News of note in Minnesota

American Experiment Update: Center events, initiatives, and policy work.

Staff updates

Peter Nelson, senior policy fellow at Center of the American Experiment, has been named by Pres. Donald Trump to lead the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). Nelson began his new role as Director of CCIIO in February 2025.

Nelson also served in the first Trump administration as Senior Advisor to the Administrator at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In that role, he helped lead the development and implementation of insurance market regulations and state innovation waivers. Nelson worked at American Experiment from 2006 to 2017, and again from 2021 to 2024.

Nelson is a leading expert on the Affordable Care Act and health insurance regulations. His work in Minnesota and Washington, D.C. has focused on developing and advancing policies to promote more competitive, affordable health insurance markets. This includes policies related to the ACA’s section 1332 state innovation waivers, price transparency, and health reimbursement arrangements.

“We are thrilled Peter Nelson is returning to the Trump administration to work on health care policy,” says American Experiment president John Hinderaker. “Obviously, they recognize his expertise and leadership in health insurance regulation and reform, and we expect great things from him in this new role.”

Former Minnesota House Majority Leader Matt Dean has been hired as a state health care policy fellow. Dean served seven terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives and was elected majority leader in 2011. He also served as chairman of the Health and Human Services Finance Committee.

Dean recently worked for the Heartland Institute as a senior fellow for Health Care Policy Outreach. As a health care leader in Minnesota, Dean successfully passed bipartisan reforms to cut fraud and increase patient choice in Medicaid, Medicare, and the private marketplace. Dean also created and passed nation-leading legislation to pioneer direct contracting of care by hospitals. As the state’s only architect to be elected to the legislature, Dean served on the state’s Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board as well as the governor’s commission for the $330 million Minnesota Capitol restoration.

Says American Experiment president John Hinderaker, “Matt Dean is one of the top health care policy people in Minnesota and we are thrilled to have him on the American Experiment team. With his expertise in state health care policy and strong legislative connections, Matt will make an immediate impact at the Capitol.”

Initiatives

American Experiment has launched $7k for Kids, an initiative to pass an Education Savings Account (ESA) bill allowing parents to direct $7,000 toward the education that best fits their child’s needs. This initiative is a partnership with Opportunity for All Kids (OAK) and aligns with the interests of Minnesotans across the political spectrum. Readers can visit our website to send an email telling your legislators you support a $7,000 ESA (www.AmericanExperiment.org/7k-forkids/).

Annual Dinner Gala

American Experiment’s 2025 Annual Dinner Gala will feature Scott Jennings, who served as Special Assistant to Pres. George W. Bush and played pivotal roles in high-profile U.S. House and Senate races.

Jennings has taught at Harvard’s Kennedy School, shaping the next generation of public servants. He is also a founding partner of RunSwitch Public Relations, Kentucky’s largest public relations and public affairs firm. As a columnist, Jennings has been featured in publications such as the L.A. Times and Gannett. But his prominent role at CNN, where he is often a lone voice of common sense in a sea of leftism, has made him a hero to conservatives across America.

The event will be held on Saturday, May 17, at the Minneapolis Hilton. A cocktail reception begins at 5:30 p.m., ballroom doors open at 6:30 p.m., and dinner and the program begin at 7:00 p.m. A YLC afterparty will follow. Go to AmericanExperiment.org for information and to purchase tickets.

Greater Minnesota

American Experiment leverages six Greater Minnesota chapters (Duluth, West Central, St. Cloud, Mankato, Owatonna, Rochester) to effectively promote American Experiment’s commitment to free-market principles, limited government, and individual liberty. Chapters serve as vital hubs for community outreach, hosting events and discussions to build a strong network of informed and active citizens who advocate for policies that support economic growth, educational excellence, and overall prosperity in Greater Minnesota.

Greater Minnesota chapters celebrated wins from 2024 with January New Year’s celebrations in West Central Minnesota and Rochester. Both communities brought together conservatives from around their respective areas to celebrate recent victories and the potential for making Minnesota a freer and more prosperous state.

St. Cloud has long been a beacon of opportunity for those seeking to achieve the American Dream. American Experiment economist Martha Njolomole brought her story to students at St. Cloud State University in a program titled, “The America I Found: An Immigrant’s Perspective.” As an immigrant from one of the poorest countries in Africa, Njolomole described her deep concern that young Americans are becoming sour on America and the idea of free enterprise. Yet the United States is a remarkable land of opportunity, and her journey — along with those of millions of other immigrants — is proof of that. Njolomole led a panel of local immigrants to Minnesota encouraging attendees to take pride in being a part of this great nation but to also stand up for the ideals that define it — especially liberty.

The West Central Chapter hosted an in-person interview with 7th District Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) to gain further insight into the challenges and opportunities facing Greater Minnesota. Fischbach has been a vocal advocate for her rural, Greater Minnesota communities and has worked tirelessly to address the unique needs of one of the largest, by area, U.S. congressional districts. Topics at the Ottertail, Minn. event included identifying the biggest challenges facing Greater Minnesota today, 7th district infrastructure initiatives, and encouragement of active community involvement on the challenges facing Greater Minnesota.

In the near future, American Experiment chapters will feature hot topic conversations on the childcare crisis in Rochester, school choice in Mankato, and the housing crisis in Duluth. Go to www.AmericanExperiment.org/events/ for details and to register.

CORRECTION: A feature in the print edition of the Winter 2025 Thinking Minnesota (“Mission Impossible”) misstates the mineral Geranium. The correct element is Germanium. We regret the error.