Monday News: “Russia praises US security strategy shift”; Trump Might Replace Noem with…Youngkin???; “House G.O.P. Exodus”; Warner’s Shift on Universal Health Care “registers on the Richter scale”; VA Dems “move toward a 10-1 map” as Rasoul Eyes Run

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, December 8.

• How China, not the U.S., became the main climate solution story in 2025
• How more wind and batteries push electricity prices down, even while gas prices stay high
• US may end support for Ukraine war effort, says Donald Trump Jr (“Eldest son of Donald Trump makes speculative comments during tirade against Volodymyr Zelenskyy and EU” This guy is probably even more evil than his father.)
• Trump’s national security strategy slams Europe, not Russia
• Zelenskyy meets European leaders in London for talks on ending Ukraine war (“Ukraine president’s UK visit comes amid heavy pressure from Washington for Kyiv to cede territory to Moscow”)
• Trump’s new doctrine confirms it. Ready or not, Europe is on its own
• Trump’s New Global Vision Amounts to a National In-Security Strategy
• Is This The End of the Free World? (“Trump wants to MAGAfy Europe, too”)
• Trump’s National Security Strategy: Atlas Shrugs (“Hopefully the policy document won’t have much to do with the administration’s actions.”)
• Zelenskiy Says No Accord So Far on Eastern Ukraine in US Talks
• Kremlin Says New US Security Strategy Accords Largely With Russia’s View
• Trump Voices Disappointment in Zelenskiy as Peace Talks Drag (Trump is a Putin tool.)
• Russia praises US security strategy shift heralded by ‘strong’ Trump (“Moscow regards Washington’s updated National Security Strategy as ‘consistent with our vision.'” This is VERY VERY VERY bad!)
• Compromise defense bill stymies Trump on Europe troop withdrawals (“The National Defense Authorization Act also would repeal a pair of decades-old war authorizations and proposes an $8 billion boost to Trump’s defense budget.”)
• Zelenskyy heads to London for more Ukraine peace talks. Here’s what to know
• Trumpian Corruption Is Worse Than Ukrainian Corruption (“The people of Ukraine want an honest government, even as American and Russian kleptocrats circle their country.”)
• ‘I’d defend our nation’: Poles prepare for growing threat of war
• China’s Trade Surplus Climbs Past $1 Trillion for First Time
• China’s exports grow 5.9% in November, while US shipments drop 29% (In other words, China’s kicking Trump’s ass in the stupid trade war?)
• M23 rebels entrench their rule in east Congo even as Trump claims peace
• Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia as Trump’s peace agreement hangs in balance
• Watch: Syrians share their thoughts one year on from the fall of Assad
• A year after fall of Assad, a divided Syria struggles to escape cycle of violence (“While country’s return to global stage has filled many Syrians with pride, domestically old grievances threaten efforts to rebuild the state”)
• A Weakened Hamas Still Dominates Gaza, Building Day by Day (“A cease-fire after two years of war with Israel has allowed Hamas to tighten its grip on power again. ‘It’s still standing,’ one Israeli official said.”)
• Israel Closes In on Hamas Fighters Trapped in Tunnels, Testing Cease-Fire
• Israeli surveillance targets US and allies at joint base planning Gaza aid and security, say sources
• </Seizure of South Yemen by UAE-backed forces could lead to independence claima> (“STC troops now control all eight governorates, a major setback for Emirates’ regional rival Saudi Arabia”)
• Does Pete Hegseth even believe that war crimes exist?
• Ex-Honduran president thanks God – and Trump – for drug-trafficking pardon
• FIFA’s phony “peace prize” can’t redeem Donald Trump (“Trump is an incompetent warmonger, and an elderly man in obvious decline. A made-up medal won’t change that”)
• Immigrants ‘Plucked Out’ of Oath Ceremony Lines After Trump Order
• U.S. Deports 2nd Planeload of Iranians, Officials Say (WTF???)
• Trump is considering moving on from Kristi Noem – and the change could happen ‘really soon,’ report says (“Noem’s potential exit may come as Trump wants to start the New Year with a clean slate, according to the report. On top of this, Trump may be considering tapping Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is set to leave office in January, for any potential cabinet openings.”)
• The Supreme Court Is Teeing Up Another Transfer of Power to Trump
• Trump’s plans to shatter the bureaucracy have a green light at the Supreme Court
• Trump’s battle with independent agencies is back at the Supreme Court
• Supreme Court to hear case that could vastly expand presidential powers
• As NOAA Funding Lags, a Critical Ocean Weather System Nears a Breaking Point (“Officials warn that if regional Integrated Ocean Observing System readings go dark, coastal forecasts will become less precise, endangering commercial fishermen, cargo ships and coastal communities.”)
• Powell’s Vote-Gathering Challenge Shows Test for Next Fed Chair
• Powell Faces Pressure From Multiple Fronts as Fed Prepares to Cut Rates
• Trump’s first problem on the economy and health care: admitting he’s got a problem
• ‘Sort of blackmail’: Billions in rural health funding hinge on states passing Trump-backed policies (More than “sort of”!)
• Trump pardons major drug traffickers despite his anti-drug rhetoric (“The president has granted clemency to about 100 people accused of drug-related crimes during his time in office, a Post analysis shows.”)
• The Simple, Legal Way Trump Could Steal the Midterms (“A little-known section of the Constitution may hold the key to overturning Democratic wins in 2026.”)
• Behind the Curtain: Trump bets party, presidency on AI
• Obamacare Users Face Higher Deductibles, Higher Premiums
• Health care fight hits critical juncture
• As affordability concerns mount, Hill Republicans are struggling to act
• The GOP Can’t Agree on a Healthcare Plan. Some Republicans Are Panicking. (“The Senate is expected to vote this week on a Democrat-backed measure to extend enhanced healthcare subsidies”)
• Johnson’s Career Crisis & The House G.O.P. Exodus (“Serving in the House—even when your party controls that chamber, the Senate, and the Oval Office—just ain’t what it used to be. The 119th Congress has been divided and demoralized, and is on track to be the least productive in recent memory.”)
• Stephen Miller’s Rhetoric “Reminds Me” of “Nazis,” Says Rep. Ilhan Omar
• Rep. Ilhan Omar Says Stephen Miller’s Rhetoric Echoes Language Used By Nazis (100% accurate.)
• Netflix co-CEO discussed Warner Bros. deal with Trump
• Sources: Ted Sarandos Met With Donald Trump Ahead of Netflix’s Winning Warner Bros. Deal
• Netflix deal to buy Warner Bros. ‘could be a problem’ because of size of market share, Trump says
• Trust in mainstream media is at rock bottom. Can it be fixed? (“Why so many news consumers are turning to individual voices and away from institutions”)
• The casino-fication of news (“New partnerships between the prediction market Kalshi and cable TV networks will transform every news event into a betting opportunity.”)
• Look again at the Nuzzi affair. Because when our politics and media are so debased, the joke’s on us (“There is a bread and circuses feel to this scandal. A wise public would see red flags; instead it sees entertainment”)
• Trump slams pardoned Democratic congressman as ‘disloyal’ for not switching parties (Trump is scum.)
• ‘I am America First’: Marjorie Taylor Greene knocks Trump for not focusing on domestic issues (This woman is a far-right-extremist lunatic – and always will be.)
• Republicans in Congress mocked Trump privately, Marjorie Taylor Greene says (“Georgia lawmaker says colleagues who made fun of president before 2024 win now support him out of fear”)
• 5 takeaways from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ’60 Minutes’ interview
• Redistricting in Indiana faces ultimate test in state Senate
• Sen. Warner on the Boat Strike Crisis
• Video: Sen. Mark Warner Asks, “do we really want to have the policy of America against drug runners that kill kill kill is the first, second and third priority?” (“My biggest disappointment in my whole time in public life” is that Republicans “have not stepped up”)
• Sen. Kaine pushes for Senate vote on Venezuela war powers resolution
• Who is this Mark Warner saying ‘we have to have universal healthcare’? (“Hey, we got the radical centrist to say he’s for universal healthcare. This registers on the Richter scale.”)
• Virginia Democrats move toward a 10-1 map that would eliminate all but one Republican House seat
• Rasoul to explore run for Congress as Virginia eyes redrawing district lines (“The Democratic legislator from Roanoke said his decision would hinge on what new districts look like.”)
• Dueling pipeline extension projects draw concerns from Va. congressional reps
• Immigration advocates hopeful with recent court wins, Spanberger taking office
• Mike Jones wins SD-15 Democratic primary
• [UPDATE: Mike Jones Wins 71%-29%] VA Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas Calls 1/6/26 Special Election to Fill Seat of VA Sen./LG-Elect Ghazala Hashmi; Nominees to Be Chosen This Weekend
• Del. Jones wins Dem primary to run for Hashmi’s Senate seat
• Virginia businesses eye possible pivots after hemp hampered in federal stopgap spending bill
• Could increased transparency reduce the use of solitary confinement in Virginia’s local jails?
• GMU board’s executive committee criticized for meeting sans quota; rector defends decision
• Video, Highlights: Arlington County Board Debates, Votes to Move Ahead with Process to Examine Possible Changes To Its Form of Government. (The arguments for and against…also in between.)
• Nurse claims abuse and neglect at Catawba Hospital caused by staff shortages
• Separate journeys, together: How Lee and Blair Vogler handled the life-changing attack and its aftermath (“Lee and Blair Vogler each had their own whirlwind of challenges during his hospitalization. While Lee, a Danville City Council member, was fighting for his life after being set on fire, Blair was getting constant news from doctors, learning about burn injuries and taking care of their family.”)
• For third time, Rocky Mount wants General Assembly to allow term limits for town council. An attorney general’s opinion says that’s unconstitutional.
• Mom of serial killer’s latest victim: Learning Gloucester teen was raped before 1988 slaying ‘is more than a person can handle’ (Ugh, horrible.)
• Up to four inches of snow possible on Monday, temperatures below freezing (“Up to four inches of snow is possible throughout the Shenandoah Valley on Monday, likely starting before sunrise, according to the National Weather Service.”)
• CWG Live: Slight chance of snow today; cold all week