In the Know: June 15, 2020

Days to the November Election:  141

2020
Tight polls put GOP on edge in Texas, The Hill

Agriculture
Exports Pick Up, But Strength of U.S. Dollar Isn’t Helping, AgWeb
A SELL-OFF ENSUES TO START THE AG MARKET’S WEEK, Successful Farming

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota’s First Posthumous Pardon Granted To Black Man, Max Mason, Convicted In Century-Old Duluth Case, WCCO
AG Ellison Sues Generic Drug Manufacturers Again, Alleges Conspiracy To Fix Prices, WCCO
For Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, George Floyd Case Brings Pressure — And Opportunity, WCCO

Congress
Virginia Republican who officiated gay wedding loses nomination for Congress, The Guardian
Congressional Democrats seek answers on use of prison staff at protests, NBC

Donald Trump
Trump Boasts of Successful Walk Down Shallow Ramp Without Tripping, New York Magazine
Trump’s Niece To Publish Tell-All Including ‘Salacious’ Details About President: Report, Huff Post
The Race Massacre Trump Ignored While Planning His Rally, Daily Beast
Trump Tweet Mocking ‘Unpresidential’ Obama Walk Resurfaces After Ramp Incident, Huff Post

Economy
Larry Kudlow Vows End To $600 Unemployment Aid As ‘Disincentive’ To Work, Huff Post
For U.S. blacks, Latinos, no sign of a broadly rising tide, Reuters
The Federal Reserve Can End the State Fiscal Crisis Today, The American Prospect
BP writes down its assets by up to $17.5 billion as it weighs coronavirus’ lasting impact, Axios

Education
U of M regents approve budget, plan to help offset pandemic losses, MPRWhat Does Virtual Learning Mean For The Future Of Higher Education? Forbes

Environment
Climate worst-case scenarios may not go far enough, cloud data shows, The Guardian
EPA’s Attack On Science Will Allow More Pollution From Burning Coal And Oil, Forbes

Gov. Tim Walz
‘This Pandemic Is Not Over’: Gov. Tim Walz Extends Peacetime Emergency In Minnesota, WCCO
Gov. Tim Walz calls out GOP lawmakers amid efforts to limit police changes, Bring Me the News MN
Minnesota pardons black man in century-old lynching case, Associated Press

Health
Trump Administration Finalizes Rule Removing Healthcare Protections For Transgender People, Forbes
“Totally predictable”: State reopenings have backfired, Vox
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Pace of outbreak continues to slow, MPR
How America’s Hospitals Survived the First Wave of the Coronavirus, ProPublica
This Man Is Eliminating Protections Against Healthcare Discrimination For More Than 1M Americans, Forbes
Trump Administration Erases Transgender Civil Rights Protections in Health Care, New York Times

Immigration
In the Black Lives Matter movement, immigrants find themselves in a tough position, CNN
Trump Administration Considers Suspending H-1B, Other Visas Through the Fall, Wall Street Journal
After Floyd’s death, a reckoning for immigrant store owners, Associated Press

Joe Biden
‘Who are we?’: Joe Biden seizes the moment as nation’s attitude shifts on race, Guardian
Biden’s Vice-Presidential Search: Who’s on the List and Where It Stands, New York  Times
My Response to President Trump’s Newest Step to Dismantle the Affordable Care Act, Medium
Biden, Trudeau added to Global Pride 2020 line-up, Washington Blade
Joe Biden to Wisconsin Democrats: ‘Deep open wound’ of racism won’t heal with Donald Trump as president, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  

Labor

In landmark case, Supreme Court rules LGBTQ workers are protected from job discrimination, NBC
Unemployed workers face new delays and paused payments as states race to stamp out massive nationwide scam, Washington Post
More People Will Be Fired in the Pandemic. Let’s Talk About It. New York Times
Amazon workers interviewed as part of New York Attorney General’s probe into company’s coronavirus response, CNN

Minnesota News
At Least 7 Minneapolis Police Officers Quit In Wake Of George Floyd’s Death, WCCO
Charting Minnesota’s wide racial gaps: A look at disparities in five areas, Pioneer Press
George Floyd death: ‘The same happened to my son’, BBC
‘We never solved the problem’: Echoes of 1920 Duluth lynching persist at centennial, MPR
Minneapolis gathering focuses on a future with a new type of police department, Star Tribune

Minnesota State Legislature
Minnesota House blocks bid to end Walz’s emergency powers, Star Tribune
Minnesota Senate GOP to block most policing overhaul plans, ABC
Minnesota House committee lays out police reform proposals in special session hearing, KSTP
State Lawmakers Tour St. Paul Businesses Damaged In George Floyd Unrest, WCCO
Some legalize cannabis candidates are giving off very MAGA vibes, MN Reformer

Representative Dean Phillips (CD3)
More than $130 billion in small-business aid still unused, Star Tribune

Republicans
QAnon marches toward the halls of Congress, Politico
The Tea Party’s Last Stand, The American Prospect
Ron Johnson’s investigations thrust freewheeling GOP senator into election-year spotlight, Politico
‘Why Am I A Republican?’ Conservative Analyst Questions GOP’s Response To Protests, NPR

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar: Invest in internet access for all Minnesotans, Winona Daily News

Senator Tina Smith
Sen. Tina Smith meets with business owners, tours damage in St. Paul, Fox 9
There’s a growing movement to ban chokeholds. Fargo-Moorhead police don’t plan to join it, Inform

Supreme Court of the US
Civil Rights Law Protects Gay and Transgender Workers, Supreme Court Rules, New York Times
In major victory for California, Supreme Court rejects Trump’s challenge to state sanctuary law, Los Angeles Times
Supreme Court passes up challenges from gun groups on laws they say violate Second Amendment, Washington Post

U.S. News
State Investigating Hospital With Coronavirus Policy That Profiled Pregnant Native American Mothers and Separated Them From Newborns, ProPublica
Black protester who carried injured white man wanted to avert ‘catastrophe’, The Hill
Meatpacking workers often absent after Trump order to reopen, Reuters
Everything We Know About the Killing of Rayshard Brooks by Atlanta Police, New York Magazine

World News
China is reporting the biggest coronavirus outbreak it has seen in two months, Vox
Coronavirus: Beijing spike continues with 36 new cases, BBC
Coronavirus live news: India to reimpose lockdown on 15m people in Chennai as new cases surge, The Guardian
Black Lives Matter protests across the US and world, CNN

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 15, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for specifics
• June 16
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 2:00 to 3:00 PM — DNC Virtual Discussion:  Protecting Dreamers-8 Years of DACA, register here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 17
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CANCELLED CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, please contact your local party unit to find out how you can help with the upcoming primary election
• June 18
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 19
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 20 — Summer Solstice
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 11:45 AM to 12:30 PM — College Democrats of Minnesota Virtual Forum with Rep. Dean Phillips, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 21 — Father’s Day
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 22
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 7:30 to 8:30 PM — Virtual Climate Council Minnesota Roundtable, more information and sign up here.
• June 23
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 24
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 25
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 26 through August 10 — Primary Election Early Voting Window, more information here.
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 27
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 6:30 to 9:00 PM — DFL Environmental Caucus Annual Membership Virtual Meeting, here’s a link to more information.
• June 28
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 29
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• June 30
  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 1:00 to 4:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
  • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — Virtual Phone Bank with the DFL in CD3, more information and sign up here.
• 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