Thursday, September 18, 2025

Good morning, and welcome to RedState’s “Morning Minute” — a brief glimpse at which stories are trending at the moment and a look ahead at what the day may bring. Consider this your one-stop shop for news to kickstart your day. 

TOP O’ THE MORNIN’

Red-Hot at RedState 

Here Are the Feckless, Spineless Republicans Who Somehow Couldn’t Bring Themselves to Censure Ilhan Omar

Kirk’s free speech rights were taken from him. Omar’s were not. They would not have been, even with a vote to hold her accountable.

Oh My: Kamala Explains Why She Didn’t Pick Pete Buttigieg as Her Running Mate

So think about it for a second. Instead of picking Pete, she chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and his jazz hands, to “connect” with men.

‘Remember That’: Greg Gutfeld Decodes Obama, Cohost ‘Both Sides’ Argument After Charlie Kirk’s Murder

Democrats think they can play this “both sides” game like they have in the past, and it is so refreshing to see no one on the right or who is a sane thinking person is letting this slide this time.

Trending Across Townhall Media

Kentucky Students Explain Why They Walked Out of Class Over Gun Control

If existing laws aren’t going to stop these kids, what laws will?

Brendan Carr: You’re Damn Right We’ll Call a Code Red At the FCC

To use the theme from my headline: Disney (and even more so the affiliates) want the FCC on that wall. More importantly, they need the FCC on that wall, or at least their broadcast units do, radio as well as TV. 

Roseanne Barr’s Epic Response to Kimmel’s Suspension Is Comedy Gold

So, it is satisfying that, seven years later, those same arbiters of morality have to pull the plug on their beloved late-night clown because of his own “abhorrent, repugnant” remarks.

‘Disgusted’: Scores of Dem Voters Flee Party, Appalled By Celebrations Over Charlie Kirk’s Death

But are there enough normie Democrats in the base that can turn the tide here? 

Scott Jennings Schools ‘Journalism Professor’ on How Jimmy Kimmel’s Free Speech Works on Network TV

It appears ABC responded to station owners Sinclair and Nexstar, who were under pressure from viewers and local advertisers. 

WHAT’S ON TAP?

Today on Capitol Hill…

Another busy day of hearings/meetings on the Hill Thursday, including:

• House Energy and Commerce, Health Subcommittee — Examining Policies to Enhance Seniors’ Access to Breakthrough Medical Technologies
• House Homeland Security, Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee — “Invasion of the Homeland: How China is Using Illegal Marijuana to Build a Criminal Network Across America”
• House Agriculture, Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee — “USDA’s Rural Development: Delivering Vital Programs and Services to Rural America”
• House Science, Space, and Technology, Energy Subcommittee — Igniting America’s Energy Future: The Promise and Progress of Fusion Power
• House Judiciary, Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee —  “AI at a Crossroads: A Nationwide Strategy or Californication?”
• House Oversight and Government Reform — “Oversight of the District of Columbia”

Meanwhile, the measure to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) over her Charlie Kirk remarks fell…with an assist from four Republicans.

White House What’s Up

After a pomp-filled day at Windsor Castle, concluding with a formal State Banquet, in which President Donald Trump had his hosts chuckling, the president and First Lady Melania depart Windsor Thursday morning and head to Chequers Estate, in Buckinghamshire, England, where he’ll participate in a bilateral meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, followed by a business leaders reception, and then a press conference. The president and first lady will then return to Washington.

Keeping Up With the Cabinet

Attorney General – Pam Bondi — On Wednesday, Bondi touted the administration’s success in tackling crime in D.C. and vowed a similar focus in Memphis, Tennessee.  

Our mission to make DC safe again continues to be a success with nearly 2,800 arrests and over 260 illegal guns off the streets.

As we head to Memphis, our mission remains the same: we will remove criminals, deadly drugs, and illegal guns and we will make America safe again! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/mIkjTE2k3G

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) September 17, 2025

Full Court Press…

We had a handful of court decisions come down on Wednesday, including: 

• ❌ Barco Mercado v. Noem (regarding immigration detention facilities) — Judge Lewis Kaplan (Southern District of New York) GRANTS plaintiffs’ motion for class certification and GRANTS plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction.
• ↔️ Environmental Defense Fund v. Wright (regarding the rescission of previous executive orders re: climate/environment) — Judge William Young (Massachusetts) DENIES plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction, but GRANTS plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (in part).
• ❌ State of California v. Trump (election law) — Judge Denise Casper DENIES administration’s motion to dismiss.
• ❌ National TPS Alliance v. Noem (DHS revocation of TPS – Venezuela/Haiti) — 9th Circuit Court of Appeals DENIES admin’s motion for stay pending appeal.

(I’ve kept the emoji shorthand going here. Yes, I know there’s been more ❌ than ✅ lately. None of these are final rulings.)  

COMING ATTRACTIONS

It’s been overshadowed by other events, but you can bet your sweet bippy next week in Congress will be a battle royale as we near that September 30 funding deadline. Gird your loins. 

MORNING MUSING

It ties directly back into my Morning Musing from Tuesday (Guard Your Heart), but I think it’s a separate facet of it. Yes, first and foremost, we should guard our hearts…but then we should also use our noggins. Just as the old adage reminds us to measure twice and cut once, so, too, would we all benefit from thinking twice and speaking once. 

This does not mean that one shouldn’t speak their mind — I’m not calling for a “chill wind.” But whether you’re a late-night “comedian” or a politician or a public speaker or Joe Schmoe, you’ll be better served — and so will the rest of the world — if you engage your brain and give some consideration to the potential effects of your words before you unload them on others. (And, to be clear, I’m offering this advice up to myself as much as anyone else.)

Measure twice, cut once.

Think twice, speak once.

— Susie Moore ⚾️🌻🐶 (@SmoosieQ) September 18, 2025

LIGHTER FARE 

I know we had another baby cow recently, but…I think these are appropriate times to have a cow. 

Cute baby cow..🐄😍

📹kacey_fuItz pic.twitter.com/sgReCPDSWY

— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) September 18, 2025

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