While importing companies typically pay U.S.-imposed tariffs, 35% of voters believe it’s foreign exporters who pay them. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/3Z87t3D
Higher ed enrollment in Minnesota is declining. NUMBERS: https://fluence-media.co/4116BR3
Minnesota Monthly put together a list of the top five winter destinations for Minnesotans. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3Z53Ewe
Missing a huge trailer? SEE: https://fluence-media.co/415Smum
Today’s 6:20 morning take on WCCO Radio with Tom Hauser. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/414i8yM
Thanksgiving means Sports Take comes out Wednesday this week. Lots of Gophers news, a new Sports Take Hot 10 and odds on Reusse's annual Turkey of the Year. Sign up: https://fluence-media.co/SportsTakeSignUp
Maj. Whip Tom Emmer was the guest for Sunday Take. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fE2ChJ
We debut the first episodes of the next season of Fresh15. We start the season with Reps.-elect Wayne Johnson (R) and Kari Rerauer (DFL). HERE: https://fluence-media.co/Fresh152024
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
OMAR: From Sydney Kashiwagi via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Rep. Ilhan Omar stuck close to the Democratic ticket through the turbulent election year, never calling on President Joe Biden to step aside but quickly getting behind Vice President Kamala Harris when he did. It was a show of unity from a progressive Democrat not always in tune with her party’s center, and it came amid signs that Harris and Gov. Tim Walz were shifting focus from progressive priorities in the leadup to Election Day. Now, as the Minnesota congresswoman and her allies prepare for a second Trump administration and all it could bring, she is lamenting some of her party’s missed opportunities and missteps. Republicans ‘are clear about who they are fighting and who they are fighting for,’ Omar said in an interview in her Capitol Hill office. ‘And as Democrats, we are not clear about that.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OoB4kv
BEST BUY: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Best Buy, the nation’s largest consumer electronics chain, on Tuesday reported another quarterly drop in sales as Americans continued to tighten their purse strings on appliances and gadgets to focus on essentials. The Richfield, Minnesota-based retailer lowered its annual sales and profit outlook, sending its shares down 2.6% in premarket trading. The company reported earnings of $273 million, or $1.26 per share, for the quarter ended Nov. 2. That compares with $263 million, or $1.21 per share, a year ago. Sales fell to $9.45 billion from $9.76 billion in the year-ago quarter.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZnnyDP
MORE: Via CNBC, VERBATIM: “Best Buy on Tuesday cut its full-year sales forecast and missed Wall Street’s quarterly revenue expectations, as early holiday shopping and a fresh batch of iPhones and AI-enabled laptops weren’t enough to drive higher sales. The consumer electronics retailer said it now expects full-year revenue to range from $41.1 billion to $41.5 billion, compared to prior guidance of $41.3 billion to $41.9 billion. It expects full-year comparable sales to decline by between 2.5% and 3.5%, compared to its prior expectations of a 1.5% to 3% drop. Comparable sales includes sales online and at stores open for at least 14 months. Shares of Best Buy were down about 9% in early trading on Tuesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/496yPLY
TARGET: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Shoppers are falling out of love with Target. Customers have long bragged about their cheap-chic Target purchases. Now, many are griping about items missing on shelves, long checkout lines and products locked up to prevent theft. Others say they are shopping at the chain less because they feel that groceries are cheaper elsewhere or that there is a lack of exciting items. Some say they are still upset about a Pride month collection in 2023 that they felt went too far.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i9zCQK
WALMART: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Walmart is on a roll, reeling in shoppers who previously spurned the retailer, pounding rival Target and mounting a serious challenge to Amazon's digital turf. Why it matters: Already the world's biggest company by revenue, Walmart is nonetheless growing and transcending its previously down-market reputation. And the holiday shopping season — including the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend — poses an opportunity for the company to capitalize further on its rip-roaring momentum.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3B0JkUy
INTEREST RATES: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari, typically on the hawkish end of the U.S. central bank's policy spectrum, said on Monday he is open to cutting interest rates again next month.” QUOTE: "It's still a reasonable consideration," Kashkari said in a Bloomberg TV interview. "Right now, knowing what I know today, still considering a 25-basis-point cut in December - it's a reasonable debate for us to have.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4993HeY
PRODUCING FUELS THAT HELP KEEP MINNESOTA MOVING: Flint Hills Resources, one of the Midwest’s leading producers s 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 PAUL: From Frederick Melo via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Members of the St. Paul City Council have officially asked the mayor to cut up to $6 million in spending from the budget proposal he unveiled in August, with the goal of limiting the city’s 2025 property tax levy increase to no more than 5%. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s $855 million budget proposal currently calls for a 7.9% levy increase, raising alarm with fiscal watchdogs and some everyday residents and council members.” QUOTE: “We are hearing really clearly from our constituents that tax increases are a burden, and we’re trying to respond to what we’re hearing in a way that’s really responsible and doesn’t cut out needed services,” said Council Member Rebecca Noecker, in an interview Friday. “We’re pushing back pretty heavily on the mayor’s budget proposal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i3k5lf
ST CLOUD: From Trent Abrego via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Nine candidates will be interviewed by the St. Cloud City Council for the vacant ward seat during an open session on Monday, Dec. 2. Council members met at St. Cloud City Hall on Monday, Nov. 25, to discuss that process after Mayor-elect Jake Anderson vacated his Ward 3 seat on the council.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fLvynX
UPTOWN: From Kyle Stokes via Axios, VERBATIM: “A stretch of Hennepin Avenue in the heart of Uptown Minneapolis reopens to cars Tuesday, ending the first phase of a major reconstruction project that tore up the street for months. Why it matters: The criss-crossing traffic projects that have squeezed businesses for the past year — all in a neighborhood undergoing an identity crisis — are beginning to ease. Hennepin Avenue's new design features wider sidewalks, protected bike paths and lanes dedicated to transit buses during rush hour, city officials say.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OocGQ1
SLEEP NUMBER: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Weeks after Sleep Number Corp. chair and CEO Shelly Ibach announced plans to retire in 2025, the company’s largest shareholder, Stadium Capital Management, issued a statement Monday expressing its lack of confidence in the current board to find her replacement. The Connecticut-based investment group is calling for several board directors to be replaced, and for an independent CEO search. The group made a similar demand for a board shakeup in September 2023.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CLiNLE
MORE: From Sleep Number via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “The Board of Directors and leadership team of Sleep Number welcome shareholder input and suggestions. To that end, we have engaged extensively with Stadium and last November added two directors recommended by Stadium to the Board . . . Given our robust approach, we were surprised when Stadium made the highly unusual demand that it be granted direct participation in the CEO succession process. There is no predicate, in our view, for changing the Board’s best-in-class CEO search process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CIaMan
“IT’S OUR PEOPLE’S LIVES THEY SAVE” - The Cass Lake Fire Department, located on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation in northern Minnesota, serves an area of 400 square miles, three counties, the city of Cass Lake and the Reservation. A foundational Enbridge donation has helped the department begin plans for building a new fire hall to replace its current home base, which the fire department has outgrown. “Our top needs are health and safety—having a decontamination hot zone, and another is training capacity,” says Robert, the chief of Cass Lake FD. Adds Diane, an Enbridge Tribal liaison and a Leech Lake Band member: “We want to see what the needs are out in the communities, and the fire department here is so important to everyone’s safety and well-being . . . it’s our people’s lives they save.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RfodC9 (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
VISTA: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “[Anoka-based] Vista Outdoor shareholders on Monday approved the sale of the company's ammunition business to a Czech arms company for $2.2 billion. Why it matters: The vote brings the company's complex, two-part sale process one step closer to the finish line after a bidding war that lasted more than a year. Zoom in: With the Czechoslovak Group now cleared to own the company's ammo unit, Vista Outdoor will move onto the next phase of its corporate breakup.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AMolFa
ROBBINSDALE: From Emily Haugen via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Brad Sutton ran unopposed for the Robbinsdale mayor’s office this November. As he prepares to take office, he said one of his biggest goals is to increase civic engagement. Sutton moved to Robbinsdale in 2016, but has spent 22 years living close by. ‘We’ve got all these great resources and great reasons to live here,’ Sutton said. As mayor-elect, Sutton knows he has a lengthy history behind him. Mayor Bill Blonigan spent 44 years serving the city of Robbinsdale, the last four as mayor.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/496TJuG
AIRPORT: From Hayley Raatsi via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “A record-breaking month at Duluth International Airport (DLH) has leaders pushing for continued funding. The Duluth Airport Authority reported a busy September with more than 17,000 flights. That number is 2,000 more than the previous high in August.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZpIryg
NOTE: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in other newsletters. If you love lunch take, sign up for the other tip sheets HERE: fluence-newsletters.com
TODAY: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “$14 dollars to get into the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. It's only happening once... on Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The flash sale through the State Fair's website limits customers to 12 tickets per order.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eO65J6
FRIDAY: Entrance is free at Minnesota Parks. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4eJvfIV
THIS WEEKEND: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “It's no secret the Mpls.St.Paul Magazine team loves to shop local. And what better way to kickstart your holiday gifting than with the post-Turkey Day shopping stretch of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday? Ahead we've listed out the Twin Cities brands and bricks-and-mortar doing a little something special for the weekend of deals, from pop-ups and trunk shows to sip and shops to draw your discounts.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3nTygMY
MORE: Via Minnesota Monthly, events and shows happening this weekend. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3AQ2n46
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
TURKEYS: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “President Biden pardoned two turkeys from Minnesota on Monday, in keeping with the annual White House turkey pardon tradition. It was Mr. Biden's final turkey pardon as president, before President-elect Donald Trump is tasked with keeping up the tradition. This year's turkeys, Peach and Blossom, are named after the Delaware state flower, the peach blossom, which symbolizes resilience, Mr. Biden said. The president joked that the more than 2,000 people who gathered for the event were there seeking a pardon, as he has less than two months in office.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4g5e71m
MORE: From CBS via YouTube, the full White House event. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fKUSKQ
MORE: Via Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, VERBATIM: “This year’s turkeys were raised in Northfield, Minnesota, by National Turkey Federation (NTF) Chairman John Zimmerman, alongside his wife, Kara, and their nine-year-old son, Grant. Zimmerman, a turkey farmer for over 20 years, has raised approximately 4 to 5 million birds on his family farm, P&J Products Co.” QUOTE: “Minnesota is proud to play a leading role in this unique tradition,” said Zimmerman. “As the nation’s top turkey-producing state, our farmers are dedicated to raising healthy birds that grace Thanksgiving tables across America. It’s an honor to represent Minnesota and share this story of hard work and commitment at the White House.”
MORE: From Rachel Hoppe via Minnesota Daily, a look at Minnesota’s turkey industry. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hYkA01
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LOTTERY: Via The Minneapolis Egotist, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Lottery and creative AOR Betty, a Quad company, recently debuted their latest creative for the holiday season. The work includes a twist that every Minnesotan 18+ can get behind: To put You on your gift list this year.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZmXRDj
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
THEATER: From Nick Halter via Axios, VERBATIM: “Friday is the unofficial start of the holiday season and Twin Cities theaters have a deep slate of productions to get you in the spirit.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3ZoOL9i
AIRPORT: Via Eater Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “A strong showing of homegrown favorites — plus some well-loved chains — offer travelers at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport a taste of the Twin Cities. On the way to your gate, stop for Neapolitan pizza, a half-dozen gourmet doughnuts, and a beer by a local craft brewer.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3wBn6qa
BDAYS: networker Greg Rye, BMO’s Steve Stoup, Diversified Foods leader Sean Steichen, DOD’s Carlie Waible
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