Wednesday News: “Why the U.S. economy is beating the world”; “GOP Blames Biden for Border Crisis That GOP Refuses to Solve”; “Why MAGA fears Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl”; “Senate Democrats move to block Youngkin’s parole board chair”
by Lowell
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, January 31.
- ‘Smoking gun proof’: fossil fuel industry knew of climate danger as early as 1954, documents show
- Zelensky to oust Ukraine’s top general amid tension over new mobilization
- Boris Nadezhdin: Putin challenger submits bid to run for Russian president
- As Ukraine seeks to replenish its depleted army, a divide grows among its civilians
- Family members of hostages in Gaza storm into Israeli parliament
- Israel Raids West Bank Hospital as Clashes Erupt With Hamas in Northern Gaza (“The raid, by a small team wearing medical garb, came as Israel confirmed it was trying to flush militants out of tunnels with seawater and had renewed fighting in northern Gaza.”)
- Netanyahu Puts Political Survival Ahead of Tough Decisions on Gaza
- Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah suspends attacks on US forces
- Iran threatens to respond to any US strikes as Biden weighs how to react to a base attack in Jordan (“The U.S. has signaled it’s preparing for retaliatory strikes in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also injured at least 40 troops.”)
- Biden says he has decided how US will respond to Jordan drone attack
- China Leads Global Clean Energy Spending, Which Record $1.8 Trillion in 2023
- China Says Trump Could Abandon Taiwan If He Wins US Election
- How Washington is preparing for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan
- China’s hackers are preparing to ‘wreak havoc’ and ’cause real world harm’ to Americans: FBI Director
- Prospect of Trump 2.0 Has Europe Scrambling on Military Spending
- Imran Khan: Former Pakistan PM and wife Bushra Bibi jailed for corruption
- Why the U.S. economy is beating the world (“America’s outperformance is rooted in its distinctive structural strengths, policy choices, and some luck. It reflects a fundamental resilience in the world’s largest economy that is easy to overlook amid the nation’s problems.”)
- Federal Reserve is likely to show little urgency to cut interest rates despite market’s anticipation
- US sees record syphilis cases as funding cuts threaten to worsen epidemic
- It’s time for the Fed to cut interest rates
- The Rise of Techno-authoritarianism (“Silicon Valley has its own ascendant political ideology. It’s past time we call it what it is.”)
- The ‘Take Our Border Back’ Convoy Is Already a Complete Mess
- The historically familiar subtext to fears about immigrants to the U.S.
- GOP Blames Biden for Border Crisis That GOP Refuses to Solve
- Why Mike Johnson Is Praying the Senate Doesn’t Pass the Immigration Bill
- Texas Still Refuses to Budge in Its Border Standoff With Biden
- Anti-DEI bills targeting colleges have surged since 2021
- The Hits to What’s Left of the Voting Rights Act Just Keep Coming (Horrible.)
- The ‘Profound Influence’ of Christian Extremists on Mike Johnson
- House Democrats close ranks against “bulls**t” Mayorkas impeachment
- In Partisan Vote, House Panel Approves Impeachment Charges Against Mayorkas (100% bullshit and should be reported as such.)
- Trump Has Devoured the Republican Establishment
- Republicans need a Plan B if Trump is convicted
- Trump’s PACs Spent Roughly $50 Million on Legal Expenses in 2023
- Exclusive: Hotelier Robert Bigelow gives Trump $1 million for legal fees (Enabling the end of US democracy.)
- Trump’s mobilizing his “prayer warriors”: Religion scholar on what MAGA means by “spiritual warfare”
- Trump Risks Losing More Than Half of Swing-State Voters If Found Guilty
- Biden Faces Blame for Border Crisis, Swing-State Voter Poll Shows (It’s definitely not Biden’s fault.)
- Nine New York Jurors Saw Trump for Who He Really Is
- The Grim Aftermath of the E. Jean Carroll Verdict (“Throughout the defamation trial, Donald Trump eroded the distinction between the court and the court of public opinion.”)
- DeSantis super PAC quietly funnelled money into anti-Trump group
- Biden mocks Trump during Florida fundraiser
- Trump Allies Pledge ‘Holy War’ Against Taylor Swift (Completely deranged.)
- Conservatives’ Taylor Swift Conspiracies Reach New Heights
- The Right Has Truly Outdone Itself With This Taylor Swift Football Stuff
- US rightwing conspiracy theory touts Taylor Swift as ‘Pentagon asset’ (“Far-right influencers make absurd claim singer an ’election psyop’ to ‘manipulate’ voters after ‘rigged’ Super Bowl favors Chiefs”)
- Why MAGA fears Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl
- RFK Jr. is still drawing more backing from Trump donors, even as an independent (As he should; he’s a right-wing conspiracy-theory nutjob.)
- Judge orders Tesla to undo Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package
- Jeffries raised more than $113M for House Democrats in 2023
- Hunter Biden Got Charged in Gun Case ‘For Partisan Political Reasons’ by Prosecutors Who ‘Succumbed’ to Trump: Court Filings
- Prosecutor in Trump Georgia case settles divorce ahead of testimony
- Illinois elections board dismisses effort to remove Trump from ballot
- Disturbing Bill Would Let Arizona Legislators Ignore Election Results
- Scoop: Democratic governors rake in record cash ahead of 2024
- Haley’s Hail Mary strategy depends on open primaries
- Florida bars transgender residents from changing gender on driver’s licenses
- Abrams-founded Fair Fight lays off staff, pares back services amid mounting debt
- Inside Kyrsten Sinema’s reelection decision: Will ‘voters even care’ about her record?
- Progressive congressman’s personal blog promoted 9/11 conspiracy theories (Nutjob. Get him outta there!)
- Sen. Mark Warner shares 3 major concerns about the 2024 election
- Kaine For Virginia Has $7.7M On Hand Heading Into Election Year, Raising $1.5M In Q4 (“Virginians are united with Tim Kaine in his passion to deliver results for everyday folks.”)
- Video: Sen. Tim Kaine Rips Donald Trump for His “Abhorrent” “Blame America First” Rhetoric re: Attack on US Servicemen in Jordan (Sen. Kaine also calls House GOP impeachment of Alejandro Majorkas “laughable” and “going nowhere”)
- Affordable Virginia Releases New Ad Calling Out Rep. Jen Kiggans for Voting to Cut Child Care Funding (“We are demanding Congresswoman Kiggans stop siding with corporations and the ultra-wealthy”)
- Senate Democrats move to block Youngkin’s parole board chair
- Virginia Senate panel votes to reject Youngkin nominations of parole board chair, GOP staffer
- Dominion wind project gets final 2 permits
- Report: Virginia Families, Employers Continue to Face Rising Health Insurance Premium and Deductible Costs Despite State Health Care Spending that is Below the National Average
- Legacy admission ban bills pass through General Assembly
- Dels. Bulova, Seibold file bills to fight invasive species like lanternflies, kudzu
- Stoney discusses education spending during State of City address
- General Assembly grapples for consistent rules on ‘skill games’
- Stoney ‘proud to have helped rewrite Richmond’s story’
- Suzanne Youngkin starts fentanyl awareness campaign in Roanoke
- House committee delays action on study of menhaden in Chesapeake Bay
- Russell County residents come out in force to oppose plan for landfill
- Editorial: Quality of Life survey offers interesting insight into Hampton Roads
- Portsmouth City Council members stay mum on decision to rescind city assessor hire
- Study shows more needs to be done to make Fairfax County Park Authority services accessible to all residents
- Developer says hospital project in Patrick County can’t move forward without additional funds
- Missing man may be connected to Virginia Beach Fishing Pier crash, police say
- D.C.-area forecast: Some clouds and a slight chill today, sunny and warmer tomorrow