Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota attorney general charges 8 in scheme that cheated Medicaid out of $860,000, Star Tribune
Congress
House Democrats revive bill to ban colleagues from carrying guns on Capitol grounds, Washington Post
Pelosi says House will take first step toward passing Covid relief next week, with or without GOP, CNBC
Congress plans hearings after GameStop stock frenzy and Robinhood trading freeze, CBS
Hostility between congressional Republicans and Democrats reaches new lows amid growing fears of violence, Washington Post
Environmental
GM aims to offer only electric cars by 2035, and to be carbon-neutral by 2040, Market Watch
Pentagon declares climate change a ‘national security issue’, The Hill
Governor Tim Walz
Gov. Tim Walz says better vaccine supply gives Minnesota ‘golden opportunity’ in COVID-19 fight, Star Tribune
Walz visits pilot vaccination site in Brooklyn Center, KBJR
Walz asks for patience in vaccine rollout, KARE 11
Health
CDC director says community spread of South African strain is here, NBC
Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine is 66% effective in global trial, but 85% effective against severe disease, company says, CNN
Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota lawmakers split over using state money to help Minneapolis recover from Floyd riots, MinnPost
Minnesota legislators vote to denounce violence at U.S. Capitol – most of them, anyway, Star Tribune
Democrats at MN Capitol pushing for paid emergency COVID leave for front-line workers, KTOE
Minnesota News
Minnesota awards $21M in grant funding to enhance rural broadband access, Pioneer Press
Minnesota COVID-19 positivity rate dips below 5% threshold, Star Tribune
Minnesota officials say COVID-19 vaccine lottery will be re-evaluated, FOX 9
President Joe Biden
Biden still seeking bipartisan Covid-19 relief package despite stalemate, CNN
Biden Moves to Expand Health Coverage in Pandemic Economy, The New York Times
SNAP expansion and worker safety: How Biden’s executive orders affect the food world, Today
Republican Party
Center-right Republicans fear party headed for disaster, The Hill
‘Trump Just Used Us and Our Fear’: One Woman’s Journey Out of QAnon, New York Times
‘People are angry’: House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump face backlash at home, CNN
Trump may be out of office, but Republicans are still angry and ready to do his bidding, The Guardian
‘A Hostage Situation Every Day’: Strategists Blame Trump For Georgia Senate Losses, NPR
Just how nuts is the Republican Party?, Washington Post
Republican Party in Minnesota
MN GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan will seek reelection, Bring Me the News
Carnahan to run for 3rd term as Minnesota GOP chairwoman, KTTC
Scoop: Karin Housley weighing run for Minnesota governor, Axios
U.S. News
U.S. Names Iran Envoy in Battle of Wills With Tehran Over Nuclear Negotiations, The New York Times
The variant that emerged in South Africa is reported in the U.S. for the first time., The New York Times
Robinhood to ease trading restrictions. GameStop stock soars 100%, CNN
U.S. Representative Angie Craig (CD2, D)
Young Minnesotans excited about Biden’s pitch to cancel $10,000 in student loan debt, Star Tribune
U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5, D)
In Letter To Biden, Omar Calls For Recurring COVID Relief Packages of $2000, WCCO
Omar wants monthly $2000 stimulus payments, KWLM
U.S. Representative Tom Emmer (CD6, R)
Rep. Tom Emmer owes Sixth District voters an explanation, St. Cloud Times
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Why you should care about data privacy even if you have “nothing to hide”. Vox
Klobuchar, incoming antitrust chair, eager to take on Big Tech, Roll Call
Klobuchar nominates fellow Minnesotan at Secretary of Veterans Affairs Confirmation Hearing,CBS 3
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar wants ‘aggressive and effective’ antitrust enforcers, Financial Post
U.S. Senator Tina Smith
Sen. Tina Smith: Access to banking is a civil rights issue, Axios
Senators: New data say Lyme disease under-reported in US, WQOW
Sen. Smith continues push for free COVID vaccines for all, KTOE
EDA grant targets south central Minnesota manufacturers hit hard by pandemic, KEYC
World News
Mexico’s death toll becomes the world’s third highest, surpassing India’s., The New York Times
World’s Most Vaccinated Nation Struggles With Virus Variants, Bloomberg
Covid crisis is fuelling food price rises for world’s poorest, The Guardian
Former President Donald Trump
Trump targets Cheney as he unites with McCarthy, CNN
Republicans Are Giving Rogue Presidents a Pass by Redefining Impeachment, Politico
Upcoming Events:
You can find non-DFL events on our Action Alert post.
- 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