by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, June 12.
- El Niño and the Iran war may spark hunger crisis for more than 100 million
- El Nino is here and scientists fear it’ll be big, bad and costly with heat, floods, droughts, fires
- A mysterious ‘cold blob’ in the ocean has puzzled scientists. A new study says it’s an ominous sign
- The Global Economy Is Threatened Again by Trade Imbalances
- Why Trump and Putin can’t escape their mistakes (“Two leaders, two quagmires: How arrogance and isolation become their own trap.”)
- U.S. Plan Is Said to Significantly Reduce Air Support for NATO in Europe (Trump is a Putin puppet.)
- China has long sought to control women’s bodies. Increasingly, they’re making their own choices (Good!)
- Despite Record Renewable Growth, China Is Still Betting on Coal (“China’s power-sector emissions fell in 2025 for the first time in a decade, but a rebound in coal-fired generation raises doubts about whether the decline will last.”)
- After Trump threatened to attack Iran, a scramble to stop him
- Trump claims Iran deal reached, Tehran says no “final decision”
- Trump’s latest Fox interview shows how their relationship has triggered an Iran war doom loop
- How to Price A Liar (“For the 50th time this year, we’re on the cusp of peace. Apparently”)
- Why Kharg Island is central to Trump’s escalating Iran threats
- Proposed Iran-U.S. deal would reopen Hormuz strait and lift oil sanctions, Iran state media says (“Bloomberg reported the deal could be signed as soon as Sunday in Switzerland, ahead of the G7 summit starting Monday.”)
- Trump news at a glance: another day, another claim of imminent peace deal with Iran (“President claims US and Iran are on the verge yet again, but we’ve heard that before – key US politics stories from Thursday 11 June”)
- US and Iran Nearing a Peace Deal Around G7 Meeting Next Week
- Benny Johnson’s advice for Trump on Iran: Be like Smaug from The Hobbit. “You got to go full dragon in Lord of the Rings, and scorched-earth the entire town.” (Deranged.)
- Neither Peace Nor War: Iran Conflict Leaves World in Dangerous Limbo
- The World Is Draining Oil Reserves, Raising Pressure for a Peace Deal
- Tehran says ‘nothing’ finalised after Trump claims deal to end Iran war near
- Has the US really carried out a secret mission to get oil through Hormuz? (“Trump says hundreds of tankers have escaped Iran’s blockade. Data suggests shipments are increasing but many questions remain”)
- Qatar pursued secret talks with Iran to shield gas complex from strikes, security officials say
- ‘They destroyed the future’: Palestinian anger at rise in Israeli demolitions in East Jerusalem (This is illegal and unacceptable; if we had a Democrat in the White House, they’d almost certainly be pushing back on this crap.)
- ‘The birds will fly away’: can Albania’s flamingo revolution keep its wetlands free from Trumps and tourists? (“A luxury resort backed by the US president’s family may be built on a wildlife-rich nature reserve in one of Europe’s poorest nations”)
- ‘They are thugs thriving on division’: residents voice disgust and shame at Belfast rioters (“People tell of feeling alienated in own city, disruption to daily life including healthcare, and frustration with politicians”)
- How the Dangerous Rise in Anti-Immigration Politics Went Mainstream (“Violent unrest after a stabbing in Northern Ireland showed the extent to which the far right has taken hold in the U.K., as well as in Europe and the U.S.”)
- Switzerland’s Radical Proposal on Immigration: Cap the Population (“A referendum Sunday on keeping permanent residents below 10 million people reflects a growing discontent in the West; ‘Most people are left behind’”)
- Gabbard Rescinds Finding That Doubted Foreign Involvement in Havana Syndrome (“Outgoing intelligence chief says Biden-era reports didn’t meet analytic standards”)
- How Musk’s tactics left investors clamoring for SpaceX stock and ignoring risks (“In recent years, Elon Musk has been picky about whom he allowed to buy in to SpaceX. Early investors used personal connections and faced vetting.”)
- Elon Musk, Human Ponzi Scheme (“With Wall Street’s help, you’re about to be forced to buy stock in SpaceX”)
- Elon Musk on track to become world’s first trillionaire today as SpaceX lists on US stock market
- Elon Musk’s SpaceX is about to make its debut on Wall Street (There’s so much wrong about this, it’s hard to know where to start…)
- After SpaceX’s huge IPO, Americans’ financial future will be bound to AI (“They’re about to get more AI rammed down their throats, stuck into their pension plans and investment portfolios”)
- Trump’s strange flirtation with AI socialism, explained (“Uncle Sam and OpenAI may go into business together.”)
- Trump Picks New Intelligence Chief After Revolt Over Pulte (“The president said he would nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan and the former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the permanent role.” So no intelligence background either?)
- Bill Cassidy calls Trump DNI pick Jay Clayton a ‘very poor choice’ (“He has been shown that he’ll weaponize personal information to attack an American citizen. I’m a conservative. That should not be what government does. So I strongly disagree.”)
- Trump says he will nominate Jay Clayton to succeed Tulsi Gabbard as the DNI (“In other words, the president’s new choice to serve as the director of national intelligence — an office that Trump has freely admitted that he wants to weaponize for political purposes — has spent the last seven months investigating Trump’s opponents at the president’s insistence.”)
- Prosecutors ‘on pins and needles’ awaiting Jay Clayton’s replacement (“Jay Clayton had no prosecutorial experience, but it could have been worse.”)
- The ‘Presumption of Regularity’ Is Evaporating (“Judges have long defaulted to a posture of trust toward the federal government, but under Trump that is changing, and a new set of legal possibilities is emerging.” They should 100% assume IRREGULARITY by anything/everything during the Trump regime.)
- Mike Johnson Just Made a Grave Political Error (“Social Security is popular. Cutting it is not.”)
- Senate GOP balks at Trump demand to boost defense funding in third reconciliation bill
- DOJ division that should have handled Trump IRS lawsuit has no record of it
- A powerful US surveillance law is set to expire – what happens now? (“Congress has failed to reauthorize section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act amid questions over its future”)
- Trump Isn’t Giving Up on His Slush Fund (“…the administration is quietly assuring allies that payout plans remain on track.”)
- Trump’s allies have another way to pay ‘weaponization’ victims (WILDLY unacceptable on every level!)
- Postal Service Issues Proposal to Block Mail Ballots in States That Don’t Turn Over Data (“Democrats and voting-rights groups have challenged the proposed rule as a harmful federal intrusion that could affect millions of voters who cast their ballots by mail.”)
- Group of Epstein survivors announce opposition to Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination
- Trump and Allies Are Working on Plan to ‘Expunge’ Impeachments (“Republican-backed symbolic resolution would put lawmakers on record regarding the two impeachments during Trump’s first term” Insane.)
- Former ‘60 Minutes’ Staffers Unload on Bari Weiss: ‘Everything She’s Touched Has Turned to S—’ (“As Bari Weiss lays waste to “60 Minutes,” six former staffers sound off on the damage she’s inflicted upon the crown jewel of CBS News.”)
- FBI raids Ohio voting-rights organization (““Just straight up intimidation tactics”: Sources tell MS NOW agents also fanned across the state, showing up at staff members’ homes.”)
- Where Trump has lost support with independents, according to AP-NORC polling
- Trump keeps insulting female journalists. It’s time for the press to stop tolerating it (Margaret Sullivan is right, but does she actually think there’s a chance in hell that the complicit, pathetic, corrupt, cowardly political media will actually stand up to Trump – ever?)
- Senate Democrats’ political fortunes have improved. ‘It didn’t happen by accident,’ Schumer says.
- Schumer backs Stevens, sees ‘multiple paths’ to majority
- Evangelicals divided on Trump’s war in Iran, immigration crackdown, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
- Republicans who pushed Epstein files release see political careers upended by Trump (“Only one of the four House Republicans behind the Epstein files law will return to Congress next year. “Everybody’s paying a price for it,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said.”)
- After Senate Loss, Cornyn Predicts ‘Miserable’ Final Two Years for Trump (“In his first extensive interview since his defeat by a Trump-backed challenger, the Texas Republican said the Senate was in for a ‘bumpy ride’ as he and others flex new political freedom.”)
- Inside America’s Ugly Birthday Battle
- Some States Opt Out of Trump’s ‘Great American State Fair’ (“At least five have declined to participate, the latest sign that the national 250th birthday celebration has become a fragmented and partisan affair as the president seeks his imprint.”)
- US legal showdown looms over ‘heinous’ nitrogen gas after supreme court blocks execution (“Supreme court rejects Alabama’s request to execute a prisoner, setting up showdown over method decried by experts as brutal”)
- Supreme Court Blocks Alabama From Executing Inmate Using Nitrogen Gas (“The unsigned decision for now spares Jeffery Lee, a convicted murderer, and could lead to a broader fight over the relatively new execution method.”)
- TPUSA’s new message to girls: Hate yourself (“Speakers at the women’s leadership summit continued Charlie Kirk’s misogynist mission”)
- Welcome to ‘the Claw’: the White House fighting cage captures Trump era rot
- Few Americans back Trump’s White House cage match plan, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds (“Just 16% of Americans said it was appropriate for Trump to hold the Ultimate Fighting Championship event, scheduled for his 80th birthday, while 46% said it was inappropriate and the rest didn’t offer an opinion.”)
- ‘Vegas’ on the South Lawn: Trump Unveils the U.F.C. ‘Claw’ (“The towering claw will be the site of an Ultimate Fighting Championship cage match on Sunday, which is President Trump’s 80th birthday.” Disgusting, no class, bullshit.)
- Before-and-after photos: Trump’s $14.2m makeover delivers … a blue pool (“Some of the first visitors declared themselves underwhelmed by the 2,000ft pool’s somewhat dull color – American flag blue, according to the specifications.”)
- Kennedy Center Goons Launch Last-Ditch Bid to Avoid Trump’s Humiliation
- Kennedy Center board seeks pause of ruling ordering removal of Trump’s name by Friday deadline
- Kennedy Center to appeal Trump name order
- Huge ‘8647’ etched into grass on the National Mall, aerial images show
- US authorities investigate huge ‘8647’ marking on grounds of National Mall in Washington
- US authorities investigate huge etching of ‘8647’ on National Mall grounds
- Kaine votes ‘no’ on annual defense authorization bill; first time in his 13 years on Senate committee
- Video: Sen. Tim Kaine Calls Push to Rename DoD as “Department of War” “juvenile,” “embarrassing,” “a desire to appeal to an adolescent fantasy of this president” (Sen. Kaine also explains why he’s against “authorizing a blank check for more of” the Iran War)
- Video: Sen. Mark Warner Says “Virginia’s earned its reputation is as the best state for business. We need to maintain that. And I don’t think we should go back on our word [on data centers].” (On another note, Sen. Warner says “I’ve not met a single person under 30 or 35 that really thinks they’re going to get Social Security.”)
- REPORT: More than One-Third of Rural Hospitals in Virginia at Risk of Closure After Jen Kiggans Voted to Gut Medicaid and Affordable Health Care Subsidies
- Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA11), Joined by Virginia’s Other US House Democrats, Introduces War Powers Resolution to End Trump’s War of Choice in Iran (In stark contrast, Reps. Wittman (R-VA01), Kiggans (R-VA02), McGuire (R-VA05), etc. have completely abdicated their responsibilities)
- Notes from the Square: Budget negotiations face another breakdown (“The House of Delegates will return to Richmond on Thursday for the special session to tackle the impasse. The state Senate will follow on June 22. It’s unclear why the two General Assembly chambers are returning to Richmond on different days to take up the same issue.”)
- Gov. Abigail Spanberger Signs Queen Candis Act Into Law, First-in-the-Nation Package to Transform Sickle Cell Care (“The sickle cell community has spent too long feeling ignored — their pain doubted, their voices unheard”)
- Spanberger is in a position no Virginia governor has been in since 1918. Here’s how. (“She is the first governor in more than a century who comes into office having never served in Richmond, but has to deal with a majority from her own party that’s already in place in the General Assembly.” McAuliffe and Youngkin never served in Richmond either, but didn’t have a majority from their own party in both General Assembly houses.)
- Spanberger defends wave of vetoes as frustrated Democrats push back (“The pushback has exposed ideological and procedural tensions inside Virginia’s Democratic Party at a moment when lawmakers had hoped to capitalize on full control of Richmond after years of divided government. Spanberger, however, rejects the idea that her vetoes reflect dysfunction or political drift. “)
- Pope & Schapiro: Budget barbs, RGGI costs, and the courts
- Spanberger backs House budget during caucus meeting (She’s been consistently backing the House approach for weeks now…)
- New Virginia law requires data center water usage be made public
- Merger expert: Virginia regulators need more time for NextEra–Dominion (Yep, I posted on this a couple days ago.)
- Loudoun superintendent grilled on Capitol Hill on parental rights, transgender policies (Ridiculous.)
- Health officials issue advisory about large gatherings as measles outbreak grows in Buckingham County (Inexcuable.)
- A couple was killed in Bedford County in 1985. Jens Soering was convicted but has steadfastly maintained his innocence — and says he has new evidence to prove it. (“Soering served 33 years in prison in a case that garnered worldwide attention. His new court filing seeks to erase his two convictions.”)
- Virginia expands drought warning to 94 counties, wildfire risk grows
- Hampton Roads under heat advisory, expected to feel like up to 105 degrees
- DC-area forecast: Another scorcher, and late-day storms may be severe
