Monday, February 23, 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
The bottom line is that Hegseth is building a bond with the rank and file unlike any Secretary of War/Defense in our history. He's showing them that he can walk the walk he's imposing on them.
Team USA Won Gold and the Media Can't Stand It
When America triumphs, too much of the legacy press reaches for suspicion. They elevate anonymous outrage. They launder bitterness into controversy. They treat patriotism like a diagnosis and victory like an asterisk.
NYC Mayor Mamdani Breaks 86-Year Tradition, Freezes Out Catholic Clergy — Dolan Is ‘Ticked Off’
Dolan’s language was not diplomatic.
“Ticked off.”
“Defied precedent.”
“They ought to bristle.”
Trending Across Townhall Media
Wesley Hunt Pulling No Punches In Ad Attacking Cornyn on Guns
Is Hunt the guy to replace Cornyn? I neither know nor particularly care. I simply know that the man needs to be gone and either be replaced by someone we can count on, or someone who we don't have to wonder if they hate us this week.
Republicans Love America; Democrats Only Love Power
Liberals who are ashamed of America while Americans compete at the Olympics are showing their true colors, and they are red and yellow, not Red, White, and Blue. Real Americans are competing overseas, and competing in all our names, and the best that the cultural elite can do is apologize for being part of a country so icky that their fellow citizens don't want child molesters out on the streets.
AOC Has Instagram Meltdown. It’s a Sight to Behold.
The left-wing media ecosystem spent years building AOC into a political phenomenon, with protective coverage that kept her weaknesses hidden as much as possible. Munich stripped all of that away. Without friendly gatekeepers controlling the narrative, her lack of depth became impossible to disguise.
The Reactions to Team USA's Win Over Canada Were Amazing, But This One Was Beyond Absurd
Whining about having three potential Hall of Famers on the ice and losing is a choice. And it’s a sore one.
Gavin Newsom Tells Black Crowd He’s Like Them Because His SAT Score Is Low and He Can’t Read
If President Donald Trump had said what Newsom did on Sunday, the legacy media would be going ballistic right now. Democrats would be calling for his immediate impeachment. Instead, we suspect they’ll both give Newsom a pass.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
The Critters are back...sort of. The massive winter storm assailing the Northeast has hampered travel and ensured there won't be any votes taken today.
Both the House and Senate are back today after week-plus recess. But votes are cancelled due to northeast blizzard. DHS remains unfunded
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) February 23, 2026
They'll have a busy week, though. And, of course, Tuesday night is the State of the Union Address.
White House What's Up
A busy Monday for President Trump:
- 10:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Angel Families Remembrance Ceremony — East Room
- 11:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office
- 1:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — Oval Office
This on the heels of the president's call to the USA Men's Hockey team on Sunday to congratulate them on their epic victory over Canada in the Gold Medal Round.
READ MORE: Trump Has Epic Phone Call With US Olympic Hockey Team, Patel on Hand As He Invites Them to SOTU
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Interior - Doug Burgum — Burgum is touting the Trump administration's (much-needed) reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
For decades, NEPA has been twisted into a weapon to block American energy, infrastructure, and conservation projects. Under @POTUS’ leadership, this administration is fixing that.https://t.co/5b2jlaJSt7
— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) February 23, 2026
Full Court Press...
Obviously, the big news on Friday was the Supreme Court's tariff ruling. We'll continue to see fallout from that. And the Court is set to hand down more decisions Tuesday and/or Wednesday, which we'll be following closely, of course.
In the meantime, the Court is back to hearing oral argument — today, it's apparently Cuba Day:
- Havana Docks Corp. v. Royal Caribbean Cruises — whether a plaintiff must prove that the defendant trafficked in property confiscated by the Cuban government as to which the plaintiff owns a claim (as the statute requires), or instead that the defendant trafficked in property that the plaintiff would have continued to own at the time of trafficking in a counterfactual world "as if there had been no expropriation" (as the divided Eleventh Circuit panel held below).
- Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Corporacion Cimex — whether the Helms-Burton Act abrogates foreign sovereign immunity in cases against Cuban instrumentalities, or whether parties proceeding under that Act must also satisfy an exception under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
As noted above, we'll likely be seeing more decisions from the Supreme Court this week.
President Trump's State of the Union Address is set for Tuesday evening.
And the president's trip to China has now been set for March 31-April 2.
MORNING MUSING
I know we're a bit heavy on the hockey coverage at the moment, but...come on. Yesterday's U.S. Men's Hockey team win over Canada was just flat-out epic — as are the resultant memes.
— wannabeleftalone (@broke_outdoors) February 22, 2026
But there's little that better evokes the American spirit — the fight, the badassery, and the elation — than Free Bird. So, yeah, like this guy, I'm going to enjoy blasting it a few more times, and feeling proud — of our team and our country.
No lie, I just showered for church while absolutely blaring Free Bird through the whole house. What a glorious day. pic.twitter.com/ASwfA2c3AJ
— Chance Mock (@ChanceMock) February 22, 2026
LIGHTER FARE
Whee!!
Cats love watching the lugepic.twitter.com/jyx3pd0FXP
— We don't deserve cats 😺 (@catsareblessing) February 22, 2026
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