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by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, September 4. 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)…plus lots more…see below. Also, check out the video of Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA11) on MSNOW last night, talking about Trump’s assault on mail-in voting and the midterms. According to Rep. Walkinshaw, “The reality is the government led by Donald J. Trump doesn’t want the system to work. They want mass confusion. They want millions of voters to have their mailin ballots rejected. They don’t want those voters to receive those ballots because they’ve concluded more Democrats than Republicans will vote by mail. So, it’s an effort to sow confusion. It’s an effort to prevent people from voting in the midterm elections because as gas prices have skyrocketed, Donald Trump’s poll numbers have plummeted. He knows he’s on track to lose.”
INTERNATIONAL NEWS (Climate crisis – “Global Heating Will Hit at Least 1.8 C, UN Warns, With “No Good Outcomes”; “Vance says Iran fight isn’t a ‘war’ as Trump tries to navigate unpopular conflict as election nears”; “Israel’s strategic delusion”; “Trump Cashes In on ‘Lake America’ Renaming With $55 Hats“; etc.)
- Global warming will exceed 1.5-degree limit, UN says in report that maps path back below danger zone
- Is Nepal a Turning Point in Climate Coverage? (“More news outlets make the climate connection to global warming’s latest disaster.” I’m betting on the media continuing to suck, but let’s hope I’m wrong!)
- Why Rebuilding After Climate Disasters Is No Longer Enough
- Nepal rescuers try to reach dozens trapped in tunnel as two pulled out alive and one found dead
- Global Heating Will Hit at Least 1.8 C, UN Warns, With “No Good Outcomes” (“A return to 1.5 C is possible, scientists say, if we implement deep, rapid emissions cuts and carbon removal.”)
- Grinding up fish to feed to fish is ‘absurd’: fears over UN aquaculture plan
- Why the Hugging Face Hack Should Make You Worry More About A.I. (“The attack by an aggressive “collective” of OpenAI agents shows the danger of artificial intelligence systems that organize themselves, Kevin Roose writes.”)
- America’s absence is inviting the war Europe fears most (David Ignatius, BTW, needs to get his ass out of the Bezos Post’s absolutely disgraceful/disgraced editorial page. WTF is he still doing there???)
- Dangerous Pattern of Russian Sabotage in Europe Risks Clash With NATO
- Europe calls out Russia’s ‘hybrid war’ in public. But how can it make Putin pay? (“Governments are now quicker to point the finger at Moscow, but critics say their inaction invites more sabotage”)
- EU’s ability to defend against invasion remains in doubt, finds official report
- Ukraine’s scramble to secure critical air defenses stalls
- Ukraine’s Next Goal Is to Shut Down Russia’s Commercial Airspace
- Europe’s Gold Fled the Nazis. Now It’s Fleeing Trump. (“Our allies once trusted America to safeguard their reserves. Now they worry the president might freeze them.”)
- U.S. ‘Economic Outcast’ operation gains momentum as EU joins sanctions; South Korea weighs military backing
- Vance says Iran fight isn’t a ‘war’ as Trump tries to navigate unpopular conflict as election nears
- The coming verdict on Trump’s Strait of Hormuz strategy (“The White House is at odds with some private sector analysts over how much oil is leaving the Strait of Hormuz — but it will take weeks until the picture of what’s truly getting through becomes clear.”)
- Vance says he doesn’t know when Iran conflict will end — it’s up to Iran
- Rusty state of USS Abraham Lincoln after marathon deployment shocks observers (“As the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln pulled into port in Thailand on Wednesday, observers were shocked by its appearance. The almost 1,100-foot-long warship was covered in rust from bow to stern.”)
- U.S. military reviewing deadly strike on Iranian wedding
- ‘Unimaginable grief’: Iranian town left devastated after strike on wedding (“Mourning turns to anger as residents of Kuhestak say Baloch communities are being placed in path of conflict”)
- “Declare Victory and Go Home” (“It was a real, if absurd, suggestion about Vietnam. Trump should take it to heart with Iran.”)
- Jordan’s alliance with the US makes the kingdom a target for Iranian strikes
- South Korea prepares Hormuz military deployment, media reports say
- Alon Ben-Meir | The limit of coercion: Israel’s strategic delusion (“A sustainable future cannot be built on the expectation that one side will vanish; it must rest on the recognition that both peoples are enduring, and that only a framework grounded in mutual rights, security, and dignity can bring this conflict to an end.”)
- Far-right Israeli minister outlines plan for removal of all Palestinians from Gaza (“Itamar Ben-Gvir claims proposal for illegal forced displacement of 2 million people is ‘realistic’ and ‘concrete’” Evil.)
- Israel says it has cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnels under key Lebanon ridge
- ‘This could just be the beginning’: minorities fear first far-right win in German state election
- Trump to use Qatari plane for international trip despite security worries
- Exclusive: Nigel Farage filmed undercover celebrating secret new foreign donations
- Argentine leader threatens to sanction oil firms and reiterates Falklands claim
- UK hits back at Argentinian Falklands claim and insists islands remain British (“Ed Miliband says Britain’s position remains ‘unwavering’ in response to remarks by Argentina’s president”)
- President Javier Milei says ‘winds of change’ support Argentina’s claim to Falkland Islands (“President cites Donald Trump’s suggestion that he might reconsider US support for British sovereignty, and threatens swifter sanctions on British oil interests”)
- The American seizure of Venezuelan oil is likely the first step in a familiar, unhappy chain of events. (“The American seizure of Venezuelan oil is likely the first step in a familiar, unhappy chain of events.”)
- Why Big Oil Is Wary of Trump’s Foray Into Venezuela’s Oil Patch
- Trump Cashes In on ‘Lake America’ Renaming With $55 Hats (Corrupt.)
- Romanian prosecutors indict Andrew Tate for trafficking minors, money laundering – Europe live
NATIONAL NEWS (“‘It’s inhumane’: six US deportees held in one of world’s most repressive regimes”; Flock Taught Cops How to Surveil No Kings Protesters; Fox News Media abruptly ousts longtime anchor Maria Bartiromo; etc.)
- ‘It’s inhumane’: six US deportees held in one of world’s most repressive regimes (“Believed to be first deportations to fourth country, the six face ‘horrific conditions’ in Equatorial Guinea, say lawyers”)
- Satellite Images Contradict Border Agency on Construction in Big Bend (“Our Visual Investigations satellite specialist tracked activity in the Texas national park and found evidence of patrol roads and vehicle barriers already being built.”)
- Federal prosecutor fired after investigating ICE officer for civil rights offenses in Minnesota shooting, sources say
- ICE agent charged with lying to investigators in nonfatal Minneapolis shooting
- The big August jobs report is due out Friday. Here’s what to expect for what has been a jobless summer
- Mortgage Rates Climb to Highest Level Since July 2025
- US diesel prices hit a record high of $5.85 on average as the Iran war disrupts the flow of fuel (A record in nominal, non-inflation-adjusted terms.)
- Trump again appeals to Supreme Court on mail-voting restrictions with midterm elections looming
- Judge Suggests Trump Mail-In Voting Rules Could Cause ‘Major Disenfranchisement’
- Ex-Trump Lawyer Sounds Alarm Over Donald Trump’s Plans To ‘Steal’ Midterm Elections
- Mail-in voting is kicking off, and Trump wants to restrict it. See how popular it’s become
- Editorial: Kennedy, Trump vaccine guidelines imperil children’s health (“Amplifying discredited claims about vaccines is putting public health, especially that of children, at tremendous risk.”)
- Democrats eye expanded Medicare coverage if they take U.S. House
- Democrats worry rising socialism turning off Hispanic voters
- Red tape, not his controversial past, could sink Trump’s Navy nominee (This is a great example of media failure; using the vague/neutralword “controversial” as opposed to “unhinged,” “extremist,” etc., which are FAR more accurate words to describe Hung Cao’s past comments.)
- Flock Taught Cops How to Surveil No Kings Protesters (“A Flock webinar teaches police how to surveil protests, fireworks shows, parades, bike races, and more.”)
- Trump to Break Ground on Arch Before Getting Approval
- Trump officials say work will start on triumphal arch within two weeks
- Trump Taps Army Engineering Official as Acting Secretary
- Trump announces Telle as acting Army secretary following Driscoll’s resignation
- Trump Names Adam Telle Acting Army Secretary After Driscoll Resignation
- Pentagon temporarily rescinds guidance on testosterone screening for US troops
- As Trump Throws a Midterm Party, Some Vulnerable Republicans Send Regrets
- When a nightmare scenario becomes the most likely scenario (“Things are now officially bad for Republicans. It’s just a matter of degree.”)
- ‘We’ve told them he cannot come’: Republicans grapple with how to handle Trump on the trail (“Interviews with more than two dozen GOP lawmakers, candidates and operatives show a party far from unified on how to handle the president in tough races.”)
- Leon Black fails to appear for US House deposition about Epstein ties
- MAGA Dimwit James Comer Blurts Out Bombshell: Trump Badly Screwing GOP
- Vance jokes about rubbing elbows with former president at Ground Zero: ‘Intense intellectual conversations’ (Vance is a seriously f’ed-up dude.)
- JD’s chivalry to Usha fools no one
- Gloria Steinem lived to see a powerful backlash against her vision of feminism
- Gloria Steinem personified America’s feminist movement
- Losing Gloria Steinem and the Freedoms She Fought For
- Bartiromo’s Fox Betrayal (“Fox News offered no explanation for Maria Bartiromo’s abrupt firing. But Status has learned what happened behind the scenes, and why it put the longtime host at odds with her own network.”)
- Fox News Media abruptly ousts longtime anchor Maria Bartiromo (“Bartiromo had been a host at the network for more than a decade and Fox gave no explanation for the decision”)
- Maria Bartiromo Out at Fox News, Fox Business
- Maria Bartiromo Leaves Fox News
- Trump trashes Paxton’s appearance after vowing to campaign for him in Texas
- Behind Closed Doors, John Fetterman Shows Little Interest in the Work of a Senator (“Poised to be a possible swing vote in a divided Congress, he churns through staff as he dodges constituents, alienates fellow Democrats and courts Israel lobby” Bizarre in every way.)
- Max Miller gets NRCC’s help on the airwaves (“The Ohio Republican facing allegations of domestic abuse is not on a list of national GOP priority candidates.”)
- Missouri court blocks Trump-backed US House map and orders it to be put to a vote
- Missouri Supreme Court puts Respect Missouri Voters plan on November ballot
- Maryland Supreme Court greenlights vote on Democrats’ 2028 gerrymandering plan
- Florida votes to ban undocumented students from state universities
VIRGINIA NEWS (Fascist Elon Musk backs MAGA Jen Kiggans; Subramanyam wiretapped by FBI; Beyer rips Arch “monstrosity”; Virginia localities pull Flock cameras; etc.)
- NEW: Elon Musk Pours Money Behind Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02) After She Backed His DOGE Cuts That Devastated Virginia (“No amount of money can rescue her from her own record of higher costs and health care cuts.”)
- Trump-Loving, Truth-Hating Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA01) Voted 60 Times to Repeal the ACA — Now Wants Credit for Trying to Save It (Wittman’s desperately, dishonestly trying to hide his horrible record; don’t let him get away with it!)
- Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA10) Calls Trump’s FBI/DOJ Monitoring His Phone Conversations with VA President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas “Deeply Concerning” (“We will not back down. We will continue our investigations into this President and his corrupt administration.”)
- House Democrat says his calls were wiretapped by FBI
- Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08) Rips Donald Trump’s “illegal,” gridlock-increasing,” “narcissistic,” “plainly illegal” Arch “monstrosity” (“This project is not even close to being ready for prime time.”)
- Pope & Schapiro: A primer on Virginia’s key midterm election contests
- Spanberger declines to call second special session for consideration of merger review extension
- Va. House speaker details ‘concerns’ about NextEra-Dominion merger in letter to state regulators (“More lawmakers join in call for Gov. Abigail Spanberger to set a special session on the merger, which would create the country’s largest utility.”)
- Veteran fraud investigator named Virginia inspector general
- At least 20 Virginia localities have pulled away from Flock Safety devices since July, with this week’s sweep of camera pauses and canceled contracts (“On Thursday alone, four localities in Central Virginia and the New River Valley announced that they would stop using the surveillance technology.”)
- The Politics Hour: Will Loudoun County push pause on data center development?
- Loudoun seeks legal opinion before ending data center grandfather protections (“Board debates whether move could lead to litigation”)
- How extreme heat puts pressure on infrastructure in Hampton Roads
- Restitution delivered for Virginia families in 6-year housing discrimination case
- FOIA Friday: Special prosecutor clears Franklin County officials in open-meetings investigation
- Roanoke tells city residents about data breach three months after it happened (“At that point, one affected person wonders, ‘Why bother?’ It was unknown Thursday how many were hit.”)
- With classes started, Roanoke school division provides final number of 148 eliminated jobs
- RVA Community fridges opens its 17th free fridge… and it can’t keep them full
- DC-area forecast: Hot Friday with another storm chance, then improving for holiday weekend
