HIGH TEMPO TUESDAY
Twolves at Portland tonight. Wild back in action Thursday.
Minnesota won more medals in the Winter Olympics than any other US state — 10 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4aWlRCa
This iconic photo was taken by a Brainerd native – Elsa Haasch for Getty Images.
NBC says Minneapolis was the 2nd best Winter Olympics ratings market, with Milwaukee just barely in 1st. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4azPB8V
CNN finds that Donald Trump’s approval with independents hit a new low at 26% ahead of the State of the Union — a 15-point drop in one year. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/3Oynbn1
The next MNSider Fluence Brief will be “Jacob Frey’s Political Future”, published before tomorrow morning.
The gold medal winning US Women’s team declined an invite to the State of the Union tonight.
Happy National Tortilla Chip Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
CORRECTION: Sen. Tina Smith will attend MoveOn’s “People’s State of the Union” event tonight. Yesterday’s morning take listed the wrong rebuttal event on her schedule.
Sunday Take dug into Minnesota’s housing situation with DFL Rep. Esther Agbaje and James Vagle, CEO of First Housing. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cImGAP
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker. https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
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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/
STATE OF …
POLL: via Lumaris Research, VERBATIM: ”Nearly six in 10 Minnesota adults (58%) say the state is headed in the wrong direction, while just 19% say things are on the right track, according to a Minnesota Community Survey of 1,072 adults conducted by Lumaris Research from Jan. 22 to Feb. 12, 2026…Not a single demographic group in our survey is net positive on Minnesota’s direction, and neither party can muster much optimism.”
MORE: “Six in 10 suburban residents say the state is headed in the wrong direction. That’s notable given that suburban voters are often seen as the state’s political bellwether. “ READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cLlQ6l
AI: via news release this morning via the left-leaning Northstar Policy Institute, VERBATIM: “A new report from North Star Policy Action and the University of St. Thomas finds that over 800,000 Minnesota workers, roughly one-third of the state’s workforce, are in jobs with high exposure to Generative AI (GenAI)…In recent national testing, experts found AI-generated reports matched or outperformed industry professionals in nearly 50% of cases. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of U.S. companies now use AI, and more than 70% use Generative AI, up from just 33% in 2023.
Key Findings:
One in three Minnesota workers face high GenAI exposure
Minnesota workers have the highest GenAI exposure in the Midwest and the 10th-highest nationally
Women and workers in low-union occupations face greater GenAI exposure
AI is increasingly used for electronic surveillance and algorithmic hiring and firing, affecting workers across sectors.
Here is a copy. REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4aM4mnQ
GUNS: At 9AM, Governor Tim Walz will announce a comprehensive gun violence prevention package.
SECURITY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “In their first week back in St. Paul, DFL legislators proposed measures that are in direct response to the June assassination of former House Leader Melissa Hortman and the attempted slaying of state Sen. John Hoffman…The proposals could present a rare opportunity for bipartisanship in the narrowly divided Legislature, with bills seeking to make legislators’ home addresses, personal phone numbers and children’s names private data and to require law enforcement agencies to develop safety protocols for elected officials…DFLers are also proposing tougher criminal penalties for people who impersonate police officers, and rules requiring the removal of equipment and decals from decommissioned emergency vehicles that are sold to the public.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MpisDG
TODAY: Pres. Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address will begin at 8:00 p.m. central. Tomorrow’s morning take will feature coverage and reactions from Minnesota.
TODAY: DFL Reps. Angie Craig, Betty McCollum and Ilhan Omar will host a press conference ahead of the State of the Union at 9:00 a.m. central. The conference can be watched on McCollum’s official YouTube channel. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4aMordx
GUESTS: The final batch of State of the Union guests for Minnesota’s congressional delegation are below. Read yesterday’s morning take and lunch take to see the rest. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3MOv47f https://fluence-media.co/4aLt9bB
DFL Rep. Angie Craig’s guest is Angel Silva, a Rosemount resident and the son of a woman who self-deported after ICE detained her at her immigration hearing.
GOP Rep. Michelle Fischbach’s guest is Dan Glessing, president of Minnesota Farm Bureau.
DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s guest is Sean Syverson, owner of Swing Barrel Brewing in Moorhead.
DFL Rep. Ilhan Omar announced the names and occupations of her four guests: software engineer Aliya Rahman; Columbia Heights School Board Chair Mary Granlund; detained U.S. citizen Mubashir Hussen; and workers rights organizer Gerardo Orozco Guzman.
REBUTTAL: DFL Sen. Tina Smith will bring Brenda Lewis, superintendent of Fridley Public Schools, to the “People’s State of the Union” rebuttal event organized by MoveOn. Smith and Lewis will both speak at the event around 7:30 p.m. central. SMITH: “Brenda is an incredible example of how Minnesotans have organized and cared for their neighbors in the face of a violent federal police force. … I’ve been to Donald Trump’s State of the Union addresses, and I don’t need to do it again.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/4qRqlzO
MORE: Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis spoke to MPR about ICE’s impact on her district. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aJ0SlX
A new level of insight and information….
The MNSider Brief: State of the Governor’s race – READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r3ACtF
MNLEG
Lots of bears in the new caucus… via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Freedom Caucus announced its formation Monday. Republican State Senator Eric Lucero is the first chairman of the group that they say will focus on conservative issues. … The Caucus House leader is GOP State Representative Drew Roach. … The nine founding members of the Caucus [are] all men, [but] Lucero does add that the caucus will ultimately include ‘authentic women, and not men pretending to be women.’” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3MoIJC4
FRAUD: Via KARE 11’s Lou Raguse, some “crazy details” were revealed at the House fraud prevention committee’s hearing yesterday concerning alleged fraud at Minnesota autism centers. VERBATIM: “State workers were not legally allowed to make unannounced site visits because the autism centers were not required to be licensed. Now that licensing is required, only 6 of the 500 autism centers have applied so far.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/40r06oZ
DISCLOSURES: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Current statute permits the Human Services and Children, Youth, and Families departments to disclose an investigation into ‘possible overpayments [or] withholding of payments…if the commissioner determines that it will not compromise the investigation.’ Rep. Walter Hudson (R-Albertville) sponsors HF3542 to require disclosure of such an investigation within 30 days of a request. … The House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee approved the bill Monday via voice vote and sent it to the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qTROAK
PHONE BAN: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “A new bill in Minnesota could lead to a statewide ban on cell phones and smart watches in schools through eighth grade, with restrictions in high school classrooms. Parents, teachers, and school administrators are worried about the impact of cell phones on students’ attention. … The bill has bipartisan support, but faces opposition from some educators and school boards. … Some educators believe that local policies allow for more robust community discussions and tailored solutions.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rChnaS
SPEEDING: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Last year, the state expanded its ignition interlock system, which allows people convicted of driving while impaired to get back on the road if they pass a breathalyzer test each time. … Rep. Larry Kraft (DFL-St. Louis Park) [said] a similar program could be created to put the brakes on habitual speeders. … HF3429 would create such a program. On Monday, the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee approved the bill, as amended, and sent it to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cK4ff4
SUPPORT RURAL HEALTH CARE BY STRENGTHENING 340B: Policymakers have an opportunity to support rural care providers by strengthening the 340B Drug Pricing Program – a program designed to support health care facilities that provide a high level of services to low-income, underserved communities. Savings from those discounts are used to reinvest in care and stretch limited resources further for patients. To prevent these savings from moving to drug manufacturers’ bottom lines, we need to extend and strengthen the 340B program. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4s0oGc4 (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
1ST RESPONDERS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “HF2526, sponsored by Rep. Bidal Duran (R-Bemidji), seeks to clarify what services can be provided to first responders, thereby increasing access to mental health support by creating two new exceptions to the gift-giving prohibition: mental health services [and] meals or events organized by a nonprofit specifically designed to provide comfort. … DFLers worried over the definition of who could receive this gift.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aIXZ4E
MEDICAID: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “On Monday morning, Human Services Commissioner Shareen Gandhi testified in the Fraud Prevention and State Agency Policy Oversight Committee. She says the state’s Medicaid program is under attack after the [federal] agency made a decision to withhold $2 billion in funding for Minnesota.” GANDHI: “This type of withhold is unprecedented. … We are appealing the decision, and on January 30th submitted a revised plan that incorporates CMS’s recommendations and goes above and beyond strengthening programs, reducing risk, and improving our ability to detect and stop fraud more quickly.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4aOLS6b
OPIOIDS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A bill that would prohibit prior authorization and step therapy for any drug used in the treatment of opioid use disorder, sponsored by Rep. Anquam Mahamoud (DFL-Mpls), [was] laid over Monday by the House Health Finance and Policy Committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46WhgOV
GUNS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Families of the Annunciation Catholic School community will hold sing-in ceremonies and other Capitol demonstrations this week to press for tighter restrictions on guns. The calls come after an August shooting. … Lawmakers plan to take up proposals to ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, as well as boosting state funds for mental health services and school safety measures this week. Annunciation families will also install school desks outside the Capitol building to represent the more than 200 Minnesota children killed by gun violence since 2021.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40r5to5
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)
JUSTICE
CONTEMPT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s federal judiciary has issued another civil contempt finding against the U.S. government tied to violations of orders in immigration cases. … U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud found the Trump Administration in civil contempt for transferring an immigrant to Texas and releasing him without his belongings in late January. By issuing the contempt finding, Tostrud sided with attorneys for Fernando Gutierrez Torres. … Tostrud ordered the U.S. government to pay $568.29 — what Gutierrez Torres’ lawyer had paid for his plane ticket back to Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/479qiYW
COURTS: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Immigration arrests in Minnesota appear to be on the decline, with a notable drop in habeas filings in the last week. The number of habeas filings, which are constitutional challenges by immigrants against unlawful arrest or detention, had surged with about 1,000 cases filed in Minnesota’s federal court system since Dec. 1. … [But] cases dropped significantly last week [with] 46 habeas cases filed.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4c6XNP2
COOPERATION: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Border czar Tom Homan ended Operation Metro Surge without clear signs of the ‘significant’ cooperation that he [claimed]. … There have been no widespread policy changes at the state or local level to help [ICE]. Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt made it clear they did not capitulate in exchange for a drawdown. Homan has not provided details on what changed in Minnesota in order for him to end the surge.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MVxIZ3
CLERGY: via Groundwork Legal, VERBATIM: “Today, Groundwork Legal and Saul Ewing filed a lawsuit against the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security, for unlawfully barring faith leaders from providing pastoral care to Minnesotans detained at the Whipple Federal Building. The lawsuit asserts that ICE’s ongoing refusal to allow faith leaders to meet with Minnesotans detained at the Whipple Federal Building violates the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and requests that the court grant immediate relief so faith leaders can provide pastoral care to detainees.” LAWSUIT: https://fluence-media.co/4rxZUQG
HEARING: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A former ICE teacher at a Georgia training center told congressional Democrats on Feb. 23 that new agents are trained to run roughshod over constitutional rights, including the right against a home invasion, and that the federal agency is ‘broken.’ Ryan Schwank, who resigned from Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Feb. 13, told the forum that ICE is training new agents to violate Fourth Amendment protections. … Sen. Amy Klobuchar [then] asked Schwank to go over what programs had been skipped or condensed, noting, ‘It’s been my constituents that have been dragged out of their homes.’ … The DHS on Monday denied his allegations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aPUn0S
STATE STUFF
PAID LEAVE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is in its second full month of a sweeping new paid leave policy that impacts almost all residents. Program director Greg Norfleet gave an update Monday on how things are going.” NORFLEET: “The rollout of paid leave came in $70 million under budget, and the extra money is going back into the pool of money used to pay claims. … The majority of the applications have been for bonding, but since January, we have seen an uptick in the number of applications for medical leave.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/46orBDf
MEETINGS: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that the United States Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to Minnesota’s ban on captive audience meetings, leaving in place the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit dismissing the lawsuit. … [The law] protects employees from retaliation if they decline to attend employer-sponsored meetings intended to promote the employer’s political or religious views, or views on union organizing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40cZh3f
via Fox 9, Gov. Tim Walz news availability yesterday. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OZC2qH
DHS: Republican leadership responded to the news, seen in yesterday’s lunch take, that Gov. Tim Walz has appointed temporary commissioner Shireen Gandhi to be the new permanent commissioner of the Dept. of Human Services. House Majority Leader Harry Niska was critical. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ry4pL7
NISKA: “For the past 13 months, [Gandhi] has served as interim commissioner as Minnesota’s fraud epidemic has made international news. … Promoting her sends the wrong message at a time when Minnesotans are demanding real accountability. … That’s not accountability. That’s failure rewarded.”
SCHOOLS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Some local districts, such as St. Paul Public Schools, are reporting a wave of students returning to classrooms. When SPPS first offered virtual learning in response to the ICE surge last month, it saw some 7,000 students sign up. Last Friday, that number had fallen by nearly half, to 3,800 virtual learners.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rCdwKS
WALLEYE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing to reduce the statewide walleye limit from six to four — a change the agency says aims to keep the fish’s population sustainable into the future. The DNR says Minnesota’s iconic state fish is not currently in crisis, but walleye are facing a number of complicating factors that could affect their long-term health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OuES73
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)
ACROSS MN
ANOKA: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A little more than a month after the last Northstar commuter train carried passengers from Minneapolis through the northern suburbs, property that served the defunct rail line is already slated for reinvention. In Anoka, that could include potentially repurposing the suburb’s Northstar station into a new Amtrak stop. The city is also selling a plot of land that had been a Northstar station parking lot to a developer for more than $1 million to build a four-story apartment building.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OXO3Nm
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “The administration of Rochester Public Schools has come to a tentative agreement with the district’s principals union following mediation. The two sides reached the tentative agreement [at] a closed session. However, they are not disclosing the details until the agreement comes before the Rochester School Board, which next meets on Tuesday, March 3. … The negotiations between the district and the union have been taking place against the backdrop of an upcoming deficit that will require RPS to cut more than $8 million from its budget for the coming year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aIWHqk
HIBBING: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “The union representing support staff at the Hibbing school district filed an intent to strike [about] a week after submitting an unfair labor practice charge against the school district due to an ongoing negotiations dispute. … Members of [the] union claim that the district has refused to recognize the tentative agreement reached during negotiations. The school district, however, has maintained that no such agreement exists.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cbs9A0
BRAINERD: via Brainerd Dispatch, VERBATIM: “With a contract signed, Chip Rankin is officially in position to start as superintendent of Brainerd Public Schools on July 1. The Brainerd School Board called an emergency meeting [last week] to approve Rankin’s contract so his current district, Minnewaska, could accept his resignation this week and begin its search for his replacement. The contract runs for three years. … The salary, Board Chair Sarah Speer noted, is higher than the range posted by the district when advertising for the position because Rankin will not be taking insurance benefits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tThH6o
WHAT’S NEXT
SESSION: No House floor session. No Senate floor session. HOUSE: State Govt. hears the OIG bill. The audit subcommittee hears an OLA presentation and report. Judiciary & Civil Law will hear bills restricting federal agents and allowing lawsuits against them. Education Finance hears multiple school safety bills. Energy hears new solar regulations. Public Safety hears gun control regulations, requirements to investigate use of force incidents, and increase penalties for impersonating police. SENATE: Commerce & Consumer Protection hears changes to cannabis testing. Elections will hear a requirement for candidates to satisfy all constitutional eligibility requirements. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/479bwBt
TODAY: The Office of the Legislative Auditor’s financial audit division will release an audit on “Minnesota State Faculty Payroll” at 8:30 a.m. with recommendations presented to the Legislative Audit Commission’s audit subcommittee, per a release.
TODAY: The Minneapolis Fed is hosting a virtual event tomorrow to share results from its latest survey of businesses covering the economic climate of Q4 2025 and expectations for Q1 2026, per a release. The event is at 9:00 a.m. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/4kLwOec
TODAY: via MNLEG advisory, VERBATIM: “At 10:30 a.m., Representative Larry Kraft will join Senator Rob Kupec and advocates to highlight their plug-in solar and other affordable energy legislation prior to their first House Committee hearing. This legislation provides inexpensive, renewable energy options for Minnesotans, whether they own or rent.”
TODAY: Annunciation community members will hold a “Sing Together” event advocating for gun violence prevention in the Capitol Rotunda at 1:30 p.m.
TODAY: via MIRAC, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) will hold a rally at 6:00 p.m on Tuesday, February 24, in front of the Governor’s Mansion. … The event will call on leaders to declare Minnesota a sanctuary state, ban all 287(g) agreements, and prohibit county jails from sharing information with ICE.”
THURSDAY: Annunciation community members will hold a “Sing Together” event advocating for gun violence prevention in the Capitol Rotunda at 8:30 a.m.
FRIDAY: MMB Commissioner Erin Campbell will present Minnesota’s next Budget and Economic Forecast on Friday, Feb. 27 at 12:30 p.m.
NEXT WEEK: The Idaho Democratic Party will host Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin as keynote speakers for its Frank & Bethune Church Gala on Saturday, March 7 in Boise, ID.
BDAYS: reporter Jason Olson, attorney Fabian Hoffner, attorney Jonathan Fogel, comedian David Harris, MAC’s Allison Winters
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.