Plus: TikTok has a rocky weekend under new ownership; Americans lose faith in reaching the middle class.
More than 60 companies based in Minnesota signed onto a joint letter published by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce calling for “an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions.”
The letter is brief, less than 200 words. It does not mention words like “immigration,” “ICE” or the names of Alex Pretti or Renee Good, two American citizens killed by immigration agents operating in the city. Its focus is on “peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future.”
It is the first public communication on the ongoing immigration actions in Minneapolis from some of the largest companies based there, including 3M, Target, UnitedHealth Group, U.S. Bancorp and many others.
The statement does not mention President Donald Trump or any other public official by name, though it does mention that the business community has been in constant communication with the White House, the vice president, Minnesota’s governor and local mayors.
Why it matters: Minnesota-based companies had been under intense pressure to speak out on the situation, which has roiled the state in recent weeks. Target in particular had become a flashpoint, with some staging sit-ins inside area stores and ICE conducting arrests and raids of both workers and patrons.
This statement is unlikely to quell the public pressure. It walks an incredibly delicate line of acknowledging the turmoil caused by the situation, which has also impacted business operations and frightened many workers, without taking a stance on the underlying issues at hand, other than requesting a return to peace and calm.
Not only do these businesses want to avoid alienating customers, but they also likely fear a federal administration that has proven itself willing to take action against companies that publicly defy its policies.
Besides the fairly circumspect statement, the most important thing the coalition has done to avoid drawing the ire of the federal government is by acting in tandem. It’s easy for Trump to fire off a social post condemning one or two companies that stick their heads up — it’s harder to come out against 60 companies urging peace and cooperation.
The situation in Minneapolis remains fraught and could escalate further, requiring further internal and external statements. The more companies can stay together, move as a pack and pursue their interests in a bloc, the more likely they are to not only effect change, but avoid repercussions.
Stay safe and take care of one another.
Editor’s Top Reads:
- TikTok had a rocky weekend under its new American ownership. Some users reported difficulty logging in and uploading videos. Some have also reported that their For You pages seem to have reset themselves, depriving them of the powerful algorithm that’s made TikTok such a success. As of last week, TikTok in America is now governed by a group of investors, with a minority stake held by Chinese owner ByteDance. It’s possible the change to new ownership triggered back-end changes, but given the timing, some speculated the problems with uploads meant a new era of government censorship in the U.S. There’s no evidence of this, but in the absence of explanation from TikTok and the unknown factors of this new leadership structure, rumors will run amok unless and until answers and consistency can take root.
- Americans on the whole are struggling to find their way in the current economy, with many reporting that the basics of life are unaffordable. According to a New York Times/Siena poll, more than half of respondents said that education (58%) and housing (54%) have become unaffordable. Both of these areas have traditionally been seen as pathways to reach the middle class, ringing alarm bells as more and more Americans see them as out of reach. These issues are especially pronounced among younger generations — 40% of 18 to 29-year-olds and 42% of 30 to 44-year-olds say the life they want is “out of reach.” Only 27% of those 65 and older said the same. These numbers are clear signs to communicators: consumer audiences, especially younger ones, feel pinched. This is a time when conspicuous luxury is out, and a focus on value and quality is in.
- The Washington Post has decided to pull out of covering the Winter Olympics, just two weeks before staffers were set to fly to Italy. Sources said the vast majority of expenses to send journalists to the games had already been paid, making the abrupt move even more surprising. The news came in a terse email from Kimi Yoshino, a managing editor at the Post, the New York Times reported. “As we assess our priorities for 2026, we have decided not to send a contingent to the Winter Olympics. We realize this decision and its timing will be disappointing to many of you, so please reach out to me if you want to talk further.” The Post has found itself struggling in recent years after a series of scandals and strategy decisions alienated readers on both the right and the left. The sudden change might herald a larger shift in strategy, pulling away from the international coverage the Post had focused on in recent years to something focused closer to home. Definitely keep an eye out for more developments at the Jeff Bezos-owned outlet.
Allison Carter is editorial director of PR Daily and Ragan.com. Follow her on LinkedIn.
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