Good morning. Some of us are fifth-round draft picks who bloom into first-rounder value. Some are the opposite. Bye bye, J.J. 

Gov. Tim Walz is abroad on what is probably the final trade trip he takes in office. Walz is making his way through Denmark, Sweden and Iceland. His Nordic swing runs through Saturday. He’s meeting with government, business and economic development leaders all the way. A contingent traveling with him includes leaders of government entities, higher education institutions and businesses here. Walz has been at the helm of 12 international trade trips to 18 countries during his two terms. 

President Donald Trump is dumping on Minnesota’s political leadership again as he touts a new Iowa steel plant deal. Executives from a Minnesota-based mining operation were in the Oval Office as the president talked about the $15 billion steel mill that will rely on iron ore resources extracted from Minnesota. Trump used it to jab at Minnesota’s top ranks. “They maybe have a lousy governor, but they have great iron ore.” He asked the men behind him how the Gov. Tim Walz has treated the Mesabi Metallics project. “I mean, it's one of the worst run places I've ever seen. How are they doing?” The company official, president and chief executive officer Joe Broking, sidestepped the question by saying that representatives were in Minnesota 10 days ago to kick off operations and it was off to a good start. Further projects are planned for Minnesota, according to the company.  Trump didn’t let it go. “If we can supersede the state, it's great. Otherwise, the state will never be good,” Trump said. “They're very, they're really troubled people.” Our Dan Kraker has reported extensively on the Mesabi Metallics projects and alluded in a story last week to spinoff projects that could come out of it, but the mill naturally turned into political fodder. Minnesota Republicans blamed the regulatory environment here for the mill going south.

Remember how Al Franken’s radio show became a bit of a trove of material for opponents in his 2008 Senate run? The podcast of this year’s Republican nominee Michele Tafoya is getting a similar hard look. Tafoya is up against DFLer Peggy Flanagan for an open Senate seat (the one Franken once held). Mike Hughlett of the Minnesota Star Tribune used artificial intelligence to sort through hundreds of podcast episodes and Substack posts to trace the evolution of Tafoya on President Donald Trump. In 2022, she was urging Trump to steer clear of a White House return but by 2024 was back on board “with more enthusiasm.” She has voiced support for the DOGE cuts early in the Trump second term. In recent weeks, Tafoya has been more willing to break with Trump over some of his policies that are proving politically unpopular, including tariffs and immigration enforcement tactics. Trump has yet to publicly weigh in on her campaign and didn’t endorse in the Republican primary this summer, which Tafoya won with ease.

St. Paul city council members are calling on the city to release the full report from an investigation into accusations that Mayor Kaohly Her sexually harassed employees.  Earlier this month, following an internal investigation, the city’s human resource office concluded that the mayor had engaged in “offensive and inappropriate behavior” with city employees, including officers with St. Paul Police Department, but could not substantiate whether she sexually harassed workers or retaliated against them. But after police chief Axel Henry sued the city and alleged sexual harassment and retaliation by the mayor, some city council members say they’ve been left in the dark.  MPR News spoke to city council members Molly Coleman and Saura Jost, who said city officials have not explained why the full report hasn’t been released. The council will discuss retaining the law firm Fisher Phillips in the chief’s suit at a council meeting tomorrow (at a rate no more than $500 per hour).

Some lawmakers and law enforcement are calling for the Legislature to pass e-bike regulation next session. Sen. Judy Seebeger, DFL-Afton, and Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko urged for more awareness and stronger state regulations during a news conference at the Capitol yesterday. Seeberger said there’s been an uptick in emergency room visits involving e-bikes and e-moto bikes, and younger kids who haven’t taken driver’s education classes are using them too.  “There might be some opportunities for education where it requires similar to an ATV permit or boat operating permit… where you are required if you’re under a certain age to go through a course,” Leko said. 

The parents of a child killed in the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School are making their way to the campaign trail as they seek changes to state gun laws. Last weekened, they were out campaigning for Rep. Brad Tabke, DFL-Shakopee. Tabke’s south suburban district was the closest House race in Minnesota two years ago. Tabke won, but the Minnesota House wound up in a tie. Mike Moyski and Jacki Flavin, the parents of Harper Moyski, canvassed as part of a group of advocates for gun violence prevention. Harper was 10 when she was one of two children killed in a mass shooting. Gun-related measures stalled last year, including bills to ban assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. The Moyskis have canvassed for other DFL candidates on two separate times. "If this were a Republican candidate and they were going for gun violence prevention and safety measures that we stood for, we would be here right alongside them as well," Mike Moyski said. At doors, they're asking people what they care about this election and aren't always sharing their own story because they want to create space for genuine dialogue.