U.S. House votes to extend federal civil rights protections on basis of sexual orientation, gender identity
Four of Minnesota’s five Democratic House members voted for the legislation, while all three Republicans opposed it.
National
D.C. Memo: Gonna get mine
Trade deals break down; addressing Islamophobia and anti-Semitism; Twin Metals leases renewed; and more.
On talking past each other — and the importance of a baseline of facts
Talking past each other is dangerous. We need to find a way to connect across areas of disagreement and actually listen.
Environment
Feds renew Twin Metals’ mineral leases: What it means for the company’s proposed copper-nickel mine near the BWCA
The prospect of a copper-nickel mine on the edge of Minnesota’s most famous wilderness area has made it one of the most controversial natural resource projects in the country.
Eric Black Ink
A cheery look back to the less partisan days of, uh, Watergate
That time that three Supreme Court justices voted against the president that appointed them.
Eric Black Ink
On the economy, Obama owns Trump
Being intellectually honest in fairness to Donald Trump seems like unilateral disarmament. Let him try it for a while. But don’t hold your breath.
Foreign Concept
What’s the point of increased U.S. pressure on Iran? Not even the Trump administration seems sure
Does Trump, as he reiterated on Thursday, really want to renegotiate the nuclear treaty with Iran? Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton seem more focused on regime change.
National
Funding for MinnesotaCare is already complicated at the Legislature. The Trump administration may be about to make it slightly worse
$24 million isn’t a huge amount in the scheme of health care funding, but it is part of a much bigger conflict over the future of MinnesotaCare.
Eric Black Ink
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin really doesn’t like Donald Trump
Compared to Raskin, I’m a restrained critic of President Trump.
Eric Black Ink
Klobuchar was totally on her game during the Fox News town hall
If you believe that the Democrats need a relatively moderate liberal to compete for middle-of-the-road voters, Klobuchar would definitely qualify.
Education
‘Help us’: Minnesota school officials plead with lawmakers to fix special education cross-subsidy
Special education costs a lot more than what either the state or federal government has been willing to pay for it.
Eric Black Ink
Next election, expect Republicans to wield their S-words
Socialist is the new Liberal.
Eric Black Ink
A skeptic’s guide to that whole ‘Trump is more popular than ever’ thing
The latest number from Gallup shows Trump at 46 percent approval, 50 percent disapproval. Even if this were correct, it would still not be a great number by historical standards. But it’s the best Gallup has ever found for Trump.