In the Know: July 24, 2020

Days to the November Election:  102

2020 Election
How Voter-Fraud Hysteria and Partisan Bickering Ate American Election Oversight, ProPublica
Why the November election could break America, Politico

Agriculture
U.S. SOYBEANS KEEP FLYING OFF OF THE SHELVES, AG MARKETS REMAIN MIXED FRIDAY, Successful Farming

Congressional News
Congress set for brawl as unemployment cliff looms, The Hill
Congress wants to fix public lands. It’s just a bandage on the wounds Trump caused, The Guardian
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Delivers a Lesson in Decency on the House Floor, The New Yorker

DFL Action Center
100 Days OUT – Weekend of Action
We’re 102 days out from election day and from here on out, every minute counts. If you’d like to help the DFL Party fight for criminal justice reform, better schools, wages, our environment, and health care, follow this link and sign up to get in touch with an organizer in your area!

Donald Trump
Sinking Trump seeks to squash GOP dissent, The Hill
Stephen Miller’s Grandmother Died of COVID-19. Her Son Blames the Trump Administration., Mother Jones

Economy
Corporate America was here for you on coronavirus until about June, Vox
The unemployment situation is really, really bad, Axios
Wave of evictions could be coming for nation’s renters, The Hill

Environment
Ocean plastic could triple by 2040 and outnumber fish by 2050, study says, Independent
Where extreme heat and Covid-19 collide, experts fear a dangerous recipe for at-risk communities, CNN
How Covid-19 Made it Easier to Talk About Climate Change, New York Times

Governor Tim Walz
Gov. Tim Walz mandates face masks indoors across Minnesota, Star Tribune
Gov. Walz signs police accountability bill into law, MPR
Survey: Nearly Half Of Minnesota Teachers Want Distance Learning This Fall, WCCO

Health Care
High-income people could grab up to $40 billion in tax breaks if the Affordable Care Act is overturned, CNBC
How politics, inequity, and complacency undermined Texas’s fight against Covid-19, Vox
Shut down the country and start over to contain Covid-19, US medical experts urge political leaders, CNN

Immigration
He Defended Anti-Gay and Anti-Muslim Causes. Now He’s an Immigration Judge, Mother Jones
Despite judge’s order, migrant children remain detained amid COVID outbreak, NBC News
Trump Sued For Attempt To Omit Unauthorized Immigrants From A Key Census Count, NPR

Joe Biden
Child care is broken. Biden has a plan to fix it., Vox
Fox News poll shows Trump trailing Biden in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, The Hill

Check out our brand new Biden for President merchandise in the DFL Store!
Click here to see our new shirts, signs, and stickers!

Labor
Unions and NGOs call on big brands to stop using forced labor from China, Politico
Covid-19 puts workers in danger. It’s another reason we need unions, The Guardian

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan
Capitol fence to go soon; Columbus statue to stay in storage, MPR

Minnesota News
More than 400,000 Minnesotans need Congress to extend unemployment benefits, MN Reformer
Feds in town to assess Minnesota’s COVID-19 response, Star Tribune
From the ashes a new sense of purpose on Lake Street, MN Reformer
Minnesota teachers give nod to distance learning, survey shows, Star Tribune
Study: Your dollar goes further in rural Minnesota, if you can find a place to live, MPR

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
1-On-1 With Rep. Ilhan Omar, WCCO
‘The Truths I Tell Are An Inconvenience’: Rep. Ilhan Omar Unapologetic, Unfazed In Her Quest For 2nd Term, WCCO
Why I’m voting for Ilhan Omar in the DFL primary, City Pages

Representative Jim Hagedorn (CD1, R)
Intel Calls For Minnesota Rep. Hagedorn To Return Campaign Donation Following Black Lives Matter Criticsm, WCCO
U.S. Rep. Hagedorn votes against removing confederate statues from U.S. Capitol, MN Reformer

Republicans
Some Senate Republicans push for clean energy in next coronavirus stimulus, Axios
The wealthy Republicans who want to oust Trump in November’s election, Reuters
The Justice Department Imprisoned Michael Cohen for Flipping on Trump, NY Mag
Anthony Fauci Reveals ‘Serious Threats’ To Himself, His Family, Huff Post
GOP Isn’t Sure Saving Trump With Stimulus Is Worth It, Daily Beast
This Bank Robber Reinvented Himself as a QAnon Star, Daily Beast

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Amy Klobuchar co-authors Save Our Stages bill to help shuttered music venues, Star Tribune
Seven Democratic Senators Urge Caution on Google’s Purchase of Fitbit, New York Times

Senator Tina Smith
Minn. lawmakers tout Biden’s child- and home-care plan at campaign event, Wadena Pioneer Journal
Senators Urge Congress to Support Pork Producers, Pork Business
Tackling COVID-19’s impact on communities of color, Hudson Reporter

U.S. News
How politics, inequity, and complacency undermined Texas’s fight against Covid-19, Vox
He Defended Anti-Gay and Anti-Muslim Causes. Now He’s an Immigration Judge., Mother Jones
Legal War Against Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Census Power Grab Ramps Up, TPM
America Looks Hopelessly Broke. It Isn’t., New York Times

Voter Protection
If you or someone you know has trouble registering to vote or casting a ballot, we encourage you to reach out to the DFL’s new Voter Protection Hotline at 833-DFL-VOTE (833-335-8683).

World News
Explosive UFO Report In NYT Mentions ‘Off-World Vehicles Not Made On This Earth’, Huff Post
What Do Sweden and Mexico Have in Common? A Feminist Foreign Policy, New York Times
China orders U.S. to close a consulate after U.S. demands it shutter Houston outpost, CNBC

Upcoming DFL Events

With the COVID-19 situation, we suggest you check with the hosting organization to see if meetings, etc. are being held.

  • Today through August 10 — Primary Election Early Voting Window, more information here.
  • July 25, 2:00 to 4:30 PM — MyDFL Virtual Special Convention, more information and RSVP here.
  • July 28 through August 11 — Window for Candidates to Register with State for City Offices with No Primaries to Register
  • July 29, 7:00 PM — CD3 Virtual Central Committee Meeting and Election of Directors, more information as it becomes available.
  • July 30, 7:00 PM — DFL Environmental Caucus Virtual Meeting with endorsed candidates, more information and RSVP here.
  • August 4, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • August 5
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meetings, contact them for specifics.
  • August 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • August 10
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • August 13
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • August 17, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for specifics.
  • August 19, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, tentative virtual meeting, specifics decided at July meeting
  • August 29 — DFL State Central Virtual Meeting, this will be a full agenda meeting, more information as it becomes available.