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In the Know: January 4, 2021

DFL Party Podcast
As we prepare for 2022, the DFL Party is exploring new opportunities to get our message out to Minnesotans, including starting a podcast! We create a short, 3 minute survey to learn what you’d like to hear from a potential DFL Party podcast. Please take a few minutes to fill out our survey and help shape this new DFL Party venture today using this link: https://forms.gle/TW3z8dWJ9UF3798GA

Agriculture News
ARGENTINA SUSPENDS CORN EXPORTS TO ENSURE DOMESTIC FOOD SUPPLIES,Successful Farming
SOYBEANS, CORN START 2021 ON STRONG NOTE, AT 6-1/2 YEAR HIGHSuccessful Farming

Labor News
Google workers announce plans to unionizeThe Verge

Attorney General Keith Ellison
MN Attorney General seeks contempt order against Lakeville bar for violation of COVID executive orderKARE 11
AG Ellison Speaks Out About COVID Bar/Restaurant Violations, KXRA

Congress
Pelosi reelected House speaker as new Congress is sworn inCBS News
A historic new Congress has just been sworn inVox
Covid worries overshadow first day of new CongressPolitico

COVID-19 News
Fauci: Vaccinations are increasing in a ‘glimmer of hope’, Star Tribune
More than 4.2 million Americans have been given their first Covid-19 vaccine. Experts say the US needs to go faster, CNN
Saliva testing for COVID to increase in Minnesota in 2021Star Tribune

Economic News
Twenty states raise minimum wage at start of new year, The Hill
Why Markets Boomed in a Year of Human Misery, New York Times
Covid pandemic sends Singapore’s economy to its worst ever recession in 2020, CNBC
Iraq, Struggling to Pay Debts and Salaries, Plunges Into Economic Crisis, New York Times

Education News 
How Education Secretary Nominee Miguel Cardona Works With TeachersAmerican Prospect

Electoral College News
At least 12 GOP senators to challenge Biden’s win, Politico
What to expect when Congress counts the electoral college votes on WednesdayWashington Post
A blizzard, a disputed electoral vote count and the 1887 law tying Pence’s handsWashington Post

Environmental News
Alaskan tribes, activists and businesses sue to save America’s biggest national forest, The Guardian
Michigan sucks at recycling. Blame plentiful and cheap landfills, Detroit Free Press
‘I’ll be fierce for all of us’: Deb Haaland on climate, Native rights and BidenThe Guardian

Georgia Senate Election 
The enormous stakes for Georgia’s two Senate runoff elections, explained, Vox
What the Georgia runoff election means for the South, and AmericaMSNBC
The Case For Republicans In Georgia vs. The Case For Democrats538
Loeffler and Perdue try to steer around Republican infighting as Georgia runoff races draw to a close, Washington Post
Republicans Turn to QAnon Central to Save Them in GeorgiaDaily Beast

Governor Tim Walz
Chris Schmitter is Walz’s ‘chief problem solver’ in era of big problems, Star Tribune
Will Gov. Walz extend Minnesota virus restrictions?, Star Tribune
Walz sets 1 million acre goal for water quality program, WCT

Minnesota Legislature 
Rep. Rena Moran leverages life experience in rise to top Minnesota Capitol post, Star Tribune
The Minnesota Legislature convenes Tuesday. Here’s how to stay informed, Pioneer Press
‘An antidote to everything’: 2020 saw record number of Minnesotans help with votingMinnPost
COVID-19 battle to color 2021 legislative sessionMPR
Minnesota GOP Lawmakers Sue To Undo State Employee Pay Raise, WCCO

Minnesota News
With little effect on ground, work on Minneapolis 2040 plan continues behind the scenesStar Tribune
COVID-19 ‘learning loss’ putting at-risk Minnesota students months behind in schoolMN Reformer
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Waiting for clarity on key metrics, pandemic policies, MPR

President Elect Joe Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris 
With Kamala Harris as vice president, expect Indian Americans to get more involved in politicsWashington Post

Republican Party News 
Paul Ryan excoriates planned GOP effort to challenge Biden’s Electoral College win as ‘anti-democratic and anti-conservative’, USA Today
Georgia GOP lieutenant governor says Trump call with secretary of state ‘inappropriate’CNN
MAGA marchers plot final D.C. stand on Jan. 6Politico
Trump’s allies are turning on Lin Wood after he tweeted about executing Mike Pence and arresting Mitch McConnell, Insider
Louie Gohmert’s failed election lawsuit, briefly explainedVox

Republican Party News in Minnesota
GOP field for 2022 Minnesota governor’s race already taking shape, Star Tribune

Trump News 
‘I just want to find 11,780 votes’: In extraordinary hour-long call, Trump pressures Georgia secretary of state to recalculate the vote in his favorWashington Post
Highlights of Trump’s Call With the Georgia Secretary of StateNew York Times
Trump, in Taped Call, Pressured Georgia Official to ‘Find’ Votes to Overturn Election, New York Times
Trump to award Medal of Freedom to GOP Reps. Devin Nunes and Jim JordanCNN
Did Trump break the law in his call to Georgia’s secretary of state? Some lawyers say yes.,Washington Post
Trump Tried to Call Raffensperger 18 Times Before Saturday’s Chat, Says ReportDaily Beast

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senators challenge Trump order banning some diversity training conceptsStar Tribune
Save Our Stages Act could be a lifeline for entertainment venues big and small, Rochester Post Bulletin
‘Embarrassing’: Klobuchar slams GOP senators over election challengeBring Me The News
Sen. Klobuchar, Top Dem In Panel Overseeing Electoral College Count, Decries 11 Sens. Planning To Reject ResultsWCCO
Amy Klobuchar To Ted Cruz And Other GOP Senators Blocking Biden Certification: ‘Please Get A Grip’, HuffPost

U.S. Representative Angie Craig (CD2) 
Craig notches successes in first termSunThisWeek

U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Meet the new Squad: AOC poses alongside group members at opening of CongressIndependent

U.S. Representative Pete Stauber (CD8)
Reader’s View: Contact Stauber, tell him how you feelDNT
Reader’s View: Stauber disregarded his oaths of office, DNT
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: I am not going to forgive or forget, Bemidji Pioneer 
Reader’s View: Does Stauber support call for martial law, DNT

U.S. News
All 10 living former defense secretaries issue a warning to Trump over threats to use the military to dispute the election, Insider
Trump misses 20 million Covid shot target, Politico
Georgia Holds the Key to Unlock $2,000 ChecksAmerican Prospect

World News 
British Court Rejects U.S. Request To Extradite WikiLeaks Founder Julian AssangeNPR
Iran starts 20% uranium enrichment, seizes tanker in strait, Associated Press
Japan poised for state of emergency as Covid-19 cases soarCNN
Boris Johnson to make televised statement on ‘further measures’ to tackle the coronavirus as pressure mounts to impose new lockdownInsider

Upcoming Events:

You can find our local Senate District contact information here. You can find non-DFL events on our Action Alert post.

  • January 5 — 92nd Minnesota Legislative Session Convenes
  • January 6 — Congressional Electoral Vote Count
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
  • January 7, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
  • January 11
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
  • January 14
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
  • January 18 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
  • January 20 — Inauguration Day
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 Virtual DFL Central Committee Meeting, 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
Categories: DFL In the Know
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