Wednesday News: Trump Shutdown Continues; Trump Trade War Pain to Hit in 2019; “Migrant boy dies in U.S. custody”; “Why the Trump presidency will end poorly”;

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, December 26.

• Economic growth is slowing around the world, feeding a financial sell-off (“Political turmoil in nations with leading economies — epitomized by the partial shutdown of the U.S. government and street protests in France — is further feeding investor anxiety.”)
• Asian stocks retreat as U.S. political tumult adds to growth worry (“Asian stock markets retreated again on Wednesday, extending a rout that began last week as U.S. political uncertainty exacerbated worries over slowing global economic growth.”)
• World Economy Is Set to Feel the Delayed Trade War Pain in 2019 (And the “sugar high” of Republicans’ idiotic tax cut for rich people and corporations will fade.)
• Arms Sales to Saudis Leave U.S. Fingerprints on Yemen’s Carnage (“Saudi-led airstrikes have killed more than 4,600 civilians in Yemen, according to a monitoring group. In Washington, that toll has stoked debate about the pitfalls of America’s alliance with Saudi Arabia, which relies on U.S. support to keep its warplanes in the air.” Time to cut off Saudi Arabia.)
• Migrant boy dies in U.S. custody; Trump vows shutdown will last until border wall is funded (Disgraceful in every way.)
• CBP orders medical checks after second child’s death
• Post-holiday, partial government shutdown to gain impact
• As Market Rout Continues, Trump Stands Firm on Fed, Border Wall (“President criticizes central bank’s rate increases, extends stalemate over border-wall funding; aides consider meeting with Powell”)
• The final days of Felipe Alonzo-Gomez, the 8-year-old migrant who died in US custody
• ICE dumps hundreds of migrants with nowhere to go at a bus station on eve of Christmas without warning shelters (Appalling.)
• Sermon that Trump heard on Christmas Eve featured cruel emperor, migrants seeking refuge (Fortunately for Trump, he is a sociopath with ZERO self awareness, so he probably won’t even realize that it’s relevant to him. Unfortunately for the rest of us, this scumbag is our “president.” WTF???)
• Japan to Resume Commercial Whaling, Defying International Ban (100% unacceptable, cruel, idiotic, etc.)
• Israel’s Extensive Syria Strike Signals: Business as Usual Despite Trump and Putin
• Hezbollah leaders targeted, reportedly hit in Israeli airstrike, U.S. official says
• Falling total fertility rate should be welcomed, population expert says (Absolutely, it’s great news for a change
  – “artificial intelligence, migration, and a healthier old age, meant countries no longer needed booming populations to hold their own…Having fewer children is also undoubtedly positive from an environmental point of view; recent research has found that having one fewer child reduces a parent’s carbon footprint by 58 tonnes of CO2 a year.”)
• Trump’s frustration with Mnuchin rising after failed attempt to calm markets, source says
• Why the Trump presidency will end poorly (“As we celebrate Christmastime amid an unnecessary and indefinite government shutdown and the worst December for the stock market since 1931, I’m reminded once again of my longstanding prediction: The Trump presidency will end poorly because character is destiny… his refusal to listen to advisors; his inability to bite his tongue; his demonization and belittling of senators who vote for his agenda; his rants against the 1st Amendment; his praise for dictators and insults for allies; his need to create new controversies to eclipse old ones; and his inexhaustible capacity to lie and fabricate history: All this springs from his nature.”
• Did a Queens Podiatrist Help Donald Trump Avoid Vietnam? (“The details of Donald Trump’s medical exemption from the military during the Vietnam War have long been a puzzle. A doctor who rented his office from the Trumps may be a missing piece.” BTW, note that Republicans are cool with a draft dodger as president, as long he’s a white Republican.)
• The Path to the Presidency Could Be Harder for White Democrats in 2020 (“An assessment of what happened in 2016 shows that Trump’s continued race-baiting might make his opponents’ task harder.”)
• 2018 Was A Terrible Year For The Press (“From the death of Jamal Khashoggi to Donald Trump’s attacks on journalists.” Every day that Trump is in the White House is an absolute disgrace to America.)
• Ex-Mossad Head: Russia Decided Trump Was Their Best Candidate, and Ran Him for President (“Russia chose the most advantageous candidate and used cyber bots to catapult Trump to the position of U.S. president, Tamir Pardo says”)
• Mattis works from Pentagon on Christmas, tells troops: ‘You hold the line’
• Black Voters, a Force in Democratic Politics, Are Ready to Make Themselves Heard
• Anti-Semitism is not just another opinion. The New York Times should know better.
• Democrats have 2020 decisions to make as they enter the new year
• Potential 2020 contenders compete for staff in key states
• The 10 Best Movies of 2018: K. Austin Collins’s List
• Fight over North Carolina race set to drag on for months
• 10 best “Saturday Night Live” political sketches of 2018 (I’d say Matt Damon as Brett Kavanaugh is #1. Also really enjoyed “It’s a Wonderful Trump.”)
• Virginia Politics 2019: A “Baker’s Dozen” Things to Keep a Close Eye On
• Editorial: Deal with state’s dangerous coal ash
• Robert B. Engel column: Before Amazon breaks ground, Virginia needs transparency around HQ2
• Ross Tyler column: When it comes to offshore wind in Virginia, smaller can be better – and more cost-effective (“…what appears to be a high cost for the [Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind] project actually paves the way for stable, lower costs as the much larger wind farms come online over the long haul.”)
• Peninsula chamber to strengthen partnerships to shape region in 2019
• Editorial: Eagles are a good comeback story; here’s why
• Study sees potential for convention center in Charlottesville area
• D.C.-area forecast: Dry weather into tomorrow, but of course it won’t last (“Our next chance of rain is always right around the corner, in this ridiculously wet 2018.”)