RECHARGING…
Catching up on sleep, thanks for the notes and welcome to the dozens of new subscribers. The new format is being well-received, and we’ll keep innovating.
Wolves lost last night, and media night at the Purple Rain musical had all the locals. Missed my invite.
Gov. Tim Walz ordered flags at half-staff in memory of former VP Dick Cheney.
Despite the ghosts…Duluth’s Glensheen Mansion was nominated for a USA Today list of the nation’s best holiday home tours. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3WH5ToK
Another sign the Minnesota economy is struggling…WalletHub finds that credit card delinquency is increasing in Minnesota faster than any other state. Iowa and South Dakota are also in the top five. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/49nugzp
Seems like adding leverag…the FAA will cut traffic at 40 airports by 10% starting Friday due to the shutdown. Not sure this is something that will pressure Democrats to re-open the government. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/4qLktZS
Elections in New Jersey and Virginia showed voters under 30 and non-white voters strongly backing Democrats, largely reverting Republicans’ gains with them in 2024. AP: https://fluence-media.co/47YBmsO
Happy National Nachos Day…
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
The latest insight memo from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
ST. PAUL
PAPPAS: Sources have said Sen. Sandy Pappas will announce her retirement today.
A lesson to be learned from an election upset, that Rep. Koahly Her didn’t harshly attack Mayor Melvin Carter, but rather just question and suggest that more could be done on issues in St. Paul. via the Star Tribune VERBATIM: “Her channeled frustration with a lack of progress on stubborn problems like high property taxes, flailing economic development and blight in downtown and neighborhoods like Midway…Her painted herself as a beacon of competency, a person who would bring new eyes and fresh urgency to an office some viewed as complacent and disengaged in the face of sluggish recovery from the pandemic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LtPtxq
TAKE: The era of denial that problems are not being addressed is extremely frustrating to voters. The past year seems to have brought dishonesty to a new high in politics – and the issue is both parties have had high-profile examples where “denialism” is a disease that deteriorates trust even further from the all-time lows. The most visible political denialism was about President Joe Biden’s health, led in part by Gov. Tim Walz. Americans had seen with their own eyes, and heard with their own ears that Biden wasn’t sharp.
However, as Democrats have denied that crime is an issue its allows an even more dishonest leader to counter with President Trump’s narrative about our cities. Two examples from Mayoral races that begged the question – how? In Minneapolis, Sen. Omar Fateh trumpeted that he was going to boost transit – but that’s not a city function, and didn’t seem to be questioned. However, to match the denialism in St. Paul – Mayor Carter kept suggesting that 20,000 new residents were coming to downtown St. Paul, and that doesn’t seem believable if you’ve been to downtown.
As trust levels remain low – and declining – especially for government and public officials – it’s time to stop denying or downplaying real issues and take a sobering look at the post-Pandemic challenges.
The Tuesday results nationally show that “affordability” remains a massive issue- that President Trump denies. He says prices are dropping – but they aren’t, and if the economy doesn’t improve before next November Republicans will have a reckoning – even potentially in the rural areas they have recently dominated. As long as President Trump is in the White House, Democrats best strategy is not to also deny reality.
MORE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “When the final votes rolled in for the St. Paul mayor’s race, even some of Kaohly Her’s supporters seemed taken aback that she had unseated Melvin Carter, who had handily won his last two elections. ‘It seems like nobody expected me to win, except me,’ said Her on Wednesday. … Her, who announced her candidacy in early August, said she had no time or money to conduct formal polling during the campaign, but it became clear to her she had the advantage when she hired a campaign manager before Carter did. … She found that the mayor had done little in the way of door knocking until she entered the race.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43LL3Iw
AGENDA: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Kaohly Her wants her term as St. Paul mayor to be different. Maybe not ideologically apart from outgoing Mayor Melvin Carter, whom she once worked for as policy director, but more connected, more in the community. … Her said she left her job in Carter’s office in part because she thought the mayor had surrounded himself with too many people who said yes. … Her said she wants to smooth out city processes, especially in the Department of Public Works, the Department of Safety and Inspections and the Planning and Economic Development Department. … That might sound dull compared to the big ideas Carter brought to the beginning of his tenure, Her said, but she thinks the city needs to nail those basic processes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JMZxkD
MORE: The Pioneer Press asked St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her if she plans to change or cancel some of Mayor Melvin Carter’s appointments, programs and initiatives. Her said she currently has no plans for big changes to any of the items she was asked about. HER: “I don’t have any plans to be getting rid of things. I like to be really thorough and detailed, which means that assessments really matter. I do really need to come in and take a look at where we are and how sustainable the program is before I can make any kind of decision about what’s going to happen. … If the momentum has already moved forward with that, I don’t see a reason to undo that work.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43LL3Iw
PRECINCTS: Axios Twin Cities has a data analysis of which neighborhoods and precincts voted for Mayor Melvin Carter and Rep. Kaohly Her in the St. Paul mayoral election. Carter won first-choice votes overall, but Her racked up first-choice votes inside her state House district boundaries, making her margins close enough to win in additional rounds of tabulation. READ/DATA: https://fluence-media.co/3Lvx4jL
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BUCKET TRUCK: via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “On a crisp autumn morning in Waconia, Minnesota, Laketown Elementary buzzed with excitement as fifth grader Grant Scotting kept his eyes trained on the parking lot. A birthday surprise for Scotting was in the works — and soon it rolled up: a shiny Xcel Energy bucket truck. Scotting, who has special needs and is nonverbal, is known for his love of Xcel Energy. His enthusiasm for the local energy company ranges from reporting outages on his family’s iPad to eagerly opening each monthly bill.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oq7uei (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
MPLS
FREY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Mayor Jacob Frey said Wednesday that with re-election behind him, he’s turning his full attention to governing. … Frey added that he’s received congratulatory calls from Jazz Hampton and Rev. DeWayne Davis, but not from state Sen. Omar Fateh. … When asked Wednesday whether the election results signaled anything about Minneapolis voters’ appetite for democratic socialism, Frey avoided reading too deeply into the outcome.” QUOTE: “I don’t think I’m the one to be a pundit on what message precisely [voters] are sending ideologically. I do think the message that has been sent loud and clear is that we have to love our city more than our ideology.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XcpmO3
PRECINCTS: The Star Tribune has a data analysis of which neighborhoods and precincts voted for Mayor Jacob Frey and Sen. Omar Fateh in the Minneapolis mayoral election. Fateh received more second-choice votes than Frey, but Frey’s strong performance in the first round of ranked choice voting enabled him to win regardless. READ/DATA: https://fluence-media.co/3JGP1v9
MORE
SPECIAL ELECTIONS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Legislature has two new members thanks to Tuesday’s election, but it will again see vacancies in a pair of House seats after a pair of lawmakers won other offices. … Gov. Tim Walz said [special elections] in Woodbury and St. Paul will take place on Jan. 27 with primaries scoped out for Dec. 16. … House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson, of Coon Rapids, said he’s confident that Democrats can keep the seats in the districts that have track records of backing DFL candidates.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LnDkKy
NOTE: The total number of Minnesota Legislature special elections from January 2024 to January 2025 will be eight, per state records — assuming no additional vacancies.
SCHOOLS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “More than half of Minnesota school districts that asked voters to approve operating levies and bond questions to pay for K-12 education costs [passed] the support they were looking for this election cycle. … Nearly 100 school funding questions were on Minnesota ballots — 63% of those were approved. Nearly 70% of operating levies passed and 64% of capital project questions passed. Fewer bond questions — which tend to be heftier sums of money invested in things like new school buildings — passed, with only a 52% approval.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oYNTSU
MORE: The Minnesota School Boards Association has results for every school district ballot question in Minnesota this week. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3Lrvyze
SUBURBS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Suburban residents on Tuesday brought their kitchen-table concerns to the polls, selecting new mayors and City Council members in several cities. Anxiety about rising taxes and rapid development emerged as key issues. … In Bloomington, which follows a ranked-choice voting system, Danielle Robertson won an at-large City Council seat with roughly 53% of the vote. … A leadership change is coming to Minnetonka after voters selected Rebecca Schack as mayor — the first contest in nearly a decade without an incumbent on the ballot. … Mayor Rob Rafferty, who was first elected in 2019, retained his seat in Lino Lakes. … Mary Nicklawske won the mayor’s race in White Bear Lake.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43aKlEE
BROADBAND: Comcast is rewriting the broadband playbook in the Twin Cities. From neighborhood networks to next-gen tech, we’re delivering community-first internet connectivity with no contracts, no surprises. The new Xfinity package means unlimited data, blazing-fast, reliable speeds and a 5-year price guarantee, plus free mobile for a year. It’s not the old Comcast — it’s a bold new era of connection. Let’s power the future, together. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/Comcast2025-1 (SPONSORED: Comcast)
NATIONAL
TARIFFS: via AP News, VERBATIM: “A majority of Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical Wednesday about President Donald Trump’s ability to unilaterally impose far-reaching tariffs, putting at risk a cornerstone of his agenda in the biggest legal test yet of his boundary-pushing presidency. … If Trump eventually loses at the high court, the aftermath could be complicated if the government must issue refunds. So far, the Treasury has collected almost $90 billion from the import taxes. … But tariffs likely won’t be going away. Trump could still impose tariffs under other laws, though they have more limitations on the speed and severity with which he could act.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oYooRv
MORE: via Office of the Attorney General, VERBATIM: “Minnesota and a coalition of 11 other states filed the [tariff] lawsuit. … Attorney General Keith Ellison released the following statement.” ELLISON: “The Supreme Court was rightly skeptical of the President’s extraordinary assertion of an unreviewable power to impose tariffs on any country, for any length of time, in any amount, simply by declaring an ‘emergency.’ … I am cautiously optimistic that the Court will hold the President’s extraordinary tariffs unlawful.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nEDHh2
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
HORTMAN: Maine Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat in a red district, said he will not run for reelection next year due to concerns about political violence, including the assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman in Minnesota. Via Spectrum News, GOLDEN: “I have grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community. … We witnessed the firebombing of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home, the assassination of Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota and the horrific murder of Charlie Kirk.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47s8Mjq
MORE: Rep. Melissa Hortman was mentioned in a statement from the Republican Attorneys General Association condemning Democratic Attorney General-elect Jay Jones in Virginia following his Tuesday victory. RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper said Jones engaged in divisive rhetoric that was “echoed by assassins who killed Charlie Kirk and a Minnesota Speaker who dared to work with Republicans.” There is no evidence that Hortman’s alleged killer targeted her for her bipartisan work, but this unproven theory continues to spread online. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qJcs7Z
40 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited (DU) are celebrating 40 years of partnership, a longevity landmark that makes Flint Hills one of DU’s longest-standing corporate partners. Working together over the past four decades, Flint Hills and DU have contributed to conserving more than 250,000 acres of wildlife habitat and natural areas in Minnesota and over 900,000 acres across North America. LEARN MORE: Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited Celebrate 40 Years of Partnership (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ECONOMY
ALLINA: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Hundreds of medical personnel working for Allina Health [held] a one-day strike on Wednesday. Workers on strike included 600 doctors, physicians’ assistants, and nurse practitioners who are members of the Doctors Council SEIU. The strike impacted 60 Allina clinics in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin. The union believes that this is the largest strike of its kind in the U.S. [They’re] asking for more safety measures on the job and better sick leave. … In a statement, Allina Health said it is ‘disappointed that some of our clinic providers are choosing to engage in a one-day strike and stepping away from caring for their patients.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/43cvsl9
FEED FRAUD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A Lakeville man was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday to a year of probation after admitting to his role in the massive federal Feeding Our Future fraud investigation. U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel handed down the sentence that avoided further prison time to Khadar Adan, who pleaded guilty in late August. … Adan’s sentence also requires that he pays $1,000 in restitution. He is the third and final suspect among his co-defendants to plead guilty to running the scheme out of Lake Street Kitchen.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oOBKj8
MINING: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A mining company wants to dig for materials beneath the Mississippi River in Cottage Grove, [but] the proposal is getting plenty of pushback from neighbors and government agencies. The mining company’s pitch is based on a land agreement from nearly 100 years ago. A Chicago based company called Amrize currently controls the mine producing aggregate construction materials for the Twin Cities metro area. … Amrize claims they’ll run out of resources by 2029 in the area they’re currently mining — making the claim they need to dig into the river.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3WJG8Ea
ACROSS MN
HERMANTOWN: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Two groups are suing a city in northeast Minnesota over a controversial data center proposal. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and a grassroots group of area residents called ‘Stop the Hermantown Data Center’ filed the lawsuit Wednesday. … They’re challenging the city of Hermantown’s environmental review of a proposed massive development called ‘Project Loon,’ and they accuse city officials of a lack of transparency. The lawsuit alleges the city’s review didn’t describe the proposal as a data center, and failed to provide details about the project’s water and energy use, and potential noise and light pollution.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oUJgcb
TRITON: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Voters on Tuesday approved a capital projects levy for Triton Public Schools, which will bring in $650,000 a year for the next decade. The request from the district was approved by more than 59% of the vote, according to preliminary results. In total, there were 778 residents who cast their votes on the issue. The district will be able to use the tax revenue for issues such as investments in technology and curriculum, improvements to its facilities, and transportation updates.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hLbfsJ
STEARNS CTY: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Bob Johnson, a longtime St. Cloud nonprofit leader, won a special election for a vacant seat on the Stearns County Board of Commissioners. He defeated Amin Ali, a youth soccer coach, community advocate and housing program director. … Johnson will fill the District 4 seat left vacant when longtime commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier resigned in April. … Johnson will serve through the remainder of Lenzmeier’s term, which ends in December 2026. He cited affordability, health care and safety as his top priorities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/494juOj
COMING UP
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz will meet with faith leaders at 11:30 a.m., participate in an AARP telephone town hall at 12:00 noon, and interview candidates for a vacancy in the First Judicial District at 1:00 p.m. All events are closed to the press, per his public schedule.
TODAY: via MN DFL, VERBATIM: “First Lady Gwen Walz, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, elected officials, gun safety organizations, doctors, nurses, educators, survivors, and community members will come together for a town hall in Rochester focused on fighting for gun violence prevention.” The event is at 6:00 p.m.
TODAY: via MN House, VERBATIM: “The House Capital Investment Committee will begin their fourth regional tour of the fall, visiting communities in Southeast Minnesota. This bipartisan tour will consist of state infrastructure project proposals, which will be considered for inclusion in a 2026 Capital Investment Bill.” On Thursday, they’ll tour Rochester, Forestville, Winona, Wabasha, Hastings, Newport, and South St. Paul. SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/3WAu4oQ
TODAY: via MN Senate, VERBATIM: “The Senate Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts…will tour laboratory facilities at the University of Minnesota-Duluth to meet with researchers and learn how their work is potentially affected by federal policy. … The tour will be followed by a roundtable discussion to hear from higher education leaders, faculty and students about the effect federal actions are having on college campuses, affordability and economic development.” The event is at 11:00 a.m.
SATURDAY: A protest will be held at the Capitol as part of the “National Handmaids’ Day of Action” on Saturday, Nov. 8. Speakers will include elected officials and organizers with 50501, Indivisible, and other groups. The event is at 1:00 p.m.
NOV 11: via MDVA advisory, VERBATIM: “The Official State of Minnesota Veterans Day Program is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the Minnesota National Guard Armory in Mankato, Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs invites Veterans, families, elected officials and community members.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3LKwFdm
BDAYS: arts leader Sarah Fossen, comms veteran Chris Kelly, MBP’s Anne Neu Brindley, St. Paulite Maggie O’Reilly, GOP insider Sheldon Anderson
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take from now to the future is in memory of Melissa Hortman her accessibility, leadership and commitment to public service.
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