Thursday, October 23, 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
Democrats in Maine Are Going Too Far — Even for Them
Unless the economy takes a yuge turn for the worse, I suspect that Susan Collins is destined for a record sixth term in the U.S. Senate.
Army's Number Two General Suddenly Replaced by Hegseth's Senior Military Aide
Regardless, moving a four-star out of his job when he's halfway through it, after passing him over for another position, looks a lot like Mingus is being pushed into retirement.
Hawley Rips Statue-Wrecking Left’s Crocodile Tears Over White House Renovations: ‘Give Me a Break’
“They didn’t have any concern for history then. Now all of a sudden, they’re like, oh, the facade of the East Wing is iconic,” he scoffed. "Oh, give me a break. I mean, give me a break!"
Trending Across Townhall Media
Teen Arrested for 'Disturbing' Gun Photos
The fact that this little twerp was posing with a gun in the school bathroom (allegedly) tells me that he's not just too immature to handle that responsibility, but that he's too stupid to handle it, either.
Future for Woke Cincinnati Police Chief Suddenly Looking Chilly
Maybe the woman is simply incompetent and racist.
Jay Jones Is Now Under Criminal Investigation
Between fantasizing about murdering political opponents and allegedly gaming the community service system through his own PAC, Jones has shown Virginians exactly who he is.
Exclusive: Spanberger Campaign Caught on Video—Staffer Confirms AIPAC Cash and No Hope for Change
If Virginia's Democratic Party voters want a candidate who will bring change to their state – for better or worse – they deserve to know Spanberger's own staff doesn't think she's the candidate to deliver.
Who Wants to Tell Them? Mika Brzezinski Thinks Abi Spanberger Is Struggling Because of ... Sexism?
If we bang our heads against a brick wall for an hour ... it still won't make any sense.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
We're on Day 23 of the Schumer Shutdown, with no end in sight. Vote No. 12 in the Senate on the clean continuing resolution was also a no — this time, 54-46. They did confirm William W. Mercer as a U.S. District Court judge for Montana.
Today, they vote on the bill to pay essential government workers — doubtful they'll get to 60 on that, but we'll see.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Today’s Senate Test Vote To Pay Essential Government Workers
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 23, 2025
The Senate takes a test vote today on a Republican bill to pay essential federal workers on the job but not receiving a paycheck during the shutdown.
The procedural vote needs 60 yeas. It…
There are a handful of hearings/meetings set for Thursday:
- Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs — Hearings to examine the nominations of Edward Forst, of Florida, to be Administrator of General Services, Charles Arrington, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term expiring July 1, 2030, John Cuong Truong, Elana S. Suttenberg, and Stephen F. Rickard, each to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, William Kirk, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, Small Business Administration, Anthony D'Esposito, of New York, to be Inspector General, Department of Labor, and Platte Moring, of South Carolina, to be Inspector General, Department of Defense
- Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions — Hearings to examine the 340B program, focusing on examining its growth and impact on patients
- Senate Environment and Public Works, Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee — Hearings to examine the beneficial use and regulation of chemicals
- Senate Foreign Relations — Hearings to examine the nominations of Amer Ghalib, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, Brent Christensen, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, and Benjamin Leon, Jr., of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Principality of Andorra, all of the Department of State
White House What's Up
President Donald Trump is set to make an announcement Thursday afternoon at 3:00 PM Eastern from the State Dining Room.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a press briefing at 1:00 PM Eastern.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Commerce - Howard Lutnick — Lutnick recently met with Ford CEO Jim Farley.
Great meeting with @jimfarley98 today. We’re standing up for American car manufacturers and the men and women who build them. Tariffs help level the playing field and this Administration has their back all the way. pic.twitter.com/gte9hpP0cl
— Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) October 21, 2025
Full Court Press...
Still keeping an eye on what the Supreme Court does with the application for stay in the Illinois National Guard case. In the meantime, there were several decisions of note on Wednesday:
- ❌ State of Washington v. Dept. of Commerce (denial of federal grants) — Judge Marsha Pechman (Western District of Washington) GRANTS plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction.
- ✅ Newsom v. Trump (National Guard deployment) — 9th Circuit Court of Appeals DENIES rehearing en banc (of court's prior order staying case pending appeal).
COMING ATTRACTIONS
As noted above, the Senate will vote today on Sen. Ron Johnson's (R-WI) bill that would allow for paychecks for military members and excepted federal employees.
And we have President Trump's announcement from the State Dining Room coming up this afternoon.
MORNING MUSING
Recently, I mused on the fact that Dogs Don't Care About Your Politics. I can say that with confidence, not only because of my own pupper, but because of the sweet souls I'm privileged to tend to every Saturday morning at the shelter where I volunteer. They can be wild and rambunctious and stubborn and messy and stinky and needy and find all manner of ways to challenge you, but never once has one of my charges said so much as a "Woof" about politics. And I'm good with that.
I started volunteering there after I lost my beloved Golden, Pringle, six years ago this month, as that was where I'd adopted him from 11 years prior. I wasn't ready for a new dog of my own at that point, but I wanted to do something to honor his memory. So, I became part of the Saturday morning crew. That means I get up every Saturday at 5:30 AM and make the 40-minute drive to the shelter, where my fellow volunteers and I take the dogs out to the yard to potty, feed them, medicate the ones who need it, and clean their indoor kennels.
It's hard work physically. It's not uncommon for me to come home with newly acquired bruises and such, and I definitely get my steps in on Saturday. But I can honestly say it's one of the best things I've ever done. For several hours each week, it takes me completely out of my head, offline, away from all the noise of life, and focuses my energy completely on caring for other beings. It's good for my soul.
But the hardest part of it isn't the physical part of it — it's the emotional part of it. Because these sweet, furry angels only stay with us for a brief time, and it's always sad to say goodbye. Most of the time, it's because they're adopted and head off to a new home for happy tails, hopefully for many years. Some of them stay with us longer because they haven't quite found the right home just yet. Dave, a 6-year-old Akbash, was one of those. He was a big boy — 90 pounds-plus — and if he didn't want to move somewhere, he wasn't moving. (And pulling on his lead wasn't a great idea — he'd let you know that.) Sometimes, you could coax him with one of his special treats.
Having become a longer-term resident of the shelter, Dave became the de facto king of it. So much so that we recently built him his own dog door that allowed him to move between his indoor and outdoor kennels as he pleased. He had his own personal pink pig stuffy that he adored. We spoiled him a bit, and he didn't mind.
The way you knew Dave was in a good mood was when he'd look at you with his soulful eyes and slowly roll over for a belly scratch. He loved having his belly rubbed. He'd become a very dear friend of mine, one I always looked forward to seeing each Saturday.
And here we have the hardest part of all...Dave left us suddenly last night. We don't yet know why. My big, sweet, sometimes grumpy, always dear friend has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. And I'm certain he's happily running free. Me? I'm a blubbering mess. So, I hope y'all will forgive me if today, I felt called to share Dave's story and why my shelter gig is the worst best job I've ever had.
(For anyone who might like to donate to the shelter in honor of Dave, here's the link.)
LIGHTER FARE
Some choose a security blanket — why not a security shoe?
Surveillance camera catches a dog taking the owner's shoe when they're not home and sleeping beside it..🐶🐾🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/vqVhiQ1Qct
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) October 23, 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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