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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise (economic, environmental, etc.) for Saturday, August 1. Today’s biggest developments and headlines include the climate crisis (always at the top of these news highlights because it’s existential and should be a massive story every single day)…also the Iran War, the Spanish migrant situation, the FIFA fiasco, the b.s. Reflecting Pool case predictably imploding, less than 100 days to save democracy, etc.). Also, check out the video by Jamelle Bouie, in which he argues, “The Fauci hearings on Wednesday had less to do with any issue facing the American public than they did the endless need for Republicans to produce content for the Fox News Cinematic Universe.”
INTERNATIONAL NEWS (Climate crisis, AI, Ukraine/Russia, Iran war about to escalate again, FIFA fiasco, etc.)
- ECB official warns climate crisis poses growing threat to ‘core financial stability’ (“Exclusive: As wildfires rage, Frank Elderson says more work needed to assess risk from collapse of ecosystem services”)
- Will brutal wildfires force French leaders to take climate crisis seriously? (“Campaigners worry politicians will have moved on by time of elections in which Marine Le Pen is expected to challenge”)
- Building for 131°F: Europe races to protect its infrastructure from a ‘quiet catastrophe’
- Why Is Europe Burning? (“We put all these ingredients in a cocktail shaker, and the result is massive fires that far exceed the extinguishing capacity of firefighting teams”)
- India’s monsoon rains in danger as UN chief warns planet is ‘on fire’ (“António Guterres says strengthening El Niño will help push the world’s climate crisis into ‘uncharted territory’”)
- Major oil companies reap massive profits as US and Iran fighting drives energy prices higher (These companies are so awful…)
- OpenAI finds evidence other AI agents escaped containment as it widens hacking probe (“The new breakouts were uncovered during the company’s publicly announced investigation into how one of its agents escaped what was meant to be a contained testing environment this month.”)
- Google Earth’s New AI Lets Anyone Fabricate Completely Bullshit Satellite Images
- What If We Can Never Trust A.I.? (“Like humans, the technology will never be perfect. The question is what imperfections we’re willing to tolerate.”)
- Russian strikes on Kyiv kill at least nine, Ukraine officials say (Putin is a terrorist and war criminal.)
- Ukraine Is Making Inroads Into Once-Hostile Territory: MAGA
- Russia is sharing valuable electronic intel with Iran, officials say, as U.S. war drags on (“Russian satellite surveillance and signals intelligence are likely allowing Iran to better defend itself against U.S. airstrikes and refine its own aerial assaults, officials said.”)
- Pentagon ends leadership of Ukraine aid group as US distances from Europe (“The move follows numerous changes the Trump administration has made to the decades-old alliance.”)
- Laura Loomer, Lindsey Graham and the deepening Iran crisis: what’s behind Trump’s reset with Zelenskyy? (“The US administration has struck a warmer tone of late as Ukraine has shown its value as an ally in the Middle East”)
- Trump Orders Fresh Attack Against Iran as War Enters Sixth Month (“U.S. officials say the offensive could begin as soon as this weekend”)
- U.S., Israel preparing to bombard energy-related targets in Iran, sources say (“A joint operation would mark Israel’s return to combat operations which it had halted during the U.S.-brokered truce. Iran has not hit Israel since the memorandum of understanding fell apart and the U.S. restarted combat operations in early July.” UGH!)
- Trump considering strikes on Iranian energy targets within days
- A Tragedy in Iran Might Persuade Hegseth to Change Course (“The Pentagon is rethinking how it wages war after the Iran school strike.” Are they, though?)
- The US war on Iran is spinning out of control (“Trump’s conflict keeps escalating, with Saudi Arabia joining airstrikes in Iraq and reportedly planning an attack on the Houthis. A recession could follow”)
- Iran-backed militant group’s threat to Saudi energy hub could upend Trump’s midterm message (“The world’s largest oil processing facility has emerged as the next flashpoint in the Iran conflict, with potentially immediate consequences for global energy markets and Republicans facing tough midterm races.”)
- In Iran, the U.S. Appears Headed for a Strategic Defeat, Allies Fear (“With none of President Trump’s aims accomplished and the Strait of Hormuz closed, U.S. allies see dysfunction and vulnerability from the war.”)
- Visuals Suggest U.S. Dropped 2,000-Pound Bomb on Home in Iran, Killing 3 (“The weapon hit a house in a heavily-populated area, according to a Times analysis. Iranian officials say the strike killed a couple and their two-year-old son.”)
- Israeli West Bank settler tells BBC attacks on Palestinians are justified as revenge (This is anarchy; Israel needs to get control of these violent settelers IMMEDIATELY!)
- Big Stupid Has Infiltrated the State Department, and Now We Can’t Even Make a Correct Map (“Market forces seem to be conspiring to make us denser by the day, to give us no options but the most idiotic.”)
- Spain attacks ‘selfish’ response of some EU countries to Ceuta migrant crossings
- Schengen’s Greatest Failure (“The Ceuta crisis is undermining an agreement designed to foster ‘solidarity.'”)
- Ceuta crisis rattles European capitals
- Live Updates: Most of the Migrants Who Crossed Into Spanish Territory Have Returned, Officials Say (“About 48,000 of the up to 60,000 people who came into Ceuta from Morocco returned within a day. Still, the sudden influx created a crisis for Spain’s pro-immigration government. Nearly three dozen died.”)
- Tens of thousands of migrants voluntarily leave after crossing into Spanish territory of Ceuta
- The tangled financial web at the heart of Reform UK (“Nigel Farage’s £5m gift, the Cottrell family’s links and donations, and Richard Tice’s business dealings form part of an increasingly clear nexus of relationships”)
- Bessent’s ‘to do’ list: buy $5-10 billion worth of Japanese yen, Reuters photo shows
- UEFA says it’s lost confidence in FIFA’s Infantino after failed private equity plan
- Trump’s Soccer Suck-Up Humiliated as Cash Grab Collapses (“The proposed deal involving a firm led by Jared Kushner’s younger brother unraveled after fierce backlash and boycott threats from soccer’s regional governing bodies.”)
NATIONAL NEWS (ICE, less than 100 days to save democracy, Trump’s next impeachment, Reflecting Pool case fiasco, etc.)
- Trump says US could see surge of migrants like Spain if Republicans don’t win midterms (Fear mongering, false xenophobic bullshit.)
- Warsh Considers Reducing Frequency of Fed Policy Meetings (“The Federal Reserve has met at least eight times a year for decades. Reducing the number of meetings would represent the biggest change by Kevin M. Warsh since he became chairman.”)
- Trump wanted interest rate cuts to be ‘Rocket Fuel’ for the economy. He is losing that fight so far
- As Warsh’s Fed faces pressure to act on inflation, these indicators show it’s at its lowest in years
- The Democrats have one last chance to halt the erosion of US democracy – and it’s less than 100 days away (“American democrats need a Hungarian-style landslide to overwhelm Trump’s attempts to rig November’s midterm elections”)
- We Now Have the Leading Charge in Trump’s Next Impeachment (“Why is the president willing to withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination? The answer constitutes a blatant high crime and misdemeanor.”)
- Trump says he wishes anti-weaponization fund wasn’t dead, angering senators he needs to confirm Blanche
- Why senators fear Trump’s DOJ payout fund isn’t dead, despite Blanche’s promises
- Trump appeals ruling that found his $10B IRS suit aimed to ‘manipulate’ legal proceedings
- At typically tranquil Camp David, Trump publicly lashes out at political enemies (Trump is completely unhinged.)
- Trump Blames Minnesota, Not Iran, for Cyberattack, Despite Initial Investigation
- Trump blames Minnesota water hacks on Walz, while evidence points to Iran (Trump is completely deranged and WILDLY irresponsible!)
- Hackers targeted municipal water systems in 7 states this week, FBI says
- For sale: early access to Trump’s Truth Social posts (WILDLY corrupt!)
- Trump’s Fixation on Arctic Ships Led to Billions in No-Bid Contracts (Another example of corruption by Trump.)
- Trump Administration Plans to Upend Head Start by Deregulating It (“The White House tried but failed to block funding for preschool for poor children. Instead, it will seek to strip away standards on health, literacy — and brushing teeth.”)
- Kamala Harris says the US Supreme Court should expand to 13 justices
- “If I Prove That You Can Win Statewide Taking on AIPAC, That is Catastrophic” (This guy is obsessed with AIPAC, even though it’s only a tiny percent of money in politics. Why?)
- Michigan Goes to the Polls (“This Senate primary is about to show Democrats what they have in store.” Can’t wait…not.)
- Michigan’s Millennial Primary Is a Fight for the Future of the Democrats (“The two candidates represent dueling visions of a party in crisis.”)
- How the Democrats Can Benefit From Missing Mitch (“Amid the former Senate majority leader’s mysterious hospitalization, some are placing unreasonable demands on Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Let’s sort this out.”)
- The DSA has had unprecedented success. It also has serious internal divisions. (“Elections vs. revolution, pragmatism vs. purity, pro-AOC vs. anti — a journalist who knows DSA well walks us through them.”)
- She Voted for a Justice Who Overturned Roe. Now It Haunts Her on the Trail.
- What Susan Collins Just Did on Trump and ICE Should Worry All Dems (“She voted for $70 billion in no-strings-attached ICE funding. But now she’s taking credit for a new bodycam commitment from ICE. Democrats can’t let her get away with this.”)
- Elon Musk planning to throw financial support behind Susan Collins’ U.S. Senate bid (“Musk’s America PAC reportedly intends to spend $100 million to $120 million to help Republicans in Senate races in Maine and several other states.”)
- Water cuts loom as US unveils long-awaited response to Colorado River crisis (Basically, need to slash water consumption by agriculture by like 90% or whatever.)
- Max Miller abuse allegations complicate race for once-solid GOP seat
- Trump’s Reflecting Pool Lies Exposed in Humiliating Admission (“The “vandals” Trump blamed never existed, according to his own administration.” The “vandals” ALWAYS were the Trump contractor cronies and Trump himeslf. Lock them up!)
- Peeling probably caused by application flaws, experts say (That’s been glaringly obvious all along!)
- How the Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case Fell Apart (“Federal prosecutors searched for evidence and found that “a botched installation” was to blame.”)
- Justice Dept. admits Reflecting Pool renovation was ‘hasty and botched,’ drops case against former Olympian
- Reflecting Pool Damage Was ‘Botched’ Job, Not Vandalism, Prosecutors Say
- Trump administration drops Reflecting Pool case, blaming damage on ‘botched’ installation (“The Justice Department said ‘it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt.'”)
- Justice Department moves to drop case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool (This entire thing was a disgrace – to DoJ, to the Trump regime, to the rule of law, to the country, to sanity…)
- Editor of Washington Post Opinion Section Resigns After 1 Year (This opinion section is complete trash, with only one or two exceptions…)
- Police release Nancy Guthrie ransom notes in latest bid to find kidnappers
VIRGINIA NEWS (Virginia primaries coming up on Tuesday, Perriello/DSA, Spanberger restores 66,000 Virginians’ voting rights, Dominion offshore wind project costs skyrocket thanks to Trump tariffs, etc.)
- Guide to Virginia’s US Senate, US House and Local Primaries on Tuesday (8/4): Who Are You Voting For? (Which primaries, if any, are you particularly interested in?)
- Tom Perriello is going to need to make amends with local Democratic Socialists (The issue is that the Perriello campaign doesn’t want to give any fodder to John McGuire’s campaign to call them “socialists.” The problem for Perriello, and really for all Democrats running in purple or red districts, is that their Republican opponent is 100% certain to call them “socialists” regardless of what they do…)
- Trump Is Running a Government of Extortion and Retaliation — And Kamala Harris States Like Virginia Are a Target
- NAACP Virginia Commends Gov. Abigail Spanberger for Restoring Voting Rights to More Than 66,000 Virginians (Disgracefully, Virginia “is one of only two states that still has a Jim Crow-era law banning anyone convicted of a felony from voting for the rest of their lives”)
- Virginia Governor Restores Voting Rights for Thousands With Past Felony Convictions
- Governor Spanberger restores voting rights to more than 66,000 formerly incarcerated Virginians
- Virginia senators request special session to act on ’deeply alarming’ groundwater report
- Virginia’s groundwater limits are here. Lawmakers can’t afford to wait.
- Trump tariffs added over $800 million to Dominion Energy’s offshore wind project
- Dominion pursues multibillion-dollar upgrade to North Anna nuclear power plant (Nuclear power is exorbitantly expensive – FAR more expensive than energy efficiency, solar, wind, even natural gas for that matter…)
- Judge dismisses Charlottesville whistleblower lawsuit against Sentara
- A Navy family moved into military housing, then started getting sick (“The Campbells say mold in their Virginia Beach military housing left them sick, displaced and facing steep financial losses. Their private housing company disputes that the home was unsafe, even after an independent investigation found extensive mold and chronic moisture.” Totally unacceptable.)
- Virginia Tech administrators Wurthman, Brugger McSorley lose their jobs
- Virginia data center planned less than 100 feet from homes sparks protest, legal push (“Site plans for a proposed data center campus near Alexandria have sparked intense opposition, in part because two of the facilities would be built less than 100 feet from neighboring houses.”)
- How Charlottesville’s trees are faring on the Downtown Mall, 50 years later (“They’ve really exceeded our expectations for how a tree can grow in the city.”)
- Virginia Tech, for some reason, gives Mike Young a one-year contract extension
- DC-area forecast: Pleasant today before humidity and storm chances build (We still need rain, so actually that’s what is “pleasant” these days…)
