Wednesday News: 1,000 year-Flooding in China; “Kerry warns ‘time is running out’ to address climate crisis”; “Delta Covid variant rampaging through US”; “It’s time to put masks back on, expert says”; Anthony Fauci Rips Rand Paul; “McCarthy Stacks the Deck With Big Liars”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, July 21.

• WHO chief warns that the world is going into the ‘early stages of another wave’
• John Kerry warns ‘time is running out’ to address climate crisis, calling the last 30 years a ‘failure’
• Climate change: US pushes China to make faster carbon cuts
• Scientists are worried by how fast the climate crisis has amplified extreme weather
• At least 16 dead as China province deluged by heaviest rains in 1,000 years (That’s right, a THOUSAND-YEAR flooding event. Uh, humanity? GET OFF fossil fuels on an emergency basis!)
• Rescue efforts launched after record floods in central China displace 1.2 million
• Henan floods: 12 dead in Zhengzhou train and thousands evacuated in China
• Hungary’s spyware scandal is a crisis for Europe
• U.S. Set to Drop Opposition to Nord Stream 2 Pipeline (This pipeline is a terrible idea on multiple fronts.)
• Sunseap announces 2.2 GW floating PV project at Indonesian water reservoir (“If built, the project would be the world’s largest floating PV power plant and would reach the same capacity as the largest ground-mounted facility currently in operation.”)
• Japan boosts renewable energy target for 2030 energy mix
• Column: Developing nations need help to quit coal addiction
• Huge Vietnamese solar park could hit 2.8 GW within a year (“An energy transition investment report published this week has also revealed the former world record low price for solar power announced by the Al Dhafra project in Abu Dhabi last year, has fallen even lower since.”)
• Gas generation slumps in first half of 2021, as wind and solar continue to shine (“In the first half of 2021, renewable energy sources – including wind, solar, hydroelectricity and biomass – supplied 28.8 per cent of electricity in Australia’s main grid, according to new data published by the Climate Council. This compares to just 6.1 per cent of electricity generation in Australia’s main grid supplied by gas generators – with most of this gas generation occurring in just two states.”)
• Jordan’s King Abdullah II has become Washington’s favorite Arab leader again
• Reformers just won a rare victory in Russia’s backyard. Biden should help them.
• Men cause more climate emissions than women, study finds (“Both spend similar amounts of money but men use cars much more, Swedish analysis shows”)
• Australia, under lockdown, sees worrying jump in COVID-19 cases
• Russia and China are trying to control the Internet — even as they censor it
• Police in Nigeria secure release of 100 kidnapping victims
• Lyubov Sobol’s Hope for Russia (“With Alexey Navalny in prison, one of his closest aides is carrying on the lonely work of the opposition.”)
• Prime ministers, presidents and a king found on list that includes phone numbers targeted by spyware
• England Is ‘Free.’ And in Total Chaos.
• Israeli PM: Ben & Jerry’s sales ban will have ‘serious consequences’
• More infectious Delta variant makes up 83% of new US coronavirus cases as vaccine hesitancy persists
• U.S. Life Expectancy Fell by 1.5 Years in 2020, the Biggest Decline in Generations
• Life expectancy in the U.S. declined in 2020, especially among people of color
• How worried should we be about the delta variant? Scientists weigh in
• Growing number of Republicans urge vaccinations amid delta surge
• ‘It’s a nightmare’: Covid Delta variant rocks a recovering Capitol complex
• Scoop: White House official, Pelosi aide test positive for COVID
• J.&J. Vaccine May Be Less Effective Against Delta, Study Suggests
• Nearly 73 million Americans live in counties with high Covid-19 infections. It’s time to reset and put masks back on, expert says
• My mother had a ‘vaccine passport’ from decades ago. So why are we so averse to the idea now?
• More Variants Are Coming, and the U.S. Isn’t Ready to Track Them
• Republicans divided on how hard to push vaccines
• First Thing: Delta Covid variant rampaging through US
• Fauci clashes with GOP senator, again, over misinformation about Wuhan lab research on coronavirus
• Vaccination in America Might Have Only One Tragic Path Forward (“COVID-19 vaccination rates have fallen off a cliff, despite extensive interventions. It might take a deadly summer surge to change things.”)
• Yet Another Trump 2016 Alum Has Been Charged With a Federal Crime
• Thomas Barrack, Trump Fund-Raiser, Is Indicted on Lobbying Charge
• Trump ally Thomas Barrack accused of trying to use influence to help United Arab Emirates
• Former Advisor to Presidential Candidate Among Three Defendants Charged with Acting as Agents of a Foreign Government
• I’m Beginning to Doubt the Patriotism of Some Members of the 2016 Republican Presidential Campaign
• Ex-Prosecutor Warns: ‘More To Come’ After Trump Ally Tom Barrack Charged
• Tom Brady Joins Biden to Laugh at Trump in Worst Day of Trump’s Life The sum of all Trump fears. (LOL)
• Too Many Democrats Don’t Realize Voter Suppression Laws Are a Threat to Their Power
• CBS News poll: Still more to learn about January 6, most Americans say
• Analysis: Why Biden Might Avoid His Predecessors’ Policy Sinkhole (“By enacting big spending initiatives and avoiding health care, President Biden may have found a way to skirt an ideologically divisive fight.”)
• Is the U.S. Economy Too Hot or Too Cold? Yes. (“Employers are offering higher pay; airports and car lots are bustling; and a G.D.P. report due next week will probably show blockbuster growth. But inflation is outstripping pay gains for many, unemployment is a problem and bond markets indicate risk. The economy is having a hard time rebooting.”)
• The Democrats’ New Economic Model (“The Biden Administration and its allies are rejecting old ideas about spending and reducing the deficit.”)
• Democrats should mount a campaign for real tax reform. Starting now.
• Republicans Poised to Thwart Schumer on Infrastructure Vote
• Wait, isn’t voting rights legislation missing something? (“It is time to focus on the biggest threat.”)
• Kamala Harris says she’s speaking with GOP senators about voting rights legislation
• The thirsty West’s dreaded water crisis is here (“Bipartisan action must be taken on a gargantuan scale and an emergency timetable.”)
• See How Wildfire Smoke Spread Across America
• Don’t be fooled by that viral Hannity clip. Fox News’s Covid-19 coverage is a mess.
• Fox News’ anti-vaccine campaign isn’t over (Fox “News” is evil.)
• Fox News Can’t Get Its Story Straight on COVID Vaccines (“The network’s biggest stars are still beating the anti-vax drum, but its office is reportedly embracing a version of “vaccine passports,” and some on-air messaging is becoming more ambiguous.”)
• Despite Facebook’s COVID-19 promises, anti-vaccine groups are thriving (“Media Matters has identified at least 284 public and private anti-vaccine groups currently active on the platform” Facebook is a disgrace.)
• Biden stacks his administration with yet another tech foe (“Jonathan Kanter, who has been tapped to lead the DOJ’s antitrust division, has represented Google’s competitors.” Good.)
• How Trump and Conservative Media Are Cashing in on Disinformation (“The former president and the ‘Federalist’ are partners in Big Lie grifting”)
• Four takeaways from the first sentencing of a Jan. 6 insurrectionist (“Inaction from public officials is unacceptable.”)
• The institutions that can defend the U.S. from Trumpism
• Kevin McCarthy’s picks for the Jan. 6 panel make clear he wants to continue the coverup
• Capitol attack committee chair vows to investigate Trump: ‘Nothing is off limits’
• Kevin McCarthy’s top pick for the Jan. 6 panel is already trying to sabotage it (“This level of venality and bad faith is unacceptable. And we should say no to it.”)
• McCarthy Stacks the Deck With Big Liars
• The sad dilemma of Mike Pence (He’s toast, despite all his boot licking and debasing himself for four years with Trump. Pathetic.)
• Britney Spears: US House of Representatives introduces bill to end conservatorship abuse (“Inspired by Spears’ case, the Free Act would bring protection and oversight to a ‘broken system’”)
• Women’s Handball Players Are Fined for Rejecting Bikini Uniforms (Why should women have to wear bikinis to play sports? They absolutely should be allowed to wear shorts if they want to.)
• Federal judge blocks Arkansas law banning most abortions
• Nobody Needs Ousting Like Senator Ron Johnson
• Top U.S. Catholic Church official resigns after cellphone data used to track him on Grindr and to gay bars
• Back On Earth, Jeff Bezos Thanks Amazon Workers And Shoppers: ‘You Paid For All This’
• Welcome to the age of billionaire joyrides to space
• Bezos says space flight reinforced commitment to fighting climate change
• Bezos donates $100 million each to CNN contributor Van Jones and chef Jose Andres (Van Jones? WTF?)
• Ohio becomes battleground for rival Democratic factions
• Arizona’s vote ‘audit’ is based on ignorance and dishonesty (100%)
• Virginia Is Building Back Better Thanks to President Biden (“Six months into Joe Biden’s term, Virginia is on track towards a strong pandemic recovery”)
• More than 150 Veterans and Military Family Members from Across Virginia Endorse Terry McAuliffe For Governor (Meanwhile, “Youngkin has opposed President Biden’s American Rescue Plan which includes $17 billion in funding to help veterans, including $14.5 billion for veterans’ health care, mental health care, suicide prevention and other issues”)
• This Is a Time for Serious People, Glenn Youngkin, and Your Fifteen Minutes Are Up! (“Youngkin’s website and social media offer nothing of substance; it’s like he’s running for middle school student body president, more than governor.”)
• McAuliffe Campaigns Across Loudoun, Focusing on Vets
• Editorial: Vaccinate Virginia now (“With the Delta variant surging in hot spots across the nation, getting Virginians vaccinated is more important than ever.” The problem mostly is on the “demand side”)
• Tuesday (7/20) Virginia Data on COVID-19: Still Relatively Low, But…Highest 10-Day New COVID Cases (+3,773) Since 5/29 (Monday also appears to have seen the highest 1-day new COVID cases (+721) since May 8 – GET VACCINATED!)
• Think tank report says Virginia higher education funding is unjust and lacks transparency (Click here for the report)
• Lawsuit alleges Liberty University’s culture allowed unchecked sexual violence
• Prince William pushes Virginia to fund community crisis centers amid gaps in mental health staffing
• Virginia Beach School Board votes down effort to make mask-wearing optional next fall (“The decision doesn’t mean masks will be required, just that it’s still up in the air. Administrators said they are developing plans for the fall and will present a recommendation in August that takes into account any state requirements or guidance from local and federal officials.”)
• Fairfax County Officer Accused of Sexual Misconduct With Police Cadet (“Former officer John Grimes could face up to 15 years in prison and have to register as a sex offender”)
• Former Fairfax County police officer accused of inappropriate sexual contact with teen in youth cadet program
• Arlington County Board Adopts Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year 2022-24 (“As part of this CIP, the Board directed the Manager to implement both an electric bus pilot program and a procurement process to begin replacing 15 buses with electric buses starting in 2024, a critical change in the sustainability of our transportation system”)
• Email to Staff a Mistake; Loudoun’s Student Mask Policy Up in the Air for Fall Semester
• D.C.-area forecast: Near 90 again today, with scattered afternoon storms as a cold front passes