Saturday News: Time for an “Earthquake Election?”; McAuliffe Veto Reopens Door to Medicaid Expansion?

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, May 21. Also, check out President Obama’s weekly address, on “one of the single most important steps to help grow middle-class wages – expanding the number of workers who are eligible for the overtime that they have earned.”

• Why the Democrats’ Platform Actually Matters This Year (“It’s how Hillary and Bernie will make peace.”)
• There’s Still Time To Fix The World’s Most Pressing Environmental Problems, But Not Much (Unfortunately, most humans are in deep denial about the extreme urgency of this situation.)
• Trump’s supporters unleash anti-Semitic attack on New York Times editor (“Jonathan Weisman simply tweeted out someone else’s opinion piece on Trump bringing fascism to America”)
• The conservative crackup: How progressives can exploit the GOP’s implosion and attain an “earthquake election” (“Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg is optimistic that Trump will be a godsend if Dems play their cards right”)
• Oklahoma Governor Vetoes “Insane” Abortion Bill
• At NRA forum, Trump completes his transformation into a pro-gun voice (“The presumptive GOP nominee, who just a few years ago praised President Obama’s appeal for stronger gun control after the Newtown mass shootings, attacked Hillary Clinton Friday on gun reforms.”)
• Trump once revealed his tax returns. They showed he didn’t pay a cent.
• When it comes to lying, Trump is in a class by himself
• Secret Service agent shoots armed man outside White House
• Sanders should stop attacking Clinton (“These goals will be advanced by Sanders joining Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in a progressive assault against the dark vision of Donald Trump, not by saying things that Trump will quote to destroy progressives in November.”)
• Let’s Hear It for the Republican Senator Who Thinks the U.S. Needs More People in Prison (Where do wackos like Tom Cotton come from? Why does anyone vote for them???)
• Fears of a riotous Democratic convention are overblown: The DNC still has time to unify the party
• McAuliffe budget veto could open door for Medicaid expansion
• McAuliffe veto reopens Medicaid debate
• McAuliffe vetoes budget language meant to block Medicaid expansion (“Republicans say the veto by the Virginia governor is invalid and will not be reflected in the final budget bill.”)
• Virginia felons get smoother path to gun ownership along with voting rights (“Gov. Terry McAuliffe said shortening the process that felons go through to buy guns wasn’t part of his intention when he signed a measure restoring their ability to vote.”)
• Congressional candidates trade barbs but find some agreement during debate (“Two of the three men competing June 14 Republican primary in the 2nd Congressional District mostly agreed on what’s needed for national defense and the region’s military-focused economy during a noon debate Friday but traded jabs over personal attack ads and past actions.”)
• McAuliffe drops three vetoes, including primary care agreements
• Jobless rate in Virginia falls to 3.9 percent in April – lowest since 2008 (So much for Nikki Haley’s ridiculous comments the other day about Virginia supposedly taking a “nose dive” under Gov. McAuliffe. Partisanship at its most brain dead.)
• Rights Restored: Five Richmonders Talk About Being Able to Vote Again (“Gov. Terry McAuliffe restored voting rights to 206,000 felons last month — and 18,000 before that. Here are some of their stories.”)
• Metro dismisses 20 managers
• 9th District Democrats to pick nominee to challenge Rep. Morgan Griffith (“Southwest Virginia Democrats will converge in Wytheville on Saturday to pick their nominee for the 9th District Congressional race.”)
• FAA approves test towers for Pulaski County wind farm
• Forecast: Rainy and cool