In the Know: November 18, 2019

Agriculture
Struggling Farmers Are Key to Trump’s Hopes in Minnesota, Wall Street Journal
Trump Hails New Farm Aid Billions As Report Reveals Money Helps Wealthy, Southerners, Huffington Post
While you weren’t looking, the trade war with China went off the rails, Insider

Congress
GOP senator says whistleblower’s sources ‘exposed things that didn’t need to be exposed, NBC
Transcript: Rep. Jim Jordan on “Face the Nation”, November 17, 2019, CBS
Vote To Federally Legalize Marijuana Planned In Congress, Forbes

Corruption Watch
Trump to Award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Donor’s Wife, Voice of AmericaDonald Trump
Possible pay-to-play scheme for ambassador role in Trump administration uncovered by CBS News, CBS News
Trump labels top Pence aide a ‘Never Trumper‘, Politico
War Crimes Are Not Difficult to Discern, Atlantic
Trump forces offer president clashing advice on Roger Stone pardon, Axios
Trump Retweets Son Eric’s Promo Of Their D.C. Hotel, Infuriating His Former Ethics Chief, Huffington Post
VIDEO: Trump hospital visit raises questions about his health, CNN

Donald Trump’s Impeachment
70% of Americans say Trump’s actions tied to Ukraine were wrong: POLL, ABC
Trump tweets he will ‘strongly consider’ testifying in impeachment inquiry, The Hill
Transcript: Marie Yovanovitch’s Nov. 15 testimony in front of the House Intelligence Committee, Washington Post
Yovanovitch just painted a damning picture of the State Department under Trump and Pompeo, Vox
13.8 Million Viewers Tuned In For Day One Of Impeachment Inquiry, Newsy
Pelosi: ‘I find it a waste of my time’ to ‘just be talking about what Republicans say’, The Hill

Economy
Parts with passports: how free trade drives GM’s engines, Reuters

Elections
Another red state lost. Another setback for the President., CNN
Democrat Edwards wins reelection in conservative Louisiana, Associated Press
Louisiana delivers Trump a black eye, Politico
Why Republicans lost another deep-red state in Louisiana governor’s election, CNN

Environment
Agency says climate change imperils 60% of Superfund sites, Associated Press

Governor Tim Walz
Walz administration uses report to highlight work on children’s issues, Rochester Post Bulletin
Gov. Walz honors 3 local companies for global excellence, Lakeshore Weekly
MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ TO HELP DAN WOLGAMOTT IN RE-ELECTION EVENT, KVSC
Gov. Tim Walz builds on diversity in the state courts, Star Tribune

Health
The most remote emergency room: Life and death in rural America, Washington Post
Trump backs off flavored vape ban he once touted, Washington Post

Immigration
The Controversial Group Behind The GoFundMe Border Wall Is Building A Second One In Texas. Officials Say It’s Undocumented., Buzzfeed

Minnesota Legislature
State Rep. Diane Loeffler of Minneapolis dies at age 66, MPR
Longtime state Sen. Dick Cohen of St. Paul says he won’t seek reelection, MPR
Will gun policy swing Minnesota’s 2020 elections?, Star Tribune
Lee plans run for Senate District 11, Pine Journal

Minnesota News
City of Duluth introduces new program to add affordable housing, KBJR
Minneapolis to weigh 5-cent plastic grocery bag fee at public hearing Monday, Fox 9
As St. Paul teen is laid to rest, community wrestles with how to combat gun violence, KSTP
Training to prevent suicides in rural Minnesota draws large response, MPR

Representative Collin Peterson (CD7, D)
House Ag Chair Leads Letter on Midwest Propane Shortages, Hoosier Ag Daily
As D.C. Republicans anoint a candidate in Minnesota’s Seventh District, challengers say ‘not so fast’, MinnPost

Republicans
The new wave of conservatism is dangerous. And it’s all the GOP’s fault., Washington Post
Don Jr. is on a mission to recruit Trump culture warriors, Politico
Chris Wallace Accuses Top Republican of ‘Very Badly’ Mischaracterizing Impeachment Testimony, Daily Beast

Senator Tina Smith
Violence Against Women Act bogged down, KARE11
Smith Calls Senate Inaction On VAWA Unacceptable, KWLM
Senator Tina Smith continues efforts to resolve insulin crisis, WTIP

Supreme Court of the US
Trump Asks SCOTUS To Block House Tax Return Subpoena, Newsy

U.S. News
Obama says that Americans are seeking “improvement” not “revolutionary” change, Vox
Russian troops take command of U.S. airbase in northern Syria, CBS
Conservative radio host says he was fired mid-show for criticizing Trump, The Guardian

World News
AP Exclusive: US officials knew of Ukraine’s Trump anxiety, Associated Press
Uighurs and their supporters decry Chinese ‘concentration camps,’ ‘genocide’ after Xinjiang documents leaked, Washington Post
Turkey’s Deportations Force Europe to Face Its ISIS Militants, New York Times
Hong Kong Polytechnic University: Protesters arrested as they run from campus, BBC

Upcoming DFL Events:

  • November 18, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Meeting, Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Dr NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
  • November 20
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CANCELLED CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
    • 8:00 to 10:00 PM — Democratic Presidential Debate, airing on MSNBC and NBC, and will be streamed on those platforms.
  • November 28 — Thanksgiving
  • December 1, 12:00 to 4:00 PM — SD49, 50 and 63 DFL Framing and Messaging Workshop, Southdale Library, Ethel Barry Room, 7001 York Ave S, Edina, MN 55435. More information and RSVP here.
  • December 3
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM – SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, check their website for specifics.
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM – SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, contact their chair at mgoodell@gmail.com for more information.
  • December 4
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM – SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Room C102, Kennedy High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Room 172, Ridgedale Public Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • December 5, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD46 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chamber, St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
  • December 6
    • 6:00 PM — DFL Founders Day Dinner with Special Guest Stacey Abrams, Hilton Hotel, 1001 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403. To sit at the CD3 DFL tables please contact Cheryl Poling at chpoling@comcast.net
  • December 7 — Pearl Harbor Day
    • State DFL Executive Committee and Central Committee Meetings, Washburn High School, 201 W 49th St, Minneapolis, MN 55419. Precinct Caucus kits will be distributed at this meeting to all party units. More information as it becomes available.
    • 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM — Expand the Vote with Stacey Abrams Hosted by the Minnesota DFL, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 301 19th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN. More information and ticketshere.
  • December 9
    • 5:00 to 6:30 PM — CD3 DFL National Delegate Selection Training, Maple Grove Public Library, 8001 Main St N, Maple Grove, MN 55369.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
  • December 10, 5:00 PM — CD3 DFL National Delegate Selection Training, Edina Public Library, 5280 Grandview Sq, Edina, MN 55436
  • December 12
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Riverwind Community Center, 2701 Northdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • December 18, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Holiday Party, The Nelson Home, 15440 Boulder Pointe Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55347. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Beverages will be provided.