by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, September 15. 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
- 2025 was among driest years on record for world’s rivers, study finds (“Analysis of global resources reveals depletion in world’s water savings bank to 42% below normal levels last year”)
- Climate crisis probably weakened glacier that caused devastating Nepal-Tibet floods, first study finds (“Scientists say global heating was a destabilising factor in collapse of 200,000 sq metre glacier in August”)
- Fossil fuel advertising contracts at all-time high in 2026 (“In year of extreme weather, ad agencies found to be building Big Oil’s image as integral to family life and security” Heinous.)
- Datacenter rush will create ‘tsunami’ of discarded electronics, report says (“Global push will triple toxic e-waste annually in 25 years, filling enough shipping containers to circle globe six times”)
- Whales Have Rebounded in the Southern Ocean. Scientists Worry Commercial Fishing Could Threaten Their Comeback.
- Microplastics in soil pose global threat by acting like ‘Trojan horse’ to deliver toxins (“Exclusive: Plastic surfaces form hotspots with an increase of antibiotic-resistant genes, study finds”)
- The Awesome and Alarming Visions of Anthropic’s C.E.O. (“The collected essays of Dario Amodei help explain why some people are so worried about artificial intelligence.”)
- The Anonymous Math Geek Who Quit Anthropic—and Became the Face of AI Safety (“Long-simmering worries about the technology’s potential dangers have exploded into global consciousness since Jacob Coxon’s dire warning” This guy looks like Harry Potter, lol!)
- The Global Economy Is Running Out of Wiggle Room
- ‘So many loopholes’: Democratic House leader Jeffries flags concerns over Russia sanctions bill (“Jeffries said the legislation had so many loopholes that sanctions harming Russia might not be applied”)
- House passes Russia sanctions bill
- Trump gains a tariff weapon against China and India. Will he use it?
- India faces 100% tariff threat over Russian oil after US House vote
- Ukraine war briefing: Drone kills Russian commander just decorated after fake victory claim (“Maj Gen Anton Grunis was praised by Vladimir Putin for purported capture of Kostiantynivka; UK names intel officer who died in Ukraine road crash. What we know on day 1,667” Let’s hope there’s a hell!)
- Trump’s pressure on NATO is reshaping Europe’s defenses. Will it break the alliance?
- Saudi Pipeline Attack Risks ‘Disastrous’ Loss of Oil as Fighting Escalates (“Prolonged restrictions on exports could push oil prices even higher.”)
- Iran’s Attempts to Get Around the Hormuz Blockade Are Hitting a Wall (“While Saudi Arabia and others find workarounds, bottlenecks are threatening Iran’s economy”)
- Scoop: Trump to hold Iran talks with Gulf leaders next week
- Trump says U.S. ‘hopefully’ nearing end of Iran war as Saudi Arabia-Houthis trade strikes (The media still doing its laughable, absurd “Trump says” bullshit; I mean, Trump’s a pathological liar, imbecile, etc. – ergo, there’s ZERO excuse to uncritically amplify anything he says.)
- U.S. Intelligence Warns of China Theft Over Sale of F-35 Jets to Saudis
- Iran school bombing: grounds to believe US was behind atrocity, UN finds (Of course the US was behind it.)
- The Guardian view on the Houthi advance in Yemen: another vital Middle East artery becomes a battlefield (“The extraordinary success of the rebels, and Saudi counterstrikes, threaten economic havoc. But the country’s civilians are paying the highest price”)
- Yemenis take to boats to flee as Middle East war spreads
- Top Democrat puts hold on Trump’s $2.8B weapons sale to Israel
- Why Israel Wants More One-Ton Bombs, and Why the U.S. Sale Is Controversial (“The Trump administration plans to deliver 60,000 of the powerful munitions at a time when opposition is growing in Washington to arms sales to Israel.” If this happened during a Democratic administration, the “pro-Palestine” people would be protesting like crazy. Why so quiet now???)
- How Israel-Palestine broke up Sheeran-Macklemore (“The implosion of Ed Sheeran’s ongoing world tour tells us something about shifting attitudes toward Israel.”)
- Donald Trump Returns to the U.N. Amid the Collapse of the Old Order (“Trump is at the heart of this geopolitical moment, catalytic in his alliance-fraying bullying, unprovoked warmongering, and protectionist demagoguery.”)
- Assad regime planned US journalist’s kidnap for weeks, BBC finds
- The Guardian view on Sweden’s election result: an opportunity that progressive parties must not squander (“After a desperately tight race, voters rejected the prospect of the far right in government. A potential centre-left coalition needs to seize the moment”)
- ‘Hostile act’: Trump threatens EU with tariffs over Canada associate-membership proposal
- ‘Stronger together’: Carney welcomes EU invite for Canada to become first-ever associate member
- Trump Floats EU Tariffs If Canada Invite Deemed Hostile Act
- Trump Wanted Canada as the 51st State. He Ended Up Pushing It Toward the European Union.
- Canada-EU alliance isn’t meant to be a US rival with ‘better manners,’ Carney says
NATIONAL NEWS
- Exiled Nicaraguan journalist Luis Galeano detained by ICE in Florida (“Galeano, who has had asylum application pending for about seven years, was pulled over by agents while driving for Lyft” Disgusting!)
- Judge Scolds ICE Over Investigation of a New York Man’s Critical Email
- Only 3 of 113 Fox News segments about ICE actions mentioned that the majority of immigrants being arrested have no criminal record
- The Trump Administration Is Imprisoning Somali Immigrants in Gitmo
- Trump’s ICE Surge in Minnesota Threatened Democracy, Judge Warns
- Why Trump’s hand-picked Fed chair defied him by raising interest rates
- Fed Delivers First Rate Hike in Years With Unanimous Vote (“Most officials penciled in one more increase this year. An energy shock and a surge of AI investment have reshaped the inflation outlook.”)
- Trump says he still has confidence in Fed Chair Warsh, demands 1% or lower interest rates (Trump has literally ZERO understanding of economics – or much of anything, really. Utter ignoramus and imbecile, in addition to being wildly corrupt and evil. Great job, Trump voters – and anyone who refused to vote or voted for Jill F’ing Stein or whatever!)
- Trump offers fiery response to Federal Reserve rate hike (The word “fiery” is classic “mainstream” media cowardice and normalization; instead, The Hill could have used far more accurate and specific words like “unhinged,” “incoherent,” etc., but…nope!)
- Trump Backs Warsh, Faults ‘Hostile’ Fed Board for Rate Hike (Uhhhh…it was a UNANIMOUS, 12-0 vote, and Warsh himself praised it!)
- Trump Renews Attacks on Fed After Rate Increase (“This month, the president threatened to halt a broad swath of trade if interest rates were not cut, a possibility he resurfaced on Wednesday.”)
- The Fed was bullied into hiking rates. Now it hopes it didn’t royally screw up
- Gas prices are about to take a big jump, analysts say, with the worst still to come
- Trump Administration Moves to Gut a Core Endangered Species Protection (“An internal memo reinterprets the law so that only the intentional killing of animals, not collateral harm, is illegal.” That would be pure evil.)
- Trump’s love of fossil fuels is about more than money (“The US decision to remove limits on coal and gas plant emissions is rooted in a perception of manliness in these industries” MAGA has a completely warped, sick view of masculinity.)
- US government paid federal employees $9.5bn not to work amid Doge cuts – report (“GAO report shows how use paid administrative leave rose by 435% from 2023 to 2025 and incurred a sixfold cost” INSANITY!)
- The G.O.P. Has Gone Off the Deep End
- RFK Jr. to give keynote speech at conference for anti-vaccine group he founded (Speaking of the deep end – anyone who is “anti-vaccine” is, at best, a f’ing idiot.)
- Inside RFK Jr.’s ‘Backdoor’ Approach to Stop Vaccines (“How a Reagan-era program to promote vaccine production could play a role in Kennedy’s crusade against the medications”)
- Impeach Them. All of Them. (“Hegseth is only the beginning.”)
- House Cancels Votes to Avoid Embarrassment Over Hegseth Impeachment (“Republicans are sending members of Congress home early to avoid a vote on the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.”)
- Johnson-Massie feud boils over: “Why are we taking days off our calendar?”
- House Republican Meeting Turns Into Shouting Match: ‘This Is Fucking War!’ (“Speaker Mike Johnson summoned top GOP members to discuss suspending the gas tax, but the session got ugly and personal.”)
- ‘Should be removed’: Democratic senators ramp up calls to impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon (McMahon is pure scum.)
- Trump won by latching on to popular issues. He’s doing the opposite on AI. (Again, the “mainstream” media normalizes and whitewashes what Trump did, in this case the WaPo claiming that he simply “latched on” to “popular issues.” WTF??? How can our political media be SO F’ING BAD???)
- Kash Patel Refuses to Take a Republican’s Lifeline (“The FBI director allowed a Senate hearing to turn into a discussion of bestiality.” Patel should never have held ANY position of authority ANYWHERE, let alone FBI Director!)
- Fox News Poll: Squeezed by costs, frustrated voters turn to the Democrats (“Pocketbook stress and broad pessimism create a midterm electorate unhappy with the status quo”)
- Democrats Hope Voting Rights Decision Will Drive Black Turnout in South (“Black Democratic candidates for governor, the Senate and the House are hoping that attacks on Black representation will bring out Black voters in November.”)
- Who Will Win the Midterms? Republicans Are Reeling (“The political environment has worsened for Republicans as they try to defend control of Congress, though the party has a big cash advantage over Democrats.”)
- Most Primaries Didn’t Matter This Year (“Despite a series of high-profile losses, most incumbents coasted to easy wins.”)
- Judge Warns Blanche of Possible Contempt Charges Over Epstein Files (“The Justice Department hasn’t sufficiently followed a court order to produce documents, the federal judge said”)
- The Trump Justice Department Is Way Too Comfortable Violating Court Orders
- Flock cameras are riddled with security vulnerabilities and hard-coded credentials
- Hasan Piker on “The Axios Show”: America worse than al-Qaeda “pound for pound” (This guy is just…trails off. Seriously, though, why would any Democratic politician have literally ANYTHING to do with him?)
- House holds Leon Black in contempt over Epstein testimony after lawsuit
- Democrats keep pressure on Hakeem Jeffries to punish rogue members
- Democrats Meet With El-Sayed, Putting Aside Rifts Ahead of Midterms (Bottom line: Democrats need to win Michigan, whether they love El Sayed, hate him or whatever.)
- Jewish Leaders in Michigan Urge Support for El-Sayed’s Senate Bid
- Poll finds close Michigan Senate race. Here’s how El-Sayed lags his party. (If Michigan Democratic primary voters had been focused 100% on WINNING IN NOVEMBER, which is really what matters at this point, they would have nominated the no-brainer choice, Haley Stevens. Instead, they made a really risky choice instead. Brilliant, huh?)
- Why I’m Voting for a Texas Democrat (Karl Rove: “Bo French’s bigoted tweet after a football game is part of a long and ugly pattern.”)
- The two latest deaths suggest that the true number of infections is much larger than reported. (“The two latest deaths suggest that the true number of infections is much larger than reported.”)
- Trump, 80, Insults State He’s Speaking in During Bonkers Speech (Now THIS is the way to write a headline – good job, Daily Beast!)
- Trump says Kennedy Center could be ‘ripped down’ if he doesn’t get ‘recognition’
- Trump’s arch will harm historic sites but must proceed, federal officials say
- Chesapeake Bay ospreys see worst breeding season on record (“Researchers point to food shortages as regulators consider reducing commercial menhaden harvests.” Stop “considering” taking action and just, you know, TAKE F’ING ACTION ALREADY!)
- Recent rain near DC hasn’t ended Potomac drought concerns (“Potomac River drought monitoring restarted Tuesday as flows dropped to their lowest levels in more than a month. Parts of the region remain in moderate drought despite recent rain near DC.”)
VIRGINIA NEWS
- U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine talks data centers, building transparency
- Kaine: ‘The last thing Americans need right now is more wars’
- ‘I’m not a doomer’: US Senator Mark Warner makes the case for acting fast on AI guardrails (“This talk about human extinction is over the top” but “the idea that these swarms of AI agents might jump the fence and take over a banking system or take over a water system or, God forbid, take over a hospital.”)
- Spanberger is bullish about Virginia House races even without a favorable map (“Spanberger said she now feels the court’s action has energized the Democratic base.” That’s kinda hard to believe.)
- Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08): This Bill Would Do More Harm Than Good For America And For Ukraine (“Giving [Trump] this power when he has shown us over and over again what he will do with it would be an incredible mistake.”)
- Video: Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04) Warns of “Existential” AI Threats, the “Age of Ultron” – “I’m worried”
(“We have one chance to get this right…those threats are as real as any science fiction movie we’ve seen”) - VA06 Democratic Nominee Beth Macy to Celebrate Start of Virginia In-Person Voting at Sept. 18 Roanoke Rally (Vote Democratic up and down the ballot; also vote YES on all three constitutional amendments!)
- 10 things to know about the congressional campaigns in Virginia so far (“Many of the Democratic campaigns are operating from the same playbook: Run against ‘corruption,’ and data centers, don’t mention Trump, push for debates they know won’t happen.”)
- Virginia’s mail ballots are on the way to voters
- A look at money raised by potential 2025 statewide candidates (Presumably, he means “potential 2029 statewide candidates,” but anyway, to me what’s more interesting is WHERE they got their money – heavily from Dominion Energy, gambling interests, etc. In short, if you go to VPAP and check out these campaign finance numbers, you might feel the strong urge to take a loooong, very hot shower with lots of soap afterwards! LOL. Seriously, though, this is the “Virginia Way” to a “t”…and no, the “Virginia Way” is not a good thing in any way.)
- Virginia SCC can protect ratepayers in NextEra-Dominion merger | Guest Column by VA Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell
- Spanberger quietly ends measure to stop transgender girls from playing girls sports
- About 120,000 fewer Virginians have SNAP, while food prices rise and food pantries race to keep up with demand (The headline should, but doesn’t, say “Because Republicans Passed Their Big Ugly Bill, About 120,000 Fewer Virginians Have SNAP”. So why doesn’t it say that???)
- New dashboard shows term limits on affordable status of properties around Virginia (“Local governments can use the knowledge to take steps to preserve affordable housing, avoid displacement of residents if they wish.”)
- State lawmakers order new data reporting about VMSDEP program
- Governor Spanberger issues State of Emergency to help Virginia farmers amidst hay shortfall
- Spanberger declares a state of emergency due to drought conditions and low hay production in Virginia (“The governor also issued an executive order aimed at reducing regulations and supporting agricultural producers.”)
- Spanberger declares state of emergency as drought strains Virginia farmers
- Norfolk schools wants to retain teachers, other staff affected by school closures
- Fairfax Co. honors the ‘great Latino family’ whose diverse talents enrich the community
- Residents implore DEQ to consider health risks, history, as it determines the fate of Northrop Grumman permit
- UVA Football: Locker room douchebag culture has taken over the sports media (“The same people who can ask UVA Football coach Tony Elliott, twice, about how great it is to be in the presence of notorious dogkiller Michael Vick, are cackling with Arch Manning over an AI video of Texas coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe.” Vomit.)
- DC-area forecast: Summer surges back today, then cooler Friday and Saturday
