Monday, October 20, 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
The Reactions to Obama's Post About His Presidential Center Are Hilarious
Seriously, paying $830 million for this explains one of the reasons the Obama presidency was such a failure.
Liberal Media Just Made a Big Admission About the Schumer Shutdown - Dems Aren't Going to Like This
Now, of course, the fact that the Democrats have chosen to shut the government down is self-evident from the vote — you need 60 votes to open the government on the clean continuing resolution, and they keep voting against it. However, that hasn't stopped the Democrats from trying to blame the Republicans. But when it even gets to the point where ABC has to admit it's the Democrats, then you know the Democrats' messaging on the matter is failing.
We're rooting for you, Winsome. Since Virginia Democrats keep doing stupid stuff, and Republicans have been smart enough to pounce on it, we can't wait to see how Win with Winsome spins this into an ad.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Why 'Vampire Rule' Needs a Stake in the Heart
So the presumption is that your rights are intact unless the management communicates that they don't want you exercising them on their property.
But the Vampire Rule flips that presumption. They require businesses to expressly grant permission for a civil liberty, something that wouldn't be acceptable for any other civil right.
The problem isn't that women are in positions of power. It's that power dynamics in America are now feminized.
Taking Stock of What 'No Kings' Accomplished
Honestly, I expected a better showing. I can hear Marvin the Martian complaining: "Where's the kaboom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!" Still, that great effort resulted in us having no kings. Just like the day before. So, great job. You got what you wanted.
Wait, That's When the DC 'No Kings' Weirdo Fest Ended? This Could Be Why.
Anyways, no one cared, guys. Trump is still president, and he’ll still own you in a debate.
David French Spirals Over 'No Kings' Rally Mockery, Beefs with 'Oilfield Rando', Defends Attendance
In David's world, it's very Christian to speak ill of a man just because you think his screen name describes a blue collar working person.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
We're on Schumer Shutdown Day 20. No meetings or hearings are set today, and congressional Dems are, no doubt, still recovering from their "No Kings" high. Will we see any shifting in the vote on the clean continuing resolution?
Senate action. The Senate will vote tonight for the 11th time on the House-passed CR. It will fail. The more interesting vote this week will be on a GOP bill to pay federal workers who have been forced to work without pay, including members of the military. That vote is likely to happen on Wednesday or Thursday.
While a few Democratic senators will probably vote for this measure, led by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), we don’t expect it to get 60 votes. Democrats believe this is a “show vote” on a bill that would give new funding to Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought to use as they please.
Cash crunch. Federal employees are slated to miss their first full paycheck this week. Federal employees are scheduled to get paid on Oct. 24. This pay period covers Oct. 4 through Oct. 18, and the government was shuttered that entire time.
White House What's Up
President Donald Trump is back in D.C. after a weekend in Palm Beach, Florida. On Monday, he'll greet and have lunch with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mid-day. Later in the afternoon, he'll visit with the LSU and LSU Shreveport Baseball Champions.
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha attended the Marine Corps 250th anniversary at Camp Pendleton over the weekend.
Vice President Vance and @SLOTUS Attended the Marine Corps 250th anniversary demonstration at Camp Pendleton Yesterday 📸 pic.twitter.com/ZH9aFkFwEH
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) October 19, 2025
READ MORE: VP Vance Addressing His Fellow Marines in Rousing Remarks During 250th Birthday Celebration
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Attorney General - Pam Bondi — Bondi affirmed the Trump administration's intent to treat Antifa as a terrorist organization and prosecute terrorist actions, like those involving the attack on a Texas ICE facility in July.
As @POTUS has made clear, Antifa is a left-wing terrorist organization. They will be prosecuted as such. https://t.co/bPiE8nqkky
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) October 16, 2025
Full Court Press...
The courts were fairly quiet over the weekend. A couple of notable developments:
- Letitia James' arraignment is now set for October 24.
- Northern District of California Judge Susan Illston "clarified" her previously entered TRO as to the shutdown layoffs.
On the National Guard front, the administration is taking the fight to the Supreme Court. Streiff has a great write-up on that, and I also encourage you to check out Shipwreckedcrew's thorough dissection of the federal judges who apparently don't understand the Constitution.
I expect we'll see something out of the Supreme Court on that front fairly quickly.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
While high-level advisors from the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are set to meet with their Russian counterparts this week, President Trump will head to Asia next weekend, with planned visits to Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea (and rumors of a potential meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong-Un).
MORNING MUSING
Bless their hearts. Democrats and leftists turned out over the weekend to rail against kings because Donald Trump...checks notes...was duly elected president last November and, since (re)taking office, has been...checks notes...implementing the agenda on which he campaigned and for which 77 million-plus Americans voted.
Never mind the fact that the imperial judiciary has been mucking up said implementation from the outset. (Curiously, King Donald continues to battle things out in court, rather than simply flipping the courts the royal bird.)
Never mind the fact that congressional Democrats have stalled his nominations and shut down the government. (Curiously, King Donald continues to wait on Congress to act.)
Never mind the fact that the protests were held in numerous locations without impediment. (Curiously, King Donald allows his subjects to protest against him.)
Listen — I don't begrudge them their protests. They don't like the current administration, and they have every right to squawk about it. You go on with your bad selves, lefties; you tilt at those windmills — God Bless America and the freedoms it affords!
But they really do need to work on their branding. Because for all those on the left shouting, "No kings!" pretty much everyone on the right is in agreement: We don't want a king (or queen) either. Ever.
So...yay — we've found our common ground!
LIGHTER FARE
H/t to the Handsome Beau for this one 😊:
This is a dog's dream, when they're sleeping and twitching, this is where they're at pic.twitter.com/YgNWM7XRcC
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) October 19, 2025
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Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
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