Days to the November Election: 169
2020 Election
Democrats suddenly have a much better chance of retaking the Senate in 2020, Vox
How Democrats Lost a House Seat in California, The American Prospect
Don Jr. and Eric Preview Trump Camp’s Ugly Biden Attacks, New York Magazine
Swing-state Republicans warn Trump’s reelection is on shaky ground, Politico
Agriculture
HOUSE VOTES TO DOUBLE CORONAVIRUS PAYMENTS TO AGRICULTURE, Successful Agriculture
Attorney General Keith Ellison
Ellison files lawsuit against Minnesota bar owner for planning to defy Walz’s executive order, Pioneer Press
Donald Trump
We need to prepare for the possibility of Trump rejecting election results, Washington Post
The president’s job is to manage risk. But Trump is the risk., Vox
Trump admin slaps solar, wind operators with retroactive rent bills, Reuters
The Mueller Interference Everyone Feared Has Happened — Just Two Years Late, Talking Points Memo
Unmasking Trump’s ‘Obamagate’ Madness, The American Prospect
Donald Trump and His Son Have an Insane New Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory, Mother Jones
Trump’s Plan to Keep Stealing All the Money, Talking Points Memo
Economy
House Passes $3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill That Has Dim Future, NPR
Fed Chair Says Economic Recovery May ‘Stretch’ Through End of 2021, New York Times
Trump’s turn to the economy leaves a vacuum when it comes to controlling the pandemic, CNN
Trump’s failure of leadership makes a feeble economy and resurgent virus more likely, Washington Post
We Can Prevent a Great Depression. It’ll Take $10 Trillion., The Atlantic
Fear of the future: Class of 2020 enters a world in crisis, Associated Press
School Superintendents Dismiss White House, Will Follow Leaked CDC Guidance on Reopening, US News & World Report
Glitches in Online A.P. Tests Add to Students’ Anxieties, New York Times
Environment
Minnesota skies getting smokier with climate change, MPR
After the Covid-19 crisis, will we get a greener world? The Guardian
What this crisis can tell us about the climate crisis, MN Reformer
Governor Tim Walz
Walz tackles legal age to buy tobacco and TCE ban in latest bill signings, KARE11
Walz appoints Judge Gordon Moore to Minnesota Supreme Court, KSTP
At Least 3 Minnesota Mini Golf Courses Operating In Defiance Of Gov. Walz’s Orders, WCCO
For the businesses Walz left in limbo, June 1 is the next date, Star Tribune
Health
Unprecedented World Health Assembly Convenes Online As Pandemic Rages, NPR
Home But Not Safe, Some LGBTQ Young People Face Rejection From Families in Lockdown, NPR
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: New ‘stay safe’ order takes effect, MPR
Immigration
Immigration Agency That Issues Visas, Green Cards Struggles to Stay Afloat, New York Times
USCIS to Add Surcharge to Immigration Applications, Wall Street Journal
A US immigration agency could run out of money by the end of summer without a $1.2 billion bailout, Vox
The House’s latest coronavirus relief bill gives stimulus payments to unauthorized immigrants, Vox
Feds Suspect Vast Fraud Network Is Targeting U.S. Unemployment Systems, New York Times
‘Matewan Massacre’ a century ago embodied miners’ struggles, Washington Post
Amazon insists sharing data on coronavirus cases in its warehouses isn’t useful, CNN
Who’s Enforcing Mask Rules? Often Retail Workers, and They’re Getting Hurt, New York Times
Feds Suspect Vast Fraud Network Is Targeting U.S. Unemployment Systems, New York Times
‘Matewan Massacre’ a century ago embodied miners’ struggles, Washington Post
Amazon insists sharing data on coronavirus cases in its warehouses isn’t useful, CNN
Who’s Enforcing Mask Rules? Often Retail Workers, and They’re Getting Hurt, New York Times
Local government cash crunch coming as expenses up, tax receipts down, MN Reformer
Minnesota State Legislature
‘Flurry of negotiations’ but no deal on Minnesota Legislature’s final day, Star Tribune
Minnesota House GOP blocks passage of $2 billion bonding bill, MPR
Contracts for state workers in the balance as MN Legislature wraps up its work, Pioneer Press
Bonding Bill Fails As 2020 Minnesota Legislative Winds Down; Special Session Likely, WCCO
Representative Collin Peterson (CD7)
Peterson Statement on Passage of the HEROES Act, Red Lake Nation
Republicans
Wisconsin’s economy is reopening and it’s a hot coronavirus mess. Don’t do what we did., USA Today
Republican Operatives Were Behind Some of the Most Egregious ‘Ballot Harvesting’ Frauds of Recent Memory, Law and Crime
Freed by Court Ruling, Republicans Step Up Effort to Patrol Voting, New York Times
Busted: Report on ‘Wuhan Lab’ Origins of Virus Is Bogus, The Daily Beast
Republicans are wimping out again on Donald Trump, CNN
Democrats Say The Worst Of The Coronavirus Is Yet To Come. Republicans Say The Worst Is Over., 538
Flynn’s New Argument Is Constitutional Nonsense, The Atlantic
Secretary of State Steve Simon
Secretary Simon Urges Minnesotans to request absentee ballots for 2020 elections, International Falls Journal
Senator Amy Klobuchar
‘It’s So Vital’: Minn. Congressional Delegation Urges Those Who Recovered From COVID-19 To Donate Plasma, WCCO
U.S. Senator Klobuchar blasts Uber, Grubhub deal talks, Rueters
Senate Democrats introduce bill to boost nonprofit workforce as coronavirus crushes resources, NBC
Senator Tina Smith
Eight senators urge USDA assistance for bison ranchers, The Fence Post
U.S. News
F.B.I. Is Said to Find Links Between Pensacola Gunman and Al Qaeda, New York Times
Fired State Department watchdog was probing whether Pompeo made staffer walk his dog, pick up laundry, NBC News
Cuomo says no one should be prosecuted for coronavirus deaths in New York, including those in nursing homes, CBS News
Moderna reports positive data on early-stage coronavirus vaccine trial, shares surge, CNBC
US lockdown protests may have spread virus widely, cellphone data suggests, The Guardian
My Brother’s Death Didn’t Have to Happen, by Elizabeth Warren, The Atlantic
“There’s no limit” to coronavirus stimulus response, Axios
World News
China’s Xi pledges $2 billion to help fight coronavirus, CNBC
Japan just fell into recession, and much worse could be on the way, CNN
As hospitals in Brazil teeter on the brink of collapse, Bolsonaro does pushups with supporters, CNN
The results of a Spanish study on Covid-19 immunity have a scary takeaway, Vox
How Germany Is Saving Jobs During the Pandemic, New York Magazine
Vladimir Putin Is in Deep Trouble, The Daily Beast
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 May 23 — Ramadan
- May 18 — Last Day of the 2020 Legislative Session
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting
- May 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chambers, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- May 21, 6:30 to 8:00 PM — DFL Environmental Caucus Virtual Meeting, more information and RSVP here.
- May 25 — Memorial Day
- May 26 -31 — State DFL Convention virtual voting window
- May 31 — Mandatory meeting for district-level DFL National Delegates, more information as it becomes available
- June 3
- 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
- June 4, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics
- June 8
- 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
- June 11
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics
- 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 — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- June 20 — Summer Solstice
- June 21 — Father’s Day
- June 26 through August 10 — Primary Election Early Voting Window