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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise (economic, environmental, etc.) for Thursday, August 6 (happy birthday to my awesome wife, Kelly!). 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)…also the Iran War, U.S. political developments, Spanberger on MSNOW predicting – VERY wishfully, lol! – that Dems will pick up at least four seats this November in Virginia, etc.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS (Climate crisis, Ukraine needs air defenses NOW; Iran-Oman deal would give Iran control of inbound traffic?; etc.)
- Human-driven climate crisis fuels Canada’s deadly wildfires, study finds (“Current blazes roaring across country more than twice as likely to occur because of fossil fuel-driven global heating”)
- Italy to place all 27 of its major cities on highest heat alert (“Move comes as fourth heatwave of summer intensifies, edging temperatures in some areas close to 40C”)
- Meta Ran Ads That Contained AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Imagery (“More than 50 offending image and video ads were published across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or Threads, according to Meta’s ad library data. Some ran as recently as this week.”)
- Nato to ‘urgently’ get air defences for Ukraine, as Zelenskyy warns of surge in Russian missile production
- Huge smoke plume over Russian city as Ukraine hits two oil refineries in long-range attacks
- In Odesa, no-one is safe from Russia’s new Black Sea strikes
- Ukraine Is Pleading for Air Defenses. Will the World Listen Anymore?
- Europe’s Control Is Tested by Iran and Ukraine Wars, Wildfires and Migration
- US to shut five consulates as critics fear China could fill diplomatic vacuum
- Trump, Hegseth clashed at Camp David over Iran missile depletion concerns
- Iran says it’s in the final stage of drafting an agreement with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz
- Proposed Hormuz deal would give Iran control of inbound traffic, sources say (“U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access to the world’s most important trade route for energy supplies.”)
- Iran threatens to hit Gulf states if US launches new strikes
- Top Democrats accuse Trump officials over Israeli settlers’ ‘unbridled violence’ (“Letter says lifting of sanctions sent ‘clear message’ settlers can use deadly force in West Bank without consequences”)
- U.S. airstrikes killed or wounded hundreds of civilians in Yemen last year, sources say
- Scott Bessent’s Yen Trade Has Unintended Consequences for the Markets (“The way it’s being done should make us worry that the Fed is being roped into easing monetary conditions when it should be moving to tighten them”)
- Fifa insists Gianni Infantino will remain president after Rabat crisis meeting
NATIONAL NEWS (Airlines push back on ICE; FDA approves mRNA flu vaccine; Sluggish CDC explosive diarrhea response; Senate Republicans’ witch hunt against Anthony Fauci continues; Abdul El-Sayed win “sends tremors through Democratic Party”; Mike Johnson won’t do his job when it comes to scumbag Max Miller…or much of anything; etc.)
- ICE Threatens Sheriffs With Prosecution Over Access to Inmates
- Mullin’s immigration balancing act grows more precarious
- “Entrapment”: Trump’s immigration delays fuel jump in ICE arrest targets
- Airlines Push Back Against ICE Enforcement at Airports (“Federal agents are using flight manifests to arrest travelers with lapsed visas, drawing objections over safety and protocol”)
- Trump Has Called Warsh Repeatedly Since He Became Fed Chair (“The president has sought Warsh’s counsel on issues such as how the war in Iran is affecting the economy”)
- Dwindling Colorado River creates water and power challenges for the Western US
- Where extreme heat is having the biggest impact on Americans’ lives, according to a new AP-NORC poll
- F.D.A. Approves Moderna’s mRNA Flu Vaccine
- A new type of flu shot is coming after FDA approves mRNA-based vaccine (“Moderna said the new shot, which was approved after controversy and despite Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s skepticism, will probably be available at some retailers in the coming weeks.”)
- Weeks into explosive diarrhea outbreak, sluggish CDC plans response team (“Reports of cases began in June, and the national tally is now nearing 23,000.”)
- Cyclospora outbreak follows years-long pattern of Taylor Farms deflecting blame
- Senate confirms Trump pick Erica Schwartz as new CDC director (“Schwartz was confirmed by a 51-44 vote that broke largely along party lines, with Tim Kaine of Virginia the sole Democrat to support her nomination.”)
- Trump’s Economy Speech Veers Into an Extended Riff on Communism (Nutjob.)
- Trump Said Qatari Jet Was Destined for His Library. That May Change. (Wildly corrupt.)
- Blanche meets with 2 key Republican senators ahead of confirmation vote (“The AG nominee can afford to lose only one GOP vote to be confirmed.”)
- Senate’s summer pileup is threatening a quick recess escape (“Republicans are discussing several options, including holding fresh votes related to the SAVE America Act.”)
- GOP infighting erupts as Thune warns of legislative ‘trainwreck’
- Three state attorneys general subpoena Anthony Fauci over Covid guidance
- Senate Panel Says It Has Obtained Copy of Fauci’s Covid-Era Phone (These people are deranged and dangerous.)
- Senators to vote on holding Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for pleading the Fifth during tense hearing (“Fauci declined to answer senators’ questions over 100 times during last week’s hearing, angering Republican lawmakers who have targeted him for years.”)
- A Growing Number of Election Deniers Hold Key Local Roles in Midterms (“These officials oversee or help administer elections in counties across the nation where competitive House and Senate races will determine control of Congress.”)
- Trump-Backed Republican Loses to Little-Known Rival Who Had Suspended His Bid (“Without running a single ad or filing a campaign finance report, Tom Smith, who had suspended his bid, soundly defeated Amir Hassan, a Navy veteran backed by President Trump.” WTF? LOL)
- Moderate Democrats Prepare for ‘War’ Against an Ascendant Left (“One moderate group says the progressive wins are “deeply troubling” and is planning a $15 million effort against democratic socialism.”)
- How the new generation of left-wing US media is powering progressive candidates
- 2026 is turning into a bloodbath for safe-seat House Democrats (Not in Virginia, that’s for sure!)
- New Mexico Attorney General Sues DOJ for Access to Epstein Files (“Lawsuit accuses Justice Department and Todd Blanche of stonewalling state’s investigation into activities at Zorro Ranch”)
- Trump tells donors, ‘We need to elect JD,’ as vice president weighs his future (“Advisers say the remark doesn’t mean the president has settled on a preferred candidate in 2028 as he plays up a contest between JD Vance and Marco Rubio.”)
- Scandal Leaves North Carolina G.O.P. With No Candidate and Little Time (“Representative Chuck Edwards’s decision to drop his re-election bid amid sexual harassment charges came as a Democratic farmer, Jamie Ager, was already making inroads.”)
- Abdul El-Sayed Thinks Progressives Have a Way to Win. I Hope He’s Right.
- Top Democrats set aside qualms and embrace progressive Abdul El-Sayed (“Democrats ‘united by a common purpose: putting a check on Trump’, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say” Dems need that seat.)
- Abdul El-Sayed’s win proves change is possible for Democrats. His next fight may determine their future (“If the progressive wins Michigan’s general election, it could redefine the 2028 presidential contest. If he fails, the establishment will call him a cautionary tale”)
- El-Sayed’s victory sends tremors through Democratic Party
- Liberals Are Now Fighting a Two-Front War (“Leftists like Abdul El-Sayed will take over the Democratic Party unless the center-left adapts to their rise.”)
- What El-Sayed Does Next Matters (“Abdul El-Sayed called out Democrats. Now he needs to bring them together.”)
- After Michigan Loss, AIPAC Weighs a Second Effort to Defeat El-Sayed (Even if you intensely dislike El-Sayed, if you care about Democrats taking back the US Senate and defending our democracy, you should NOT DO THAT!)
- AIPAC Spent $32 Million Trying to Stop Abdul El-Sayed. Did They Possibly…Help Him? (“The group, which has grown increasingly active in primary campaigns over the years, embodies two issues that have motivated Democratic-primary voters: a growing distaste for money in politics and a turn against Israel”)
- Why the Polling in Michigan Was Off the Mark (“Surveys greatly overestimated how Dr. Abdul El-Sayed would fare in the state’s Democratic Senate primary, revealing some typical polling challenges.”)
- The Electability of Abdul El-Sayed (“The former public-health official won Michigan’s Democratic primary with an unapologetically progressive platform—and a total defiance of the Party establishment.”)
- Are Montana Democrats Abandoning Their Own Candidate? (“Democratic leaders are backing an independent Senate candidate in Montana. The Democrat is livid.”)
- Tucker Carlson unveils 10-point manifesto amid third-party speculation
- House GOP scandals expand Democrats’ 2026 map
- Mike Johnson Would Prefer Not To (“The House speaker doesn’t want to get involved in the Max Miller scandal—or anything else that might seem like part of his basic duties as a leader.”)
- Max Miller’s Victim Mentality (“The Republican congressman’s bitter domestic dispute—in which he’s accused of physical abuse by his ex-wife, the daughter of an Ohio senator—is testing his party’s willingness to defend the indefensible.”)
- Bunny Dolls and Disturbing Allegations: Max Miller’s Strange CNN Interview (“In a 23-minute appearance with the anchor Jake Tapper, the Ohio Republican made an unusual effort to rebut a multitude of allegations that have threatened his re-election bid.”)
- Police Footage Shows Rep. Max Miller Downplaying His Daughter’s Broken Collarbone (“Go inside the room as detectives probe the abuse allegations.”)
- Max Miller’s Democratic opponent doesn’t want to talk about Max Miller (“Ironworker Brian Poindexter is challenging the embattled congressman in his Ohio district.”)
- A mob viciously beat a trans couple. Now the alleged victims could get sent to prison.
- Trump Marine One flight under investigation after potential safety mishap
- Menhaden management board advances addendum with potential cuts to Chesapeake Bay fishery limits
VIRGINIA NEWS (WVTF reporter whitewashes far-right-extremist Bert Mizusawa, despite tons of evidence out there; Political Winners/Losers for 8/4 primaries; Spanberger predicts Virginia Dems will flip “at least four US House seats in November” – which, obviously, is NOT going to happen, lol!; etc.)
- Kaine pitches reforms for drug pricing program supporting underserved patients, safety net providers (“Bill would prescribe new annual reporting requirements for 340B participants and give the Department of Health and Human Services auditing authority”)
- Meet Bert Mizusawa, the Republican hoping to unseat Senator Mark Warner (This is the “mainstream” media – in this case Michael Pope at WVTF – at its absolute worse, completely whitewashing/sanewashing a far-right extremist. It’s clearly intentional on their point, the question being WHY! Bottom line, though, this is NOT journalism – it’s stenography, propaganda, absolutely disgraceful.)
- Political Winners and Losers: 8/4/26 Virginia Primaries Edition (Winners include Elaine Luria, Shannon Taylor, the DCCC/”establishment”…)
- 5 questions that will determine this year’s congressional midterms in Virginia (and beyond) (The two key questions: “How much of a drag will President Donald Trump be on Republican candidates?”; “What will the electorate look like?”)
- EXCLUSIVE: Gov. Spanberger predicts Virginia Democrats flip at least four U.S. House seats in November (I’ll be happy if we can flip VA02 and VA01, VERY happy if we also flip VA05. No way we’re flipping VA06 or VA09.)
- TV TRAINWRECK: Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02) Can’t Think Of A Single Issue She Disagrees With Donald Trump On. (“Pressed multiple times by NBC News on her 100% pro-Trump voting record, Jen Kiggans crashes out”)
- Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin launches new conservative policy group (“The group, called Empowering America’s Parents, will focus on expanding awareness about the Education Freedom Tax Credit, a federal scholarship tax credit that has been adopted in 30 states. Youngkin’s group plans to target the 20 remaining states that have not adopted the program with a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, according to a source familiar with internal planning. ” Yuuuuuck.)
- Spanberger administration touts SCC order forcing data centers to pay infrastructure costs
- Opinion | Abigail Spanberger: Why I’m intervening in the Dominion-NextEra merger
- Virginia moves toward regulating self-driving vehicles amid safety and liability concerns (“Work group expected to issue final report to the General Assembly no later than Nov. 1.”)
- Editorial: Tax-free weekends are bad policy but don’t tell Virginians (“What’s pitched as a benefit for consumers often causes more headaches, and not enough relief, for what it is intended to accomplish.” Agreed, it’s gimmicky, pandering, etc.)
- AG Jones visits Henrico as vape listening tour continues
- Spanberger seeks dismissal of Rocovich lawsuit
- ‘First in the nation’ intensive reentry program introduced at Red Onion supermax prison
- VCU Medical Center ranked state’s best hospital by U.S. News & World Report
- Epic rainfall overwhelmed Norfolk’s stormwater system. Here’s how the city responded. (“City leaders said crews promptly responded to issues and pump systems cleared underpasses in a matter of hours, after as much as 6 inches of rain fell Tuesday.”)
- Virginia teens at golf tryouts rescue family from drowning and then make squad
- DC-area forecast: Building heat promotes late-day storm threats
