Friday, July 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
But the grand prize reaction probably comes from the failed former Vice President Kamala Harris, who wouldn't know election integrity if it served her a Ketel One. Harris claimed that the SAVE America Act is voter suppression, and that Trump is "attempting to distract from reality."
What a Debacle: Lowlights From the Maine Dem Senate Debate to Replace Platner
I'd have to say the prospects for November are looking good for Collins.
Herridge Warns: CCP’s 220 Million Voter Data Theft Enables Espionage and Election Fraud
These revelations make clear the urgent need to treat election security as a top-tier national security priority. Lawmakers and the administration must move quickly to shore up voter registration systems, purge any compromised data, and impose real consequences on the officials who buried critical intelligence for political reasons.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — Ninth Circuit Judge Says It's Time for SCOTUS to 'Benchslap' Court Over 2A Rulings
VanDyke's dissent is one for the ages, and it should really be read and appreciated in full. It starts on page 14 of the opinions, and it is absolutely scathing and unsparing in his contempt for the Ninth Circuit's treatment of a fundamental enumerated right that's supposed to be protected by the Second Amendment.
HotAir — This Is Bat Guano Insane, California
I'm sure there are some do-gooder environmentalists who think that this idea will save the world or prevent landfills from filling up (we are NOT running out of landfill space, thank you very much), but let's face it: they are idiots and should be put in mental hospitals for their own good instead of giving them the keys to government.
Mary and John really exist.
And they are legion.
Bad move, TV "news" elitists.
Townhall — Marco Rubio Just Exposed and Obliterated the Left With This Speech
The section on leftist violence was excellent, and the speech was outstanding overall. It offered another perspective on Mr. Rubio's potential presidential ambitions. He wasn’t ready in 2016, obviously. I think he’s ready now.
The post highlights claims of agencies actively hiding information about foreign meddling, compromised election systems, buried evidence, and efforts that amounted to a coordinated cover-up—all of which the colonel says will now fuel faster legal action, state-level reforms, and accountability for those involved.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
It's Friday, so the critters are taking a breather, but there is one field hearing set (in New York):
- House Financial Services, Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee — Building the Future of Finance: How the CLARITY Act Unlocks Innovation
I have an idea about what they could (should) be working on, though:
SEE: Republican Lawmakers Have One Message After Trump's Speech: Pass the SAVE America Act!
White House What's Up
Following his big speech Thursday night zeroing in on election integrity, President Trump has a busy Friday and weekend on tap (note — times given are placeholders used by the White House on travel days; he's not yet bent the space-time continuum...far as we know):
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route New York, New York — The White House
- 5:20 PM — THE PRESIDENT arrives in New York, New York — New York, New York
- 5:20 PM — THE PRESIDENT attends a FIFA Reception — New York, New York
- 5:20 PM — THE PRESIDENT departs New York, New York en route Bedminster, New Jersey — New York, New York
- 5:20 PM — THE PRESIDENT arrives in Bedminster, New Jersey — Bedminster, New Jersey
On Saturday:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — Bedminster, New Jersey
And then on Sunday:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — Bedminster, New Jersey
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart Bedminster, New Jersey en route East Rutherford, New Jersey — Bedminster, New Jersey
- 3:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive East Rutherford, New Jersey — East Rutherford, New Jersey
- 3:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY attend the FIFA World Cup Final — MetLife Stadium
- 3:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT departs East Rutherford, New Jersey en route the White House — East Rutherford, New Jersey
- 3:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT arrives at the White House — The White House
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. War - Pete Hegseth — 🫡
The flyovers will continue until morale improves.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) July 16, 2026
That's all I have to say about that.
Full Court Press...
I've got to play Catch-Up-With-the-Courts today — will have a full update on what they've been up to in Monday's Morning Minute
COMING ATTRACTIONS
The World Cup Finals are Sunday, and, as noted above, President Trump and First Lady Melania will be in attendance.
Also on Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels to Manila, Philippines, to attend the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting. He will also meet with senior government officials from Indo-Pacific countries.
MORNING MUSING
I must give kudos to President Trump regarding his Thursday evening address: He began on time, and he brought it home in roughly 25 minutes. That and he didn't deliver it against a hellscape background. (Hi, Joe.)
The left and the legacy media (why do I bother to differentiate?) will continue with this routine:
— Susie Moore ⚾️🌻🐶 (@SmoosieQ) July 17, 2026
That's on them. Find me the American who doesn't want to be confident that our elections are fair and free from foreign (or domestic) interference, and I'll show you someone who's happy to lie, cheat, and steal, so long as it means their team "wins."
LIGHTER FARE
Love this guy!!
There's always one..🐐😅 pic.twitter.com/EQ7IkpwlgU
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) July 16, 2026
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