Friday, December 26, 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
One could naturally come to that conclusion, but JB Pritzker only cares about what will polish his presidential bona fides.
Biden Family Christmas Photo Has People Talking Because of How It Depicts Joe
It does seem like an odd placement, but it's consistent. Even when Joe Biden occupied the Oval Office, he was essentially missing much of the time.
Hot Takes: The Trump Admin's 'Merry Christmas' X Posts Set the Gold Standard on Political Greetings
Not only has the Trump administration altered the way government gets things done, but they've helped make a season of joy and merriment even more so.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Virginia Gun Owners Could Soon Face Storage Mandate
As a gun-owning parent, I'm a firm believer in responsible gun storage. But that's not what Boyko and Hoops are calling for, and that's not what her legislation is going to look like.
Transnationalists obviously are hostile to Christianity. That is obviously their right as individuals and even a legitimate political argument to make, but to pretend that there is not a transnationalist hostility to Christianity and that it is "extreme" to fight back against this is pure gaslighting.
Another Democrat Shows What Entitled Elitists Leftists Are
Lots of prominent people have asked the fateful question, “Do you know who I am?,” in various contexts, and it rarely works out well. But this kind of haughtiness and egotism is emblematic of the left, and intrinsic to leftism.
Adam Kinzinger Took Revenge on CBS Over 60 Minutes Drama. There's Just One Problem
It probably took a five-second search on X to realize Kinzinger was full of garbage on this, and yet The Hill couldn't be bothered to do even that much legwork.
She really wants to believe illegals coming into this country are somehow not breaking the law, that they are not criminals.
It's just so odd.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
The Critters are on their holiday break until January 5th. They'll return with 25 days to get the remaining appropriations bills passed. One might be forgiven for remaining skeptical that's going to happen.
White House What's Up
President Trump remains at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, celebrating Christmas with his family there. There are no public events scheduled for him on Friday...but, of course, that doesn't mean we won't be hearing from him. On Thursday, he announced airstrikes on ISIS terrorists in Nigeria.
READ MORE: Breaking: Trump Announces Deadly Strike vs. 'ISIS Terrorist Scum' in Nigeria
Don't be surprised if he's got another announcement or two up his sleeve this weekend.
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha shared a Christmas wish on X.
Merry Christmas from Vice President Vance and @SLOTUS Usha Vance!🎄 pic.twitter.com/bLXmxxldM6
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) December 25, 2025
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Labor - Lori Chavez-DeRemer — Chavez-DeRemer shared an important reminder on Christmas Night.
Christmas Night, 1776.
— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) December 25, 2025
Never forget the sacrifices your forefathers made for freedom, Patriots.
‘Washington Crossing the Delaware’ —Emanuel Leutze pic.twitter.com/TnRnuejEB6
Full Court Press...
The courts, of course, remained quiet on Christmas Day. They may even cut us some slack today and over the weekend. But never fear: More decisions are coming. In the meantime, did you know that the Supreme Court has already issued three opinions this term? None of them was earth shattering so perhaps not. But...I'll be getting a Skinny on SCOTUS installment out today just to bring everyone up to speed.
MORNING MUSING
Hoping our readers will forgive me for waxing sentimental/philosophical these past few days — it is that time of year, after all, and we can't be all hard news, all the time.
It's a quiet morning after Christmas Chez Susie, and there's that hint of letdown after the big build up. Plenty of folks are still visiting with family or continuing to celebrate, but for some, the Big Day has come and gone and...perhaps left some sadness or regret in its wake. Maybe the gift you were hoping would be a big hit received a muted welcome. Maybe Santa didn't come through on that present you'd had your eye on. Maybe the time with family and friends ended up being stressful and not quite so merry.
I just wanted to offer a word of encouragement if you're finding yourself in that post-Christmas letdown place: What may appear to be a lump of coal at the moment could just be a diamond in the rough.* Sometimes, the disappointments are actually opportunities. Look for those opportunities. If there are things you'd do differently if given another chance, take a lesson from that and plan ahead for the next time. Take these last few days of 2025 and think of concrete ways you can make 2026 a bit more shiny and bright. And most of all, give yourself (and others) some grace.
*Yes, I know (because I looked it up) — coal doesn't turn into diamonds under pressure. I'm speaking metaphorically — work with me here.
LIGHTER FARE
Here's a little post-Christmas penguin cheer for you.
Little penguins in Santa costume..🐧🎅🐧🎅😍pic.twitter.com/ykw8nmSIGB
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) December 25, 2025
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