HEALTH CARE CHAOS
Today, The State of Health Care… The State of Health Care — a Fluence Forum with legislators and experts covering the big picture in a disrupted market. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/StateofHealthCare
Thanks to our partners the Minnesota Hospital Association, Stinson LLP and Essentia Health.
A warm up today, and more poll numbers tonight from KSTP. Nobody won the $1 billion + PowerBall. There’s still a chance.
St. Paul and Minneapolis housing policies…imagine that another national story about Minnesota policies that are challenge our economic growth, this time from the Wall Street Journal. READ: https://fluence-media.co/44to2uo
Instead of selling to Amazon for $1.4 billion due to antitrust and privacy concerns, IRobot will now sell to a Chinese manufacturer in bankruptcy. Huh.
Fentanyl was classified a “weapon of mass destruction.” by President Trump. POLITICO: https://fluence-media.co/4iWPOWh
Happy National Chocolate Covered Everything Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take featured analysis of who Republicans want for governor and Anders Folk discussing his run for Hennepin County Attorney. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oTaKic
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com ? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ:https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
TOP OF TUESDAY
TODAY: Special primaries will be held in House Districts 47A and 64A to determine final matchups for the special elections on Jan. 27. Candidates are seeking to replace Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger and Kaohly Her, respectively, after they moved to other offices. In 2024, Hemmingsen-Jaeger won her race by over 21% and Her won her race by nearly 67% — therefore, the winners of the DFL primaries today are favored to prevail in January.
In 64A you have a battle between six DFLers including party activist Beth Fraser and Dan McGrath, as well as DFL endorsed Meg Luger-Nikolai and health care executive Lois Quam. Matt Hill and John Zwier are also running.
In 47A the DFL endorsed candidate Shelley Buck, faces David Azcona and Juli Servatius. There’s no Republican filed in this seat meaning DFLers will hold.
GUNS: Gov. Tim Walz will sign two executive orders on guns at 11:30 a.m. Per a release, they will “establish a Statewide Safety Council, provide more data on what gun violence costs our state, and improve education on safe storage.” Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, Rep. Emma Greenman and others will attend.
SD19: via news release, VERBATIM: “State Senator John Jasinski of Faribault announced Tuesday he will run for re-election in 2026, asking residents of Goodhue, Rice, Steele, and Waseca Counties to send him back to St. Paul to continue pushing for safer roads, stronger oversight of state spending, and a more affordable Minnesota.”
POLL: Via KSTP, Minnesota voters are negative on the Trump Administration’s immigration strategy, but mixed on its treatment of Somali Americans “when it comes to fraud.” Results are summarized below.
ICE operations in Minnesota — 41% approve, 56% disapprove, 3% unsure
Federal immigration policy — 43% approve, 53% disapprove, 3% unsure
Treatment of Somalis on fraud — 42% treated fairly, 34% treated unfairly, 24% unsure
DATA: https://fluence-media.co/48X8CQE
USSSEN: Rep. Angie Craig is circulating a poll of her performance against anticipated Republican Michelle Tafoya vs. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s performance. The memo shows a tight race regardless, but gives Craig an advantage. MEMO: https://fluence-media.co/3XU8OuP
Tomorrow, the next MNSider for Premium subscribers on the DFL Race for the US Senate. To see the MNSider analysis of the MN GOP Governor’s race. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MwXySK
ICE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested several people and clashed with protesters near Karmel Mall in south Minneapolis on Monday afternoon. Tensions flared around the intersection of West Lake Street and Pillsbury Avenue, with dozens of observers recording video and blowing whistles to alert others to ICE activity. … At least four people were arrested. … Video shared by Sen. Omar Fateh shows clashes between federal agents and protesters, with law enforcement using pepper spray while protesters threw snowballs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iZBFY7
WALZ: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Democrats argue that a midterm election that’s a referendum on President Donald Trump [will] work in Gov. Tim Walz’s favor. … But renewed national scrutiny of fraud in state programs — and the governor’s response in recent media interviews — has fueled even more nerves and hand-wringing among Democratic insiders. … ‘Walz feels like the best shot at winning and also the biggest liability all at once,’ one DFL operative, granted anonymity to speak candidly, told Axios. … Hamline University political science professor David Schultz told Axios that Walz’s vulnerabilities and the lack of a competitive DFL primary risks ‘creating a Biden problem’ for Democrats [where] ‘the pressure on him is so bad he’s going to either have to leave or the Democrats are completely saddled with a candidate who can’t win.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jiOdu9
ROBBINSDALE: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Dozens of parents went before the Robbinsdale School Board Monday to oppose its proposal to close five schools and the Educational Services Building…In the end, the board voted to close three schools as well as the Educational Services building, as they work to tackle a $21 million budget deficit… The debt is also so deep that the district is now required to submit a corrective financial plan to the Minnesota Department of Education and the state will monitor that moving forward. That plan is due by Jan. 31, 2026, but many parents are asking the board to pause any closures in the meantime.” WATCH/READ: https://fluence-media.co/4admt7A
A new level of insight and information….
Fluence Media introduces more - Insider Analysis & Insight from TheDailyAgenda.com
Regular deep-dive political analysis and breaking news
Monthly insight-filled briefing memo on Minnesota and Midwest economy
Early access to our Fluence Forum audio and video assets.
A morning take mug
SNAP STUMBLES
SNAP: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Human Services repeatedly reported incorrect information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to the federal government. … Information on how much money Minnesota distributed to SNAP recipients and how many people were found to have defrauded the system is not accurate in three different reports compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a DCYF spokesperson confirmed. … The state agency said it has discussed a plan to resubmit the information to the USDA [after] the state ‘mistakenly included Pandemic EBT’ in its form [and] ‘double counted these expenditures.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3N3w07q
RESPONSES: Speaking to KSTP, GOP Rep. Brad Finstad and DFL State Auditor Julie Blaha both lamented the reporting error in the state’s SNAP data.
FINSTAD: “You guys can’t even get your numbers right. How do we trust that you’re administering these precious taxpayer dollars appropriately to our neighbors in need?”
BLAHA: “When you have a brand new program and you have some very, very technical, very precise ways of categorizing the data, that’s not a surprise to have something miscategorized. … We’re going to fix it.”
FED FUNDS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump Administration’s effort to withhold Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding to Democratic-led states that refused to hand over certain personal data about SNAP recipients. The list of 21 states included California, New York and Minnesota. … [Requested] data on individual SNAP recipients included Social Security numbers, dates of birth and immigration status.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4s0oiei
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)
ICE PUSHBACK
MSP: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “The immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities metro area was front and center at a Monday meeting of the panel that has oversight of the airports in the region. … Concerned rideshare drivers and faith leaders asked the Metropolitan Airports Commission to do more in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity at those airports. … Brian Ryks, executive director and CEO of the commission, said the panel [has] asked airport police to install surveillance cameras. … But there is only so much the commission can do in response, he explained. Airport police cannot interfere with ICE.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pfJdYB
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
INVESTIGATION: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Labor says a ‘targeted review’ will be conducted of several benefits programs in Minnesota. … The federal agency stated that ‘concerns of recent reports of fraud, waste and abuse might compromise the integrity’ of Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance Program. … The targeted review will be aimed at ‘alleged discoveries’ found within several benefits programs, including Minnesota’s Federal Child Nutrition Program, Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention Autism Program, and Housing Stability Services Program.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4iZQKJq
IMMIGRATION
SMALL BIZ: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown is disrupting Twin Cities businesses where immigrants buy groceries, get haircuts or find community. … That’s caused staffing challenges and a drop in foot traffic for businesses along Central Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis. … At the Yemeni coffee shop Qahwah House, employee Hassan Al Urduni estimated that business this week was down about 20% compared to last week. … Other nearby businesses reported similar drops in traffic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4afVDvF
ENFORCEMENT: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “A new legal opinion from the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office could jeopardize counties’ participation in federal immigration enforcement. The guidance, released Friday, says state law bars Minnesota sheriffs from unilaterally entering into agreements with federal immigration officials; those contracts can only be approved by county boards of commissioners. ICE says it has agreements with eight Minnesota sheriff’s offices, [but] it’s unclear how many of those agreements have been approved by county boards. The Crow Wing County Board did not approve the agreement between its sheriff’s office and ICE.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49bv8Gw
MORE: Via Office of the Atty. General, the legal opinion on sheriffs and ICE cooperation. OPINION: https://fluence-media.co/3KzTtfY
ICE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Rep. Ilhan Omar said federal immigration agents pulled over her son on Saturday and asked him to prove his citizenship. … ‘After he made a stop at Target, he did get pulled over by [ICE], and once he was able to produce his passport ID, they did let him go,’ Omar said in an interview. … WCCO has reached out to ICE about the incident. … On Friday, Omar sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem and Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, accusing federal agents of ‘blatant racial profiling’ and ‘an egregious level of unnecessary force’ in the Twin Cities.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pzpR1h
MORE: Via Rep. Ilhan Omar, her letter to DHS on “racial profiling” is available online. Omar also joined Reps. Angie Craig, Kelly Morrison and Betty McCollum in a second letter to DHS regarding Temporary Protected Status. LETTERS: https://fluence-media.co/3XXk89t
ECONOMY
CHILDCARE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Parents in Minnesota have felt the impact of rising child care costs, and the increase is linked, at least in part, to an industrywide shift. There’s been a major decline in in-home child care options as more expensive child care centers have rapidly expanded. … Family child care facilities have been cut in half, with over 75,000 closures in the last two decades. Meanwhile, child care centers have expanded at a similar pace. … Centers often have more staffing and activity options, but this comes at a higher price. … The average weekly cost of childcare statewide is $396 for infants in centers, compared to $190 for family care.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4s0dAoh
POT: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians will soon be able to distribute cannabis to stores throughout the state after Gov. Tim Walz and the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) signed a cooperative agreement Monday. The Red Lake Band’s NativeCare dispensary was the first to sell legal adult-use recreational cannabis. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3YsnlxV
HOCKEY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The Pioneer Press has confirmed through multiple sources that the new Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame complex will be built in Inver Grove Heights, with construction expected to begin in the summer of 2026. The official announcement will be coming Wednesday. … Eveleth, Minn., has been the home of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame for more than 50 years. The new facility, unaffiliated with the USHHF, would focus specifically on hockey in Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45ayRSe
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: Flint Hills Resources was just awarded the 2025 Large Business of the Year award from the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce at their annual Business Excellence Awards celebration. The award celebrates the outstanding achievements of businesses that exemplify the thriving and growing spirit of Dakota County. The businesses honored make an impact and contribute to the continued success of our community. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/46lTpIs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
AROUND MN
HENN CTY: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Hennepin County paid around $370,000 to cover back wages and benefits for more than 100 contracted security guards after conducting an investigation into alleged wage theft by Black Knight Protection Agency and finding itself partly responsible. … The underpayments were uncovered by SEIU Local 26, a union that represents thousands of Twin Cities security guards and janitors, though notably not Black Knight workers. … The union is pushing for the county to adopt a ‘responsible contractor’ policy to prevent workers from being shorted wages in the future.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XWyhUw
ST PAUL: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Hmong parents in St. Paul set out Monday to voice their frustrations with the state’s second-largest district through a novel form of protest: keeping their kids at home for the day. Hundreds of kids stayed home Monday, organizers said, to show opposition to a lack of buy-in on a plan to address overcrowding. … Their aim is to ease pressure at Txuj Ci school by splitting off and moving its Hmong Studies program to a former East Side early-learning center. But the proposal, which could come to a vote at a school board meeting this week, has yet to win over Superintendent Stacie Stanley. She wants any facilities changes to be considered as part of a districtwide building review.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MJVfeY
APPLE VALLEY: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Dozens of students at Apple Valley High School walked out of class Monday afternoon in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Twin Cities. Students held handmade signs and waved flags from the United States, Somalia, and Venezuela, among others.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4j2Khxk
PINE ISLAND: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) has filed a lawsuit to try to stop the development of a data center in Pine Island. … MCEA requested a temporary restraining order [against] the city of Pine Island — one of two defendants along with Ryan Companies, the developer behind a potential data center. … MCEA said the request filed in Goodhue District Court seeks to halt the project until the court has the opportunity to weigh in. … A court date is set for Feb. 2, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48FOWSn
THE WEEK
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz will sign two executive orders on guns at 11:30 a.m. Per a release, they will “establish a Statewide Safety Council, provide more data on what gun violence costs our state, and improve education on safe storage.” Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, Rep. Emma Greenman and others will attend.
TODAY: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “Mayor Jacob Frey will join small business and religious leaders to highlight the chilling effect that [federal] immigration policies have had on the Latino community in Minneapolis, including Latino-owned small businesses.” The event is at 9:15 a.m.
TODAY: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison will announce a major development in the bipartisan, multi-state investigation he is co-leading into Hyundai and Kia. … [Ellison] will be joined by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Saint Paul Police Chief Axel Henry, and [others].” The event is at 10:30 a.m.
TOMORROW: The House fraud prevention committee will meet at 10:00 a.m. to discuss assisted living and adult day services with representatives from the Dept. of Health and Dept. of Human Services.
THURSDAY: The Senate subcommittee on federal impacts will meet at 10:00 a.m. with an unannounced agenda.
BDAYS: Minneapolis watcher Jan Unstad, fmr. Atttorney General Lori Swanson, phone guy Mark Sump, attorney James Mogen, lobbyist and golfer Ted Grindahl, lobbyist Brian McDaniel, Win Minnesota’s Denise Cardinal
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.
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.
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 © 2025 Fluence Media, All rights reserved.