Thursday News: “COP28 climate summit signals the end of fossil fuels — but is it enough?”; “The GOP’s Refusal to Fund Ukraine’s Defense Is an Absolute Scandal”; “Joe Biden Calls Republicans Time-Wasting Liars After Impeachment Vote”

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, December 14.

• What Did COP28 Really Accomplish? (“At the end of the day—or record-hot year—what matters is not what language countries agree to but what they actually do.”)
• 3 wins and 3 losses at the biggest climate conference ever (“Was COP28 the beginning of the end of fossil fuels? Kinda.”)
• The world now has a roadmap for food and climate. But it’s missing a few things.
• The U.S. May Not Have Won Over Critics in Dubai, But the Biden Administration Helped Keep the Process Alive
• COP28 Does Not Deliver Clear Path to Fossil Fuel Phase Out
• Good Cop, Bad Cop: Breaking Down the UN’s New Climate Resolution (“Some call the COP28 agreement ‘historic,’ others call it weak. Here’s why.” Or is it both?)
• Don’t be satisfied with a pledge to end fossil fuels (“Climate activist Bill McKibben on how to make sense of COP28: ‘Let’s make that concession hurt.'”)
• Nations at COP28 agree to transition away from fossil fuels, but loopholes remain
• Winners and losers in the new global climate deal (“Island nations left COP28 disappointed. The UAE gained some bragging rights. And the prospect of the world hitting its most ambitious climate goal remained in limbo.”)
• What a real international climate breakthrough would look like (“The real breakthrough would be for countries to bring more ambition to the table in 2025 — and back it up with lots more money.”)
• COP28 climate summit signals the end of fossil fuels — but is it enough?
• Oil Demand Growth Shows Signs of Sharper Slowdown, IEA Says
• In Ukraine, the risk isn’t stalemate. It’s defeat.
• The Most Consequential Act of Sabotage in Modern Times (“The destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline curtailed Europe’s reliance on Russian gas. But who was responsible?”)
• Republican Senators Say They’re Weighing Biden’s Immigration Offer
• The GOP’s Refusal to Fund Ukraine’s Defense Is an Absolute Scandal
• Putin says there will be no peace in Ukraine until goals are achieved, while offering rare details
• Dismayed by Moscow’s war, Russian volunteers are joining Ukrainian ranks to fight Putin’s troops
• Snubbed by the U.S. on Aid, Ukraine Turns to Europe (“Zelensky hopes the EU will pledge $54 billion over four years to keep the government running, but fights with Hungary are clouding the deal’s chances.”)
• How F-16 fighter jets could reshape Ukraine’s aerial battlefield (“As U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine arrive at training centres in the United States and Europe, Kyiv’s allies hope the modern aircraft can push Russian planes farther from the frontlines, target radar transmitters more effectively and hunt down more cruise missiles.”)
• As Putin gears up for another election win, a lone critic hopes to challenge his power (“Election” should be in air quotes in this case.)
• In Annual News Conference, Putin Says His War Aims Have Not Changed (“When asked about Ukraine, the Russian leader suggested that Western support for the country was drying up.”)
• Israel is using an AI system to find targets in Gaza. Experts say it’s just the start
• Unprecedented tensions between White House and Netanyahu as Biden feels political price for standing with Israel
• U.S. National Security Chief Visits Israel Amid Rift
• Israel’s War Cabinet Reflects the National Consensus, for Now
• For Benjamin Netanyahu, a disagreement with President Biden over Gaza offers both risk and reward.
• Israel vows to fight on in Gaza despite deadly ambush and rising international pressure
• Images of stripped and humiliated Palestinians draw condemnation
• Poll shows Palestinians back Oct. 7 attack on Israel, support for Hamas rises (Seriously?!?)
• Israel meets renewed resistance from Hamas amid pressure to reduce civilian casualties
• Tanzania says student killed in Israel by Hamas
• US intel: Nearly half of Israeli munitions dropped on Gaza are ‘dumb bombs’
• China’s economy is forecast to slow sharply in 2024, the World Bank says, calling recovery ‘fragile’
• Why the Indian Ocean could be China’s Achilles’ heel in a Taiwan war (“The Chinese military lacks the air and naval power to protect Indian Ocean trade routes, which could make a protracted war over Taiwan hard to sustain, analysts say.”)
• Dow Hits A Record High After Federal Reserve Signals Rate Cuts (“The Dow jumped 512 points, or 1.4%, to top 37,000 and surpass its prior peak of 36,799.65 set at the start of last year.”)
• Federal Reserve keeps key interest rate unchanged and foresees 3 rate cuts next year
• Here’s why bringing down inflation has been different this time, according to Jerome Powell
• Is Jerome Powell’s Fed Pulling Off a Soft Landing? (The NY Times headline could also have read, “Are Joe Biden and the Fed Pulling Off a Soft Landing?”)
• Supreme Court Will Rule On Limits On A Commonly Used Abortion Medication (“The Supreme Court has agreed to take up a dispute over a medication used in the most common method of abortion in the United States.”)
• Supreme Court to Take on the Biggest Abortion Case Since Dobbs
• The Supreme Court Just Took on Abortion Again. It Won’t End Well.
• Senate Passes Defense Bill, Steering Clear of Far-Right Policy Dictates
• House conservatives mount last-ditch push to sink defense authorization bill
• Tensions between McConnell, Hawley fester after defense bill spat
• Checks and Balances Won’t Stop Trump
• Exclusive: Recordings describe 2020 Oval Office photo-op where Trump was briefed on fake electors and January 6
• Expediting Trump Appeals Court Review Will ‘Vindicate the Public’s Interest,’ Special Counsel Jack Smith Argues
• Supreme Court will review scope of obstruction law that Trump is charged with breaking
• A speedy Trump trial is the best course for the nation
• The Supreme Court should not allow Trump to play the justice system
• US supreme court to hear January 6 appeal that could affect Trump trial
• Hunter Biden flouts subpoena for closed-door testimony, demanding to testify publicly: ‘I am here’ (“Flouts?” OK…)
• Jamie Raskin Rails Against Republicans at Hunter Biden-less Deposition (Exclusive)
• Why Hunter Biden is hitting back at GOP: “I need to call out their lies”
• Republicans Can’t Believe Fox News Keeps Calling Them Out on Their Impeachment Bulls–t
• Fox News is dragging the GOP into an inane, inevitable impeachment of Joe Biden
• Joe Biden Calls Republicans Time-Wasting Liars After Impeachment Vote
• Biden impeachment inquiry authorized by House Republicans, despite lack of evidence (This is NOT – repeat NOT! – how the process is supposed to work. At all!)
• Statement from President Joe Biden on Baseless House Republican Impeachment Stunt
• A revealing exchange on the GOP’s speculative impeachment inquiry
• GOP Rep. Explains Impeachment Push: ‘Donald J. Trump 2024, Baby!’
• Lawyer Fani Willis calls proposed pause on Trump’s election case ‘silly notion’
• Fox Board Member Paul Ryan Slams Trump, Hails Cheney and Kinzinger: ‘Trump’s Not a Conservative, He’s an Authoritarian Narcissist’
• DeSantis’ campaign and allied super PAC face new concerns about legal conflicts, AP sources say (“Never Back Down founder Ken Cuccinelli dismissed questions about DeSantis’ political operation as insignificant in the overall campaign, saying ‘not a single voter gives a flying rat’s tail about personnel stuff.'” Cooch=Crazy)
• Fact checking Vivek Ramaswamy’s CNN town hall
• Ted Cruz Won’t Discuss Texas’s Horrific Treatment of Woman Denied Abortion Despite Fatal Fetus Diagnosis (Because He Knows How Bad It Looks) (“When you’re a certified weasel and a coward.”)
• It’s the Beginning of the Disastrous End for Rudy Giuliani (“Rudy Giuliani screwed up his professional license in 2021. This is the year of his financial ruin. Next year could end with him in prison.”)
• Where public transit is recovering — and where it’s not (DC’s at just 69.1% of pre-pandemic levels.)
• Man charged in the murder of Detroit synagogue president Samantha Woll (“Worthy charged Michael Manual Jackson-Bolanos, 28, of Detroit, with homicide felony murder, lying to a peace officer, and home invasion. Worthy said Wednesday that there are no facts that suggest that Jackson-Bolanos knew Woll or that the murder was a hate crime.”)
• Lots of Questions (Transportation, Funding, etc.) – and Not Enough Answers – About the Proposed New Potomac Yard Caps/Wizards Arena (For instance, “does building a venue in Virginia unite DC, Maryland and Virginia?” How about Metro funding?)
• Wizards, Capitals would move to Virginia in tentative deal, Youngkin says. Mystics would stay in DC
• Sen. Tim Kaine weighs in on NDAA, how it will impact Hampton Roads
• Video: Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04) Delivers Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10)’s Powerful, Emotional Speech on Her “National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act”
• U.S. House Passes Spanberger-Backed Bill to Allow Whole Milk in School Cafeterias (Uhhhh…why?)
• Connolly Statement on the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act
• Donald Trump Tried to Destroy Our Democracy, Illegally Stay in Power; Now Wants to Be a Dictator. Glenn Youngkin’s Like, Sure, I’ll Support Him!
• Schapiro: Arena deal isn’t Youngkin’s only big-money policy play (“So until next week, when Youngkin submits his legacy budget — the fiscal cornerstone of his governorship and one his successor in 2026 will be largely unable to modify — it’s not clear just how much money he can squeeze from changes in purchasing and supply, now an $11 billion-a-year exercise.Youngkin’s aides didn’t want to talk about it Wednesday.”)
• What is in Youngkin’s child care plan?
• Virginia NAACP Statement Following Initial Hearing in Lawsuit to Obtain Public Records on Governor’s Discriminatory Restoration of Rights Process (“It is outrageous that Governor Youngkin continues to fight tooth and nail to withhold key information about this process”)
• Will state lawmakers require paid sick leave next month?
• Editorial: Investment in high-speed rail will benefit Virginia, Hampton Roads
• Political intrigue swirls around Republican nominating method in Southside district (“The nominating convention has been set for Thursday in Chatham, hometown of one of the two candidates.”)
• Norfolk City Council OKs controversial military-themed brewery
• Virginia Tech’s gamble in Northern Virginia is paying off
• State police, special prosecutor investigating threats against Lynchburg-area Republican officials
• Audits of Portsmouth commercial properties resulting in higher assessments, tax revenue
• D.C.-area forecast: Sun-filled skies through Saturday; another big storm late Sunday