Friday, August 21, 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
NYTimes Loses Defamation Case for First Time in Over 50 Years, Must Pay Slimed B'ball Player $9M+
It’s satisfying seeing the left-wing rag that is the Bible for so many progressives facing accountability. However, it doesn’t fix the Glaring Media Hypocrisy Story of the Modern Age: the Grey Lady also took home a Pulitzer in 2018 for its exhaustive, wall-to-wall coverage of the Trump Russia collusion story.
Michael Cohen Interviews the President, As Legal Analyst Delivers Stunning Take on Trump Conviction
The reason the discussion came up was that Trump was sitting down with Michael Cohen on his radio show on Thursday. That's probably not something anyone would have expected, given the attacks Cohen has made on Trump and his testimony. That showed tremendous forgiveness on Trump's part.
RFK Roasts CNN and Serves Them Up on a Platter for Cooking Up a Fake Meal Math Story
I'm going with the President on this one. Give me McDonald's and a Diet Coke every day of the week. Unlike CNN, I won't, and most people probably wouldn't, try to rain on the parade of someone trying to eat a little healthier.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — Is Federal Judge Telegraphing His Intent in Waiting Period Case?
A three-day "cooling off" period is just as historically unsound as a 7-day delay, and it imposes the same burden on gun owners. Kane might be looking for a way around those undeniable facts, but I don't think the state of Colorado is going to provide him with a justification that the Tenth Circuit will accept when oral arguments take place next week.
HotAir — He Did What Was Right, Not What Was Easy
He was merely saying things that most human beings agree on, and have forever: men and women are biologically different. Saying otherwise is only forbidden today because of the diktats of extremists. It's just that extremists dominate in the cultural elite these days.
PJ Media — Once Upon a Time in the WNBA
The WNBA's rulebook essentially said that only women could play in the WNBA, but what, precisely, was a woman? The officials stared at one another. One looked at the ceiling. Another looked beneath the table. Someone began searching the internet.
It’s a position Maher has held for years. He’s not a religious guy at all, but not everyone is the same. The Bible and the Quran are not the same, and Islam is the only religion right now where gays are hunted down, women are stoned for being raped, leaving the faith is punishable by death, and the wrong cartoon could get you killed.
Understandably, family members of any U.S. service member deployed would be concerned about them. But for one or two attempted suicides to have blown up into a weeks-long media narrative involving CNN and The New York Times is ridiculous.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
Y'all know the drill at this point — the House critters are out for 10 more days; Senate for 24. In the meantime, here's what we've got:
New: Schumer Awkwardly Fumbles Through Questions About the DSA Again, and AOC Has to Be Loving It
House Oversight Now Targeting McKinsey’s Flawed DEI Reports
White House What's Up
Here's what President Trump is up to this fine Friday:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
- 11:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Photo Opportunities — Oval Office
- 11:45 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office
- 2:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office
- 7:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — The White House
- — THE PRESIDENT arrives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- — THE PRESIDENT delivers Remarks — Myrtle Beach Convention Center
- — THE PRESIDENT departs Myrtle Beach, South Carolina en route the White House — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- — THE PRESIDENT arrives at the White House — The White House
On Saturday, he'll head to Sterling, Virginia, for a MAGA Inc. meeting. On Sunday, he and First Lady Melania will attend the Freedom 250 Grand Prix event in D.C.
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.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Attorney General - Todd Blanche — On Thursday, Blanche commended the FBI and law enforcement partners for helping to foil the alleged terrorist plot to attack the New York State Capitol.
Thanks to the great work of @FBI and our law enforcement partners, an alleged terrorist plot to attack the New York State Capitol was prevented last night.
— Attorney General Todd Blanche (@AGToddBlanche) August 20, 2026
According to the complaint, the defendant swore allegiance to ISIS and planned to carry out a future deadly attack with… pic.twitter.com/vcr0u0HzFg
Full Court Press...
We've had several notable court decisions, including:
- ✅ In State of California v. USDA (disclosure of personal financial records to DOGE), Judge Maxine Chesney (Northern District of California) DENIES plaintiffs' motion to enjoin prosecution of related cases.
- ✅ In The Sustainability Institute v. Trump (funding of Environmental and Climate Justice program), 4th Circuit Court of Appeals GRANTS admin's motion for stay pending appeal.
- ❌ In OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates v. Rubio (birthright citizenship), Judge Timothy Kelly (D.C.) DENIES admin's motion to dismiss and GRANTS individual plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment (in accordance with SCOTUS decision).
COMING ATTRACTIONS
As noted above, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix event is set for Sunday.
On Monday, Vice President JD Vance will travel to Brewer, Maine, where he'll deliver remarks at a manufacturing facility.
MORNING MUSING
I guess I'm in one of those places where news stories call to mind certain songs. Yesterday, it was "Yes, We Have No Bananas." Today it's "Rock the Casbah" by The Clash.
It may not quite fit the moment, but reading the stories yesterday regarding the U.K.'s new guide for asylum seekers brought it to mind. What are we even doing here, folks?
LIGHTER FARE
I'm not sure about having one as a pet, but they sure are cute!
🐐Get a baby goat they said!
— Sherri™ (@FFT1776) August 20, 2026
⁰It’ll be fun they said.😂
Nobody mentioned the diaper phase, the 3 a.m. roof parties, the living room parkour or the fact that it would start thinking it’s a dog and hop on every piece of furniture like it pays rent.
They’re so stinkin adorable!… pic.twitter.com/qP0L4FohIY
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