As President Trump heads to the NATO summit, a poll finds adults in five European ally countries are losing faith in the organization. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/448zNqx
Today’s WCCO Radio morning take at 6:20 with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40gPp8M
On Sunday Take, Blois chats with Representative Dave Baker and Minnesota state auditor Julie Blaha about the path ahead, things to look ahead to with the special session behind us, some of the humanity that people do not see between the many colleagues around him and where we go from here as we try to move forward. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3G4owyc
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:
STRIKE: Via KQDS-TV, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) has announced their union members voted to authorize a strike. The announcement was following the Monday June 23, 2025 vote. A strike has not been called for at this point. The union did not release the voting tallies other than saying it was enough to authorize a strike.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lk1yBX
SNOW: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis spent a lot less than budgeted on a handful of experiments to clear snow and ice from sidewalks last year, according to a new city report. Why it matters: Some Minneapolis City Council members want the city to play a larger role in keeping paths clear in the winter, but finding a way for municipal staff to help at a manageable cost has been a challenge. By city ordinance, homeowners must shovel within 24 hours of the last flake.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k8F8Tn
SOLAR: Via Canary Media, VERBATIM: “As some state legislatures try to roll back clean energy measures, a successful policy for community solar in Minnesota has survived a political fight to end it. Earlier this month, lawmakers ditched language from the state’s energy omnibus bill that would have terminated a successful state community-solar program in three years — and quashed the build-out of 500 megawatts of planned projects, according to advocates.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44grIyA
GEN MILLS: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “General Mills is introducing a fresh version of its Blue Buffalo pet food for dogs, aimed at competing with popular brands such as Freshpet and venture capital-backed The Farmer's Dog. The Minnesota-based packaged food maker is entering the fresh pet food market because it projects that over the next decade it will soar in retail sales to $10 billion, from a little over $3 billion currently, said Liz Mascolo, the segment president of General Mills' North America pet business. Retail sales in U.S. pet food total about $53 billion, Mascolo said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZNFck1
NEW LAW: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Young boaters heading up to the lake next week may need a permit to get behind the wheel on their own. Driving the news: A new state law that takes effect July 1 will require those under age 21 to to pay a $35 fee and pass an online boater's safety exam before being allowed to operate a boat with over 75 horsepower.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3T6FhLV
AGS: Via States Newsroom, VERBATIM: “Democratic state attorneys general vowed Monday on Capitol Hill to continue legal challenges against President Donald Trump’s ‘outrageous overreach’ through executive orders to strip birthright citizenship, impose staggering global tariffs, thwart lifesaving medical research and more. Attorneys General Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Matthew J. Platkin of New Jersey, Andrea Campbell of Massachusetts and Kwame Raoul of Illinois spoke before Democrats on both the Senate and House Judiciary committees during a special “spotlight forum” hosted by minority party lawmakers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nhds1a
CONGRESS: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “After the United States bombed what it said were key nuclear sites in Iran, Minnesota Democrats in Congress are seeking to rein in President Donald Trump’s war-making powers. That effort, however, will be difficult.
The president said the airstrikes destroyed Iran’s nuclear ambitions and were ‘one and done.’ Yet, like many Democrats, Sen. Amy Klobuchar warned of an escalation of conflict after Saturday’s airstrikes, which provoked Iran’s bombing of U.S. military bases in the Middle East on Monday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/467L8bt
BOELTER: Via Insight News, VERBATIM: “Attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, founder of the Racial Justice Network, says white male mass murderers are often handled with remarkable restraint.” QUOTE: “Despite murdering two people and attempting to assassinate more, (Vance) Boelter was apprehended alive and unharmed. And he's not the first. Dylann Roof, who slaughtered nine Black worshipers at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, was peacefully arrested and fed Burger King by officers. Robert Aaron Long, who killed eight people at Atlanta-area spas- including six Asian women- was allowed to surrender without incident. These aren't exceptions. They're patterns.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3T8ualJ
PELTIER: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Leonard Peltier’s home on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa reservation is nestled among green prairie grasses at the end of a tree-lined gravel road. His small yard and 2-bedroom home sit below the big skies of North Dakota. In the driveway sits an old van that he’s determined to fix. He calls it his Indian Car. It’s been four months since Peltier moved into his new home. It’s also the first time since Jimmy Carter was president that Peltier lived outside of a prison cell. He said the transition to a comfortable new home in Belcourt, N.D., is ‘awesome.’” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3G1RY7X
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)
TODAY: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “One of the final steps in the sale of the Timberwolves and Lynx will occur Tuesday. The NBA Board of Governors is set to vote on approving a deal that will transfer ownership of the teams from Glen Taylor to a group led by entrepreneur Marc Lore and former baseball star Alex Rodriguez.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46csuzb
TODAY: From Governor Tim Walz via X, VERBATIM: “I’m headed up to Bemidji to meet with local emergency managers and survey damage from severe storms this weekend. We’re making sure impacted communities have every resource they need to recover and rebuild.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4ni1KDD
TORNADO: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Renowned storm chaser and meteorologist Reed Timmer spent the past few days chasing tornadoes in North Dakota and Minnesota, and on Sunday he found himself in the path of a tornado that touched down near Grygla in northern Minnesota.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40lykdV
MPLS: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Change is in the works for north Minneapolis. A revitalization effort for the community called Northside Forward lays out a 10-year, $1.5 billion plan to ensure that north Minneapolis ‘receives the investment, resources, and opportunities that match its legacy and future potential.’ The initiative was developed through a partnership between the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) and hundreds of community members. For the last seven months, the AALF held community planning sessions to establish recommendations and goals for the area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4egsfp3
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)
EAB: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “An insect that kills ash trees has now been found in more Minnesota counties, prompting the DNR to take action to limit the invasive bug from spreading. Emerald ash borer was first seen in Minnesota back in 2009. Since then, it has spread to 58 counties in the state. The Minnesota DNR says it was recently found for the first time in Meeker, Murray, Ottertail and Wadena counties, along with new areas of Carlton County.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HWaAH5
BLANK METAL: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Blank Metal—it’s not a rock band; it’s a new AI-native software engineering company, but this startup’s founders and investors read like a troupe of superstars…in Minnesota tech. Formed by former leaders of GoKart Labs, a digital agency that landed on every hot startup list in the 2010s before being acquired in 2019 by West Monroe, Blank Metal on Tuesday announced a $3 million seed round co-led by Twin Cities VCs Rally Ventures managing director Justin Kaufenberg (co-founder of Sports Engine), Traction Capital’s Matt Meents (co-founder of Yardstik and Magnet 360), and Pure Play Partners’ Brock Noland (co-founder of phData).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l72pWQ
RETAIL: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Downtown Minneapolis just got more flavorful. At the end of April, the creative brand Flavor World hosted its grand opening at their new headquarters located in the Harmon Place historic district, near Loring Park. The new storefront serves as a community art space for local creatives to connect.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44eKN49
CLOSED: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Running Room has closed the company's only store in Minnesota. The Canada-based, family-owned running shoes and apparel shop at 1068 Grand Ave. in recently shut down, joining the growing list of businesses that have departed St. Paul's historic shopping street in the past couple years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46cqua9
CLOSED: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “After 15 years in downtown Robbinsdale, Nonna Rosa’s Ristorante Italiano closed its doors for the last time. Though the business has changed hands over the years, it held on to its title as a local favorite.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ehRg2Q
CLOSING: Via Minnesota Monthly, VERBATIM: “RIP to the Cooper Burger, effective Aug. 24, as Stepchld owner Kamal Mohamed announced the closure of his tiny full-service restaurant across from Surdyk’s in Northeast Minneapolis. It was one of our Top 75 Restaurants on the Minnesota Monthly leaderboard, and we gave it a rave review when it opened in 2021.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k8QEhz
TODAY: At 12:15, Taste of Minnesota organizers will host a media availability featuring chef Andrew Zimmern and others.
THURSDAY: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Join Sahan Journal as we unpack the impact of the new travel ban on Minnesota’s immigrant communities.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4nvzvBE
ACQUISITION: Via news release from Roseville-based SecureTech, VERBATIM: “SecureTech Innovations, Inc. (OTC: SCTH), a pioneering technology company advancing artificial intelligence, industrial 3D printing and manufacturing technologies, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure solutions, is excited to announce its landmark acquisition of AI UltraProd Group. This strategic expansion strengthens SecureTech’s ability to drive innovation, scale operations, and advance disruptive technologies that align with our 2025 Roadmap for Innovation and Growth, firmly positioning SecureTech for long-term success.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kOccRE
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
BEAR: Via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “A veterinary dentist, Dr. Grace Brown, dug into the maw of Tundra, a 6-year-old Alaskan brown bear, on Monday at the Lake Superior Zoo, breaking new ground. Brown brightened the sedated bear's future meals by repairing a damaged tooth — a procedure that involved installing the largest crown ever recorded in the annals of dentistry, human or animal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n7Q3PM
BDAYS: advocate Sarah Florman, Senate staff Krista Broton, WCCO Radio’s Jimmy Erickson, DFL operative Kristin Beckmann
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