From The Economist, the President’s net approval rating by state:
Approval among other demographics as well as opinions on issues HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4taTTuu
Via PRWeek, advice for businesses and nonprofits struggling with how to respond to the current political climate. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cjLWwW
Via Star Tribune, some aren’t happy with how the UofM is responding. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qYlRbl
Sir Ian McKellan performed a bit of Shakespeare to deliver a message about the present day United States. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4byNAuu
Holy Angels alum Larry Fitzgerald is headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4axBNLU
Sunday Take will explore the dire financial situation of HCMC – tune in at 9AM on WCCO Radio.
Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com
Out this week – the State of the Governor’s race – a MNSider Brief. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r3ACtF
Sunday Take analyzed this week’s caucuses and what’s changed in the Legislature with retiring GOP Rep. Paul Torkelson. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4qd7D5h
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
THE WINTER OLYMPICS
SURVEY: From Lumaris Research, Minnesotans’ favorite Winter Olympic sports:
MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4qpleq5
HOCKEY: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “The rise of professional women’s hockey in North America has made training for this year’s Winter Olympics ‘really different,’ Plymouth native Kelly Pannek tells Axios. Before the 2018 and 2022 Games, the U.S. women’s training schedule included exhibitions against men’s clubs and college teams — games that weren’t always the best measuring sticks, Pannek says.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a0Mkiz
VONN: Via Associated Press, Lindsey Vonn’s training run went well today – despite what some would see as a season- or career-ending injury. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rtopOy
DIGGINS: The New York Times Magazine details what Afton’s Jessie Diggins overcame to win a silver medal in 2022. DIGGINS: “I’m glad I know I can dig that deep,” she says. “But I should not.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4khGcWu
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)
ICE IN MINNESOTA
HEALTH CARE: Via MMA, VERBATIM: “On February 5, the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA), along with several other physician advocacy groups, sent a letter to the Minnesota Congressional Delegation urging Congress, as a condition of ongoing funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to restrict U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities in or near healthcare facilities and other sensitive locations, and to hold DHS accountable for ensuring that detainees are provided with appropriate medical care, food, water, and other basic human needs.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/45NNg7t
RELATED: Via The New York Times, the impact on expecting mothers in Minnesota. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ajdLDi
CHILD CARE: Via Minnesota Reformer, a look at the impact of absences from child care facilities. VERBATIM: “‘Recent federal activity near child care centers is creating fear and causing disruptions to familiar routines for children and families in Minnesota,’ a spokesperson for the state Department of Children, Youth and Families said in a statement. ‘That fear may result in children being absent from child care for prolonged periods of time, which can negatively impact children’s mental and physical health, while also creating instability for child care providers.’ One un-enrollment means that Clair’s center is out $478 per week in CCAP payments for that child — but rent and labor costs are unchanged, she said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tqHDX6
WISCONSIN: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Hours after White House border czar Tom Homan announced Wednesday morning that the Trump administration would be pulling 700 immigration agents out of Minnesota, agents crossed the St. Croix River to conduct a number of raids in the Twin Cities exurban communities of Hudson and Baldwin, Wisconsin . . . While the presence of ICE in the Twin Cities has galvanized resistance in the largely blue urban area, the operations in western Wisconsin are deeply dividing residents in a solidly Republican county.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46BQACT
COUNTIES: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Some greater Minnesota counties already cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and say they have no plans to change the practice, despite controversy over the recent federal enforcement surge in Minnesota. More than half a dozen Minnesota counties have signed agreements to assist ICE to varying degrees, from detaining people in county jails to helping federal agents find and arrest people suspected of immigration violations or other crimes.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/46yYP2u
MINNEAPOLIS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “There are concerns in the City of Minneapolis that Operation Metro Surge could lead to higher property taxes. According to Budget Director Jayne Discenza, the city spent at least $5 million in just a couple of weeks in January in response to the federal immigration enforcement operations. She told City Council members that all of the 26 city departments are contributing to the response, from staffing to time.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bDV5QX
PROTEST ARRESTS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “A dozen people were arrested Thursday night after more anti-immigration enforcement protests outside the Graduate by Hilton hotel on the University of Minnesota campus.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZRWWdw
LIAM: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family. The 5-year-old returned home this week after he was detained with his father on Jan. 20 and sent to a detention center in Texas. The Department of Homeland Security filed a motion Wednesday to expedite deportation proceedings in the family’s case, said immigration attorney Danielle Molliver with Nwokocha & Operana Law Offices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ajzw5Q
MPS: Minneapolis Public Schools announced it’s extending the option for online learning through April 6 – it had been set to end next week. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/45RPm6k
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)
POLITICS
37A: Real estate agent Darci Smith this morning announced her candidacy for House District 37A. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MeJTzG
POLK CTY: Polk County Sheriff James Tadman says he won’t seek re-election. Via Lakeland PBS, WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4tkyhfp
PAID LEAVE: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The state’s new paid family and medical leave law is giving a big boost to local temp agencies. Since the program went into effect January 1, many businesses have been scrambling to fill positions. True Talent‘s Stacey Stratton says they’ve been busy since December.” QUOTE: “Over 90% of our business is contract workers, so on the marketing and creative side. So for us it’s been amazing, on the side of like extra requests,” Stratton explains. “So we’re getting a lot more people to work. Our business is up over like 17% of what it was last year.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/45TYfw5
HIBBING: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Union workers for the city of Hibbing have filed an intent to strike on Thursday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qgXp3N
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
ACQUISITION: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A Dutch beverage giant will buy leading plant-based food supplier SunOpta for about $798 million. Refresco — which owns popular juice and soda beverages sold in Europe, North America and Australia — will pay $6.50 a share in cash for the Eden Prairie-based company, the companies said on Feb. 6.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bKSepr
PIPER: Via Investing, VERBATIM: “On Friday, [Minneapolis-based] Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE:PIPR) reported fourth quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $6.88 per share, significantly exceeding analyst estimates of $4.73, while revenue reached a record $666.1 million compared to the consensus estimate of $518.1 million. The company’s stock edged down 0.49% in pre-market trading following the announcement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qmtE1B
PROTOLABS: Via InvestorHub, VERBATIM: “[Rosemount-based] Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB) reported fourth-quarter results that topped market expectations, powered by robust momentum in its CNC Machining business, sending the company’s shares sharply higher. The digital manufacturing services provider’s stock jumped more than 14% in U.S. premarket trading on Friday following the release. Proto Labs posted adjusted earnings of $0.44 per share for the quarter, well ahead of the analyst consensus of $0.35. Revenue climbed to a record $136.5 million, beating expectations of $128.99 million and rising 12.1% from the same period a year earlier.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qW1U4Y
WHAT’S NEXT?
TODAY: A Timberwolves news conference to introduce newly acquired guard Ayo Dosunmu and forward Julian Phillips. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/45SvWy7
THIS WEEKEND: The Hudson Hot Air Affair begins today. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/42KWbG4
TOMORROW: On Lake of the Isles, the 22nd annual Luminary Loppet. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3ZPN6ZM
NEXT WEEK: Via Insight News, Sounds of Blackness will perform “Music for Martin” at the Ordway. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3ZlWrIA
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
LAKEVILLE: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “There’s something inherently thrilling about a place you don’t stumble upon—you’re let in on it. At The Farmer’s Cellar in Lakeville, entry begins inside a convenience store, where a soda shelf quietly doubles as a door. Step through, and the everyday disappears, replaced by a speakeasy-style bar and restaurant built on surprise, thoughtful design, and a menu that takes familiar flavors somewhere unexpected.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aiTPjG
BDAYS: Minneapolis leader Karin Birkeland,WCCO Radio Christopher Tubbs,golfer Christopher Tubbs,PR veteran Katie Tinucci. SAT: dairy leader Lucas Sjostrom,comms pro Jennifer Beers,House staffer DJ Danielson,grasstops pro Dennis Egan SUN: Chamber leader Lori Higgins,operative James Haggar,designer Derek Brigham,print guy Bill Gleason, comms pro Rick Fuentes
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