In the Know: July 3, 2019

Big Business
Amazon’s former HQ2 location is doing just fine without Amazon, Vox
PAC gifts: Sometimes they clash with stated corporate values, MinnPost
Inside the conflict at Walmart that’s threatening its high-stakes race with Amazon, Vox
How ‘Big Soda’ used its clout to stop 5 of 5 California laws to regulate sugary drinks, Los Angeles Times

Census
Trump Administration Drops Effort to Add Citizenship Question to 2020 Census, NY Times
Trump Posts Cryptic Tweet On Citizenship Question Just As DOJ Backs Down For 2020, Talking Points Memo=

Congress
House Democrats file lawsuit to obtain Trump tax returns, CNN

Economy
Without Congressional Input, Trump May Further Widen the Gap Between Rich and Poor, The American Prospect
U.S. Yields Hit Lowest Since 2016 as Stocks Rise: Markets Wrap, Bloomberg

Environment
America’s liquefied natural gas boom may be on a collision course with climate change, CNN
Massive restoration of world’s forests would cancel out a decade of CO2 emissions, analysis suggests, The Independent
US produces far more waste and recycles far less of it than other developed countries, The Guardian

GOP
Housley passes on U.S. Senate rematch in 2020, MPR
Whatever happened to Breitbart? The insurgent star of the right is in a long, slow fade, Washington Post
NRA meltdown has Trump campaign sweating, Politico

Governor Tim Walz
Minn. opioid law takes effect; Walz says implementation ‘critical’, Fox 9

Health Care
HMOs have always been nonprofit in Minnesota. What happens when that changes?, MinnPost
Democratic voters cite health care, gun violence as top ‘important’ issues: poll, The Hill

Immigration
Trump country farmers feel the heat as feds intensify immigration crackdown, MPR
The Shame of Our Border Cruelty, The American Prospect
DHS chief orders investigation into reports of secret Border Patrol Facebook group, The Hill
‘Ticking Time Bomb’: New Government Report Details Overcrowding, Prolonged Detention and Security Risks at Border Patrol Facilities, Time
Federal judge blocks Barr order on indefinite detention for asylum-seekers, The Hill
Democrats on high alert to block any funding for Trump’s border wall, The Hill

July 4th
The 56 people who signed the Declaration of Independence, USA Today
Fourth of July fireworks in the Twin Cities: Where to find them, KARE11
4th of July: What is Independence Day and why do we celebrate it on July Fourth?, Newsweek

Minnesota News
Minnesota launches landmark opioid response law, Star Tribune
As Minnesota abortions continue to decline, regional access remains an issue, St. Cloud Times
It’s dangerous to assume Minnesota is immune to gerrymandering, Sun Sailor
Mankato should ask for bonding dollars, Mankato Free Press
Meet Joan Gabel, the new University of Minnesota president, Minnesota Daily
Minnesota will use Volkswagen settlement cash to get polluting diesel vehicles off the road, Star Tribune
Xcel says it will likely need more power capacity by 2030s, Star Tribune

News of the World
‘I feel lucky’: millions have fled war-torn Yemen – the US has accepted 50, The Guardian
Rouhani defiant, saying Iran will enrich uranium ‘by whatever amount we feel like’, The Hill
‘A bad trip’: Jair Bolsonaro’s first six months leave even the right dismayed, The Guardian

Representative Betty McCollum (CD4)
Power of the purse: Rep. Betty McCollum on using the appropriations process to check the Trump administration, MinnPost
McCollum: Trump ‘hijacking’ Washington July 4 celebration for ‘political rally’, Pioneer Press

Representative Jim Hagedorn (CD1)
Republican congressman says migrants in border facilities ‘can leave,’ but a new report by a government watchdog shows conditions are even worse than were known., The Daily Beast

Senator Tina Smith
Senators seek 50% renewable electricity in every state, Offshore Wind

Trump
Tanks, flyovers and heightened security: Trump’s Fourth of July ups taxpayer cost, MPR
Trump’s July 4 extravaganza sets a political trap, CNN
NPS Using $2.5 Million Meant For Park Improvement For Trump’s July 4 Circus, Talking Points Meme
Trump campaign says it took in $105 million during 2nd quarter, Los Angeles Times
Yes, Trump Ran as an Economic ‘Moderate’ — But Now We Know Better, New York Magazine
White House insists Trump’s ‘Salute to America’ won’t be political, The Hill

Trump Trade Wars
Big farms find easy ways around Trump trade aid limits, MPR
China wants to create a tech landscape where the US can no longer hurt it, CNBC
Trump’s trade war with China is damaging the US economy: top economist, Yahoo

Upcoming DFL Events

  • July 3
    • 2:00 to 7:30 PM — SD47 DFL Tabling at the SW Chamber Business Expo, 7700 Market Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317.
    • 6:30 to :30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Room C102, Kennedy High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CANCELLED — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting
  • July 4 — Independence Day
    • 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM — SD48 DFL at Eden Prairie’s 4th of July Celebration, Round Lake Park, southwest corner of Eden Prairie Road and Valley View Road in Eden Prairie
    • 1:00 to 3:00 PM — SD47 DFL Marching in the Chanhassen 4th of July Parade
  • July 8
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chambers, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • July 11, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • July 13, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM — SD47 DFL at Mayer Rising, 413 Bluejay Ave, Mayer, MN 55360
  • July 15, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — UPDATED:  SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Suite 21, 7001 Cahill Rd, Edina, MN
  • July 14, 1:00 PM — SD40 DFL Book Club Meeting, contact them for more specifics.
  • July 20, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — SD47 DFL Marching in the Watertown Rails to Trails Parade
  • July 21, 12:00 to 3:00 PM – SD49 DFL Picnic, Shelter 1, West Bush Lake Park, 9140 E  Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438
  • July 25, 4:00 to 8:00 PM — SD47 DFL at Glad Days, 107 John Ave N, Cologne, MN 55322
  • July 26
    • 4:00 to 8:00 PM — SD47 DFL at Glad Days, 107 John Ave N, Cologne, MN 55322
    • 5:00 to 8:00 PM — SD47 DFL at River City Days, City Square Park, 300 N Chestnut St, Chaska, MN 55381
    • 6:00 to 8:00 PM — 2019 Minnesota DFL Women’s Leadership Event with Special Guest U.S. Sne. Kirsten Sinema, 1908 Girard Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403. More information and tickets here.
  • July 27
    • 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM — SD47 DFL at Glad Days, 107 John Ave N, Cologne, MN 55322
    • 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM — SD47 DFL at River City Days, City Square Park, 300 N Chestnut Street, Chaska, MN 55318
  • July 28, 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM — SD47 DFL Marching in the Chaska River City Days Parade
  • July 30 — DNC Presidential Debate, more information as it becomes available
  • July 31 — DNC Presidential Debate, more information as it becomes available
  • August 3, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM — SD47 DFL at Volksfest, Victoria, MN