3CD DFL

Trump Commerce Boss Wilbur Ross Hoovered Up $53 Million While In Public Office

Then he slipped out of public life and into a business he set up in the Cayman Islands while reportedly still commerce secretary.

Donald Trump’s commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, earned at least $53 million from private companies while he was collecting a taxpayer salary and supposed to be looking out for the public instead of his own profits.

Ross reported making somewhere between $53 million and $127 million during his four years as head of the Commerce Department. The federal government only requires officials to report broad ranges of outside income.

It’s possible that Ross earned “significantly more” since he was not required to specify certain income totals over $1 million, noted watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which reported Ross’ financial disclosure filings earlier this week. Continue reading.

New DFL Debrief: A Candid Conversation About Racial Disparities in Minnesota

On this week’s episode of the DFL Debrief Podcast, we sat down with former State Senator Jeff Hayden to discuss the legacy of slavery and Juneteenth, the deep racial disparities in Minnesota, and how the two are interconnected.

Listen here.

In the Know: June 22, 2021

Governor Tim Walz
GOV. TIM WALZ INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN ROCHESTERFEST PARADE, KIMT
Minnesota special session moving slowly but surely, KARE 11
New wood products plant projected to bring 150 jobs to NE Minn., MPR

Minnesota Legislature
Hortman: Walz will likely agree to give up emergency powers to end session, MPR News
Minnesota Legislature: State services face pause as budget disputes continue, Pioneer Press
Minnesota lawmakers to hand out nearly $1B in tax cuts, Associated Press

Minnesota News
Minnesota State Patrol, Capitol police to wear bodycams, MPR News
When gun violence soars, stray bullets claim young lives in Minneapolis, MPR News
Met Council likely to award $200,000 toward Rondo Land Bridge strategy, Plaza del Sol makeover, Pioneer Press
Minneapolis leaders prepare for evictions despite state’s new deal, Star Tribune

Louis DeJoy’s chaotic first year at USPS: A litany of political controversies, mail delays and FBI investigations

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has only been in office one year and, since he was appointed to head the U.S. Postal Service last May, he has been at the center of controversy. Now, for his first-year anniversary, his office has released a statement confirming he is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), according to USA Today.

A spokesperson for DeJoy confirmed, “the Justice Department is investigating campaign funds involving his former North Carolina business New Breed Logistics.” The Washington Post also reported that a number of DeJoy’s current and former employees had been interviewed by the Justice Department and asked about company activities and their political contributions.

The announcement comes months after DeJoy incorporated a number of controversial changes that subsequently impacted the Postal Service’s ability to effectively carry out day-to-day operations. Last June, then-Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) penned a letter to the board of governors, the Federal Reserve System’s governing body which is responsible for DeJoy’s appointment, to verbalize his concerns about the postmaster. Continue reading.

Marco Rubio hilariously fact-checked by Alexander Vindman’s wife: ‘You’re so bad at this’

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) was hilariously shut down by the wife of retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key witness in Trump’s first impeachment trial.

Rubio tweeted a Politico story on the White House freezing military aid to Ukraine that was labeled “nonsense” by press secretary Jen Psaki.

“Remember when freezing military aid to Ukraine was an impeachable offense?” Rubio asked. Continue reading.

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: June 22, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this email finds you well and you had a chance to enjoy the beautiful Father’s Day Weekend.

Summer is in full swing and it was a beautiful day in Excelsior on Saturday. I got to cheer on the triathletes competing in the Lake Minnetonka Triathlon and check out the Excelsior Flea Market & Outdoor Market before special session got underway for the day. The Excelsior Flea Market & Outdoor Market is open every Saturday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. in June-August, and it’s a great opportunity to enjoy seasonal produce and find special treasures.

Poll: Fox’s Carlson Driving Republican Racial Agenda

A recent survey by Punchbowl News and Locust Street Group found that 87 percent of GOP congressional aides considered Fox prime-time host Tucker Carlson to be “the most influential Republican voice” outside of lawmakers and former presidents or vice presidents. The survey highlights the conservative star’s meteoric rise in both right-wing media and Republican politics: The GOP has hitched its policy wagon to Tucker Carlson Tonight at the same time that Fox has gone all-in on branding Carlson as the face of the network. And the result is waves of culture war political posturing by Republicans that is informing everything from their tweets to legislation.

Fox has long been the communications arm for the GOP, and the revolving door between the Trump administration and the network laid bare the extent of the ties between the channel and Republican policymaking. With Donald Trump now out of office, the close relationship between Fox and the GOP continues — with Tucker Carlson’s monologues effectively becoming the party platform.

In April, the Republican Party released a memo outlining its intention to keep the party aligned with Trump and their mutual cheerleaders at Fox. The platform highlighted GOP priorities such as “anti-wokeness,” the threat of China, and anti-conservative bias in Big Tech. The “traditional” issues of conservative politics — taxes, deregulation, the national debt — had disappeared, replaced by a list that reads more like a teaser for an hour of Fox News prime time. Continue reading.

Fox News now has a conspiracy theory that vindicates both Matt Gaetz and Donald Trump

Fox News personality Tucker Carlson on Friday returned to his debunked conspiracy theory that it was actually the FBI — not Trump and his supporters — who were responsible for the January 6th insurrection.

After Carlson interviewed Glenn Greenwald, the host wondered if maybe the FBI set up not just Donald Trump supporters, but also Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

“It does kind of make you wonder about Matt Gaetz, actually. Remember Matt Gaetz? He was engaged in child sex trafficking,” Carlson said with a mocking voice. Continue reading.

Matt Gaetz investigation intensifies as feds turn their attention to ‘tight-knit Central Florida political scene’

Amid the federal investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), prosecutors have also focused their attention on the Central, Fla., political scene. Since investigators gained the cooperation of Gaetz’s ally former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg, they have reportedly been able to accelerate their investigative probe, according to ABC News.

In May, Greenberg entered a guilty plea on 6 out of 33 charges including stalking, sex trafficking, wire fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy to bribe a public official. As part of his plea deal, there is speculation he could provide prosecutors with evidence and a testimony that could compromise the Florida lawmaker.

In addition to interviewing a number of women who met Gaetz through Greenberg, investigators have also issued a new round of subpoenas and target letters. The investigation has also led to a probe into the political scene; one that Gaetz and Greenberg are very familiar with. Continue reading.

Commissioner Kevin Anderson (Dist. 7) Update: June 21, 2021

Hello friends and neighbors!

In the last month my team has had an opportunity to get into the community to meet residents and other community members. I visited Greenfield for the groundbreaking of their new broadband service, Memorial Day Services in Maple Grove, and community vaccination sites in Dayton and Maple Grove. I have enjoyed meeting so many residents and am excited for more opportunities to get into the community. My team is planning our summer list of events and if there is something we should know about, please reach out to my District Director Amy Van Schepen at amy.vanschepen@hennepin.us.

To see more of our community events, make sure you follow my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/D7Anderson.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: