by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, September 23. 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. Also check out Jamelle Bouie on “Why does Donald Trump want a sniper’s nest on his arch?” As Bouie says: “if your vision of executive power allows Trump to again build a monument to himself and do so unilaterally because he’s going to put a sniper nest at the top, then I think your model and your vision of executive authority is simply wrong. is simply stupid and simply unworkable.”
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- Huge El Niño projected to cause 450,000 deaths in next six months (“New report predicts a heavy toll from Nigeria to the US – and comes on top of existing impacts of the climate crisis”)
- Fears mount that next UN chief will downgrade climate action (“Experts say some of António Guterres’s possible successors could be ‘disastrous’ for efforts to tackle crisis”)
- Our message to global leaders: we need solar power everywhere by the decade’s end
- The climate fight has one great ally. You just can’t look at it directly (“There is hope in solar power. As the UN meets, we are urging leaders to pursue a clear goal: clean energy for all by 2030”)
- ‘It’s my duty to tell the truth’: UN chief on the climate crisis, capitalism and reasons to be hopeful (“Before his final general assembly, António Guterres speaks about why he put climate at the centre of his UN tenure”)
- High-mileage electric cars are more reliable than petrol ones, study finds
- AI anxiety is sweeping the globe — and cutting across party lines
- It’s Time to Cry Wolf Over A.I. (“That is precisely what was missing in the run-up to Trump’s war with Iran, and we are paying a huge price for that today. Imagine what could happen if A.I. agents — a thousand times cleverer and more dangerous than Tehran or Trump — go off the rails.”)
- GOP Sen. John Curtis calls for probe of Trump Jr. after wedding party bankrolled by Russian oligarch
- Zelensky Asks Trump for Winter Arms Package, Expects Energy-Ceasefire Push (“In a WSJ interview, the Ukrainian president said Putin is unlikely to curb attacks without pressure from the U.S.”)
- Trump’s Latest Deal with Belarus Sure Smells Like Sh*t (“And it’s not because the product in question is fertilizer.”)
- Xi and Trump Seek Safe AI Without Slowing the Race for Supremacy (“The leaders will hash out a plethora of thorny issues from trade to Taiwan. One thing both sides agree on: neither can afford to tap the brakes on AI.”)
- GOP Armed Services chair blasts White House welcome of Chinese leader (“Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker lambasted the White House decision to invite Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a state dinner this week, calling the foreign head of state “a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator” who cannot be trusted.”)
- At the U.N., Trump Lays Out a Winner-Takes-All Vision of U.S. Power (“President Trump’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly amounted to a rejection of the founding concept of the United Nations.”)
- The Worlds That Donald Trump and Xi Jinping Want (“As the President stages a gala welcome for the Chinese leader, it appears that, in curious ways, the two men mirror each other.”)
- Trump-Xi summit puts AI safety talks on the table but neither side wants to slow down
- A lot’s changed since Xi Jinping’s last US state visit. Mostly in China’s favor
- White House rolling out the red carpet for historic Xi Jinping visit
- America’s Allies Are No Longer Waiting for Trump to Leave (“They now figure isolationism and protectionism will be U.S. foreign policy for a long time to come.” What “isoiationism?” That is NOT what Trump’s foreign policy is AT ALL! Nor is it “America First” obviously!)
- Trump invades the UN with a brutish speech (“Gone was any shred of US idealism. It was a spectacle of raw power – a power that is likely to only diminish in the years ahead” Now THIS is a great headline – thank you to The Guardian, whose US political coverage is INFINITELY better than almost any US “news” outlet!)
- Trump says US and Iranian officials met Tuesday, shortly after warning he may ‘annihilate’ Iran (Another “Trump says” headline by AP.)
- Iran says Trump’s threats a sign of ‘strategic desperation,’ floats conditions for Hormuz reopening
- Iran denies dropping preconditions amid ‘very productive’ three-hour UN talks in New York
- Iran’s President to Address World Leaders After Trump’s Threat
- Netanyahu Attacks Mamdani on Social Media Ahead of UN Speech (Netanyahu loves it when Mamdani attacks him; he uses it at home to help in his reelection campaign.)
- Trump Once Vowed to ‘Own’ Greenland. He Settled for Something Much Less. (“President Trump signed a Greenland security deal that falls well short of his demands to turn the island into a U.S. territory.”)
- Trump administration to welcome up to 17,500 more White South Africans as refugees (Fascinating how white South Africans are the one group of immigrants the Trump people like. Of course, they’re white supremacists, racists, etc., so…)
- Poll: Neither Americans nor Canadians wanted Trump’s trade war
- This year, with shifting political winds, Canada gets more of the spotlight on the UN’s stage
NATIONAL NEWS
- ICE officer in Texas shooting was recruit not using a body camera (“The officer joined ICE last year during the agency’s hiring spree. DHS is facing mounting scrutiny over how the recruits were vetted and trained.”)
- Rand Paul: ICE hasn’t shared information about Minneapolis shooting probes (“DHS faces continued bipartisan scrutiny in the wake of several incidents where ICE or Border Patrol agents used deadly force against individuals they were trying to apprehend.”)
- The ICE Officer in Austin Wasn’t Wearing a Body Cam (“The officer who shot a Venezuelan man was hired last year from another federal law-enforcement agency.” This person should be fired immediately and charged with attempted murder, among other crimes.)
- ICE mistakenly targets US citizen who was left injured on the ground in Chicago suburb, officials say (Arrest the agents immediately!)
- Democrats warn Trump plans to kill $3.2B in Hill-approved foreign aid (“Top appropriators say the White House wants to use billions of dollars to shutter USAID. The rest would go unspent.” That’s illegal and unconstitutional!)
- Trump Says He Supports Banning Diesel Exports to Bring Down Prices (The next time some Republican tells you their party supports “free markets,” just laugh at them.)
- Bessent ‘inadvertently’ failed to report at least $100K of JPMorgan stock
- Trump Officials Eject 750,000 From Obamacare Markets, Claiming Fraud (“Vice President JD Vance said the measure would save the government $2.2 billion.” Note that the NY Times in this case should have written in its headline, FALSELY Claiming Fraud. Why can’t they do that???)
- The Big Beautiful Bill Is Starting to Bite Before the Election (STOP CALLING IT THAT!)
- RFK Jr.’s Enhanced Security Was Funded With Money From Minority Health Office
- ‘We Hacked the FBI:’ Hackers Say They Have Data on All FBI Employees (“A sample of 5,000 alleged agents seen by 404 Media includes names, addresses, phone numbers, and details on FBI employees’ spouses.” Yikes!)
- Major news outlets banned by Trump will have their day in court
- ‘You should not be here:’ Trump chastises CNN for covering him at the UN (“President Donald Trump confronted CNN’s Kaitlan Collins as he walked into the United Nations Tuesday, telling her, “You should not be here,” while wrongly claiming the network said it wouldn’t cover him. CNN was among three outlets recently barred by Trump from White House grounds.”)
- Trump Escalates Kaitlan Collins Fight With Unhinged Cross-Dressing Video
- Why Trump’s White House Reporter Ban Matters So Little (“It’s petty and annoying, but the only one he hurts is himself.”)
- In Court Filing Defending Media Ban, White House Says Access Is a ‘Privilege’
- Diesel prices could crush Republicans in the heartland (“Inflation in fuel prices is much higher in diesel-heavy farm states — and may explain some surprisingly competitive Senate races.”)
- Republican jitters grow as unpopular Trump fuels midterm ‘bloodbath’ fears (“Iran war, rising prices and president’s low ratings give Democrats advantage, but Republicans have poured cash into key races – could it be decisive?”)
- Trump Puts Legacy Ahead of Midterm Politics in Speech at U.N. (“The president sees muscular foreign policy as a core part of his legacy, even if it is complicating Republicans’ prospects in the coming election”)
- GOP breaking with an unpopular Trump (The media completely whitewashes the fact that Republicans have stuck with Trump 100% for years as he’s trashed our country, as well as the fact that they have NOT really broken with him even now! F*** the media in general and Axios specifically in this case.)
- Trump’s Grip on GOP Slips as Midterm Election Anxiety Sets In
- More Republicans are breaking from Trump. Is it too little, too late? (“On issues like tariffs, the Iran war, and immigration, reckoning with Trump’s unpopularity could have implications for the GOP’s future.”)
- Trump’s midterm woes deepen amid worsened economic backdrop: CNN poll
- Poll: Trump’s approval hits a new low of 33% as Republicans sour; Democrats lead House vote by 10 with likely voters (“The president’s approval fell 11 points among Republicans last month, as he set another record low on prices at 21% approve”)
- Democrats capitulate to MAGA media mogul (“California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) and 11 other states drop their lawsuit to block David Ellison’s Paramount from acquiring Warner Bros. — and get little in return.”)
- Natalie Harp isn’t a joke — she is Trump’s dangerous enabler (“The aide’s constant flattery makes the president’s narcissism worse” She is a completely f’ed-up person.)
- Senate Republicans stew on pre-election dilemma: Should they stay or should they go? (“GOP senators are set to decide whether to stay in Washington and try to legislate or head home and hope for the best.”)
- Hispanic Voters, Abandoning Trump, Are Transforming the Midterm Map (“Texas and even Florida are the places to watch in November if a polling pattern holds.”)
- Texas turning blue may hinge on Democrats harnessing data center opposition
- Democrats hold a 14-point lead among likely voters
- Postal worker threw out 300 mail-in ballots out of self-described ‘laziness,’ DOJ says
- ‘I am the code’: Trump clashed with ballroom architect over safety issues
- Kamala Harris returns to Michigan to campaign for Abdul El-Sayed for Senate (“Former VP, who lost state to Trump in 2024 elections, is lending her popularity to unite fractured party”)
- F.B.I. Shut Down Inquiry Into Top Ally of Senator Susan Collins (“The inquiry was closed last year because senior bureau officials questioned the veracity of a campaign donor’s account, according to current and former officials.”)
- GOP appears deeply worried about Senate race in N.C., a once reliable state (Obviously.)
- Florida governor candidate Byron Donalds removes Trump mentions from campaign website (Donalds is completely full of crap – also would make a HORRIBLE governor!)
- Jeffries Abruptly Cancels Fundraiser With Fox News’s Favorite Dem (“Any collaboration with LaRosa on the fundraiser was bound to rankle Democrats, considering the latter’s frequent criticisms of party members and praise for the Trump administration. Prior to the cancellation, The Bulwark had been told that the event was a topic of much discussion on several text chains of other Democratic operatives.”)
- Trump aides explore attaching president’s name to Ford’s Theatre (“The playhouse where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated has been mentioned among federal properties that could carry the president’s name, people familiar with the effort told MS NOW.” Trump is completely insane!)
- Trump-backed Missouri congressional map returns to Supreme Court for third time
- White House Melts Down at CNN Host With Vile Slur (“Erin Burnett had compared the president’s 24/7 stream to a certain dictator’s state-run TV.” And Erin Burnett is right!)
- Trump TV is live. Here’s what it’s actually showing (“So far, Trump TV resembles a round-the-clock presidential highlight reel more than a news network.” Zzzzzzzzzzzzz…)
- Kalshi asks CFTC to allow margin trading on its platform, letting users buy with borrowed funds
VIRGINIA NEWS
- Rep. Walkinshaw: “I support any meeting that brings an end to this war”
- Video: New TV Ad by Tom Perriello in VA05 Argues, “The Cost of John McGuire Is Crushing” (VA05 residents are paying the price as McGuire has “put corporate lobbyists ahead of the lives of people he is meant to serve.”)
- Democrats call out ‘chicken’ McGuire for not debating Perriello (McGuire knows he’d get his pathetic ass kicked by Perriello.)
- Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08): Trump’s Insane Arch-with-Drones-and-Snipers Proposal “is a stupid, dangerous, and unworkable idea” (“The overwhelming local opposition to Trump’s illegal and disrespectful vanity arch will not be defeated by this chicanery.”)
- Rep. Subramanyam, GOP’s Beckwith square off in 10th District debate
- In New Letter, VA Gov. Abigail Spanberger Urges Congress to Act on Unprecedented AI Risks to Protect Privacy, Jobs, & Natural Resources (Spanberger calls for “AI framework…accountable to — and for — the American people.”)
- Spanberger presses Congress for AI guardrails as states forge ahead (“The governor says the evolving technology needs federal oversight even as Virginia launches an AI task force and pursues new data center rules.”)
- Spanberger urges Congress to regulate AI
- Clean Virginia: NextEra’s utility takeover attempts, alleged political moves relevant to merger case
- Virginia voters could OK an easier path back to the ballot after felony convictions
- RGGI allowance prices soar with Virginia’s return to compact
- Arlington/Falls Church Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti Rips New “Report” by Jim Jordan’s Committee as “Political Sham,” “propaganda timed for the midterms, built on…deliberate misrepresentations”
- Hashmi goes back to the classroom to talk about some important books (“The lieutenant governor, a former literature professor, has created a lecture tour on the intersection of literature and politics.”)
- Black lung cases rise in Southwest Virginia as mine safety rules stall (“New data show cases of black lung disease are rising among Appalachian coal miners, especially in southwestern Virginia.”)
- A Dominion-NextEra merger public hearing is set for Newport News
- When Natural Bridge Zoo moved Asha the elephant to Florida, officials there said the transfer violated state law (“Recently obtained documents show that a veterinarian said the move was an emergency, but subsequent examination found nothing wrong with the pachyderm. This fuels speculation that the Rockbridge County attraction moved the animal to avoid an impending state raid.”)
- Portsmouth takes next step to fully implement collective bargaining for city workers (“Portsmouth City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt an ordinance outlining a framework for collective bargaining for police, fire and other city workers.”)
- Roanoke County Board of Supervisors hears benefits of Wood Haven data center project
- Richmond’s 2028 budget process begins with a focus on affordability, workforce investment and collaboration
- Roanoke-area authority confirms data center plans
- Facing continued enrollment declines, Bedford County renews talk of elementary school consolidation
- With three menhaden fish studies funded, Reedville asks state managers to hold off on catch cuts
- As summer heat intensified, complaints emerged from Farmville Detention Center
- Henrico-based Owens & Minor to close production facility, cut 400 jobs
- DC-area forecast: Rain tapers today, then gradually brighter and a bit warmer (This is a good headline, BTW – just give us the facts, not the meaningless “nice” verbiage…)
