"America is Back"
MN-06 Daily: March 3, 2026
Happy 65th birthday, Rep. Emmer. Your constituents got you something: questions. Same as last year. And the year before that. Still waiting on a response to any of them.
Today your congressman issued one press release blaming Tim Walz for the Medicaid freeze, retweeted Kristi Noem’s fraud messaging, shared a Democratic whip notice to blame Democrats for the DHS shutdown, and said nothing about the war, the contempt hearing, the gas prices, or the war powers vote his office will have to whip this week.
1 press release. 4 tweets/retweets. 0 media appearances. 0 votes. 0 mentions of Iran, gas prices, war powers, or the contempt hearing in his home state.
937 days since Rep. Emmer’s last in-person town hall — August 9, 2023 — Hamburg, MN
DHS Shutdown: Day 18. Senate voted this afternoon — result pending. House Rules Committee meets tomorrow to tee up a new DHS vote for Thursday. TSA workers miss first full paycheck March 14.
“America is Back”
Four days ago — February 27 — Rep. Emmer sent a newsletter to constituents. The subject line: “America is back.”
Here’s what he told you:
“Lowered gas prices to a four-year low”
“Made our military stronger than ever”
“The state of the union is strong”
“America is on a comeback like never before”
Here’s what happened in the four days since:
Gas prices. Minnesota gas prices are up 9.3 cents per gallon in the past week, according to GasBuddy. Analysts project an additional 10 to 30 cents per gallon over the next week. The Strait of Hormuz — through which 20% of the world’s oil supply passes — is effectively closed. Brent crude surged past $82 per barrel today, up 12% this week. European natural gas futures are up 60%. Qatar has shut down LNG production after Iranian drone strikes hit its facilities. Wall Street analysts warn oil could hit $100/barrel if the disruption continues. MN-06 is a driving district. Your congressman told you gas prices were at a four-year low on Thursday. By Monday, they were climbing. He hasn’t mentioned it.
The military. Six American service members are dead — two additional remains were recovered Monday at the Shuaiba port in Kuwait, where an Iranian cruise missile hit a makeshift operations center with no warning and no siren. Eighteen troops are seriously wounded. The United States is at war with Iran — a war Congress has not authorized — and nobody in this administration has articulated a plan to end it.
Trump: “Four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. Whatever it takes.” He hasn’t ruled out ground troops. Hegseth: “More casualties are likely.” No exit strategy. Rubio: Justified the preemptive strikes by saying the alternative was worse. No diplomatic endgame. No definition of victory. No offramp. Just a timeline and a shrug — from an administration that told you four days ago the military was “stronger than ever.”
A bipartisan war powers resolution (H.Con.Res. 38, Khanna-Massie) is expected to hit the House floor Thursday. As Majority Whip, Emmer’s job is to count the votes. Speaker Johnson has called the resolution a “dangerous gambit.” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., one of the resolution’s sponsors, says the war is not “America First.” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., says the strikes are unconstitutional. Tucker Carlson called them “absolutely disgusting and evil.” Emmer has said nothing about war powers. Not a tweet, not a statement, not a press conference. He will quietly whip votes to block the resolution while publicly saying nothing.
The union. DHS is in Day 18 of a shutdown. The Noem hearing today was a bipartisan disaster. Minnesota’s top federal prosecutor is in a contempt hearing. Gas prices are surging. The Medicaid money Emmer is tweeting about is frozen because of a federal agency dispute, and the state is now suing to get it back. The union is not strong. It’s fracturing in real time, and your congressman is sending you newsletters about hockey.
The Noem Hearing
Emmer retweeted Kristi Noem’s fraud messaging today — the Rapid Response 47 clip of Noem talking about Minnesota fraud investigations. Here’s how that same hearing went:
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. — called Noem’s leadership a “disaster.” Gave a 10-minute “performance evaluation.” Wouldn’t let her respond. Said “time after time, I’ve been disappointed.” Vowed to block administration nominees and bring Senate business to a halt until she answers his questions. Referenced her killing her dog.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. — grilled Noem on a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign that prominently featured her — including on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore. The contract went to a firm run by the husband of a former DHS spokesperson. Kennedy: “They were effective in your name recognition. It troubles me.”
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. — “Either you are utterly incompetent or you are violating laws with impunity. You should step down.” Noem replied: “I appreciate the encouragement.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. — asked about the continued DHS presence in Minnesota. Noem said 650 agents remain in the state, focused on fraud investigations.
Noem refused to retract her “domestic terrorism” label for Alex Pretti and Renee Good — two Americans killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. ICE and CBP leadership have already said neither they nor anyone under their command provided information supporting that characterization.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa (committee chair): “One death is too many.”
This is the person Emmer is amplifying today. Republican senators are calling her a disaster, questioning her spending, and demanding accountability. Emmer is sharing her clips.
The Rosen Contempt Hearing
Also today in Minnesota: U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen appeared in federal court in St. Paul for a contempt hearing before Judge Bryan. The hearing stems from repeated ICE violations of court orders — specifically, refusing to return property (cellphones, cash, passports) to immigrants released from detention.
Judge Bryan called the hearing “an extraordinary measure” and said it would be a “historic low point” for the U.S. Attorney’s office if he held anyone in contempt. Rosen accused the judge of smearing him. Bryan acknowledged the two had been “a little testy and frosty with each other.” The hearing was set to resume this afternoon.
This follows Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz — a George W. Bush appointee — finding that ICE violated 97 court orders in 66 cases. Schiltz wrote: “The Court is not aware of another occasion in the history of the United States in which a federal court has had to threaten contempt — again and again and again — to force the United States government to comply with court orders.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota continues to hemorrhage staff. The office is down from 64 assistant U.S. attorneys to 36. The civil division chief, Ana Voss — who was handling the flood of wrongful detention petitions — has resigned. An FBI supervisor resigned in January over DOJ’s handling of the Good case. And the fraud investigations Emmer keeps tweeting about? No new charges have been filed since December.
Emmer’s press release today demands Walz “comply with CMS” on Medicaid. He has said nothing about the federal courthouse in his home state descending into unprecedented contempt proceedings, or the federal prosecutors fleeing the office that’s supposed to be prosecuting the very fraud he claims to care about.
The Moriarty Investigation
The Moriarty story from yesterday’s daily is now national news. The AP ran a wire story today that’s been picked up across the country. DHS responded last night, calling the investigations “unlawful” and claiming federal immunity.
Key new detail: University of St. Thomas law professor Rachel Moran, a criminal law and policing expert, told the AP: “I think agents did illegal things here. I watched it.”
Moriarty’s office has set up an online portal for the public to submit evidence — photos, videos, eyewitness accounts — from any point during Operation Metro Surge.
Emmer — who amplified Nick Shirley’s claims, demanded deportations, and praised Operation Metro Surge — has not acknowledged the investigation, the evidence deadlines, the DHS response, or the fact that a prosecutor in his home state is building cases against federal agents.
What He Actually Did Today
Press release: Joint letter with MN Republican delegation demanding Walz comply with CMS on Medicaid. The letter was sent last week (Feb 27). The press release went out today. The framing: Walz’s “negligence” is why $259.5M is frozen. The reality: Minnesota is suing the Trump administration to get the money back. Both things can be true — the state may have compliance issues AND the federal government may be weaponizing the freeze. Emmer is only telling you one side.
Tweet: Shared the Medicaid letter, blamed Walz.
Retweet: Democratic whip notice — “Democrats have completely lost it.” The notice shows Democrats being whipped to vote NO on the House DHS bill and YES on the war powers resolution. Emmer is framing this as Democrats blocking DHS funding. He is not mentioning that the war powers vote is about whether Congress authorizes the war he endorsed.
Retweet: Rep. Roger Williams — “Coast Guard funding is being withheld while they’re defending our freedom abroad.” Quote-tweeting Emmer’s own DHS blame tweet.
Retweet: Rapid Response 47 / Kristi Noem — Noem on Minnesota fraud. This was shared the same day Noem was called a “disaster” by a Republican senator, grilled over $220M in self-promotional spending, and refused to retract calling two dead Americans “domestic terrorists.”
Not mentioned: The war. Gas prices. War powers. The contempt hearing. The Moriarty investigation. The prosecutor exodus. His constituents.
The Week Ahead
This is a consequential week for the Majority Whip. Here’s what’s on his plate:
Today: Rubio, CIA director, and defense secretary brief all House members on Iran at 5 PM. House Rules Committee considers DHS funding bill.
Wednesday: Noem testifies before House Judiciary Committee.
Thursday (expected): House floor vote on war powers resolution (H.Con.Res. 38). House floor vote on DHS funding. Both require Emmer to whip votes.
Ongoing: DHS shutdown Day 18+. Rosen contempt proceedings. Moriarty investigation. Gas prices climbing. War continuing.
We will be watching all of it.
The Questions
The following questions were submitted to Rep. Emmer’s office via his official contact form on March 3, 2026:
Your February 27 newsletter told constituents you had “lowered gas prices to a four-year low.” Minnesota gas prices have risen 9.3 cents per gallon this week and analysts project 10-30 cents more. The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. Do you stand by that claim? What is your plan to address rising energy costs for MN-06 families?
Six American service members are dead. Eighteen are seriously wounded. The President says the war could last “four to five weeks” but hasn’t ruled out ground troops. Neither the President, the Secretary of Defense, nor the Secretary of State has articulated an exit strategy or a definition of victory. As Majority Whip, you will be responsible for whipping votes on a war powers resolution Thursday. Will you publicly state your position on whether Congress should authorize this war?
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen appeared in federal court today facing contempt proceedings. Chief Judge Schiltz — a Bush appointee — has found 97 court order violations in 66 cases. Your office in Minnesota is down from 64 prosecutors to 36. No fraud charges have been filed since December. Are you concerned about the rule of law in your home state’s federal courts?
You retweeted Kristi Noem’s fraud messaging today. During her Senate hearing, Republican Sen. Tillis called her leadership a “disaster,” Republican Sen. Kennedy questioned $220M in self-promotional ad spending, and she refused to retract calling two dead Minnesotans “domestic terrorists.” Do you still support Secretary Noem’s leadership of DHS?
It has been 937 days since your last in-person town hall in MN-06 (August 9, 2023, Hamburg, MN). Happy birthday. When will you speak to your constituents?
We are still awaiting a response to all previous submissions.
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Source Data:
KTTC Rochester: “Petroleum analyst explains impacts of war with Iran on gas prices,” March 2, 2026
CNBC: “Oil and natural gas surge after Iran orders Strait of Hormuz closure,” March 3, 2026
CNBC: “How high can oil and gas prices go because of the Iran war?” March 2, 2026
NPR: “Kristi Noem faces senators over DHS shutdown, immigration enforcement,” March 3, 2026
CBS News: “U.S. death toll in Iran war rises to 6 as Trump says campaign could last 5 weeks,” March 3, 2026
CNN: “No warning, no siren: six US service members killed in Iranian strike that hit makeshift operations center in Kuwait,” March 3, 2026
NPR: “6 U.S. soldiers have been killed as the war with Iran further engulfs the region,” March 3, 2026
CNBC: “Tillis calls Noem’s leadership a ‘disaster’ in fiery Senate hearing,” March 3, 2026
ABC News: “Noem declines to retract ‘terrorism’ comments about Alex Pretti during Senate hearing,” March 3, 2026
AP/Democracy Now: “U.S. Attorney in Minnesota Faces Criminal Contempt Charges for Defying Court Orders,” March 3, 2026
AP: “Courtroom ‘testy and frosty’ exchanges highlight wave of confrontations,” March 3, 2026
AP/KNSI: “Minnesota launches investigation that could bring charges against federal immigration officers,” March 3, 2026
MPR News: “Mary Moriarty’s office seeks public tips in probe of alleged federal agent misconduct,” March 3, 2026
Minnesota Star Tribune: “Another wave of departures in Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office,” February 2026
NPR: “Congress gears up for vote on Trump’s war powers in Iran,” March 2, 2026
CBS News: “Iran strikes highlight fractures in GOP ahead of war powers votes in Congress,” March 2, 2026
The Hill: “Speaker Johnson pushes against war powers resolution,” March 3, 2026
Government Executive: “Congress searches for shutdown off-ramp as DHS employees start missing pay,” March 2, 2026
Emmer.house.gov: Press release, “Emmer, Minnesota Republican Delegation Demand that Walz Comply with CMS,” March 3, 2026
Rep. Emmer newsletter: “America is back,” February 27, 2026
@GOPMajorityWhip, @tomemmer Twitter/X accounts, March 3, 2026
House Press Gallery: Next recorded votes expected Wednesday, March 4
House Majority Leader weekly schedule, March 3, 2026
Wikipedia: “2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis”
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