A LITTLE EXTRA
It’s Saturday, and Fluence Media has already sent 15 newsletters this week. What’s one more?
I’m on a trip this weekend. Later tonight I’ll be at Madison Square Garden to watch the Seattle Torrent vs. New York Sirens – the first PWHL game at the Garden. The son’s GF plays for Seattle. Easter weekend in NYC – why not, a little more urban than my usual dessert destination.
One of the goals for 2026 was more weekend content, because if you’re like me it’s on the weekend you have time to read or listen more. It’s when my brain, which isn’t always easy to track finds calm and “white space”.
I find it on airplanes, and it’s a luxury.
The guidance for the Media and Advisory teams going into this year was “pace yourself” – knowing the election would create a lot of intensity at the end of the year. That theory didn’t work, when we broke the news that Gov. Tim Walz would end his campaign, two days later ICE killed Renee Good – the year was off to a sprint.
A colleague from WCCO Radio said she enjoyed when I shared more of my lens on things so on a Saturday that should include some down time – here’s the best stuff I heard, read or saw this week.
Maybe it’s a new concept for a Saturday tip sheet, ICYMI. The news flow of the week, the countless channels to follow, the podcasts you can’t listen to – here’s a curation of what you may have missed.
Let me know what you think – bloisolson@gmail.com
Blois
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If you attend one event in the next two weeks, it should be the Twin West legislative breakfast – re-launched with the Minneapolis Regional Chamber team, and Fluence. I promise probing and follow-up questions of the legislative leaders, including why can’t they compromise on key issues that mainstream Minnesotans – not the party activists want to get done. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/4c4DAHP
A FEW NUGGETS
The Star Tribune recounts the behind the scenes of the ICE surge, but they are missing the business community perspective and role. It was instrumental in backchanneling with Washington. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/47GFdub
Fmr. US Attorney Andy Luger isn’t running for office…but that wasn’t his best take when he joined Dan Barrerio this week on KFAN. His view of bagels is a view shared by any east coaster who moves to Minnesota. The story from the Lincoln Dell, or a half sandwich provide a glimpse into Luger’s personality and humor that those who have seen him in a social setting appreciate. The next story he needs to share on the radio is when he received a square-cut pizza…LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4c34TSX
Yesterday was the Twins opener – as a non-baseball guy – I love a great day at the ballpark with a cold one as much as anyone. That said, Minnesota’s situationship with the Pohlad family could be a Bravo show. Adam Platt at TC Business Magazine went to Spring Training to meet the latest Pohland Twin’s leader – Tom Pohlad. Tom seems to be a more focused business operator than his brother Joe, but most Twins fans feel like they’ve been gaslit, like a relationship of highs and lows. Platt digs in deeper with Tom than anyone else to date….what does it mean? READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QkhutC
We love it when Minnesota gets things that other “big cities” get. This week’s news was the idea that MSP Airport is getting a Delta One lounge. Delta’s is a Fluence Advisory client, so we know the commitment to Minnesota should be valued and is by most of Minnesota – including the Delta employees. The Delta One lounge was one thing, but Delta also announced flyers get free New York Times content on flights now. One other insider tip – Delta has launched a golf clothing line. Delta is a brand that has truly soared the past few years. Now I can rep it, during the upcoming season. Here’s your Delta content that you should know.
The NYT partnership: https://fluence-media.co/41fFgJL
The golf swag store: https://fluence-media.co/481n7mT
The inside scoop on the Delta One lounge from Kyle Potter at Thrifty Traveler, here: https://fluence-media.co/47IuzTE
Another hot topic, that will grow in the coming weeks is the.”State of Hospitality” in Minnesota. On Wednesday Fluence Advisory client Hospitality Minnesota will release the annual snapshot across the state.
My friend David Fhima provides some perspective with Chad Hartman on WCCO via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “A prominent, and concerned, Twin Cities restaurateur says he’s never seen the industry in a more precarious position than it is today due to our divisive political climate. … David Fhima says too many customers these days are only patronizing restaurants they know share their political beliefs. He also tells WCCO [that] political and civic leadership in Minneapolis has made it too expensive to operate in the city. Fhima says it could have a devastating ripple effect.” QUOTE: “The state of Minnesota will thrive because downtown Minneapolis thrives, period. We can’t just say, ‘Well, downtown Minneapolis is not doing well anymore,’ and [go] other places. We gotta fix our problem in Minneapolis.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4vaNHUw
TOP CLICKS
The top stories from the tip sheets this week were related to the economy, and the urgent issues in key sectors like health care, and agriculture in Minnesota.
Our jobs report was concerning, the ag economy is struggling and HCMC is on the brink of crisis….and it’s not the only health care entity that is in a fragile state. Minnesota was he first state to show recessionary signs late last year. That will be the conversation of the election. We wonder what legislators heard during their break?
The most clicked on story of the week was about property taxes… AFFORDABILITY: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “For Amanda Hawkins, opening the envelope containing a new, higher valuation assessment on her New Brighton home was jaw-dropping news. It has, in turn, led to a big spike for the home’s 2026 property tax statement. HAWKINS: “It was definitely sticker shock,” Hawkins said….Hawkins will see a 26 percent increase in her taxes this year — more than $1,000 in total. She was hit with increased taxes from the city and county, along with a huge jump in the valuation of her house. Now she’s wondering if she and her partner’s decision to buy their first home in 2024, with three young children, was a good idea. MORE: “That’s what really hit me — that I might not be able to afford a home after all,” Hawkins said. “But at that point, it was too late to go back. It was an unexpected expense on my end.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ckuMPo
MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “New research suggests falling downtown Minneapolis commercial property values are part of a long-term trend that could continue shifting more tax burden onto homeowners. … Hamline University professor David Schultz [said] the drop in commercial property values in Minneapolis goes back beyond the pandemic. … Schultz said that, in inflation-adjusted terms, the assessed value of office, retail, hotel and other commercial spaces fell about 28% in the last decade. He said commercial property went from generating 34.7% of the city’s net tax capacity in 2016 to 24.9% in 2026. That’s about a 10% drop in 10 years. Meanwhile, Schultz wrote that the residential tax burden rose about 6%. … Schultz said it is difficult to pinpoint a single cause.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sbBMTD
While gas prices are going to impact summer travel, in the short term Minnesota is trying to get visitors from the ICE surge…Explore Minnesota has launched a micro-campaign that will run for a few weeks in national markets. The objective? “Embrace national momentum and curiosity about Minnesota by inviting more people to come visit and meet their neighbors in Minnesota.”
Post Operation Metro Surge there is a curiosity that I’ve experienced nationally, the question is – how much of it is a good curiosity? Given yesterday’s jobs report, and economic headwinds – any migration and tourism is good. That said, on the day of the Twins home opener, gaining visits from our actual neighbors in the Dakotas, Iowa and Wisconsin should be a major goal this summer – with gas prices spiking.
The markets the campaign will run in are NYC, DC, Boston, LA, Boston, Seattle, Portland (OR), and Explore Minnesota describes them as “value-aligned markets”
Threading a needle to not alienate people with Minnesota “progressive exceptionalism” may also be something we should consider.
Watch the video: https://fluence-media.co/4mjiCd5
GAS PRICES: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Gasoline prices were only a little more than $3.50 a gallon in Minnesota this week, a considerable discount from the national average [of $4.00+]. Two main factors contribute to Minnesota’s prices being among the lowest in the nation. … [First], most of the oil that’s converted to gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum-based products in the state is imported from Canada, with a lesser amount coming from North Dakota. … [Second], the state’s gas tax, about 28 cents a gallon, is comparatively moderate when compared to many other states. California’s state gasoline tax, for instance, is nearly 60 cents a gallon, Pennsylvania’s is nearly 58 cents a gallon and Maryland and Illinois have 47-cent-a gallon gasoline taxes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41I0kZt
MORE: According to New York Times data, Minnesota gas prices are lower than Wisconsin’s, higher than Iowa’s and roughly equal with North and South Dakota’s. The Great Plains region overall has the lowest gas prices in the nation right now. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4bQSvXm
UNEMPLOYMENT: Via Star Tribune, more details on Minnesota’s latest job numbers, as seen in yesterday’s lunch take. VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s unemployment rate in January reached its highest point since early 2021, surpassing the U.S. as a whole for the first time in nearly 20 years. The state rate reached 4.4% unemployment at the start of 2026, while the U.S. rate ticked down to 4.3%. … The last time Minnesota had a higher share of people looking for work [than the U.S.] was in May 2007. … In January 2025, Minnesota’s unemployment rate was 3% and the U.S. rate was 4%. DEED officials said federal actions are taking a toll on Minnesota’s economy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sL1LlL
MORE: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Statewide, job growth was flat in January. The private sector lost 900 jobs while the public sector added 1,000…The biggest gains were in educational and health services (5,000 jobs) and construction (3,700)…Leisure and hospitality lost 4,000 jobs, the most of any supersector, followed by trade, transportation and utilities, as well as financial activities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vdcBmo
DETAILS: Via DEED’s January employment report, the Twin Cities metro lost 1,974 jobs and Greater Minnesota gained 711 jobs. The best performing Metropolitan Statistical Area in the state was Rochester, gaining 1,025 jobs. By industry, the biggest increase was in educational and health services at 5,000 jobs gained, and the biggest decrease was in leisure and hospitality at 4,000 jobs lost. The private sector overall lost 900 jobs, while the public sector added 1,000. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4sOWPwe
A new level of insight and information….
PRODUCTIVE FARMS, STEWARDSHIP GO HAND IN HAND: via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Corn farmers are demonstrating that productive agriculture and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Through widespread adoption of practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, crop rotations, and targeted nutrient management, farmers have improved soil health, reduced erosion, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and protected water quality across millions of acres in Minnesota. That’s all while implementing advances in seed genetics, fertility management, and precision technology that have improved on-farm productivity.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4stHjG5 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
NEXT WEEK
TUESDAY: Xcel CEO Bob Frenzel will speak at First Tuesday.
TUESDAY: Legislators return from Easter and Passover.
WEDNESDAY: via Essentia advisory, VERBATIM: “On Wednesday, April 8, Essentia Health-Fosston will break ground on a new emergency department. Essentia Health leaders and staff will be joined by project leaders from Kraus-Anderson to celebrate the start of construction.” The event is at 1:30 p.m.
(DISCLOSURE: Essentia is a Fluence sponsor)
APRIL 14: The Center of the American Experiment is hosting a “School Choice Rally” to support private school voucher legislation at the MN Capitol on Tuesday, April 14 at 12:00 noon. The event is advertised as a response to the No Kings rallies, saying in a release: “They had ‘No Kings.’ Now it’s our turn.”
APRIL 28: Gov. Tim Walz will deliver his final State of the State address before a joint session of the Minnesota Legislature on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m.
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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.