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Virginia Families First Tour: A Resounding Success

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Blue Virginia
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3

From the VA Senate Democratic Caucus:

Virginia Families First Tour: A Resounding Success

Richmond, VA – Yesterday, the Virginia Senate and House Democrats have successfully concluded the first leg of the”Virginia Families First Tour,” a state-wide journey through the heart of our communities to discuss and showcase the recently designed bipartisan budget centered around the prosperity and well-being of Virginia’s families. House Appropriation Chair Luke Torian (D-Prince William) and Senate Finance and Appropriations Chair L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), and Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke) released the following statements:

“The Virginia Families First Tour was an invaluable opportunity to connect directly with our fellow Virginians. Engaging with citizens across the Commonwealth was profoundly meaningful, sharing insights and listening to their feedback. This tour underscored our dedicated effort in crafting a bipartisan budget with the genuine welfare of Virginia’s families at its core. It’s more than policy; it’s about our community’s future and the real lives it impacts,” Chairman Luke Torian remarked.

“This tour was much more than sharing our message; it was a vibrant showcase of our unwavering dedication to Virginians in every corner of the Commonwealth. Witnessing the excitement and heartfelt gratitude from Virginians as they discovered the details of our visionary bipartisan budget was nothing short of electrifying. Despite the governor’s attempts to label our budget as ‘backward,’ we’ve demonstrated forward-thinking governance. We’ve not only set a new benchmark for prioritizing families but have also ignited a wave of support across Virginia. Let me be clear: this is only the beginning. We’re on the brink of a transformative era for our Commonwealth,” Chair L. Louise Lucas stated.

“The Virginia Families First Tour wasn’t just a series of meetings; it was the embodiment of what true leadership looks like in action. By engaging in direct dialogue and showing an unwavering commitment to listening and understanding, we’ve demonstrated a gold standard for state leadership. This tour made it clear: when leaders prioritize the best interests of their citizens and act decisively, the entire Commonwealth stands stronger together,” said Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke.

“Seeing such a strong showing of support from Democratic leadership in Southwest Virginia was truly inspiring. It underscored the unity and determination we have as a party to reach every corner of our Commonwealth, especially our rural communities that stand to benefit greatly from this budget”, said Delegate Sam Rasoul.

Following a series of impactful stops—from Hampton Roads to Southwest Virginia—Democrats engaged with communities, demonstrating a transparent and direct approach to governance. The tour emphasized critical investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, ensuring every Virginian knows they are seen, heard, and prioritized.

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Video: Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07) Says If Speaker Mike Johnson Is Threatened with Ouster for Bringing Forth Ukraine Aid Bill, “I would absolutely vote to table that motion and shut it down”

By
lowkell
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2

Earlier today, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07) spoke with Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC. According to Rep. Spanberger, referring to this NY Times story (“Russia has intensified its online efforts to derail military funding for Ukraine in the United States and Europe, largely by using harder-to-trace technologies to amplify arguments for isolationism ahead of the U.S. elections, according to disinformation experts and intelligence assessments”):

  • “This aligns completely with what we know to be true of Russian behavior. There is a substantial information detailing how in the runup to the 2016 elections, the Russians endeavored to operate influence campaigns to divide the American people, to create  divisions, to create infighting, in an effort to have an impact on the…conversations related to our 2016 elections. That is well documented. And now, in advance of the 2024 elections, the fact that the Russians would be operating influence efforts to their own benefit in an effort to divide Americans over the issue of our support to Ukraine, is is a clear threat and challenge. The purpose here can be twofold: dividing Americans, creating domestic and political challenges and difficult discourse over issues and lies  created by the Russians. And if they are successful, not only have they succeeded at impacting the thoughts of of the American population, but their goal would be to see us not deliver aid to Ukraine, because the aid that we deliver to Ukraine helps our Ukrainian partners in their ability to defeat Vladimir Putin’s army and this war of horrific Russian aggression. And it is now more important than ever that members of Congress be the responsible adults in the room, explain to our constituents, explain to the American people why it is in our national security interest to continue supporting – along with our partners throughout the world – to continue supporting our Ukrainian allies as they fight their war not just for their own freedom but for the basic principles of democracy that the United States should want to consistently uphold, certainly at home and and with our allies.”
  • On Democrats potentially agreeing to protect Speaker Mike Johnson’s job in exchange for Ukraine aid, Rep. Spanberger said:  “If Speaker Johnson brings forth the bill, the National Security Supplemental that would fund our support to Ukraine – which I think is not just an an obligation but is also in our best interest – if Speaker Johnson were to bring this bill forward a bill that received 70 votes in the United States Senate and as result members of his Republican conference seek to oust him, I would absolutely vote to table that motion, because we need him to do his job, which is to bring bills that will pass for a vote. And if he were to bring that bill for a vote and and face a motion to vacate as a result, I would absolutely vote to table that motion and shut it down.”

Good answer. As horrible as Mike Johnson is, the bottom line is that we need to pass Ukraine aid ASAP, and helping Johnson do that is most definitely in our nation’s best interest.

Video: Speaking with Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04), “History Maker” Nancy Pelosi Talks About Breaking the “Marble Ceiling,” the Great Diversity of House Dems, Hakeem Jeffries Being Speaker “I’m hoping this year,” etc.

By
lowkell
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1

See below for video and highlights from a very interesting conversation between “history maker” former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04), the first African-American woman to represent Virginia in Congress.

  • Former Speaker Pelosi: “First of all, let me just say it was a marble ceiling – glass would be easy around here. This was a couple hundred years of everybody being in line, a pecking order; and so we had to sort of disrupt that. My advice to young women, or any women who are coming either out of school or out of the kitchen as I did to the Congress, is just be yourself – the authenticity of you, the individuality of you, is something so wonderful and so needed in our country; nothing is more wholesome to the political process or the governmental process than the increased participation and leadership of women. As you know and have contributed to so personally yourself, the other part of it is it’s tough, it’s not a for the faint of heart as you probably know…so know why know your why. I always say to people, know your why; if you know why you’re doing this… And when you know your why, it makes all the rest of it easy – you don’t even mind the slings and arrows, because you’re there for the children or in my case for the children.”
  • Former Speaker Pelosi: “I think we’re at a place, Jennifer – and by the way, we’re so rich with Jennifers from Virginia, aren’t we? Maybe more to come, who knows. But I think we’re at a place, whether it’s in entertainment or whatever, where we have to make our own future. And it’s not about incrementally women doing a little bit better, a little bit better, it’s about changing everything…When I ran for Whip, my first race in leadership, I had to leapfrog over all these ideas that people had about leadership here. And I think that everybody’s ready for women to be more. And look, in your case you came here just as your predecessor did, effective from the start. And I know that your experience in Virginia served our whole country well when you arrived. We’re so thrilled that you’re here.”
  • Former Speaker Pelosi: “…When I came, there were out of 435 members, 23 women – 12 Democrats 11 Republicans…So I made a decision being the former chair of the California Democratic Party that I knew how to win elections and we were going to be on a path to encourage, to help finance, to give confidence to women, to say we need you here…And now we have 94, we went from 12 to 94, I still want more and we’re going to get more….And it’s not just women…it’s women of color and other people of diversity. I’m so proud of the fact that our caucus is over 70% women, people of color and LGBTQ – it’s a remarkable thing. Now we want more and we must have the majority. And I’m so pleased that our leadership is so diverse. Any one of them could be Speaker – Hakeem will be, I’m hoping this year, but it may have to wait until next year, we’ll see – you never know with all the things that go on.”
  • Former Speaker Pelosi: “I think that I can say to you with great pleasure that you have lived up to every expectation and beyond, and you look like you enjoy it so much.”
  • Rep. Jennifer McClellan: “Oh I love it, I love every minute of it, even the crazy moments I love…I joke with my husband all the time…I knew I was going to make history as the first Black woman elected from Virginia, but I didn’t know how much history with ousting the Speaker…It’s been crazy but knowing that I’m making a difference on on such a bigger scale and there are a lot of good people here trying to do the right thing. The crazies just, they bog things down, but we keep working.”
  • Former Speaker Pelosi: “Well, you’ve come at an unusual time when we have so many women, of course that’s important..But the necessity of you’re being here when you see what’s happening on the other side…When I came we had much more collegiality and bipartisanship…The difference in values now is quite drastic…there’s some people we will never get, I mean they just don’t share our values in terms of
    respect for the dignity and worth of every person and to meet the needs of every person in our country.”
  • Former Speaker Pelosi: “I see the courage of our members here that just is astounding, because we have to vote our conscience, we have to vote the Constitution, we have to vote our constituents, and sometimes our constituents are not understanding the national issue…they’re not here to know what the choices are that takes courage.”

Thursday News: “Fears grow over Comstock Act, Justices Thomas, Alito”; “Biden taps Obama, Clinton for star-studded NYC fundraiser”; “Freedom Caucus chair [Bob Good] faces primary peril”; “With “arena dreams dashed,” Youngkin “now 0 for 3 on marquee economic development ventures”

By
lowkell
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23

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, March 28.

BREAKING: “The City of Alexandria has ended negotiations related to the Potomac Yard Entertainment District opportunity and the proposal will not move forward.”

By
lowkell
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25

So, with this statement by the City of Alexandria and its mayor, Justin Wilson…is the Potomac Yard arena project really dead now?!? Let’s hope!

The City of Alexandria has ended negotiations related to the Potomac Yard Entertainment District opportunity and the proposal will not move forward.

As stewards of the City’s economic health and development, City leaders believed the Potomac Yard Entertainment District opportunity was worthy of community discussion and Council consideration. We negotiated a framework for this opportunity in good faith and participated in the process in Richmond in a way that preserved our integrity. We trusted this process and are disappointed in what occurred between the Governor and General Assembly.

We engaged in substantial community engagement over the past months that informed our negotiations and would have made the proposal even better for our community. That continued conversation would have also allowed us to consider how a project of this scale could support our plans for growth and our community’s future.

Throughout this process, the City has been committed to ensuring that our role in this project not only added financial value but promised that our core values would remain an integral part of this opportunity. The City was adamant that any favorable consideration of the proposal included substantial and thoughtful improvements to the existing transportation system; included affordable housing; protect our stellar AAA bond rating; protect existing and future residents from financial risk; provided substantial future revenue for city and school services; protected existing neighborhoods; and provided quality jobs for our community. We are disappointed negotiations did not result in a proposal that protected our financial interests and respected these community values.

We are resolute in our commitment to ensure the City’s future is determined by our community. We will continue to pursue economic opportunities that improve our quality of life and economic health. Alexandria welcomes commercial investment, and our residents, businesses, and stakeholders deserve the chance to make educated decisions about how we continue to welcome new businesses to our city. We will continue to focus our efforts on bringing quality commercial opportunities to our community in the future.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08): Republican Budget Seeks Radical Transformation Of American Society, Is “a blueprint for a dystopian hellscape”

By
Blue Virginia
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1

From Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08)’s office – everyone should pay attention to this and vote accordingly!

Dystopian Republican Budget Seeks Radical Transformation Of American Society

March 27, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – Last week the Republican Study Committee (RSC) – the House GOP’s conference’s largest ideological conference, with 80 percent of House Republicans currently listed as members – issued a new budget for FY25 and beyond that called, among other things, for major changes and/or cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. The full document, as outlined below, contains wide-ranging policy proposals that would result in the radical transformation of American society.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee:

“The Republican Study Committee budget is a blueprint for a dystopian hellscape. The vision offered by this group, which counts 4 in 5 House Republicans as members, would see unbridled benefits flowing to a wealthy and well-connected few while tens of millions of Americans lose health care, housing, retirement security, and food security.

“Democrats believe there is a better way to get our fiscal house in order without betraying our values. That starts with making smart investments in our people and our future while demanding that the rich and large corporations pay their fair share in taxes. The contrast between the Democratic approach and this Republican budget could not possibly be clearer.”

Some of the changes proposed by the RSC budget:

Drastic cuts to Americans’ health care

The RSC budget would dramatically weaken health care in the United States with major cuts and changes to key programs, including proposals that would:

  • Turn Medicare into a voucher plan, eliminating seniors’ coverage guarantee (p. 100);
  • Raise Medicare costs for beneficiaries by repealing Inflation Reduction Act provisions allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, and by repealing caps on insulin prices and out-of-pocket drug expenses for seniors (p. 92);
  • End key Affordable Care Act protections for people with pre-existing conditions, allowing insurance companies to discriminate against patients (p. 89);
  • Repeal tax subsidies for Affordable Care Act exchanges, imperiling health care coverage for tens of millions of Americans covered by the ACA and Medicaid (p. 88); and
  • Transform Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) into block grants to states, eliminating coverage and cutting benefits millions of Americans rely on, in particular low-income families and children (p. 94).

Wide-ranging attacks on reproductive rights

The RSC budget endorses numerous pieces of legislation to restrict or ban reproductive rights, including bills that would:

  • Ban abortion nationwide without exception (p. 75);
  • Ban abortions for active duty servicemembers and veterans (pp. 75-76);
  • “Provide 14th amendment protections” to all “human embryos” without exception, effectively banning access to in vitro fertilization (p. 75);
  • Ban safe abortion pills including mifepristone (p. 75); and
  • Make huge cuts to federal funding for contraception (pp. 75-76).

Cutting Social Security and gutting the social safety net

The RSC budget would cut Social Security and devastate programs and services that low-income Americans depend on for food and housing:

  • Raises the retirement age for Social Security, a benefit cut for Americans currently in the workforce (p. 109);
  • Makes huge cuts to nutrition programs that feed low-income Americans, particularly children, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Special Milk Program (pp. 40-46); and
  • Increases housing costs by slashing funding for affordable housing (p.44).

Cutting taxes for the wealthy, by a lot

Most Americans would see draconian cuts if the proposals in the RSC budget were enacted, but the wealthy and large corporations would do extremely well under the budget’s tax proposals:

  • Making the Trump tax cuts for individuals permanent, lowering taxes for millionaires and billionaires compared to current law (p. 29). CBO estimates this would cost $1.8 trillion.
  • Further cutting taxes for the wealthy by indexing capital gains taxes to inflation (p.31), estimated to cost $100-200 billion over a decade with 86 percent of benefits flowing to the wealthiest 1 percent of households;
  • Permanently repealing the estate tax, giving a tax break that would only benefit individuals with net worth over $13.6 million, with a cost that CBO estimates will rise to nearly $50 billion per year by 2031.
  • Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act’s corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT), allowing the largest corporations to effectively pay little or no federal taxes (p. 27). CBO estimates the CAMT will yield $222 billion over the decade following its passage.
  • Eliminating IRS funding for increased tax enforcement intended to prevent the wealthy from avoiding paying their fair share of taxes (p. 27). The IRS projects that these investments will yield hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue over the coming decade.

Weaken public health, public safety, and environmental protections

The RSC budget proposes cuts that would do deep and lasting harm to public health and safety, in addition to the grievous economic damage felt keenly in red states:

  • Eliminates green tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act (p. 33) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (pp.169-170), which particularly benefit communities in red states. Also eliminates funding for mass transit (p. 138) and other transportation and infrastructure investments that improve air quality and public health (pp. 138-139);
  • Reduces funding for local law enforcement agencies by cutting Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding for American communities (p. 148); and
  • Repeals funding for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, increasing the risk of death from suicide, homicide, and accidents in American communities (p. 79). Also includes gun deregulation proposals that make it easier for dangerous persons to acquire firearms (p. 79).

REPORTS: Youngkin – Under Pressure from Big Pharma to Veto Bipartisan Legislation to Lower the Cost of Medicine – Took Nearly $300,000 from the Industry 

By
Blue Virginia
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2

From Freedom Virginia:

REPORTS: Youngkin – Under Pressure from Big Pharma to Veto Bipartisan Legislation to Lower the Cost of Medicine – Took Nearly $300,000 from the Industry

News Reports Show Youngkin Took Nearly $300K in Big Pharma Donations, Declines to Say Whether He Will Sign Bipartisan Bill to Create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board 

In case you missed it, Dogwood last week reported that “in total, [Governor Glenn] Youngkin and his associated political action committees have raised nearly $300,000 from pharmaceutical companies and executives during his career.”

The news comes on the heels of POLITICO’s reporting that the governor is now meeting with industry lobbyists who are pressuring him to veto bipartisan legislation that would lower the cost of medicine.

The governor faces an April 8 deadline to act on HB570 and SB274. The companion bills, which passed both chambers of the General Assembly with bipartisan support, would establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) with the power to create upper payment limits for certain high-priced prescription drugs.

POLITICO reported, “the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, an industry group whose members include AstraZeneca and Regeneron, is speaking with Youngkin’s office to emphasize ‘the negative ramifications of the legislation,’ and plans to continue discussions in the coming weeks. Merck is also meeting with Youngkin, the company confirmed.”

Merck produces Januvia, which is used to treat diabetes. The drug is so costly that it was one of 10 drugs selected for the first round of Medicare price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act. It is also within the top twelve drugs with the fastest-growing year-over-year Wholesale Acquisition Costs (WAC’s) in Virginia.

The POLITICO article also noted that “the Rare Access Action Project, a patient group funded by drugmakers … will continue talking to lawmakers and the governor in an attempt to secure a veto.”

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), another industry group, testified against the legislation as it moved through the committee process this year.

According to Dogwood, “Just months after House Republicans killed [the 2023 Prescription Drug Affordability Board] bill, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), donated $60,000 to Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC”.

Youngkin has repeatedly declined to state whether he will sign the legislation.

“Governor Youngkin has a real opportunity to make medicine more affordable by signing this bipartisan bill, but these new reports raise serious questions as to where his loyalties lie,” said Freedom Virginia’s Executive Director Rhena Hicks. “Will the governor stand with pharmaceutical companies who fund him, or with Virginians who are rationing their prescriptions? I guess you could call it the $300,000 question.”

A recent poll from AARP Virginia found three-quarters of Virginia voters want their legislators to pass a PDAB, including 85% of Democrats, 71% of Republicans and 70% of Independents. A 2022 Mason-Dixon poll showed similar support for the proposal in the six regions of the Commonwealth.

PDABs have been established in both Republican and Democratic administrations across eight states, including most recently in Minnesota and Colorado.

The Virginians for Affordable Medicine Coalition last week took their “Make Medicine Affordable” mobile billboard tour to Roanoke and Charlottesville, where community members rallied to call on the governor to sign the legislation. The tour will make its final stop in Richmond on April 3.
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Freedom Virginia is a nonpartisan 501(c)4 organization committed to building a Commonwealth where all Virginia families have the freedom to thrive. Freedom Virginia advances economic security policies through grassroots activism, voter engagement and legislative advocacy. Our efforts began in 2020 and since then we’ve pushed for a more economically secure Virginia by sharing real stories about Virginians’ lack of access to affordable healthcare, education, energy, and the need for policies that foster more safety for families. Visit our website at freedomva.org to learn more. 

VA Senate Democrats: Youngkin “blatantly disregards the safety and well-being of our communities by opposing common sense gun safety measures.”

By
Blue Virginia
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3

From the VA Senate Democrats:

Senate Democrats Responds to Governor’s Firearm Violence Prevention Vetoes

RICHMOND, VA – Yesterday, Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed 30 crucial gun violence prevention bills, challenging the state’s efforts to enhance public safety. The Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus leadership issued the following statements calling out the Governor’s lack of care for public safety.

“The Governor’s interest in public safety apparently does not extend to protecting Virginia’s from firearm violence.  Today, he vetoed bills to keep AR-15’s out of the hand’s of convicted stalkers, violent boyfriends, and rejected bills to give police the tools to take guns away from children to who threatened to shoot up their schools.  Red flags orders are supported by 80% of Virginians, but Governor Youngkin instead chose to appeal to the MAGA base,” said Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell.

“Governor Youngkin’s latest veto sends a clear message: he blatantly disregards the safety and well-being of our communities by opposing common sense gun safety measures. This action isn’t just a political statement; it’s a dangerous refusal to acknowledge the critical need for reforms that protect us all. Unfortunately, we have a governor who chooses to prioritizes political interests over the lives and safety of the people he swore to serve,  said Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke.

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Trump’s Litmus Test for Hires: Believing The Big Lie

By
Blue Virginia
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2

From the Biden/Harris campaign:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2024

Trump’s Litmus Test for Hires: Believing The Big Lie

Election denying, loyalty pledges, political violence, and ending democracy

It wasn’t enough for Trump to install two election-denying loyalists as heads of the RNC – new reporting reveals that parroting Trump’s lies that the 2020 election was stolen is a litmus test for getting hired at the RNC.

Donald Trump’s divisive, violent, and dangerous version of America is shaping up to be far worse than when he was president:

  • If you want to work for Trump you have to endorse his 2020 election lies
  • Moderates and independents aren’t MAGA, so the GOP must “rid” and kick them “out” of Trump’s Republican Party, and Nikki Haley supporters are “barred” from his campaign
  • Violent January 6th rioters are “political prisoners” and “hostages”
  • Pardons for those who committed violence on January 6th in support of his 2020 election lies
  • A “bloodbath” if Trump loses reelection
  • Trump as a dictator and calling for the “termination” of the Constitution
  • Anyone who opposes Trump is “vermin”

There shouldn’t be any doubt – Donald Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party is complete and there isn’t room for anyone who doesn’t endorse his stolen election lies and accept political violence in his thirsty quest for power.

Biden-Harris Spokesperson Ammar Moussa released the following statement:

“In Donald Trump’s America, elections are only fair when he wins and nothing is off the table to stay in power – including violence like on January 6th and being a dictator on day one. And, now, Donald Trump is demanding fealty to his extreme, anti-democratic beliefs to be part of his Republican Party.

“Americans don’t want his lies, attacks on democracy, calls for violence, or dangerous agenda. America wants to move forward, and so does Joe Biden, to strengthen America instead of tearing it down.”

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Paid for by Biden for President

Wednesday News: “Anti-Abortion Zealots Flex Their Biblical Muscles at SCOTUS”; “Trump Goes on Bizarre Rant About ‘CROOKED JOE BUDEN’ Who ‘DISINFORMATES AND ‘MISINFORMATES’”; Right Wingers “baselessly linking the collapse of the bridge to DEI, immigration, and terrorism”

By
lowkell
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24

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, March 27.

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