The Daily Agenda

ag take | Candidates Make Their Pitches at Farmfest

Mike Maybay — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:30:33 GMT

TOMORROW: The Senate Ag Committee will conduct a full committee mark-up of the Farm Bill. Via Minnesota Corn, from President Wes Beck, BECK: “Minnesota corn growers are facing high input costs, depressed commodity prices, and incredible market and weather volatility. A strong, bipartisan Farm Bill 2.0 will be a shot in the arm for producers in Minnesota, and across the country.” FULL STATEMENT: https://fluence-media.co/4hNMMVx (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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FARMFEST DAY TWO

SENATE RACE: U.S. Senate candidates Rep. Angie Craig, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Michelle Tafoya and Royce White debated this afternoon at Farmfest. From Heartland Signal via X, WATCH: Craig | Flanagan | Tafoya | White

MORE: Via Farmfest, the full Senate debate. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4yYtHpR

GOV RACE: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A three-on-one debate Wednesday distilled both policy and style differences among the candidates seeking to be the next Minnesota governor, with a trio of Republicans calling for a stark shift in direction and the DFL hopeful saying her vast experience will be a vital asset. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the presumed DFL nominee, sat on a Farmfest stage alongside Republicans Lisa Demuth, Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls. The series of questions revolved mostly around agriculture issues and concerns of greater Minnesota, but each used every opening possible to stand out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45Joe8W

NOTE: Lunch take highlighted a few moments from the debate and linked to the video to watch it in its entirety. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fYprhr

CD1 + CD2: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “While U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad spent Tuesday afternoon at Farmfest saying the House has done its job on the farm bill and the Senate needs to finish it, his DFL challenger said the bill has been stuck for eight years and that the incumbent owns part of that. Finstad, R-New Ulm, and Jake Johnson, a math teacher at Rochester Mayo High School, appeared at the 1st and 2nd District candidate forum in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center at the Gilfillan Estate, one week before Minnesota’s Aug. 11 primary. Both spoke separately with Agweek afterward. Political forums are a hallmark of Minnesota Farmfest. Appearing onstage with Finstad and Johnson were candidates for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District: DFL candidates Kaela Berg, Matt Klein and Matt Little and GOP candidate Eric Pratt.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hhchhQ

CD6 + CD7 + CD8: Via Farmfest, a congressional candidate debate this afternoon. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wa6izi

AG SECRETARY: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins kicked-off [Farmfest] in Redwood Falls Tuesday. Rollins gave an update on key agricultural export markets, saying growth is strong in corn, ethanol, dairy and tree nuts. She also told the group recent reports of the growing number of farm bankruptcies are ‘over-inflated’ and amount to ‘clickbait.’” QUOTE: “What I am much more worried about is the loss of farms to solar, to wind, to development, and just our farmers who don’t think that it’s worth giving it, and fighting for the next generation to pass the farm along,” says Rollins. “That is a much, much, much, much bigger problem.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3SewyKP

MORE: Via Red River Farm Network, the Rollins speech. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/458oWMQ And via USDA, a news release. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yZ5QpV

AG DATA: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a series of listening sessions across the country to discuss an update to its data collection process. Rollins said the farmer response to USDA reports has steadily declined, and the agency has failed the American farmer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Sg7sez

FARM BUREAU: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The president of American Farm Bureau isn’t mincing words when it comes to the current struggles in agriculture. Zippy Duvall says farmers continue to face low commodity prices and high input costs.” DUVALL: “The farm economy is terrible. And along with all the things we’re doing to try to get a farm bill done, we’re also asking for some more assistance for our farmers.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45dyLsS

MDA: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Join us for Day 2 of Farmfest 2026! We’ve got lots of info on grants, loans, livestock, weather data, and more. Plus, giveaways. It’s all about the giveaways! Find us at booth 517S.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4bwbw0I

DC + AG

FARM BILL: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Georgia Congressman Austin Scott is the vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, right behind Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson in the Republican majority. Scott remains optimistic the farm bill will get across the finish line this year.” SCOTT: “The one caveat to that would be Senator (Chuck) Schumer; if the Democrats did win (the majority in the November election), I think that he would pull back and not allow the bill to go forward until they had control of the committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hOX7R4

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee is pushing for a farm bill that addresses Proposition 12 and includes year-round nationwide E15. Minnesota Republican Brad Finstad says when it comes to passing a farm bill with Prop 12 and E15 language.” FINSTAD: “I want them both, and that’s the position we’re going to take in any conference committee. We worked hard in the House to get that language across the finish line. We’ve heard it all over the grounds today about the importance of E15 year round, we heard it all over today about Prop 12 and we don’t want California telling us how we’re going to grow our hogs in Minnesota.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wN78Dg

AT FARMFEST: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Minnesota farmers attending Farmfest near Redwood Falls are eager for Congress to pass a farm bill. Bob Worth farms near Lake Benton and says the last time a five-year farm bill was passed was 2018. ‘And it’s 2026, so I mean this is long enough. Eight years on a farm bill, we should have this done in five years and get it done. We need a farm bill, we need the certainty of a farm bill.’ The U.S. Senate has scheduled a farm bill markup Thursday and Southeast Minnesota farmer Rose Karau tells Brownfield she’s hopeful.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fS5FnD

MORE: The Star Tribune also talked with people at Farmfest about the Farm Bill. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UfCJ1G

LAND RENT: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The calendar has not changed, but the stakes have. With land costs already representing a large share of row-crop expenses, fall lease deadlines are forcing producers and landowners to make 2027 budget decisions before the 2026 crop is fully known. With input costs still high and crop prices under pressure, Iowa farmer Ben Riensche says land is top of mind.” RIENSCHE: “Revenue has gone down, and expenses are up 40%,” he says. “There’s a lag in how rent adjusts when crop prices languish and input prices stubbornly wouldn’t come down. It’s the margin compression that isn’t being factored into farm rents and farmland values.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bzUJKi

CROP PROGRESS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Crop development remains ahead of normal in Minnesota. USDA’s latest weekly crop update shows corn 5 percent dented, compared to the five-year average of 2 percent. Soybeans setting pods reached 75 percent, well ahead of the usual pace of 55 percent. Southwest Minnesota corn and soybean grower Ryan Mackenthun tells Brownfield there’s far less disease pressure than a year ago.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4waqkJM

MORE AG NEWS

DAIRY: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The U.S. dairy farm is vanishing at a rate that would alarm most industries. Since 1992, the country has lost more than 100,000 dairy operations — an average decline of about 5% each year. As of 2025, just 23,609 licensed dairy herds remained, down from 131,509 a generation ago. Yet, paradoxically, U.S. dairy has never been more productive. The industry produced 231.7 billion pounds of milk in 2025 — 54% more than in 1992, despite having 190,238 fewer cows on 107,900 fewer farms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UeWrdX

THIS WEEKEND: In New Brighton, a celebration of the city’s history in the cattle industry. STOCKYARD DAYS: https://fluence-media.co/4fBegfK

SCHOOL FOOD: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “That’s a wrap on this year’s Minnesota School Nutrition Conference in St. Cloud! Thanks to everyone who stopped by to connect with our team, visited the exhibitors in the Minnesota Pavilion during the Exhibit Show, and joined us for our Farm to School culinary training.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4fDr998

BREAKFAST: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Many a chain restaurant that serves breakfast will use the term ‘farm fresh’ on the menu to describe the eggs, bacon and sausage. On August 16, a busload of hungry diners from the Twin Cities will travel deep into farm country and tuck into a heaping plateful of breakfast that will truly live up to the ‘farm fresh’ boast.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ckI6CY

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

FARM BUREAU: Via Morning Ag Clips, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is excited to announce the fourth class of its ‘The Herd’ program. The Herd is for members aged 18-23 who enjoy social media and have an interest in sharing their passion for agriculture through those platforms. Throughout the year members of The Herd gain valuable skills in agriculture communication by learning from industry professionals and through hands-on experiences. Members will participate in the program for one year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fXsg2o

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lunch take | Governor Debate at Farmfest + Feds Buy MN Prison

Mike Maybay — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:49:24 GMT

PEOPLE AND POLITICS

From Farmfest this morning:

Read on for news from the debate in the race for governor.

A major demographic shift is ahead – an undersupply of young workers is predicted by 2040. Signs are already evident in the Dakotas. STATELINE: https://fluence-media.co/3RthetB

46 democrats voted for the Laken Riley Act – Rep. Angie Craig isn’t the only one facing backlash. THE 19^TH: https://fluence-media.co/4broGfA

In Michigan, this morning, progressive Abdul El-Sayed was declared winner in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4wIN1Gf

Minnesota Monthly’s flirting with controversy – comparing the virtues of the Uptown Art Fair to those of the Minnesota State Fair. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4cosq1B

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Fluence Advisory has released its Insights memo on “The Next Legislature”. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aNNSMV

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Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com

Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3TEGFJg

Sunday Take featured a Farmfest preview and Republican Adam Schwarze discussing his U.S. Senate campaign. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3TyEK93

Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.

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ECONOMIC INDICATORS

BOATING: Minnesota saw $1.3 billion in recreational boating sales in 2025 – the sixth highest total in the nation. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3RJTDVz

MOVIES: Indie Wire calls Minneapolis the “best home base for documentary filmmakers” and points to Operation Metro Surge and the murder of George Floyd as a couple of reasons why. QUOTE: “That combination of events, which demand sustained documentation and institutions committed to exhibiting nonfiction work, makes Minneapolis especially compelling for documentarians. Add relatively affordable living and MSP Film’s year-round commitment to indie cinema, and you’ll find the time, community, and support to stay close to America’s real stories.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pYCLqN

CONCERT TIX: This from a WCCO-Radio story about tonight’s Noah Kahan show at Target Field, VERBATIM: “While the size of Wednesday’s crowd won’t be surprising to most who’ve kept tabs on Kahan’s rapid ascent in the music industry, the price some fans are paying for tickets may.” QUOTE: “It’s insane,” said Ticket King president Mike Nowakowski. “For a concert at a venue this large, to see just the entry-level price at over $400 per ticket, that’s unheard of.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4bwvx7v

TRAVEL: Via MarketBeat, from a report on earnings at Allegiant Travel which acquired Minnesota-based Sun Country, QUOTE: “[Allegiant CEO Greg] Anderson said Sun Country has faced elevated pilot attrition among junior Minneapolis-St. Paul-based pilots, largely because of increased hiring by the largest carrier in the Twin Cities. Allegiant is reducing off-peak Minneapolis-St. Paul capacity during the second half of 2026 in response to attrition and higher fuel prices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xs0oKZ

GOV DEBATE: From Alpha News via YouTube, candidates for governor Senator Amy Klobuchar, Speaker Lisa Demuth, Mike Lindell, and Kendall Qualls make their case to voters this morning at Minnesota Farmfest. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wMKUkO

MORE: A few moments from the debate via social media:

LINDELL: From Heartland Signal via X, VERBATIM: “GOP MN gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell (R) says he will crack down on protesters in Minneapolis since it has ‘some of the strictest protest laws in the nation.’” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RLMp3p
KLOBUCHAR: From Alpha News via X, VERBATIM: “Boos and jeers erupt at Farmfest as Amy Klobuchar says she has ‘long believed in and supported funding for order at the border’ and has ‘worked well with law enforcement.’” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hRC1S5
DEMUTH: From Heartland Signal via X, VERBATIM: “GOP MN gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth (R) blames Obamacare for rising health care costs in Minnesota. ‘Obamacare passed at a federal level, and it has made our health insurance, our health coverage, very unaffordable in the state.’” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RKmk4J

ENCAMPMENT: Via Star Tribune, reporting from this morning’s clearing out of the homeless encampment in St. Paul’s Pig’s Eye Park. VERBATIM: “Large sections of the encampment were empty by 8:30 a.m., leaving clusters of vacant tents, broken bicycles, empty propane tanks and piles of clothes and blankets. In some areas, the ground was covered with shards of glass smashed into the soil.” UPDATES: https://fluence-media.co/3SaGIw1

CHIPOTLE: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Chipotle has pulled jalapeños from some Minnesota restaurants. In a statement on Tuesday, the burrito chain says the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is investigating a Salmonella outbreak that may affect ‘several food service retailers’ in the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yZR6r0

ST PAUL: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “[Chris Madel,] the attorney for St. Paul’s police chief is calling St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her ‘odd’ at best, and even ‘unhinged’ in a wide-ranging interview with WCCO’s Chad Hartman Tuesday.” MADEL: “I mean, the doctored memes, there’s doctored photos that has been reported, the putting your face over things, the orgasming in the gym, the complimenting women’s breasts, the other stuff that I’m aware of that hasn’t come out yet.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fR3hxp

DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Early voting is underway in Duluth ahead of Minnesota’s primary election and already city officials say they expect a high turnout this year . . . Duluth City Clerk Alyssa Denhan said the office has seen consistent traffic since early voting began. So far, more than 850 voters having passed through the City Clerk’s office as of Tuesday morning.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TCAyW0

SD3: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “I spent three days in late July in the third district, driving from Knife River to Ely to Babbitt back to Ely to Biwabik, and spent time with [Babbitt Mayor Andrea] Zupancich and [Sen. Grant] Hauschild. Their race, one of a handful that might dictate which party controls the Minnesota Senate next year, is a sequel to the 2022 race for the then-open seat. Hauschild won 50.8% to 49.2%. If money tells all, Hauschild will win again.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wB2Hes

U.S. SENATE: Via news release from the Craig campaign, VERBATIM: “Today, Anie Craig, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, released a new digital ad, ‘Not So Nice’, the latest of her state-wide campaign. Craig’s closing digital ad highlights the millions of dollars in corporate cash Flanagan accepted as chair of the Democratic Lt. [Governors] Association, including from Big Oil, Big Pharma and CoreCivic, an ICE detention center contractor.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Tv2Vp1

BROADBAND: Comcast is rewriting the broadband playbook in the Twin Cities. From neighborhood networks to next-gen tech, we’re delivering community-first internet connectivity with no contracts, no surprises. The new Xfinity package means unlimited data, blazing-fast, reliable speeds and a 5-year price guarantee, plus free mobile for a year. It’s not the old Comcast — it’s a bold new era of connection. Let’s power the future, together. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/Comcast2025-1 (SPONSORED: Comcast)

PUBLIC SAFETY

APPLETON PRISON: Via news release this morning from CoreCivic, VERBATIM: “CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE: CXW) (CoreCivic or the Company) announced today that it has completed the sales of its 1,600-bed Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota and its 1,033-bed Midwest Regional Reception Center in Leavenworth, Kansas to the United States of America and its assigns, by and through the Department of Homeland Security for an aggregate gross sales price of $734.0 million, including $495.6 million for the Prairie Correctional Facility and $238.4 million for the Midwest Regional Reception Center . . . The Company currently expects to continue to operate the Prairie Correctional Facility and Midwest Regional Reception Center under the existing management contracts with Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), although the terms of the management contracts may be modified to reflect the change in ownership.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c1nZJY

NOTE: CoreCivic announced Tuesday morning plans to reopen the Appleton facility and to begin taking in ICE prisoners “in the fourth quarter of 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wsOaAV

WILDFIRES: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “Leading up to this year’s fire season, federal officials with the U.S. Forest Service and the Interior Department directed their wildfire crews to use a “full suppression” strategy and attack wildfires urgently. Following a hot, dry winter that left much of the West parched, federal land managers said it was imperative to contain fires quickly before they get out of control. But following several dangerous incidents, including the deaths of four federal firefighters in Colorado in June, some longtime wildland fire leaders are questioning that strategy . . . Federal policies that sought to extinguish all fires quickly over much of the past century are now understood by foresters to be a major contributor to the current wildfire crisis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xq7AqY

CAMERAS: From Winona PD via Facebook, VERBATIM: “On 08/01/26, the Winona Police Department discovered that all eight of our city’s Flock cameras were missing. That evening, an officer noted that there’d been no recent activity on the cameras. Officers subsequently checked the various locations where the Flock cameras were placed and found that the poles were cut down near the base. Officers located the poles nearby in the weeds, but the cameras had been removed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ckOE4u

NOTE: Tuesday’s morning take included news of other jurisdictions dealing with Flock cameras being stolen or vandalized. ICYMI: https://fluence-media.co/4xedYRS

CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: Via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability—providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)

INFRASTRUCTURE

CYBERATTACKS: CCX Media checked in with the City of Plymouth a week after its water system was hit. VERBATIM: “It was about 12:30 a.m. on Monday, July 27. Fourteen lift stations that control wastewater had just gone offline. Plymouth public works crews quickly realized something was up. ‘Then we knew this was a little unprecedented,’ said Michael Thompson, Plymouth’s director of public works. Besides the lift stations, communication systems that monitor water pressure at two towers were no longer sending back readings. Thompson said it was ‘all hands on deck’ to minimize any issues.” QUOTE: “With critical infrastructure, you always want safeguards, you want to plan for the unexpected,” said Thompson. “So in a case like this, understanding it was a cyberattack, we air-gapped our systems, so basically disconnected everything from the public-facing action, and just went to a full manual operation.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fDzhGF

URBAN EXPLORERS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis police and fire officials say a fall that left an 18-year-old with life-threatening injuries this week highlights the dangers of so-called ‘urban exploring.’ The victim fell an estimated 20 stories at a decommissioned grain elevator Monday night. Police said the victim was part of a group of teens and young adults who were trespassing at the former Checkerboard grain elevator near 38th and Hiawatha in south Minneapolis at about 8:30 p.m.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gbP0wO

TOMORROW: From the City of Zumbrota via Facebook, VERBATIM: “On Thursday, August 6, the City’s old water tower will be taken down. On Thursday, August 6, the City’s old water tower will be taken down.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bqgfRG

COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS: Flint Hills Resources is celebrating summer with thousands of Minnesotans at local festivals and parades. Look for Flint Hills employees – along with their families and friends – as they show their hometown pride at many local celebrations, including Rosemount Leprechaun Days, Hastings Rivertown Days, Inver Grove Heights Days and Saint Paul’s Lowertown Sounds. For decades, Flint Hills Resources has supported programs, organizations and events that improve our quality of life in our communities. LEARN MORE: Community Partnerships (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)

COMMERCE

ACQUISITION: Via Minnetonka-based Electro-Sensors, VERBATIM: “Electro-Sensors, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of industrial machine monitoring sensors, hazard monitoring systems and predictive maintenance technologies, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition by steute Technologies, a portfolio company of Battery Ventures.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Sf1BWP

RETAIL: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports wellness and activewear brand Alo plans to open a store at Southdale – there’s already an Alo at nearby Galleria. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fRvnsm

RETAIL: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Outdoor recreation giant L.L. Bean has officially expanded its footprint in the Twin Cities metro, opening its second Minnesota retail store at The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove. The retailer celebrated its grand opening on July 31, welcoming early shoppers with interactive games and special discounts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w8oqJK

5 FESTIVALS: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s African communities will come together this summer for five festivals celebrating the African diaspora through music, food, fashion and cultural traditions. Each festival offers a different way for African and Afro-diaspora communities to celebrate their heritage, preserve cultural traditions and connect with one another.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fE4KIP

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WHAT’S NEXT?

TODAY: Via news release from Rep. Morrison, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) will join Minnesotan biomedical researchers to raise the alarm and highlight serious concerns about the Trump Administration’s proposed rule that would upend medical research in the United States as we know it. The Trump Administration has proposed a new sweeping rule that would shift power to political appointees to choose which studies and trials are awarded federal grant funding — instead of the apolitical peer review process that has been in place for decades and allowed for breakthroughs in science and medicine like cancer treatment, Alzheimer’s research, HIV treatment and prevention, and countless others.”

TOMORROW: The Minnesota Fringe Festival begins. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/45cT2ie

THIS WEEKEND: Duluth Trails Fest – a weekend of biking and running – begins Friday. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4yYk4HD

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

STATE FAIR: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “With weeks before the 2026 Minnesota State Fair starts, one Grandstand concert is already sold out. No tickets are available for the TLC and Salt-N-Pepa concert with En Vogue. The Sept. 5 show is part of their ‘IT’S ICONIC’ national tour.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fXsNkN

BDAYS: media guy Jason Matheson, lobbyist Ward Einess, and GOP insider Jennifer DeJournett, EGF attorney Skylar Johnson

Fluence Media curates, produces and distributes specialized media products to thought leadership audiences across the Midwest and about the region. Our publications cover, politics, public policy, health care, agriculture, business, real estate, sports and more. Visit www.fluence-media.com to learn more.

about morning take- Founded in 2010, morning take has grown to become the leading Minnesota morning newsletter on politics and news of the day. Published by Fluence Media since 2012 the mission is to "make you smarter" before breakfast.

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morning take | Angst in the Air at Farmfest

The Daily Agenda — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:28:34 GMT

HUMP DAY

Twins lose.

In Michigan, the Democratic US Senate race is too close to call. DSA-aligned candidate Abdul El-Sayed has a slight lead over Haley Stevens. Is this where we will sit next Wednesday?

Encampment clean out in St. Paul. Spotted out last night for NNO was Mayor Kaohly Her.

National soccer teams for the U.S. and Canada will play in Allianz Field this October. KARE: https://fluence-media.co/4xpxfA4

Minneapolis will be a host city for the 2028 Olympic torch relay. KSTP: https://fluence-media.co/3RuVpKb

The number of states hit by cyberattacks on water infrastructure is up to at least 12. ABC: https://fluence-media.co/4fQsNTv

The Argument finds that 71% of voters support free trade agreements with other countries. Meanwhile, 28% support tariffs on imports, and 62% think tariffs negatively affect the cost of living. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4hOVdzZ

Happy National Oyster Day.

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

Sunday Take featured a Farmfest preview and Republican Adam Schwarze discussing his U.S. Senate campaign. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3TyEK93

Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com ? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription

From New Ulm, where Caribou opens at 5AM there’s an angst in the air where nothing seems easy. From weather to war, farmers resiliency is strong, but you can sense an edginess about our politics. Day one of 2026 Farmfest included Congressional candidate forums but also a lot of discussions about one week to go, and the uncertainty of the races on both the DFL and GOP statewide races. There’s a flood of money into all the competitive races, which isn’t new but seems new in Minnesota since it’s been at least eight years since there was a competitive race in a primary.

Attorney General Keith Ellison will be here today, his opponent Ron Schutz worked the crowd yesterday. Secretary of State Steve Simon and his Republican challenger Tad Jude were here yesterday.

Opinions as polarizing as any race continue to grow, while Republicans are trying to figure out the voting tendencies between the US Senate and Governor primary. If Michele Tafoya wins, who do her voters pick in the gubernatorial race? Conventional wisdom would suggest Speaker Lisa Demuth which may explain the calm confidence both exuded at the Ag Mafia dinner last night. Meanwhile, neither Mike Lindell nor Kendall Qualls was working the crowd yesterday.

A change in stature means Gov. Tim Walz won’t be at Farmfest until Thursday, meanwhile a panel of those wanting to replace him will be today at 10:30.

HEALTHCARE: Strong communities depend on sustainable nonprofit healthcare. By planning to join leading, nonprofit healthcare system Sutter Health, Allina Health will be better positioned to expand access to high-quality, innovative care in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin - supporting patients, caregivers, and communities for generations to come. Learn more about the Allina-Sutter partnership.. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/AllinaHealth (SPONSORED: Allina Health)

Scenes from Day 1 of Farm Fest…

The famous pork chop….from Farm Bureau

A note from the Leading Age booth – “If you could tell the next Governor one thing about aging in Minnesota”.

That’s the answer for any Governor, but especially the next one. It won’t come easy, the job of reconnecting the state, much less uniting a divided state that has lost trust in state government. The impacts of more seniors than K12 students as Fluence Advisory client the Long-Term Care Imperative reminds us.

The reality is that an open Governor’s seat offers candidates and the public an opportunity to share real issues of Minnesotans. Minnesotans have a different relationship with a Governor than they do a federal statewide candidate – which is why understanding all of Minnesota is critical.

It’s one thing to want to have a beer with a candidate, its another thing to understand that the public wants to ensure that you understand and believe in the future of Minnesota.

So, what are the questions that candidates need to answer? From health care to fraud in human service programs there’s a different mindset of Minnesotans this year, and the angst is starting to be felt by the people.

THE TRAIL

USDA: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins kicked off FarmFest in Redwood Falls Tuesday. Rollins gave an update on key agricultural export markets, saying growth is strong in corn, ethanol, dairy and tree nuts. She also told the group recent reports of the growing number of farm bankruptcies are ‘over-inflated’ and amount to ‘clickbait.’” ROLLINS: “What I am much more worried about is the loss of farms to solar, to wind, to development. … That is a much, much, much, much bigger problem.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3SewyKP

CD2: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “The race for Congress in Minnesota’s Second District is getting heated. On Tuesday, candidates faced off at Farmfest. … All three [DFL] candidates have a history of election wins in the district: Rep. Kaela Berg, Sen. Matt Klein and former Lakeville Mayor and state Sen. Matt Little. … Republican state Sen. Eric Pratt was also at the forum. … Tuesday’s debate focused on farm policy.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hePGCH

CD8: via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Republican Rep. Pete Stauber and Democratic challenger Trina Swanson debated agricultural issues Tuesday at a FarmFest candidate forum in Redwood Falls. Moderators asked both 8th Congressional District candidates what Congress can do to help farmers facing tight markets and high input costs. … Stauber said trade access is a priority for farmers. … Swanson pointed to fertilizer supply chains and tariffs as pressing concerns.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3UdmL8h

EMMER: GOP Rep. Pete Stauber said yesterday that GOP Rep. Tom Emmer was not present at a Farmfest candidate forum because he is “dealing with” an unspecified problem and “fighting for his damn life today,” triggering social media speculation about Emmer’s health. MPR reported that Stauber did not take questions and Emmer’s office had no comment, but the Star Tribune received word from Stauber’s office that Emmer is “not fighting for his life.” Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman asked Emmer directly about Stauber’s remarks. SHERMAN: “He said he is not gravely ill — nor did he sound like it. He did have a series of foot injuries, for which he had a bunch of surgeries.” DETAILS: MPR | STRIB | PUNCHBOWL

SCHWARZE: Via MPR, more details on Republican Adam Schwarze not being invited to today’s Farmfest forum for Senate candidates, as seen in yesterday’s morning take. VERBATIM: “Schwarze says he’s surprised that he’s been left out of the Farmfest Senate candidate forum. … The current lineup includes four other candidates: Democrats U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Republicans Michele Tafoya and Royce White. … Schwarze was told by organizers that candidates have to have at least 15 percent support in publicly reported polls. ‘Who really misses out are the voters,’ he said. He said leaving him off the stage is a clear advantage to Tafoya.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fVJ3ms

LINDELL: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Mike Lindell, amid his run for governor in Minnesota, announced Tuesday that he is stepping down as chief executive officer of Shakopee-based MyPillow, [saying] ‘Minnesota deserves my full attention.’ … Lindell has also reduced his ownership stake in the company to a minority share. He’ll stay on as a member of the board, but the CEO title goes to James Furlong, who served as a MyPillow director from 2004 to 2019.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pUufJg

A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu

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AG RACE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “The national Democratic calvary is coming to Keith Ellison’s defense in what is likely to be another tough and close attorney general’s race. The Democratic Attorneys General Association dropped $1 million on Thursday into a political fund called We All Do Better. … Republicans are also heavy into the race in support of GOP attorney Ron Schutz. There has been seven-figure activity on the GOP side with various groups trading money and the result being scalding ads over fraud attacking Ellison.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fVJ3ms

SENATE RACE: KSTP aired one-on-one interviews with DFL Rep. Angie Craig and Republican Adam Schwarze discussing their Senate campaigns yesterday. Issues discussed include the “Big Beautiful Bill,” Social Security and more. WATCH: CRAIG | SCHWARZE

QUALLS: Republican Kendall Qualls spoke to FOX 9 about his campaign for governor, his plans for addressing healthcare costs and more. A transcript of his comments is available online. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fG6GjW

VOTING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Trump Administration is suing at least 30 states, including Minnesota, for their voter data. [Donald] Trump is also seeking more control over mail-in ballots through executive order, a move Minnesota and other states have sued to stop. MPR [asked] Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat, about how election officials are preparing for potential threats to election integrity and security.” SIMON: “I have every reason to believe that for the primary and eventually the upcoming general election, we’re going to have an election that’s fair and accurate.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fNF38R

VOLUNTEERS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “For decades, Democratic organizers in Minnesota have searched for a way to turn moments of outrage into lasting political engagement. Many believe Operation Metro Surge did just that. A sprawling volunteer network that sprang up almost overnight to help immigrant families is now feeding people into the state’s DFL political infrastructure as precinct chairs, convention delegates, campaign volunteers and even candidates for office. … The next test is whether that civic awakening translates into electoral power.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pZdyfO

CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability — providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)

OUTDOORS

WILDFIRES: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “The wildfires in northern Minnesota have now burned more than 64,000 acres of land. But significant progress has been made, and more of the BWCA is expected to reopen soon. Nearly 70% of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is open for visitors, but there are some restrictions in place. … Drew Stroburg, the acting supervisor of the Superior National Forest, [said] they are fighting a massive perception problem, with people not wanting to make the trip.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fCNDHj

DROUGHT: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asked residents in Duluth, Hermantown, Procter and Rice Lake to conserve water starting Tuesday as the area is at risk of drought. … The drought warning follows weeks of wildfires and firefighting efforts in northern Minnesota and the BWCAW.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/456Mz8w

MORE: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “An extended drought is impacting lake levels across north-central Minnesota, and officials say it could take years for some to recover. … The region has received 12 to 16 inches less precipitation than normal over the past four years, and it would take months of above-average rainfall to restore lake levels.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pSK4jy

CWD: via DNR advisory, VERBATIM: “A deer near Stillwater has been confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease. The female deer was reported to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources by a landowner who observed it for several days and noted it was unafraid of people and appeared emaciated. On July 16, the deer died and was retrieved by DNR staff. … The Minnesota DNR is working on what the surveillance response will be to the new detection near Stillwater.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pSMNJO

HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold-certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3VASKg4 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)

METRO

MPLS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “More than 100 city employees could be laid off in Minneapolis in the first major layoffs in 16 years as the city faces a $33 million budget gap. … Mayor Jacob Frey will unveil a budget proposal with major cuts, layoffs and the elimination of some departments — and will still seek a double-digit increase in the city’s property tax levy to fund the 2027 budget. … The mayor’s office said Frey is still working through final decisions before he delivers his budget address next week and wouldn’t confirm details, but several city leaders said Frey has told them there will be layoffs and cuts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cf3vgP

ST PAUL: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The City of Saint Paul is preparing to clear a large homeless encampment at Pig’s Eye Park on Wednesday as part of a larger strategy to sweep encampments, despite last-minute pleas from activists and residents to halt the plan. … The city announced that it would move forward with the Pig’s Eye Park sweep starting at 8 a.m. [because] the encampment ‘presents serious and worsening health, safety, and environmental conditions.’ … Ahead of the planned sweep, dozens of activists and neighbors expressed their fury at a special city council meeting on Tuesday afternoon. More than 40 people spoke, calling the policy of sweeping encampments ‘inhumane.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RSX9No

MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “City Council President Rebecca Noecker said Tuesday she supports Mayor Kaohly Her’s plan to clear the homeless camp at Pig’s Eye Park on Wednesday if people have indoor options that meet their needs. … ‘My understanding is that that is a case-by-case basis situation,’ Noecker said when asked where an estimated couple hundred people living in the camp would go.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4yZukzp

EVENTS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Thousands of WWE fans packed the Twin Cities this past weekend, [but] there are other events MNSE wants to bring here that would be even bigger. … The Twin Cities have hosted NCAA postseason action, the Super Bowl and more – but [MNSE’s John] Klinkenberg says they have another event in mind, if they can secure the funding. ‘We’re a finalist for FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031, which will be a great women’s event to bring here,’ he said. ‘The people at the Capitol, legislature, they understand that, [but] we’re working on trying to find that solution.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wMB9mI

MAYOR HER: Via KSTP, an update on what St. Paul City Council members have (or haven’t) said about Mayor Kaohly Her’s ongoing sexual harassment investigation. VERBATIM: “Council President Rebecca Noecker sat down for an interview [Tuesday]. When the allegations against Her were brought up, Noecker declined comment. … 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS hasn’t yet heard from council members Anika Bowie, HwaJeong Kim and Cheniqua Johnson but continues to seek comment from them.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hOfxRV

GREATER MN

OLMSTED CTY: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A divided Olmsted County board approved more than quadrupling fees that Dodge County is expected to pay for housing detainees in the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center. Commissioners have noted Dodge County is the only county in Southeast Minnesota without its own jail, relying on Olmsted County to provide space at $75 per day per detainee, while the cost of detention center operations averages more than $300 per day per inmate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/452MliN

ST CLOUD: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “The St. Cloud City Council unanimously approved letting single-family housing developers and builders delay paying upfront charges during its meeting. … The ordinance is a one-year pilot program allowing any builder and developer on single-family residential lots to delay paying water access, sewer access and trunk area charges for up to a year. Deferred payments will accrue a 3.5% interest rate. The approval comes as city administrators warned council members that the need for housing is outpacing the city’s available and buildable single-family lots.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Sey5Az

BEMIDJI: via Bemidji Pioneer, VERBATIM: “The Bemidji City Council voted 7-0 during a meeting [to] revoke the business license of Siam Massage and Wellness Spa. The vote comes after city building officials and the Bemidji Police Department conducted multiple compliance inspections at Siam Massage, which the company failed. City officials also noted during a meeting presentation that the owner of the establishment did not reply to any of the letters or emails sent, or acknowledge that there would be inspections.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fEg6fP

LOOKING AHEAD

TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will receive an update on wildfire conditions in Minnesota.

TODAY-TMRW: Minnesota Farmfest runs from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6 in Redwood County. The final candidate forums will be held today. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4pQIEGw

TODAY: Attorney General Keith Ellison and members of the MN Farmers Union will host a press conference at Farmfest highlighting the state’s recent “right to repair” settlement with John Deere. The event is at 12:30 p.m.

TOMORROW: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar will host a town hall in Richfield on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 6:00 p.m.

AUG 4-13: Fluence sponsor Xcel Energy and industry partners will host a series of open houses on their planned “PowerOn Midwest” electric transmission projects from Tuesday, Aug. 4 to Thursday, Aug. 13. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4yHUlDi

SEPT 9: The IRRR Board is hosting its third annual “State of the Range” event in Chisholm on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.

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BDAYS: media guy Jason Matheson, lobbyist Ward Einess, and GOP insider Jennifer DeJournett, EGF attorney Skylar Johnson

SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.

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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.

health take | Funding Cuts Hit MN Health Nonprofits

Mike Maybay — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 20:30:50 GMT

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POLLING

MIDTERMS: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Liberal Democrats now make up a clear majority of their party and view universal healthcare, greater abortion access and higher taxes on the rich as essential political positions, underscoring how Democrats have moved ‌leftward in recent years, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The finding comes ahead of a Tuesday Democratic primary in which left-wing doctor Abdul El-Sayed is vying against moderate U.S. Representative Haley Stevens for the party’s nomination to run for a Michigan U.S. Senate seat. The seat is seen as critical for Democrats’ hopes of winning a majority in that chamber in the November midterm elections.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45q6cIZ

MORE: Via Ipsos, 26% said healthcare was the “one area of everyday expenses [they would] MOST like members of Congress to prioritize” – the highest ranking response. FULL POLL RESULTS: https://fluence-media.co/4fRulwH

BREASTFEEDING: Via The Harris Poll, polling released to mark World Breastfeeding Week. VERBATIM: “Nearly three out of five women (59%) are unaware that the length of maternity leave can directly impact breastfeeding success . . . Over half of women (52%) believe that breast pumps and other breastfeeding supplies should always be fully covered by insurance . . . More than half of women (51%), including 55% of those who have been pregnant, want healthcare providers to proactively discuss breastfeeding during prenatal appointments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hMjk2a

MCONNELL: Via Newsweek, VERBATIM: “Longtime Republican Senator Mitch McConnell’s public standing has fallen to its lowest level in two decades of polling, according to a new CNN/SSRS survey released Thursday. The poll found his favorability rating at just 11 percent—the lowest ever recorded for him in the poll’s history dating to 2006. The decline comes as the longtime Kentucky senator, 84, remains largely absent from public view, fueling questions about both his immediate political future and ability to continue serving in office after his recent hospitalization.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hIhtvm

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MEDICAID SUPPORTS HEALTH CARE FOR ALL OF US: Medicaid keeps Minnesota’s hospitals strong and ensures communities across the state have access to care. Policymakers must protect Medicaid so every Minnesotan — regardless of income or health status — can get the care they need, when they need it. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3FtrCuH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Hospital Association)

MINNESOTA HEALTH NEWS

LISTS: U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Honor Roll includes Mayo Clinic along with its facilities in Arizona and Florida. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fyHdcc

NEXTGEN: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A newly minted partnership between North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) and St. Cloud State University (SCSU) aims to pave a direct pathway for students entering the medical technology field. Leaders from both institutions gathered on July 27 at NHCC in Brooklyn Park to celebrate an agreement that officially relocates several of St. Cloud State’s graduate programs directly onto North Hennepin’s campus.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4w01Vqd

FUNDING CUTS: “The red van hands out food, water, clothes, first aid and free HIV tests. Locals recognize it across the Twin Cities: the van, nicknamed ‘Thrivey,’ visits St. Paul on Mondays, drives up and down south Minneapolis on Wednesdays and Thursdays, then heads to north Minneapolis on Fridays. Tuesdays are restock days. The van, and everything inside it, is funded by federal grant money that has been suddenly revoked. The Aliveness Project, the Minnesota nonprofit behind the van, is one of many HIV prevention groups across the country that face a financial cliff now that the government plans to reroute millions of dollars from groups like theirs to state health agencies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hNAsob

NEEDLE EXCHANGE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “It’s never been easy to secure funding for Harm Reduction Sisters, a Duluth-based nonprofit that supports people struggling with addiction. But in June, it became even harder. That’s when founder Sue Purchase learned that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) would no longer fund the organization’s syringe service program offering needle exchange, safe injection supplies and support services for drug users.” QUOTE: “The MDH has always been supportive of my work,” Purchase said, adding that she’d lose $150,000 a year. “I was honestly surprised to hear that they’d made this decision.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q4nKUs

U OF M: Via Minnesota Daily, VERBATIM: “On July 22, the University of Minnesota announced changes to the employee health benefits plan. Employees expressed a staunch negative response. The University released the changes in a staff email, detailing raised deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and new co-insurance payments to employee medical benefits. In response, the University’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors issued a statement to the University, while another staff member created a petition opposing the changes and calling for the University to reconsider.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4heiuLE

KRATOM: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A new Minnesota law raises the legal age to buy kratom from 18 to 21, marking the state’s first major step toward regulating a substance that’s become widely available in gas stations and smoke shops. Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that’s sold in capsules, powders, gummies and drinks marketed as energy boosters or pain relievers. Supporters of the law say increasingly potent, chemically altered kratom products can be addictive and pose greater health risks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45FwC9u

RESEARCH: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Could the humble Madagascar tenrec teach humans how to fight infections in the same way that the Gila monster helped scientists discover GLP-1 weight loss medications? University of Minnesota researchers hope so. And now they have a $10 million federal grant to work toward that goal over the next five years. The university late last week announced the award, which will accelerate studies of cellular samples from more than 140 animals that were donated by the Minnesota Zoo, Como Park Zoo, San Diego Zoo and other wildlife and animal control organizations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pYeHnS

HMONG CLOTHING: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Robbinsdale-based North Memorial Health is taking a step to make an unexpected loss more comforting for Hmong families. The health system has begun offering customary travel clothes used in Hmong tradition for the deceased. North Memorial Health began providing traditional clothing to Hmong patients at its Robbinsdale hospital in May. Jessi Kingston, system director at North Memorial Health, said the clothing offerings are especially helpful for families who may experience unexpected loss.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fSXpUH

ESSENTIA HEALTH SUPPORTS FREE CLINIC IN VIRGINIA, SERVING INCREASED NUMBER OF UNINSURED MINNESOTANS: Every Thursday night, physicians and care team members from Essentia Health-Virginia volunteer at the Project Care Free Clinic, providing treatment, screenings, and preventive care to patients who are uninsured or may be struggling to afford health care premiums. Essentia also provides lab and X-ray services at no cost to the clinic or its patients. Essentia is proud to support the clinic, ensuring everyone in the community can get the care they need. READ MORE: By volunteering at a free clinic, Essentia providers in Virginia ensure access to care for all | Essentia Health (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)

NATIONAL HEADLINES

CYCLOSPORA: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Two people have died in the cyclospora outbreak in Michigan, state health officials announced Monday, the first deaths confirmed in the U.S. related to the microscopic parasite. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said both people had underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by the intestinal illness and dehydration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w9NlN0

TRACKING IT: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “Laina Stebbins, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to public health grants eliminated a contract between the state health department and 44 of the state’s 45 local departments that funded 123 full-time employees. Those cuts also affected the state’s disease surveillance labs, ‘reducing funding for equipment maintenance contracts, data modernization, and the ability to innovate laboratory processes during emerging disease response,’ Stebbins said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/458zbAN

ABORTION: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “As his confirmation to lead the Justice Department hung by a thread last week, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told faith leaders on a private call that he was preparing to take action to roll back abortion access nationwide. On a recording of the call posted online Thursday by the religious group Intercessors for America and hosted by the White House Faith Office, Blanche lamented that the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict abortion are ‘taking longer than we want’ but said the Justice Department was ‘working hand in hand’ with federal health agencies and the White House ‘so that the Dobbs decision becomes permanent in every single state.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xfeM91

MED DEVICES: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “Medicare is removing flexibilities that have allowed medical devices designated as ‘breakthroughs’ by the Food and Drug Administration to leapfrog qualifications for extra payments. Until now, alternative pathways have allowed authorized breakthrough devices to qualify for supplemental payments without proving their novelty or substantial clinical improvement over alternatives. In its rule for inpatient hospital payments, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a proposal to repeal those pathways for both inpatient and outpatient settings, starting in fiscal year 2028.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4heZQDk

AI: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “The rise of AI in the healthcare industry has prompted worries about who’s overseeing these tools and whether people are being improperly denied treatments or cut off from care. Unions have raised concerns about workplace surveillance and the prioritizing of savings over safety. Polling shows widespread fear over AI-driven job losses and growing income inequality, while health policy researchers have also raised red flags about algorithmic biases, transparency, data privacy, and safety risks. Mark Duggan, a Stanford University economics professor who has studied the Medicaid system for 30 years, said one long-standing fear is that insurers could use such software to cherry-pick patients for coverage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fEkR99

TODAY: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “The White House will meet with representatives from several top AI companies on Tuesday to discuss a new framework for the government to review frontier AI models before they launch, multiple sources familiar with the invitation told CNN.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4but3Xa

MEDICAID CUTS: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was talking about healthy eating on a farm in Michigan, as part of a national tour he’s taking to promote his Make America Healthy Again agenda, when two hecklers demanded to know why the Trump administration was cutting Medicaid. We aren’t cutting Medicaid, he responded. That’s just a ‘myth people believe,’ he said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q1kLMy

RESEARCH & INNOVATION

THERAPY ANIMALS: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “A visit from a therapy animal may do more than lift spirits. A new study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings highlights how animal-assisted treatment can support inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Patients who interacted with therapy animals showed greater engagement in their treatment, increased physical activity and longer mobility compared with those who did not.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bq9q2r

CHEWING GUM: Via University of Pennsylvania, VERBATIM: “A specially engineered chewing gum reduced HPV by up to 93% and nearly eliminated two bacteria linked to head and neck cancer. The treatment preserved beneficial mouth bacteria, raising hopes for a safer and more affordable therapy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xhSEuC

BRAIN + WEIGHT: Via The Conversation, VERBATIM: “Weight loss is not simply a test of willpower. The human brain evolved to protect body fat during times of scarcity, and it can treat a previously higher weight as the new normal, triggering stronger hunger, cravings, and lower energy use after weight loss. This biological ‘memory’ helps explain why many people regain weight after dieting and why medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro can help by reducing appetite signals, although their effects may fade when treatment ends.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wzsW4V

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

CANCER CELLS: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a protein that cancer cells use to shut down the body’s immune response, a discovery that could help scientists develop new treatments that make cancer immunotherapies more effective. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the study identifies a previously unknown role for a protein called TRAILshort, which acts like an immune ‘off switch.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45JTKDG

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mn good | Donations to Clear the Smoky Air Up North

The Daily Agenda — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:31:42 GMT

Surf’s up on Lake Minnetonka – KSTP-TV takes us to surf camp. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hN0isw

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BOOKS, BASEBALL & MORE

SATURDAY: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “Sabathani Community Center celebrates its 60th anniversary Aug. 8 with a free block party at 310 E. 38th St. in South Minneapolis. The event, ‘Coming Back Home,’ honors Clarissa Rogers Walker and Launa Q. Newman, MSR’s former publisher and grandmother of current CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard, both of whom have South Minneapolis streets named for them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qfsoiB

THIS MONTH: Via Free Bikes 5 Kidz, VERBATIM: “Join hundreds of cyclists, families, volunteers, and supporters for the 2026 Free Bikes 4 Kidz Gran Fondo, a community cycling event that helps put more bikes into the hands of kids who need them. Hosted by Luce Line Brewing, this one-of-a-kind event combines incredible riding, family fun, and a post-ride celebration, all while supporting the mission of Free Bikes 4 Kidz.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hdX1ST

AIR PURIFIERS: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “A Duluth resident has secured more than $100,000 worth of air purifier donations and is working with the American Red Cross to distribute them to vulnerable populations across the region. Smoke from fires in the Superior National Forest and Canada pushed air quality in mid-July to hazardous levels. Travis Wright said he saw people struggling and noticed air purifiers were becoming hard to find.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hjjspX

BASEBALL: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Friday evenings on the field of dreams (AKA Powderhorn Park), the baseball field becomes the grounds for Minneapolis’s hottest, most serious ballplayers. The Southside Serious Hotties, a baseball team in the Dock Ellis League, a very nonprofessional league with independent teams across the country, brings America’s pastime back to its sandlot roots: amateur, accessible, and most importantly, fun.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fK1FWo

FARM BUDS: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “On a rainy, windy Sunday morning in late June, a group of more than 30 volunteers dug into the soil of 30 acres in Medina. The group was from Farm Buds, which organizes volunteers to help farmers across Minnesota and Wisconsin. They tackle tasks such as weeding, planting and preparing for the harvest. On this weekend, they were supporting four farming sisters originally from Kenya.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fDFYbG

RONDO: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “A longtime vision to create a space that honors Rondo’s artists and creatives has finally become a reality. On Saturday, July 25, the community celebrated the inaugural Selby Arts and Cultural Day and the grand opening of the Rondo African American Arts District (RAAD), hosted by the Rondo Community Land Trust. The celebration brought together local artists, vendors, musicians and community members for a day of art, culture and live entertainment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g7SujQ

HOUSING: Via PPL, VERBATIM: “Together with residents, project partners, community and civic leaders and elected officials, Project for Pride in Living (PPL) today gathered to cut the ribbon on Opportunity Crossing, a new, 110-unit affordable housing development built on the site of the former Wells Fargo branch that was destroyed during the social unrest of 2020. Located at 3030 Nicollet Ave. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Opportunity Crossing is one of the largest affordable housing projects in Minneapolis history and represents a transformative new chapter for the Lake Street community and everyone who calls it home by creating affordable housing, economic opportunity and neighborhood vitality.” NEWS RELEASE | PHOTOS

BOOKS: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “When young kids are learning to read, it’s important that they also develop a desire to read, Taylor Sorrells says. That’s why Sorrells, a St. Paul elementary school teacher, started the nonprofit READ With Me MN, in February 2025. READ stands for representation, education, accessibility and diversity.” QUOTE: “We are losing librarians and, unfortunately, classroom teachers are tasked with keeping their classroom library stocked with books,” Sorrells said. “Representation and diversity in books has a direct impact on student engagement and interest in literacy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wItbLa

DULUTH: Via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Last week, the Duluth School Board approved a name for the district’s newest facility in downtown Duluth. The newly named Duluth Central Education Services, located at 424 W. 1st St., will house a number of district services and programs. The facility’s name is a tribute to Duluth Central High School, the first iteration of which was used as a school until 1971. But inside, a former Central alumna will also be recognized through the dedication of the Ethel Ray Nance Welcome Center. Duluth School Board member Henry Banks calls Ethel Ray Nance the ‘most distinguished graduate’ to come out of the district.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S7axO1

WALKER: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “What is Love? is a question (and an exhibition on view at the Walker Art Center until Aug. 23) with many entry points (three at the museum to be exact). Walking into the gallery, curator Taylor Jasper meditates on this conscious subversion of chronological journey.” READ/SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fYtECW

GRANTS: Via WJON-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Bernick Family Foundation is accepting applications for its latest round of grants. The foundation will be offering up to $300,000 in grant funding to eligible programs in their territories in Minnesota and Wisconsin.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RKvf6e

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lunch take | MN Private Prison Gets ICE Contract

Mike Maybay — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:12:54 GMT

A BUSY TUESDAY

That’s Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaking this morning at Farmfest in Redwood County. You can watch her address HERE: https://fluence-media.co/459I3FR

I’m at Farmfest and will have reports on WCCO Radio and Fox Live today and Wednesday. I’ll be moderating the gubernatorial forum Wednesday AM. Forums will be streamed online, and rebroadcast on WCCO Radio.

Direct updates via The Daily Agenda on INSTAGRAM: https://fluence-media.co/4pVPgTK

Minnesota Monthly takes us back a century when Sauk Centre’s Sinclair Lewis was awarded a Pulitzer Prize and basically said, “nah… I’m good”. READ: https://fluence-media.co/45CvnI7

Northern Minnesota can’t catch a break – lightning overnight is suspected of starting three house fires. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pSZsMW

Via the Star Tribune, what the fire damage in the Boundary Waters looks like from above. PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4bvt2Ci

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Sunday Take featured a Farmfest preview and Republican Adam Schwarze discussing his U.S. Senate campaign. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3TyEK93

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PRISON & POLITICS

ICE DETENTION: Via news release from private prison company CoreCivic, VERBATIM: “CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE: CXW) announced today that it has been awarded a new contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to utilize the Company’s 1,600-bed Prairie Correctional Facility located in Appleton, Minnesota, a facility that has been idle since 2010. The new contract commences on August 11, 2026, for a term of five years . . . We expect to begin receiving detainees in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the full ramp estimated to be complete in the second quarter of 2027.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w4Tmue

MORE: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “The private prison has been closed since 2010 . . . Discussions to reopen the prison as an ICE detention facility garnered a mixed reaction from community members in the past year, with clergy and immigrant leaders calling for compassionate alternatives to immigrant detention; however, others in the community support reopening the prison to support the local economy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TwfS1P

WORKFORCE: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “Today’s small children have a brighter future economically than any generation since the surge of Baby Boomers aged into adulthood in the early 1970s, swamping the job market and dampening pay for 20-somethings ever since, said Steven Ruggles, director of the Minnesota Population Center at the University of Minnesota.” QUOTE: “We are on the verge of a radical reshaping of labor markets in which new workers will be in extremely short supply,” Ruggles wrote in the report. “We may finally see real (inflation-adjusted) wages of the young exceed the levels of the early 1970s. Americans born in the 2020s might be the first cohort in a half century that earns significantly more than their parents did.” STATELINE STORY | UofM REPORT

NEW AD: North Star Dawn PAC this morning launched a new ad featuring Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz endorsing Rep. Angie Craig in the U.S. Senate DFL primary. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/451HCxN

PRIMARIES: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Across Minnesota, 11 state lawmakers face primary challenges from candidates aiming to bring fresh faces to the Capitol. Six are in districts held by Republicans, and five are held by Democrats. The districts reliably support the party currently in power there, so next Tuesday’s results probably won’t shift seats to the other side. But challengers could bring in lawmakers who are positioned closer to the political right or left than the incumbents they’re looking to replace.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4brkCvH

NOTE: In morning take, a look at the state of the primaries one week out from election day. ICYMI: https://fluence-media.co/4xedYRS

TEST SCORES: Via NWEA, VERBATIM: “NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, released a new study today showing that middle school reading performance has not rebounded since the pandemic and continues to decline among the nation’s lowest-achieving students . . . In contrast to signs of progress toward academic recovery in math and in elementary reading, middle school reading test scores have stagnated for the average student and have continued to drop among struggling readers. Across multiple assessments, reading test scores for the lowest-achieving middle school students continued dropping after 2022.” NEWS RELEASE: https://fluence-media.co/45CBM67

MORE: Via NWEA, the report includes examples of local initiatives tackling the problem, including two in Minnesota. REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/3TFDLUA

INFRASTRUCTURE

CYBERATTACKS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “State and federal authorities continue to investigate a recent coordinated cyberattack on Minnesota municipal water systems . . . Cities across Minnesota and the U.S. are dealing with increasingly complex threats to their water infrastructure, even as funding support has lagged. Managing today’s water systems requires a high level of expertise — not just in engineering, but in technology, said Bonnie Keeler, who directs the Water Resources Center at the University of Minnesota. Those systems include high-capacity wells with sophisticated pumping systems, tanks, water towers and a complex network of pipes and pumps, Keeler said.” KEELER: “Every piece of that infrastructure has its own IT system, its own sensor network, its own monitoring system.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pSCTI6

AIRPORTS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Airports are getting some help thanks to newly announced grants from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. $8 million will help fund projects across 39 Minnesota airports. MnDOT’s office of aeronautics director Ryan Gaug says the state’s economy relies on the robust airport system, which also helps when it comes to public safety.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fLA9aT

DULUTH: Via Texas-based FTK, VERBATIM: “FTK Construction Services, a full-service General Contractor specializing in Affordable Housing/LIHTC projects nationwide, has been awarded a new project, Spirit Lake Manor, in Duluth, Minnesota. This 81-unit affordable housing community was built in 1976. The contract value for the rehabilitation of the property, which will take nine months, is $3,794,194.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h9eo7p

BIG BUSINESS

OTTER TAIL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Otter Tail Corp. (OTTR) on Monday reported a loss of $7.6 million in its second quarter. The Fergus Falls, Minnesota-based company said it had a loss of 18 cents per share . . . The power company and manufacturer posted revenue of $334.4 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TANknO

MORE: Via Street Insider, VERBATIM: “Otter Tail Corp (NASDAQ: OTTR) reported Q2 EPS of $1.66, $0.15 better than the analyst estimate of $1.51. Revenue for the quarter came in at $334.38 million versus the consensus estimate of $326.12 million.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45EHmoA

TAKEOVER BIDS: Via Airways, VERBATIM: “easyJet (U2) has given US investment groups Apollo Global Management and [Minneapolis-based] Castlelake until August 7 to formalize competing takeover proposals or withdraw, aligning the timetable for a potential bidding contest over the British low-cost airline. The carrier’s board requested the change, and the UK Panel on Takeovers and Mergers consented to extend Castlelake’s deadline from August 3 to 5 p.m. London time on Friday, August 7. Apollo was already working toward the same August 7 deadline.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hHT7Ss

ACQUISITION: Via Wealth Enhancement, VERBATIM: “Wealth Enhancement, a national independent wealth management firm dedicated to enriching clients’ lives, announced it has acquired the investment advisory business of Miramar Capital, an independent RIA in Northbrook, Illinois. Led by Founders and Senior Portfolio Managers Bob Kalman and Max Wasserman, the team manages more than $592 million in client assets.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ucjp5q

NEW CFO: Via Best Buy, VERBATIM: “Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) announced today the appointment of Anne Bramman as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Aug. 19.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xeELNP

COMMERCE

NO CANDY: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A new candy store in St. Louis Park has delayed its opening after a massive shipment of imported sweets got stuck in customs. The Candy Shop, from the team behind Honey & Rye and Bakehouse, was forced to press pause on its grand opening weekend because all of their Swedish candy is trapped in customs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4budFKj

HOLIDAY SHOPPING: Via Arden Hills-based Giftster, VERBATIM: “Giftster, the trusted home for meaningful family gifting, today released its inaugural Holiday Shopping Index, revealing that consumers are beginning the shopping season months before they make their first purchase. Based on millions of real wish list interactions rather than consumer surveys, the Index provides a first-of-its-kind look at how consumers actually prepare for the holiday season and how that behavior is reshaping the retail calendar.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RNToZq

RED WING: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “Red Wing has long been known for its riverfront views, historic architecture, and thriving arts community. Now, the city plans to add another creative destination. Opening Aug. 16, M.E.T. Projects will debut with an exhibition that connects artists from around the world. Contemporary art isn’t always what people expect to find in a small river town—but that’s exactly what the team behind M.E.T Projects is hoping to change.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45Dr3IB

RESTAURANTS: From Axios, a roundup of local restaurant news. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wKWRaI

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WHAT’S NEXT?

TODAY: Via Minneapolis Fed, VERBATIM: “In today’s event, Conversations with the Fed: Unboxing the New Economics of Trade, Minneapolis Fed economists Doireann Fitzgerald and Michael Waugh will help look through the noise of global events to understand what has changed and what has endured. What are the new realities for American businesses and households? What are the long-term implications for economic growth and stability?”

THIS WEEK: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Fringe Festival is back with more than 100 locally produced theatrical shows from Aug. 6–10. Performances at the 33rd annual fest include a Batman-Shakespeare mash-up, a Beach Boys drag-puppet show, and a Minnesota-themed take on Casablanca. Artists are selected by an un-juried and un-curated lottery process, giving any theater artist a chance to put their passion on the stage, and shows are less than 60 minutes in length.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w72NcG

THIS MONTH: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “On Saturday, Aug. 22, the University of Minnesota’s Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center at 2001 Plymouth Ave. N. will fill, from noon to 5 p.m., with Black booksellers, Black authors, Black publishers, Black food vendors and the readers who sustain all of them. The occasion is the Midwest Black Book Fair.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hHI5g0

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

STATE FAIR: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Like clockwork, the Minnesota State Fair is mere weeks away and is filled with new attractions, competitions, celebrations, and vendors. There are also new renovations to make a more accessible fairgrounds for everyone to enjoy. Here’s what to expect.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wWVZjn

BDAYS: DFL Chair Richard Carlbom, GOP strategist David Fitzsimmons, Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire

morning take | One Week Out

The Daily Agenda — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:14:12 GMT

COOLER

Twins added at the deadline including pitcher Jeff Hoffman. GLEEMAN: https://fluence-media.co/3RN5oKU

Despite smaller crowds that are anticipated, early estimates say SummerSlam brought $100 million of impact to Minneapolis. MPR: https://fluence-media.co/45D7Kzb

Glassdoor finds that workers’ confidence in their employers has dropped to a new low at 43.5%. SURVEY: https://fluence-media.co/4zeoqeb

Reuters finds that voters prefer Democrats over Republicans on economic issues (37% to 36%) for the first time in almost a decade. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4xdCfYg

Seven in 10 U.S. adults say they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in military veterans, according to new research from With Honor and Gallup… The findings come as With Honor Action reports that 752 veterans across the political spectrum have run or are running for Congress in the 2026 cycle — a 47% increase from 2024. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4gaaTwr

Headed to Farmfest today I’ll have reports on WCCO Radio and Fox Live today and Wednesday. I’ll be moderating the gubernatorial forum Wednesday AM. Forums will be streamed online, and rebroadcast on WCCO Radio.

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

Sunday Take featured a Farmfest preview and Republican Adam Schwarze discussing his U.S. Senate campaign. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3TyEK93

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Minnesota’s August primary elections are one week away, while the Ag Mafia dinner convenes tonight it’s also National Night Out where neighbors will gather to connect. The conversations across Minnesota reflect the mood of back to school, an economy that has significant headwinds including gas and food prices.

Polls have shown that Minnesotans are more negative on the direction of the state than they were last fall, and the flood of attack ads isn’t going to improve our mood. The conversations at National Night Out or Farmfest serve as a serum against the cancer of distrust that is eroding the fabric of our state and country. For candidates there’s a responsibility to live in reality, not create an alternative one. To a person, a handshake and a conversation can soothe the angst or the shrug off of the surreal news of the day.

Take the time to connect and send me any insights on the mood of Minnesota one week before the primary.

SENFORUM: Yesterday, the Schwarze for Senate campaign issued a news release claiming the Farm Fest Senate forum was cancelled. It hasn’t been, it’s Wednesday afternoon and Schwarze will not be on the panel as he didn’t meet the standards set out by American Farm Bureau.

GOV RACE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party is asking the state to clarify who meets residency rules to run for office as questions surround Mike Lindell. … Republican Party Chairman Alex Plechash [said] the questions center on Lindell’s previous residency in Texas and how long he has been a resident of Minnesota. However, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Secretary of State says the office doesn’t have jurisdiction to investigate residency issues. … Lindell [said] he has pay stubs proving he’s been working and paying taxes in Minnesota since August of 2025.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4xjjeUb

PORK: via the Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “For years a rallying cry at hay-baled farm conferences and rural political stages in swine country has energized crowds: Don’t let California dictate how American farmers, particularly in the Upper Midwest, raise pork…But as tens of thousands of crop and livestock farmers convene Tuesday at a field near Redwood Falls for Minnesota Farmfest, such talks will likely be about how best to comply with, rather than fight, a California law governing the way pigs are raised… Minnesota, with a $3.5 billion pork industry, is the nation’s second largest state for hog production…While not every hog farmer has the same viewpoint, the latest setback in the Senate disappointed many because the language made it into the House-passed version of the bill… Neither of Minnesota’s senators, Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, have supported any override language.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45FTQfE

AUDITOR: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Next week, voters will choose which Republican runs for auditor in November. There’s Nate George, the current mayor of Braham and an Air Force combat veteran. … He said his experience as a mayor, a military veteran and Director of Licensing & Investigations for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Tribal Gaming Regulatory Authority gives him an advantage. … And [there’s] Scott Jensen, a family doctor who lost the 2022 governor’s race. … Jensen said his background in the Legislature, as a doctor and in working with several businesses, puts him in a good position for the job. … For Republicans, it’s the state Constitutional office they’ve come closest to winning [since] 2006.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h8vcLN

TURNOUT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “101,311. That’s how many voters have already cast ballots in the primary, including 65,342 by mail and 35,969 in person. … 344,708 voters have requested absentee ballots with just a week to go until election day. The totals remain a relatively small share of Minnesota’s electorate, but it’s getting closer to the roughly 155,000 early ballots that were accepted in the 2022 midterm primary election in the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fCTWL4

PRIMARIES: Via Minnesota Reformer, a look at how the results of tonight’s Michigan Senate primary may provide clues for how Minnesota’s DFL Senate primary will play out one week from today. VERBATIM: “Abdul El-Sayed, who has the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders et al., is likely on his way to victory over establishment favorite Haley Stevens. … Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is also running in the Sanders lane, [but] it’s harder for Flanagan to run against the Democratic establishment [as she’s] associated with the administration of Gov. Tim Walz. … Given Minnesota’s partisan makeup, ‘electability’ isn’t the issue it is in Michigan, [but] this is not a seat Democrats can lose if they hope to win the Senate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fDMLSI

SENATE RACE: Rep. Angie Craig spoke to FOX 9 about her Senate campaign yesterday, emphasizing her moderate, bipartisan credentials. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will appear on the network Friday. A transcript of Craig’s comments is available online. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wFRgT1

CD1: Via MinnPost, a comparison between Gov. Tim Walz and DFLer Jake Johnson — both teachers who ran against GOP incumbents in CD1. VERBATIM: “Unlike the last time a Democrat unseated a Republican in the district, it has changed — and so has American politics. And while Walz and Johnson share similarities, each man is different. … Walz [originally] ran as a moderate Democrat. … Johnson is also running in the district as a centrist. He is trying to position himself as a fiscal conservative, promising to vote against any legislation that would allow the federal government to borrow more money until Congress balances its budget. … But, like most mainstream Democrats, Johnson has also promised to shore up the federal social safety net.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gbuUTe

TODAY: Congressional candidates will participate in forums at FarmFest.

STATE STUFF

RESTITUTION: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A months-long review of state court records by 5 INVESTIGATES found convicted fraudsters have paid just a small fraction of the criminal restitution they’ve been ordered to return to the state. Since 2019, judges have ordered defendants to pay back nearly $32 million in restitution in MFCU-prosecuted cases. As of May, the amount recorded as paid back in the state court system was just over $3 million. … Attorney General Keith Ellison acknowledged it has been a longstanding challenge in the criminal justice system to claw back stolen money.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4g8X2qe

MED FRAUD: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission (MSGC) released their 2026 Sentencing Guidelines, which set the new offense of Medicaid fraud of over $1,000,000 at Severity Level 8 thanks to Attorney General [Keith] Ellison’s urging. Severity Level 8 carries a presumptive commitment to prison, no matter the criminal history of the offender. Other Severity Level 8 crimes include criminal vehicular homicide, 1st degree aggravated robbery, and 1st degree burglary.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w5LOaO

ESSENTIA HEALTH SUPPORTS FREE CLINIC IN VIRGINIA, SERVING INCREASED NUMBER OF UNINSURED MINNESOTANS: Every Thursday night, physicians and care team members from Essentia Health-Virginia volunteer at the Project Care Free Clinic, providing treatment, screenings, and preventive care to patients who are uninsured or may be struggling to afford health care premiums. Essentia also provides lab and X-ray services at no cost to the clinic or its patients. Essentia is proud to support the clinic, ensuring everyone in the community can get the care they need. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4yt7Qqu (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)

LOBBYING: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Some of the world’s richest technology companies have increasingly found themselves the center of policy debates in St. Paul. … Sen. Erin Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley, who has championed many tech-related bills at the Legislature, said her meetings with Big Tech representatives have been increasing. … Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, said she thinks lawmakers are less ‘receptive’ to what Big Tech is approaching them with. … Rep. Andy Smith, DFL-Rochester, said he feels like Big Tech’s presence has ‘absolutely’ increased in recent years, [and] it felt like the Big Tech lobbyists were making ‘demands’ to lawmakers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pUYbEZ

TREATMENT: via Senate GOP advisory, VERBATIM: “Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) is calling on state officials to create an employee retention program to help experienced Community Addiction Recovery Enterprise (CARE)–Anoka employees remain on the job as services transition to the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC). The request was made in a letter [to] Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) Executive Board Chair Carol Olson.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4fDTDzG

SCHOOL

SCREENTIME: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “As concerns grow over screen time, mental health and online safety, parents across the Twin Cities are pushing schools to rethink the role of technology in classrooms. From St. Paul to Minnetonka, new parent-led groups advocating for limited technology use have formed to urge changes. Their demands come after noticing worrying behaviors in their children, reports of technology distractions in the classroom and state test scores struggling to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. … Now, communities are confronting both the pitfalls of technology in classrooms and the fact that so much curriculum relies on coming from a screen or software.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fNFLSd

MORE: Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced on social media that if she wins the governor race, she wants to implement a state ban on cell phones in K-12 classrooms. She also pledged to “limit screen time” because it “keeps kids focused on what matters: learning.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/454HRbs

NOTE: Yesterday’s morning take linked to a new study that finds cell phone bans improve student well-being, but they have little impact on attendance, attention and other academic metrics. ICYMI: https://fluence-media.co/3Tov3dr

HIGHER ED: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Every year for over four decades, tens of thousands of Minnesota students have relied on a popular grant program to reduce their college bill [called] the State Grant Program. … Yet Minnesota is again stripping away how much aid students receive from the grant program, this time because of a projected $131 million budget hole that lawmakers neglected to fill. It’s the fourth straight fiscal year the program has experienced a multimillion-dollar shortfall — a sign of growing demand, but also structural issues that Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on how to fix.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gaPUJW

PERFORMANCE: via Rep. Brad Finstad advisory, VERBATIM: “Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) recently sent a letter to Governor Tim Walz expressing his concern about the decline in Minnesota’s educational performance. The letter cited a recent report that found Minnesota’s education system has fallen in the national ranking from #7 to #21 in five years, noted declining reading and math proficiency, and called on the Walz administration to conduct a comprehensive review of education policies and performance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xdNDTT

ED DEPT: via Rep. Angie Craig advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Angie Craig pressed the Trump Administration on their continued lack of responsiveness to inquiries directed to the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). … Craig cited a significant increase in constituent cases with FSA and OCR since President [Donald] Trump took office, and expressed concern with the low number of cases that have been positively resolved. She also demanded answers from the Administration about why her office has experienced delays in communication.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Tr7oJk

A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu

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COURTS

BOELTER: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Convicted political assassin Vance Boelter was back in a Minnesota courtroom Monday on the state’s charges against him, asking a judge if Sen. Amy Klobuchar would be brought in to testify. … Boelter [asked] whether the court process would include whether Klobuchar would testify about what he claimed were five meetings he had with elected officials — in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023 — in Washington, D.C. … Klobuchar responded Monday.” KLOBUCHAR: “We have found no record of my ever meeting or speaking with this murderer. … This is the second time he has falsely brought me into his tormented web.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bvAYU1

(DISCLOSURE: Fluence Advisory provides media support for the Hoffman family.)

FED SUITS: The Office of the Atty. General announced that Minnesota has joined dozens of states in two lawsuits against the Trump Administration regarding tariffs and privacy. The first suit argues that Pres. Donald Trump’s recent imposition of new tariffs on over 80 countries is harmful to consumers and exceeds his legal authority. The second suit is seeking an end to the Administration for Children and Families’ new rule that recipients of TANF benefits (called MFIP in Minnesota) can have their addresses, Social Security numbers and other personal information shared with federal agencies, including the Dept. of Homeland Security. TARIFFS | PRIVACY

THREATS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “A man who made online threats against Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan was sentenced to two years of probation. Caden Sluder, 23, [has] pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor count of threats of violence. He’d originally been charged with a felony level count. … District Court Judge Joy Bartscher [has] sentenced Sluder to one year in jail, which will be stayed if he abides by his probation guidelines.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w1XD1x

EXTRADITION: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “More than two months after his arrest in Texas, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer charged with shooting a man in Minneapolis has yet to be extradited to Minnesota. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, whose office brought felony assault charges against ICE agent Christian Castro, sent a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last week urging him to sign the paperwork necessary for Castro’s case to proceed.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RQKASB

FLOCK CAMS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Vandals have been damaging — or outright stealing — license plate-reading cameras in numerous Minnesota cities of late, including one that was swiped from atop a 10-foot-tall pole in Faribault, officials said. Flock cameras have ignited a privacy debate and faced pushback from officials and vigilantes in the Twin Cities and around the country, in part over their use in immigration enforcement. … Police in Winona disclosed on Monday that all eight of their cameras were swiped. … Also on Monday, the Duluth Police Department [said] it has recorded six times when its cameras were either stolen or vandalized.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/450ML9l

METRO

ST PAUL: Via Axios Twin Cities, more details on St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her’s recent conference call with state lawmakers that turned sour, as seen in yesterday’s morning take. VERBATIM: “Her lashed out at multiple top local officials for asking her [to] delay a homeless encampment sweep. … Many attendees left the meeting concerned that the mayor had done lasting damage to her relationships with St. Paul’s legislative delegation. … What alarmed Axios’ sources wasn’t the mayor’s argument per se, but her tone, her refusal to negotiate and her dismissiveness of other officials. … During the meeting, Her attributed her bluntness to frustration with the ‘fuckery that’s on the news about me.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yQxYvr

MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “We’re learning more about events preceding the formal sexual harassment complaint that St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry filed against Mayor Kaohly Her. … [The] mayor and police chief had multiple strong disagreements before Henry filed a formal complaint against Her in April. Those disputes involved police actions during federal ICE operations, the police budget and an internal affairs report from 2024.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fDSYy0

MPLS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette has agreed to stay in his post until the end of the year as the city searches for his permanent replacement. … Mayor Jacob Frey nominated Barnette to a second term this spring, but the Minneapolis City Council twice rejected his nomination. … Barnette said he hasn’t decided his next steps, but that his work in Minneapolis isn’t yet complete. … A spokesperson for Frey said they don’t yet have anything to share publicly about the search for a new commissioner.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wEsUc0

HWY 280: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Transportation say they are on track to reopen State Highway 280 before the Minnesota State Fair, but some drivers are endangering workers and themselves by prematurely going around the barriers of the unfinished road. Project engineer Clay Roessler said since the highway closed in mid-April, crews have replaced concrete, drainage piping and asphalt. What’s left is work on bridges, striping, lighting, signage and guard rails.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w7OXqF

ACROSS MN

WILDFIRES: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “As crews continue to battle a rash of wildfires near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Monday, forest officials reported increased fire activity over the weekend. … The amount of acreage scorched by the fires increased from 64,100 on Friday to about 64,718 by Monday. The agency said the area around Loon Lake was particularly affected, while another fire — also caused by lightning — ignited near Finstad Lake.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4w9aWh0

POWER GRID: via Xcel Energy advisory, VERBATIM: “Xcel Energy broke ground today on two major infrastructure projects. … The Minnesota Energy Connection transmission line and Lyon County Generating Station are designed to work together to address two critical energy needs: bringing renewable energy from where it is produced to where it is needed and ensuring reliable electricity is available when demand is high and renewable resources are limited. … The [projects] are expected to be completed in 2028.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yTeBlo

(DISCLOSURE: Xcel Energy is a Fluence sponsor)

ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Nearly 17 acres on the edge of northwest Rochester are slated to be added to the city. The Rochester City Council approved the annexation from Kalmar Township, with the site [planned] for future mixed-use development. … Monday’s annexation, which still requires state-level review, is the third approved by the City Council this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w8HTdl

STEARNS CTY: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Stearns County commissioners will have a work session on Tuesday, Aug. 4, to discuss the budgets for Human Services and the Sheriff’s Office. The commissioners will have another work session later in the month to continue discussion on the preliminary budget, which they are expected to vote on in September. Stearns County officials are proposing a 7.14% property tax levy increase for 2027, roughly half of the 14.3% increase initially requested by county departments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fV530R

LOOKING AHEAD

TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will attend the Minnesota Department of Education’s Back to School Conference.

TODAY-THURS: Minnesota Farmfest runs from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6 in Redwood County. U.S. Agriculture Sec. Brooke Rollins will be a featured speaker today at 10:10 a.m. Candidate forums will be held today and tomorrow. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4pQIEGw

TODAY: DFL Reps. Cedrick Frazier and Mohamud Noor will host a roundtable on gun violence prevention with Dept. of Public Safety officials in Bloomington at 6:00 p.m.

TOMORROW: Attorney General Keith Ellison and members of the MN Farmers Union will host a press conference at Farmfest highlighting the state’s recent “right to repair” settlement with John Deere. The event is at 12:30 p.m.

TOMORROW: Senator Ron Latz will host a Gun Violence Prevention Campaign Rally to highlight the progress Minnesota has made on gun violence prevention and ensuring that work continues by re-electing Senator Ron Latz.

THURSDAY: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar will host a town hall in Richfield on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 6:00 p.m.

SEPT 9: The IRRR Board is hosting its third annual “State of the Range” event in Chisholm on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.

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BDAYS: DFL Chair Richard Carlbom, GOP strategist David Fitzsimmons, Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire

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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.

ag take | What to Expect at Farmfest

Mike Maybay — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:33:20 GMT

THIS WEEK: From Minnesota Corn via Facebook, VERBATIM: “We hope to see you at Minnesota Farmfest this week! Make sure to stop by the Minnesota Corn tent to join MCGA, learn about the corn checkoff, and of course grab some sweet corn ice cream!” POST | MORE INFO (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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ALL EYES ON DC + REDWOOD COUNTY

TOMORROW: Farmfest begins Tuesday.

Candidate forums in races for Governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4q2ialu
A speech from Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins is among the many events scheduled. EVENTS: https://fluence-media.co/4pQIEGw
Exhibitors. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4h6u2jU
Woman Farmer of the Year finalists will be honored and a winner announced. BIOS: https://fluence-media.co/46vCF2d

MORE: Via Ag Update, VERBATIM: “One of the biggest additions this year is the 2027 Profit Road Map, a two-hour educational program designed to help farmers navigate today’s challenging agricultural economy. Sessions will focus on topics including cash flow management, lending strategies, agricultural policy, marketing opportunities and mental health, with presentations from economists, financial professionals and other industry experts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/454kpLq

TOP OF MIND: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The three-day Minnesota Farmfest takes place this year at a challenging time economically for many of the state’s farmers and agricultural producers, as diesel fuel and fertilizer costs skyrocketed this spring following the start of the war with Iran. Many farmers are still reeling from falling crop prices and uncertain markets due to the Trump administration’s trade wars with China and other countries that usually buy much of their corn and soybeans. In addition, the latest drought monitor report shows that almost all of Minnesota is abnormally dry, and most is in moderate to severe drought conditions, which could significantly reduce crop yields this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wesYOY

WEDNESDAY: Via news release from the Attorney General, VERBATIM: “During Farm Fest, on Wednesday, August 5, at 12:30pm, Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Minnesota Farmers Union will hold a press conference to discuss the impact of Attorney General Ellison’s July 2026 settlement with John Deere, which secured farmers and independent repair shops the tools and software needed to repair Deere equipment. At the press conference, Attorney General Ellison will be joined by representatives from the Minnesota Farmers Union and farmers who will share stories about the impact of the settlement on their work.”

SURVEY: Via Minnesota Bio-Fuels, VERBATIM: “A new statewide survey conducted by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association in partnership with Morning Consult shows strong, bipartisan support for ethanol, E15 and permanent year-round access to E15 (often sold as Unleaded 88) among Minnesotans. As Minnesota heads into an election year, fuel affordability, agriculture, and energy policy are top of mind for voters, candidates, and policymakers.”

“The survey shows that E15 has strong public support and that voters are receptive to policies that expand access to lower-cost, homegrown fuel options.” RELEASE | POLL RESULTS

FARM BILL: Via RFD-TV, VERBATIM: “The Senate Agriculture Committee will begin rewriting and voting on its Farm Bill on Thursday as Congress races to replace expiring agricultural programs. Chairman John Boozman’s revised proposal adds year-round E15 sales and gives states more time to reduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment errors. The House approved its version April 30 by a 224–200 vote. The Senate committee must approve its bill before leaders can schedule floor debate, where most legislation requires enough support to overcome a 60-vote hurdle.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TqZ8cj

MORE: Via Senate Ag Committee, the full text of the bill. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4xiwGaT

HOWEVER: Via DTN, VERBATIM: “The text no longer has the same coalition of support for E15. The American Petroleum Institute opposed the E15 language over the weekend, breaking its lockstep with the National Corn Growers Association. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, among other hunger organizations, also criticized its lack of a two-year extension of SNAP state cost sharing because the proposal only delays state’s paying penalties until 2028. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., responded to the release, saying, ‘I look forward to working on the details of a bipartisan Farm Bill that can pass on the Senate floor as it will need both Republican and Democratic support. Senate Ag Democrats have been clear that a Farm Bill must meet the needs of both farmers and families across America.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4554Oes

HEMP: Via Senator Tina Smith, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after language delaying a national ban on most hemp-derived THC products, including THC beverages, was included in a must-pass budget resolution set to be voted on in the Senate this week. The ban was set to take place in November and would now be delayed until December, buying lawmakers more time to negotiate.” SMITH: “Adults should be allowed to have a THC beverage if they so choose. Minnesota has created one of the strongest, most carefully regulated systems in the country to allow the sale of hemp products. The initial ban set to take place was ill-advised and would have hurt both hemp farmers and Minnesota breweries alike,” said Senator Smith. “I’m grateful Senator Klobuchar and I were able to secure bipartisan language to delay this ban to December 11. While helpful to hemp farmers, brewers, and consumers, we still need to work towards a long-term solution that will allow for the industry to move forward.”

ICYMI… lunch take had details of delay as well as reaction from Senator Amy Klobuchar. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hNNzFX

AG METRICS

MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Cattle were higher again on Monday extending gains after higher weekly closes last week and clearly putting the border reopening in the rear view mirror. Brad Kooima of Koomia Varilek says the lows look like they are in.” KOOIMA: “They overdid the reaction, I think, to the border reopening. I mean, it’s going to be a gradual reopening in the middle of August. I think that there’s some input from positive comments coming out of the Fort Morgan deal.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gdhG7F

EXPORTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Global corn demand continues to look solid. The USDA says corn inspections during the week ending July 30th were larger than what’s needed to meet projections for the current marketing year, which ends in about a month. Last week’s leading destinations were Mexico and South Korea, both of which are key customers for and consistent buyers of U.S. corn. Sorghum inspections were also ahead of pace, with China topping the list. The USDA’s updated supply and demand numbers are out August 12th.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45De21K

FARM TRANSITION: Via Harvest Public Media, VERBATIM: “Most farmers are used to dealing with uncertain variables like the weather and market prices. But now, farmers have to deal with shifting trade policies, including widespread tariffs, which have elevated the costs of machinery and other operating expenses. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and other supply chain issues have also increased the price of gas and fertilizer. Wesley Tucker, a farm and ranch transition specialist at the University of Missouri, said he’s seen more interest from farmers in setting up succession plans to hand off their operation to the next generation.” TUCKER: “In tough times, some people do go to survival mode, but some people are also more interested in succession because they’re trying to say, ‘How do I make this work so that my son or daughter has a chance to be successful?’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wCplD9

IN THE FIELDS

WEATHER: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Across the Corn Belt, near- or below-normal temperatures in the wake of soaking rainfall is benefiting corn and soybeans.” READ/MAPS: https://fluence-media.co/3TuQqd3

MORE: Via DTN, checking in on how conditions are impacting farmers, including Tyler Rath in Belgrade, MN, VERBATIM: “Rath has been watching another ‘water’ crisis in the form of the weed, common waterhemp. ‘If we could just grow crops like we can grow waterhemp, we’d all be happy,’ he said. He was heading out to cultivate green beans -- planted behind peas -- for the second time this season. He’s on the list but still waiting for a weeding crew to show up to manually tackle weeds in organic fields. Competition for these hand weeding crews is intense, he noted. Crews cost $20 per hour per person.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yVKPwy

CROP CONDITIONS: From farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “One of the biggest questions in analyzing potential corn and soybean market prices for the 2026-27 marketing year is the crop conditions in the Corn Belt and Plains States. In the Upper Midwest, crop conditions are much more variable than a year ago, when much of the region experienced good-to-excellent corn and soybean yields. Some areas of the Midwest have had excessive rainfall this Spring and early Summer, while other areas are dealing various levels of drought conditions. On the other hand, there are portions of the Upper Midwest that have had timely rainfall events and very favorable growing conditions, which has farmers quite optimistic about the 2026 corn and soybean yield prospects for the second year in a row.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fSNqyE

CORN: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The director of agronomy for one of the nation’s largest independent seed companies is concerned extreme heat in July might’ve taken the top off corn yield. Tom Larson with Stine Seed tells Brownfield the corn plant gets stressed when overnight temperatures and dewpoints remain elevated.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pY6m3B

STORAGE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “USDA’s June 1 Grain Stocks data shows on-farm corn stocks were up 16% from a year earlier. Total national corn inventory across all positions was 5.29 billion bushels, up 14% overall. At the same time, national grain storage capacity remains near 25.5 billion bushels, with about 13.6 billion bushels on farm and 11.9 billion bushels off farm. Overall construction and expansion of new storage capacity has largely plateaued since 2020.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45wQqf9

THIS WEEK: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “It’s Farmers’ Market Week in Minnesota! Visit http://MinnesotaGrown.com to find a farmers’ market near you. Enjoy fresh, locally grown food and the opportunity to meet the farmers behind every harvest.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4xixgpg

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

SCRAPIE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AHPIS) has confirmed the first case of classical scrapie in the U.S. since 2021 . . . The US was on track to meet the World Organization for Animal Health’s 7‑year benchmark to self‑declared scrapie freedom in January 2028. APHIS has now notified the organization of the confirmed detection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RG6fwV

lunch take | Data Center Boom Adds 200 Blaine Jobs

Mike Maybay — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:26:20 GMT

PATIENCE NEEDED

MnDOT crews working the project on Highway 280 have counted vehicles in the double digits driving around construction barricades, putting themselves and the workers in danger. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xlnLWs

For only the second time in history, there’s a national blood shortage. Axios with why Minnesotans might be uniquely positioned to help. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h78xPW

81% of Republicans and 7% of Democrats approve of the President’s handling of immigration – shortly after he took office it was 88% and 18%. AP-NORC: https://fluence-media.co/4xiH1Us

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday night announced he’s “officially” rescinding the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund – he’s trying to woo the last couple of GOP Senators holding out on his nomination. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xmBUmm

Blois
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Fluence Advisory has released its Insights memo on “The Next Legislature”. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aNNSMV

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Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com

Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4xipifY

Sunday Take featured a Farmfest preview and Republican Adam Schwarze discussing his U.S. Senate campaign. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3TyEK93

Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.

https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker

SPONSOR: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.

A BUSY MONDAY

JOBS: Via London & Minneapolis-based nVent, VERBATIM: “nVent Electric plc (NYSE:NVT), a global leader in electrical connection and protection solutions, today announced the lease of additional manufacturing space at a second location in Blaine, Minnesota. The new 160,000 square-foot site will expand nVent’s capacity to manufacture data center liquid cooling solutions, supporting the surging demand for liquid cooling technologies that enable artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing . . . The new site is expected to begin production in the first half of 2027 and employ more than 200 people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fBN2Wq

BEDS: Via The Canadian Press, VERBATIM: “Sleep Country Canada Inc. says it has completed its acquisition of [Minneapolis-based] Sleep Number. The Toronto-based retailer says the deal will make it the second-largest sleep retailer in the world . . . Documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court say Sleep Country agreed to pay about US$702 million for the assets.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wfeH4A

HEMP: Via Marijuana Moment, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senate leaders have included provisions to delay the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products in a key new spending bill. Industry advocates believe the move will give them more time to convince Congress to enact comprehensive regulations to effectively regulate, rather than prohibit, the products. Hemp derivatives with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill that President Donald Trump signed during his first term in office. But late last year, the president signed new legislation containing provisions that will redefine hemp to make it so only products with 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal after November 12.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fKp7nP

MORE: Via news release from Senator Amy Klobuchar, KLOBUCHAR: “Brewers, farmers, small businesses, and customers in Minnesota have made clear that the federal ban on hemp products will be devastating,” Klobuchar said. “The new government funding bill in the Senate includes a key provision based on my bipartisan bill to delay the federal hemp ban, which I opposed last November, so other states can put more sensible safety rules in place like we have in Minnesota. This delay was immediately necessary to give Minnesota hemp producers and customers certainty, while giving Congress more time to get to a long-term fix.”

(DISCLOSURE: Plift is a Fluence client)

LYNX-FEVER: Via Sporting News, VERBATIM: “A rally organized around Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments drew supporters and counterprotesters outside Target Center before the Indiana Fever faced the Minnesota Lynx. The attention surrounding Sophie Cunningham extended well beyond the basketball court Sunday afternoon. Before the Indiana Fever’s 108-100 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, supporters of Cunningham gathered outside Target Center in Minneapolis for a rally focused on protecting women’s sports. The demonstration came after similar events were held in Seattle and Portland earlier in the week. Cunningham has become a central figure in the debate after publicly sharing her position on transgender athletes participating in women’s sports.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S9VlQ8

MORE: Activist and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines was at the game to support Cunningham. A photo and a sign both drew controversy. PHOTOGATE | SIGNGATE

GOLF: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “St. Paul golf courses may soon be allowed to add lighting — which could lead to later hours — under changes to an odd zoning restriction scheduled for a city council vote Wednesday. The proposed ordinance would remove restrictions prohibiting lighting on golf courses — as well as miniature golf. City officials say they are unsure why those provisions exist.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hLyGEb

COOKBOOK: Via Target, VERBATIM: “Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is bringing easy, flavorful recipes to busy families with the launch of ‘Good & Gather: Discover Delicious Every Day,’ the first-ever cookbook from Target’s flagship owned food and beverage brand.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hQVOB4

THE LOCALS

APP: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Public safety is now a tap away for Robbinsdale residents. The city’s police department is the first in the nation to offer the Bridge911 app. The app, which replaces the city’s Tip411 system, has multiple uses, including getting crime alerts and updates on street closures and snow emergencies. Residents can also submit tips directly to police through the Bridge911.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4z0B4NM

FOUNTAIN: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The fountain of the Wind in Canal Park, just across from the Dewitt-Seitz building, was filled with bubbles on Sunday. The Duluth Police Department says officers responded to reports of people putting soap into the fountain just after 10:00 p.m. on Saturday. They called the city plumber to turn it off until it could be cleaned up.” READ/PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/4w2f42c

FLOODING: Via Austin Herald, VERBATIM: “Local officials, in combination with state and national agencies, have been working toward establishing damage assessments stemming from heavy rain events on July 2 and 8 . . . According to a release Thursday evening, as part of that process, FEMA and the SBA assessment teams have agreed to come to Mower County and conduct Initial Individual Assistance (IA) Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) in partnership with the Mower County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management and HSEM.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xntwTz

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

ROCHESTER: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Standing in front of a massive road closure through downtown Rochester, deputy city administrator Cindy Steinhauser didn’t see the barricades and detour signs, she saw a future bus rapid transit line . . . The transit line is one of the city’s 13 public works construction projects underway right now. Within the next year, that number will nearly double. And that doesn’t count private construction projects like new housing developments or the new hospital that Mayo Clinic is building downtown.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yV4bls

MINNEAPOLIS: Via My North News, VERBATIM: “Residents of the Jordan and Folwell neighborhoods have complained for years about gunshots, drug trafficking, prostitution, and dice games that happen out in the open at the corner of Lowry and Logan avenues. Part of their frustration is directed at the Full Stop gas station at that intersection. Residents say the owner has done little to drive away the persistent gatherings of people from that corner . . . Now, the owner is appealing to many of those residents to support his plans to expand his store with a new building that will include a restaurant, a four-unit apartment complex, and a design that will discourage loitering and criminal activity.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xjawpb

STRIP MALL: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “A Chicago-based social enterprise company is purchasing the Hawthorn Crossings strip mall in north Minneapolis, promising it will build local wealth and support community development in one of the Twin Cities’ lowest-income and most diverse neighborhoods. Lyneir Richardson, co-founder and CEO of Chicago Trend, is undertaking a crowdfunding campaign, asking nearby residents to invest a minimum of $1,000 into the Hawthorn Crossings project. He seeks to make the strip mall 49% community owned, saying that ownership of commercial real estate on West Broadway will empower the neighborhood.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TPUEvO

COMMERCE

RETAIL: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “A Crunch Fitness and Foss Swim School are coming to St. Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood. Why it matters: The additions to the Highland Village Shopping Center on Ford Parkway will fill a high-traffic anchor store spot that has sat vacant since Lunds & Byerlys moved to the neighboring Highland Bridge redevelopment in 2022.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RPiWpc

BBQ: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Big news rocked the world of 6-year-olds in the Twin Cities, when Animales BBQ Co. opened the latest and greatest in indoor play places just off its main dining room: stairs to climb and slides to slither, walls to ascend and big tumbling mats for somersaults, a curtained stage for kid productions, magnet walls to rearrange, picture books for all, and little tables just for kid meetings. Conveniently, just outside the playroom door: mac and cheese and a large space to keep your parents!” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hc1vJO

CLOSING: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “It’s the final curtain for El Sazon Cocina & Tragos. The south Minneapolis restaurant specializing in tacos, birria and other casual Mexican bites announced it will close in mid-August after a nearly three-year run. ‘After many sleepless nights and difficult conversations, we’ve made the decision to close El Sazón Cocina & Tragos,’ owners Cristian and Karen de Leon posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page. The last day of service will be Aug. 15.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hFSmcA

OPENING: From White Bear Lake’s Donatelli’s Restaurant via Instagram, VERBATIM: “We’re beyond excited to announce that Donatelli’s is opening a second location in Bloomington this September!” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wV7mIB

CROW WING CTY: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Snarky Loon Brewing in Jenkins was recently visited by the media and marketing group America’s Best Restaurants and will soon be featured on an episode of ABR’s Roadshow series. The ABR crew travels the country highlighting independent, locally-owned restaurants that make a positive impact on their communities.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4xiI6eV

ACQUISITION: Via Minneapolis-based Rise, VERBATIM: “Rise Baking Company, home to some of the baking industry’s most trusted brands and a leading manufacturer for in-store bakeries and foodservice operators, today announced it has completed its acquisition of Jimmy’s Gourmet Bakery, further strengthening its position in the cookie category while expanding manufacturing capabilities in the Northeast.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pQm6W9

ACQUISITION: Via GlobalData, VERBATIM: “Quantum computing firm IonQ has completed the previously announced acquisition of [Bloomington]-based semiconductor foundry SkyWater Technology in a transaction valued at about $1.8bn.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w7rfL9

ACQUISITION: Via Minneapolis-based Deluxe, VERBATIM: “Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a trusted payments and data company, today announced it has closed its acquisition of Celero Commerce, a financial technology company focused on optimized payment solutions for small to mid-sized businesses and strategic partners.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yVMuCg

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WHAT’S NEXT?

TOMORROW: Via Fergus Falls-based Otter Tail, VERBATIM: “Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq: OTTR) will issue a news release announcing second quarter 2026 financial results after the stock market closes on Monday, August 3, 2026 and will host a live conference call and webcast on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss the corporation’s financial and operating performance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pmT40l

WEDNESDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Deluxe, VERBATIM: “Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a trusted Payments and Data company, will report second quarter 2026 financial results after market close on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Tg0Qgu

WEDNESDAY: Via Brooklyn Park-based Clearfield, VERBATIM: “Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLFD), a leader in fiber connectivity solutions for broadband, data center and network infrastructure environments, today announced that it will release results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, ended June 30, 2026, on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, after the close of the market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wfdeMb

WEDNESDAY: Via Eden Prairie-based Tennant, VERBATIM: “Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) today announced that the company will report its second quarter 2026 financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, with a conference call to follow at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time/ 9:00 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, August 6, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4weigbQ

THURSDAY: Via Minnetonka-based NOG, VERBATIM: “Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE: NOG) announced today that it plans to issue its second quarter 2026 financial and operating results on Thursday, August 6, 2026, after the market closes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eTFuxP

THURSDAY: Via Minneapolis-based Sezzle, VERBATIM: “Purpose-driven digital payment platform, Sezzle, will release its second quarter 2026 results after the market close on August 6, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vrMarT

THURSDAY: Via Brooklyn Park-based CVRx, VERBATIM: “CVRx, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVRX), a commercial-stage medical device company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing innovative neuromodulation solutions for patients with cardiovascular diseases, today announced that it plans to release second quarter 2026 financial and operating results after market close on Thursday, August 6, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44NTdAj

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

SATURDAY: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “IgboFest celebrates its 31st year highlighting Nigerian culture on Saturday, Aug. 8, on the campus of North Hennepin Community College. Hosted by the Umunne Cultural Association, attendees can experience traditional Igbo clothing, cuisine, music and cultural performances at this year’s festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45InWPz

BDAYS: GOP operative Kevin Poindexter, CBS’ Jamie Yuccas, lobbyist Grace Keliher, Torrent goalie Hannah Murphy

morning take | Contrasting Personalities in GOP Race

The Daily Agenda — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:09:37 GMT

MONDAY MOOD

Rain should mean a cooler week ahead.

Twins lose, and today’s the trade deadline. Still buyers?

Lynx win.

The Stanley Cup had a four-day run in Minnesota that concluded Sunday.

Summer Slam filled US Bank for two nights.

HomeToGo ranked four Minnesota state parks among the best in the nation, with Itasca placing highest at 8th overall. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4fOuhh4

A new study finds that classroom phone bans improve student well-being, but have “close to zero” impact on test scores, attendance and more. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Tov3dr

State Navigate finds that 18-29-year-olds are more likely to respond to polling texts if they’re written without capital letters. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3RsoUMJ

Once again…the White House announced it has canceled strikes on Iran again because they are ready to “make a deal.” AP: https://fluence-media.co/44YQiF8

Sunday Take featured a Farmfest preview and Republican Adam Schwarze discussing his U.S. Senate campaign. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3TyEK93

Happy National Watermelon Day.

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com ? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription

Driving today’s news via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Hennepin County’s top prosecutor says the state’s case against Vance Boelter is moving forward this week, [starting] Monday. … Boelter [previously] was sentenced in federal court to life in prison. … Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has been candid about her reason for proceeding with the state case.” MORIARTY: “It’s important that we go forward for the victims especially, but also so that there cannot be a presidential pardon.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RQesyD

(DISCLOSURE: Fluence Advisory provides media support for the Hoffman family.)

THE GOP GOV RACE

Eight days from the primary, and it’s less clear who is leading or who has momentum. The lack of engagement with other candidates from US Senate candidate Michele Tafoya and Speaker Lisa Demuth, may end up like the Vikings prevent defense of the 1990’s. Good in theory, but not always a winning plan.

One of the most common comments is that voters are surprised Mike Lindell has as much support as he does. I’ve seen more Lindell signs than the Demuth or for Kendall Qualls. Demuth, and her team are leaning into TV and radio, but if Lindell and Qualls are the candidates driving more media attention, they may appear to have more energy.

For Tafoya, no engagement with her opponents and without a robust public visibility strategy may create a lower turnout dynamic than she or Demuth want. Both will be at Farmfest this week, and their performance with a week left should give a final sense if they bubble wrap strategy worked.

Historically Republican party endorsed candidates have won, and until they don’t you can’t entirely count them out.

DEMUTH: via the Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Yet as Demuth navigates the last days of a primary campaign that may have fallen from her grasp, she is largely sticking to the agreeable style that landed her here in the first place — for better and worse…State Rep. Paul Torkelson, a Republican from Hanska who was Demuth’s top budget negotiator at the Legislature, said he can’t imagine her shifting into a “highly critical” attack mode. That’s just not who Demuth is, Torkelson said. TORKELSON: “I just don’t think she’s comfortable working in that way,” Torkelson said. “I think she’s fine letting the media tell the story [of her opponents] and she will tell her own story. It may be perceived by some as naive, but it’s also respectable.”… Asked what policy differences will define the last days of the Republican primary campaign, Demuth said “the policy changes I’m looking at are the policy changes between myself and Sen. Klobuchar.”…Demuth has not debated her Republican opponents since the endorsing convention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fJgwjL

LINDELL: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Mike Lindell became famous promoting his MyPillow company, and now he’s facing a legal challenge to his practice of giving away pillows at parades while campaigning. … An administrative law judge ruled [last] week there is evidence of a ‘prima facie violation’ of Minnesota campaign finance law. The ruling comes after a citizen filed a campaign finance complaint.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/452A3H6

MORE: Via MPR, a look at the policy platform for Republican Mike Lindell’s campaign for governor. VERBATIM: “While Lindell’s campaign website offers a broad framework of how he’d come down on issues ranging from agriculture to economic development to election security to health care, there are few specifics. [He] has frequently floated ideas in public events or media interviews that he later walks back or revises on the fly. … The result has made it difficult for voters and other political observers to pin down exactly what Lindell stands for. … Some of Lindell’s proposals for boosting the local economy or managing immigration include trying to get into [Donald] Trump’s ear about changes at the federal level that could spill down to Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yT8ZYj

GOV RACE: TPT Almanac hosted a Republican gubernatorial primary debate between Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls Friday — Speaker Lisa Demuth did not attend. Notably, Lindell called for Gov. Tim Walz to be imprisoned during the debate, sparking social media backlash. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fzhpg7

NOTE: Mike Lindell is expected to release a budget plan this week.

FARMFEST: via MPR, VERBATIM: “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will be among those addressing farmers and others in the agriculture industry at the 2026 Minnesota Farmfest in Redwood County this week. Attendees can also hear from candidates for Minnesota governor, U.S. Senate and the U.S. House in candidate forums that are being held just days before next week’s primary elections. … These forums will focus on topics affecting rural America and the agriculture industry. Given the timing, [organizers] said these forums likely are generating a lot of interest and will have more attendees than usual.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wesYOY

SCHEDULE: A list of the political events at Farmfest 2026 can be found below.

TUESDAY: U.S. Agriculture Sec. Brooke Rollins speaks at 10:10 a.m. Shortly after, a House candidate forum for CD1 and CD2 will be held at 10:30 a.m. Later, a House candidate forum for CD6, CD7 and CD8 will commence at 1:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: A candidate forum for the Minnesota governor race will be held at 10:30 a.m. Later, a Senate candidate forum will commence at 1:15 p.m.

CD1: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “What does a long-shot DFL congressional candidate do to raise awareness? … Alex Eaton is trekking across the 277-mile length of Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. The shaggy-haired 49-year-old is using his border-to-border jaunt to talk about his big idea: guaranteed healthcare for everyone through a universal, single-payer system. Eaton stepped off from Manley in June and was outside Austin this week. … Eaton is running against DFL-endorsed candidate and prohibitive favorite Jake Johnson.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fJxXlL

H2O HACK

CYBERATTACKS: via CBS News, VERBATIM: “Malicious cyber activity affected technology at water systems in at least seven states [last] week, including Minnesota and Michigan. … Investigators are probing to determine whether the activity is the work of Iranian hackers, according to U.S. officials, [but] their assessment could change. … President Donald Trump said Friday he doesn’t think Iran is to blame. Instead, he pointed the finger at Minnesota.” TRUMP: “I think that Minnesota is behind it. … They’re grossly incompetent. I think the governor’s behind it. I don’t think there was an Iranian cyberattack. I think that Minnesota ought to get its act together.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3TSbJVT

RESPONSE: via Gov. Tim Walz statement, WALZ: “Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too. This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3TyzthL

TECH: via Sen. Amy Klobuchar statement, KLOBUCHAR: “I spoke with U.S. National Cyber Director and Minnesota native Sean Cairncross about the recent cyberattacks impacting Minnesota. … I have also talked to several mayors whose communities have been impacted. … Cairncross and I discussed updated technology, recognizing that resources are an issue for so many communities, not just in Minnesota but across the country. I will continue to advocate for…updated technology to secure our critical infrastructure from cyber threats.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hMdPR3

CONTRAST: See the blurbs above to see how not everything is political.

ACA: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison today joined a coalition of 21 states in suing to block a Trump Administration rule [regarding] the Affordable Care Act (ACA). … HHS estimates the new rule will cause two million people to lose coverage in 2027. … Ellison and the coalition argue the [rule change] and other provisions illegally undermine the ACA’s goal of expanding access to affordable healthcare.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w2v04k

CHURCH: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Federal prosecutors have offered plea agreements to many of the 38 people charged in connection to an anti-ICE protest at a church earlier this year, [but] it doesn’t appear that any of the 29 defendants offered plea agreements have accepted them. … Defendants [may] want to see if federal prosecutors essentially committed misconduct, which has happened in places like Illinois and led to charges being dropped in a conspiracy case there.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4btIz5v

ECONOMY

TOURISM: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Explore Minnesota, the state’s marketing and promotion agency, revealed this week that 2025 tourism data grew again from the year prior — but not by much. The agency noted that the overall trend remains positive, as last year marked the fifth consecutive year that Minnesota has seen growth in visitor volume and spending. However, officials also acknowledged that growth slowed from previous years, and early 2026 indicators paint a more troubling picture. … Through the first five months of 2026, state data shows that leisure and hospitality employment was down about 1.5%, or roughly 4,000 jobs.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hbswgs

PAID LEAVE: Via Pioneer Press, more details on Friday’s paid leave announcement, as seen in lunch take. VERBATIM: “Minnesota doesn’t plan to raise the tax for its paid family and medical leave program next year, even as a new analysis projects the benefit will lose money in its first year and in 2027. … That slight shortfall combined with operational expenses means paid leave could lose $114 million in its inaugural year, [and] with no changes to the tax rate, the program would lose another $158 million in 2027. DEED officials said [that] even with projected losses, Minnesota paid leave would still have reserve money topping $400 million by the end of 2027. Further, collections so far have actually kept pace with payments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xlje6s

DISABILITIES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans with disabilities and their families are used to a fight [for progress], but many said the number of threats to that progress now feels overwhelming. The ranks of people who need assistance is growing as the state ages. But there are not enough workers to provide care, and the state and federal government have cut funding for some services [due to] fraud. … Minnesotans with disabilities said they are the biggest victims. Not only have fraudsters left people without crucial care, the state has stopped paying providers some people relied on.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TouUGV

PREDICTIONS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Two Ojibwe nations in Minnesota asked federal regulators to drop a proposed rule they say would bring [prediction markets] to reservation land without tribal permission. The Leech Lake and Mille Lacs bands of Ojibwe filed letters last week with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. … Mille Lacs Band chief executive Virgil Wind said in the band’s letter that prediction markets amounted to [gambling]. … Both letters pointed to federal policy requiring agencies to consult with tribes on rules that would affect tribal gaming operations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hbhwjg

AI NUDES: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s new ban on ‘nudification’ technology [went] into effect Saturday as originally planned after a federal judge denied an effort to block it by Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI. … District Judge Donovan Frank pointed out that Gov. Tim Walz signed the legislation in May, yet xAI’s lawsuit wasn’t brought forth until Tuesday, [saying] ‘Such a delay in bringing the action and the motion suggests that harm is not immediate.’ … Frank scheduled a hearing on Aug. 19, when he will make a final decision on whether to grant a temporary injunction to pause the law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/453KpGF

MOVE: Andrew Wagner is leaving the House Republican Caucus for Penn Quarter Partners.

A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu

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THE NORTH

BWCAW: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The list of areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness reopening to the public continues to grow, with some now cleared for overnight visits. … On Saturday, the U.S. Forest Service announced the reopening of a number of entry points for overnight visits beginning Aug. 5. … The easing of restrictions came just in time for area resorts, as many visitors have taken recent developments as signs their August vacations might be salvaged after all.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w1oLhe

SMALL BIZ: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Small business owners met with state lawmakers, local officials and nonprofit leaders Friday to discuss the economic impacts the Northland wildfires have had on their tourism industry, and some of them already report ‘six-figure losses.’ … The roundtable discussion was organized by the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, along with state Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) and state Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely). … Cook County Commissioner Ann Sullivan [said] some businesses have experienced losses running in between ‘40 to 98 percent.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yYYpiM

DROUGHT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Competing tubing companies on the Otter Tail River have closed early, saying customers would be doing more walking than floating with water levels this low. … The decision comes in the midst of a heat wave and right before one of their busiest weekends of the summer with WE Fest, the popular country music and camping festival, in nearby Detroit Lakes. [But] much of Minnesota — essentially everywhere but the Twin Cities — is too dry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xi9c5W

METRO

ANOKA-HENN: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s new social studies standards are taking effect this fall. But some teachers and parents in the Anoka-Hennepin School District say with the start of school right after Labor Day, they’re frustrated [over] the district’s social studies curriculum, parts of which have yet to be approved by the school board. … The board has not approved pilots for sixth grade Minnesota studies, eighth grade global studies, ninth grade civics and geography, 10th grade U.S. history, and 12th grade economics, government, and politics. … The board has also not approved pilots of K-5 social studies at all. … The school board has just two meetings left before the start of classes: Aug. 11 and Aug. 24.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hbGPle

ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Emergency shelter providers [are] preparing for next Wednesday, when the City of St. Paul plans to clear its largest homeless encampment. … [Last week], an online meeting hosted by St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her with city staff, a handful of state representatives and county officials drew raised voices and strong words from the mayor and others. … Rep. Leigh Finke, DFL-St. Paul, [had] left the online discussion early in frustration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wM3qcT

MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Union Gospel Mission says it has between 20 to 25 beds available. Catholic Charities says it’s received nearly $970,000 in county funds for 49 emergency beds. … [But] ‘our shelter is running at 99% capacity on a regular basis,’ said Keith Kozerski, chief program officer for Catholic Charities.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3S9nc2U

MAYOR HER: Via MinnPost, a look at what would happen inside the St. Paul city government if Mayor Kaohly Her decided to resign. Her has previously said she will not step down despite her ongoing sexual harassment investigation. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S5rNDj

ACROSS MN

OLMSTED CTY: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Olmsted County commissioners will consider on Tuesday whether they want to make an official commitment to providing space for a potential performing arts center. Commissioners have voiced mixed levels of agreement to carving out a portion of the former Seneca Foods canning facility site. … The performing arts center group’s initial vision called for building a 2,000-seat venue capable of attracting large-scale traveling performances, along with a smaller venue for local acts, but performing arts committee member Rick Kvam said a feasibility study is needed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rvqiy5

ST LOUIS CTY: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “A $2.3 million restoration project aimed at protecting the eroding shoreline gravesite at Scandia Cemetery cleared a significant hurdle. … The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources [has] voted to include $1.44 million for the Scandia Cemetery project on its list of recommendations for 2027 allocations. Final approval for the project will need to come from the Minnesota Legislature next year. … The remainder of the cost would fall on St. Louis County to cover, on top of the approximately $300,000 the county has already invested.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4btIK0F

GOOD THUNDER: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A lawsuit springing from small-town drama could have multimillion-dollar consequences in southern Minnesota. A jury awarded the former city clerk of Good Thunder more than $3 million in damages after she claimed she was punished for reporting potential conflict-of-interest issues with the mayor. Ashney Helleksen said city council members blamed her for sharing concerns that led to the arrest of Good Thunder’s longtime mayor, leading to harassment against her and a hostile work environment in the town of about 500 people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fMc1ov

LOOKING AHEAD

TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no public events.

TUES-THURS: Minnesota Farmfest runs from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6 in Redwood County. U.S. Agriculture Sec. Brooke Rollins will be a featured speaker on Tuesday at 10:10 a.m. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4pQIEGw

THURSDAY: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar will host a town hall in Richfield on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 6:00 p.m.

SEPT 9: The IRRR Board is hosting its third annual “State of the Range” event in Chisholm on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.

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BDAYS: GOP operative Kevin Poindexter, CBS’ Jamie Yuccas, lobbyist Grace Keliher, Torrent goalie Hannah Murphy

SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.

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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.

The Sunday Take | Previewing Farm Fest and GOP Senate Candidate Adam Schwarze

Mike Maybay — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 19:38:58 GMT

This week marks another year of Farm Fest, Blois previews this as well as recapping the nice and not so nice interactions among campaigning this past week amid some turmoil in the Angie Craig and Peggy Flanagan race! Then we hear from Republican candidate for Senate Adam Schwarze who shares his non-establishment run in the GOP, what he is seeing and hearing amid his campaign travels, what he brings to the table when it comes to the economy, Iran War and overall representation in Washington and much more.

ag take | Ag Secretary to Speak at Farmfest

Mike Maybay — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 20:31:07 GMT

ATRAZINE: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized its biological opinion on Atrazine, determining that this key crop protection tool does not jeopardize the continued existence of threatened or endangered species. The decision clears a major regulatory hurdle before the Environmental Protection Agency can complete the registration review process for Atrazine. The outcome reflects years of engagement by farmers and grower organizations who have consistently advocated for decisions grounded in sound science, real-world data, and practical farming experience.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Tuv3so (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

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A BUSY WEEK AHEAD

NEXT WEEK: Via KROX-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans are invited to celebrate the bounty of the harvest season during National Farmers Market Week, August 2-8. Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed the week Farmers’ Market Week in Minnesota, joining the nationwide celebration of farmers’ markets and the farmers, vendors, and communities that make them possible.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fxnx8E

NEXT WEEK: Via Farmfest, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will be a featured speaker at the Farmfest Forums during this year’s Minnesota Farmfest. Secretary Rollins will address the audience gathered in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center on Tuesday, Aug. 4, beginning at 10:10 a.m.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S2fNCu

NEXT WEEK: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Remember: We’re offering free, onsite well water testing for nitrates Tuesday through Thursday next week at @MNFarmfest near Redwood Falls. Bring a sample from your tap to our tent and learn more about our programs while you’re there!” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4pRPj3c

THIS MONTH: Via Linder Farm Network, VERBATIM: “The Steele County Agribusiness Luncheon scheduled for Friday, August 14, from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Owatonna Eagles Club will feature Congressman Brad Finstad and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Representatives Finstad and Thompson will discuss the Farm Bill, federal agriculture policy, and the issues shaping the future of rural America.”

FARM BILL: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “Senate Republicans will include language to permanently allow year-round sales of E15 fuel in the farm bill they plan to mark up next Thursday, according to two people familiar with the plans. The E15 language that senators are planning to attach to their package is a scaled-back version of the bill the House passed in May. The House bill narrowed exemptions for certain small refiners, a provision that became a sticking point for some GOP senators.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h9dIij

MORE: Via The Fence Post, VERBATIM: “The Office of Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., the ranking member on the committee, did not respond to a request for comment. Senate Democrats have said the bill must address the question of delaying a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that requires states to pay a portion of the cost of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits based on each state’s payment error rate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yS6SUQ

WORKFORCE: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Representative Michelle Fischbach is supporting legislation from House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson to modernize the H-2A agricultural guest worker program. Fischbach said the bill would streamline timelines, allow labor certifications to remain valid for three years and make other changes requested by farmers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fPBgGF

THE FEDS: Via USDA, VERBATIM: “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative to recruit veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses into mission-critical careers that protect America’s food supply, strengthen rural communities, and defend the nation’s agricultural security.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45xSPWS

DAIRY: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Food & Water Watch and the Land Stewardship Project sued the state of Minnesota Thursday over a decision to allow a Morris mega-dairy to expand without a more rigorous environmental review. Riverview wants to expand West River Dairy from 7,855 cows to almost 19,000 cows, making it the biggest dairy in Minnesota. The new dairy would create roughly the same amount of waste as a city of 750,000, and, according to the plaintiffs, at least 66,000 tons of additional greenhouse gas emissions yearly.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pUVgwm

AG INFRASTRUCTURE

DROUGHT: As of Tuesday, 76% of the state was in formal drought status, up from 48% a week earlier. 95% – nearly the entire state – was listed as abnormally dry or worse. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo

MORE: MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen shared the latest Drought Monitor via X, adding, QUOTE: “@MNagriculture watching closely as more counties will be added to USDA disaster declarations which open emergency loans & grazing.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3Fz82gD

A LITTLE HELP: From North Dakota State Climatologist and NDAWN Director Daryl Ritcheson via X, a map showing North Dakota and Minnesota rain totals from Thursday into Friday. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4pS5uxh

LAND: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Farmland values in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin increased 1.2 percent over the past six months and are up 4.2 percent from a year ago, according to the latest farm real estate benchmarking study from AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Services of America and Frontier Farm Credit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fLZa64

CRUSH CAPACITY: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “ADM says it will be making upgrades at four existing plants in the next three years, adding 700,000 metric tons of annual crush capacity . . . ADM says the expansion would create demand for more than 25 million additional bushels of soybeans annually.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bSY0Es

MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Cattle futures were slightly higher early Friday, hogs and soybeans 2-sided. Corn and wheat lower.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4xbsuJY

BEEF TOUR: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota state cattlemen’s summer beef tour made a stop at a farm near Lake Benton, Minnesota that breeds champion stock red angus. It’s one of nine stops on the tour.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/450KoTT

IN THE FIELDS

STORAGE: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “‘Where are we gonna put all the grain when harvest starts?’ That’s the question John Tuttle with Brock says more commercial grain handlers are asking as the 2026 harvest approaches. The pressure is building from several directions: high old-crop corn stocks, soft commodity prices, flat storage capacity growth and a narrowing construction window for permanent storage projects.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45wQqf9

RUST: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “An agronomist is concerned as southern rust continues moving north. Grant Harms with Corteva Agriscience says the corn disease is blown in from the south and has been detected in Iowa.” HARMS: “So knowing that we have southern rust history in these regions of the bread basket doesn’t mean that we’re going to have it, but if we could prevent it for when it does show up. That’s where we like to use fungicides to prevent those diseases from getting out of control and costing yield.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4bjpz9Y

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

BIOFUELS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A group of researchers at Purdue University are looking to expand the use of biofuels in traditional diesel engines. Dr. Greg Shaver, professor of mechanical engineering, says the Purdue Biofuels Consortium is focused on creating new market opportunities for farmers.” SHAVER: “The idea is to be able to take a great fuel like ethanol and blend it together with conventional diesel fuel and biodiesel and use that in an engine that can also still be capable of running diesel fuel,” he says. “A key goal here is to increase the value of these fuels that will directly affect farmers in the state of Indiana.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pSPnjh

mn good | Civil War History Restored in Dodge County

The Daily Agenda — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 18:30:30 GMT

Stormy weather around Chicago led to a “tail spotter’s dream” at MSP. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fOslW3

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Blois

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOOD

HISTORY: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “In April of 1861, several seminarians and teachers walked out of their school building in the town of Wasioja in southeast Minnesota and marched into a recruiting station four blocks away to become among the first volunteers to fight for the Union Army in the Civil War. The buildings — or parts of them — are still there, and they’ve now been restored and are open to the public. About 70 people gathered Tuesday afternoon in the rural community about a half-hour drive northwest of Rochester for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the culmination of the yearslong restoration project.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4h0XgAJ

VIDEO GAME: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “A group in St. Paul has created a fun new way to share the history of the Rondo, a historically Black St. Paul neighborhood decimated by the construction of Interstate 94 decades ago. Benny Roberts, executive director of the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, already had a Monopoly-themed board game to tell the Rondo neighborhood’s story but wanted something different.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wzpiIv

WILDFIRE HELP: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Small businesses impacted by the recent wildfires in and around Ely and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area may be eligible for some financial assistance that is being provided by the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota. The Ely Wildfire Recovery Fund was set up to allow donors to designate their gifts to small businesses that have lost revenue due to the BWCAW’s closure and fire related evacuations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3U4twJw

MORE HELP: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Out of the ashes of a volatile wildfire season, one Ely resident is finding a creative way to bring both neighbors and struggling local businesses together. This Ely designer has teamed up with local businesses to spread her artwork across town, turning a creative idea into support for a local nonprofit as the community comes together in the wake of the wildfires.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4x6PnhM

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Via Little Canada-based Kids In Need Foundation, VERBATIM: “For the past five years, Toyota dealerships across the country have partnered with Kids In Need Foundation (KINF) through Toyota’s Big Summer Giveback to help students in underserved communities start the school year with the essential school supplies they need. What began as a nationwide initiative to advance educational equity has grown into a community-driven movement, with Toyota dealerships investing directly in students, teachers and schools in the communities they serve.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w3cKYG

GARDEN: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “On a beautiful summer day, a group of rising third-graders gathered in the Columbia Heights Public Schools’ fruit and vegetable garden. Their mission: identify bees pollinating the flowers . . . Blooming Heights Edible Schoolyard, a districtwide teaching garden between a cluster of Columbia Heights school buildings, is a highlight of many students’ summer learning experience in the summer Encore program. The program also features three weeks of reading and math along with hands-on activities like visits from the local library and the Bakken Museum.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h7KccL

DIFFERENCE MAKER: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “There are many trailblazers in history who don’t get the spotlight they deserve, individuals who fought against barriers and led positive new change. One of these incredible leaders is Dr. Josie Johnson, who is featured in Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute’s new book in the Difference Makers series.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yPW2P2

BEER + RUNNING: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “From hockey and ice fishing to summer nights on the lake and drinking, there is much debate around the pinnacle of Minnesotan culture. The Brewery Running Series, however, puts it all to rest. In each of the organization’s more than 40 events a year, it brings craft beer and casual running together, offering 5K and 10K races at local breweries for a run, a pint, and a cause.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rwhk3l

RETIREMENT: Via Minnesota Children’s Museum, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Children’s Museum President Dianne Krizan will retire in June 2027 after guiding the state’s most playful organization since 2010. Krizan led the museum through an era of extraordinary change: A $30 million fundraising campaign, a major expansion in downtown St. Paul and a challenging rebound from a global pandemic that threatened the organization’s very existence.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wy2fhe

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lunch take | Minnesota: Purple or Polka Dotted?

Mike Maybay — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:27:11 GMT

WEEKEND LOADING…

Heading up north? Axios readers have chosen a roadside attraction for you to see along the way. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4vVC17f

We’re finally getting a little rain – will the fishing still be good? WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hHhsb0

The cyclospora outbreak hasn’t hit Minnesota yet, but that doesn’t mean no one here has it. It’s complicated. MPR: https://fluence-media.co/3TLCDPe

In St. Paul, police have a surveillance picture of a person they want to talk with about 24 trees damaged in a city park. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4vTfs2N

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FRIDAY FEED

HOMEOWNERSHIP: Via Realtor.com, VERBATIM: “The Federal Reserve of Minneapolis has proposed a new way of measuring homeownership that would change the current view of the housing landscape. In a paper released earlier this month, researchers suggested that homeownership in America should be measured not by the share of homes where the owner is a resident, often called owner occupancy. Its alternative is to measure the share of adult population that owns their homes, which it called the ‘homeowners-to-population’ (HPOP) ratio. The change might seem nuanced, but it leads to a major shift: While 65% of homes are owner-occupied, just 53% of U.S. adults own a home.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TvJCfd

PAID LEAVE: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced today that the premium rate for Minnesota Paid Leave will remain steady at 0.88% of covered wages in Minnesota for 2027 – the same as the current year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yS0X23

DATA CENTERS: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Thus far, data center development has played little role in the campaign to determine Minnesota’s next governor. The Reformer sent a questionnaire to the four major gubernatorial candidates ahead of the August 11 primary. We asked if they would approve additional tax incentives, as well as water and environmental permits. And, if they would allow local governments to pass temporary moratoriums, and to sign non-disclosure agreements with tech companies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4blSLgm

WHAT COLOR?: Minnesota Monthly ponders whether Minnesota is a purple state – then turns to an expert. QUOTE: “I would not describe Minnesota as purple,” says wet blanket Larry Jacobs, the Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. “It’s polka dotted. There are some really bright red spots. I mean, Michelle Fishbach and Tom Emmer have two of the most conservative congressional districts in the country—they look like they’re from Alabama. And then you’ve got Ilhan Omar, who could be from San Francisco. And when you look at statewide races, it is more like a Rothko, because you have these broad strokes of red in greater Minnesota, and then you’ve got this block of blue in the urban areas.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bXILdt

BUTTONS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Election Judge Button Design Contest is new this year and open to kids ages 8-18 who live in or attend school in Hennepin County. The idea is to let kids showcase their artistic talent while also showing appreciation for those working at the polls on Nov. 3, Election Day.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4xdJpvD

DC + MN

INTEREST RATES: Via Yahoo! Finance, VERBATIM: “Three Federal Reserve members who wanted the central bank to raise interest rates this week weighed in on Friday with their rationale . . . [Minneapolis Fed president Neel] Kashkari on Friday pointed to how a series of shocks, starting with the war in Ukraine to now energy prices, is harder for the central bank to look through, and he too would like to take action before inflation becomes deeply embedded.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xce7Fm

MORE: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Kashkari said that if inflation remains stubborn, he might support a series of rate increases, not just one, to prevent inflation from becoming more entrenched.” KASHKARI: “A potential series of small policy moves would be better than waiting and eventually concluding that even bolder actions were necessary.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bXPsMD

WILDFIRES: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Forest Service lost more than 100 Minnesota employees and delayed $10 million in grant funding for wildfire mitigation in the Superior National Forest during the chaotic first year of President Trump’s second term. Democratic elected officials say those setbacks left Minnesota ill-equipped to face the fires that have burned more than 60,000 acres in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness since early July and repeatedly billowed smoke across the Great Lakes region and beyond.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fEAk7W

PRETTI SHOOTING: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Six months ago, U.S. Border Patrol agents killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in south Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge. Only on WCCO, we’re hearing from his parents, Susan and Michael Pretti, through attorney Steven Schleicher about the investigation into their son’s death. Schleicher called this investigation ‘an absolute nightmare.’ He said the Pretti family still has no information about who killed their son.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4xcg6cM

THE LOCALS

DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Two weeks ago in part one of our Down Town special report, we heard from [former Social House restaurant owner Matt] Berthiaume. He aired many grievances about Duluth’s handling of downtown and Canal Park. Most notably -- his frustration with the sheer volume of public disorder, drug use, crime and lack of cleanliness seen in those parts of town. Turns out, he’s not alone. Since that report aired on July 16, we’ve heard from more business owners at their wits end with what’s going on.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wz3aOs

MINNEAPOLIS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis is unveiling a series of fee-free concerts and neighborhood music events this summer and fall. Backed by money from the Small Business Resiliency Fund, two events are being launched: the Minneapolis Mile of Music and the Indie Music Family Night Out. This follows a recent ‘State of Live’ report by the National Independent Venue Association, showing that independent performance spaces generate $2.2 billion for the local economy.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3S5LHOs

ALBERT LEA: Via Albert Lea Tribune, VERBATIM: “Jacob Schlichter has been ready to open his cannabis dispensary for nearly a year. Instead, he’s watched empty shelves collect dust . . . Schlichter’s business, The Smoking Tree, became the first non-tribal cannabis dispensary to receive a license from Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management last summer. But the city denied his registration. After a nine-month legal battle, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled in May the city’s denial was arbitrary — a decision in his favor . . . The city is now reconsidering Schlichter’s dispensary.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wAyGLW

COMMERCE

THIS WEEKEND: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “The pro wrestling world and its rabid fanbase are set to take over downtown Minneapolis this weekend as WWE’s SummerSlam rolls into town. Why it matters: This event is a huge deal. If WWE’s signature event, WrestleMania, is pro wrestling’s Super Bowl, then SummerSlam is like the conference championships — with titles and major storylines settled in the ring, and huge crowds and adjacent events outside of it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wD0jE4

HOCKEY: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Wild made a stop in Duluth on Thursday as part of its traveling Block Party series, bringing hockey-themed activities and giveaways to the DECC for fans of all ages.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fJd8FM

ACQUISITION: Via Maryland-based IonQ, VERBATIM: “IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world’s leading quantum platform company, today completed its acquisition of [Bloomington-based] SkyWater Technology (NASDAQ: SKYT), the largest exclusively U.S.-based semiconductor foundry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xe6JcO

PROTOLABS: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Proto Labs Inc. (PRLB) on Friday reported earnings of $9.2 million in its second quarter. On a per-share basis, the Maple Plain, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 37 cents . . . The custom parts manufacturer posted revenue of $149.3 million in the period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xdKeEK

BAIT SHOP: Via MplsStPaul, a new restaurant opening next Friday in south Minneapolis. VERBATIM: “Bill’s Bait Shop isn’t meant to be a facsimile of a true Northwoods bar—you can’t whip up that particular secret sauce of Hamm’s, fryer grease, and small-town lore in just a few months’ time. But it is an ode to [Jami] Olson‘s grandpa Bill and to northern Minnesota, the space ever-so-campy but the spirit quite heartfelt.” READ/PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4w3pa2W

MOA: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Clothing brand Madewell is expanding its footprint at the Mall of America in Bloomington. This fall, the retailer will unveil a newly expanded, 5,500 square-foot store with a bigger selection of apparel, accessories, denim, and footwear in its existing location on Level 1, South.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S1JeEK

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WHAT’S NEXT?

THIS WEEKEND: The Washington County Fair continues through Sunday. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4wBsByS

THIS WEEKEND: Wanderlight Trail wraps up its run at the place some still call “the new zoo”. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fEBLDq

THIS MONTH: Via Water Over Nickel, details of two upcoming public meetings hosted by the DNR on the Tamarack Mine. The first is next week. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4h7EyHM

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

STATE FAIR: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “For generations of fairgoers, a trip to the Minnesota State Fair isn’t complete without a stop at the DNR’s Fish Pond. Tucked beneath mature trees and away from the midway’s flashing lights, the tranquil corner has offered visitors a chance to slow down since 1971. But the DNR’s roots at the fair stretch back even further—more than a century—making it one of the fair’s oldest and most enduring institutions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g3tg6e

BDAYS: community leader Scott Peterseon, attorney Matt Mankey, lobbyist Joe Lally. SAT: hair pro Amanda Steele, golfing guy Blake Smith, fmr. Sen. Terri Bonnof, DFL operative Ellen Perrault SUN: ag leader Ashley Kohls, real estate leader Stu Ackerberg, business leader Pady Regnier, Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson, fmr. Rep. John Ward, General Mills’ Lee Anderson

morning take | Legislative Cash, New Ads

The Daily Agenda — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:43:47 GMT

NUT ROLLS NO MORE

Rain this AM but the drought is growing.

Twins walk-off on the day Sen. Ann Rest throws out the first pitch! They head to Seattle.

Saturday AND Sunday for Summer Slam.

The Pearson’s factory in St. Paul is closing.

Hennepin County is letting kids design official buttons for its election judges this year. WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/4xdJpvD

St. Paul’s historic Rondo neighborhood can now be explored in digital form via Roblox. SAHAN: https://fluence-media.co/4wzpiIv

CNN finds that 73% of U.S. adults, a record high, think Pres. Donald Trump has not paid enough attention to the nation’s biggest issues. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4wygKkU

AP-NORC finds that only 28% of U.S. adults approve of how the White House is handling Iran. That includes 61% of Republicans — down from 71% in June. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/45wUKep

FarmFest next week, and Senate candidate Adam Schwarze on the Sunday Take.

Happy National Avocado Day.

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

Sunday Take featured Rep. Angie Craig discussing her Senate campaign, the Iran war, the state of agriculture and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wZg8od

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CASH CALLS

TOSS-UPS: Via MinnPost, an analysis of candidate finances in the Minnesota Legislature’s most competitive races shows that many DFLers in “toss-up” districts have advantages over their GOP opponents in cash on hand, even in some races with a Republican incumbent. Findings are summarized below. READ/DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4w06DnU

SD3: DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild has $230,274 on hand. GOP challenger Andrea Zupancich has $79,334 on hand.
SD4: DFL Sen. Rob Kupec has $71,657 on hand. GOP challenger Austin Peterson has $2,473 on hand.
SD24: In this open seat, DFLer Simon Glaser has $60,538 on hand. Republican Nels Pierson has $4,242 on hand.
SD35: GOP Sen. Jim Abeler has $100,092 on hand. DFL challenger Angela Nelson has $44,440 on hand.
SD37: In this open seat, DFLer Kristy Janigo has $98,255 on hand. Republican Bradey Hoag has $19,970 on hand.
SD41: DFL Sen. Judy Seeberger has $81,000 on hand. GOP Rep. Tom Dippel has $3,000 on hand.
SD58: GOP Sen. Bill Lieske has $23,432 on hand. DFL challenger Mark Legvold has $69,717 on hand.
03B: GOP Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar has $49,000 on hand. DFL challenger Aaron Schweiger has $44,000 on hand.
54A: DFL Rep. Brad Tabke has $32,000 on hand. GOP challenger Aaron Paul has $18,000 on hand.

PRIMARIES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “On Aug. 11, 10 incumbent [state] legislators are trying to survive primary challenges. … The highest-profile contest pits DFL Sen. Ron Latz against former St. Louis Park City Council member Lynette Dumalag. Latz, the influential Senate judiciary committee chair, failed to win his local party’s endorsement. … The Senate DFL Caucus has spent more than $40,000 backing Latz. That spending has frustrated some activists in Latz’s district [because] it’s by far the largest investment any legislative caucus has made in a primary this cycle. … The Republican Senate Victory Fund has yet to report a single independent expenditure or direct contribution to a candidate committee despite having three GOP incumbent senators facing challengers. The Republican and DFL caucuses in the House have also limited their spending so far.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wa76Eo

TRAIL TALK

PACS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Usually by now, Democratic aligned groups have been up with ads to take on the potential GOP rivals for governor. But it’s been mostly quiet on that front as the heated Senate primary takes center stage. … The We All Do Better PAC (named for the rallying cry of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone) had $900,000 as of the start of June. The group has taken in $1 million since. … We haven’t seen We All Do Better deploy any money yet, but we’ll keep an eye out. The Alliance for a Better Minnesota, which has been the recipient of past We All Do Better money, was sitting on $740,000 as of July 20.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xg7ORp

MORE: Yesterday’s morning take featured additional charts and data on PAC spending so far this year. ICYMI: https://fluence-media.co/4fHugf3

NEWAD: Speaker Lisa Demuth is airing a new ad for her governor campaign, titled “Spearheaded.” The ad focuses on Minnesota’s fraud scandals and Demuth’s efforts to address them. DEMUTH: “Amy Klobuchar won’t end the fraud. I will.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RCcUbt

NEWAD2: Minnesotans for Justice have launched an ad against Attorney General Keith Ellison about the pardon of Tou Lue Vang. VERBATIM: “Our kids are not safe with him” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4g51kih

GOV RACE: Republican Mike Lindell spoke to KSTP about his campaign for governor, his plans for adjusting the state budget with “a Minnesota DOGE,” and more. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bps8qR

TURNOUT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “In Minnesota’s last statewide primary election two years ago, older Minnesotans voted at more than four times the rate of voters under age 30. … [Activists] who work with younger voters hope this trend might shift in the upcoming Aug. 11 primary as a result of high political energy among young people. … But Minnesotans [under 30] cast just 8% of 2024 primary ballots. At the other end of the age spectrum, voters age 70 and over accounted for more than one-third of the ballots in the primary, even though they make up 15% of the adult population.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44YzM8a

FRANK ISSUES

HER: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A second high-ranking St. Paul police officer has claimed that St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her created a sexualized work environment, alleging the mayor commented on her breasts and made vulgar noises in the police gym. … As more details began to trickle out about the nature of Her’s comments to staff, she released a statement saying the police force had welcomed her into their circle and was now manipulating that trust.” QUOTE: “The way this is being portrayed in the media does not reflect what I understood to be mutual communication. I am disappointed that I was invited and brought into their space and culture and now this is the outcome.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ro3CzP

MORE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “St. Paul City Council Member Molly Coleman is demanding to know why the council was never notified that the city had hired a legal firm to conduct a sexual harassment investigation of the mayor. … [But] the mayor’s office and some council members have maintained that hiring an outside legal firm to launch an investigation did not require approval by or notification to the council.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4carX2U

A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu

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NEW LAWS

FRAUD: Via KSTP, two stories from Thursday about preventing fraud in state programs.

FELONIES: “Attorney General Keith Ellison has said his office has won more than 300 convictions against Medicaid fraudsters since he took office six years ago. … But a 5 INVESTIGATES analysis of those cases found that only a portion of those charged with felony-level fraud ended up with a felony on their record. … Plea agreement and sentencing documents revealed nearly 80% of the offenders received sentences that would reduce or dismiss the felony conviction after probation. … Ellison argued there are other long-term consequences in these cases.” ELLISON: “It is life-ruining to be charged with Medicaid fraud, even if you somehow manage to complete probation without a permanent felony.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3TwqkpZ
LANGUAGE: “A new Minnesota law lets state agencies share information about suspected fraud, [but] it does not say that they ‘must.’ … 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS asked the bill author, Rep. Kristin Bahner, DFL-Maple Grove, why lawmakers decided against stronger language.” BAHNER: “There’s always a discussion about whether we should, and I think by leaving it a little bit more general, that does give departments a little bit more leeway to think about what their policies are and what’s appropriate.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4yH5SCO

NEW LAWS: Several new state laws go into effect tomorrow, as previewed in yesterday’s lunch take. Notable laws starting Aug. 1 include a ban on cryptocurrency kiosks, measures to protect minors from grooming, bigger penalties for impersonating a police officer, fraud prevention efforts, and more. A ban on prediction markets was supposed to go into effect tomorrow, but it has been temporarily blocked due to a lawsuit — a ban on AI “nudification” intended for Aug. 1 is facing similar legal challenges. DETAILS: AXIOS | KSTP | WCCO

NUDIFICATION: Speaker Lisa Demuth spoke to MPR about the lawsuit against the state’s pending ban on AI “nudification,” clarifying that she has not examined the court filing, but she did vote for the bill. DEMUTH: “When we’re looking at AI, we need to keep people safe. I voted for that bill specifically in the House, and that was passed and signed into law by the governor in an effort to keep people safe, and I think we really need to recognize that. Of course, there is [the] First Amendment and things that we need to absolutely support and provide for. But there is also a safety element when it comes to adults, but especially children.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xg7ORp

MOVE: MMB announced that Raymond Robertson will succeed Anthony Becker as the new state economist on Aug. 4, 2026.

WASHINGTON

ICE: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The federal government must pay legal fees for immigrants wrongfully detained by ICE during Operation Metro Surge after federal judges ruled the detentions violated constitutional rights. … FOX 9 Investigators identified at least 18 cases where the government must now pay immigration attorneys. … The fees range from $1,125 in one case to $17,505 — [totaling] more than $106,000. … The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota recently argued they shouldn’t have to pay some of the legal fees and asked Chief Judge Eric Tostrud to hold off on billing the government until the Supreme Court can weigh in on the issue. Judge Tostrud denied that request.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3TvduZ4

IMMIGRANTS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “For years, Isuroon has helped Somali women and their families find housing, food, jobs and other essential services. … Now, the nonprofit is seeing more than twice as many people seeking mental health services compared with last year. ‘We haven’t seen this before,’ Isuroon CEO Fartun Weli said. … Isuroon is also facing additional pressure as the Department of Human Services works to recertify Medicaid providers.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wagms8

HAITI: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The end of [TPS] protections for Haiti this week is creating uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in the United States. While Minnesota has a relatively small Haitian population, immigration attorneys and business leaders say the decision is being closely watched here because of what it could signal for TPS holders from other countries and for employers that rely on immigrant workers. There are an estimated 4,000 Haitians who live in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fRH7vk

FEED FRAUD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The newest defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal pleaded guilty to his role in the massive scheme just over a week after his charge was filed. Mahamoud Warsame, 41, admitted in federal court in Minneapolis on Thursday that he purchased property and vehicles using illicit proceeds. … Warsame is the 80th person charged in the food fraud case.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xgi8sD

MSP

BUDGET: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The official kickoff of Minneapolis’ 2027 budget process may be weeks away, but public officials are already floating trial balloons and making ominous proclamations as Mayor Jacob Frey’s annual budget address draws near. City staff shared with the City Council’s budget committee that the projected gap between revenue and expenses sits somewhere between $28-$32 million dollars. … Police and other spending will be under a microscope, and the parks board is hoping to reclaim a larger share of city dollars.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hGyCFI

FIRE CHIEF: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Dr. Reginald Freeman will be Minneapolis’ next fire chief. The Minneapolis City Council voted to confirm Freeman on Thursday after being nominated by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey back in May. … Despite a 10-2 vote, some council members said they were hesitant to confirm him for a variety of reasons, including a gender-discrimination lawsuit that was filed against his previous department in Hartford; however, Freeman was not personally named or cited.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RKEaV3

MPD: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council approved a request to apply for a $300,000 federal grant to upgrade police ballistic technology on a 7-5 vote Thursday. Some council members raised concerns about accepting Department of Justice money and possible ties to federal immigration enforcement, [but] the city attorney said the grant would not require Minneapolis to assist with immigration enforcement.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/450Mjb7

SAFETY: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The City of Minneapolis is sharing new data that shows how its violence interrupter program is monitored, offering the most detailed public view yet of how community groups work to prevent shootings. … The city spends millions of dollars each year on contracts with violence interrupter groups, [but] Amanda Harrington, director of the Neighborhood Safety Department, [said] shootings have dropped significantly since the program began.” HARRINGTON: “From 2021 to 2025, there was a 53% decrease in shootings in the city. … If I just look at the Phillips neighborhood, their shootings went down from 53 in 2022 to 25 in 2025.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4frrlrW

HOMELESS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “A fire at Pig’s Eye Park encampment in St. Paul, where approximately 140 unhoused residents are set to be evicted next week, destroyed one man’s belongings early Thursday. … Deputy Fire Chief Jamie Smith said the 30 by 30 foot fire destroyed at least 5 or 6 tents. … Crews are set to begin clearing the city’s largest homeless encampments on Aug. 5.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45z5YPu

PEARSON’S: Via MSP Business Journal, the Pearson’s Candy factory in St. Paul — where Salted Nut Rolls and other treats have been produced since 1959 — will close on Sept. 28. According to a WARN Notice, the closure will result in 80 layoffs. The candy maker’s parent company has not said if it will continue operations elsewhere. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fDYuiY

FOUNDRY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Northern Iron and Machine [will] close by the end of the year after a series of phased lay-offs beginning Oct. 1. Approximately 86 employees will lose their jobs, including 50 members of the United Steel Workers, who maintain bumping rights.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xivODv

LOOKING AHEAD

TODAY: Via SEIU, unionized condo workers in Minneapolis will picket at 7:15 a.m. and announce a strike deadline of Aug. 14 during a rally and press conference at 8:00 a.m.

TODAY: BCA Superintendent Drew Evans and other officials will host a media event in Woodbury at 10:00 a.m. to highlight a new state law banning cryptocurrency kiosks, which goes into effect on Saturday.

TODAY: DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild and GOP Rep. Roger Skraba will host a roundtable with the Cook County Chamber of Commerce to discuss the economic impact of wildfires this summer. The event is in Grand Marais at 11:30 a.m.

TODAY: DFL Sen. Erin Maye Quade will hold a press conference at 12:00 noon discussing a new state law going into effect Saturday that will “protect young Minnesotans from grooming,” per a release.

NEXT WEEK: Minnesota Farmfest runs from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6 in Redwood County. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4pQIEGw

NEXT WEEK: Fluence sponsor Xcel Energy and industry partners will host a series of open houses on their planned “PowerOn Midwest” electric transmission projects from Aug. 4 to Aug. 13. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4yHUlDi

SEPT 9: The IRRR Board is hosting its third annual “State of the Range” event in Chisholm on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.

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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.

health take | STUDY: Mold Infections an Underappreciated Threat

Mike Maybay — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 20:30:14 GMT

All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:

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POLLING

BATTLEGROUNDS: Via Roll Call, VERBATIM: “Voters in battleground states and congressional districts tend to voice support for proposals in Congress that would expand access to health care or lower drug costs — often irrespective of their party affiliation — according to new polling from the University of Maryland. The poll, first shared with CQ Roll Call, surveyed people in 11 competitive states like Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada, and 28 competitive congressional districts, finding a lot of common ground. It focused on proposals circulating in Congress, including capping drug prices at what other countries pay and restoring Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that expired last year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hG9rTC

MORE: Via University of Maryland, Minnesota-specific poll results. One example:

SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3TKgH76

CONGRESS: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “The current Congress is among the oldest in US history — a trend that is expected to accelerate, especially in the Senate. A majority of Americans see the size of the over-70 caucus as a major problem and want to see more transparency around elected officials’ health, according to a new CNN poll. The midterm elections this November could be an opportunity for American voters to weigh in on the demographic makeup of Congress. Fifty-eight percent of Americans in the latest CNN poll, conducted by SSRS, say that the current share of elderly lawmakers serving in Congress poses a major problem. That rises to 68% among Americans younger than 35.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S8DQQd

ABORTION: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “The latest KFF Health Tracking Poll finds that though a majority of the public has heard of the abortion medication mifepristone, public awareness of its prevalence and longstanding safety record is limited. Six in ten adults say they have heard of mifepristone, but just one in four (26%) correctly identify abortion pills as the most common way abortions are administered in the U.S. Additionally, while about four in ten (44%) adults say abortion pills are safe when taken according to a health care provider’s instruction, one in seven (15%) say they are unsafe and four in ten (41%) are unsure of their safety.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pWkiLy

MOMS: Via Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, VERBATIM: “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America today released new national polling with a striking finding: Americans overwhelmingly agree maternal health must improve, and they agree on how to fix it . . . Of the 15 policy proposals tested, 13 drew support from at least 80% of voters. All 15 drew at least 72%, and 79% said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supported them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pJLQ6w

DIET: Via Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, VERBATIM: “Six months after the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released, a new Physicians Committee/Morning Consult poll finds that while most U.S. adults are aware of the Dietary Guidelines, just 18% say they have changed their diet based on the recommendations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bnGUhU

PLANTS: Via Native News Online, VERBATIM: “A plant-based diet can prevent and reduce chronic diseases that disproportionately affect Native communities, and most Native people are willing to make the dietary shift. That’s according to a newly published survey by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). The poll was conducted online among 156 Native American adults, excluding Alaska Natives and Pacific Islanders. Seventy-six percent reported at least one urgent health issue, with high blood pressure and mental health being the top concerns. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they are willing to eat plant-based if it were affordable, accessible and culturally appropriate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yNJhVl

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HEALTH HEADLINES

POT: Via UofM, VERBATIM: “New research from the University of Minnesota Medical School found that rates of cannabis use during adolescence have declined since 2013, though some large disparities persist . . . The prevalence of past 30-day cannabis use declined among adolescents from 2013 to 2025, from 13% to 5%. For almost all social identities, marginalized youth (such as youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth) had significantly elevated odds of reporting cannabis use compared to the privileged group on that identity variable.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RjTk3G

CYCLOSPORA: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Yum Brands said its teams are working quickly and transparently in response to one of the biggest food-safety crises in Taco Bell’s history, after public-health officials linked the shredded lettuce garnishing some of its menu items to a rapidly expanding cyclospora outbreak . . . Taco Bell has seen a meaningful sales impact in recent weeks, executives said, with U.S. same-store sales down about 2% quarter-to-date in July. The company expects the impact to be temporary and said sales trends are already improving.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TOSHzL

OTHER CASES: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “While the cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce has caused thousands of cases of cyclosporiasis — and likely even more we may never know about — another outbreak with an unknown cause has increased, according to federal authorities. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week added this separate outbreak to its ongoing foodborne illness investigations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TtAeJ0

FAUCI: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Dr. Anthony S. Fauci refused on Wednesday to answer questions from a Senate committee, repeatedly invoking his constitutional right not to incriminate himself before a panel dominated by hostile Republicans who accused him of causing the coronavirus pandemic and insinuated that he enriched himself while Americans died.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bOTneE

MORE: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “Besides the illness and death, the disruption and the loneliness, Americans remember the pandemic for its vitriol. The handling of Covid divided the parties, the states, families and neighbors and it’s taken years, in many cases, to repair the damage. Former Covid czar Anthony Fauci’s appearance on Capitol Hill Wednesday brought it all back. Rather than an evaluation of what went wrong and right, or how to do better next time, the rage stood out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pQ2fqi

CDC: Via PBS News Hour, VERBATIM: “A Senate committee on Thursday advanced Dr. Erica Schwartz‘s nomination to be director of the nation’s top public health agency, setting aside concerns that she will not stand up to political meddling. If confirmed by the full Senate, the 54-year-old would become the 22nd director of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats. Her resume includes medical and law degrees, a stint as deputy surgeon general, and a leadership position at the U.S. Coast Guard.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xfN6kA

BLOOD: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “This summer, blood donations have reached a four-year low, worsening the ongoing emergency blood shortage. In early July, the American Red Cross declared a national ‘blood crisis’ as the number of donations has not kept pace with hospital demand. Factors contributing to this crisis include extreme heat, poor air quality, and widespread foodborne illnesses, all of which the Red Cross said have contributed to lower donor turnout this season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fsQsuu

NEXTGEN: Via Central Lakes College, VERBATIM: “The future of health care is looking bright! More than 100 students in grades 8–12 rolled up their sleeves at our annual Healthcare Career Exploration Camp, diving into hands-on activities and discovering the many paths available in healthcare. From learning new skills to exploring exciting career possibilities, these students got a firsthand look at what it means to make a difference in the lives of others.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4wAgfaa

MORE: Via Lakeland PBS, more from the camp. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4g3WIJf

RESEARCH & INNOVATION

MOLD: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “A first-of-its-kind U.S. study suggests invasive mold infections may be an underappreciated — and potentially deadly — threat. The researchers detected about 450 cases in Atlanta-area hospitals over five years. About a third of the patients died in the hospital. The findings, published this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, come from an attempt to better gauge how common these kinds of illnesses are. The government does not require doctors to report the illnesses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TtB9Js

HPV: Via UofM CIDRAP, VERBATIM: “Screening for human papillomavirus (HPV) remains an effective way to find high-risk strains of HPV early. With self-sample HPV testing kits, women can collect their own swab instead of having a doctor or nurse conduct the test. Two studies examine how women respond to HPV self-sampling testing and find that, when it’s offered, women prefer it. The self-collecting tests could encourage more HPV screening in populations missed in annual screenings.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44TG7Sh

FOSSTON: Via Essentia, VERBATIM: “As rural health systems experience mounting challenges, Essentia Health-Fosston is embracing innovation to ensure patients can receive care from expert specialists close to home. Teleconsult appointments are live video visits that occur in an exam room at the Essentia Health-Fosston Clinic. They are much like traditional appointments. A registered nurse rooms the patient, hears about their concerns and checks vital signs. A clinician then joins the conversation on secure video. Essentia Health-Fosston has been expanding specialty services and the use of teleconsult visits since April. Due to patient demand, the volume of these visits is steadily increasing in Fosston.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yQw123

(DISCLOSURE: Essentia is a Fluence sponsor)

AI: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic and Einstein Hospital Israelita today announced a milestone in their collaboration to advance responsible artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled healthcare innovation. Einstein’s de-identified clinical data is now available through Mayo Clinic Platform’s secure, privacy-preserving global healthcare innovation ecosystem. The collaboration strengthens South American representation in global health datasets and enables researchers and innovators to develop, validate, and scale AI-enabled solutions across a broader representation of patient populations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xwJXx1

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

FRENCH FRIES: Via University of Illinois, VERBATIM: “A new cooking method could make French fries crispier in less time while significantly limiting how much oil they absorb. Researchers propose combining microwave heating, which keeps oil out, with conventional frying, which provides the crunch consumers expect.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fHujHv

TEETH: Via University of Michigan, VERBATIM: “A liquid brushed onto cavities in seconds may spare many young children from pain, infection, and surgery. A major U.S. trial found that silver diamine fluoride stopped decay in more than half of treated baby teeth. The treatment requires no drilling, shots, or sedation, although it does permanently darken the decayed area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45BwmIs

sports take | QB War, Twins Go Buy-Buy & Awaitin' Caitlin Clark

Howard Sinker — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 19:06:34 GMT

POPPING ALL OVER: We’ve got a solid sports mash-up over the next five days in Minnesota. FRIDAY: Twins start a nine-game road trip to third-place (AL West) Seattle, last-place (AL Central) Kansas City and first place (NL Central) Milwaukee. That and the nine games at home afterward (Orioles, Phillies, Atlanta) will tell us how engaged to be for the rest of the regular season. SATURDAY/SUNDAY: SummerSlam, WWE’s second-biggest annual pro wrestling event, moves into U.S. Bank Stadium for a two day run. 4:30 p.m. start. (ESPN Unlimited, Tickets). SATURDAY: Vikings training camp opens to the public at TCO Stadium with a 2:30 practice. (Schedule, Tickets) Doors at noon. Loons host San Diego at 7:30 p.m. Three draws and three losses in their last six games have pushed MNUFC into playoff uncertainty. (Apple TV, Tickets)

SUNDAY: Caitlin Clark and the Fever vs. the Lynx at noon (ABC, Tickets) and the WNBA trade deadline is at 2 p.m. The Gophers start football workouts with a 6 p.m. open practice at Huntington Bank Stadium. Free admission. MONDAY: MLB trade deadline is at 5 p.m.. Twins have an off day between series in Seattle and Kansas City. There will be drama. It’s an odd mix of events and will give a lot of us a rare summertime exercise in multitasking. — Howard Sinker

FIRST THINGS

WOLVES STREAMING DEAL: The Wolves announced a partnership Thursday morning with DAZN (“Da Zone”) streaming service. DAZN will stream 15 games for free and there will be a subscription plan for games not shown as part of the NBA’s national cable/streaming/over the air schedule. No mention is made of a cable/satellite presence comparable to Twins.TV and the Wild’s plan for 2026-27. MY TAKE: Expect (1) special rates for season-ticket holders and promotional rates for others; (2) blowback from fans about losing cable access; (3) the NBA to move toward centralizing its local TV packages in 2027-28. DAZN will be to the Wolves what Victory+ is to the Lynx, except that Lynx games are streamed without charge for now. DETAILS: WOLVES FAQ | STAR TRIBUNE | DAZN | WILD TV PLANS

BIGGER PICTURE: Via Tom Friend at Sports Business Journal. VERBATIM: “A day after DAZN secured digital rights to the entire Gotham Sports App -- including the Knicks and Nets -- the London-based streaming service made the T’Wolves its third NBA team and counting. In the coming days and weeks, DAZN is expected to close full-exclusive deals with the Cavaliers, Pacers, Spurs and Grizzles and is offering those teams minimum annual guarantees between $8M and $20M. According to industry sources, the T’Wolves’ rights fee is on the top end of that range. . . . Although T’Wolves CEO Matt Caldwell would not discuss financial aspects of the multiyear deal, he said the minimum guarantee -- plus DAZN’s digital expertise and willingness to stream 15 games in front of its paywall -- solidified the team’s decision.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/deal0730

TRADE QUEEN PHEE? Via Annie Costabile at The Athletic. Here’s how good writing gets repurposed into clickbait trash. The WNBA trade deadline is Sunday. Napheesa Collier’s taking a one-year “supermax” contract after the league’s union issues were settled means she could become a free agent after the season. That combo makes trade-deadline talk fair game and coach Cheryl Reeve addressed the issue this week. VERBATIM: “Every team is going to be opportunistic to improve their roster. Every team is maybe in a different spot in terms of what they think they need, whether they should or shouldn’t. We’re certainly a team that’s been, quote, open for business, open-minded to things that are being talked about. It’ll be a busy week for us.”

MORE: Here’s the dispassionate analysis from Costabile. VERBATIM: “Reeve’s task is to determine whether she has assurances that Collier will re-sign with Minnesota after the season. That promise could be mutual, too. For example, Collier could agree to sign a multiyear deal as long as Reeve can guarantee that if she wants out at any point during its duration, the team will work with her to make that happen.” AND THIS: A comparison between the first-place Lynx and the struggling Los Angeles Sparks, who are said to be making star guard Kelsey Plum available. “The Lynx’s status as contenders puts Reeve in a different position from the Sparks front office, because keeping Collier will help Minnesota contend for a title this season. Reeve is not operating from a position of desperation.” FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/collier0730

CLICKBAIT ALERT: That article was repurposed by The Sporting News using this headline — a Google winner and integrity loser — and an opening sentence that states: “It's the kind of news that catches your eye immediately.”

If you fall into a sewer, you might as well swim for a while, I guess. So don’t fall in.

ALL THE FEELS, I GUESS. The St. Paul Saints appeared conflicted by Randy Dobnak, the former Twins and Saints pitcher, shutting down the Twins at Target Field on Wednesday. In Dobnak’s best-ever MLB performance, he held the Twins scoreless on four hits in seven innings of a 4-0 Kansas City win. In 26 innings with the Royals, Dobnak has a1.04 ERA and the win was his first in the majors since 2021.

WHAT’S WRONG, JOE? Joe Ryan acknowledged being a “little off” in Wednesday’s start, which is an upgrade from the very, very, very off that was on display when he yielded six home runs in four innings to light-hitting Cleveland last week and then was held back for a few days because of “arm fatigue.” BIGGER PICTURE: There was a chunk of “he’ll snap out of it” chatter on the Twins postgame show Wednesday night. Data does not back that up. Aaron Gleeman shared these numbers after the Cleveland horror show. VERBATIM: “Ryan is one of 28 pitchers with at least 100 starts in a Twins uniform. None of the other 27 have seen their second-half performance drop off by anywhere close to as much. Ryan's second-half ERA is 55 percent higher than his first-half ERA and the next-biggest increases are 31 percent, 18 percent, and 14 percent.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/ryan0730

McCARTHY VS. MURRAY, LET’S ROLL! I want to start at the end here, noting that a lot of words are going to be written and spoken about the quarterback competition, and many will not advance the issue. My favorite line to illustrate this point comes from the vikings.com training camp preview, where it was written that head coach Kevin O'Connell “has a general timeline in mind but declined to specify. He did say he wants the process to be transparent.” If you can find a cloudier take on transparency, please share!

ON KALSHI: The prediction site has Kyler Murray at a 90% “yes” on the Week 1 quarterback question. But there’s also a counterpoint from this J.J. McCarthy backer: “Anyone who knows football knows who the true ‘bust’ is. The guy with no playoff wins, no 4,000 yard seasons, the guy with a losing record in the NFL. In his seven years, Kyler has only a single playoff appearance. The notion he will make anything out of an appearance at age 29 with the Minnesota Vikings is the true ‘long shot.’ Chill. (McCarthy’s) got this.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/kalshi0730

ALL ABOUT KYLER: Via Matthew Coller at Purple Insider. McCarthy has been picked at and pulled apart since the Vikings drafted him in 2024. Now, we’re catching up with our Murray learning curve. Coller has gone long on Murray in his hope of “trying to find out the person and player behind the narratives.” The story is long and insightful, opening with a scene from a 2024 postgame win, when Arizona quarterback coach Jonathan Gannon called Murray “the best player on the planet today.” From there the story cycles through the struggles that followed, ranging from questions about his leadership ability to his study habits to how well he works with his receivers.

MONEY QUOTE: “All summer long, analysts have ping-ponged back and forth about what Murray will do with the Vikings, assuming he wins the quarterback competition versus McCarthy. Some think he will win the division and become the long-term Minnesota quarterback. Some think the Vikings will finish last in the NFC North and that he will be mediocre. . . . What we do know is that Murray will have his chance to rewrite all the narratives on his career in the same way that Sam Darnold did. All of the criticisms of the past will disappear if he performs like a franchise QB and the Vikings finish with a top 10 offense. Is it fair to say that the real Kyler Murray will be revealed this year? Maybe. Maybe not. But he will never have a better opportunity in his career to set the record straight.” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/kyler0730

SOONER NOT LATER: Via Chip Scoggins at Star Tribune. It says here that O’Connell will move quickly and choose his No. 1 QB based on the two weeks of practices before the preseason opener on Aug. 15 vs. the New York Giants. Why? VERBATIM: “The Vikings are playing host to joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens a few days later. O’Connell prioritizes joint practices in preparing his team for the season. He puts a premium on those two days of work. The idea of him continuing to split reps between Murray and McCarthy in that setting isn’t practical. At some point, the focus must pivot from competition to getting the starter ready for the season. Assuming that’s Murray — which I continue to believe it will be — the timeline is paramount because he’s still learning the intricacies of O’Connell’s system.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/choice0730

O’NEILL’S EXTENSION: Announcing offensive tackle Brian O’Neill’s four-year contract extension resulted in these two things, per Andrew Krammer at Star Tribune. (1) O’Neill is No. 4 in salary among NFL right tackles, trailing Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs, Detroit’s Penei Sewell and Philadelphia’s Lane Johnson. (2) Four of the Vikings current starting offensive line are signed through 2028. Only center Blake Brandel has a deal that runs out after this season.

SMITH’S RETURN? There’s nothing new to report. I’ll make the argument that (1) Harrison Smith is waiting to see how the Vikings defensive depth shapes up without him, an answer that may not come until after the regular season starts. (2) He is exercising the wisdom of a 37-year-old man to not subject himself to the rigors of training camp. He’ll be back if there’s a significant role for him, as opposed to the fadeout that marked the end of Adam Thielen’s career.

THIELEN’S NEXT MOVE: Via Sean Keeley at Awful Announcing. In the wake of the recent staff purge at ESPN, Thielen showed up as a studio analyst of NFL Live to talk about Murray vs. McCarthy. Thielen sounds good, like someone who’s been practicing. STORY, VIDEO: https://fluence-media.co/adam0730

LOSING A LEGEND: John Anderson, who retired in 2024 after 43 seasons as Gophers baseball coach, died Sunday. He led the Gophers to 18 NCAA tournament and compiled a 1,390-1,023 record over his career. He was universally respected for his warmth and for his interest in helping players prepare for life beyond baseball. Twin Cities Realtor A.J. Pettersen, a Minnesota graduate and 25th-round Twins draft choice in 2011, posted a recollection on social media that he was happy to share more widely. It involved Pettersen and Gophers teammate Derek McCallum, who was also drafted by the Twins, at the start of Pettersen's baseball career at the U.

VERBATIM: “It was the fall of 2008 at Siebert Field. Me and Derek were the favorites to start at shortstop and second base; we just didn’t know who was going to play where. Before running out to the field we both looked at (Anderson) and he just shrugged. I ran out to shortstop, Derek went to second. A quick decision that changed the trajectory of my career. I would later learn that, when asked, Anderson told his assistant, ‘Let’s have them decide.’ I went on to play in the next 170 games wearing maroon and gold. All of them at shortstop.

“He told my parents at my recruiting visit that he felt his job was to prepare young men for the next 50 years of their lives. And he lived that out. He would commonly tell me ‘your last swing does not define you’ when I wouldn’t leave the batting cage and line outs were met with ‘trust the process. I learned from him that being a man of character was quiet and intentional Over the years he was the rock that hundreds of players like me needed at a pivotal developmental time in our lives. . . . Twenty-one Big Ten titles, 18 NCAA tournament appearances, 36 consecutive years with a player drafted. And none of that matters. Because he knew that his worth was far greater than statistics and punchlines. He brought out the very best in everyone he was around. He knew I had a chip on my shoulder and he made sure I used it. He’s a huge reason I decided to coach when I got done playing.

“To the man that taught us the power of the moment and that a game could transform us without defining us: Goodbye for now. Rest easy. You left this world better than you found it.”

MORE ON ANDERSON: Patrick Reusse | KARE 11 | MPR

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TWINS SAY THEY’RE BUYERS: The Twins are taking advantage of their status on the edge of the playoff scramble — a 30.1% chance as of Thursday morning, according to FanGraphs — to proclaim themselves as buyers in advance of Monday’s trade deadline. The headlines have been numerous, the details are few. And both of those make sense given the Twins recent record of deadline fumbles and the reality that the deal discussed in theory are rarely the deal that are actually made. The Talk is rightfully general. The Twins still badly need bullpen help, could use another reliable starting putcher and would benefit from another veteran clubhouse presence. Byron Buxton’s current stint on the injured list means that veteran presence could be an experienced outfielder. WHAT WE DON’T KNOW: Will the Twins trade from their MLB roster or use the depth in their minor-league system to make deals? I made the case three weeks ago that the Twins could be both buyers and sellers in shuffling their roster. Today, I would lean toward offering prospects for established talent, while also seeing what Trevor Larnach could fetch and staying open to being blown away by an offer for catcher Ryan Jeffers, who can be a free agent at the end of the season. Deadline 2026 has the Twins in a better place than Deadline 2025 right now. I hope we’re still feeling that way at this time next week.

AWAITIN’ CAITLIN: Caitlin Clark brings her magnificent basketball skills and the sideshow around her to Target Center for a game at noon Sunday and you can’t get into the lower level of the arena for less than $200, as of 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Clark is fourth in the WNBA in scoring, second in assists and by far the leader in being used as a prop to further the agendas of supporters seeking to make political points and sports commentators who feel compelled to reach beyond the game to score points with their audience. The former is ugly; the latter is sad.

Clark has not sought to be part of any agenda. Judge her for now on the court, where in addition to making magic with her shooting and passing, she has yakked her way to seven technical fouls – one short of an automatic one-game suspension and token $1,500 fine – and has naturally set herself up for extra attention that includes physical and sometimes reckless play. Her T-collecting makes her similar to Anthony Edwards; the on-court attention from defenders is similar to what Napheesa Collier has faced.

She didn’t ask for 11 Republican members of Congress to demand the WNBA investigate physical play against her and preposterously state that “attacks against Clark may be racially motivated.” She didn’t ask to be used as a prop in an unfortunate (practicing understatement here) column in USA Today connecting her on-court demeanor to the lynching of Emmett Till.

Clark has not sought out this attention, which is different than Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham, who has opted to soapbox against allowing trans women in women’s sports.

During a SportsCenter interview with Malika Andrews during All-Star Weekend, Clark talked about all that swirls around her: “I think a lot of it is not always based in reality. I feel like media and journalism have a responsibility to tell the stories, and a lot of the time you guys are the ones controlling the narratives about what people read and what people talk about. And a lot of that is sometimes so far out of touch with what is reality. And that can be confusing to somebody that’s 24 and trying to navigate life and trying to help her team win a championship.”

You can argue that Clark should do more. As Howard Bryant wrote in the Guardian: “In a sense, time is running out on Clark. She has spent the (All-Star Weekend) centering her public comments on the toxicity of social media, but the entirety of her five years as a national superstar deftly avoiding any direct link between her vague personal politics and the anti-Black portions of her fan base who loudly claim her. The government implying she needs federal protection from her Black opponents further forces her hand to speak declaratively about being positioned as a target by her sport.”

You can base your feelings about her on whether she takes on Bryant’s challenge. I think more highly of Karl-Anthony Towns because, in addition to being an excellent player, he’s also on my All-SJW (Social Justice Warrior) Team, which is coached by Cheryl Reeve, of course.

But I can’t hate on Clark for being a 24-year-old basketball savant who is trying to figure out her place in the world on the fly – and holding back what she may be thinking in the meantime. I will not dog her with conclusions drawn from the fact that she grew up in politically red Iowa and plays for a team in deeper-red Indiana.

Clark is more Michael Jordan than Towns right now. Let’s see if that changes.

Hate the games being played, not the player.

WATCH: Clark talks to Malika Andrews.

3M OPEN’s FUTURE: Via Jace Frederick at Pioneer Press. In two years, the 3M Open will either become a bigger, better event on the pro golf calendar or slumber toward its roots as golf tour spot for second-tier players. That’s because the PGA will be dividing its tour in half, with the top 120 players in tournaments featuring purses of at least $20 million — about 2 1/2 times this year’s 3M purse. In other words, without putting up much bigger money, there will be no Scottie Scheffler and no count of how many among the world’s top 100 golfers are coming to TPC Twin Cities. VERBATIM: “Should future 3M Opens lack the big guns, the event would more closely mirror the past days when Cam Champ and Michael Thompson reigned supreme over largely non-descript fields. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – those were still entertaining weeks – but they paled in comparison to what we just witnessed.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3mopen0730

IOWA INVADES MINNESOTA: Via Alyssa Cooper at Strib Varsity. As college sports rule changes cut down on the number of opportunities for athletes coming out of high school, more are turning to junior colleges as a first step in continuing to play. When Chase Bjorgaard, a three-sport star at Edina, decided to play college baseball, he said there weren’t many four-year offers and that influenced him to choose Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. The school has a strong record of sending players to four-year D-I programs. A 2024 Edina grad, George McIntyre, was named the top player in D-II junior college baseball this season and will transfer to D-I Dallas Baptist, an NCAA tournament regular. The Minnesota-to-Iowa pipeline also exists in college football. There will be 13 Minnesotans on the football roster this season at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs. MORE: https://fluence-media.co/juco0730

WHY LEAVE MINNESOTA? Iowa schools offer athletic scholarships that aren’t available here. Iowa has 14 junior colleges that play at the D-I and D-II level and can offer them. Minnesota has only one, Dakota County Technical College, which has limited sports offerings and doesn’t have a football team. Minnesota’s other junior colleges are in D-III, which can’t offer athletic scholarships.

CLOSING THAT DEFICIT? Via Andy Greder at Pioneer Press. Sponsor patches on team uniforms are the latest frontier in creating revenue for college athletic departments. Four Big Ten schools have announced deals so far, led by Ohio State’s agreement with JPMorganChase that covers all 36 of the school’s teams and is reportedly worth $17 million per year, according to ESPN. Three other schools — Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin — have struck more modest deals. A Minnesota deal would allow it to knock off another chunk of this year’s anticipated $8.75 million athletics department budget deficit. Illinois is said to be getting $40 million over five years and Michigan State $40 million over 10 years. Gophers deputy athletics director Mike Wierzbicki said there’s been a lot of sifting and sorting going on. VERBATIM: “You’ve kind of got all these opportunities at your disposal. It’s just navigating with a partner where their interest is regional, local, national, TV visibility, certain fanbase, male or female, a lot of different levers to pull there, which is great. It gives the opportunity.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/patches0730

IS THAT GOOD? Via 24/7 Sports. The Gophers are picked to finish 10th in the annual Big Ten media football poll from cleveland.com. Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana were picked for the top three spots, getting 15, 11 and 5 first-place votes. BORDER NOTES: Iowa is picked eighth and Wisconsin 12th. RESULTS: https://fluence-media.co/poll0731

CAN YOU DUNK? The Wolves and Lynx are holding Slam Squad Auditions on Wednesday at Target Center with callbacks a week from Friday. Walk-ins are welcome on Day 1, but you can also register here. INFO: https://fluence-media.co/slam0730

WEIRDEST STAT EVER? Via Matthew Leach at MLB.com. This has reality series all over it: Four Twins players — Ryan Kreidler, Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall and Cole Sands — are getting married on Nov. 14. VERBATIM: “I think the word fiancé was thrown around quite a few times in Spring Training,” Kreidler said. “And it was like, ‘Oh, you’re getting married? When are you getting married?’ And it’s like, 'the same day as everybody else.' Just funny more than any weird coincidence. But usually it works." MORE: https://fluence-media.co/weddings0730

JOHNNIES VS. OLES AT TCO: The season-ending MIAC football game between Saint John’s and St. Olaf has been moved from Northfield to TCO Stadium. Tickets for parents and football alumni of both schools will have first chance at buying on Saturday and the general presale will be Sept. 1. Sales are being handled by Ticketmaster. The Johnnies, ranked No. 11 in the D3football.com preseason poll, have won the last 10 games in the series, including 63-21 last season.

MIAC’S NEW ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER: Arturo Casas has been named assistant commissioner of the MIAC and also will be part of a mentorship program at St. Catherine working with athletic director Madge Makowske. The one-year position is sponsored by an NCAA Division III grant. Casas is a graduate of Manchester University in Indiana, where he was a pitcher on the baseball team.

AND FINALLY: Via Steve Marsh at Mpls St.Paul Magazine. Whatever happened to Jessica Woynilko? In 2016, the Prior Lake native was competing on the USA Gymnastics Trampoline and Tumbling national team. In 2026, with connections made through her mother and help from former pro wrestler Greg Gagne, she’s become Tiffany Stratton, a featured star in World Wrestling Entertainment who will be part of the two-day SummerSlam this weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium. Aside from Wrestlemania, Summer Slam is the biggest annual event of the WWE calendar. On Sunday, she’ll participate in the “Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match” with four other wrestlers. She’s also the holder of the Women’s United States Championship title. How did she get from Point A to Point B? This Q&A shares the transformation. VERBATIM: “I saw that you had to be athletic, you had to have personality, you had to be able to talk crap. The athleticism and the glitz and the glam — wrestling was perfect for me. My mom actually had mentioned something a couple years prior about doing wrestling and thinking I’d be super good at it. But at the time, I was a gymnast, and I was like, ‘Whatever, mom. I’m going to go to the Olympics one day. I’m doing gymnastics.’ But wrestling was becoming popular on social media, and it kept popping up on my socials. Q&A: https://fluence-media.co/tiffany0730

WATCH: Stratton wins the U.S. title

ONE LAST MINNESOTA ANGLE: Two other Minnesotans are wrestling this weekend. NAME YOU KNOW: Brock Lesnar, the former Gophers wrestling standout. NAME YOU MAY NOT: Chas Betts, a 2012 Olympic wrestler who won a state title at St. Michael-Albertville in 2004. He wrestles as Chad Gable.

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lunch take | MN Water Cyberattack Linked to Iran

Mike Maybay — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:19:36 GMT

MINNESOTA’S HOTTEST CLUB…

…might soon be a nursing home. Saturday, a new state law takes effect allowing nursing homes and assisted living facilities to serve beer and wine at social functions. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/45uYo8x

More new laws taking effect via MPR: https://fluence-media.co/4fGIAEl

Morning take said it – we need rain. Now we know how much. 76% of the state is now in formal drought status, up from 48% a week earlier. 95% – nearly the entire state – is listed as abnormally dry or worse. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo

The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 1.5 percent in the second quarter – down from 2.1% in the first quarter. NYTIMES: https://fluence-media.co/3RF5LHm

33% of Americans say the war with Iran has been worth it. AP/NORC: https://fluence-media.co/4x9JjFh

77% of American adults say they’d trust someone with military experience to serve in elected office. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4vUfxmP

Caitlin Clark and controversy coming to town, the Vikings’ quarterback war is about to get real and the Twins go on a talent search. New Sports Take, out this afternoon.

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MIXED BAG OF OUTSIDE ATTENTION

FAIR FOOD: Yelp mined user reviews to name the best state fairs for food. Congratulations to Wisconsin on finishing second. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4cb2ExH

SPEAKING OF… Via WCCO-TV, in addition to the best fair food in the country, the Minnesota State Fair will feature a new 230-foot-tall Ferris wheel, a renovated Coliseum, dinosaurs, and more. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4ww11mz

CYBERATTACK: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Investigators believe a cyberattack this week on dozens of municipal water systems in Minnesota was probably the work of Iranian hackers, according to U.S. and state officials and others familiar with the matter, a potential act of aggression that comes at a precarious moment in the U.S. war against Iran. Officials cautioned that they had not definitively determined who was responsible for the attack and that the preliminary assessment could change as the authorities collected more technical data.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bhE2mH

MORE: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “No water was contaminated, but it could have been much more severe according to Metro State cybersecurity professor Faisal Kalim, who adds they targeted operational technology like pumps and power sectors.” KALIM: “OT deals with something called the industrial control system that actually controls these water pumps, wells, power sectors, and so on.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3RHeloP

USE OF FORCE: Via Capital & Main, VERBATIM: “Human rights investigators have documented hundreds of instances of misuse of crowd-control weapons at protests of immigration enforcement since President Donald Trump returned to office. Department of Homeland Security employees and local law enforcement both committed violations of standards of use for crowd-control weapons, injuring protesters, according to a report from Physicians for Human Rights and the University of California, Berkeley’s Human Rights Center. The authors of the report called for manufacturers to stop making certain weapons that are particularly harmful and likely to be misused and urged law enforcement agencies to change their use-of-force policies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fKfcNI

MORE: Via Physicians for Human Rights, VERBATIM: “We reviewed thousands of minutes of video, hundreds of pages of legal proceedings, and scores of news articles available in the public arena on incidents occurring between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. We identified 412 unique misuse of force incidents at immigration enforcement protests.”

“Five cities accounted for the majority: Los Angeles, California, alone saw 169 incidents, or more than 40% of the total. Minneapolis, Minnesota, followed with 94 incidents (nearly a quarter of all cases), then Chicago, Illinois, with 56 (13.6%), Portland, Oregon, with 37 (9.0%), and Newark, New Jersey, with 21 (5.1%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bjV9US

TIMBERWOLVES: Via NBA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced a new local media rights agreement with DAZN (pronounced da-ZONE), naming the global sports entertainment platform as the franchise’s new exclusive home for Timberwolves basketball across its local broadcast territory. Through a new team-branded subscription service launching later this summer, fans can stream Timberwolves games plus access broader team content more directly and conveniently than traditional viewing options. Fifteen games will be available for free this season, underscoring the team’s commitment to reaching more fans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pKueHK

POLITICALLY CONNECTED

INTEREST RATES: Via Yahoo! Finance, VERBATIM: “The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for the fifth consecutive policy meeting this year, amid a rebound in oil prices driven by renewed tensions in the Middle East. The central bank voted in a split decision to hold its benchmark interest rate in the range of 3.5% to 3.75%. Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari, Dallas Fed president Lorie Logan, and Cleveland Fed president Beth Hammack dissented, preferring to raise rates by a quarter percentage point.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TMYeXw

EXIT INTERVIEW: Minnesota Monthly has a Q&A with Senator Tina Smith. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yNC2MV

POT: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “Island Pezi’s new location on Adams Street in Mankato is getting ready to be the company’s first new recreational cannabis store since it started in the Prairie Island Indian Community back in 2024. The business expects to open in either late August or early fall at the latest . . . As a tribal company, Island Pezi is subject to regulations from both the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and Prairie Island’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fDHmd1

HUNTING: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “A new plan to monitor chronic wasting disease is one of several new laws impacting deer hunters this upcoming season. One key change is that this year carcasses are allowed to leave the CWD management zone, provided a few things happen.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4bQQytw

BROOKLYN CTR: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Brooklyn Center’s so-called Opportunity Site has been discussed for redevelopment for the better part of two decades. Projects have been proposed. Proposals have fallen through. Now a new concept plan has come forward that has city leaders optimistic about the possibilities.” QUOTE: “It is a huge, huge undertaking,” said Brooklyn Center City Council Member Dan Jerzak about the proposal at the city’s July 27 economic development authority meeting. “It could be monumentally game-changing for the city.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g4bCPC

SUPERIOR, WI: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Superior Tourism Development Commission is offering a 25% cash rebate to film production crews for expenses spent in the city, a new incentive local film creatives and businesses say could open the door to more productions in the area. Production crews must apply, spend a minimum of $10,000 in the Superior area, and then receive 25% of their money back once audited” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44Zwn93

EARNINGS SEASON

LIFE TIME: Via Investing, VERBATIM: “[Eden Prairie-based] Life Time Holdings (NYSE: LTH) reported second quarter EPS of $0.48, $0.10 better than the analyst estimate of $0.38. Revenue for the quarter came in at $866M versus the consensus estimate of $845.9M.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45vo3Om

PIPER: Via Stock Titan, VERBATIM: “[Minneapolis-based] Piper Sandler Companies reported strong Q2 2026 results, with U.S. GAAP net revenues of $495.5 million, up 25% year-over-year and 4% sequentially. Net income attributable to Piper Sandler Companies was $67.8 million and diluted EPS was $0.95, both up 61% from Q2 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yJGvk1

MORE EARNINGS: Via Associated Press, from Minnesota-based companies:

XCEL: “Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) on Thursday reported second-quarter profit of $586 million. On a per-share basis, the Minneapolis-based company said it had net income of 93 cents. The results beat Wall Street expectations . . . The utility posted revenue of $3.12 billion in the period, which did not meet Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yP6PZO (DISCLOSURE: Xcel is a Fluence sponsor)
C.H. ROBINSON: “C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW) on Wednesday reported second-quarter profit of $186.8 million. On a per-share basis, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of $1.56 . . . The results beat Wall Street expectations . . . The trucking company posted revenue of $4.93 billion in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wi6UD7
API: “APi Group Corporation (APG) on Thursday reported second-quarter earnings of $99 million. The New Brighton, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 20 cents per share . . . The results met Wall Street expectations . . . The company posted revenue of $2.25 billion in the period, exceeding Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pKfTel
HAWKINS: “Hawkins Inc. (HWKN) on Wednesday reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of $28.3 million. The Roseville, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of $1.35 per share. The results fell short of Wall Street expectations . . . The chemical maker posted revenue of $315.7 million in the period, which beat Street forecasts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TplDhK

COMMERCE

TRADE: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is accepting nominations for the 41st annual Governor’s International Trade Awards. These awards recognize Minnesota companies that have demonstrated exceptional export growth and success in international markets. They also highlight the important role international trade and foreign investment plays in strengthening Minnesota’s economy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pNjPLi

ANOKA: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Anoka Vintage Fest, an event that has become an October staple in the Halloween Capital of the World, is coming to an end. In a Tuesday post on social media, festival founder and owner of Amoré Antiques Brandon Altenweg that the event will come to an end.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fFyEuT

BEER: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A revival is not in the cards for Back Shed Brewing. The Waite Park brewery closed its doors last March after the St. Cloud Christian School purchased the former Crafts Direct Building, which included the brewery’s building. At the time, co-owner Jason Schlecht said it was a surprise to learn the brewery had to move out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yNKo7d

HAWAIIAN FOOD: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “In the highly competitive restaurant industry, breaking into a brand-new market is never an easy task. However, the team behind Mo’ Bettahs found a surefire way to catch the public’s attention: offer free food. ‘Hey, lunch is on us today,’ staff members could be heard calling out to eager guests on July 24. The strategy worked flawlessly. During the recent soft opening weekend, the line for the new Maple Grove location circled completely around the building.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hGCEhf

LAKEVILLE: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports Oppidan Investment Co. will break ground today on a retail development at 179^th and Cedar. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h16wVq

HANDBAGS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Leave it to the grande dame of local fashion, Joy Teiken, to share the stage with both emerging and established talent at her recent Minneapolis runway experience featuring her current Joynoelle collection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pNknAQ

RETIREMENT: Via Eden Prairie-based Tennant, VERBATIM: “Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) today announced that Fay West, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Tennant Company, gave notice of her intention to retire after her successor has been hired and an appropriate transition period has occurred, with her retirement expected to occur in the second quarter of 2027, but no earlier than April 2, 2027. The Company is commencing a search for a successor Chief Financial Officer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c96yqQ

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WHAT’S NEXT?

TOMORROW: Via Minnesota Senate, VERBATIM: “Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown), Representative Roger Skraba (R-Ely), the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, and other partners will discuss the economic impact of Northland wildfires on tourism and other industries on Friday, July 31 at 11:30 a.m. at Hungry Jack Lodge on the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais.”

THIS WEEKEND: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “What began as a small gathering celebrating Slavic heritage has grown into one of the Twin Cities’ largest multicultural festivals. This year, Slavic Experience returns to St. Louis Park’s ROC on Aug. 1-2.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g1kZQe

NEXT MONTH: SNL’s Michael Che will record a Netflix special at First Ave. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/45xxjl6

NEXT MONTH: Via Minnetonka-based Stratasys, VERBATIM: “Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS) will release financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, on Thursday, August 13, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yUtMuW

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

POTTERY: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “For better and for worse, Lexie Peterson’s first year as a full-time ceramicist hasn’t exactly gone to plan. For better: The artist behind Gimme Gimme Pottery has amassed a steadfast art fair following; created a distinct, recognizable style (to the point where, when I posted a hot pink iced coffee cup that I purchased at an art fair onto my Instagram story, a friend almost immediately DM’d me: Is that a Gimme Gimme?!); and found her true creative (and career) calling.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vY9kXc

BDAYS: attorney Lyndsey Olson, writer Tricia Velure

morning take | PAC Spending Spike

The Daily Agenda — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:05:27 GMT

WE NEED RAIN

Twins lose.

The Stanley Cup is in Eden Prairie and Excelsior today.

Caitlin Clark and controversy coming to town, the Vikings’ quarterback war is about to get real and the Twins go on a talent search. Sports Take, out this afternoon.

Minnesota could get some much-needed rain tonight. MAPS: https://fluence-media.co/3Rp2SKK

U.S. News ranked Minnesota the 3rd best state to live in. South Dakota is 2nd and North Dakota is 4th on the same ranking. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4h5f1yK

UnitedHealth Group is the 4th largest company in the world by revenue, Fortune says. Target, U.S. Bancorp, Best Buy and CHS are also in the global top 500. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4vZ7KV3

Gov. Tim Walz hasn’t given up on JJ McCarthy and be predicts the Vikings will have 11 wins. He also says he and the Late Speaker Melissa Hortman talked about her running for Governor, and how the only scenario he didn’t prep for in the VP debate was JD Vance being warm. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4hFQgJD

Developers want to turn the Star Tribune’s former printing plant into a new data center. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/4fYfaD7

Quinnipiac finds that 55% of voters think the war in Iran will last for a year or longer, and 66% think the war has not been worth fighting. Pres. Donald Trump’s approval is 32% in the same survey. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4xaA7k7

It’s National Chili Dog Today – spicy.

Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com

Sunday Take featured Rep. Angie Craig discussing her Senate campaign, the Iran war, the state of agriculture and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wZg8od

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PAC PACE

PACS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “This appears to be the year when right-of-center political funds level the playing field in Minnesota after cycle after cycle of watching left-of-center entities dominate. … Renew Minnesota [has] a whopping $3.4 million in reserve as of July 20, [which] has already fed a committee known as First Principles PAC that is running searing TV ads against DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison. … There’s also Restore Sanity PAC, which is seven figures deep into ads to boost Lisa Demuth in the governor’s race. It reloaded last week with another $1 million donation. … In the legislative space, Advance Minnesota appears to be the big Republican player to watch with its bankroll of about $2.7 million.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RJKa0r

NOTE: Red indicates pro-Republican, Blue indicates pro-Democrat.

STPAUL: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her said Wednesday she has no intentions to leave office amid an investigation of claims that she directed inappropriate sexual comments toward Police Chief Axel Henry and other city employees, but acknowledged that what she intended as a joke was misguided. … In the backrooms of the state’s public safety offices Wednesday, debate was vigorous over whether [Her’s actions] had turned into sexual harassment or if the allegations were part of a campaign by the police department to muddy the waters against Her ahead of an expected budget fight over police funding.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fIfSTA

MINING: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “The DNR says it received notice Wednesday of proposed changes to the project. DNR officials say some highlights include increasing ore production from 32,000 to 40,0000 tons per day, decreasing the mine’s lifespan from 20 to 16 years, and transporting materials using a covered conveyor system instead of rail. Plus, updates to waste management with tailings disposal on adjacent lands previously mined for iron ore… NewRange also announced it submitted the NorthMet Project’s Clean Water Act Section 404 wetland permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4yNm1qh

ESSENTIA HEALTH SUPPORTS FREE CLINIC IN VIRGINIA, SERVING INCREASED NUMBER OF UNINSURED MINNESOTANS: Every Thursday night, physicians and care team members from Essentia Health-Virginia volunteer at the Project Care Free Clinic, providing treatment, screenings, and preventive care to patients who are uninsured or may be struggling to afford health care premiums. Essentia also provides lab and X-ray services at no cost to the clinic or its patients. Essentia is proud to support the clinic, ensuring everyone in the community can get the care they need. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4yt7Qqu (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)

CD2: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Rep. Angie Craig says she won’t pick a favorite among three Democrats vying to replace her in Congress, but at a time when voters are calling for change, the lawmaker is casting a long shadow on the race. … Having her backing is complicated for the three running in the Aug. 11 primary: Matt Little, a former state House member who was once the mayor of Lakeville, state Sen. Matt Klein and state Rep. Kaela Berg. Klein — like Craig, a moderate — says he’d be happy to have it, while Little, the most progressive of the three who has the DFL Party’s endorsement, said he isn’t seeking it. But another progressive, Berg, said she has sought the endorsement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yKVjP4

SENATE RACE: Via Star Tribune, a look at how GOP Senate candidates Michele Tafoya, Adam Schwarze and Royce White differ in their support for Pres. Donald Trump’s congressional priorities, including abolishing the filibuster. VERBATIM: “In Minnesota, only one major candidate has called for ending the filibuster: White. … Tafoya said [that] a lot of people ‘just wish they’d blow up the filibuster, [but] I’m not there yet.’ … Schwarze said he’s not committed to blowing up the filibuster because he wants to use it to stop ‘terrible spending’ Democrats will propose in the Senate if and when they eventually get a majority.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45upH2K

GOV RACE: Speaker Lisa Demuth spoke to KSTP about her campaign for governor, her plans for reducing mandates, and more. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pMD4Vi

NOISE

DOLLS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation Wednesday into the Minnesota Department of Education following a complaint related to ‘transgender dolls.’ … While the federal Department of Education said in its announcement that the dolls were developed via a taxpayer-funded University of Minnesota program, the team behind the dolls received no state or federal money for their development, according to University officials. … An official with [MDE] said in an email Wednesday that the state department has no involvement with the MyGender

RESPONSE: via Gov. Tim Walz’s office, STATEMENT: “The Governor has no connection to this program. It was not developed or funded by the Minnesota Department of Education and is not being implemented in Minnesota schools under the Walz Administration. This entire story has been manufactured by right wing media.”

ICE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers from across the U.S., including Democratic Minnesota state Sen. Omar Fateh, gathered in Chicago Wednesday morning to push for the public’s ability to sue federal immigration officers.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RA6wBx

DEPORTATION: via Rep. Tom Emmer advisory, VERBATIM: “Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06), Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), and Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) joined Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) in sending a letter to President Donald J. Trump, Secretary [Marco] Rubio, and Secretary [Markwayne] Mullin, thanking them for their decisive leadership and commitment to making America a safer place by deporting a convicted child rapist, previously pardoned by the Walz Administration.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4calcOB

FIRES

BIZ RELIEF: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A bipartisan pair of state lawmakers from northeast Minnesota are laying the groundwork to help businesses hit hard by wildfires. … Sen. Grant Hauschild, a Democrat, and Rep. Roger Skraba, a Republican, are co-hosting an event with the Cook County Chamber of Commerce on Friday as part of their effort to highlight the [economic] damage. … Gov. Tim Walz has indicated he might call a special session of the Legislature on Aug. 12 to extend a peacetime emergency in response to the fires. Hauschild and Skraba said [they] hope to introduce additional legislation during the session that would get money to businesses as soon as possible.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ww6zNK

HOSPITALS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Patients crowded emergency rooms in northeast Minnesota earlier this month, when wildfires littered the air with chemicals and fine particles. … The Minnesota Department of Health reported a 28% increase in ER visits related to respiratory problems in that region of the state in a 10-day period ending July 23, when air quality levels were at their worst. … ER visits for suspected respiratory problems increased 6% statewide during the 10-day period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wxh7fN

A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu

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SIGNALS

MEDICAID: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Some Greater Minnesota providers say Minnesota’s fraud crackdown is leaving legitimate caregivers caught in a revalidation process they say was delayed and unclear, with the vast majority of terminated providers disenrolled over paperwork problems. More than 2,700 providers have appealed their termination. … As of last week, DHS said 748 of 2,732 disenrolled providers who appealed have since been revalidated.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wtWpx4

DEEPFAKES: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Two of the Minnesota legislators who helped write the state’s new ‘AI nudification’ ban forcefully defended their law on Wednesday after Elon Musk’s company ‘xAI’ filed a lawsuit [against] it. … DFL Sen. Erin Maye Quade and DFL Rep. Jess Hanson [both] dismissed the lawsuit’s concerns at Wednesday’s news conference, reiterating their support for the law as they stood beside three women who were victimized by AI nudification.” MAYE QUADE: “I don’t see this as a free speech issue. … It’s pretty audacious to sue to prevent a law that protects children from being turned into child sexual abuse material.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45gty3H

COURTS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s court system is getting ready to disburse a round of grants to fortify judicial facilities around the state. The Legislature set aside $4 million for additional courthouse security. … Eligible counties can apply through Sept. 8 for the grants to buy security equipment, do assessments, train staff or make other improvements for safety reasons. The judicial branch will match half the cost. An advisory panel will make decisions on which applications will proceed sometime in November.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RJKa0r

METRO

MPLS: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council will consider the nomination of Dr. Reginald Freeman as the city’s next fire chief on Thursday. The meeting comes after Freeman was grilled last week over his time leading fire departments in Oakland and Hartford, where allegations were made that the department had a history of harassment and discrimination. … Freeman himself was not named as a defendant [and] said he was hired to fix issues at those previous fire departments. … Freeman is the choice of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, but he still needs council approval.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ToraoM

CAMDEN: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “For residents in north Minneapolis’ Camden neighborhood, blocked railroad crossings are a way of life — a near-daily occurrence that will eat up 15 minutes on a good day, and often many more than that. The blockages regularly make it hard for kids to get to school on time. Even more concerning, they stop ambulances and fire trucks. … Local officials recently got the wheels moving on up to $2 million in federal grant funds, to be buttressed by $500,000 from the city and railroad company, to survey the area and plan improvements to solve the problem once and for all. Still, hoped-for infrastructure changes are years away.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45ti90f

ANOKA CTY: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The Anoka County Fair saw its highest attendance in more than 15 years, with 44,759 guests from July 21 through July 26. Viral social media campaigns and strong agricultural programming helped draw record crowds and engagement. Fair leadership is considering grandstand improvements to accommodate growing demand at major events. … Both Tuesday and Wednesday set new daily attendance records.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pPo6Oy

ACROSS MN

AUSTIN: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Austin Public Schools will be asking voters to approve nearly $25 million this November for improvements to its facilities. … The district said it has identified seven schools where updates are needed, and that the funding will go toward ‘safety, mitigate water infiltration, update building systems and finishes’ and complete needed repairs. … November’s referendum will be the second year in a row that Austin Public Schools has asked voters to support additional funding.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fZR6Qe

DULUTH: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Duluth Public Schools purchased the former home of the News Tribune in 2023 for $600,000, [and] the site has undergone approximately $16 million in renovations in preparation to house district services and education programs this fall. While crews are still working to finish the building’s interior, as of last week, the building officially has a new name — Duluth Central Education Services — following unanimous approval from the School Board.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pNw6zC

WASIOJA: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “In April of 1861, several seminarians and teachers walked out of their school building in the town of Wasioja in southeast Minnesota and marched into a recruiting station four blocks away to become among the first volunteers to fight for the Union Army in the Civil War. The buildings — or parts of them — are still there, and they’ve now been restored and are open to the public. About 70 people gathered [for] a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the culmination of the yearslong restoration project.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h0XgAJ

DAYBOOK

TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will interview candidates for two vacancies in the Seventh Judicial District.

TODAY: DFL Sen. Ann Rest will throw the ceremonial first pitch for Thursday’s Twins game at 12:20 p.m.

TODAY: SD35 DFL candidate Angela Nelson will host an affordability roundtable in Coon Rapids with “local residents and stakeholders,” per a release. The event is at 11:30 a.m.

TODAY: DFL Rep. Kelly Moller and GOP Rep. Paul Novotny, co-chairs of the House public safety committee, will host a bipartisan press conference to “spotlight important new domestic violence laws that will take effect on August 1,” per a release. Attendees will include GOP Rep. Marion Rarick, DFL Rep. Athena Hollins, GOP Rep. Peggy Scott, DFL Rep. Dave Pinto, DFL Sen. Bonny Westlin, DFL Sen. Heather Gustafson and DFL Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten. The event is at 3:30 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: Minnesota Farmfest runs from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6 in Redwood County. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4pQIEGw

AUG 4-13: Fluence sponsor Xcel Energy and industry partners will host a series of open houses on their planned “PowerOn Midwest” electric transmission projects from Aug. 4 to Aug. 13. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4yHUlDi

SEPT 9: The IRRR Board is hosting its third annual “State of the Range” event in Chisholm on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.

We won’t ask for “membership” to list your BDAY, and we won’t have pledge drive but you can support the Fluence work by paying for premium content.

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BDAYS: attorney Lyndsey Olson, writer Tricia Velure

SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.

SPONSORS: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.

Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com

IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.

ag take | What El Nino Will Bring

Mike Maybay — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:30:31 GMT

NEXT WEEK: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Farmfest 2026 is right around the corner, and Minnesota Corn will once again have an active presence at the annual farm show and agriculture celebration at Gilfillan Estate near Morgan. Join Minnesota Corn in Tent 702 at the corner of Seventh Street and Seed Row to learn about how the organization is creating opportunities for farmers and enhancing quality of life for agricultural communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vUVIf8 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)

MORE: Via Farmfest, more details and a ticket discount. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3RHMSmZ

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WEATHER CHALLENGES

HEAT: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Triple-digit heat indices swept across the Midwest and Plains late last week and into the weekend, and the damage is already showing up in the numbers. USDA’s weekly Crop Progress report released Monday showed the steepest week-over-week decline in corn good to excellent condition ratings for this point in the growing season in nearly 20 years, catching even the most bearish analyst estimates off guard.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fHAR94

CROP REPORT: Via USDA, the Crop Progress report. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fHY636

MORE: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “USDA’s latest weekly crop update shows 77 percent of corn and 78 percent of soybeans in good to excellent condition, still well above the respective national averages. Brownton farmer Ryan Mackenthun tells Brownfield outside of a small hail event, the growing season is going well.” MACKENTHUN: “Throughout June I was starting to get worried it was getting too dry, and then all of a sudden we just kept catching rains, every three days I think we got an inch. And I was starting to worry we were getting too much rain actually then for a while. But obviously glad we got that rain to carry us through that stretch of 90’s.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pNNLqW

HEAT IMPACT: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Nutrien Principal Atmospheric Scientist Eric Snodgrass says this year’s hot, dry weather pattern has been especially tough on producers in the Upper Midwest.” SNODGRASS: “It’s been primarily a western and upper Midwestern Corn Belt and an Upper Midwest issue. That’s going to be a major point of concern going farther into this new month of August as to where damage has been done by this crop. Parts of the Northern Plains, Red River area, we’ve really seen the heat take a toll on our crops.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RosHKV

EL NINO: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The chief atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions says he expects a record setting El Nino to have significant impacts this fall. Eric Snodgrass tells Brownfield, ‘Currently we would rank this one as strong, and based on what we know about the water temperatures still yet to surface over parts of the equatorial Pacific, this will be an historic El Nino breaking records in terms of how warm it’s going to be.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pJKZmB

TRACKING WX: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has expanded the Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) with the launch of two weather stations in Southeast Minnesota. The stations, located outside Peterson in Fillmore County and Mabel in Houston County, are another key step toward improving statewide data coverage for Minnesota producers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g1dzfN

MARKETS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “Corn and especially soybean markets were down early Wednesday with rain chances for the dry areas of the Western Corn Belt in the forecast for Thursday to Saturday. Mike Minor of Professional Ag Marketing says the weather will have a bigger impact on soybeans, which are leading the losses.” MINOR: “Corn’s weather story was a little bit earlier, which we didn’t have many problems with. Pollination was a little hot, but the nighttime temps got decently low. It’s getting a little late for a weather story on the corn side.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pRT48U

DAIRY: Via Agweek, VERBATIM: “The economic engine of large dairies was on full display as neighbors, vendors and staff praised Riverview, LLP, during a meeting hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on Tuesday, July 28. A few attendees expressed concerns over consolidation of dairies and risks to resources, namely how Riverview has become the dominant player in the upper Midwest dairy market. The meeting was in direct response to something that the Department of Ag and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency noticed during the recent comment period and completed environmental assessment of what is to become the largest dairy operation in Minnesota, Riverview’s West River Dairy expansion project near Morris, Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fIUWvZ

DC + AG

WOLVES: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Farmers across the Upper Midwest are encouraging U.S. senators to pass legislation this week that would bring management of grey wolves back to states. Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Tyler Wenzlaff tells Brownfield, ‘We’re inches from the finish line here, and it’s something that we’ve been working on for nearly three decades.’ He says lawmakers are expected to vote on the Pet and Livestock Protection Act this week, which the House passed in December with bipartisan support.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4w7gPLG

HEALTHCARE: Via Harvest Public Media, a look at how the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits impacts farmers. VERBATIM: “Farmers and ranchers are among many workers who’ve relied on ACA plans. The Congressional Research Service estimates there were 1.2 million self-employed agriculture workers in 2022. A KFF survey found that around 27% of agriculture workers are on plans — a high share compared to the general population. Enrollment fell about 13% across all users after premiums spiked this year, and they could rise again next year. Many enrollees downgraded their plan level, opting for a high deductible to get a lower monthly cost.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hycygs

CRISIS COMPARISONS: Via Harvest Public Media, VERBATIM: “While the economic stress might seem comparable, the similarities between the current downturn and the ‘80s crisis are limited, according to Seth Meyer, agriculture economist and head of the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Institute. He said crop insurance is now commonplace for farmers, which wasn’t the case 40 years ago. Growers also have access to federal safety net programs, like Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, that are meant to kick in when crop prices fall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yMdHah

RENT: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Cash rent negotiations could be complicated by tight margins this fall. Farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, who is based in Minnesota, says even with recent price improvement, the cost of producing corn and soybeans next year will likely squeeze profits.” THIESSE: “It will be interesting what happens with cash rents this fall. So far we haven’t seen much adjustment downward in cash rents, and part of that from the landlord’s perspective is states like Minnesota, many counties are talking 8 to 10 percent or more increases in property taxes.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44WMtAc

IN THE FIELDS

NUTRIENTS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A north central Wisconsin farmer says he’s surviving the high input cost environment by becoming as efficient as possible with his nutrient applications. Adam Baumann, who farms in Marathon County, says he keeps close track of his nitrogen use efficiency.” BAUMANN: “We’ve cut back on our nitrogen.” He says, “Our nitrogen use efficiency in our corn this year will be the lowest it’s ever been. So, we will take what we’ve learned in that whole digital agriculture space and move forward with better decisions and lower fertilizer rates and grow the same amount of bushels or hopefully more.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4yOPujL

BIOSTIMULANTS: Via Ag Web, VERBATIM: “The biostimulant category is not winning grower trust through bigger promises, but through narrower claims, better agronomic explanations and proof that fits the farmer’s field. Biostimulants are gaining broader acceptance with growers, but the shift might not be because the products themselves have suddenly changed. Instead, new tracking work from Stratus Ag Research suggests the category may be benefiting from something more fundamental: better expectation-setting.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fOUXi2

NEW WEED: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “A new noxious weed appeared in Minnesota for the first time in Dakota County in 2025. On the latest Smarty Plants podcast episode, find out why Tree of Heaven is so concerning for those who monitor invasive plants, and what we can do about it.” TWEET/LINK: https://fluence-media.co/3S6pGix

GRAZING: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association (MNGLCA) took its on-farm education class to the Duluth Farming Company July 27. The goal was to show off grazing infrastructure and livestock handling, among other farming topics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RBOE9o

FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com

FARMFEST: Via Ag Update, VERBATIM: “Five finalists for the 2026 Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year Award have been narrowed to one, and the winner will be announced during the final day of Farmfest. This is the seventh year Farmfest organizers IDEAg Group will present the award.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4g23u2c

RETAIL: Via MDA, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Grown and the Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) are once again inviting grocery and liquor stores across the state to support farmers and show off their local pride by entering the Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year contest. This annual contest celebrates Minnesota retailers who go above and beyond to promote Minnesota Grown agricultural products—everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to meats, dairy, alcoholic beverages, packaged goods, and more. Stores are encouraged to create eye-catching displays and promotions that highlight produce from Minnesota’s farmers during peak season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RhN7oU

BUTTER: Via Owatonna People’s Press, VERBATIM: “The founding mothers of Steele County’s agriculture industry are finally getting their due. After decades of relative obscurity, pioneering dairy farmers Mina Holmes and Marianne McRostie are set to be inducted into the Livestock Hall of Fame at this year’s Steele County Free Fair. Holmes and McRostie were key figures in the local dairy industry, earning widespread recognition for their award-winning butter in the 1880s.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pKMDnZ