A MELT
Things are warming up.
Wild and Wolves win. Gopher MBB upsets Michigan State.
Curling and Women’s hockey already starting before tomorrow’s opening ceremony at the Olympics.
Will Giannis be a TWolf? The prediction markets think so. Sports Take will have the latest this afternoon at 2ish + guide to following the Olympics focused on Team Minnesota, the C-Suite dramas of the Twins and Vikings, the Super Bowl, P.J. Fleck meets with Gophers boosters and more.
A self-declared “witch” heckled the Clay County GOP caucus, but attendees “canceled” her curses “in Jesus’s name.” MPR: https://fluence-media.co/3O9X1Xv
In Farmington, there’s some spice public comment about public comments at the City Council. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3LRBthN
Polling from Fox News finds that 59% of voters think A.I. development is moving too fast, while 33% say it’s “about right” and 6% think it’s too slow. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/3ZlEv0L
Quinnipiac finds that 80% of voters want an independent investigation of Alex Pretti’s killing, and 61% think the Trump Administration has not been honest about the incident. In the same poll, 58% say Sec. Kristi Noem should be removed from office. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4te44yB
The push for a national voter ID law is popular, and Congress may take it up next week. CNN’s Harry Enten highlights polling back to 2018 that has bipartisan support. RCP: https://fluence-media.co/3ZjyW2Q
Last night the State of the Governor’s race – a MNSider Brief. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r3ACtF
Do I storm the court? A morning take sports take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar this morning. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4qh812w
It’s National Shower with a Friend Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take analyzed this week’s caucuses and what’s changed in the Legislature with retiring GOP Rep. Paul Torkelson. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4qd7D5h
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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/
CAUCUS POLLS
CD2: via CD2 candidate Matt Little last night, the preference poll results in the DFL race for Congress to replace Rep. Angie Craig, VERBATIM: “While we don’t have all the results yet, current results show we are winning by a margin of over 3 to 1 over the next highest candidate. With results from SD 20/58, 54, and 57, the totals are: 50% for Matt Little (434 votes) 15% for next closest candidate (133 votes) 4.5% for all remaining candidates (44 votes). TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3NPL49v
MN DFL: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Sen. Amy Klobuchar cemented her place as the DFL Party’s frontrunner and likely nominee by virtue of having no big-name opposition. The party posted preliminary [caucus] results Wednesday showing Klobuchar picked up 79% of the vote, [while] 16% were uncommitted and the remainder backed other candidates or abstained…READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c7EDIH
MORE: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The senior senator could have work to do to win over some Democrats before November. … The DFL’s progressive base has long been unhappy with [Amy] Klobuchar, withholding support during her 2020 presidential run and [being] generally displeased with her political style that prioritizes bipartisanship. … In south Minneapolis, many DFL activists refrained from voting for Klobuchar. Out of 693 votes cast in the Senate District 62 straw poll Tuesday, 338 voted ‘uncommitted’ — nearly 50%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3O7JIqt
TAKE: There seems to be a “waiting in the weeds” feeling about an opponent to Sen. Amy Klobuchar. There is undoubtedly a faction within the DFL that would like someone more liberal than Klobuchar, and would like competition. The challenge is what would that challenger have to give up – a legislative seat or a political future.
MN GOP: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “[Kendall Qualls] told reporters on Feb. 4 he was disappointed by the second-place [caucus] finish but also confident moving forward as the top political outsider in the race. On caucus night, Qualls said he hoped the straw poll results would prompt some bottom- and middle-tier candidates to drop from the race. … ‘This year more than any, we need to consolidate as a team,’ Qualls said. … At some caucus gatherings, Republicans lamented that the federal immigration operation has overshadowed the fraud that’s occurred under DFL leadership.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NWzvgC
SESSION
MNLEG: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s legislative session begins in two weeks, and lawmakers have said they’ll be busy dealing with the aftermath of the state’s fraud scandals and the ongoing immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis…At the same time, a coalition of more than 100 cities in the rest of the state is hoping it can make headway with its own legislative agenda, which includes funding various grant programs, passing local tax reform and blocking legislation it said would wrest control of zoning away from local governments…Bradley Peterson, lobbyist and executive director of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, said he’s worried the agenda may be overshadowed by the situation in the Twin Cities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45Q4Fwf
MAYORS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A group of mayors from across Minnesota is calling for ‘accountability and reform’ to clean up fraud in the state. During a news conference on Wednesday, Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst and others discussed the financial impacts [of] ‘fraud, unchecked spending and inconsistent fiscal management in St. Paul.’ Purfeerst say 261 of the state’s 856 mayors have now signed onto the letter expressing their frustrations over lax fiscal oversight, raised taxes and ‘unfunded mandates.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49XkLXs
A new level of insight and information….
The MNSider Brief: State of the Governor’s race – READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r3ACtF
THE RHETORIC
FREY: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke to KSTP about the news, seen in yesterday’s lunch take, that the White House is withdrawing 700 federal agents from Minnesota, leaving around 2,000 remaining. QUOTE: “Our understanding is that the drawdown is happening immediately and in the very near future. That being said, it’s not enough. … I expect that [their] conduct will change and that the agents will be drawn down. But again, I will believe it when I see it.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kibM6s
TRUMP: Pres. Donald Trump told NBC News that the order to withdraw 700 federal agents from Minnesota came from him directly. He also criticized Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey for continuing to use harsh rhetoric. QUOTE: “I learned that maybe we could use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough. … I’ve called the governor. I’ve called the mayor. Spoke to them, had great conversations with them. And then I see them ranting and raving out there, literally as though a call wasn’t made.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kizlMt
VANCE: Speaking to the UK’s Daily Mail, Vice Pres. JD Vance indicated he would not apologize for spreading unproven claims about Alex Pretti in the immediate aftermath of his death. Asked if he planned to “apologize to the family of Alex Pretti,” Vance responded: “For what?” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49ZgpPv
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)
PROCESS
DEAL: Via MinnPost, more details on the potential detainer deal seen in yesterday’s morning take. VERBATIM: “The idea was to enter into a ‘basic ordering agreement’ (BOA) that would allow ICE up to 48 hours to pick up undocumented individuals. … [State] law prohibits the holding of inmates past their release date, [so] the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association reached out to the Minnesota Association of County Attorneys to get a legal opinion. … The county attorneys’ decision: a BOA would violate state law. … James Stuart, the executive director of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, acknowledged the county attorneys’ opinion about BOAs, but said other lawyers the association have consulted have other opinions. … Stuart also said the BOAs are just ‘one of many things under discussion.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4t9hls2
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The sheriffs overseeing some of Minnesota’s largest county jails aren’t saying whether they will go along with a plan to give immigration agents better access to the facilities. … Hennepin County declined more requests from ICE since President Donald Trump returned to office than any other in the state. … ‘Our policy has not changed,’ Sheriff Dawanna Witt said in a statement. ‘At this point, we are having conversations with local, state, and federal leaders about solutions that serve our community.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ksyoBt
US ATTY: via CNN, VERBATIM: “An [ICE] attorney detailed to Minnesota to help handle the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities has been removed from her post after telling a judge that the job ‘sucks’ because of the crushing workload and the government’s apparent inability to comply with court orders. The attorney, Julie Le, was sent back to her job at ICE. … [Le] said the chaos of the assignment had led her to submit her resignation, but that she stopped short of leaving the temporary post because she felt she was needed to ensure people were not continuing to remain detained even after a judge said they needed to be released.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3M6CX7W
INVESTIGATIONS: via Axios, VERBATIM: “More than 300 former federal prosecutors and civil rights attorneys are urging the Justice Department to allow state and local investigations into the killings of two Minnesota residents by federal officers, according to a new letter. … ‘No matter which party sits in the White House, DOJ plays a crucial role in ensuring that the American people can trust the justice system to preserve our foundational values of life and liberty,’ reads the letter, which was signed by nearly two dozen former U.S. attorneys.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kfPSAU
MORE: Signatories of the letter to the Dept. of Justice include Andrew Winter, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Minnesota who left in 2025, and nine others who worked in the state. LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/49ZNrPF
REFUGEES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Trump Administration is asking a judge to lift his temporary restraining order prohibiting the arrest and detentions of Minnesota’s refugees. … Brantley Mayers, with the Justice Department, argued the temporary restraining order should be lifted because federal law requires refugees who have not gotten their green cards after one year should be returned to federal custody. … District Judge John Tunheim [took] the matter under advisement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tyf36a
FUNDS
FRAUD: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Republicans on a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee took aim at the issue of fraud in Minnesota state government programs involving federal money on Wednesday…The hearing turned feisty at times as Republicans blamed Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Democrats responded by highlighting what they call fraud within the President Donald Trump administration. CRUZ: “I get it, you dislike Trump,” Sen. Ted Cruz. R-Texas, said during one exchange with Robert Weissman, co-president of the progressive Public Citizen group. “Would you agree the fraud in Minnesota was staggering and shocking?” he asked Weissman. WEISSMAN: “I agree there is fraud in Minnesota,” Weissman responded. “I don’t believe these estimates are grounded in any evidence I’ve seen.”… Minnesota Rep. Kristin Robbins, the chair of the House Fraud and State Agency Oversight Committee, testified about that figure in the Senate hearing in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. ROBBINS: “The former first U.S. Attorney who led these prosecutions for years stated that the estimated fraud is $9 billion, and this doesn’t count fraud in SNAP or child care programs,” she told senators… Walz and Ellison were also invited to testify at the hearing Wednesday, but declined. However, they have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee in Washington on March 4.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rwxENW
SHUTDOWN: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The clock is ticking on Congress to negotiate how ICE and Border Patrol agents execute the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. Reforms under discussion include de-escalation training, a ban on masks, requiring judicial warrants to enter a home, a mandate to wear body cameras, the establishment of a code of conduct governing the use of force, and the end of roving patrols to pick up migrants. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District, supports all of those proposed reforms, as well as others. … McCollum also said she ‘has colleagues who want to claw back some of the funding’ that has greatly expanded the number of ICE and Border Patrol agents and detention facilities, ‘but I don’t know if we can.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rxliVZ
MORE: Via States Newsroom, Congressional Democrats have revealed their full list of demands that must be met for the party to support funding bills for ICE and DHS. It includes bans on racial profiling, detaining U.S. citizens, roving patrols, and wearing masks outside of “extraordinary and unusual circumstances.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4bB1Kvd
USDA: via Rep. Michelle Fischbach advisory, VERBATIM: “Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) met with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to discuss the economic crisis facing American sugarbeet farmers and to advocate for their fair share of the $1 billion in supplemental economic relief recently announced by the USDA. The meeting focused on the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, an initiative designed to help row crop farmers recover from market disruptions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kg79dr
THE STATE
LGBTQ: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “State leaders are condemning what they call ‘pressure’ from the federal government as Children’s Minnesota Hospital pauses its gender-affirming care services. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says that this type of care remains legal under Minnesota’s trans refuge laws, and confirmed that his office is currently litigating against federal declarations aimed at penalizing providers.” ELLISON: “My office has been holding this administration accountable in court nearly every day. We will do it again and again…including and especially when it comes to our transgender youth.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4a9M3IU
MORE: Tuesday’s health take featured more coverage and reactions for the Children’s Minnesota changes. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4ryTTmx
TOURISM: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Amid an immigration crackdown, ongoing protests, and clashes with federal agents, at least four European nations have issued travel advisories to people across the pond who are visiting Minneapolis. … Ministries of foreign affairs for France and Finland issued similar travel advisories, warning citizens to stay away from public gatherings and demonstrations. … Germany [and] Ireland [did the same].” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bycPx3
MPLS: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council is proposing $1 million to be allocated to rental assistance to those impacted by the immigration crackdown in the city. … The funds would come from the city’s contingency fund and would be transferred to Hennepin County, who would send the funds to organizations who help families in need. … Along with the rental assistance, an eviction delay is also proposed. The city council will vote on the proposal Thursday morning.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rAL6R9
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The St. Paul City Council is urging state leaders to put a temporary halt to energy and gas shutoffs during Operation Metro Surge. … The council voted on Wednesday in support of a resolution asking Gov. Tim Walz and state officials to direct the state’s Public Utility Commission to enact an energy and gas shutoff moratorium ‘to keep Minnesota families safe and protect them from ICE.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ml3MFr
DULUTH: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Karla Culhane has served in a multitude of roles under five different mayors since she first went to work for the city of Duluth nearly 30 years ago, but she’s about to step into the highest-profile job of her career at the end of this month. Mayor Roger Reinert has tapped Culhane as interim city administrator to replace City Administrator Matt Staehling, who recently announced plans to step down and return to St. Cloud.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kiChst
NEXT
FEB 12: The Senate subcommittee on federal impacts will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m. with an unannounced agenda.
FEB 17: The Minnesota Legislature’s 2026 session will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 12:00 noon.
MOVE: Jennifer Lor, the press secretary for former Mayor Melvin Carter, will now be Mayor Jacob Frey’s new press secretary.
BDAYS: Xcel’s John Marshall, Haskell’s Ted Farrell, Taher’s Shawn Taher, Strib’s Neal Justin
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.