WORLD COMEBACKS
Twins win. Knicks have an amazing come back and now lead 3-1.
World Cup starts today. NHL Finals Game 5 tonight.
COMING LATER: Sports Take’s World Cup preview. Good reads and a good guide to the soccer spectacle. Also, some WNBA fans need to grow up and a big save for men’s college hockey. Coming this afternoon.
Hybrid vehicles are in such high demand that some models cost more used than new. TRIBUNE: https://fluence-media.co/43uNDSR
Oil prices are rising amid renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran. REUTERS: https://fluence-media.co/4xqTu9y
YouGov finds that 29% of Americans approve of how Pres. Donald Trump is handling the economy, with 57% thinking the economy is getting worse while 14% say it’s improving. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4eEk2vx
Happy National German Chocolate Cake Day!
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RADIO: Sunday Take featured a recap of post-convention dynamics and CD1 DFL candidate Jake Johnson discussing his campaign priorities. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4easFO8
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SMARTER: Long Term Care – Is Minnesota Ready? Care Providers Minnesota and LeadingAge Minnesota hosted providers, Senator Grant Hauschild (03, DFL), Representative Natalie Zeleznikar (03B, GOP), and Representative Nathan Nelson (11B, GOP) for a conversation about the future of careing for our seniors. This coming week the conversation moves to St. Cloud. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ue3YXA
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A trip north yesterday on 169 gave a peek into the billboard messages of red counties including one urging “Christian conservative” voters to not skip the midterm, and another from the Mille Lacs County GOP pushing a return of the previous Minnesota flag. The return trip came with news of the federal court hearing today to the accused killer of Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark and the attempted murder of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette and daughter Hope.
The next news release was the Minnesota Republican delegation calling on Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison to resign after the Congressional report on fraud.
Then the shiny object of the Emmer-Craig photo. If only a photo of two members of the Minnesota delegation hugging wasn’t a troll, but if activists understood the authentic bipartisan relationships that it takes to work for our state. There was a recent report of boos when a leader touted bipartisanship at a political convention.
Party over principle hasn’t served our state and our country well in recent years. Until that changes, photo trolls that get clicks are more important than policy for both sides.
The other tensions playing out in the economy related to the election, labor and litigation create a stream of news that most people need a break from. Pacing the consumption of news is important, especially this week. Keep reading but find your breaks if you’re in the vortex. We will take ours over July 4th.
It’s also a reminder that today’s news should not in any way overshadow or steal the opportunity to reflect and remember on the incidents of last year, including the memory of Melissa and Mark, and the trauma for the Hoffman’s. There’s still a tone problem, and a divide that legislators feel after the fear they also feel is an anxiety that will play out for years to come. That’s a tough way to govern and lead.
Stay centered today.
BOELTER: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Plea negotiations between federal prosecutors and Vance Boelter, the suspect charged in the murder of former Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, have advanced to the point where lawyers have asked a judge for a hearing. … The Department of Justice has requested a hearing for a possible plea deal. A judge has set that hearing for Thursday at 10 a.m. … Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche ‘has authorized and directed the government not to seek the death penalty’ in the case as part of the terms of the proposed plea deal. … Boelter previously pleaded not guilty.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gdheHS
MORE: via FOX 9’s Paul Blume, VERBATIM: “Sources at Henn. Co. Attorney’s Office tell me the [federal] plea on the table is NOT a global agreement. So, regardless of what Vance Boelter pleads to in U.S. District Court, he’ll have to address the state murder charges as well. We expect to hear more from the HCAO [today].” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3QuMaJj
NOTE: US Attorney Daniel Rosen will hold a media availability after the hearing.
(DISCLOSURE: Fluence Advisory is supporting the Hoffman on media requests)
ENDORSEMENT: via news release later this morning, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin endorsed Angie Craig in her campaign for U.S. Senate. Slotkin was one of four Democratic U.S. Senators who won a state also won by Donald Trump in 2024. Slotkin is a rising voice in the Democratic party and represents a new generation of leaders. With this endorsement all four Democratic U.S. Senators who won states that were also won by Donald Trump in 2024 have endorsed Angie Craig.”
MOOD: While mentioned before, the party activist purity test this year is against insiders and bipartisanship. That’s why the photo flex from Emmer creates a narrative that makes the Flanagan campaign drool. That said, party over principle hasn’t served our state and our country well in recent years. Until that changes, photo trolls that get clicks are more important than policy for both sides.
EMMER: GOP Rep. Tom Emmer posted a photo of him hugging DFL Rep. Angie Craig to social media yesterday with a caption calling her his “friend,” buzz that Emmer is trying to boost Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s Senate campaign because he thinks Flanagan is less likely to win. QUOTE: “She’s one of the few Democrats who’s willing to work across the aisle to get important legislation like the Laken Riley Act across the finish line! We will miss you around here, Angie.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4uxsja9
MORE: via Star Tribune’s Sydney Kashiwagi, VERBATIM: “Rep. Angie Craig tells me [Tom] Emmer posted this to boost Peggy Flanagan in the Senate race and that his press team was in the room ready to take a photo of them interacting. This post comes after Craig got into a heated exchange with Emmer earlier this year on the House floor. … Craig said the reason they were smiling is because she made a joke to him about whether she put him in the knee scooter he currently uses, in a nod to their floor fight.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4xqMCck
TAFOYA: via WCCO Radio, Chad Hartman interviewed Michele Tafoya. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4xgCJh3
TAKE: It is undeniable that Republicans would like to face Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in November rather than Rep. Angie Craig. Craig is a more tested, and moderate candidate than Flanagan. The Republicans have their own challenge in the primary, where many DFLers would rather face Adam Schwarze than Michele Tafoya. Afterall in 2024 Republicans voted for Royce White in the primary.
FRAUD: via Rep. Brad Finstad advisory, VERBATIM: “Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) led Minnesota Congressional Republicans in sending a letter to Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison urging them to resign following the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s recent report on the committee’s investigation into Minnesota’s fraud scandals.” EXCERPT: “As members of the Minnesota Republican delegation, we believe the confidence necessary to effectively govern has been irreparably damaged. We therefore urge you to resign from office immediately.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4aGFeiZ
A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
INDECISIONS
MEDICAID: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Human Services’ decision to disenroll the majority of providers in 13 different Medicaid programs may turn out to be more of a weekslong [disruption] than an indefinite crisis. … A department spokesperson [said] providers who appeal their disenrollment can get funding reinstated during the appeals process, [but] DHS has discretion on whether to keep paying. … Also, all disenrolled providers can bill Medicaid for services rendered up to the point of disenrollment. … Individual providers and associations that lobby on their behalf say this news comes as a relief, but their situation is still a mess.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aHMSts
MORE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Any providers who submitted an appeal by June 9 will have their payment suspension lifted by the end of the day on June 11. … ‘It’s a nice gesture,’ said Sen. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, who sits on the Senate Human Services Committee. ‘The whole process has been a disaster from the very beginning.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v50uHF
AUTISM: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The vast majority of Minnesota’s autism service providers have applied for provisional licenses under a new law aimed at bringing greater oversight. … The Department of Human Services received applications from 433 service sites out of 481 that could have applied, the agency said. … Some of those sites were not expected to apply because they were disenrolled or perform testing or administration functions that do not require licensure, the agency said. Just eight sites that are active and have billed [DHS] in the past six months did not apply for a provisional license.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xqFYmo
MENTAL HEALTH: via NAMI advisory, VERBATIM: “NAMI Minnesota is sounding the alarm over newly issued federal Medicaid regulations that will make it significantly harder for people with mental illnesses to maintain health coverage, putting thousands of Minnesotans at risk of losing access. … Medicaid, known as Medical Assistance in Minnesota, is the largest payer of mental health services in the state. … NAMI Minnesota will continue working with state leaders, advocates, and community partners to identify ways to reduce harm and preserve access to care.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vKvU60
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)
CONGRESS
STUDENT AID: via Rep. Tom Emmer advisory, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) and House Republicans passed the No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026, legislation to stop fraud in student aid. The bill ensures only real students receive aid by establishing fraud detection systems to identify suspicious applications before aid is disbursed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QuHt29
OPIOIDS: via Rep. Kelly Morrison advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) introduced the bipartisan School Access to Naloxone Act, which would help ensure access to naloxone and that school personnel are trained in administering lifesaving medication to students in the case of an opioid overdose.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SyfxuJ
CANCER: via Sen. Tina Smith advisory, VERBATIM: “Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) announced their bipartisan legislation, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act, unanimously passed the Senate. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate with the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans’ Affairs to conduct a comprehensive review across departments of ongoing research that could help us better understand and respond to the increasing number of women being diagnosed with lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death for women.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qv6ESa
UNIONS: via Rep. Pete Stauber advisory, VERBATIM: “This week, Congressman Pete Stauber’s (MN-08) Faster Labor Contracts Act passed the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation will ensure that when workers vote to form a union, employers are not allowed to drag out negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oigd3g
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
MN FEED
PRIMARIES: Via MPR, only five of the 20 Minnesota House primaries this year feature incumbents running for reelection, and none are in competitive districts. GOP Rep. Josh Heintzeman, GOP Rep. Tom Murphy, GOP Rep. Dawn Gillman, DFL Rep. Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley, and DFL Rep. Mohamud Noor face intraparty challenges in August. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3PXgc8q
ICE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Attorneys for Gregory Morgan Jr., who is facing two charges of assault, have requested to be tried in federal court. … The defense team is arguing that Morgan, who was operating as an ICE agent at the time of the alleged incident, is entitled to have his trial take place in federal court due to his federal agent status. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty previously said she expected the case to move to federal court, but state prosecutors would still lead the case.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gdapGj
FBI: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “A man wanted by the FBI for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme surrendered peacefully. … U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen held a press conference Wednesday to announce that Said Abdullahi Ereg, 47, was taken into custody by federal law enforcement after returning to the United States from Kenya. Rosen said that Ereg communicated through counsel his intentions to return to the U.S. one day after Vice President JD Vance listed him as one of the FBI’s most wanted. The FBI and Homeland Security then facilitated his travel.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4onZGer
INTERNET: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Internet services had been cut off without warning for [people] in southern Minnesota after local provider Radio Link Internet filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. … The company halted its business operations, suddenly leaving an estimated 400 customers without internet around midday last Monday, and prompting an investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office. In the week since Radio Link’s closure, the state has received 25 complaints from consumers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uYx4L7
SETTLEMENT: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison today announced a $4.87 million multistate settlement with GS Labs that resolves claims that the testing company overcharged patients, unlawfully charged administrative fees, and failed to deliver timely COVID-19 test results. … Minnesotans that were harmed by GS Labs’s testing practices will receive $442,847.50 in restitution through the settlement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43ommS3
HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold-certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3VASKg4 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
METRO
STILLWATER: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “[Stillwater] police started cracking down on parking violators in early April. City officials in 2023 changed parking fees in city-owned lots and on-street parking spaces east of Main Street, but waited until new signs and ticketing technology were in place to begin serious enforcement. … City officials say charging for parking is intended to improve turnover and availability, helping visitors find spaces more easily while reducing congestion.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vFoBwc
RAMSEY CTY: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Power outages across the state are affecting building operations in Ramsey County following a bout of severe weather. Ramsey County said services have been impacted, requiring multiple buildings to remain closed on Wednesday. … The buildings include the Plato Building, which houses multiple county offices, including Public Health, Emergency Management and Veterans Services.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vI39a1
ACROSS MN
RPS: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “As Rochester Public Schools tries to balance a number of different needs among its buildings for the years ahead, the district has presented a portfolio of proposed changes that would include merging schools, renovating facilities, and decentralizing some programs that have long existed at a single location. … Although the projects would be funded through a myriad of different methods, their overall cost would be an estimated $44 million, which comes on the heels of the district announcing more than $8 million in budget cuts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4otat76
HOFFMAN: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Residents of Hoffman, Minnesota remained without power Wednesday evening after overnight storms brought dangerous straight-line winds that caused significant damage. … The city of around 700 residents in west-central Minnesota was still without power as efforts continued to clear debris. … The city confirmed that high winds are believed to have caused the derailment of a Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway, around 20 cars of which are believed to have left the tracks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4olGb5T
BEMIDJI: via Bemidji Pioneer, VERBATIM: “The Bemidji Planning Board discussed a spectrum of housing topics during a regular meeting [this week], revoking one Beltrami County Housing & Redevelopment housing permit before approving the initial stages of a Northwoods Habitat for Humanity housing project. … The plot is zoned as residential, and NWHFH plans to use the land to develop additional affordable housing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4okRGdO
PROUD TO CHAMPION ATHLETES EVERYWHERE: Minnesota’s 24,000 family corn farmers may come from different fields than the athletes participating in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, which are set for June 20-26 in Minnesota. But they share the same values, including dedication, hard work, and perseverance. This summer, Minnesota Corn salutes the talented athletes participating in the games. We’ll be cheering them on from our fields as they shine in yours. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
DAYBOOK
TODAY: via news advisory from some members of the Minneapolis City Council, VERBATIM: “City Council Members will hold media availability following the City Council meeting to answer questions and talk about actions taken at the meeting like law enforcement agency agreements ordinance, resolution opposing congressional funding for ICE & CBP, George Floyd Square construction assessments, and Heritage Park legislative directive.”
TODAY: Sec. Steve Simon will visit Dodge, Steele and Waseca counties to meet with local election officials and attend a United Way event before heading to Rochester to present Excellence in Election Awards to local officials there, per his office.
TODAY: The Upper Midwest Law Center has a press conference today announcing a “Minnesota Supreme Court petition involving Minneapolis early voting procedures ahead of the 2026 election,” per a release. The event is at 9:30 a.m.
TODAY: Dēmos and People’s Action Institute have a virtual media briefing on their new report, “Solving the Affordability Crisis,” which examines “the connection between democracy and affordability,” per a release. The event is at 10:30 a.m.
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will interview candidates for three vacancies in the Fourth Judicial District
TODAY-TMRW: COPAL and the Immigrant Defense Network will host a summit on “rising threats facing immigrant communities and democratic participation across the Midwest,” per a release. The event is in Minneapolis on Thursday and Friday, starting at 9:00 a.m. both days.
SATURDAY: ISAIAH will host a kickoff event for its “Childcare for All MN” campaign in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 13 at 12:00 noon.
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BDAYS: GOP National Committeeman AK Kamara, DFL operative and insider Alana Petersen, realtor Mark Hronski, Republican consultant Billy Grant
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.