Vice President JD Vance says he wants “to calm tensions” and to “try to understand what we can do better” during his visit to Minneapolis today. CNN: https://fluence-media.co/49yIBbM
The Oscar nominations are out this morning. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4bbLAIv
Sports Take comes out later today with a fan’s guide to following sports in a struggling Minnesota media market. (Hint: Quit whining about the “print edition.”) Also, the chilling tale of former Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath’s kidnapping in Morocco in 2024, a story he kept under wraps until now.
Meanwhile, at The New York Times, an explanation of what a Fox commentator called our “organized gangs of wine moms.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pUoaeq
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49KehcZ
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer shared thoughts on ICE, midterm elections and the state of Congress with Sunday Take. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4sLFN2v
In a must listen, Legislative Auditor Judy Randall joined Sunday Take to discuss fraud in state programs. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3YTziND
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
Blois
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FIRST
JOBS: Via DEED, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s monthly job growth was flat in December and the state’s unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.1%, according to data released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The private sector lost 1,700 jobs between November and December on a seasonally adjusted basis, for which the Local Government subsector made up with 1,700 jobs gained in the same period. The labor force increased by over 2,100 people and the labor force participation rate stayed at 68.2% over the month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bLewak
ESST: This morning, House Workforce, Labor, and Economic development Finance and Polity co-chair Rep. Dave Baker (R-16B) responded to the Democratic Socialists of America’s ESST advice. BAKER: “Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time law exists for a very specific reason—to ensure workers can take time off when they or their family members are genuinely sick, unsafe, or in need of care. Using ESST to participate in political activism completely undermines the spirit of the law and why it was enacted. State law is clear: political protest is not an acceptable use of earned sick and safe time.”
MORE: In case you missed it, the DSA advice is in today’s Morning Take. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3NzBpn9
SD 15: Braxton Seifert, son of former Rep. Marty Seifert, announced he’s running for Senate District 15. Via YouTube, WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bN8vtH
ST LOUIS CTY: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “An Iron Range union leader at Hibbing Taconite has announced his run for a county board seat. Chris Johnson is vying for the St. Louis County commissioner District 6 seat. District 6 covers areas from Saginaw north to Eveleth.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4qzy0Dx
MEDIA: Via ProPublica, VERBATIM: “ProPublica announced on Wednesday that Andy Mannix has been hired as a reporter based in Minnesota. He starts on Feb. 2. Mannix joins ProPublica after 10 years at The Minnesota Star Tribune.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bNb4vP
IT’S COLD…
TRAINS: The Pioneer Press reports Amtrak canceled the Empire Builder between Chicago and Seattle Wednesday through Sunday and the Borealis between St. Paul and Chicago today and tomorrow. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a8a3xa
U OF M: Via alert sent this morning to University of Minnesota students and staff, VERBATIM: “Due to the forecast of extreme cold weather, the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis and St. Paul is implementing reduced operations beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday, January 22. Students will receive more information from instructors about class modality. Only essential on-campus employees must report to campus.”
HOCKEY: Too cold for hockey? The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships canceled tomorrow’s events. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/3LHhKkK
MORE: Hockey Day Minnesota organizers have said that the event will go on.
STAY WARM: In case you need it, the Brainerd Fire Department has tips. Via Lakeland PBS, WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49IROyt
FEDERAL MOVES
ARREST: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The Justice Department said on Thursday that it had arrested one of the demonstrators who interrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minn., to protest a pastor’s apparent work as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media that agents with Homeland Security and the F.B.I. had arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong in connection with a protest Sunday at Cities Church that brought the service to a stop and prompted some congregants to leave.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r7PNlc
MORE: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted this image on X:
TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4pQVh2s
RELATED: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “A federal magistrate judge rejected the Justice Department’s attempt to bring charges against journalist Don Lemon for appearing alongside protesters who breached a Minnesota church over the weekend, a source told CNN.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pTdr3J
FATALITY: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “A gunshot wound to the left temple likely killed Renee Good, according to an independent autopsy released Wednesday by Good’s family’s attorneys.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NyQ7L9
INJURY: Via MPR, new information about a man arrested January 8 in St. Paul who was later hospitalized with a “life-threatening” head injury. VERBATIM: “The man’s attorneys don’t know how his injury was caused, but they were told by hospital staff that he’d been ‘dragged and mistreated’ by federal agents. ICE agents told medical professionals that he was on the ground in handcuffs when he attempted to flee and that he ‘purposely ran headfirst into a brick wall,’ according to the petition. Another agent told hospital staff, according to the petition, that ‘he got his shit rocked,’ but did not share other information.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45Z8HCv
CENSURE: Via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Tensions around ICE activity in St. Cloud took center stage Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the District 742 school board meeting, as five members voted to censure Natalie Copeland for a controversial social media post . . . Copeland, who was elected to the school board in 2022, used expletives in a since-deleted Jan. 9 Facebook post expressing anger at how the ICE activity was causing anxiety and for her child in high school, and how she disagreed with the leadership of President Donald Trump and those who support him.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pULQPQ
LAWSUITS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “An unprecedented number of immigrants in federal detention are going to court in Minnesota to challenge their arrests — and many of them are winning. Since Operation Metro Surge started on Dec. 1, a total of 344 immigrants filed cases challenging their detentions, according to a Minnesota Star Tribune review of federal district court filings in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jQUw8t
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)
FROM MINNESOTA BUSINESSES
TOMORROW: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “An organized effort encouraging people not to work, shop or go to school on Friday in protest of ICE’s surge into Minnesota is gaining momentum. Why it matters: ‘ICE Out of MN: Day of Truth and Freedom’ could become one of the largest demonstrations since ICE’s aggressive push into the state began in late November, culminating with a 2pm march in downtown Minneapolis. State of play: A growing number of eateries, coffee shops and retailers are closing for the day.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YSf5HP
DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “More than a dozen Duluth businesses are participating in Friday’s ‘ICE Out of Minnesota Day’ protesting the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3NXRoLR
WHAT IT IS: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “A general strike is a work stoppage across multiple industries. The overall goal is to pause economic activity to compel change. General strikes are uncommon in modern America but were once a staple of protest politics and are still frequently employed in Europe.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZonB1k
CONVENIENCE STORES: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and a group of federal immigration officers were denied service at a Speedway convenience store in south Minneapolis, which was just one of a few clashes between immigration agents and protesters at Speedways on Wednesday.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rcBhbT
RETAIL: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Our local retailers are navigating this moment in real time, balancing survival with solidarity and the belief that small actions can make a big difference. To see how that’s playing out on the ground, we checked in with a handful of businesses across the Twin Cities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LGQLWu
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)
SPORTS
TIMBERWOLVES: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “The Timberwolves informed their season ticket holders Wednesday they’re getting a sizable price hike for next season. Why it matters: Target Center has long been one of the cheapest places to catch an NBA game, but new CEO Matt Caldwell said the increases are warranted given the team’s recent success, expensive payroll and arena upgrades.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NvXdjE
POLITICS
TAFOYA: via Axios, VERBATIM: “The race is rated ‘likely Democrat’ by Cook Political Report, but Senate GOP leaders like their chances with a star recruit like [Michele] Tafoya, Minnesota’s ongoing fraud scandal and a messy Democratic primary. … Tafoya is pitching herself as a straight-talking outsider. … She called herself a ‘pro-choice Republican,’ [which] could ruffle some feathers in her party. … In 2022, Tafoya publicly urged [Donald] Trump not to run for president again. Tafoya now hopes to get Trump’s endorsement, and she’s been communicating with White House staff, she told Axios.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Nt4ukh
RESPONSE: DFL Rep. Angie Craig published a video response to Republican Michele Tafoya entering the Senate race. Craig’s video also includes a swipe at Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, her DFL primary opponent. CRAIG: “We’ve got to make sure Donald Trump isn’t handed another rubber stamp in Michele Tafoya. We have to keep this seat blue — because for Minnesota, the stakes are too high. Democrats can’t afford to nominate someone who’s never won a competitive election on her own.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49JYNFR
ENDORSED: via Flanagan for Senate, VERBATIM: “The Peggy Flanagan campaign announced the endorsement of the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO), representing approximately 4,000 faculty, coaches, and counselors from the seven Minnesota State universities, serving more than 55,000 students across the state.”
MORE FLANAGAN: Via Minnesota Monthly, an interview with Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan about her life and her run for U.S. Senate. FLANAGAN: “This campaign is about making sure people can afford the lives they want to live. I’m grounded in being Minnesotan. I exist because of the generosity of Minnesotans. My mom used a Section 8 voucher to find us an apartment in St. Louis Park. SNAP kept food on the table. Medicaid was my health care. I didn’t realize until I was older that when my mom said, ‘I ate at work,’ it meant there wasn’t enough food. All of this is personal—not just for me, but for so many Minnesotans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ls9u8b
WILD ABOUT READING: Join more than 800 Minnesota classrooms and 30,000 students participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy – and the team dog, Paulie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: Wild About Reading (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
COMMERCE
MN BUSINESSES: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “The state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities cited devastating economic impacts in a lawsuit filed this month imploring a federal judge to halt the immigration operations. The lawsuit asserted that some businesses have reported sales drops up to 80%. An October report from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve noted sluggish economic indicators even before over 2,000 federal immigration officers began arriving in Minneapolis and St. Paul. But a January report emphasized that some Minnesota businesses experienced dampened sales and slower foot traffic out of ‘fear of immigration enforcement.’ Nearly 20% of all businesses surveyed reported lower employment head counts citing similar concerns.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/464BPbq
TARGET: Via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “Target Corp. was hoping that it would get a fresh start with a new chief executive officer, but an immigration crackdown in its hometown Minneapolis is putting the retailer back in a familiar position: confronting a political maelstrom that’s disrupting operations. After immigration officials briefly detained two Target employees who are US citizens from a Richfield, Minnesota, store this month, some retail staffers started calling out of work at several locations in the Twin Cities area. Meanwhile, some teams have postponed planned in-office weeks at headquarters. And local faith leaders have demanded the company ban federal agents from its stores and parking lots and issue a statement clearly condemning the enforcement operation. Outgoing CEO Brian Cornell is set to meet with them Thursday, according to the delegation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b6NmdQ
LIFE TIME: Via Investing, VERBATIM: “Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LTH) announced Thursday its preliminary unaudited financial results showing substantial growth for both the fourth quarter and full-year 2025, while also introducing guidance for fiscal 2026. The fitness operator, currently valued at $6.15 billion, has seen its shares rise 5% year-to-date. The fitness center operator estimates total revenue increased 12.2% to approximately $744 million for the fourth quarter and 14.2% to about $2.99 billion for the full year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r27VN5
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)
BUSINESS MOVES
EXPANSION: Via Minneapolis-based Betty, VERBATIM: “Betty, a Quad agency, today announced the opening of new offices in Austin, Texas, and Mexico City, Mexico, marking a significant step in the continued expansion of the creative agency and Quad’s global platform.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jSjTXt
ACQUISITION: Via Bertram Capital, VERBATIM: “[Alabama-based] Ridgeline Roofing & Restoration, a provider of residential and commercial roofing solutions, has acquired Bold North Roofing and Contracting LLC, a growing roofing and exterior services provider servicing Minnesota’s Twin Cities metro area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sOVR3H
NEW CFO: Via Minneapolis-based Apogee, VERBATIM: “Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG) announced today that Mark Augdahl has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Augdahl has served as the Company’s Interim CFO since January 7, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t0vkR5
LIST: Via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “For a twelfth year, Xcel Energy has been honored as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine. The company ranked first in social responsibility and placed fourth overall among the most admired electric and gas companies in the country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sRJHqL
(DISCLOSURE: Xcel is a Fluence sponsor)
MORE: Via Fortune, the full list. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3NZ9Nb6
WHAT’S NEXT?
TODAY: The Minneapolis Boat Show begins. Via WCCO-Radio, LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4bvvNED
NEXT MONTH: Via Brooklyn Park-based Clearfield, VERBATIM: “Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLFD), the leader in community broadband fiber connectivity, today announced that it will release results for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, ended December 31, 2025, on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, after the close of the market.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jYRuz4
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
COSTCO: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Japan was the trip of a lifetime for Annette Kujak. The 58-year-old retiree from Brownsville, Minn., loved the ancient temples in Tokyo, neon lights in Osaka and free-roaming deer in Nara. The other highlight of her vacation was a concrete box here in suburbia, surrounded by the same gray asphalt she sees at home. It was a Japanese outpost of Costco. ‘It ranks right up there with the temples,’ she said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/464E1ja
BDAYS: AP’s Steve Karnowski, lobbyist Haley Cobb, KARE 11’s Boyd Huppert, housing advocate Elizabeth Glidden
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