In the Know: January 18, 2019

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison interview series: Part 1, Insight News

Congress
Where’s Mitch? McConnell keeping his head down during government shutdown, USA Today
Senate GOP blocks bill to reopen Homeland Security, The Hill


DNC
DNC: Target of Russia cyberattack after 2018 midterms, Politico

Economy
Why Is the IRS Auditing the Poor More Than the Rich?, The American Prospect
The Right’s Case Against Soaking the Rich Is Dirt Poor, New York Magazine
Whose Recovery Was It?, The American Prospect

GOP Government Shutdown
President Trump Canceled Nancy Pelosi’s Trip to Afghanistan Over the Shutdown Fight, Time
For Minnesota officials, plenty of angst — but few options — when it comes to helping those affected by the shutdown, MinnPost
Paypal is putting shutdown border wall politics aside to help government workers, USA Today
‘Problem Solvers’ and problem pointer-outers: Minnesota’s Democrats embrace different approaches to trying to end the shutdown, MinnPost
President Trump Cancels U.S. Delegation’s Upcoming Trip to Davos, Citing Shutdown, Time

Minnesota Legislature
Reality Check: The ‘Per Diem’ Perks Of Minnesota Lawmakers, WCCO

Minnesota News
Legislative Auditor issued rare subpoena to state agency, MPR
Minnetonka schools, Jewish community denounce photo of Nazi salute, sign, Star Tribune

Mueller Investigation
Trump ‘instructed lawyer to lie’ sparks investigation pledge, BBC
Trump calls Cohen a liar after bombshell BuzzFeed report, The Hill

News of the World
Jimmy Carter marks 40 years of US diplomacy with China, Star Tribune
Sudanese police fire on protesters demanding president step down, The Guardian
Zimbabwe cuts internet indefinitely amid violent crackdown, BBC
Bolsonaro pressures Venezuelan leader with vow to ‘re-establish democracy’, The Guardian

Representative Angie Craig
New Democrats Added to House Ag Committee, The Progressive Farmer

Representative Betty McCollum
US lawmaker opposes drilling permit work during shutdown, Washington Post

Representative Collin Peterson
READER LETTER: Rep. Peterson helps those with Alzheimer’s, Hutchinson Leader

Secretary of State Steve Simon
Bid to get Minnesota federal election security money picks up early in session, Star Tribune

Senator Tina Smith
A Democratic senator wants to protect federal contractors — the people most screwed over by the shutdown, Vox

Trump
Space Force: President Trump says he wants a ‘space-based missile defense layer’, USA Today
How Jared Kushner Tried to Stop Me From Running the Trump Transition, Politico

Wisconsin
Federal judge strikes down lame-duck changes to Wisconsin voting laws, MPR

Upcoming DFL Events

  • January 18, 12:00 to 1:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • January 19, 10:00 to 11:00 AM — Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Listening Session, Southshore Community Center, 5735 Country Club Rd, Shorewood, MN
  • January 21 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • January 22, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD34 DFL Executive Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available
  • January 23, 5:00 to 8:00 PM — SD11 Special Election Phone Bank, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN 55439. More information and RSVP here.
  • January 25, 12:00 to 1:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • January 26
    • 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — SD33 DFL Strategy Working Session, contact the SD33 Chair for specifics
    • 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — SD36 Town Hall with Sen. John Hoffman, Speaker Melissa Hortman and Rep. Zack Stephenson, Mississippi Room, Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445.
    • 11:00 to 12:00 PM — DFL Train to Win Conference Call:  What’s Your Local Unit Plan in 2019? Contact the State DFL for specifics on how to phone into the conference call.
  • January 28, 5:00 to 8:00 PM — SD11 Special Election Phone Bank, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN 55439. More information and RSVP here.
  • January 29
    • 6:30 to 7:30 PM — Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Listening Session, Chanhassen Public Library, 7711 Kerber Blvd, Chanhassen, MN
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Brooklyn Park DFL, Mad Jack’s Restaurant, Party Room, 8078 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
    • 7:00 to 8:00 PM — SD49 Town Hall, Edina City Hall, 4801 W 50th St, Edina, MN 55424, with Sen. Melisa Franzen, Rep. Heather Edelson and Rep. Steve Elkins
  • January 30
    • 5:00 to 8:00 PM— SD11 Special Election Phone Bank, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN 55439. More information and RSVP here.
    • 6:30 to 7:30 PM — Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Listening Session, Westonka Public Library, 2079 Commerce Blvd, Mound, MN
  • January 31, 6:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Trivia Night, party room, Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies, 8061 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Join them for pizza and drinks at our first ever trivia night! $15 per person or $25 per couple. Covers pizza and one drink ticket.
  • February 2, 12:00 to 1:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • February 4, 5:00 to 8:00 PM — SD11 Special Election Phone Bank, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN 55439. More information and RSVP here.
  • February 5
  • February 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • February 8, 12:00 to 1:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • February 10, 1:00 to 2:00 PM — SD40 DFL Book Club Meeting, contact SD40 DFL for more information
  • February 11
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Council Chamber, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM  — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
  • February 12, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD34 DFL Central Committee Meeting,  more information as it becomes available
  • February 13
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, Kennedy High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD45 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Crystal City Hall, 4141 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55422
  • February 14 — Valentine’s Day
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Minnetonka Mills Room, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345.
  • February 15, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.
  • February 19 — Presidents’ Day
  • February 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chamber, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • February 22, 12:00 to 1:00 PM —Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance at the corner of Brookdale Blvd. and Xerxes Avenue in Brooklyn Park. Join him if you can.