In the Know: June 29, 2020

Days to the November Election:  127

2020
Doug Collins leads Kelly Loeffler by 2 points in Georgia Senate race, The Hill
Voters in deep-red Oklahoma weigh Medicaid expansion as virus cases climb, Politico

Agriculture
White People Own 98 Percent of Rural Land. Young Black Farmers Want to Reclaim Their Share. Mother Jones

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Domestic disinformation, foreign focus on George Floyd’s death create a tinderbox for unrest, Star Tribune
Minnesota Sues Exxon and Koch Industries for ’30-Year Campaign of Deception’ on Climate, Rolling Stone
Hasan Minhaj On Police Brutality, COVID-19 And The 6th Season Of ‘Patriot Act,’ NPR

Donald Trump
Russia reportedly offered the Taliban bounties for American soldiers. Trump denies knowing about it., Vox
Veterans Group Rips ‘Traitor’ Trump Over Russian Bounties To Kill U.S. Soldiers, Huff Post
This Is Trump’s Plague Now, The Atlantic
Trump Shared a Video of a Supporter Yelling “White Power”, Mother Jones
The End of the Trump Rally, The American Prospect
Trump’s Blank Vision for a Second Term, The Atlantic
Spies and Commandos Warned Months Ago of Russian Bounties on U.S. Troops, New York Times

Economy
A cash cliff spells trouble for U.S. unemployed, and everyone else, Reuters
Sen. Elizabeth Warren introduces nationwide eviction moratorium bill, Vox
A Decisive Tax Defeat for the Multinationals?, The American Prospect

Education
Reinvent Education As Well As Creating Greater Access, Forbes
America’s education system needs a pandemic bailout, Business Insider

Environment
Coronavirus and the return of plastic – in pictures, The Guardian
New Data Reveals Hidden Flood Risk Across America, New York Times

Governor Tim Walz
Walz approves $841M in federal COVID aid to cities, counties, Associated Press
KSTP/SurveyUSA Poll: Coronavirus response approval ratings for Trump, Walz, KSTP

Health
Remdesivir for coronavirus: Gilead to charge thousands for treatment in U.S., NBC News
FEMA Ordered $10.2 Million in COVID-19 Testing Kits It’s Now Warning States Not to Use, ProPublica
Trump’s effort to dismantle Obamacare during the pandemic might be his riskiest move yet, CNN
What happens if the Affordable Care Act is eliminated during a pandemic?, PBS
Fauci says Covid-19 vaccine may not get US to herd immunity if too many people refuse to get it, CNN

Immigration
The Danger of America’s Coronavirus Immigration Bans, The Atlantic
Judge rules migrant children in government family detention centers must be released due to coronavirus, CNN

Labor
U.S. airline labor unions seek billions more to extend coronavirus payroll aid as demand remains weak, CNBC
U.S. workers need more power, Washington Post
How Coronavirus Could Widen The Gender Wage Gap, NPR
U.S. labor market, economy struggle despite reopening of businesses, Reuters
Whole Foods workers protest for right to wear “Black Lives Matter” masks, CBS

Minnesota Legislature
Politics: What rural areas need from legislators, Mankato Free Press
DFL candidates discuss education issues during online forum, Rochester Post Bulletin

Minnesota News
Minnesota put the Confederate flag in its place 150 years ago, Star Tribune
June 28 update on COVID-19 in MN: Outbreak appears to be plateauing in recent days, MPR
Eight more COVID deaths in Minnesota; hospital cases decline further, Star Tribune
State Health Officials Say 4 Minnesota Bars Linked To Recent Outbreaks Of COVID-19, WCCO
Minnesota schools face uncertainty amid a pandemic-related budget crunch, Star Tribune

Representative Angie Craig (CD2)
Despite aid, Minnesota small businesses brace for bleak times, Star Tribune

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Rep. Ilhan Omar: Minnesota can lead in social transformation, Star Tribune
U.S. House passes George Floyd Justice in Policing Act; Senate prospects dim, MinnPost

Republicans
QAnon’s Coronavirus-Fueled Boom Is A Warning Of What’s To Come, Huff Post
Racist N.C. Cops Caught on Video Calling for a “Civil War” to “Wipe ‘Em off the Fucking Map”, Mother Jones
Missouri Couple Points Guns At Protesters Marching Past Their Home, Huff Post

Secretary of Steve Simon
From witness waivers to sanitized pens, what voting — and campaigns — are going to look like in Minnesota in 2020, MinnPost

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Klobuchar praises Mayo Clinic’s COVID-19 developments during tour, KIMT
Klobuchar Supports George Floyd Act Passed by US House, Southern Minn

Senator Tina Smith
Lawmakers worry debit-card stimulus payments come with high fees, compromise personal information, CNBC

Supreme Court of the US
Supreme Court Hands Abortion-Rights Advocates A Victory In Louisiana Case, NPR
Supreme Court, in 5-4 ruling, strikes down restrictive Louisiana abortion law, NBC News
Supreme Court rules consumer bureau director can be fired at will, The Hill
Supreme Court clears Trump administration plan to resume federal executions, Politico

U.S. News
One of America’s Wealthiest States Might Pass Up an Opportunity to Tackle Housing Segregation, ProPublica
Poll: A growing number of Americans think the worst of the coronavirus is over, even as cases spike, Vox
Mississippi state legislature passes bill to remove confederate symbol from state flag in historic vote, CNN
Exclusive: NRA has shed 200 staffers this year as group faces financial crisis, The Guardian
Supreme Court declines to hear border wall challenge, Associated Press

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
In Colombia, Tax-Free Holidays Lead Critics To Decry ‘COVID Friday’, NPR
China sterilising ethnic minority women in Xinjiang, report says, The Guardian
Mapping the worldwide spread of the coronavirus, The Washington Post
Global COVID-19 death toll surpasses 500,000, Johns Hopkins data shows, NBC News
How the world’s beaches are readying for a summer of social distancing, The Washington Post

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.
• Today through July 17, 5:00 PM — Deadline to apply to screen for CD3 DFL Director. Complete the application 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.
• 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.
• July 21, 5:00 PM — DFL LGBTQ Leadership Event, more information and RSVP here.
• July 29, 7:00 PM — CD3 Virtual Central Committee Meeting and Election of Directors, more information as it becomes available.