Thursday, August 20, 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
Field Trip to Mamdani's Socialist Supermarket Goes Hilariously Wrong
That empty lot strewn with garbage is an apt metaphor for Mamdani’s grocery scheme: a socialist dream with a big price tag and not much reality underneath it.
Surrogate Mother McKenna West Is Being Sued for Breach of Contract, Refusal to Abort Baby Gabriel
Now that Gilkar and Ahmed have decided they want the baby despite the medical challenges, you would think these purportedly loving parents would be focusing their energy and money toward Baby Gabriel/Rumi's future care and medical needs. Instead, they have high-priced lawyers on retainer and are seeking payback.
Report: Biden COVID Advisor Put His FOIA Dodge in Text Sent to Anthony Fauci
The screenshot alone doesn't prove a crime. But Osterholm wrote in plain English that he chose text to "avoid any FOIA issues," and sent it to the people running the federal pandemic response. Herridge's question cuts to the chase: "How widespread, and how many separate channels were used to avoid FOIA?"
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — Portland Jury Rejects Burglar's Lawsuit Against Business Owner Who Shot Him
Voyles' complaint should have been dismissed long ago, but this is Portland we're talking about, so I suppose we should just be happy that 10 out of 12 jurors sided with the business owner over the guy who broke into his store.
HotAir — Dubai Step: Trump Declares 'Economic D-Day' on Iran
The UAE will have to play along, at least for now and at least to some nominal degree. If the emirates truly want to put an end to the risk factors that the IRGC has created for the last 47 years, they'll do so enthusiastically.
This is the third time Chauvin has tried to get the charges tossed out, but this time there's no denying that politics and optics motivated every single move made by the state and local prosecutors following the 2020 Minneapolis riots over Floyd's death.
Townhall — Good Riddance to John Cornyn and His Democrat Staffers
It would be nice not to have to spend heaps of money in a Republican state, but you know what would be nicer? If we had had a Republican senator who didn’t trust his policy work to people who, at the flip of a switch, can become the deputy policy director for a hard-core leftist who embraces socialism, perversion, and blasphemy.
This, of course, inspired lil' man Abdul El-Sayed to get all big and tough with Mike Rogers because Abdul is mentally a small child who may not even be potty trained yet.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
It's probably inaccurate to say that I miss the critters while they're out, but I do miss having something more to write about them aside from the fact that...they're out! Here's some of what they're up to 👀 while on recess:
Democrat Rep. Jimmy Gomez’s Sex Harassment Case Just Escalated to Assault Accusation
White House What's Up
Here's what President Trump has on his Thursday agenda:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
- 9:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Pre-Tape Radio Interview — The White House
- 11:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office
- 2:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Signing Time — Oval Office
- 4:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY participate in a Fostering the Future Announcement — Rose Garden
And did you see? The White House is getting a new helipad:
That's a Hell of a Pad — Trump Unveils Monster New WH Helicopter Landing Zone
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. War - Pete Hegseth — Hegseth continues to champion the Pentagon's monthly prayer services.
We gathered at the Pentagon for our monthly prayer service.
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) August 20, 2026
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” — James 4:8 pic.twitter.com/oz9Yq9u63Q
The Department of War also recently put 30 universities on notice over their ties to foreign adversaries.
Full Court Press...
We didn't have many notable decisions from the courts on Wednesday, but here's some court-related news:
Back in Court: Retrial Looms As LA Fires Arson Suspect Pleads Not Guilty for the Second Time
Voter Fraud With a Twist: Chinese National Allegedly Voted, Then Framed His Victim
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Maybe if I stop talking about that SCOTUS emergency docket decision we're anxiously awaiting on election integrity, they'll issue their ruling...
President Trump is headed to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday to stump for Senator Darline Graham ahead of the Palmetto State's Senate runoff election.
Also on Friday, Vice President JD Vance will visit Middletown, Ohio, where he'll deliver remarks on the Trump Administration’s America First economic agenda at the Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works facility.
MORNING MUSING
Perusing Teri Christoph's story regarding NYC officials' "field trip" to the site for the proposed Harlem city-run supermarket, I was immediately reminded of this song.
Maybe Mayor Zohran can make this his new theme song?
LIGHTER FARE
Like an overgrown puppy!
Baby cows are so cute..🐄🐾😍 pic.twitter.com/VpoC1jp8om
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) August 19, 2026
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