New economic data out this morning shows the GDP grew 1.4% in the last quarter of 2025, down from 4.4% in the previous quarter. The shutdown gets at least some of the blame. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qI9EGR
57% of Americans say they’ve experienced severe cold in the past five years, up from 49% a year ago. AP/NORC: https://fluence-media.co/4qOHFFB
Add Brandi Carlile to the list of musicians singing in support of Minnesota. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3OQTfm6
The North Shore got a lot of snow this week – amateur photographers on the scene did not disappoint. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4tLbFF5
Follow the 2026 Minnesota election’s up close with the Fluence ElectionTracker. FluenceElectionTracker.com
Sunday Take featured Rep. Michelle Fischbach and Fluence sponsor Minnesota Corn’s Richard Syverson discussing E15, Congress and Homeland Security. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ayBI9H
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
A BUSY FRIDAY…
RULING: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs on Friday, handing him a significant loss on an issue crucial to his economic agenda. The 6-3 decision centers on tariffs imposed under an emergency powers law, including the sweeping ‘reciprocal’ tariffs he levied on nearly every other country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4auUNL6
MORE: Reaction from Minnesota’s congressional delegation:
From Senator Amy Klobuchar via X, VERBATIM: “With today’s decision, it is clear that Congress – not the president – has the power to impose tariffs. We must reassert this authority and stand up for American workers, businesses, and consumers.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4rAnw7y
From Rep. Tom Emmer via X, VERBATIM: “President Trump and House Republicans will continue to fight for our nation’s farmers, manufacturers, and workers through the president’s America First agenda.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4tL4psN
Via House Agriculture Committee Democrats, VERBATIM: “Today, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to block President Trump from using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to levy tariffs.” CRAIG: “While Trump promised to deliver a ‘Golden Age’ for agriculture, his tariffs cost our farmers billions in lost revenue and handed our export markets to agricultural competitors like Argentina and Brazil. These losses will take years to recover from. Congress must provide struggling farmers and families with meaningful relief, and the Agriculture Committee should prioritize helping American farmers survive by focusing on a truly bipartisan farm bill that addresses the current challenges our growers are facing.”
SURVEY: Via Lumaris Research, VERBATIM: “A new Minnesota Community Survey from Lumaris Research, conducted Jan. 22 to Feb. 12, is the first probability-based survey – the type that uses a random sample of a population – to measure statewide views of Operation Metro Surge. The poll of 1,072 Minnesota adults found:
54% of Minnesotans opposed the heightened presence of federal immigration agents, while 31% supported the increase and 15% were not sure.
59% said the surge made the state less safe, while 26% said it made Minnesota more safe.
1 in 3 Minnesotans worried that someone close to them could be arrested by federal immigration agents, including 64% of Minnesotans of color and 62% of immigrants.”
READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c6u8p9
TODAY: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Vance Boelter, the man charged with assassinating a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband and shooting a state senator and his wife, is due to appear in federal court on Friday. Boelter is charged with killing Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and injuring Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4s1KHYa
NEXT WEEK: Via DEFIANCE.org, VERBATIM: “This Tuesday, February 24, 2026 during the State of the Union address, two mayors whose cities have become the face of the resistance to the lawless actions of the Trump administration – Jacob Frey of Minneapolis and Brandon Johnson of Chicago – will deliver historic rebuttal addresses to Donald Trump’s speech. Mayors Frey and Johnson join as keynotes, alongside Robert De Niro and others, in a sweeping lineup of pro-democracy figures at STATE OF THE SWAMP: The Rebuttal to the State of the Union livestreamed from 7:00–11:00 PM ET at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OslpDV
US ATTY: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “The federal prosecutor’s office in Minnesota has been gutted by a wave of career officials resigning or retiring over objections to Trump administration directives. Because of the turmoil, 12-time convicted felon Cory Allen McKay caught a break. With a three-decade record of violent crime that includes strangling a pregnant woman and firing a shotgun under a person’s chin, McKay was scheduled to stand trial next month on methamphetamine trafficking charges that could have locked him up for 25 years. Instead, he walked free after the prosecutor on his case retired.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tL1f8j
THE FED: Via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said recent comments by National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett critical of a New York Fed study on tariffs undermine the central bank’s independence.” QUOTE: “This is just another step to try to compromise the Fed’s independence,” Kashkari said Thursday at an event in Fargo, North Dakota, of Hassett’s remarks. “Over the last year we’ve seen multiple attempts to try to compromise the Fed’s independence.” He added, “It’s really about monetary policy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qIiRPr
MORE: Via Yahoo Finance, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari said Thursday he thinks the central bank is ‘pretty close’ to neutral on the level of its benchmark policy rate, implying there may be little room left to cut rates.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rZUaz5
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)
SURGE AFTERMATH
NO SOCCER: Via Get Football News Germany, VERBATIM: “As reported by The Athletic and confirmed by the club, Werder Bremen have cancelled their tour of the United States this summer due to safety reasons. The Bundesliga club were planning on playing two friendly matches between Minnesota and Detroit in May. However, due to the current political unrest and safety concerns for citizens in the region, the club is no longer willing to travel.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OpEo1X
AGENT VIDEOS: Via Axios, a look at the viral videos mocking immigration enforcement agents and the impact they’re having. VERBATIM: “What they’re saying: ‘From what I’ve seen, they don’t have the training. They don’t have the situational policing experience for urban environments,’ Darren White, a Republican and former Bernalillo County sheriff in New Mexico, tells Axios. White says agents appear unprepared for crowd-heavy, camera-saturated city policing, repeatedly taking the bait from protesters who film, heckle and try to provoke reactions. ‘I do believe that there should be a pause, and they should go over all of the training that they’ve received.’ Zoom out: From local police to federal agencies, viral video has become a parallel accountability system, amplifying moments that once would have been forgotten or never seen at all.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sm3Ynp
DEM PROPOSALS: Via States Newsroom, VERBATIM: “Of the 10 policy proposals Democratic leaders offered in negotiations to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, which has been in a funding lapse since Feb. 14 in the midst of widespread uproar over the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis last month, seven have been employed in at least some form by previous administrations. Democrats are asking the Trump administration to reinstate policies it has rejected in its controversial push to carry out mass deportations. Prior policies Democrats want to formalize include use-of-force standards, allowing unannounced visits by members of Congress to facilities that detain immigrants and obtaining judicial warrants before entering private residences.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rqLgup
MOBILE HOME PARKS: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Residents of several mobile home parks in the Twin Cities suburbs say federal immigration agents are still lurking around their neighborhoods, and that they often don’t see high numbers of supporters when people are arrested. Residents and activists say there are special challenges at mobile home parks — they’re usually secluded from surrounding neighborhoods, they don’t receive as much attention as other residential neighborhoods, and they often have one or few roadways leading into the park, making it easy for immigration agents to choke off residents’ access to exits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s0BHlQ
STUDENTS: MinnPost looks at the impact of the surge on international students and the local colleges they attend. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rqQ4zX
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)
NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY
SUNDAY: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Travelers along I-394 are in for some changes as the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will start a months-long construction project on Feb. 22, with work scheduled to last into November.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46gClmY
NEXT MONTH: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “The heavily used Nicollet Avenue bridge over Minnehaha Creek will close on March 3 for major rehab and won’t reopen for two years. Why it matters: This project will send the roughly 14,000 vehicles that use the bridge on an average day to nearby streets, and also re-route users of the highly popular Minnehaha Parkway below.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4auJhPS
HIGHERED: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “In late January, the Virginia-based National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) released data showing that fall 2025 enrollment in Minnesota higher education institutions rose 2% over the previous year. This follows reports of significant enrollment increases at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State system. Given the high costs of higher ed, it’s probably not surprising that this new wave of students appears to prefer programs and majors offering clear ROI.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rVFwJ6
CANNABIS: Via KEYC-TV, VERBATIM: “Healing Harvest began selling recreational cannabis in St. Peter back in December of 2025. More than two months later, the city says it is the only registered microbusiness license operating in the community. Since passing its new cannabis ordinance in 2024, the City of St. Peter has two registered microbusinesses, two registered retailers, and three registered low potency hemp retailers. Back in 2024, the city made the decision to have no limit on the number of licensed businesses that could register in the community, as long as they obeyed local zoning ordinances.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4aIQKd1
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)
MINNESOTA & BEYOND
SD37: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A longtime lawmaker representing Maple Grove will be stepping away from his seat in the Senate after this legislative session. ‘We now have grandkids, two of them, and hopefully more to come,’ said Sen. Warren Limmer on the opening day of the session. ‘And as I count and take stock of the days I have, I want to make sure that I have time with family. They’re the most important.’ Limmer has represented Maple Grove and its nearby cities for nearly 40 years. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1988, and was later elected to the Senate in 1995.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kIZR1Q
BIRKIE: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Day one of the American Birkebeiner events closed out with costumes, characters and comically large skis during its hilarious tradition of the pre-Birkie Giant Ski Race in Hayward. Those competing in Saturday’s event also got a first look at an icy track following days of warmth and rain. A handful of teams strapped themselves into giant skis and made the simultaneous trek to the finish line. The goofy cast of characters included a team of six with an average age of 71.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4qPRuTE
GOLDEN VALLEY: Via Kitchen and Rail, VERBATIM: “Kitchen and Rail will officially open its Golden Valley location on Monday, February 23, marking the second restaurant for the locally owned concept that first opened in Eagan in 2022.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qGdNLn
WHAT’S NEXT?
TODAY: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “After two days of the Girls Hockey State Tournament at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, the semifinal matchups are set: Class A plays the early games today, followed by the Class AA final four battling on the ice tonight.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MUBKRp
THIS WEEKEND: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Feeling inspired after watching Olympic curling? Try your hand at the unique winter sport during Sociable Cider Werks‘ Bonspiel, a curling tournament for beginners and pros alike.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46NC0Z6
NEXT WEEK: Via OLA, VERBATIM: “The Office of the Legislative Auditor’s Financial Audit Division will release the performance audit, Minnesota State: Faculty Payroll, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.”
NEXT WEEK: MMB Commissioner Erin Campbell will present Minnesota’s next Budget and Economic Forecast on Friday, Feb. 27 at 12:30 p.m.
JAZZ: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Craving the energy and music from the annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival? Throughout the year, the fest is bringing a new Jazz Pop-Up Tour at venues across the metro. The first act is the Kevin Gamble Quartet, a group formed by the pianist Kevin Gamble, whose interest in jazz first surfaced when he was a kid playing piano at church.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c5rLD8
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
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