SHOUTOUT: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Huge shoutout to our amazing #PeoplePower team and community partners. Together, we made a real difference last year, delivering over 10,000 wellness kits, tote bags, backpacks, and health essentials to those who need them most in our community.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3S6nnZ8 (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLL: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Medical experts have said for years there is no evidence linking vaccines to autism, but a new poll has found that a growing number of Americans, particularly those who support President Trump, disagree. An Economist/YouGov poll released Thursday found 22 percent of respondents said they agreed with the unfounded claim that ‘vaccines have been shown to cause autism.’ Participants who said they voted for Trump were significantly more likely to believe in such a link at 38 percent, compared to just 7 percent of those who voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris last fall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RBn2gZ
MORE: Via YouGov, the poll, which covers a wide variety of issues as well as approval of key individuals and groups. CROSSTABS: https://fluence-media.co/42FUS9G
MEASLES: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “As the U.S. grapples with rising measles cases across multiple states and the highest number of cases since 2019, about half of adults (51%) and parents (47%) say they are at least ‘somewhat worried’ about the outbreak of measles, including roughly one in seven adults who are ‘very worried’ (14% of all adults, 13% of parents). Concern is notably higher among Black and Hispanic adults – six in ten of each group express worry compared to 46% of White adults. Roughly half of adults (56%) and parents with children under 18 (48%) are aware that the number of U.S. measles cases is higher this year than in recent years.”
“Partisanship plays a major role in whether people are aware that measles cases are on the rise and whether they are worried about the most recent outbreak. Democrats are much more likely than Republicans to say they are worried about the outbreak of measles in the U.S. (76% v. 28%), and to know measles cases are up this year compared to recent years (71% v. 49%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EogDTt
MORE: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “The survey was conducted earlier in April and included a nationally representative sample of 1,380 adults. Pollsters asked respondents about three false claims: that the measles vaccine is more dangerous than getting the disease; that the vaccine causes autism in children, and that vitamin A can prevent a measles infection. None of these things are true.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4cNhMRb
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
SATURDAY: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Saturday marks the Drug Enforcement Administration's 28th national prescription Drug Take Back Day in Minnesota. Minnesotans are encouraged to clean out those medicine cabinets and take unneeded medications from their homes to one of the collection sites as part of the DEA's national prescription drug Take Back Day.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/42IKwpt
MORE: Via DEA, more information about the campaign as well as a tool to find drop-off locations near you. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/42K0oYJ
MEDICAID: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “Following years of robust revenue growth, states are now contending with weakening tax revenues, budget shortfalls, and uncertainty in their long-term fiscal outlook, leaving some states with difficult budget decisions. At the same time, there are several options under consideration in Congress to significantly reduce federal Medicaid spending to help pay for tax cuts, with the recently passed House budget resolution targeting cuts to Medicaid of up to $880 billion or more over a decade.”
“There are not yet detailed proposals under consideration by Congress to achieve federal Medicaid spending reductions. However, any reduction in federal Medicaid spending would leave states with tough choices about how to offset reductions through tax increases or cuts to other programs, like education.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jShU4i
MEDICAID SUPPORTS HEALTH CARE FOR ALL OF US: Medicaid keeps Minnesota’s hospitals strong and ensures communities across the state have access to care. Policymakers must protect Medicaid so every Minnesotan — regardless of income or health status — can get the care they need, when they need it. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3FtrCuH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Hospital Association)
MEASLES: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “As Minnesota's second measles case of the year was reported last week, health professionals are keeping a close eye after an uptick in 2024. ‘Measles is such a terrible disease. I've seen children die of it myself,’ said Dr. Mark Schleiss, a pediatric infectious disease expert with M Health Fairview and the University of Minnesota Medical School. ‘It's a respiratory virus, so it's spread by respiratory secretions.’ The Minnesota Department of Health says the most recent measles case ‘involves a resident under the age of 1 who was diagnosed in another country.’ The infant ‘wasn't infectious when they returned to Minnesota.’” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3RAIqTw
MORE: Via MDH, Minnesota measles statistics:
SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3S39rz0
From morning take…
VACCINES: As seen in Tuesday’s morning take, eight Republicans in the Minnesota House introduced legislation to designate mRNA vaccines as “weapons of mass destruction.” Now, Heartland Signal reports that one of the co-sponsors — Rep. Keith Allen (R-Kenyon) — had his name removed from the bill Wednesday. No explanation has been given. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Gn4Ipu
RACE: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Dr. Taj Mustapha, chief equity strategy officer at M Health Fairview, [said] race is being taken out of consideration for various screenings and tests related to pregnancy and maternal health care at their clinics. … By July, all pregnant patients at M Health Fairview will be universally screened and tested for various maternal and fetal conditions, with race removed as a factor. … The reason for doing so, Mustapha said, is that race itself is not about any biological reality, but is, in these contexts, a ‘proxy for exposure to racism’ and related stress.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jH6BeR
Sign up for morning take… https://fluence-media.co/TheDailyAgenda
STARTUPS: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate celebrated the program’s most recent cohort of health tech startups, including 15 innovative businesses from around the world. During the showcase event, held April 23 in Eagan, Minn., each company presented progress and outcomes from the 30-week accelerator program, providing a glimpse into the future of medicine.” READ/LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4jFYgbi
INCUBATOR: Via Minne Inno, VERBATIM: “Erin Pash, founder and former CEO of Ellie Mental Health, has launched her latest venture, calling it Pash Co. Both an acronym for People Advancing Social Health and a self-titled company, Pash Co. will serve as an incubator for technology, social media and retail businesses that aim to enhance social health and aid in forming human connection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lMNnGK
ESSENTIA HEALTH INVESTS IN TWIN PORTS NURSES: Total payroll for Essentia Health Duluth-Superior nurses is $164 million, with $53 million paid in salary increases over the past 3 years. Essentia Health has also increased clinical support staff by 10% over the past 3 years, providing additional support for those nurses. Over half of Duluth area nurses have been with us for over 5 years and enjoy exceptional work-life balance. To join our team at Essentia Health, search for openings HERE: https://fluence-media.co/3FzLe0i (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
HOTLINE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “A Trump administration budget proposal that calls to strike a number of programs from the federal health bureaucracy would also seek to eliminate funding for specialized crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth. The big picture: The national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services has received more than 1.2 million crisis contacts since 2022. Scrapping the program, advocates say, would put young people at risk.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lJKHtm
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
FOREST: From MDH via X, VERBATIM: “Through support from the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, the Healing Forest helps professionals from education, healthcare, and community services transform education and healthcare through the power of the natural environment.” PHOTO: https://fluence-media.co/3Yf40kl
TOXIN: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “A gut toxin that’s been linked to colorectal cancers for more than two decades may be contributing to the sharp rise of the disease in younger people, according to landmark research published Wednesday in the journal Nature. A number of species of harmful gut bacteria — including certain strains of E.coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Citrobacter koseri — produce a toxin called colibactin. Since the mid 2000s, studies have repeatedly shown that this toxin can inflict distinct DNA damage on colon cells that’s difficult to repair and can eventually lead to the development of cancer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lLnPK5
MAYO: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a potential new way to monitor the progression of high-grade gliomas, one of the most aggressive types of brain cancer. Their feasibility study suggests that a personalized blood test tailored to each patient's tumor DNA could provide a faster and less invasive way to determine if the cancer is advancing. Currently, clinicians rely on scans and surgical biopsies to monitor gliomas, but both methods have limitations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cX7m1l
COVID: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Novavax’s closely watched COVID-19 vaccine is on track for full approval after additional discussions with the Food and Drug Administration, the company said Wednesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ENG14W
MENTAL HEALTH: Via UofM CIDRAP, VERBATIM: “The proportion of US children and adolescents experiencing anxiety or depression rose before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increase was unrelated to the physical or behavioral conditions studied, Children's Hospital of Chicago researchers report.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ENGaFw
ADDICTION: Via news release from Kai Shin Clinic, VERBATIM: “Kai Shin Clinic, a Minnesota-based leader in substance use disorder treatment and behavioral health, is proud to announce the launch of its Primary Care service line, now available to the general public. With virtual telehealth and in-clinic appointments available to all individuals, regardless of whether they have a history of substance use disorder, this expansion reflects the clinic's commitment to whole-person wellness, providing care that meets people where they are, with dignity and compassion.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lLSxmc
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
AI: From Mount Sinai via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Mount Sinai researchers studying a type of heart disease known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have calibrated an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to quickly and more specifically identify patients with the condition and flag them as high risk for greater attention during doctor's appointments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jioUHA
Copyright © 2025 Fluence Media, All rights reserved.
You signed up or are media / a public official interested in health care news from Fluence Media.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Minneapolis, MN 55427