Congress
Staff exodus in Van Drew office after party switch, Politico
Corruption Watch
Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s 428 pardons are upsetting both Democrats and Republicans, Vox
EXCLUSIVE: Oligarch Kolomoisky Linked To Giuliani Campaign For Dirt, Talking Points Memo
Economy
A Third of America’s Economy Is Concentrated in Just 31 Counties, Bloomberg
There Are Economic Warning Signs for Trump in the Midwest, New York Times
Education
Screens in the Classroom: Tool or Temptation?, New York Times
Elections
Special report: 2020’s new voters will usher in an age of demographic transformation, Axios
Judge: 234,000 Wisconsin voter registrations should be tossed, MPR
Environment
Global Climate Talks End In Disappointment, Buzzfeed
Climate change: Five things we’ve learned from Madrid talks, BBC
California Waters Are Acidifying Twice as Fast as the Rest of the Oceans, Gizmodo
Halting climate change means a world without fossil fuels—not merely curbing emissions,Phys.org
Donald Trump
Trump threatens Comey with ‘years in jail’ over FBI Russia report, The Guardian
Trump boasted that his polls are “through the roof.” Fox News quickly proved him wrong., Vox
Russia’s State TV Calls Trump Their ‘Agent’, Daily Beast
Trump raises possibility of skipping debates hosted by traditional group, Washington Post
Judiciary Committee impeachment report alleges Trump committed ‘multiple federal crimes’, Politico
Donald Trump’s Impeachment
Schumer proposes that Bolton and Mulvaney testify in Senate impeachment trial, NBC News
Trump is just 67 votes away from being an ex-President and it’s freaking him out, CNN
Democrats Blast GOP Senators for Saying They Won’t Impeach Trump Before Trial, Slate
Senate Republicans have already made up their minds on impeachment, Vox
Donald Trump’s Trade War
Mexicans throw 11th hour curveball at Trump’s biggest trade deal, Axios
Trump Has Already Lost His Pricey China Trade War, Paul Krugman Warns, Huffington Post
The US-China trade deal leaves a large American deficit and a permanent collision course, CNBC
Governor Tim Walz
‘Inn is not full in Minnesota’: Walz backs continued refugee settlement, MPR
Tim Walz: Independent expert to study restructuring Human Services Department, Pioneer Press
Health
What else disappears if the ACA is overturned?, MPR
Immigration
Minnesota refugee aid center’s future in flux at 100, Star Tribune
Labor
St. Louis County plow drivers’ union threatens strike, Duluth News Tribune
Minnesota Legislature
Two Republicans, one DFLer seek seat; Novotny, Ziebarth to face off in Jan. 14 primary, Elk River Star
Minnesota News
Man sues Blue Plate restaurant group over health care surcharge for workers, Star Tribune
Native group retakes Minneapolis homeless camp, decries ‘unacceptable’ lack of shelter, MPR
A Christmas blessing: Young mother brings a dying Minnesota town back to life, Star Tribune
Counties pushed into discussions about whether to accept refugees, Mankato Free Press
‘A Lot Of Excitement’: Liberian Minnesotans Sound Off On Prospect Of Permanent Status, WCCO
Despite concerns, push to cap probation in Minnesota moving forward, MinnPost
Minnesota Republicans
GOP’s Trump-only primary ballot in Minnesota challenged in court, MPR
GOP leader: Minnesotans won’t complain if climate change causes state to get 2 degrees hotter, Bring Me the News
Representative Dean Phillips (CD3, D)
Reps. Craig, Phillips to support impeachment, KARE11
Representative Jim Hagedorn (CD1, R)
Hostility common at Hagedorn’s Mankato-area town hall meetings, Mankato Free Press
Senator Tina Smith
Klobuchar and Smith call for increased sprinkler protection following deadly high-rise fire, Fox 9
U.S. News
Hallmark Channel reverses decision to pull same-sex couple commercial, Axios
A black woman faces prison because of a Jim Crow-era plan to ‘protect white voters’, The Guardian
Supreme Court lets stand ruling that protects homeless who sleep on sidewalk, Los Angeles Times
‘That’s genocide’: ancient tribal graves threatened by Trump border wall, The Guardian
World News
London has spent billions, but no one can escape climate change, CNN
Citizenship Amendment Act: India PM Modi appeals for calm as protests grow, BBC
U.S. tells North Korea over nuclear talks: ‘You know how to reach us’, NBC News
Upcoming DFL Events:
- December 18, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Holiday Party, The Nelson Home, 15440 Boulder Pointe Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55347. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Beverages will be provided.
- December 19, 8:00 to 10:00 PM — DNC Presidential Debate, Loyola Marymount. You can view on PBS stations and CNN television stations, as well as on their websites.
- December 22 through 30 — Chanukah
- December 24 — Christmas Eve
- December 25 — Christmas Day
- December 31 — New Year’s Eve
- January 1 — New Year’s Day
- January 2, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
- January 4, 1:00 PM — Stonewall DFL Annual Membership Meeting, John B. Davis Lecture Hall, Macalster College, 1600 Grand Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105. 1:00 social hour, 2:00 meeting.
- January 7
- 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, check their FaceBook page for specifics.
- 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brooklyn Park Library, Mississippi Room, 8500 W Broadway Avenue, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
- January 8
- 6:30 to 9:00 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420. Meeting moved back one week due to New Year’s Day holiday.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Social, Home of Dave and Cathy Olson, 3415 Warner Ln, Minnetrista, MN.
- January 9, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- January 13
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Council Chambers, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
- January 15, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Council Chambers, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- January 18, 6:00 to 9:00 PM — SD37 DFL Winter Gala, Crooners Lounge and Supper Club, Dunsmore Room, 6161 Highway 65 NE, Minneapolis, MN 55432. With Rep. Dean Phillips, other speakers silent auction and live band Victoria and the Acts of Persuasion.
- January 20 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- February 25, 7:00 t0 9:00 PM — Minnesota DFL Precinct Caucuses, more information as it becomes available
- March 3 — Minnesota Super Tuesday Primary, more information as it becomes available.