by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, August 1.
- The US government has declared war on the very idea of climate change (Absolute evil.)
- We know how to decarbonize energy. The food sector should take notes. (“Climate-friendly agriculture is two decades behind clean energy. Here are lessons food and farming can learn from the rise of renewables and cleantech.”)
- Arson On a Planetary Scale (“The new push to overturn greenhouse gas limits and yet again reject science is criminal and profoundly reckless”)
- Energy Dept. Attacks Climate Science in Contentious Report (“The agency asked five climate skeptics to write a report criticizing the consensus on global warming. Scientists are pointing out its errors.”)
- The Boy Genius Who Killed 14 Million Poor People (“What is the moral weight of responsibility for the men who carried out DOGE’s work?”)
- Trump Sharpens Sanctions Threat on Russia, While Admitting It May Not Work
- ‘Clinton Plan’ Emails Were Likely Made by Russian Spies, Declassified Report Shows
- Russia claims capture of Chasiv Yar after 16-month battle
- How a Youth-Led Backlash Pushed Zelensky to His Biggest U-Turn Yet
- Trump’s Vow to Be ‘President of Peace’ Falls Short in Ukraine and Gaza (“The White House claims success in averting fighting between India and Pakistan and between Thailand and Cambodia”)
- U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff to Visit Gaza as Trump, Under Pressure, Seeks Aid Plan (“The new sense of urgency follows days of pressure on the Trump administration to step up food aid for Palestinians”)
- American Jews’ Support for Israel Is Near Its Breaking Point (“The big legacy groups remain mostly silent. But nearly everyone else now agrees: Netanyahu’s Gaza war is one of the great catastrophes in Jewish history.” Yep, agreed – this is an essentially unmitigated disaster.)
- Trump administration scolds allies over Palestinian statehood
- Handling of Gaza War, Democrats Rebuke Israel (“Votes in the Senate made clear that the longtime bipartisan consensus in support of Israel is, at least for the moment, in tatters.”)
- Looting, chaos and Israeli gunfire prevent aid from reaching Gazans
- Anger Over Starvation in Gaza Leaves Israel Increasingly Isolated
- Why Trump Broke With Bibi Over the Gaza Famine (“The president wants the war to end and thinks Benjamin Netanyahu is standing in his way.”)
- Republicans reject Democrats’ amendment to block Trump from taking Qatari jet after presidency
- Trump/Brazil: Delusions of Grandeur Go South (“Trump thinks he can rule the world, but he doesn’t have the juice”)
- With New 40% Tariff, Trump Takes Aim at U.S. Dependence on China’s Factories
- Concern mounts in India as Trump lashes out and trade talks stall (“Languishing U.S.-India trade talks and a series of harsh posts from President Trump have led to growing alarm in New Delhi.”)
- Trump announces historic new US tariffs across the globe
- Trump Tariff Blitz Unleashes Delayed Shock to Global Economy
- Trump unleashes sweeping new tariffs in a blow to global trade
- Trump raises tariffs on Canada to 35 percent (Just a reminder that this is completely illegal.)
- Trump imposes sweeping new tariffs on dozens of countries in latest bid to reshape global trade (“High levies affecting some of world’s poorest countries are to go into effect in seven days, while Mexico granted 90-day extension”)
- US trade partners around the world react to Trump’s new tariffs
- Trump’s new tariffs give some countries a break, while shares and US dollar sink
- Trump injects a new dose of uncertainty in tariffs as he pushes start date back to Aug. 7
- Markets Drop After Trump Announces New Tariffs on Dozens of Nations
- Trump signs order for more tariffs on US partners to go into effect in 7 days
- Trump says his new high tariffs are going ‘very well, very smooth’ — but he’s open to more deals
- Trump’s tariffs get frosty reception at federal appeals court
- A Rough Day in Court for Tariffs
- El Salvador approves indefinite presidential reelection and extends terms to 6 years (Dictatorship, in other words.)
- Welcome to hell’: Inside the megaprison where the U.S. deported migrants (“One detainee was beaten unconscious. Others emerged from the dark isolation room covered in bruises, struggling to walk or vomiting blood. Another returned to his cell in tears, telling fellow detainees he’d just been sexually assaulted.” Pure evil – and anyone participating in this should face – but probably won’t face – severe consequences.)
- ICE Plans to Build More Tent Jails for Immigrants. What Could Go Wrong?
- Every Scientific Empire Comes to an End (“America’s run as the premiere techno-superpower may be over.”)
- Blue-state Democrats want immigration agents to show their faces
- RFK Jr. warned about giving the government your data. Now he wants it. (“The Health and Human Services secretary’s pivot on wearables is a case study in how conspiracy extremists rebrand themselves once in positions of power.”)
- Solar and Batteries Lead US Power Plant Additions by a Lot. How Does This Square With the Trump Administration’s Agenda? (“The grid is becoming cleaner thanks to projects that have been in the works for years. Trump can shift this direction a bit, but the momentum is too strong for major changes, experts say.”)
- Why Epstein has Trump crashing out (“The hole gets deeper every time he opens his mouth.”)
- Epstein abuse survivor Virginia Giuffre wanted files released before her death, family says (“Her family urged President Donald Trump this week not to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell.”)
- How Epstein and Maxwell Used Trump’s Fame to Groom 13-Year-Old Girl
- The Columbia deal with Trump is a blueprint. All of higher ed should fear what comes next. (“The Ivy League agreements with Trump are a danger to all of higher ed.”)
- Smithsonian removes Trump from impeachment exhibit in American History Museum
- White House Unveils Plan for $200 Million Ballroom, Trump’s Long-Sought Imprint (Insane.)
- Kamala Harris Stuns Colbert With Candid Admission: ‘To Hear You Say That … Is Harrowing’
- Harris opens door to presidential run by declining California bid
Joe Biden says US is facing ‘existential’ fight with marginalized groups ‘dramatically under attack’- Trump, Term-Limited, Amasses $200 Million War Chest for Political Ambitions
- Democrats’ big age headache is becoming a migraine (“A nationwide effort to unseat some of House Democrats’ oldest members is surging as lawmakers settle in for their five-week August recess — and it is poised to accelerate even further.”)
- Elon Musk gives millions to Republican super PACs ahead of the midterms
- Senators Could Vote Imminently to Remove Their Homes, Travel Info From Internet (“Watchdogs argue the legislation would block reporters from doing their jobs and limit efforts to hold lawmakers accountable”)
- Gavin Newsom floats November special election for his anti-Trump redistricting push
- Fox News since Monday: 85 minutes talking about Sydney Sweeney, 3 minutes talking about Epstein (Pure propaganda.)
- Laura Loomer runs ‘tip line’ for Trump staffers eager to purge ‘disloyal’ colleagues (Appalling.)
- Trump regulatory czar Jeffrey Clark should be disbarred for role in 2020 election plot, disciplinary board rules
- When the Federal Government Eats Itself (“After six months of DOGE, vital institutions are in disarray as the civil service braces for new cuts.” Disastrous.)
- Cooper leads first public poll since jumping in North Carolina Senate race
- Washington Post talent exodus fuels speculation about its future (Here’s a list of journalists leaving the WaPo since November.)
- Sen. Tim Kaine to force votes on conditions for deported migrants
- Video: Sen. Mark Warner on His Bill to Require ICE Agents to Be Unmasked – “I can’t go on the Senate floor wearing a bag over my head and introduce a bill; I think the same should be the case for law enforcement.” (On release of the Epstein files, Sen. Warner says “the hypocrisy of Donald Trump knows no bounds” and “I think at some point…they are going to come out”)
- Mark Warner on the Jeffrey Epstein files: ‘Let’s let the truth come out’
- Virginia Senators aim to counter federal cuts with fresh legislation
- VA11 Democratic Nominee James Walkinshaw Hosts Roundtable with Fired Fairfax Federal Workers, Lays Out Agenda to Fight Job Cuts (“These stories were emotional, raw, and deeply moving,”)
- NEW from CNN: When Asked, Winsome Earle-Sears Refuses To Say She Won’t Ban Abortion As Governor (“Sears owes answers to Virginia women on why she doesn’t trust women to make their own healthcare decisions”)
- Virginia House Democrats Announce Record-Breaking $9+ Million TV Reservation (Speaker Don Scott: “This is how we not only protect our majority, but expand it”)
- New Podcast by Sam Shirazi Looks at Texas Republicans’ Attempt to Redistrict Democrats Out of a US House Majority; and Why Virginia Democrats, Thanks to the 2020 Redistricting Amendment, Can’t Really Fight Back (Passing that amendment was a HUGE mistake with long-term adverse consequences…)
- Virginia statewide candidates are passing on debates, at least for right now
- Abigail Spanberger announces plan to boost Virginia’s economy (“The Democratic gubernatorial nominee’s plan calls for creating apprenticeship and job training opportunities and supporting local businesses.”)
- FOIA Friday: Reports show not all recent ICE detainees in Virginia had violent charges
- Pope & Schapiro: College leadership, another budget surplus, and Norfolk Southern’s future
- Virginia minimum wage to rise in 2026
- Two Virginia cities resist law aimed at compensating wrongfully convicted men
- Danville rallies around councilman Vogler after shocking attack leaves him hospitalized
- Man who burned a Virginia city councilman intended to kill him, police say (“Officials say the motive appears personal and unrelated to Lee Vogler’s work as a public official. After Wednesday’s attack, the 38-year-old father of two was flown by medical helicopter to a burn unit in North Carolina. The hospital hasn’t provided an update on his condition.”)
- Judge tosses lawsuit over 19-year-old sailor’s suicide at Newport News shipyard — but case isn’t over yet
- Norfolk man found guilty of killing beloved convenience store owner
- CWG Live updates: Cloudy and breezy today, with a great August weekend ahead
