MONDAY MOOD
Rain should mean a cooler week ahead.
Twins lose, and today’s the trade deadline. Still buyers?
Lynx win.
The Stanley Cup had a four-day run in Minnesota that concluded Sunday.
Summer Slam filled US Bank for two nights.
HomeToGo ranked four Minnesota state parks among the best in the nation, with Itasca placing highest at 8th overall. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4fOuhh4
A new study finds that classroom phone bans improve student well-being, but have “close to zero” impact on test scores, attendance and more. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Tov3dr
State Navigate finds that 18-29-year-olds are more likely to respond to polling texts if they’re written without capital letters. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3RsoUMJ
Once again…the White House announced it has canceled strikes on Iran again because they are ready to “make a deal.” AP: https://fluence-media.co/44YQiF8
Sunday Take featured a Farmfest preview and Republican Adam Schwarze discussing his U.S. Senate campaign. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3TyEK93
Happy National Watermelon Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
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Driving today’s news via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Hennepin County’s top prosecutor says the state’s case against Vance Boelter is moving forward this week, [starting] Monday. … Boelter [previously] was sentenced in federal court to life in prison. … Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has been candid about her reason for proceeding with the state case.” MORIARTY: “It’s important that we go forward for the victims especially, but also so that there cannot be a presidential pardon.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RQesyD
(DISCLOSURE: Fluence Advisory provides media support for the Hoffman family.)
THE GOP GOV RACE
Eight days from the primary, and it’s less clear who is leading or who has momentum. The lack of engagement with other candidates from US Senate candidate Michele Tafoya and Speaker Lisa Demuth, may end up like the Vikings prevent defense of the 1990’s. Good in theory, but not always a winning plan.
One of the most common comments is that voters are surprised Mike Lindell has as much support as he does. I’ve seen more Lindell signs than the Demuth or for Kendall Qualls. Demuth, and her team are leaning into TV and radio, but if Lindell and Qualls are the candidates driving more media attention, they may appear to have more energy.
For Tafoya, no engagement with her opponents and without a robust public visibility strategy may create a lower turnout dynamic than she or Demuth want. Both will be at Farmfest this week, and their performance with a week left should give a final sense if they bubble wrap strategy worked.
Historically Republican party endorsed candidates have won, and until they don’t you can’t entirely count them out.
DEMUTH: via the Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Yet as Demuth navigates the last days of a primary campaign that may have fallen from her grasp, she is largely sticking to the agreeable style that landed her here in the first place — for better and worse…State Rep. Paul Torkelson, a Republican from Hanska who was Demuth’s top budget negotiator at the Legislature, said he can’t imagine her shifting into a “highly critical” attack mode. That’s just not who Demuth is, Torkelson said. TORKELSON: “I just don’t think she’s comfortable working in that way,” Torkelson said. “I think she’s fine letting the media tell the story [of her opponents] and she will tell her own story. It may be perceived by some as naive, but it’s also respectable.”… Asked what policy differences will define the last days of the Republican primary campaign, Demuth said “the policy changes I’m looking at are the policy changes between myself and Sen. Klobuchar.”…Demuth has not debated her Republican opponents since the endorsing convention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fJgwjL
LINDELL: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Mike Lindell became famous promoting his MyPillow company, and now he’s facing a legal challenge to his practice of giving away pillows at parades while campaigning. … An administrative law judge ruled [last] week there is evidence of a ‘prima facie violation’ of Minnesota campaign finance law. The ruling comes after a citizen filed a campaign finance complaint.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/452A3H6
MORE: Via MPR, a look at the policy platform for Republican Mike Lindell’s campaign for governor. VERBATIM: “While Lindell’s campaign website offers a broad framework of how he’d come down on issues ranging from agriculture to economic development to election security to health care, there are few specifics. [He] has frequently floated ideas in public events or media interviews that he later walks back or revises on the fly. … The result has made it difficult for voters and other political observers to pin down exactly what Lindell stands for. … Some of Lindell’s proposals for boosting the local economy or managing immigration include trying to get into [Donald] Trump’s ear about changes at the federal level that could spill down to Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yT8ZYj
GOV RACE: TPT Almanac hosted a Republican gubernatorial primary debate between Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls Friday — Speaker Lisa Demuth did not attend. Notably, Lindell called for Gov. Tim Walz to be imprisoned during the debate, sparking social media backlash. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fzhpg7
NOTE: Mike Lindell is expected to release a budget plan this week.
FARMFEST: via MPR, VERBATIM: “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will be among those addressing farmers and others in the agriculture industry at the 2026 Minnesota Farmfest in Redwood County this week. Attendees can also hear from candidates for Minnesota governor, U.S. Senate and the U.S. House in candidate forums that are being held just days before next week’s primary elections. … These forums will focus on topics affecting rural America and the agriculture industry. Given the timing, [organizers] said these forums likely are generating a lot of interest and will have more attendees than usual.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wesYOY
SCHEDULE: A list of the political events at Farmfest 2026 can be found below.
TUESDAY: U.S. Agriculture Sec. Brooke Rollins speaks at 10:10 a.m. Shortly after, a House candidate forum for CD1 and CD2 will be held at 10:30 a.m. Later, a House candidate forum for CD6, CD7 and CD8 will commence at 1:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: A candidate forum for the Minnesota governor race will be held at 10:30 a.m. Later, a Senate candidate forum will commence at 1:15 p.m.
CD1: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “What does a long-shot DFL congressional candidate do to raise awareness? … Alex Eaton is trekking across the 277-mile length of Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. The shaggy-haired 49-year-old is using his border-to-border jaunt to talk about his big idea: guaranteed healthcare for everyone through a universal, single-payer system. Eaton stepped off from Manley in June and was outside Austin this week. … Eaton is running against DFL-endorsed candidate and prohibitive favorite Jake Johnson.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fJxXlL
HEALTHCARE: Strong communities depend on sustainable nonprofit healthcare. By planning to join leading, nonprofit healthcare system Sutter Health, Allina Health will be better positioned to expand access to high-quality, innovative care in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin - supporting patients, caregivers, and communities for generations to come. Learn more about the Allina-Sutter partnership.. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/AllinaHealth (SPONSORED: Allina Health)
H2O HACK
CYBERATTACKS: via CBS News, VERBATIM: “Malicious cyber activity affected technology at water systems in at least seven states [last] week, including Minnesota and Michigan. … Investigators are probing to determine whether the activity is the work of Iranian hackers, according to U.S. officials, [but] their assessment could change. … President Donald Trump said Friday he doesn’t think Iran is to blame. Instead, he pointed the finger at Minnesota.” TRUMP: “I think that Minnesota is behind it. … They’re grossly incompetent. I think the governor’s behind it. I don’t think there was an Iranian cyberattack. I think that Minnesota ought to get its act together.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3TSbJVT
RESPONSE: via Gov. Tim Walz statement, WALZ: “Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too. This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3TyzthL
TECH: via Sen. Amy Klobuchar statement, KLOBUCHAR: “I spoke with U.S. National Cyber Director and Minnesota native Sean Cairncross about the recent cyberattacks impacting Minnesota. … I have also talked to several mayors whose communities have been impacted. … Cairncross and I discussed updated technology, recognizing that resources are an issue for so many communities, not just in Minnesota but across the country. I will continue to advocate for…updated technology to secure our critical infrastructure from cyber threats.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hMdPR3
CONTRAST: See the blurbs above to see how not everything is political.
ACA: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison today joined a coalition of 21 states in suing to block a Trump Administration rule [regarding] the Affordable Care Act (ACA). … HHS estimates the new rule will cause two million people to lose coverage in 2027. … Ellison and the coalition argue the [rule change] and other provisions illegally undermine the ACA’s goal of expanding access to affordable healthcare.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w2v04k
CHURCH: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Federal prosecutors have offered plea agreements to many of the 38 people charged in connection to an anti-ICE protest at a church earlier this year, [but] it doesn’t appear that any of the 29 defendants offered plea agreements have accepted them. … Defendants [may] want to see if federal prosecutors essentially committed misconduct, which has happened in places like Illinois and led to charges being dropped in a conspiracy case there.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4btIz5v
ECONOMY
TOURISM: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Explore Minnesota, the state’s marketing and promotion agency, revealed this week that 2025 tourism data grew again from the year prior — but not by much. The agency noted that the overall trend remains positive, as last year marked the fifth consecutive year that Minnesota has seen growth in visitor volume and spending. However, officials also acknowledged that growth slowed from previous years, and early 2026 indicators paint a more troubling picture. … Through the first five months of 2026, state data shows that leisure and hospitality employment was down about 1.5%, or roughly 4,000 jobs.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hbswgs
PAID LEAVE: Via Pioneer Press, more details on Friday’s paid leave announcement, as seen in lunch take. VERBATIM: “Minnesota doesn’t plan to raise the tax for its paid family and medical leave program next year, even as a new analysis projects the benefit will lose money in its first year and in 2027. … That slight shortfall combined with operational expenses means paid leave could lose $114 million in its inaugural year, [and] with no changes to the tax rate, the program would lose another $158 million in 2027. DEED officials said [that] even with projected losses, Minnesota paid leave would still have reserve money topping $400 million by the end of 2027. Further, collections so far have actually kept pace with payments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xlje6s
DISABILITIES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans with disabilities and their families are used to a fight [for progress], but many said the number of threats to that progress now feels overwhelming. The ranks of people who need assistance is growing as the state ages. But there are not enough workers to provide care, and the state and federal government have cut funding for some services [due to] fraud. … Minnesotans with disabilities said they are the biggest victims. Not only have fraudsters left people without crucial care, the state has stopped paying providers some people relied on.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TouUGV
PREDICTIONS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Two Ojibwe nations in Minnesota asked federal regulators to drop a proposed rule they say would bring [prediction markets] to reservation land without tribal permission. The Leech Lake and Mille Lacs bands of Ojibwe filed letters last week with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. … Mille Lacs Band chief executive Virgil Wind said in the band’s letter that prediction markets amounted to [gambling]. … Both letters pointed to federal policy requiring agencies to consult with tribes on rules that would affect tribal gaming operations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hbhwjg
AI NUDES: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s new ban on ‘nudification’ technology [went] into effect Saturday as originally planned after a federal judge denied an effort to block it by Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI. … District Judge Donovan Frank pointed out that Gov. Tim Walz signed the legislation in May, yet xAI’s lawsuit wasn’t brought forth until Tuesday, [saying] ‘Such a delay in bringing the action and the motion suggests that harm is not immediate.’ … Frank scheduled a hearing on Aug. 19, when he will make a final decision on whether to grant a temporary injunction to pause the law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/453KpGF
MOVE: Andrew Wagner is leaving the House Republican Caucus for Penn Quarter Partners.
A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
THE NORTH
BWCAW: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The list of areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness reopening to the public continues to grow, with some now cleared for overnight visits. … On Saturday, the U.S. Forest Service announced the reopening of a number of entry points for overnight visits beginning Aug. 5. … The easing of restrictions came just in time for area resorts, as many visitors have taken recent developments as signs their August vacations might be salvaged after all.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w1oLhe
SMALL BIZ: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Small business owners met with state lawmakers, local officials and nonprofit leaders Friday to discuss the economic impacts the Northland wildfires have had on their tourism industry, and some of them already report ‘six-figure losses.’ … The roundtable discussion was organized by the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, along with state Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) and state Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely). … Cook County Commissioner Ann Sullivan [said] some businesses have experienced losses running in between ‘40 to 98 percent.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yYYpiM
DROUGHT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Competing tubing companies on the Otter Tail River have closed early, saying customers would be doing more walking than floating with water levels this low. … The decision comes in the midst of a heat wave and right before one of their busiest weekends of the summer with WE Fest, the popular country music and camping festival, in nearby Detroit Lakes. [But] much of Minnesota — essentially everywhere but the Twin Cities — is too dry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xi9c5W
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)
METRO
ANOKA-HENN: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s new social studies standards are taking effect this fall. But some teachers and parents in the Anoka-Hennepin School District say with the start of school right after Labor Day, they’re frustrated [over] the district’s social studies curriculum, parts of which have yet to be approved by the school board. … The board has not approved pilots for sixth grade Minnesota studies, eighth grade global studies, ninth grade civics and geography, 10th grade U.S. history, and 12th grade economics, government, and politics. … The board has also not approved pilots of K-5 social studies at all. … The school board has just two meetings left before the start of classes: Aug. 11 and Aug. 24.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hbGPle
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Emergency shelter providers [are] preparing for next Wednesday, when the City of St. Paul plans to clear its largest homeless encampment. … [Last week], an online meeting hosted by St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her with city staff, a handful of state representatives and county officials drew raised voices and strong words from the mayor and others. … Rep. Leigh Finke, DFL-St. Paul, [had] left the online discussion early in frustration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wM3qcT
MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Union Gospel Mission says it has between 20 to 25 beds available. Catholic Charities says it’s received nearly $970,000 in county funds for 49 emergency beds. … [But] ‘our shelter is running at 99% capacity on a regular basis,’ said Keith Kozerski, chief program officer for Catholic Charities.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3S9nc2U
MAYOR HER: Via MinnPost, a look at what would happen inside the St. Paul city government if Mayor Kaohly Her decided to resign. Her has previously said she will not step down despite her ongoing sexual harassment investigation. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3S5rNDj
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
OLMSTED CTY: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Olmsted County commissioners will consider on Tuesday whether they want to make an official commitment to providing space for a potential performing arts center. Commissioners have voiced mixed levels of agreement to carving out a portion of the former Seneca Foods canning facility site. … The performing arts center group’s initial vision called for building a 2,000-seat venue capable of attracting large-scale traveling performances, along with a smaller venue for local acts, but performing arts committee member Rick Kvam said a feasibility study is needed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rvqiy5
ST LOUIS CTY: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “A $2.3 million restoration project aimed at protecting the eroding shoreline gravesite at Scandia Cemetery cleared a significant hurdle. … The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources [has] voted to include $1.44 million for the Scandia Cemetery project on its list of recommendations for 2027 allocations. Final approval for the project will need to come from the Minnesota Legislature next year. … The remainder of the cost would fall on St. Louis County to cover, on top of the approximately $300,000 the county has already invested.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4btIK0F
GOOD THUNDER: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A lawsuit springing from small-town drama could have multimillion-dollar consequences in southern Minnesota. A jury awarded the former city clerk of Good Thunder more than $3 million in damages after she claimed she was punished for reporting potential conflict-of-interest issues with the mayor. Ashney Helleksen said city council members blamed her for sharing concerns that led to the arrest of Good Thunder’s longtime mayor, leading to harassment against her and a hostile work environment in the town of about 500 people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fMc1ov
LOOKING AHEAD
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no public events.
TUES-THURS: Minnesota Farmfest runs from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6 in Redwood County. U.S. Agriculture Sec. Brooke Rollins will be a featured speaker on Tuesday at 10:10 a.m. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4pQIEGw
THURSDAY: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar will host a town hall in Richfield on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 6:00 p.m.
AUG 4-13: Fluence sponsor Xcel Energy and industry partners will host a series of open houses on their planned “PowerOn Midwest” electric transmission projects from Tuesday, Aug. 4 to Thursday, Aug. 13. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4yHUlDi
SEPT 9: The IRRR Board is hosting its third annual “State of the Range” event in Chisholm on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.
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BDAYS: GOP operative Kevin Poindexter, CBS’ Jamie Yuccas, lobbyist Grace Keliher, Torrent goalie Hannah Murphy
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.