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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, September 13. 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; “AI’s Code-Red Moment”; “Putin would rather keep killing than admit he’s lost.”; “Houthis claim attack on Saudi base as fighting flares with Yemeni forces”; “What if Elon Musk Was Always Elon Musk?”; etc.)
- Along Himalayan Floods’ Path, Wiped Out Towns and Mounting Grief
- Top A.I. Leaders Call for Slowing Down A.I. Development (“In an essay, the head of Anthropic laid out the rapidly advancing capabilities of artificial intelligence and said there needed to be greater safety controls across the industry.”)
- We Must Pace the Frontier (“The measures I propose to advance the frontier at a safe pace will not be easy. But I believe we owe it to humanity to try.”)
- AI’s Code-Red Moment (“Anthropic’s CEO warns that the makers of artificial intelligence ‘owe it to humanity to try’ to slow down.”)
- OpenAI delaying IPO amid AI safety concerns, Sam Altman says
- AI staff ‘genuinely frightened’ for humanity’s future, ex-Anthropic researcher tells BBC
- Exclusive: Anderson Cooper asks Anthropic CEO: ‘Do you earnestly believe that AI could kill all humans?’
- Anthropic’s Moral Conflict Is Playing Out in Real Time
- Ukraine war briefing: Nine killed and dozens wounded in Russian strikes as Kyiv braces for harsh winter (“Zelenskyy says ‘Russia wants to kill the Ukrainian economy’ as Moscow steps up attacks on infrastructure. What we know on day 1,663”)
- Putin would rather keep killing than admit he’s lost. As a winter of misery looms in Ukraine, Nato must step in
- Xi pushes ‘Greater BRICS’ economic ties to give bloc larger global role (“Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled on Sunday initiatives in areas ranging from AI to trade to deepen cooperation among the ‘Greater BRICS’ emerging economies, as Beijing seeks to weld the grouping into a practical platform for Global South development.”)
- At BRICS, India’s Modi warns geopolitical tensions and supply chain shocks threaten global stability
- China’s Xi urges BRICS nations to work towards peace in the Middle East
- An Iranian commercial ship is struck near Strait of Hormuz with 1 dead, Iranian media say
- New report of attack on Strait of Hormuz shipping fans fears of threats to oil supplies (“The report of a projectile hitting a vessel came a day after Saudi Arabia said it closed its East-West pipeline after a drone attack that originated in Iraq where Iran-backed militias operate.”)
- Exclusive: Inside Hegseth’s push to showcase a dramatic Iran rescue on ‘60 Minutes’
- People fleeing Iran-backed rebels’ advance in Yemen describe a ‘hysterical panic’
- How Iran’s Hard-Liners Prevailed and Sabotaged U.S. Peace Deal (“Opponents derailed the agreement with a clandestine effort to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz, regime insiders say. Iran’s president was furious.”)
- Houthis claim attack on Saudi base as fighting flares with Yemeni forces (“Iran-allied Houthis say drones and missiles used in attack that targeted ‘weapons depots and command and control centres’ in southern Saudi Arabia”)
- Saudi Arabia has few options as it faces mounting threats from Iran and its allies
- Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claim new attacks on Saudi Arabia (“A Houthi military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed in a statement that they targeted a military base in Sharurah province in Saudi Arabia’s Najran region. He didn’t provide evidence or say when the attack occurred.”)
- IDF soldier filmed shooting Palestinian in leg amid West Bank settler standoff (“Incident is latest to raise questions over Israel’s ability or willingness to stop violent settlers in occupied territory” Appalling.)
- Six dead, 107 rescued from Indonesian ferry that went missing in Java Sea
- How to Protect Democracy (“The emergence of Germany’s far right as a political force represents an old dilemma.”)
- The AfD won a shock election in Germany. Elon Musk was thrilled (Of course he was; he’s a far-right extremist, white supremacist, fascist, etc.)
- What if Elon Musk Was Always Elon Musk? (“The most disturbing part of the controversial new four-hour documentary.”)
- UK PM’s office says position on Irish unity unchanged after Trump comments
- Trump Says Irish Unification Would Be ‘Fantastic,’ Breaking With Precedent
- Trump’s comments on a united Ireland may have targeted audience across the Atlantic (“Nobody could have predicted that today’s main global headline would be Trump’s desire to see a unified Ireland.”)
- Mark Carney’s Audacious Bid to Make Canada an ‘Associate Member’ of the EU
- Hidden crypto farm in Mexican mountains puts spotlight on cartel funding (“Crypto mining—which uses powerful computers to generate virtual assets such as Bitcoin—has become a new tool for organized criminal groups and a new front in Mexico’s fight against them.” As Paul Krugman says, “crypto is for criming.”)
- Trump Sees Canada Deal ‘Fairly Soon,’ Downplays Leaving USMCA (Why would anyone believe what Trump says about ANYTHING, really?)
- Bye, America: Trump’s rhetoric pushes some Canadians to shun the U.S.
NATIONAL NEWS (Worst Treasury Secretary in US history – Scott Bessent?; CDC director silent; “The new threat election officials fear: Trump’s federal government”; “Fear and Delusion in Dallas: Inside Trump’s Midterm Convention Flop”; “Obama Urges Democrats to Move A.I. Oversight to the Center of Their Agenda”; etc.)
- Bessent dared the markets to ‘bet against’ him. Bond traders did — and appear to be winning. (Worst Treasury Secretary in US history?)
- Bessent Says the U.S. Can Grow Its Way Out of the Debt Crunch. What Would It Take? (ZERO chance of that; Bessent is completely full of shit.)
- Federal judge rules Trump DHS plan for 50% FEMA staffing cuts was unlawful
- CDC director’s ‘unusual’ silence draws scrutiny (“The country is heading into respiratory virus season, and public guidance on COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines has been muddled, at best.The worst measles epidemic in more than 30 years continues unabated, while the Health and Human Services secretary is downplaying measles deaths and openly feuding with a sitting governor. Through it all, Schwartz has made no public appearances or remarks.” Totally uancceptable.)
- Trump Will Never Mail the $5,000 Checks (“Deconstructing a policy proposal that makes no sense on any level” It’s a bribe, period.)
- The new threat election officials fear: Trump’s federal government (“With seven weeks until Election Day, officials are preparing for seized ballots, troops at the polls and a postal system that could reject ballots by the batch.” We have met the enemy, and it is our own government – under Trump, that is!)
- Jewish institutions’ security spending in U.S. tops $1 billion
- Williams: Making the Confederacy great does nothing for America
- As Fears of A.I. Catastrophe Magnify, Washington Stirs, but Mostly Slumbers
- Obama Urges Democrats to Move A.I. Oversight to the Center of Their Agenda
- AI Is Running Laps Around Our Political System (“The technology is moving faster than elected officials can handle—and Anthropic’s CEO says the industry should slow down.”)
- Tesla Is Reclaiming the U.S. EV Market as Legacy Automakers Retreat (Why would anyone buy ANYTHING from a company owned by Elon Musk???)
- Trump personality cult alive and well in Dallas – will it power Republican midterm success?
- Republicans cast Muslim Democrats as chief enemies in ‘dangerous’ midterm pitch (Disgraceful. NOBODY should vote Republican!)
- Fear and Delusion in Dallas: Inside Trump’s Midterm Convention Flop (“Republicans spent two days celebrating the president in Texas. It’s unlikely to have helped the party’s chances in November”)
- Convention puts GOP’s reality on display: Midterm policy agenda is skimpy (All they’ve got is fear mongering, bigotry, demonization, etc. Just a heinous party.)
- Calls for Democrats to be shot go unchallenged at Republican convention (“Crowd member repeatedly said some Democrats ‘should be shot’ during Ted Cruz’s speech, without senator responding” Ted Cruz is scum.)
- Republican Groups Rush to Paxton’s Aid in Texas After Staying on Sidelines (Anyone helping Paxton is EVIL.)
- Republicans’ Growing Ken Paxton Anxiety: ‘He May Not Be the Best-Looking Guy.’ (“Trump insulted Paxton at the GOP convention despite endorsing him as concerns mount about the Texas Senate race”)
- Republicans fear they have a North Carolina problem
- Missouri’s Redistricting Chaos Has Voters on Both Sides Feeling Disenfranchised (“Democrats fend off ongoing Republican efforts to use GOP-friendly voting maps”)
- Alme holds an 8-point lead over Bodnar in Senate race (“New poll shows Republican Kurt Alme ahead of independent Seth Bodnar, with Democrats favoring the independent over party nominee Alani Bankhead.”)
- Fed up Pennsylvania Democrats plot to run for Fetterman’s seat in 2028 (Seriously, get Fetterman the F*** outta there in 2028; the guy’s a f’ing disgrace.)
- Trespasser stopped on former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Malibu property (“The incident renews scrutiny of Harris’ security after President Trump revoked extended Secret Service protection last year, leaving state and local agencies to coordinate coverage amid political backlash and resource concerns.”)
- Ron DeSantis offers ‘asylum’ to holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy trial (Remember, Youngkin said DeSantis was his model governor.)
- Scientists are tracking a massive algae bloom moving through the Chesapeake Bay
VIRGINIA NEWS (Pretty quiet in Virginia yesterday…folks out campaigning, Virginia PrideFest, etc.)
- Virginia Democrats Launch Joint Fundraising Effort to Take Back Control of Congress (“Virginia ‘Red to Blue’ candidates Elaine Luria, Shannon Taylor, and Tom Perriello team up to drive fundraising into pivotal swing state”)
- Thousands of LGBTQ+ people & allies celebrate Virginia PrideFest — with Gov. Abigail Spanberger among them (“After four years of attacks under Glenn Youngkin, LGBTQ+ Virginians once again have a governor willing to stand beside them.”)
- James City County mom let her 5-year-old son walk alone to neighborhood pond. Was it a crime?
- DC-area forecast: Muggy today as early showers give way to increasing sun. Refreshing tomorrow.
