Monday, May 18, 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.
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TOP O’ THE MORNIN’
Red-Hot at RedState
Teens Gone Bad: Three Juveniles Nabbed in Terrifying Texas Shooting Spree That Left 4 Injured
Presumably, we’ll find out more on Monday about what led at least three teens to go on a violent shooting spree that could have easily cost lives. Males in their late teens are notorious for having a wild streak, but this is way beyond the pale. They should pay a heavy price.
Now the question to ask is, if diving at this location is such a “horrifying” act to undertake, why has it not raised the hackles of anyone in the press since…the Obama administration? I believe we can all ascertain that the answer to this question is that they are not outraged by the activity, but by who it was that engaged in such.
Russia Hoax Figures May Want Lawyers Handy After Blanche’s Latest Reveal
The GOP spent years in the political doghouse after Watergate, and this one, if the DOJ can establish that there was active interference in the conduct of an American presidential election, that could be earth-shattering.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — NJ Attorney General Demands Gun Stores Produce Customer Records of Glock Sales
Based on the NRA’s statement, there’s simply no legitimate reason for Davenport to make these demands, and if enough gun store owners object to the AG’s demands, hopefully the judge overseeing the lawsuit against the gunmaker will rule her discovery request out of line.
HotAir — Hmmm: IRGC Submits New Proposal After Trump Warns Clock Is Ticking
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The IRGC is playing the usual game that the regime has used to duck consequences by attempting to tire out the Western powers with inscrutable and circular talks. Trump should put an end to that cycle as soon as possible and signal to the Iranian people that there will be no deals cut with Vahidi and his military junta. The time for real change is now.
PJ Media — California Bureaucrats Meet the Four-Day Office Week and Start Complaining
California doesn’t need another drawn-out labor sermon over office chairs; it needs public agencies that work. Four days in the office seems like a modest price for proving the state workforce still remembers where the desks are.
Townhall — The GOP’s Midterm Reversal of Fortune
With the Democrats contorting themselves like yogis to explain why the guy with a Nazi tattoo is cool but the dude who made the OK sign is Hitler, they’re doing our work for us.
The left has rendered the word meaningless. Basically, these days, a ‘racist’ is anyone who wins an argument against a leftist.
WHAT’S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill…
Initially, there were a couple of hearings set for Monday, but it looks like these have both been postponed.
- House Veterans’ Affairs, Technology Modernization Subcommittee — PACT Act Implementation: Modernizing VA Disability Claims Through Effective Technology
- House Appropriations, Department of Homeland Security Subcommittee — Oversight Hearing – Department of Homeland Security
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The big focus this week will be on the Senate and reconciliation.
Focus begins this week on the Senate as they try to move ICE/Border Patrol money through reconciliation process. Ballroom money was ruled out of order over the weekend
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 18, 2026
White House What’s Up
President Trump is back from China and has what (for him) looks to be a “light” schedule for Monday, BUT…it looks like he’s convening a Situation Room meeting to discuss Iran, so…
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
- 4:30 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Healthcare Affordability Event — The White House
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Treasury – Scott Bessent — Bessent, of course, was along on the trip to China. Now, he’s in Paris, France, to lead the U.S. delegation at the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors summit, and he’s calling on our allies to follow the sanctions on Iran.
Bessent in Paris: “We call upon all our G-7 and indeed all of our allies and the rest of the world to follow the sanctions regimes so that we can crack down on the illicit finance that is fueling the Iranian war machine and get this money back to the Iranian people.”…
— Annmarie Hordern (@annmarie) May 18, 2026
Full Court Press…
Not a lot of notable court rulings over the past few days…except a pretty significant one from the Supreme Court on Virginia’s redistricting squabble:
SEE: It’s Over: Supreme Court Says ‘Well, Bye’ to Virginia Democrats, Leaves SCOVA Ruling in Place
COMING ATTRACTIONS
President Trump is heading to Connecticut on Wednesday to deliver the keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 146th commencement ceremony in New London.
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MORNING MUSING
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed this, but it seems as though almost every Trump Cabinet secretary/official spends his/her time in the barrel. The press has cycled through several of them, and right now, it’s FBI Director Kash Patel’s turn.
We’ve seen hit piece after hit piece aimed at the Director, and having seen this movie before, it forces me to ask: Why?
This isn’t to imply that Patel is perfect or that he shouldn’t be subject to the same degree of scrutiny that all public officials warrant. But given the concerted effort we’re seeing of late, it really does make you wonder what’s truly motivating it all. Things to ponder…
LIGHTER FARE
I told the Handsome Beau: I kind of want to go through life like that cat.
My cat and my dog go through my new curtain differently… pic.twitter.com/3yGq26dBrN
— We don’t deserve cats 😺 (@catsareblessing) May 17, 2026
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