Amy Klobuchar

Welcome to upside-down America: David Brooks calls for revolution while Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom grovel

Northland communities depend on Lake Superior and benefit enormously from cutting-edge research at the Duluth EPA lab to maintain its purity.

From the editorial: "If the Duluth EPA lab is being indiscriminately targeted, the cutting and slashing (in D.C.) clearly isn’t being done with the care, consideration, or thought such a process demands."

Medicaid is a lifeline for more than 72 million Americans, including people with mental health and substance use conditions. It’s also the largest funder of mental health and substance use care in the U.S. As the executive director at NAMI Southeast Minnesota, part of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, I know firsthand the impact Medicaid coverage can have on people with mental illness and their families.

From the editorial: "Trade relations between the U.S. and Canada are critically important to economies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and well beyond. No (one) wins from lobbing tariffs."

Seven Republican senators have signed onto a bipartisan bill that would require Congress to approve President Trump’s steep tariffs on trading partners.

Lawmakers’ struggle to act showed the divide among Republicans on trade policy.

WASHINGTON — A fired federal worker who was the information security lead for VA.gov — the online platform that enables veterans to manage their benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs — warned users' health information and other sensitive data...

Trump’s new tariffs will ultimately fail as consumers find alternatives — with sometimes disastrous consequences.

The president of a Minnesota university that saw one of its students detained by federal immigration authorities last week says five other students have had their visas terminated.

The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday issued a rare rebuke of President Donald Trump, when four GOP lawmakers joined every Democrat to cancel the national emergency that Trump declared to justify putting punishing 25% tariffs on Canadian imports.In February, Trump announced he was putting a blanket 25% tariff on Canadian imports, saying the tariffs are a punishment for the country supposedly allowing fentanyl to cross the border into the United States. On March 6, Trump paused those tariffs. But Canada is now subjected to tariffs on cars, aluminum, and steel—which Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said will negatively impact its economy and has vowed to announce retaliatory tariffs.Of course, fentanyl isn’t coming into the United States from Canada, one of our biggest trading partners and strongest allies.It’s why Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell, and Rand Paul, both of Kentucky, voted for a resolution introduced by Democrats that terminates the bullshit national emergency and thus the justification for Trump's tariffs.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, center, is joined from left by Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Peter Welch of Vermont, and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland as they speak to reporters about President Donald Trump's tariffs on foreign countries, on April 2, 2025.“As I have always warned, tariffs are bad policy, and trade wars with our partners hurt working people most,” McConnell said in a statement, continuing his trend of opposing Trump now that he’s no longer a GOP leader and isn't running for reelection. “Tariffs drive up the cost of goods and services. They are a tax on everyday working Americans. Preserving the long-term prosperity of American industry and workers requires working with our allies, not against them. With so much at stake globally, the last thing we need is to pick fights with the very friends with whom we should be working with to protect against China’s predatory and unfair trade practices.”And Paul, who has also slammed Trump’s tariffs, said that this policy will hurt Republicans politically.“When [then-President William] McKinley, most famously, put tariffs on in 1890, they lost 50% of their seats in the next election,” Paul said Wednesday, according to HuffPost. “When [Sen. Reed Smoot and Rep. Willis C. Hawley] put on their tariff in the early 1930s, we lost the House and the Senate for 60 years.”Kentucky will be hit particularly hard from Trump’s tariffs, with countries Trump has targeted announcing they will retaliate by placing their own tariffs on Kentucky’s bourbon industry.Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine, both of Virginia, jointly filed the resolution and called Trump’s tariffs “deranged” and said they will “not stand idly by while President Trump launches a needless trade war with Canada that will raise costs for families, hurt American businesses, and damage our relationship with one of our closest trading partners and allies.”“The president has justified the imposition of these tariffs on, in my view, a made-up emergency,” Kaine told The New York Times. “The fentanyl emergency is from Mexico and China. It’s not from Canada.”Trump, for his part, attacked the GOP senators who voted for the resolution.Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky“Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Rand Paul, also of Kentucky, will hopefully get on the Republican bandwagon, for a change, and fight the Democrats wild and flagrant push to not penalize Canada for the sale, into our Country, of large amounts of Fentanyl, by Tariffing the value of this horrible and deadly drug in order to make it more costly to distribute and buy,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, insanely suggesting that putting a tariff on Canada will somehow stop the country’s supposed fentanyl smugglers. After all, smugglers wouldn’t go through legal means of trade, anyway, if they were bringing it into the U.S. Of course, the Republican-controlled House is unlikely to take up the resolution. And even if House Speaker Mike Johnson did put it up for a vote, it's unclear if there would even be enough House Republican votes to pass it.Trump said as much in his batshit crazy Truth Social post.“The Senate Bill is just a ploy of the Dems to show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans, namely these four, in that it is not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it,” Trump said. “Why are they allowing Fentanyl to pour into our Country unchecked, and without penalty. What is wrong with them, other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly known as TDS?”Apparently, Republicans are fine with Trump’s tariffs tanking the stock market and sending the world into a recession because their madman leader doesn’t understand economics. Thank you to the Daily Kos community who continues to fight so hard with Daily Kos. Your reader support means everything. We will continue to have you covered and keep you informed, so please donate just $3 to help support the work we do.

Senator Ruben Gallego supports the "Lower Drug Costs for Families Act," which seeks to limit prescription drug price increases and extend protections to all Arizonans, not just Medicare beneficiaries.

The Trump administration's snowballing "Signalgate" scandal has helped refocus public attention onto one of the nation's least-understood military entanglements

Minnesota producers don’t want them — and Minnesota consumers won’t enjoy their impact.

The current chairman of the FTC says that the president has the authority to remove commissioners.

For months, Democrats have been struggling to coalesce behind a political strategy.

'We are just getting started'

Instead of caving to Trump’s threats, the U should stand tall and protect free speech.

President Trump on Tuesday fired Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter, the two Democrats serving as commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission, both announced.The big picture: Republican FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has pledged to keep up Big Tech cases, but is taking a much more MAGA approach to antitrust, Axios previously reported.It's the latest in Trump's numerous attempts to weaken independent agencies, which he sees as standing in the way of his fast-moving MAGA agenda.What they're saying: "Today the President illegally fired me from my position as a Federal Trade Commissioner, violating the plain language of a statute and clear Supreme Court precedent," Slaughter said in an emailed statement.She wrote: "Why? Because I have a voice. And he is afraid of what I'll tell the American people.""The administration clearly fears the accountability that opposition voices would provide if the President orders Chairman Ferguson to treat the most powerful corporations and their executives—like those that flanked the President at his inauguration—with kid gloves."Bedoya said in a statement posted to his X account that Trump had fired him as well, calling it illegal."The President wants the FTC to be a lapdog for his golfing buddies. Who will Trump's FTC work for? Will it work for the billionaires or will it work for you?"Bedoya told Axios this sets a precedent for corruption, with decisions being impacted by the influence billionaire donors. He said he fears the FTC becomes like the DOJ, which threw out a case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams per Trump's request."What this does is open the door to corruption, plain and simple," he said. "I have been watching what's happening around us and wondering whether it would eventually come to FTC, and I think that's what's happened today."In a copy of Bedoya's firing email seen by Axios, Trent Morse, a deputy director of presidential personnel, writes on behalf of Trump that Bedoya is fired effectively immediately.In the email, Morse cites previous Supreme Court case Humphrey's Executor, arguing that the firings do not qualify as illegal under that case law because the FTC has "exercised substantial executive power.""Your continued service on the FTC is inconsistent with my Administration's policies. Accordingly, I am removing you from my office pursuant to my authority under Article II of the Constitution," the email reads.Sens. Maria Cantwell and Amy Klobuchar, who serve on committees that oversee the FTC, both blasted the firings."President Trump's dismissal of Commissioners Slaughter and Bedoya is not only illegal but also hurts consumers by undermining an independent agency that Congress established to protect consumers from fraud, scams, and monopoly power," Klobuchar said in a statement.What to watch: Bedoya said he and Slaughter are still commissioners per their Senate-confirmed terms, and they plan to fight back in court.A spokesman for the FTC didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson posted a statement on X saying he has "no doubts" about Trump's "constitutional authority to remove Commissioners."Editor's note: This story is developing and has been updated.If you need smart, quick intel on federal tech policy for your job, get Axios Pro Policy.

The U.S. must keep the promise it has made to refugees.

'Schumer faced widespread backlash from his colleagues'

Seventeen Democratic senators joined their Republican colleagues on Monday and voted to confirm Lori Chavez-DeRemer as President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Labor.The Democrats who voted with the administration: Ruben Gallego (Arizona), Mark Kelly (Arizona), Adam Schiff (California), Michael Bennet (Colorado), John Hickenlooper (Colorado), Jon Ossoff (Georgia), Raphael Warnock (Georgia), Gary Peters (Michigan), Elissa Slotkin (Michigan), Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota), Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire), Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), Jacky Rosen (Nevada), Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island), Mark Warner (Virginia), and Tim Kaine (Virginia).Twenty-nine Democrats opposed the nomination and only three Republicans voted “no,” meaning that the nomination would have advanced with the 50 Republican “yes” votes even if every Democrat had voted “no.” Instead, the Democratic votes gave the majority party bipartisan cover. As labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer is expected to carry out Trump’s anti-labor, anti-worker agenda, like the ongoing purge of hundreds of vital government employees under Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency.President Donald TrumpThe vote stands in contrast to the Democratic Party’s repeated claims that they are united in opposition to Trump and his agenda. In fact, at the Senate level, the party has voted again and again to confirm Trump’s nominees and has supported legislative maneuvers allowing votes on nominees that they oppose in a final vote.Despite warning signs like Trump’s past political and policy failures (see: his entire first term) and his racist, destructive rhetoric (see: his entire life), a significant portion of the Democratic Party has empowered him with their Senate votes. Then they eventually regret it. For instance, multiple senators have now gone on the record to say their votes to confirm Secretary of State Marco Rubio (every Senate Democrat voted for him) was a mistake.The cover offered for Chavez-DeRemer is that her record is not as anti-labor as Trump’s, and that she made some statements during her confirmation hearing that offered a moderate stance on labor issues. (However, she does oppose a minimum-wage increase). But like Trump’s other nominees, such as Linda McMahon at the Department of Education and Sean Duffy at the Department of Transportation, Cabinet secretaries are ultimately tasked with executing Trump’s vision.Democrats have faltered in opposition to Trump. Party leadership has chastised a few breakaway members for being strident in speaking out against Trump’s abuses, and have favored a less confrontational approach even as Trump and Musk have thrown out decades of American traditions and values.Trump didn’t need the Democratic Party to install another friendly face in the federal government, but Democrats helped him anyway.Campaign Action

On Feb. 26, our federal government announced the termination of 5,800 USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) awards. Many of these awards are administered through Catholic Relief Services, the international humanitarian funding organization of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Democratic Vermont Sen. Peter Welch reintroduced a bill Friday to restore congressional funding to the United Nations' agency that employed terrorists who participated in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Trans women belong in our sport, current and former North Star Roller Derby skaters say.

President Donald Trump says 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada will start Tuesday, sparking renewed fears of a North American trade war.

If Trump’s policies are justifiable, why won’t Finstad and Fischbach defend them?

Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, seen at the Capitol in November 2023, is weighing a run for Senate. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

The Trump administration, which has been moving like a juggernaut across the political landscape, has hit a land mine. The decision by Trump’s Justice Department to halt the prosecution of New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) has caused uproar. Adams had been due to stand trial in April on charges of bribery, wire fraud [...]

The total number of backers, shared exclusively with Fox News Digital, comes just days before the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to advance Kash Patel's nomination to lead the FBI.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer detailed Democrats' efforts to combat what he called a "coordinated assault" by President Trump.

Trump has named several people tied to Project 2025 to his administration, even after he disavowed the extreme policy agenda.

Trump has named several people tied to Project 2025 to his administration, even after he disavowed the extreme policy agenda.

Trump has long distanced himself from the controversial policy blueprint Project 2025, but is still taking steps that reflect its policy proposals.

President Donald Trump's appointment of Gail Slater as head of the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department will challenge Big Tech.

Despite their sacrifices, Trump appears to have lumped these allies into the greater pool of refugees to be kept out.

Brooke L. Rollins, the nominee to be Agriculture secretary, testifies during her Senate Agriculture Committee confirmation hearing on Jan. 23.

The Trump administration must reverse a decision that left 1,600 Afghan allies stranded in limbo, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Patricia Lopez writes.

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar had a tense exchange at Patel's confirmation hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill.

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI was grilled by Democrats while the GOP members made their broad support for him known.

Kash Patel, President Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, wouldn’t acknowledge or sought to distance himself from a host of his past public statements as Democrats pressed him during his confirmation hearing on Thursday. Democratic lawmakers cited numerous controversial statements Patel has made on podcasts and online, but Patel demurred at being associated with his [...]

There will be a lot on the plate for new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when he steps into his office on the Pentagon’s third floor E Ring.

Many social media users noticed the gesture looked like a Nazi salute. Musk fanned the flames of suspicion by not explicitly denying those claims in a dozen posts since.

We live in a time where dishonesty, cruelty and violence are rewarded.