Monday, August 17, 2026
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
Virginia Salon Owner Boots Jewish Israeli Customer — Then Her Own Video Makes It Even Worse
Karimi's own explanation was that Walton “would have slid by” if she had agreed there was a genocide and said she did not support the Israeli government.
El-Sayed Tries to Attack Rogers in Michigan Senate Race, but It Boomerangs on Him
No, Rogers isn't frolicking like El-Sayed; he's busy focused on the issues. But, please, El-Sayed should keep embarrassing himself with "attacks" like this.
'Well, That WAS an F-18' — Marine Pilot Calmly Greets Cops After Surviving Forest Jet Crash
It had to be jarring, to say the least, to eject from an aircraft, come barreling into the forest canopy, have branches clawing at your face, and yet still have the wherewithal to call 911 and go find help.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — SoCal City Jacks Up Concealed Carry Application Fee by 1000 Percent
Even if it does legitimately cost Glendale more than $1,000 to process a carry application, the end result is a price tag that puts the right to bear arms out of the reach of many residents.
HotAir — Deconstructing Deconstructionism: Royce White and Enes Freedom Tying WNBA Into Knots
The entire Critical Theory enterprise works solely because the left can bully us into mouthing things we do not believe and quailing in fear that we will be called bad names. If we can break the taboo, we break the tyrants.
PJ Media — Is Mark Cuban FINALLY Figuring Out His Side Is Nuts?
Obviously, Cuban still isn't a conservative, and nobody should expect him to start voting like one. But watching a man who destroyed his own reputation to carry water for Kamala Harris erupt at a sitting Democrat for treating entrepreneurs like an ATM is worth noting. Maybe he's finally seeing what the rest of us already knew about his party. Maybe.
Townhall — The Death of Academic Fraud Jason Arday Won't Shut Us Up
We’re not going to play their game. We’re not going to hold fire for fear of feelz. We’re not going to ignore the truth lest the liar lash out at himself or others. Sometimes the truth hurts, but the only people the truth hurts are people exposed doing something they shouldn’t be doing.
In modern journalism, "ignorance of basic civics" and "deliberately misleading" often go hand in hand.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
Critters be gone this week, of course. (Come to think of it, "Critters Be Gone" sounds like a good bug spray.) Here's a hint of what they're up to while away:
Rashida Tlaib Gets Nailed for BLM Whopper by Reality and Community Notes
'They Ran Operations Each and Every Time President Trump Was Running for Office': Jordan Sounds Off
White House What's Up
President Trump has a relatively tame schedule for Monday:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
- 11:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT receives his Intelligence Briefing — The White House
- 1:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT greets Lifeguard Ryder Williams — Oval Office
- 4:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
U.S. Trade Rep. - Jamieson Greer — Greer recently put in an appearance at the Iowa State Fair.
No better way to kick off the state fair than flipping pork chops and visiting the butter cow with Governor Kim Reynolds (@IAGovernor).
— United States Trade Representative (@USTradeRep) August 14, 2026
📍Des Moines, Iowa pic.twitter.com/xeYNPFHQSL
🎡🌾🇺🇸 President Trump’s trade agenda continues to deliver lasting wins for American farmers and ranchers.
— United States Trade Representative (@USTradeRep) August 14, 2026
Walking around with @ChuckGrassley, @RepAshleyHinson, and @ZachNunn, Ambassador Greer met with dozens of vendors showcasing the best of Iowa’s agriculture and industry, who… pic.twitter.com/jG95mlu1ui
Full Court Press...
The courts were busy on Friday and over the weekend:
- ✅/↔️ In State of California v. CMS (access to healthcare/challenge to 2025 ACA “Marketplace Integrity and Affordability” rule), Judge Nathaniel Gorton (Massachusetts) GRANTS in part/DENIES in part cross-motions for summary judgment. (Plaintiffs win on 1 provision; admin on 4.)
- ❌ In Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence v. Kennedy (federal grants tied to EOs re: DEI, gender ideology, abortion, antidiscrimination requirements), Judge Melissa DuBose (Rhode Island) GRANTS plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, vacates grant conditions, and DENIES admin's cross-motion for summary judgment.
- ❌ In U.S. v. Aguilar (voter rolls), Judge Anne Traum (Nevada) GRANTS defendants' motion to dismiss.
- ↔️ In Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (asylum policies), 1st Circuit Court of Appeals GRANTS in part, DENIES in part admin's motion for stay pending appeal.
- ✅ African Communities Together v. Mullin (TPS - Somalia), Judge Allison Burroughs (Massachusetts) DENIES plaintiffs' renewed request for a stay/injunction, GRANTS admin's motion to lift her prior administrative stay.
- ❌ In U.S. v. Benson (voter rolls), 6th Circuit Court of Appeals DENIES admin's petition for rehearing en banc (with some interesting concurrences/dissents).
- ❌ In Orellana v. Moniz (habeas/mandatory detention), 1st Circuit Court of Appeals AFFIRMS district court's partial final judgment.
- ✅ In H.C.R. v. Mullin (access of lawyers to immigrants in detention), Judge Sheri Chappell (Middle District of Florida) DISMISSES case on the basis of mootness.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
We've got primary elections in Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming on Tuesday.
MORNING MUSING
As I've tried to do regularly, particularly during the summer, I largely checked out of newshound mode over the weekend, so I just saw snippets and headlines here and there. I did see that swell fellow Hasan Piker decided he's all in on Candace Owens, which sort of tells you everything you need to know — about either/both of them (to the extent you may have held any doubts).
A man (or woman) is known by the company (s)he keeps...
LIGHTER FARE
"Hi-ho! Kermit THE Frog here..."
Just a little Kermit enjoying the weather..🐸😍 pic.twitter.com/Z84jJyCW1h
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) August 16, 2026
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