FROST FREE FRIDAY
Flags are at half-staff in honor of White Bear Lake’s Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor. Her family has a fundraiser to build a greenhouse in her memory. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3OTgcFt
A week of news flow from Iran, to TGT and other news this week.
Every Friday feels more like relief these days. Spring those clocks ahead, warm weather weekend ahead – and golf courses opening.
Take the walk, enjoy the melt. Relax this weekend.
Wolves win. BHS Hockey to watch this weekend.
Winter weather will hit western Minnesota and the arrowhead today. MAPS: https://fluence-media.co/4cBBUaZ
Pew Research finds that the U.S. is the only major country where a majority of residents (53%) think their fellow citizens are “morally bad” overall. In Canada, only 7% say their population is amoral. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/4cpSfiN
Sunday Take will be about another important issue – workforce. Tune-in at 9AM – on WCCO with key excerpts from the MN Chamber Workforce Summit. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/WCCOLive
It’s National Speech and Debate Education Day…for those readers who used to compete.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
What is the political future of Jacob Frey? READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s8IOc7
Sunday Take discussed the future of mining on the Iron Range with GOP Rep. Spencer Igo, DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild and Mining Minnesota CEO Julie Lucas. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4seg0ij
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker. https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
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The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
It’s political convention season to watch this week, one convention to watch is Republican SD37. This is a potential pick-up for the DFL with Sen. Warren Limmer is retiring, Rep. Kristin Robbins is running for Governor leaving an open House seat and an open Senate seat.
Many have tried to pressure Robbins to drop out of the Governor’s race and run for Senate. She hasn’t, and shouldn’t feel the pressure. Meanwhile DFLers see two pick up opportunities in the district.
There are 241 days until the November election…follow all the races at the Fluence Election Tracker. https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
MNLEG MOVES
GUNS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A person with a permit to carry can now have their firearm when at the [Capitol]. People without a permit cannot. Sponsored by Rep. Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake), HF3357 would also prohibit permit-to-carry holders from possessing firearms in the Capitol Area. An exception would be made for House security staff. … The bill failed to garner House State Government Finance and Policy Committee approval Thursday along party lines.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ucciHZ
FED AGENTS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is among several states considering legislation that would allow someone to recoup damages and attorney’s fees if they can prove a federal official violated their constitutional rights. … Minnesota DFL lawmakers say they are aware similar legislation in Illinois is being challenged in court, [but] they are taking steps to respond. … Rep. Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, [said] the bill wouldn’t violate the Supremacy Clause because it doesn’t actually assert state law over federal law; instead, it just tries to ensure federal officials follow the Constitution. And as written, the bill doesn’t single out immigration officials in light of the Illinois lawsuit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40b3qEP
FERTILITY: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A bill that would require insurance coverage for fertility treatments advanced out of a Minnesota Senate committee on Thursday. … The proposal, which has bipartisan backing, would require coverage after a medical diagnosis of infertility and cap cost-sharing so it doesn’t exceed limits set for maternity coverage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b5XXE7
LEAD: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “A Biden-era federal mandate, which the Trump Administration plans to follow through on, compels states to replace lead service lines by 2037. … [But] state or federal funding won’t last beyond 2027 unless further action is taken. That’s why the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, as part of a group informally known as the ‘lead pipes coalition,’ is advocating for $250 million in lead line replacement funding from the Legislature.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rxYANb
RENT: via MPR, VERBATIM: “A measure is making its way through Senate committees to help Minnesotans struggling to pay rent. Some Minnesota legislators say the state is facing an eviction crisis after cuts to federal welfare programs and months of ICE operations. A bill would allocate $40 million to a one-time rental assistance program. … The bill passed to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OT8YkP
ABUSE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “A new bill is about to be introduced at the Minnesota State Capitol to improve how suspicious domestic violence deaths are investigated. … Democratic Senator Mary Kunesh plans to introduce [the bill] to the legislature next week. … The new bill would make several policy changes, including requiring a coroner or officer interview a family member about abuse concerns, a review of any documents related to that abuse and further police training about altered crime scenes.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4b9pxQS
A new level of insight and information….
FIRED
NOEM/MULLIN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump announced he has fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, [and] Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin would be replacing her. … Three Minnesota Democrats in the House of Representatives – Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison – indicated that Senate Democrats should hold up the confirmation process for Mullin until DHS reforms are secured. … Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in an interview she does not think she will support Mullin ‘simply because of the policies of this administration.’ But [Klobuchar] said she’s worked with Mullin in the past and wants to talk to him about reforming the agency and thinks he will listen to her. … Though [Tina] Smith is not yet sure how she plans to vote, she said she’s not confident right now that Mullin leading DHS will ‘fundamentally change’ anything.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46EUtHp
MORE: Via NBC News, the president said Sec. Kristi Noem’s last day at the Dept. of Homeland Security will be March 31 and he will make her a “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a new security-related position. GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin will need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, but he can serve as acting secretary while his nomination is pending. Mullin told reporters he “wasn’t expecting the call today,” but it was “not a complete surprise.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bdxZih
REACTIONS: Many DFLers indicated they were glad Sec. Kristi Noem was leaving her role, but the Star Tribune and Forum News Service both reported that very few Minnesota Republicans have shared public comments on the news.
● Via DFL Sen. Tina Smith statement, SMITH: “Her firing is welcome news, but it is much too late. Firing Kristi Noem will not bring back Alex Pretti. It will not bring back Renee Good. … Until Congress passes meaningful restraints to rein in ICE’s terror, nothing will substantively change. ICE will take its reckless and dangerous behavior to whichever city or town the President decides to target next.”
● Via GOP state Rep. Isaac Schultz statement, SCHULTZ: “Our job is to demand better of government, and I think that in this instance, we want to see immigration enforcement be more effective and done better and protecting people’s constitutional rights. … [Pres. Donald Trump] is going to choose the people who can best execute the mission to make America great again.”
CONTEMPT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s top federal prosecutor acknowledged ‘mistakes that have been made’ during another contempt hearing Thursday over the U.S. government’s failure to abide by court orders. … U.S. District Judge John Tunheim ordered the hearing to hear from U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and lawyers representing the immigrants who claim the U.S. government defied directives to immediately return their clients’ personal property after a ruling they’d been unlawfully detained. … Rosen [said] the agency sometimes had to prioritize releasing a person on time per a court’s orders over waiting to release the detainee along with their property.” ROSEN: “There are mistakes that have been made. But that is a far, far cry from contempt of court.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b7OT1D
POLLS: Following the U.S. House hearing on fraud in Minnesota, GOP Rep. Michelle Fischbach is hosting X/Twitter polls asking whether Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison would deserve “jail time” if they “knowingly retaliated against whistleblowers and allowed fraud.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/46JlERv
MINNESOTA’S ATV RIDERS ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS: Last September, hundreds of riders joined the ATV Minnesota President’s Ride — families, veterans, small business owners, and volunteers from across the state. They represent thousands of Minnesotans who responsibly use and maintain Minnesota’s ATV trail system. As decision makers evaluate trail policy, funding, and land-use decisions this session, we invite you to hear directly from the people they represent. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4u4dGw9 (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
MORE LAWSUITS….
TARIFFS: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison and a coalition of attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block President Donald Trump’s [newest] efforts to increase tariffs worldwide without congressional approval. … [He] turned to a separate law that has never been used before — Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 — and announced 15 percent tariffs on most products worldwide, seemingly to address trade deficits. But Section 122 does not apply. That law authorizes tariffs in limited circumstances, including when there are ‘large and serious balance-of-payments deficits.’ Notably, a trade deficit is not a balance-of-payment deficit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4suI80V
TEXAS: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Attorney for Minnesota told a federal judge Thursday that ICE detainees are no longer being sent to El Paso, TX because there are enough beds in Minnesota. … U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen [said] it is unlikely for [transfers] to continue now that the surge is over, calling it a ‘product of the numbers’ from the operation.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ucYq03
CONGRESS
WAR POWERS: via Axios, VERBATIM: “The House on Thursday rejected an effort to advance legislation that would restrict President Donald Trump from using further military action in Iran. The failed vote amounts to an endorsement of Trump’s military campaign in Iran from Congress, which has the constitutional authority to declare war. The 212-219 vote comes one day after the Senate rejected a similar measure, mainly along party lines.” Minnesota’s representatives all voted on party lines. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4squrzQ
FRAUD: via Rep. Michelle Fischbach advisory, VERBATIM: “Representative Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) introduced the Federal Funds Whistleblower Protection Extension Act to safeguard taxpayer dollars by expanding federal whistleblower protections to state and local government employees, contractors, and subcontractors. This legislation ensures accountability for federal funds by protecting those who report fraud, waste, and abuse and by strictly prohibiting government officials from retaliating against whistleblowers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lckGDb
MEATPACKING: via Sen. Tina Smith advisory, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Promoting Regulatory Independence, Mastery, and Expansion for Meat Processing in Indian Country Act. … This bill will support tribal meat processing operations by establishing self-governance authority for the inspection of tribal meat processing facilities. This authority would keep processing local and available and facilities running smoothly and safely.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rTGhD3
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)
STATE ISSUES
COUNTIES: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota county officials were at the Capitol yesterday, lobbying legislators to modernize the IT systems for human services and to give them some relief from increased costs from federal and state changes [like] the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ and state-mandated programs. … The operating systems for human services programs for counties are several decades old, which complicates their administrative work. They’re asking for the state to fund an update to those systems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OT8YkP
CITIES: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Twin Cities suburbs spent tens of thousands of dollars on police overtime and other support for residents during Operation Metro Surge, and now local leaders say they want help recouping those costs. … ‘It’s going to take some real effort and resources to try to address some of those things, because some of the impacts are immediate, and some will be ongoing,’ said Patricia Nauman, the executive director of the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, a lobbying group. Some cities are asking state legislators for help.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4snnxvf
AMMONIA: via a joint press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Made Ammonia Coalition (MMAC), announced today, brings together organizations across energy, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, environment, research, and other sectors to work together on the policy and practical steps needed to turn Minnesota’s research and resources into a real local ammonia economy, with membership continuing to grow as the coalition engages additional industries. … As a first step, the coalition is supporting a bill in the 2026 legislative session that seeks $8 million from the state’s Renewable Development Account to fund Minnesota’s first commercially available, locally produced ammonia, along with research infrastructure to support replication across the state.” WEBSITE: https://fluence-media.co/4lvZM2d
OTHER NEWS
CRYPTO: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Law enforcement officials in Minnesota are raising concerns about cryptocurrency ATM scams impacting local communities. Lynn Lawrence from the Woodbury Police Department recently addressed the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, highlighting the financial losses faced by seniors, vulnerable adults and families due to these scams. … Faribault Police Chief John Sherwin shared similar concerns. He said residents have lost over half a million dollars to crypto ATM scams since 2022.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uvcceP
WALLEYE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The choppy waters of Lake Mille Lacs’ rules on keeping walleyes appear to have calmed down for now. Anglers will have the opportunity to harvest three walleyes starting on the fishing opener Saturday, May 9. … That 3-fish limit remains the same as it was during late last summer and through the ice fishing season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sqcBwZ
340B HOSPITAL MARKUPS HURT PATIENTS: Minnesota’s latest 340B report shows covered entities generated $1.34 billion IN PROFIT in 2024, including an estimated $261 million from Medicaid prescriptions. Independent research finds the program raises costs for patients, taxpayers, and employers statewide. Minnesota should sunset the 340B mandate and Congress should fix the federal 340B program, so it actually helps patients. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3OLZOGG(SPONSORED: PhRMA)
LOCAL
MPLS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis City Council has voted to extend the required eviction notice timeline for renters. Council members and advocates in favor of the resolution say it’ll help residents who have been struggling to pay rent during the surge of federal agents in Minnesota. … The new policy requires landlords to give tenants 60 days’ notice before filing for eviction, instead of 30 days. The extension expires on July 31.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rf4iTI
MINNETONKA: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Minnetonka police have been using drones for 911 calls for six months, and say the technology is exceeding their expectations. They’ve deployed drones for over 400 calls since August. Minnetonka was among the first in the state to adopt this technology, anticipating other departments would follow. … Data from the department shows drones resolve 20% of calls without officer intervention, with drones arriving first 65% of the time. … [However], privacy concerns have been raised about the program.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40auHXV
INVER GROVE HGTS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Demolition crews are clearing a site on the border of Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul that, according to preliminary talks, could find a second life as a data center. A zoning and land use application for a data center was filed last week for the 14-acre site. … Inver Grove Heights city staff said this week they had not completed a review of the application, which was received Feb. 26, and could not comment on what it includes. Zoning for the site in question currently allows for a data center as a permitted use.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4rUukgo
WILD ABOUT READING: Join more than 800 Minnesota classrooms and 30,000 students 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, Paulie; 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/49AHNSE (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
ACROSS MN
WHITE BEAR LAKE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Community members are reacting to the news one of the six U.S. service members that was killed during the Iran conflict was from White Bear Lake. State Senator Heather Gustafson (DFL-Vadnais Heights) represents White Bear Lake and spoke about her during a veterans subcommittee. ‘Today our community is grieving the loss of one of our own,’ she said. … The City of White Bear Lake ordered flags to be flown at half-staff. Mayor Mary Nicklawske released this statement.” NICKLAWSKE: “As a devoted wife, mother and neighbor, her absence will be felt by all who knew her. … Her memory will be honored by our city and never forgotten.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3PiHIMA
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Joe Powers said he’s not quite ready to announce a campaign for Rochester’s mayoral seat, but he’s exploring the possibility. ‘I’m more solid than I’ve ever been,’ said the Rochester businessman, who’s long been mentioned as a potential candidate in past elections. Powers issued a letter of intent to explore a campaign on Wednesday, two days after Rochester Mayor Kim Norton announced she won’t seek a third term.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b5pW6Z
NEXT
SESSION: The legislature has no floor sessions or committee meetings today.
TOMORROW: The Idaho Democratic Party will host Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin as keynote speakers for its Frank & Bethune Church Gala on Saturday, March 7 in Boise, ID.
NEXT WEEK: The MN Homeless Coalition will host “Homeless Day on the Hill” in the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 11. The event will focus on protecting supportive housing, per a release.
NEXT WEEK: ATV Minnesota will host a “Day on the Hill” in the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 11, with a reception at 4:30 p.m.
(DISCLOSURE: ATV Minnesota is a Fluence sponsor)
NEXT WEEK: MN Home Care Association will host “Home Care Day at the Capitol” on Thursday, March 12 at 9:00 a.m.
BDAYS: fmr. legislator Dave Lislegard, golfer Steve Harper, Vikings scribe Tom Pelissero, comms pro Amy Bryant. SAT: fmr. TPT producer Brendan Henehan SUN: IFM’s Aaron Cocking, lobbyist Jerry Seck
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.
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.