WHERE THERE’S SMOKE
England vs. Argentina today.
The Boundary Waters wildfire is over 12,000 acres in size and growing. KARE: https://fluence-media.co/3R9Eywg
Gas prices are rising again, with the statewide average up 16 cents over last week. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4vxEogh
ICE officers have been ordered to stop pursuing people in vehicles following two more fatal shootings. REUTERS: https://fluence-media.co/4wfhoUc
Disappointingly, the U.S. House passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent. CBS: https://fluence-media.co/4aUWOQz
It’s National Gummy Worm Day! Celebrate a few days late at a new candy shop in town IYKYK…that soft opens this weekend.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take featured a preview of the CD2 DFL primary and Sec. Steve Simon discussing how federal changes could affect state elections. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4pB3865
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Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Evacuations are expanding as the Camp Fire continues to grow in the Superior National Forest near Winton, pushing smoke toward nearby neighborhoods. GREENER: “It went from pretty much nothing to a lot of smoke, very quick,” said Winton resident Michelle Greener, who lives near Fall Lake. “We’ve been here for a number of fires, and I haven’t ever seen it grow like that.”.. Officials said the Camp Fire is now burning more than 2,800 acres. An evacuation order is in place near Greener’s location, and she said many of her neighbors have already left….The U.S. Forest Service said the Camp Fire has become its top priority, bringing in hundreds of firefighters and deploying water-carrying helicopters to slow its spread.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gF03PM
Via AP this morning, VERBATIM: “Heavy smoke from several large wildfires blazing in Canada and Minnesota is expected to engulf large swaths of the Midwest and Northeast U.S. this week, exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution….Minnesota officials issued an air quality alert from Tuesday through Friday for areas including the Twin Cities metro area, Alexandria and Two Harbors, with very heavy smoke expected across the state’s northeastern corner as large wildfires spread. Air quality levels in Two Harbors, the Tribal Nation of Grand Portage and other regions in northeast Minnesota were expected to reach hazardous levels, making it unsafe for everyone.”
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TURNOUT
TURNOUT: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “[With a] primary election four weeks away, low turnout [is] likely. … In 2024, just under 13% of eligible voters cast ballots in the August primary. That was a big drop from the 19% to 23% who showed up in 2022, 2020 and 2018. … Carleton College political analyst Steven Schier [said] the low voter turnout could especially help candidates who already have high name recognition, like Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell; a lot of money, like DFL U.S. Senate candidate Angie Craig; or both money and name recognition, like Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michele Tafoya.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/459gCw5
FORECAST: It’s important to note the 2024 primary didn’t have compelling races, and considering three competitive statewide primaries this year, our forecast total primary turnout will be over 1,000,000 voters for the first time in Minnesota history.
DFLSEN
MEDICARE: First in morning take, DFL Rep. Angie Craig is introducing a bill in the U.S. House to create a public option for health insurance. The Medicare-X Choice Act would “create a Medicare Exchange plan that would offer affordable health insurance options to families, individuals and small businesses,” per a release. The bill would also “permanently extend” the ACA subsidies that were not renewed by Congress last year, fix the so-called “family glitch,” and “provide funding for a national reinsurance program.” Co-sponsors include Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Mike Quigley (D-IL), while Sens. Michael Bennett (D-CO) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) will introduce companion legislation in the Senate. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4pnep9U
NEW ADS: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s Senate campaign launched a new ad on social media criticizing Rep. Angie Craig’s record on cryptocurrency, immigration and more. FLANAGAN: “We deserve better than a crypto, pharma, Big Oil-backed corporate Democrat. … Minnesota never caved to [Donald] Trump, and neither will I.” Meanwhile a smart reader pointed out that a new North Star Dawn supporting Craig and attacking Flanagan on housing fraud is using nearly the exact language from an online poll that was leaked last week.
FLANAGANAD: https://fluence-media.co/4fC4z0o NORTHSTARAD: https://fluence-media.co/455Co3U
Here’s the poll language:
A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
THE FEED
NEW AD: via RSLC advisory, VERBATIM: “The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is continuing its ‘States Don’t Wait’ campaign with the release of its second spot, ‘Pact.’ … The ad will be backed by a six-figure buy on digital platforms and will run statewide in Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, focusing on how state Republicans are funding police, cracking down on sanctuary cities, and keeping violent criminals off the streets.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4f42Roo
WALZ: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz said he wished federal immigration officials were ‘more focused on safety’ than talking points after the Trump Administration deported a Hmong man who received a state pardon for a decades-old felony sexual assault conviction.” QUOTE: “I guess the question I would ask is, ‘Did that make us any safer?’ … Picking them up and taking them out with no due process, it just seems unfair. If you think this person should have been gone, why didn’t you take them for the last 30 years?” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4x3sV9x
QUALLS: Via Minnesota Reformer, Kendall Qualls’ gubernatorial campaign declined to explain why Qualls posted a doctored social media image depicting a man — reportedly his former political director — with no head. VERBATIM: “Political director Terencio Safford recently resigned from his role in Qualls’ campaign for Minnesota governor, [but] the Qualls campaign says Safford was never paid. … A spokesperson with the Qualls campaign declined to explain why the picture of Safford’s [body] appears on Qualls’ personal Facebook page, stating the photo didn’t appear on a campaign account. Safford had worked with the Qualls campaign for about a month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bmgcWQ
TAKE: The unforced errors of the Qualls campaign are not going to build confidence in the final stretch of the campaign.
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)
STATE GOV
DEED: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The nonprofit responsible for reviewing most applications for Minnesota’s $100 million Promise Act program says it is strengthening its oversight process as state officials seek to recover taxpayer money awarded to businesses that were not eligible for grants. … [But] under state law, NDC can keep up to 8% of the funds, amounting to $7 million, to run the program. … Although DEED oversees the Promise Act, the agency says it audits only 10% of the grants approved by NDC, leaving the nonprofit responsible for reviewing the vast majority of applications before grant money is distributed.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4w67Ivx
RESPONSE: via Speaker Lisa Demuth statement, DEMUTH: “Refusing to release grant applications for recipients of public dollars is unacceptable. This continued defense of incompetence and refusal to be held accountable needs to stop. … DEED must release all of the information being requested immediately, and those responsible for approving fraudulent grants and stonewalling the truth need to answer for their obstruction.”
OIG: via MPR, VERBATIM: “The person who will lead Minnesota’s new Office of the Inspector General won’t be known for months, but the salary of that person is coming into focus. The Compensation Council meets this week to discuss the pay rate for the closely watched hire. … The Department of Minnesota Management and Budget has recommended an annual base salary of $198,214. That would make it among the highest-paid positions in state government. … The office will have a base budget of about $6.5 million per year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gzZpTL
TAX FRAUD: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Four people have been charged with filing false or fraudulent individual income tax returns, with millions moving through a network of business bank accounts. The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced the charges Tuesday. … The defendants are accused of using the network of businesses to hide personal spending and to avoid paying taxes. Additionally, a significant amount of income reportedly came from public child care and nutrition programs.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vA0Khc
AG OFFICE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “After the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office shut down its Conviction Review Unit last month, a group of advocates for those believed to be wrongly imprisoned for crimes is calling on state leaders to restore funding for the initiative. The [unit] lost federal funding this year and had to shut down. … During a Tuesday event at the Minnesota Capitol, activists with several wrongful conviction groups expressed frustration with how suddenly the closure came.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3T0KZCm
GUN CTRL: via MPR, VERBATIM: “A closely watched lawsuit over a Minnesota trigger-device ban has been quietly closed. A district court judge struck down the restriction, [and] in May, the Court of Appeals upheld that ruling on the grounds that lawmakers passed it in an unconstitutional fashion. … Now, the deadline for state lawyers to appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court has passed, and final judgment has been issued.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gzZpTL
CATALYTIC: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Catalytic converter thefts have dropped drastically across the Twin Cities metro, including by 95% in New Brighton and Eagan, since a new law took effect on Aug. 1, 2023. … The [bill] made it much harder to sell catalytic converters, [and] scrap metal dealers who buy them illegally now face at least a misdemeanor charge and possibly a felony. … Police say it is rare for a law to have such an immediate and dramatic impact.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4plPdQR
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)
METRO
MPLS: All of Mpls, a PAC that supports moderate DFL candidates in Minneapolis, received backlash on social media this week after sending an email to supporters that claimed state Sen. Omar Fateh was “a similar candidate” to Maine Democrat Graham Platner, who recently ended his U.S. Senate bid due to sexual assault allegations. Via the email, EXCERPT: “The downfall of DSA-backed Senate candidate Graham Platner over the past week was not surprising. … Minneapolis nearly found itself saddled with a similar candidate last year when the DSA promoted the scandal-plagued Omar Fateh for mayor. … It was too close of a call for our city. We need to do better to ensure the integrity of our electoral processes and expose the dysfunction and fraud.” EMAIL: https://fluence-media.co/4f1gkxg
RESPONSE: via Sen. Omar Fateh statement, FATEH: “The statements made in All of Minneapolis’ email from this morning are absolutely disgusting. It is this exact kind of harmful rhetoric that is driving the hatred and divisiveness in our politics. This is the latest example of a repeated pattern of discrediting and dehumanizing our elected leaders of color. … DFL Party Leadership cannot continue to stay silent on the blatant harm and lies spread by All of Minneapolis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ynUPOE
ST PAUL: via SAP advisory, VERBATIM: “Somali American faith leaders, community leaders, and youth advocates gathered outside Saint Paul City Hall and the Ramsey County Courthouse for a press conference organized by the Somali American Partnership (SAP) to respond to recent public comments made by Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher regarding Somali youth and violence. … [Speakers] emphasized that leadership requires bringing communities into the conversation rather than speaking about them. … Former Minnesota State Representative Hodan Hassan [said] ‘We do not want rocks thrown at our young people. We want an invitation.’”
RESPONSE: GOP Rep. Tom Emmer praised Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher on social media for his recent comments on Somali gangs. EMMER: “It’s not racist to call out Somali gang violence. I’m grateful we have law enforcement leaders like Sheriff Fletcher who will stand up and speak out against this issue.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4vzHVuq
BUDGET: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis city leaders are grappling with a projected shortfall of up to $33 million as they put together the 2027 budget — putting them in a financial squeeze that could force some tough choices. … The city’s overall budget is about $2 billion; the general fund is projected to be $744 million next year. Mayor Jacob Frey is making decisions now about what cuts to propose and how much taxes will have to go up in order to balance the budget. But the projected shortfall means city officials may have to forgo new initiatives if they want to ease the pain for taxpayers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fzBFy2
HOUSING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis city leaders including Mayor Jacob Frey are proposing $2.5 million to address livability concerns at Heritage Park, a north side development that includes public housing. … Erik Hansen, director of Community Planning and Economic Development, [told] members of the Minneapolis City Council about the emergency funding request and how the money will be spent. He said some funds will go towards repairs for units that have been damaged by water from leaking roofs, have mold and are infested by vermin. Hansen also said the funds will be used to relocate people. … The Minneapolis City Council will vote on the emergency funding proposal Thursday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w66fFx
ISRAEL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “In a Tuesday meeting attended by nearly 100 clashing protesters, the St. Paul Board of Water Commissioners voted to maintain its contract with an Israeli cybersecurity company that provides services to St. Paul Regional Water Services. For more than a year, organizers from Women Against Military Madness and other Palestine solidarity advocates have urged the city to cut ties with Waterfall Security Solutions. … [But] the group Keep Politics out of Water, which sat on the opposite side of the council chamber from anti-Waterfall protesters Tuesday, has advocated that Waterfall is the best option to address cybersecurity concerns.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w3X5JD
CHAMPLIN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “After battling for months about which version of Minnesota’s flag to display, the Champlin City Council has found a new way to compromise: fly no state flag at all. The northwest suburb was one of the largest cities to vote earlier this year to keep flying the old state flag. … [But] after months of packed meetings and bitter fights, the City Council decided to jump out of the hot water. The council approved a formal flag and banners policy that includes leaving the state flag packed away.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gA0k6F
DC
IRAN: via Rep. Kelly Morrison advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) announced her cosponsorship of the No Funds for Iran War Act, which would prohibit any taxpayer dollars from being used for military action against Iran. … The [bill is] cosponsored by 37 House Democrats, including 14 veterans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fkkuzi
ROBOCALLS: Forty-nine state attorneys general, including Minnesota’s, sent a letter to the FCC calling on the federal government to strengthen protections from telephone scams and robocalls. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yiYAoE
DIESEL: via Rep. Michelle Fischbach advisory, VERBATIM: “Representatives [including] Michelle Fischbach [and] Brad Finstad have introduced the Diesel Engine Flexibility (DEF) Act. This legislation provides 10 years of legal protection for companies that follow the EPA’s 2025 and 2026 guidelines, reducing unnecessary engine shutdowns caused by faulty DEF sensors while maintaining emissions protections.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rird4L
SETTLEMENT: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison today joined a coalition of 42 attorneys general announcing a settlement with the bankruptcy trustee for 23andMe, resolving allegations stemming from a 2023 data breach. … Recovery is limited to $18 million that will be paid out of available bankruptcy funds immediately. Minnesota will receive $514,871 of this recovery.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4boDV8O
CYCLOSPORA: via Sen. Amy Klobuchar advisory, VERBATIM: “Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is urging the CDC and FDA to reinstate funding and staffing for federal and state food safety programs to fight the currently uncontrolled Cyclosporiasis outbreak happening across the United States. Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by eating contaminated food or drinking water and can lead to severe dehydration, fatigue, and other health issues. So far, across the country, nearly 2,800 cases and 87 hospitalizations linked to this outbreak have been confirmed.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4fhMOCs
ICYMI: Yesterday’s health take featured additional coverage of the cyclospora outbreak. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4ylPkjv
DAYBOOK
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz will hold an Emergency Executive Council meeting at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the latest information on wildfire conditions before the council votes on an extension of Executive Order 26-08, which would authorize state disaster assistance for an additional 30 days. Walz will receive a lifetime achievement award from a student leadership organization from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
JULY 20: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and Attorney General Keith Ellison will hold a rally in Minneapolis on Monday, July 20 at 5:00 p.m.
JULY 22: The MN Chamber of Commerce will host its 2026 Women in Business conference at Target Field on Wednesday, July 22.
JULY 24: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will host a rally in St. Paul on Friday, July 24 at 7:00 p.m.
JULY 25: via MIRAC advisory, VERBATIM: “Starting at 10:00 a.m. at George Floyd Square, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) will lead ‘Roll 4 Justice 2,’ a protest on bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, and more to demand ‘No More ICE + Police Terror.’”
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BDAYS: Rep. Ben Bakenberg, fmr. DFL Chair Mark Andrew, Timberwolves leader Jeff Munneke, civic leader Dan McElroy
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.