by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, February 17.
- ‘Daunting but doable’: Europe urged to prepare for 3C of global heating (It’s really not “doable” – that’s stupid.)
- Claims that AI can help fix climate dismissed as greenwashing (“Industry using ‘diversionary’ tactics, says analyst, as energy-hungry complex functions such as video generation and deep research proliferate”)
- Climate change media coverage fell 14% in 2025 (That’s pathetic.)
- Russia launches 400 drones and 29 missiles at Ukraine hours before peace talks in Geneva (“Zelenskyy calls for allies to ‘respond to all these strikes against life’ as US-brokered talks between senior Russian and Ukrainian officials begin”)
- Trump news at a glance: Ukraine must reach a deal with Russia ‘fast’, says president before trilateral talks (Trump is a traitor.)
- Europe Is America’s Secret Weapon. And We’re Giving It Up. (“The principal agreement of the Munich Security Conference is that a key American relationship is severely damaged.”)
- Hillary Clinton gets in testy exchange with European leader over Trump (“He has betrayed the West, he’s betrayed human values, he’s betrayed the NATO charter, the Atlantic Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a lot of what has been done before to try to make sense of how difficult it is to restrain people who want unaccountable power”)
- In Iran, Payment Plans for Groceries Signal a Deepening Economic Crisis
- Khamenei Warns Trump As U.S. And Iran Begin Nuclear Talks In Geneva
- US increases military pressure on Iran ahead of high-stakes talks
- US and Iran nuclear talks underway in Geneva as Trump says he will be ‘indirectly’ involved
- Popular anger burns in Iran after crackdown, as Trump turns up pressure
- ‘Deliberate targeting of vital body parts’: X-rays taken after Iran protests expose extent of catastrophic injuries (“Exclusive: Expert analysis of images from one hospital suggests severe trauma to the face, chest and genitals was caused by metal birdshot and high-calibre bullets”)
- The Growing Rift Between Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. (“What this shocking split might mean for the future of the Middle East.”)
- ICE holds people in disgusting conditions. Now it’s turning warehouses into camps (These are concentration camps. Period.)
- FBI won’t share Alex Pretti shooting evidence, Minnesota authorities say (WILDLY unacceptable!)
- ICE Barbie’s Alleged Lover Slammed by His Colleagues Over Cringey Side Hustle
- How Legal Immigration Became a Deportation Trap (Remember how Republicans used to claim, falsely, that they were all in favor of LEGAL immigration, it’s just ILLEGAL immigration they hated? Uhh…yep, they were LYING, of course.)
- Vaccine Makers Curtail Research and Cut Jobs (“Federal policies under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that are hostile to vaccines have ‘sent a chill through the entire industry,’ one scientist said.” DISASTROUS.)
- How the Kakistocracy Became a Quackistocracy (“Corruption is a germ’s best friend”)
- The Disastrous First Year of RFK Jr. (“The damage the HHS secretary has done to science and public health is appalling—and it could have been avoided.” If you voted to confirm this lunatic, you should NOT hold public office of any kind – ever!)
- Trump touts climate savings but new rule set to push up US prices (“Critics accuse administration of ‘cooking the books’ by claiming US would save $1.3tn from climate finding reversal” There is ZERO chance we’ll ave $1.3 trillion from gutting climate and clean energy regulations – quite the contrary, actually!)
- Inside Congress’ failed battle to keep Obamacare premiums from skyrocketing (“Lawmakers delayed the negotiations despite a drumbeat of warnings.”)
- Trump Can’t Steal the Midterms (“The
- Bill Kristol: The Administration’s Stupid Ethnonationalism
- Goldman Sachs Plans to Scrap DEI Criteria for Its Board (Pathetic.)
- JD Vance doesn’t believe in free speech (“In 2025, the veep warned Europeans about censorship. Now the Trump administration is testing those same limits” Vance is an utterly disgusting person.)
- Anti-system voters are turning on Trump over Epstein (“And young Republicans are particularly enraged.”)
- Hillary Clinton accuses Trump administration of Epstein files ‘cover-up’ in BBC interview
- Epstein ranch in New Mexico bought by family of ‘Trump Republican’ candidate
- Tom Pritzker, Citing Epstein Connection, Steps Down as Hyatt’s Executive Chairman
- Columbia Punishes 2 Who Helped Epstein’s Girlfriend Enter Dental College
- Steve Bannon Is in Trouble—and It Has Nothing to Do With Epstein (“‘Worse than I ever imagined’: lawsuit reveals the podcaster’s memecoin woes.”)
- Judge orders slavery exhibit to be restored after Trump administration removal
- More than 600 people were fired or punished for posting about Charlie Kirk’s death. They want justice
- How to write a headline in the (lying) Trump era (“Plus: CBS News twisted its own reporting on ICE arrests”)
- Anderson Cooper to leave 60 Minutes amid turmoil at CBS News (“Cooper is leaving the fabled news show after nearly 20 years amid a shake-up under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss”)
- Anderson Cooper Departing ‘60 Minutes’ as Correspondent (“The CNN anchor has contributed to the show for almost 20 years.”)
- Cooper’s Final Minutes (“On Monday evening, as the media class wrapped up its three-day Presidents’ Day weekend, a bombshell development sent shockwaves across the industry. Anderson Cooper, Lachlan Cartwright reported, had declined to sign a new agreement with CBS News”)
- Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader Who Ran for President Twice, Dies at 84
- The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after King, has died at 84 (Rest in Power.)
- The Rev. Jesse Jackson, pioneering civil rights activist and racial ‘pathfinder,’ dies at 84
- Robert Duvall, Star of ‘The Godfather’ and ‘The Great Santini,’ Dies at 95 (Great actor – R.I.P.)
- 5 reasons why the redistricting referendum will pass; 5 reasons why it will fail (In fact, it’s much more likely this will pass than fail, but of course this article does a false equivalence, 5 reasons each pass/fail.)
- Editorial: Crossover deadline brings General Assembly priorities into focus
- In First Month as Governor, Abigail Spanberger Kicks Up Heat From the Right (“The new governor of Virginia, who ran as a centrist Democrat and a former intelligence officer, says the attacks are a sign of her success.”)
- [UPDATED: VA Senate Dems Pass $15/Hour Minimum Wage Bill] VA House Democrats Pass Top Priority, Paid Sick Leave (“HB5 is about making sure working Virginians don’t have to choose between their health and their paycheck”)
- Virginia House passes bill to require employers to grant paid sick leave
- Spanberger will sign bill increasing minimum wage to $15 per hour
- Paid sick leave bill passes Virginia House of Delegates
- The evidence is clear: Virginia is ready for firearm purchaser licensing
- Gun permit bill gutted, online gambling stumbles in Senate
- Lawmakers debate how to regulate data centers’ diesel backup generators
- Video, Transcript of State Senator Adam Ebbin Saying Farewell to the VA Senate: “over the years, Virginia has changed, and thankfully, so has this Assembly” (“Today, there are LGBT Virginians serving openly, authentically, and unapologetically at every level of government.”)
- Ebbin bids Senate farewell, after opening door for gay lawmakers
- How federal immigration authorities can operate in Virginia is a big topic of debate in Richmond
- UVa doesn’t need a scholar-in-chief. It needs a legitimate president.
- Our churches are being priced out of Virginia. Lawmakers could help them survive. (“It is our sincere hope that Virginia lawmakers will invest in housing solutions to meet the dire needs of our congregants and residents statewide, guest columnists Rev. Dr. Keith Savage and Rev. Dr. Michael Sessoms write.”)
- Wise County residents angry at possible tax hikes amid budget crisis; supervisors meet Tuesday (“Leaving the real estate tax rate as-is and raising some other taxes would still leave the county millions of dollars short, the county administrator said.” Leopards eating faces? LOL)
- Augusta County leaders reaffirm support for racism, sexual assault, guns
- Man impersonates police, invades Roanoke home, beats up 3, authorities say
- CWG Live: Welcome warmth this week with rain possible late Thursday into Friday (“Maybe a rain-snow mix on Sunday.”)
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