In the Know: May 20, 2020

Days to the November Election:  167

2020 Election
Democrats outline election plan to make health care their top issue amid coronavirus, USA Today
How Texas Has Taken Its Fight Against Pandemic Absentee Voting To The Next Level, Talking Points Memo
Biden team sees lessons in Clinton’s loss as Trump renews 2016 playbook, CNN

Agriculture
The government has earmarked billions to help farmers. There will be winners and losers, NBC News
CFAP APPLICATIONS TO OPEN MAY 26, Successful Farming

Donald Trump
Trump Is Failing at Governing But Winning at Authoritarianism, New York Magazine
Trump dismisses hydroxychloroquine study that undermines him as a “Trump enemy statement”, Vox
How Bill Barr Deceitfully Rewrites History to Give Trump What He Craves, Mother Jones
Trumpworld Wants to Pump the Brakes on COVID Aid, Figures It Can Spend Closer to the Election, The Daily Beast
‘A moonshot mission’: Trump campaign eyes a return to megarallies, Politico

Economy
Look at That, Fraud in Mortgage Markets!, The American Prospect
Here’s How to Square a Rising Stock Market With the Dire Economy, New Y0rk Magazine
We Can’t Let Him Get Away With It: Trump Chose Wall Street Over Main Street, Talking Points Memo
America’s One Public Bank Is Number One in Saving Small Businesses, The American Prospect

Education
Congress gave colleges $14 billion. Here’s where it’s going, MPR

Environment
Climate change is fueling extreme weather that lowers cancer survival rate and threatens prevention, CNBC
The sun is experiencing a less active phase called ‘solar minimum,’ but it won’t cause an ice age, CNN
EPA staff warned that mileage rollbacks had flaws. Trump officials ignored them, Washington Post

Governor Tim Walz
88 cases charged for violating Walz’s COVID-19 executive orders, Star Trib
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz reacts to the Legislature’s failure to pass a bonding bill this session, WCCO
Gov. Tim Walz to announce ‘phased plans’ for reopening bars, restaurants, Bring me the News
Walz signs bill stopping farm foreclosures through November, MinnPost
Hennepin County Judge Theodora Gaïtas Named To Court Of Appeals, WCCO
Walz orders flags at half staff for those who have died due to COVID-19, KSTP

Health
Why do some COVID-19 patients infect many others, whereas most don’t spread the virus at all?, Science Magazine
‘Where Is It?’ Nurses, Lawmakers Voice Frustrations Over Continued Lack Of Personal Protective Equipment, WCCO
Johnson & Johnson Stops Selling Talc-Based Baby Powder In U.S. And Canada, NPR
Democrats Bet Health Care Will Deliver 2020 Victories, NPR

Immigration
America’s Immigration Paradox, New York Times
Elderly South Korean immigrant dies of apparent suicide in detention center, The Guardian

Labor
The Labor Department is forcing workers back to jobs that could make them sick, Washington Post

Minnesota News

Minnesota State Legislature
Special session to pick up where the Minnesota Legislature left off, Star Tribune
Democratic Leaders Blame House GOP For Blocking Bonding Bill, WCCO
Minnesota’s 2020 legislative session was defined by what got pushed aside to respond to COVID-19, MinnPost
Minnesota cities, counties are strained as $667M in aid remains in limbo, Star Tribune

Representative Dean Phillips (CD3)
Vote by mail will ensure a safe and fair November election, MN Reformer

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5)
Rep. Ilhan Omar describes a bruising life in new memoir, Star Tribune

Republicans
Report suggests Republican voter suppression tactics failed in Wisconsin, Vox
Pompeo’s government-funded dinners draw scrutiny, Axios
GOP House candidate demeans Muslims and compares Dreamers to pedophiles, Politico
Tensions flare over GOP’s Obama probes, The Hill
Trump Fans Gobble Up His Favorite, Unproven COVID Drug—Some Are Even Trying To Cook It Themselves, The Daily Beast

Secretary of State Steve Simon
League of Women Voters challenges Minnesota absentee voting witness rule, Star Tribune

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar introduces WORK NOW Act to support local non-profits, CBS Duluth
Sen. Klobuchar: ‘We can’t let everyone in the country go bankrupt’, MSNBC
Former presidential candidates seek to put spotlight on voting access amid pandemic, ABC

U.S. News
Florida Official Says She Was Ousted For Refusing To Manipulate COVID-19 Data, NPR
Next Wave of Coronavirus Stimulus Payments Hinges on Debate Over Reopening Economy, Wall Street Journal
President Trump’s senior advisers now predict swift economic recovery, despite warnings that major problems could persist, Washington Post
The woman behind ‘Roe vs. Wade’ didn’t change her mind on abortion. She was paid, Los Angeles Times

World News
Brazil clears way for use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, Reuters
Few signs Sweden’s coronavirus strategy will save it any economic pain, Politico
Taiwan Says It Tried to Warn the World About Coronavirus. Here’s What It Really Knew and When, Time
There’s a Lot Less Pollution But Climate Change Is Still Getting Worse, Mother Jone

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 24 — Ramadan
  • Today through June 2 — Window for Candidates to Register with Minnesota to Run for City Offices with Possible Primaries, County Offices, Judicial and Legislative Positions
  • May 21
    • 6:30 to 8:00 PM — DFL Environmental Caucus Virtual Meeting, more information and RSVP here.
    • 6:30 to 7:30 PM — SD40 DFL Virtual CD/State Convention, if you were elected a delegate and haven’t heard from the SD40 Chair, please contact them (link above)
  • May 25 — Memorial Day, Eid al Fitar
  • 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 2, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact them for specifics
  • 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