MIDWEEK MOOD
See many of you at today’s Fluence Forum on the State of Energy. You can still sign-up. REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/StateofEnergy
Was yesterday the storm before the calm? The VP’s visit could be an opportunity to find way forward. We shall see.
Wolves lost. Wild lose. Gopher MBB seems to be overperforming, but they lost to Ohio State.
Frost play Montreal tonight.
Overnight Air Force One turned around and returned to the US due to electrical issues. The President was scheduled to travel to Davos.
Brace yourselves — light snow and wind chills as low as -60F this week. MAPS: https://fluence-media.co/3LPxt0W
The Economist finds that 71% of adults think the U.S. is “out of control,” including 66% of Independents. At the start of his 6th year, Pres. Donald Trump’s approval rating is 37%. POLL: https://fluence-media.co/3Ziwk5g
Delta Airlines is the highest ranked company on Fortune’s most admired list with a major Minnesota presence. Target dropped off the list.
Happy National Hugging Day. Seems timely.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer shared thoughts on ICE, midterm elections and the state of Congress with Sunday Take. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4sLFN2v
In a must listen, Legislative Auditor Judy Randall joined Sunday Take to discuss fraud in state programs. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3YTziND
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/
TODAY The State of Energy – Fluence Forum
The State of Energy in Minnesota featuring Pete Wycoff (Deputy Commissioner of Energy Resources, Minnesota Department of Commerce),, Zac Ruzycki (Director of Resource Planning, Great River Energy) Moderated by Blois Olson of Fluence Advisory
The Future of Energy featuring Kari Groth Swan (Executive Director, MN Climate Innovation Finance Authority), PJ Martin (Vice President of Integrated Planning, Xcel Energy) Moderated by Drew Christensen
Policy Considerations for State Leaders featuring Xcel Energy, Derrick Moe (President and CEO, MN Rural Electric Association), and Lucas Franco (Research Manager of Great Lakes Regional Organizing Committee, LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota) Moderated by John Berns
Legislative Panel featuring Senator Nick Frentz and Representative Chris Swedzinski
REGISTER: https://fluence-media.co/StateofEnergy
LEADING TODAY
SENATE RACE: via WCCO TV, VERBATIM: “Former television sports reporter Michele Tafoya has filed to run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota as a Republican. … Tafoya met last week with the National Republican Senatorial Committee, according to Republican sources familiar with the meeting. The Senate GOP’s campaign arm has been recruiting Tafoya since [Tina] Smith announced she would not seek reelection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZjzC8m FILING: https://fluence-media.co/3NxlUw0
STAFF: It’s expected that Christine Snell will be the campaign manager for Tafoya’s campaign.
MORE: via Politico this morning, VERBATIM: “Michele Tafoya, the former sideline reporter for “Sunday Night Football” turned conservative commentator, launched a Minnesota Senate campaign Wednesday with the immediate support from Republicans’ campaign arm and its leader, Sen. Tim Scott. The endorsement from Scott (R-S.C.), shared first with POLITICO, gives Tafoya an immediate boost in the open seat race.”
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STRAW POLLS + POLICE
LASTNIGHT: A straw poll that had an online voting option for the Wright County Republicans last night after a debate that included seven GOP candidates last night.
Results in order: Demuth, Qualls, Robbins, Madel, Jensen, Parrish and Lindell
Through 5 straw polls shared by one insider, Demuth, Madel, Qualls, Lindell, Robbis, Jensen
The debate among the seven GOPers included some sharper elbows, directed at Speaker Lisa Demuth and Kendall Qualls suggesting they are the leading candidates. Rep. Kristin Robbins called out Demuth allowing legislators and staff to be exempt from paying the PFML tax. An interesting poke among colleagues.
CD2: Also last night CD2 DFLers including Rep. Kaela Berg, Sen. Matt Klein, and Matt Little debated in Northfield at Carleton College.
TOMORROW: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Vice President JD Vance will travel to Minnesota on Thursday, according to a source with knowledge of the visit. Details about Vance’s trip weren’t immediately available. A source familiar with his plans said Vance will hold a roundtable with stakeholders.”
ARRESTS: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “Tuesday night, Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem said arrests will be made “in the next several hours.” Noem told Newsmax the group that disrupted the service at Cities Church in St. Paul will be held accountable.”
OFFICERS: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Off-duty police officers [have] allegedly been racially profiled and harassed by federal immigration agents lacking probable cause. … Twin Cities police leaders spoke at a Tuesday press conference, with Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley saying one of his officers was recently pulled over by ICE agents who boxed in her car and demanded to see her paperwork, all with their guns drawn. … St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry said city employees [and SPPD officers] ‘have experienced some of the same things.’ … Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said she has also seen and heard instances of people being ‘stopped, questioned and harassed solely because of the color of their skin.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LWaTUv
RESPONSE: via GOP Rep. Marion Rarick on Facebook, RARICK: “ICE MUST follow the Constitution. ICE must immediately stop this behavior. ICE must stop racial profiling and violating civil rights as has been experienced and documented by LAW ENFORCEMENT. Full stop. No excuses. Just stop.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/45izQjB
MORE: via DFL Rep. Betty McCollum statement, McCOLLUM: “I stand with our law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe and earn the public’s trust. Their work is being undermined by unprofessional and undertrained federal agents.”
SUBPOENAS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The Justice Department issued a flood of subpoenas to the offices of Democratic officials in Minnesota on Tuesday — including Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul — as part of an investigation into whether they impeded federal immigration enforcement. … [Subpoenas] were also sent to officials in Ramsey and Hennepin counties. … A spokesman for the Hennepin County Attorney’s office said its Civil Division will be advising Hennepin County on its subpoena, but neither Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty nor her office has received a subpoena.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Zn4jcN
3A: via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Aaron Kania announced his campaign for the District 3A House seat on Tuesday. … Kania recently retired after serving as a U.S. Forest Service Kawishiwi District Ranger in Ely for five years. He also spent more than 20 years as a law enforcement officer in Utah and Wyoming. Kania said his campaign focuses on rural advocacy, sustainable resource use, and making sure constituents of District 3A have a seat at the table. He is also seeking the DFL endorsement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sV6YrS
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)
DC
TRUMP: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump made his first extensive comments about Renee Good, a U.S. citizen killed Jan. 7 by an ICE agent. … Trump said her death is tragic. ‘They’re going to make mistakes. Sometimes ICE is going to be too rough with somebody.’ … Trump accused Good’s wife of being an instigator the day of the shooting, [but] he hailed Good’s parents as past Trump supporters. ‘I hope he still is, I don’t know,’ Trump said of her father.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qDnrzs
CONGRESS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “On Capitol Hill this week, Congress is slated to vote on a resolution from [Rep. Pete] Stauber that would allow mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness by revoking a Biden-era protection. … If Stauber is able to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Biden-era law, it could also raise questions about similar bans implemented over the last couple of decades. … [Meanwhile], Rep. Tom Emmer is expected this week to unveil a bill that would strip naturalized citizens of their American citizenship if they are convicted of fraud.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pN8Kbu
MORE: Yesterday’s lunch take has additional coverage of new bills introduced in Congress by Minnesota’s delegation. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jNJJff
FED FUNDS: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Several state agencies were left confused after the Trump Administration threatened to withhold nearly $130 million in federal agriculture funds to the state last week, only to later walk back parts of the threat without revealing which specific programs would still be affected. That leaves a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of USDA funding for Minnesota. … Many of the affected programs included poultry and livestock disease testing services. … Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said he hopes the USDA clarifies which programs will be affected.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pIpUHj
2024: via CNN, VERBATIM: “Josh Shapiro wasn’t the only finalist to be Kamala Harris’ running mate who was asked if he had ever been an agent of a foreign government. … Tim Walz was, too. The Minnesota governor — whom Harris ultimately picked — was asked by her vetting team if he had ever been an agent of China, prompted by aides’ review of the multiple trips Walz took to China before running for office. That was the same line of questioning, four people involved with that process say, which led to top lawyer Dana Remus asking Shapiro if he had ever been an agent of Israel, in a conversation that Shapiro recounts in his memoir.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45Qc8LI
PROTESTS
CHURCH: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Organizers of an anti-ICE demonstration during a service at St. Paul’s Cities Church spoke to the media Tuesday afternoon, calling for David Easterwood, a pastor there, to resign. … Republican State Representative Isaac Schultz sent a letter to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao calling for a full state investigation and prosecution of the [protesters] involved.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bItX34
UMN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “At the University of Minnesota, workers and leaders from three unions representing campus workers and graduate students are urging President Rebecca Cunningham to shut down the U on Friday so employees can participate in the ‘general strike’ that encourages a statewide day of no work, no school and no shopping. … [Advocates] will also gather at a news conference at 11 a.m. Thursday. … The U has said it will provide online accommodations on a case-by-case basis for students who are worried about being on campus and getting to class because of ICE.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k9FZF7
SCHOOLS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Students, parents, educators and activists gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday to address the impact of ICE operations on Minnesota schools. The press conference comes after ICE agents detained students in Minneapolis and Willmar. … Students and organizers encouraged Minnesotans to participate in the upcoming strike on Friday, Jan. 23. Activists planned a day of no school, no work and no shopping to protest ICE.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pO9y00
AIRPORT: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Workers at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport joined community members during a meeting of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) on Tuesday to express their concerns about ongoing immigration enforcement efforts targeting immigrant workers. The monthly MAC meeting gathered dozens who sought to share concerns about ICE actions at the airport, while demanding action from the MAC about ICE targeting immigrant workers. They also expressed concern over ICE enforcement-related flights happening at the airport.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Z9yNPD
APPOINTED: Jim Lawrence has been named the new Chair for the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
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)
ISSUES
FRAUD: Via KARE 11, former members of the U.S. Attorney’s office expressed concern that state fraud investigations will slow down considerably following the resignations of Attorney Joe Thompson and five others last week. Sources also told KARE that additional resignations could come soon, as “others still plan to leave” the U.S. Attorney’s office. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4b4lhDX
EXPENSES: Via MPR, a preview of potential funding fights in the Minnesota Legislature over costs relating to the ongoing ICE surge. VERBATIM: “Local police agencies are amassing huge overtime costs. The National Guard is incurring costs to prepare for a sudden deployment if one happens, and there will be expenses even if that call-to-action never comes. The State Patrol and the Department of Natural Resources have had agents summoned into crowd-control duty. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is involved. … It will take bipartisan action to free up money to pay those bills, but this entire ordeal has been strictly partisan.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Zn17hf
HCMC: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Finances have gotten so dire at HCMC in Minneapolis that sustaining the hospital’s most critical operations will probably require job cuts and reductions in other health care services. That message over the past week from Hennepin Healthcare System marks the second time in less than a year that leaders have sent urgent distress signals over mounting red ink at one of the state’s most prominent safety-net medical centers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qHKusA
PHONES: via MNIWOC advisory, VERBATIM: “Advocates are raising urgent concerns about the safety risks associated with prison phone lines, [which] are frequently overcrowded, poorly supervised, and emotionally charged environments. … In Minnesota, these pressures got worse when phone calls were made free but no plan was put in place to expand the phone lines. … Derrick Dukes, who spent 32 years incarcerated in Minnesota, [said] ‘They didn’t plan for a situation where there would be sufficient access to not cause conflict. … [Let’s] allow incarcerated people to make phone calls on their tablets, ending the phone lines altogether.’” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4pN78ys
LOCALS
ST CLOUD: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “A District 742 School Board member is facing censure following a profanity-laced social media post. Board Chair Shannon Haws has introduced a censure resolution of Natalie Copeland, which will be voted on at the district’s Wednesday, Jan. 21, meeting. … Copeland, who was elected to the school board in 2022, wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post: ‘(Expletive) ICE, for putting my child on high alert at high school. She has a Forensics test today, but how can her brain think in fight, flight or freeze mode?’ Copeland also wrote ‘(Expletive) you, Donald Trump.’ She has since apologized for the messages.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45RurQE
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “A group of housing advocates is collecting signatures to get a ‘right to repair’ ordinance placed on St. Paul’s November ballot. The citywide ballot question would ask residents whether they would support a local law that gives landlords 14 days to fix a broken item or schedule a repair after it’s reported to them by a tenant in writing. A similar ‘right to repair’ ordinance was recently approved by voters in Duluth.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LBEqmr
SHERBURNE CTY: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott announced on Tuesday, Jan. 20, that he will not seek a fifth term, ending his 18 years of service. Brott, from St. Cloud and a 1990 Apollo High School graduate, has worked at the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office since 1996.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r9EKrH
AHEAD…
TODAY: The Minneapolis and St. Paul chambers will host “Breakfast with the Mayors” at 7:15 a.m. Mayors Jacob Frey and Kaohly Her will discuss 2026 priorities.
TODAY: The House fraud prevention committee will hold a hearing with officials from Minnesota Management & Budget and the Dept. of Administration to discuss oversight of the state treasury and the agencies’ fiscal duties. The event is at 10:00 a.m.
TODAY: Via SEIU, state lawmakers will host a press conference speaking out in support of the “ICE Out” strike happening on Friday. Attendees were not specified. The event is at 10:00 a.m.
TODAY: DFL Rep. Samakab Hussein will hold a press conference with Nasra Ahmed, a U.S. citizen who says she was detained by ICE for two days before being released without charges. Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega will also attend. The event is at 1:15 p.m.
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz has no public events scheduled.
TOMORROW: Advocates with MNIWOC will hold a virtual press conference at 10:00 a.m. to raise awareness of prison phone line issues and call for new laws that allow inmates to make phone calls from tablets.
TOMORROW: The Center for Rural Policy & Development will host a virtual event spotlighting Citizens League’s Minnesota Legislative Exchange program. A bipartisan group of legislators — Reps. Dave Baker, Ned Carroll, Mary Frances Clardy and Natalie Zeleznikar — will discuss their experiences in the exchange. The event is at 12:00 noon.
TOMORROW: The Suburban Solutions Caucus will host two listening sessions on education Thursday — the first in Champlin at 5:30 p.m. and the second in Rogers at 7:30 p.m. Reps. Danny Nadeau, Ben Bakeberg and Andrew Myers will attend.
TOMORROW: via Voice of Alexandria, VERBATIM: “Rep. Jeff Backer (R-Browns Valley) will be joining local Minnesota farmers, stakeholders, and commissioners at the Agriculture Summit on Jan. 22. … He will be joined by Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen, MPCA Commissioner Katrina Kessler, several legislators, local stakeholders, and livestock and crop farmers from Minnesota.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3LLAUWw
TOMORROW: Clergy members with Faith in MN will hold an in-person meeting with Target CEO Brian Cornell to discuss the company’s response to ICE raids in Minnesota.
FRIDAY: Faith in MN and related organizations have called for a “Day of Truth and Freedom” blackout, asking Minnesotans to avoid working, shopping or going to school in remembrance of Renee Good. There will also be a march in downtown Minneapolis at 2:00 p.m.
JAN 29: The Senate subcommittee on federal impacts will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m. with an unannounced agenda.
JAN 30: via DEED advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) is delighted to invite you to join Governor Tim Walz, Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen at a luncheon event to honor this year’s recipients of the Governor’s International Trade Awards.”
BDAYS: Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, lobbyist Bently Graves, St. Cloud leader Dave Kleis
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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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