Wednesday, June 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
Josh Hawley on Warpath After Baseball Players Targeted, and MLB Won't Like What May Be Coming Next
There's an old saying about baseball being "as American as apple pie," and you can bet your sweet bippy that the MLB is trying to figure its way out of a seemingly no-win situation to avoid any more bad publicity: fauxfend the LGBTQ Alphabet Mafia by changing the "rule" about handwritten/affixed personal messages or further anger a very ticked off United States senator by standing by their warning? Decisions, decisions.
DOJ Drops Bombshell Lawsuit Alleging Hochul Team Rigged $10 Billion Medicaid Contract
Hochul's administration calls the lawsuit baseless and says the transition reduced costs while protecting care for vulnerable New Yorkers.
The complaint is 57 pages of emails, enrollment reports, and internal communications that tell a very different story.
The European Mind Is Beginning to Comprehend America
Welcome to America, Freddy. Grab a Big Gulp — the refills are free.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — NSSF Shreds Talarico's 2A, 1A Comparison
Any comparison to permitting requirements is asinine because the very nature of requiring permits is to limit who can exercise their Second Amendment rights
Still, the UK has one thing going for it: its police department is ready, willing, and able to arrest any Briton who complains about open borders and massive illegal migration. Perhaps they can extend their efforts to shutting people up when they openly express worry that the military is falling apart.
PJ Media — JD Vance Just Handed Jessica Tarlov a Patriotism Lesson She Won't Forget
Tarlov tried to dress up Democrat anti-Americanism as a normal political mood swing. But Vance had the receipts and proved her wrong.
Townhall — *THAT* Is Not a Good Sign for Dems Regarding the 2026 Midterms
Given the weak field of candidates and lack of a clear message, this could turn out to be a dud.
Twitchy — A Million Times Worse Than Epstein: New UK 'Groomer Gang' Report Is a Nightmare of Horrors
As for the UK itself, if everyone involved isn't punished SEVERELY, then there simply is no UK anymore.
It's that clear, and it's that simple.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
We've got another handful of hearings/meetings set for the Hill today, including:
- Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs — Hearings to examine the nominations of Bradford Pentony Wilson, of New Jersey, to be Archivist of the United States (among multiple nominations)
- Senate Energy and Natural Resources — Business meeting to consider S.1547, to amend title 54, United States Code, to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
- Senate Energy and Natural Resources — Hearings to examine the state of the U.S. Territories.
- Senate Intelligence (Select) — Hearings to examine Walter Clayton, of New York, to be Director of National Intelligence. [Hold that thought!]
- Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship — Hearings to examine 250 years of Main Street, focusing on retail to research.
- Senate Aging (Special) — Hearings to examine China's toll on older Americans' health, finances, and security.
The hearing regarding Walter Joseph "Jay" Clayton's nomination to become Director of National Intelligence encountered a record-scratch moment early Wednesday morning as President Trump said, "Nope — not so fast!" in response to the Democrats withholding their support on FISA. Whoops!
READ MORE: Trump Scuttles Jay Clayton's DNI Hearing, Blasts GOP for Getting Played on FISA
White House What's Up
President Trump will once again have a busy Wednesday as he wraps up his G7 visit:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — Evian, France
- 9:30 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Working Session with G7 Leaders and Development Countries — Evian, France
- 11:30 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt — Evian, France
- 12:30 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Working Lunch with G7 Leaders, Development Countries, and Global Tech CEOs — Evian, France
- 2:45 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of India — Evian, France
- 3:30 PM — THE PRESIDENT holds a Press Conference — Evian, France
- 3:30 PM — THE PRESIDENT departs Evian, France en route Versailles, France — Evian, France
- 3:30 PM — THE PRESIDENT arrives at Versailles, France — Versailles, France
- 7:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Bilateral Dinner with the President of the French Republic — Versailles, France
- 7:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT departs Versailles, France en route to The White House — Versailles, France
- 7:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT arrives at The White House — The White House
Vice President JD Vance had a busy Tuesday, making the rounds on All. The. Shows.
SEE: JD Vance Ventures Onto 'The View,' Serves Up an Unforgettable Schooling
He's set to visit Bethpage, New York, today, where he will deliver remarks on the administration's crackdown on crime and fraud.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. War - Pete Hegseth — Hegseth met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on Tuesday to discuss continued efforts to deal with narcoterrorists.
Excellent meeting yesterday with @DanielNoboaOk to discuss our robust bilateral defense relationship and the joint fight against narcoterrorists.
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) June 16, 2026
Ecuador is a strong A3C partner and is advancing vital efforts to dismantle narcoterrorists. pic.twitter.com/VdEUBaazXn
Full Court Press...
We had several decisions of note from the courts on Tuesday, including:
- ✅ In U.S. v. Dugan (obstruction), Judge Lynn Adelman DENIES defendant's motion for reconsideration of the order denying her motion for judgment of acquittal and/or a new trial.
- ✅ In State of Washington v. Dept. of Education (denial of federal grants), Judge Kymberly Evanson (Western District of Washington) DENIES plaintiffs' motion for reconsideration.
- ↔️ In Renew Northeast v. United States Department of the Interior (wind/solar permitting policies), Judge Denise Casper (Massachusetts) GRANTS in part/DENIES in part admin's motion to dismiss.
Look for Supreme Court decisions on Thursday — guaranteed to be one or two BIG ones.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Vice President Vance heads to Lucerne, Switzerland, on Friday to participate in the formal signing of the Iran peace deal. What's actually in the deal? We anxiously await the details (not the rumors/leaks/reports).
MORNING MUSING
We say it all the time — or, at least, I do: There's so much news to cover, we're on constant information overload. For instance, this morning, we woke to the news that the planned Senate Intelligence hearing on Jay Clayton's nomination to replace Tulsi Gabbard at DNI is on hold. President Trump is not happy with the Democrats — or the Republicans — over the FISA vote.
Questions abound regarding the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran (I'm reserving judgment 'til we see the actual deal). There are terror plots and angry mobs and UK rape gangs and all manner of ugly events unfolding
But...we're also gearing up to celebrate America's 250th birthday AND...the World Cup is going on and watching Europeans and others "discover" the America we love, but too often take for granted, has been beyond refreshing.
So, if my options are to wrestle with FISA or enjoy FIFA, I know what I'm choosing. ⚽️
LIGHTER FARE
Just chillin'.
He just sits there and judges people..🐕🐾😅 pic.twitter.com/cnjdi0h54B
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) June 17, 2026
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