by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, May 23.
- Can ‘rock weathering’ help tackle the climate crisis and boost farming? (“Trials show spreading basalt on farmland helps capture CO2 from the atmosphere and improves crop yields”)
- Island Nations Notch a Climate Win From World’s Maritime Court (“The ruling pressures a UN treaty’s 169 signatories—which do not include the US—to slash greenhouse gas emissions.”)
- New NASA Mission Tracks Microscopic Organisms in the Ocean and Tiny Particles in the Air to Monitor Climate Change
- G-7 Nations Split Over How to Tax Billionaires
- Ukraine, U.S. Say Russia Is Using Banned Toxic Gas in Battle
- Inside the White House, a Debate Over Letting Ukraine Shoot U.S. Weapons Into Russia (“After a sobering trip to Kyiv, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is urging the president to lift restrictions on how Ukraine can use American arms.”)
- Can European Recognition Bring Palestinian Statehood Any Closer? (“Not on its own, in all likelihood. But it reflects a growing exasperation with Israel that might eventually lend momentum to a two-state solution.”)
- The day-after peace in Gaza will be fragile. Here’s how to make it work.
- Hostage families share disturbing new video of female Israeli soldiers being abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7
- Netanyahu speech plans spark internal furor for Democrats
- How does this end? With Hamas holding firm and fighting back in Gaza, Israel faces only bad options
- Rishi Sunak will call general election for July in surprise move – sources
- Sunak has taken an astonishing gamble in going for a general election
- Sunak Fights Election on Economy That’s Only Just Picking Up
- The British Prime Minister Bowed to the Inevitable
- China holds military drills around Taiwan as ‘punishment’ (Thuggishness.)
- How Soda, Chocolate and Chewing Gum Are Funding War in Sudan (“Around 80% of the world’s gum arabic is harvested from Sudan’s acacia trees, and the widely used ingredient has become a key funding source for both sides in the country’s civil war.”)
- Biden Plans to Give Kenya Key Ally Designation During Its Leader’s Visit
- Stage Collapses at Campaign Rally in Mexico, Killing at Least 9 (“Strong winds caused the collapse in northern Mexico as a presidential hopeful campaigned for a local candidate, officials said. Dozens were injured.”)
- The military is encroaching on Mexican democracy
- We could all be Scarlett Johansson one day soon
- Scarlett Johansson’s ChatGPT face-off confirms our fears about AI
- Gas Prices Are Dropping, in Time for the Memorial Day Weekend
- Congressional Dems confront broken trust on border as Biden prepares to act alone
- Supreme Court Justice Alito’s Beach House Displayed ‘Appeal to Heaven’ Flag (We literally have one insurrectionist, Samuel Alito, on the Supreme Court for sure, another – Clarence Thomas – who’s at the bare minimum MARRIED to an insurrectionist – Ginni Thomas. How is this in any way/shape/form acceptable? Why are any of their opinions considered legitimate???)
- Second flag carried by Jan. 6 rioters displayed outside house owned by Justice Alito, report says
- What These Stories About Samuel Alito’s “Provocative” Flags Are Really About (“No, John Roberts is not going to do anything about this one either.”)
- Abusing Their Power and Position (“While Donald Trump ratchets up the violent rhetoric, Nikki Haley announces support for his presidency and Samuel Alito is found to have flown another pro-Trump, anti-government flag”)
- Florida hearing in Trump classified documents case devolves into shouting match
- Judge Outlines ‘Shell Game’ Played with Classified Docs at Mar-a-Lago
- Unsealed motions in Trump’s Fla. case suggest new evidence of possible obstruction
- A Bunch of Classified Documents Ended Up in Trump’s Bedroom at Mar-a-Lago
- Trump Gives Unconvincing Excuse for Not Testifying at Trial
- We’re on the Cusp of a Trump Verdict. Here’s What Our Insiders Think.
- Two hundred judges, more nominees moving, and a shadow docket bill
- Trump vows to “NEVER” take away birth control — except he spent four years doing just that (“Trump’s attacks on contraception were unrelenting. He even asked the Supreme Court to block women’s access”)
- Donald Trump Falsely and Outrageously Claims Biden Was Ready to Shoot Him During Mar-a-Lago Raid
- Nikki Haley says she’ll vote for Donald Trump in 2024 presidential race (Haley is scum.)
- Revealed: the extremist Maga lobbying group driving far-right Republican policies (“Documents show the Conservative Partnership Institute is pushing its far-right agenda at events involving GOP members”)
- Trump electors in key states want to serve again, despite criminal charges
- The Minnesota GOP endorsed an anti-semite for U.S. Senate. Republicans are silent.
- Far-Right-Extremist Hung Cao, the Quite-Possible 2024 VA GOP U.S. Senate Nominee Against Tim Kaine, Apparently Thinks Rural Virginians Are “Podunk” (DPVA Chair Susan Swecker: “I challenge Hung Cao to come down to the Shenandoah Valley & say that to our face. Coward. Pick a time & place.”)
- Video: Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10) Delivers Remarks on House Floor Recognizing PSP Awareness Month (“Despite its life-changing
impact on more than 30,000 Americans, PSP remains relatively unknown… I am on a mission to change that.”) - On heels of OpenAI scandal, Congressman Beyer files transparency bill
- Former VA Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn Responds to “false attacks from…shadowy dark money group” (“I hope my primary opponents will speak out against this attack and promise to run a positive campaign.”)
- Video: Senator Suhas Subramanyam Releases Television Ad “Leader” Featuring Incumbent Congresswoman Wexton
- An ACLU lawyer defended racists’ free speech rights. Now she’s running for Congress (Yeah, this is an example of where the ACLU kinda goes off the deep end, in this case, defending neo-Nazis’ 1st amendment rights, but also in this case exacerbating a serious public safety issue.)
- Video: VA House Dems Majority Leader Charniele Herring, Del. Rip Sullivan, Del. Alfonso Lopez Rip Youngkin’s Illegal RGGI Pullout – Youngkin “uninterested in protecting Virginia and Virginians” (That Youngkin would give up on this crucial funding is “nonsensical”)
- Virginia scholarship aiding those impacted by Massive Resistance and their descendants gets record funding
- MVP says it hasn’t yet completed construction, pushes in-service date to early June (“MVP says they are 99 percent finished building their 303-mile natural gas pipeline through West Virginia and Virginia.”)
- Jewish Israeli student sues UVa, claims school fosters ‘virulent antisemitism’ (“Legal experts say the case likely won’t succeed in court, while other Jewish students worry it will place a target on their backs.”)
- 3 Southwest Virginia lab school projects need a new public sponsor, state budget specifies
- Richmond plans to build $150,000 kids nature zone on Belle Isle
- D.C.-area forecast: Summery warmth fuels showers and storms through the weekend
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