It’s 3M Open week. Twins win in Colorado head to LA today.
Naphessa Collier was the MVP of the WNBA All-Star Game.
Rep. Angie Craig on The Powers That Be podcast discusses the Farm Bill, crypto, and what Democrats need to do to win going forward. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/44GqIFF
One year ago today, President Joe Biden dropped out of the Presidential race.
An NRF survey finds that 67% of families are doing back-to-school shopping early this year, and 51% of them specified it’s because they’re concerned tariffs will raise prices if they wait. POLL: http://fluence-media.co/45dnZU8
A CBS News poll finds that support for the White House’s deportation program has decreased by 10% since February, with a 51% majority — including 59% of Independents — now disapproving. POLL: http://fluence-media.co/4eVMaK4
Sunday Take featured Scott Jensen discussing his campaign for governor and an analysis of what Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s conviction means for Minnesota politics. PODCAST: http://fluence-media.co/46l8J8P
It’s National Junk Food Day…celebrate on behalf of Secretary Kennedy.
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CD2: First in morning take, via news release later today VERBATIM: “Eric, Pratt a longtime state senator and respected leader in Minnesota’s business and education communities, announced today that he will seek the Republican nomination for Congress in Minnesota Second District. PRATT: “This campaign is about putting families first,” Pratt said. “The people of the Second District deserve a representative who listens, understands their challenges, and delivers real results. President Trump is making strides and bringing energy back to our economy, but families in CD2 still need someone who can win in Noverber to keep that momentum going. This open seat is critical, and it’s going to take a Republican in Congress who will fight to deliver real relief where it’s needed most…I’m not interested in political theater. I’m interested in getting the work done.,” Pratt added. “This is a campaign about service. I’m ready to fight for the people who go to work every day, raise their families and just want a fair shot.” WEBSITE: https://fluence-media.co/46eSz0K
MPLS: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis DFL Party convention ended Saturday night in a chaotic flurry of activity that saw state Sen. Omar Fateh claim the party's endorsement for mayor. The young democratic socialist lawmaker's victory over two-term sitting Mayor Jacob Frey [is] the Minneapolis DFL's first endorsement in any contested mayor's race since at least 1997. … The result came after Frey supporters abandoned the arena around 9 p.m., with campaign officials alleging [tech issues]. … Frey's campaign intends to appeal with the state-level DFL Party [after] the remaining delegates held an endorsement vote by, essentially, a show of hands. … Frey also finished second at the 2017 and 2021 DFL conventions before winning in Minneapolis' ranked-choice general election.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/40YBZ1t
MORE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Issues with electronic balloting saw paper ballots brought in. In the end, the final endorsement vote was taken via a show of raised badges, which happened after Frey's campaign told his supporters to leave the arena in an attempt to deny the convention a quorum. … The first round of voting saw [Omar] Fateh get the support of around 43% of convention delegates, with [Jacob] Frey getting 31%, sending them both through to the second round of voting. Rev. DeWayne Davis fell just short of getting the 20% of delegates needed to advance, while Jazz Hampton gained 4% and Brenda Short 0.35%.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46QpuZE
MORE: State Sen. John Hoffman, who is still recovering from being shot and hospitalized in June, appeared in a video message at the Minneapolis DFL convention to support Sen. Omar Fateh’s bid for mayor. SEE: http://fluence-media.co/44T3Zor
PARKS: Via Axios’ Kyle Stokes, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board candidate Conrad Zbikowski is also challenging the results of Saturday’s DFL convention with the state party. Zbikowski alleges that tellers “co-mingled” paper ballots while counting them, and he wants the results to be invalidated because “there is significant doubt that quorum was present at the time of the vote.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4lwolLo
SIGNUP: Fluence Advisory is hosting a virtual forum featuring an interview with Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management Director Eric Taubel and other industry experts on Monday, July 28th. The event is in partnership with Stinson and Sota Cann.
Other panels included:
· Municipal and Tribal Governments featuring Aarik Robertson of Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures and Kevin Morelli of the City of Anoka Moderated by Will Blauvelt of Stinson
· Cannabis Industry Update featuring Josh Wilken-Simon of Legacy Cannabis, Shaun Tetreault of Kind Bud, and Mark Matejcek of Kria Botanicals Moderated by Carol Moss of Hellmuth & Johnson
· THC Beverages Rapid Growth featuring Elizabeth Anderson Schmidt of Flying Cloud THC and Fat Pants Brewing, and Glenn McElfresh of Plift Beverages Moderated by Bruce Nustad of the Minnesota Retailers
REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/CannabisForum
MITCHELL: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “State Sen. Nicole Mitchell has been found guilty on both counts in her felony burglary trial. Mitchell is charged with first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools in connection with a break-in at her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home last year. … Mitchell was not taken into custody following the verdict, despite a request by prosecutors. A future court date for sentencing has not been set. … A source in Gov. Tim Walz’s office [said] he expects Mitchell will resign and hopes to have information about a special election soon. Mitchell cannot be expelled unless the entire Senate is in session to vote on her expulsion. She will continue to get paid until she resigns or is expelled.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4o3mPCk
MORE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Although Democrats removed her from committees, [Nicole] Mitchell served as a swing vote last session in a narrow 34-33 majority for the DFL. If she leaves the Senate, the chamber will return to a 33-33 tie, pending a special election to fill her seat. The governor's office has not said when that special election will be held.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4eZWQat
RESPONSE: Both Senate caucus leaders released statements following Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s conviction saying that they expect her to resign.
● Via Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, QUOTE: “Senator Mitchell has told colleagues that she intended to resign if found guilty of this crime, and I expect her to follow through on that pledge.”
● Via Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, QUOTE: “This conduct is unbecoming of a Senator and we expect her immediate resignation from the Senate. If she is unwilling to resign, she must be expelled as soon as possible.”
TAKE: Expect Sen. Nicole Mitchell to resign as soon as today.
SECURITY: via Politico, VERBATIM: “The June assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman prompted at least a dozen states to pass or consider legislation designed to bolster protections for state lawmakers. … Elected officials on both sides of the aisle worry about the safety of themselves and their families during a period of growing political violence nationwide. … [But] critics of the laws argue that making it difficult or impossible to get details about a lawmaker’s property ownership history, family employment, travel and finances will impair the ability of reporters to hold those lawmakers accountable.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4m3utKS
BROADBAND: Comcast is rewriting the broadband playbook in the Twin Cities. From neighborhood networks to next-gen tech, we’re delivering community-first internet connectivity with no contracts, no surprises. The new Xfinity package means unlimited data, blazing-fast, reliable speeds and a 5-year price guarantee, plus free mobile for a year. It’s not the old Comcast — it’s a bold new era of connection. Let’s power the future, together. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/Comcast2025-1 (SPONSORED: Comcast)
SENATE RACE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Democratic candidates for retiring Sen. Tina Smith’s seat have a decided political cashraising advantage over their GOP rivals. Rep. Angie Craig, D-2nd District, has raised the most money to run for Smith’s seat, nearly $2.5 million, [with] nearly $1.3 million from individuals and about $157,000 from political action committees. … Democratic rival Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan raised more than $1.3 million for her Senate bid. Unlike Craig, Flanagan has pledged not to accept any corporate PAC money. But Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Nation, has raised some of her campaign cash [from] the nation’s wealthiest tribes. … Former NBA player Royce White [has] raised a little more than $500,000. And former Marine Adam Schwarze, who is also a Republican, reported raising about $218,000.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4lD4r1g
FISCHBACH: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Rep. Michelle Fischbach was forced to cast a vote on whether to release files on deceased sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein for a third time [last week] in the House Rules Committee amid pressure from the MAGA base. … Fischbach instead joined Republicans in passing a nonbinding resolution they had spent the day putting together that similarly seeks the release of files related to Epstein, but in a non-enforceable way. Democrats decried the GOP resolution as nothing more than a ‘glorified press release.’ … Fischbach voted twice [before] to block [a] release of the files, a move that the group Action 4 Liberty has taken note of and has since been calling for Fischbach to face a primary opponent.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3GT9awN
FED FUNDS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The Senate and House [last week] passed a bill that cut money that had already been appropriated by Congress for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – which helps fund NPR and PBS – and a series of State Department programs, including international disaster assistance. … Smaller, local public broadcasting stations [are also] affected. … Before the House voted on the bill largely along party lines early Friday, [Sen. Tina] Smith and 45 House Democrats, including Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th; Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-5th; and Rep. Kelly Morrison, D-3rd, wrote to President Donald Trump, asking him to abandon the attempt to claw back funds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lD4r1g
MORE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Sixteen media organizations in Minnesota are set to lose more than $17 million in Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds following the passage of the rescission bill in Congress. … This includes funding for MPR News, the Current, YourClassical, regional PBS stations, north Minneapolis’ KMOJ, Jazz 88, KFAI and small radio stations transmitting from across the state. … Twelve broadcasters get more than 30% of their funding from the CPB, [mostly] serving rural audiences. … Tribal public radio stations in Minnesota also rely on CPB funding.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3Gy6Ueo
CRYPTO: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Rep. Tom Emmer finally got his Crypto currency legislative package over the finish line [last week] after it looked like it may have been in jeopardy earlier in the week. One of the bills included in the crypto package included Emmer's Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which would prevent the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and would prevent the federal government from exploring developing them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GT9awN
MINING: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump is giving Minnesota’s taconite iron ore mines two more years to comply with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandate to reduce their mercury emissions — a rule that the Trump Administration has already signaled it intends to roll back. … The state has a goal to slash mercury emissions 76 percent from 2005 levels by this year. Significant progress has been made…but the state did not meet its goal, in large part because emissions from taconite plants have remained largely flat. Iron ore mines now emit about half of mercury pollution in the state. … Kristen Vake, executive director of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota, said the extension will give taconite operations more time to find solutions.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3UozTnW
BWCAW: via a Rep. Betty McCollum press release, VERBATIM: “Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.)…Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum demanding answers on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to overturn the 225,504-acre federal mineral withdrawal in the Rainy River Watershed on the Superior National Forest. [They argue] this move would blindside local communities, ignore scientific consensus, and put the profits of mining interests ahead of Minnesota’s clean water.” LETTER: http://fluence-media.co/4lJzOYi
ARRESTS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Arrests of unauthorized immigrants living in Minnesota have doubled [since] President Donald Trump took office. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents made 878 arrests in the state between Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 and June 26. … During that same period in 2024, ICE made 441 arrests in Minnesota.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4nTlCx7
ICE: via a Senate DFL press release, VERBATIM: “The Trump Administration has ordered the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to share enrollees' identifying information, including names and addresses, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials for the explicit purpose of locating and arresting undocumented immigrants. … Members of the Senate Human Services Committee and Senate Health and Human Services Committee release the following statement.” STATEMENT: “This profound invasion of individual privacy will undermine trust in public institutions, and it will harm people. … By giving ICE access to ethnicity data, the administration is openly using race as a proxy for immigration status, which is morally indefensible and likely unconstitutional. We condemn these actions.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4lNH6Kr
HHS: via a Senate GOP press release, VERBATIM: “State Senator Julia Coleman (R–Waconia) today announced that she is leading a bipartisan coalition of 19 female lawmakers from across the country in urging U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take swift federal action on toxic chemicals found in menstrual products. The letter, signed by lawmakers from Minnesota, New York, Utah, and Michigan, urges the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate and regulate the presence of PFAS (‘forever chemicals’), lead, arsenic, and other harmful substances in products millions of Americans use every month.” LETTER: http://fluence-media.co/4f0k8NI
NLRB: via an Essentia Health press release, VERBATIM: “Today, Essentia Health released the below statement following news that two individuals were nominated for membership on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The nominations, which are subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate, mark a move toward the NLRB beginning to hear cases again. Essentia has asked the NLRB to review whether a single bargaining unit proposed by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) and comprised of more than 400 advanced practice providers (APPs) should move forward.” STATEMENT: “Essentia’s appeal has been pending before the NLRB under two presidential administrations. … We look forward to our case being heard and our providers and patients having clarity on a path forward.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4m5LtQW
(DISCLOSURE: Essentia Health is a client and sponsor of Fluence)
70-YEAR LEGACY OF CONTINUOUS TRANSFORMATION: Innovation has been synonymous with the Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery since it was established 70 years ago. Today, Pine Bend operates with cutting-edge leak detection technologies, the largest solar installation of its kind, a community-driven water-recycling system, and numerous other advancements. These innovations have allowed Pine Bend to produce more of the fuels and other products we all need, while continually finding ways to use fewer resources and minimize emissions. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4kNOYur (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
UMN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “University of Minnesota students will pay a new $200 athletics fee this year even if they never don a Gophers football helmet or attend a single game. … The new fees are drawing ire from student government leaders and come at the same time as a significant tuition increase of 6.5% for in-state undergraduates and 7.5% increase for out-of-state undergraduates this fall. … [NIL] payments to student athletes of $20.5 million will make up 12% of the U’s $174.2 million athletic budget for 2026, more than the cost of scholarships, maintaining facilities or paying down debt.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3TPYJx2
MARSHALL: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The southwestern Minnesota city of Marshall declared a state of emergency after serious flooding hit the city on Friday. … [Lyon] County is reportedly assisting with waste management disposal for damaged homes and businesses. The mayor says the flooding resulted in storm and sewer infrastructure in the city becoming overwhelmed.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/44VP2lv
CHANHASSEN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Chanhassen sold voters on a new sales tax to build a community center with two sheets of ice, a restaurant and other amenities. But early proposals came in over budget and missing some key features. Now, elected officials have asked designers to hit ‘reset’ and come back with other options – or let them know if the project isn’t viable. … Chanhassen City Manager Laurie Hokkanen said the city has until Sept. 2 to close on the deal or ask for an extension.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4lDMYFW
STILLWATER: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The Stillwater Police Department is cracking down on the use of high-speed electric motorbikes or ‘e-motos’ within city limits. … E-motos, which look like small dirt bikes without gas engines and do not have bicycle-style pedals on them, are prohibited from state trails and are not allowed on any sidewalks, which would include the Stillwater Lift Bridge. … Officers have not yet been issuing citations against violators, but they will be in the future, Police Chief Brian Mueller said.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/44YoYGu
WATERTOWN: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The city of Watertown will hold a public forum during its city council meeting on Tuesday to discuss recent safety concerns. … Watertown residents have been reporting concerning behavior from an adult resident in the city towards teenage girls. … Multiple calls have been made to the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, requesting that the city and the sheriff’s office take action. According to the city, they are working with resources to resolve the issue. However, the city also said no criminal behaviors related to violence or aggression had been reported involving the individual, and no criminal charges have been filed against him.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46DsOYj
EDEN PRAIRIE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The City of Eden Prairie is…asking for the public’s help in naming its new THC edible gummy, which will be sold at municipal liquor stores. The edible, specifically crafted for sleep, has a mixed-berry flavor and contains 5 mg of THC and 30 mg of CBN per gummy. … A winner will be announced the week of August 11. … The gummy is expected to be available for sale at Eden Prairie liquor stores starting this fall.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3GCbTL3
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will attend the second annual Minnesota SAF Hub Workshop and announce the opening of the Stone Arch Bridge.
TODAY: via an IDN advisory, VERBATIM: “The Immigrant Defense Network – a coalition of 90+ groups across Minnesota – [will launch] a city resolutions campaign to denounce mass deportations and family separations. … Local elected officials are pushing for resolutions to denounce mass deportations and family separations in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Columbia Heights, and other cities and towns. Votes in Minneapolis and Columbia Heights are already scheduled.” The event is at 12:00 noon in St. Paul.
TODAY: Neighborhood House and Xcel Energy announced they will co-host an event where mascots from the Vikings, Wild, Timberwolves, Lynx and Minnesota United will lead kids through summer camp activities at the Wellstone Center. The event is at 1:00 p.m. with interviews at 12:45 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: via MN Chamber, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber’s upcoming Women in Business Minnesota Conference on Wednesday, July 23, will highlight the powerful role women play in expanding Minnesota’s economic footprint through international business.” The event is at 9:00 a.m. in Minneapolis.
JULY 28: via AFP-MN, VERBATIM: “Sen. Jordan Rasmusson and representatives from Americans for Prosperity – Minnesota…will host a legislative forum in Fergus Falls to engage the community on key issues from the 2025 legislative session. … Topics will include housing affordability, government accountability, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.” The event is at 5:00 p.m.
BDAYS: traveler and public affairs pro Andrea Mokros, housing leader Chris LaTondresse
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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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