With her focus on mostly white Iowa, is Amy Klobuchar doing enough to reach black voters?
In South Carolina, where black voters are a much bigger constituency than either Iowa or New Hampshire, Klobuchar is polling at 0 percent.
Politics & Policy
How would you feel if Trump had apologized for his behavior toward Ukraine?
If Trump had admitted that he had improperly pressured President Zelenskiy, apologized and asked to be forgiven, I might be on the side of censuring Trump but not removing him from office.
After judge blocks Trump executive order, Minnesota counties postpone refugee votes
Before the injunction, Trump’s order required counties to consent before refugees could be resettled in them.
Politics & Policy
How a single legislative hearing in Minnesota managed to cost $20,000
The 2019 hearing was so expensive for the Minnesota Department of Corrections — and so disruptive to daily operations of Stillwater prison — that the department discouraged a request from legislators to hold additional hearings at other facilities.
D.C. Memo
D.C. Memo: Got milk?
Impeachment update; Sen. Klobuchar campaigns; Rep. Omar as Progressive Caucus whip; and more.
Metro
Committee urges delay in planning development of Upper Harbor Terminal
Members of the citizen-led group want to have more time to discuss design aspects of the project — including a first-of-its-kind amphitheater — and how they will affect the city’s north side.
State Government
Years after ‘ban the box’ became law in Minnesota, the state still asks applicants for boards and commissions about felony convictions
“It’s crazy that we’re getting into those questions,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Corrections Paul Schnell. “If we’re in the second-chance business, we need to make sure we’re providing second chances and not excluding people.”
Eric Black Ink
Schiff highlights history of Ukraine giving up its nukes — and the U.S. promise in return
Schiff’s tale cast additional ironic shade on the current tragedy of Ukraine, especially the significant portion of it that is under Russian occupation.
Eric Black Ink
Thomas Edsall elicits nuanced insights into the core belief systems of liberals and conservatives
What kind of deep-down qualities and values tend to separate liberals and conservatives? New York Times columnist Thomas Edsall takes a deep dive into that question.
State Government
The Walz administration is proposing to spend $2.6 billion in state construction spending. Is that too much — or too little?
GOP leaders have objected to the price tag, but Walz’s plan is well within the debt guidelines crafted a decade ago by the Office of Management and Budget under the administration of GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Eric Black Ink
Impeachment, Day 1: mind-numbing Kabuki theater
The Democrats’ plan may have had some parliamentary purpose but was also, apparently, intended to demonstrate that Republicans had no interest in finding out the truth.
Environment
Former EPA official: Minnesota regulators wanted PolyMet critiques kept out of public comment to avoid ‘press’
Kevin Pierard, who oversaw the permit at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said state officials asked him to submit concerns after a public comment period because, among other things, the critique would “create a good deal of press.”
Eric Black Ink
As impeachment trial begins, it’s hard to see many senators being open to persuasion
This is sad, but, at least according to me, this where we are. I fear for the future of our system and our republic.
