Lynx lose. Twins lose.
The NBA has approved the sale of the Timberwolves and Lynx to new ownership. DETAILS: http://fluence-media.co/4l0fOjJ
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman defeated Andrew Cuomo in the New York mayoral primary. NYT: https://fluence-media.co/440BJ4i
Minnesota flags will remain at half-staff until the sunset after Rep. Melissa Hortman’s funeral Saturday.
Bill Salisbury, a political reporter at the Pioneer Press from 1977 to 2015, has died at the age of 80. OBITUARY: http://fluence-media.co/3TLh7qt
U.S. intelligence now says the strikes on Iran only partially damaged its nuclear sites, but the Trump Administration says the intelligence is “wrong.” AP: http://fluence-media.co/3HVfRys
An Axios poll finds that 81% of U.S adults want age limits for all federally elected offices. POLL: http://fluence-media.co/3ZOca3Q
Cue the Rolling Stones.
Happy National Strawberry Parfait Day.
Blois
TIPS: bloisolson@gmail.com
Today’s morning take on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40gPp8M
State Auditor Julie Blaha and Rep. Dave Baker joined me on Sunday Take to discuss how Minnesota politics will move forward after the assassination of the Hortman’s and attempted murder of Sen. John Hoffman and Yvette. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/443jslm
Sponsorships available – to reach over 25,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheet and website www.TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com
WALZ: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz’s approval rating has dropped to 49% since his failed run for vice president last year, and about half of Minnesotans say he shouldn’t seek a third term in 2026, according to a new poll…The results suggest the DFL governor could face headwinds if he runs for a third consecutive term, particularly from voters in greater Minnesota and suburbs outside Hennepin and Ramsey Counties…On the prospect of Walz seeking a historic third consecutive term, 49% of respondents said he should step down while 45% said he should run again. Six percent aren’t sure.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45KahJn
INSIDERS: Do morning take readers believe Gov. Tim Walz should run for a third term?
UNIONS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Contract talks between the Walz Administration and state public employee unions are in a critical phase. The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) each held ‘push week’ rallies [this week] to drive home their members’ views that health care cost shifts aren’t acceptable. There are a number of financial and working conditions differences that are holding up deals on new worker contracts. The current worker pacts expire after Monday, June 30, although the talks could easily extend beyond then. There have been some union workers speaking openly about a strike if the discussions don’t yield progress.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3Tt1vYV
HORTMANS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “On Tuesday night, for the first time, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS heard from Mark Hortman’s brother, Lee…He lives in North Carolina. In the interview, we heard a lot of personal anecdotes about the Hortmans, their devotion to each other and how they met…Lee also spoke about the details of how family members received the difficult news that Melissa and Mark Hortman had been killed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GgAxAz
MORE: The Star Tribune shared details on what it means to lie in state and why Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband will receive this rare honor Friday, as seen in yesterday’s morning take. VERBATIM: “Just 19 Minnesotans have lain in state. According to a list compiled by the Minnesota Historical Society, past honorees include state governors, senators and a state treasurer. Hortman will be the first woman to lie in state. [Her dog] Gilbert is set to be the first dog to lie in state. … Briane Pease, historic site manager for the Minnesota Historical Society, said Friday will also mark the first time that two people lay in state in unison.” The most recent Minnesotan to lie in state is former Gov. Al Quie in 2023. READ: http://fluence-media.co/4kabZXX
MORE: Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Betty McCollum joined TPT Almanac to reflect on state Rep. Melissa Hortman’s life and their experiences working with her. WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/44ulgW2
MPLS: Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez suggests there are political parallels between the NYC primary and the Minneapolis Mayor’s race.
SECURITY: via MPR, VERBATIM: “It will be many months before we know the extent of [new] forward-facing security measures at Minnesota’s Capitol. There’s a good chance we won’t know everything about what’s being done to keep legislators, staff, visitors and others safe. Expect talk about metal detectors. Don’t be surprised if more once-open corridors are now more fortified, or if meetings with lawmakers are more tightly controlled. As for lawmaker safety at their homes and in their communities, extra protection or safeguards could be in the mix as well.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3Tt1vYV
IMMIGRATION: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “The Department of Homeland Security announced that Mehran Makari Saheli, 56, was arrested on Sunday in St. Paul by ICE agents. In a news release issued on Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security says Saheli, an Iranian national, was ordered to be removed from the United States back in June 2022 but remained in the U.S. illegally…The Department of Homeland Security says Saheli is a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran and has "admitted connections to Hezbollah." READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3IdYkl9
TRAVEL BAN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Art dealer Martin Akinseye travels to Africa at least four times each year to meet with artisans and buy art at fairs and festivals. He has a trip planned to Ghana and Liberia in September. Like several other immigrant business owners…Akinseye depends on these trips for his Simba Craftware store that sells goods from 30 different countries. But now, he and other company heads worry President Donald Trump’s new and pending travel bans on 55 countries will crush their ability to get the supplies needed to run their companies.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4l0gXaW
MEDICAID: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Senate is debating details of President Donald Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ which includes controversial cuts to Medicaid. Republicans believe cuts will reduce federal spending, and Democrats worry it’ll hurt millions of Americans. … About 40,000 Essentia Health patients per month are covered by Medicaid, according to Dr. David Herman, Essentia Health CEO. Essentia Health leaders said funding cuts will not only shatter that safety net, but it will also impact Minnesotans not on Medicaid. … The CEO said federal funding cuts could lead to a loss of tens of millions of dollars per year at the very least. He predicts the lack of coverage could lead to an increase in sicker patients, busier emergency rooms, hospital closures and challenges retaining staff.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3ZLq5Yo
(DISCLOSURE: Essentia Health is a client sponsor of Fluence)
STORMS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz and other officials surveyed storm damage in Beltrami County Tuesday morning, after weekend storms brought hurricane-force winds and wreaked havoc in Bemidji and neighboring communities. … Walz said homeowners and the counties will be taking on significant costs with the recovery work. But he praised the Minnesota Legislature for having established a disaster assistance contingency account that will help with some of the recovery, especially if federal assistance is unavailable or insufficient. … Walz said the disaster assistance contingency account does not cover homes. But he said his administration is researching whether it can be used for residential properties if, for example, downed trees create a public safety issue by blocking fire trucks.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4ljwjH9
MOVE: Fmr. MPR editor Tom Scheck is joining the investigative team at the Star Tribune. A good get for the Strib.
PEACE: The death of Bill Salisbury is the loss of an old-style journalistic institution. His demeanor and calm voice while querying on issues or candidates was a genuine treat. A trust he formed with sources and politicians served the state well, it also is a disappearing gift for journalists. I first met Bill in 1993 and enjoyed our thoughtful conversations for 30 years.
PEACE: Minnesota also lost journalist fmr. Star Tribune reporter Mike Kaszuba in the past week, Kaszuba was a bulldog but dug deep to understand complex issues. His edge was always a great test when he questioned on an issue or political dynamic.
IMPEACHMENT: via Axios, VERBATIM: “House Democrats overwhelmingly joined with their Republican colleagues Tuesday against holding a vote to impeach President Donald Trump for striking Iranian nuclear sites. … It is the clearest signal to date of the distaste many Democrats have with the idea of even attempting to impeach Trump — an effort that would likely fail in either chamber of Congress. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) forced a vote on a five-page impeachment resolution accusing Trump of ‘disregarding the separation of powers.’ … The House voted 344 to 79 on a GOP motion to table. … Among Democrats, 128 voted with Republicans to defeat Green's measure while 79 voted to bring it to the floor.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/45EkMO9
RESPONSE: via a Rep. Betty McCollum statement, McCOLLUM: “I voted to impeach President Trump twice during his first term. … I believed he was unfit to serve in office then, as I still do now. But impeachment is a serious process. Today’s vote failed to follow that process. If Congress is to consider impeachment proceedings, we must do so methodically, not rush it through using a privileged motion without proper notice.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3Gd0u3W
OMAR: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump [threw] insults at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Tuesday…in a lengthy Truth Social post that began with the president referring to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as ‘Stupid AOC.’ … Trump [then] shifted to Omar, saying the Somalia-born Democrat ‘does nothing but complain about our Country,’ adding that she comes from a ‘Failed Country’ that is ‘drenched with Crime and Poverty.’ … Trump’s post came three days after Omar criticized his decision to bomb Iran, though it’s unclear whether her statement directly prompted his remarks.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/45X6Ejp
US BUDGET: via a Rep. Tom Emmer press release, VERBATIM: “Today, Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and Executive Director and CEO of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association James Stuart, who is also a retired Anoka County sheriff from Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, joined House Republican leadership to discuss the importance of getting the One Big Beautiful Bill across the finish line and how the no tax on overtime provision will benefit America’s law enforcement.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/44dogF0
UKRAINE: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced their bipartisan Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act. This legislation would increase support for Ukraine’s efforts to investigate and track the nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been abducted during Putin’s brutal invasion, assist with the rehabilitation and reintegration of children who are returned, and provide justice and accountability for perpetrators of these abductions.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4408j6j
JUDGE: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Meriel Lester as a District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District. Lester will be replacing the Honorable Leonard A. Weiler and will be chambered in Little Falls in Morrison County. … Lester is an assistant chief in the Criminal Division of the Stearns County Attorney’s Office.”
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS: The Pine Bend refinery in Rosemount is a landmark like no other – the tall columns, bright lights and steam during cold winter days can be seen from miles away. Generations of workers have helped operate, maintain and transform the refinery, making it one of the nation’s most innovative and efficient energy facilities of its kind. This year, Flint Hills Resources celebrates 70 years of dedicated employees at the Pine Bend refinery who have produced the fuels that help move us forward. LEARN MORE: About the Pine Bend refinery (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
MPLS: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Rev. DeWayne Davis has resumed his campaign for Minneapolis mayor after a brief pause following the death of his mother. Davis announced on Monday that he's returning to Minneapolis and his campaign after two weeks away to attend his mother's funeral. … Davis is challenging current Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who's seeking his third and final term, in the fall. Other mayoral hopefuls include TurnSignl co-founder Jazz Hampton and state Sen. Omar Fateh.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4kTMM55
ST PAUL: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Federal immigration agents arrested an Iranian national with ‘admitted connection’ to Hezbollah in St. Paul over the weekend as part of a sweep of detainments across the country. Mehran Makari Saheli, 56, was arrested by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with 11 others in nine U.S. cities, the majority being Iranian nationals. He is in ICE custody at Sherburne County Jail pending his removal from the country. … The arrests came in the wake of heightened security awareness following U.S. strikes in Iran over the weekend.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46i0Xwe
RAMSEY CTY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Ramsey County commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday on a proposed salary increase of 3% for board members. The seven-member board is expected to vote on the proposed salary increase July 1, with the increase effective Jan. 1. Board members currently make $104,077 per year and the board chair makes $109,338. If the proposal is approved next week, salaries would increase to $107,199 for commissioners and $112,559 for the board chair.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4kU7m5f
MANKATO: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “One year ago this week, parts of southern Minnesota were almost underwater, as torrential downpours dropped nearly 10 inches of rain over several days, causing historic flooding. Stunning videos of the partial failure of the Rapidan Dam and a house falling into the Blue Earth River captured national attention. State and local authorities reported that the flood waters caused millions of dollars worth of damage in the region, including in the city of Mankato. Today, some small businesses are still recovering and some flood-damaged areas still haven’t been cleared and fixed up.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4kbPySe
LAKE ELMO: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “When Lake Elmo residents were asked last year to weigh in on potential future uses of the city’s old fire station and former parks building in the Old Village, they overwhelmingly supported plans featuring eating and drinking establishments and family-friendly spaces. … City officials are now soliciting requests for proposals for the purchase and redevelopment or reuse. … The deadline for submissions is Aug. 14; an open house of the fire station building will be 9 a.m. to noon July 1.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/45zrl4A
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
STRIKE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Thousands of nurses across Minnesota have voted to authorize a strike, meaning they can now walk off the job as soon as next month. Results for Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) members for 11 Twin Cities area hospitals were announced shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. Although the results show nurses have authorized a strike, it doesn’t mean they’re walking off the job Wednesday. Instead, it means a strike can be called at any time and the sides could continue negotiations. The union will first have to give a 10-day notice to the 13 hospitals the strike would impact.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nweN4C
AG OFFICES: via States Newsroom, VERBATIM: “Democratic state attorneys general vowed Monday on Capitol Hill to continue legal challenges against President Donald Trump’s ‘outrageous overreach’ through executive orders to strip birthright citizenship, impose staggering global tariffs, thwart lifesaving medical research and more. Attorneys General Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Matthew J. Platkin of New Jersey, Andrea Campbell of Massachusetts and Kwame Raoul of Illinois spoke before Democrats on both the Senate and House Judiciary committees during a special ‘spotlight forum’ hosted by minority party lawmakers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nhds1a
SNOW: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis spent a lot less than budgeted on a handful of experiments to clear snow and ice from sidewalks last year, according to a new city report. Some Minneapolis City Council members want the city to play a larger role in keeping paths clear in the winter, but finding a way for municipal staff to help at a manageable cost has been a challenge. By city ordinance, homeowners must shovel within 24 hours of the last flake.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k8F8Tn
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no public events today.
TOMORROW: Via a joint press release, Rep. Dave Baker (R-16B), Rep. Scott Van Binsbergen (R-16A) and Sen. Andrew Lang (R-16) will host a town hall meeting on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in Willmar.
JULY 12: Gov. Tim Walz will be the keynote speaker at the South Dakota Democratic Party’s annual McGovern Day dinner on July 12 in Sioux Falls, SD.
BDAYS: CFAN’s Tim Loesch, professor Rand Park, outdoorsman Billy Dinkel, operative Sarah Kruger, marketer Chris Iles
TIPS: How do we get the best news and most buzzed about stories? Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
IN MEMORIAM: morning take from now to the future is in memory of Melissa Hortman her accessibility, leadership and commitment to public service.
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about morning take: Founded in 2010, morning take has grown to become the leading Minnesota morning newsletter on politics and news of the day. Published by Fluence Media since 2012 the mission is to "make you smarter" before breakfast.
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