Wild lose. Wolves win.
White out at US Bank for Vikings vs. Bears tonight.
A British hockey club has retired Minnesota native Adam Johnson’s jersey number after he died on the ice last year. KSTP: https://fluence-media.co/3OXdDyQ
The Star Tribune gave its “Restaurant of the Year” award to three winners this year. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3Djxx4I
NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index rose eight points after the election to its highest reading since June 2021. HILL: https://fluence-media.co/3VHycDn
AP-NORC finds that only 2 in 10 Americans approve of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/3OUB4ZN
Yesterday on Sunday Take, Rep. Angie Craig on the state of the Democratic party, her political future and possibility of a Farm Bill. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3BxVV20
Expect snow this week statewide, especially on Thursday.
Happy National Chocolate Covered Anything Day!
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
TRIAL: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Trial begins Monday in Scott County over results of an election that could affect the balance of power in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Democrat Brad Tabke won re-election by 14 votes over Republican challenger Aaron Paul, but that margin is smaller than the number of missing ballots in that election…Paul filed the lawsuit in an attempt to get the court to declare a vacancy in House seat 54-A, which would force a special election…A post-election audit revealed that the missing ballots were accepted but not counted, and disposed of.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iHn975
MN GOP: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Wayzata City Council member Alex Plechash is the new chairman of the state GOP, edging out incumbent David Hann for the Minnesota Republican Party’s top post [on Saturday]. … Plechash, a former RNC national committeeman, said in an interview Sunday that he’s hoping to put together a team that’s ‘laser focused’ on winning in 2026, when Minnesotans will elect a new governor. He said he wants to bring all organizations affiliated with the Republican Party ‘into the tent.’ … Deputy Chair Donna Bergstrom won re-election to her post over Kip Christianson. Bergstrom is a former candidate for lieutenant governor and Hann’s current deputy chair. Hann backed her opponent, Christianson.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41CGfoQ
MORE: KARE 11 interviewed Minnesota GOP Deputy Chair Donna Bergstrom on Sunday to discuss Alex Plechash’s vision for the party. VERBATIM: “Bergstrom said a big focus for the party moving forward will be on messaging and reaching more people as they prepare for the gubernatorial race in 2026. … Bergstrom said she is looking forward to a more bold and united party under Plechash.” BERGSTROM: “I don't think [Plechash] is going to be afraid to make bold decisions, and I think people are really looking for that. We saw that modeled on the national level. We saw President-elect [Donald] Trump do that same thing — be very bold in his statements, and tell people black-and-white this is how it is, and I think people are really looking for that in Minnesota.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49FERUj
MORE: via statement from David Hann, VERBATIM: “"It has been an honor to serve these past three years as the Chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party, and I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish during my tenure. When I was elected in a special election in October of 2021, the Party was deep in debt, our members were demoralized, and our donors and allies were frustrated by the dysfunction of the Party…By any objective measure, we made great progress the last three years. We have completely eliminated our long-standing debt, restored the confidence of our donors, developed strong and effective relationships with our Congressional delegation, the Republican Caucus organizations in the Minnesota House and Senate, and other conservative organizations that work hard to election Republicans across the state.”
RESPONSES: Key figures have responded to the news of the Minnesota Republican Party leadership vote.
Via an outgoing GOP Chair David Hann statement, HANN: “It has been an honor to serve the Republican Party these past three years. We’ve made great progress, retiring our longstanding debt and putting ourselves in a great position to win in 2026. The Republican Party’s continuing dedication to preserve the principles of our Founding is essential to the future of our country. I wish the best for the new administration in building on the foundation we have laid.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fjEC2k
Via a DFL Chair Ken Martin statement, MARTIN: “The Minnesota GOP has been completely captured by the most extreme, fringe activists in Minnesota politics. Control of Minnesota’s entire state government is on the ballot in 2026. Today’s chaos shows that if Minnesota Republicans regain power, they will be beholden to the same far-right fringe that now dominates the national Republican Party.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VF5tik
Via conservative group Action 4 Liberty, STATEMENT: “The liberty wing of the [Minnesota GOP] that we’ve been encouraging and training on how to get involved in the political process just removed David Hann as chair. … Hopefully Alex Plechash, the new chair, will embrace the liberty wing of the GOP! If he doesn’t, the same outcome will be waiting for him.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZGvmQ2
KLOBUCHAR: via Face the Nation, VERBATIM: “Well, first of all, the administration has repeatedly assured people that they are safe. However, one, we need a briefing for the members of the Senate to figure out what's going on here. Two, we need more transparency and three, I appreciated some of the Congressman's words, because what he is talking about is we need to have a new regulatory rules in place here… So I believe, and I've long advocated for this, that while the pardon ability is part of our Constitution, we're not going to change that right? Go way back to President Lincoln, who made hard decisions himself about deserters from the army, things like that. That's been going on a long time, but we should have some kind of an outside board that governors have. Governors have the ability to give mercy to people after years have gone by, but a lot of them have boards that make recommendations and other things, instead of people just doing it in the middle of the night and people in the White House. This makes no sense to me–“ WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3BxVJzO
LEGAL FEES: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “DFL House Majority Leader Jamie Long says he will not schedule a new hearing of the House Rules and Administration Committee he chairs to reconsider a decision to pay more than $10,000 in legal fees for [Rep. Bianca Virnig] in a private workplace dispute. … [Virnig’s] settlement was for $108,224.54 and included the stipulation that each side was responsible for their own legal fees. … Deputy Republican House Leader Harry Niska strongly disagrees that taxpayers should pay a lawmaker’s legal fees in a private employment dispute.”
LONG: “I understand the desire to try and use this for partisan advantage, but look, Rep. Bianca Virnig was taken advantage of by her employer. They violated the law. … The GOP in the committee said they wanted us to go to court. That would have been even more [money] on either side. … If we want to hold employers more accountable in the future, make them responsible for paying attorneys’ fees, I’m open to that.”
NISKA: “That was the wrong approach. And unfortunately, that’s been the theme with the Walz Administration and the Democrat trifecta, which is taxpayers lose and DFL insiders win. … Ultimately, the attorneys should be paid out of that [settlement]. Whether there’s some way to hold the leaders of Brightworks accountable, I think that’s a question we’re going to be looking into.”
See the full article for more details. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3BkZKaJ
FRAUD: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “The return to divided government and a potential $5 billion deficit on the horizon are expected to reignite a debate at the Minnesota Legislature over curtailing fraud. … One big challenge, as a former deputy commissioner of the Department of Human Services [explained], is that fraud investigations are time and resource-intensive, with money sometimes continuing to flow while authorities and staff build their case. And when there's a crackdown, some fraudsters simply look ‘for greener pastures’ in a different program. … [Gov. Tim Walz] is expected to release a new fraud prevention package before the next session.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Zzsftj
MORE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “GOP Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth said her caucus will push for answers and accountability next year when they co-chair committees. … Sen. Heather Gustafson, DFL-Vadnais Heights, wants to create an independent Office of Inspector General to crack down on fraud, [but] Demuth said Minnesota does not need to add another department to curtail the problem. [She] believes agencies should be held accountable for fraud under their watch.” DEMUTH: “There should be bipartisan support to stopping the fraud in Minnesota, and it doesn't include growing government.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3BuK18Z
MORE: In response to the FBI searching Minnesota autism centers last week to investigate Medicaid fraud, state Rep. Elliott Engen (R-36A) called for Gov. Tim Walz to resign. ENGEN: “Another day, another corruption scandal. Gov. Tim Walz has overseen it all. He should resign in disgrace.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4iEsufq
BUDGET: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “A shrinking surplus coming into 2026 and a $5 billion deficit ahead in 2028 raise important questions about how and why Minnesota has arrived at this point after an $18 billion surplus in 2023. After Minnesota Management and Budget released its November forecast, some lawmakers quickly jumped on the opportunity to point fingers. … [But] Minnesota economy experts pointed to a few primary factors as the cause for the potential shortfall: fewer federal funds, sales and income tax decreases, inflation and government overspending.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BxgUSA
FREE: Fluence Advisory is hosting fmr. MMB Commissioners Jim Schowalter and Tom Hanson for a conversation about the budget forecast and process. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/MNBudget2025
INAUGURATION: via Axios, VERBATIM: “More than a dozen congressional Democrats plan to sit out President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, and many more are anxiously grappling with whether to attend. … Martin Luther King Jr. Day coinciding with the Jan. 20 inaugural ceremony gives many Democrats an easy out, though others planning to stay away cited a distaste for inaugurations, a loathing of Trump — and even fears for their safety. … Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said that attending MLK Day events instead ‘makes sense, because why risk any chaos that might be up here [in DC]?’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gaIST4
CONGRESS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “There will be 220 GOP seats and 215 Democratic seats when the 119th Congress is gaveled in on Jan. 3, but two GOP lawmakers will resign their seats to be confirmed to jobs in the Trump administration [and] Rep. Matt Gaetz has said he will not serve. … So, the breakdown in the House would fall to 217-215 until special elections are held to fill those GOP vacancies. … That narrow margin will be a challenge to Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer, R-6th District, who as GOP whip is tasked with rounding up votes for that agenda. … The House majority was decided by just 7,309 votes across three districts — one each in Iowa, Colorado and Pennsylvania. … ‘The Republicans are overstating their election victory,’ said lobbyist and former Minnesota GOP congressman Vin Weber at a University of Minnesota panel.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gxRoeE
MSU: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota college professor is fending off flak from a congressman after a private, ‘facetious’ post by the professor was made public. Rep. Brad Finstad this week accused Kevin Parsneau, political science professor at Minnesota State, Mankato, of ‘advocating in support of the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.’ Finstad, whose district contains Mankato, called for the university’s leadership to demand Parsneau’s resignation. … Parsneau on Friday said his comments were not meant to be serious; they were posted in a private group and taken out of context by people he called ‘cancel culture advocates.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Djybza
UMN: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A day after the Minneapolis City Council failed to pass a resolution supporting campus activists, a group of students interrupted a University of Minnesota Board of Regents meeting Friday. They’re continuing to demand that the school divest from Israel and weapons manufacturers. About ten students interrupted the meeting twice. … Junior Fae Hodges is an organizer with Students for a Democratic Society. They said students will keep protesting as long as administrators aren’t sitting down to discuss their demands.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iBwInM
POT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz weighed in [on] the Office of Cannabis Management’s decision to cancel an early cannabis license preapproval lottery after a judge blocked it last month. … Walz said he wasn’t surprised that litigation tied up the licensing process, saying, ‘I talked to other governors — this happens in every state.’ But he said he is disappointed that Minnesota won’t preapprove some social equity applicants.” WALZ: “We’re not going to get hung up on that. Just move forward. … The market, the supply and demand, will catch up. When they first launch, will there be shops that aren’t able to fill them? Probably. Look, by the end of ‘27 or so, the ‘28 season, they’ll make up for it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BrdmkJ
LISTENING, LEARNING AND REDEFINING INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS: “We want to build partnerships with Indigenous Nations. We continue to listen to and learn from Indigenous leaders and communities, and that’s informing how we engage communities in B.C. and across North America,” said CEO Greg Ebel of Enbridge’s approach to be the “first-choice partner” for Indigenous Nations interested in pursuing energy infrastructure opportunities. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3Yht20R (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
MPLS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “On its surface, several things made this week’s Minneapolis budget unique from any budget prior, [such as] the City Council passing the mayor’s proposed budget with a record 71 amendments. … But in Minneapolis, additional factors fed the unique aspects of this year’s budget process: next year’s elections for all City Council members and the mayor, plus the first budget cycle under a progressive majority council that’s often at odds with [Mayor Jacob Frey]. … While council member Jeremiah Ellison [said] he did see partisanship deepening between the council and city administration, he emphasized that he does not see this divide driven by council leadership, but rather by the Frey administration.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VHsKjE
MORE: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “North Minneapolis council member LaTrisha Vetaw tells WCCO's Adam Carter she's not happy with how some of her colleagues awarded funding for ward-specific projects [in the new budget]. … With all council seats up for re-election this fall, Vetaw says she's happy it appears there will be more ‘moderate’ challengers running for the council. … Those thoughts were also echoed by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who told WCCO Radio on Thursday ‘pet projects’ were too much of a focus.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3VHCjzj
MAYOR: via Mike Norton, former Minneapolis DFL Vice Chair, VERBATIM: “At Senator Omar Fateh’s mayoral campaign kickoff event, Council Member Jamal Osman just said: ‘I had a conversation with Jacob Frey, and I told him our [Somali] community helped elect him twice, but we have Omar Fateh now.’” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4iCsGM0
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The city of St. Paul and Ramsey County have abandoned plans to purchase St. Christopher’s Place, a Marshall Avenue rooming house, from Catholic Charities and install 30 to 35 housing units for the chronically homeless. … The [site] had drawn opposition from neighbors and questions from some members of the St. Paul City Council. The St. Paul Planning Commission had been scheduled Friday morning to review a conditional use permit application for the supportive housing facility…[but] rather than pursue relief from the separation requirement, Catholic Charities withdrew its application at the city and county’s request.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZAvDE5
MORE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and the city council approved spending to add seven new firefighters in 2025, marking the first time new staff has been added to the St. Paul Fire Department (SPFD) since 2009. It also means a fully-staffed engine crew at Fire Station 7 on the city’s East Side — which also marks the first time in nearly 70 years that a new rig has been put in circulation with a full staffing of firefighters to complement it.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41TXwtR
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)
CD2: via a Rep. Angie Craig press release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging them to pass legislation significant to Minnesota's Second Congressional District through the House before the end of the 118th Congress. Rep. Craig is pushing to get Minnesotans the support they need to combat the fentanyl crisis, lower costs for families and keep police officers safe on the job.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3BwQYGu
STRIKE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “New Hope nursing home workers went on strike Friday morning, joining the picket lines amid ongoing union negotiations. Workers at Woodlake Nursing Home walked out on Friday at 6 a.m., joining their fellow SEIU union members in a five-day paid strike against conditions at the nursing home. … The strike will continue through Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 6 a.m.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VGfdJ4
WATER: via a Rep. Ilhan Omar press release, VERBATIM: “[Last] week, the House of Representatives passed language from Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Sen. Tina Smith to protect the future of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). This legislation provides authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to carry out water resources development projects and conduct studies to provide improvements to the nation's ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources infrastructure.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZBcVMQ
DEER: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “A deer harvested near Wheaton in western Minnesota during the opening weekend of firearms season has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported. … The buck was harvested within Deer Permit Area 271 along the Minnesota-South Dakota border. To date, no wild deer with CWD had been previously detected in that area, nearby permit areas or near the Minnesota border in eastern South Dakota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49GGp05
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 in January. Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
FARMINGTON: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Farmington residents, alarmed by the prospect of a sprawling data center campus in their rural neighborhood, dug into the details and the background of the developer. They traded articles showing the vast reserves of water and electricity needed to sustain data centers. They implored the Farmington City Council to stop the project. And now, unsuccessful on those fronts, they’re taking their battle to court. … The group, organized under the Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development, is asking a Dakota County judge to issue an order temporarily suspending city officials from negotiating further.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DsSA4D
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Conflicting proposals for addressing potential land-use changes outside city limits in Olmsted Council revolve around who makes the final decision — county commissioners or the affected city council. The county is proposing an update to its land-use plan, seeking to clarify a process for reviewing future changes to the related map, which includes areas designated for potential city growth. … Rochester officials, however, have proposed their own modifications, giving the Rochester City Council the final say on whether a property could be removed from the urban service area.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Dl4aPy
DULUTH: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “Bringing the city’s water system into compliance with state and federal standards won’t come cheap. In fact, city staff have laid out a corrective action plan that likely will cost Duluth about $41 million to execute. … Many of the improvements regulators have required were already on the city’s radar and to-do list, according to Jim Benning, director of Duluth’s public works and utilities division. But he said an ensuing federal order will force the city to considerably condense the timeline. … To fund the work, the city proposes to levy a water infrastructure surcharge on customers’ monthly water bills.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fjFB2w
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: https://fluence-media.co/3O2nzH0 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
From Friday’s Fluence newsletters:
POT: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “When you talk to people in different Minnesota cities about how they are preparing for the arrival of recreational cannabis sales sometime next year you will find many different approaches. The Minnesota Legislature set most of the rules about cultivation and sale of recreational marijuana in spring 2023. However, the state left several key decisions within local control, including whether cities can allow more than a set minimum of shops. In southern Minnesota, Mankato is preparing carefully — and cautiously.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DfoTnF
AMTRAK: via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “When Amtrak’s new Borealis train from St. Paul to Chicago debuted in May, early ridership data were so strong it set off waves of attention. Borealis became the transportation fashion statement of the summer for a cadre of very online people. Mainstream media took notice. … [It’s] extraordinary for a rather bare bones train that serves an existing Amtrak route. But the hype is real, or the hype made it real. Amtrak’s fiscal year ended Sept. 30 and four-plus months of ridership data says Borealis justified the decade-long quest to improve service in the corridor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49AGJgV
BIOFUELS: via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “There’s concern Small Refinery Exemptions could ramp up during President Donald Trump’s second term. Minnesota Biofuels Association executive director Brian Werner suggests the SRE program was abused by the first Trump administration. ‘We have a lot of concern that there will be a reprise of giving out Small Refinery Exemptions to large oil companies to release them from their blending obligations.’ Small Refinery Exemptions are temporary waivers that EPA can grant to petroleum refineries that produce less than 75,000 barrels of crude oil per day that can demonstrate compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard would cause them to experience disproportionate economic hardship.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4isY4wx
MORE 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
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will attend the Presidential Elector Reception.
TODAY: via an MDH advisory, VERBATIM: “Officials will mark the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (signed into law on Dec. 16, 1974), by sharing highlights of a new Drinking Water Action Plan and the Lead Service Line Replacement Program.” The event is at 10:00 a.m.
WED: Fluence Advisory is hosting fmr. MMB Commissioners Jim Schowalter and Tom Hanson for a conversation about the budget forecast and process. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/MNBudget2025
BDAYS: fmr. AG Lori Swanson, Minneapolis watchdog Jan Unstad, GOP staffer Minjee Kang, Democratic operative Mark Sump, attorney Ted Grindal, attorney James Mogen, lobbyist Brian McDaniel
SHARE: Signing up for Fluence tip sheets is easy. Please share with your friends, colleagues and family. HERE: http://bit.ly/2019FluenceTipSheets
TIPS: How do we get the best news and most buzzed about stories? Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
Fluence Media curates, produces and distributes specialized media products to thought leadership audiences across the Midwest and about the region. Our publications cover, politics, public policy, health care, agriculture, business, real estate, sports and more. Visit www.fluence-media.com to learn more.
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.
Copyright © 2024 Fluence Media, All rights reserved.
Thanks for reading The Daily Agenda! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.