Congress
Senate confirms Avril Haines as director of national intelligence, the first Biden Cabinet nominee confirmed, CNN
Biden Faces Early Hurdles on Nominees, Covid-19 Relief, Wall Street Journal
Democrats plot to defend fragile Senate majority, Politico
DFL Congressional Delegation
An emotional Inauguration Day for Minnesotans in Congress, Star Tribune
Minnesota’s congressional delegation attends Biden-Harris inauguration, Kare 11
We Can’t Stop Fighting for Our Democracy, The Atlantic
Representative Ilhan Omar on Bringing America Back From the Brink, Vogue
Education
‘They’re in trouble’: Enrollment declines straining Minnesota school budgets, MN Reformer
Environmental
Biden returns US to Paris climate accord hours after becoming president, The Guardian
Biden rejoins Paris climate pact. Environmental advocates hope the best is yet to come., NBC
Governor Tim Walz
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Active caseloads go lower, MPR
Immigration
Stephen Miller attacks Biden’s immigration plan in first tweet, Politico
Labor
Home Care Workers Celebrate $15 Minimum Wage in Tentative Agreement With State of Minnesota, Workday MN
Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota’s GOP leaders continue to struggle with saying the 2020 election was legitimate, MinnPost
Minnesota House of Reps aims to tackle homelessness, The Uptake
Speaker Hortman: BCA finds no wrongdoing in Jan. 6 Minnesota rally, MPR
An early look at the legislative session and UMN, Minnesota Daily
Minnesota News
‘Standing up for all of us’: Minn. women celebrate Kamala Harris as vice president, MinnPost
Good Grocer to reopen volunteer-powered grocery store in south Minneapolis, Star Tribune
Minnesota Democrats, stuck at home, find creative ways to celebrate Biden inauguration, Star Tribune
Minnesota pharmacies ask to be included in COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Star Tribune
A caveman encased in a block of ice? The story behind this viral Minneapolis park sculpture, Star Tribune
President Joe Biden
Biden targets Trump’s legacy with first-day executive actions, CNN
Biden replaces Andrew Jackson portrait in Oval Office, adds Cesar Chavez bust, The Hill
Biden to sign virus measures, requires mask use to travel, Associated Press
Republican Party News
Trump leaves behind diminished GOP, Politico
The QAnon ‘Storm’ Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast, NPR
QAnon is mortally wounded. But the right’s conspiracy theories will never die., Washington Post
17 House GOP Freshmen Write To Biden About Working Together, NPR
Trump-backing California legislator ousted as GOP caucus leader, Politico
U.S. News
Amanda Gorman Captures the Moment, in Verse, New York Times
On Day 2, Biden to focus on COVID-19 strategy with 10 executive actions, MPR
Washington Breathes an Uneasy Sigh of Relief, New York TimesNew Georgia senators sworn in, Democrats now officially control the Senate, MPR
‘Not broken but simply unfinished’: Poet Amanda Gorman calls for a better America, MPR
Mittens make Bernie Sanders once again the star of a meme, New York Times
Oregon Democratic Party offices vandalized amid post-inauguration protests, NBC
Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem ‘The Hill We Climb’,MN Reformer
Republican Party in Minnesota News
Minnesota’s GOP leaders continue to struggle with saying the 2020 election was legitimate, MinnPost
Fake GOP rage over Biden’s ‘unity’ speech is a sucker’s game, Washington Post
U.S. Representative Jim Hagedorn (CD1, R)
Abe Sauer: Why does Hagedorn treat Minnesotans like chumps?, Rochester Post Bulletin
U.S. Representative Pete Stauber (CD8, R)
Reader’s View: What would Stauber consider impeachable?, Duluth News Tribune
Reader’s View: Hold Republicans accountable, too, Duluth News Tribune
Tribes blast Stauber over efforts to derail first Native American Cabinet member, Timberjay
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Minnesota Senator Klobuchar stands out at Biden inauguration, Kare 11
America’s ‘grit’: Amy Klobuchar’s full speech at Joe Biden’s inauguration, Pioneer Press
Sen. Klobuchar Delivers Remarks At Inauguration: ‘This Is The Day Our Democracy Picks Itself Up’, WCCO
Klobuchar: Democracy cannot be taken for granted, Associated Press
U.S. Senator Tina Smith
‘Sort of eerie’: The Inauguration was Sen. Tina Smith’s first time back at the Capitol since the attack, Pioneer Press
World News
Hungary orders LGBT publisher to print disclaimers on children’s book, The Guardian
Italy avoids government collapse as Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte survives confidence vote, CNBC
Merkel’s Successor Has Some Explaining to Do in Washington, Bloomberg
A ‘perfect storm’ is brewing in the global response to Covid, WEF risk report panelist warns, CNBC
Vice President Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris Is Now The First Woman To Be Vice President, Buzzfeed
The Deep Meaning of the Color Purple at the Biden Inauguration, Town & Country
Former President Donald Trump
Trump bids farewell to Washington, hints of comeback, Associated Press
Trump extended Secret Service protection to his adult children as he left office, Washington Post
AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s fiction in his goodbye to Washington, Associated Press
Trump’s economic legacy: Trade wars, tariffs and tax breaks, NBC
Upcoming Events:
You can find non-DFL events on our Action Alert post.
- 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