MIDWEEK MOOD
Watched Miracle last night, a defining moment when I was 7 remains one of the most amazin stories of my lifetime.
Another miracle would be the Wolves getting Giannis
Border enforcement leader Tom Homan will hold a news conference at 8AM.
The DFL and GOP State conventions are scheduled for the same weekend.
White Bear Lake’s annual “Ice-Out Contest” — unrelated to ICE — decided against changing its name. PIPRESS: https://fluence-media.co/4avNfHS
Officials say giving body cameras to every federal agent could take up to six months. WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/3MojOOK
WCCO Radio listeners and sponsors raised a record $713,000 for Second Harvest Heartland. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3NTqbKt
Harvard-Harris finds that more voters now think Joe Biden did a better job as president than Donald Trump, 51% to 49%. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4ataBOn
Happy National Hemp Day, keep it legal.
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Sunday Take analyzed this week’s caucuses and what’s changed in the Legislature with retiring GOP Rep. Paul Torkelson. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4qd7D5h
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The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
DEMUTH WINS
CAUCUSES: Speaker Lisa Demuth wins the MN Republican caucus and businessman Kendall Qualls finishes second, while MyPillow’s Mike Lindell finished third. No other candidate received over 1,000 votes. Those results include 71 percent of precincts reporting. Republican turn out will be somewhere under 15,000 while DFL turnout was said to be 30,000 by the party.
Via release, Demuth, “Thank you to the thousands of grassroots conservatives who came out to caucus tonight and delivered an excellent result for our campaign — this is just the first step in the process, but tonight shows that momentum is behind the Demuth-Wilson ticket…In just three months since I announced my campaign for governor, our team has focused our efforts on organizing and empowering Minnesotans who are looking for a strong conservative and proven leader to get our state back on track after two disastrous terms of Tim Walz. We know Amy Klobuchar would give us nothing more than a rubber stamp Walz third term. “
Via DFL statement, VERBATIM: “Lisa Demuth has fully embraced the most destructive Trump policies, from the tariffs that have devastated Minnesota’s working families to Operation Metro Surge. As Trump unleashed his retribution campaign on Minnesota, Demuth defended Donald Trump instead of her state and blamed local law enforcement for the crisis. She has continued to chase Trump’s endorsement — even as his agenda increases prices and explodes health care costs for Minnesotans. Lisa Demuth has chosen Trump over our state, and Minnesotans won’t forget it.”
LINDELL: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell raked in about $352,000 in campaign donations in just 2½ weeks after announcing his run for Minnesota governor. … Lindell’s campaign then spent more than half of the money he raised on copies of his own autobiography, according to a newly filed year-end campaign finance report. … [The] campaign paid about $187,000 to MyPillow in December for copies of his self-published memoir, [which] was his campaign’s biggest expenditure. … Lindell said his campaign decided to hand out copies of his autobiography to voters instead of traditional flyers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qYEwUH
We’ll break down the state of the. Governor’s race in a MNSider for Premium subscribers tonight.
TOP OF WEDNESDAY
DEAL: via the Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The head of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association and border czar Tom Homan are negotiating a deal for county jails to cooperate with federal immigration officials, a move that could lead to the drawdown of federal agents in the state, the Minnesota Star Tribune has learned…The Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, the Minnesota County Attorneys Association and Homan met on Monday, Feb. 1, to discuss a legal framework that would allow county jails to hold immigration enforcement targets for up to 48 hours after their scheduled releases from state custody.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c4I6I4
A Justice Department lawyer calls isn’t happy about her job via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “A federal judge in Minnesota demanded to know why [ICE] is not complying with court orders and failing to immediately release immigrants who are being wrongfully detained. … A government attorney responded that the federal government’s system ‘sucks.’ Julie Le, an attorney working on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, admitted in court Tuesday that the government is ‘overwhelmed’ by the number of legal challenges coming out of Operation Metro Surge. … Le said procedures are being implemented to ensure ICE complies with court orders moving forward, [but] it has been like pulling teeth.” QUOTE: “I wish you would just hold me in contempt of court so I can get 24 hours of sleep. The system sucks, this job sucks.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4avOI0Q
BILLS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “DFL state lawmakers are hoping the Minnesota legislative session that begins Feb. 17 will yield new laws to hold federal agents accountable. [Rep. Jamie] Long is co-authoring a bill that would let Minnesotans sue federal law enforcement officers in response to Constitutional violations. Other potential DFL proposals could bar federal immigration agents from covering their faces and limit their access to hospitals and schools. Many emerging bills are inspired by similar legislation in other states.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4asJjYq
MORE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Other [bills] would provide rental assistance to people who are too scared to go to work, boost mental health programs and implement an eviction moratorium. For any of these measures to pass, they will need bipartisan support. … Democrats also admit that enforcing some of the proposals may not be possible considering limits on a state’s power over federal officers.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45QfO0a
FUNDRAISING: Via CFB, here’s an update on fundraising in some of the Minnesota Legislature’s most competitive races — including open seats and purple districts — based on 2025 year-end reports. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
SD3: DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild raised $173,395 with $218,771 on hand. GOP challenger Andrea Zupancich raised $9,041 with $52,394 on hand.
SD35: GOP Sen. Jim Abeler raised $97,479 with $126,459 on hand. DFL challenger Angela Nelson raised $30,305 with $16,185 on hand.
SD41: DFL Sen. Judy Seeberger raised $55,060 with $57,830 on hand. GOP challenger Tom Dippel raised $20,179 with $18,039 on hand.
3B: GOP Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar raised $47,736 with $51,424 on hand. DFL challenger Rich Tru raised $450 with $555 on hand.
14B: Republican Sue Ek raised $14,320 with $12,585 on hand. DFLer Zachary Dorholt raised $15,333 with $10,803 on hand.
32B: DFL Rep. Matt Norris raised $68,124 with $66,061 on hand. GOP challenger Leslie Larson raised $22,975 with $21,299 on hand.
35B: DFL Rep. Kari Rehrauer raised $28,887 with $42,027 on hand. GOP challenger Steven Pape raised $8,643 with $2,112 on hand.
36A: DFLer Jim DeMay raised $52,248 with $49,295 on hand. DFLer Jackson Miller raised $2,515 with $2,515 on hand. Republican Sebastian Stoss raised $4,663 with $2,896 on hand. Republican Avery Severson raised $2,151 with $891 on hand.
41A: GOP Rep. Wayne Johnson raised $26,684 with $20,177 on hand. DFL challenger Cole Birkeland raised $27,820 with $26,998 on hand.
48B: DFL Rep. Lucy Rehm raised $17,714 with $35,849 on hand. GOP challenger Caleb Steffenhagen raised $9,624 with $8,161 on hand.
54A: DFL Rep. Brad Tabke raised $44,465 with $30,653 on hand. GOP challenger Aaron Paul raised $10,494 with $12,324 on hand.
MORE: For 2025, the state DFL announced $11,828,714 in fundraising with $4,750,865 on hand and $0 of debt. Meanwhile, the state GOP raised $2,389,353 with $142,698 on hand and $68,368 of debt.
ICYMI: Yesterday’s lunch take featured a look at fundraising in the races for governor and attorney general. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4qezthy
WALZ: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ended his bid for a third term with a $3 million campaign war chest, newly filed financial disclosures show. While he won’t be on the ballot, Walz can use the money to boost other Democrats running for office this November.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45Le9sE
SENATE RACE: KSTP finds that Minnesota voters are unsure of who they want to be their next U.S. senator, with the most common response in their latest poll being “undecided” at 26%. However, DFLers top the field of candidates, with Rep. Angie Craig at 20% and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan at 19%. Michele Tafoya is the top Republican at 13%, followed by Royce White at 7%, Tom Weiler at 5%, Adam Schwarze at 3% and David Hann at 2%. Additionally, 5% wanted “someone else.” The poll did not test head-to-head matchups. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4qji8nQ
FLANAGAN: Minnesota Indivisible endorsed Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate, saying in a release that “her leadership reflects the values and the kind of governing Minnesotans need right now.”
The MNSider Brief: With Michele Tafoya’s entrance into the US Senate race, the latest analysis for premium subscribers came out Friday. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/3NEy8Di
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A morning take mug
JUSTICE
ARRESTS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Tuesday its agents have arrested 3,500 people in the last nine weeks as part of Operation Metro Surge, [but] the names of everyone arrested by federal agents in the enhanced immigration effort are not publicly shared, which makes it difficult for outside verification of the DHS statistic. … 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS found an example where it appears the same photo was used for two different people with different alleged charges.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4arnSqJ
EVIDENCE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Photographic evidence from the shooting scene of a Venezuelan man by federal agents last month in Minneapolis supports the account of witnesses there and appears to undercut the narrative provided by federal officials. The Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly claimed that an officer fired a single shot in self-defense during a violent encounter. … But at a federal court hearing in St. Paul on Tuesday, an attorney for one of the men accused of assaulting that officer showed [photos] depicting a bullet hole through the front door of the north Minneapolis home. … Family members have said all along [that] a federal agent shot at them through the front door. … A federal judge has ordered the release of the two Venezuelan men.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NWFCBx
US ATTY: KARE 11 has more details on the second wave of federal prosecutors who are resigning in protest from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota. VERBATIM: “Among the most recent wave of resignations is Dan Bobier, who was supposed to take over for [Joe] Thompson in prosecuting fraud, [plus] Allen Slaughter and Ana Voss. Slaughter was involved in prosecuting former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin and Voss has been working in cases involving federal immigration officers.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49Ulfxu
MORE: Via AP News, insiders say even more departures from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota are “likely,” on top of the 14 previous ones. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kdPliS
FRAUD: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The ability to prosecute criminal fraud cases in Minnesota is at risk due to recent resignations in the US Attorney’s Office. … Department of Human Services Inspector General James Clark said he hasn’t heard from the U.S. Attorney’s Office about ongoing fraud investigations or possible new charges since the first wave of resignations in mid-January, adding they last met in December for ‘a very productive conversation.’ … ‘Unfortunately, I think all of the attorneys I met within that meeting have since resigned from the office, and I haven’t had any follow-up from folks at the US Attorney’s office since then,’ said Clark.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/46syKSI
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)
ICE
TENSIONS: via AP News, VERBATIM: “Immigration officers with guns drawn arrested activists who were trailing their vehicles on Tuesday in Minneapolis, while education leaders described anxiety and fear in Minnesota schools from the ongoing federal sweeps. Both are signs that tension remains in the Minneapolis area even after the departure of high-profile commander Greg Bovino. … ‘There’s less smoke on the ground,’ Gov. Tim Walz [said], ‘but I think it’s more chilling than it was last week because of the shift to the schools.’ … Walz and education leaders held a news conference to say the presence of immigration officers is frightening some school communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kjT5Q2
MORE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “[Gov. Tim] Walz pledged Tuesday to ‘continue to work with the federal government to find a viable solution’ on immigration enforcement in Minnesota, but he added that it’s up to the Trump Administration to follow laws, court orders, and ‘human decency.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZgYgXe
CHILDREN: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding details about the number of children currently held in federal detention facilities, who they are, and where they’re being held.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NX74iy
FED FEED
FED FUNDS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota lawmakers secured earmarks for dozens of local projects delayed by a partial federal shutdown centered around reining in the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement. … The U.S. House on Tuesday passed appropriations bills that contain the earmarks…[which] will fund a new road in St. Cloud, an airport tower in Mankato and senior housing in Todd County, among many more around the state and country. … The fate of the state’s only earmark tied to DHS funding is murkier, as a new DHS bill will need to be negotiated. Madelia was set to receive $1.98 million in homeland security funding for a disaster mitigation project at a wastewater lift station.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rsHf8m
NOTE: Minnesota’s eight representatives voted on party lines regarding yesterday’s funding bill — Republicans in favor, DFLers against.
HEARING: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The two brothers of Renee Good testified Tuesday afternoon at a hearing in Washington, D.C., as part of a congressional forum on the use of force by federal agents. Luke and Brent Ganger spoke about the ‘senseless’ violence that took the life of their sister.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/46p2JuL
VOTER DATA: via Sen. Amy Klobuchar advisory, VERBATIM: “Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and 26 of their Senate colleagues are pushing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to stop its unlawful pressure campaign to coerce dozens of states into providing the Trump Administration their voter rolls, which include voters’ personally identifiable information. … The letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi comes after she recently pushed Minnesota to surrender the state’s voter rolls.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4kiiI3M
CUSTODY: via Rep. Angie Craig advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Angie Craig joined Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) in introducing legislation to establish standards of care for individuals held in [federal] custody. The Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in ICE and CBP Custody Act would require ICE and CBP to conduct timely, in-person medical screenings and ensure basic humanitarian standards for individuals in ICE and CBP custody. In 2025 alone, 53 people died in ICE and CBP custody.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kgwvrv
OMAR: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Speaker Mike Johnson has signed off on additional security for Rep. Ilhan Omar and personally called to check on her after she was sprayed with vinegar during a town hall last week.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4thMdXi
STATEWIDE
MPLS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A Minneapolis City Council committee delayed action Tuesday on renewing liquor licenses for two Minneapolis hotels that have housed federal immigration officers. … [They] voted 8-5 to delay a decision on the licenses for Canopy by Hilton in the Mill District and Depot Renaissance Hotel until the next meeting on Feb. 17. The council also voted to schedule a public hearing. … The hotels have been the targets of protests because federal agents were believed to be staying in them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qkgXVd
TAKE: via WCCO Radio’s Jason Derusha on X, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis City Council never misses a chance to give businesses the middle finger. So frustrating.”
BROOKLYN PARK: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Another police department is making changes to the roadside cameras that automatically scan license plates amid growing concerns over who has access to the data. … The City of Brooklyn Park canceled its contract with the company Flock Safety at the end of December. According to city council minutes, the city signed on with Flock in the fall of 2024 to operate eight cameras around the city at a cost of $28,000. Inspector Matt Rabe said they cancelled the contract ‘due to concerns over customer support and poor data sharing protocols.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kdOJtA
HENN CTY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office has opened an internal investigation after videos captured deputies tackling and arresting protesters outside the Whipple Federal Building last weekend. … Brandon Sigüenza and Julia Rose witnessed the event and said there was no clear reason to justify the violent arrests. … A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said an internal investigation was opened the same day the arrests were made.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46fAwXm
ROCHESTER: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “About 100 residents called on the Rochester City Council to push back against the federal immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota. While council members all criticized the federal actions in Rochester to varying degrees, they were split on whether to involve the city in a state lawsuit seeking to end the surge, [voting] 4-3 [to] support the lawsuit. … Council Member Norman Wahl said he wants to see ICE leave the city alone, but he thinks the lawsuit is a political effort by state Democrats and the city should remain nonpartisan to represent all residents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LTd8bo
NEXT
TODAY: GOP Rep. Kristin Robbins will testify before the U.S. Senate regarding fraud in Minnesota.
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will meet with the Association of Minnesota Counties.
TODAY: At 2:30, Minneapolis City Council members will hold a news conference supporting rental assistance and a delay in evictions.
TODAY: DFL Sen. Aric Putnam will hold a public town hall in St. Cloud at 6:30 p.m.
FEB 17: The Minnesota Legislature’s 2026 session will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 12:00 noon.
BDAYS: pickleball pro Chad Flynn, liberal activist Carin Mrotz, fmr. St. Paul councilor Pat Harris, St. Paul lobbyist Jen O’Rourke
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.