content For DOGE
• Track AIPAC’s Methodology Is Just Vibes (“Critics of Israel are lumped together with its strongest allies if ‘Track AIPAC’ doesn’t like them enough.”)
• The antisemitic influencers who popularized the term “J-pilled” know exactly what it means
• Hegseth exonerates helicopter crews over Kid Rock flyby, nullifying Army probe (“‘No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, Patriots,’ the Pentagon chief wrote on social media hours after military officials announced they had grounded the pilots involved.” DISGRACEFUL.)
• Pete Hegseth lifts suspension of Kid Rock Army helicopter flyby crews after Trump comments
• Pentagon Pete Undermines Army After Cringe Kid Rock (“Hegseth overturned his own commanders’ decision with a shock announcement.”)
• Secret double life of Kristi Noem’s crossdressing husband Bryon: The pouting ‘busty bimbo’ photos and trove of explicit messages (So bizarre.)
• Kristi Noem ‘Devastated’ Over Report Of Husband’s Fetish
• NFL pledges to keep ‘Rooney Rule’ despite Florida’s warning (“’One thing that doesn’t change is for our values, and we believe that diversity has been a benefit to the National Football League,’ Goodell told reporters Tuesday.”)
• Federal Judge Approves Trump Effort to Obtain List of Jews From Penn (“The government’s effort to collect the names and phone numbers of Jewish people on campus as it investigates antisemitism has upset some people who worry about how the information will be used.”)
• Bruce Springsteen Skewers Trump at U.S. Tour Opener: ‘We Have a President Who Can’t Handle the Truth’ (“During opening night of the Land of Hope and Dreams Tour with the E Street Band, Springsteen called on the audience to ‘fight for the America that we love'”)
• Video: Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA10) Says Mike Johnson Could Call the House Back Today and “solve this thing”; “he’s choosing not to because of his own party’s politics.” (Also, regarding Iran: “It’s hard to believe anything the president says right now.”)
• ICYMI: MAGA Mike Johnson, Who Was Fine with MAGA Gerrymandering Nationwide, to Campaign Against Virginia Effort That Lets Voters Level the Playing Field (YES Campaign: “You can’t make this up”)
• Top Trump Donor and Tech Billionaire Peter Thiel Revealed as Funder of False, Racist “NO” Ads (“The same megadonor network backing Donald Trump and JD Vance’s agenda is now trying to manipulate Virginia voters with lies.”)
• Finale Norton: “Stand on the side of patriotism. Stand on the side of intelligence. Stand on the side of a level playing field. April 21st—vote YES.”
• UVA political analyst weighs accuracy of Spanberger ad after Youngkin’s criticism (“A UVA political analyst says every claim in Spanberger’s redistricting ad is ‘defensible,’ despite Youngkin calling it a ‘blatant lie.'”)
• Video: Gov. Abigail Spanberger Signs Bills to Make Healthcare, Housing, & Energy More Affordable for Virginians (Bills “Crack Down on Rising Prescription Drug Costs, Increase the Housing Supply, & Protect Virginia Ratepayers from Increased Energy Costs”)
• Spanberger signs first bills into law dealing with health care, housing, energy costs (“The legislation signed so far aligns with the governor’s affordability agenda, which she says will reduce health care, housing and energy costs.”)
• Spanberger signs first wave of bills targeting health care, housing and energy cost (“Governor advances affordability agenda as hundreds of measures await action ahead of April 13 deadline.”)
• Virginia lawmakers send contraception-access bills to governor’s desk (“Measures would expand insurance coverage and create a state-level right as federal policy remains in flux. “)
• Va. higher education takes hit from drop in foreign students (“An informal analysis by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia estimated that state institutions lost about $36 million in tuition and fees due to fewer international students in graduate programs.”)
• Opponents use misleading arguments to attack Virginia’s collective bargaining bill
• Virginia nonprofit hospitals dispute new charity care spending report
• Some local governments in Virginia don’t want collective bargaining for employees to go forward
• With massive medical bills for an aging population, Virginia considers paroling more prisoners
• Editorial: Norfolk conference may provide strategies to protect regional economy (“A conference in Norfolk this week will focus on how to best position our region for growth while continuing to serve the national interest.”)
• Amid feud with Trump, chief justice to be awarded legal honor at UVa, Monticello (Pathetic.)
• The Aircraft carrier USS Bush and its 4,000 sailors left Norfolk Tuesday
• Virginia’s largest county becomes a verb as ‘Don’t Fairfax Me’ signs pop up in rural areas (Fairfax, of course, is highly prosperous, with a very low crime rate, great public education, etc, etc., and is generally considered a superb place to live.)
• Danville business owners say they’re still waiting for traffic boost from casino (“Part of Danville’s goal in bringing in Caesars Virginia was to capitalize on increased visitation by sending out-of-towners to other parts of the city. Some business owners have seen this happen, and others are still waiting.”)
• CWG Live: Warming into the 80s again today; late-day storms possible (“Probably cooler tomorrow, although it’s a tricky temperature forecast. Highs near to above 80 are in play again Friday and Saturday.”)