Days to the November Election: 144
Agriculture
AS PROCESSING PLANTS REOPEN, MORE MEAT FOR AMERICANS TO EAT, Successful Farming
U.S. Agriculture Needs A ‘Fifth Season,’, Forbes
Attorney General Keith Ellison
For Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, George Floyd Case Brings Pressure — And Opportunity,WCCO
Coronavirus Report: The Hill’s Steve Clemons interviews Keith Ellison, The Hill
Future officer-involved death cases to be moved to attorney general’s office, KSTP
Keith Ellison talks about police power, protest and George Floyd murder prosecutions, MinnPost
Congress
Congress Heads Toward Clash With Trump Over Removal Of Confederate Symbols, NPR
Kente Cloth: From Royals To Graduation Ceremonies … To Congress? NPR
Donald Trump
Why the Trump administration is sanctioning a top international court, Vox
Trump Rally Attendees Must Agree Not to Sue His Campaign If They Get the Coronavirus, New York Magazine
Trump targets International Criminal Court for sanctions over war crimes probe, Axios
Treason, Shmeason: Trump Backs Fort Benedict Arnold, The American Prospect
Frank Rich: What Trump Will Do to Win, New York Magazine
Trump’s views on race have been remarkably consistent for decades, NBC News
Economy
The Case of the Missing Bailout Oversight Panel Chair, The American Prospect
Treasury leans against naming small businesses that received PPP loans, Axios
Education
U of M plans to resume in-person classes this fall, MPR
DeVos doubles down on policy shutting vulnerable college students out of emergency grants, Washington Post
How 133 Epidemiologists Are Deciding When to Send Their Children to School, New York Times
Environment
“Two different realities”: Why America needs environmental justice, CBS News
‘Surprisingly rapid’ rebound in carbon emissions post-lockdown, The Guardian
Where’s Airborne Plastic? Everywhere, Scientists Find. NY Times
New Jersey now requires comprehensive climate change education — what about Minnesota?, MPR
Governor Tim Walz
Minnesota governor endorses package of sweeping police changes, Washington Post
Amid calls for full economic reopening, Walz says ‘the virus is holding them back, Bring Me the News
Health
How Rich Investors, Not Doctors, Profit From Marking Up ER Bills, ProPublica
Why are states seeing a sudden increase in coronavirus cases? Experts have more than one answer, USA Today
Florida And S.C. Report New Spikes In Coronavirus Cases, NPR
Immigration
Trump Administration Moves to Solidify Restrictive Immigration Policies, New York Times
US Citizenship and Immigration Services doesn’t deserve a blank check, The Hill
Joe Biden
Biden campaign goes after Facebook over online speech, Politico
Biden blasts Trump as U.S. coronavirus cases top 2 million, Reuters
THE BIDEN PLAN FOR AN EFFECTIVE RE-OPENING THAT JUMP STARTS THE ECONOMY, Joebiden.com
Labor
Minneapolis police chief to pull out of union negotiations, MPR
Thousands Of Workers Say Their Jobs Are Unsafe As Economy Reopens, NPR
Minnesota News
American Indian patrol in Minneapolis credited with saving buildings during protests, Star Tribune
Minnesota adds 20 deaths to the tally of those suspected to be caused by COVID-19, Pioneer Press
‘Bob Kroll has got to go’: Calls grow for Minneapolis police union leader’s resignation, MPR
Stillwater School Board parts way with superintendent; Pontrelli receives nearly $300K settlement, Pioneer Press
Minnesota State Legislature
It’s official: Special Session for Minnesota Legislature starts June 12, Bring Me the News
Minnesota’s Decades-Long Failure to Confront Police Abuse, The New Yorker
Democrats move police changes to top of agenda, MPR
Gov. Tim Walz’s authority, coronavirus aid, policing laws all on the table for MN special session, Twin Cities Pioneer Press
Go big or go home: A massive infrastructure bill would benefit all Minnesotans, MN Reformer
Police reform debate showcases strength of Minnesota legislators of color, Star Tribune
Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
MN Rep. Angie Craig host supply chain discussion, Brownfield Ag News
Representative Betty McCollum (CD4)
Mining politics stall money for Minnesota tribe’s water treatment project, Star Tribune
Virus Relief Funds Slow to Reach Tribes Hit Hard by Pandemic, Bloomberg
Representative Collin Peterson (CD7)
House Ag Committee Letter Highlights CFAP Concerns, Hoosier Ag Today
Representative Dean Phillips (CD3)
COLUMN: Generation of graduates will rise to the occasion, Press & News
Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Zakat Foundation of America, Rep. Ilhan Omar provide 18,000 pounds of fresh produce to Minneapolis, KSTP
Ted Cruz Says Columbus Didn’t Commit Genocide—historians Say He Did, Newsweek
For George Floyd’s Mourners, What Does ‘Justice’ Mean? New York Times
Republicans
G.O.P. Platform, Rolled Over From 2016, Condemns the ‘Current President’, New York Times
Charlotte host committee blasts GOP over ‘broken promises’ after RNC moves to Florida, Charlotte Observer
The Republican congressman who could get booted for officiating a gay wedding, Politico
Republicans in Minnesota
Where does state Sen. Julie Rosen live?, MN Reformer
MN GOP State Rep: George Floyd Protests Are “Evil” & “Not About Race”, Red Lake Nation
Minnesota Republicans call George Floyd unrest part of ‘agenda to destroy this republic’, City Pages
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Klobuchar, Smith, Colleagues Reiterate Call for Investigation into Racially Discriminatory and Violent Policing at Minneapolis Police Department, East Grand Forks Exponent
Klobuchar, Smith reiterate call for DOJ investigation into Minneapolis Police Department, KEYC
Senator Tina Smith
Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) discusses future of policing, KEYC
Elizabeth Warren urges the SBA and Treasury to help keep child-care providers afloat, CNBC
U.S. News
Black community braces for next threat: Mass evictions, Politico
Big Money Bought the Forests. Small Logging Communities Are Paying the Price., ProPublica
The Civil War That Never Ended, The American Prospect
A Hideous Confederate Statue by the Defender of MLK’s Killer, The Daily Beast
U.S. insurers use lofty estimates to beat back coronavirus claims, Reuters
The pandemic job divide: Those who can stay safe at home, and those who can’t, Vox
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).
Voting
‘We’re going to have a catastrophe’: US faces November election fiasco, The Guardian
Voting And Elections Divide Republicans And Democrats Like Little Else. Here’s Why, NPR
World News
North Korea’s Kim backs away from Trump relationship two years after historic handshake, NBC News
Lebanon protests escalate as currency dives, BBC
Trump announces sanctions on International Criminal Court to stop alleged US war crimes being investigated, Independent
Upcoming DFL Events
With the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, we suggest you check with the hosting organization to see if meetings, etc. are being held.
- June 14 — Flag Day
- June 15, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for specifics
- June 17, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — POSTPONED, CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, meeting location not allowing meetings, Zoom meeting being organized for next week. We will post more information as it comes together
- June 20 — Summer Solstice
- June 21 — Father’s Day
- June 26 through August 10 — Primary Election Early Voting Window, more information here.
- June 27, 6:30 to 9:00 PM — DFL Environmental Caucus Annual Membership Virtual Meeting, here’s a link to more information.
- July 1 — Somali Independence Day
- 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Virtual Meeting, contact them for specifics.
- July 3 — Independence Day (observed)
- July 4 — Independence Day (actual)
- July 9
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
- 7:00 t0 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics.
- July 13
- 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.
- July 15
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — No CD3 DFL Committee Meeting this month