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In the Know: August 17, 2020

Days Until the Election: 78

DFL Action Center
78 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!

Democratic National Convention Week in Minnesota
Join us this week for a slate of virtual events and tune in to the 2020 Democratic National Convention from August 17-20, happening from 9:00 to 11:00 PM ET every night, for more information click here!

Today – August 17th 
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Minnesota Democratic National Convention Virtual Kick Off with AG Keith Ellison & Mayor Carter – To RSVP follow this link!

Wednesday – August 19th
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Minnesota Democratic National Convention Virtual Watch Party with Tina Smith and Cheri Bustos – To RSVP follow this link!
Thursday – August 20th7:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Minnesota Democratic National Convention Virtual Watch Party with Amy Klobuchar and Andrew Yang – To RSVP follow this link!

2020 Election
CNN Poll: Biden and Trump matchup tightens as enthusiasm hits new highCNN
Are Trump’s prospects better than the experts think? Washington state might hold a clue.Washington Post

Agriculture
From farm to factory: the unstoppable rise of American chickenThe Guardian
2020 CASH RENTS REMAIN FLAT FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR, USDA REPORTSSuccessful Farming

Attorney General Keith Ellison
St. Paul man accused of selling N95 masks at unreasonably high prices agrees to pay $6,800
Nisswa restaurant Iron Waffle remains open in defiance of mask orderBring Me the News MN
It’s high time an attorney general took on the Bremer Foundation: Here’s whyStar Tribune

Congressional News
Pelosi calls House back to D.C. as Democrats set emergency postal hearing amid fears over delayed ballotsNBC News
Congress exits with no deal, leaving economists flabbergastedThe Hill

Donald Trump
Trump makes another attempt to blame Amazon for post office problemsCNBC
Trump eyes new unproven coronavirus “cure”, Axios
Trump Amplifies Ugly Attack On ‘Democrat’ CitiesHuff Post
Trump defends U.S. Postal Service changes as Democrats mount pressureReuters
Trump administration approves oil leasing in Alaska wildlife refugeReuters

Education
COVID-19 will hit colleges when students arrive for fall semester. So why open at all? Money is a factor. USA Today
The Science Is Simple, So Why Is Opening Schools So Complicated? NPR
As Colleges Move Classes Online, Families Rebel Against the CostNew York Times

Environment
‘Highest temperature on Earth’ as Death Valley, US hits 54.4CBBC News
Mauritius residents join efforts to contain oil spill as grounded ship splits in twoNBC News
Trump Administration Finalizes Plan to Open Arctic Refuge to DrillingNew York Times
Microplastic particles found in human organs by US scientistsThe Guardian

Governor Tim Walz
How Minnesota Senate Republicans could dismantle the Walz administration, commissioner by commissionerMinnPost
Walz, Ellison, faith leaders call for unity in wake of attack on imamStar Tribune

Healthcare
Coronavirus In Minnesota: MDH Reports 754 More COVID-19 Cases, 7 Additional DeathsWCCO
CDC gives three-month window of immunity after COVID-19 infectionThe Hill
New saliva-based Covid-19 test could be a fast and cheap ‘game changer,‘ CNN
With second virus wave coming, Minnesota waits for millions of N95 masksStar Tribune
Coronavirus In Minnesota: MDH Reports 754 More COVID-19 Cases, 7 Additional DeathsWCCO
COVID-19 study finds racial disparity in hospitalizations in MinnesotaStar Tribune

Immigration
USCIS Staff Furloughs Will Grind Legal Immigration To A HaltForbes
Looming Fee Increase Could Thwart Many U.S. Citizenship ApplicationsNew York Times
U.S. policy of expelling migrant children without an asylum interview challenged in class-action lawsuitCBS News
Lawyers Say Guards at Immigration Jail “Systematically” Sexually Assaulted PrisonersDemocracy Now

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Widespread Fears About Unfair Election As Democrats Prepare To Nominate Joe BidenHuff Post
This is the future Joe Biden wantsVox

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

Labor
A California judge ruled Uber and Lyft must classify drivers as employees. What does that mean for DoorDash and Instacart? News Break
Postal carriers union endorses Biden, warns that ‘survival’ of USPS is at stakeNBC

Minnesota News
Thousands of Minnesota students still don’t have internet for distance learning, MN Reformer
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Case count passes 65,000; death toll climbs past 1,700, MPR
Trump set to campaign Monday in MankatoMPR
Dueling demonstrations have become a weekly fixture in Appleton, Minn.Star Tribune

Representative Betty McCollum (CD5)
Bill would halt federal review of mine plans in Superior National ForestPioneerPress
The Great American Outdoors Act might just be our chance to get public lands rightMinnPost

Representative Collin Peterson
Peterson Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging Enforcement of Dairy Provisions in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Red Lake Nation

Republicans
QAnon Was a Theory on a Message Board. Now It’s Headed to Congress.New York Times
Bernstein: This will be Republican party’s shame for generationsCNN
QAnon is conspiratorial, dangerous, and growing. And we’re talking about it all wrong.CNN
An exotic dancer, a nuclear engineer, a QAnon enthusiast and Laura Loomer: The GOP race to represent Trump’s Palm Beach districtWashington Post
Mitt Romney Slams Trump Administration On COVID-19: There’s No Way To Spin Death TollHuff Post

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar to be the face of Minnesota in a largely virtual Democratic conventionStar Tribune

Senator Tina Smith
‘They Are Full Of Passion And Energy’: Sen. Tina Smith Pushing To Help Younger, Struggling FarmersWCCO
Klobuchar, Smith announce $1M in funding for rural MN Opioid Epidemic, WDIO

U.S. News
Death Valley reaches 130 degrees, hottest temperature in U.S. in at least 107 yearsCBS
Trump elevates Scott Atlas, a doctor with a rosier coronavirus outlook, Politico
Trump administration announces plans to drill in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, CNN
Educators feel trapped between bad options as the school year beginsNBC News

World News
Belarus President Sends SOS to Putin, Tells Protesters: You’ll Have to Kill Me to Get New Elections, Daily Beast
New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern delays election over coronavirus fears, BBC
Lebanese Face Threat of Widespread Hunger After Beirut Explosion, Wall Street Journal
Thailand’s monarchy was long considered God-like. But protesters say it’s time for changeCNN

Upcoming DFL Events

With the COVID-19 situation, we suggest you check with the hosting organization to see if meetings, etc. are being held.

  • August 17
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for specifics.
    • 8:00 to 10:00 PM — DNC Convention — We the People, watch online here. RSVP for the DFL virtual watch party here. RSVP for the Minnesotans for Biden virtual watch party with AG Keith Ellison and Mayor Melvin Carter here.
  • August 18
    • 2:15 to 3:00 PM —Minnesotans for Biden Native American Coalition Virtual Meeting, more information and RSVP here.
    • 4:00 to 6:00 PM — DNC Convention:  Veterans and Military Families Virtual Council Meeting, more information and RSVP here.
    • 8:00 to 10:00 PM — DNC Convention — Leadership Matters, watch online here. RSVP for the CD3 DFL virtual watch party here
  • August 19
    • 10:15 to 11:00 AM — Minnesotans for Biden Hispanic Coalition Virtual Meeting, more information and RSVP here.
    • 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM — Minnesotans for Biden Labor Coalition Virtual Meeting, more information and RSVP here.
    • 12:15 to 1:00 PM — Minnesotans for Biden Black Coalition Virtual Meeting, more information and RSVP here.
    • 8:00 to 10:00 PM — DNC Convention — A More Perfect Union, watch online here. RSVP for the CD3 DFL virtual watch party here.
  • August 20, 8:00 to 10:00 PM —DNC Convention — America’s Promise. watch online here. RSVP for the CD3 DFL virtual watch party here. RSVP for the Minnesotans for Biden virtual watch party with Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Andrew Yang here.
  • August 29 — DFL State Central Virtual Meeting, this will be a full agenda, more information as it becomes available.
  • September 2
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • September 3, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • September 7 — Labor Day
  • September 10
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • September 11 — Patriots Days
  • September 14
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
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