Tuesday (9/8) News Roundup: Brent Crude Nears $100/barrel as Houthis Attack Saudi Energy Sites; Thanks to Trump, US-Canada Trade War Escalates…

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, September 8.  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  –  “Nepal says big polluters must ‘wake up’ as it calls for climate compensation over flood disaster”; “Brent crude nears $100 after strikes on Saudi energy sites amid renewed Mideast hostilities”; “Friedrich Merz is now on borrowed time. But that’s not why the AfD’s triumph is seismic”; US-Canada trade war escalates, as Trump insanely puts up a map that makes North America, Central America, Greenland, Iceland, the Caribbean part of the U.S. – we are really in deep shit; etc.)

• Heatwaves and wildfires are setting back air quality improvements, UN finds (“WMO report details extreme weather events causing climatic feedback loop with serious health consequences”)
• Nepal says big polluters must ‘wake up’ as it calls for climate compensation over flood disaster (“Foreign minister Shisir Khanal tells the Guardian the world’s biggest economies need to help Nepal, which contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions” Agreed!)
• Cholesterol drug setback casts doubt over multibillion-dollar race (“Novartis’ pelacarsen failed to reduce cardiovascular events despite lowering the harmful cholesterol Lp(a). The setback raises uncertainty for rival experimental Lp(a) drugs from Amgen and Eli Lilly. Analysts say the failure weakens, but does not disprove, the case for targeting the harmful type of cholesterol.”)
• How the Nepal-Tibet disaster became the latest victim of China’s ‘Clean Internet’ campaign
• Three Numbers That Show Just How Big China’s Export Boom Is
• Zelensky to Axios: U.S. exploring Russia-Ukraine winter de-escalation steps
• Russia says it will give a ‘harsh and painful’ response after Hungary expels 10 diplomats (“Moscow’s foreign minister issues warning to ‘Russophobic lobby in Budapest’ after diplomats expelled for ‘unacceptable’ activities”)
• Brent crude nears $100 after strikes on Saudi energy sites amid renewed Mideast hostilities
• Why isn’t oil above $100 despite supply disruptions?
• Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia ignite fires at oil facilities and wound 73 people, officials say
• Scores wounded as Iran-backed Houthis attack Saudi Arabia in major regional escalation
• Iran’s Oil Dollars Are Drying Up—and Plunging It Deeper Into Crisis
• Israeli airstrikes on a village in southern Lebanon kill 12 people, including 2 children
• Israel and US warn UK as it plans sanctions on Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank (“All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. The UK sanctions come as Israel plans to develop 1,200 new homes in the occupied territory. Settler attacks on Palestinians have also increased this year, with the UN saying injuries have risen to an average of three a day.”)
• ‘Global reckoning for big tech’: Australia to force social media platforms to allow users to opt out of algorithms (“Draft legislation enforces digital duty of care including limiting children’s exposure to misogynistic and eating disorder content”)
• Europe’s centre fears nationalist wave after AfD victory but only has itself to blame (“Saxony-Anhalt win part of wider trend driven by mainstream policy failures and gradual normalisation of far right ideas”)
• German chancellor vows to stay in office despite AfD triumph in state election (“Friedrich Merz said his conservative CDU was shaken ‘to its very foundations’ after far-right victory in Saxony-Anhalt”)
• A Far-Right Win Puts New Pressure on Germany’s Leader
• Friedrich Merz is now on borrowed time. But that’s not why the AfD’s triumph is seismic (“The anti-fascist consensus about our Nazi past is fundamental to German democracy. But that, shockingly, is being shattered”)
• Trump Triggers International Incident With Deranged Post
• Trump throws fuel on international feuds with Truth Social post bathing multiple countries in the American flag (Including Greenland, Iceland, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean.)
• No talks scheduled as Canada’s counter-tariffs against U.S. set to take effect at 12:01 a.m.
• What to know about Canada’s escalating trade war with the US as Carney retaliates with tariffs
• Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs Set to Take Effect as Trump Threatens to Escalate
• Trump Threatens to Bar Canadian Bombardier Jets in US
• Canada braces for prolonged trade war as counter-tariffs on US take effect

NATIONAL NEWS (Trump is “the most anti-union president”; “Trump’s Midterm Convention Will Yield a Bounce All Right—for Democrats”; “Democrats enter the midterms looking to conquer red territory”; etc.)

• Chasing Side Deals, Flexing Influence: Lewandowski’s Power Moves at DHS (“Kristi Noem’s close adviser effectively controlled billions in spending at Homeland Security. Lewandowski denies seeking business or playing any role in the agency’s contracts.” Absolutely insane…and presumably illegal.)
• Rare charges against ICE agent highlight DOJ’s broader retreat from shooting probes
• The Charges Were Dropped, but the Damage Was Already Done (“David Huerta was arrested while protesting ICE raids in L.A. “)
• Iran war drives $100 billion in extra energy costs for U.S. consumers
• ‘The most anti-union president’: how Trump turned his back on US workers (“Labor experts stunned at how anti-worker Trump has been with actions since last Labor Day that have hurt unions”)
• American workers are getting the smallest slice of the pie on record (Thanks largely to right-wing/Republican policies.)
• As Social Security fund runs dry, some Republicans say it’s time to raise taxes (They just got done CUTTING them again for rich people and big corporations!)
• Warning signs abound for Republicans as midterm campaign begins final sprint
• Republicans are hoping ‘Trump-a-palooza’ isn’t only about Trump (“GOP lawmakers said they are counting on the president to draw a contrast with Democrats in Dallas, not prosecute personal grievances.”)
• Trump’s Midterm Convention Will Yield a Bounce All Right—for Democrats (“The president’s latest bright idea: Throw a party for his flailing, failing presidency. Welcome to the clownshow.”)
• The GOP was confident about keeping its Senate majority. Now the fight for control is wide open
• Democrats enter the midterms looking to conquer red territory (“The party argues that economic angst is widening the map as Trump looms over the midterms”)
• The federal government is falling apart (“Don Moynihan on what’s been broken within the federal government.”)
• Republicans are making Muslims a campaign issue in the midterms (“Vice President JD Vance called Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim and a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, ‘very, very evil’ at a rally last week, accusing him of defending terrorism because of remarks he made after a March attack on a suburban Detroit synagogue.”)
• ‘Nakedly political’: US attempts to link trans support to authoritarianism in new health department report (“HHS releases report linking ‘gender ideology’ to political violence – a study scientists say was poorly conducted” Dangerous and deranged by the Trump regime.)
• Pentagon searching medical records to identify transgender troops (Totally FUBAR!)
• Exclusive poll: GOP’s gains among Latinos fade in House battlegrounds
• Republicans blast out ‘free tickets’ offer to save Trump from Dallas convention embarrassment
• Jewish voters have long backed Democrats. Key midterm races are testing that support. (“Progressive candidates’ stances on Israel are causing some Jewish voters to question their support for the party in toss-up races that could determine control of Congress.” The other option is the fascist party, so…)
• Is This Really the Left’s Big Moment? We’ll Know in Two Months. (“Progressives and socialists made historic gains in Democratic primaries. But what happens in November is what really matters.”)
• Inside Hakeem Jeffries’ coming fight with his left flank
• Veterans and Democrats intensify fight against Trump’s planned arch
• After Charlie Kirk’s death, Turning Point forges ahead, with eyes on JD Vance (Vomit in every way.)
• Why Erika Kirk failed as Turning Point USA’s leader (“One year after Charlie Kirk’s death, the organization is a joke — even on the right”)
• New Mexico governor rips Trump’s ‘New America’ post, says name ‘isn’t up for debate’
• With Ohio’s governorship up for grabs, a toxic race turns violent (“An alleged assailant forced his way Sunday toward Democratic candidate Amy Acton at a county fair, officials and witnesses said. Authorities said he was carrying two pistols and a Taser. ” This framing/headline/subheading doesn’t at all make clear that it’s overhwelmingly REPUBLICANS and the RIGHT at fault here. Typical “mainstream” media bullshit, cowardice, “both sidesism,” etc.)
• New Hampshire primaries test Trump and the left (“Trump has backed former GOP Sen. John Sununu in the Senate primary, in which Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas is facing off against a democratic socialist.”)
• New Hampshire and Rhode Island electorate to vote in state primaries
• Ousted Kennedy Center Chairman Buys Dismantled ‘Blue’ Sculpture (“David Rubenstein purchased the sculpture, which was removed from the center last week, from the artist’s foundation. He will display it at the National Gallery of Art.”)
• Trump officials strip military language criticizing Confederate memorial (It’s as if George Wallace were president, but possibly even worse – maybe David Duke?)

VIRGINIA NEWS (More “both sidesism”/false equivalence from the “mainstream” media in Virginia, this time about the Buena Vista Labor Day events; Spanberger’s Labor Day message; etc.)

• Bobby Scott’s Labor Day cookout draws Democrats, voters as election season begins
• Rep. Bobby Scott hosts Labor Day cookout with outlook to midterm elections
• Buena Vista’s Labor Day politicking produces a preview of the Cline-Macy debate we may not see (“Beth Macy uses the traditional campaign kick-off event to excoriate Ben Cline’s support for President Trump; Cline says Republicans are looking out for working families.” This is classic media stenography; should have said Cline FALSELY says…because that one about Republicans supposedly “looking out for working families” is verifiably, demonstrably, WILDLY false! But god forbid the “mainstream” media ever does that, it would be taking “sides” dontchaknow???)
• Beyer criticizes ‘Republican price tag’ ahead of November midterm elections (“Challengers say congressman hasn’t improved affordability despite long tenure, as race shapes up around voters’ fiscal strains”)
• Fewer jeers, lots of talk on the issues at Labor Day candidates event in Buena Vista (This headline tells readers nothing substantive – and also bends over backwards not to take “sides.” Blech. This entire style of “journalism” is f’ed at this point, given the Republican Party’s extremist lurch to the right, complete disregard for facts and truth, etc.)
• 6th district candidates take center stage at Buena Vista Labor Fest (Another neutral, bland headline.)
• Subramanyam joins Rappahannock opposition to Verizon copper landline phaseout (“Rep. Suhas Subramanyam and Rappahannock officials urge the FCC to halt Verizon’s copper landline phaseout, warning of 911 risks in cell dead zones. Comments close Sept. 10.”)
• Democrats, including Mark Warner, blast Trump’s agenda at annual fundraiser (Sounds interesting, but behind a strict paywall so can’t read it.)
• ‘Our very democracy is at stake’: Sen. Warner visits JMU to bolster Beth Macy’s battle for VA-06
• On Labor Day 2026, Gov. Abigail Spanberger Thanks Working Virginians, Highlights New Worker Protections (Spanberger got off to a rocky start with organized labor, but today she’s stressing that she signed “dozens of bills to support workers and strengthen protections for working Virginians”)
• Spanberger honors Labor Day, thanks Virginia workers
• Spanberger names Medicare official to lead new digital team
• 47 localities will vote on sales tax for school construction, as state officials prepare to reexamine need (“Voters in 47 localities will decide this fall whether to add a sales tax to fund local school construction projects.”)
• Dominion-NextEra merger: Local delegates want to hear Hampton Roads concerns (“The proposed Dominion Energy and NextEra merger has generated statewide dialogue of energy costs and utility bills. So Virginia lawmakers are taking the conversation on the road to hear concerns from residents and to answer questions. The “Energy Costs Listening Tour” led by Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi will make a stop at The Slover in Norfolk on Tuesday.”)
• Fired Virginia State University professors file civil rights complaint with AG’s office (“Ahead of a Friday board meeting, six former instructors allege discrimination by school, after faculty leaders call for their reinstatement”)
• ‘Priceless to me’: Valley Link transmission line threatens generational farm in Orange County (“Michael Carter plans to leave behind century-old farm if the energy project is approved”)
• DC-area forecast: Warming trend starts today. Rain-free until chance of Thursday storms.