Monday Morning Minute

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'

Putin's War, Week 130. White House Says the Quiet Part Out Loud and a Storm Gathers in Southern Ukraine

I think the Ukrainians have at least one more week left to play in Kursk before confronting any significant Russian force.

Democrats Now Faced With Selling the One Person They Couldn’t Wait to Get Rid Of

Now they place her on a pedestal and demand you pay homage with your vote.

WATCH: JD Vance Wrecks NBC Simp Who Was Silly Enough to Challenge Him on Trump's Economic Record

Moreover, facts and statistics are to Democrats and their liberal media sock puppets what crucifixes and holy water are to vampires.

WHAT'S ON TAP?

Today on Capitol Hill...

Well, they're still on their (endless) Summer recess, so things should remain fairly quiet on the Hill as we close out August, but we'll start seeing the critters gear up for their return soon, I expect. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) says the FBI and Secret Service are dragging their feet on the investigation into J13. (Shocking, I know.) Looks like the House GOP may be refocusing its investigatory efforts on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and his ties to China now that he's Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate.

White House What's Up

Not Joe, that's for sure. No, following his week-long vacay in Santa Ynez, California, President Joe Biden is taking it easy on the other end of the country in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Again, good thing there's nothing important going on in the world.

The Homestretch

Harris, meanwhile, will be back in Washington, D.C., where she'll "receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff. These meetings will be closed press." Running mate Walz is back in Minnesota until Wednesday when he'll get back out on the campaign trail.

Former President Donald Trump is starting Monday by laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of the three-year anniversary of the Abbey Gate attack. Later, he will be in Detroit, Michigan, to address the National Guard Conference. His running mate, Sen. JD Vance (OH), will be in Lexington, Kentucky, to headline a fundraiser.

Full Court Press...

Monday, supermarket chains Krogers and Albertsons go to federal court in Portland, Oregon, to plead their case for a merger. (No word yet on whether they'll be thumped for price gouging.)

MORNING MUSING

I've seen several comments on Twitter/X voicing concern that it sort of feels like the calm before the storm. Our own Brandon Morse recently observed that things are about to get ugly. I share in that sense of foreboding. We're just a little over two months out from the election, and it's hard not to expect that those who've jettisoned any pretense of playing by the "rules" will do anything but put the pedal to the metal in an effort to ensure Agent Orange doesn't return to 1600 Pennsylvania. I'm a person of faith, but not one who frequently has a Bible verse at the ready for most occasions. And yet, this morning, one came to me unbidden: "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16) That means something. All of God's word means something — I mean that the fact that it spoke to me so clearly this morning tells me I need to sit up and take notice. Discernment will be key.