In the Know: February 4, 2020

Days to the 2020 Election:  273

2020 Election
Why you can trust the Iowa caucus results once they’re released, Vox
A Republic, If We Can Keep It, The Atlantic

Agriculture
‘They literally take food off their table, Politico
Minneapolis orders shutdown of mushroom farm for code violations, Star Tribune
Larry Kudlow: Coronavirus will slow U.S. farm exports to China, Politico

Donald Trump
U.S. senators on the spot to explain their coming vote at Trump trial, Reuters
The real state of the union, Vox
AP FACT CHECK: Bracing for Trump’s ‘relentless optimism’, Associated Press
The Racism at the Heart of Trump’s ‘Travel Ban’, New York Times

Donald Trump’s Impeachment
Trump impeachment: senators deliver speeches ahead of final vote, The Guardian
McConnell Blasts Impeachment, Will Vote to Acquit Trump, U.S. News and World Report

Economy
Goldman Sachs’s Still Unpunished Adventures in Malaysia, The American Prospect
U.S. Bank CEO reviews firing of two employees — and rules they broke to help customer, Star Tribune
Why some conservatives are rethinking libertarian economics, Vox

Education
DeVos threatened with subpoena by House oversight panel, Politico

Environment
Fireflies under threat from habitat loss, pesticides and light pollution, The Guardian

Governor Tim Walz
Walz Selects Senior Hennepin County Attorney’s Office Staffer For Judgeship, KWLM

Health
An unavoidable 2020 campaign question on health care, Star Tribune
“No country is fully prepared”: Why the coronavirus outbreak is a huge wake-up call, Vox
As Out-Of-Pocket Health Costs Rise, Insured Adults Are Seeking Less Primary Care, NPR

Housing
EXCLUSIVE: Developer ‘Sherman Associates’ accused of Harassment and Discrimination by Cedar-Riverside Tenants, Workday MN

Minnesota Legislature
Our View: Legislators need to get insulin bill quickly, Mankato Free Press
Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman: Democrats Will Be True To Vision, WCCO
House DFL leader to outline recreational marijuana bill, KTOE

Minnesota News
Minneapolis Council committee urges BCA to step up testing of rape kit backlog, Star Tribune
Bemidji activists to hold funeral for the Constitution ahead of State of the Union, MN Reformer
Farm bankruptcies keep rising in Minnesota and U.S., Star Tribune
Minnesota legislators want to outlaw discrimination based on hair, City Pages
U.S. Bank CEO reviews firing of two employees — and rules they broke to help customer, Star Tribune

Representative Dean Phillips (CD3)
Brooklyn Park Mayor Jeff Lunde will attend State of the Union address, Star Tribune

Rep. Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Ilhan Omar: ‘I always stand up to bullies’, The Guardian

Republicans
Montana Republican rebuked for saying socialists should be ‘jailed or shot, The Guardian
Conservatives push false claims of voter fraud on Twitter as Iowans prepare to caucus, Star Tribune
REPUBLICAN PARTY OFFICIAL QUITS IN DISGUST OVER TRUMP’S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, SAYS LOCAL GOP IS ‘PROPAGANDA SHILL’ FOR PRESIDENT, Newsweek

Senator Tina Smith
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith: Why I will vote to remove the president, Star Tribune

Supreme Court of the US
The Supreme Court May No Longer Have the Legitimacy to Resolve a Disputed Election, The Atlantic

U.S. News
US military deploys new type of nuclear weapon seen as key to countering Russia, CNN
People Have Invented More Than 200 Gender-Neutral Pronouns. Here’s Why ‘They’ Is Here to Stay, Time
Deputy VA secretary fired after less than 5 months on the job, Politico

World  News
Hong Kong reports coronavirus death as workers strike at hospitals, Los Angeles Times
EU rejects Trump Middle East peace plan, annexation, Reuters
Iran to execute Amir Rahimpour, convicted of spying for the CIA, New York Post

Upcoming DFL Events:

  • Today through March 2 — Super Tuesday Presidential Primary Early Voting, more information here.
  • February 4
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM —  SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Teamsters’ Local 120, 9422 Ulysses St NE, Blaine, MN 55434
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics.
  • February 5
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Room C120, Kennedy  High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM —LOCATION CHANGE:  SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St, Maple Grove, MN 55369
  • February 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, St. Louis Park City  Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
  • February 7, 8:00 to 10:00 PM — New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Debate, view on ABC’s platforms
  • February 10
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 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
  • February 11 — Minnesota Legislative Session Starts
  • February 13
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Riverwind Community Center, 2701 Normal Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 5533
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • February 14 — Valentine’s Day
  • February 15, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — SD33 DFL Caucus Convener Training Make Up, Chanhassen Library, 7711 Kerber Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317
  • February 17 — Presidents’ Day
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Dr, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
  • February 19
    • 5:30 to 8:00 PM — SD37 DFL Caucus and Convener Training, Johnsville Library, 12461 Oak Park Blvd NE, Blaine, MN 55434
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
    • 8:00 to 10:00 PM — Democratic Presidential Debate in Las Vegas, NV, watch on the NBC and MSNBC platforms
  • February 22
    • 1:00  to 3:00 PM — SD37 DFL Caucus Convener Training, Northtown Library, 707 County Hwy. 10 Frontage Road, Blaine, MN 55434.
    • 3:00 to 5:00 PM — SD40 DFL Caucus Convener Training, Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
  • February 25 — Mardi Gras
    • 7:00 t0 9:00 PM — Minnesota DFL Precinct Caucuses, more information here.
  • February 26 — Ash Wednesday
  • March 3
    • 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM — Minnesota Super Tuesday Primary, more information here.
  • March 4
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, 9701 Nicollet Avenue S, Bloomington, MN 55402
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • March 5
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Teamsters’ Local  120, 9422 Ulysses St NE, Blaine, MN 55434
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD40 DFL Pre-Convention Committee Meetings (Tentative), Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
  • March 7
    • 1:00 to 3:00 PM — SD33 DFL Pre-Convention Committee Meetings, Plymouth Library, 15700 36th Ave N, Plymouth, MN 55446
    • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — SD37 DFL Pre-Convention Committee Meetings, Northtown Library, 707 County Hwy. 10 Frontage Rd, Blaine, MN 55434
  • March 8 — Daylight Saving Time Begins
  • March 9
    • 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
  • March 10 — Purim and Holy
  • March 12
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Riverwind Community Center, 2701 Northdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN55433.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • March 14, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM — SD46 DFL Convention, St. Louis Park High School, 6425 W 33rd St, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
  • March 16, 7:oo to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Dr, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
  • March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day
  • March 18, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meting, Council Chamber, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600  Minnetonka, Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • March 19 — Spring Equinox
  • March 21
    • 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM — SD34 DFL Convention, Maple Grove Senior High School, 9800 Fernbrook Ln N, Maple Grove, MN 55369
    • 8:30  to  1:00  PM — SD48 DFL Convention, Minnetonka High School, 18301 Highway 7, Minnetonka, MN 55391
    • 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM — SD33 Precinct Chairs Welcome Brunch, 3415 Warner Ln, Mound, MN 55364
  • March 28
    • 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM — SD40 DFL Convention, North View Middle School, 5889 69th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55429
    • 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM — SD50 DFL Convention, Oak Grove Middle School, 1300 W 106th St, Bloomington, MN 55431
  • April 1 — April Fools’ Day
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, 9701 Nicollet Avenue S, Bloomington, MN 55402
      • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • April 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
  • April 4— SD37 DFL Convention, Teamsters Local 120, 9422 Ulysses St NE, Blaine, MN 55434. Contact them for specifics and timing at petersengm@gmail.com.
      • 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM — SD45 DFL Convention, Cooper High School, 47th Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55428
      • 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM — SD36 DFL Convention, Coon Rapids High School, 2340 Normal Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
      • 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM — SD44 DFL Convention, Minnetonka High School, 18301 Highway 7, Minnetonka, MN 55391
  • April 7, 7:00 to 8:30 PM – SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.