SATURDAY: UCare’s Healthmobile will be offering free health screenings at Hennepin County’s Hmong Community Explore Your Parks event. Via Facebook, SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4kNJTC9 (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Only about one-quarter of U.S. adults say that President Donald Trump’s policies have helped them since he took office, according to a new poll that finds underwhelming marks for him on key issues, including the economy, immigration, government spending and health care.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40rRoY1
MORE: Via AP-NORC, from the poll:
SEE: https://fluence-media.co/44Zm1ph
TAX CREDIT: Via Fabrizio Ward, VERBATIM: “Our survey of voters in the most competitive Congressional Districts shows Republicans have an opportunity to overcome a current generic ballot deficit and take the lead by extending the healthcare premium tax credits for those who purchase health insurance for themselves. Without Congressional action, the tax credit expires this year. While the 2024 outcome for these districts was even, the generic Republican is down 3-points among all registered voters. Among those most motivated to vote, an early indication of vote likelihood in the midterms, the Republican is down 7-points. If the Republican candidate lets the premium tax credit expire, the Republican trails the Democrat by 15-points.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kOb2oq
MORE: Via Newsweek, VERBATIM: “[The poll] found that Republican candidates who support that policy would lead Democrats by six points overall and by four points among the most motivated voters. Seventy-nine percent of respondents, including 68 percent of those who voted for Trump, supported tax credits ‘that make it more affordable for working families and individuals to purchase health insurance directly through healthcare.gov or state exchanges,’ the poll found. The poll, notably, did not use the terms ‘Affordable Care Act’ or ‘Obamacare’ in its questioning.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IOFdOS
BILL: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “Roughly 6 in 10 Americans say they oppose the GOP domestic policy bill that President Donald Trump recently signed into law, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS. In the wake of his most sweeping legislative achievement since returning to office, Trump’s rating for handling the budget has slumped 11 points since March, with a rising majority also saying he’s gone too far in cutting government programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kNT5q9
BENEFITS: Via news release from Mercer, VERBATIM: “Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) and a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people, today released its Survey on Health and Benefit Strategies for 2026. According to the survey, more employers will likely reduce benefits in 2026 as they try to control fast-growing health benefit costs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kV2In6
AI: Via University of Michigan, VERBATIM: “The artificial intelligence revolution hasn't passed older adults by, a new poll suggests. But the data show that people over 50 have both curiosity and skepticism about AI, depending on how much they've used it, the data show. No matter what their level of experience with AI, nearly all people over 50 (92%) say they want to know when the information they read, see or hear is AI-generated, according to the new findings from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nSM4XK
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Linnea Mirsch says her job just got more difficult. The director of community and human services in St. Louis County, Mirsch manages dozens of civil servants who parse through applications for Medical Assistance, the state’s Medicaid program. Under the work requirement rules of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Donald Trump inked into law earlier this month, St. Louis County now must review some Medical Assistance applications every six months instead of each year. Plus, the county has to pull together a way to check that applicants work at least 80 hours a month.” MIRSCH: “This work requirement is estimated to double the work done by county workers for each Medicaid enrollee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lxZmas
OPIOIDS: Via news release from Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, VERBATIM: “Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) today announced the reintroduction of the bipartisan Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act, legislation aimed at cracking down on the sale of deadly fentanyl on social media platforms and giving law enforcement the tools to combat this growing threat. The bipartisan bill, led by Miller-Meeks and Congresswoman Angie Craig (D-MN), requires social media companies and other communication service providers to alert federal law enforcement when illicit drug activity, including fentanyl trafficking, is detected on their platforms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4o08xCo
MORE: Rep. Craig talked about it this morning on WCCO-Radio’s The Morning News. CRAIG: “It got a little bit of traction in the last Congress and I feel like this issue has become much much too common in our country and so we’re gonna be working real hard in this Congress – you know I’m not in the majority, we’re in the minority this Congress, so it’ll be a little bit up to Republicans.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40oQ48t
SIGNED: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “President Trump on Wednesday signed legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal fentanyl and toughening prison sentences for those who traffic the drug. Trump signed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act at a White House ceremony, where he was joined by lawmakers and individuals whose family members have died from fentanyl overdoses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44UBZ3V
GRANT: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “The White House says a key national fentanyl overdose prevention grant program, currently underfunded by roughly $140 million, will eventually be fully paid for, but with a catch. The federal money allocated by Congress will now be given out ‘in increments’ rather than a single annual payment. Administration officials issued a statement about the future of the Overdose Data To Action or OD2A program, run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after NPR reported on growing concerns among CDC staffers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TLXgYs
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)
HOTEL: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A Brooklyn Center hotel is getting back to business after the city council revoked its hospitality license. Suburban Studios, located at 2701 Freeway Blvd., had its hospitality accommodation license revoked on Monday, June 23, but the revocation wasn’t effective until Monday. It came after city officials discovered a recuperative care business called Care Chexx was operating out of the hotel in violation of the city’s zoning rules.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4lY1yI2
HHS: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “Two top aides to Health and Human Services Department Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were dismissed from their roles this week after just months on the job. Both Heather Flick Melanson, chief of staff, and Hannah Anderson, deputy chief of staff for policy, were let go, HHS confirmed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46hNPrk
MORE: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “Anderson and Flick Melanson had led Kennedy's immediate office alongside two other aides, senior counselor Stefanie Spear and executive secretary Cortney McCormick. Spear is a longtime aide to Kennedy, dating back to his longshot presidential bid. Two federal health officials said Anderson and Flick Melanson were seen as outsiders to Kennedy's base, installed by the White House to keep tabs on Kennedy and make sure the president's agenda was being prioritized.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40UN6Zo
NEXT WEEK: Via Allina, VERBATIM: “Minnesota United (MNUFC) is partnering with Allina Health to host a blood drive on Thursday, July 24 at Allianz Field in St. Paul from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.” MORE: https://fluence-media.co/44CzWmf
MEDIEVAL MEDICINE: From Binghamton University via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “It turns out the Dark Ages weren't all that dark! According to new research, medieval medicine was way more sophisticated than previously thought, and some of its remedies are trending today on TikTok. A new international research project featuring faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York reveals that people in the Middle Ages weren't cooped up in castles, wallowing in superstition. They were developing health practices based on the best knowledge they had at the time - some of which mirror modern wellness trends.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eSLuoJ
CUTS: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “The Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump’s domestic policy bill could result in more than 1,000 additional deaths every year, according to a report published Wednesday in JAMA Health Forum. The cuts could also lead to nearly 100,000 more hospitalizations each year, the report found, and around 1.6 million people may delay seeking care.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44Fh4De
ESSENTIA HEALTH INVESTS IN TWIN PORTS NURSES: Total payroll for Essentia Health Duluth-Superior nurses is $164 million, with $53 million paid in salary increases over the past 3 years. Essentia Health has also increased clinical support staff by 10% over the past 3 years, providing additional support for those nurses. Over half of Duluth area nurses have been with us for over 5 years and enjoy exceptional work-life balance. To join our team at Essentia Health, search for openings HERE: https://fluence-media.co/3FzLe0i (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
988: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “States and mental health organizations are bracing for the closure of a specialized service within 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, for LGBTQ youth on Thursday under orders from the Trump administration amid its broader spending cuts and the dismantling of programs dedicated to diversity and inclusion. ‘When the line goes silent, there are a lot of open questions that we’re trying to prepare for,’ said Mark Henson, vice president of government affairs at the Trevor Project, an LGBTQ youth suicide prevention organization that responds to roughly half of 988’s calls and text messages from LGBTQ young people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UgNwFE
DESERTS: Via Newsweek, VERBATIM: “A growing number of Americans find themselves living in ‘health care deserts,’ areas lacking in the specific infrastructure and services needed to ensure timely access to medicine and care, new data suggests. According to new research from health care and prescription price-comparison website GoodRx, 81 percent of U.S. counties—home to more than 120 million Americans—fall under this definition in some way. This includes those which lack proper access to either pharmacies, primary care, hospital beds, trauma centers or community health centers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ukj3Xk
MORE: Via GoodRx, more on the research including maps showing counties lacking health-related facilities. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4nUz9EN
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
COVID: Via UofM CIDRAP, VERBATIM: “Yesterday in JAMA Network Open, researchers published a study highlighting higher COVID-19 hospitalization rates among Black and Hispanic children in the United States during the first 3 years of the pandemic. The cross-sectional study, which was based on population-based surveillance, identified 13,555 pediatric COVID-19–associated hospitalizations from March 2020 to September 2023. Hospitalizations occurred in 12 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah, covering approximately 10% of the US population.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lDqYeu
ST CROIX: Via news release from Mendota Heights-based St. Croix Hospice, VERBATIM: “St. Croix Hospice expanded in the second quarter of 2025 with the opening of four additional branches across three states.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4o9j0LU
PREDICTIONS: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “In this week’s Tomorrow’s Cure episode, explore a revolutionary frontier in medicine: the ability to predict disease before symptoms even manifest. Listen to experts at the forefront of medical research who are leveraging cutting-edge technology to potentially make diseases like cancer a thing of the past.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4lAOqco
SKIN CARE: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “When Bruna Valente was pregnant with her second son, she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer—and her entire world shifted. For months, while caring for a premature newborn, recovering from surgeries, and undergoing chemotherapy, her body grew weaker . . . Valente couldn’t ignore what she called ‘divine nudges’—she read books, listened to podcasts, enrolled in an organic skin care formulations school, and began studying ingredients from her home country, Brazil. But it wasn’t until a trip to the Amazon Rainforest, where she felt a calling to create and share with others, that her clean skin care brand, Terrain Brazilian Botanicals, was born.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TNtClB
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
DOGS: From University of Bristol via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Dogs trained to detect Parkinson’s disease using scent have shown remarkable accuracy in new research. In a double-blind trial, they identified skin swabs from people with Parkinson’s with up to 80% sensitivity and 98% specificity, even when other health conditions were present. The findings offer hope for a simple, non-invasive diagnostic method using biomarkers that appear long before traditional symptoms, potentially allowing earlier treatment and slowed disease progression.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40ZwM9N
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