Tag: News

34 days until the Aug. 14 primary
73 days until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Nov. 6 election
119 days until Election Day

2018 Election — Primary
Early voting now open. Go to dfl.org/voteearly to fill out an application to vote by mail. You can vote in person at your county courthouse or government center. Click here for a list of cities where you can vote early in person.

University of Minnesota students unionize while working political campaign, KSTP Continue reading “In the Know: July 12, 2018”

2018 Electionn — Primary

Early voting now open. Go to dfl.org/voteearly to fill out an application to vote by mail. You can vote in person at your county courthouse or government center. Click here for a list of cities where you can vote early in person.

Continue reading “In the Know: July 11, 2018”

36 days until the Aug. 14 primary
75 days until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Nov. 6 election
121 days until Election Day

2018 Election — Primary

Early voting now open. Go to dfl.org/voteearly to fill out an application to vote by mail. You can vote in person at your county courthouse or government center. Click here for a list of cities where you can vote early in person.

2018 Election — General

 

America’s Enduring Failure to Prevent Food-Borne Illness, The New Republic

Congress
Half of Minnesota’s U.S. House races are competitive this year – do we have the courts to thank? MinnPost
Ryan campaigns with Paulsen, Lewis, MPR

Environment
Minnesota sweetens the pot to shift cropland to conservation, MPR Continue reading “In the Know: July 10, 2018”

37 days until the Aug. 14 primary
76 days until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Nov. 6 election
122 days until Election Day

2018 Election — Primary
Early voting now open. Go to dfl.org/voteearly to fill out an application to vote by mail. You can vote in person at your county courthouse or government center. Click here for a list of cities where you can vote early in person.

Continue reading “In the Know: July 9, 2018”

40 days until the Aug. 14 primary
79 days until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Nov. 6 election
125 days until Election Day

2018 election — Primary
Early take on early vote? First week stats show interest, MPR

Early voting now open. Go to dfl.org/voteearly to fill out an application to vote by mail. You can vote in person at your county courthouse or government center. Click here for a list of cities where you can vote early in person.

2018 Election — General
This week in campaign coverage: The nation turns its lonely eyes to you, Minnesota, MinnPost

Congress

Economic Inequality
Plight of the very poor is an American tragedy, Star Tribune

Immigration Crisis
U.S. to reunite migrant families as immigration politics boil, MPR

Minnesota Legislators
Minnesota senator tells ‘whining government officials’ they should be approachable in public, The Hill

Pruitt, Scott

• After all, Pruitt is — or, maybe was — the subject of 14 separate probes into his conduct as EPA administrator. Fourteen! Separate! Probes! From almost the moment he was sworn in to lead the EPA, Pruitt has been caught — time and time again — apparently trying to enrich himself (and his wife and everyone else he knows) using his office. And yet, day after day, terrible headline after terrible headline (after terrible headline), Pruitt stayed in the job. Here are four theories aimed at answering the “what took so long?” question.
• Pruitt did exactly what Trump wanted. Trump campaigned on the idea that the EPA has turned into liberals’ dream of overregulation of average people. He picked Pruitt to undo many of the regulations the Obama administration had put in place on things like coal and water. According to an analysis by Politico of Pruitt’s first year in office, the EPA either withdrew or delayed regulations 47 times — a massive increase from the 14 withdrawals/delays in the first year of the Obama administration. Pruitt was effectively deconstructing the regulatory state.
• Trump saw some of himself in Pruitt. Pruitt is brash and unapologetic about his views and his conduct.
• There were so many problems, they canceled themselves out. There are so many problems, so many ethical issues, so many bad stories that they all sort of cancel each other out. As in: No one could follow all of the various transgressions he committed.
• Trump is a contrarian — in this and all things. When the news of Pruitt’s “resignation” hit the White House, there was reportedly cheering from some of the staff. Trump views himself as at his best when he is going against the crowd, bucking the conventional wisdom. If everyone is saying “X,” Trump is naturally drawn to “Y” — even if, in a vacuum, he would choose “X.”

Schultz, Ed
Television and radio personality Ed Schultz dies at 64, MPR

State of Emergency
Dayton declares State of Emergency in 36 storm-hit counties, Indian Reservation, Pioneer Press

Trade War
Just after midnight tonight [July 5] the Trump administration is set to impose tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods, escalating a global trade war that has pitted the U.S. against trading partners around the world.

• “Businesses are bracing for disruptions in sales and supply chains,” the Wall Street Journal reports, as a Chinese response could hit U.S. producers of “automotive products, farm crops and other goods.”
• China warned that the U.S. is “opening fire on the entire world, including itself” while at the same time promising that it wouldn’t use the 12-hour time difference to impose retaliatory tariffs first.
• What’s next: Already, several U.S. sectors are freaking out — soybean farmers losing business in China, aluminum metal companies hit inadvertently by tariffs, and GM, worried about soaring supply costs. Manufacturers fear the tariff war will prematurely cut short a renaissance triggered by low natural gas prices and tax cuts, reports Ed Crooks at the FT.
• P.S. A freighter carrying U.S. soybeans is racing towards China to beat retaliatory tariffs, Bloomberg reports. If it arrives as scheduled at around 5 p.m. local time “it should be able to clear customs before the tariffs are imposed.”Axios

China retaliates with tariffs after US begins trade war, The Guardian

Unions

After union setback, teachers regroup at NEA conference in Minneapolis, Star Tribune

U.S. Supreme Court

Trump narrows Supreme Court shortlist to three – with two on the inside track, MPR

Upcoming Events

• Today through August 13 — Primary early voting. More information here.
• July 6, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.
• July 9, 7:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345
• July 9, 7:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
• July 10, 7:00 PM — SD34 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St N, Osseo, MN 55369
• July 12, 6:00 PM — SD34 DFL Marching in the Maple Grove Days Parade
• July 12, 7:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
• July 13, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.
• July 14, 10:00 AM — SD34 DFL at the Maple Grove Business Expo,  Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Rd, Maple Grove, MN 55369.
• July 16, 7:00 PM — Brooklyn Park DFL Meeting, Brooklyn Park Public Library, 6500 W Broadway, Brooklyn Park, MN
• July 20, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.

41 days until the Aug. 14 primary
80 days until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Nov. 6 election
126 days until Election Day

2016 Election
Senate panel upholds finding that Russia backed Trump, contradicting House, The Hill

2018 Election

Primary — Early voting now open. Go to dfl.org/voteearly to fill out an application to vote by mail. You can vote in person at your county courthouse. Click here for a list of cities where you can vote early in person.

Continue reading “In the Know: July 5, 2018”

No Excuse Absentee Balloting Happening Now through August 13
43 days Until the August 14 Primary
82 Days Until No Excuse Absentee Balloting Opens for the November 6 General Election
128 Days Until Election Day

 

2018 General Election
Minnesota Statewide Poll, Outstate.usa

• Oustate.usa is the new venture of Stewart Mills who lost twice to Congressman Nolan.

A bad week for Democrats give rise to a big problem: Outrage could become an obstacle in the mid-term elections, Washington Post

58 percent of Democrats say are more motivated than usual to vote in this election while 38 percent say they are as motivated as usual. 41 percent of Republicans say they are more motivated than usual while 58 percent say they are about as motivated as always. Continue reading “In the Know: July 3, 2018”

No Excuse Absentee Balloting Happening Now through August 13
44 days Until the August 14 Primary
83 Days Until No Excuse Absentee Balloting Opens for the November 6 Election
129 Days Until Election Day

2018 Election — Early voting open now
Ken Martin: Early voting opens June 29 for Aug. 14 primary, Owatonna People’s Press
What you need to know about early primary voting in Minnesota, Star Tribune
As early vote grows in popularity, candidates plan accordingly, Fox 9
Vote! Says DFL gubernatorial hopeful Erin Murphy in St. Cloud, St. Cloud Times
Election officials expect a big turnout for early primary voting, WCCO

Continue reading “In the Know: July 2, 2018”

No excuse absentee balloting  for the Aug. 14 primary today through Aug. 13
47 days until the Aug. 14 primary
86 days until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Nov. 6 election
132 days until Election Day

2018 election — Early Primary Voting
Early primary voting in Minnesota starts Friday, Duluth News Tribune

Enbridge Pipeline
State regulators OK certificate of need for controversial Enbridge pipeline, Star Tribune
With 5-0 vote, PUC backs Enbridge pipeline, MPR

GOP
 

Governor
Four gubernatorial candidates discuss competing visions for Minn., MPR

Janus Decision
Defiant union members and leaders comment on Janus, Workday Minnesota
Organized labor must reform after Supreme Court ruling, Star Tribune
Duluth labor pushes back on Janus ruling, Duluth News Tribune

Mass Shooting
Gunman targeted Maryland newspaper building, killing 5, Star Tribune

Trump
President Trump, with his refusal to take advice or yield to experts, is the West Wing. Republicans who control both halves of Congress won’t lift a finger against him and fully support his every move.

• And now — with his chance to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy — Trump may have fewer checks on his power than any president in his lifetime. (Trump was born in 1946, the year after FDR died in office, 72 years ago.) Axios

 

Trump and Russia
House Republicans grill FBI, Justice Department on Russia probe, Star Tribune
Putin, Trump to have July 16 summit in Helsinki, MPR

Trump’s repeated assertions that he believes Putin’s denial of involvement in the 2016 election are, on their face, hard to believe. There is ample evidence to suggest that Russia conducted a broad and deep campaign of disinformation and persuasion designed to aid Trump and hurt Clinton. And that they will seek to meddle in future elections. And yet, in the face of all of that evidence, Trump chooses to believe Putin’s unsubstantiated denials. CNN

U.S. Supreme Court
Minnesota’s U.S. senators say Supreme Court appointment should wait, Star Tribune

Seven front runners for U.S. Supreme Court, via the Washington Post

• Brett Kavanaugh of Maryland, who is on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
• Raymond Gruender of Missouri (8th Circuit)
• Thomas Hardiman of Pennsylvania (3rd Circuit)
• Raymond Kethledge of Michigan (6th Circuit)
• William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama (11th Circuit)
• Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana (7th Circuit)
• Amul Thapar of Kentucky (6th Circuit)

Upcoming Events

• Today through August 13 — Primary early voting. More information here.
• June 29, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.
• July 3, 7:00 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
• July 4 — Independence Day
• July 4 — SD48 DFL will be at Eden Prairie’s Independence Day celebration at Round Lake Park (southwest corner for Valley View Road and Eden Prairie Road).
• July 4, 1:30 PM — SD33 DFL Marching in the Chanhassen 4th of July Parade. Line up starts at 1:30 PM, parade steps off at 2:30 PM.
• July 6, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.
• July 9, 7:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345
• July 9, 7:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
• July 10, 7:00 PM — SD34 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St N, Osseo, MN 55369
• July 12, 6:00 PM — SD34 DFL Marching in the Maple Grove Days Parade
• July 12, 7:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
• July 13, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.

1 day until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Aug. 14 primary
48 days until the Aug. 14 primary
87 days until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Nov. 6 election
133 days until Election Day

2018 election

Polling from navigator:

• When it comes to politics generally, Democrats feel more anger and Republicans feel more excitement — but Democrats are feeling more exhausted right now than Republicans by a 2-to-1 margin.
• The progressive base is most energized by focusing on big, substantive issue fights and being part of organized demonstrations and movements.
• Across partisan lines, Americans see Trump’s defining personality traits as narcissism and egotism, and self-interest as his primary motivation.
• Americans also view Congressional Republicans’ actions and agenda as leading to corruption and higher costs for them.

North Carolina GOP Primary Winner Says God is a White Supremacist, Jews are Satanic, Newsweek

Congress
Stauber campaign: Trump visit represents growing momentum, Bemidji Pioneer
Fall of Democratic leaders caps strong primary night for progressives, MPR
Trump is all in on Pete Stauber. Will the 8th District follow suit? MinnPost Continue reading “In the Know: June 28, 2018”