Friday, April 17, 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
This Could Get Interesting Real Fast: Hennepin County DA Issues Arrest Warrant for ICE Agent
Minneapolis just keeps the crazy coming.
Turns Out, Gavin Newsom's 'Best-Selling' Memoir Didn't Really 'Sell' That Many Copies
According to Federal Elections Commission (FEC) reports analyzed by the New York Times, the PAC "spent $1,561,875 to buy and distribute copies of his book through the donation program."
One would think that when rushing to claim Hegseth was attributing Samuel L. Jackson to the Bible, they would have the firm facts on their side. But that would involve the press actually thinking through their claim. Emotionally rushing hit pieces out eclipses the use of pragmatic thought.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — Two More 2A Cases Make Their Supreme Court Conference Debut Tomorrow
I'll be over the moon if the justices prove me wrong, but my guess is we're going to be waiting a term or two before the Court is ready to weigh in on our Second Amendment rights and state lines.
HotAir — Canada Provides an Object Lesson in What NATO Without US Looks Like
Canada's cut to funding its soldiers overseas is just a canary in the coal mine.
As we've come to discover, the Democrats care less about security than they care about power.
All the top Democrat voices that were vowing vengeance on MAGA are getting picked off.
Twitchy — Newsweek: Student ‘Self-Deports’ After Enduring ‘Inhumane’ ICE Conditions
If Newsweek was trying to come up with a sob story, it didn't work. How did they manage to talk to him, anyway? We always wonder how these stories find their way into the mainstream media.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
The House critters were wrangling late into the night/early morning over FISA. For now, there's a brief (very brief) two-week extension, but the battle continues on.
FISA is delayed. Cameo by @nicksortor @laurenboebert pic.twitter.com/u6gZq6ZBrM
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) April 17, 2026
There are a few hearings/meetings set today, despite it being Friday:
- House Appropriations, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee — Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill
- House Education and Workforce — “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services” — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify
- House Armed Services, Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee — Science, Technology, and Innovation Posture of the Department of Defense
- House Appropriations, Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee — Fiscal Year 2027 Financial Services and General Government Bill
- House Appropriations, Defense Subcommittee — Budget Hearing – National Guard and Reserve Forces
White House What's Up
President Trump is on the road again Friday — he was in Vegas on Thursday; now it's Phoenix (yes, the official times below are wonky):
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — Las Vegas, Nevada
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT departs Las Vegas, Nevada, en route to Phoenix, Arizona — Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT delivers Remarks to TPUSA — Dream City Church
- 2:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT departs Phoenix, Arizona, en route to The White House — Phoenix, Arizona
- 2:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT arrives at The White House — The White House
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. War - Pete Hegseth — Hegseth gave an update on Operation Epic Fury from the Pentagon on Thursday (and the legacy media can't stand it).
READ MORE: Pete Hegseth Torches Legacy Media: 'Your Politically-Motivated Animus Nearly Blinds You'
Full Court Press...
We had a couple of notable decisions on Thursday:
- ❌ In National Trust for Historic Preservation in the U.S. v. National Park Service (construction of WH ballroom), Judge Richard Leon GRANTS plaintiffs' motion for clarification; partially GRANTS/partially DENIES admin's motion to extend administrative stay.
- ❌ In PFLAG Inc. v. Donald J. Trump (ban on gender-affirming care for minors), 4th Circuit Court of Appeals DENIES admin's motion for stay pending appeal.
READ MORE: DC Judge to White House: Security Exception Is Not a Blank Check for Your Ballroom
And the Supreme Court is poised to hand down more decisions at 10:00 AM Eastern today.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
As noted, SCOTUS is set to hand down some more opinions today. They'll take up the next round of oral arguments next week.
President Trump heads to Phoenix, Arizona, later today.
MORNING MUSING
I don't need to tell y'all this, but...it's Friday. Maybe you're already gearing up for the weekend — hopefully, you're planning to relax, unwind, have some fun.
But there's a lot going on in the world right now (something else I don't need to tell you), and it just seems as good a time as any to remind everyone to stay alert — keep your head on a swivel. My spidey senses say that might be extra important at the moment. (Or...maybe I just need more — or less — caffeine.)
LIGHTER FARE
I'll allow it.
Outside couch is now *OUR* couch. Please make a note of it.#DogsOfTwitter #GoldenRetrievers #PghGoldens pic.twitter.com/RS8ExJkUq5
— Walker & Ginger (@PghGoldens) April 17, 2026
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