In the Know: February 5, 2020

Days to the 2020 Election:  272

2020 Election
Trump Judge Argues Voters Can’t Sue States Over Voting Rights, Salon
Nevada Democrats won’t use app that caused Iowa caucus fiasco, NBC News
Minnesota Prepares For Cyber Threats Ahead Of 2020 Elections, WCCO

Agriculture
Trump Just Claimed He’s Weaning People Off Food Stamps. In Truth He’s Kicking Them Off., Mother Jones
Farm bankruptcies keep rising in Minnesota and U.S., Star Tribune
SHORTAGE OF TRUCK DRIVERS MEANS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS, Successful Farming

Congress
Democratic women in Congress wearing white to Trump’s State of the Union to honor suffrage movement, USA Today

Corruption Watch
Lawmakers request watchdog probe of Trump admin’s ending of temporary protected status, The Hill

Donald Trump
Trump just gave Americans a lesson in white history, Vox
Trump Promised to Protect Medicare. That’s Not What He Said Two Weeks Ago., Mother Jones
Trump’s USDA puts politics over facts to justify taking food and job training from needy kids, Daily Kos

Hundreds of Salvadorans deported by US were killed or abused, report reveals, The Guardian

Trump’s Impeachment
Susan Collins will vote to acquit Trump, saying he’s “learned” from impeachment, CBS News
End of impeachment trial to leave deep scars in Senate, The Hill
Senate Expected to Vote to Acquit Trump on Impeachment, The Wall Street Journal

Trump’s State of the Union
Twitter Users Hail ‘Queen’ Pelosi For Ripping Up Trump’s ‘Garbage’ Speech, HuffPost
Democrats Walk Out During Trump’s State Of The Union Address, HuffPost
The biggest lie in Trump’s State of the Union speech, Vox
The strangest State of the Union ever, Politico

Trump’s Trade War
The Trump administration finalizes rule that could shift tariff fights to $6 trillion currency market, Insider
U.S. Trade Deficit Shrinks Amid Trump Trade War, New York Times
Trump cuts China trade deficit as U.S. buys more from other nations, Politico

Economy
Trump touts his economy as ‘the best it has ever been.’ The data doesn’t show that, Washington Post
U.S. Private Sector Added 291,000 Jobs in January, Wall Street Journal

Education
Minnesota high school league raises school fees again, adds new one to fix budget shortfall, Star Tribune
Dual credit is a way to close opportunity gaps, MinnPost
Trump Calls on Congress to Pass Federal Tax Credit Scholarship, US News & World Report

Environment
Adopt the Clean Car Standard so Minnesotans have more electric vehicle options, MN Reformer
Where’s winter? A number of countries just witnessed their warmest January ever recorded, CNN
Are Republicans coming out of ‘the closet’ on climate change?, Washington Post

Governor Tim Walz
Minneapolis bike path’s final segment gets boost in Walz’s bonding plan, MinnPost
With boost from the state, hundreds of emergency shelter beds open for homeless Minnesotans, Star Tribune

Health
Drug overdose deaths have fallen. But Trump can’t take credit., Vox
In Twin Cities, HIV infections on the rise among people who inject drugs, MPR
The Roots of Racism in Health Care, Teen Vogue

Housing
St. Paul to offer rent subsidies for families with schoolchildren, MPR

Labor
News outlets request Labor Dept. back off new restrictions on economic data, The Hill

Minnesota Legislature
MN House leaders not committing to floor vote on legal cannabis this session, MPR
Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman: Democrats Will Be True To Vision, WCCO
Legislators, Met Council look to decriminalize light rail fare evasion, Star Tribune
Minnesota lawmakers pitch $1 billion rent subsidy program, Star Tribune

Minnesota News
Jordan wins special election for Minnesota House 60A seat, Fox 9
271,000 Minnesota households pay more than 30% of their income in rent, MN Reformer
Best Buy CEO To Remain In Position Following Investigation Into Allegations Of Inappropriate Relationship, WCCO
Task force forms in Minneapolis to regulate off-duty police work, KARE 11
Audit Finds 1,700 Minneapolis Rape Kits Need More Testing, Research, WCCO
A shadowy league of vigilantes is trying to choke access to Minnesota’s polls, City Pages

Representative Collin Peterson (CD7)
Peterson, Conaway question USDA officials at conservation hearing, The Fence Post

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Omar: Trump address reads ‘as if a coequal branch of government doesn’t exist’, The Hill

Republicans
Indiana GOP sends out bogus ‘census’ notice that’s actually a fundraising scheme for Trump’s campaign, Raw Story

Secretary of State Steve Simom
So far 10,358 people have voted early in Minnesota’s presidential primary. Here’s what to watch, Star Tribune

Senator Tina Smith
Sen. Tina Smith To Attend State Of The Union With Duluth Mayor Emily Larson, WCCO

Supreme Court of the US
DOJ tells Supreme Court that subpoenas for Trump’s finances are unconstitutional, The Hill

<U.S. News
One of America’s most prominent racists just received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Vox
There are more homeless students in the U.S. than people living in Dallas, CBS News
Man arrested for threatening Adam Schiff was likely under the influence of Fox News, Vox
Tulsa finally decides to address 1921 race massacre with search for mass grave, Los Angeles Times

World News
Coronavirus global death toll soars to nearly 500, CNN
Report: At least 138 sent from US to El Salvador were killed, ABC News
UN chief warns ‘a wind of madness is sweeping the globe’, Associated Press
Nearly Everything Trump’s State of the Union Said About Foreign Policy Was Wrong, Slate
Finland to give dads same parental leave as mums, BBC
Turkey demands Syrian army exit rebel areas, threatens force, Associated Press

Upcoming DFL Events:

• Today through March 2 — Super Tuesday Presidential Primary Early Voting, more information here.
• 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.