| President Trump began a second, nonconsecutive term with a shock-and-awe blast of actions. In a reminder that much of what Trump does is both substantive and performative, the newly inaugurated president took to the stage at a Washington sports arena to sign the first batch of executive orders. Trump did so with a flair and tossed the pens into the raucous crowd of hardcore supporters. In all, he signed more than 50 executive orders on immigration, border security, birthright citizenship, gender, federal diversity rules, energy production, electric vehicle production requirements, environmental standards, restructuring government and much more. Federal workers will be required to return to their offices immediately. Some of the executive actions could invite legal challenges. All are tied to promises Trump made while campaigning for the presidency. Even if some are upended in the courts, Trump has a unified party in Washington, with majorities in the House and Senate prepared to offer backup on his priorities. Trump’s cabinet appointments are already being confirmed and some that had been seen as on shakier ground now appear to be on track to win confirmation.
President Joe Biden left the White House with a controversial parting act: He issued a series of preemptive pardons to figures who might have come under scrutiny in the new Trump term. They include living members of Biden’s family, Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley , members of the congressional panel that investigated the Jan. 6 uprising and others who have been threatened with retaliatory actions from the new president. Trump called the pardons “disgraceful.” Congress could still investigate the people involved or the origins of the pardons, though criminal charges would be off limits. Trump began his term with his own pardons for people caught up in criminal prosecutions over Jan. 6. Separately, Biden commuted the life sentence of indigenous activist Leonard Peltier .
During the Biden-to-Trump handoff, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar found herself squarely in the camera shot. The Democratic senator had a formal role in the inauguration, so she traveled from the White House to the Capitol with the two presidents and was one step ahead of them as they made their way to the ceremony. As chair of the committee that stages the inauguration, Klobuchar also opened the ceremony with brief remarks, conveying the theme as “our enduring democracy.” She thanked organizers for the quick switch of venue from outdoors to indoors due to poor weather. “We will all witness the peaceful transfer of power at the heart of our democracy,” she said. At a congressional luncheon, she sat between Trump and new Vice President JD Vance. Klobuchar, who weeks ago began her fourth term, ran for president in 2020. She spoke Monday morning with our Cathy Wurzer about her inaugural duties.
The Minnesota House was in session briefly Monday (again with only Republicans and lacking a quorum) and both chambers are back for the week’s sessions. Of course, the state of things is still in dispute. The Supreme Court takes another step into the fray Thursday when it hears a pair of cases filed over the unorthodox House start. One involves DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon’s role as a presiding officer and the other is a House DFL action challenging steps Republicans took to organize. The outcome will have a lot of bearing on how the session from here unfolds and whether there’s any need to backtrack.
The House won’t be back to full strength this month or perhaps even next month. The Minnesota Supreme Court voided the special election for a Roseville/Shoreview-area seat because they say Gov. Tim Walz prematurely called it. Justices sided with the Republican Party and a conservative voters group that argued no election could be scheduled until the seat officially became vacant. Walz will have to call a new one. It was a major defeat in a court made up of justices all appointed by Democratic governors. Despite what Walz said on TPT’s “Almanac” on Friday, The court was careful to avoid saying if it found the House proceeding with 67 members — all GOP — to be legitimate or not. That will be decided in a pair of cases before justices on Thursday. See the single footnote in a five-page order for that.
The Senate will most likely have a DFL majority for the bulk of this session thanks to a delay in Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s criminal trial. A Becker County judge agreed with Mitchell and her attorneys that a legislative privilege exists that allows her to avoid standing trial during a session. Judge Michael Fritz said it should instead take place within two months of the end of the session, which must conclude by May 19. Fritz wrote that “if a legislator is forced to stand trial during the legislative session, their constituents would be without a voice during that session.” Republicans said Mitchell could have waived the privilege and they don’t plan to let the matter drop. Ethics proceedings have been on hold until the criminal matter is resolved. If Democrats win a Jan. 28 special election in Minneapolis, they’ll have 34 members to 33 for Republicans.
Friday was one of those whipsaw days because of the two late-in-the-day court rulings. Gov. Tim Walz was my guest on Politics Friday. At the time of our noon show, neither court ruling was out and Walz was convinced that the stalemate in the House would be over soon after a Jan. 28 special election (now canceled). He was promoting his budget, which was almost an afterthought given all the upheaval in the Legislature during the opening week. Catch that conversation here.
As part of that interview, I asked Walz when he’ll decide on his 2026 plans. He hasn’t said if his second term will be his last as Minnesota governor; a third consecutive term is unheard of in modern times in Minnesota. “I think we’ll take a look at this legislative session. I think it’s always best in this case once you’re in to get through the legislative session. So just candidly, I think this is probably a decision that needs to be made sometime in June, sometime this summer to give folks the opportunity.” I asked if he’s leaning in either direction. "The honor to do it is one and just the joy in doing it it brings to me is great. I’m pleased with what we’ve been able to do.” He trailed off without saying he’s inclined or disinclined to do it. Several Republicans are gearing up to run but it would be surprising if any Democrats make concrete moves until they know what Walz is going to do. As a reference point: Walz entered the 2018 race for governor on March 27, 2017 but Gov. Mark Dayton had already made clear he’d leave office after his term.
More ex-lawmakers have gone through the turnstyle to find themselves still in the fold despite no longer casting floor votes. Dave Lislegard was at the Chamber of Commerce dinner last week and says he’s doing some work in association with that business group. He has not registered as a lobbyist for any entity. Meanwhile, former Republican Rep. Dean Urdahl will be in contact with his past colleagues as a lobbyist for a few organizations . They include Lake of the Woods County, the Infinity Center of Breckenridge and the First District Association. | 