In the Know: December 9, 2020


2020 Election News 
Embattled Texas AG Sues Swing States in SCOTUS to Save Trump, Daily Beast
YouTube to remove content that alleges widespread election fraud, The Hill
‘Very worried that this affects our brand’: Georgia Lt. Gov. tells GOP to accept election resultsPolitico
27 GOP reps ask for special counsel to investigate election irregularitiesThe Hill
Arizona Supreme Court crushes GOP chair Kelli Ward’s coup attempt, USA Today
Supreme Court rejects Pennsylvania Republicans’ attempt to block Biden victoryCNN
Nevada Supreme Court rejects Trump campaign’s appeal to overturn Biden’s winWashington Post

Congressional News
House approves defense bill with veto-proof majority after Trump urges GOP oppositionCNN
Pelosi, Schumer blast $916B White House coronavirus relief proposalNBC News

Environmental News
The world’s rich need to cut their carbon footprint by a factor of 30 to slow climate change, U.N. warnsWashington Post
Covid lockdowns will only lower 2050 temperatures by 0.01C, predicts UN, The Guardian
Most of America’s dirty power plants will be ready to retire by 2035Grist
‘We Now Need to Do the Impossible.’ How Greta Thunberg Is Fighting for a Greener Post-Pandemic World, Time

Continue reading “In the Know: December 9, 2020”

In the Know: December 8, 2020


Agriculture News
Reviving a Crop and an African-American Culture, Stalk by Stalk, New York Times
Biden on the Farm,
American Prospect

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota attorney general to decide police shooting chargesWSPA

Congressional News
Covid-Aid Negotiators Grapple Over Liability ProtectionsWall Street Journal
Congress to seek one-week government funding bill as stimulus negotiations continueWashington Post
Clyburn says Graham’s claims of voter fraud in Georgia show he’s ‘lost grip on reality’CNN

Continue reading “In the Know: December 8, 2020”

In the Know: December 4, 2020


Agriculture/Labor News 
New candidates for Agriculture secretary emerge as Biden faces pushback on Heitkamp, Politico 
Funds available to encourage urban agriculture, The Globe 
Covid Shrinks the Labor Market, Pushing Out Women and Baby Boomers, Wall Street Journal 
Southwest warns nearly 7,000 workers of possible furloughs, East Oregonian 

Environmental News
A huge oil pipeline is coming to Minnesota – and with it the risk of Covid, The Guardian 
Minn. Agency Erred In Approving Pipeline, Tribes Say, Law 360 
Meet Biden’s Energy and Climate Cabinet Contenders, New York Times  

Continue reading “In the Know: December 4, 2020”

In the Know: December 3, 2020


Attorney General Keith Ellison
Bail changes announced for Hennepin CountyKeith Ellison

Congress
Inside Ivanka Trump’s failed attempt to have Congress secure her legacyWashington Post
Democratic senator: ‘Absolutely unconscionable for Congress to adjourn’ for 2020 without a new stimulus dealYahoo

Donald Trump 
Trump seriously considering 2024 run as he continues false 2020 claimsMPR
Trump running out of time to solidify immigration agenda after U.S. election lossReuters
Explainer: Could Trump preemptively pardon his family — or even himself?, Reuters
How Democrats Can Stop Trump’s Transition SabotageThe American Prospect
The Coming Confirmation WarsThe American Prospect
Trump Vows To Veto Defense Bill Unless Shield For Big Tech Is ScrappedNPR

Continue reading “In the Know: December 3, 2020”

In the Know: December 1, 2020

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Prosecutors challenge judge’s order allowing livestreaming of Floyd trial, arguing it could harm testimonyStar Tribune

Auditor Julie Blaha
DNR, Mesabi Metallics seek mineral lease changesDuluth News Tribune

Congress
Bipartisan group of senators prepares $908 billion stimulus plan, aiming to break partisan logjamWashington Post

Donald Trump 
Trump sees ‘the writing on the wall’ despite what he maintains publicly about the election, advisers say,CNN
Trump lawyer: ex-election security chief Krebs should be ‘taken out and shot’The  Guardian
President Donald Trump raises more than $170 million since Election Day as he pushes baseless fraud claims, CNN
Giuliani Said to Have Discussed Pre-Emptive Pardon For Himself Before Trump Leaves OfficeNew York Times

Continue reading “In the Know: December 1, 2020”

In the Know: November 20, 2020


2020 Election News
Georgia confirms Biden victory and finds no widespread fraud after statewide auditCNN
‘Don’t Game Our System’: How The Race To Georgia Senate Runoff Is Heating UpNPR
Judges toss Republican lawsuits in Arizona, Pennsylvania and GeorgiaCNN
How The U.S. Fended Off Serious Foreign Election Day CyberattacksNPR

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Attorney General Keith Ellison makes women’s economic security target of new task force, Star Tribune  

Donald Trump
Trump write-offs being investigated, may have gone to Ivanka TrumpBusiness Insider
Trump’s Attempts to Overturn the Election Are Unparalleled in U.S. HistoryNew York Times
The Trump era has seen a decline in America’s global reputationPew Research

Continue reading “In the Know: November 20, 2020”

In the Know: November 19, 2020


Attorney General Keith Ellison
Attorney General Ellison reaches settlement with Apple over iPhone throttlingRed Lake Nation News

Donald Trump 
Trump targets vote certification in late bid to block Biden, Associated Press
Trump Pushes New Environmental Rollbacks on His Way Out the DoorTime
Trump campaign asks Pennsylvania court to declare Trump winner, The Hill
Georgia expected to release results of Trump-Biden hand recount, NBC 

Governor Tim Walz
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announces new COVID-19 restrictions in response to surgeCBS
What’s in Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 executive order? Read the full document here.SC Times

Minnesota Legislature 
The 2020 results are likely to keep Minnesota legislative elections highly competitive — for a long time to comeMinnPost
Minnesota State colleges see $120 million increase from legislature to offset pandemic losses, support studentsStar Tribune

Minnesota News
Gov. Tim Walz announces ‘4-Week Dial Back’ plan affecting bars, restaurants, gyms and more, Fox 9
As COVID surges, Minnesota dials it back. Here’s what you need to know about the new rules, MPR
The Conservation Fund buys thousands of acres of Minnesota forestland, Star Tribune

President-Elect Joe Biden
Minnesota ICU nurse brings Biden to tears during COVID-19 conference call, Pioneer Press
Groups Call on Biden to Cancel Student DebtInside Higher Ed
Biden, Harris to meet with governors, Trump again has no public eventsNBC

Senator Tina Smith
Duckworth, Hirono, Senate Democrats Call for Trump Administration to Support Nationwide Capacity for Shipping, Handling and Distribution of COVID-19River Bender

Republican Party
Kristi Noem rigidly follows Trump strategy of denial as Covid ravages South DakotaThe Guardian
Wayne County Republican who asked to ‘rescind’ her vote certifying election results says Trump called her, Wapo

U.S. News
Wisconsin Democratic election official: Don’t water Trump’s ‘plant of baloney’, NBC News
New York City to Close Public Schools Again as Virus Cases RiseNew York Times
12 Million To Lose Jobless Benefits The Day After Christmas Unless Congress Acts, NPR

World News 
IAEA chief warns against military strike on IranNBC
At least 20 dead after Hurricane Iota slams Central AmericaCBS
Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghans, report findsNBC 
‘Now, We Fight Face to Face’: Thailand’s Protests Shatter TaboosNew York Times

Upcoming Events:

You can find non-DFL events on our Action Alert post.

  • November 26 — Thanksgiving Day
  • December 3, 7:00 PM — SD47 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics.
  • December 7 — Pearl Harbor Day
  • December 10 through 18 — Chanukah
  • December 10
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD36 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD48 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics.
  • December 14
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD44 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics.
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — SD49 DFL Virtual Central Committee Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics.
  • December 16, 7:00 PM — CD3 DFL Virtual Holiday Party, more information as it becomes available (date subject to change, more information as soon as possible)
  • December 21 — Winter Solstice
    • 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Anoka County DFL Virtual Meeting, contact them for meeting specifics.
  • December 24 — Christmas Eve
  • December 25 — Christmas Day
  • December 31 — New Years Eve
  • January 1 — New Years Day
  • January 2 — 116th U.S. Congress ends
  • January 3 — 117th U.S. Congress begins
  • January 5 — 92nd Minnesota Legislative Session Convenes

In the Know: November 17, 2020


Coronavirus
California reimposes Covid-19 restrictions on 40 counties as cases surge and the governor warns of possible curfewCNN

Donald Trump 
Trump aims to undermine Biden’s legitimacy even as legal challenges fizzleCNN
Trump campaign would have to pay nearly $8 million for Wisconsin recountMilwaukee Journal Sentinel
‘Free speech’ social media platform Parler is a hit among Trump supporters, but experts say it won’t lastABC
Trump ‘asked for options on strike on Iran nuclear site’, BBC

Governor Tim Walz
‘One Minnesota, we’re in this together’: Walz joins frontline workers to address worsening COVID-19 situationKSTP
More COVID-19 restrictions likely in Minnesota, Gov. Walz saysStar Tribune

Continue reading “In the Know: November 17, 2020”

In the Know: November 13, 2020


Education News
Biden’s Education Department Will Move Fast to Reverse Betsy DeVos’s Policies, New York Times  

Environmental News
Fact-checking the US and China on climate and environment, BBC News 
Trump races clock on remaining environmental rollbacks, The Hill 

Governor Tim Walz
Special Session Ends With GOP Not Voting To End Gov. Walz’s Emergency Powers, CBS Minnesota  
Gov. Walz to provide update to Minnesota’s COVID-19 response Friday afternoon, Bring Me the News  

Continue reading “In the Know: November 13, 2020”

In the Know: November 11, 2020


Attorney General Keith Ellison
Ellison urges Supreme Court to uphold ACA as justices hear oral arguments, KTOE

Donald Trump
AP Explains: Election’s validity intact despite Trump claimsAssociated Press
The misinformation media machine amplifying Trump’s election lies, The Guardian
Donald Trump Is Fighting the Election Results—With an Eye on What Comes NextTime
Trump’s border wall endangered ecosystems and sacred sites. Could it come down under Biden?, NBC
Alarm grows over Trump administration acting ‘more akin to a dictatorship’ as he denies election defeatCNN
‘These are dictator moves’: Defense officials alarmed as Trump installs more loyalists at the Pentagon, Insider

Governor Tim Walz
Gov. Walz announces new COVID-19 restrictions as surge strains hospitals, MN Reformer
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Walz says record 56 deaths to be reported Wednesday, MPR
Walz warns of strained hospital capacity as COVID cases spike in MNKTOE
How Gov. Walz’s new COVID guidelines will shape Thanksgiving for Minnesotans, Star Tribune

Continue reading “In the Know: November 11, 2020”