Monday, August 11, 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.
Red-Hot at RedState
Democrats Learn What Consequences Are, and They Aren't Happy About It
As the saying goes, if you take a shot at the king, you'd best not miss. Democrats missed.
Trump Moves Obama and Bush Portraits to a Hidden Stairwell in the White House: ‘Firmly Out of View’
Considering Obama's role in what CIA Director John Ratcliffe has described as "the greatest scandal of a lifetime," the former President should be thrilled his portrait is hanging anywhere in the White House.
The Other Shoe Drops in DC, As Trump Readies the National Guard
Republicans did not invent or propagate the violent crime problem in the nation's capital. That's on the Democrat politicians who have run the city for decades on end.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Gun Store's Closure Has Ripple Effect on 2A Community
In states like Illinois, though, the government is artificially suppressing the market even more through red tape, regulations, and numerous infringements on our right to keep and bear arms; all aimed at not only reducing the number of FFLs, but the number of Illinois residents lawfully keeping and bearing arms.
Sermo Confusus - the Disease Sweeping the Democratic Party
Floundering and incoherent verbal hysterics by Democratic leaders aren't going to do much to make the case why these states shouldn't, especially when they're recommending that blue states do it, too.
The Left Won’t Like What Trump Just Did to Obama’s Portrait
The portrait relocation sends exactly the right message about presidential accountability.
The Awesome Power of Just Doing Things
Establish favorable facts on the ground and put W’s on the scoreboard by unleashing the power that comes when you Just Do It.
FAKE NEWS: CNN Claims Trump Moved Obama, Bush Portraits to 'Hidden' Stairwell ... Yeah, Not So Much
But let this be a lesson to everyone when they read a headline from CNN.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, it's pure horse manure.
Today on Capitol Hill...
With the critters out on recess, you'd expect things to be a might quiet on/around the Hill today, but D.C. proper is getting a Law and Order shot in the arm with the deployment of FBI agents and National Guard troops to patrol the streets and take a bite out of the crime that's been plaguing the capital city.
As for the critters themselves, a group of House Republicans is on retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
White House What's Up
President Donald Trump, as noted above, is making a push to get a handle on crime and clean up D.C. On Monday, he's teased a big announcement for Monday morning at 10:00 AM regarding efforts to make the capital safer.
Vice President JD Vance sat for an interview with "Sunday Morning Futures" host Maria Bartiromo and shared his insights on a variety of topics, including redistricting, Russia-Ukraine peace talks, and Gaza.
READ MORE: Watch: VP Vance Talks Redistricting and Trump's Pursuit of Peace
Full Court Press...
On Friday, we brought you the news of a notable ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, vacating a contempt order issued by District Court Judge James Boasberg against the administration in relation to those flights of alleged Tren de Aragua gang members to El Salvador pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act. As has been noted, a rehearing en banc may well be sought, and the full court may not rule as favorably for the administration. Our friend Shipwreckedcrew has a thorough analysis of the Friday ruling and the en banc likelihood over on his Substack. Perhaps I'm being overly optimistic, but I'm going to stick my neck out on this and predict that Friday's ruling stands. (If I'm wrong, I promise I'll own it right here!)
Speaking of the D.C. Circuit, they ruled against the administration on its motion for a stay pending appeal in the companion cases of CREW v. OMB and Protect Democracy Project v. OMB (regarding FOIA/transparency re: OMB's apportionment of funds), denying the requested stay.
President Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska. Will Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky be invited to join them?
I can't say that I really miss Eric Holder. I wasn't fond of his tenure as Attorney General and, to be quite honest, I rarely think of him these days — and when I do, it's to remember his role in the "Fast and Furious" scandal and his being held in contempt of Congress. But apparently, he's making the rounds again — these days, to bemoan Republican redistricting efforts.
You see, as Holder spins tells it, "There is no question that gerrymandering is a threat to our democracy." And his solution to that is to "protect our democracy now" in order to "save it," which means "taking the reasonable steps that have been proposed in California" — as a "temporary way" of responding to the Republicans' moves. Oh, sure, okay, Eric.
Yeah, you know, he's no more genuine or persuasive now than he ever was. And I believe we've long since established that when Democrats speak of "our democracy," what they really mean is "the Democrat Party." In the Democrats' world, "It's fine — noble, even — when we do it, but it's an existential crisis when the Republicans do it."
I'm left to wonder: If the complete eradication of gerrymandering (of any sort) were proposed, and House seats/congressional districts were determined purely along county lines, or even a straight grid, would Democrats be on board with that? (For a closer look at algorithmically drawn boundaries based on optimal compactness — one that would still account for neighborhoods and doesn't bisect people's houses — here's one example from WaPo a decade or so ago. I don't know, I think I'd be okay with this.)
Roo zoomies!
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