In the Know: September 27, 2019

2020 Election
As the ground shifts in real time under GOP senators, 2020 isn’t looking so hot for them, Daily Kos
Poll: the Green New Deal is popular in swing House districts, Vox
Ex-Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price now wants to be a senator, The Week

Agriculture
Investor: ‘Minnesota must scale ag-tech quickly’, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Manslaughter, $2.1 million in Medicaid fraud among 76 charges filed against assisted living facility owner, employees, McKnight Senior Living
Lawmakers get update on efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, KTOE

Congress
Democrats to force vote on Trump health care rule, The Hill

DFL News
DFL Statement on Trump’s Visit to Minnesota
Five Questions for Minnesota Republicans
DFL Chairman’s View Column: Two years later, Trump’s tax bill benefits mostly the rich, Duluth News Tribune

Economy
In Michigan steel towns, tariffs meant to revive industry cost jobs, Reuters
U.S. Jobless Claims Increase to Three-Week High of 213,000, Bloomberg
Terror of $2 Trillion Loss Makes Stock Traders Fear Year-End, Bloomberg

Environment
Brazil environment: Vast oil spill hits dozens of beaches, BBC
The Oceans We Know Won’t Survive Climate Change, The Atlantic
17 states hit Trump administration with endangered species lawsuit, Axios

Donald Trump
Live updates: Trump calls for Schiff’s resignation, as Pelosi says Barr has ‘gone rogue’, Washington Post
Trump DOJ under fire over automaker probe, The Hill
Kremlin says it hopes U.S. would not release Trump-Putin calls, like it did with Ukraine, NBC News
Trump claims markets will crash if he is impeached, The Hill
Rudy’s Big Plan to Defend Trump on Ukraine: Play the George Soros Card, Daily Beast

Governor Tim Walz
Sertich reappointed to Port Authority, Business North
Bar Buzz: New judges named, Minnesota Lawyer

Health
Your health insurance costs are about to go up in 2020, CNBC
How Christie’s influence on opioid panel landed him an $800K consulting contract, Politico

Immigration
Trump’s agreements in Central America could dismantle the asylum system as we know it, Vox
Trump administration imposes 18K limit on refugees, the lowest ever, The Hill

Impeachment
Whistleblower accuses White House of Ukraine call cover-up, Associated Press
Republicans Say Impeachment Will Backfire. History Says It Won’t, Bloomberg
Support for impeachment jumps in new poll, Politico
‘Total panic’ as ‘shell-shocked’ White House struggles to find impeachment footing, NBC News

Labor
ENDING GM’S TWO-TIERED LABOR SYSTEM IS UAW MEMBERS’ TOP DEMAND — AND PART OF A BIGGER FIGHT AGAINST WORKER MISCLASSIFICATION, The Intercept
Trump Labor Department slammed for overtime pay rule that “leaves behind millions of workers, Salon

Minnesota Legislature
Lawmaker stands by Walmart insulin recommendation, MPR
Minnesota lawmakers work to reach insulin deal, Star Tribune
Can Minnesota Republicans and Democrats find a compromise to solve the insulin problem?, Pioneer Press
How helping diabetics stay alive became a partisan fight in Minnesota, MinnPost

Minnesota News
Trump headed to Minneapolis for rally in October, MPR
Trump to hold campaign rally in Omar’s Minnesota district in bid to flip state, The Hill
Top leader at Minnesota union resigns amid investigation, Star Tribune
Court: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Owes Minnesota Millions, WCCO
Hackers target Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey with phishing scam, Star Tribune

News of the World
Anti-immigration conservative set to win back power in Austria, CNBC
70 countries have now experienced organized disinformation campaigns, MIT Technology News
Pentagon to deploy Patriot missile system to Saudi Arabia after Iran oil attacks, CNBC

Representative Dean Phillips (CD3, D)
Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips calls evidence from Trump’s Ukraine call ‘damning’, ABC News

Representative Pete Stauber (CD8, R)
Stauber says impeachment inquiry ‘irresponsible’, Duluth News Tribune

Representative Tom Emmer (CD6, R)
Emmer: Democrats’ ‘hatred’ for president is driving impeachment, MPR

Republican
Trump campaign, GOP raise $13M after Pelosi announces impeachment inquiry, The Hill
‘Everything You’re Seeing Is Deception’: How Right-Wing Media Talks About Impeachment, New York Times
The Republican Party Is Going Down With Trump, The Nation
Senate Republicans’ response to allegations against Trump: attack the whistleblower’s credibility, Vox

Senator Tina Smith
Americans getting diabetes medicine on black market amid high costs, Fox 24

Trump Trade War
China trade talks are set to resume on Oct. 10, CNBC

U.S. News
“OK” hand sign added to list of hate symbols for white supremacy, CBS News
Hurricane Lorenzo packs Category 4 winds — and presents an ominous climate signal, Washington Post
NRA Was ‘Foreign Asset’ To Russia Ahead of 2016, New Senate Report Reveals, NPR

Upcoming DFL Events:

    • 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
      • 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — SD48 DFL:  A Discussion on Climate Change, Council Chamber, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345. More information and RSVP here.
      • 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 6, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM  — SD48 DFL Caucus and Convention Planning Session, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
    • 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