Thursday, February 20, 2025
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
Living next door to people who kidnap children, hold their murdered bodies for ransom, and then parade them around as trophies is not sustainable.
Trump Causes Liberal Heads to Explode by Killing NYC Congestion Pricing, Declaring Himself King
Of course, since we’re at the point where someone files a lawsuit when Trump blows his nose, the governor has already promised litigation to save her latest effort at emptying the wallets of her constituents.
Et Tu, Stacey? Stacey Abrams Linked to a $2 Billion Environmental Grant Rolled Up by DOGE
I have some experience in grant writing, and the idea of a non-profit with $100 in the bank getting a $2 billion grant is about √-1 without shenanigans involved.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Democratic Senator Sure Looks Like He's Asking for Violence Against Trump, Musk
On the upside, this side of the debate has guns, trains with them, and carries them everywhere they can.
Yikes! Democrats Hit Lowest Approval EVER
Of course, don't get cocky. Cornered rats are unpredictable and dangerous, but at least we have them cornered.
Officer, I'd Like to Report the Wreck of Another CNN 'News' Host
Where Keilar and the rest of the CNN staff failed was by not asking those in the Biden administration who was president. Now, that could have been interesting and newsworthy.
The Associated Press' Latest Statement About Trump Gave the Whole Game Away
For now, AP is barred from certain events. The censors have been censored.
“That’s how life works,” said Trump, which is a vintage answer.
Streisand Effect: Judge Censors Editorial Criticizing City Officials. Let’s Make Them Famous
You might not be a lawyer, but you would be better at this than the judge.
WHAT'S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill...
Thursday's the day for the Kash Patel confirmation vote (to become FBI Director). Per Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), there will be a vote on the motion to invoke cloture at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, then shortened debate as the director-level does not require 30 hours per Senate rules, then the final confirmation vote at 1:45 p.m. Eastern.
Earlier in the morning, the Senate will convene to consider a "concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034."
Other hearings/meetings set for Thursday include:
- Senate Armed Services — To receive a closed briefing on the USS Gravely and operations in the Red Sea
- Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation — Hearings to examine the nomination of Steven Bradbury, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation
- Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions —Business meeting to consider the nomination of Linda McMahon, of Connecticut, to be Secretary of Education, and other pending calendar business
- Senate Energy and Natural Resources — Hearings to examine research security risks posed by foreign nationals from countries of risk working at the Department of Energy's National Laboratories and necessary mitigation steps
- Senate Judiciary — Business meeting to consider S.331, to amend the Controlled Substances Act with respect to the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, and the nominations of Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Deputy Attorney General, and Abigail Slater, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Attorney General, both of the Department of Justice
White House What's Up
On Thursday, President Donald Trump will host a reception honoring Black History Month in the afternoon. In the evening, he'll deliver remarks at the Republican Governors Association Meeting at the National Building Museum before returning to the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a press briefing at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.
Vice President JD Vance sits for an interview with Mercedes Schlapp at CPAC at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Treasury - Scott Bessent — Bessent announced that he will not be attending the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, but noted that a senior Treasury official would be attending in his place.
Sec. Defense - Pete Hegseth — Hegseth has directed the Department of Defense to find $50 billion in cuts for the FY26 budget.
Attorney General - Pam Bondi — Bondi shared DOJ Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle's statement regarding DOJ priorities and the prosecution of Mayor Adams.
Sec. Interior - Doug Burgum — Burgum sat for an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, in which he emphasized that President Trump "understands like no other leader that national security means energy security — and prosperity for America means having affordable energy."
Sec. Agriculture - Brooke Rollins — Rollins paid a visit to the Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday to celebrate Texas FFA Day.
Sec. Health & Human Services - Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — Kennedy thanked Riley Gaines for her continued fight for women's sports, noting that his uncle, Ted Kennedy, wrote Title IX and fought for its passage.
Sec. Housing & Urban Development - Scott Turner — Turner shared some of the savings DOGE has been able to uncover.
Sec. Transportation - Sean Duffy — Duffy shot down the media narrative that there have somehow been more plane crashes in the opening days of Trump's presidency than under Biden.
Sec. Energy - Chris Wright — the Department of Energy announced that the first LNG export permit has been approved, ending Biden's LNG ban.
Sec. Homeland Security - Kristi Noem — Noem joined Sean Hannity to discuss leaks of ICE operations and what DHS is doing to stop the leaks.
Dir. Central Intelligence Agency - John Ratcliffe — in anticipation of Patel's confirmation on Thursday, Ratcliffe tweeted: "Playtime is over, @Kash_Patel. Time to get to work."
Playtime is over, @Kash_Patel. Time to get to work 👊🏻👊🏽🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/v58itbS0pI
— John Ratcliffe (@JohnRatcliffe) February 20, 2025
Dir. National Intelligence - Tulsi Gabbard — Gabbard sat for an interview with Lara Trump, whose new show premieres Saturday.
Admin. Environmental Protection Agency - Lee Zeldin — Zeldin continues to provide updates of the agency's investigation into the Biden EPA's "gold bar" fiasco. Zeldin also revealed some serious questions surrounding a grant issued to a non-profit coalition headed by Stacey Abrams.
Full Court Press...
There's another lawsuit on file against the Trump administration, this one courtesy of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which asserts that President Trump's order suspending refugee grants was illegal and demanding millions in what it claims is owed to Catholic charities for work performed under the grant.
A New York district court judge is considering the DOJ's proposed dismissal of the criminal case against Mayor Eric Adams.
Trump has filed his reply brief in the second E. Jean Carroll appeal. Oral argument in that case has not yet been set.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Barring a last-minute curve ball, Kash Patel should be confirmed early this afternoon as FBI Director. (And we're ready with the popcorn to see what he'll do in that role.)
Expect Linda McMahon's nomination as Education Secretary to pass out of committee, as well.
With Trump signaling his preference for the House's "one big beautiful bill" for a budget resolution, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is preparing to move forward with the legislation.
MORNING MUSING
I'm trying really hard not to focus on the news out of Israel today. Honestly, it hurts too much. But I can't just ignore it, much as I would like to. It hurts to think of all of the lives destroyed as a result of Hamas' horrific attack and its aftermath. But those two beautiful baby boys and their mama deserve to be home, safe with their father/husband, not returning in coffins. Pray for him, for them, and for all of the hostages and their loved ones.
LIGHTER FARE
De-vined fences make good neighbors...
When the new neighbor moves in with their senior dog and your pup starts removing vines so they can hang out..🐕🐶😊❤️ pic.twitter.com/UtuylIh4nA
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) February 18, 2025
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