Blois Olson is one of the most well-known political analysts and publishers in Minnesota, but he stumbled into the world of political media sort of by mistake. While studying to become a lawyer and serving as the photo editor for the student newspaper at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, Olson was elected as editor. The worlds of poli-sci and journalism officially merged.

Olson never made it to law school, but he did go on to launch—and later sell—his first communications agency, start some of the earliest political blogs and podcasts in Minnesota, and become a top political commentator for WCCO radio, a position he’s held for 26 years. Today, Olson is also the founder and CEO of Fluence Media—which publishes newsletters like Morning Take, Minnesota’s most-read political tip sheet—and Fluence Advisory, a communications agency for regulated industries and businesses.

Q: Have you always had an interest in politics and media? 
A: As a kid in Shoreview, I grew up delivering the newspaper. I was interested in current events. We were a household that always had the news on at dinner, and we discussed the issues of the day. It just resonated in my brain.

Q: You’ve worn many hats over the years—agency founder, podcast and radio host, blog and newsletter publisher, communications consultant. What has that been like?
A: The patchwork of things I touch are all central to this idea of connected communications and perspective analysis, and advocacy on behalf of clients and/or industries that need to navigate government and media and business simultaneously. It’s really that sweet spot where [those three] convene that people call on me to help them understand how to navigate thoughtfully with insight.

Q: You launched Fluence Media in 2012. What is your business model?
A: If we tracked an industry like an investment bank tracks investments, we could have points of view and perspectives, and identify trends, concerns and opportunities in media communications before our competitors on the consulting side. Agriculture became one of the first industries we tracked, and people would ask for our perspectives and consulting in this sector. The theory I went with was that there was a disconnect between what was happening in ag country and what was happening in the Twin Cities and public policy circles. The Twin Cities radio stations had stopped covering farm reports, all other media was scaling back. There would be agribusiness news, and these other media companies wouldn’t pick it up for eight to 10 days. If you read our Morning Take newsletter, you’ll know about this sooner.

Q: What should Minnesotans expect this election cycle?
A: We’re still in very divided times. I think voters are seeking stability despite the environment we’re in. It’s not just in the presidential race; it’s local races, too. The more extreme activists, on both sides, have more influence on the party process, and that has produced candidates that aren’t traditional.

Blois’s Favorites

Podcast: The Powers That Be
Currently Reading: Just the Good Stuff by Jim VandeHei, my college classmate
Hobbies: Golf and pickleball