In the Know: January 15, 2021


Attorney General Keith Ellison
AG Ellison shuts down fraudulent student-loan debt settlement company in Minnesota, KSTP

Congress
Adriano Espaillat is the latest member of Congress to test positive for the virus after Capitol siege., The New York Times 
What We Know So Far: A Timeline Of Security Response At The Capitol On Jan. 6, NPR 
6 questions about Trump’s 2nd impeachment trial answered, much still unknown, ABC News
As Democrats push for probe of GOP ties to riots, Rep. Lauren Boebert denies involvement, says she’s getting ‘death threats’, Washington Post 

Donald Trump/Mike Pence
MAGA Is an Extreme Aberration,The Atlantic
Online extremists are ignoring Trump’s call for calm, Politico
Trump Reconciles With Ex-Strategist Steve Bannon in Talks on Election, Bloomberg
How the rioters who stormed the Capitol came dangerously close to Pence, Washington Post

Economic 
Retail Spending Dips For 3rd Straight Month As Infections Surge, NPR

Environmental 
Air pollution will lead to mass migration, say experts after landmark ruling, The Guardian
2020 Was One Of The Hottest Years On Record. Global Warming Is To Blame., Buzzfeed
A “forever” drought takes shape in the West, Axios

Governor Tim Walz
Walz visits Duluth, calls for a return to the ‘principles of this country’, Duluth News Tribune
Walz to hold press conference on Minnesota State Capitol safety concerns, Bring Me The News 
Walz directs $67.3M to businesses impacted by COVID-19 closures, KSTP
Gov. Walz visits Duluth, makes call for “civility, calm, and peace”, WDIO

Health
Ex-Obama official who helped fix botched healthcare.gov rollout to join Biden’s Covid-19 team, CNN

Minnesota Legislature
Bills take aim at copper-nickel mining in Minnesota, Duluth News Tribune 
MN BUSINESSES GET $67.3M IN COVID RELIEF, Knox Radio

Minnesota News
COVID (MN): MDH Says Providers Can Now Offer Vaccine Doses To Broader Group, Including Those 65 Years Of Age And Older, WCCO 
Minnesota pastor says on video to be ready to ‘arm up’ as a citizen militia force, Star Tribune
Protesters stage sit-in inside northern Minnesota Line 3 pipeline segment, KSTP 
Minnesota public safety officials say to avoid State Capitol because of threats of violence, Star Tribune

President Elect Joe Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris 
Biden inauguration rehearsal is postponed due to security threats, Politico 
Biden unveils $1.9 trillion economic and health-care relief package, The Washington Post 
Biden Proposes $175 Billion to Reopen Schools, U.S. News and World Report 
Biden Twitter account ‘starts from zero’ with no Trump followers, BBC
Biden wrests control of Trump’s spotlight and makes first big bet of presidency, CNN
Biden’s $400 unemployment boost would replace 86% of lost wages for many workers, CNBC

Republican Party News 
Rick Scott’s rocky start atop GOP Senate campaign arm, Politico
Billionaires backed Republicans who sought to reverse US election results, The Guardian

U.S. Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
D.C. Memo: Most impeached president, ever, MinnPost 
BIPARTISAN HOUSE LAWMAKERS ASK TRUMP TO DENY SRES, Brownfield Ag News

U.S. Representative Dean Phillips (CD3)
Rep. Phillips on impeachment: ‘Without accountability, we cannot have unity’, Sun Sailor

U.S. News
Comparison between Capitol siege, BLM protests is denounced, The Associated Press 
U.S. health officials push hospitals to administer unused Covid antibody drugs, CNBC 
Live Updates: FBI tracking “extensive amount of concerning online chatter” before inauguration, says director, CBS News 
Rioters wanted to ‘capture and assassinate’ lawmakers, prosecutors say. A note left by the ‘QAnon Shaman’ is evidence., Washington Post

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Here’s the lineup for President-elect Biden’s inauguration ceremonies, The HIll

U.S. Senator Tina Smith
Democrats in Senate to Juggle Trump Impeachment Trial, Biden Agenda,Wall Street Journal

World News 
At Least 42 Killed and Hundreds Injured as Quake Hits Indonesia, The New York Times 
Government in Netherlands Resigns After Benefit Scandal, New York Times
WHO Europe Chief: 95% of World’s Vaccines Being Administered in 10 Countries, Voice of America

Upcoming Events:

You can find non-DFL events on our Action Alert post.

  • January 16, 6:00 to 7:30 PM — America United: A Biden Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating America’s Changemakers, celebrating American, reflecting and honoring our history and highlighting the incredible diversity of the nation. Livestreamed at bideninaugural.org and on PIC social media
  • January 18 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
    • 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM — Biden-Harris National Day of Service: JW Marriot Mall of America VEAP Food Drive, more information here.
    • 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM — Biden-Harris National Day of Service: VEAP Food Collection, more information here.
    • 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM — Biden-Harris National Day of Service, more information here.
    • 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM — Biden-Harris National Day of Service, Virtual Fundraiser for ICA Food Shelf, Minnetonka, MN, more information here.
    • 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Minnesota DFL Supply Drive at DFL Headquarters, 255 Plato Blvd E, St. Paul, MN. More information here.
    • 7:00 to 8:00 PM — Biden-Harris United We Serve: A Celebration of the National MLK Day of Service with a diverse array of entertainers, inspiring speakers and celebrities celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Biden-Harris Administration commitment to service. Livestreamed at bideninaugural.org and on PIC social media platforms.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
  • January 19 — Biden-Harris Nationwide COVID-19 Memorial
    • 4:30 to 5:30 PM — The lighting around Washington, DC will be live-streamed at bideninaugural.org and on PIC social media platforms.
  • January 20 — Inauguration Day
    • 9:00 AM — Inauguration coverage begins
    • 11:00 PM — Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Kamala D. Harris will be sworn into office
    • 5:30 to 6:30 PM — DFL Virtual Inauguration Celebration Fundraiser, more information and RSVP here.
    • 7:30 to 9:30 PM — Celebrating America: A Primetime Special. The capstone of the Biden-Harris inauguration hosted by Tom Hanks with Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, Ant Clemons and Jon Bon Jovi. Airs on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC and PBS as well as live-streamed on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch.
  • January 27, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon for and election debrief, more information as it becomes available
  • January 28, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD47 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
  • February 2 — Groundhog Day
  • February 3
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
  • February 4, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
  • February 8
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
  • February 11
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information
  • February 14 — Valentine’s Day
  • February 15 — Presidents’ Day
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Virtual DFL Anoka County Meeting, contact them for more information
  • February 16 — Mardi Gras
  • February 17 — Ash Wednesday
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available
  • February 25 to 26 — Purim
  • February 28, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD47 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for more information