In the Know: July 6, 2020

Days to the November Election:  120

2020 Election
Republican internal polling signals a Democratic rout, CNN
U.S. Supreme Court restricts ‘electors’ in presidential contests, Reuters
Trump’s Support Is Withering in Areas Where Virus Cases Are Rising, Bloomberg
POLITICO’s Election Forecast: Trump, Senate GOP in trouble, Politico

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota Attorney General rips drug companies over insulin lawsuit, Wilmar Radio
AG Ellison, Gov. Walz, Lt. Gov. Flanagan announce financial institutions will provide additional mortgage-relief options to homeowners facing hardship due to COVID-19, Red Lake Nation

CD1 DFL Candidate Dan Feehan

Congress
Congress is on recess for 2 weeks. Here’s where they leave off on COVID-19 relief, ABC News

DFL Action Center
Take Action:
We’re roughly 4 months out from election day and every minute counts. If you’d like to help the DFL Party fight for criminal justice reform, better schools, wages, our environment, and health care, then join us in taking action today! Click here to get more involved!

Supporter Housing:
Supporting Housing is one the best and simplest ways to help out a campaign. Due to the short term and fluid nature of campaigns, we often look to supporters like you to provide volunteer housing for members of our team. Do you have an extra bedroom? Would you be comfortable with an organizer staying with you? If so, please sign up here and someone from our team will follow up with you to talk more about it.

Donald Trump
Trump Rage-Quits Fox News After Network Shows Him Trailing Joe Biden In Polls, Huff Post
Trump is going all in on divisive culture wars. That might not work this time., Vox
Trump Attacks Bubba Wallace, Defends Confederate Flag, New York Magazine

Economy
Jobs Reports Struggle to Catch Up to Today’s Reality, The American Prospect
Wall Street gains on hopes of China-led recovery, Reuters
‘We Have A Black People Problem’: Facebook Worker Claims Racial Discrimination, NPR
Unemployment rate at 11.1% in June, another 1.4 million workers filed jobless claims last week, ABC
Minnesota banks, credit unions, offer COVID-19 mortgage help, MPR

Education
Obama Education Secretary Sees Segregation on the Rise in Schools, US News & World Report
Private and Religious School Backers See Broad Victory in Supreme Court Decision, New York Times

Environment
60% of fish species could be unable to survive in current areas by 2100 – study, The Guardian
A potentially deadly weather pattern is setting up across the central US, CNN

Governor Tim Walz
Walz asks Trump for ‘major disaster’ aid following unrest, MPR
Gov. Walz asks that Twin Cities riots be declared federal disaster, Pioneer Press
Walz lauds new insulin affordability law, blasts Big Pharma for suing, Grand Rapids Herald
Minnesota prepares to release $100 million in housing assistance, Star Tribune
Minnesota officials back mask mandate amid spikes elsewhere, Middletown Press

Health
FDA Head Refuses To Address Trump Claim That 99% Of COVID-19 Cases Are ‘Totally Harmless’, Huff Post
Agonizing Lag in Coronavirus Research Puts Pregnant Women and Babies at Risk, ProPublica
U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Near 130,000; Florida And Texas Report Record Case Numbers, NPR
From elevators to concert halls, University of Minnesota studies indoor COVID-19 hot spots, Star Tribune
COVID-19 cases spike 41% in 3 weeks, CBS

Immigration
Trump brings Atlantic City-style bankruptcy to America’s immigration agency, Washington Post
Trump’s Immigration Order Targeted Women And Children, Forbes
Immigration Officers Face Furloughs as Visa Applications Plunge, New York Times

Joe Biden
Trump erodes America’s foundation. This Fourth of July, I pledge to rebuild it., NBC News
Biden rolls out team to boost climate vote, Axios
Hilda Solis Will Co-Chair Latino Leadership Committee for Biden, NBC Los Angeles

Minnesota Legislature

Minnesota Zoo to get $6 million in emergency funding, KARE 11
‘Left with nothing’: Funding shortfall cancels Minnesota’s opioid response grants, Star Tribune
Did PhRMA mislead Minnesota lawmakers about challenging a new insulin program? MinnPost

Minnesota News

Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
Rep. Angie Craig successfully pushes COVID relief extension for business, StarTrib
Business leaders: Further COVID-19 restrictions could inflict additional damage, Southern Minnesota

Representative Collin Peterson (CD7)
RAMP-UP Act Will Help Meat and Poultry Processors Access Inspection to Meet Demand, Collin Peterson

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Ilhan Omar Introduces Job Guarantee Program Bill, WCCO
Thousands take part in Minneapolis 4th of July demonstrations, Bring Me the News

Republicans
He Built a Privately Funded Border Wall. It’s Already at Risk of Falling Down if Not Fixed., ProPublica
Bill Barr Is Incredibly Corrupt—and Incredibly Inept, Daily Beast
To Celebrate the Fourth, Michael Flynn Posts a Pledge to Conspiracy Group QAnon, Mother Jones
Team Trump Is Packed With Coronavirus Truthers, Daily Beast

Republicans in Minnesota
Mankato Republican says ‘the Devil’ is attacking her campaign, City Pages
State Sen. Scott Jensen says he’s being investigated by the state medical board for COVID-19 comments, Star Tribune

Senat0r Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein, Amy Klobuchar and Bob Casey Introduce Bill to Establish 9/11-Style Coronavirus Commission, Diane Feinstein
Amy Klobuchar: Protecting seniors during the pandemic, Albert Lea Tribune
Klobuchar-led legislation to expand access to affordable high-speed internet passes House, Brainerd Dispatch
Sen. Klobuchar: Trump is ‘belittling the science’ and people are ‘seeing through it’, NBC

Senator Tina Smith
Senators call for CMS to provide plan for telehealth changes, Healthcare IT News

U.S. News
Rent Cancellation and the Rise of Radical Black Politics, The American Prospect
U.S. court orders Dakota Access oil pipeline to be shut, emptied, Reuters
The Supreme Court just handed down some truly awful news for voting rights, Vox
Stark racial disparities emerge as families struggle to get enough food, Politico
Could Paying Farmers to Store Carbon Help the Climate and Save Farms?, Mother Jones

World News
Croatia’s ruling conservatives win parliament vote, Politico
Britain Announces A $2 Billion Rescue Package For The Arts, NPR
China reports case of suspected bubonic plague, CBS New

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

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).

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 July 17, 5:00 PM — Deadline to apply to screen for CD3 DFL Director. Complete the application here.
  • Today through August 10 — Primary Election Early Voting Window, more information here.
  • July 7, 5:00 to 7:00 PM — DFL Virtual Grassroots Fundraiser:  Where We Go From Here, more information and RSVP here.
  • July 8, 6:15 to 7:45 PM — SD40 Nominations Screening Sessions, contact them for specifics
  • July 9
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
    • 7:00 t0 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • July 13
    • 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.
  • July 15 — Last Day to File 2019 Taxes
    • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — DNC National Convention Virtual Platform Drafting Committee Hearing. Additional information on how interested parties, allied groups and members of the public can give input on the platform will be announced in the coming days. For more information, please email platform@demconvention.com.
  • July 18, 1:30 to 4:00 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Virtual Business Meting, contact them for more information.
  • July 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • July 21, 5:00 PM — DFL LGBTQ Leadership Event, more information and RSVP 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.
  • 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.