Days to the November Election: 188
2020 Election
Justin Amash just announced an exploratory committee for a bid for the White House, Vox
State bankruptcy furor shakes up McConnell reelection bid, The Hill
‘The Nightmare Scenario’: How Coronavirus Could Make the 2020 Vote a Disaster, Politico
Agriculture
TRUMP ORDERS U.S. MEAT-PROCESSING PLANTS TO STAY OPEN DESPITE CORONAVIRUS FEARS, Successful Farming
Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota resolves voting rights lawsuit, Inform
Donald Trump
Trump’s next coronavirus pivot: Celebrate America’s grand reopening, Politico
Trump is seizing the courts – only a Democratic win in November can stop him, The Guardian
Economy
Push to reopen economy runs up against workers and consumers worried about risk, Washington Post
If you half-open an economy, is it closed? Politico
Coronavirus Relief Often Pays Workers More Than Work, Wall Street Journal
US home prices rose before viral outbreak shut economy, Associated Press
Education
Secretary DeVos Forgoes Waiving Disability Law Amid School Closures, NPR
What schools will look like when they reopen: Scheduled days home, more online learning, lots of hand-washing, USA Today
Environment
Trump’s Response to Virus Reflects a Long Disregard for Science, New York Times
Governor Tim Walz
Total of 44 charged with violating Walz’s COVID-19 executive orders, Star Tribune
Amid more reported outbreaks at Minnesota meat plants, Walz heads to Worthington, Bring Me the News MN
Coronavirus In Minnesota: Vice President Mike Pence Visits Mayo Clinic, Observed Not Wearing Face Mask, WCCO
WCCO Investigates: Letters From Gov. Tim Walz To Federal Government Detail Pleas For Help Fighting COVID-19, WCCO
Health
What Antibody Studies Can Tell You — and More Importantly, What They Can’t, ProPublica
Top E.R. Doctor Who Treated Virus Patients Dies by Suicide, New York Times
U.S. insurers want taxpayers to back pandemic coverage for businesses, Reuters
Prepare for less privacy, Axios
How One Ex-Googler Managed to Buy Millions of PPE From China for US Hospitals, Mother Jones
America’s COVID-19 Death Toll Has Now Surpassed The Vietnam War, Talking Points Memo
Immigration
Trump wants to use coronavirus aid as leverage to force blue states to change immigration policies, Vox
Trump sued for blocking stimulus checks to Americans married to immigrants, CBS News
Trump immigration suspension under fire as experts say economic benefits unclear, ABC News
Labor
‘Tip of the iceberg’: Economy shrinks at 4.8% pace, but worst to come, MPR
NY attorney general: Amazon’s protections for warehouse workers ‘inadequate,’ The Hill
Labor unions accuse administration of failing to protect workers under coronavirus relief package, The Hill
Meat plant workers to Trump: Employees aren’t going to show up, CNN
Minnesota News
Minnesotans experiencing homelessness at grave risk unless we act now, MN Reformer
Minnesota’s craft brewers say they are in trouble, Star Tribune
Minnesota higher ed in crisis, administrators tell Legislature, MN Reformer
CN Railway to pay $1.25M for Minnesota forest fire damages, KARE11
Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
Rep. Angie Craig Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Market for American-Made Biofuels, Voice of Alexandria
Republicans
Ohio’s G.O.P. Governor Splits From Trump, and Rises in Popularity, New York Times
Mitch McConnell is gaslighting Democrats (again), Vox
McConnell, Trump, and T.S. Eliot, The American Prospect
GOP faces pressure to get tougher with Trump, The Hill
Mike Pence visited the Mayo Clinic without a mask, violating his own government’s guidance, Vox
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Amy Klobuchar and her husband, who is recovering from COVID-19: The disease is ‘incredibly lonely’, ABC
Senator Tina Smith
‘We’re going to have to start from scratch’: How COVID-19 could wipe out the child care industry in Minnesota, MinnPost
U.S. News
The economy shrunk at the fastest pace since the Great Recession, Vox
Despite Trump’s Nudging, Schools Are Likely to Stay Shut for Months, NY Times
Coronavirus testing chief says ‘no way on Earth’ US can test 5 million a day, despite what Trump says, CNBC
California governor Gavin Newsom says no live sports with fans until stay-at-home order ends, USA Today
World News
Myanmar military may be repeating crimes against humanity, UN rapporteur warns, The Guardian
Commuting In A Pandemic: These Health Workers Are Trekking And Canoeing, NPR
Jair Bolsonaro undermined Brazil’s coronavirus response. Now there’s a political crisis., Vox
New Zealanders are so eager to eat burgers after the coronavirus lockdown that police are having to enforce crowd control, CNN
Iran Death Toll From Coronavirus Outbreak Reaches 5,957: Health Ministry Official, New York Times
Upcoming DFL Events
With the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, we suggest you check with the hosting organization to see if meetings, etc. are being held.
All DFL conventions will now be held virtually. If you were elected as a Delegate or Alternate at Caucuses, you will be hearing from your district with specifics. If you don’t, please check with the hosting organization.
- Today through May 4 — Minnesota Stay at Home Order
- Today through May 23 — Ramadan
- Today through May 4 — DFL Virtual Convention Balloting Window
- April 28, 6:00 PM — Inside the Amy for America Campaign virtual fundraiser moderated by Sen. Klobuchar, Campaign Manager Justin Buoen and DFL Chair Ken Martin. Purchase tickets here.
- May 5 — Cinco de Mayo
- 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, location to be determined
- May 6
- 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, 9701 Nicollet Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
- May 7, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
- May 9, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM — CD3 DFL Convention, Park Center High School, Performing Arts Center, 7300 Brooklyn Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55344.
- May 10 — Mother’s Day
- May 11 — deadline for certification of DFL local unit balloting results
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chamber, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
- May 14
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Riverwind Community Center, 2701 Northdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.
- 7:oo to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Community Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- May 18 — Last Day of the 2020 Legislative Session
- May 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chambers, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- May 25 — Memorial Day
- May 30 -30 — State DFL Convention has now move to a virtual convention, more information as it becomes available.
- May 31 — Mandatory meeting for district-level DFL National Delegates, more information as it becomes available
- June 3
- 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- June 4, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- June 8
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.