MIDWEEK MOOD
It’s getting exhausting, and it’s early in 2026. Another “Slow News Day” yesterday, a chilly few days ahead.
Timberwolves didn’t “fear the deer”. They won.
In college MBB, Kansas beats Iowa State and Gophers give Wisco a scare.
Saks filed for bankruptcy overnight.
Some sources say that contracts related to ICE activity in Minnesota have been extended for up to 3 months. Last night protestors were at The Graduate on the U of MN campus.
Minnesotans bought over 470,000 “blackout” license plates last year, nearly doubling sales from 2024. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/3Nm0ORa
The first hearing of the Minnesota vs. the USA in court this morning at 8:30AM.
Last night GOP candidates for Governor were in Mabel, fundraising numbers coming soon.
The mood of America…
A record-high 45% of U.S. adults identified as political independents in 2025, surpassing the 43% measured in 2014, 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, equal shares of U.S. adults — 27% each — identified as either Democrats or Republicans. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4pJZ3e5
Morning Consult’s Index of Consumer Sentiment saw economic outlooks in all income brackets decline last week, with high earners declining the most. Over the past 30 days, high earner sentiment fell by over 12%. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4bhjAmT
Today’s National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day – where in Minnesota is your best choice?
Be safe, stay warm.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
In a must listen, Legislative Auditor Judy Randall joined Sunday Take to discuss fraud in state programs. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3YTziND
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com ? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ:https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
Next Wednesday: The State of Energy – Fluence Forum
The State of Energy in Minnesota featuring Pete Wycoff (Deputy Commissioner of Energy Resources, Minnesota Department of Commerce), Bria Shea (President, Xcel Energy Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota), Zac Ruzycki (Director of Resource Planning, Great River Energy) Moderated by Blois Olson of Fluence Advisory
The Future of Energy featuring Kari Groth Swan (Executive Director, MN Climate Innovation Finance Authority), PJ Martin (Vice President of Integrated Planning, Xcel Energy) Moderated by Drew Christensen
Policy Considerations for State Leaders featuring Xcel Energy, Derrick Moe (President and CEO, MN Rural Electric Association), and Lucas Franco (Research Manager of Great Lakes Regional Organizing Committee, LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota) Moderated by John Berns
Legislative Panel featuring Senator Nick Frentz and Representative Chris Swedzinski
REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/StateofEnergy
STATE PURSE
BUDGET: via MMB monthly memo, VERBATIM: “Net general fund receipts for November and December 2025 now estimated to total $5.6 billion, $65 million (1.2%) more than forecast in November. Both net individual tax and sales tax receipts were slightly above the forecast, while net corporate franchise tax receipts were slightly below. Other revenues were above forecast.”
Gov. Tim Walz will host news conference discussing federal funding cuts in Minnesota, highlighting potential impacts to “CMS-funded programs, SNAP, and other safety-net services,” per a release. State Medicaid Dir. John Connolly will attend. The event is at 1:30 p.m.
NOTE: Minnesota Management & Budget’s federal funding tracker currently names over $490 million at risk and $157 million canceled in terms of grants to state agencies, but the dashboard says it does “not reflect the totality of disrupted funds across Minnesota” as dozens of federal funding disputes have started and/or resolved over the past year. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/49zItaB
FED FUNDS: via DHS advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Human Services is appealing a decision by the Trump Administration to withhold over $2 billion in annual Medicaid funding for Minnesota. Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced the withholding [last week]. … The state acted to meet or exceed the steps CMS requested in a December letter to address program integrity concerns. However, Administrator Oz has now deemed the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ actions inadequate. … The federal agency must now set a date for a hearing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jFeSRJ
MORE: via AP News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump said Tuesday that starting Feb. 1 he will deny federal funding to any states that are home to [cities] resisting his administration’s immigration policies, expanding on previous threats to cut off resources to the so-called sanctuary cities themselves. … Trump was asked by reporters what kind of funding would be affected on Feb 1.” TRUMP: “You’ll see. It’ll be significant. Minnesota is going to have to take care of itself for a little while.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZdoQ3m
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RECKONING?
US ATTY: Via New York Times, insiders shared new details on why Joe Thompson resigned from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota yesterday, as seen in lunch take. VERBATIM: “Joe Thompson’s resignation came after senior Justice Department officials pressed for a criminal investigation into the actions of the widow of Renee Good. … [Thompson] objected to that approach, as well as to the Justice Department’s refusal to include state officials in investigating whether the shooting itself was lawful. … Other senior career prosecutors who resigned include Harry Jacobs, Melinda Williams and Thomas Calhoun-Lopez. … Thompson had originally set out to investigate the shooting in partnership with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, [but] senior Justice Department officials overruled the decision to cooperate with the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49zmqkx
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Staffers within Minnesota’s top federal prosecutor’s office have been asked to stay quiet about the FBI investigation probing the fatal shooting of Renee Good. … In an internal email obtained by the Star Tribune, Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen told his staff to ‘say nothing’ about the federal case to anyone, specifically citing law enforcement and media. Rosen said only assistant U.S. attorneys designated by him may communicate with investigators.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LIwEak
RESPONSE: After criticizing Joe Thompson for “defamation” last week and saying he “would have been let go by any other administration,” Gov. Tim Walz praised Thompson on social media yesterday. WALZ: “Joe is a principled public servant who spent more than a decade achieving justice for Minnesotans. This is a huge loss for our state. It’s also the latest sign [Donald] Trump is pushing nonpartisan career professionals out of the justice department, replacing them with his sycophants.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4jA3gzq
INVESTIGATION: via MS NOW, VERBATIM: “At least four leaders of a Justice Department unit that investigates police killings have resigned in protest over the administration’s handling of the [Minneapolis] shooting. … Top leaders of the criminal section of the Civil Rights Division have left their jobs to register their frustration with the department after the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon decided not to investigate an ICE officer’s fatal shooting of Renee Good last week. The criminal section of the division would normally investigate any fatal shooting by a law enforcement officer.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jBwnCu
MORE: via New York Times, VERBATIM: “Federal investigators assigned to the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman are looking into her possible connections to activist groups…in addition to the actions of the federal agent who killed her, people familiar with the situation said. It seems increasingly unlikely that the [ICE agent] will face criminal charges, although that could change as investigators collect new evidence, the people added.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YDcy4g\
HEARING: via NOTUS, VERBATIM: “A Department of Justice attorney said in a Minnesota federal court Tuesday that there is no First Amendment protection for observing police. The assertion came during a hearing in the lawsuit Minnesota protesters brought against the Trump Administration claiming immigration agents arrested, pepper sprayed and intimidated them without cause. … U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez said she would rule on the emergency petition by Thursday or Friday morning. … She questioned DOJ attorney Jeremy Newman about the legality of federal law enforcement stopping or drawing their weapons on protesters following [agents] in their vehicles.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qnXio6
DETENTIONCENTER: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Dozens of residents of Washington County [had] gathered Tuesday morning to implore the county board to do all they can to stop any possible plans for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in the county. … Washington County Board Chair Karla Bigham said no one on the five-member county board is in favor of an ICE detention center. … Bigham said the board plans to send a letter to the county’s federal delegation expressing concerns about the possible detention center.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aXJGuX
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)
SECURITY
CAPITOL: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security voted to recommend metal detectors and weapons screening at the State Capitol. The recommendations go to the Minnesota Legislature, which will face potential obstacles, including the cost and the possibility of banning permit-to-carry holders from bringing guns to the Capitol. … The [measure] passed with four Democrats voting in favor and two Republicans voting against.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49SnAZA
CONGRESS
SENATE RACE: Almanac of American Politics rated the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota as “likely Democratic” this year. VERBATIM: “Minnesota is divided enough politically, and enduring enough political tensions, to make a Senate race competitive — at least in theory. But this open-seat contest is not developing that way. Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, a moderate, has a big fundraising lead over Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is more progressive. Craig is considered the favorite in the primary, though Flanagan has a shot at winning the endorsing convention. The GOP field, meanwhile, is considered weak, with two political neophytes and Royce White, a controversial losing Senate candidate from 2024, in the mix. … Barring an earthquake, Democrats should be able to hold this seat.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sFOKKO
IRAN: Republican Senate candidate David Hann issued a statement praising Pres. Donald Trump for his support of protesters in Iran. HANN: “I commend President Trump for his commitment to the Iranians who are fighting for freedom from the Islamic Republic’s brutal regime. … [Angie] Craig and [Peggy] Flanagan should join the President in opposing Iran’s brutal regime and redirect their penchants for backing protesters towards the Iranians seeking liberty.”
DEMOCRATS: via Semafor, VERBATIM: “Four progressive Democratic senators are telling their colleagues to pivot quickly to economic populism. … ‘Our party’s anemic response to the rigging of our democracy and economy in favor of the ultra-wealthy has eroded our credibility with working people,’ wrote Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy, Adam Schiff, Elizabeth Warren, and Tina Smith in a letter to their Democratic colleagues. … They advocated for messaging that explicitly targets taxing the rich and increasing the minimum wage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LyjU5W LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/49CoKaz
CRAIG/EMMER: Via Star Tribune, Rep. Tom Emmer addressed his argument on the House floor with Rep. Angie Craig last week. VERBATIM: “Emmer called the confrontation a ‘total setup with Angie and the Star Tribune.’ … ‘Someone is trying to show that she can appeal to the crazy left better than Peggy Flanagan, which she can’t,’ Emmer said. … Ultimately, Emmer said he’s considered Craig a friend and colleague for years and will continue to be her friend and colleague. ‘Let’s see how your Minneapolis crazies like that,’ Emmer concluded.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LLkeym
MINING: GOP Rep. Pete Stauber introduced a joint resolution this week to allow mining near the Boundary Waters, as previewed in Friday’s morning take. Ingrid Lyons, executive director of Save the Boundary Waters, has issued a response. LYONS: “This legislative scheme to overturn protections for the Boundary Waters…is an outrageous attack on one of America’s most iconic and unique landscapes, and must be rejected by Congress. Using the Congressional Review Act to attack these protections also creates a reckless precedent that would allow Congress to retroactively target virtually any public land action as a ‘rule.’ If this maneuver succeeds, no established land management decision would be safe.” RESOLUTION: https://fluence-media.co/3NhRiP4
HEMP: via Rep. Angie Craig advisory, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Representative and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig [has] introduced a bipartisan bill to delay changes to federal hemp law. … The Hemp Planting Predictability Act amends the restrictive hemp policies that outlaw any hemp product with greater than 0.4 milligrams of THC by delaying these recent changes from going into effect until 2028.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NkSfWL
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MENTAL HEALTH: via Rep. Tom Emmer advisory, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) introduced the Securing Facilities for Mental Health Services Act. … This legislation would eliminate the prohibition in Section 242 of the National Housing Act, therefore allowing inpatient psychiatric hospitals to access the mortgage assistance program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LeO26x
WILD ABOUT READING: Join more than 800 Minnesota classrooms and 30,000 students participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include: classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy, and the team dog, Paulie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player-signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/49AHNSE (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
LOCALS
MPS: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Public Schools placed its top three finance department leaders on administrative leave more than a week ago — but the district has not provided any public explanation. The district has communicated the personnel changes to a narrow group of employees, but has not shared the information with school staff. … The significant personnel moves come as the district, already facing fiscal uncertainty, grapples with an audit whose delivery to the Minnesota Department of Education is already late.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Z89LAa
HENN CTY: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Hennepin Healthcare’s interim CEO, Dr. Thomas Klemond, stepped down Tuesday. North Memorial Health’s former CEO, Dr. J. Kevin Croston, and Hennepin County’s former Administrator, David Hough, have been appointed co-interim administrators by the Hennepin Healthcare Board. … The board intends to begin a search for a permanent CEO later this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49AI4Vk
RAMSEY CTY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Ramsey County has not reduced or suspended any of its services due to the presence of federal agents in the Twin Cities, but impacts are being felt, officials said at a county board meeting Tuesday. … ‘Immigration enforcement has affected our department’s ability to deliver in-person services, on-site services, and impacted residents coming in to get services,’ Ramsey County Manager Ling Becker said. That includes culturally specific events hosted by Parks and Recreation…[and] the temporary closure of the St. Paul Veterans Affairs Regional Benefit Office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49kgMDZ
WHAT’S NEXT
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz will host an event discussing federal funding cuts in Minnesota, highlighting potential impacts to “CMS-funded programs, SNAP, and other safety-net services,” per a release. State Medicaid Dir. John Connolly will attend. The event is at 1:30 p.m. Governor Tim Walz will also have a call with Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her.
TODAY: via ATU advisory, VERBATIM: “At 11:00 a.m., members and leaders of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1005…will speak out near the site where a bus driver saw a Minnesotan grabbed by ICE agents last week. Members will share other awful examples of how ICE is impacting their ability to do their job. They will speak about the need for ICE to not interfere with transit operations.”
TODAY: Clean Elections MN will host a webinar with Sec. Steve Simon and Atty. General Keith Ellison discussing “what’s being done to keep our elections safe, fair and secure,” per a release. The event is at 7:00 p.m.
TOMORROW: The subcommittee on federal impacts will meet at 10:00 a.m. to discuss rural hospital closures and rural healthcare accessibility.
TOMORROW: Sec. Steve Simon will visit Big Stone, Pope, and Traverse counties Thursday to “meet with students, election officials and business leaders,” per his office.
FRIDAY: Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) announced they will hold a “field hearing” on the ICE surge in Minnesota before hosting a press conference immediately after. The event is at 9:00 a.m. in St. Paul.
FRIDAY: Sec. Steve Simon will visit Lac qui Parle and Yellow Medicine counties Friday to meet with students and business leaders. He will “complete his most recent 87-county tour,” per his office.
JAN 20-21: The MN Ag Expo will be held in Mankato this year on Tuesday and Wednesday. The first day will feature a bipartisan “legislative preview” featuring lawmakers and Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen, per a release.
JAN 30: via DEED advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) is delighted to invite you to join Governor Tim Walz, Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen at a luncheon event to honor this year’s recipients of the Governor’s International Trade Awards.”
THIS MONTH: Sen. Jen McEwen, Rep. Liish Kozlowski and Rep. Pete Johnson are holding a Duluth town hall soon. The event is being rescheduled and will take place “later this month,” per a release.
BDAYS: Rep. Wayne Johnson, event pro Char Mason, fmr. Sen. Roger Chamerlain, fundraiser Berrett Gall, Como Park leader Erica Prosser
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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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