Sunday News: “Touch of Evil”; “How to Sell Your Soul to Donald Trump”; “4 killed, 5 injured in a shooting at a Kansas bar”; R.I.P. Ginger Baker; SNL’s “Joker,” Mike Pence; “Rebounding ridership signals hope for Metro”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, October 6.

• ‘Sack me if you dare,’ Boris Johnson will tell the Queen
• Boris Johnson Doubles Down on No-Deal Divorce
• Tens of Thousands of Masked Protesters March: Hong Kong Update
• China is wrecking Hong Kong’s ideals. And it only has itself to blame.
• North Korea Calls Talks a Failure, but Washington Differs
• In the War Against Plastic, America Is a Big Danger
• 4 killed, 5 injured in a shooting at a Kansas bar
• Impeachment Fight Lurks as Supreme Court Tackles Divisive Issues (This is not going to be good.)
• Here’s How We Know the Supreme Court Is Preparing to Devastate Abortion Rights (“There’s no other reason for the justices to take up the Louisiana abortion case.”)
• World’s Best-Run Pension Funds Say It’s Time to Start Worrying
• Judge orders White House to preserve records of Trump’s dealings with foreign leaders
• Mounting evidence buttresses claims in whistleblower complaint
• These Republicans May Not Endorse an Impeachment Inquiry. But They Aren’t Saying No.
• Donald Trump’s Ukraine Scandal Has Its Roots in Russia (“Both situations stem from the President’s apparent willingness to accept political favors from foreign leaders, and his eagerness to do Putin’s bidding”)
• Scoop: Trump pins Ukraine call on Energy Secretary Rick Perry (Hahahahahaha, riiiiight.)
• Pompeo Defends Trump’s Ukraine Conspiracy Theory
• Diplomats angry and afraid as Ukraine controversy embroils Pompeo’s State Department (Wildly unacceptable.)
• The Only Issue Left Is Trump’s ‘Absolute Right’ to Solicit Collusion (In fact, Trump absolutely has ZERO right to commit crimes.)
• Barr and a Top Prosecutor Cast a Wide Net in Reviewing the Russia Inquiry (“The attorney general and a veteran prosecutor, John H. Durham, have charted an unusual course that could bolster President Trump’s pet theories about the Russia investigation.” Barr should be impeached, immediately.)
• When a Vice President Becomes a Threat (“The fragility of Mike Pence’s partnership with Donald Trump could soon be on high display.”)
• Susan Collins calls Trump’s invitation to China ‘completely inappropriate’
• Key GOP senators split with Trump on Biden investigation push (“Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Susan Collins (Maine), Ben Sasse (Neb.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) have raised concerns, to varying degrees, about launching a politically motivated probe into the Bidens.”)
• What Is Romney’s Next Move In His Spat With Trump? (“While the Utah Senator’s current position breaks from GOP ranks, he hasn’t gone so far as to support the impeachment inquiry.”)
• What Will Republicans Do If Trump Goes Down? (“If Pence is too unpopular or tainted to replace Trump as their leader, where could Republicans turn?”)
• How to Sell Your Soul to Donald Trump (“Mike Pompeo is just the latest lackey to teach a master class in moral surrender.” One good thing about all this, I guess, is that we’re finding out for sure who the worst people in America are.)
• Touch of Evil (“Washington, once the guarantor of American values, is a crime scene. This capital of white marble is now encircled by yellow tape, rife with mendacity, cowardice and corruption. It’s Chinatown on the Potomac.”)
• Trump calls for impeaching Romney after senator’s criticism
• Regular Hannity Guest John Solomon Joins Fox News as Contributor (The worst of the worst congregate at Fox.)
• The ‘Never Trump’ Coalition That Decided Eh, Never Mind, He’s Fine (As Jamelle Bouie tweets, “truly shocked that this whos who of grifters and apparatchiks would end up as foot soldiers for trump”)
• If Trump’s Rage Brings ‘Civil War,’ Where Will the Military Stand? (“The moment may come when soldiers have to choose between the Constitution and Donald Trump. No doubt most will embrace the Constitution. But some will see that as a tough call.” Every single one must stand with the Constitution, if it ever comes to that.)
• Joe Biden: Trump won’t destroy me, and he won’t destroy my family
• Top Biden Donors Gather Amid Storm Clouds Over Campaign (“Now fourth in the Democratic money chase and under fire from President Trump, Joseph R. Biden Jr. is increasingly dependent on his top donors, many of whom met in Philadelphia.”)
• Heart Attack Forces Sanders to Reset Campaign at Pivotal Moment
• Ginger Baker: Legendary Cream drummer dies aged 80 (R.I.P.)
• Tucker Carlson Criticizes Trump for Ukraine Call: “No Way to Spin This as a Good Idea”
• ‘SNL’ has Beck Bennett’s Vice President Mike Pence freaking out over impeachment
• SNL Turns Kate McKinnon’s Rudy Giuliani Into the Joker: ‘I Killed on Hannity!’ (“This week’s cold open sketch also featured guest star Matthew Broderick as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.”)
• Joshua Brown, key witness in Amber Guyger murder trial and neighbor of Botham Jean, shot to death in Dallas
• Video: Rep. Elaine Luria Talks Impeachment, Guns, Other Topics at Town Hall in Virginia Beach (“I didn’t spend 20 years in uniform defending our country…to watch our constitution be trampled on”)
• Audio: Former Rep. Scott “Petitiongate” Taylor (R) Supplies Case Study in How Far-Right “Propaganda Feedback Loop” Works (Not to mention a case study in “tribal epistemology”)
• Rebounding ridership signals hope for Metro, other transit (“Americans, especially in D.C. and New York, have taken millions more trips on public transportation this year. Is it the start of a trend?”)
• Editorial: As November vote looms, the stakes high for commonwealth (“Given that the outcome of these elections will chart a course for Virginia that will resonate for years to come, voters should turn out in droves on Nov. 5 — and we should be embarrassed if it does not. Commonwealth voters shouldn’t leave anything to chance, and instead spend time getting informed about local races, learning about the candidates and making plans to have their say.”)
• Washington Post Blasts VA Republicans For Complete Failure To Address Gun Violence
• Bob McNab: Annual report shows region strong, future promising (“Annual State of the Region report offers promising economic data and a region that could turn challenges into opportunities, argues Old Dominion University’s Bob McNab.”)
• Blue Virginia HD91 Poll: Martha Mugler (D) 53%-Colleen Holcomb (R) 47%
• This Va. teacher won’t use textbooks. His students succeed despite that — or maybe because of it. (“He prefers using primary sources, polls, data and budgets.”)
• Gordon C. Morse: Steadfast, measured, focused — that was Gov. Baliles
• COMMENTARY: Virginia Democrat’s drive to ratify ERA is decades too late (Hilarious – “Sideshow Bob” Marshall is baaaack, and of course he’s spewing his usual right-wing crap as always.)
• Lawyer found guilty of defrauding Virginia legislator, autism group (“David Miller, 70, conspired with his wife to embezzle more than $1.5 million by creating fake law firms that siphoned funds from then-Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax), SkyLink Aviation, and the Community College Consortium on Autism and Intellectual Disabilities.”)
• 1st of 2 Danville gang racketeering cases launches Monday in Roanoke federal court
• Video: One of These Things Is Not Like the Others (“Candidate rants against supposedly ‘religious practice’ of mindfulnesss, ‘teaching transgender IDEOLOGY’; Endorsements for Falls Church City School Board”)
• Considerable clouds and comfortably mild, with an occasional shower possible through midweek (“We could see some showers at times over the next several days, but the good dousing we really need may elude us.”)