The Fluence Brief: Walz Split Screen 2026

A deeper more insightful look at business, industry and politics.

11.30.26

Hope you had a restful Thanksgiving. If you tuned out, and I hope you did, you missed an illustration of the dynamics facing Governor Tim Walz in 2026. Do Minnesota voters dislike Trump so much that the DFL and Walz will cruise? Or will they be discriminating enough to push back on Walz for his own weaknesses as Governor?

It started play out this weekend, locally and nationally. In 2002 and 2006, Gov. Tim Pawlenty won despite headwinds for Republicans. That’s a dynamic to watch in 2026 for Gov. Walz.

Having given more national interviews, and appearances in 2025, Walz and Team Tim may ignore the mood of Minnesota to their own peril, but then again like the 1998 Vikings – what could possibly go wrong?

The latest premium article focuses on “Tim Walz’s Split Screen”

Thanks for your support.

Blois - bloisolson@gmail.com

Tim Walz Split Screen 2026

The front page of the New York Times and an appearance on NBC’s Meet The Press. Those are the types of things that Governor’s aspire to, the challenge for Gov. Tim Walz is that in each appearance fraud was a topic.

The crafted social media narrative that Walz and his team would love for you to see this Thanksgiving weekend included a family run early Thursday, then came to President Donald Trump’s “Truth Social” post criticizing Walz.

While most of Minnesota and the country was in a Turkey coma, having watched football and hopefully being thankful for time with family. Walz posted an 11:36PM response, nearly three hours after the Trump post: “Release the MRI results.”

Walz then amplified his response to Trump’s post it on all of his non-official social channels – Facebook, Instagram etc. Getting his dopamine rush from the likes and anti-Trump posts.

If you weren’t paying attention, you wouldn’t see the online edition of the Walz NYT story that came out Saturday AM, or the Star Tribune story by Allison Kite pointing out that Walz’s own administration won’t release files on the same fraud that the NYT was covering from Friday.

Gov. Walz spent more time this weekend, asking the social ether to have President Trump release his MRI results than he did address the fraud that looms over his potential re-election like a snowstorm over any Minnesota Thanksgiving. Ominous, but until we see the actual snowfall we won’t let it deter our travel plans. Walz isn’t letting the fraud give him pause on a third term. He’s proceeding on his course, despite warning signs.

The current “Team Tim” strategy seems to ignore that Minnesota voters are capable of being anti-Trump and doubtful of a Walz third term. Team Tim has had a dismissive attitude about fraud being an issue for the Governor for not months, but years.