Monday, August 24, 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
Big News in the Battle for the Senate Leaves the GOP Still on Top
Pollsters continue to have a major problem in over-measuring the intensely motivated, highly educated, left-wing, white (especially female) voters, who are bolstering the DSA in the primary and the Democrats in the general.
Bessent's Chilling New Message to Iran: The 'Endgame' Starts at Dawn
Bessent's warning seems to reach beyond Iran, extending to countries, companies, and banks that are currently doing business with Tehran, and could signal that the administration believes it has achieved its initial goals of wiping out Iran's military and degrading its nuclear capabilities. An economic "D-Day" could be the next phase of the all-out offensive.
Iranian Leader Admits They're Running Out of Time, 'We Will Not Endure'
It sounds like they are teetering on the brink.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — Drugs, Guns, and Sticky Buns: Louisiana Bakery Allegedly Hub of Criminal Enterprise
Louisiana may be known for its "laissez les bons temps rouler" attitude, but even in the land of drive-thru daiquiri shops and flashing boobs for beads, the combination of illegal drugs and guns is going to lead to a bad time if police and prosecutors have anything to say about it.
HotAir — Stop the Earth, I Want to Get Off Right Now...
I can't believe I have to write about crap like this. When I first got involved in politics, most of the arguments were about marginal tax rates, and the hot-button topics were gay marriage and abortion.
Now? It's about whether killing people is an acceptable way to "decolonize" the world, and how many children getting mutilated is enough.
PJ Media — No, We Can't Outgrow the National Debt, and We Don't Just Owe It to Ourselves
The U.S. economy would have to be 40% bigger than it is today just for the federal government to be able to sustain an 80-year campaign to eliminate the $40 trillion national debt at $500 billion a year.
Townhall — Two Major Cities Face Prolonged Power Outages. Guess What They Both Have in Common.
Which is ironic, because leftists will often say bad weather in red states is God's punishment for not taking climate change seriously. Now it's racism.
Brennan will always dutifully attack Republicans, for the benefit of the Democrat Party. That’s not a temporary obligation like these Haitians; it’s permanent.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
One more week until the House critters return to the Swamp. In the meantime, we'll pay tribute to one former senator who left us over the weekend:
The Essex Files: A Kansas Constant: Remembering Nancy Kassebaum Baker
White House What's Up
President Trump has a (typically) busy Monday in store, which will include:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
- 11:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office
- 12:30 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office
- 2:30 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Rose Garden Event — Rose Garden
- 6:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Tele-Rally — Oval Office
- 7:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Tele-Rally — Oval Office
Also today, Vice President JD Vance will travel to Brewer, Maine, where he'll deliver remarks at a manufacturing facility.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Interior - Doug Burgum — Burgum happily shared scenes from the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
What a finish 🏁 pic.twitter.com/1aAHwR1UL4
— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) August 23, 2026
Welcome to the @Freedom250GP!
— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) August 23, 2026
250 miles celebrating 250 years of American freedom, innovation and competition. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/CcpZc8msUe
Full Court Press...
There were a couple of notable moves in the courts on Friday:
- ✅ In National Council of Nonprofits v. OMB (OMB memo re: federal grant freeze), D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals VACATES lower court injunction (on basis of mootness).
- ✅ In National Trust for Historic Preservation in the U.S. v. National Park Service (construction of WH ballroom), the Supreme Court issued an administrative (temporary) stay on a lower court injunction, thus clearing the way for construction on the ballroom to proceed (for now).
READ MORE: SCOTUS Cuts In on Ballroom Battle, Lets Construction Proceed - for Now
Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump’s 75-Country Visa Ban Designed to Stop Welfare Abuse
COMING ATTRACTIONS
We've got two cases before SCOTUS on the emergency docket that we're keeping a close eye on:
- A more formal ruling on the ballroom construction battle
- A ruling on the election integrity/USPS executive order
MORNING MUSING
Remember "Opposite Day" — that silly game we sometimes played as kids?
It seems like that concept — expanded to all days — has become the inescapable recurring theme emanating from the Left of late: Up is down; men are women; murderers are victims; wrong is right.
No. I'm fed up with all of it.
This is my response to the BS:
— Susie Moore ⚾️🌻🐶 (@SmoosieQ) August 24, 2026
LIGHTER FARE
Mmmmm...donuts!
🍩‼️🍩‼️🍩‼️🍩🐖 pic.twitter.com/waI8JqcdIO
— Cozy (@cosyposter) August 24, 2026
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