HAZY AND HOT
Lynx win.
Sports Take: Ex-Gophers star takes NCAA to court, Suni Lee comes back home, a coaching mystery in northern Minnesota and (maybe) the next Joe Mauer. Coming early this afternoon.
A documentary film crew will follow Suni Lee’s return to gymnastics on the road to the 2028 Olympics. THR: https://fluence-media.co/4aWwmGp
The president wants ICE to continue stopping people in vehicles, contrary to a rule change earlier this week. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4fgfoUz
President Trump will address the nation tonight.
It’s National Dole Whip and National Corn Fritters Day…the State Fair can’t come soon enough.
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Sunday Take featured a preview of the CD2 DFL primary and Sec. Steve Simon discussing how federal changes could affect state elections. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pB3865
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The smoke impact statewide is extreme, changing by the hour last night. The MISO (energy grid) operators have issued an alert asking consumers across the Midwest to voluntarily conserve electricity. Meanwhile, the BWCA wildfires are so large they may not be fully extinguished until snow falls. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/4w5OohL
Once again, our senses have a new experience, including President Trump’s endorsement of Mike Lindell yesterday. Slow News Year ™️ is performing at peak capacity.
A nugget from a dinner last night with University of Minnesota grad and Morning Consult co-founder Michael Ramlet was the fastest growing coding language is – English.
Election’s always move fast, but this one will move faster – not because of the TV ads or candidates not debating, but because the ability to understand the electorate is changing nearly daily. To that end, it’s a whiplash to watch – so we’ll put our heads down and focus on conversations and the data and surveys to thread the needle on the mood of Minnesota.
For reference, the charades in DC and over amplification about the Middle East in Minnesota races should be a reminder that the noisemakers aren’t at the ball fields or the cabin where people talk about prices, polarization and their kids pediatrician – almost everything but the impending primary.
The next MNSider – the Primary less than a month out, will be released before Saturday.
SPONSOR: 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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VISUAL AWARENESS
Via Watch Duty…the current fires in Northern Minnesota.
Via MPCA the current air quality map for Minnesota MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4hhQc2x
EMERGENCY: Gov. Tim Walz and the Executive Council voted yesterday to extend Minnesota’s current peacetime emergency by another 30 days to continue the state’s wildfire response. Via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Federal, state, and local partners [will] support fire suppression, evacuation efforts, and emergency response operations. … Extension of the executive order authorizes the Minnesota National Guard to provide personnel, equipment, and resources to assist with wildfire suppression and emergency response efforts for an additional 30 days.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w7wThe
REPORTS: The deadline to submit a Q2 campaign finance report to the FEC has passed, and here are the currently available fundraising totals for Minnesota’s federal candidates — more results will be published as they become public this week. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/3TDO1fS https://fluence-media.co/4vy3OdK
SENATE: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s cash on hand, which she did not previously announce, is $1,565,604 — she raised $1,397,854. Rep. Angie Craig has $4.8 million cash on hand and raised $2.65 million in Q2. Republican Michele Tafoya’s cash on hand, which she did not previously announce, is $2,080,632 — she raised $2,627,670. Republican Adam Schwarze raised $291,371 with $211,222 on hand. Republican Royce White raised $83,615 with $48,231 on hand.
CD1: GOP Rep. Brad Finstad raised $543,899 with $1,210,804 on hand. DFLer Jake Johnson raised $650,362 with $957,225 on hand. DFLer Alex Eaton raised $79,305 with $69,072 on hand.
CD2: Sen. Matt Klein raised $331K and has $519,999 cash on hand, DFLer Matt Little raised $175,498 with $254,789 on hand. DFL state Rep. Kaela Berg raised $109,390 with $56,637 on hand. Republican Eric Pratt raised $202,388 with $268,903 on hand.
CD3: DFL Rep. Kelly Morrison raised $258,745 with $413,021 on hand. Republican Quentin Wittrock raised $256,849 with $224,049 on hand.
CD4: DFL Rep. Betty McCollum raised $173,017 with $568,721 on hand. Republican Paul Xiong raised $22,737 with $3,687 on hand.
CD5: Republican John Nagel raised $357,662 with $48,430 on hand. Republican Dalia Al-Aqidi raised $112,469 with $31,853 on hand.
CD6: GOP Rep. Tom Emmer raised $1,321,794 with $4,535,592 on hand. Republican challenger Mike Foley raised $15,772 with $9,379 on hand. DFLer Doug Chapin raised $159,168 with $75,437 on hand.
CD7: GOP Rep. Michelle Fischbach raised $251,741 with $902,668 on hand. DFLer Erik Osberg raised $95,644 with $114,068 on hand.
CD8: GOP Rep. Pete Stauber raised $470,764 with $1,208,605 on hand. DFLer Trina Swanson raised $225,302 with $117,406 on hand.
WHITE: Via MPR, a closer look at Republican Senate candidate Royce White’s Q2 finance report. VERBATIM: “During the [quarter], he spent more than what came in: $112,000. So coming into July, that left him with $48,231. … Much of White’s spending was on fundraising itself, but his report shows the campaign’s appetite, too. His campaign spent just shy of $1,000 combined on several visits to Chipotle and Jimmy Johns.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fhXuRr
THE FEED
GOV RACE: Speaker Lisa Demuth responded to the news that Pres. Donald Trump endorsed Mike Lindell for the Republican gubernatorial primary, as seen in lunch take. DEMUTH: “I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to partner with President Trump on a number of issues. … Under my leadership, House Republicans passed into law a number of welfare reforms that came from President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ … President Trump has put America first, and as governor I will put Minnesota first.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gGAy0C
MORE: Republican Mike Lindell spoke to MPR News about his endorsement from the president. LINDELL: “I didn’t ask him for his endorsement. … I wanted to get it based on merit, based on what I could do, [so] I’m really excited that he endorsed me. … Now I can concentrate. I’m not taking the primary for granted, but I want to concentrate now on getting out what I can do for Minnesota. This will raise a lot of funding. Right now we’re approaching $3 million, but this should up that so we can really hit the advertising to the marketing that I have planned to go against Amy Klobuchar.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w8H5WJ
WALZ: Via KARE 11, Gov. Tim Walz responded to the president’s endorsement of Mike Lindell during an unrelated event. WALZ: “That is where the party is at. … The president wants loyalty. So, folks in Minnesota will — Republicans will respond on August 11, I guess — and everyone else will get a chance in November.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4foj1rP
CD1: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Jake Johnson, a DFL candidate for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, rolled out a package of campaign promises and agenda priorities that he said would guide his decision-making if elected to Congress in November. … Consisting of promises to combat everything from fraud to runaway debt, Johnson is calling the document his ‘Taxpayer Protection Pledge.’ … Johnson said items on the list stemmed from frustration he shares with the public over fraud-related issues both nationally and statewide. A common refrain he’s heard from angry people on the campaign trail is that they want to be compensated for their lost tax dollars.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RmsOX4
ESSENTIA HEALTH SUPPORTS FREE CLINIC IN VIRGINIA, SERVING INCREASED NUMBER OF UNINSURED MINNESOTANS: Every Thursday night, physicians and care team members from Essentia Health-Virginia volunteer at the Project Care Free Clinic, providing treatment, screenings, and preventive care to patients who are uninsured or may be struggling to afford health care premiums. Essentia also provides lab and X-ray services at no cost to the clinic or its patients. Essentia is proud to support the clinic, ensuring everyone in the community can get the care they need. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4yt7Qqu (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
MN GOP: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Mike Lindell is a five-alarm fire for many in the GOP. The MyPillow CEO is widely seen as the worst candidate to take on U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. … Some Republican candidates for statewide offices privately fear Lindell will drag them down with him, or harm the GOP’s chances of winning legislative majorities. … [But] Trump’s endorsement has not always assured victory. A Trump-backed candidate lost a primary for governor in Iowa. In the South Carolina governor’s race, Trump endorsed a second candidate after his first choice stalled. Trump also endorsed two governor candidates in Arizona. … A GOP operative close to [Lisa] Demuth’s campaign was hopeful Demuth could win a similar dual endorsement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RBp8kw
MORE: Republican Mike Lindell responded to GOP Chair Alex Plechash’s criticism of his gubernatorial campaign, as seen in lunch take. Lindell told the Star Tribune that Plechash shouldn’t be the party chair, calling his handling of the 2026 state convention a “fiasco.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RBp8kw
ICYMI: Yesterday’s lunch take had extensive initial coverage of Pres. Donald Trump’s endorsement in Minnesota’s GOP primary for governor. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4fr0ZFo
A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
STATE STUFF
MEDICAID: via DHS advisory, VERBATIM: “The State of Minnesota is extending a pause on enrolling new Medicaid providers in 12 high-risk services for at least another six months. The freeze on new providers began on Jan. 30, 2026, in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Human Services beginning an effort to revalidate each of the nearly 5,600 providers. … ‘We still have a lot of work to do to verify the providers we have before we begin accepting new applications,’ said John Connolly, temporary commissioner of [DHS]. ‘If necessary, we can make exceptions to the moratorium.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w5N0M5
MED FRAUD: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Guilty pleas continue to pile up in a Medicaid fraud case tied to two interconnected companies that defrauded the state’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program. … Moktar Aden, owner of Brilliant Minds Services, pleaded guilty to wire fraud Wednesday in federal court, admitting his company billed more than $2 million for inflated hours and Medicaid services never provided. … The federal indictment for Brilliant Minds Services, one of the state’s top 10 HSS billers, also listed an interconnected company, Foundation First Services. … In all, the two companies received more than $2.5 million in Medicaid dollars between September 2022 and April 2025.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3SYJftn
DST: Via Bring Me The News, a look at how federal efforts to make daylight saving time permanent would impact Minnesota. VERBATIM: “It would keep the time Minnesota uses following the ‘spring forward’ in the spring. The result would be later sunrises and sunsets throughout the winter. … Currently, at the winter equinox, Minneapolis experiences sunrise at 7:48 a.m. and sunset at 4:34 p.m. … Under the new rules, that would move to an 8:48 a.m. sunrise and 5:34 p.m. sunset. … This shift is even more pronounced in the northwestern part of the state. There, Moorhead would see its latest annual sunrise at 9:10 a.m.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4f5lV5R
ISRAEL: via The Hill, VERBATIM: “House Democrats split nearly evenly on a Wednesday amendment to cut off U.S. aid to Israel, showcasing how the contentious issue is reshaping the political dynamics in the party. The amendment [was] spearheaded by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). … The amendment failed 104-314-10, with 103 Democrats voting in favor, 98 Democrats voting against, and 10 voting present. Massie was the only Republican who supported the amendment. … The 10 Democratic present votes [included] Betty McCollum [and] Kelly Morrison.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3T7Osis
MORE: DFL Rep. Betty McCollum issued a statement explaining why she voted “present” on Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s amendment to cancel all U.S. military aid to Israel. McCOLLUM: “I have long been a vocal opponent of the way the United States provides a blank check to the Netanyahu government. … However, I cannot support Mr. Massie’s amendment [because] it is so broadly written. As drafted, other foreign assistance — including vital assistance to Palestinians — could be cut off as well.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bK46H4
BLANCHE: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Senator Amy Klobuchar grilled Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, over several topics at a confirmation hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill. Among the topics, Klobuchar questioned Blanche on immigration enforcement and election security. Blanche said he expects federal law enforcement to follow the law, and he’s not aware of armed agents at polling places.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bK70eW
ICC: via Rep. Ilhan Omar advisory, VERBATIM: “Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) introduced a resolution calling on the United States to become a full member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and revoke sanctions and visa bans on ICC officials. The Congresswoman’s resolution comes days after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced his intention to dismantle the ICC.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hf8O39
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)
GOT ISSUES?
E-CIGS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against the e-cigarette manufacturer Loon, claiming its products are designed to appeal to children. … The Attorney General’s Office is accusing Loon of selling nicotine products in flavors like ‘Cotton Candy’ [and] using kid-friendly characters to promote its vapes. The Attorney General’s Office also claims that Loon is being presented as ‘accepted for approval’ by the FDA, when it reportedly has not been authorized to market its products.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hdoLH9
STATE FAIR: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota State Fair has announced details about its annual hiring fair as it seeks to fill around 3,000 positions before the Great Minnesota Get-Together starts on Aug. 27. It’s offering on-the-spot interviews at its employment center, as well as during a job fair at the fairgrounds’ North End Event Center, which will take place on Wednesday, July 22.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gCnV6J
DAIRY: via MDA advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) today announced it will gather public input on the socioeconomic impact of large-scale dairies in the state. Information will be gathered through two virtual meetings and an online form. The MDA is soliciting input after the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced they will not require an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for Riverview LLP’s proposed expansion of its existing West River Dairy facility near Morris, Minn.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bg9lOT
METRO
MPLS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A group of about 150 community leaders, developers, artists and property owners announced a new brand campaign for the Minneapolis Warehouse District and a vision to transform the area into a ‘world-class entertainment and sports destination.’ … The public-private venture is being led by the Minneapolis Renaissance Coalition, a nonprofit group of volunteers trying to rally investors, businesses and residents to drive momentum and growth in the Warehouse District.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fDNuTS
CRYSTAL: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A Ramsey County judge gave the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) temporary ownership of The Terrace nursing home last week after the court verified concerns about staffing, resident safety and numerous citations. Since December, The Terrace, which is licensed for 85 residents and currently has almost 60, has received 63 citations over the course of 10 site visits.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fdr1M0
WASH/RAMSEY: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Recycling and composting food scraps just got easier for more communities in Ramsey and Washington counties. … Ten more Ramsey County communities and all of Washington County are now able to participate, with more rollouts to come. … The program is expected to roll out to St Paul and the rest of Ramsey County by the end of next year.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Rb9f4b
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)
ACROSS MN
SCSU: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “St. Cloud State University is delaying major demolition projects while it develops a long-term strategy [for] a planned transformation of the corridor connecting the school with downtown St. Cloud. The Minnesota Legislature approved $3 million this year to help demolish aging campus buildings. … While President Gregory Tomso called the funding a significant step forward, he said the university is at least a year away from beginning demolition as it evaluates additional funding opportunities and coordinates planning with the city.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vxssuU
HERMANTOWN: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Charlie Berens, a comedian who has earned a national following for his Midwest schtick, struck a serious tone [during] an event hosted by Stop the Hermantown Data Center, a coalition of residents opposed to the construction of a 1.2-million-square-foot Google data center that the company hopes to construct in the southwest corner of the city. The event shared the perspectives of entertainers, residents and scientists who are all opposed to the project.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gGKzLe
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “A pair of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources grants will provide more than $928,000 for Rochester to grow and maintain its urban forest. The funding includes a $500,000 DNR ReLeaf Community Forestry Grant and a $428,450 DNR Shade Tree Program Bonding Grant.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RBqFag
DAYBOOK
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no public events today.
TODAY: DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek will be answering press questions about June employment data at 10:00 a.m.
JULY 20: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and Attorney General Keith Ellison will hold a rally in Minneapolis on Monday, July 20 at 5:00 p.m.
JULY 20: DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek will meet with Duluth business owners to “highlight the challenges and opportunities small businesses are facing,” per a release. The event is at 11:30 a.m.
JULY 21: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will host an “anti-corruption town hall” with the organization End Citizens United at 11:00 a.m.
JULY 22: The MN Chamber of Commerce will host its 2026 Women in Business conference at Target Field on Wednesday, July 22.
JULY 24: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will host a rally in St. Paul on Friday, July 24 at 7:00 p.m.
JULY 25: via MIRAC advisory, VERBATIM: “Starting at 10:00 a.m. at George Floyd Square, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) will lead ‘Roll 4 Justice 2,’ a protest on bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, and more to demand ‘No More ICE + Police Terror.’”
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BDAYS: Rep. Ben Bakenberg, fmr. DFL Chair Mark Andrew, Timberwolves leader Jeff Munneke, civic leader Dan McElroyBDAYS: Rep. Bidal Duran, Children’s Minnesota leader Lauren Gilchrist, WCCO Radio’s Dan Cook, attorney John Cairns, , fundraiser Trisha Hamm, Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene, attorney Rick Linsk, and one of the reasons this newsletter exists my HS social studies teacher John Fisher
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.