THURSDAY THAW
Wild in Colorado tonight. Wolves at Clippers. Sports Take out later today.
Our first ever “Do Better” list calls out sports underperformers, along with a “Done Better” of sporting successes. Also, the Team USA gold medal “controversy”, an ex-Minnesota coach fired 44 days into his new job and more. Coming this afternoon.
Check your algorithm…that’s the addition to the Signal vs. Noise theme of 2026.
The signals aren’t good for Republicans in Minnesota according to the next wave of Lumaris polling data:
• 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.
Here’s the full report: https://fluence-media.co/4rx8P4Z
Good Fed data in lunch take yesterday - the economy is also facing headwinds in the Midwest if you didn’t see it yesterday. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/4bbD3Ve
Mayo Clinic in Rochester was ranked the world’s best hospital by Newsweek for the 8th year in a row. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4kZBJIz
A man was arrested this week for allegedly threatening to “execute everyone” at the Minnesota Capitol. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/4r3cMgJ
The number of American nurses leaving the U.S. to work in Canada is spiking — over 1,000 have emigrated since April 2025. NPR: https://fluence-media.co/4aTCTke
Anthropic is loosening AI safety restrictions after the Pentagon reportedly demanded it. CNN: https://fluence-media.co/4aNlZUb
Happy National Chili Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
What is the political future of Jacob Frey? READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s8IOc7
Sunday Take dug into Minnesota’s housing situation with DFL Rep. Esther Agbaje and James Vagle, CEO of Housing First. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cImGAP
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker. https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
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The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
BETTER LATE…
From ICE to guns and now to Fraud the DFL has an ambitious media agenda this session. However, between the Independent OIG bill, the Program Integrity Director’s report this week, and now Gov. Tim Walz has a news conference today to launch his own “Fraud Package”.
Two news conferences yesterday and another today all by the DFL feels like playing from behind. Forget what the dollar amount is for a minute, just last Fall, Walz’s closest advisors were unconcerned about fraud.
Last night on CNN, Lt. Gov. and US Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan who isn’t listed on the media advisory for the Governor’s news conference today went on CNN to say it “rings hollow” from the Trump administration.
Here’s a link the CNN Flanagan clip. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3MV8Iku
This should make next week’s Congressional hearing with Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to testifying on fraud much watch TV, except for the theatre of Congress, which will miss the opportunity to get real answers. Was there public money spent for preparation again?
For readers, the question I asked radio listeners this morning. Am I too harsh on Gov. Tim Walz handling of fraud? Feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
TODAY: via news advisory Gov. Tim Walz will introduce an anti-fraud legislation package at a press conference today. DHS Commissioner Shireen Gandhi, DHS Inspector General James Clark and BCA Superintendent Drew Evans will attend. The event is at 10:45 a.m.
REDACTIONS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A long-anticipated third-party audit of the state’s Medicaid system [by] Optum was the focus of a Wednesday House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee meeting. Legislators questioned the integrity of the report’s findings and asked why they could not access the report in its entirety. … Sponsored by Committee Co-Chair Rep. Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne), HF3378 would require the release of the unredacted initial Optum reports. Approved by the committee, the bill’s next stop is the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l1jLWg
MORE: GOP Rep. Krista Knudsen shared a photo of Optum’s heavily redacted Medicaid audit on social media. She added that she was told Gov. Tim Walz and DHS Commissioner Shireen Gandhi “have seen the unredacted report.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/3MZsGL7
MEDICAID: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Vice President JD Vance announced Wednesday that the Trump Administration would ‘temporarily halt’ some Medicaid funding to the state of Minnesota over fraud concerns. … Vance, who made the announcement with Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the administration was taking the action ‘in order to ensure that the state of Minnesota takes its obligations seriously.’ … Oz [said] the federal government would hold off on paying $259 million to Minnesota in funding for Medicaid.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sbVor9
MORE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The $259.5 million, according to [Mehmet] Oz, is based on an audit dating back to the last three months of 2025. Oz said the administration ‘will give them the money, but we’re going to hold it and release it after they propose an act on a comprehensive corrective action plan to solve the problem.’ … Oz [said] Gov. Tim Walz has 60 days to comply.” OZ: “This is not a problem with the people of Minnesota, it’s a problem with the leadership of Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P2aj8N
RESPONSE: via a Gov. Tim Walz post, WALZ: “This has nothing to do with fraud. The agents [Donald] Trump allegedly sent to investigate fraud are shooting protesters and arresting children. His DOJ is gutting the U.S. Attorney’s Office and crippling their ability to prosecute fraud. And every week Trump pardons another fraudster. … These cuts will be devastating for veterans, families with young kids, folks with disabilities, and working people across our state.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/46qG41m
WHITE HOUSE: via Washington Post, VERBATIM: “A top Trump Treasury official is leaving his post after privately raising objections to White House-backed plans to crack down on alleged fraud within the Somali immigrant community in Minnesota, according to seven people familiar with the matter. … John Hurley’s exit follows internal disputes [about] data privacy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aBA5Jx
FRAUD BILLS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “DFL House members on Wednesday unveiled a package of fraud proposals for the 2026 legislative session that includes measures to boost Medicaid fraud enforcement at the attorney general’s office, modernize state computer systems and increase the number of provider audits and in-person site visits. DFLers also say they want to reverse a decades-long trend of privatizing government services, which they blame for greater vulnerability to fraud in state programs. … The House DFL’s fraud plan has a dozen or so bills.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aLy6md
MORE: The House DFL has published a list of all 13 anti-fraud proposals and their authors where applicable. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4sa1l7V
RESPONSE: via joint statement from Speaker Lisa Demuth and House Majority Leader Harry Niska, both GOP, STATEMENT: “Now that fraud has become a political liability, Democrats are talking tough and trying to rebrand themselves as reformers, but Minnesotans aren’t buying it. Democrats have already voted against advancing the massively-bipartisan Office of Inspector General seven times. Weeks into the legislative session and years late on fraud, they clearly aren’t serious about stopping fraudsters. It’s time for action, not more words and delays.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40tYBpY
ICYMI: Yesterday’s lunch take featured additional coverage of anti-fraud legislation supported by Attorney General Keith Ellison. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/47dfJ7c
A new level of insight and information….
GOV JOBS
WORKFORCE: Via Twin Cities Business, the number of government employees in Minnesota increased by almost 8,000 overall from Q2 2024 to Q2 2025. Local government jobs rose by 3,669 and state government jobs were up 4,788, but federal government jobs declined by 503. There are over 407,000 government employees in Minnesota, or 13.7% of the total workforce. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4aWC3TX
SESSION
RELIEF: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “People from across Minnesota testified in front of the Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee, asking for a relief bill for small businesses. Businesses across the state have been impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Sen. Bobby Joe Champion [is] working on drafting a bill, but wanted to hear from people impacted first. … Champion said he hopes to have a draft of the bill by next week. He said it will either be a standalone bill or part of an omnibus bill.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OCh4Oz
SUPPORT RURAL HEALTH CARE BY STRENGTHENING 340B: Policymakers have an opportunity to support rural care providers by strengthening the 340B Drug Pricing Program – a program designed to support health care facilities that provide a high level of services to low-income, underserved communities. Savings from those discounts are used to reinvest in care and stretch limited resources further for patients. To prevent these savings from moving to drug manufacturers’ bottom lines, we need to extend and strengthen the 340B program. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4s0oGc4 (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
PREEMPTION: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A bill that would allow local governments to pass their own gun regulations [failed] in committee. Sponsored by Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul), HF3351 would repeal the state pre-emption of local governments for regulating firearms. … However, a 6-6 party-line vote keeps the bill in possession of the House Elections Finance and Government Operations. … St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey provided written support for the bill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qVX8DG
IMPERSONATION: via MPR, VERBATIM: “It’s already a crime to impersonate law enforcement in Minnesota, but a bill that ups criminal penalties received bipartisan support yesterday. Last June, a man pretending to be law enforcement shot and killed state Representative Melissa Hortman. … On a voice vote, the committee moved the bill forward to another committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rHZYNW
STORAGE: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “HF3401 [would] mandate the storage of firearms on school property. … The bill stipulates that gun owners would have to store firearms in a ‘locked container,’ [and] it would broaden school property firearm storage requirements. … The House Education Policy Committee failed to approve the bill on a 7-7 party-line vote.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZXHQTZ
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)
FEDS
US ATTY: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The future of investigating fraud has been unclear as the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota has seen a wave of prosecutors quitting in recent months. [But] U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said on Wednesday that his office is finding ways to move forward with fraud prosecutions. … [From] January 2025 to now, the number of assistant U.S. attorneys in the District of Minnesota has dropped from 64 to 36 — a 44% decrease. … Rosen [said] his office has ‘more than adequate staffing’ [but] did not offer a timeline for new prosecutions and acknowledged the office has lost ‘institutional knowledge.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4qZISKl
FED AGENTS: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Fewer than 1,000 officers remain of the more than 4,000 federal agents deployed to Minnesota at the height of Operation Metro Surge, according to new federal court filings. … The St. Paul Field Office typically employs about 190 agents. … By March, ICE expects to have 407 extra agents on the ground in Minnesota, 300 of whom will be HSI personnel. All U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents deployed to Minnesota left the state Monday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47asWO2
VIDEO: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “Video evidence played a crucial role in revealing what happened when immigration agents used force against the public during operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and, most recently, Minneapolis…The FOX 9 Investigators reviewed more than two dozen encounters with federal immigration agents where video has either contradicted the Trump administration’s narratives or provided important context about the encounters. MORAN: “It’s hard to even wrap your mind around sometimes how false the claims are by Border Patrol and ICE specifically, and the Department of Homeland Security more generally,” said Rachel Moran, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ubUX1U
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Three Minnesotans accused of assaulting federal law enforcement officers during Operation Metro Surge had their charges dismissed this month. The new dismissals are in addition to at least three other instances of protesters who had charges dismissed. … The defendants were initially accused of serious crimes. But when asked for evidence, the government dropped their cases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qSBH6v
LAWSUITS: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison today joined a group of state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for illegally and abruptly ending millions in grants to states to prevent targeted violence and terrorist attacks. … Ellison [also] joined a coalition of 15 states in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s radical overhaul of the nation’s childhood immunization schedule.” VIOLENCE: https://fluence-media.co/4shxElz VACCINES: https://fluence-media.co/4aECJyc
$$$$: DFL Rep. Ilhan Omar sent out a fundraising email yesterday calling for donations after she heckled Pres. Donald Trump at his State of the Union address, going viral for yelling “You have killed Americans.” EXCERPT: “I’m not going to stay silent while the most powerful man lies about my community. … Trump has killed innocent Americans. Two of them were my constituents. … If you’re with me in the fight to defeat these cowardly fascists and turn back the clock on their destructive agenda, please rush a contribution to power our movement today.”
MN STUFF
GOV RACE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Gubernatorial candidate Brad Kohler has dropped his bid to run as a GOP candidate and will instead run as an Independent Conservative. Kohler announced yesterday he’s leaving the Republican party. … Kohler, a former professional MMA fighter, finished 10th in the GOP caucus straw poll on Feb. 3, getting just 0.43 percent of the vote.” KOHLER: “This campaign is about the people of Minnesota, not political parties. I am running as an independent conservative because Minnesota needs leadership that is accountable, solutions-driven, and focused on restoring prosperity, safety, and opportunity for every community.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rHZYNW
STANDING: Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican candidate for governor, questioned if Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DFL candidate for governor, stood up during the State of the Union when Pres. Donald Trump asked lawmakers to stand if they think “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” DEMUTH: “Did Amy Klobuchar stand on Tuesday when asked if she agrees that American citizens should be protected over illegal aliens? If not, why not? This is a simple question that Minnesotans deserve an answer to. … I will always put Minnesotans and American citizens ahead of illegal immigrants.”
RED FLAGS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The number of ‘red flag law’ cases in Minnesota is spiking, with almost double the amount of Emergency Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) filed in its second year as law compared to its first in 2024. … There are efforts underway to boost awareness surrounding ERPOs — including two bills in their early stages at the Capitol that would increase funding for that outreach and expand who can apply for an ERPO, among other things.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rgxLgl
LOSSES: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Twin Cities workers lost $106 million while federal agents conducted Operation Metro Surge, according to a new study from North Star Policy Action. … The study looked at the impact on employees in the Twin Cities metro from Jan. 3 to Feb. 17. North Star Policy Action shared the results Wednesday, stating the number of employees working in the area declined by 2.8% and the number of operating business locations fell by 1.7%.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3MP6Cmc
CONSTRUCTION: via CNN, VERBATIM: “In the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs, the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown has slowed home construction to a crawl – at a time when Minnesota, like much of the country, faces a steep housing shortage. The White House has begun scaling back its monthslong enforcement surge in the state. But across the housing market, the aftershocks are still unfolding. ‘I think most of us would probably take COVID over this,’ said one large homebuilder in the Minneapolis area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r15ERP
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: https://fluence-media.co/49AHNSE (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
STATEWIDE
ST PAUL: via City of St. Paul, VERBATIM: “The Saint Paul City Council, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, collaborated to redirect $1,426,220 towards the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. The Saint Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and City Council approved an amendment to the Planning and Economic Development (PED) department’s operations budget to redirect $926,220 in unused Housing Trust Fund dollars to support staffing for the ERA program. This brings the total amount allocated to the program to $3,806,220.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rNOM28
COTTAGE GROVE: via AP News, VERBATIM: “In Cottage Grove…Ruth Jones and other residents have been asking the community to end its contract allowing ICE to use its regional training center. But Mayor Myron Bailey said the center was built with state bond funding and is rented out to some 60 law enforcement agencies and other groups, including ICE. ‘Contractually, we cannot discriminate against any public agency,’ Bailey said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3N3H4C0
PINE ISLAND: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Rev. David Derksen said nothing about the Tuesday, Feb. 24 announcement that Google is the company behind the Pine Island data center project has eased his concerns. … [In fact], Derksen said after the announcement, his concerns have grown, not abated. … Derksen isn’t the only detractor of the project who is still concerned.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r0T1GL
CHAMPLIN: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Champlin City Council members have passed a resolution to fly the old, 1983 version of Minnesota’s state flag on city property, instead of the state’s redesigned version that debuted in 2024. In a 3-2 vote, the council passed the resolution to fly the old flag. … ‘Champlin, politically, is a purple community, [said] Mayor Ryan Sabas, who ultimately voted for the old flag to be flown. ‘I think erasing history is a mistake.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rEu4lv
LOOKING AHEAD
SESSION: House floor session at 3:30 p.m. Senate floor session at 11:00 a.m. HOUSE: Commerce hears a ban on virtual currency kiosks. Human Services will hear Medicaid fraud provisions. State Govt. hears enhanced oversight of state grants and an update on business identity theft recovery from Sec. Steve Simon. Higher Education hears testimony on the impact of the ICE surge. SENATE: Health & Human Services will hear exceptions for the hospital construction moratorium. Elections will hear requirements to hide candidate addresses and disclose stock/crypto trades. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/3P1VBi5
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will meet with Mesabi Metallics leadership and attend the Annunciation Light Coalition’s sing together. Later in the morning, he will attend the Unidos Day at the Capitol, introduce a comprehensive anti-fraud legislative package, and attend the LIUNA Day at the Capitol.
TODAY: At 1:45 PM, LIUNA Minnesota members will gather at the State Capitol Rotunda for a Rally for Jobs, calling on state lawmakers to pass a robust infrastructure jobs bill.
TODAY: Annunciation community members will hold a “Sing Together” event advocating for gun violence prevention in the Capitol Rotunda at 8:30 a.m.
TODAY: Unidos MN will hold “coordinated member action” outside the Senate Chambers before hosting a press conference discussing “the right to safety,” per a release. The event is at 12:15 p.m.
TODAY: via MN Senate, VERBATIM: “As part of Black History Month, Senator Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis) will screen the inspirational feature film, ‘Sarah’s Oil,’ on Thursday, February 26 at 7 p.m. at the Capri Theatre in Minneapolis.”
TOMORROW: MMB Commissioner Erin Campbell will present Minnesota’s next Budget and Economic Forecast on Friday, Feb. 27 at 12:30 p.m.
BDAYS: lobbyist Margaret Vesel, KARE 11’s AJ Lagoe, activist JaNaé Imari, lobbyist Alysen Nesse, fmr. Rep. Connie Bernardy, retired legislative savant Gary Carlson
SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.
SPONSORS: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.