In the Know: August 21, 2020

Days Until the Election: 74

DFL Action Center
74 Days OUT – Let’s get to work!
Thanks for tuning into the Democratic National Convention! Now let’s go win in November! 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 there are events happening in your area!

Biden-Harris Yard Signs 
We’re excited to announce that Biden-Harris yard signs are now available! Click this link to order yours today! As you may have heard, Donald Trump is spending over $14 million on ads right here in Minnesota, and every sign you order helps us fight back by funding the DFL Party’s grassroots organizing program! 

2020 Election
USPS email tells managers not to reconnect sorting machines, CNN

Congressional News
Why there’s still hope for second $1,200 stimulus checks despite stalled congressional talksCNBC
Senate GOP drafts new scaled-back coronavirus relief measure — with USPS funding — as talks remain stalledCNN

Environment
The Atlantic Is Awash With Far More Plastic Than Previously Thought, Study FindsNPR
Pollution linked to first time asthma in children, study saysCNN

Governor Tim Walz
Walz administration keeps up fight against Line 3MPR
Minnesota Republicans Threaten Not To Confirm Commerce Commissioner Over Enbridge PipelineWCCO

Healthcare
Covid-19 Data Will Once Again Be Collected by CDC, in Policy ReversalWall Street Journal
10 more Minnesota bars, restaurants linked to COVID-19 outbreaksBring Me the News MN
Coronavirus In Minnesota: 29 Bars, Restaurants Linked To COVID-19 OutbreakWCCO

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Joe Biden battles Donald Trump for the soul of America. Our choice couldn’t be clearer.USA Today
Opinion: How Biden just made Trump’s life a lot more complicated, CNN
Voting and victory: Democrats focus on Donald Trump now that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the ticketUSA Today

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

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan
Flanagan, tribal leaders say Native voters have power to shift November electionRed Lake Nation

Minnesota News
Coronavirus In Minnesota: 29 Bars, Restaurants Linked To COVID-19 OutbreakWCCO
17 St. Olaf students suspended after attending off-campus party, Star Tribune
Behind on rent? A new $100 million housing assistance program may help, MPR

Representative Betty McCollum (CD4)
Minnesota’s vibrant creative community is in crisis, Faribault Daily News

Representative Collin Peterson (CD7)
Johnson, Peterson introduce bill to help newspapers, Post Bulletin 

Representative Dean Phillips (CD3)
Cline, Phillips bill would mandate 48-hour minimum to review text of legislation prior to votingAugusta Free Press

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Drawing a false equivalence between Ilhan Omar and Marjorie Taylor Greene is not only incorrect, but a dangerous standard to set when reporting on QAnon candidatesNews Break 

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Klobuchar, Microsoft’s Smith warn of election interferenceAxios
Klobuchar: Americans ‘are different, but they don’t want to be divided’PBS News Hour
Senator Amy Klobuchar discusses the future of broadbandKAAL ABC

Senator Tina Smith
Senator Tina Smith helps launch investigation into Postmaster GeneralKVRR
Neither rain nor political heat keeps postal workers from their appointed roundsStar Tribune
Masked and mingling, Minnesota Democrats celebrate Joe Biden’s nominationStar Tribune

U.S. News
Unemployment Claims Rise as Rollout of $300 Benefit LagsNew York Times
Move In, Move Out: For In-Person College, Everything Rests On The First Few WeeksNPR
Immigrant ‘Dreamers’ in Search of a Job Are Being Turned AwayNew York Times
Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Jump to 1.1 MillionNew York Times

World News
Loss of Greenland Ice Sheet Reached a Record Last YearNew York Times
Mike Pompeo accused European allies of ‘siding with the ayatollahs’ after they refused to back Trump on IranInsider
Mali’s coup is cheered at home but upsets neighboursBBC
Belarus strikes must continue and grow, opposition leader saysBBC

Republicans
Republicans Prepare New Stimulus Bill With No Student Loan Relief, Reduced Unemployment BenefitsForbes
GOP pollster gives Biden high marks on speech — ‘challenges for Donald Trump are significant’,CNBC
Who’s speaking at the RNC? Here’s what we know so far., USA Today

Donald Trump
Trump says he wants to use ‘sheriffs’ as poll watchers on Election Day, NBC
This is one of the most dangerous things Donald Trump has done as presidentCNN
Trump Cabinet officials voted in 2018 White House meeting to separate migrant children, say officials, NBC

Upcoming DFL Events

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

  • August 22
    • 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM — DFL Weekend of Action Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 1:00 to 3:00 PM — DFL Weekend of Action Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 4:00 to 6:00 PM — DFL Weekend of Action Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
  • August 23
    • 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM — DFL Weekend of Action Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 1:00 to 3:00 PM — DFL Weekend of Action Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
    • 4:00 to 6:00 PM — DFL Weekend of Action Virtual Phone Bank, more information and RSVP here.
  • August 27, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — Caring for Our Unhoused Relatives, more information and RSVP here.
  • August 29 — DFL State Central Virtual Meeting, this will be a full agenda, more information as it becomes available.
  • August 31, 5:00 to 7:00 PM — DFL Annual Women’s Leadership Virtual Event, more information and RSVP here.
  • September 1, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • 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.
  • September 16, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — No CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting this month
  • September 18 through 20 — Rosh Hashana
  • September 18 through November 2 — General Election Early Voting
  • September 21 — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for specifics
  • September 22 — Fall Equinox
  • September 27 to 28 — Yom Kippur
  • September 29 — Presidential Debate, Case Western Reserve University, more information and it becomes available.