Morning Minute: The Memetic Cabinet

redstate.com

Friday, January 16, 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 

Gavin Newsom Sells Out His Own Communications Team, Backpedals on Their Vile ICE Statement

What do these two episodes tell you? 1) Don’t get in a foxhole with Gavin Newsom. When the bullets start flying, he’ll use you as a shield. Can’t imagine his press office is feeling too positive about now. 2) The man has no principle. Whichever way the wind is blowing, that’s the way he’ll turn.

Injustice Served: Elderly NYC Doorman Jailed 4 Years After Defending Himself From Mugger

New York State isn't interested in protecting its own citizens. It is hyper-focused—ALWAYS—on the criminals. Foehner did everything right that fateful night he was approached by a career criminal. It was only what he failed to do in complying with New York's draconian gun laws that cost him.

Homan Vows to Expose Lefty Agitators: Reveals New Plan to 'Make Them Famous'

It'll be something to see these rubes putting masks back on to hide their identities so they can try to ram ICE agents and bash their SUV windows with impunity. Especially after they've repeatedly mocked law enforcement for wearing them.

Trending Across Townhall Media

DOJ Finally Finds a Federal Gun Control Law That's Indefensible

On Thursday the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel issued a slip opinion declaring the federal ban on mailing pistols, revolvers, and "other firearms capable of being concealed on the person" unconstitutional "as applied to constitutionally protected firearms, including handguns, because it serves an illegitimate purpose and is inconsistent with the Nation’s tradition of firearm regulation."

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When Resistance AWFLs Don't Realize Not Every State Thinks Their Tantrums Are Adorable

The AWFLs have been recording menacing messages of ill intent, promising harm to come, and practicing haiku or whatever sort of martial arts they think is trendy. 

Hakeem Jeffries Just Crossed a Dangerous Line That Can’t Be Uncrossed

Let’s keep something in mind here. It’s Democrats who are inciting violence by calling ICE agents Trump’s Gestapo and accusing them of crimes. Democrats may not like that immigration law is being enforced again, but the law is the law. If they don’t like it, they can try to change the law.

Here's the Key Line Said by a Family Member of Lance Twiggs About Charlie Kirk's Assassin

She was asked about the background of both individuals, did she witness any social changes, the location of Lance, who apparently had a temporary FBI protective detail, and whether Twiggs will cooperate further with investigators. But the key line is where she asked whether she’s confident Robinson is the guy—she didn’t hesitate to say the police nabbed the “right guy.”

Scott Jennings Tells Kasie Hunt That CNN Has Everything Backwards About Minnesota’s ICE Insurrection

It’s obvious Democrats want the conflict. Officials could easily avoid drama, danger, and death by simply working with the federal government. Of course, that means the party will lose its illegal aliens. Unfortunately, we don’t see Democrats ever putting America and its interests first again.

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WHAT'S ON TAP?

Today on Capitol Hill...

It's Friday, so no meetings or hearings are set on the Hill. The Senate is on recess next week BUT...before they left town, they managed to pass a three-bill spending minibus, covering spending for Commerce, Justice, Energy, and Interior departments through the end of September and marking the halfway point for the FY 26 appropriations that need to be completed by the end of January. 

READ MORE: Senate Passes 3-Bill Spending Minibus Ahead of Recess, but Dems Continue Resistance Over DHS

White House What's Up

On Friday morning, President Trump will participate in "The Great, Historic Investment in Rural Health Roundtable" in the East Room. In the afternoon, he'll head to Palm Beach for the weekend — but he'll be working while he's there: On Saturday, he's set to meet with the Prime Minister of Slovakia. 

Vice President JD Vance is advocating for the president's proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget.

Keeping Up With the Cabinet

Sec. State - Marco Rubio — Rubio, while wearing countless hats (and starring in countless memes), still finds time to comment on key court cases, such as the one involving Mahmoud Khalil.

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READ MORE: Trump Admin Scores Big Win in Mahmoud Khalil Case, but the Ruling Will Still Infuriate You

Full Court Press...

We had a couple of court decisions of note on Thursday, including the one noted above: 

  • ✅ Khalil v. Joyce (habeas) — a 2-1 split 3rd Circuit panel vacates and remands district court's orders (for lack of jurisdiction).
  • ❌ American Federation of Government Employees AFL-CIO v. Noem (rescission of collective bargaining) — Judge Jamal Whitehead (Western District of Washington) GRANTS plaintiffs' motion to enforce preliminary injunction.
    • COMING ATTRACTIONS

    More oral arguments at the Supreme Court next week, including Trump v. Cook, regarding President Trump's attempted removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. 

    MORNING MUSING

    If you've spent any time on social media recently (or even just received texts or emails from friends/family who do), you've probably seen the ubiquitous Marco-Memes. The iconic image of Secretary of State Rubio sitting on one of the couches in the Oval Office with a less-than-pleased look on his face has become meme-o-riffic. Witness: 

    And memes involving Vice President JD Vance have taken on a life of their own. See, for instance: 

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    Look, governing is serious business, and to say the current geopolitical situation is fraught is a serious understatement. But we all need to be able to lighten up at times just to maintain our sanity, and having an administration that lends itself to a little levity — that even leans into it — is a welcome relief. 

    LIGHTER FARE 

    I guess if he were a goat, that'd be the Karate Kid...

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