Friday, January 2, 2026
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
Watch: Mamdani's Chilling Inaugural Remarks Are a Harbinger of Trouble to Come
Mamdani's words on Thursday are words of foreboding. New Yorkers had ample warning, but they chose to turn a blind eye to history. It isn't going to be pretty.
Tim Walz Throws Tantrum After Daycare Funding Spigot Is Shut Off, Gets Epic Ratio in Return
Walz can throw all the tantrums he wants, but he can't escape his own actions.
President Trump Vows US Intervention If Iran Kills Peaceful Demonstrators: ‘Locked and Loaded’
With the regime weakened by economic crisis, lost allies like the Assad government in Syria, and internal dissent, some analysts believe these protests pose the most serious threat to the Islamic Republic in years.
Trending Across Townhall Media
NSSF Applauds Court for Finally Tossing 26-Year-Old Lawsuit Against Gun Industry
Gary and the other cities that tried this, or are still trying it, aren't really blaming manufacturers for their problems. They simply want to make it so you can't buy guns, and if they can make it too expensive for these companies to sell to people like you or me, then they don't need laws in place to prevent you from buying one.
Ohio Governor: Fraud Is 'the Cost of Doing Business'
More and more Americans are fed up, as they should be. No doubt some people who genuinely need help will now slip through the cracks as part of the backlash, and liberals will point to them as proof that we are way too cruel.
CNN Humiliates Itself With Hilarious Attempt at ‘Investigative Journalism’
This is what counts as investigative journalism at CNN: calling up an accused fraudulent daycare and just asking them if they’re fraudulent. Give this woman a Pulitzer Prize!
What the Hell Is Going on in Iran?
Happy New Year, everyone—Iran could be imploding.
Carol Roth Hilariously Notices Something About Mamdani's Coronation
But we love Darth Vader, he brings us power from the Dark Side of the Force. If it weren't for those damned Jedis and that convicted felon, Luke Skywalker, we'd have everything we ever dreamed of. Darth Sidious 2028!
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
One more day of quiet critters — they're back in action next week. But as Speaker Emeritus San Fran Nan (CA-11) prepares to close out her long — very long — House career, she has some...thoughts on retirement and her legacy.
READ MORE: Nancy Pelosi Discusses Retirement, What She Thinks Her Legacy Will Be, and I Have Thoughts
White House What's Up
President Trump remains at Mar-a-Lago through the weekend, but he's still working. He'll receive his intelligence briefing late this afternoon. And then, in the evening, he'll meet with U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China David Perdue.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Education - Linda McMahon — McMahon rang in the new year by reiterating the Trump administration's aim to return education to the states.
Happy New Year!
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) January 1, 2026
In 2026 we will empower parents, strengthen families, and end Washington’s grip on education by returning it to the states.
Full Court Press...
The courts were quiet on New Year's Day, but never fear, they'll be back in action, vexing us with their convoluted rulings in no time.
MORNING MUSING
I've had to remind myself all morning that today is Friday — having Christmas and New Year's hit in the middle of the week always throws off my perception of time. Today feels like a Monday — but it's not! And, unlike last year, we had a slightly slower news cycle over the holidays — slightly.
It got me to thinking about this: What were the big stories a year ago? Where was our attention focused? Well, I can sum it up thusly:
- The horrific New Year's Eve Bourbon Street terrorist attack
- The highly puzzling Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion
- The interminable stretch between President Joe Biden leaving office and President Donald Trump resuming it
Hard to believe that was all a year ago — though in some respects, it feels far longer than that.
LIGHTER FARE
Cute mistakes, tho...
Mistakes were made..🐈🐾😅 pic.twitter.com/wR58BrsjRe
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) January 1, 2026
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