RIP astronaut Jim Lovell.
Twins won Sunday on a rookie’s two-run homer in the 11th. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Jb3L4Y
Lynx win. Vikings win.
High school football practice begins today.
The Wisconsin State Fair ended Saturday – it was supposed to end Sunday, but flooding shut it down early. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4fEegdm
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
Happy National Son’s and Daughter’s Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
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
2026: Former CD3 candidate Tom Weiler (R) will announce he’s running for the Senate seat currently held by the retiring Tina Smith.
SENATE: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Minnesota has a rare open Senate seat, which is tantalizing to state Republicans, even as some are hoping for a more robust field of candidates for retiring Sen. Tina Smith’s Senate seat. There are two major declared GOP candidates in the raSCOOP: Later today Ryan Wilson will be named Chairman of the Minnesota effort for the America First Policy Institute in Minnesota.
PRIMARIES: There are primaries tomorrow in vacant seats for St. Paul City Council, and in HD34B the seat of the late Speaker Melissa Hortman.
HD26A: Fmr. DFL Senate candidate Dan Wilson announced his challenge to Rep. Aaron Repinksi last week.
CIVILITY: via MPR, VERBATIM: “At the ceremony in late July at the Humanities Center building in St. Paul, officials walked two at a time to a podium. They picked up a pen and signed “the Civic Pledge for a Stronger Minnesota” to engage peacefully and seek out common ground. Before he signed his name, DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon said the pledge embodies the way Hortman worked. SIMON: “She could be a real fierce advocate. She could be a fighter. She could have a salty tongue,” Simon said. “But she also knew that you could disagree without being disagreeable.”…Sen. Michael Kreun, a first-term Republican also from Blaine, said there are incentives to be a bomb thrower in politics. It can mean more air time and party backing than those who work across the aisle. Kreun hopes that can change. KREUN: “I think we have to get as a society, culturally, kind of get back to the point where we reward people that are conducting themselves in a way that polls say they want us to conduct ourselves and have a positive reinforcement. I think that will work better than a negative enforcement on bad behavior,” he said…But it might also mean holding peers to account more often, Kreun said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45zbKQX
BROM RELEASE: Via Fox News, VERBATIM: “The highest-ranking Minnesotan in Congress is blasting Gov. Tim Walz after a man who murdered his family as a teenager was released from prison. ‘Once again, Tim Walz proves why he is one of the worst governors in the country,’ House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital. ‘Not only do his soft-on-crime policies rob victims of the justice they deserve, but they also put the safety of every Minnesotan at risk. Being a self-proclaimed knucklehead doesn't excuse the chaos he has caused with his dangerous, far-left agenda’ . . . He's joining other Republicans from his state in criticizing the release of David Brom, a man who was convicted of killing his parents and two younger siblings with an axe in 1988. Brom was 16 years old at the time.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ovZIAe
MINNEAPOLIS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “In a veiled swipe at challenger Omar Fateh, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Friday told the world that he drives a Honda Element after a Minnesota Star Tribune columnist wrote about Fateh receiving traffic tickets in his 2023 BMW X3. Columnist Rochelle Olson jeered the state senator for being ticketed twice in the past year for violating Minnesota’s hands-free cellphone law. But social media circles quickly seized on the fact that Fateh, a Minneapolis lawmaker and democratic socialist, drives a pretty snazzy SUV. Among a half-dozen candidates, Fateh is considered Frey’s top challenger for re-election this fall. The Minneapolis DFL endorsed him last month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45cTmyq
ATC: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “U.S. Transportation Secretary and former Wisconsin Representative Sean Duffy, along with Minnesota’s Eighth District Representative Pete Stauber, visited Duluth to tour the third-oldest air traffic control tower in Duluth. ‘It’s critical to make sure we have a vibrant economy,’ said Duffy, a Hayward native. ‘So, it’s Duluth, it’s Superior, but it’s the broader region that this airport supports.’ The tour comes as the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill is set to invest $12.5 billion. Duffy and Stauber were hoping, but believe it’s a good start.” DUFFY: “Congress gave us $12.5 billion as a down payment for upgrading the system, but it’s not all that we need; we need $31.5 billion, but that $12.5 million we do have is going to go to new radar, new voice switches, new radios, new telecom.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3UHdHG5
RANSOMWARE: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Hackers responsible for a cyberattack that forced St. Paul to shut down its computer systems two weeks ago demanded a ransom from the city, the mayor’s office confirmed this weekend. But there is no evidence so far that the hackers obtained any data from the city in their attack, according to Jennifer Lor, Mayor Melvin Carter’s press secretary. The city had not previously disclosed whether it had been targeted by ransomware. St. Paul placed its computer networks into a sort of coma soon after learning of the cyberattack that started on July 25. The move has disrupted city services, though officials say it was necessary to stop the hackers from doing more damage. Mary Gleich-Matthews, deputy chief information officer for St. Paul’s Office of Technology and Communications, said the city was fortunate to learn of the attack soon after it began.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lpmfvP
MORE: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The city of St. Paul said it has not paid any amount to the suspected hackers. Instead, around 3500 employees will need to begin scrubbing their data, resetting passwords, and reestablishing their accounts in the coming days. The city of St. Paul has not given an estimated time of when the process will be complete.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45K30bO
Sign-up for paid TheDailyAgenda and you’ll receive a morning take mug.
Earlier this year we launched a premium subscription option. Now we’re adding content for premium subscribers.
A monthly insight-filled briefing memo on Minnesota and Midwest issue and political dynamics.
Access to our Fluence Forum audio and videio assets.
A free morning take mug if you sign-up this week.
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.
HEMP: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “A federal food lab on the University of Minnesota campus is getting a half-million dollar grant to research how best to tap into the state's burgeoning hemp industry. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar says the future of Minnesota's industrial hemp knows no bounds at the moment.” QUOTE: "And so, this research will show what can you do with this stuff, and how can you use this for things like, believe it or not, concrete," says Klobuchar. "They call it hempcrete and we want Minnesota to be on the front line, just like we have been for biofuels, for sustainable aviation fuel." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3UmHbsE
MANKATO: Via Mankato Free Press, VERBATIM: “A move to provide more therapy-based care to area veterans has been introduced in the U.S. House. On Aug. 1, Republican Rep. Brad Finstad, of New Ulm, introduced H.R. 4794, which authorizes the secretary of veterans affairs to enter into a lease agreement worth no more than $1.4 million to establish a vet center in Mankato. It’s a copy of a bill introduced to the House in September 2023, which never made it out of committee. Michael McLaughlin, the director of veteran services in Blue Earth County, says it’s a service the area is in dire need of.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UYtHmQ
CD2: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Republicans controlled the Second District congressional seat for 18 years until Democrat Angie Craig won the seat in 2018 and three subsequent reelection bids. Her first three races were close, but she won by 10 points in 2024. Republican state Sen. Eric Pratt is one of the candidates hoping to take that seat back.” QUOTE: “I think being able to talk about issues in a way that connects with families is going to be my strength,” Pratt said in an interview recorded for “At Issue with Tom Hauser” on Friday. “Most of the families that live in the Second District hold conservative values. But they’re independent voters. They flip back and forth based on the person, based on the issue.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mzN0ij
ED FUNDING: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “This spring, President Donald Trump proposed eliminating funding for a fleet of academic support programs for low-income and first-generation college students, along with students with disabilities, called TRIO. Federal officials had called TRIO programs ‘a relic of the past’ — unneeded since college access was no longer an obstacle for disadvantaged groups, which worried TRIO staff and supporters. But a Senate committee recently included $1.2 billion in funding for TRIO’s eight different academic programs in its appropriations bill for next year. While staff from several of Minnesota’s 84 TRIO programs said they’re relieved, they noted that nothing is guaranteed, especially with education funding under threat.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41z9aZO
BROADBAND: Comcast is rewriting the broadband playbook in the Twin Cities. From neighborhood networks to next-gen tech, we’re delivering community-first internet connectivity with no contracts, no surprises. The new Xfinity package means unlimited data, blazing-fast, reliable speeds and a 5-year price guarantee, plus free mobile for a year. It’s not the old Comcast — it’s a bold new era of connection. Let’s power the future, together. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/Comcast2025-1 (SPONSORED: Comcast)
SOLAR: Via The News From The States, VERBATIM: “Several congressional Democrats on Friday slammed the Trump administration’s announcement it will cancel nearly $7 billion in grants to fund solar energy projects for low-income households, saying the move was illegal and would raise families’ energy prices if allowed to proceed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent notices to states and other recipients of grants through the Solar for All program, which Democrats created in their massive 2022 taxes, energy and domestic policy law, that the agency was canceling all unspent funds from the initiative. The EPA said Republicans eliminated the federal fund that distributed the program’s money in the ‘one big, beautiful’ law President Donald Trump signed on July 4.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46LxVWj
MORE: Via EPA, the list or entities that were to receive the grants includes $62,450,000 for the Minnesota Department of Commerce to “support residential-serving solar for low-income and disadvantaged households” and $62,330,000 for a tribal consortium to “deploy Tribally-owned residential solar, along with storage and necessary upgrades, for the benefit of the 35 Tribes located in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3HgkZgP
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)
FLOODING: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Officials on Thursday marked a milestone in flood protection for the Fargo area, with water from the Red River flowing through part of a channel designed to send floodwaters around the city. The 30-mile Red River diversion is scheduled for completion in 2027 to protect the Fargo area’s more than 260,000 residents from flooding. Thursday’s event took place at a dam near Horace, south of West Fargo. Officials had planned to remove plugs in berms that were keeping the Red River from entering the channel around the control structure, but recent heavy rains caused the river to top the berm, filling the channel. Instead, officials opened gates on the dam to mark the rerouting of the river.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ouO1tC
STORM DAMAGE: Via KAAL-TV, VERBATIM: “Just as people started to wake up Saturday morning in Alden, winds reaching speeds as high as 40 miles per hour hurled through the area, tearing down trees and power lines . . . Once the storm left the area and the sun came out, folks began surveying the damage outside their yards while crews from Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative were all over Alden, removing tree limbs from power lines.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/46Mm8Hj
SPEED CAMERA: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Mendota Heights Police Chief Kelly McCarthy hears over and over that residents want officers to crack down on speeders. ‘We have over 60 identified areas where residents have expressed concern and where officers are mandated to do extra enforcement,’ McCarthy said. The city now has a camera to help with that, at least in the 500 block of eastbound Marie Avenue. Last week, the southern suburb of St. Paul deployed the first camera in the state to ticket lead-footed drivers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46L3tvr
UNIVERSITY AVE: Via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Local leaders have heard the concerns from community members about the environment surrounding University and Snelling avenues in St. Paul, according to Metro Transit Interim Police Chief Joe Dotseth. People are concerned for their safety in riding public transit, they’re worried about the impact on local businesses and care about the health and well-being of individuals, he said. The ongoing conversations are a part of what pushed multiple departments to band together and get involved. What really sparked the call to action, however, is a renewed commitment to policing as a service, he said. ‘It’s about doing something right now,’ Dotseth said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mCI1xs
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)
ARRADONDO: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Medaria Arradondo’s new book, Chief Rondo: Securing Justice for the Murder of George Floyd, is his personal reflection on his complex and tumultuous final years as the Minneapolis Police Department’s police chief. Born in Minneapolis, and still known simply as ‘Rondo’ in the Northside neighborhood where he grew up, he worked his way to MPD’s highest position over a career that spanned more than three decades. But it was his time as chief, from 2017 to 2022, that remains in the national spotlight—specifically, his response in the days following George Floyd’s murder at the hands of one of his former officers and the chaos and destruction that followed in its aftermath.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lmnxYG
TODAY: An event celebrating Traditional Sacred Tobacco Day will be held at the State Capitol.
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz has no public events.
TODAY: The City of Minneapolis will host a Trans Equity Summit.
SATURDAY: Via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “Magicians Penn and Teller have made a decades-long career together performing on the Las Vegas Strip, Broadway, and everywhere in between. Before they stunned worldwide audiences with their magic tricks and sleight of hand, they startled a much smaller crowd at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Now, 50 years later, they're returning to that stage on August 16.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3UmGfo8
SUNDAY: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “One of the most popular spots in the northwest metro for families to visit in the summer will close about two weeks earlier than normal. The Elm Creek Swim Pond in Maple Grove will shut down for the season on Sunday, Aug. 17.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oBNJBx
Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
BDAYS: fmr. Rep. Jeff Brand, conservative consultant Micah Olson, public policy pro Kara Genia, fmr. BBY CEO Hubert Joly
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.
Thanks for reading The Daily Agenda! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.