lunch take | How Funding Cuts Could Impact Rochester + Best Buy's (TV) Inflation
9.15.25
Millennials like AI more than Gen Zers – 18% of Gen Z say they’ve stopped shopping with a brand or business because they don’t trust its use of artificial intelligence. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/4n4ZlMf
Minnesota ranks 8th on WalletHub’s list of the best states for teachers – high marks for opportunity and competition, but the majority of states do better in academic and work environment. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4n7rUsi
In his Emmy acceptance speech last night, Stephen Colbert quoted Prince. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ViDu7B
The Trump administration says this morning that it has reached a deal with China to keep TikTok running in the U.S. READ: https://fluence-media.co/42p83MO
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gq3QhQ
Sunday Take featured DFL Sen. Judy Seeberger and GOP Rep. Danny Nadeau discussing how they want to move forward with a special session as purple district legislators. LISTEN: http://fluence-media.co/4gxlhNy
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:
Sign-up for paid TheDailyAgenda and you’ll receive a morning take mug.
Earlier this year we launched a premium subscription option. Now we’re adding content for premium subscribers.
A monthly insight-filled briefing memo on Minnesota and Midwest issue and political dynamics.
Access to our Fluence Forum audio and videio assets.
A free morning take mug if you sign-up this week.
Fluence Advisory hosted a cannabis forum on the “State of Cannabis in Minnesota including an interview with Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management Eric Taubel.
ROCHESTER: Via Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “For every person in the Rochester area labor market, Mayo Clinic and other researchers receive $1,237 from the National Institutes of Health. That's the greatest amount of NIH funding per capita in the nation, according to a recent analysis of NIH funding and local employment by the nonpartisan Brookings Institute . . . Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its 2026 proposed budget, which would include reducing the NIH's budget to $27.5 billion, down significantly from its current $48 billion budget. (House Republicans, though, have not included the cuts in their latest spending bill, Axios reports.) Much of the NIH's budget is redistributed to universities and research institutions through grants. Mayo Clinic is the second largest recipient of NIH funding in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4poqScX
BEST BUY: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Best Buy is making televisions the star of its holiday lineup — and not just any TVs, but units so big they could double as a wall. Why it matters: The Minneapolis-based retailer is betting that shoppers will splurge on massive screens, even as high inflation and cautious spending shape this holiday season. Zoom out: Best Buy said Monday it has doubled its selection of so-called XXL TVs — televisions 97 inches and up — this holiday season compared to last year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nAMhxZ
MORE: Via Best Buy, a news release announcing its holiday season plans. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pDviwO
DATA CENTERS: Via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “As data centers are looking at the Northland's cold climate as an opportunity, concerns over energy and water consumption arise. Area Partnership for Economic Expansion held a member meeting on Sept. 11, which featured a presentation on ‘Demystifying Data Centers.’ Lucas Mistelske of Ark Data Centers provided an update on the real-world functionality of data centers. The company has been in operation in Duluth for 13 years and has 12 data centers across eight states. Data centers serve as the central operating environment for modern-day business, Mistelske said.” QUOTE: “Data centers are designed and built to maximize our uptime as business operators,” Mistelske said. “They maximize our systems, our processes, our manufacturing lines, our financial systems — things that make the world go round — that we expect to operate 24/7.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4669Mcn
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)
GUNS: Via The Minneapolis Egotist, a look at gun laws in the wake of the Annunciation shooting in Minneapolis. VERBATIM: “Even if Minnesota had banned semiautomatic military-style assault weapons, like the one used by the shooter, they’re available for purchase in every surrounding state. The assailant also brought a shotgun and handgun to the school. The shooter would have passed background checks and didn’t trigger the state’s red flag law, which allows courts to order the confiscation of weapons from people who threaten their own life or others.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mkOTyO
MORE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota, reliably among the bluest of states on matters from health care subsidies to presidential elections, defies easy categorization when it comes to guns. One gun control advocacy group placed it a mere 15th best in the nation on gun laws. ‘Moving from New York, I had to make an adjustment as an organizer to the strong hunting culture here,’ said Kathleen Anderson, a St. Paul resident and volunteer with Moms Demand Action, which is advocating for an assault weapons ban. Indeed, other states including Texas did little to change gun laws after a mass shooting.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mdtKqb
RHETORIC: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “While there were condemnations of the [Charlie Kirk] killing and calls from both Republicans and Democrats immediately afterward to cool the nation’s political rhetoric, there are signs the latter sentiment is already fading away. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) on Friday reposted a video of an influencer calling Kirk a ‘reprehensible human being’ and criticizing the right’s reaction to his death. Rep. Tom Emmer (R., Minn.) condemned Omar, writing: ‘You used your platform to share a disgusting video—a video full of lies that tries to justify the actions of the deranged coward who murdered Charlie Kirk.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4npokcA
BLAINE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Police in Blaine say they arrested and charged 22 people who attempted to pay for sex with children during a two-day ‘juvenile suppression operation’ earlier this month. Officers posing as an underage girl communicated through text messages with more than 460 individuals, and 22 people traveled to a designated meeting spot with the intention of paying to have sex with a juvenile, said Blaine Deputy Chief Joe Gehard.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46EJyOc
ELECTRIC: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “If it seems like power outages are growing… you’d be right. According to Xcel Energy, power outages averaged about 170 minutes per Minnesota customer two years ago. That increased last year to more than 300 minutes . . . ‘There’s been a dramatic increase in power outages in this northwestern part of the metro,’ said Jason Strand, Xcel Energy’s director of distribution operations. Strand met with CCX News during a project in Plymouth. He indicated weather is a factor.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42p6KgS
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS: The Pine Bend refinery in Rosemount is a landmark like no other – the tall columns and bright lights can be seen from miles away. Generations of workers have helped operate, maintain and transform the refinery, making it one of the nation’s most innovative and efficient energy facilities of its kind. This year, Flint Hills Resources celebrates 70 years of dedicated employees at the Pine Bend refinery who have produced the fuels that help move us forward. LEARN MORE: About the Pine Bend refinery (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
U OF M: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “When Hurricane Helene slammed into a swath of the Southeast a year ago, Rachel Smith was tracking the storm with her fifth-grade students as part of their weather curriculum . . . With the hurricane’s one-year anniversary coming up, Smith said she noticed ‘signs of stress’ in her students, many of whom experienced personal loss . . . That’s when she came across the University of Minnesota’s Center for Climate Literacy’s upcoming institute, which aimed to host 24 K-12 educators from around the country for a two-week in-person training on how to teach climate literacy and justice to students. The institute was funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), an independent federal funding agency. But, just a few days after the institute sent out acceptance letters to the teachers who had applied, the grant was terminated.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47IX1pl
CREDIT RATING: Via news release from the Governor’s office, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz announced today that Moody’s Investors Service, S&P Global Ratings, and Fitch Group have once again affirmed Minnesota’s AAA credit rating, the agencies’ highest possible mark. This is the fourth consecutive year all three rating agencies have provided a AAA bond rating for Minnesota, underscoring strong confidence in the state’s fiscal management, stable economic outlook, and responsible budgeting practices.” QUOTE: “Governor Walz and state leaders continue to focus on investments that make Minnesota a place where people want to live, work and raise a family,” said Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Erin Campbell. “In order to protect those investments, we had to make hard budgetary choices this year and were able to reach consensus on those choices with the most closely divided legislature in the country -- which is a major accomplishment. I am very grateful to the Governor and legislative leaders for doing the hard work together so we could continue to invest in long-term priorities while also reflecting short-term budgetary realities.”
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)
LRT: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Metro Blue Line has been in service for more than 20 years. That means maintenance. From September 22 through October 4 service will be stopped for that work according to Metro Transit.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3K3Bu0z
BUS: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “University of Minnesota students and staff members who don’t feel like driving to campus have the option of taking an express bus from Maple Grove. City officials say they’re doing so in record numbers. ‘It’s up from last year,’ said Michael Valverde, Maple Grove’s transit and transportation planner. ‘Last year was about 19,000 [people]. This year we’re definitely going to break that.’ The Maple Grove Transit station offers two express buses to the University of Minnesota campus from Monday-Friday.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mhJgS8
MADE IN MN: Via Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and BMO today announced the top 16 products in the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota’ contest. Each of these Minnesota-made products earned their spot by winning a head-to-head matchup in last week’s round of the top 32 bracket. The public is invited to begin voting for this round today at 12:00 p.m.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4mLrasJ
(DISCLOSURE: Minnesota Chamber is a Fluence sponsor)
RETAIL: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Primark, the Irish fast fashion chain, has announced that it will soon open its first Minnesota location inside the Mall of America. The company is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its first U.S. outpost, a Boston store that laid the groundwork for the 33 shops it currently has around the country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mnyx8F
TODAY: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “On Monday, Sept. 15, the Maple Grove City Council will consider a proposed tax levy increase. Maple Grove officials are considering a 6.35 percent preliminary increase to its 2026 city tax levy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3K0IzPH
TOMORROW: Via news release from Rep. Stauber, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday, Representatives Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) will join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to announce the introduction of the Faster Labor Contracts Act. The Faster Labor Contracts Act is a bipartisan bill aimed to speed up the process of the first collective bargaining agreement between a newly unionized group of workers and their employer. According to Bloomberg Law, it takes an average of 458 days for unions and employers to agree on a first contract. This bipartisan legislation will ensure that when workers vote to form a union, employers are not allowed to drag out negotiations on first contracts.”
TOMORROW: Via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “A press conference to kick off the Slumlord Tier Oversight and Protection ordinance, aka STOP Slumlords. STOP Slumlords is a new policy that will hold landlords accountable for maintaining their rental units in good condition. STOP Slumlords requires that properties that are below city standards have a more rigorous process to renew their license, including a public vote by the City Council.”
WEDNESDAY: Via General Mills, VERBATIM: “General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) plans to report results for its fiscal 2026 first quarter on Sept. 17, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45TtKp4
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
ST. PIERRE: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “How do you create a guaranteed 100 percent fail-proof restaurant hit? ‘That’s the question that’ll mess you up, right?’ Isaac Becker asks me as we talk about St. Pierre Steak and Seafood, the newest restaurant he and his wife and restaurant partner Nancy St. Pierre opened this past March. QUOTE: “You get a whiff of it one day,” Becker notes, “and you think: You might have figured it all out; it might be you. But it’s not you. It’s never you. It’s never anybody. In fact, you can’t even think that way.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nvrvj0
BEST: Eater has a list (and a map) of what it says are the “38 best restaurants” in the Twin Cities. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4nBPAF7
BDAYS: fmr. Sen. Chuck Wiger, journalist Hutton Phillips, attorney Sam Clark
Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
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