SWEATY SATURDAY
Twins lose. Lynx play at noon.
Country Club Music festival in St. Paul, and a hot one ahead.
The latest Harris Poll finds that American’s want a “better town, not a bigger moonshot”. Three-quarters of Americans (76%) still believe innovation will play a major role in building the nation’s future. Yet, even more (81%) say corporate rhetoric about innovation feels disconnected from real-world problems. HARRIS: https://fluence-media.co/4hcRBay
One thing to be mindful during this heat spell, is that the Drought Monitor reflecting data as of Tuesday, ahead of significant later-in-the-week rains, shows 29% of the state remains in drought, 11% severe. MAP: https://fluence-media.co/3zN8TDo
The NYT announced this week it was building its first local newsletter in Minnesota – we always welcome competition, but please share this newsletter with your friends and family so that we can compete with the big kids.
This morning from the Wall Street Journal - Does raising money at the DNC matter if Chair Ken Martin has new Congressional majorities ? WSJ: https://fluence-media.co/3QRXMGB
Today the nation celebrates the Minnesota State Muffin. Enjoy it with coffee.
Tomorrow at 9AM, on WCCO Radio– tune-in to Sunday Take. Stay cool.
Blois
SPONSOR: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.
Sunday Take featured Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan discussing her Senate campaign, her time in state government and more. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3SBPx1V
SPEAKING: Do you have a summer or fall conference that your audience wants to hear about the insights of the election? “Signals vs. Noise” of the election. is scheduling now. EMAIL bloisolson@gmail.com
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The takeaway from the latest Fluence Advisory Memo: The Next Legislture finds that 85 percent of returning lawmakers have only served under one Governor – Tim Walz. That shapes up to be a major change no matter who is next Governor. Walz was more deferential to the legislature than most state CEO’s. What does it mean? What happens under a Trifecta 2.0 and Who will be the next caucus leaders?
Find all that and more in the memo, a good summer weekend read. HERE: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
SPLIT SCREEN
The split screens of the 2026 election was amplified further yesterday when the federal government announced it had deported the pardoned immigrant Tou Lue Vang. The state pardon by Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Chief Judge Natalie Hudson is a headscratcher for so many DFLers.
Of course the DFL and independent pushback against Operation Metro Surge drives much of the 2026 energy, there are certain lines that are politically sacred – and giving any grace to a child molester is a dark line for most Minnesotans.
The Tue Vang case contrasts the DFL’s amplification of ICE agents at schools, something DFLers can expect amplify in key MN House races. Meanwhile, every poll shows that fraud, and then health care are the top issues of the election. Public safety and education trail those two issues. Tou Lue Vang. The state pardon by Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Chief Judge Natalie Hudson is a headscratcher for so many DFLers.
Of course the DFL and independent pushback against Operation Metro Surge drives much of the 2026 energy, there are certain lines that are politically sacred – and giving any grace to a child molester is a dark line for most Minnesotans.
The Tue Vang case contrasts the DFL’s amplification of ICE agents at schools, something DFLers can expect amplify in key MN House races. Meanwhile, every poll shows that fraud, and then health care are the top issues of the election. Public safety and education trail those two issues.
Both angles of this view of Metro Surge will be all over TV ads in coming weeks. Especially the Attorney General’s race.
VISIT: https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
SIMON v. FEDS
Now the actual administration of the election, via the Star Tribune this morning VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division will send election monitors to Minnesota for the 2026 primaries and a handful of other states into areas where the agency claims it has seen “problems” in recent elections…The decision comes as the federal government has recently retreated from its longstanding role of helping states safeguard elections and prepare for emerging threats ahead of Election Day.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pgf78Q
This comes at the same time that via the NYT VERBATIM: “The Trump administration has forced out the three remaining members of an independent, bipartisan commission that supports states in administering their elections, the White House confirmed on Thursday. The move comes as President Trump seeks to cast doubt on the outcome of the upcoming midterms and impose control over how ballots are counted…Mr. Trump terminated, effective immediately, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, two members selected by congressional Democrats to serve on the Election Assistance Commission, and accepted the resignation of a Republican member, Christy McCormick.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w0hgrR
A letter from Lauren Bethke the General Counsel at the Secretary State’s office, VERBATIM:” I write in response to your July 7, 2026, letter. Minnesota has always complied with, and will continue to comply with, federal election laws. Minnesota’s election laws, which are largely codified in Minnesota Statutes, Chapters 200, 201, 204B, 204C, and 206, as well as Minnesota Rules, Chapters 8200 through 8255, meet or exceed the requirements of those laws. And while the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State (OSS) does not have authority to enforce the state’s election laws, OSS regularly provides guidance to local elections officials on procedures in accordance with applicable laws…In addition, the OSS has provided your office extensive information regarding Minnesota’s compliance with federal elections law, including its applicable list maintenance procedures (see attached) almost a year ago. To date, the Department of Justice has not asked any questions nor provided any basis to suggest those practices violate federal elections law.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4gQM75x
A deep dive into the CD1 race between Rep. Brad Finstad and Jake Johnson for MNSider subscribers. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/49OqNJu
A PLAN?
One issue that the next Governor and legislature can’t ignore is that Minnesota is aging, and its not clear there is a plan to deal with the family strain, workforce challenges and access to care that the growing older population will require.
That said the access issue is statewide, and the “Sandwich” generation is growing with kids and parents that both need care.
That’s why the Long Term Care Imperative is hosting roundtables across the state, we’ve been to Duluth, Cold Spring and Bemidji. You can see the maps by legislative district – and the difference between Greater Minnesota and the metro. LISTEN:
https://fluence-media.co/LTCIIsMNReady
(DISCLOSURE: The Long Term Care Imperative is a client of Fluence Advisory)
HABITAT RESTORATION: Flint Hills Resources has earned Tandem Global WHC Gold Certification for habitat restoration at its Cottage Grove fuel terminal. The certification comes after two years of work in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River to implement a restoration and monitoring plan to re-establish the 6.5-acre site’s natural prairie and savannah. Flint Hills has held gold certification for its work done with community partners over the past 25 years to restore more than 200 acres of the Pine Bend Bluffs, a critical natural area along the Mississippi River that is adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery. This makes two Flint Hills gold-certified sites in Minnesota and the first two gold-certified sites ever in the Twin Cities. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3VASKg4 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
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.
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.