63 DAYS
Air quality alert today – but cooler temps coming in a few days.
The Primary is 63 days away and the General Election is 147 days away.
Lynx host Dallas and Paige Bueckers tonight. Twins in Detroit.
Last night an early look at the race developing in CD1 between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
Average gas prices fell to $3.97/gal in Minnesota, the first dip below $4 since late April. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4xib0wA
The White House is restarting efforts to block state AI regulations, which would affect Minnesota. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/4g8BQkw
The FIFA World Cup begins this week in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Howard Sinker will share why there are no games in Minnesota, why that’s probably a good thing, and all you need to know about schedules, watch parties, and how to watch games in the comfort of your own home. Watch your inbox for sports take this Thursday.
Primaries in Maine, South Carolina, Nevada and North Dakota today.
Happy National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
SPONSOR: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.
RADIO: Sunday Take featured a recap of post-convention dynamics and CD1 DFL candidate Jake Johnson discussing his campaign priorities. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4easFO8
SPEAKING Lobbyist and trade associations that are killing time waiting today, let me know if you want me to speak to your summer and fall events about the “Signals vs. Noise” of the election. bloisolson@gmail.com
DEEPER: Check out a Fluence Forum podcast. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/FluenceForums
SMARTER: Long Term Care – Is Minnesota Ready? Care Providers Minnesota and LeadingAge Minnesota hosted providers, Senator Grant Hauschild (03, DFL), Representative Natalie Zeleznikar (03B, GOP), and Representative Nathan Nelson (11B, GOP) for a conversation about the future of careing for our seniors. This coming week the conversation moves to St. Cloud. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ue3YXA
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NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT
GOV RACE: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Sen. Amy Klobuchar pitched her housing plans for the state on Monday. … Klobuchar’s proposals include reforming permitting processes and streamlining building codes to reduce delays and build more homes faster, with an emphasis on rural Minnesota. She wants to make the existing State Housing Tax Credit permanent and launch a Rural Housing Loan Fund to incentivize more housing investments. … The DFL candidate also pitched using vacant state land for housing, banning price-fixing algorithms and creating a ‘No Wrong Door’ network that would make rental assistance easier to find.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4xmgaaY
SENATE RACE: Rep. Angie Craig’s Senate campaign has begun an effort to tie Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to the planned ICE detention facility in Appleton, as seen in yesterday’s morning take. VERBATIM: “The Department of Homeland Security is planning to re-open the Prairie Correctional Facility owned by ICE contractor, CoreCivic. CoreCivic is one of the largest private prison contractors in the United States – operating nearly a dozen ICE detention facilities already. CoreCivic previously donated thousands of dollars to the Democratic Lt. Governor’s Association (DLGA). The DLGA has used that money to prop up Peggy Flanagan’s Senate campaign.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43pRsZv
FRAUD: Following the release of a report covering Minnesota’s fraud scandals by Republicans on the U.S. House Oversight Committee, as seen in yesterday’s lunch take, Vice Pres. JD Vance announced that he has referred the report’s allegations to the U.S. Dept. of Justice “for criminal investigation.” The report accuses Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison of neglect in addressing fraud. VANCE: “Minnesota state officials are not above the law, and if they facilitated fraud, lied under oath about what they knew, or harassed and intimated [sic] whistleblowers, they must face justice.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4ukhiJv
MORE: Via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “The report cites testimony from former Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead, who states she would regularly brief Gov. Walz’s chief of staff on concerns of fraud starting at the beginning of her tenure in 2019. However, it’s not clear if those reports ever made it directly to the governor…Former DHS Commissioner Tony Lourey also testified he briefed the governor’s chief of staff about fraud in a child care program in 2019. However, during testimony in March, Gov. Walz said he couldn’t recall details about that briefing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QqyK0V
RESPONSE: via a Gov. Tim Walz spokesperson, QUOTE: “Gov. Walz is glad to see fraudsters are going to prison. If the committee is concerned about corruption, they should investigate why President [Donald] Trump continues to let fraudsters out of prison.”
ICYMI: Yesterday on WCCO Radio, Attorney General Keith Ellison with Tom Hauser. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4xiXRU0
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will hold a ceremonial bill signing with authors and advocates.
FILING: via Office of Sec. of State, VERBATIM: “On June 8, 2026, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State announced the certification of candidates for all federal and state offices for the August 11, 2026 State Primary Election. Lists of candidates who have filed for are available electronically from the Candidate Filing website. … Candidates for local offices that do not have primaries can file for office from July 14, 2026 until July 28, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Q4wT1K
TAKE: For both DFLers and Republicans, the housing plan from Sen. Amy Klobuchar and the report from Congressional Republicans play into the “narrative development” that they will try to leverage in the November election. Klobuchar is attempting to break-through with a vision of the future of Minnesota. Republicans want fraud to be the issue of the year, and there are excerpts from the report that ads will amplify into November. In the Governor’s race the narrative tension will be - do Minnesota voters believe Klobuchar would treat fraud differently and is Minnesota’s economic future something the voters believe Republicans can be trusted with. Remember these updates when things get more engaged after the 4th of July.
A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
CITIZENSHIP: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Department of Justice has filed a complaint to revoke the citizenship of a Minnesota man they say misrepresented his identity to gain citizenship. … The 54-year-old man tried unsuccessfully to gain citizenship to the U.S. from Somalia under the name Liban M. Degel. … Degel then allegedly reapplied for citizenship as Abdikadir Ali Kadiye and was naturalized in 2012. The complaint alleges the man misrepresented himself [because] he did not say he’d been previously denied citizenship and ordered to be removed under another name.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4umQFU0
REDISTRICTING: via Axios, VERBATIM: “Democrats are taking the fight over future House maps down ballot, with the super PAC Forward Majority planning to spend $30 million on two dozen state legislative races this year. They’re betting that as few as eight state house races could help determine who controls redistricting for six U.S. House seats ahead of 2028. … Forward Majority predicts that eight races in five states — Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — could help determine control of legislative chambers representing roughly 42 million Americans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QpT8zf
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)
MN FEED
HOSPITALS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “While Hennepin County Medical Center emerged from the legislative session as an obvious winner, Greater Minnesota hospitals are dividing limited spoils. … The [aid] amounts aren’t remotely close to what hospitals need to sustain services in Greater Minnesota, said Rick Ash, CEO of United Hospital District in Blue Earth. ‘If you divide that by all the hospitals, that money is going to go pretty quick,’ he said. … Senators approved $115 million for it before a reconciliation process with the House hacked down the amount to $30 million. … [Meanwhile], lawmakers infused [HCMC] with $205 million.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uZrdFe
MORE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “The leaders of [HCMC] say they’ll put their money where their mouths are and get to work restructuring finances. WCCO spoke with Hennepin Healthcare CEO Dr. John Cumming about how they’ll work to make sure a financial crisis doesn’t happen again. … Their next big task is how to deal with $1 billion in Medicaid cuts they face over the next ten years. They hope to ease the bleeding now, then get a new long-term plan.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4egtAMR
AMID RURAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, ESSENTIA HEALTH INVESTS IN NEW IRON RANGE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT: Essentia Health is investing in a $13 million project to remodel and expand its emergency department in Virginia, MN. With support from the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board and philanthropic partners, the project will improve emergency care and mental health resources through new technology, safety and security measures, and a behavioral health suite. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4o79h9j (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
STRIB: Following the Star Tribune’s recent announcement of layoffs, Alpha News reported that its lawyers spent weeks “engaged in talks with the ownership of the Star Tribune related to Alpha News’ purchase of the paper, including the negotiation of a non-disclosure agreement,” but the talks fell through. However, a spokesperson for Star Tribune owner Glen Taylor denied this. QUOTE: “Glen Taylor has never been interested in selling the Minnesota Star Tribune to Alpha News and is committed to keeping the Strib strong and independent long into the future. As communicated last week, Glen is exploring placing the Minnesota Star Tribune under foundation ownership.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4dXO1iJ
EDUCATION: GOP Chair Alex Plechash issued a statement in response to the news that Minnesota’s education ranking has dropped to 21st in the nation, as seen in yesterday’s lunch take. PLECHASH: “This is a trend that has plagued Minnesota under Tim Walz, and now Amy Klobuchar needs to answer whether she would continue the same failed agenda. … The question for Amy Klobuchar is simple: when a school is failing a child, does she stand with the parent or with the bureaucracy?” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3SsDtja
DRIVERS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A group of employees with a national airport catering company say a new operating protocol is putting worker safety at risk at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Catering truck drivers and other employees at LSG Sky Chefs [said] they were told last year by management that trucks would only be manned by one driver, known as single operator catering or SOC. Previously, two drivers were assigned to one truck. Employees say the decision has made them feel less safe at work.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dYGAbc
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker.
https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
METRO NEWS
ST PAUL: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis has received national attention for its 2040 housing plan. But St. Paul is also a laboratory for housing policy. The capital city has experimented with rent control and loosening zoning rules. … The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis helps track how those policies are playing out in St. Paul, [but] the story that emerges from the data is mixed. … St. Paul’s 2023 zoning changes (allowing duplexes, triplexes, etc.) are already showing early signs of boosting development. … [However], rent control reduced development. … Falling apartment values have led to landlords paying about 27 percent less in property taxes since 2022. Meanwhile, homeowners are paying more.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4egkyPX
PLYMOUTH: Plymouth City Council member and deputy mayor Clark Gregor is running for mayor. Via his announcement, GREGOR: “I’m running because the challenges ahead — especially housing affordability — demand experienced, decisive leadership, and I’m ready to provide it.” WEBSITE: https://fluence-media.co/3PMClWY
MPLS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Two of the best Mississippi River views of Minneapolis, hidden at dead-ends of the largely industrial riverfront, are now connected to downtown and the North Side. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board recently celebrated the opening of a new stretch of trail. … It’s a relatively short section of new pavement — just 1,000 feet — but it completes a route that’s both practical and symbolic, a link between the city’s expansive park system and the North Side.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ecgtfA
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)
ACROSS MN
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Among a handful of other potential changes to its programs and facilities, Rochester Public Schools has proposed merging the two elementary schools of Hoover and Churchill into a single building. The district released a report on its proposal ahead of a study session of the Rochester School Board, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. [tonight]. … According to the district’s proposal, it would cost approximately $3.54 million to make modifications to the buildings for the various needs that the different programs have.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uqpl7x
FARIBAULT: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled that the city of Faribault didn’t have enough information about a proposed hyperscale data center when it decided the project didn’t require a more thorough environmental review. … City officials decided that a more exhaustive environmental impact statement, or EIS, wasn’t needed. The nonprofit Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy filed an appeal challenging that decision. … The appeals court agreed [with MCEA], saying the city failed to take a ‘hard look’ at the environmental impacts before making its decision.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dWGu3N
LITTLE FALLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls [sees] community members and plot owners frequently complain about the upkeep: tall weeds around headstones, grass grown over grave markers and downed trees left untouched for weeks. Simmering beneath the maintenance issues is scrutiny of the management of the cemetery’s operations. 5 INVESTIGATES uncovered dead board members, a big raise for the cemetery’s caretaker and an attempt to get taxpayer money to pay for it.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4vBKdJN
PROUD TO CHAMPION ATHLETES EVERYWHERE: Minnesota’s 24,000 family corn farmers may come from different fields than the athletes participating in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, which are set for June 20-26 in Minnesota. But they share the same values, including dedication, hard work, and perseverance. This summer, Minnesota Corn salutes the talented athletes participating in the games. We’ll be cheering them on from our fields as they shine in yours. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
DAYBOOK
TOMORROW: Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Ilhan Omar, both DFL, will co-host a “tele-town hall” on Wednesday, June 10 at 6:00 p.m.
THURS-FRI: COPAL and the Immigrant Defense Network will host a summit on “rising threats facing immigrant communities and democratic participation across the Midwest,” per a release. The event is in Minneapolis on Thursday and Friday, starting at 9:00 a.m. both days.
SATURDAY: ISAIAH will host a kickoff event for its “Childcare for All MN” campaign in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 13 at 12:00 noon.
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BDAYS: Winthrop’s David Aafedt, radio guy Adam Sprenger, Rochester leader Kathleen Harrington, fmr. Sen. Melisa Lopez Franzen
SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.