In the Know: July 27, 2020

Days to the November Election:  99

2020 Election
Trump to discuss energy, tour oil rig, raise money in Texas, Associated Press
CNN Polls: Biden leads in three key states Trump won in 2016, CNN

Agriculture
Why a new generation of Black farmers is getting into the business, CNN
Vertical Farms Fill a Tall Order, Wall Street Journal

Attorney General Keith Ellison
The Minnesota lawsuit against Big Oil is about environmental protection — but also racial justice, MN Reformer

Congressional News
Record number of Black women are running for U.S. Congress, NBC News
Stalled US recovery leaves Congress no margin for error, CNN

Dan Feehan, CD1 DFL Candidate
U.S. Rep. Hagedorn Votes Against Removing Confederate Statues From U.S. Capitol, Minnesota Reformer
Hagedorn gets corporate blowback from BLM comments, Brainerd Dispatch
DFL Action Center
99 Days OUT – 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!

Donald Trump
How Trump’s Use of Federal Forces in Cities Differs From Past Presidents, NY Times
Trump’s national security adviser tests positive for Covid-19, NPR
Reagan Foundation asks Trump campaign and RNC joint fundraising committee to stop using Reagan’s likeness in fundraising pitch, CNN
Trump now says he won’t throw first pitch at Aug. 15 Yankees game, Politico
COVID-19 school guidance from Trump and the CDC paints teachers as villains, NBC News

Economy
Eviction Bans, $600 Unemployment Payments, And Student Loan Forbearance: Here’s When The Key Benefits Of The CARES Act Expire, Forbes
Trump Officials Float Idea of Narrow Bill to Extend Unemployment Benefits, New York Times

Education
In Reversal, Trump Says Schools In Coronavirus Hot Spots Should Delay Reopening, NPR
Teachers Are Growing More Concerned About COVID-19 Exposure, Poll Finds, US News & World Report

Environment
Your Used Mask Needs to Make It to the Trash Can, New York Times
Where extreme heat and Covid-19 collide, experts fear a dangerous recipe for at-risk communities, CNN

Governor Tim Walz
Twin Cities teachers unions demand schools stay closed this fall, Pioneer Press

Health Care
3 Scenarios for How the Pandemic Could Change U.S. Health Care, Harvard Business Review
Minnesota COVID surge continues, Duluth News Tribune

Immigration
Judge denies attempt to stop order requiring release of children in immigration custody, CNN
Judge faults Trump administration’s response to DACA ruling. Politico

Joe Biden
Biden campaign ramps up for 100-day push, NBC
My Statement on the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Medium

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

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan
Monuments at Minnesota Capitol under review following creation of two new task forces, KTTC
The pandemic, racial health disparities, Enbridge Line 3, native names, fly-swatting, Star Tribune

Minnesota News
Couple wears Nazi flags inside Walmart to protest face mask mandate, MN Reformer
Twin Cities Black clergy hope to harness white churches’ renewed concern about racism, Star Tribune
Storms fueled by tropical moisture cause flooding in south-central Minnesota, MPR

Minnesota State Legislature
Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz signs “long overdue” police accountability bill, CBS
New laws set to take effect in Minnesota Aug. 1, KSTP

Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
How Congress is preventing a Medicare bankruptcy during COVID-19, The Hill
Federal program paying unemployed Minnesotans $600 per week is about to expire, Northfield News

Representative Betty McCollum (CD4)
Spending Bill Blocks Offshore Drilling, Seismic, Coastal Review Online
Reader’s View: Doing ‘everything I can’ to stop Twin Metals, Duluth News Tribune

Representative Collin Peterson (CD7)
House Passes USDA Funding Bill, but White House Opposes it, DMT Progressive Farmer

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Bernie Sanders and Ilhan Omar Introduce Bill to Stop Giving Stimulus Money to Fossil Fuel Companies, Gizmodo
Ilhan Omar: We have to condemn Yoho’s remarks ‘aggressively’, MSNBC

Republicans
US Senator Tom Cotton defends slavery remarks, BBC

Republicans in Minnesota
Republican heavyweights give dire warning if GOP loses big on Election Day, Bemidji Pioneer
On day face mask mandate goes into effect, Minnesota GOP shares pictures of mask-less attendees at party event, Bring Me The News

Senator Amy Klobuchar
What do Cornyn, Klobuchar agree upon? Saving music venues, Houston Chronicle
Amy Klobuchar on Bill to Save Indie Music Venues: ‘I Don’t Want to Lose Music in America,’Rolling Stone
Secretary of State Steve Simon
Early Voting Shattering All Records In Minnesota, ‘Magnitudes Above’ Recent Elections, WCCO

U.S. News
The march to martial law has fewer obstacles than you realize, MN Reformer
Portland protests again culminate in use of tear gas by federal agents, CBS
Garrett Foster Brought His Gun to Austin Protests. Then He Was Shot Dead., New York Times

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).

World News
Vietnam to evacuate 80,000 tourists from Da Nang after three residents contract Covid-19, CNN
Second wave fears in Europe roil travel stocks, CNBC
Iran moves mock aircraft carrier to sea after jetliner intercepted by U.S. F-15, CBS

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 10 — Primary Election Early Voting Window, more information here.
  • July 27, 1:00 PM — DNC Platform Committee Meeting, you can watch here.
  • July 28 through August 11 — Window for Candidates to Register with State for City Offices with No Primaries to Register
  • July 29, 7:00 PM — CD3 Virtual Central Committee Meeting and Election of Directors, more information as it becomes available.
  • July 30, 7:00 PM — DFL Environmental Caucus Virtual Meeting with endorsed candidates, more information and RSVP here.
  • 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 10
    • 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 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.