Thursday, January 30, 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
Instead of urging their viewers to come together and respectfully cover the tragedy, CNN opted to chomp at the bit as to how they might accuse Trump of somehow causing the crash.
Democrats and mainstream mediots not practicing what they preach. Shocking, right?
Elizabeth Warren Melts Down at RFK Jr. Over Lawsuits, Gets a Reality Check
It really isn't a good look when you act like you're losing your mind. Warren was shaking during that she was so unhinged.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Gun Control Crowd Frreaking Over Trump's Grant Ban
Frankly, I'm not the least bit moved by their upset over Trump's freeze of taxpayer money going hither and yon, especially if it's curtailing anti-gun efforts masquerading as research.
Things Suddenly Looking Chilly for Milley
But him losing a star - or two - and not being able to sell his expertise (without a security clearance, he's worthless) to boards or networks who hate Trump may help salve some of the wounds. A little bit.
You'll Love What Tom Homan Said About Joy Reid's ICE Raids Meltdown
How can you not love Tom Homan? He's the no-nonsense, unapologetic fighter we need as Border Czar, and he's not taking any crap.
What Would Possess Someone to Tweet This Garbage After the Air Disaster at Reagan National Airport?
The liberal media reaction to the tragic mid-air crash at Reagan National Airport is one where we find ourselves to be not shocked, yet totally surprised as well.
We're glad that Swalwell is OK too. But we would have known that if he had just tweeted his prayers for the victims and left out the part where he tried to make the story all about himself.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
Thursday brings another full (and likely eventful) day on the Hill with the following confirmation hearings set:
- Kash Patel - FBI Director - Judiciary Committee - 9:30 a.m. Eastern
- Dan Driscoll - Secretary of the Army - Armed Services Committee - 9:30 a.m. Eastern
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee - 10:00 a.m. Eastern
- Tulsi Gabbard - Director of National Intelligence - Intelligence Committee - 10:00 a.m. Eastern
There has been some discussion as to whether or not the hearings should be postponed in light of the tragedy at Reagan National Airport Wednesday night, but as of this writing, it appears the hearings will proceed as scheduled.
In addition, there will be meetings to consider the nominations of Russ Vought as OMB Director, Elise Stefanik as UN Ambassador, and Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior.
Lee Zeldin was confirmed Wednesday as EPA Administrator, with a vote expected next week on Pam Bondi for Attorney General.
There's also a hearing set Thursday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee "to examine the influence of the People's Republic of China at home and abroad, focusing on recommendations for policy makers."
White House What's Up
President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on Wednesday. Wednesday night, he was briefed on the horrific mid-air collision and weighed in on it, making several posts to Truth Social, and ending the evening with this succinct but sad observation:
What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!
We don't yet have his schedule for Thursday, but one suspects he'll be watching the confirmation hearings closely.
Update: We have the schedule now. President Trump will hold a press briefing on the aviation disaster at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. At 1:30 p.m., he'll have lunch with Vice President JD Vance. At 3:00 p.m., he's set to sign additional executive orders.
Full Court Press...
Former Senator Bob Menendez (NJ) was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday for his bribery, corruption convictions, and took the opportunity to vent about the weaponized justice system.
The Justice Department formally moved to dismiss its appeal in the classified documents case against Trump's co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos DeOliveira, on Wednesday, as well.
We're still waiting on that decision from the New York Appellate Division on Trump's civil fraud appeal, by the way. Someday...
COMING ATTRACTIONS
We'll continue to see committee votes and haggling over Trump's Cabinet picks, with Dems digging in harder in reaction to the flurry of executive actions taken in the first 10 days of the administration and Republicans stomping on the accelerator to get the nominees confirmed. The necessity of that was highlighted Wednesday night as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy (who had just been sworn in the night before) were called upon to weigh in on the tragedy and affirm that a thorough investigation is underway.
Several Israeli and Thai hostages were released by Hamas in the early morning hours of Thursday, with four more set to be released on Saturday. Keep praying.
MORNING MUSING
Wednesday night's mid-air collision brought to mind two things: First, as soon as I learned the aircraft had crashed into the Potomac, I was, of course, reminded of the horrific January 1982 crash of Air Florida Flight 90. I was 13 at the time, and that was the first major crash that I can remember, though I'm sure there were others before it. I remember sitting, dumbstruck, and watching the coverage, praying they'd find more survivors. That was the beginning of my fear of flying. (I won't belabor that issue here — that's a story for another day.)
Second, it took barely a nanosecond for the politicization to begin. Gross.
Still, crises have a way of being clarifying — leaders leap into action; losers leap to score political points.
Crises bring out the best in some people.
— Susie Moore ⚾️🌻🐶 (@SmoosieQ) January 30, 2025
Sadly, they bring out the worst in others. Don't be like that.
LIGHTER FARE
Anyone have a spare?
— Heckin Good Dogs (@HeckinGoodDogs) January 29, 2025
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