In the Know: October 24, 2019

Agriculture
Mentors help hopefuls overcome biggest hurdle to getting into farming: Finding land, MPR
Hampered by wet weather, Minnesota farmers deal with late harvest, Fox 9

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Ellison joins lawsuit over Endangered Species Act, Brainerd Dispatch

Congress
Matt Gaetz claimed the GOP was shut out of an impeachment hearing. 48 Republicans were welcome in the room., The Week
White House condemns bill requiring campaigns to report foreign interference, Axios
Senate GOP blocks three election security bills for second day, The Hill
13 Republicans involved in impeachment protest already have access to hearings, Axios

Donald Trump
Trump Again Accused of Making Up Quotes Praising Him, New Yorker
The Trump Administration Says It Has Violated Its Own Ethics Pledge, ProPublica
Trump Said He’s Building A Wall In Colorado, And No One Knows What He’s Talking About, Buzzfeed
Inside One Man’s Quest to Become the Newest, Most Pugnacious Member of Trump’s ‘Squad’, Daily Beast
Trump calls Pompeo-appointed ambassador Bill Taylor a “Never Trumper”, Axios
Trump Says ‘Never Trumpers’ Are ‘Human Scum’ In Bizarre Twitter Tirade, Huffington Post

Donald Trump’s Impeachment Inquiry
Trump impeachment: chaos erupts as Republicans barge into inquiry hearing, The Guardian
Senate Republicans duck for cover after explosive Taylor testimony, Politico
Pompeo Gets Drawn Deeper—Way Deeper—Into the Ukraine Scandal, Daily Beast
Support for Trump impeachment rises as 59% say he pursued personal interests in Ukraine, poll finds, USA Today

Donald Trump’s Trade War
Trump’s top trade adviser is mocking China after it called him out for making up a fake expert to bash its economy, Insider
Trump said China would buy up to $50 billion per year of US agricultural goods in a new trade agreement — but it hasn’t come anywhere close over the past decade, Insider

Economy
What Caused the Stock Market Crash of 1929—And What We Still Get Wrong About It, Time
Durable-goods orders fall 1.1%, business investment shrinks again, in bad sign for U.S. economy, Marketwatch

Environment
COCA-COLA NAMED MOST POLLUTING BRAND IN GLOBAL AUDIT OF PLASTIC WASTE, The Intercept
Water may soon lap at the door, but still some homeowners don’t want to rock the boat, The Conversation
Ahead of Paris climate deal withdrawal, Trump admin makes $1.2B investment in oceans, ABC
These U.N. Climate Scientists Think They Can Halt Global Warming for $300 Billion. Here’s How, Time

Governor Tim Walz
GOV. TIM WALZ: Wishing you a good hunting season, SouthernMinn
Student survey: From bathrooms to classrooms, youth vaping is seeing a dramatic increase, St. Cloud Times

Health
Trump official dodges questions on Obamacare at tense oversight hearing, CBS

Immigration
Marine Corps vet who served in Iraq deported to El Salvador, The Hill
Trump claims US is building wall in Colorado — 370 miles from Mexico border, The Independent

Labor
Early UAW votes on ending the GM strike a mixed bag, CNN
Chicago schools to close for 6th day; union plans civil disobedience training, UPI

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan
Lt. Gov. Flanagan, others will protest Washington NFL team name, Star Tribune

Minnesota News
Storms pounded Duluth’s shoreline, but there was a silver lining, MPR
New MN state water plan to put climate change in focus, Pioneer Press
Minneapolis 2040 plan poised for final approval, MPR
More than 5,000 cited since ‘Hands-free’ law kicked in, KARE11

News of the World
‘Who gives a s— about Afghanistan?’: Trump stunned officials with his comments during a military briefing, former aide says, Insider
Trump’s latest Syria announcement is the clearest articulation of his foreign policy doctrine, Vox

Representative Angie Craig (CD2, D)
VIDEO: U.S. Lawmakers weigh in on the demand for skilled workers, KAAL
Sen. Smith, Rep. Craig introduce workforce training legislation, KEYC
Bill aims to add 1200 acres of land to Prairie Island Indian Community, Fox 9

Representative Betty McCollum (CD4, D)
Minnesota Democrats Lead Push To Protect Confidentiality For Abuse Victims, Willmar Radio
Protesters plan rally against Redskins name before Vikings game, Washington Post

Representative Collin Peterson (CD7, D)
House to hold hearing Oct. 29 on EPA’s mismanagement of RFS, Biodiesel Magazine
Ethanol supporters request consideration on more documents ahead of new hearing, RFD TV

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5, D)
Ilhan Omar: It’s ‘Obnoxious’ Republicans Who Entered Secure Room Weren’t Arrested, Townhall

Representative Jim Hagedorn (CD1, R)
Rep. Jim Hagedorn among Republicans that tried to access impeachment hearing, Bring Me The News

Representative Tom Emmer (CD6, R)
Emmer was wrong about Trump’s quid pro quo, St. Cloud Times
Constituents vent frustrations to Emmer, ECM

Republicans
Only 7(!) Republican senators are ruling out removing Donald Trump, CNN
Senate Republicans coming to grips with the fact that defending Trump is a fool’s errand, Daily Kos
Trump’s campaign reportedly wanted to use facial-recognition tech on supporters at MAGA rallies, The Week
Pence Says State Dept. Officials’ Testimony Shows Trump Must ‘Drain The Swamp’, Talking Points Memo

Secretary of State Steve Simon
Minnesota state and federal officials are teaming up to close a big gap in laws meant to protect victims of domestic violence, MinnPost

Senator Tina Smith
Smith introduces legislation to address social isolation for seniors and elderly, Brainerd Dispatch
Smith and Craig introduce Workforce Partnership Act, KTOE
Audio: Senator Tina Smith and Representative Angie Craig, KYMN

U.S. News
Foxconn finally admits its empty Wisconsin ‘innovation centers’ aren’t being developed, The Verge
The Forest Service Is About to Set a Giant Forest Fire—On Purpose, The Atlantic
Rudy Giuliani is looking for a defense attorney, sources say, CNN
Fast-moving wildfire ignites in Northern California wine country, prompting evacuations, Washington Post

Upcoming DFL Events:

  • October 24, 1:00 to 4:00 PM — UPDATED:  Stonewall DFL Caucus Meeting, Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St N, Maple Grove, MN 55369. This LGBTQ caucus meeting is open to members and those interested in becoming members.
  • October 25, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — Hmong DFL Caucus Kickoff Fundraiser, 1800 White Bear Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55109.
  • October 29, 5:00 to 7:00 PM — SD33 Issues Base Door Knocking, Caribou Coffee, 325 Clydesdale Trl, Unit 100, Medina, MN 55340
  • October 31 — Halloween
  • November 1 — Deadline for Senate Districts to report 2020 precinct caucus locations to the State DFL
    • 7:30 to 10:30 PM — SD35 DFL Event:  Man Cave-A One Man Sci-Fi Climate Change Tragicomedy, Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Dr NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433. More information and tickets here.
  • November 3 — Daylight Saving Time Ends
  • November 5 — Election Day, there are municipal and school board elections throughout CD3, check your municipality’s website or school districts website for specifics.
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, check their Facebook page for specifics
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
  • November 6
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Room C102, Kennedy High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
  • November 8, 5:30 to 10:00 PM — CD3 DFL Night of Thanks, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels, 7800 Nornamdale Blvd, Bloomington, MN 55439. More information here.
  • November 9, 6:00 to 9:00 PM — SD40 Homemade Pizza Party, 1512 Woodbind Ln, Brooklyn Center, MN
  • November 11 — Veterans Day
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, Council Chambers, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
  • November 14, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 553
  • November 16
    • 9:30 to 12:30 PM —  SD37 DFL Connections Lab Messaging Workshop, Teamsters Local 210, 9422 Ulysses St NE, Unit 120, Minneapolis, MN 55434. More information and RSVP here.
    • 5:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Fall Feastival and Silent Auction, 8950 Eden Prairie Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
  • November 20 — Democratic Presidential Debate, more information as it becomes available
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345.
  • November 21 , 5:30 to 10:00 PM — SD33 DFL “Hops and Change” Fundraiser with Guest Speaker Don Shelby, Back Channel Brewing, 4787 Shoreline Dr, Spring Park, MN 55384. More information and RSVP here.