In the Know: June 25, 2020

Days to the November Election:  131

2020 Election
Democrats announce nearly all-virtual DNC Convention in Milwaukee, WISN
Biden Builds Polling Lead in Battleground States, With Strength Among White Voters, New York Times
‘Too early to call’: why it’s unlikely we’ll have a winner on US election night, The Guardian
Amid U.S. Reckoning on Race, Black Candidates Harness Voters’ Fervor for Change, New York Times
Mail-In Ballots Thrust Postal Service Into Presidential Race, New York Times

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota sues oil companies and trade body for fraud on climate change, Independent
Minnesota files climate change lawsuit against oil companies including Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, Star Tribune

CD 1 Candidate Dan Feehan
Feehan will build sense of community, Winona Daily
Vote for Dan Feehan, St. Peter Herald

CD1 Representative Jim Hagedorn
Republican congressman says Black Lives Matter protesters ‘at war’ with ‘western culture, Independent
Jim Hagedorn says ‘Democrat Black Lives Matter Party’ is ‘at war’ with ‘western culture’, City Pages

Congress
‘We cannot flunk this moment’: Black Caucus looks to deliver, Politico
House Judiciary members trade barbs over Barr as he agrees to testify before panel, Roll Call
Bipartisan senators introduce legislation to update tech liability protections, The Hill

DFL News
Jason Lewis Refused to Denounce George Floyd Crisis Actor Conspiracy Theory, DFL.org

Donald Trump
The 6 Trump Bombshells Still Waiting to Explode, Politico
Dozens Of Secret Service Agents Reportedly Told To Quarantine After Tulsa Rally, Huff Post

Economy
Another 1.5 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, Axios
More than 1 million dead people got stimulus checks before IRS recalled them, Politico

Environment
Projects to Stash Carbon Dioxide Underground Get a Boost, New York Times
US moves to exempt companies from reporting harmful chemical releases, The Guardian

Gov. Tim Walz
Reality Check: Was It President Trump Or Gov. Walz Who Called In The National Guard To Minneapolis?, WCCO
All policy levers must be used to meet homelessness crisis, Star Tribune
Duluth mayor appeals to Walz for aid to address city’s ‘gaping financial wound’, Duluth News Tribune

Health
7 Things to Know About the Big New House ACA Update Package, Think Advisor
The coronavirus surge is real, and it’s everywhere, Axios
With COVID Cares phone line, Minnesota mental health professionals offer support in time of crisis, Minnpost
Blue Earth County Experiencing an Increase in COVID-19 Cases, KTOE

Joe Biden
Top Tammy Baldwin aides to lead Joe Biden campaign in Wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Biden campaign grows digital operation to contend with virtual trail,CNN
UFW backs Biden: ‘elections matter’ in protecting Dreamers, achieving immigration reform, farm worker overtime pay & prevention of heat deaths in the fields, United Farm Workers
NRDC Action Fund Endorses Biden for President, NRDC

Minnesota News
Minnesota’s construction industry has been hit hard by COVID-19, and recovery may be slow, MinnPost
A month after George Floyd’s death, the hard work begins in Minneapolis, St. Paul, USA Today
Minnesota tribes ask for more autonomy with CARES Act funding, Duluth News Tribune
Pandemic erased years of clean energy job gains in Minnesota, report says, Rochester Post Bulletin

Minnesotans of color at higher risk for coronavirus because of their jobs, other factors, Pioneer Press
Surge follows bar outings in southern MN, MPR

Republicans
Woman Who Praised KKK Apologizes, Vows To Never Wave Confederate Flag Again, Huff Post
Devin Nunes Loses Legal Battle With Twitter Cow, New York Magazine
The top Republicans who aren’t voting for Trump in 2020, Axios
The real villain of John Bolton’s Trump book is John Bolton, Vox

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Coronavirus Report: The Hill’s Steve Clemons interviews Sen. Amy Klobuchar, The Hill

Senator Tina Smith
Sen. Tina Smith holds virtual roundtable with leaders from Minnesota’s Indigenous communities, KEYC
Sen. Tina Smith addresses Native American communities negatively impacted by COVID-19,KVRR
Senator Tina Smith introduces bills focused on expanding mental health services, WDIO
Sen. Tina Smith meets with MN Tribal Leaders to address COVID hardships, KBJR

Secretary of State Steve Simon
MN Sec. of State Steve Simon waives witness signatures for primary absentee ballots, Pioneer Press

Supreme Court of the US
The Supreme Court could soon allow Trump’s expansion of deportations to go unchecked, Vox

U.S. News
Anti-Mask Floridians Hurl Conspiracy Theories At Officials In Wild Public Meeting, Huff Post
North Carolina governor issues order for residents to wear masks, The Hill
Trump administration ending support for drive-thru testing sites, Politico
The 3 most populous states are breaking coronavirus records, leading to fears of ‘apocalyptic’ surges, CNN
U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Worse Than Forecast for Second Week, Bloomberg
Arizona ‘Overwhelmed’ With Demand for Tests as U.S. System Shows Strain, New York Times
My Family Saw a Police Car Hit a Kid on Halloween. Then I Learned How NYPD Impunity Works., ProPublica

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
Kosovo President Is Indicted for War Crimes for Role in War With Serbia, New York Times
Parts Of Myanmar Unaware Of COVID-19 Due To Internet Ban, Rights Advocates Say, NPR News
Galwan Valley: Satellite images ‘show China structures’ on India border, BBC
Coronavirus live news: cases surge in Europe since lockdown easing, says WHO, The Guardian
Large-scale coronavirus vaccine trial begins in South Africa, The Hill

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 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.
    • 12:00 to 4:00 PM — SD40 DFL Nominations Screenings, contact them for more information.
    • 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 7, 5:00 to 7:00 PM — DFL Virtual Grassroots Fundraiser:  Where We Go From Here, more information and RSVP here.
  • 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
  • July 18, 1:30 to 4:00 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Virtual Business Meting, contact them for more information.
  • July 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, contact them for specifics.