Friday News: “Trump should be freaked out right about now”; “Cohen’s guilty plea could be the ‘beginning of the end of the Trump presidency’”; “Could the timing be right for a redistricting constitutional amendment?”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, November 29.

• ‘Individual 1’: Trump emerges as a central subject of Mueller probe (Hence, why Trump is freaking out! LOL)
• The Trump Organization Planned To Give Vladimir Putin The $50 Million Penthouse In Trump Tower Moscow (Just substitute the names “Obama” or “Clinton” for “Trump” and imagine the reaction on Fox, etc.)
• “Trump Was Totally Caught Off Guard by the Cohen Plea”: Inside Trumpworld, Some Fear Mueller Has Laid a Perjury Trap
• Trump should be freaked out right about now
• Three Remarkable Things About Michael Cohen’s Plea (“These developments would, under normal circumstances, end a presidency.”)
• Cohen Lied. Here’s Why It Matters (“With Michael Cohen’s latest deal, the special counsel shows he is unafraid of crossing Donald Trump’s red lines on Russia”)
• Trump Is Compromised by Russia (“Michael Cohen’s latest plea is proof.”)
• Trump Can’t Control the Process Anymore. It’s Unraveling on Him. (“Michael Cohen’s latest plea is a sign Robert Mueller is turning the screw.”)
• Robert Mueller Needs to Draw a Straight, Bright Line/a> (“Otherwise, Republicans can wiggle out of another scandal on the basis it’s too complicated.<“)
• Cohen’s guilty plea could be the ‘beginning of the end of the Trump presidency’ (“Impeachment is now a real possibility ‘even if the Democrats don’t want to do it,’ per a former high-ranking Obama official.”)
• Trump’s Unacceptable Campaign Conduct and Two Other Takeaways from the Cohen Plea
• Mueller’s Steady Stream of Russia Revelations Is Driving Trump Crazy
• What does Michael Cohen’s plea deal mean for Trump? I asked 9 legal experts. (“It’s bad, but it’s not clear how bad it is just yet.”)
• Mueller casts ‘dark cloud’ over Trump’s trip to Argentina
• Donald Trump Gave Russia Leverage Over His Presidency (“A foreign adversary has possessed potentially damaging information about the president for an extended period of time.”)
• Brazil backtracks on climate leadership with Bolsonaro set to take power (“Deforestation is up, activists are in danger, and now Brazil will no no longer host a key 2019 U.N. climate conference.” This is a disaster.)
• Trump Says “Everybody Knew” About His Moscow Tower Plans. That’s Not the Defense He Thinks It Is.
• Trump Judicial Nominee Set To Fail Amid Voter Suppression Charges (The fact that only a couple Republicans are voting against this guy tells you a GREAT deal about today’s Republican Party.)
• Michael Cohen’s Disclosures Raise Questions About Trump’s Business Interests
• U.S., China Explore Deal as Leaders Meet at G-20 Summit (“Washington would hold off on further tariffs and the two sides would discuss big changes in Chinese economic policy under the deal”)
• Paul Ryan Departing Washington in a Blaze of Fraudulence (The coverage of Paul Ryan over the years epitomizes so much that’s wrong with the corporate media…)
• When MAGA Fantasy Meets Rust Belt Reality (“Trump can’t run America by yelling at people. Who knew?”)
• Donald Trump appeals directly to men who suffer from “fragile masculinity,” psychologist finds (“‘The political process provides a way that fragile men can reaffirm their masculinity,’ Eric Knowles explains”)
• God help me, I’ve watched 10 hours of Fox Nation. Here’s what I learned.
• Let’s Pour One Out for Paul Ryan, the Biggest. Fake. Ever. (“The outgoing Speaker is a reprehensible fraud. Good riddance.”)
• Donald Trump Jr may face legal peril after Cohen admits lying to Congress (Don Jr. is a sociopath.0
• Republicans Are Running Riot in Lame-Duck State Legislature Sessions (“Power grabs and sick workers are the order of the day.”)
• Federal Employees Are Warned Not to Discuss Trump ‘Resistance’ at Work (Totally normal. Again, just imagine the reaction the right if Obama or Clinton had sent out a memo ordering federal workers not to discuss their feelings about them…)
• Far-right activist Laura Loomer handcuffed herself to Twitter’s NYC building; police removed her (“Twitter banned Loomer a week ago after she tweeted that Congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar was anti-Jewish and pro-Sharia law.”)
• Certification in limbo in N.C. House race as fraud investigation continues (“The North Carolina State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement has no plans to certify Republican Mark Harris’s 905-vote victory over Democrat Dan McCready, according to an agenda of a board meeting scheduled for Friday morning.” As the top WaPo comment says, “Republicans screaming their heads off about fraud while ballots are counted fairly in California. Meanwhile the only actual fraud found is a Republican candidate in North Carolina.”)
• U.S. agency apologizes to George Soros after broadcast called him ‘multimillionaire Jew’ (It’s not an issue of apologizing, it’s an issue of deep problems at that agency that need to be corrected!)
• Sheryl Sandberg Is Said to Have Asked Facebook Staff to Research George Soros (Lovely.)
• Sen. Warner: Cohen plea another example of Trump ally lying about Russia ties
• The Equal Rights Amendment has languished for decades. Virginia must put it over the top.
• Could the timing be right for a redistricting constitutional amendment? (“…some observers think the latest campaign is coming at an opportune moment: Republicans are facing the potential loss of their slim majorities in both chambers in next year’s House and Senate elections and might be inclined to play ball to avoid getting gerrymandered into irrelevance in a state that’s becoming bluer.”)
• Virginia anti-gerrymandering advocates unveil constitutional amendment ahead of push for 2020 voter referendum
• Va. NAACP supports some aspects of gas facility in historic black community, surprising opponents (This whole story is very weird…not sure I buy it, but of course wouldn’t put it past Dominion to basically bribe people, to lie, whatever.)
• What obstacles are left for the ERA? Virginia’s legislature — and other hurdles too
• Enrollment in Virginia’s expanded Medicaid program is beating projections
• Virginia firefighter sues employer after allegedly losing his job to anti-gay discrimination
• Metro was willing to work with Jason Kessler to provide special treatment for ‘Unite the Right’ rallygoers, emails show
• Editorial: Virginia’s public colleges pose some risks for state taxpayers
• Defense attorneys focus on Fields’ intent in Charlottesville rally fatality
• Friend of Heather Heyer – who was standing with her when car struck them – delivers emotional testimony at trial of James Fields
• Louisa residents evacuated after gas leak contaminates water supply
• Clouds and occasional showers accompany a slow warm-up through the weekend