HALFWAY WEDNESDAY
Wild win in OT. Frost play Montreal tonight. Wolves play Dallas.
Wordle in 3.
A great tribute with David La Vaque last night at the BSM-Jefferson game. La Vaque a long time preps reporter and high school hockey historian is suffering from a disabiling genetic disease.
An attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar and the blocking of the deportation of the 5-year old lead today’s fire hose of news. President Trump continues to soften his comments on ICE in Minnesota and promised a “big investigation”.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar will be on WCCO Radio at 7:30 this morning.
Clearly we need more love more in our country, we need more kids. U.S. population grew by only 0.5% from July 2024 to July 2025. Births and deaths were stable, but immigration was cut in half. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/4q8Uo5J
CNN will host a live “town hall” tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Minneapolis. Mayor Jacob Frey will attend. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/467PCOx
From Minneapolis to Canada to Finland, nearly 50 cities are holding Alex Pretti memorial bike rides. WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/3ZA24CW
The Economist finds that 55% of Americans say they have little confidence in ICE, an increase of 10 points since December. A 51% majority think ICE’s funding should be decreased, while 28% want it increased. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4t368JD
Happy Blueberry Pancake Day!
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Today’s morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ZCj2k9
The MNSider Brief: With Michele Tafoya’s entrance into the US Senate race, the latest analysis for premium subscribers came out Friday. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/3NEy8Di
Sunday Take covered the impact of Alex Pretti’s killing and ICE activity in Greater Minnesota with Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar). LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Zxvvpi
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com ? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
THE FEED
A full strength legislature after yesterday’s special elections in House Districts 47A and 64A saw DFLers Shelley Buck and Meg Luger-Nikolai emerge victorious. Buck ran unopposed in 47A and Luger-Nikolai defeated Republican Dan Walsh in 64A. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/3ZAI4QD
OMAR: via The Hill, VERBATIM: “A man was tackled to the ground after spraying Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) with an unknown substance during a town hall. … A livestream of the incident showed the man standing and yelling at Omar, who was at the podium and calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign. QUOTE: “Here’s the reality that people like this ugly man don’t understand: We are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3O89B9C
MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Police Department said it was working the event and took the man into custody after the incident. He was booked into Hennepin County Jail for third-degree assault. Police said that Omar was not injured.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4q2nsvq
MORE: C-SPAN has footage of the attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar from multiple angles. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45z5Ikb
TRUMP: via AP News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump said Tuesday a ‘big investigation’ was underway into the killing of protester and ICU nurse Alex Pretti. … ‘We view that as a very unfortunate incident, OK?’ Trump said as he greeted diners Tuesday in a Des Moines-area restaurant, adding that everyone, ‘unless you’re a stupid person,’ viewed it that way. In comments that were likely to further irritate Second Amendment supporters, he said [of Pretti]: ‘I don’t like that he had a gun.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3McnvqJ
MORE: Pres. Donald Trump told Fox News that he sent his “border czar” Tom Homan to Minnesota because “we’re going to de-escalate a little bit.” He added that Homan “gets along” with state-level officials, even Democratic ones. As for Border Patrol’s Greg Bovino, who was removed from Minnesota, Trump said he is “very good,” but “he’s a pretty out-there kind of a guy,” so “maybe it wasn’t good here” in Minnesota. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4t2xfUX
HOMAN: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and MPD Chief Brian O’Hara both met with Trump Administration “border czar” Tom Homan yesterday following his meeting with Gov. Tim Walz. Via AP News, VERBATIM: “Frey told [Homan] that the city will not enforce federal immigration laws, and he asked that the immigration enforcement surge ‘come to an end as quickly as possible.’” FREY: “I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers. … [We’ll] remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49YPuBZ
The right-aligned X crowd is trying to amplify elected officals involved in Signal chats that organized protests and interference with ICE operations in Minnesota. It hasn’t been a secret, and a sign that organizing is a strength of the DFL. The question if they used public resources – if so, that’s worth investigating, including whether state employees were on state time when they were involved.
That said, it should not surprise anyone that DFLers organized against the ICE surge. It’s probably the clearest example of the political struggle that both sides believe they must fight.
A new level of insight and information….
Fluence Media introduces more - Insider Analysis & Insight from TheDailyAgenda.com
Regular deep-dive political analysis and breaking news
Monthly insight-filled briefing memo on Minnesota and Midwest economy
Early access to our Fluence Forum audio and video assets.
A morning take mug
STATE OF STATE
GOP: via the Washington Post, VERBATIM: “The growing number of Republicans challenging the Trump administration’s handling of the Alex Pretti killing reflects a potentially significant shift in the dynamics of the Trump presidency, as GOP officials who have almost uniformly supported the president are sparking an unusual backlash over his signature issue of immigration… Perhaps the sharpest comment has come from Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin), who like other Republicans stressed that illegal immigration is a serious problem that must be addressed. He also called Pretti’s death a “murder.” GROTHMAN: “The video looks pretty damning. Obviously we have to wait to get all the videos in before we make a final conclusion,” Grothman told Spectrum News. He added, “In the future, the Department of Homeland Security is going to have to do a better job of educating their people to make sure this sort of murder doesn’t result.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a2a9oO
MN GOP: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Republicans saw a path back to statewide victory just a few weeks ago, as snowballing allegations of fraud in the state’s welfare programs put Democrats on the defensive and prompted a two-term governor to abandon his re-election bid. That momentum quickly evaporated. … Republicans are now dealing with the [ICE] fallout, having to explain if they support the aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that have shaken their state instead of hammering Democrats on fraud. … ‘[But] ten months away is a lifetime in politics,’ said GOP state Sen. Jim Abeler, who argued ‘the jury is still out’ on his party’s chances in the fall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Oal8oQ
VOTER ROLLS: Republican Tad Jude, candidate for secretary of state, issued a statement calling on Minnesota officials to comply with the Dept. of Justice’s demand for access to state voter data. JUDE: “Minnesota should welcome the DOJ’s voter roll review because clean voter rolls don’t fear verification. … I’m running to make Minnesota the gold standard for election integrity at every level of government. That starts with clean voter rolls, real accountability, and leadership that doesn’t run from scrutiny. It’s time to comply with the DOJ review and prove Minnesota has nothing to hide.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ahiruq
POPULATION: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota gained more residents from other states than it lost to them in 2025, the first time that’s happened in seven years. … But the state grew more slowly last year than it did in 2024, chiefly due to a sharp decline in international migration. … Overall, Minnesota experienced a net gain of 33,000 people in 2025, a 0.6% increase. … While overall movement between states is slowing nationally, Minnesota experienced its first gain in so-called domestic migration since 2018. The state attracted 8,300 more people from other parts of the U.S. than it lost to them. … Minnesota [is] performing in line with multiple national population trends.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rn7y02
SD21: Lincoln County farmer Krist Wollum is running for the Senate District 21 seat. Via his announcement, his top priorities are rural issues, deregulation, public safety and veteran support. WOLLUM: “I am running because I believe I can provide leadership that listens. … Senator [Bill] Weber has done a wonderful job leading this district. If elected, I will continue to implement practical solutions, transparent leadership and common sense for the people of this area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pYX5qb
CONSULATE: via Axios, VERBATIM: “An ICE agent on Tuesday attempted to forcibly enter Ecuador’s consulate in Minneapolis, according to the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. Federal agents, under international law, are generally not allowed to enter an embassy or consulate without permission. … Consular staff prevented the officer from entering the premises and activated emergency protocols. A note of protest was ‘immediately’ submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, asking that similar acts not be repeated at any offices in the country.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k7uqOy
ICE DIRECTOR: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A judge’s order directing the head of [ICE] to appear in Minnesota court is now moot after the man at the center of the case was released from custody. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz filed his order to ICE’s acting director Todd Lyons on Monday over his agency’s failure to comply with judicial orders. The order [concerns] the arrest of an Ecuadorian citizen. … On Tuesday afternoon, federal immigration authorities released the man. … Schlitz’s order stipulated that if the petitioner was released before a Friday hearing, Lyons would no longer be required to appear [in Minnesota].” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bVIb0w
COOPERATION: Asked on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” if the Trump Administration’s change in tone has led to more cooperation between state and federal officials, Attorney General Keith Ellison said no. ELLISON: “Not that I’ve seen so far. … What the federal government has done is said, ‘Well, if you don’t do it our way, we’re going to saturate your state with 4,000 ICE agents until you cry uncle and obey.’ And that’s unconstitutional.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3M3lJbg
DC DYNAMICS
WHITE HOUSE: via Axios, VERBATIM: “Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is under fire for issuing misleading and incendiary information that claimed immigration agents killed an armed Minnesota protestor Saturday because he wanted to ‘massacre’ them. That language has become a source of controversy in the Trump Administration — White House officials are now blaming Customs and Border Patrol for furnishing inaccurate information, while others are targeting Stephen Miller. … Despite rumors to the contrary, Noem’s job is safe, White House officials say. ‘She’s doing the job the president wants her to do,’ one official said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q4uqjA
MORE: via Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “After the shooting, [Donald] Trump decided to change course…[and] take sides — for now — in a simmering debate that has been playing out quietly in the administration. Over the past year, Trump’s more hard-line aides, including [Kristi] Noem and her top adviser Corey Lewandowski, have pushed for missions that include roving patrols doing street sweeps in large liberal cities. [Tom] Homan and others have favored a more methodical, but slower approach to go after immigrants with criminal histories or final deportation orders.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qGCY1b
IMPEACHMENT: via USA Today, VERBATIM: “A growing chorus of Democrats is calling for the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. While the odds of her removal remain long in the GOP-controlled Congress, the shift underscores the serious nature of an ongoing political crisis since the fatal shooting in Minnesota. … More than two-thirds of Democrats in the House now support impeaching Noem. … An impeachment resolution against Noem has picked up steam [and] now has nearly 150 cosponsors.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZzPkw6
MORE: Gov. Tim Walz expressed support yesterday for ousting Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem during a Meidas Touch interview. WALZ: “I think Kristi Noem probably should go back to South Dakota, not have any dogs, and just kind of ride things out.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4btn8T7
OVERSIGHT: via Rep. Kelly Morrison advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) joined a dozen members of Congress represented by Democracy Forward and American Oversight in filing an amended complaint and emergency motion today seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to restore their right and duty to conduct oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. … The filing adds [Morrison] as a plaintiff in the case.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q6CSPo
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)
INVESTIGATIONS
PRETTI: via MS NOW, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s Justice Department has decided there will be no civil rights investigation of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. Instead, two units of the Department of Homeland Security will investigate their officers and the man they killed. … A Customs and Border Protection office will investigate whether its own officers followed agency policy. … Homeland Security Investigations will investigate whether Pretti broke any laws. … The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension [said] federal agents are not sharing information from any probe the federal government has launched, nor has the BCA been given access to any evidence.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k2H6pP
MORE: via AP News, VERBATIM: “Two federal officers fired shots during an encounter that killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, a Customs and Border Protection official told Congress in a notice sent Tuesday. The notice said one Border Patrol officer fired his Glock and a CBP officer fired his.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NP6P99
EVIDENCE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Federal defendants object to allowing Minnesota agencies to examine the [Alex Pretti] evidence, said Friedrich A. P. Siekert with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. … But Siekert said that evidence would eventually be available to the state and public after the federal investigation concludes. … The dispute suggests state officials and the public don’t trust their federal government to investigate its own agents’ conduct during Operation Metro Surge, and puts on display the federal government’s unwillingness to do so.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bhGLNM
DATABASE: via CNN, VERBATIM: “Federal immigration officers have been collecting personal information about protesters and agitators in Minneapolis, sources told CNN – and had documented details about Alex Pretti before he was shot. … It is unclear how Pretti first came to the attention of federal authorities, but sources told CNN that about a week before his death, he suffered a broken rib when a group of federal officers tackled him while he was protesting their attempt to detain other individuals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qGQIsP
5-YEAR-OLD: via CBS News, VERBATIM: “A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily barred federal immigration officials from deporting 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father or transferring them away from the Texas region where they’re currently held. Liam and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Ramos, were taken into custody in Minnesota earlier this month. … The government could not immediately deport Liam and his father because they have pending immigration court cases that have not been fully adjudicated.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k755o3
ACROSS MN
DULUTH: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Democratic state lawmakers from the Duluth area say the ongoing federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota is having a profound impact on their constituents, even as enforcement activities have been relatively limited in the region. … Rep. Liish Kozlowski [said] Democratic lawmakers plan to unveil a slew of proposals at the state capitol Thursday…including a statewide eviction moratorium with rental assistance, grants to help support businesses owned by immigrants and people of color and prohibitions on federal agents wearing masks in the state and switching license plates.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a1Oz44
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “As elected officials and other speakers strode to the podium Monday, nearly all of them had a story to tell, either shared with them or experienced first-hand, of a harrowing encounter with federal border agents within the Rochester community. … State Rep. Kim Hicks, DFL-Rochester, described observing a young man from Rochester taken by a team of ICE agents in a parking lot. … Hicks said the young man was born in Rochester and graduated from high school here. Hicks said she asked the agents what they were doing, [but] the agents drove off with the young man. A half hour later, the agents returned. The young man was no longer with them — he had been dropped off somewhere else. As they drove by, they flipped Hicks off.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rhTJ2J
BRAINERD: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Federal agents arrested four people at a Mexican restaurant in Brainerd [this week], with local sheriff’s deputies assisting the operation. … The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement after receiving numerous reports of ‘ICE activity,’ saying that it was asked to assist members of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations ‘with the execution of two federal arrest warrants in downtown Brainerd.’ … No information has been released about the nature of the arrest warrants, nor why the other two people were arrested.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q4eUUX
WINONA CTY: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Winona County said a ransomware attack recently hit its computer network. … The county says it’s working with third-party cybersecurity and data forensics experts, as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement. Despite the cyberattack, the county says emergency services and response, including 911 and the fire department, remain operational. The Winona County Board Chair signed a declaration of local emergency.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4boighU
FORWARD
TODAY: In the court case seeking the end of Operation Metro Surge, the federal government has until 6:00 p.m. today to submit a supplemental brief responding to accusations from the state that they are “punishing” Minnesota.
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will interview candidates for a vacancy in the Eighth Judicial District.
TODAY: via news advisory, VERBATIM: “Wednesday, January 28 at noon, local and state elected officials in Minneapolis will provide collaborative community updates for the public. House DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long, Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, and Sen. Omar Fateh will join the briefing to discuss their planned legislation to provide a new cause of action in state courts, giving Minnesotans a pathway to seek justice when officials violate their constitutional rights. Minneapolis City Councilmember Aurin Chowdhury and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty will also provide updates for the community.”
TOMORROW: The Senate subcommittee on federal impacts will hold a hearing discussing “the impacts of ICE actions on Minnesotans” at 10:00 a.m.
TOMORROW: Gov. Tim Walz and Sec. Steve Simon will be keynote speakers at the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association luncheon. The event is at 12:00 noon.
FRIDAY: via DEED advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) is delighted to invite you to join Governor Tim Walz, Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen at a luncheon event to honor this year’s recipients of the Governor’s International Trade Awards.”
FEB 3: Precinct caucuses to decide on party-endorsed candidates will begin Tuesday, Feb. 3.
BDAYS: lobbyist Andrew Chelseth, Initiative Foundation’s Anne Trombley, Hamline’s David Schultz
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.
SPONSORS: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.
Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.