by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, December 29.
- Five energy market trends to track in 2026, the year of the glut
- US pledges $2B for UN humanitarian aid as Trump slashes funding and warns agencies to ‘adapt or die’ (“The money is a small fraction of what the U.S. has contributed in the past but reflects what the administration believes is a generous amount that will maintain the United States’ status as the world’s largest humanitarian donor.”)
- Takeaways from Trump’s meeting with Zelensky in Florida (“After more than three hours of talks, neither leader announced any major breakthrough in ending Russia’s war”)
- Zelenskiy Asked Trump for 50-Year Security Guarantee for Ukraine
- Trump and Zelensky appear more upbeat – but show little evidence that peace is near for Ukraine
- Is peace in Ukraine any closer after Trump-Zelenskiy talks?
- US offers Ukraine 15-year security guarantee as part of peace plan, Zelenskyy says
- Trump Praises Zelenskiy After Talks That Yielded No Breakthrough (“President Donald Trump said he made “a lot of progress” in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over a possible peace deal, but that it might take a few weeks to get it done and there’s no set timeline.”)
- Why the Pantomime? Its Always Been About Defending Putin (“And Perhaps Getting A Nobel Prize”)
- For Zelensky, Just Keeping Trump Talking Counts as a Win
- Trump says ‘a lot closer’ to Ukraine peace deal after Zelenskyy meeting, though thorny issues remain
- China holds military drills around Taiwan as warning to ‘separatist forces’
- AP Exclusive: China threatens detention in Xinjiang over banned Uyghur songs
- Trump and Netanyahu are to meet in Florida at a crucial moment for the US-backed Gaza ceasefire
- Winter rain floods Gaza camps as Netanyahu heads for US meeting (Ugh, miserable.)
- Iran sends conflicting signals on its missiles as Israeli concerns rise
- A Reckoning for the Stalled Gaza Peace Plan (“A meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump may determine whether the agreement advances—or hardens into a permanent order.”)
- Thailand accuses Cambodia of breaking newly signed ceasefire deal
- Toxic air, broken roads and unpicked rubbish – why India’s big cities are becoming unliveable
- Federal judge dismisses indictment against TikToker shot by ICE, citing constitutional violations
- In Complaining About Gag Order, DHS Violates Gag Order (“Tricia McLaughlin boosted a post that called Kilmar Abrego Garcia a terrorist to justify his illegal deportation.”)
- Trump suddenly sounds a lot like Biden on the economy
- The year Trump tried and failed to stop clean energy (“The Trump administration brought the sledgehammer down on clean energy — but that still wasn’t enough to crush it.”)
- Trump’s Year of Media Capture (“The president spent 2025 attacking the press, further eroding the First Amendment and empowering autocrats around the world”)
- Donald Trump in his own words – the year in racism and misogyny
- Why every vestige of Trump must be torn down (“He’s trying to create a physical legacy. The moment he’s out of power, it has to be smashed to bits.”)
- Justice Department Using Fraud Law to Target Companies on DEI (“Google and Verizon among those being investigated under novel interpretation of law applying to government contractors”)
- In 2025, Epstein showed MAGA who they really are
- Why Russell Vought Is Worse Than Watergate (“Conservatives used to think you could be a political hatchet artist or you could serve the Lord. Now they say: Why choose?”)
- The Department of Justice May Not Survive Pam Bondi (“Her promise to restore integrity to the agency was one she broke on day one.”)
- The Worst Thing About Elon Musk Is That He Got Away With All of It (“His reign of terror didn’t end after he bought the 2024 election.”)
- What we learned about the state of the Trump coalition in conversations with 50 voters this year (“A set of focus groups featuring 2024 Trump voters showed them largely sticking with the president, but they also showed discontent around the economy and immigration.”)
- Nancy Pelosi predicts Dems win House gavel back in ’26, reflects on career and Jan. 6 attack
- Duty? Insanity? These former members of Congress want to come back.
- GOP coalescing behind Vance as Trump privately dismisses third-term run
- When Trump and Musk were bickering, Vance stepped in to broker a truce
- JD’s 2028 plotting: Vance’s next moves
- The 2028 Race Has Begun. Here’s Who’s Winning. (“Youngkin’s star faded as he hemmed and hawed about running for president last year and as he failed to turn Virginia’s legislature red. Meanwhile, Trump lost the state last November and his lieutenant governor lost the race to succeed him this November.”)
- The NYT Recruiting Brochure for New College (“The takeover of New College in Florida by Ron DeSantis and his appointees has been viewed, within higher education, as a failure. The goal was to convert what was seen as a liberal institution into a conservative one using government money and purges.”)
- DNC, RNC pipe bomb suspect told FBI “something just snapped,” DOJ alleges
- Sen. Mark Warner’s Leading Potential 2026 Republican Challenger, State Sen. Bryce Reeves, Announces He’s “withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race” Due To “a serious family health matter” (Reeves also notes, “This past election was devastating for Republicans”)
- Republican Reeves drops out of U.S. Senate contest
- Republicans don’t have a ‘name’ Senate candidate in Virginia. Here are the challenges they face. (“The Democratic incumbent isn’t seen as vulnerable, and Republican priorities nationally are likely to be in other states.”)
- Spanberger taps former Biden labor official Jessica Looman as Virginia labor secretary (“Former head of federal wage and hour enforcement joins the Democrat’s growing cabinet.”)
- Virginia awaits decision on $1 billion rural health grant (“State’s ‘VA Rural Vitality’ proposal competes for funding as federal Medicaid changes loom.”)
- Let’s make paid sick days a reality for 1.2 million Virginians
- [UPDATE: Garrett McGuire Wins] Results: HD17 Dem “Firehouse Primary” to Nominate a Replacement for Del. Mark Sickles, Who’s Headed Into the Spanberger Administration
- Garrett McGuire named winner of Virginia’s firehouse primary for House District 17 seat
- Calls in Virginia prisons are among the cheapest in the country, but activists say prices are ‘predatory’
- Lindsey Dougherty: Virginia needs investment in housing and infrastructure
- Three additional people charged in drug trafficking operation at Virginia state prison
- William J. ‘Bill’ Martin, director of the Valentine museum, fatally struck by car
- CWG Live: Strong winds today and tonight as fleeting warmth gives way to cold (“Wind advisory 9 a.m. this morning to 1 a.m. tonight for gusts near 50 mph. A powerful cold front is to blame.”)
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