2020 Election
Cory Booker drops out of the 2020 presidential race, Axios
They Donated to Trump’s Inauguration. Now These Big Donors Are Funding His 2020 Competition, Daily Beast
Agriculture
This farmer had a million-dollar hemp crop — until South Carolina bulldozed it, Washington Post
China says the ‘trade war is not over yet’ ahead of phase-one deal signing with US, Business Insider
Attorney General Keith Ellison
Forum: It is time for the Legislature to ban noncompete clauses, StarTribune
Congress
PELOSI TO TRUMP: YOU ARE IMPEACHED FOREVER (AND YOUR TWEETS ARE CRAZY), Vanity Fair
Senators Say Laura Ingraham Got More Details About Soleimani Killing Than They Did, Slate
Donald Trump
Trump Brags About Serving Up American Troops to Saudi Arabia for Nothing More Than Cash, Rolling Stone
Flushing ’10 times!’ What’s really behind Trump’s tirades about toilets, NBC News
If Trump Wins in 2020, Get Ready for President Don Jr., Daily Beast
Trump bemoans ‘stigma’ of impeachment, The Hill
Foreign leaders top Trump on trust, new survey finds, NBC News
Trump has never been anti-war: In all the important ways, he’s just another Republican, Salon
Trump appears to tweet image of dead body, The Independent
Donald Trump-Created Iran Crisis
The Trump administration is still struggling to get its story straight on why it killed Soleimani, Vox
Iranians protest for third day over downed airliner amid reports of gunfire by security forces, Washington Post
Trump Expected to Be Praised for Soleimani Killing, but Majority Say It Made U.S. Less Safe, Slate
Britain, France and Germany urge Iran to stick to 2015 nuclear deal, Reuters
Donald Trump’s Immigration Policy
White House may expand travel ban on anniversary of Trump’s original order, New York Post
Gov. Greg Abbott Says New Refugees Won’t Be Allowed To Settle In Texas, NPR
Trump says most asylum seekers don’t show up for their court hearings. A new study shows 99% do., Vox
Donald Trump’s Impeachment
Trump, Pelosi square off ahead of impeachment trial, Associated Press
Trump hits Senate for giving impeachment ‘credibility’ by holding trial, The Hill
Economy
Stocks rise as investors focus on U.S.-China trade deal, Marketwatch
Environment
Trump’s climate change reading material is beyond parody, Vox
New California homes must have solar panels. Not everyone’s feeling so sunny about that, NPR
THE WAR ON THE WAR ON CANCER, The Intercept
Australia’s Wildfires Are Releasing Vast Amounts Of Carbon, NPR
Ocean temperatures hit record high as rate of heating accelerates, The Guardian
Education
Memo by Secret Memo, the University of Texas Kept Segregation Alive into the 1960s, Mother Jones
Governor Tim Walz
Walz, Flanagan to release details of plan to invest in higher education, KSTP
Talking Points: Gov. Walz Discusses $2 Billion Bonding Bill Proposal, CBS
Health
Trump Took Credit for Lower Cancer Death Rates. Advocates Say Not So Fast., New York Times
U of M research shows rural moms more likely to die in childbirth, MPR
US flu activity fell last week, but it’s too early to say the worst is over, CNN
Pharmaceutical Executives Face Prison Time In Case Linked To Opioid Crisis, NPR
Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan
MN lieutenant governor highlights importance of US 2020 Census, KAAL TV
Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan reflects on her first year in office, KSTP
Minnesota News
Everything you need to know about Minnesota’s presidential primary, Pioneer Press
Minnesota Methodist leaders support new plan ending LGBT sanctions, Star Tribune
Strike looms as St. Louis County snowplow drivers reject final contract offer, MPR
Clinic closings will worsen Minnesota’s shortage of geriatric specialists, Star Tribune
Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5, D)
Controversy over Rep. Ilhan Omar’s PTSD comments reveals how the disorder is misunderstood, Vox
Congressional Black Caucus Visits Boston For The First Time, WBUR News
Republicans
Right-wing hawk attack tactics aren’t working this time — and here’s why, Salon
Senator Tina Smith
Sen. Tina Smith touts benefits of trade deal for Minnesota dairy farmers, St. Cloud Times
U.S. News
Here’s what White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has to say about not holding press briefings, CNN
U.S. plans expulsions of at least a dozen Saudi military students whose colleague killed three at Pensacola naval base, Washington Post
Supreme Court’s war on prosecutors meets ‘Bridgegate’, USA Today
World News
Putin tells Assad he should invite Trump to Damascus, Axios
US troops sheltered in Saddam-era bunkers during Iran missile attack, CNN
4 Iraqi servicemen wounded by rocket attack on air base, ABC News
Mark Esper: I ‘Didn’t See’ Specific Evidence Of Iran Threat To 4 U.S. Embassies, Huffington Post
Exclusive: Trump tells Kim Jong-un he wants to resume talks, Axios
Upcoming DFL Events:
- 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 14, 8:00 to 10:00 PM — Democratic Presidential Debate, Drake University, you can view this on CNN platforms.
- 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 17 through March 2 — Super Tuesday Presidential Primary Early Voting, more information here.
- January 18, 6:00 to 9:00 PM — SD37 and SD41 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
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Dr, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
- January 23, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Cocktails and Conversation: Changes in Precinct Caucuses and Presidential Primary, Unmapped Brewing Company, 14625 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- January 25
- 9:00 to 10:30 AM — CD3 DFL National Delegate Selection Training, Ridgedale Library, Robert H. Rohlf Room, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305.
- 9:30 to 10:30 AM — DFL Train to Win Call: Caucus and Convention Training, contact us at info@dfl3cd.org for specifics.
- January 28, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — SD33 DFL Caucus Convener Training, Maple Plain Library, 5184 Main St E, Maple Plain, MN 55359.
- February 1, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — SD33 DFL Caucus Convener Training, Ridgedale Library, Ladyslipper Room, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305.
- February 2 — Groundhog Day
- 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 —SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Room 172, Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
- 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, Jonsville 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.
- 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 — Pruim and Holi
- 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 too 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- 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, 9:00 to 12:00 PM — SD48 DFL Convention, Minnetonka Community Center, Minnetonka, MN 55345.
- March 28, 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM — SD40 DFL Convention, North View Middle School, 5889 69th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55429