2020 Election
U.S. election czar says attempts to hack the 2020 election will be more sophisticated, NBC News
Agriculture
Minnesota farmers backed away from soybeans in 2019, Star Tribune
An OK year for yield, but not as good for quality in central MN corn harvests, St. Cloud Times
Congress
Senate Democrats have votes to pass resolution to limit Trump’s war powers, NBC News
Schiff sends House Judiciary Committee records from Lev Parnas, Axios
Corruption Watch
Michael Flynn asks to withdraw his guilty plea, CNN
When Is Abuse Of Power A Crime? Supreme Court Answer May Come In ‘Bridgegate’ Scandal, NPR
Donald Trump
Trump: Saudi Arabia paid the US $1 billion for more troops. Pentagon: Eh, not quite., Vox
Trump plan to shift $7.2B to border wall puts GOP lawmakers in a pickle, Politico
Trump administration ending delay on over $8B in Puerto Rico disaster aid, The Hill
Trump counterprogrammed the Democratic debate with a rally featuring a rant about toilets, Vox
The stunning new texts, documents, and impeachment evidence released by the House, explained, Vox
Donald Trump’s Impeachment
Hakeem Jeffries: Impeachment Manager Is Democrats’ Messaging Guru, New York Times
Yovanovitch Lawyer Calls Texts ‘Disturbing’: Impeachment Update, BloombergNews
Pelosi Names Impeachment Managers For Trump’s Senate Trial, NPR
Here Are The Lawyers Who Will Defend President Trump Against Impeachment, NPR
Impeachment trial security crackdown will limit Capitol press access, Roll Call
Donald Trump’s Trade War
Trump To Sign ‘Phase One’ China Trade Deal, But Most Tariffs Remain In Place, NPR
New EU Trade Chief Tries to Avert Trade War With U.S., Wall Street Journal
Economy
America’s banks kick off earnings season with a bang, CNN
Economists increasingly say it’s acceptable for the U.S. to take on more debt — for the right reasons, Washington Post
Education
The Lewis Prize Awards $1.75 Million for Music Education, New York Times
Environment
Keep recycling: Some say financial challenges in the industry could spur innovation, MPR
Activists cheer BlackRock’s landmark climate move but call for vigilance, The Guardian
Border Wall Threatens National Wildlife Refuge That’s Been 40 Years In The Making, NPR
Governor Tim Walz
Tim Walz proposing borrowing $447M for repairs, upgrades at MN colleges, universities, PioneerPress
One year in, Gov. Tim Walz talks bonding, breaking up DHS, and the perils of Minnesota exceptionalism, MinnPost
Health
Fact check: No, Trump didn’t save preexisting conditions, MPR
How the Health Insurance Industry (and I) Invented the ‘Choice’ Talking Point, New York Times
Price transparency alone won’t keep health care costs down, Minnesota Reformer
A Trump tweet revealed the absurdity of the legal case against Obamacare, Vox
Why Trump has to lie about health care, Washington Post
Immigration
Immigrants To America Drop Sharply From China, India and Mexico, Forbes
‘They treated me like a terrorist’: the vetted Iranians deported on arrival to the US, The Guardian
Stephen Miller Echoes White Nationalists In Leaked Anti-DACA Emails, Huffington Post
Iran
Iran plane downing: Person who filmed video ‘arrested’, BBC
‘Danger tomorrow’: Iran’s Rouhani makes veiled threat to US and EU troops in Middle East, CNBC
Iran’s foreign minister says officials ‘lied’ about downing of Ukrainian plane, Washington Post
Almost half disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran: NPR poll, The Hill
Labor
St. Louis County plow drivers plan work stoppage on Wednesday, Duluth News Tribune
Minnesota Legislature
White Earth official seeks MN District 2 Senate seat, Bemidji Pioneer
Minnesota News
One in eight Minnesotans drink nitrate-tainted tap water, report says, Star Tribune
Target, like other retailers, did not have a Merry Christmas, Fox 9
North Shore county gives unanimous consent to future refugee resettlement, Pioneer Press
Rumors, misinformation lurked as Minnesota county rejected refugees, MPR
Government watchdog says oversight of Minnesota medical pot program is lacking, Duluth News Tribune
Representative Angie Craig (CD2, D)
Guest commentary: Craig: Bipartisan solutions can help shared problems, SW News Media
Former Republican legislator joins race against Craig, Star Tribune
Representative Tom Emmer (CD6, R)
Democrats target Emmer in complaint over ‘trackers’ in Congress, Star Tribune
Senator Tina Smith
‘That is creepy!’ Dem Senator reacts to revelations that Giuliani henchman was surveilling Marie Yovanovitch, Raw Story
Supreme Court of the US
The Supreme Court takes up a deeply fraught case about state funding of religious schools, Vox
U.S. News
Wisconsin appeals court puts voter rolls purge on hold, MPR
FEMA Asks PG&E To Repay Nearly $4B In Aid Given To Fire Victims, Newsy
Kentucky miners are blocking a coal train asking for back pay. They claim they haven’t been paid for nearly a month, CNN
Christian school expels girl over rainbow shirt and birthday cake, family says, ABC News
NPR’s sanitizing of Trump’s Milwaukee rally shows how he’s broken the media, Vox
World News
Taal Volcano Eases, but Philippines Worries Worst Is to Come, New York Times
Putin consolidates power as Russian government resigns, CNBC
US citizen Mustafa Kassem dies in Egyptian prison after hunger strike, USA Today
Upcoming DFL Events:
- 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