January 6th, never forget.
State officials celebrated the “passing of the puck” yesterday as Minnesota prepares to host the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/40lctne
USA wins Gold in the World Juniors.
Vikings lose BIG..in Detroit. Wild Card game next Monday. As Purple Insider said – “Whooped on the Big Stage”. HERE: https://fluence-media.co/421uzfe
The Gopher WBB team is 15-1. Gopher MBB hosts The Ohio State University tonight.
Wolves host Clippers.
The annual World’s Best Cinnamon Roll award went to Isles Bun & Coffee in Minneapolis. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/41VJd7Y
World’s Best?...Had them yesterday, but need to try all the others.
Sunday Take had new GOP Alex Plechash to discuss how he feels about primaries, fundraising and the GOP opportunity. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WaJ8cL
Majorities of U.S. adults think 2025 will be a year of political conflict, economic difficulty, international discord, increasing power for China and Russia, and a rising federal budget deficit. GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4gGiK2R
A monkey in tutu by the side of the road in Missouri? SEE: https://fluence-media.co/421ifM4
Blois
tips/feedback bloisolson@gmail.com
Today’s morning take at 6:20 on WCCO Radio with Vineeta Sawkar. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4a7kgZg
QUORUM: In order to organize, the House and the Senate will need a quorum. No one party caucus may have a quorum on day one by themselves. This is particularly notable in the House where DFL members have actively considered not showing up for the legislature. The DFL view is that the agreement when there was a tie at 67-67 should hold, because they are heavily favored to win the 40B special election. DFLers believe the co-chair, equal number of committee members model should hold. The Republicans in the House have every intention to elect a Speaker, and organizing committees so they have a majority. Can DFLers prevent that by not showing up? The political risk is high-stakes, and shows the hunger for power that exists within the DFL.
For the Senate it is similar, and last week Sen. Mark Johnson implied that perhaps there’s a different organizing deal to be made, considering the pending legal proceedings of Sen. Nicole Mitchell. The Senate will begin as a tie too, which as we wrote last week will mean they need an agreement to organize, elect a President and leaders, as well as organize committees.
Regardless, next week the beginning of the legislative session is setting up to have some significant suspense. The political consequences of not showing up, are greater than the legal consequences. In Minnesota, unlike our neighbors in Wisconsin cannot be summoned by law enforcement to the Capitol. Remember the Democrats in Wisconsin who left in 2011? Republicans in the House are prepared to start recall proceedings against any DFLer who doesn’t show up.
In any case, there is likely discussion and divide in the House DFL caucus about the strategy and stakes of denying the Republicans a quorum. The real question which is becoming a theme for the DFL is how much do they risk, to keep a clench on some semblance power?
HD40B: via an MN GOP press release, VERBATIM: “Today, the Republican Party of Minnesota, along with the Minnesota Voters Alliance, filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court to halt the unlawful actions of Governor Tim Walz related to the House District 40B special election. The petition requests that the Minnesota Supreme Court require Governor Walz, Secretary of State Steve Simon, and Ramsey County election officials to comply with Minnesota election laws, specifically regarding the timing requirements for special elections.” Per a GOP Chair Alex Plechash statement, PLECHASH: “The attempt by Governor Walz to call a special election for a vacancy that has not yet occurred…is a flagrant violation of Minnesota election law.”
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The GOP petition claimed Gov. Tim Walz prematurely called the special election before the seat was vacant because incumbent Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, DFL-Roseville, remains in office…[and] Curtis Johnson can’t ‘resign’ from a seat he was ineligible to hold. … The Supreme Court has yet to act on the petition announced Saturday. The court could reject it outright or request written briefs and schedule oral arguments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3W7LqcH
RESPONSE: via Office of the Governor, STATEMENT: “State law requires the governor to call a special election as soon as possible. Representative Jamie Becker Finn’s term ends on Monday, and there is no one to take her place. Republicans are trying to use the courts to prevent Democratic legislators from being seated.”
MORE: GOP Chair Alex Plechash was on Sunday Take to discuss the state legislature’s special elections, Republican unity and more. PLECHASH: “Depriving residents of the statutory notice period [is] a flagrant violation of Minnesota election law, and it’s not surprising as it follows a long line of attempts by the Democrats to undermine our elections and harm our democracy.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WaJ8cL
REMINDER: Still waiting on the judge’s decision in the contest of HD54A.
SD60: Minneapolis resident Peter Wagenius, a DFL candidate for the Senate District 60 special election, shared an “open letter” Saturday asking the district’s DFL chapter to cancel its plans to announce an official endorsement this week. Wagenius is endorsed by Attorney General Keith Ellison, among others. EXCERPT: “We ask you to remove from the agenda any endorsement for State Senate before the primary. Endorsing on Jan. 8 would be a drastic break from how our Senate District has dealt with three similar situations. We ask that a new meeting be scheduled after Jan. 14 to endorse the winner of the DFL Primary.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3W8naqW
DNC: via New York Times, VERBATIM: “The two candidates who have emerged as front-runners to become D.N.C. chair, Ken Martin of Minnesota and Ben Wikler of Wisconsin, are both middle-aged white men from the upper Midwest and chair of their state parties whose politics are well within the Democratic mainstream. Yet, as is common during internal Democratic squabbles, fault lines in the race have formed not over ideological differences but over arguments about party mechanics. … Some Democrats see the D.N.C. contenders’ arguments about relationships with donors and their regular promises of more money for state parties as papering over a broader discussion of why Vice President Kamala Harris lost the election.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j3TN2D
MORE: via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer [said] he’s throwing his support behind Ben Wikler, the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, to take the helm of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). … Schumer’s endorsement [could] encourage other undecided DNC members and leaders within the party to also back Wikler. [Ken] Martin has also notched at least 100 endorsements from DNC members.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a8Astq
HEGSETH: via CBS News, VERBATIM: “Senate Majority Leader John Thune has privately told President-elect Donald Trump that he believes [Minnesota native] Pete Hegseth will have the votes to be confirmed as Secretary of Defense, according to three sources. … Hegseth's confirmation hearing is [tentatively] scheduled for Jan. 14…[but] in many committees, Democrats are still in active negotiations with Republicans about these dates. Until the hearings are publicly noticed by the committees, the dates could slide.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3W8spqq
JAN 6: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar press release, VERBATIM: “[Today], as outgoing Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, Senator Amy Klobuchar will be one of four Congressional members charged with counting the electoral votes during the Joint Session of Congress. Senator Klobuchar also served in this capacity in 2017 and 2021.” KLOBUCHAR: “We have taken critical action to protect [our democracy]. Over the last four years, I worked across the aisle to enhance security at the Capitol and pass reforms to the Electoral Count Act to make sure the electoral votes for President accurately reflect the results in each state and to ensure the will of the people prevails.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3W9v6Ij
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Capitol Hill is [ready] to handle any threats to the certification of the 2024 election results or the inauguration, according to Sen. Amy Klobuchar. … Since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, a new Capitol police chief was hired and new leadership put in place for the House and Senate Sergeant at Arms. … The Capitol Police also has beefed up its force from 1,842 officers to 2,202 on duty and created a civil disturbance unit with six platoons and over 225 officers.” KLOBUCHAR: “Both events have been designated as national special security events, which will provide federal agency resources to support the Capitol Police.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3W6RdPB
CONGRESS: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The 119th Congress was sworn in Friday…[and] after a rough start, Rep. Mike Johnson, R.-La., was reelected speaker. That only happened after President-elect Donald Trump intervened with phone calls to Reps. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Keith Self, R-Texas, persuading them to flip the votes they had cast during a roll call to support Johnson. One rebel, Rep. Tom Massie, R-Ky., stubbornly refused to change his vote. He voted for Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota’s 6th District, who will continue to serve as House Majority Whip in the new Congress.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/404cyKL
CD3: WCCO-TV interviewed Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-3rd) to discuss her priorities for the upcoming session. MORRISON: “I'll be the only pro-choice OB-GYN in Congress, [so] I'll have a unique voice. … One of my big priorities is making sure our veterans have access to the services they deserve and need. My husband is a former Army Ranger and a combat veteran, so veterans' issues are really important to me.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4amDeLL
CD2: Rep. Angie Craig (D-2nd) sent an email to constituents on Friday announcing her goals in Congress for 2025. CRAIG: “We need to make sure law enforcement has what they need to combat the fentanyl crisis and protect our communities, to pass a Farm Bill and ensure Americans can access the health care they need to live full and healthy lives. The only way it can happen is in a bipartisan way.”
WOMEN: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The number of women representing Minnesota in the U.S. House grew from four to five with the resignation of former Rep. Dean Phillips and the election of Kelly Morrison. … But Minnesota’s trend is not apparent nationwide. According to Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), 150 women will serve in the 119th Congress, one fewer than the 151 women serving in the previous Congress. … In the Minnesota Legislature, DFL women hold 52.5% of the [party’s] seats while Republican women hold only 20.6%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Pk411c
From Friday’s lunch take:
FRAUD: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “People who attempt to rip off state dollars aimed at helping children or people with disabilities would face stiffer penalties under a multi-pronged proposal that Gov. Tim Walz rolled out on Friday ahead of a legislative session where the issue is sure to be a focus. WALZ: ‘Minnesotans rightly have no tolerance for misuse of taxpayer dollars. This plan directs every single state agency to work together to better prevent, detect, investigate, and punish fraud.’ … [Walz] also took some immediate action on his own, signing an executive order to create a centralized unit within the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate suspected fraud.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gGtr5j
RESPONSE: via a House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth statement, DEMUTH: “Creating a fraud bureau overseen by the same administration that allowed over a billion dollars in fraud means today's executive action is nothing but smoke and mirrors. We need real change to crack down on fraud, and that starts with a process that is truly independent of the leadership that allowed fraud to run rampant over the last five years. House Republicans will be unveiling a comprehensive fraud package that treats this as the serious problem it is, and includes meaningful accountability for fraudsters and agencies who have failed to protect Minnesotans tax dollars.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3BVGIYy
PAC SPENDING: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Political action committee spending on Minnesota congressional races fell from $24 million in the 2022 midterm election to $3.4 million in the 2024 election, an 85% drop. The decline came even as Minnesota added a Senate race to the mix in 2024. According to filings from the Federal Election Commission through Nov. 25, independent expenditure spending on Minnesota congressional races — money spent by any PAC or other committee to support or oppose political campaigns — was the smallest seen in Minnesota since a $45 million spending peak in 2018, indicating that national attention on the state’s congressional races may be waning.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gZkX9f
Sign up for lunch take or read online at The Daily Agenda: https://fluence-media.co/4eZwLa7
‘MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED’ — EMPOWERMENT TRAINING OPENS PATHWAY INTO THE TRADES: Since 2019, a partnership between Five Skies Empowerment Training and Enbridge has broadened as unions, contractors and other groups look to connect Native American job seekers to meaningful careers. “They’re gonna open the door for you,” says Joel, a program graduate. “Before the 5 Skies program, I wasn’t aware there were so many opportunities,” explains Ashley. “My whole life changed,” says Melissa. Click here to submit an application, and find out more on upcoming training. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3XoPg0D (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
COVID: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Hope has faded for legislation that would fund research for the millions of Americans suffering from Long COVID, according to some of the patients and advocates who testified before a first-ever congressional hearing on the topic a year ago this month. … [But] in the meantime, moves are being made in Minnesota. New state legislation is in the early stages and expected to be introduced this year. … The Minnesota Department of Health is also expected to share the results of its Long COVID study in the coming weeks.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZWm3M4
MPLS: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “Moody’s recently upgraded the City of Minneapolis credit rating to AAA in addition to the same high ratings given in September by S&P Global and Fitch Ratings. This means Minneapolis is one of only a handful of cities in the United States to have received the highest marks from all three major ratings agencies at one time. … A report released by Moody’s says the upgraded rating reflects the ‘continued strength in the city’s economic and demographic trends, a consistently strong financial profile and declining long-term liabilities.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gGSTYy
UMN: Regent emeritus Darrin Rosha sent a letter last week to former state Sen. Greg Clausen and the Regent Candidate Advisory Council suggesting changes to the way University of Minnesota regents are selected. EXCERPT: “My intent with this letter is to offer a perspective and feedback on RCAC operations. … After almost four decades, the ‘new’ process for selecting regents has been in place long enough for an honest assessment. Based on my experience and despite being recommended by the RCAC multiple times, I believe current RCAC procedures do not meet the statutory intent of improving regent selection.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/3W2RSBN
MSU: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Even as the city of Moorhead has grown, Minnesota State University Moorhead has shrunk. … But a new program promising four years of free tuition for eligible local high school students aims to help reverse the university’s contraction as well as further knit together the university and the community. The new Moorhead Scholars program, which was announced late in 2024 and which begins in fall 2025, will offer free tuition to Moorhead High School students who graduate with a 3.0 grade-point average.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49ZjeOS
PERMITTING REFORM FOR RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRIES: Jobs for Minnesotans is committed to advancing responsible industrial projects through a predictable, timely and transparent permitting process. Broad permitting reform for all responsible industries is essential to strengthening Minnesota’s communities and advancing our state’s clean energy future. (SPONSORED: Jobs for Minnesotans)
JOB TRENDS: via a DEED press release, VERBATIM: “Every quarter, the Labor Market Information Office of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) publishes research articles that offer insights into important labor market trends. The latest quarterly issue of Minnesota Economic Trends includes articles that explore data to help students and counselors make informed high school course choices, summarize updated poverty rate measures, compare regional industry and occupational employment trends, describe Minnesota’s outdoor recreation industry and analyze employment in the long-term care sector.” REPORTS: https://fluence-media.co/3W4UqPC
VISAS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The number of foreign workers newly employed in Minnesota under the H-1B program has nearly doubled in the past decade, with some of the state’s largest businesses relying on the skilled worker visas more than ever. … As those around President-elect Donald Trump debate the merits of letting more foreign-born workers into the country, Minnesota companies are using the program more than any time in the past decade. For the year ending Sept. 30, the H-1B visa program for skilled employees approved 1,491 initial applications for individuals to move to Minnesota for a three-year period.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40nlI6k
INTERNS: via a DNR press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota DNR [is] looking to fill 200 paid summer internships. … The DNR has a wide variety of internship opportunities throughout the state, including in fisheries, forestry, park operations, watercraft inspections, communications and more. Interns work 20 to 40 hours per week and receive a competitive wage of $19 per hour. To be considered for an internship, fulfilling an academic requirement or receiving academic credit is required. … Internship applications will be accepted through Jan. 31. Positions will start in May and June.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/40j9Ylx
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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
RAMSEY CTY: via a Ramsey County Board press release, VERBATIM: “A special election will be held for District 3 County Commissioner on Feb. 11. Absentee Voting began on Dec. 27, located at the Plato Building. District 3 County Commissioner serves residents of the following communities: Falcon Heights and the Saint Paul neighborhoods of Payne/Phalen, North End/South Como, Como Park, Frogtown, Hamline-Midway and St. Anthony Park. An additional special election will be held for House Representative 40B on Jan. 28. District 40B includes parts of Roseville and Shoreview.”
FARGO: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A Fargo jail is asking for help from across the Minnesota border to house its inmates. The Clay County Board of Commissioners will consider a possible agreement with the Cass County Jail in Fargo at its Tuesday meeting. The Cass County Jail says it is at capacity and is asking to temporarily house inmates at Clay County’s jail in Moorhead. Under the agreement, Cass County would house up to 10 inmates in Moorhead with the possibility of more later on.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DJOo0C
BOIS FORTE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “When Catherine Chavers first joined the tribal council for the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, a small Indigenous nation in Minnesota’s northern woods, the government center burned down. Years later, she won the chair seat and a federal government shutdown ensued, hampering services on the reservation. … Now, the longtime leader, exhausted if still optimistic for her tribe’s future, says she will resign her seat at month’s end, citing her mental health. … Chavers oversaw [a] historic land reclamation in 2022 and steered the tribe through COVID.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a1Tqln
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy, and the team dog, Rookie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player-signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3O2nzH0 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
From Friday’s Fluence newsletters:
CD3: Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-3rd) talked with Tom Hauser on WCCO Radio ahead of her swearing-in Friday about the race for House Speaker as well as what a slim GOP majority will mean. MORRISON: “It does create an opportunity for doing a lot of bipartisan work. … My ethic in the Minnesota legislature was to really work hard to cross the aisle, to find consensus where we can.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fKiOwY
FARM BILL: via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “The next Ranking Member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee says completing a new farm bill is her number one priority. Minnesota Democrat Angie Craig tells Brownfield she’s disappointed that didn’t happen during the last Congress.” CRAIG: “This is fair warning though to everybody — unless my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are going to sit down and negotiate a bipartisan farm bill, my concern is we’re going to be at a disadvantage and not able to get one in the next Congress.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/40juxya
ALL THE TAKES: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in your inbox and on our new website, The Daily Agenda. If you love morning take, sign up for the other Fluence tip sheets and share our web content with your friends. VISIT: https://fluence-media.co/4eZwLa7
TODAY: The House GOP will hold a press conference today at 12:15 p.m. to preview 2025 session priorities. Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth will attend.
TODAY: The Minnesota Republican Party will hold a press conference today at 2:00 p.m. “detailing a new petition to the Minnesota Supreme Court to halt violations of Minnesota election law by Governor Tim Walz,” per a release. GOP Chair Alex Plechash and Minnesota Voters Alliance executive director Andy Cilek will attend.
TODAY: via City of Minneapolis, VERBATIM: “The Mayor has called a special meeting of the Minneapolis City Council for Monday, Jan. 6, at 8:30 am. The City Attorney will request that the Council go into a closed session to receive a briefing on the U.S. Department of Justice’s potential litigation and resolution possibilities concerning the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department. After the closed session, the Council will resume the public meeting.”
TODAY: via a Senate DFL advisory, VERBATIM: “Senator Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud) will hold a public town hall on Monday, January 6 at 6 p.m. at the St. Cloud Great River Regional Library. This town hall is an opportunity for constituents to ask questions, share ideas, and learn about Senator Putnam’s priorities for the 2025 session.”
TOMORROW: St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis will hold his final State of the City address at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday after two decades in the role.
JAN 14: The Minnesota Legislature will begin its 2025 session on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
JAN 14: Primaries will be held for the special election in Senate District 60.
JAN 28: Two special elections will be held to fill legislative vacancies for Senate District 60 and House District 40B.
JAN 29: via Ramsey County Board, VERBATIM: “Ramsey County is bringing together local organizations for an Inclusive Hiring Connections Summit on Jan. 29, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Science Museum. Register today to join a variety of breakout sessions led by workforce experts, covering topics such as skills-based hiring, youth internships, accommodating employees with disabilities and creating opportunities for justice-impacted individuals.”
BDAYS: JE Dunn’s Jeff Callinan, MBP’s Katie Nadeau, hockey mom Molly Cronin, food writer Stephanie Meyer, KFAN’s Zach Halverson, professor Jay Williams
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