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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise (economic, environmental, etc.) for Friday, August 14. Today’s biggest developments and headlines include the climate crisis (always at the top of these news highlights because it’s existential and should be a massive story every single day)…plus Ukraine needs Patriots, Trump wants to bring back steam-powered catapults on aircraft carriers for some crazy reason,
INTERNATIONAL NEWS (Climate crisis, plastics crisis, Ukraine needs Patriot missiles, Trump wants to ramp up economic pressure against Iran, Trump wants to bring back steam-powered catapults on aircraft carriers while conditions on those aircraft carriers are so bad sailors are going overboard, etc.)
- Fossils show huge carbon emissions harm forests, not ‘green the planet’ (“Study of 56m-year-old leaves counters claims from Trump administration members of ‘benefits’ of fossil fuel pollution”)
- El Niño may peak at the worst time for the Amazon – and it should worry us all
- As Europe Gets Hotter, Its Transportation Systems Struggle to Cope
- ‘Unprecedented’ rain in Japan kills eight people (That word “unprecedented” is a sure sign of the climate crisis at work.)
- New UN plastic treaty is going backwards, experts say (“NGOs say agreement held back by tenuous human health commitments and lobbying from plastic industry”)
- Microplastics Found in Mexican Howler Monkeys Living in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (“Households near the reserve burn plastic waste, releasing pollutants that travel by air and settle on the leaves the monkeys eat.” UGH!)
- Indonesia wildfires threaten orangutans rescued from animal traffickers (“Blaze fuelled by hot, dry and windy conditions comes within metres of West Kalimantan rehabilitation centre” Horrible. Also, animal traffickers are absolute evil.)
- Patriot missiles have been a godsend for Ukraine against Putin, but they’re running out. Kyiv needs help and fast (“Europe and Nato have known for years that interceptor production can’t keep up with demand and now disaster looms, putting us all in danger”)
- Ukraine war briefing: Crimea bomb kills ‘Ukrainian sub commander who defected’
- White House says more than 40 nations help China dodge tariffs
- A new normal (“How traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is adapting to war”)
- U.S. to use economic tactics on Iran ‘that have never been seen’; Navy works to relieve troubled carrier USS Abraham Lincoln
- U.S. Sending Fresh Aircraft Carrier to Middle East Amid Iran War Strain (“USS George Washington is set to replace USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for more than 250 days”)
- Low oil prices now ‘goal number one’ in Iran war, Vance says, as U.S. threatens new economic pressure (Hahahaha, wuuuut?)
- US Readies Unprecedented ‘Economic Isolation’ Plan for Iran
- As poor conditions are reported on USS Abraham Lincoln, Democrats demand answers
- Lawmakers Respond to Reports of Jaw-Dropping Conditions Aboard U.S. Aircraft Carrier
- Sailors Are Reportedly Trying to Go Overboard to Escape Squalid Conditions on Aircraft Carrier (“Democrats are demanding answers about what’s going on with the USS Abraham Lincoln”)
- Editorial: Secretary Hegseth delights as troops puts public’s safety at risk
- Families raise issue with Cao, Hegseth over conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln
- Trump Orders Navy to Restore Older Tech on Aircraft Carriers, Costing Billions (“The Navy spent years fighting the president’s push to go back to steam catapults” WTF?)
- New White House Memo Calls for Foreign-Built Warships, Return to Steam Catapults on Ford Carriers
- Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers
- Major oil slick washes up on Iran coast after Hormuz ship strike (“Environmental experts say the spill threatens wildlife, protected ecosystems and fishing communities around Qeshm, which is home to mangrove forests, nearby coral reef habitats and nesting sites for critically endangered Hawksbill turtles.”)
- U.S. ambassador calls settler siege of Palestinian homes a ‘horrific act of terror’ (100% accurate by Huckabee for once. But in the end, actions – or lack there of by the Trump administration, Netanyahu, etc. – will speak MUCH louder than words here. And there VERY MUCH need to be actions taken against these settler terrorists!)
- Trump stops short of endorsing Bibi as his campaign falters (“Netanyahu’s current coalition has 49 to 53 seats in those surveys — far fewer than the 68 seats it holds today and the 61 needed to swear in a government. Israel’s opposition parties, on the other hand, have 67 to 70 seats. Netanyahu’s main rival, former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, has better favorability ratings in most of the polls. But Netanyahu doesn’t necessarily have to win. He just needs to not lose. His main effort at the moment is to secure enough votes to prevent his opponents from swearing in a government without the support of Arab-Israeli parties. If he manages to do that and neither side is able to form a government, Netanyahu will remain as a caretaker prime minister for several more months until another election is held.”)
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage beats Count Binface in widely mocked British election (“The victory by Farage showed his strong support in his conservative constituency on the east coast of England but it doesn’t ensure he’ll be able to keep the seat.” What a joke.)
- Farage’s by-election victory won’t stop questions about finances (“Nigel Farage triggered the Clacton by-election and the result was predictable – so what did he achieve?”)
- So Nigel Farage has beaten a man in a bin. But he’s in deep trouble, and he knows it (“The Reform leader claims vindication from the people, and it’s too early to write him off. But the problems he now faces may be more than he can bear” Farage is scum, and those who support him can seriously f*** themselves.)
NATIONAL NEWS (“Mass spying campaign” against anti-ICE protesters, “Trump’s gift to money launderers,” Lying Leavitt leaves – will the next Press Secretary be the same or worse?; Trump still trying to get his name on the Kennedy Center; etc.)
- Deaths of 3 ICE Detainees Prompt Questions About Medical Care
- ICE keeps racking up losses at the appeals courts on mandatory detention
- White House border czar defends ICE electric shock gloves as tools to avoid deadly force (“The plan has drawn intense criticism from civil rights groups, Democrats in Congress, and some use-of-force experts, who say ICE agents have been too quick to use force while carrying out President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. At least six people have been shot and killed by immigration enforcement agents since last year, including motorists last month in Maine and Texas.”)
- US conducted ‘mass spying campaign’ against leftwing groups and anti-ICE protesters, records reveal
- U.S. Investigated Left-Leaning Groups During Minnesota Immigration Crackdown (“The government conducted expansive surveillance, infiltrated group chats and obtained financial records of organizations never accused of crimes.”)
- The presumption of irregularity (“It’s a new DOJ, and that’s no good. This week alone, DOJ’s actions regarding executive privilege, the July sanctions order, the Epstein files, and DHS investigations are at issue.”)
- Top Democrat Targets Supreme Court for Changes (“‘Variety of different options’ are on the table if Democrats regain power, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says”)
- Judge shows signs of frustration with DOJ attorneys over handling of Epstein files
- Voting rights anniversary spotlights America’s enduring anti-Black contempt (“Virginia congresswoman who created state’s version of the federal law says Voting Rights Act is ‘on life support.’”)
- Truth Social’s sale of fast access to Trump posts draws legal concerns (MASSIVE corruption.)
- Trump Wants to Cut Taxes for the Rich. Again. (“If he thinks it’s a good midterm strategy, he’s wrong.”)
- Trump’s Gift to the Money Launderers (“Biological, social, and financial parasites are all flourishing, because the Trump administration has destroyed the institutional capacity necessary to detect and eradicate them.”)
- The majority-minority shift changing rural America
- Even After Trump’s Gone, There’ll Be No Shortage of Obnoxious, Bigoted Culture Warriors Willing to Take His Place (“Is there any hope of purging the crazy from American conservatism?”)
- Elon Musk’s DOGE Promised Savings, But It’s Cost Us a Fortune (“A new report from the Government Accountability Office misses the point entirely.”)
- How Trump and Musk Rekindled a Relationship That Seemed Beyond Repair (“With much at stake for both men in the midterms, Musk plans to spend at least $100 million to help Republicans” EVIL!)
- Daylight saving time battle pits Senate GOP against Trump (This is SUCH a stupid idea.)
- American anxiety about AI is becoming a political force in the midterms
- Flock announces changes amid backlash over its license plate reader network (“In an interview, Flock CEO Garrett Langley said many of the product changes will make what were once optional guardrails mandatory for its users to implement by Jan. 1.”)
- A Federal Judge Just Dealt a Decisive Blow to Trump’s Batty Legal Crusade Against Harvard
- Who Might Replace Karoline Leavitt as Press Secretary? (Leavitt is heinous; only a heinous person will take this job.)
- Will Trump’s next press secretary be a better liar than the first five? (“As Karoline Leavitt plans to step down, it’s apparent how the president above all values a readiness to twist the truth” Leavitt just lied constantly, and the dutiful media kept showing up to listen to her shovel out the bullshit.)
- Can Polls Measure the True Strength of the Left?
- Who are the biggest social media stars in Congress? (“Some familiar names top the list, but a slate of up and coming members have amassed significant followings this term.” “McBride is also a lead performer on TikTok with 153,600 followers, as is Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), who is building his own momentum with over 73,900 followers, where he’s seemingly hopping on every trend on the app.”)
- Fox News Poll: A Senate battle looms in Michigan (“The GOP nominee has an edge in the Senate race, while the Democrat is favored for governor” Democratic primary voters took a HUGE risk in nominating someone as far-left as El Sayed; let’s hope it doesn’t cost Democrats the US Senate, but don’t say people weren’t warned…)
- Fox News Poll: Economic anxiety and candidate concerns define Ohio Senate race (“All those factors help Brown remain 8 points ahead of Husted in the race for Ohio’s Senate seat, 53% to 45%, a margin unchanged since June.” Now THIS was smart – and it’s the result of Chuck Schumer, so often reviled for no particular good reasons by the left, recruiting former Sen. Sherrod Brown. Worth noting: Schumer has recruited excellent candidates in a bunch of states.)
- I re-analyzed the raw data from Wisconsin’s primary polls. Here’s what actually went wrong. (“The actual primary electorate was older and more moderate than pollsters assumed”; “There was a lot of late movement toward Crowley”; “There is mixed evidence of higher survey non-response among more moderate Democrats.”)
- Bernie Sanders has a response for progressives upset over Hong’s loss in Wisconsin (“Several high-profile progressives are blaming the Vermont senator. Sanders told POLITICO he has ‘limited resources’ and can’t endorse everyone.” Sanders has a knack for endorsing terrible candidates. Like remember when he endorsed Tulsi F’ing Gabbard??? Graham Platner?)
- MAGA Rep Melts Down Over Taking Cash From Alleged Wife-Beater (Lawler needs to lose in November.)
- Trump-aligned board votes to put his name on the Kennedy Center — again (Nice job with Politico in their headline, stressing that the Board is “Trump-aligned.” FOr whatever reason, the NY Times doesn’t do that.)
- Trump’s New Plan to Get His Name Back on the Kennedy Center (“The center’s board voted—again—to shut down for a renovation. It threw in a design tweak.”)
- Kennedy Center Board Decides to Inscribe Trump’s Name on Building
- Luigi Mangione expected to plead guilty in federal stalking case related to health insurance CEO killing: Report (It’s obvious he’s guilty of premeditated murder, the only question is what penalty he gets.)
VIRGINIA NEWS (Kiggans silent on domestic abuser Max Miller; Ben Cline “skeered” of socialism, except that Donald Trump is a socialist; NoVA ICE confrontation sparks questions about cameras and transparency, etc.)
- Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02) Silent on Accused Domestic Abuser Max Miller, Refuses to Return Miller’s Contribution to Her Campaign (“Why won’t Kiggans return the campaign cash and speak out against Miller?”)
- Pope & Schapiro: The candidates are now set in this year’s midterm elections
- Ben Cline is skeered of ‘socialism’: But wait – Donald Trump is a socialist (“We do need to skeered of “socialism.” The Trump brand of “socialism,” anyway.”)
- We Are CASA on ICE Escalations in Virginia; Video of Carolina Molina, Who Says “I think it’s messed up…they should be investigated!” (We Are CASA: “From tech surveillance to new violence equipment, ICE is now preparing to equip officers with electroshock gloves”)
- ‘I had to de-escalate’: Virginia woman describes viral ICE encounter (“A Virginia woman shared what it was like to be surrounded by federal agents in Falls Church.”)
- In Northern Virginia, a Confrontation With ICE Sparks Questions About Cameras and Transparency (“The agents involved in the incident were wearing body cameras, but the footage may never be released.”)
- Morning Consult poll: Majority of Virginians approve of the job Gov. Spanberger is doing
- Firefighters union censures Spanberger over collective bargaining.
- VA Women’s Summit 2026: Ten Years of Ordinary People Building Extraordinary Power — And This Is the Year That Matters Most (“We are 82 days from an election that could determine whether American democracy survives the next decade.”)
- Hashmi teams up with Virginia Humanities for student poetry contest
- The importance of a regional approach to groundwater management in Eastern Virginia
- Costs continue to rise for Virginia’s colleges and universities
- Flock cameras trigger pushback in rural and urban communities
- Northern Virginia partners work to spread strategies in youth suicide prevention
- $750M Pulaski commerce park deal could lead to a data center
- Hampton Roads tenants describe landlord’s abuse, retaliation after landmark fair housing settlement (“A $2.25 million lawsuit settled by Attorney General Jay Jones means Hampton landlord David Merryman can no longer operate in the state and must sell his properties.”)
- Norfolk artist shot and killed on the way to film premiere at Naro theater (“Norfolk artist and musician Tony Camarillo was on his way to attend the premiere of a 48 Hour Film Project short film he co-produced when he was fatally shot. Camarillo and his creative and romantic partner Jaida Garrison produce the live arts event The Doper Show.”)
- DC-area forecast: Chance of showers today then a good-looking Saturday
