FLURRIES + FREEZE
Overnight snow may make the morning roads are bit slow this AM. Forecast for this weekend is frigid including -5. That doesn’t include ICE chilling the certain neighborhoods - stay warm and safe.
Mom would have been 99 today.
Minnesota can’t escape the Trump Administration’s squeeze, and it will drive local and national headlines for the next few days. Send your streaming recommendations.
Wild win with another Wallstedt shutout. Wolves beat New Orleans.
It’s National Signing Day for college football…when will St. Thomas and the Gophers play?
The DNR EagleCam is live for the season. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pQK5U9
Derek Chauvin is seeking a new trial. KSTP: https://fluence-media.co/49OGvoL
Happy National Package Protection Day – some of the best TikTok’s are the exploding packages that meet the porch pirates.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take on WCCO Radio this week was a recap of Thanksgiving week and previews what to watch this holiday season and into 2026. And a replay the recent interview he had with the new Saint Paul Mayor - elect Kaohly Her. The take focuses on how to revitalize our urban neighborhoods – especially St. Paul. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pa02oi
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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/
REPUBLICAN RUMBLES…
GOV RACE: Some Minnesota Republicans are expressing concerns on social media about the party’s candidates for governor. Rep. Mary Franson (R-12B) said some of the Republicans running for governor should consider other offices, while Sen. Nathan Wesenberg (R-10) said he doesn’t think Chris Madel and Scott Jensen are conservative enough.
FRANSON: “I’m thrilled that so [many] Republicans have entered the arena for Governor. … However, some of you need to look at U.S. Senate, Secretary of State, Auditor and Attorney General. We are trying to save a state, not feed egos. There is zero time for conservative bashing.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/48xb0gM
WESENBERG: “Madel & Jensen belong in the Minnesota DFL Primary against Tim Walz. … Madel gave money to Walz & funded Democrats until last year. He’s a snake in the grass & responsible for the horrible situation in MN. Jenson [sic] doesn’t hold Republican values & can’t get greater MN to turn out.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/48tNXTR
TAKE: Ronald Reagan is rolling in his grave, and Minnesota may be the reason. Reagan’s 11th Amendment “Thou Shall not speak ill of any fellow Republican” is not a Minnesota GOP belief.
In 2022, there was a chance that Dr. Neal Shah or then Mayor Mike Murphy may have been the Republican nominee for Governor. Ultimately, Dr. Scott Jensen outmaneuvered them, but proved to be an undisciplined candidate without appeal to independents. This photo represents a moment from the 2022 GOP convention that illustrates the awkwardness for Republicans in dealing with “liberty” candidates.
The Republican hopes for 2026 in Minnesota are fragile, first because of a midterm that may have President Trump less popular than his first midterm, and second because the local infighting will keep candidates from elevating to a level needed to win statewide. The weak Republican party, and the sliver of activists who drive the convention suggest that the primary is the only path for a Republican to elevate out of “liberty” wing to appeal to independents and win.
The “liberty” activists have an outsized impact at the grassroots level, and a growing influence in the legislative caucuses – similar to the far left on the DFL side. They are the “loudest”, but they don’t necessarily have a track record of winning at the Congressional level, nor statewide.
The more the Republicans have infighting into 2026, the less likely they will have a cohesive, momentum building grassroots that they need in a non-Presidential race to drive turnout in Republican strongholds – like Greater Minnesota. Add to that early signs that margins for Republicans are shrinking in previously dominated Trump districts including last night in Tennessee. Based on their 20-year track record, having a strong Governor’s candidate is their only hope for success in 2026. Meanwhile we wait to see if they can find a competitive US Senate candidate – which would seem to be a priority under a year out.
Next Monday’s forum will be a first look at what’s possible, or what’s not. To see the Fluence Brief on the Republican challenge read it here. BRIEF: https://fluence-media.co/4iAakvn
FWIW, Governor’s candidate Chris Madel was added to Monday’s Republican candidate forum in Marshall, we’ll have a full report on the forum Tuesday.
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FRIGID
ICE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz told reporters that he expected to see ‘an increased presence of immigration folks in our city’ following [Pres. Donald] Trump’s most recent comments disparaging Somali people. … The president said during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that Somali immigrants are too reliant on the U.S. social safety net and add little. … Trump [also] ripped Walz Tuesday during the Cabinet meeting.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Lst6e
TRUMP: “I don’t want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. … I think that Walz is a grossly incompetent man. There’s something wrong with him, OK? … [Somalis] just run around killing each other. There’s no structure.”
WALZ: “We will probably see the president threaten to use National Guard again. This is a president in [a] spiral doing nothing to make life cheaper for Minnesotans or Americans, and we understand who he’s targeting.”
MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Multiple law enforcement officials confirmed to ABC News that an influx of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could arrive in Minnesota as soon as this week, though plans are subject to change.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4piN9Zl
SPPD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “St. Paul police will face more scrutiny for their role in the chaotic ICE raid last week on St. Paul’s East Side, where city officers sprayed chemical irritants and rubber projectiles on protesters. City Council members say St. Paul police officers’ conduct at the scene crossed a line, and on Wednesday they’re expected to call for an investigation. … Mayor Melvin Carter has already called for a review of body camera footage from the day. [Council President Rebecca] Noecker said she wants to make sure that call turns into action.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4anssqo
STATE STUFF
In a “throw out the baby with the bath water” move, the DHS is banning new group home licenses for 2 years. That seems to signal a source of fraud that we haven’t heard much about, however it doesn’t address autism or housing stability or the other programs that have been highlighted in news reports. Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Using a new state law and executive order meant to fight fraud in state aid programs, the Minnesota Department of Human Services has ordered a two-year ban on new licenses for programs designed to help people with disabilities live in their communities…The department will stop issuing new Home and Community-Based Services licenses, stop accepting new license applications, cancel existing license applications and prevent any licensed providers from adding new services. The order is set to take effect next month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rxIYdp
PAID LEAVE: via Forum News, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s Paid Family Medical Leave program, set to fully launch Jan. 1, will open applications on Wednesday, Dec. 3, to those who welcomed a child in 2025…Gov. Tim Walz visited one of the small businesses that has opted into the state’s program — Marty’s Deli in northeast Minneapolis — on Tuesday to celebrate the program’s opening for new parents come Wednesday… Martha Polacek, who started Marty’s Deli in 2020 as a pop-up and opened the store in 2022, said Tuesday she welcomed a new baby, Nell, just five weeks ago. POLACEK: “Because of this paid family leave, I’m going to be looking forward to some time with her that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to spend,” she said. “I’ve kind of spoken to a lot of my small business owner friends in the area who’ve told stories of bringing their kids to work with them after just a week or two.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pfjVuj
New data from the USPS Office of Inspector General lists the Minnesota-North Dakota region as one of the worst-performing postal districts in the nation in terms of on-time deliveries. With only 82% of mail arriving on-time in the last quarter, MN-ND is the 4th lowest ranked region in the U.S. The national average for mail delivery is 86.3% on-time. The MN-ND region’s performance decreased from the previous OIG report, where 84.4% of mail was delivered on-time. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/49OP4zX
RESPONSE: via a Rep. Angie Craig statement, CRAIG: “We started the year with unacceptable postal performance levels, and we’re ending with yet another startling quarterly report that puts our region in the bottom four districts nationwide. This is beyond unacceptable. It’s well past time for USPS to re-evaluate their local leadership and start ensuring that letter carriers and postal workers have what they need to get Minnesotans their mail on time.”
MOVES
GOVT AFFAIRS: Two Minnesota-based government relations pros announced a partnership this week. Via a joint press release, VERBATIM: “Hill Capitol Strategies and North Star Government Affairs today announced a strategic collaboration that brings together the experience, strengths, and networks of both firms. By joining forces, principals Todd Hill and Jeremy Estenson will offer clients an expanded range of government relations expertise. … Under this arrangement, both firms will continue operating with the same commitment to client service while leveraging their combined experience.”
MORE: MORE: via social post from Cristine Almeida VERBATIM: “After twenty years of building Almeida Public Affairs with so many of you in my corner, I will be joining Messerli Kramer (MK), a leading law and lobbying firm based in Minnesota, in early January 2026. At MK, I’ll continue my public affairs work alongside a team I greatly respect, with the same focus on thoughtful strategy, practical problem‑solving, and top‑shelf client service.”
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)
DEEP IN DC
INVESTIGATIONS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “At least four federal agencies opened investigations into [Minnesota] or threatened to hold back federal money [this week]. … On Tuesday, Kelly Loeffler, administrator of the federal Small Business Administration, said she would investigate the ‘network of Somali organizations and executives’ charged in connection with fraud in the Feeding Our Future program. She said she would probe whether they received other state or federal funding that could’ve been misused. … During a White House Cabinet meeting later Tuesday, [DHS Sec.] Kristi Noem informed [Donald] Trump she had begun to follow up on his request that she ‘look into Minnesota and their fraud on visas.’ Noem promised Trump her agency would remove those who might have falsified visa applications.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48g3Y0X
CDL: DVS Director Pong Xiong responded to USDOT’s proposed audit of Minnesota’s CDL system, seen in yesterday’s morning take. XIONG: “DVS contests what we believe are inaccuracies in some of the findings listed in the letter received on Monday. … Federal law authorizes non-domiciled CDLs. All applicants take the same tests in English and must go through the same knowledge and behind-the-wheel testing to demonstrate the same ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle as all standard CDL applicants. We have no evidence Minnesota non-domiciled CDL holders compromised public safety in any way. … [But] moving forward, as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, DVS has immediately paused issuing non-domiciled CDLs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48MmWwa
MORE: via Sen. Cal Bahr, R-East Bethel, BAHR: “I applaud Secretary Sean Duffy for his taking this matter seriously. As a commercial driver since 1989, before Commercial Driver’s License regulations were in place, I have seen firsthand the deterioration of safety on our nation’s highways. … I encourage Governor [Tim] Walz and Commissioner [Bob] Jacobson to work seamlessly with the U.S. Department of Transportation to audit and verify, with the strictest scrutiny, every single CDL issued to non-domiciled individuals in Minnesota.”
FRAUD: Sen. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) responded to the U.S. Treasury investigating claims of Minnesota fraudsters funding overseas terrorists, seen in yesterday’s morning take. DRAZKOWSKI: “The U.S. Treasury’s investigation is a welcome and necessary step. Minnesotans have waited far too long for a full accounting [of] what happened with this stolen money. This scrutiny should have started here at home, but it did not. … Federal investigators are now stepping in because Gov. Tim Walz failed to protect the taxpayers of this state.”
AG + FOOD
SOYBEANS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “After a monthslong boycott of American soybeans, China has agreed to buy 12 million metric tons of the crop by the end of the year. However, it’s a long way from making good on its promise, having bought only just over 1.5 million metric tons so far. … Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Secretary Kyle Jore [said] markets are pricing in the expectation that China will buy all the soybeans it says it will, [but] he’s worried that might not happen. He notes that China isn’t beholden to buy from the U.S. — there’s no written agreement, and the country could just as easily purchase soybeans from South America, which is often easier.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XyQnLZ
SNAP: via AP News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s administration warned on Tuesday that it will withhold money for administering SNAP food aid in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week unless those states provide information about people receiving the assistance. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that the action is looming because those states are refusing to provide data the department requested such as the names and immigration status of aid recipients. … Democratic states [including Minnesota] sued to block the requirement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Y0O8RM
RESPONSE: via Rep. Angie Craig, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, CRAIG: “Secretary [Brooke] Rollins continues to spew propaganda, attacking a food assistance program which 42 million Americans rely on to feed their families. Rather than address the rising cost of living, the secretary is once again weaponizing hunger by putting political talking points ahead of feeding seniors, children, veterans and Americans with disabilities. Her disregard for the law and willingness to lie through her teeth comes from the very top.”
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: Flint Hills Resources was just awarded the 2025 Large Business of the Year award from the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce at their annual Business Excellence Awards celebration. The award celebrates the outstanding achievements of businesses that exemplify the thriving and growing spirit of Dakota County. The businesses honored make an impact and contribute to the continued success of our community. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/46lTpIs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
TRAINS + BUSES
BLUE LINE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Residents, business owners and nonprofit leaders packed a small meeting space in north Minneapolis Tuesday morning to express almost universal opposition to the current plans for the Blue Line Extension. … The event was promoted as a ‘listening session’ by Rep. Jon Koznick, R-Lakeville. … ‘What we heard was there is a lot of concern,’ Koznick said. He recently authored legislation ordering the Metropolitan Council to study the possibility of scrapping plans for the light rail extension and replacing it with bus rapid transit. Koznick was joined at the listening session by other Republican members of the House Transportation Committee.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4otMGly
BRONZE LINE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Residents of the eastern Twin Cities metro area have long been promised a transit line that would connect downtown Minneapolis and Maplewood. Now, there’s a brand new proposal for a rapid bus line. Originally dubbed the Purple Line, Metro Transit says the forthcoming Bronze Line will connect Union Station in Downtown St. Paul to the transit hub at Maplewood Mall. … Ramsey County will be footing 90% of the estimated $375 million cost, according to a county commissioner. … Planning is expected to take three years, with construction expected to begin in 2029 — and service finally going live in the early 2030s.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pL4XvZOUTSTATE
ACROSS MN
ORONOCO: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Oronoco Mayor Ryland Eichhorst [discussed] items on the city’s preliminary budget that led to a levy increase of more than half a million dollars. That’s a jump of 36.7%. … Those items include right-sizing the city staff as Oronoco looks at the possibility of substantial growth in the next couple of years [and] several infrastructure projects. … The city, Eichhorst said, has been in something of a holding pattern while it waited for its wastewater treatment plant to come online. Now, the city on Rochester’s northern doorstep is hearing from developers — both commercial and residential — who want to make Oronoco part of their plans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iyEZcL
WHITE EARTH: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Crews contained a blaze Tuesday at White Earth Nation’s cannabis operations that forced evacuations over concerns of a potential explosion. The tribe’s cannabis company, Waabigwan Mashkiki, has its flagship dispensary located off Hwy. 59 in Mahnomen. … Adjacent to the dispensary is a processing facility that local officials said contains hazardous material like butane. … Mahnomen Mayor Curtis Uran [said] they evacuated everybody within 300 yards of the dispensary.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48t6nUO
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “The Rochester City Council split on a series of proposed 2026 budget cuts Monday before passing a $693.4 million spending plan. … Council member Shaun Palmer [unsuccessfully] suggested several budget changes to potentially reduce reliance on property tax funds by $1.1 million. … He said the proposals would reduce the need for a nearly 6% tax levy increase [to] a 4.8% increase. [But] City Administrator Alison Zelms said the [6%] tax levy increase is largely required to maintain existing city services, with roughly two-thirds of the increase funding employee services. A quarter of the tax increase is dedicated to new spending. … The final 2026 budget and levy passed with a 6-1 vote, with Palmer opposed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KtjJIK
ST CLOUD: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Residents were anxious to make their voices heard during a public hearing on the 2026 governmental funds budget, which includes a 4.49% property tax increase, at a Monday, Dec. 1, St. Cloud City Council meeting. … The St. Cloud City Council voted unanimously to pass the first budget under Mayor Jake Anderson, who replaced long-time Mayor Dave Kleis. The budget totals about $100.8 million, or a 12.29% increase from last year. Scott Brodeen, who previously voted against the budget proposal, was the lone council member absent from Monday night’s meeting.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48lCxRW
NEXT…
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will visit Tennant Company.
TODAY: via SEIU, VERBATIM: “Minnesota 50501, SEIU and UNITE HERE [will host] a rally outside of Signature Airlines near MSP Airport Terminal 2. … Workers, faith leaders, and the community are calling on the Metropolitan Airport Commission to put a stop to deportation flights.” The event is at 11:00 a.m.
TODAY: via MN House, VERBATIM: “Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope) will hold a town hall meeting on gun violence prevention from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3. He will be joined by Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Crystal) and a panel of local community advocates and members from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.”
TOMORROW: Reps. Andrew Myers, Danny Nadeau and Ben Bakeberg — all members of the Suburban Solutions Caucus — will host a town hall in Shorewood at 9:30 a.m. discussing “solutions to Minnesota’s housing needs,” per a release.
TOMORROW: MMB Commissioner Erin Campbell, state economist Anthony Becker and state budget director Ahna Minge will present Minnesota’s November 2025 budget and economic forecast on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 12:00 noon.
TOMORROW: via IRRR Board, VERBATIM: “A special meeting of the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Board will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 3:30 p.m.” AGENDA: https://fluence-media.co/4osbMBy
TOMORROW: via MN House, VERBATIM: “From 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Representative Kristi Pursell (DFL-Northfield) and DFL members of the House Health Committee will host a listening session focused on rural healthcare affordability in Red Wing, Minnesota.”
MONDAY: Nine Republican candidates for governor are scheduled to appear at a forum in Marshall on Monday, Dec. 8 at 6:00 p.m. The invited candidates are Chris Madel, Lisa Demuth, Kristin Robbins, Scott Jensen, Kendall Qualls, Jeff Johnson, Brad Kohler, Patrick Knight and Phillip Parrish. Lyon County Republicans plan to livestream the event on Facebook.
BDAYS: Rep. Matt Norris, comms guy Paul Omodt
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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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