Thursday, May 14, 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
Fetterman Torches His Own ‘Anti-American’ Party — and He’s Naming Names
I fully expected him to be yet another wacko, far-left, pugilistic Democrat extremist, and have been frankly stunned as he’s turned out to be the only one left in his party who seemingly has a functioning brain. No, that doesn’t make him the new GOP hero, but I’ll take him and what he says any day over the America-bashing Schumer, Jeffries, Pelosi, Raskin, Schiff et al.
JD Vance Delivers a Brutally Honest Answer About 2028 Ambitions and Marco Rubio
In a city where the next campaign starts before the last one ends, Vance's answer was a deliberate break from form. No maneuvering, no campaign trail audition, no winking at the camera. Just a straightforward argument: Voters put them in office to govern, and that's what they're doing.
Dallas Judge Was Still Enforcing COVID Mask Rules in 2026 - Then the Chief Justice Stepped In
When the lawyer who helped put you on the bench is now filing formal legal challenges against your courtroom procedures, the voters may have picked up on something.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — About That Massive Drop in the Murder Rate
Really, though, watching anti-gunners twist themselves into contortions trying to dismiss this is going to be better than anything on television for the next couple of years, and we all know it.
HotAir — The Latest Bluesky Meltdown Is Pretty Entertaining
For once I agree with David Roberts. Bluesky is a little fishbowl where the rest of us can watch liberal yell at each other. And that's probably all it's good for at this point
PJ Media — Democratic Socialism Works! Leftists Go Nutty for Mamdani After He ‘Balances’ the Budget
But the can is kicked, and so for the time being, Mamdani can bask in the glory of an accomplishment that he didn’t really accomplish.
Townhall — Good Riddance to the Awful Thomas Massie
He didn’t expose anyone because it was all crap. It was all a lie. And he didn’t care.
Twitchy — Trump’s in China but Still Managing to Cause CNN Meltdowns With His Social Media Posts
They're going to be so lost in a few years.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
Thursday looks to be another busy day on the Hill, with multiple hearings and meetings set, including:
- House Foreign Affairs, Europe Subcommittee — Securing NATO’s Eastern Frontier: Assessing the Strategic Landscape in the Baltic Region
- House Judiciary, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee — “Fairfax County, Virginia: The Dangerous Consequences of Sanctuary Policies” [Former VA AG Jason Miyares to testify, along with Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Stephen Descano]
- House Armed Services — Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request [SecNav Hung Cao to testify]
- House Oversight and Government Reform, Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee — “Privacy Protections & the Second Amendment: Examining ATF’s Relationship to the Tiahrt Amendment”
- Senate Appropriations, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee — Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. [HUD Secretary Scott Turner to testify]
- Senate Appropriations, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee — Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for Military Construction and Family Housing.
- House Education and Workforce — "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education” [Education Secretary Linda McMahon to testify]
- House Armed Services, Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee — Science, Technology, and Innovation Posture of the Department of Defense
On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the new Fed Chair.
White House What's Up
President Trump is in China, continuing his visit there, including meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Of course, I just realized as I was pulling this together — the times below are Beijing Time, not Eastern...so, here's what President Trump was up to on Thursday:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — Beijing, China
- 10:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Greeting with the President of the People's Republic of China — Great Hall of the People
- 10:15 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the President of the People's Republic of China — Great Hall of the People
- 6:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a State Banquet with the President of the People's Republic of China — Great Hall of the People
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance is visiting Bangor, Maine, on Thursday to deliver remarks on the Administration's efforts to combat fraud.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
U.S. Trade Rep. - Jamieson Greer — Greer continues to highlight the positives of U.S. trade moves.
U.S. exports continue to hit all-time highs month after month, surpassing the highest levels in 250 years of American history. pic.twitter.com/Jb7yG2pCuv
— United States Trade Representative (@USTradeRep) May 11, 2026
Full Court Press...
There weren't a ton of notable court decisions handed down on Wednesday, but we do expect the Supreme Court to hand down some decisions this morning, beginning at 10:00 AM. We'll obviously be keeping tabs on those and report on them as warranted.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
President Trump's China visit continues on Friday with a bilateral tea and lunch with Xi Jinping.
MORNING MUSING
There's planning ahead, and then there's the insanity we repeatedly put ourselves through when it comes to presidential elections. Because we're just under six months out from the 2026 midterms — with a ton riding on them — and yet, there's already buzzing and whispering (and outright questioning of potential candidates) about 2028. Why, why, why must we do this?
I know I'm just shouting into the void at this point. The horse done left the barn. Still, though, I'm going to make it my personal practice to refuse to talk about...that election two years from now until after November 3rd. I'm not doing it — and you can't make me!
LIGHTER FARE
This brought a smile to my face yesterday. Now let it do the same for you:
I’m just here to bring some smiles and positivity on your timeline.. 😊
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) May 13, 2026
You’re welcome..
Share a picture and the name of your beloving pet(s) in the comments for more smiles..
Thanks 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/hdbcUyrHNz
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