Target’s getting a lot of attention for its new ad featuring “Hot Santa.” FAST COMPANY: https://fluence-media.co/4eDYEnO
54% approve of President-elect Trump’s handling of his transition with only one of his cabinet nominees underwater: Matt Gaetz. MORNING CONSULT: https://fluence-media.co/4fECB1J
It’s been 10 years since “Grapegate” rocked Minnesota’s Thanksgiving. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/494EHFF
Post Malone will play U.S. Bank Stadium in May. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/48VYabu
Today’s 6:20 morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3APsg3S
Sign-up for Sports Take a weekly preview of the week ahead published on Thursdays. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/SportsTakeSignUp
On Sunday Take, fmr. Rep. Pat Garofalo and Secretary of State Steve Simon discuss the recounts, election integrity and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fLY7lr
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DNC: From Torey Van Oot via Axios, VERBATIM: “Longtime Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Ken Martin is running to head the Democratic National Committee. The big picture: Martin, who announced his campaign on Tuesday morning, is seeking to take the reins of a party that's reeling from its recent losses and divided about how to move forward. Zoom in: Martin, first elected as Minnesota Democrats' leader in 2011, is a strong fundraiser and the longest-serving chair in the state party's history.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CBgJWm
MORE: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “If Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor who entered the contest on Monday, has experience as a candidate for state and national office, Mr. Martin, 51, is a veteran behind-the-scenes operator. He enters the race with 83 endorsements from D.N.C. members, his campaign said, a daunting figure given that the field is not yet set. Other potential candidates who have had discussions about joining the race include Ben Wikler, the Wisconsin Democratic chairman, and Michael Blake, a former New York State Assembly member who served as a party vice chairman.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fEAA5F
ICYMI… morning take had analysis on Martin’s candidacy in anticipation of this morning’s announcement. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4exBb7W
BUSINESS: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Keith Schubert talked with leaders from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Business Partnership about their predictions that the end of the DFL trifecta will strengthen business’ voice at the State Capitol. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CDcoSD
1984: Twin Cities Business’ Liz Fedor recently spotted a Mondale-Ferraro bumper sticker which led to a look back at politics in Minnesota in 1984 and how it compares to today. VERBATIM: “In the ensuing four decades since the bumper sticker was created, U.S. and Minnesota politics have grown more negative, expensive, and less fun. In 1984, the average citizen didn’t stop talking to family members because of a partisan divide and most people didn’t wallow in politics for hours a day, which millions of Americans do today via social media, partisan radio and TV, and podcasts. The ‘One Minnesota’ that Gov. Tim Walz aspires to lead was much more a reality 40 years ago.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3APoebK
FAITH LEADERS: From Catharine Richert via MPR, VERBATIM: “Faith leaders in Minnesota are trying to build bridges at a time of intense political polarization. A group of them convened recently at the Minnesota Multifaith Network annual conference at the Hindu Temple in Maple Grove to share ideas. The conference took place about a week after the presidential election, and leaders in attendance shared wisdom about how to heal a divided electorate and find connection in this fraught time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YXOt7J
POLL: Via Indigenous Journalists Association, VERBATIM: “In the wake of the election, an exit poll conducted by Edison Research showing that 65 percent of American Indians voted for Donald Trump, has been circulated by various news organizations, including NBC. This poll is highly misleading and irresponsible—American Indians only represent 1 percent of the total voters surveyed, meaning that a few hundred self-identifying respondents are being used to represent the diverse interests of millions of Indigenous people across the country. None of the exit poll locations, for example, were on tribal land. The poll, which has already led to widespread misinformation on social media and is being used by right-wing commentators to tout Trump’s support among Indigenous voters, is another example of how ill-equipped many news outlets are to cover Indigenous communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YUtrqI
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are 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, Rookie; 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
TIPS: From Emily Peck and Torey Van Oot via Axios, VERBATIM: “Minnesota restaurant workers make just over 20% of their overall income from tips, according to one new estimate. Why it matters: The rise of tipping culture means that servers and bartenders are getting tipped more — and more frequently — for services like takeout orders that used to go without gratuities. The big picture: Tips make up an increasingly large share of restaurant workers' pay nationally, per data out this month from payments company Square.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48UeXMf
MORE: Via Square, from the report:
REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/3ZcoDhN
CANNABIS: From Peter Callaghan via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “State cannabis regulators have started giving bad news to about tw0-thirds of the 1,817 social equity license applicants that they will not be entered into the first license lottery that is now expected to be held the week of Dec. 2. Conversely, those one-third who will be moving on to the lottery — about 640 applicants — will be getting that word officially within two weeks. And that means their odds of getting one of the 280 so-called preapproval licenses just got a lot better. But wait for the letter, the Office of Cannabis Management said, because there is still a tiny chance something could be discovered to knock them out.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZeBNuS
MHA NATION-ENBRIDGE AGREEMENT: “IT’S AN AWESOME DAY” - Enbridge has sold its Plaza/Wabek Pipeline in North Dakota to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation, paving the way for the MHA Nation to become the first Tribal shipper on the Enbridge liquids pipeline network. The pipeline will “create an avenue” from the MHA Nation’s Thunder Butte facility, notes Mark N. Fox, Chairman of the MHA Nation, “to move our very valuable assets and resources to the marketplace.” Adds Bernie Fox, Thunder Butte’s CEO: “I’m thankful to Enbridge, because now they’re part of our history. They’re our partner.” As part of Enbridge’s Indigenous inclusion strategy, “we want to provide even more opportunities,” says Mike Koby, VP of our U.S. Liquids Pipelines group, “to partner with the MHA Nation and other Tribal communities along our operations.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/47ozrun (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
INFLATION: From Kevin Miller via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “High grocery costs have put a strain on family wallets. For John Proell, a customer at Dean’s Supermarket in downtown Osseo, those high costs are a burden wherever he’s shopping . . . He’s one of many customers that Dean’s manager Trisha Bishman says are tired of the high prices. ‘We definitely get people saying that prices have gone up quite a bit,’ she said. ‘A lot of them, maybe double. They just don’t get as much for their money. Yeah, we get that a lot.’ She says Dean’s suppliers started raising their prices in 2022.” QUOTE: “I feel like prices have kind of stabilized since then,” Bishman said. “We’re still seeing certain items go up, like eggs, and pop seems to be one that has gone up and up.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3UXjtng
MEDTRONIC: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Medtronic lifted the lower end of its annual profit forecast for a second time on Tuesday, banking on sustained demand for its medical devices in the United States. Its shares still fell nearly 3% in early trading. ‘The guidance increase for the year was still relatively small ... So it's possible people were looking for more,’ said Jeff Jonas, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds. Investors had also set a high bar for results from medical device makers as the companies have benefited from healthy demand for non-urgent surgeries, especially among older Americans, over the last few quarters.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZbwtZ3
RETAIL: From Corey Schmidt via St. Cloud Times, VERBATIM: “Central Minnesota voted on Election Day for President-elect Donald Trump to return to the White House. Jumping on his popularity, a St. Cloud business decided to open up and provide area shoppers with a place to purchase Trump-themed goods. The Trump Shop opened at the intersection of 15th Avenue South and First Street South in St. Cloud earlier this election cycle, and store employee Alan Craven said it will remain open until at least the end of the month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CLpME7
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
TOMORROW: The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce will hold its Economic Summit and release its 2025 Business Benchmarks report. AGENDA: https://fluence-media.co/4hNnHI4
JANUARY: From Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in partnership with the city of Stillwater and title sponsor HealthPartners, has announced the selection of the 12 competing teams for the fourth annual World Snow Celebration January 15 through 26, 2025. The reimagined event will showcase the beauty of winter with larger-than-life sculptures as well as community events including an indoor market, a fat tire bike ride, figure skating performances, youth experiences, a search for Stilly the Snowman, the world's coolest block party and more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/410TizM
NEXT SUMMER: From Anya Capistrant-Kinney via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The Lakefront Music Festival announced its full lineup. The weekend of July 11–12 is set to be a celebration of all things classic rock and country music, with headliners Foreigner and Miranda Lambert.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YWfDMz
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
ALBERT LEA: From Brandon Antony via KAAL-TV, VERBATIM: “In Albert Lea, a new oat mill processing plant is set to open up shop and bring some new jobs to town. The new facility, called Green Acres Milling, is expected to be located off 14th Street across from the new Vortex Cold Storage plant. The new company is expected to process two million bushels of oats per year and create 12 new jobs in the next two years.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4euQNcq
TURKEYS: Via Forum, VERBATIM: “Third-generation turkey farmer John Peterson, owner and general manager of Ferndale Market, expects his business to market 45,000 to 50,000 turkeys in November. The turkey farm began in 1939 with Dale Peterson and his wife, Fern, and is now managed by second and third generations of the family. Dick, and his wife, Jane, returned to the farm in the 1970s to continue the family’s tradition. In 2008, John, and his wife, Erica, joined them and began direct marketing the family's turkey under the Ferndale Market label, along with opening a retail store.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CInkhE
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RASMUSSEN: From Rasmussen via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Rasmussen University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Carrie Daninhirsch as Provost, a role in which she will lead all eight areas of study within the University and its central academic teams. With this appointment, President Paula Singer will transition to focus solely on her role as President, no longer serving in the dual capacity of President and Chief Academic Officer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AF9ufE
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
CHINESE FOOD: Via Eater Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “There are plenty of excellent Chinese restaurants around the Twin Cities, from dim sum institutions like Mandarin Kitchen and Yangtze Restaurant to beloved Cantonese staples like Shuang Cheng. For hand-pulled noodles, Sichuan fare shimmering with chili oil, or Anhui-style braised whole walleye, look no further than these Chinese restaurants around Minneapolis and St. Paul.” LIST/MAP:
WALKER: From Madeline Cisneros via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The Walker Art Center announced its 2025 exhibition schedule, featuring first-time museum exhibitions for artists Pan Daijing and Jessi Reaves, solo presentations of Kandis Williams and Dyani White Hawk, and the group exhibition Ways of Knowing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AODAx6
BDAYS: Second Harvest’s Sophie Wallerstedt, civic leader Tom Hoch, enviro leader Paul Gardner, Lakeville Mayor Luke Hellier, fmr. Rep. Al Juhnke, fmr. Republican candidate for Governor Scott Jensen, CNN’s Randi Kaye
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