by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, December 19.
- Pakistan and Bahamas join push for global pact to phase out fossil fuels (“Climate-vulnerable pair add weight to proposed treaty seeking transition from coal, oil and gas in equitable way”)
- “An exclamation point on global warming”: Climate scientists warn 2024 was marked by broken records (“Soaring temperatures are translating into more powerful freak storms and wild fires, an ominous trend for humanity”)
- Ukraine had reason to kill a Russian general, but what good will it do?
- Russia-Ukraine war live: Putin says Russia ready for missile ‘duel’ with US (Putin is borderline insane.)
- Dmitry Medvedev says editors of the Times are ‘legitimate military targets’ (Bonkers.)
- Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says he discussed French troop idea with Macron (If North Korea’s going to send troops, then sure, European countries should also send troops – or at least target the North Korean troops with missiles, airstrikes, etc.)
- Putin Signals No Rush to End Ukraine War in Marathon TV Appearance
- How the U.S. Can Learn from Its Policy Failures During the Arab Spring (“The American Ambassador to Syria at the start of the uprising believes that the U.S. could still help give the Syrians a fighting chance at stable self-governance.”)
- The balance of power is shifting in the Middle East – and it is Turkey’s ‘full moon’ on the rise
- Netanyahu’s Gamble Paid Off for Him but Not for His Country
- A Tiny Arab Minority Stands Between Israel and Syria (“The Arabic-speaking Druze community straddles the border between two countries—and, like Israel, fears Islamists.”)
- The Unfathomable Betrayal of Gisèle Pelicot (“Weeks of testimony have made clear just how little men think of women.”)
- Gisèle Pelicot’s ex-husband and 50 others found guilty in mass rape case
- The Guardian view on Elon Musk and UK politics: interference in plain sight
- US confirms first severe human case of bird flu
- Powell Signals Fed’s Focus Has Returned Firmly to Inflation
- Dow plunges more than 1,100 points and marked its longest losing streak since 1974
- Fed Drops a Lump of Coal in Trump Market’s Christmas
- Gas Will Be the First Big Climate Fight of the Trump Era (“The Biden administration just made the case against increasing natural-gas exports.”)
- Biden declares tougher 2035 emissions targets weeks before Trump return (“President formally files new plans under Paris agreement and hails ‘boldest climate agenda in American history’” True, but also the highest fossil fuel production in American history)
- Scoop: Senate starts “secret” talks about bipartisan border deal
- Trump’s media lawsuits could do serious damage to America’s free press (“Lawsuits against ABC and the Des Moines Register are meant to chill the media.”)
- GOP Digs Up “Zombie Laws” (“Republicans are looking to an antiquated legal framework to advance a modern right-wing agenda.”)
- Elon Musk Taps Loyalists to Boost Staffing for DOGE Effort
- Trump’s transition is happening over private emails. Federal officials are nervous.
- Trump Has Found the Media’s Biggest Vulnerability (“Most major media properties are tied to larger business interests that can benefit from government policy—or be harmed by it.”)
- Trump and Musk unleash a new kind of chaos on Washington
- Trump brings chaos back to Washington by attempting to kill bipartisan budget deal with Musk’s help
- Elon Musk fueled backlash to spending plan with false and misleading claims
- Government Funding Fight Foreshadows DOGE Disappointment For Elon Musk (“Despite some late-night communication with House Speaker Mike Johnson, the billionaire budget guru isn’t on board with the GOP’s spending plan.”)
- Johnson weighs spending plan B as Elon Musk stokes opposition
- What Elon got wrong about the CR (Musk is an unmitigated disaster for our country.)
- Republicans scrap spending bill, under pressure from Trump and Musk
- Trump, Musk Threaten US Shutdown and Shake Up Republican Party
- Johnson spending deal throws Speakership into question as floor vote approaches
- Trump opposes funding bill, pushing government closer to a shutdown
- Musk Kills Government Funding Deal, Demands Shutdown Until Trump Is Sworn In
- Inside Mike Johnson’s Dilemma: Spending Deal Breaks Down as Republicans Revolt
- Jeffries suggests Democrats will oppose a ‘clean’ funding bill after Johnson’s plan falters
- Dems Troll ‘Vice President’ Trump as Musk Meddles With Government Funding Bill
- The risks of declaring fealty to Donald Trump (“Titans of industry and commerce should beware Trump’s worldview, in which loyalty flows in one direction.”)
- Four Ways to Unbend the Media’s Knee
- The Wrath of Trump: House Republicans Map a Case Against Liz Cheney
- Trump’s Rage at Liz Cheney Takes a Dark Turn—and Wrecks a Big GOP Lie
- In Massive Twist, Trump’s Georgia Case Might Not Be Dead Yet
- Shocker from Chris Murphy: We May Not Have a Democracy for Much Longer (“The Democratic Senator argues in an interview that Trump’s attacks on democracy are an emergency, and that Dems cannot let his profoundly unfit nominees and cowing of the media become seen as normal.” Correct, and EVERY Democrat should be saying this!)
- Johnson revolt explodes over spending deal anger
- Massie says he’s opposing Johnson
- Release of the Matt Gaetz Report? A Liz Cheney Investigation? 2024 Ain’t Over Yet.
- In reversal, key House panel votes to release Matt Gaetz ethics report
- Trump’s New Mandate Claim Is a Comical Assault on U.S. History (“He says he won the biggest mandate in 129 years. Past presidents like Reagan, Nixon, and FDR might beg to differ.” Yep, not even CLOSE! Add in Obama and Eisenhower as well.)
- LA Times owner asks editorial board to ‘take a break’ from writing about Trump – report
- California Declares an Emergency Over Bird Flu in Cattle
- Panic over mystery drones says more about people than UFOs
- ‘Vile and heinous’: Michigan man admits to planning mass shootings targeting gay people
- Kaine and Cassidy co-sponsor bill to crack down on illegal fishing
- Video: Senators Mark Warner, Tim Kaine Push to Pass the “Saving the Civil Service Act,” Are Blocked by Republicans (Sen. Mark Warner: “You get rid of a merit-based system and do it all for political patronage – who would join that kind of government?”)
- Sen. Tim Kaine ‘very frustrated’ by lack of answers on drone incursions at Langley Air Force Base
- Governor’s Budget Amendments Miss Key Opportunities, TCI to Advocate for More Equitable Choices
- Video: Youngkin Speaks to Virginia Senate/House Joint “Money Committees”; Proposes “a lot of cuts to the Virginia tax revenue streams, some *permanently* counting on *temporary* surpluses from federal COVID money”
- Youngkin preaches bipartisanship, echoes Trump in Va. budget proposals (“Youngkin said a surge in state revenue could fund tax cuts targeted at both working Virginians and corporations, along with spending increases in areas such as education, health care and economic development.”)
- Youngkin unveils ambitious budget proposal for his final year as governor
- Youngkin announces 2025 budget amendments with collaborative tone; Some Democrats worry about car tax focus
- Youngkin proposes $50 million for private-school vouchers in Virginia
- What to know about Youngkin’s $1.1 billion plan to end local car tax
- Youngkin touts ‘tailwinds’ from Washington, sparks debate on state impact (So now that he wants tax cuts, he’s arguing that the national economy is superb.)
- Will the World’s First Nuclear Fusion Power Plant Be Built in Virginia? Here’s Why We’re Skeptical (“Fusion, which has been studied since the middle of the 20th century, is the kind of technology that always seems to be just 15 years away.”)
- Youngkin proposes $127 million fund to help Helene-damaged Southwest Virginia
- Virginia Tech sees big increase in federally funded research. Why that matters.
- Editorial: Norfolk State makes controversial hire in tapping Michael Vick as head coach
- Alexandria City High School cancels in-person instruction after fights leave students, staff injured
- D.C.-area forecast and updates: Cold air is pouring in and it turns bitter this weekend.
