In the Know: September 16, 2019

2020 Election
Trump launches ambitious play to turn New Mexico red, Politico

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Ellison files amicus in pursuit of ‘perversion files’, MN Lawyer
Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Urges Court to Reject Trump Health Care Rule, Twin Cities Business

Congress
Democrats Press Trump to Back House Bill on Background Checks, Wall Street Journal
Democrats speak out about impeachment as House inquiry ramps up, NBC News
Senators struggle to get spending bills off ground as shutdown looms, The Hill

Donald Trump
Pondering response to Iran, Donald Trump says US doesn’t need Middle East oil, USA Today
The US postpones a military deal amid concerns about stays at a Scottish Trump resort, Vox
Donald Trump Keeps Telling World Leaders The Same Bizarre Story About Kim Jong Un, Buzzfeed

Economy
Dow falls, poised to snap 8-session win streak as oil market’s historic supply disruption rattles, Marketwatch
Oil-Price Shock Couldn’t Come at Worse Time for World Growth, Bloomberg

Environment
The Climate Crisis and the Case for Hope, Rolling Stone
Not just the bees: First-of-its-kind study shows neonics may be killing birds too, Salon
How a Revolution in Climate Science Is Putting Big Oil Back on Trial, Mother Jones

Governor Tim Walz
Walz: Asian trade trip earned ‘momentum,’ no new jobs deals, Fox 9
Walz recaps Asia trip focused on fostering Minnesota ties, MPR

Health
The makers of OxyContin may have tried to hide $1 billion in assets, Vox

Immigration
Children not exempt from Trump’s toughest asylum policy, officials say, NBC News
Trump asylum lockdown turns up heat on tiny Mexican migrant agency, Reuters
Rise in health uninsured may be linked to immigrants’ fears, Associated Press

Labor
Nearly 50,000 UAW workers go on strike against GM, America’s biggest automaker, CNN
UAW workers block GM employees from entering plant, at least one gets ‘bumped’ by fender,Detroit Free Press
These Farmworkers Were Forced to Labor on Empty Stomachs, Workday Minnesota

Minnesota Legislature
A proposal known as ‘Clean Energy First’ could play a big role in how Minnesota responds to climate change, MinnPost

Minnesota News
Police officer fatally shoots man who rammed squad car in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood, Star Tribune
Meet Jacob Frey, the Marathon-Running Mayor of Minneapolis, Men’s Health
Changes to SNAP threaten to take food off Minnesota’s table, Star Tribune
Duluth man named as suspect in synagogue fire; incident not believed to be a hate crime, officials say, Duluth News Tribune
Red Lake Nation breaks ground on first-of-its-kind development in Minneapolis, MPR

News of the World
Drone strikes knock out half of Saudi oil capacity, 5 million barrels a day, CNN
A US military operation killed Osama bin Laden’s son, Hamza, the White House confirms, Vox
Evidence indicates Iranian arms used in Saudi attack, say Saudis, Reuters
A record 85% of Afghans say they’re suffering, Axios

Representative Ilhan Omar (CD5, D)
Ilhan Omar Shouts Out Her ‘Hometown Girl’ Lizzo, Dances To ‘Truth Hurts’ In Video, Huffington Post
Ilhan Omar: Supreme Court made “morally and legally wrong” decision on Trump’s asylum ban, CBS News

Representative Jim Hagedorn (CD1, R)
Hagedorn wrong on guns, bad at listening, Mankato Free Press
Rosine Tenenbaum: Hagedorn gives cliches, not solutions, Winona Daily News
Hagedorn statement cruel to suicide victims’ families, Mankato Free Press

Republicans
The 13 Republicans needed to pass gun-control legislation, The Hill
With Bolton’s Exit, GOP Interventionism Gives Way to Trump, Wall Street Journal
Trump defends Kavanaugh as 2020 Democrats call for his removal, NBC News
Trump rages after New York Times updates story to say alleged Kavanaugh victim ‘does not recall’ incident, CNBC

Secretary of State Steve Simon
Winona State University wins Ballot Bowl again, Winona Daily News
Minnesota secretary of state: ‘We’ve done everything to minimize risk‘, Northfield News

Senator Tina Smith
Minnesota Cheese Headed To Wisconsin After Vikings Loss, Willmar Radio
Senator Tina Smith visits Winnebago after Corn Plus announces closure, KEYC

Supreme Court of the United States
New Brett Kavanaugh sexual misconduct accusation sets off calls for Supreme Court impeachment, CBS News
New claims about Kavanaugh’s behavior set off Trump and his rivals, CNN
Senator asked FBI to follow up on new information about Kavanaugh last year, The Hill

Trump Trade Wars
The US-China trade war has set in motion an unstoppable global economic transformation, CNBC
United States to pledge not to raise tariffs on Japanese cars: report, Reuters

U.S. News
Steven Mnuchin’s Mysterious Link to Creepy Epstein Model Scout, Daily Beast
UAW goes on strike against General Motors, MPR
Purdue Pharma, Maker of OxyContin, Files for Bankruptcy, New York Times
Trump Again Pressures the Federal Reserve in Wake of Saudi Attacks, Wall Street Journal

Upcoming DFL Events:

  • September 16, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — SD33 DFL Issues Door Knock, staging from Caribou Coffee, 325 Clydesdale Trl, Suite 100, Medina, MN 55340
  • September 18, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chamber, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka, Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • September 20, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — SD33 DFL Issues Door Knock, staging from Caribou Coffee, 325 Clydesdale Trl, Suite 100, Medina, MN 55340
  • September 21
    • 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM — SD44 DFL Marching in Plymouth on Parade, more information and RSVP here.
    • 12:00 PM — State DFL Business Conference, Redwood Valley Senior High School, 100 George Ramseth Dr, Redwood Falls, MN 56283. More information here.
  • September 23 — Autumnal Equinox
  • September 25, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — SD33 DFL Issues Door Knock, staging from Caribou Coffee, 325 Clydesdale Trl, Suite 100, Medina, MN 55340
  • September 26, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — SD33 DFL Issues Door Knock, staging from Caribou Coffee, 325 Clydesdale Trl, Suite 100, Medina, MN 55340
  • September 27, 6:00 to 8:00 PM — SD33 DFL Issues Door Knock, staging from Caribou Coffee, 325 Clydesdale Trl, Suite 100, Medina, MN 55340
  • September 29 through October 1 — Rosh Hashana
  • October 1, 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, check their Facebook page for specifics, locations change from month to month.
  • October 2 through 4 — Minnesota House of Representatives Mini-Session
  • October 2
    • 6:30 to 8:30 PM — SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, Room C102, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Ridgedale Library, Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
    • 7:00 to 8:30 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brookdale Library, Room C, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
  • October 5, 4:00 to 8:00 PM — SD50 DFL Octoberfest, Lake Shore Drive Condominiums, 6615 Lake Shore Dr S, Richfield, MN 55423. Join them for brats, beer and other Bavarian fare. There’ll be music and fun activities for kids and adults alike. Event is free, contributions to the district appreciate.
  • October 8 through 9 — Yom Kippur
  • October 10, 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • October 13, 1:00 to 2:00 PM — SD40 DFL Book Club Meeting, contact them for more information.
  • October 14
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 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
  • October 15 — Democratic Presidential Debate hosted by CNN and The New York Times, more information as it becomes available.
  • October 16 — Democratic Presidential Debate Second Night hosted by CNN and The New York Times if needed, more information as it becomes available.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chambers, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345.
  • October 31 — Halloween