Happy, Blessed Easter, and welcome to the RedState Weekly Briefing — where we take a quick look at the week’s most viewed stories in case you missed any of them. What do you suppose caught people's attention in yet another eventful week? Grab a cup of coffee (or something stronger if you're so inclined), and sit down with this 21st Century Weekend Edition of your favorite (online) publication.
#1 - The French Straw Just Broke NATO's Back — by Bonchie
There is no point in being in such a one-sided alliance. America pays for the lion's share of NATO's defense spending, all while European nations refuse to reciprocate in any real way. We don't need France's support if Mexico decides to invade Texas, but France needs us if Russia marches through Ukraine and into the rest of Eastern Europe.
Further underscoring that was this message from Trump on Tuesday morning, telling the United Kingdom, "The USA won’t be there for you anymore."
#2 - Report: Our 'Ally' France Just Made Another Incredible Move Regarding the Strait of Hormuz — by Nick Arama
Macron said use of force was "unrealistic" because it would "take an inordinate amount of time" and expose people to threats from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
I don't like to use pejoratives, but throughout writing this, I kept thinking of the term "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" when it comes to France. How do you behave this way, with such a weak-kneed response to dealing with a terrorist regime, even when your own interests are involved? And they don't even want to authorize the Gulf states to be able to defend themselves, because...it might be violent. Unbelievable. Of course, the Gulf states don't need the U.N. to act. It should be a world effort, but the U.N. is so ineffective, I wouldn't bet they can get this through.
#3 - Panic Setting In? Iran Makes Incredible Claim After Latest Strikes — by Nick Arama
That guy is basically their Baghdad Bob, Tehran Tommy. Virtually nothing he says is true.
After that bridge was hit, they're now threatening the bridges of the surrounding Gulf neighbors. But doing that just makes those states madder and more convinced Iran has to be stopped. It drives the neighbors closer to the U.S. So it's been a very bad strategy for Iran to run with, but they keep digging the hole deeper.
Also in the report, the Israelis say they hit the headquarters used to finance Iran's military operation. That's going to put Iran in even more trouble economically, with a system that already had some incredible inflation and other issues. One of the reasons the people suffer is because so much money is spent on terrorist proxies, like Hamas and Hezbollah, as Fox explained.
#4 - Wait - Boasberg Did What Now? — by Susie Moore
And thus, reluctantly, Judge Boasberg observes, "Because the relief Plaintiffs seek would not likely redress their injuries, the Court must dismiss their claims for lack of standing."
...But not without providing the plaintiffs a potential roadmap for mounting a new challenge.
Rather than challenging the diplomatic understanding between the U.S. and El Salvador, the judge suggests the government's "implementing actions" — i.e., the DHS removal decisions and the State Department's funding actions — "are the proper focus of APA review." In fact, notes Judge Boasberg, "A plaintiff who could show that one of those actions was arbitrary, contrary to statute, or beyond statutory authority would have a cognizable APA claim."
— Susie Moore ⚾️🌻🐶 (@SmoosieQ) March 30, 2026
#5 - Hegseth Slammed for Barring Catholics From Good Friday Religious Services - There's Just One Tiny Problem — by streiff
Here's the problem with the story. It is true, but so what? Catholics don't celebrate Mass on Good Friday. Catholic liturgy has three events in what is called the Easter Triduum, that is, the three days that begin on Thursday evening and culminate in the Easter Vigil.
- Mass of the Lord's Supper (Thursday evening).
- Good Friday of the Lord's Passion (ideally at 3 p.m., but is frequently later to allow for after-work attendance).
- Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord (after sundown Saturday).
The Friday event has a prescribed format. The clergy and congregation assemble in silence. The passion narrative is read, but there is no homily. A series of prescribed intercessions is prayed. There is a period devoted to the Adoration of the Holy Cross. The Eucharist is distributed from the Host consecrated on Holy Thursday.
There is literally no way Catholic and Protestant worship on Good Friday even vaguely resembles one another.
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