Politics and Government News

MPR News is your hub for the latest politics and government news coverage. Whether you're looking for the status of a recent Supreme Court ruling, or want updates on Minnesota's newest laws, we have comprehensive state and national news coverage ready for you.

May 4, 2020 5:04 PM

U.S. Treasury to borrow $3 trillion in 3 months to pay for pandemic

In a single quarter, the government will borrow more than twice as much as it did all of last year, as the cost of the coronavirus pandemic dwarfs previous deficits.

by Scott Horsley

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May 4, 2020 4:51 PM

Not-so-small businesses continue to benefit from PPP loans

SBA data show that demand is still very high for the loans, and that smaller amounts are going out this time. But large, multimillion-dollar loans are still eating up a good chunk of the money.

by Danielle Kurtzleben

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May 4, 2020 4:51 PM

Republicans push Walz to speed up business reopenings

DFL Gov. Tim Walz says he’s working on reopening more businesses that were closed amid COVID-19 concerns, but he’s not sure when it will happen. Senate Republicans say the governor needs to move faster or those businesses will disappear.

by Tim Pugmire

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May 4, 2020 4:15 PM

FDA cracks down on antibody tests for coronavirus

These tests are designed to identify people who have been previously exposed to the virus. The Food and Drug Administration is now telling manufacturers they'll have to meet minimum standards.

by Richard Harris

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May 4, 2020 3:07 PM

Dispute over environmental fund leaves projects on wolves, weeds and mussels in limbo

Dozens of projects benefiting Minnesota’s natural resources are now in limbo because of a political dispute at the state Legislature. At the center: An ongoing disagreement over whether a state trust fund should be used to pay for wastewater treatment projects.

by Kirsti Marohn

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May 4, 2020 1:50 PM

Senate office tells Biden it cannot seek Tara Reade records

Joe Biden asked the secretary of the Senate to find "any and all" documentation of a sexual harassment complaint by former staffer Tara Reade, but the office says such records would be confidential.

by Asma Khalid

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May 4, 2020 11:00 AM

Policast: State set to gauge budget impact of virus

State set to gauge budget impact of virus

by Mike Mulcahy

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May 4, 2020 10:14 AM

How did the small business loan program have so many problems in just 4 weeks?

Not-so-small companies, like Shake Shack, and organizations like the LA Lakers were able to get loans that were meant for suffering small businesses. What happened?

by Cheryl W. Thompson, Bill Chappell, Graham Smith, Pallavi Gogoi, Danielle Kurtzleben , Jim Zarroli and Laura Sullivan

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May 4, 2020 7:33 AM

COVID-19 damage to state budget assessed this week

Months ago, lawmakers were debating how to spend extra money. This week, state leaders learn if they’ll have to confront a deficit instead.

by Brian Bakst

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May 4, 2020 6:20 AM

Supreme Court arguments resume — but with a twist

Beginning Monday, for the first time in the Supreme Court's 231-year history, the justices will hear oral arguments by phone in a slate of important cases.

by Nina Totenberg

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