Semi-final Friday for HS Hockey.
Wild play Vancouver tonight. Today’s the NHL trade deadline.
Wolves at Miami.
Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, but a bill would end it in Minnesota. FOX: https://fluence-media.co/43nxUWH
President Donald Trump has granted another one-month tariff delay to most Canadian and Mexican imports. NPR: https://fluence-media.co/4iuRuoe
The latest poll by The Economist finds that voters oppose all of President Trump’s tariff plans except for his tariffs on China — 71% think tariffs will increase prices, including 56% of Republicans, and a 44% plurality said the economy is getting worse. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/41K0BvZ
Polling data site FiveThirtyEight has been shut down by ABC News. GUARDIAN: https://fluence-media.co/43pI1KA
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
Sen. Jordan Rasmusson (R-09) was on Sunday Take to discuss the upcoming state budget forecast, federal funding and impacts on the Health and Human Services budget. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ipEyjL
Sponsorships available – to reach over 25,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheet and website www.TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com
RESPONSIBLE GAMING: Legal sports betting platforms offer responsible game tools that offshore and illegal sports betting don’t offer. In fact, age verification is not required with most offshore providers. Learn more about why legalized sports betting is more responsible. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kgJoS4 (SPONSORED: Sports Betting Alliance)
BUDGET: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Thursday's release of the February economic forecast by the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget is likely to create more tension between state lawmakers in St. Paul. The new Minnesota budget forecast shows a $456 million surplus for 2026-2027. That number is $160 million lower than the November forecast. … Additionally, the department says the projected general fund [deficit] for the 2028-29 biennium is nearly $6 billion, or $852 million worse than November estimates. … WCCO Radio political analyst Blois Olson [said] there will be ramped up pressure on lawmakers.” OLSON: “The pressure on budgeting is going to be as tense as ever, especially when you think that the legislature is basically [in] a virtual tie and the governor is going to have to negotiate this with Republicans at the table, which he hasn't had to do for two years. … Agreeing on a budget is going to take months, and they have to get it done by June 30 to avoid a state government shutdown.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3QUmEtn
INFLATION: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Management and Budget said in its initial forecast summary that higher inflation is expected to result in increases in both projected revenues and expenditures. … Spending during the 2026-27 biennium [is] expected to increase by $790 million over November’s numbers, the largest increases coming in the areas of health and human services ($338 million) and E-12 education ($198 million). Discretionary inflation plays a large role in those projections, growing by $219 million. … Forecasters expect the labor market to remain tight, leading to wage growth, in part due to baby boomers leaving the workforce and fewer international workers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3F6doQp
CUTS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “These new projections could inform whether lawmakers opt to hold spending levels steady or propose cuts. There is already talk about canceling out programs that haven’t gotten off the ground but rely on a federal match, with Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy saying those items might be on the chopping block in Washington anyway. … Minnesota was expecting to receive $23 billion in this fiscal year. Budget officials said if even the most-conservative plans to reduce spending on the Medicaid program happen, that could shave $1 billion or more per year from the budget. … Minnesota’s ‘rainy day’ fund sits at an all-time high — around $3.5 billion. [Gov. Tim Walz] said he didn’t want to touch that pot of money; [it] can affect the cost of borrowing for long-term construction projects. But DFL leaders had said they were open to exploring the option, and they worry it could be needed if proposed cuts at the federal level take effect.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Xwk54t
DIVIDE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Republicans and DFLers [don’t] agree on what is causing the looming budget deficit…with Democrats blaming Donald Trump and Republicans blaming the budgets passed by the DFL trifecta. … Actions of the Trump Administration did contribute to the inflation forecast — mostly from tariffs that had been announced by Feb. 10 when the model was built. … [But] not factored in are any additional tariffs, the impact on the economy of increased federal job cuts, [or] the impact on the state budget of any cuts in money the feds send to states, especially for Medicaid. … DFLers called any future budget actions by the Trump Administration an assault on the economy and the state budget; Republicans dismissed them as speculative.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QMX8pZ
TARGETS: Via Axios’ Torey Van Oot, legislative leaders announced budget target dates for the 2025 session. House leaders expect to agree upon budget targets by April 1, while Senate leaders are planning for April 5. TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/41Gvhhv
ICYMI: The state budget forecast was extensively covered with reactions and analysis in yesterday’s lunch take. READ: https://fluence-media.co/41tMPvZ
FED JOBS: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced a new resource for federal employees who have recently lost their jobs or are facing employment uncertainty. Minnesota’s tight labor market continues to be a challenge for businesses looking to hire in Minnesota, with less than one person unemployed for every job opening available. … There are around 18,000 federal employees in Minnesota.” WALZ: “In Minnesota, we value the experience and expertise of federal workers, even if Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE do not. … If the Trump Administration turned you away, Minnesota wants you.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i8yvQz
MEDICAID: A report released yesterday by Democrats on the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee details how many people in each state would lose access to Medicaid if Republicans were to cut the program by one-third, as some GOP lawmakers have proposed. VERBATIM: “Medicaid covers nearly 1.2 million people in Minnesota, more than 15% of the people in the state. If the Republican budget cuts a third of federal Medicaid funding across all populations and geographies, Minnesota could see: 89,000 rural residents lose their health coverage; 130,000 children lose their health insurance; more than 1 in 6 seniors lose their nursing home care; [and] in total, nearly 400,000 people cut off from their health insurance.” REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/43nKBkj
MNSURE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Many Minnesotans have been able to afford health care coverage under MNsure after the Biden Administration increased Affordable Care Act subsidies. But that financial help is now in danger. … Subsidies lowered insurance premiums for policies purchased through MNsure for about 90,000 enrollees, [but] the money to renew those premium credits must be approved by Congress by the end of the year. … Elimination of the enhanced subsidies would increase the average premium of an individual whose premiums are subsidized by about $2,122 a year. … The end of increased ACA subsidies could also impact the 100,000 Minnesotans who receive access to medical care through MinnesotaCare.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i69OUV
CHAUVIN: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is responding to a call by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro for a federal pardon of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. … Ellison emphasized that even if the president was to pardon Chauvin for his federal conviction, the state convictions would remain.” ELLISON: “I hope that Donald Trump has enough humanity to recognize that releasing Derek Chauvin would cause untold injury to George Floyd's family and the many, many people who feel vulnerable because they share experiences like the one George Floyd experienced.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Xzb0YH
PAID LEAVE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “After DFL-majority Legislatures the past two years produced a slew of new regulations, Minnesota business leaders see this session as a chance to relax some of those controls. A top concern: rolling back paid family and medical leave. … With a power-sharing agreement in the House and a razor-thin DFL majority in the Senate, business leaders are optimistic the Legislature could scale back the law before its scheduled Jan. 1, 2026 implementation. LOON: ‘I’d like to get us back to a place where we’re going to have a right balance in policy so that we don’t put headwinds in front of the state’s economy,’ said Minnesota Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Doug Loon. ‘Right now, our data shows our economy’s not growing at the pace it should be.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DaZKLn
TRANS SPORTS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee approved a bill specifying that organizations fielding sports teams for women and girls can limit participation in those teams to only athletes born as females. In effect, HF1233 would carve out an exemption to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, allowing discrimination against transgender girls and women on sports teams. … Approved, as amended, on a 7-6 party-line vote, the bill was sent to the House floor. It is the second Republican attempt this week to limit who can play on sports teams.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3F9Tvbj
SELF DEFENSE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Legislation that would have allowed individuals to use force against an attacker without first trying to retreat failed to pass the Minnesota House on Thursday. The legislation, commonly known as a ‘stand your ground’ law, would repeal the state’s long-standing policy that someone who is threatened with possible bodily harm must try to retreat before using force against an aggressor. Stand your ground laws are widely criticized by gun violence prevention advocates who cite research that shows states with stand your ground policies have higher rates of homicide.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i2vlhk
CONSERVATION: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Prior to 2023, soil and water conservation districts were frequently praised around the State Capitol…but finding a funding source for them was an annual struggle. Then, a dedicated source at last emerged with soil and water conservation district aid, similar in structure to the kind of distributions sent by the state to counties and local governments. And now Rep. Liz Reyer (DFL-Eagan) is out to give their budgets a bump. She’s the sponsor of HF1066, which would increase the annual appropriation for soil and water conservation district aid from $12 million to $22 million. … The House Taxes Committee laid the bill over, as amended, for possible omnibus bill inclusion.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kvFbtD
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)
ST PAUL: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Three candidates are running to replace Mitra Jalali on the St. Paul City Council. … The Ward 4 seat will be filled by a special election that has yet to be scheduled but likely will be held this summer. Three candidates have filed to run for the seat: Molly Coleman, daughter of former Mayor Chris Coleman and a co-founder of the People’s Parity Project, a small progressive advocacy organization; Cole Hanson, former president of the Hamline-Midway Coalition and a public health educator with the University of Minnesota Extension; [and] Cristen Incitti, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DhYF4r
MORE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Variance requests proposed by the Ryan Cos. for a series of one-story buildings planned along St. Paul’s Ford Parkway in Highland Park edged closer on Wednesday to approval by default. … With three of the seven council members absent, [Saura] Jost said it was clear neither side had the four votes needed to change the outcome and officially deny or approve the appeal. … Under state law, a decision is required on zoning-related requests within 60 days of submission to the city, or it results in automatic approval. That deadline, said Jost, falls on March 17.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41JEZzD
IMMIGRATION: via States Newsroom, VERBATIM: “As the Trump Administration seeks more partners to help round up immigrants living in the United States illegally, some states and cities are eager to step up. … The number of state and local agencies planning ‘task force’ agreements with the feds to do street-level immigration enforcement has reached 121 departments in 12 states, [including] Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4h5D3pP
LAWSUIT: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The ACLU of Minnesota announced Wednesday that it is suing the Carver County Sheriff for illegally holding a non-citizen in custody for pick up from Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. According to the suit, Maikol Javier Suarez Varela was arrested on Jan. 5, 2025 in Chanhassen. Sheriff Jason Kamerud or others at the jail, reads the complaint, contacted ICE about Suarez Varela’s presence. The ACLU alleges that even though a bail payment was made for Suarez Varela, Carver County continued to hold him based on a detainer request from ICE, which is not the same as a court issued warrant.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FikwJn
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 Rep. Angie Craig post, CRAIG: “The USPS Office of Inspector of General’s report for the first quarter of 2025 is alarming – the Minnesota-North Dakota District’s performance decreased by 5.1% since last quarter and is 8% below the national target level. This is unacceptable, and I’m continuing to push USPS to do its job and restore reliable mail service to our communities.” TWEETS: https://fluence-media.co/4bu1OKS
FEED FRAUD: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Federal prosecutors revealed Thursday that Aimee Bock allegedly took $1.9 million from the federal government through Feeding Our Future. The amount is significantly less than many other co-defendants allegedly pocketed, but more than prosecutors previously revealed was associated with Bock. Bock allegedly stole federal food-aid money meant to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FlAFxJ
PIPELINE: via AP News, VERBATIM: “South Dakota’s governor signed a bill into law Thursday that bans the taking of private property for building carbon dioxide pipelines, a blow to a sprawling Midwest pipeline network that ethanol producers see as key for their future. The new law muddies the waters for Summit Carbon Solutions and its planned $8.9 billion, 2,500-mile (4,023-kilometer) pipeline. … Summit has approvals for routes in Iowa and North Dakota, a leg in Minnesota and the underground storage. … It isn’t clear how Summit would move forward with its project if it could not build in South Dakota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kq6iX3
TELEMEDICINE: via a Rep. Brad Finstad press release, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) [introduced] the bipartisan Rural Wellness Act to expand access to quality health care in rural communities by providing competitive grants for telemedicine projects, with an emphasis on projects focused on substance use disorder treatment. … The Rural Wellness Act would reauthorize USDA Rural Development's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2029, including a 17 percent set-aside for telemedicine projects that provide substance use disorder treatment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FbAKUY
CRYPTO: via a Rep. Tom Emmer press release, VERBATIM: “Today, Congressman and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-06) reintroduced his flagship legislation, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, to prevent unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that would undermine Americans’ privacy. … Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies, a CBDC is a digital form of sovereign currency that is designed and issued by a government and transacts on a digital ledger that that government controls.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Xwfjnz
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 this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
STILLWATER: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The Stillwater Area School District is restricting student access to two books after staff raised concerns over images and subject matter. The books, ‘Call Me Max’ and ‘Grandad's Pride,’ focus on transgender and gay themes. The school district says the books will be made available to students with their parents' permission.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4kwCvfi
WINONA: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Department of Defense has terminated a $1.1 million grant to Winona State University designed to promote civic engagement. A university spokesperson said the school was notified by the Pentagon on Feb. 28 that the award ‘no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.’ Awarded in August 2024 under the Biden Administration, the funding was intended to ‘foster civility, community dialogue, and ethical leadership’ through an initiative the university had dubbed the Civic Center. … Despite the loss of funding, WSU said it would assess the progress made to date with the Civic Center and explore possible ways to continue.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i8ZviT
OLMSTED CTY: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Olmsted County is hoping to expand the success of its $5 million soil health initiative to its southeast Minnesota neighbors. … Olmsted County Soil and Water Conservation District Soil Conservation Manager Skip Langer [said] ‘We have had some good success in Olmsted, and we’d like to see that move it out into the 11-county area.’ … While bills submitted by Sen. Liz Bolden, DFL-Rochester, and Rep. Steven Jacob, R-Altura, seek the needed funding, Langer said a tight state budget led Olmsted County staff to look for backup options. On Thursday, Olmsted County commissioners unanimously approved efforts to seek $9 million from the state’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3F5Zy0i
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: Wild About Reading SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
WEIGHT LOSS: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Minnesota lawmakers are renewing a push to require insurance coverage of anti-obesity drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. These life-changing drugs, known as GLP-1s, are helping millions of Americans shed pounds and lower their risk of more serious conditions like heart attacks and strokes. … [But] coverage mandates carry a high price tag because the federal Affordable Care Act dictates that states help cover private insurers' costs for mandates that go beyond what's required by federal law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41rWhju
McCOLLUM: Rep. Betty McCollum appeared on Canada’s CBC News to discuss how tariffs on Canadian imports could impact Minnesota and the Great Lakes Region. The full interview was shared on her official social media pages. QUOTE: “I have no idea what this president has in mind [for the future] because he’s out of his mind with these kinds of tariffs on Canada.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3DsBXXa
ELLISON: Last night, Attorney General Keith Ellison joined fellow attorneys general from Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon to host a town hall meeting in Phoenix, AZ. Per a release, the group discussed “the impact that Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s federal firings and funding freezes are having on the American people.” A recording of the forum is available to view online. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/43pDWq2
ALL THE TAKES: 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
SESSION: No House floor session. No Senate floor session. HOUSE: No committee meetings. SENATE: No committee meetings. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/4kpNG9D
MONDAY: via UnRestrict MN, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans from across the state will rally for reproductive health, rights, and justice at the State Capitol as part of the annual Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day hosted by UnRestrict Minnesota. Joined by state lawmakers from the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minnesotans will rally at the Capitol and speak with their legislators about [abortion].” The event is at 1:30 p.m.
MONDAY: via a COPAL advisory, VERBATIM: “COPAL is mobilizing Latines from across Minnesota for a Day at the Capitol — a day of celebration, advocacy, and direct action. This event is an opportunity for community members to engage with elected officials, make their voices heard, and push forward a legislative agenda that reflects the needs and dreams of our communities.” The event is at 10:00 a.m.
TUESDAY: The special election in House District 40B will be held on Tuesday, March 11. Voters will choose between DFLer David Gottfried and Republican Paul Wikstrom to decide whether the House is tied or under GOP control.
TUESDAY: via an MNOG advisory, VERBATIM: “To celebrate National Freedom of Information Week, Minnesotans for Open Government (MNOG) will honor two local champions of open government and present its 2025 legislative agenda at a press conference on Tuesday, March 11 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the State Capitol. … This year’s open government honorees are reporter Randy Furst…[and] Ramsey County District Court Judge Patrick Diamond.”
TUESDAY: via MN Assoc. of Townships, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s 1,776 townships will hold their annual meeting on Tuesday, March 11, [also] known as Township Day. … Residents of the townships will meet to voice their opinions about local issues with other township residents and also vote directly on their annual tax levy. … In addition, many of the state’s townships will hold their township officer elections on Tuesday’s Township Day.”
TUESDAY: via an Outfront MN advisory, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans Against Christian Nationalism is a grassroots coalition…promoting religious pluralism, defending the separation of church and state, and safeguarding the rights of all citizens. This kick-off event will feature ways in which you can get involved in the coalition.” The event is at 6:00 p.m. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/4imLRZu
WEDNESDAY: via an ELEFA advisory, VERBATIM: “Effective Law Enforcement For All (ELEFA) will host a public meeting on March 12 to share updates on our role as the independent evaluator of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights’ (MDHR) Settlement Agreement with the City of Minneapolis on police reform. Community members are invited to attend.” The event is at 6:00 p.m.
THURSDAY: via an LSP advisory, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will keynote the Land Stewardship Project’s Family Farm Breakfast at the Capitol on Thursday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at Christ Lutheran Church. … After the breakfast, participants will have an opportunity to meet with lawmakers and other public officials at the Capitol to discuss issues they are concerned about.”
APRIL 10: Citizens League will honor Peter Bell, former Metropolitan Council chair, and Sharon McMahon at the 2025 Civic Celebration. The annual Civic Celebration is an inspiring evening, gathering hundreds of Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds, parties and ideologies to celebrate our state’s enduring civic culture, leadership, and commitment to public service. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/3EKmNge (SPONSORED: Citizens League)
BDAYS: MNDOT’s Mike Dougherty, retired TPT producer Brendan Henahan. SAT: Insurance leader Aaron Cocking, lobbyist Jerry Seck, the one and only Billy Sushi. SUN: Commissioner Karla Bigham, WCCO’s Denny Long, Rep. Nathan Coulter, and a guy who tries to keep you informed throughout the day via newsletter
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