Twins lose. Vikings against the Patriots tomorrow.
Twins President Derek Falvey shared his first public comments since the team’s ownership decision. WCCO: https://fluence-media.co/4oBpMKx
The MN Senate shared a preview of its State Fair opinion poll questions. Topics include fraud prevention, AI hiring, cat declawing and more. SEE: http://fluence-media.co/4ltEG2D
For the fifth time in eight years, New Ulm was nominated for a USA Today Readers’ Choice Award for best Oktoberfest in the nation. LIST: http://fluence-media.co/41Jk3s5
A Pew Research poll finds that since February, Donald Trump’s approval rating among his 2024 voters has declined by 10% overall, with a 25% decline among his supporters aged 18-34. The same poll also shows that 1 in 4 Republicans do not approve of his job performance. POLL: http://fluence-media.co/41CBCdm
Sunday Take will be St. Paul focused with guests, Mayor candidate Rep. Kaohly Her and new city councilmember Molly Coleman – tune-in Sunday at 9AM on WCCO Radio. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/WCCOLive
Sunday Take will also be live at the State Fair both Sunday mornings.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Representatives Angie Craig and Brad Finstad, the USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs, plus Minnesota ag stakeholders – it’s a busy Sunday Take from Farmfest. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fz19tO
AUDIENCE: Sponsorships available – to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheet and website www.TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com
GOV RACE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is privately wavering on whether to seek re-election after previously signaling he was likely to run, a shift that’s prompting intense speculation about his political future. … Walz has gone from [implying] he will run for a third term to privately questioning in recent weeks if he wants to serve for 12 consecutive years, according to interviews with nearly a dozen people in the party. … Walz was knocked off course by the June 14 assassination of Melissa Hortman, who was his close friend and governing partner. … People close to Walz said he viewed Hortman as a possible gubernatorial successor and running mate, since current Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is running for the U.S. Senate. … [Walz’s] hesitation has been noticed by party activists and officials, several of whom put the odds of him running in 2026 at 50-50. A bench of Democrats is eager to run if the seat opens up.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4oAdt0P
TAKE: The Star Tribune story aligns with all of the conversations I’ve had in the past two weeks with DFL insiders. Walz hasn’t leaned in to longtime advisors, he hasn’t spoken to key legislative supporters, and this week he’s on vacation. My short exchange with Gov. Tim Walz at FarmFest showed him lacking his traditional energy. Maybe Walz just doesn’t have the “fire in the belly” that is required to take on a campaign. Walz has a track record of being decisively indecisive, however in his consideration of a third term – he has earned the right to decide on his terms. The June 14th killing and shootings are giving many elected officials pause – Walz is no different. He has had an exhausting two terms, and his risk of losing a third term is higher than either of the first two runs. The biggest thing Walz and anyone else running should consider is if they have a vision to share for the future of Minnesota. The state’s growth is slowing, there’s a budget deficit to tackle, and the confidence of independent voters is slipping. For Republicans, if Walz doesn’t run the question will be who else may step up to run. Either way, Walz should make his decision known before he gets to the State Fair, not after.
QUALLS: via the St. Cloud Times Kendall Qualls on a recent visit to Stearns County. VERBATIM: “He discussed his top three policy areas of interest — public safety, the economy and education. … Qualls said he wants to give parents the opportunity to not only pick where their children go to school, but where state [education] dollars go. … Qualls said he'd like to design a school choice program, potentially using school vouchers. … [For the economy], he wants to lower both individual and corporate taxes. … Although he didn't have an answer to what specific regulations he'd like to consider cutting, he said it will be posted on his campaign website in the next 60 days. … Qualls said the regulations [he’d cut] will likely impact the construction and agriculture industries.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/4lrKVUs
ECONOMY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s labor market is slowing in what state officials said is likely an indication President Donald Trump’s federal policy is trickling down to the local economy. … Minnesota’s diverse economy is still stable, officials said, and continues to outperform the country overall on unemployment, wage growth and labor force participation. … [But] the labor market has been in a holding pattern this year, as employers waiting for trade policy to shake out have held off on both hiring and layoffs. … Matt Varilek, [DEED] commissioner, [criticized] Trump firing the BLS commissioner.” VARILEK: “It is very consequential for Minnesota and for the country that the nonpartisan staff, who are just trying to get the numbers right, now have to worry whether they will get in trouble or potentially even lose their jobs for producing accurate numbers that are not to the liking of leadership.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/41JkuTf
From yesterday’s lunch take:
JOBS: via a DEED press release, VERBATIM: “Minnesota's employment level, unemployment rate and labor force indicators show mild signs of slowing in July, reflecting national trends. But Minnesota's over-the-year job growth was stronger than the nation as a whole, according to new data from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota lost 4,400 jobs over-the-month in July, and the unemployment rate increased two-tenths of a percentage point to 3.5%. More than 1,700 Minnesotans left the labor force – and the labor force participation rate ticked down one-tenth of a percentage point to 68.1%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JgZFZ5
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On Monday, Fluence Advisory hosted a cannabis forum on the “State of Cannabis in Minnesota including an interview with Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management Eric Taubel.
SENATE RACE: via MPR, VERBATIM: “A GOP U.S. Senate candidate says he plans to move to [a primary] if Republican delegates opt not to endorse him next spring. Tom Weiler, who announced his bid for the U.S. Senate last week, [said] he’ll buck the recent party trend and run in a primary if he doesn’t get endorsed.” WEILER: “I'm obviously looking to win the endorsement, but if I don't win the endorsement, I'll definitely be going to a primary. … [It’s] the status quo in Minnesota GOP politics that hasn't led to victories, you know. We've lost for 20 straight years. So to follow the status quo, I don't think makes any sense.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HybhX2
EMMER: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “During a tour of a bus manufacturing plant on Thursday in St. Cloud, Rep. Tom Emmer said he's fully ‘on board’ with President Donald Trump's so-called ‘big, beautiful bill.’ A new report out this week estimates the law will add major money to the national debt and cut health care for millions. But Emmer, the House Majority Whip, says you shouldn't believe that.” EMMER: “All we did was continue existing tax policy that's been in place for the last seven years. It's huge in terms of giving 100% expensing, bonus depreciation — all kinds of things that manufacturers [will] need to make the investments in the future. … The CBO is one of those swamp creatures that we got to deal with.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4owBaqV
FINSTAD: Rep. Brad Finstad (R-1st) sat for a 30-minute interview with KTTC in Rochester this week. Finstad praised Pres. Donald Trump and the “Big Beautiful Bill” while criticizing Gov. Tim Walz’s handling of fraud in Minnesota. He also discussed a potential new Farm Bill, his lack of in-person town halls, civility in politics and more. The full interview is available unedited. WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4fLCS3W
SD47: via MPR, VERBATIM: “State Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger has won the local DFL endorsement in the Senate district previously represented by DFLer Nicole Mitchell. Hemmingsen-Jaeger, a DFLer presently in the House District 47A seat, was vying for the endorsement against Rep. Ethan Cha, who represents House District 47B. Cha told delegates that he did not plan to suspend his campaign if they chose another candidate and his name would appear on a special primary election ballot on Aug. 26 no matter what. Whoever emerges from the primary will face Republican Dwight Dorau in the special general election on Nov. 4.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/3HybhX2
NUCLEAR: via an Xcel Energy press release, VERBATIM: “Xcel Energy received approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Thursday to extend operations of the Prairie Island nuclear plant through the early 2050s. … Following the Commission’s unanimous vote to approve Xcel Energy’s application for increased storage of spent fuel at the site, the company plans to request a 20-year extension of the plant’s operating licenses from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2026. … Prairie Island has two units that together produce 1,100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 1 million homes across the Upper Midwest. The units’ current operating licenses expire in 2033 and 2034.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46Y8uku
(DISCLOSURE: Xcel Energy is a client and sponsor of Fluence)
STORM AID: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced the authorization of emergency assistance for areas of Northwest and West Central Minnesota following severe storms that caused significant destruction earlier this summer. … Funding and public assistance will aid Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, and Todd counties, and the White Earth Band of Chippewa in rebuilding public infrastructure damaged by the storms.”
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CYBERATTACKS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “State officials with Minnesota’s IT Services, or MNIT, say they are seeing a string of cyberattacks that may be targeting state and local governments. … Data obtained by 5 INVESTIGATES reveals that since December, the state has received 186 reports of cybersecurity incidents. ‘Cyber threats are common,’ said John Israel, the state’s Chief Information Security Officer. ‘There’s impact to local governments almost every day.’ … A majority of the reports involved a ‘compromised account/password,’ when an employee’s credentials are used to access accounts or data. … But the database also lists dozens of instances of ‘potential data exposure’ and ‘unauthorized access.’” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3HzoIGk
SECURITY: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms has sent an email to state senators urging them to sign up for an emergency notification system called Everbridge. After two state lawmakers and their spouses were shot in June, the Everbridge system was not used, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety faced criticism for not using it. … It only works for notifications on the Capitol Complex, and the State Patrol last week said it was looking at ways to expand it beyond the complex.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3V386d4
SUMMER SAVINGS: Via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “Home cooling can account for about half of your summertime electric bill. Here are five simple, effective ways to boost energy efficiency in your home and save money.”
Ceiling fans cool you, not the room: Ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature, but they make you feel cooler. Set your fan to spin counterclockwise in the summer to create a wind-chill effect.
When away, adjust your thermostat: During the summer months, you can save up to 3% on your energy bill for every degree you raise your thermostat.
Hot air belongs outside: Air leaks around windows and doors can let hot air in and cool air out. Sealing these gaps with weatherstripping or caulk is a low-cost DIY project that can make a big difference in your cooling efficiency.
Cook smarter to stay cooler: Using your oven or stove during the hottest parts of the day can heat up your home and make your AC work harder. Instead, try grilling outdoors, using a microwave or preparing no-cook meals.
Let nature dry your clothes—plus, your chores can wait until evening: Air drying your clothes or adding tennis balls to your dryer can help clothes dry faster and save energy. Running your dishwasher, laundry machines or other large appliances during cooler evening hours can reduce strain on the grid and helps keep your home cooler during the day.
(SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
WILDFIRES: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans are once again answering the call to help with the massive response to the ongoing Canadian wildfires. ‘[They’re] some of the worst I've ever seen by the sheer size of the fires,’ Joe Meyer, an advanced fire training specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, recalled to WCCO. … Meyer, a 30-year veteran at the DNR, was among a crew of 20 DNR firefighters who just returned from a two-week rotation in northern Manitoba. They were the third such crew sent from Minnesota this summer — a fourth team will depart later this month.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3UuDDo8
MAYORS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “The mayoral ballot will be long in Minneapolis. Filing for the office closed Wednesday, [and] thanks to ranked-choice voting, everyone who met the filing criteria and deadline will advance to the November ballot. … There are 15 candidates overall. Five are running as DFLers, three as independents, one as a Socialist Workers Party candidate and the rest on lesser known or made-up labels. There’s a Nobody’s Party candidate and a Why Not Wagner candidate who happens to have that surname. … In St. Paul, which also uses ranked-choice voting, the candidate roster is shorter. There are six candidates overall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HybhX2
MPLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Some Minneapolis City Council members expressed concerns about the mayor’s 2026 budget proposal. … Five of the 13 city council members, Jason Chavez, Robin Wonsley, Aisha Chughtai, Elliot Payne and Aurin Chowdhury, responded to the budget proposal in a Thursday afternoon press conference. The group expressed concerns about where the $23 million in cuts were made.” CHUGHTAI: “This is the time for us to be investing in programs that are meaningfully helping people…and we believe that looks like both a fully funded Stable Homes, Stable Schools program, along with a fully funded emergency housing vouchers program.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/4lrw7p2
ST PAUL: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Molly Coleman spoke [to MPR] about her political family and her priorities as she takes her seat on St. Paul’s city council. … Her father Chris was St. Paul mayor, and her grandfather Nicholas was the Minnesota Senate Majority Leader. … Coleman said her top priorities in office will be affordable housing, increasing access to transit and bringing good jobs to the city.” COLEMAN: “I feel so lucky to have grown up in my family, where I had both folks who had done community organizing work, folks who had contributed to their community without going into politics, and also seeing firsthand the impact you can have through service and local government.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3HybhX2
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO CELEBRATE: Flint Hills Resources and its employees are proud of the company they keep, including many community partners that help make Minnesota a better place to live and learn. Not only is the Pine Bend refinery celebrating 70 years, many of the company’s long-time partnerships have milestones in 2025 — 25 years of the Flint Hills Family Festival in partnership with the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 25 years with Friends of the Mississippi River to restore critical habitat, 30 years with the Minnesota Zoo, and 40 years with Ducks Unlimited. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZfDkjY (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
EAGAN: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Residents in Eagan are expressing frustration after they claim the state delayed informing them about lead pollution emanating from the Gopher Resource Recycling Plant. In a recent meeting with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), community members demanded actionable answers regarding why the announcement took so long and what would be done to address their concerns. … Some neighboring residents believe the MPCA should shut down the facility or relocate it to a non-residential area.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/45AOdPo
CLOQUET: via Cloquet Pine Journal, VERBATIM: “By serving a critical local need that is consistently met with strong demand, basic market economics dictate that Courtney Greiner should be a successful small business owner. [But] Greiner has yet to turn a profit or take home a paycheck, [saying] the regulatory realities of operating a child care center keep her perpetually in the red. … Greiner and a group of local child care providers, government officials and business leaders are searching for a solution to the conundrum echoed by child care stakeholders around the state. … About 25 community members attended the group's first public meeting. … The group will meet again in September to create an action plan.” READ: http://fluence-media.co/46Yt0RU
MOUND: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Many residents in Mound are pushing back on talks to sell the land of several parks throughout the city. This week, some city officials and council members held a workshop to discuss the idea. … The city council is exploring the idea of selling the land at seven of the 38 parks, [but] it’s unclear how much money the city would get for this land. … Joanna Kahn, Mound Parks Commission chair, [said] she is firmly against the move.” KAHN: “Mound City Council is looking to sell the parks to fund the water treatment plant, and the water treatment plant is desperately needed here — but no matter how many parks you sell, the math does not work. Selling the parks does not fund that water treatment plant.” READ/WATCH: http://fluence-media.co/3JhOtvh
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
PROPERTY TAX: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Congress cut the food stamp program to save the federal government money, but those changes will cost every Minnesotan who owns a home, farm or any other property in the form of higher property taxes. The reason higher property tax bills are on the horizon is that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act…shifts more of the cost of running the program to Minnesota’s counties. It also forces the state and all 87 county governments to pay for some of the benefits to about 440,000 Minnesota food stamp recipients. ‘This will certainly strain our local budgets past capacity,’ Blue Earth County Commissioner Kevin Papp said of the cost shifts.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lqxSmo
USDA: Rep. Angie Craig, ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee, shared a statement responding to the news that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture will terminate some of its union contracts. CRAIG: “President [Donald] Trump must end his war on workers. Using national security concerns as an excuse to cancel union contacts for thousands of workers at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Food Safety and Inspection Service is textbook union-busting and is another step toward hollowing out the highly skilled USDA workforce. American consumers rely on experienced food safety inspectors to ensure the food we eat is safe.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fMY8Gn
HEALTHCARE: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “ In this month's ‘A Closer Look,’ WCCO's Laura Oakes examines not only how the state's rural hospitals already facing a physician shortage will be particularly hard hit, but also why some rural medical leaders are optimistic.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oCBhRT
TODAY: Gov. Walz has no public events.
AUG 21: via MNJRC, VERBATIM: “In light of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s recent announcement that she will not seek a second term, the Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC) is partnering with the Minneapolis NAACP to host a town hall with Moriarty and her office to discuss the future of justice in Hennepin County. Community members are invited to the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) on Thursday, August 21, 2025 from 6-8 p.m.”
AUG 22: via Flanagan for Senate, VERBATIM: “Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) will head to Minnesota to support Flanagan’s campaign for U.S. Senate. The two will hold a rally in Minneapolis on August 22nd to share their plans on how to change the status quo in Washington.”
AUG 24-27: The Democratic National Committee will hold a number of meetings in Minneapolis from Sunday, Aug. 24 to Wednesday, Aug. 27, beginning with a welcome reception at the State Fair hosted by DNC Chair Ken Martin at 6:00 p.m. SCHEDULE: http://fluence-media.co/3HcuwFv
AUG 26: Primaries for the upcoming special elections in Senate Districts 29 and 47 will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The winners of these primaries will be on special election ballots Nov. 4.
SEPT 3-4: The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture is hosting two virtual sessions to gather public input and ideas for the 2026 legislative session. The first is Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 12:00 noon. The second is Thursday, Sept. 4 at 5:00 p.m. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/46W26Kr
Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
BBDAYS: Rep. Kristin Bahner, GOP insider Maggie Mulvaney. SAT: tech guy Gino Giovannelli, WCCO Radio’s Al Schoch, organizer Geri Katz, emergency leader Kristi Rollwagen. SUN: lobbyist Susie Emmer, Sen. Norm Coleman
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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