Hopkins’ Paige Bueckers had a career-high 40-point game over the weekend. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jagqSr
Two former Gophers made their NHL debuts over the weekend. AP: https://fluence-media.co/3DWdg5V
President Trump says he’s interested in a third term and says, despite the 22nd Amendment, “there are methods which you could do it.” AP: https://fluence-media.co/4iYIwAn
A winter storm watch is in effect for Tuesday and Wednesday. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4jePYah
If the State Capitol caught fire, which painting should be saved first? MPR: https://fluence-media.co/41TrfCA
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3XDl0QO
Melisa López Franzen was on Sunday Take to discuss her upcoming Senate run, her plans if she wins, the political landscape of Minnesota and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4iOf4x5
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
RESPONSIBLEGAMING: Legal sports betting platforms offer responsible game tools that offshore and illegal sports betting don’t offer. In fact, age verification is not required with most offshore providers. Learn more about why legalized sports betting is more responsible. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kgJoS4 (SPONSORED: Sports Betting Alliance)
ENDORSEMENT: Via news release from the Flanagan campaign, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Senate Candidate Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan was endorsed by Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison. Attorney General Ellison is a highly respected attorney on the national and statewide stage who has led the charge on some of the biggest legal wins in the country including preventing big pharmaceutical companies from price-gouging and protecting seniors from fraud and abuse. Before becoming Attorney General, Ellison spent 12 years representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House.”
MINING: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The low rumble of controlled explosions is reassuring in an area where few livelihoods are more than a couple of degrees removed from the mines. But this month the ground beneath the Iron Range has begun to shift in a very different way. The sedimentary rock known as taconite, found in abundance in northern Minnesota, yields most of the United States’ iron ore, which in turn is made into steel used by the American auto industry. Thus the seismic effects of President Trump’s March 26 announcement of a 25 percent tariff on all cars and auto parts imported into the United States.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hSOKR2
MEDIA: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “The 92 community newspapers (including 12 in Minnesota) Jeremy Gulban owns across the U.S. bear a plea on their websites: ‘Don’t let our newspaper die! Subscribe today.’ Many are losing money. Lately, even paying for the paper they are printed on is a burden as a result of looming tariffs. Gulban, the 50-year-old head of a family-founded IT company in New Jersey, is discovering in ways large and small just how hard it is to revive America’s ailing local news outlets. Americans are increasingly distrustful of print media, podcasts are ascendant as go-to news sources and even finding human reporters to hire has proven tough.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hRD9BC
SURFING: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Twin Cities surfers often have to drive up to Lake Superior in Duluth to catch a wave. But a $55 million project could offer a much closer alternative: How about surfing in downtown Anoka? The city is working on a project to upgrade the Rum River Dam, less than a mile from the confluence with the Mississippi River. The city is seeking funding for the project, which would modernize the dam, create a pedestrian bridge and add a lock for boats to travel from the upper Rum to the Mississippi. The reconstruction also could turn the dam into a whitewater park.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hPU1bX
IMMIGRANTS: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “A Wisconsin Hmong woman’s recent deportation to Laos has caused a ripple effect in Minnesota’s Southeast Asian communities as President Donald Trump ramps up arrests and pressures other countries to accept deportees. Local immigration attorneys say things have shifted under Trump, including for Lao and Hmong Minnesotans who previously thought there was little risk of being deported. ‘What the Trump administration is clearly doing is putting a lot of pressure on these countries,’ said Linus Chan, an immigration attorney and director of the Detainee Rights Clinic at the University of Minnesota Law School. In his first term, Trump threatened sanctions and other actions against countries including Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, that have historically accepted few deportees. He is repeating some of that playbook now.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QW45Fu
PRODUCING THE FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers of transportation fuels is hiring! With openings in IT, accounting, engineering, operations, procurement and asset management, Flint Hills Resources’ goal is to match talented individuals with their passions and interests to truly shine. APPLY TODAY: Flint Hills jobs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ST CLOUD: Via Detroit Lakes Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison did not hold back his opinions of President Donald Trump's policies during a Saturday, March 29, event at Salem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. ‘Your Attorney General's Office is here to stand up for Minnesota,’ Ellison told a crowd of about 250 people. ‘The reason that I have had to sue Donald Trump isn't for partisan reasons. It is because he's doing things that are illegal.’ Ellison's visit to St. Cloud Saturday was part of his ‘Protecting Minnesota Community Forums’ series.” QUOTE: “Let's not be afraid. Let's be concerned. Fear is an immobilizing thing. Concern is an action-oriented thing,” Ellison said. “So this moment, more than any other … requires courage. And let’s be honest, in our daily lives, great courage is not often required, but it is now. Standing up for basics like the rule of law is so critical.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iRPFCy
DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “On Saturday, more than 700 people showed up at Duluth East High School for a people’s town hall organized by Practicing Democracy. The goal of the event was to hear how the recent federal cuts made by the Department of Government Efficency (D.O.G.E.) are affecting people in our neighborhood. Veterans, healthcare workers, federal employees, and more shared their stories and concerns.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3FM4Hep
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)
VIKINGS: Via news release from the Vikings, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Vikings and PepsiCo have announced a long-term partnership extension that will keep the two brands connected through the 2031 NFL season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/421ekgA
NEXTGEN: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minnesota's law schools are seeing a surge in applications this year. The big picture: While the high interest may be good news for local programs, it means more competition among those who want to pursue — or pivot to — a career in law. What's happening: A presidential transition, changes to the LSAT exam, and more attention being paid to the law and courts are leading more people to apply to law school across the nation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l94imj
FED WORKERS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Those back on the job are worried they will be fired again and are waiting for promised back pay. Those who have not been called back are weighing options from lawsuits to new positions elsewhere. With 18,031 Minnesota employees as of Dec. 10 (not including active duty military and the U.S. Postal Service), the federal government is the 10th largest employer in the state, making it a crucial piece of local economy . . . Many of the employees interviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune said they took a government job because they wanted to serve the country in some capacity and are quick to point out their contributions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hWcTGu
RED LAKE: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Red Lake Nation held their annual State of the Band Address on Friday in Redby. The event is a time for band members to come together and see how the band has grown in the previous year, as well as look at the needs and struggles of their community. The Red Lake Reservation, one of two closed reservations in the US, consists of four communities of over 17,000 members within approximately 1,000,000 acres of land. Red Lake Tribal Chairman Darrel Seki Sr. feels newly elected President Trump and his administration won’t have the band’s best interest in mind during his second term in office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DP4VAZ
‘I GOT INTO THIS INDUSTRY TO HELP PEOPLE’ - Taylor, a first-generation descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, is a member of Enbridge’s Tribal engagement team in Wisconsin. She loves getting out into Tribal communities to educate people on Enbridge’s purpose and to help them understand opportunities in the trades. Taylor enjoys her role at Enbridge, where she feels valued and appreciated as a member of the team. She believes Enbridge will continue to make an impact with Indigenous communities through the company’s Indigenous Peoples Policy. Taylor’s dedication to helping others and her commitment to her heritage drive her every day, and her work at Enbridge is a testament to the company’s commitment to social responsibility. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3P3wqK9 (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
DISTRACTED: Via KMSP-TV, VERBATIM: “State officials announced a new campaign against distracted driving as well as new vehicles equipped with cameras to provide more visibility. What they're saying: Officials from the Office of Traffic Safety, a branch of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, announced a new campaign against distracted driving on Thursday morning, saying law enforcement will have extra enforcement in place from April 1 to April 30.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41ROYD9
CLOSING: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “DDP Restaurant Group, led by renowned chef Daniel Del Prado, told employees and customers Thursday that its four Café Ceres coffee shops, all in Minneapolis, would close April 13, citing poor economics. The small chain grew out of what was the original Penny’s Coffee in Linden Hills, the brainchild of former congressman Dean Phillips and marketing guru Ben Hertz.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lgGLjM
SOUTH ST PAUL: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “At Pomp’s Tire Service in South St. Paul, store manager Cody Swenson has grown accustomed to the noxious odor that occasionally wafts from the business down the road . . . There, workers and machinery turn animal parts into pet food, biofuels and even cosmetics — a laborious process that can pump out a smell neighbors have likened to rotting flesh. But better smelling days could be on the way. South St. Paul reached a settlement with Sanimax in March, obligating the Montreal-based company to install equipment that minimizes unpleasant scents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3E3yNtp
TODAY: From Plymouth-based Celcuity via Globe Newswire, VERBATIM: “Celcuity Inc. (Nasdaq: CELC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pursuing development of targeted therapies for oncology, today announced that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 after the market closes on Monday, March 31, 2025. Management will host a webcast/teleconference the same day at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results and provide a corporate update.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bVXrsp
WEDNESDAY: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Whether you’re re-entering the workforce or looking for new opportunities, the Fair Chance Job & Resource Fair is here to connect job seekers with employers and organizations that believe in inclusive hiring and workforce development.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jbBwzS
APRIL10: Citizens League will honor Peter Bell, former Metropolitan Council Chair and Sharon McMahon, at the 2025 Civic Celebration. The annual Civic Celebration is an inspiring evening, gathering hundreds of Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds, parties and ideologies to celebrate our state’s enduring civic culture, leadership, and commitment to public service. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/41txP1p (SPONSORED: Citizens League)
From Friday’s Fluence newsletters:
SURVEYS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A market analyst expects a significant shift to more corn acres in the Western Plains and Upper Midwest this year. Matt Bennett with AgMarket.Net says a trend has emerged within planting surveys to growers and from talking with farmers during the winter.” BENNETT: “Whenever I get north of I-80 and farther west, I’ve asked in every room I’ve been in this winter how many of you are going to plant more corn as part of your rotation than what you did a year ago. And especially when I move into those areas I’ll tell you what, a lot of hands go up.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4l9o8y0
ROADS: Via Farm Bureau, VERBATIM: “The president of Minnesota Farm Bureau recently went before the House subcommittee on Highways and Transit to talk about rural highways, roads and bridges.” QUOTE: “I think our main message was just how important that rural infrastructure, bridges, highways, all of it, is to agriculture and rural communities. When you look at how food gets from our farms to consumers, that all takes place on a rural road or bridge.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3DMbHrb
SHIP-IT ACT: Via The Fence Post, VERBATIM: “At a House Transportation and Infrastructure Highways and Transit Subcommittee hearing on trucking today, Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing said Congress needs to consider the benefits of the SHIP-IT Act, introduced last Congress by Reps. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., and Jim Costa, D-Calif.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42m7mUP
MORE: Via Farm Bureau, Glessings prepared comments for the committee. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l7lxEB
FOOD TRUCK: Via Vikings, VERBATIM: “J.J. McCarthy successfully made his first handoffs — and provided his first highlight — of 2025. The Vikings second-year quarterback and his fiancée Katya joined the Vikings Table food truck powered by Xcel Energy at YouthLink's Drop-In Center to distribute meals to teens and young adults. The meals distributed included some that were packaged for later use, including one in a gold bag to commemorate the 100,000th meal delivered since Vikings Table's mission launched in summer 2019.” READ/PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/41YQbJ7
HONOR FLIGHT: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “A nonprofit is expressing its admiration and recognition of veterans in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. North Star Honor Flight will be taking 82 veterans out of Rochester International Airport (RST) to Washington D.C. for a free daytrip as a way of thanking them.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hVHqUP
FOOD HALL: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Midtown Global Market, the Minneapolis business incubator and food hall, has been nominated as one of the ‘best public markets’ in the country by USA Today. Experts with the publication's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards have compiled a short list of the nation's best markets. That short list is now being put to a public vote to determine the category's best hubs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43tuuC3
MORE: Via USA Today, the competitors. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3FTIRWc
Subscribe to other Fluence newsletters: https://fluence-media.co/TheDailyAgenda
API: From New Brighton-based APi via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “APi Group Corporation (NYSE: APG) today announced the appointment of David Jackola as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Jackola has been with the Company since October 2021, most recently serving as Interim Chief Financial Officer since December of 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cbUeVL
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
RAHMA: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Mendota Heights–raised, New York–based comedian Kareem Rahma’s TikTok/Instagram show, Subway Takes, has more than a million and a half followers across both platforms. Delivered daily, the show has a why-didn’t-I-think-of-that premise tailor-made for our online era. Filmed on the NYC subway, Rahma asks his guest, sometimes a famous celebrity and sometimes not, for their take—'Salad is meant to be eaten with your hands’ or ‘We should shut the entire internet off once a week.’ Rahma then agrees or disagrees before the two of them spend whatever’s left of two minutes arguing about it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RrBeZJ
BDAYS: WCCO Radio’s Mark Freie, Sen. Grant Hauschild, Affinity Plus CEO Dave Larson, attorney and curler Rich Ruohonen, sports media guy Mike Woodley, MN Biofuels leader Brian Werner, U of M’s Chris Gade, outdoors guy Tony Jones, attorney Kevin Chandler
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.
Copyright © 2025 Lunch Take, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427