All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLLING
STATES: Via Gallup, VERBATIM: “Nearly half of U.S. adults (47%) are worried they won’t be able to afford necessary healthcare in the coming year, the highest level of concern recorded since West Health and Gallup began tracking the measure in 2021. One in five Americans — also a record high — report that they or someone in their household couldn’t pay for prescription medications in the past three months.”
“The State of the States 2025 study ranks each state’s performance for its residents’ overall healthcare experiences, derived from responses to 27 questions answered by nearly 20,000 Americans nationwide. In addition to overall rankings, states were evaluated separately on key dimensions of the healthcare experience — cost, quality and access.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LONST1
COSTS: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “Americans are going into 2026 more anxious about health care costs than at any other point in recent years, a new West Health-Gallup survey finds. Almost half of adults, 47%, say they’re worried they won’t be able to afford health care next year — the highest level since West Health and Gallup began tracking in 2021, the survey published Tuesday found.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4o10hk4
IMMIGRANTS: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “Since President Trump took office in January 2025, four in ten (40%) immigrant adults overall and nearly eight in ten (77%) likely undocumented immigrants say they have experienced negative health impacts due to immigration-related worries. These negative impacts include increased stress, anxiety, or sadness; problems sleeping or eating; and/or worsening health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Notably, nearly half (47%) of lawfully present immigrants and about three in ten (29%) of naturalized citizens report at least one of these impacts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4id1WlE
SCHOOLS: Via University of Michigan, VERBATIM: “The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents of children 6-12 about safety issues at the school their child is attending for the 2025-26 school year. Parents rate themselves as extremely (7%), very (9%), somewhat (33%), or minimally (52%) concerned about safety at their child’s school. Parents consider school safety to include bullying (76%), students fighting with other students (54%), an intruder bringing a weapon onto school grounds (51%), shooting by a student or school staff member (46%), cyberbullying (46%), student assault of teachers (31%), rape or sexual assault (25%), vandalism or theft (25%), and physical punishment of students (19%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48mNh3O
MEDS: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “With the Trump administration recently announcing several high-profile prescription drug pricing deals, the latest polling from KFF suggests that few think it is likely the Trump administration’s actions will lower their prescription drug costs, but his base remains more positive. Large majorities of Republicans (73%) and MAGA-supporting Republicans (83%) say they think it is either very or somewhat likely that the administration will lower prescription drug costs for people like them, while far fewer independents (33%) or Democrats (9%) say the same.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47OpkCq
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
HEALTH HEADLINES…
NIH: Via MedPage Today, VERBATIM: “The NIH has posted a dozen job openings for institute directors with very tight turnaround timelines and without convening search committees -- a departure from the past that’s raising red flags among scientists. These high-level leadership positions include the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and the National Human Genome Research Institute. Many of the positions became vacant when their leaders were fired in October, including the heads of NIAID, NICHD, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the National Institute of Nursing Research.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49VVvRB
DIET: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday that new dietary guidelines are expected to be released next month that will end the ‘war on saturated fats.’ Speaking at the Food Allergy Fund Leadership Forum, Kennedy discussed the actions the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken under his leadership, including incentivizing a reduction in petroleum-based food dyes and increasing oversight into infant formula.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3K4DZjz
HEALTHCARE: Via CNBC, VERBATIM: “Sen. Bill Cassidy on Monday proposed replacing enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits with pre-paid health savings accounts. The Louisiana Republican’s proposal comes as lawmakers scramble to find a remedy for skyrocketing costs of Obamacare health insurance premiums. The boosted ACA tax credits, which this year have lowered the cost of Obamacare plans for about 20 million Americans, are set to expire at the end of December.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3X09RJd
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)
HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY…
HCMC: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Muslims are obligated to pray five times a day, each time while facing the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city in Islam. This direction is called qibla. Hennepin Healthcare recently expanded a program to the psychiatry department that places stickers on the walls to help patients find qibla. Staff say it’s a small gesture with a big impact.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3K4zwxj
YOGA: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Armani may not know the skills she’s learning now will help her to regulate her emotions and improve her concentration and focus later in life. But she does know she’s having fun and that yoga makes her calm. Fun is the goal of the adults who teach the classes run by the nonprofit group Peace in Practice, but they believe the benefits of yoga for children will show up later in school and life. They see it as especially beneficial for students of color.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3X5TQ4r
MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Since 2024, Minnesota law has required menstrual products to be made available for free in public school bathrooms for students in grades 4 to 12. Jeanelle Rasmussen, lead nurse at St. Louis Parks Public Schools, recalled her feelings following an incident after the law went into effect: ‘Great. Beautiful. There’s a design on our wall [made of] pads,’ she said. The young mixed-media artist acted out of curiosity rather than malice, Rasmussen said. Still, it exposed the legislation’s limited scope. The law requires menstrual products be made available, but it ‘doesn’t say anything about education,’ said Kara Cowell, a graduate student in public health at the University of Minnesota. As a part of her coursework, Cowell, along with classmate Mary Kenny, saw an opportunity to address the gap.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XBsgMA
YOUTH HEALTH
ADDICTION: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Dan and Yvonne Carlson battled for years to save their exuberant, headstrong daughter from disappearing into a cycle of addiction, treatment and relapse.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3X45Q6r
BOTOX: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “Botox has become increasingly popular with people in their 20s seeking to stave off wrinkles. Clinics market what is known as ‘baby Botox,’ lower dose treatments administered less frequently than those for midlife adults — perhaps only once or twice a year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43B20W8
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
RESEARCH
GUNS: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “Homicide rates among pregnant women increase with the rate of firearm ownership, according to a state-by-state study published this week in the medical journal JAMA Network Open. Researchers found the firearm homicide rate for pregnant women was 37% higher than the rate for nonpregnant women. Suspected perpetrators were most often male for both pregnant and nonpregnant women.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3X05NIX
INFANTS: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “During Minnesota’s Infant Safe Sleep Week (Nov. 16-22), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) wants parents and caretakers to know about the best ways to keep babies sleeping safely at home and at child care to avoid tragic deaths.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LK6nrU
CHOLESTEROL: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Current genetic screening guidelines fail to identify most people with an inherited condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia that can cause dangerously high cholesterol and early heart disease, a Mayo Clinic study found. The condition often passes silently through families for generations. It is highly treatable, yet people who remain undiagnosed are at greater risk for heart attacks and strokes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47MGXT1
LEAD: From Southern Cross University via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Researchers found that ancient hominids—including early humans—were exposed to lead throughout childhood, leaving chemical traces in fossil teeth. Experiments suggest this exposure may have driven genetic changes that strengthened language-related brain functions in modern humans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/489tGmv
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)
WORKFORCE
RURAL: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is recognizing four dedicated health care professionals and two organizations that have made significant contributions to the health and wellbeing of their rural communities as part of Rural Health Day in Minnesota on Thursday, Nov. 20.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3KaRMoT
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
VENOM: From Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Scientists are turning venom, radioisotopes, engineered proteins, and AI into powerful new tools against cancer. From Amazonian scorpions yielding molecules that kill breast cancer cells as effectively as chemotherapy, to improved fibrin sealants and custom-grown bioactive factors, researchers are pushing biotechnology into uncharted territory. Parallel teams are advancing radiotheranostics that diagnose and destroy tumors with precision, while others forge experimental vaccines that train the immune system using hybrid dendritic cells.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LSoeNb
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