Thursday, December 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
Hoo Boy: Fani Willis Has an Epic Meltdown When Grilled by GA Senate Committee About Trump Case
Willis was not a happy camper as she was grilled by the committee on Wednesday. Among the questions they explored was how much Nathan Wade, the man whom she made a special prosecutor in the case and had a relationship with, had been paid. This was one of the multiple meltdowns.
No, Congressman Thompson, Ambush and Murder Are Not an 'Unfortunate Accident'
Thompson’s cold-blooded statement reflects a partisan alignment so demanding that it strips the most basic of humanity from one’s core.
Whoa: Deep Blue State Deals Massive Blow to Trans Agenda, Axes LGBTQIA+ Mandate
This change of heart by the DCF comes after the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of two Massachusetts families who were deemed ineligible to foster because, due to their Christian beliefs, they would not sign on to the state policy requiring them affirm gender ideology.
Trending Across Townhall Media
MIT Professor Shot to Death Just 50 Miles From Brown University
But because officials in the Brown shooting aren't saying much, it's causing a lot of confusion among some in the public about this incident.
Sure, the FBI said there's no relationship between the two, and it's not like the FBI would lie about something. Oh, wait...
After Damaging Testimony, the Government Rests Its Case Against Judge Dugan
Will she or won't she testify? After three days of testimony, it really seems to me that Judge Dugan is cooked. Absent jury nullification from someone looking to strike a pose for the resistance, she should be found guilty. So maybe she'll take a chance and take the stand knowing she's got very little else gong for her.
Trump's Speech: Panic Is What the Left Wants to See
President Trump controlled the tempo from start to finish, setting terms rather than chasing critics. He framed the year behind him and the road ahead without flinching.
Is This Why There's Little to No Video Footage of the Brown University Shooter?
From top to bottom, this must be the worst crisis any authority has handled; no one knows anything. They literally said that at a presser, which still baffles me.
Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino DROPS Evanston, Illinois Mayor Like a Bad Habit (Watch)
But when Biss tried to play tough guy and confront Bovino about the entirely legal ICE operation, the commander absolutely chewed him up and spit him out.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
More meetings and hearings are set on the Hill for Thursday, including:
- House Science, Space, and Technology, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee — Research Security: Examining the Implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act and NSPM-33
- House Intelligence (Permanent Select) — Examining the Intelligence Community's use of Commercial Information (CLOSED)
- House Energy and Commerce, Environment Subcommittee — Examining the Impact of EPA’s CERCLA Designation for Two PFAS Chemistries and Potential Policy Responses to Superfund Liability Concerns"
- Joint Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) — Hearings to examine Bosnia and Herzegovina at a crossroads, focusing on thirty years after Dayton.
Both the Senate and the House held some critical votes on Wednesday:
READ MORE: Senate Greenlights Giant Defense Bill — Controversy Included
Breaking: GOP Healthcare Plan Passes in US House: 'On to the Senate!'
White House What's Up
President Trump delivered an address to the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, he'll receive his intelligence briefing in the Situation Room. At 1:30 PM, he'll sign an executive order in the Oval Office. Then he'll attend a Christmas reception in the Grand Foyer late in the afternoon, followed by an Oval Office bill signing (the NDAA). Then, to cap things off, he and First Lady Melania will participate in an evening Christmas reception in the Grand Foyer.
Vice President JD Vance spent his Wednesday hosting the Qatari PM and Foreign Affairs Minister.
On Wednesday, December 17th, Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance hosted the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, for dinner at the Vice President's Residence.
The Vice President and the Prime Minister discussed the enduring strategic partnership between Qatar and the United States and mutual efforts to promote regional peace.
That followed his Tuesday address in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Treasury - Scott Bessent — Bessent spoke recently about "Trump Accounts."
.@TrumpAccounts are @POTUS' gift to the American people. They represent perhaps the most groundbreaking policy innovation of modern times. And they are shaped by a simple vision: “Every American a shareholder.”
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) December 17, 2025
When every American owns a share of the most powerful economy on… pic.twitter.com/T2PNORrYpI
Full Court Press...
The courts were quite busy on Wednesday, churning out several notable decisions:
- ✅ D.C. v. Trump (National Guard deployment) — D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals GRANTS admin's motion for stay pending appeal.
- ↔️ Vizguerra-Ramirez v. Choate (habeas/removal of protesters) — Judge Nina Wang (Colorado) GRANTS petitioner partial relief; dismisses some of petitioner's claims.
- ❌ Neguse v. ICE (immigration detention facilities/oversight visit policies) — Judge Jia Cobb (D.C.) GRANTS plaintiffs' motion to stay agency action.
- ❌ Climate United Fund v. Citibank (denial of federal grants) — D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacates its prior decision (vacating lower court injunction) and grants rehearing en banc.
- ❌ National Treasury Employees Union v. Vought (dismantling of CFPB) — D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacates its prior decision (vacating underlying preliminary injunction) and grants rehearing en banc.
- ✅ National Trust for Historic Preservation in the U.S. v. National Park Service (construction of WH ballroom) — Judge Richard Leon (D.C.) issues written order confirming his denial of plaintiffs' request for TRO.
- ❌ AFGE v. OMB (shutdown layoffs) — Judge Susan Illston (Northern District of California) GRANTS plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction and enjoins RIFs.
Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, the criminal trial of Judge Hannah Dugan is proceeding, with the defense expected to put on their evidence today. The case could go to the jury later on Thursday or certainly by Friday, so we'll be keeping an eye on that for sure.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
On Friday, President Trump will travel to Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where he'll deliver remarks, presumably on the economy and with an eye toward the hotly contested Senate seat ahead of the midterms.
MORNING MUSING
Yes, yes, the news cycle is as crazy as ever — and no, we're not going to stop covering consequential news stories. But we are a week away from Christmas, and I'm trying to be a bit intentional in my approach to things — it's okay (and maybe important) to focus on the Good News in our midst as well.
And so, I just want to tip my hat to the generous donor(s) who've taken to dropping gold coins (worth thousands of dollars) in Salvation Army buckets across the nation. There was one in Vermont last week, one in Texas, one in Nebraska, and likely others, too. Coordinated effort? Contagion? I don't know.
I just know it's nice to see, in the midst of the maelstrom of negativity, some kindness and generosity of spirit.
LIGHTER FARE
That's a cat on a mission.
My cat can't sleep without his mammoth plushie. Even though it's twice his size, he drags it upstairs every night like this...
— Antidepressant Content (@depressionlesss) December 17, 2025
pic.twitter.com/y0oeAFlOox
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