TOMORROW: From UCare via Facebook, VERBATIM: “We can’t wait to see you at the Hmong Medical Association's Health Fair this Saturday, May 10th, at the Community School of Excellence. Our amazing UCare de-complicators will be there to answer all your questions—stop by and say hi!” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4ds5v57 (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLL: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “As the Social Security Administration undergoes massive changes and staffing cuts ushered in by the Trump administration, an increasing share of older Americans — particularly Democrats — aren't confident the benefit will be available to them, a poll shows. The share of older Americans who are ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’ confident has risen somewhat since 2023, according to the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in April. In the poll, about 3 in 10 U.S. adults age 60 or older are ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’ confident that Social Security benefits will be there for them when they need it, up from about 2 in 10 in an AP-NORC poll conducted in 2023.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dcjpIj
IMMIGRANTS: Via KFF, a survey of immigrants asking about their experiences and worries in President Trump’s second term. QUOTE: “Four in ten immigrants overall (41%) now say they worry about the possibility that they or a family member could be detained or deported, up 15 percentage points from 2023 (26%). Six in ten lawfully present immigrants report being worried about immigration enforcement, as do about a quarter of naturalized citizens. About six in ten (59%) Hispanic immigrants (many of whom are noncitizens) say they worry about detention or deportation, roughly three times the share of Asian immigrants (19%) who say the same. These immigration-related fears have negatively affected immigrants’ health and well-being, with one-third of immigrants overall saying they’ve experienced worsening health conditions, increased stress and anxiety, or problems eating or sleeping since January due to concerns about their or a family member’s immigration status, rising to 41% among lawfully present immigrants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YCedY7
WHITE HOUSE: Via APM Research Lab, a poll asking how supportive Americans are of President Trump’s actions – not individual actions, but how he’s handled actions as a whole. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4jM2ij1
INSURANCE WORKERS: Via news release from insurance underwriter AXIS Capital, VERBATIM: “Timed to the start of Mental Health Awareness Month, AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE: AXS) partnered with The Harris Poll to survey the state of mental health within the insurance profession. The research findings revealed a number of trends pointing to widespread and rising stress and anxiety; a desire for better mental health support; and a belief that insurance trails other industries in prioritizing mental health initiatives.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kg6vLP
LITERACY: Via news release from Nemours Children’s Health, VERBATIM: “Children who fall behind in reading don't just struggle in school—they are also at higher risk for chronic illness and mental health issues later in life. A new survey commissioned by Nemours Children's Health and conducted by The Harris Poll reveals that early-grade teachers recognize the crisis, but they don't feel they have the tools or training they need to address it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RX8EQq
DIET: Via News Medical, VERBATIM: “Half of U.S. adults say they know eating a plant-based diet can improve their health and help prevent chronic diseases, according to a new Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/Morning Consult survey. However, the survey also showed that just 1 in 5 primary care practitioners discuss this lifesaving message with patients.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42N3H2L
WEIGHT LOSS: A Morning Consult poll asked about personal spending habits of several demographic groups, including those taking GLP-1 drugs (e.g. Ozempic).
See all the results from the survey HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4dc2fdZ
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
ROCHESTER: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Rochester Public Schools superintendent Dr. Kent Pekel is asking the Department of Education to reconsider the sudden cancellation of $2 million in grant money. The funding was supposed to help the district's mental-health program. Dr. Pekel told the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar the federal government gave them vague reasons for the cancellation.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4m7rK46
UNITEDHEALTH: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “A group of shareholders has filed a class action federal lawsuit against Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group, alleging that the company misled investors by not adjusting its 2025 financial outlook following the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, says by not revising the financial forecast and acknowledging the scrutiny and changes in business tactics that followed Thompson's killing on Dec. 4, 2024, UnitedHealth ‘misled’ investors by over-valuing the company's projected net earnings.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43nKNj2
MEDICARE: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump plans to revive an effort to dramatically slash drug costs by tying the amount the government pays for some medicines to lower prices abroad, three people familiar with the matter told POLITICO. Trump early next week is expected to sign an executive order directing aides to pursue the initiative, called ‘most favored nation,’ for a selection of drugs within the Medicare program. The idea would use the administration’s authorities to force prices down.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44qzMPb
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)
NEXT WEEK: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Proof Alliance is a nonprofit that helps Minnesota families dealing with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) find resources and connection. The group is holding its annual caregiver conference at the Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center next week.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4m6ojuv
IMMIGRANTS: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Understanding how Minnesota subsidizes health care for some of its residents is super hard to wrap my head around. Even lawmakers who have worked on health care budgets for decades admit this . . . one element of DHS spending is not very complicated. Money Minnesota gives to provide undocumented immigrants health care is an insignificant part of the state’s spending crunch. The Senate floor debate on Wednesday gave a different impression. A handful of senators insinuated that subsidizing the health care of undocumented immigrants is leading to nursing homes in peril and county governments forced to consider property tax hikes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GK8Lw6
SURGEON GENERAL: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “The health entrepreneur and ‘Make America Healthy Again’ leader Casey Means has been nominated to be the U.S. surgeon general after President Trump pulled his prior nominee suddenly on Wednesday. Means, an M.D. and author who runs a holistic wellness blog and co-founded the health tech company Levels, is the sister of Calley Means, an adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Both Meanses have become key influencers in the MAHA world, with Casey lending her medical training and knowledge to the cause.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k9CNHZ
AUTISM: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “After weeks of confusion about his plans for autism research, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Wednesday that his department would build a ‘real-world platform’ that would allow researchers to hunt for causes of the disorder by examining insurance claims, electronic medical records and wearable devices like smart watches.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jStxbQ
NEXT MONTH: Via Minnesota Rural Health Association, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Rural Health Conference — hosted by the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, the Minnesota Rural Health Association, and the National Rural Health Resource Center — annually seeks to support, connect and inspire rural health professionals and leaders from across the state as they work toward the goal of building healthy communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j1inkl
AIR: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans can expect to experience more crummy air quality days than usual in the coming months. The big picture: A hot, dry spring and summer raises the risk that wildfires in Canada and elsewhere will saddle the state with smoky skies, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency meteorologists predict.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4diIcKL
WATER: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “Each year, during Drinking Water Week, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) releases its annual report on how well Minnesota’s 6,500-plus water systems are meeting federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) standards. The Minnesota Drinking Water Annual Report for 2024, just released, notes that all federal health-based standards were met by over 97% of systems throughout 2024, according to the results of monitoring done in the past year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SrjuhD
MORE: From the report:
Here’s the link to the full report: https://fluence-media.co/3RX9T22
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)
COVID: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The COVID-19 pandemic ‘shined a light on what many of us already knew to be the truth,’ said Dr. Kevin Gilliam, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center’s medical director. This truth? That there are disparities in health care and overall wellness based on a variety of factors, such as poverty and discrimination. As a result of systemic discrimination, these disparities can often fall along racial and ethnic lines, with non-white populations experiencing poorer health outcomes compared to their white counterparts. These inequities were made even more apparent during COVID-19.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jM5F9F
VACCINE: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “Moderna’s combined Covid and flu shot outperformed the existing standalone vaccines for both viruses, according to the results of a phase 3 clinical trial published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ELQoqe
RULING: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “A federal judge has sided with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over a decision last year to remove two Eli Lilly drugs — the Zepbound weight loss medicine and the Mounjaro diabetes treatment — from a shortages list kept by the agency. And the move means that patients will no longer have access to cheaper versions from compounding pharmacies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42M5t4e
STUDY: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “In a new study, Mayo Clinic researchers have identified gene expression changes in the brains of people with Pick's disease. Since Pick's disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that cannot be diagnosed during life, their findings offer valuable insights that may help guide the development of biomarkers and therapeutic strategies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jMVq52
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)
STILLWATER: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “A new hospital has been approved for Stillwater, with its groundbreaking set for July. On Tuesday, the final designs and plans for a new HealthPartners Lakeview Hospital were approved by the Stillwater City Council.” READ/RENDERINGS: https://fluence-media.co/4m7IWX2
BROOKLYN CENTER: From Metropolitan Economic Development Association via Facebook, VERBATIM: “We are proud to support our client Veemah Integrated Wellness & Consulting Services LLC with a loan that allowed them to expand their business in a new location in Brooklyn Center opening June 19.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4jOJm3c
JAPAN: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Six thousand miles from Rochester, Minnesota, a book in Tokyo features photos of Mayo Clinic nurses who have visited over the years. Recently, four more Mayo nursing staff members were added to the book after a 10-day visit to Japan, where they served as ambassadors for Mayo Clinic — sharing their professional expertise and gaining insights into Japanese nursing practices they could bring back home.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/438M6kT
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
AI DNA: From Center for Genomic Regulation via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “A study published today in the journal Cell marks the first reported instance of generative AI designing synthetic molecules that can successfully control gene expression in healthy mammalian cells. Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) created an AI tool which dreams up DNA regulatory sequences not seen before in nature. The model can be told to create synthetic fragments of DNA with custom criteria, for example: 'switch this gene on in stem cells which will turn into red-blood-cells but not platelets.'” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4deNqaA
Copyright © 2025 Fluence Media, All rights reserved.
You signed up or are media / a public official interested in health care news from Fluence Media.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Minneapolis, MN 55427