Politics and Government News

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Biden showcases COVID aid to small businesses
During his visit to a small, minority-owned business in suburban Philadelphia, the president underscored that the huge relief package was passed without any help from Republican lawmakers as he sought to highlight how the bill will help small businesses imperiled by the public health crisis.
Across the internet, a game of Whac-A-Mole is underway to root out extremism
How are alternative platforms, where extremist ideology and disinformation thrive, monitored? Can we ever really root out extremism in the virtual space or will the targets just keep jumping around?
Lawmakers fear turning 144 cities into 'micropolitan' areas
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators and congressmen is urging the federal government not to approve recommendations to remove 144 cities from the designation of metropolitan statistical areas. Reclassifying them as “micropolitan” would put key federal funding at risk, they said.
An old debate renewed: Does the U.S. now need a domestic terrorism law?
With all the talk about domestic terrorism, you might assume there's a law against it. There's not. The storming of the Capitol has again raised the question about whether one is needed.
Health economist Len Nichols on the ongoing need for health reform and equity
In a year-long global pandemic, people are more concerned than ever with their own health care, and how to afford it. And many people are concerned about making it affordable to everyone. Health economist Len Nichols has been working on this for close to three decades, and he shared his ideas at a recent University of Minnesota Humphrey School event.
Deb Haaland confirmed as first Native American Interior Secretary
Her historic role is also symbolic, as the agency was long a tool of oppression against Indigenous peoples. Haaland will be key to President Biden's ambitious efforts to combat climate change.
As second year of emergency begins, GOP again pushes to limit Walz powers
Even as DFL Gov. Tim Walz relaxes some long-standing COVID-19 restrictions, Republicans in the Legislature sought once again to limit the emergency powers he has used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2 charged in assault of Capitol officer who died after riot
U.S. officials have arrested and charged two men with assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick with bear spray during the Jan. 6 riot, but they do not know yet whether it caused the officer's death.
New dialbacks in Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions take effect at noon on Monday. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are still grappling with how to best to aid businesses and communities going forward.