Tuesday, May 12, 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 Has Gotta Stop: The View Puts Targets on VA Supreme Court's Back With Fact-Free Meltdowns
We've reached a dangerous tipping point in this country when it comes to the national dialogue, and it's gotta stop before even more people are hurt or killed.
Democrats keep reaffirming who they really are, and voters should believe them.
THE ESSEX FILES: Rubio Tightens the Noose on Cuba While Jayapal Plays Shadow Secretary of State
Cuba's challenges are real, and humanitarian concerns deserve attention. But solutions lie in encouraging the regime to respect basic freedoms and open its economy, not in shielding its military conglomerates from consequences. Jayapal's approach, focused on easing external constraints while offering little pressure for internal change, risks prolonging the very suffering she highlights.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — Questions Raised Regarding Proposed Ballistics Imaging Effort in Illinois
All around, this is nothing more than an attempt to look like something is being accomplished without actually doing anything of value. Par for the course of Illinois, really.
HotAir — Hakeem Jeffries Declares War on Every Judiciary in the Country
Perhaps he thinks this is the "moderate" language compared to what he and his cohort have planned.
PJ Media — Scott Jennings Just Nuked the Democrats’ Gerrymander Hail Mary
This was sold as a temporary map fix and morphed into a power grab so aggressive that even the state’s own courts slammed the brakes.
Townhall — Is This NYT Story Why Antisemitic Mobs Terrorized Jewish Neighborhoods Last Night?
It is irresponsible at best, and dangerous at worst.
Spellcheck is your friend, folks.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
They're ba-ack! The critters are back at it Tuesday on the Hill, with multiple hearings set (many of them involving budget issues).
- House Appropriations, Defense Subcommittee — Budget Hearing - The Department of Defense [Hegseth and Caine to testify]
- Senate Armed Services — Closed hearings to examine the posture of the Department of the Army in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2027 and the Future Years Defense Program; to be immediately followed by an open hearing at approximately 11:00 a.m.
- Senate Appropriations, Legislative Branch Subcommittee — Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Architect of the Capitol and Library of Congress.
- Senate Appropriations, Department of Defense Subcommittee — Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of Defense. [Hegseth and Caine to testify]
- House Appropriations, Defense Subcommittee — Budget Hearing - The United States Navy and Marine Corps [Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao to testify]
- Senate Appropriations, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee — Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the United States Marshals Service; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. [Patel to testify]
- Senate Judiciary, Intellectual Property Subcommittee — Hearings to examine oversight of the U.S. Copyright Office.
- Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry — Hearings to examine perspectives on the fertilizer industry, focusing on ensuring a stable and affordable supply for American producers.
- Senate Intelligence (Select) — To receive a closed briefing on certain intelligence matters.
- Senate Armed Services, Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee — Hearings to examine the United States Special Operations Command; to be immediately followed by a closed session in SVC-217.
- House Rules — H.R. 5625 – Cashless Bail Reporting Act; H.R. 6260 – Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act of 2025; H.R. 8365 – Monitor Accountability Act; H. Con. Res. 96 – Expressing support for law enforcement officers.; H.R. 8469 – Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027
- House Appropriations, Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee — Budget Hearing – Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD Secretary Scott Turner to testify]
- Senate Armed Services, Airland Subcommittee — Hearings to examine Air Force modernization in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2027 and the Future Years Defense Program.
On Monday, the Senate adopted a resolution to approve en bloc nominations and passed the motion to invoke cloture on Kevin Warsh to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. The confirmation vote on that is set for Tuesday morning, to be followed by the cloture vote on his nomination as Fed Chair.
White House What's Up
President Trump will be winging his way to China later on Tuesday, but first:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
- 11:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Print Interview — Oval Office
- 11:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT departs The White House en route to Beijing, China — The White House
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Dir. National Intelligence - Tulsi Gabbard — On Friday, Gabbard affirmed that her office is coordinating the Intelligence Community's declassification of UFO files.
The American people have long sought transparency about the government’s knowledge of unidentified aerial phenomena. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is actively coordinating the Intelligence Community’s declassification… https://t.co/5Ylbn9C5lF
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) May 8, 2026
The American people have long sought transparency about the government’s knowledge of unidentified aerial phenomena. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is actively coordinating the Intelligence Community’s declassification efforts with the Department of War to ensure a careful, comprehensive, and unprecedented review of our holdings to provide the American people with maximum transparency. Today’s release is the first in what will be an ongoing joint declassification and release effort.
Full Court Press...
We had a handful of notable decisions on Monday, including:
- ❌ In C.M. v. Noem (access of lawyers to immigrants in detention), Judge Sheri Polster Chappell DENIES state defendants' motion for stay pending appeal.
- ❌ In Neguse v. ICE (immigration detention facilities/congressional visits), D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals DENIES admin's motion for stay pending appeal. [5/8]
ALSO SEE: New: Alabama Is Free to Redraw Its Maps After SCOTUS Vacates District Court Ruling
Virginia Democrats Hit the Panic Button, Now Beg SCOTUS to Save Their Lobster Map
COMING ATTRACTIONS
As noted, President Trump heads off to China later today. His meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping are going to be interesting, to say the least.
SCOTUS is set to release additional opinions on Thursday.
MORNING MUSING
As a recovering attorney and an editor (and a human being), I have a fair amount of empathy for attorneys racing against the clock and running afoul of the typo gods. But Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones seems to have a real knack for filing high-stakes pleadings with glaring typographical errors in them: Virgnia, sentator, labeling an application for stay intended for the U.S. Supreme Court as directed to the Virginia Supreme Court.
Marco Rubio realizing he has to be Attoney General Jay Jones spell check in Virgina. pic.twitter.com/kXcePgnqek
— Jay Bee (@TheRealJBx) May 11, 2026
I almost have second-hand embarrassment for him. Almost.
Also, though, in noting the profound and legally formidable contention of Jones and the Dems that the recent Virginia Supreme Court ruling was "deeply mistaken," for some reason, I was reminded of this scene.
(Might be showing my age there, but that's okay. 😊)
LIGHTER FARE
Larry for PM!
"Whether Starmer stays or goes we can all agree that me being fed is the most important thing" pic.twitter.com/sRSoRPzFoN
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) May 11, 2026
Enjoying the "Morning Minute"? You can ensure you receive it in your Inbox every weekday by signing up for our newsletter here.
Editor's Note: Do you enjoy RedState's conservative reporting that takes on the radical Left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.
Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member