by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlinese, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, May 5. Also, check out Jamelle Bouie’s new videeo on “How John Roberts, Sam Alito and the conservatives on the Supreme Court flipped the Equal Protection clause on its head to disempower black Americans, empower white conservatives and make genuine democracy that much harder to achieve.”
- Atmospheric warming contributions from airborne microplastics and nanoplastics
- Trump Is Losing a Second War (“The Iran debacle is accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels”)
- Ukraine war briefing: Duelling ceasefires as Zelenskyy floats open-ended truce (“Vladimir Putin wants empty skies on Friday and Saturday to celebrate Victory Day; Ukrainian president says guns can fall silent by Wednesday if Russia reciprocates. What we know on day 1,532”)
- Russia launches attacks on Ukraine energy infrastructure amid truce talks (“‘Russia could cease fire at any moment, and this would stop the war,’ Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in sharp criticism of Putin”)
- Europe Without America (“The Iran war has given European leaders new impetus to plan for self-defense.”)
- Iran accuses US of jeopardizing shipping security as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate (“President Donald Trump warned Iranian forces would be ‘blown off the face of the Earth’ if they targeted US ships.”)
- Attacks on U.S. Warships in Strait Test Trump’s Desire to End Iran War (“Speaking Monday from the White House, Trump referred to the latest round of attacks as a ‘mini war’” So much for the “ceasefire”; back to the deadline set under the War Powers Act!)
- Shipping Firms Left Guessing by Confusion in Strait of Hormuz (“The U.S. vowed to help tankers navigate the perilous conditions that have kept them stranded in the Persian Gulf, but it remained unclear if companies would try to get out.”)
- Shipping firms question safety in strait of Hormuz despite Trump plan (“President says US navy will ‘guide’ stranded ships out of waterway but report says warship was hit by Iran”)
- ‘Project Freedom’: a grand humanitarian gesture, or a fast track to more war? (“After banging his battle drum, Trump is back in Nobel peace prize mode. But the move has dramatically raised the stakes”)
- Middle East crisis live: ‘We have not even begun’, Iran warns US amid escalation in strait of Hormuz (“Iranian speaker says ‘new equation of the strait of Hormuz is in the process of being solidified’”)
- Trump news at a glance: Middle East tensions back to the brink with president’s new threats against Iran
- 2 U.S. Navy destroyers transit Strait of Hormuz after dodging Iranian onslaught
- Iran attacks UAE; U.S. says it sank boats in Strait of Hormuz
- Exclusive: US intelligence indicates limited new damage to Iran’s nuclear program, sources say
- As Oil Prices Stay High, China Doubles Down on Wind Power (“An industrial policy of subsidies and import restrictions laid the foundations for China to become almost as dominant in wind turbines as in solar panels.”)
- Why Australia’s biggest isolated grid now leads rest of country in race to reach 80 pct renewables
- In Venezuela, Trump Promised Transparency, but Secret Oil Deals Linger
- U.S. Military Strikes Boat in Caribbean, Killing 2 (Anyone involved in these strikes needs to be investigated and potentially prosecuted.)
- Judge mulls contempt over DHS’ ‘patently false’ allegation in deportation case (“The Trump administration attacked a judge for releasing an accused murderer, but it withheld existence of the foreign warrant.”)
- Trump Administration Closes Watchdog Office For Immigration Detention Abuses (“The closure of the ombudsman’s office adds to the lack of oversight of immigration jails nationwide, despite the Trump administration’s efforts to surge detention capacity.” HORRIBLE.)
- Supreme Court Agrees to Fast-Track Louisiana Voting Map Decision
- Samuel Alito Gutted More Than Just the Voting Rights Act. He Rewrote the Constitution, Too (“The Court’s decision in Callais will make it more challenging for Congress to pass laws designed to protect multiracial democracy.”)
- Republicans Are Way Too Excited About the Demise of the Voting Rights Act
- Supreme Court clears path for Louisiana to gerrymander mid-election
- Jeffries leads redistricting effort in New York
- DeSantis signs Florida’s new GOP-friendly congressional map into law — and is swiftly sued
- The Supreme Court gets thrown back into the abortion wars (“Why haven’t the Republican justices banned mifepristone already?”)
- Supreme Court restores access to abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth, mail and pharmacies
- What the Supreme Court still has left to decide this term (“Democracy and Donald Trump dominate the Court’s remaining docket.”)
- Donald Trump: The American Ayatollah (“Between launching a holy war with Iran, attacking the pope, and channeling God, the president has embraced theocratic absolutism reminiscent of one of the country’s greatest adversaries”)
- The media’s double standard for Trump needs to stop (“Call it normalizing, sane-washing, or giving him the benefit of the doubt. It doesn’t serve the public.”)
- Most Americans say Trump is mentally, physically unfit to serve effectively: Poll (“59 percent of U.S. respondents said that Trump does not have the mental sharpness it takes to lead the country.” And the other 41% are idiots?)
- Delusional Trump, 79, Rages at Embarrassing ‘Fake’ Poll Numbers (“The president cannot accept that most Americans do not support his actions.”)
- ‘They’re spinning’: Republicans, grappling with midterm anxiety, go negative (“The White House has been touting the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” Republican strategists say voters aren’t buying it — and that the party needs to go negative before it’s too late.”)
- Primary elections in Ohio, Indiana offer latest temperature check on Trump popularity
- It’s showtime for Trump’s revenge tour. Will he win? (“So far, his chosen candidates in several May primaries are struggling to dominate their fields.”)
- Trump’s retribution? What to watch in Tuesday’s elections in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan
- Inside Trump’s assault on public records
- The GOP whispers about JD Vance are getting louder (“Even Trump is reportedly asking friends and advisers about who would be better – Vance or Rubio. That question alone is a telling admission about the president’s thoughts about his own vice president.”)
- Trump administration falls behind on wildfire prevention with risky fire season ahead
- Bringing the Trump-Corrupted Presidency to Heel
- Second judge maintains DOJ can’t search data seized from Post reporter (“The Justice Department had taken a phone and computers belonging to The Washington Post’s Hannah Natanson as part of a leak investigation.”)
- Can Indiana lawmakers win after defying the president’s vote? (“Seven Republican state senators battle for re-election against candidates backed by Donald Trump”)
- Home on the Range No More: Trump Wants Bison Gone (“The Trump administration is evicting bison herds from federal grasslands in Montana, siding with ranchers and Republican leaders over environmentalists and tribal leaders.”)
- Trump FTC’s Targeting Of Progressive Media Watchdog Fizzles
- Media Matters secures complete and total victory against Federal Trade Commission (“FTC agrees to forgo future investigations of MMFA to secure withdrawal ahead of judgment”)
- Scoop: Rep. Chuck Edwards singled out young female aides for special attention
- Judge ‘disturbed’ over ‘legally deficient’ treatment of Trump gala shooting suspect (“Cole Allen was isolated from other inmates, denied a Bible and placed on suicide watch despite showing no suicidal tendencies”)
- Magistrate judge says alleged WHCD attacker being mistreated by DC jail (“Zia Faruqui said Cole Allen’s conditions were markedly harsher than those faced by Jan. 6 defendants.”)
- Secret Service says suspect opened fire on them and was shot in exchange near Washington Monument
- Soil at D.C. Golf Course Where East Wing Debris Was Dumped Contains Toxic Metals (“The National Park Service said the dump of debris, between the fourth and ninth holes, does not exceed environmental limits. Opponents disagree.”)
- Video: Fmr. Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA02) Says She Believes History “will tell the truth about this time…will not elevate January 6th rioters to heroes” (Sure hope she’s right about this…)
- Far-Right-Extremist/Bigot Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA09) Brags, “I am a member of the Sharia-Free America Caucus in Congress to fight back against Islamic fanaticism infiltrating our communities.” (Griffith is completely full of crap, of course; the comments on his own post highlight that)
- Oversight Democrat: ‘Hard to believe’ Ghislaine Maxwell’s ex-boyfriend was unaware of crimes (“Rep. James Walkinshaw said that ‘the most common phrase’ he heard from Ted Waitt during his testimony last week was ‘I don’t recall.'”)
- VA redistricting won’t affect Jennifer McClellan’s intent to run again
- Virginia Inches Forward to a Clean Energy Future, Even as We Need to Be Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (“The 2026 General Assembly session was an often-frustrating experience of seeing good legislation get steadily watered down in the face of industry demands”)
- A closer look at “legislating in the budget”
- Spanberger’s data center position is the test of her affordability message (“A governor who wanted the Senate position to win could say so. She could endorse the phaseout. She could issue an amendment to one of the budget bills implementing it. She could decline to defend the existing-contracts position and let her own legislative allies pull the policy in their direction. She has done none of those things.”)
- Spanberger appoints new leader at Department of Motor Vehicles
- Cannabis legalization advocates: Virginia lawmakers choose support and services over punishment for our youth
- The curious silence of Jay Jones and the Lynchburg Republican firehouse primary (“Lynchburg Republicans want to test state law and create a mechanism to nominate candidates without using a state-run primary. Will the attorney general let that go forward?”)
- Arts, Aging, and Community in Mason District (“How expanding access to the arts is strengthening connection, supporting healthy aging, and helping protect older adults in Fairfax County”)
- Former Gov. Bob McDonnell marries Virginia Beach real estate developer (“The newlyweds, former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Virginia Beach real estate developer Cheryl McLeskey, recently sat down for an interview to talk about the wedding festivities, past hardships and community involvement.”)
- Editorial: Money from state fund will help revitalize port communities
- CWG Live: Warm 80s today, then a couple days with showers (“A cold front on Wednesday drops highs back into the 50s by Thursday.”)
