by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, January 20.
- The Clean Energy Transition May Be Cheaper Than We Thought (“Cost estimates leave out some of the savings of using less fossil fuels, new analysis says.” Switching from dirty/destructive fossil fuels to cheap/ubiquitous clean energy is actually a massive net POSITIVE from pretty much every perspective.)
- Breaking protection pledge, Russian regions reinstate animal kill shelters (Putin’s Russia is bad in every way.)
- Putin sent their husbands to Ukraine, and now these women are risking everything to bring them home
- Mines Laid Again Around Ukraine Atomic Plant, UN Watchdog Says
- Growing number of Senate Democrats question Biden’s Israel strategy
- Hostage families protest outside Netanyahu’s home, ramping up pressure for a truce-for-hostages deal
- Why Israel Is Taking the Genocide Case Seriously
- Netanyahu inflames tensions with Democrats over Palestinian statehood
- Israeli war leader challenges Netanyahu’s Gaza strategy (“Gadi Eisenkot condemns the prime minister, who insists Israel’s offensive will go on until ‘complete victory’.”)
- Biden says Netanyahu not opposed to all two-state solutions for Palestinians
- Israeli government divisions deepen as cabinet minister says defeating Hamas is unrealistic
- In a Strategic Bind, Israel Weighs Freeing Hostages Against Destroying Hamas (“Some Israeli commanders said the two goals were incompatible. Eradicating Hamas would mean a lengthy war that would most likely cost the hostages’ lives.”)
- Netanyahu Is Turning Against Biden (Netanyahu has been an unmitigated DISASTER for Israel, should be out of office immediately.)
- Senior Iran security officials killed in Syria (“Iran’s Revolutionary Guard blamed Israel for the attack, which it said killed four military advisers.”)
- Seemingly disparate Middle East conflicts show collective erosion of self-restraint
- The Iran-Pakistan strikes aren’t about Gaza. They’re still alarming.
- The Oil Market Is Making Plans for Red Sea Chaos to Last Weeks
- Exclusive: Iranian and Hezbollah commanders help direct Houthi attacks in Yemen, sources say
- The US and UK hit Houthi targets in Yemen. It probably won’t stop Red Sea attacks. (“It’s an escalation in the region, but we’re not actually headed to outright war with Iran.”)
- A Guide to the Middle East’s Growing Conflicts
- Global Millionaires Say Yes to Taxing Extreme Wealth, Poll Finds
- Japan becomes the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the moon
- Brexit divergence from EU destroying UK’s vital environmental protections (“Exclusive: Britain is falling behind the bloc on almost every area of green regulation, analysis reveals”)
- The S&P 500’s wild ride to an all-time high
- Americans Are Suddenly a Lot More Upbeat About the Economy
- Economic vibes are finally improving, consumer sentiment surges (“Some Americans say they’re feeling better about the economy than they have in years. That could be good news for Biden.”)
- S&P 500 hits new record high amid signs of easing US economic gloom
- Stocks Climb to Record, Lifted by Big Tech and Rate Cut Hopes
- Half of recent US inflation due to high corporate profits, report finds
- Pete Buttigieg’s Vision for America’s EV Future: Equitable Access, Cleaner Air, Zero Range Anxiety
- Endangered Whale ‘Likely to Die’ After Suspected Vessel Strike. Proposed NOAA Rules Could Prevent Future Collisions, Scientists Say (100% unacceptable.)
- The Supreme Court looks set to make Steve Bannon’s dream come true (“The Supreme Court could help the GOP strike a devastating blow to the ‘deep state'”)
- Biden Open to Asylum Changes to Clinch Ukraine, Border Deal
- Dems float a trade: Ukraine-border deal for protecting Johnson
- ‘We’re sucking wind’: McHenry slams Johnson’s work as speaker
- House panel advances tax deal with resounding bipartisan vote
- Trump’s Angry Rant About His Legal Mess Reveals an Ugly MAGA Truth
- A ‘whale’ of a tale: Trump continues to distort cognitive test he took
- Donald Trump said the law doesn’t apply to him if he’s president. Network news’ evening broadcasts didn’t mention it. (“Instead of covering Trump’s unhinged social media rant or his threats of ‘bedlam,’ evening network news broadcasts took a business-as-usual approach.”)
- Deposition video shows Trump claiming he prevented “nuclear holocaust” as president
- Former President of Democratic Nation Thinks Actually, Presidents Should Get to Act Like Dictators
- Trump mocks Nikki Haley’s first name. It’s his latest example of attacking rivals based on race
- Haley’s ‘too many lies’ attack on Trump is too little, too late
- Republicans close ranks around Trump as he looks to lock up his third nomination (Utterly disgraceful.)
- Tim Scott, the Former G.O.P. Presidential Contender, Will Back Donald Trump (Disgusting.)
- Jamie Dimon Joins the Trump Normalizers (Beyond pathetic.)
- Trump appears to mix up Pelosi, Haley while speaking about Jan. 6
- Nikki Haley Continues to Insist the US Has Never Been Racist, as Trump Launches Racist Attacks Against Her (Imbecile.)
- Ron DeSantis Is Quietly Starting to Build His Off-Ramp From 2024
- Comer’s habit of cherry-picking depositions comes back to haunt him
- Scoop: W.H. demands proof from Cabinet officials on return-to-office
- Roger Stone should be prosecuted, says Democrat he allegedly threatened to kil
- He Said Print Media Is ‘Meaningless Dribble.’ Now He Owns the Baltimore Sun. (This guy’s another Rupert Murdoch, pretty much. Evil, destructive, dangerous, etc. Also a reminder: do NOT treat any Sinclair-owned media, such as WJLA7 in Northern Virginia, as anything but right-wing propaganda.)
- A Republican senator smeared a Biden nominee — and Democrats cowered (Cowering to Republican bullies is never the right answer.)
- Ga. prosecutor in Trump case paid for flights with Fani Willis, filing shows
- Sports Illustrated’s Publisher Guts Staff. Future Unclear
- My proposed additions to the New York Times style guide to improve its political coverage
- Kaine, other congress members call on State Department to repay NVERS
- Video: Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07) Explains VERY Well Why U.S. Aid to Ukraine is Crucial, That the Votes Are There, and That Speaker Mike Johnson Just Needs to Bring It Up for a Vote – ASAP!
- Former VA Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) Says Trump’s Desire for “complete and total presidential immunity” Makes Him “a threat to the nation” (“I implore Republicans to think long and hard about this.”)
- Youngkin signals support for Metro boost as Democrats file arena bills (“Va. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) told lawmakers he will support an increase in Metro funding, which Democrats demanded before considering sports arena for Potomac Yards.”)
- Cannabis, casinos, and the proposed Alexandria arena with Virginia State Senator Adam Ebbin
- Overhaul of Virginia’s education funding formula underway
- Youngkin advances law enforcement standards delayed since 2021
- Lawmaker seeks study, relief for Black families displaced by Virginia universities
- VA Senate Democrats Speak in Support of SB 39; Landmark Bill for Virginia’s Foster Care System Advances Unanimously (Majority Leader Surovell: “This bill is a crucial step in ensuring that the most vulnerable among us are cared for by those who know and love them best.”)
- Legislation introduced to fund arena for Wizards, Capitals as transportation questions loom
- Some Virginia lawmakers want to re-examine building codes (“Members of the General Assembly are looking at ways to encourage more residential development across Virginia.”)
- Va. lawmakers rebuke State Dept. for not paying group that helped Afghans
- Schapiro: On the road to nowhere? (“It trivialized Doug Wilder, exposing on a granular level the cruel pettiness and penchant for intimidation that over a lifetime in politics lifted him to power and threatened to bring him low.”)
- Richmonders are still having mail issues, and USPS still won’t hold a town hall
- ‘They’re scared’: McEachin blasts USPS over town hall controversy, mail issues
- Developers Seek Big Changes to the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s Southgate Extension, Amid Sustained Opposition (“The pipeline extension from Virginia into North Carolina has been cut in length from 75 to 31 miles, but will be wider in diameter and carry more gas.”)
- Redesign of Mountain Valley Pipeline extension project goes ‘to the heart’ of prior public interest
- Virginia legislation aims to unleash competition to speed progress on clean electricity (“The proposal would erode investor-owned utilities’ monopoly on power generation by requiring more than a third of clean power to come from customers or third-party developers.”)
- Appalachian Power plans solar energy purchases
- School board members criticize inconsistencies in reports on Huguenot graduation shooting
- Judge upholds seizure of 56 animals from Natural Bridge Zoo, orders return of 39 (“The decision did not specify when or how the 39 animals, which have been housed by the state at zoos and wildlife facilities around the country, will be returned to Natural Bridge Zoo.”)
- No signs of ‘forever chemical’ found in Roanoke River’s fish
- Alexandria residents sue city to preserve single-family-only zoning
- D.C.-area forecast: Frigid temperatures of today stick with us through the weekend
