Days to the November Election: 179
2020 Election
‘We’re going to fill it’: Republicans ready for any Supreme Court vacancy, Politico
Susan Collins, Joni Ernst and Martha McSally Defend Obamacare as They Vote for Judges Who Will Kill It, The Daily Beast
Agriculture
MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR CORN AND SOY PAYMENTS POSSIBLE DUE TO CORONAVIRUS, Successful Farming
Modern Livestock Farming Can Pose Public Health Risk, US News & World Report
Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota attorney general’s office fielded 400 complaints since eviction proceedings stopped, Star Tribune
Keith Ellison, Minnesota farmers push for investigation into beef industry price fixing, Bring Me the News
DFL News
Burnsville nonprofit director Lindsey Port endorsed by DFL for Senate race, Savage Pacer
DFLers endorse retired St. Cloud music teacher for House 14A race, St. Cloud Times
Borrud wins DFL endorsement to run for State Senate seat, Rochester Post Bulletin
Keeler wins DFL endorsement for District 4A, Inforum
Martinez endorsed as DFL District 27A candidate, Albert Lea Tribune
Bemidji Mayor Albrecht wins DFL endorsement in District 5 Senate race, Bemidji Pioneer
Donald Trump
Trump’s push to reopen the economy comes as hope for a quick recovery fades, CNN
Justice Department is dropping case against ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn, MPR
Team Trump Wants Flynn Back for 2020, Sees Him as Its ‘Nelson Mandela’, Daily Beast
One of Trump’s personal valets has tested positive for coronavirus, CNN
What It Means When Trump Doesn’t Wear A Mask, NPR
Kayleigh McEnany called Trump comment ‘racist,’ ‘hateful’ and ‘not the American way’ in 2015, CNN
Miscarriages, Sexual Harassment Were Rife at New Trump Postmaster General’s Old Firm, The Daily Beast
Trump says “the jury’s still out” on FBI Director Chris Wray, Axios
Economy
April employment report is expected to show more than 20 million lost jobs and depth of pain as US economy shut down, CNBC
White House considers measures to boost economy without Congress, NBC
Neiman Marcus Bankruptcy Is 1st By A Department Store During Coronavirus Crisis, NPR
Where the Small Business Relief Loans Have Gone, New York Times
Education
Minnesota education leaders consider summer options for students, KARE11
CDC Guidance For Reopening Schools, Child Care And Summer Camps Is Leaked, NPR
Environment
Billions could face temperatures inhospitable to life in the next 50 years, study finds, NBC News
The Trump Administration Is Reversing Nearly 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List. New York Times
Governor Tim Walz
Watch live: Gov. Walz to provide update on plan for Minnesotans in long-term care facilities, St. Cloud Times
Stay at Home: Gov. Walz says businesses reopening against state orders ‘puts Minnesota at risk,’ Bring me the News MN
St. Paul’s Boys Totem Town could house homeless people with COVID-19, Star Tribune
Minnesota governor charts path to reopening as political pressure intensifies, CNN
Health
Trump vows complete end of Obamacare law despite pandemic, Washington Post
Trump still wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, even as Covid-19 rages, Vox
What to know about the plan to massively expand contact tracing in Minnesota, MinnPost
The vulnerabilities that Covid-19 has revealed were a predictable outgrowth of our market-based health care system, New York Times
Deaths in nursing homes spur officials to increase testing, bolster staff levels, MPR
Immigration
US senators want to halt immigration, just when the economy needs it most, Quartz
Labor
Jobless rate spikes to 14.7%, highest since Great Depression, Associated Press
Amazon executive says he quit over worker “whistleblower” firings, CBS
Senators ask Jeff Bezos for answers on fired coronavirus whistleblowers, NBC
Minnesota Legislature
Bill to make elections safer during pandemic passes Legislature, moves to Walz’s desk, Brainerd Dispatch
First legislative bonding proposal of the year unveiled, Mankato Free Press
Minnesota News
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Walz projects 1K deaths by June, MPR
COVID-19 outbreak in St. Cloud area sparks fears of spreading virus, Star Tribune
Deaths in nursing homes spur officials to increase testing, bolster staff levels, MPR
Met Council fences in homeless encampment in Minneapolis, MN Reformer
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Klobuchar, Smith Call for $26 Billion in Next Coronavirus Relief Package to Support Research Workforce, KTOE
Klobuchar, Warren urge FTC to take more steps to help small businesses avoid coronavirus scams, CNBC
Senator Tina Smith
COVID-19 aid starts flowing to tribes after weeks of confusion, MPR
Republicans
Meet OAN, the little-watched right-wing news channel that Trump keeps promoting,CNN
G.O.P. Revolt in Ohio: Governor Faces Attacks From Within Over Shutdowns, NY Times
Republicans not sold on new round of relief checks, The Hill
William Barr and his henchmen must be held accountable, Washington Post
Welcome to William Barr’s America, where the truth makes way for the president, The Guardian
A Growing, If Belated, Republican Discord, The American Prospect
Republicans in Minnesota
What’s this about coronavirus vaccine tattoos?, City Pages
Supreme Court of the US
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to stop release of Mueller material, Washington Post
Supreme Court overturns ‘Bridgegate’ convictions as Christie slams ‘political crusade,’ Politico
U.S. News
Over 76,000 dead as 33 million file for unemployment in U.S., NBC News
US, China trade negotiators talk about phase one deal as uncertainty looms, CNBC
Bill Barr Defends Michael Flynn Reversal: ‘History Is Written by the Winners’, Daily Beast
Why unemployment claims are so much higher in Kentucky, Hawaii and Georgia, CNN
Staffer for Vice President Mike Pence tests positive for coronavirus, CNBC
Record 20.5 million American jobs lost in April. Unemployment rate soars to 14.7%, CNN
World News
Bolsonaro continues to dismiss Covid-19 threat as cases skyrocket in Brazil, CNN
German Spy Agency Doubts U.S. ‘China Lab’ Coronavirus Accusations: Report, New York Times
‘His head wasn’t in the world of reality’: how the plot to invade Venezuela fell apart, The Guardian
Taiwan is a “great example of how to deal with the coronavirus,” expert says, CBS News
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.
All DFL conventions will now be held virtually. If you were elected as a Delegate or Alternate at Caucuses, you will be hearing from your district with specifics. If you don’t, please check with the hosting organization.
- Today through May 18 — Minnesota Stay at Home Order
- Today through May 23 — Ramadan
- May 7, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
- May 9, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM — CD3 DFL Convention, Park Center High School, Performing Arts Center, 7300 Brooklyn Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55344.
- May 10 — Mother’s Day
- May 11 — deadline for certification of DFL local unit balloting results
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chamber, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
- May 14
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Riverwind Community Center, 2701 Northdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.
- 7:oo to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Community Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- May 18 — Last Day of the 2020 Legislative Session
- 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 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, more information as it becomes available.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- June 4, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- June 8
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
- 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.