Wild lose bad. Vikings play Monday. Wolves host the Lakers tonight.
Did you see yesterday’s Sports Take? READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZBpPdp
Amid national concerns about technology’s impact on youth, many teens are as digitally connected as ever. Most teens use social media and have a smartphone, and nearly half say they’re online almost constantly, according to a new Pew Research Center. PEW: https://fluence-media.co/49xuRfL
Rep. Angie Craig is on Sunday Take about DC, the learnings of the 2024 election and her political future. Tune-in at 9AM on Sunday on WCCO Radio.
The suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO did not have coverage from the company, contrary to popular belief. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/3VZTDjh
On 2026 re-election, Sen. Tina Smith says “That’s my plan”. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/3Br5srs
Happy National Cocoa Day.
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
From Sunday Take, U of MN President Rebecca Cunningham shared legislative priorities. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BkGFFq
INAUGURAL: The Minnesota Presidential Inaugural Ball will be held Friday, January 17th, 2025 in Washington from 7-11PM. The event is presented by the North Star Society and pitched as bipartisan and a “new tradition” according to marketing materials. Sponsorships range from $250K - $5K. LEVELS: https://fluence-media.co/4ggetTA
BUDGET: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Recently released state budget data shows the counts and costs of special education are rising dramatically in Minnesota. The forecast projects special education services to rise by $1.7 billion by 2029…The growth has already begun. Historically, the state plans on an increase of 5 to 6 percent in the amount spent on special education. The 2024 increase is expected to come in at more than 9 percent.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4feMaDx
NEXTWK: Fluence Advisory is hosting fmr. MMB Commissioners Jim Schowalter and Tom Hanson for a conversation about the budget forecast and process. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/MNBudget2025
POT: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “The Office of Cannabis Management is pointing fingers at bad actors from out-of-state who tried to flood the zone and scoop up licenses. They called it "potential fraud."… Leaders mentioned straw man businesses when they denied applicants from entering the now-canceled lottery last month….And when two women sued, the state revealed why they believed there was someone else behind those applications.
A tipster said the plaintiffs worked with an out-of-state cannabis operator named Tate Kapple to submit 240 applications to increase his chances of success…Kapple’s credit card was used to pay for at least one of those applications…And the applicants eventually revealed they signed a contract where Kapple could buy their business for $100,000.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4feNDtx
FRAUD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz called Thursday for Minnesota to increase criminal penalties for Medicaid fraud in response to the FBI’s investigation into autism service providers. The FBI searched at least two Minnesota autism centers Thursday as it investigated ‘substantial evidence’ of fraudulent Medicaid claims. … Federal law enforcement suspects many autism centers are billing for services not actually provided. … Some people involved in the Feeding Our Future scheme owned or were associated with autism centers.” WALZ: “This pisses me off unlike anything else. They’re stealing from us. … You’ve got to increase the penalty on these crimes. These are crimes against children, in my opinion. … We’re catching these people; they’re going to prison. [But] I don’t think they’re going long enough.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DdaoAS
MORE: As seen in yesterday’s lunch take, House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth called on Gov. Tim Walz to “order state agencies to immediately pause payments to anyone or any entity that is suspected or convicted of fraud in other state programs.” Speaking to the Star Tribune, Walz said he doesn’t think Demuth’s plan is feasible under current law, but he plans to propose additional fraud protection measures during the 2025 session. WALZ: “When we’re pretty certain someone’s involved in this, sometimes we don’t have the legal authority to cut them off until the conviction goes through. That’s one of the problems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DdaoAS
MORE: via MPR, “[Walz] said his administration has taken steps to root out unlawful spending but would put forward additional changes in 2025. Among them would be tougher penalties for those who attempt to fleece funds intended to serve children and people with disabilities. … He would [also] like to empower agencies to more quickly cut off grants to suspected fraudsters.”
QUESTION: With all sincerity, what would make anyone think that the Walz administration would suddenly have urgency on the fraud issue? It’s one of the questions that I would ask if Walz would appear on Sunday Take. He’s been invited next week.
MORE: via statement from Sen. John Hoffman, VERBATIM: ““Stealing from our most vulnerable is inexcusable and illegal, and the people who committed this fraud must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. We must explore how the state can prevent this fraud in the future and catch and punish bad actors. In 2023, the Legislature directed the Department of Human Services to evaluate these programs and make recommendations to strengthen regulations and oversight.”
RESPONSE: U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Andrew Luger discussed his thoughts on Minnesota’s major fraud cases with WCCO Radio yesterday. LUGER: “Minnesota has a fraud problem, and I think we're seeing it. But it's something that we can conquer and turn around, and it's going to take really smart people at all levels of government to do that. … I think we all have to take a hard look at what's happening in our state with this kind of fraud and be willing to call it out openly and take it on fully at all levels. … We've got to get into the guts of how that happens.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49B5nhy
MORE: Via a joint statement from GOP Reps. Brad Finstad, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber yesterday, STATEMENT: “Unfortunately, this situation has become the norm under Governor Tim Walz. Minnesotans’ tax dollars meant to help the vulnerable are being stolen by fraudsters with little to no oversight from the Governor’s office or the DFL trifecta. Minnesotans deserve answers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OUkdq4
WALZ: Gov. Tim Walz held his first interview with MPR News since his run for vice president, and he discussed a wide variety of issues. Summaries of Walz’s responses have been sorted by topic. VERBATIM:
● Democratic party’s future: “Reflecting on his run, Walz said that while policies that Democrats were talking about — from paid leave to guaranteed cost-free access to school meals — were resonating, inflation and immigration turned out to be driving issues for voters that his party didn’t [handle] well enough. … Even as Democrats embrace policies popular with working-class voters, Walz said there is distrust of the party brand in some corners.”
● Race for DNC chair: “Walz declined to offer an endorsement in the contest to pick a new Democratic National Committee chair even though his longtime home state chair and friend Ken Martin is in the running. He praised Martin but left it there. ‘I’m staying out of that one,’ Walz said.”
● A divided House: “The governor said he thinks there is common ground to be found on health care, government efficiency and guardrails around technology such as artificial intelligence. He said he hopes that Republicans will be willing to strike a deal on a construction projects plan, which failed to pass in 2024. … ‘I’m actually thinking this could be a productive session, if we don't retreat to our particular corners,’ Walz said.”
● Legal cannabis rollout: “Walz said he advised his cannabis office to grudgingly put the court challenge to rest by moving beyond an early licensing process. He said he expects the market to develop before long. … To people who might be growing impatient with the pace of the rollout, Walz said it takes time to get it right.”
See the full article for more details. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZOUSE8
MORE: Gov. Tim Walz also spoke to the Star Tribune about many additional topics in a sit-down interview Thursday, including his thoughts on President-elect Donald Trump. Walz’s responses are sorted by topic below.
● On running for national office again, WALZ: “It would be too early to say that. I do want to be part of the conversation, because I think we are delivering, I think we are making a difference in people’s lives.”
● On Democratic messaging, WALZ: “I think the Democratic Party lost that [economic] message to the middle class. … That doesn’t seem to be what people identify as a core of the party. … For whatever reason, people were going to vote for Trump. They didn’t believe us. They thought we were elite.”
● On Trump’s victory, WALZ: “Somehow we decided that electing a billionaire who screwed the middle class his entire life was better for the middle class. Who knew making housing affordable was not as strong a message as ‘they’re eating dogs and they’re eating cats.’ … [But people] voted for it, and they want mass deportations.”
● On working with the Trump Admin., WALZ: “We’re going to protect our states’ rights as much as we can. … I think we can expect that certain states will get hit harder than others. My job will be here to make sure that none of that impacts negatively to people in Minnesota. … No matter what he thinks, he’s not a dictator.”
● On stepping aside in 2026, WALZ: “You could always have a primary.”
See the full article for more details. READ: https://fluence-media.co/49CkXtf
MN GOP: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “More than 300 Republican party activists will decide Saturday whether Chair David Hann or one of three other candidates will lead the party into 2026. Whatever the state central committee decides, Hann says this will likely be his last run for chair and that he’s ready to pass the torch to a new generation of leadership. … Though he’s favored to win as the incumbent, Minnesota Republicans say the race could be a toss-up, especially because so many candidates are running. The three challengers are Army veteran Bret Bussman, former RNC committeeman and Wayzata City Council Member Alex Plechash and former gubernatorial candidate Mike Murphy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41yp3AG
MN DFL: via a Senate DFL press release, VERBATIM: “Today, Senator Matt Klein (DFL-Mendota Heights), Senator Nick Frentz (DFL – North Mankato), Senator Judy Seeberger (DFL – Afton), Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL – Hermantown), Senator Ann Rest (DFL – New Hope), Senator Rob Kupec (DFL – Moorhead), Senator Aric Putnam (DFL – St. Cloud), and Senator John Hoffman (DFL – Champlin) announced the formation of the Blue Dog Coalition in the Minnesota Senate. … The [coalition] stands for pragmatic, reasonable, and balanced policies that reflect the values of all Minnesotans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZQQUuM
RESPONSE: via a Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson statement, JOHNSON: “Every single one of these Democrats voted for a progressive, partisan agenda. … They all voted for the failed marijuana equity license lottery…and a last-minute, massive 1,400-page bill. … Every one of these Democrats voted to put their partisan agenda ahead of the trust of Minnesotans by supporting [Sen.] Nicole Mitchell and rejecting efforts to hold her accountable for her actions. … This is the kind of political stunt voters will see right through.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Bn2eW1
SMITH: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Sen. Tina Smith…was tapped by outgoing Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as vice chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in 2023. … But now that the elections are over, so is Smith’s time as vice chair of the committee, a role in which she was responsible for helping to fundraise for the committee and guide its political strategy. … Smith is up for re-election in 2026, and when asked whether she’s fully committed to running again, replied, ‘that’s my plan.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Br5srs
HENN CTY: via a Hennepin County press release, VERBATIM: “Today, the Hennepin County Board approved a 2025 budget of $3.10 billion. The budget includes a net property tax levy totaling $1.05 billion, a 5.5% increase from 2024. Both the operating and the capital budgets are reflected in the budget and levy. The 2025 budget focuses on disparity reduction and climate action across all lines of county business and invests in programs and services that aim to improve long-term outcomes for residents in the areas of education, employment, health, housing, income, justice, and connectivity.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gQh5Yf
MPLS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council enacted its 2025 budget on Thursday, after overturning a veto by Mayor Jacob Frey. The budget includes a 6.9 percent property tax levy increase for residents. The council amended that from an 8.3 percent levy increase in the mayor’s original budget proposal. The council lowered the levy in part by cutting spending on technology programming, and nixing raises for some of the city’s highest-paid staff. … Following the [override] vote, Frey said he’d hoped council members would reconsider some of the new spending.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41qO150
MORE: Via Star Tribune’s Deena Winter, VERBATIM: “Families of people killed by police are calling on Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw to apologize for using the phrase ‘say their name’ while referring to the MPD mounted patrol, the subject of a council budget cut, after she solemnly listed the name of each horse.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3ZP4a2J
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “A proposal to give the city’s elected leadership wide latitude to craft non-criminal penalties for rule-breakers is on its way to the St. Paul City Council. … The 15 members of the St. Paul City Charter Commission sat in the basement of downtown City Hall Thursday afternoon, reviewing a litany of scenarios as they debated whether to support amending the city charter to allow the city council to impose administrative citations, or civil fines for ordinance violations. … The charter amendment now goes to the city council, where it needs unanimous approval to pass. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and a majority of the council have gone on record supporting the prospect.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41vws3A
MORE: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “The St. Paul City Council's newest members flexed their muscles Wednesday night, voting 5-1 to approve a city budget they spearheaded despite Mayor Melvin Carter's concerns. The vote was a pivotal show of political gumption by four council members just completing their first year in office, who rejected the mayor's ‘compromise’ offer. … The median homeowner can now expect a modestly smaller property tax bill — $19 per year, Carter said — as the council approved a smaller levy increase (5.9%) than the mayor had proposed (6.9%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VCNcST
MORE: Pioneer Press has an extensive breakdown of what’s in the St. Paul city budget for 2025, assuming the mayor doesn’t veto it. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BnFpBB
BROADBAND: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Some residents in the Summit Hill neighborhood of St. Paul have been without internet since late November, with Century Link blaming the problems on copper wire theft. … Despite multiple contacts with Century Link, the telecoms company has pushed back repair dates, and is currently saying service won't be restored until New Year's Eve.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49CL5UL
PROTEST: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Protesters calling on the Biden Administration to reject a series of gas fracking permits [held] a ‘sit-in’ at the Minneapolis office of Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Wednesday. Ten activists with Climate Defiance’s new Twin Cities chapter staged the demonstration. … They demanded that Klobuchar call for the Biden Administration to cancel six pending permits for fracked gas export terminals before the Trump Administration takes office. … Ultimately, Minneapolis police officers escorted them out of the building, and arrested one woman on the street.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZQ6lTJ
PIPELINE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the state’s first carbon capture pipeline — but only after construction of other parts of the multi-state line is underway. The Summit Carbon Solutions project would pipe liquid carbon dioxide from ethanol plants in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota to sequester it deep underground near Bismarck. The PUC approval Thursday covers a 28-mile pipeline from near Fergus Falls to the North Dakota border. Other Minnesota sections are planned.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VxWIGX
MINING: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s mining industry is looking forward to president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month, which will usher in a reversal of policies that will allow Twin Metals to renew efforts to mine copper, nickel and other precious minerals in what opponents call environmentally sensitive land. … Trump has vowed to reverse the Superior National Forest [mining] moratorium as a priority after he’s sworn in, which he can do under his executive authority. … Environmentalists, including a group called Save the Boundary Waters, have tried to derail the Twin Metals proposed mine for nearly 10 years and say they are ready to renew their efforts in court.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OQmwdH
EXPORTS: via AP News, VERBATIM: “Canada’s most populous province may bar American-made alcohol in addition to restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products, a senior official said Thursday. … Ontario is also considering restricting exports of critical minerals required for electric vehicle batteries and preventing U.S.-based companies from the government’s procurement process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VFyJWf
BRINGING SAFETY TO ‘THE NEXT LEVEL’: As part of Enbridge’s work on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation in northern Minnesota, Enbridge has brought in family-owned and Indigenous-owned Northern Lights Family Outfitters to fully outfit project workers right on the job site with personal protective equipment (PPE) from its 48-foot mobile trailer. “Enbridge really brings safety to the next level,” says Patti, a project liaison for Enbridge and the Fond du Lac Band. “It’s really helpful to have a mobile unit, especially for this kind of work.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OQYmjn (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
GLOCK: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit today against gun manufacturer Glock, Inc. and its Austrian parent company for manufacturing, marketing, and selling semi-automatic handguns that Glock knows can easily be converted into illegal machine guns with a device known as a ‘Glock switch.’ … It has been illegal in Minnesota since the 1930s for the public to own fully automatic machine guns. Glock, however, has known since at least 1988 that its semi-automatic handguns can be easily converted. … Ellison announced his lawsuit on the same day that New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced that he is also suing Glock, Inc.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fgeh5n
PARDONS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Three Minnesotans are among the 39 who were granted pardons Thursday by President Joe Biden in the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. Another 1,500 had their sentences commuted by the president. … Those pardoned Thursday had been convicted of nonviolent crimes such as drug offenses and turned their lives around, White House lawyers said.” The pardoned Minnesotans are from Minneapolis, Falcon Heights and Coon Rapids. READ: https://fluence-media.co/41z0P9o
EBT THEFT: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “More than 6,000 Minnesotans had their EBT benefits stolen between January and November, totaling more than $1.2 million dollars lost…according to data from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). … The data provided by the state included EBT benefits for food, housing and cash assistance that were stolen from card skimming, according to DCYF. EBT cards lack a security chip, like other debit or credit cards. … Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), who sits on the Health and Human Services Committee, [said] ‘My view is it’s time for the governor and the department to think this matters and resolve it, and bring us a recommendation.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fiTQoa
SETTLEMENT: via an MDHR press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) today announced a settlement agreement with Pine City Public Schools after finding multiple students repeatedly bullied and harassed a seventh grader because of her race. Pine City Public Schools violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act by failing to timely and appropriately stop the racial harassment. … MDHR reached a settlement agreement with Pine City Public Schools requiring the district to pay the student $65,000. Pine City Public Schools must also make changes to its policies and procedures to prevent future discrimination and harassment. … MDHR will monitor the school district’s compliance with the settlement agreement through the 2025- 2026 school year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gbTscy
PERMITTING REFORM FOR RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRIES: Jobs for Minnesotans is committed to advancing responsible industrial projects through a predictable, timely and transparent permitting process. Broad permitting reform for all responsible industries is essential to strengthening Minnesota’s communities and advancing our state’s clean energy future. (SPONSORED: Jobs for Minnesotans)
USPS: via a Sen. Tina Smith press release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) sent a letter pressing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for answers on recent mail delays across Minnesota, particularly in the Rochester area. The follow-up comes after both Senators led the entire Minnesota and North Dakota Congressional delegations in a bipartisan letter pressing the Postmaster General to improve service.” KLOBUCHAR: “We have heard reports of mail being delayed for four days or more in Rochester. … DeJoy [must] address these issues, ensuring that Rochester and the rest of Minnesota’s residents receive reliable service.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3VEwMcz
FARM RELIEF: via a Rep. Angie Craig press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative Angie Craig led members of the Minnesota delegation in urging Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to include disaster relief for Minnesota farmers in end-of-year legislation. In recent years, Minnesota has faced extreme weather patterns like droughts and flooding, leaving farmers struggling to break even. USDA’s 2024 Farm Sector Income Forecast reports that Minnesota farmers are looking to see crop yields decrease by 10%. In addition, family farmers have seen rising production costs and low prices for crops over this time period.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3OWeekt
HAZING: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced their Stop Campus Hazing Act to improve the reporting and prevention of hazing on college campuses has passed the U.S. Senate. This bipartisan legislation would require colleges to include hazing incidents in their annual campus safety report and establish a campus-wide, research-based program to educate students about the dangers of hazing. In addition, the bill would increase transparency and accountability by providing parents and students with better information about a student organization’s history of hazing incidents. … The [bill] is cosponsored by Senators [including] Tina Smith (D-MN).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Bn6J2R
MOVE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Ramsey County manager Ling Becker has named Maria Sarabia as chief of staff, with her role beginning the first week of January. … Sarabia currently serves as assistant commissioner of the Health Improvement Bureau for the state department of health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BzIFK0
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session in January. Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Bicyclists voiced concerns and shared ideas with city employees during the first of two open house-style information sessions on bike route changes through downtown Rochester on Thursday. … The event comes as cyclists are already using alternate routes with the partial closure of Fourth Avenue Southwest (for that, First Avenue Southwest is designated as a detour route) and ahead of various road closures in downtown Rochester as Mayo Clinic's ‘Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Rochester’ expansion proceeds over the next few years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4g3nGhP
LAKE ELMO: via a Sen. Tina Smith press release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN)…sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELP), an Illinois-based corporation, expressing deep concern over the company’s mistreatment of residents in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Her letter comes following extensive reporting that residents of Cimarron Park, which is owned by ELP, are being priced out by egregious rent increases, dealing with hostile management and suffering under unfair rules that make selling or moving into a new home more difficult.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3BqyEil
ST CLOUD: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “The St. Cloud City Council meets at 6 p.m. Monday [for its] final meeting in 2024. … Agenda items of note [include] approval of the 2025 Enterprise Budget funds totaling $56.3 million, including water, wastewater, hydroelectric and other utility services. The fund includes the Municipal Athletic Complex and River's Edge Convention Center.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ffBepa
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are 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, Rookie; 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/3O2nzH0 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
MSU: via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative Brad Finstad (R-MN) is calling for Minnesota State University-Mankato to fire a professor after a recent social media post concerning the killing of United Healthcare’s CEO. Rep. Finstad posted on X saying the professor should be forced to resign after allegedly posting on Facebook asking, ‘how long do we really need to look for Brian Thompson’s killer?’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gb1ceS
UNITEDHEALTH: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “In a note he was carrying when he was arrested, Luigi Mangione paints himself as a man radicalized by statistics. ‘The US has the #1 most expensive health care system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy,’ wrote the alleged killer of Brian Thompson, the late CEO of Eden-Prairie-based UnitedHealthcare. ‘United is the [indecipherable] largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but [has] our life expectancy?’ Mangione is a scion of a rich, connected Maryland real estate family who recently withdrew from friends and family following severe medical issues. The numbers he cites are, in broad strokes, accurate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OTrq9J
THEDAILYAGENDA: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in your inbox and on our new website, The Daily Agenda. If you love morning take, sign up for the other Fluence tip sheets and share our web content with your friends. SIGNUP: https://fluence-media.co/4eZwLa7
TODAY: The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will meet at 8:00 a.m. Friday.
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz has no public events scheduled.
SUNDAY: via a Senate DFL advisory, VERBATIM: “Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL- St. Paul) will hold a community gathering to hear from her constituents on issues and current events prior [to] the next state legislative session in January. The gathering will take place on Sunday, December 15 at 3:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church [in] St. Paul.”
MONDAY: via an MDH advisory, VERBATIM: “Officials will mark the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (signed into law on Dec. 16, 1974), by sharing highlights of a new Drinking Water Action Plan and the Lead Service Line Replacement Program.” The event is at 10:00 a.m.
JAN 21: via Minneapolis Chamber, VERBATIM: “Join us for a moderated discussion with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as they address their 2025 priorities, what challenges lie ahead for our cities, and how businesses can support and promote the Twin Cities region. This annual [Breakfast with the Mayors] event will be hosted by the University of St. Thomas.” The event is at 7:15 a.m.
BDAYS: GOP stalwart Tad Jude, attorney Tom Foley, developer Robb Bader, operative Nick Sherlock, comms pro Jeremy Drucker, labor advocate Kelly Connolly. SAT: leader Scott Peterson, Trump staffer Jacob Schneider, economist Art Rolnick, MPR Host Nina Moini, retiree Nancy Hylden, SUN: St. Paul’s finest Rich Ginsberg, advocate Sia Her, lobbyist Nick Zerwas
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