Politics & Policy
Minnesota’s county and city governments wonder when more federal coronavirus aid will come
With revenues drying up and expenses mounting, officials say they need more help from Congress to continue serving residents.
National
Eric Black Ink
Onetime McCain strategist Steve Schmidt talks about a time when politicians could disagree respectfully
The Al Franken podcast is about remembering a time when Democrats and Republicans could respect one another across areas of disagreement, and debate those disagreements using honest facts and logic.
Eric Black Ink
In defense of Eric Trump: He didn’t say Dems were plotting to prevent his dad’s rallies
What Eric Trump said was ridiculous enough. But it was a fair bit less ridiculous than a Slate headline suggested.
Eric Black Ink
How Trump’s norm-breaking behavior is affecting journalistic norms
It used to be a big deal even to suggest that the president had said something inaccurate, and it was beyond imaginable to call his statements “lies.” Now it’s just another Thursday in Trumplandia.
D.C. Memo
D.C. Memo: Checks, twice
The HEROES Act; Biden’s silence on Twin Metals and Line 3; and a bit on vote by mail.
Health
‘We’re just in the second inning’: Kashkari, Osterholm offer bleak assessment of what is yet to be wrought by COVID-19
One day after Minnesota moved to further ease restrictions imposed in response to COVID-19, two Minnesota thought leaders — Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Michael Osterholm, director of the U of M’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy — had gloomy news for what is yet to come from the pandemic.
National
What Minnesota U.S. House Democrats want in the next coronavirus relief package
From student debt cancellation to animal disease control money.
Environment
What are Joe Biden’s views on two of the most controversial environmental projects in Minnesota?
Biden never addressed the Line 3 or Twin Metals projects during his presidential primary campaign, and he has continued to avoid taking a stand since becoming the likely Democratic nominee.
Eric Black Ink
‘You can’t have that time back’: How the U.S. lost Plan A against COVID-19
Epidemiologist Dr. Larry Brilliant was interviewed by Al Franken on what happened in the U.S. during the early months of COVID-19.
D.C. Memo
D.C. Memo: Nothing Ventura’d, nothing gained
This week from Washington, MNGOP congressional district conventions pick their candidates; Jesse Ventura is not not not running for president; and Gov. Tim Walz is a popular guy.
Eric Black Ink
Why Tara Reade’s allegations have left many wondering just what to think
A piece published in Vox helped a bit, not in reaching any conclusions about what really happened but in understanding why it is so hard to know what is going on (or went on) in this instance.
Eric Black Ink
In ‘Un-American,’ a scholar powerfully describes ‘the fake patriotism of Donald J. Trump’
For most of his life, John J. Pitney Jr., a professor of political science at Claremont McKenna College, identified as a Republican. The takeover of his party by Trump seems to have shaken that attachment.
National
For rebuilding after COVID-19, Rep. Dean Phillips proposes six-fold increase in AmeriCorps volunteers
Phillips’ bill would grow AmeriCorps from 75,000 volunteers to 500,000.
