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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, September 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 lots more…see below.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS (Climate crisis – Himalayas are melting fast; “Train carrying Boris Johnson and ex-CIA chief may have been targeted in Russian strike, officials say”; Putin puppet Trump “calls on Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries”; “Widening Mideast Instability Squeezes Global Oil Supplies”; “Donald Trump’s Empire of Grift”; etc.)
- The Himalayas are melting faster – and India’s economy is ‘at risk’
- OpenAI boss Sam Altman spells out how and why the AI industry wants to slow down: ‘We could lose control’
- New warnings about the risks of AI to humanity revive a long-running debate
- Russia hits Ukrainian train shortly after Boris Johnson and top European officials leave station (“The former UK PM said: ‘I don’t know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning’.”)
- Watch: Why a Russian strike on train near Ukraine-Poland border could mark an escalation
- Why a fresh wave of North Korean soldiers may fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine
- Russia Is Churning Out Smart, Cheap New Weapons Faster Than Ukraine or the U.S. (“Engineers in Russia are using Chinese components to mass-produce inexpensive arms and steal a march on its adversaries.” UGH!)
- Train carrying Boris Johnson and ex-CIA chief may have been targeted in Russian strike, officials say
- Trump calls on Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries (“The U.S. president denied that his war on Iran was responsible for surging diesel prices, but a senior European official said Trump was using Kyiv as a scapegoat.” DISGRACEFUL by Trump – puppet of vicious dictator and U.S. archenemy Vladimir Putin.)
- Trump won’t put the brakes on AI because he wants to beat China. How big a threat is Beijing?
- All eyes are on what Trump and Xi will do amid grim warnings of an AI apocalypse. Here’s what they’ve said.
- Trump Says He’s Not Worried About Xi Calling Off Summit
- Widening Mideast Instability Squeezes Global Oil Supplies
- Oil Jumps as Shutdown of Saudi Pipeline Brings Fresh Supply Risk
- The situation in Iran is dangerously escalating – but whatever you do, don’t call it a war
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels seize more key islands in southern Red Sea, tighten grip on shipping routes (What’s the US going to do about this?)
- Iran says it destroyed U.S. advanced drone over Hormuz as Middle East conflict intensifies
- Trump says the Strait of Hormuz is open. But how much oil is really going through?
- Takaichi Ally Wins Okinawa Vote, Aiding Military Build-Up
- For Trump, a Golf Trip to Ireland Tees Up a Reunification Controversy
- Trump Defends His Support for Irish Unity Despite UK Uproar
- Sweden’s election too close to call after late right-wing surge (“With most results in, the opposition left bloc leads by a single seat over an alliance that includes the far-right Sweden Democrats.”)
- Left edges ahead in Swedish election thriller (“With most results in, the opposition left bloc leads by just three seats over an alliance that includes the far-right Sweden Democrats.”)
- Israel accused of trying to ‘eliminate’ living conditions for Palestinians in West Bank (“Report by Israeli human rights group says systematic and broad assault being waged on conditions required for Palestinians’ existence”)
- UK ministers urged to act after US flies out diplomat accused of possessing indecent images of children (“US officials reportedly raided envoy’s London home and took him to American airbase without warning Met police”)
- Carney eyes ‘unique alliance’ with EU as trade war with US intensifies
- Mark Carney Said No to Donald Trump. Now He Must Contend With the Economic Fallout (“The new 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods will hammer many small- and medium-sized businesses.”)
- Donald Trump’s Empire of Grift (“Far-right ideologues have transformed American foreign policy into a tool of private gain and antidemocratic reaction.”)
NATIONAL NEWS (“Illegal deportations spike under Trump’s ICE push”; “It’s Not Just Trump Who’s Dumb about Economics—It’s the GOP Generally”; “Democrats to train tens of thousands to monitor polls amid election interference fears”; “The truth about the midterms — and the media’s failure to convey it”; “This Republican’s ‘Detestable’ Comments And Nods To Nazis Aren’t A Dealbreaker For Mike Johnson”; “Kennedy Center could close as early as Tuesday and warns of bankruptcy, documents show”; etc.)
- Illegal deportations spike under Trump’s ICE push (“The Justice Department has acknowledged errors in many cases.” Heinous.)
- Fed’s Warsh on Collision Course With Trump as Rate Hike Looms
- Trump Pushes Fed to Lower Rates Despite Pressure For a Hike
- Diesel prices push to new all-time high as oil prices jump after key Saudi pipeline shut
- Trump Keeps Using “National Security” to Do What He Wants (“From the “war on terror” to the war on trumpets and wind turbines.”)
- E.P.A. Expected to Erase Limits on Climate Pollution From Power Plants (Under Trump, the EPA is actually the Environmental Destruction Administration)
- It’s Not Just Trump Who’s Dumb about Economics—It’s the GOP Generally (“Discrediting Trump is an important part of every Democrat’s job. But the Republicans will keep on wrecking the economy, with or without him.”)
- Trump downplays calls for AI slowdown
- Trump resists AI slowdown as the political tide turns
- National Security Agency launches historic restructuring (“Gen. Joshua M. Rudd is retooling the massive spy agency to focus on priorities including AI, China and cybersecurity.”)
- Paid brokers tout ties to Trump’s orbit to lobby for presidential pardons (MASSIVELY corrupt!)
- Pardon brokers offer to “put pressure on the president” — at sky-high costs
- Trying to Rid the Pentagon of Culture Wars, Hegseth Has Created His Own (The phrase “culture wars” is classic “mainstream” media both-sides/false equivalence BULLSHIT.)
- Is the Trump Family Preparing to Cash Out on Its Own Crypto? (“President Donald Trump and his three sons have taken a step that would permit them to sell World Liberty Financial’s digital tokens.”)
- Trump agreed to new ethics rules to get a crypto bill across the line. But that might not be enough (“The ethics proposal is part of broader cryptocurrency legislation headed for a key vote this week.”)
- Crypto’s political clout meets resistance on the left (“A group of Senate Democrats is considering voting for an industry-friendly crypto bill. The left could make that painful.”)
- Democrats to train tens of thousands to monitor polls amid election interference fears (“Project will prepare volunteers across US to monitor polls, encourage early voting and respond to disinformation”)
- How Trump is spending his $400 million war chest
- Trump’s Secret Points System for Cabinet Members (“The White House held a summer contest to see who could appear in the most congressional districts and states with competitive midterm elections.”)
- Trump and Vance open midterm campaign tour as GOP troubles deepen
- Democrats Have Midterm Momentum. Here’s What Risks Tripping Them Up. (“The party is seeking to capitalize on Trump’s unpopularity but has a fundraising shortfall and internal divisions”)
- Democratic voters driven more by opposition to Trump than party platform in fight for the House, poll finds (“The findings come as Republicans are clinging to an exceptionally narrow House majority.”)
- For Populist Democrats, a Movement Fueled by Anger at Both Parties (More “both sides”/false equivalence from the NY Times.)
- The truth about the midterms — and the media’s failure to convey it (“Readers, when you encounter the word ‘polarized,’ your antennae for both-sidesing should shoot up. The general idea is something like this: ‘Things are so divided; it’s nobody’s fault, really. Good arguments on both sides.'” This is NPR and PBS News to a “t”, BTW…)
- Ted Cruz Pushed His College Sports Bill on ESPN—and Was Booed Mercilessly (“Heckling the Texas senator is one of the only things fans seem to agree on.”)
- Texas Republicans denounce GOP statewide candidate over xenophobic post (“Bo French, the GOP candidate for the state’s railroad commission, has repeatedly engaged in inflammatory rhetoric.”)
- This Republican’s ‘Detestable’ Comments And Nods To Nazis Aren’t A Dealbreaker For Mike Johnson (“The speaker defended House candidate Brandon Herrera’s reprehensible internet behavior as part of the job for the former YouTube ‘provocateur.'” Mike Johnson is scum.)
- ‘Pod Save America’ Is in the Wilderness Too (They just flat-out suck.)
- Kennedy Center could close as early as Tuesday and warns of bankruptcy, documents show (“Officials said that the center faces “certain fiscal collapse” in weeks and that adding President Donald Trump’s name on its facade may be the only way to avoid it.” Americans desperately need to stop normalizing everything; this is INSANE, as is so much else right now!)
- Reports: Kennedy Center warns of bankruptcy unless Trump’s name returns
VIRGINIA NEWS (Rob Wittman continues to support anything/everything Trump wants; “Beth Macy pledges to back congressional data center moratorium”; Virginia early voting starts Friday; etc.)
- Wittman, running again in VA-01, supports Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense spending budget (“As Wittman seeks an eighth term in Congress, he also aims to chair the Armed Forces Committee, as democratic critics caution against rising deficit and Trump’s ‘war of choice’ with Iran. ” Wittman supports pretty much EVERYTHING Trump does!)
- Beth Macy pledges to back congressional data center moratorium
- Early voting in Virginia begins on Sept. 18: Everything you need to know
- Virginia lawmakers move closer to regulating self-driving vehicles (“Proposed framework focuses on commercial uses as debates continue over safety, data collection and worker protections.”)
- Century-old law gives Virginia legislator-lawyers broad power to delay court cases (“The statute has postponed criminal and civil proceedings, while lawmakers who practice law say it is essential to serving in a part-time legislature.”)
- Federal maps will likely limit Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Fund
- Loudoun to consider data center pause, removing by-right grandfather clause
- Claims of beatings, arrests at Charlottesville homeless encampment unfounded, city says
- Sweet Briar land sale will return remainder of Bear Mountain to Monacan Nation (“The Amherst County site has long been important to the tribe, which currently owns a portion of the property. The college will transfer the remaining 400 acres.”)
- Facing dwindling civic engagement and mounting budget challenges, an Alleghany County town faces an uncertain future (“Iron Gate has no candidates on the ballot this fall, and there’s talk that perhaps the town should give up its charter.”)
- DC-area forecast: A refreshing start to the week before it turns toasty again
