CHILLY MONDAY
That’s a harsh way to end Fall. Sweater weather arrives abruptly.
The travel bleep show is turning upper income Americans against the Trump administration – that’s the observation from the airports this weekend. Seventy-five percent of flights for the family trip were impacted.
By the numbers…U.S. airlines saw over 2,700 cancellations and nearly 10,000 delays on Sunday alone. AP: https://fluence-media.co/47DB6Oo
Eight Democratic Senators trying to end the shutdown…more below.
Timberwolves win. Wild win. Vikings lose.
The Loons advanced Saturday in a crazy PK shootout. Minnesota’s new team? Next up they face San Diego.
The 2026 election starts this week, and Speaker Demuth announces Ryan Wilson as her running mate today. That said, Kendall Qualls is reportedly having trouble finding someone to run with him. Who will run with Walz?
There’s a GOP MNSider memo being released tonight for our premium subscribers.
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank 50 years ago today. Memorial events are being held across Minnesota. There’s a special tonight on WCCO Radio at 9PM. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4oxTCze
We’ve postponed the Fluence Forum on Healthcare…stay tuned.
The Daily Agenda is on Tik Tok if you’re there too, give a follow.
Sunday Take had St. Paul Mayor-elect Rep. Kaohly Her sharing how her rise has been “accidental”, what her father’s words have meant, and how she and the late Speaker Melissa Hortman didn’t start on the right foot. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4hMn3uA
Happy National Vanilla Cupcake Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ:https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
ELECTION ‘26
64A: Later today, Beth Fraser will announce a run to succeed Rep. Kaohly Her in House District 64A’s special election. Via a private Facebook post, FRASER: “After talking with friends and neighbors about the type of bold, progressive leadership needed to replace [Her] in the House, I’ve decided to run in the special election.”
SD65: Senate District 65 DFL Chair Robyn Gulley is running for retiring Sen. Sandy Pappas’ seat. Via her announcement, VERBATIM: “Today’s announcement will be followed by a formal campaign kickoff and fundraiser later this month. Robyn Gulley is a long-time labor educator and community activist.” GULLEY: “My campaign for State Senate will be a grassroots campaign to bring another progressive voice to the state capitol. I am pro-labor, pro-choice, pro-immigrant, and support gun control.” WEBSITE: https://fluence-media.co/4hU4aWX
CD5: via Ilhan for Congress, VERBATIM: “Ilhan Omar for Congress today released a slate of endorsements from members of the House Democratic Leadership team, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Chair Pete Aguilar, [demonstrating] Omar’s broad support from all levels of government.”
EMMER-MARTIN Rep. Tom Emmer and DNC Chair Ken Martin were on Fox News Sunday to discuss elections in 2025 and 2026. Emmer said he thinks the Democrats’ electoral performance last week has been overblown and they “won where they’re supposed to win.” He argued Republicans will hold their majorities in the House and Senate next year because “voters are going to understand and know” that Republicans are focused on affordability Martin said Democrats’ nationwide victories proved that affordability messaging works and the party’s future is as a center-left coalition. EMMER: https://fluence-media.co/3XoPEN6 MARTIN: https://fluence-media.co/4oZxQUL
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Democrats are drawing lessons from Tuesday’s off-year elections, arguing that romping victories for their party across the country provide a roadmap for governor, the Legislature and an open U.S. Senate race in 2026. … Minnesota Republicans say they recognize possible headwinds but aren’t convinced off-year elections in blue states are a harbinger for 2026. Some noted that Republican victories in Virginia in 2021 did not translate into a red wave the following year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hWRzlQ
GREATER MN: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Local issues loom largest in municipal elections, and this Election Day was no different — but candidates in Greater Minnesota described seeing more overlap between local issues and national politics this year. … During her Duluth City Council campaign, Diane Desotelle met volunteers who were getting involved in local politics in response to what was happening nationally. … Shanon Nowell noticed this in her successful mayoral campaign in St. Peter, one of the few other cities in Greater Minnesota to have municipal elections this year. … ‘It was hard to avoid that,’ she said of national issues. ‘With SNAP benefits [ending] and the timing of elections, people are concerned about their neighbors.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43RpKW2
US SENATE: via New York Times, VERBATIM: “The victories in this past week’s [elections] represented only the beginning of the battle over the future of the Democratic Party. … In Minnesota, a Democratic primary has begun to fracture along ideological lines. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has refused corporate PAC donations and earned Senator Elizabeth Warren’s only Senate primary endorsement so far outside Massachusetts. … On the other side is Representative Angie Craig, [who] served as a co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition, a centrist group. … Flanagan [said] ‘It’s really a choice between someone who has the guts to fight for working people…[and] a more corporate Democrat who’s been happy to get along and accept the status quo.’ … Craig called herself a ‘gets stuff done’ Democrat who takes on the ‘status quo,’ including unseating an older Democrat to lead the House Agriculture Committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qW5rAU
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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)
SHUTDOWN
DEAL: via AP News, VERBATIM: “The Senate [took] the first steps to end the 40-day government shutdown Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus. … The group of [senators] said they would vote to reopen if the Senate passed three annual spending bills and extend the rest of government funding until late January. … The deal would also include a future vote on the health care subsidies, which would not have a guaranteed outcome, and a reversal of the mass firings of federal workers that have happened since the shutdown began.” Minority Leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries denounced the deal. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LtXEdg
MORE: Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith voted against Sunday’s bill to end the federal shutdown. On social media, Klobuchar said “it does not prevent health insurance premiums from doubling,” and Smith said the deal “completely fails to help Americans afford their health care.” KLOBUCHAR: https://fluence-media.co/4hRxzks SMITH: https://fluence-media.co/47Nzwd8
RESPONSE: Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan were among over a dozen Democratic U.S. Senate candidates who denounced Sunday’s shutdown deal. The package would require House passage, but Craig and Rep. Kelly Morrison said they won’t vote for it.
CRAIG: “If people believe this is a ‘deal,’ I have a bridge to sell you. I’m not going to put 24 million Americans at risk of losing their health care. I’m a no.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/43gYRL6
FLANAGAN: “There’s no one I trust less than Donald Trump and Mike Johnson. Any deal that relies on Republicans to keep their word is a bad one. Democrats can’t give up on affordable health care for an empty promise. Minnesotans can’t afford for Democrats to cave.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/49Lfz9h
FOOD AID
SNAP: via AP News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s administration is demanding states ‘undo’ full SNAP benefits paid out under judges’ orders last week now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings. … The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states [including Minnesota] warned of ‘catastrophic operational disruptions’ if the Trump Administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court’s stay. … Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of [USDA], warned that states could face penalties if they did not comply.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49FFtLC
MORE: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Minnesota officials say they don’t have the ability to take back SNAP benefits that were issued over the weekend despite an order from the Trump Administration. … ‘Minnesota does not have any mechanism for taking money back from SNAP recipients,’ a statement from the state says. ‘We also believe it would be unjust to yank back these funds.’ … It’s unclear how many benefits were paid out over the weekend.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3JB3gSp
PAYMENTS: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Federal records show SNAP payouts in Minnesota shot up 174% between 2020 and 2021. The payouts went from about $725 million in 2020 to nearly $2 billion the following year. The state said reporting errors lead to the higher figures, and said it plans to correct them when the government shutdown ends. … The reporting errors do not mean that taxpayer dollars were mistakenly doled out; it means that the state incorrectly tallied the numbers. The state said it does not yet know what the correct figures were.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3JTcAB5
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)
ISSUES
ISRAEL: Minnesota activists with the “boycott, divestment, sanctions” (BDS) movement filed a public records request that shows the State Board of Investment (SBI) has sold 96% of its Israel bonds since 2020. Via an MN BDS release, VERBATIM: “After peaking at $13.3 million in December of 2020, the SBI has sold all of its Israel bonds — that we know of — except for one $470,000 bond. The bonds that the SBI purchased between 2021 and 2023 were sold at a loss of $830,000. … Next steps will be discussed at a press conference [today at 3:00 p.m.].” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hOSa97
MENTAL HEALTH: via Rep. Brad Finstad advisory, VERBATIM: “Today, Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01) introduced the Restoring Inpatient Mental Health Access Act of 2025, which expands mental health care access to a larger group of beneficiaries. … Medicaid generally cannot use federal funds to pay for care in a mental health institution if the facility has more than 16 beds and mainly treats people with mental illness. … The Restoring Inpatient Mental Health Access Act of 2025 removes the IMD exclusion, meaning federal Medicaid dollars could help cover the cost of inpatient treatment for people in mental health hospitals or residential facilities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oxm2tb
MED POT: via OCM advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced that it is accepting submissions of training curricula for consideration to be used in the state’s new medical cannabis consultant training program. Changes in state statute in 2024 permit certified medical cannabis consultants, in addition to pharmacists, to provide medical cannabis consultations to registered patients. … In developing this program, OCM will review and approve training curricula that will help the certified medical cannabis consultants meet the unique needs of each patient.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43nPPvM
STATE PATROL: via MPR, VERBATIM: “The State Patrol is putting together a new trooper recruitment campaign. A posting this week seeks bids from law enforcement recruiting firms to help fashion the pitch to prospective hires. The contract that will be awarded will include market research and an ad campaign. It’s aimed at ‘attracting both in-state and national candidates.’ … The contract is expected to run from January to December in 2026, with the potential for four years of renewals if the Department of Public Safety chooses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oUKMLw
JUDGE: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Ryan Bies as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Bies will replace the Honorable Vicki Vial Taylor and will be chambered in Hastings in Dakota County. … Bies is a shareholder at Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A. in Apple Valley.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/485ftIj
UNDISTURBED LAND: One of the largest undisturbed natural areas in the Twin Cities metro area is the Pine Bend Bluffs in Dakota County. Situated along the Mississippi River, these hundreds of acres owned by Flint Hills Resources are a key migration corridor for millions of songbirds and 40% of North America’s waterfowl and shorebirds. Collaboration among Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening and Flint Hills Resources volunteers help to restore this natural area to pre-settlement conditions. The Pine Bend Bluffs has earned Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification since 2001. The site recently earned gold certification, making the Pine Bend Bluffs currently the only gold certified site in Minnesota and the first ever in the metro area. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4241cZ2 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ACROSS MN
MPS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The union representing educators in Minneapolis Public Schools has reached a tentative contract agreement with the district, averting a strike that had been scheduled to begin Tuesday. The Minneapolis Federation of Educators and the school district announced the tentative deal late Saturday. … Specific terms of the agreement were not released. … The tentative agreement still needs to be ratified by union members. The union said it is planning a joint news conference with the district on Monday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hRkK9P
MPLS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Dysfunction between the [Minneapolis] council and mayor and within the body itself has been a hallmark of the last two years and led to several highly public spats. … Throughout the campaign, [Jacob] Frey’s top three challengers promised they could work better with the council. But they lost, and now there are four new faces on the 13-member council. … ‘The end of a veto-proof majority means we’ll have to work together again to get things done — just like we did before 2023,’ Frey said in a statement. … The progressives’ one-seat majority relies upon Council Member Jamal Osman, who [said] he’ll ‘continue to be a swing vote.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nMGe9e
COTTAGE GROVE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The Cottage Grove City Council, over the objections of numerous agencies and residents, signed off [last week] on a final environmental review related to a proposal to mine the riverbed of the Mississippi River. The council, by a 5-0 vote, approved the final environmental impact statement. … The council’s vote means the project proposed by Amrize, formerly known as Holcim-MCR Inc., will move on to the permitting stage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47yreXG
GOODHUE CTY: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today celebrated the opening weekend of Minnesota’s firearms deer hunting season in Goodhue County. He was hosted by Dan and Mary Lundell on their private land near Cannon Falls, where he spent the morning enjoying the woods but did not harvest a deer. The Governor then visited a chronic wasting disease (CWD) check station with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen and talked with hunters as they brought in their deer to be sampled for CWD.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49c11PY
COMING UP
TODAY: Speaker Lisa Demuth will hold a news conference announcing Ryan Wilson as her running mate today at 12:00 noon.
TODAY: Activists with Minnesota BDS will hold a press conference at 3:00 p.m. discussing next steps following a public records request that shows the State Board of Investment has divested 96% of its Israel bonds.
TOMORROW: 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
WED-THURS: via MN Senate, VERBATIM: “On Nov. 12-13, Senate Capital Investment Committee Chair Senator Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) and members of the Capital Investment Committee will travel to 12 communities in Northwest Minnesota to learn about proposed projects requesting state matching funds, meet with local officials, and tour project sites.” SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/4p1LKG6
BDAYS: Anoka County Commissioner Julie Jeppson, agency leader J. Marie Fieger
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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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