TOP 10 Wx Day?
Twins lose. Lynx play midday. Beauty League tonight.
3M Open Pro-Am Today.
Ten years ago today, US Bank Stadium opened.
They say it’s a Top 10 Wx Day…
Just 12% of U.S. adults say four-year colleges and universities are doing an excellent (4%) or good job (8%) providing an affordable education, while nearly two-thirds (63%) say they are doing a poor job. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4pDeerc
Gracie Stockton is the new morning news anchor at WCCO Radio. She starts Monday.
Tomorrow Vance Boelter will be sentenced in the assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman and the attempted killings of John, Yvette and Hope Hoffman.
Minnesota’s US House delegation voted along party lines on the continuing budget resolution last night. R’s voted Y, D’s voted N.
CNN’s Jake Tapper is in town and will report tonight on the dynamics of the US Attorney’s office during Operation Metro Surge. He was spotted at The Freehouse for lunch on Monday.
Sunday’s World Cup final drew 62.8 million U.S. viewers, a new record for soccer ratings. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/45hKgiS
Pete Hegseth says the Iran war has cost about $37.5 billion so far, but insiders say the actual cost is likely “much higher.” CBS: https://fluence-media.co/3TMpg18
One message from Northern Minnesota business – We’re still open, the smoke is cleared and you should come visit. Yes the BWCA is closed, but that doesn’t mean all visitors need to avoid the area.
National Wine and Cheese Day for those who celebrate.Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take featured DFLers Matt Little, Sen. Matt Klein and Rep. Kaela Berg for the CD2 DFL primary debate. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4yssTcu
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Three weeks from today we should know the winners of the Minnesota primary races.
For the DFL Senate race the tightening means we are in toss-up territory. From the poll, the difference may be the youth vs. the seniors. The margins among older voters for Angie Craig is a more likely voting bloc, than the advantage among young voters for Peggy Flanagan. Where the voters turnout will also be a factor, will DFL primary voters that pushed Dayton-Walz over the line show up in Greater Minnesota?
The starkest possibility, which many Republicans are hoping for is that the endorsed candidates for Governor and Senate finish last. The lack of traction by Adam Schwarze in polls, and Kendall Qualls fumbling suggest that the GOP primary success for endorsed candidates is in serious jeopardy.
The other race to watch – the Attorney General’s race – guaranteed to be very close.
MN POLL: Via KSTP, the latest statewide poll for Minnesota’s top primary races and the attorney general race shows that there are few clear favorites right now, but candidates are seeing movement compared to one month ago. Results are summarized below. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/45kW8R6
GOP GOV — Mike Lindell leads at 35%, gaining 8 points following his presidential endorsement. Speaker Lisa Demuth is at 26%, gaining 4 points since June. GOP-endorsed Kendall Qualls is at 11%, down 6 points from last month, while 22% are undecided and 5% prefer “another Republican.”
DFL SEN — Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are tied at 40% each, with 16% undecided and 4% preferring “another DFLer.” Flanagan is up 4 points since June, while Craig dropped 1 point.
GOP SEN — Michele Tafoya leads at 41%, up 5 points since last month. Royce White is at 10%, Tom Weiler is at 7%, GOP-endorsed Adam Schwarze is at 5%, and 28% are undecided while 8% prefer “another Republican.”
AG RACE — Attorney General Keith Ellison leads at 42%, down 2 points from June. Republican Ron Schutz is at 38%, up 2 points over last month, while 20% are undecided.
DEMOGRAPHICS: The KSTP poll shows that some candidates have significant gaps in approval between demographics. For example, Mike Lindell and Speaker Lisa Demuth are nearly even among voters over 65, but Demuth is the second lowest polling option among voters under 35. Michele Tafoya is near or above 50% support among men and voters over 50, but the contest has a fairly even split among voters under 35. Notably, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig are nearly tied across multiple demographics — Flanagan’s only significant advantages are voters under 35 (+4) and voters 50-64 (+9), while Craig’s strength lies in voters over 65 (+15).
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THE FEED
VETTING: via Michael Brodkorb on X, VERBATIM: “Nate George’s campaign is currently scrubbing their website to remove inaccuracies and discrepancies in George’s claimed qualifications and credentials. Here’s what’s changed, and why it matters for a candidate running to be Minnesota’s fraud watchdog.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/45fMUWl
DFL AGENDA: via MN DFL advisory, VERBATIM: “Today, DFL legislators from the Minnesota House and Senate unveiled the Minnesota Values Project Policy Agenda 2027. The agenda is the result of input from Minnesotans across the state and will serve as the guiding vision for lawmakers when they return to the Capitol in 2027. … The agenda focuses on three key themes: delivering a more affordable life for Minnesotans; keeping Minnesotans safe and protecting their rights; and building a fair society where everyone can get ahead.” AGENDA: https://fluence-media.co/4wVF0gP
GOV RACE: Speaker Lisa Demuth announced that her campaign for governor was endorsed by the National Rifle Association and the MN Gun Owners Caucus this month. Demuth also received an “A” rating from the NRA. DEMUTH: “The NRA and the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus recognize that I’m the only candidate in this race who has consistently stood up for our Second Amendment rights. As governor I will continue to defend those rights for every law-abiding gun owner.”
HEALTHCARE: Via MinnPost, a look at how major DFL candidates are split between two healthcare proposals popular among Democrats: “Medicare for All” versus a “public option.” VERBATIM: “Jake Johnson, a Democrat seeking to represent southern Minnesota, [said] he supported ‘a strong public option.’ … The endorsed DFL candidate [in CD2], Matt Little, is a vigorous proponent of Medicare for All. … Rep. Kaela Berg [said] she supports the public option ‘and anything that gives people more health coverage…while we continue to fight for Medicare for All.’ … Sen. Matt Klein [said] he is a ‘firm believer that we need to get to universal healthcare’ and if elected to Congress would ‘support whatever bill advances that.’ But he stopped short of backing Medicare for All, saying he would prefer the implementation of the public option.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vIWVGm
FEDS
MEDICAID: via AP News, VERBATIM: “The Trump Administration on Tuesday said it was deferring more than $1 billion in Medicaid payments to Minnesota and California because of ‘suspected fraud and noncompliance.’ … But the federal government hasn’t provided ‘data or explanation on how the deferral amount was calculated or what it was based on’ to Minnesota, said John Connolly, the temporary [DHS] commissioner. … [Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] didn’t specify in Tuesday’s announcement whether the new deferrals — $867.5 million in federal Medicaid payments to California and $199 million to Minnesota — are in addition to, or overlap with, earlier deferrals announced this year. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz didn’t provide concrete examples of fraud.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wZGPJK
MORE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Along with the payment deferrals, HHS announced it will broaden its exclusion authority. This expansion will allow both CMS and the HHS Office of Inspector General to remove providers from federal healthcare programs. In certain instances, providers may be permanently barred from returning to these programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RLJsQg
PFAS: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison today filed comments in opposition to the efforts of the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency to roll back limits to PFAS-type ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water. The rollback means that public drinking water systems will not be required by federal law to test for certain of these chemicals, report how much of them are in public drinking water, or treat drinking water to remove these chemicals. … Ellison and a coalition of nine state attorneys general [argued] that this action is arbitrary and illegal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fMjh50
A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
CONGRESS
MED FRAUD: via Rep. Ilhan Omar advisory, VERBATIM: “The House unanimously passed a bipartisan bill led by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) to strengthen protections for injured federal workers against fraudulent medical providers and improve government accountability. The Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act empowers the Department of Labor to suspend FECA payments to medical providers convicted of fraud.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rrutuv
CANCER: via Sen. Tina Smith advisory, VERBATIM: “Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to cut costs for cancer patients. Specifically, the bill would ensure cancer patients who are prescribed oral chemotherapy medication can access their drugs at comparable prices to other cancer treatments. Their Cancer Drug Parity Act requires health insurers to cover patient-administered (oral) cancer medications at the same cost-sharing level as traditional intravenous (IV) anticancer drug treatments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yOgvUC
TRADING: via Rep. Angie Craig advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Angie Craig demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigate President [Donald] Trump’s media company, ‘Trump Media & Technology Group.’ … In a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, Rep. Craig pressed the Administration on its inaction following the announcement of ‘Truth API’ – a [subscription] offering Wall Street billionaires inside information on the President’s social media platform, Truth Social.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wWY1zr
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)
ISSUES
WILDFIRES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Crews are making ‘real good’ progress fighting the fires burning in northern Minnesota, a national command team official said Tuesday. … The efforts have been aided by rain that fell overnight Monday. Still, high winds of up to 25 mph out of the north-northwest remain a concern for officials.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yAqDzW
EDUCATION: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has announced that 70 schools in 45 school districts across Minnesota will participate in a pilot program to test out a new kindergarten assessment. This assessment was approved by the Minnesota state legislature in 2023. … MDE officials say the purpose of the assessment is to observe students to see how they interact with the lessons, their teacher and the other students in the classroom, and to see if there is anything the teachers can change.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RJULIJ
SOLAR: via MPR, VERBATIM: “As Donald Trump rolls back support for clean energy, the solar industry is looking to former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to woo Republicans. Pawlenty is about a month into his new job as CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, the national trade association for the American solar industry. … ‘In Washington, there is a scarcity of Republicans who are willing to embrace renewable energy in various ways,’ Pawlenty said. He said he plans on ‘updating’ Republicans on the economic advantages of solar, instead of emphasizing environmental benefits.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wgo8RZ
METRO
HENN CTY: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt is calling for a larger facility to house jail inmates. ‘We’re finding ourselves in that position to have to house people in other counties,’ Witt said Tuesday, [and] moving inmates to other county jails is covered by Hennepin County tax dollars. … ‘We do need a bigger facility, and that’s unfortunate to say,’ Witt said.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4yqgxSe
MPLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “A Minneapolis City Council committee voted Tuesday to hold off on renewing the liquor license for Reign Event Center, where a mass shooting left nine people wounded Sunday morning. … Council members on the Business, Housing and Zoning Committee said they wanted to take a closer look at whether Reign is complying with the requirements to keep their liquor license. … Reign’s liquor license renewal will come up for further review at the Business, Housing and Zoning Committee’s Aug. 4 meeting.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gQM2yy
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “After a man tried unsuccessfully to cancel his apartment parking garage contract, police and prosecutors said Tuesday he went to the leasing office in St. Paul’s Highland Park and fatally shot three workers, including one who tried to escape out a window. … The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office charged [the suspect] on Tuesday with three counts of intentional murder, not premeditated.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wb59bm
COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS: Flint Hills Resources is celebrating summer with thousands of Minnesotans at local festivals and parades. Look for Flint Hills employees – along with their families and friends – as they show their hometown pride at many local celebrations, including Rosemount Leprechaun Days, Hastings Rivertown Days, Inver Grove Heights Days and Saint Paul’s Lowertown Sounds. For decades, Flint Hills Resources has supported programs, organizations and events that improve our quality of life in our communities. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4wOkChw (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
STATEWIDE
FARIBAULT: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Faribault police say a new summer unit focused on prevention and outreach is already making a difference in the community. This summer, the Faribault Police Department moved school resource officers to the street to boost crime prevention through investigations, mental health follow-ups and community engagement. … The program is in a pilot stage, and the department is seriously considering keeping the Impact Unit in place.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/45e7OVR
DAYBOOK
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no public events.
TODAY: Recipients of the 2026 JFK Profile in Courage Award will host a press conference discussing their letter to Minnesota’s congressional delegation “calling for increased congressional oversight of federal immigration enforcement,” per a release. The event is at 10:00 a.m.
TODAY: Allina Health will host a ribbon-cutting event for the opening of a surgical and critical care center at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at 5:30 p.m.
TODAY: The MN Chamber of Commerce will host its 2026 Women in Business conference at Target Field on Wednesday, July 22.
FRIDAY: DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild, GOP Rep. Roger Skraba and the Ely Chamber of Commerce will host a forum covering “the economic impact of Northland wildfires on tourism and other industries,” per a release. The event is at 11:30 a.m.
FRIDAY: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal will host a rally in St. Paul on Friday, July 24 at 7:00 p.m.
SATURDAY: via MIRAC advisory, VERBATIM: “Starting at 10:00 a.m. at George Floyd Square, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) will lead ‘Roll 4 Justice 2,’ a protest on bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, and more to demand ‘No More ICE + Police Terror.’”
JULY 28: The MN Dept. of Health will host a public hearing on Aspirus Health’s closure of the Lake View Silver Bay Clinic on Tuesday, July 28 in Two Harbors at 6:00 p.m.
JULY 29: Attorney General Keith Ellison will host a community forum on the proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health on Wednesday, July 29 in Faribault at 6:00 p.m.
BDAYS: Winthrop’s Tami Diehm, GOP operative Zach Freimark, Lindell campaign manager Rick Weible, comms guy Jeff Bakken
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.