Appeals court deals blow to Democrats’ pursuit of McGahn testimony

The Hill logo

A federal appeals court in Washington on Monday dismissed a Democratic-led House committee lawsuit for the testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn, finding the lawmakers lack legal grounds to enforce their subpoena in court.

The 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals was the latest setback for Democrats in their yearlong court battle over a subpoena issued to McGahn in April of last year.

The full D.C. Circuit ruled just three weeks ago in the case that the House has standing to sue to enforce its subpoena. But the panel ruled Monday that the lawmakers still lack a valid legal claim to make in court since Congress never authorized the House to bring such lawsuits. Continue reading.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Dean Phillips for Re-Election

Chamber lauds Phillips as a “friend of business” 

MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA – Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce officially endorsed Dean Phillips (D, MN-03) for re-election. A business leader and entrepreneur before running for office in 2018, Phillips refuses all campaign contributions from special interests, PACs, and federal lobbyists, and has emerged as a pragmatic, independent-minded leader on small business issues and government reform in Congress. Recognizing Phillips for his strong support of small business and economic growth, and his commitment to working across the aisle on issues of national importance, the nation’s largest business organization took the rare step of endorsing a freshman Democrat. 

“As one of the few entrepreneurs in Congress, I’m especially grateful to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for their endorsement,” said Phillips. “My thirty years of experience creating, leading, and growing businesses in Minnesota brings a unique perspective to policy-making and illuminates my mission to inspire a new era of collaboration in Congress. I’m grateful to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for recognizing and supporting the need for bipartisanship as we pave the path to prosperity for all Americans.” 

Continue reading “U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Dean Phillips for Re-Election”

Trump and allies keep accusing Biden of not condemning violence — shortly after Biden condemns violence

Washington Post logo

On Sunday at 4:13 p.m. Eastern time, Joe Biden issued a broad denunciation of the violence that has occurred at racial justice demonstrations across the country, saying, “I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right.”

About six hours later, at 10:36 p.m., President Trump asked, “When is Slow Joe Biden going to criticize the Anarchists, Thugs & Agitators in ANTIFA?”

We can parse these statements all day long, and the Trump argument seems to be that Biden needs to more explicitly condemn antifa — however much the amorphous group is actually responsible for the unrest. But practically speaking, he condemned violence by them, too. Continue reading.

Appeals court rejects Flynn’s effort to dismiss charges

The Hill logo

A federal appeals court rejected Michael Flynn‘s effort to force a judge to immediately dismiss the charges against him, overturning an earlier decision that would have allowed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop its case against the former national security adviser.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 8-2 against Flynn’s petition for it to step in and force a district judge to grant the Justice Department’s motion to drop charges without holding a hearing on the issue.

The appeals court had agreed to rehear the case after a three-judge panel ordered the district court in June to dismiss the charges. Continue reading.

As clashes between armed groups and leftist protesters turn deadly, police face complaints of tolerating vigilantes

Washington Post logo

In a video recorded shortly before two people were fatally shot last week in Kenosha, Wis., the accused gunman — Kyle Rittenhouse, 17 — circulates among a group of gun-wielding men who claim to be guarding a service station amid protests against police brutality.

Although it is well past curfew, police passing in an armored vehicle offer the group bottles of water and some friendly encouragement, saying over a loudspeaker: “We appreciate you guys. We really do.”

As protesters march against racism and police violence in cities and towns across the nation, they are being confronted by groups of armed civilians who claim to be assisting and showing support for police battered and overwhelmed by the protests. The confrontations have left at least three people dead in recent days: In addition to the two protesters killed Tuesday in Kenosha, a man thought to be associated with a far-right group called Patriot Prayer was fatally shot late Saturday in Portland, Ore. Continue reading.

US surpasses 6 million coronavirus cases nationwide

The Hill logo

The United States has passed six million confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The country has also passed 183,000 deaths nationwide.

President Trump and his 2020 Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, have battled for months over the U.S.’s coronavirus response, with allies of the Democratic nominee hammering the administration over the U.S.’s status as the country with the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world.

In July, Biden accused Trump of giving up on the U.S.’s efforts to control the disease’s spread, claiming that the president “raised the white flag.” Continue reading.

Trump, Vicar of Fear and Violence

New York Times logo

He continues the old practice of stoking white victimhood for votes.

The use of white fear and white victimhood as potent political weapons is as old as the country itself. Donald Trump is just the latest practitioner of this trade.

As Robert G. Parkinson wrote in “The Common Cause,” his book about patriot leaders during the American Revolution, politicians used fears of insurrectionist enslaved people, Indian “massacres” and foreign mercenaries to unite the disparate colonies in a common fight.

Does this sound similar to Trump’s rhetoric on Mexicans, Muslims, immigrants, Black Lives Matter and supposed anarchists? Continue reading.

Minnesota lawmakers receive update about Chronic Wasting Disease

House DFL logo

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Members of the House and Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance committees held a joint meeting today to discuss the status of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Minnesota. The informational hearing featured testimony from experts at the University of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources, Board of Animal Health, and Pollution Control Agency.

“We have seen the number of fishing licenses increase significantly this year and I predict that hunting licenses will see a similar rise,” said committee chair Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul). “We need to continue our outreach and education to all hunters, especially new hunters, to ensure that all Minnesotans are safe and our outdoors and wildlife are protected.” 

Today’s joint meeting was part of a quarterly series required under bipartisan legislation enacted in 2019, and legislators largely focused on preparations for the fall hunting season. A brand new educational booklet produced by the University of Minnesota is available here.

“Over the last year we have reached over 5,400 Minnesotans through in person and Zoom outreach events and we are continuing to adapt our approach in the wake of COVID-19,” said Dr. Peter Larsen, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota.

The U of M’s new educational booklet includes a glossary of relevant terms and illustrations that break down CWD in an easy-to-understand format. Hard copies will be distributed throughout Minnesota this month. For the first time, educational materials have been translated into Hmong, and there are plans to create an Ojibwe translation soon. 

Video of the entire meeting available here