by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, August 27. 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 lots more…see below.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS (Climate crisis led to glacier collapse and disaster in Nepal?; Why Ratcliffe went to Moscow; the “real reason Trump wants economic sanctions on Iran”; Trump’s insane trade war with Canada; etc.)
- Why are European leaders staying silent after our summer of climate shock? (“Lethal temperatures and wildfires have exposed a widening gulf between voters demanding action and politicians unwilling to confront the long-term choices global heating requires” Pathetic.)
- How the deadly Nepal and Tibet flash flood unfolded – a visual guide (“US Geological Survey says massive glacial collapse caused catastrophic flash floods in the Himalayan border region of Nepal and Tibet”)
- More than 1,300 missing after deadly floodwaters wipe out villages on Nepal-China border (“Scores killed as catastrophic flooding destroys critical infrastructure, hampering rescue efforts including search for more than 700 foreigners in Nepal and China.”)
- Collapsed glacier likely caused devastating Nepal-Tibet floods, scientists say
- How Rising Temperatures Likely Contributed to Nepal’s Deadly Flood (“Climate change is causing glaciers to retreat and become less stable, upping the odds of catastrophic collapses.”)
- Catastrophic floods kill over 270 in Nepal and Tibet, with more than 1,300 missing
- Deadly Nepal Flood May Have Been Caused by Ice Snapping Off Glacier, Scientists Say (Did a hotter planet contribute to this?)
- Nepal flood death toll surges as 65 Americans listed among hundreds of people still missing
- How decoding beluga whales’ chitchat may save them – and teach us more about ourselves (“From humpbacks learning the latest songs to sperm whales’ ‘clan codas’, drones and AI learning are helping reveal another dimension to the concept of culture”)
- The Russia-Ukraine Air War Has Entered a New, Deadlier Phase
- Why Did John Ratcliffe Go to Moscow? (“Despite Trump’s claims, the CIA director’s visit was anything but routine. It might be a sign that Putin is getting more dangerous.”)
- CIA Chief’s Surprise Moscow Trip Was to Warn Russia Not to Attack NATO (“Warning comes after new U.S. intelligence assessments indicated Russian president could launch a limited assault”)
- CIA chief used Moscow visit to warn Russia against attacks on NATO allies, helping Iran
- Putin Moves to Escalate War in Ukraine as Talks at Dead End
- The Senate’s NATO Backstop Is About to Lose Its Biggest Champions (“The retirements of Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis could spell trouble for the Senate NATO Observer Group.”)
- U.S. weapons shortage from Iran war alarms allies confronting China
- The Real Reason Trump Wants Economic Sanctions in Iran (“The quieter, longer-term strategy could help push the conflict out of the minds of voters ahead of the midterms.”)
- Qatari PM heads to Iran to ‘de-escalate tensions’ as tanker attac
- ‘We will retaliate like an earthquake:’ How Iran could respond to Trump’s economic ‘D-Day’
- Navy sailor who jumped off USS Lincoln faces disciplinary charges (“The sailor on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier who jumped overboard in an attempt to die by suicide has been charged with violations and could have his pay docked.”)
- Troops fighting against Iran and alleged drug smugglers say they are being asked to violate international law (The military has a duty not to obey illegal orders.)
- Democrats to Force Senate Vote on Israel’s Human Rights Practices
- Senate Democrats urge Netanyahu to stop surge of violence in West Bank (“The letter — signed by nearly every member of the Democratic Senate caucus — comes as the party has become increasingly critical of the longtime Israeli leader.”)
- State Department Advances Trump Crackdown on ‘Far-Left Terrorism’
- Runaway Drug Violence Sets Off a Political Earthquake in Costa Rica (“A bastion of democratic stability grapples with the fallout of a surge in narcotics trafficking”)
- U.S. intervened in criminal probe of oilman helping Trump in Venezuela (“Swiss prosecutors asked the U.S. Justice Department to arrest Alejandro Betancourt. Instead, he was given a multi-entry visa and allowed to travel to the United States.”)
- What If Canada Joined the E.U.? (“The Trump Administration’s trade war with Canada has pushed a fringe idea into mainstream conversation, on both sides of the Atlantic.”)
- Trump Threatens New Trade War And Canada’s Carney Says Sure, Bring It On (“Six months into a real war he cannot seem to get out of, Trump has now picked another unwinnable fight, this time with America’s second-largest trading partner.”)
- Why carmakers are staying quiet despite ‘cataclysmic’ Canada tariff threat (Pathetic.)
- Trump Says The U.S. Doesn’t Need Canada. The Economy Says Otherwise.
- The Trump Administration’s trade war with Canada has pushed a fringe idea into mainstream conversation, on both sides of the Atlantic.
- Is the Supreme Court Going to Let Trump’s New Trade War Fly?
NATIONAL NEWS (ICE arrests – of people with NO CRIMINAL RECORD – soar; Was Meta’s settlement a bunch of b.s.?; West Point climate professor fired by Trump regime for not denying climate science – absolutely outrageous!; etc.)
- ICE Arrests Soar as People With No Criminal Record Are Increasingly Targeted
- Judge Sides With Texas Over Minnesota on Extradition of ICE Agent
- Judge rejects Minnesota push to extradite ICE officer from Texas (Trump judge, of course!)
- RFK Jr. says Shapiro’s office may have fabricated measles deaths (“After reporting two deaths, Pennsylvania’s governor said the health secretary wasn’t helping to control the disease’s spread.”)
- Kevin Warsh has a plan for the Fed. Scott Bessent is getting in the way
- The White House’s preferred economic tools are hitting snags
- Trump signs controversial beef import plan despite ranchers’ backlash
- Judge lifts nationwide block on Trump’s mail voting order
- Postal Officials Say Trump’s Mail-Ballot Push Will Create Widespread Errors (“USPS has just weeks to implement a rule ahead of the November midterms.” This is insane.)
- The Social Security benefit cliff is here. Washington is struggling to wake up.
- West Point professor fired after pushing back on limitations to teaching climate change, lawsuit says (OUTRAGEOUS!)
- West Point Climate Professor Says He Was Fired for Refusing to ‘Defy Science’
- Big Tech faces Big Resistance
- Trump keeps boosting data centers, even as other Republicans grow critical
- Big tech has itself to blame for the data center backlash
- From data centers to surveillance cameras, we’re witnessing a remarkable and bipartisan pushback against technology (“The reaction to both has united two sides of the political spectrum that usually don’t agree on much of anything.”)
- Pressure grows on House GOP leaders to act on data centers
- Williams: America can’t heal itself without redress
- New proposal from grid operator PJM would require data centers to bring their own power (“The plan could shift more energy cost to large-load customers while raising concerns about increased use of backup diesel generators.”)
- Trump’s Strength in Primaries is Clear. The Midterms Pose a Different Test.
- Trump’s Department of Education Deletes Bizarre Social Media Post Appearing to Liken Him to Hitler
- Meta Just Paid Nearly $17 Billion To Make Sure It Gets To Write The Kid Safety Rules For Every Other Social Media Platform (“As with the various rulings against Meta over the last few months, people are cheering this on, without realizing the damage it will do… Meta agrees to implement a bunch of kid safety features, most of which we have no idea whether they actually protect any kids…The specific features don’t even matter that much”)
- Mark Zuckerberg Wants to Make Sure His Competitors Share His Pain
- Will Meta’s Changes Benefit Young Users’ Mental Health? (“Psychologists said the changes that were part of a landmark settlement were a symbolic victory, but warned their effectiveness might be limited.”)
- Why Meta’s courtroom concession is a BFD (“Almost all U.S. states are using litigation to impose kids’ protections that Congress failed to pass.”)
- Accused 9/11 plotters to stand trial in 2028 (27 years after the crime? OK…)
- Secret Service officials placed on leave in inquiry over ‘potential misconduct’
- Jon Ossoff, usually a head down senator, has found a formula to excite Democrats
- A former Mike Collins staffer posted KKK and Nazi images. Some Republicans see a pattern. (“Rep. Mike Collins (R-Georgia) is challenging Sen. Jon Ossoff. The former Collins staffer posted a swastika and shared an image of himself in what appear to be KKK robes.”)
- Jon Ossoff went low on Natalie Harp. The plan worked (It wasn’t even really “low”; it was very mild, and also 100% accurate.)
- The primaries testing Democratic 2028ers
- Republicans Panic That Trump’s Convention Will Backfire Horribly (“The so-called “Trumpapalooza” event will take place in Dallas next month.”)
- “Allyship” and “birthing people”: Democrats confront vocabulary problem (“Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has been the most vocal about the need for Democrats to ‘talk like a normal human being,’ as he’s put it in speeches and interviews.”)
- El-Sayed says ‘no plans’ to campaign with Piker
- Democrats at odds in Michigan over El-Sayed’s ties to controversial streamer
- Tom Kean Jr.’s campaign playbook appears to be backfiring (“The two-term Republican congressmember, who faces a tough reelection, had always been able to bank on little scrutiny and a storied family name.”)
- GOP nominee for Maine governor calls for ICE agents at state polling places (“Bobby Charles said he would ask President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, to send federal agents to polling places in the upcoming midterm elections.” Nutjob.)
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rejoins DSA after membership lapse of seven years
- Corpus Christi Withholds Water to Wetlands While Lifting Restrictions on Lawns (That’s totally f’ed up; lawns are a disaster in every way.)
- Grand jury finds DeSantis administration “misappropriated” $10 million in taxpayer money to Hope Florida
- Tim Curry, Star of ‘Rocky Horror’ and Much More, Dies at 80
VIRGINIA NEWS (Warner demands answers on prediction markets; Spanberger on affordability, ICE activities in Virginia; WVTF somehow manages to “report” on the sharp decline in international students without mentioning Trump’s name, even though Trump is pretty much 100% responsible – WTF?; etc.)
- Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Alex Padilla Demand Answers from Prediction Market Companies Paying Influencers Spreading Election Disinformation (“Prediction market paid influencers have posted misinformation about elections under the label ‘paid partnership,’ including in SAVE Act posts”)
- Senator Kaine discusses workforce development ideas with Halifax County leaders
- Shannon Taylor leads with record in first TV ad for election
- Video: Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04) Says “[Trump’s] priorities are all wrong – and as a result, the American people are suffering.” (“If you could afford the food, you don’t know what to eat because everything is making people sick” because of Trump/GOP cuts to FDA, HHS, etc.)
- Spanberger on affordability, ICE activities in Virginia (“Northern Virginia Bureau reporter Drew Wilder spoke with Gov. Abigail Spanberger about what she’s doing to make things more affordable and her response to ICE enforcement in the commonwealth.”)
- Dominion Energy Shareholders to Vote 9/3 on the NextEra Merger; There’s a Shareholder Movement to Stop It (“Numerous people are invested in Dominion Energy through their 401Ks, IRAs and pension plans.”)
- Virginia to receive $353 million in landmark Meta child-safety settlement (“Agreement would also impose new time limits, age checks and content safeguards for young Facebook and Instagram users.”)
- AI’s natural gas addiction could be deadly for Virginia’s communities
- Q&A: What Trump’s beef plan could mean for Virginia cattle farmers and grocery prices (Raising and slaughtering cows in an industrial manner, by the way, for food is a really bad thing to do in terms of the environment, animal welfare, you name it.)
- Dolly Parton’s in legacy Virginia: Child literacy and beyond (Headline presumably should read “Dolly Parton’s legacy in Virginia”)
- Chesterfield says no more data centers as Google tax windfall looms
- Virginia Tech sees sharp decline in international doctoral students (This article vaguely refers to “changes to student visas and travel restrictions by the U.S. government” without specifically mentioning Trump’s insanity. At this point, there’s absolutely zero doubt that the media’s terrified of Trump, MAGA, etc., also dedicated to normalizing, sanewashing, etc. those f***ers.)
- Some Fairfax Co. families furious about decision to cut high school crossing guards (“In a statement, Jeff McKay, who chairs Fairfax’s Board of Supervisors, told WTOP the decision to remove high school crossing guards “was not made lightly and was informed by data and research, site reviews conducted by the Fairfax County Police Department and coordination with Fairfax County Public Schools on traffic, bus and Kiss and Ride operations. Prior to this change, Fairfax County was the only jurisdiction in Northern Virginia providing crossing guards at high schools, and it is important to emphasize that there are no reductions to crossing guards serving elementary or middle school students.””)
- Lynchburg’s Diamond Hill neighborhood is on its way to revitalization, one project at a time (“The most recent initiative brought a colorful mural and “sense of pride” to 12th Street, the artist says.”)
- Satanist bedevils Roanoke City Council with request to lead a prayer (Nice headline, lol.)
- DC-area forecast: Toasty and humid today, with scattered storms possible late
