by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, April 28. Also check out President Joe Biden’s White House Correspondents Dinner speech, at which he said:
“On the third anniversary of January 6th, I went to Valley Forge, and I said, ‘The most urgent question of our time is whether democracy is still — is still the sacred cause of America.’ That is the question the American people must answer this year. And you, the free press, play a critical role in making sure the American people have the information they need to make an informed decision. A defeated former president has made no secret of his attack on our democracy. He said he wants to be a dictator on Day One and so much more. He tells supporters he is their revenge and retribution. When in God’s name you ever heard another president say something like that? And he promised a bloodbath when he loses again. We have to take this seriously. Eight years ago, you could have written off it as just Trump talk, but no longer, not after January 6th. I’m sincerely not asking you to take sides, but I’m asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment. Move past the horse race numbers and the gotcha moments and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics and focus on what’s actually at stake. And I think in your hearts you know what’s at stake. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Every single one of us has roles to play, a serious role to play in making sure democracy endures — American democracy. I know my role, but all due respect, so do you. In the age of disinformation, credible information that people can trust is more important than ever, and that makes you — and I mean this from the bottom of my heart — makes you more important than ever. So tonight, I’d like to make a toast. To a free press. To an informed citizenry. To an America where freedom and democracy endure. God bless America.”
- Wave of exceptionally hot weather scorches south and south-east Asia
- With U.S. aid resumed, Ukraine will try to dig itself out of trouble
- Many Ukrainian Prisoners of War Show Signs of Trauma and Sexual Violence (There really need to be consequences for these war crimes/atrocities, but will there ever be???)
- Ukraine war briefing: Russian airstrikes pound central and western Ukrainian power facilities
- Ukraine FM shows resolve after US aid delays — but warns of threats to global security
- Ukraine throws wrench in warming US-China ties
- ‘Everyone knows something’s going to happen’: fears of a new war on Israel’s border with Lebanon (“As hostilities ramp up, Israelis evacuated from the country’s north say Hezbollah must be pushed back to protect communities from its rockets”)
- Have Iran-Israel missile strikes changed the Middle East? (“Political and military leaders are still absorbing the extraordinary exchange of fire.”)
- Iran’s Attack on Israel Has Deepened Concerns About Its Nuclear Program
- Even With Gaza Under Siege, Some Are Imagining Its Reconstruction (Good! Of course, that can only happen if/when Hamas is gone.)
- Egypt Pitches New Proposal for Gaza Cease-Fire (“The proposed deal, put forth in a bid to stave off an invasion of Rafah, would see the release of 20 Israeli hostages over an initial three-week cease-fire.”)
- A top Qatari official urges Israel and Hamas to do more to reach a cease-fire deal
- Exclusive: Some US officials say in internal memo Israel may be violating international law in Gaza
- Israel open to discussing “sustainable calm” in Gaza after initial hostage release: officials
- Hamas Is Reviewing An Israeli Proposal For Gaza Cease-Fire, As Rafah Offensive Looms (Hamas, in addition to committing the October 7 terrorist attack/massacre, has mostly said no to everything with regard to ceasefires.)
- Britain’s Conservative Party, like the U.S. Republican Party, is in turmoil
- Musk Makes Surprise China Visit, a Week After Nixing India (Musk is a menace.)
- Even If the Fed Cuts, the Days of Ultralow Interest Rates Are Over
- Powell Is Poised to Keep Fed on Higher-for-Longer Path
- Biden crackdown on power plants expected to speed shift away from coal (Good! We also need to get off of natural gas, which – when you account for leakage of methane, a potent greenhouse gas – may be as bad as coal from a global warming perspective.)
- Trump immunity fight turns Supreme Court textualists topsy-turvy
- Shocker From Top Conservative Judge: Trump Likely To Skate Completely (“‘I’m profoundly disturbed about the apparent direction of the court,’ J. Michael Luttig told me. ‘I now believe that it is unlikely Trump will ever be tried for the crimes he committed in attempting to overturn the 2020 election.'”)
- A Supreme Court Justice Gave Us Alarming New Evidence That He’s Living in MAGA World
- No, Trump’s legal woes aren’t helping him (“Trump’s courtroom troubles may have helped him in the primary, but the general election is a different ballgame”)
- Biden roasts Trump as Gaza protesters target WHCD
- ‘Rise Up’: Biden Issues Urgent Call On Trump Threat At White House Correspondents’ Dinner (“The president spotted what journalists have to take ‘seriously’ regarding his predecessor following the deadly Capitol riot.”)
- ‘Stormy weather’: Biden skewers Trump at White House correspondents’ dinner
- ‘SNL’ Star Colin Jost Ends Brutal Roast With Heartfelt Biden Endorsement
- Donald Trump’s Sleepy, Sleazy Criminal Trial (“The most striking aspect of the former President’s hush-money trial so far has been that, for the first time in a decade, Trump is struggling to command attention.”)
- The self-preservation of the media (“The media must use accurate and direct language to describe the democracy crisis before it is too late”)
- Campus anti-war protesters dig in from New York to California as universities and police take action
- Hundreds more arrests at US student protests over Gaza
- Constitution Party nominates anti-abortion activist Randall Terry for president (“Terry’s platform is almost exclusively dedicated to his anti-abortion stance and activism.”)
- Donald Trump is now blasting RFK Jr. for taking support from him (That didn’t take long.)
- Barr, who said Trump shouldn’t be near Oval Office, says he will vote for him in 2024 (Barr is truly evil.)
- Bill Barr Is Happy to Debase Himself for Donald Trump Again (Scum.)
- Dems, GOP bash Kristi Noem for shooting her dog (Youngkin, in contrast, is silent, even though he CAMPAIGNED for this puppy-murdering psycho.)
- Mastodon forms new U.S. non-profit
- CASEY: Why are congressmen from Western Virginia mostly soft on Ukraine? (Because Cline and Good are far-right extremists, lunatics and Putin admirers?)
- Glenn Youngkin “Inspired” by Liberty “University” – Yep, the Far-Right School, Founded by Trump-Loving Jerry Falwell (of “Pool Boy” Infamy), Which “threatened to punish students who reported being raped”
- Video: Delegates Mark Sickles, Rodney Willett, and Kannan Srinivasan Join Advocates and Protect Our Care Virginia to Celebrate Sixth Anniversary of Medicaid Expansion and Its Impact on Rural Virginia
- Editorial: Governor, lawmakers pledge cooperation on a new budget deal
- Schapiro: Learning from others’ mistakes (“It’s no secret that those running — or considering running — to succeed him have noticed that Youngkin’s management style, paired with his flirtation with the presidency that consumed gobs of time better used mastering his day job — mean that he could have little to show for his four years as governor.”)
- Commentary: Richneck shooting reveals hard truth — school choice isn’t just about academics
- Henrico considering ‘transformational’ fix to housing affordability crisis
- BREAKING: UMW students arrested after re-erecting encampment (“The tents were put back up on Saturday afternoon, against the guidelines provided. On Saturday evening, the event was canceled and attendees were instructed to leave the area. After some time, 12 individuals remained in Jefferson Square and were arrested for trespassing, including 9 students.”)
- D.C.-area forecast: Summer in April starts today. Thunderstorms possible late Tuesday.
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