In the Know: June 26, 2020

Days to the November Election:  130

Agriculture
SENATE BILL WOULD HELP FARMERS GET INTO CARBON MARKETS, SAY BACKERS, Successful Farming
‘Carbon Farming’ Could Make US Agriculture Truly Green, Wired

Congress
House passes Democrat-led bill for sweeping police reform in wake of George Floyd’s death, NBC News
Trump Administration May End Congressional Review of Foreign Arms Sales, New York Times

DFL News
Trump to Supreme Court: Take Away Health Care From 337,000 Minnesotans During A Pandemic, DFL.org

Donald Trump
Trump Moves to Kill Obamacare on Same Day U.S. Hits New COVID-19 Infection Record, Daily beast
New Polling Shows Trump’s Electoral College Advantage Is Slipping,538
Five Months After Celebrating the Economy in Wisconsin, Trump Returns to a Different Place, New York Times
Trump’s post-Covid bubble is popping, CNN
Trump is rescuing Maine lobstermen from himself, and blaming Obama,Vox
House Vote Friday Would Make D.C. The 51st State. Trump And The Senate Say No, NPR
Trump Gets Trumpier Under Stress,The Atlantic

Economy
U.S. labor market, economy struggle despite reopening of businesses, Reuters

Education
Pandemic Parenting Was Already Relentless. Then Came Summer. New York Times
Education Dept. Rule Limits How Schools Can Spend Vital Aid Money, NPR

Environment
This environmental justice activist breaks down deep ties between racism and climate change, PBS
The secretive government agency planting ‘cyanide bombs’ across the US, The Guardian
Texas oil industry faces prospect of collapse amid Covid-19 losses, The Guardian

Governor Tim Walz
Gov. Walz Unveils Plan For Distributing $853M In CARES Act Money Throughout State, WCCO
Walz to release $841 million in COVID-19 aid to local governments, Star Tribune
Walz signs bills eliminating prekindergarten suspensions, expanding teacher mental health training, Bring Me the News MN

Health
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to strike down Obamacare, Washington Post
Cluster of COVID-19 cases in southern Minnesota tied to reopened bars, Star Tribune
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Death, hospitalizations continue to slow, MPR
In the middle of a pandemic, Trump argues to Supreme Court that ‘the entire ACA must fall’, Daily Kos

Immigration
Supreme Court Eases Path to Deport Asylum Seekers, Wall Street Journal
America Is Closed, Slate

Joe Biden
In Poll, Trump Falls Far Behind Biden in Six Key Battleground States, New York Times
Biden bulks up staffing in battlegrounds North Carolina and Nevada, Politico
Pride at Work Makes Historic First Presidential Endorsement; Endorses Vice President Joe Biden for President, Pride At Work
Here’s Why The Advocate Is Endorsing Joe Biden for President, Advocate
Joe Biden’s Statement on the Trump Administration Stopping Funding for Federal Testing Sites Amid Climbing COVID-19 Cases, Medium
Joe Biden says Trump push to dismantle Obamacare would worsen coronavirus response, CNBC
VIDEO: Joe Biden delivers remarks on his plan to make affordable health care available to every American., Biden YouTube
Joe Biden makes campaign stop in Lancaster, Pa., promising to provide health care for all, PennLive

Labor
‘I Feel Like I Almost Died’, Workday MN
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry secures nearly $315K in back wages for workers in Digi-Key Project, Workday MN
Workers Want Shakopee Amazon Center Shut Down For Cleaning, WCCOAfter landmark Supreme Court ruling, transgender workers stand up for their rights, Washington Post

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan
Panel begins debate on removing statues from MN Capitol, MPR

Minnesota News
Queer disobedience: A history of pride and protest in the Twin Cities, City Pages
Minneapolis police union boss Bob Kroll tells podcast how to defeat civilian review, Minnesota Reformer
Minnesota Legislature still has a long to-do list, Star Tribune

Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
Cardin, Coons & Shaheen Introduce Legislation To Get Capital To Small Businesses Hardest Hit By COVID-19, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
Cardin, Coons & Shaheen Introduce Legislation To Get Capital To Small Businesses Hardest Hit By COVID-19, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Republicans
Will Florida’s COVID Gamble Drag Down DeSantis and the GOP?, Daily Beast
Three GOP lawmakers vote for Democratic-led police reform bill, The Hill

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Amy Klobuchar leads effort to push for kids to get immunizations, Inforum
Klobuchar to tour Mayo Clinic COVID-19 labs and research sites on Friday, KTTC
Coronavirus Report: The Hill’s Steve Clemons interviews Sen. Amy Klobuchar, The Hill
GOP senator blocks bill to boost mail-in and early voting during pandemic, The Hill

Senator Tina Smith
Minnesota tribes ask for more autonomy with CARES Act funding, Duluth News Tribune

Supreme Court of the US
Obamacare Must ‘Fall,’ Trump Administration Tells Supreme Court, NPR

U.S. News
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Strike Down Affordable Care Act, New York Times
Supreme Court OKs fast-track deportations, Politico
Native Americans protesting Trump trip to Mount Rushmore, Star Tribune
House Passes Sweeping Policing Bill Targeting Racial Bias and Use of Force, New York Times
America Is in Crisis. But Some of Us Have Never Known Anything Different, Time Magazine

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
China’s Military Provokes Its Neighbors, but the Message Is for the United States, New York Times
Renowned Russian director convicted of embezzlement in what critics call a show trial, Washington Post
Massive Cloud Of Dust Is Moving From The Sahara Desert To North America, NPR
The US military will stay on the US-Mexico border, even with migration falling, Vox

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.

  • Today through August 10 — Primary Election Early Voting Window, more information here.
  • June 26 
    • 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.
    • 2:00 to 4:00 PM — DFL Disability Caucus Virtual Meeting, contact dfl.disability.caucus@gmail.com for meeting specifics.
    • 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.
    • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — DNC National Convention Virtual Platform Drafting Committee Hearing. Additional information on how interested parties, allied groups and members of the public can give input on the platform will be announced in the coming days. For more information, please email platform@demconvention.com.
  • 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
    • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — DNC National Convention Virtual Platform Drafting Committee Hearing. Additional information on how interested parties, allied groups and members of the public can give input on the platform will be announced in the coming days. For more information, please email platform@demconvention.com.
    • 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 2, 4:00 to 7:00 PM — DNC National Convention Virtual Platform Drafting Committee Hearing. Additional information on how interested parties, allied groups and members of the public can give input on the platform will be announced in the coming days. For more information, please email platform@demconvention.com.
  • 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
    • 4:00 to 7:00 PM — DNC National Convention Virtual Platform Drafting Committee Hearing. Additional information on how interested parties, allied groups and members of the public can give input on the platform will be announced in the coming days. For more information, please email platform@demconvention.com.
    • 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.