In the Know: August 4, 2020

Days to the November Election:  91

DFL Action Center
Let’s get to work!
If you’d like to help the DFL Party fight for criminal justice reform, better schools, wages, our environment, and health care, Click here to get more involved!

Check out our brand new Biden for President merchandise in the DFL Store!
Click here to see our new shirts, signs, and stickers!

2020 Election
Mike Pence Gets Near-Instant Fact Check Over Mail-In Voting Hypocrisy, Huff Post
Trump’s bag of tricks comes up empty against Biden, Politico
Democrats think Ohio is within reach. But the GOP is confident Trump can win., CBS News

Agriculture
Farmers Business Network in Sioux Falls continues growth with $250M in new investments, Argus Leader
Minnesota nitrogen fertilizer restrictions to begin Sept. 1, INFORUM

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Ellison settles with two more landlords on evictions, Minnesota Lawyer
Minnesota sues rodeo for flouting coronavirus rules, City Pages

Congressional News
Pelosi, Mnuchin Signal First Glimmer of Progress on Stimulus, Bloomberg
Democrats to introduce legislation to tighten DHS intel oversight, Politico
Republicans struggle to break logjam on coronavirus relief, Politico
Warren asks SEC about insider trading in Trump’s Kodak pharmaceuticals announcement, Roll Call
Highway work at risk as Congress considers next recovery bill, Roll Call

Donald Trump
Asked About John Lewis’ Legacy, Trump Gripes He Didn’t ‘Come To My Inauguration’, Huff Post
The Self-Destruction of Donald J. Trump, Mother Jones
Twitter Users Stunned At ‘Full-Blown Lunacy’ Of Trump’s Wild Axios Interview, Huff Post
Watch the full “Axios on HBO” interview with President Trump, Axios
How Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Census Power Grab Throws Rural States Under The Bus, Talking Points Memo
Trump defends wishing Ghislaine Maxwell “good luck” in prison, Axios

Economy
Essential Food Workers Are at Unique Risk for COVID-19. Some Are Fighting Back. Eater
Judge Expands Virus Paid Leave Rule in Blow to Trump Agency, Bloomberg Law
About That Next Bailout: One Big Lesson from 2009, Politico
Top Federal Reserve official says US needs another lockdown to save economy, The Hill

Education
A crisis is looming for U.S. colleges — and not just because of the pandemic, NBC News

Environment
It’s Time for American Leaders to Wake Up to the Threat of Climate Change for the Good of the Planet and Business, Time Magazine
Rising temperatures will cause more deaths than all infectious diseases – study, The Guardian
Groups urge protection from ‘environmental racism’ in hazardous waste placement, The Detroit News

Governor Tim Walz
Walz again requests federal help to rebuild after unrest, KSTP
Walz asks feds for loans to help businesses damaged in civil unrest, Star Tribune
COVID-19 kudos: Walz gives districts control to plan new school year, St. Cloud Times
Metropolitan Council will seek new path for $1.5B Metro Blue Line light rail extension, Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal

Healthcare
New rural hot spots are ICU bed deserts, study finds, Politico
The Coronavirus Is Never Going Away, The Atlantic
Trump signs order aimed at boosting rural health care, telehealth, Politico

Minnesota News
Minnesota judge extends vote-by-mail changes prompted by coronavirus to November election, Star Tribune
Fire heavily damages hotel under construction in downtown St. Paul, Star Tribune
Rochester council puts added park funding in voters’ hands, Rochester Post Bulletin
Mankato police commit to additional reform, Mankato Free Press
Former Duluth city councilor, adman, author remembered for quiet leadership, Duluth News Tribune
Therapy services for deaf children and families now offered in Moorhead, INFORUM

Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
Bomb threat empties Angie Craig’s Burnsville office until all clear issued, Star Tribune

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Ilhan Omar Didn’t Expect “A Red Carpet Welcome” To Congress, Buzz Feed News
Rep. Ilhan Omar Wants To Bar Trump From Spending Clean Energy Funds On Dirty Projects, Huff Post

Republicans
Unemployment debate sparks GOP divisions, The Hill
Democracy Depends on the Postal Service More Than Ever. Republicans Won’t Help Fix It., Mother Jones
Tensions flare as GOP’s Biden probe ramps up, The Hill

Secretary of State Steve Simon
Minnesota sees record in mail-in ballots amid pandemic, Associated Press
Primary election amid pandemic sets stage for November, MPR

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Locals in entertainment industry applaud bill as a possible lifeline for live events during pandemic shutdown, Inforum

Senator Tina Smith
Minnesota senator proposes relief for independent turkey farmers, Meat and Poultry
Virtual Farmfest forums kick off Tuesday, Inforum
Sen. Tina Smith introduces marijuana reform bill focused on health, civil rights, Fox 9

Voter Protection
If you or someone you know has trouble registering to vote or casting a ballot, we encourage you to reach out to the DFL’s new Voter Protection Hotline at 833-DFL-VOTE (833-335-8683).

U.S. News
The Problem With the ‘Judeo-Christian Tradition’, The Atlantic
The U.S. is now playing by China’s internet rules, Axios
Census Bureau to End Counting Efforts a Month Early, New York Magazine
Fauci says states seeing surge in COVID-19 cases should reconsider some lockdown measures, Reuters
N.J. sees spike in COVID-19 cases as residents slack off on masks and social distancing, NBC News
After a gunman killed 9, Gov. DeWine heard chants of ‘Do something!’ and rolled out a plan. A year later, Ohio laws haven’t changed a bit., USA Today
Colorado police apologize over viral video of cops handcuffing Black girls in a mistaken stop, Washington Post

World News
‘We drink from the toilet’: migrants tell of hellish Saudi detention centres, The Guardian
Juan Carlos, Spain’s former king, leaving country amid corruption allegations, NBC News
North Korea has ‘probably’ developed nuclear devices to fit ballistic missiles – UN, The Guardian
We’re facing a ‘generational catastrophe’ in education, UN warns, CNN
American Journalists in Hong Kong Could Be Beijing’s Next Target, Bloomberg
Belarus ruler Lukashenko says Russia lying over ‘mercenaries’, BBC

Upcoming DFL Events

With the COVID-19 situation, we suggest you check with the hosting organization to see if meetings, etc. are being held.

  • Today through August 5, 5:00 PM — Window to apply for CD3 Nominees to become State Executive Directors and State Central Committee Members. Apply here.
  • Today through August 10 — Primary Election Early Voting Window, more information here.
  • Today through August 11 — Window for Candidates to Register with State for City Offices with No Primaries to Register
  • August 4, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • August 5
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meetings, contact them for specifics.
  • August 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • August 8
    • 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 1:00 to 3:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 4:00 to 6:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
  • August 9
    • 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 1:00 to 1:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 4:00 to 6:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
  • August 10
    • 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 1:00 to 1:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 4:00 to 6:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • August 11
    • 9:00 to 11:00 AM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 1:00 to 3:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 3:00 to 5:00 PM — CD3 DFL Coordinated Campaign Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
  • August 13
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • August 17
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for specifics.
    • 8:00 to 10:00 PM — DNC Convention — A United America, more information as it becomes available.
  • August 18, 8:00 to 10:00 PM — DNC Convention — Steady Leadership
  • August 19
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, tentative virtual meeting, specifics decided at July meeting
    • 8:00 to 10:00 PM — DNC Convention — A Future for All
  • August 20, 8:00 to 10:00 PM —DNC Convention — A New American Promise
  • August 29 — DFL State Central Virtual Meeting, this will be a full agenda meeting, more information as it becomes available