Morning Minute: Short and Sweet

redstate.com

Thursday, June 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 

Clueless Joe: Biden Brags to Jay Leno About How He Tried to Destroy Energy Independence and Weaken the US

Laugh all you want, Joe, but it’s decisions like these that thankfully have you trading jokes on a California highway with Jay Leno and not making decisions in the Oval Office.

‘Send Them Back’ Chants Erupt After EU Parliament Overwhelmingly Passes ‘Strictest-Ever’ Migration Law

"On immigration, you better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe anymore. You got to get your act together," he said during a trip to Scotland last July.

Hollywood Is Having an Inflection Moment As Established Properties Are Getting Hammered by the Upstarts

As AI becomes more prevalent and the ability to craft visuals and tell stories that rival what the big Hollywood players put out, these could be the types of motion pictures that rule theaters. 

Trending Across Townhall Media

Bearing Arms — Democratic Socialists Building 'Red Rabbit' Militias

These are people who think anyone to the right of Lenin is a fascist. They think believing in property rights and a free market makes you a jack-booted authoritarian--no, it doesn't make sense, but they're socialists, so it's not like rationality factors into their so-called thinking very often--and that means literally anyone could become a potential target of these people.

HotAir — Ringleader of Plot to Blow Up UFC 250 Fight Is 'NOT a Citizen'

My tinfoil hat is pinging like a mother.

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PJ Media — Well, Well, Well...Look What the Coast Guard Dragged In

So, what was on board? Only 25 Chinese nationals who were, apparently, attempting to enter the United States illegally. The reason why they were trying to get into the United States — because you never know with the Chinese — is under investigation. 

Townhall — No Way CNN Did This Regarding the Algae in the Reflecting Pool?!

It’ll get cleaned up. I just can’t get over the fact that they had the water in the reflecting pool tested. 

Twitchy — 'This You?' Matt Van Swol Drops Smarmy Jerk John Pavlovitz Over Antifa Claim

There should be a support group or something for addicts like Pavlovitz. 

TDS Anonymous.

WHAT'S ON TAP?

Today on Capitol Hill...

The critters are around, but the congressional committee schedule is temporarily unavailable, so I can't give you the usual bullet point rundown of what's on tap for Thursday, unfortunately. Here's what we do know: 

Per Chad Pergram: 

  • Senate to prep bill on college sports today, managing transfers and NIL

  • Senate to hold confirmation hearing today for Kari Lake to become Amb to Jamaica

  • Senate expected to take procedural vote on bipartisan housing bill today

    • White House What's Up

    President Trump is back in the U.S. following his G7 trip. Here's what's in store for Thursday:

  • 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
  • 2:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Pre-Tape Interview — The White House
  • 3:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT receives his Intelligence Briefing — The White House
  • 4:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Medal of Honor Ceremony — East Room

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    Vice President JD Vance is no longer headed to Switzerland to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran, as President Trump signed it Wednesday evening in Versailles, France. Instead, he'll be heading up the White House Press Briefing at 11:00 AM Eastern this morning. 

    Keeping Up With the Cabinet

    Attorney General - Todd Blanche (acting) — Blanche has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill, meeting with senators ahead of his anticipated committee hearing in for conformation as AG.

    Full Court Press...

    We had several notable court decisions on Wednesday, including:

  • ✅ In Herrera Avila v. Blanche (habeas), 8th Circuit Court of Appeals DENIES plaintiff's petition for rehearing en banc.
  • ✅  In Kingdom v. Trump (housing of TG inmates), D.C. Circuit GRANTS admin's motion for stay pending appeal.
  • ❌ In Kingdom v. Trump (housing of TG inmates), Judge Royce Lamberth (D.C.) GRANTS plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction (as to BOP's amended policy).

    • And it's Decision Day at SCOTUS. The Court will hand down additional decisions beginning at 10:00 AM Eastern. Given that there are 20 decisions left and only two weeks in the session...expect some of the biggies to start landing. We'll be watching!

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    COMING ATTRACTIONS

    VP Vance is not, in fact, heading to Lucerne, Switzerland. No, he has a much shorter commute now — the White House Briefing Room, where, as noted above, he'll be hosting Thursday morning's briefing. 

    And, just as SCOTUS will be handing down decisions today, expect more decision days coming up soon as the 2025 term winds down. 

    MORNING MUSING

    Confession: I stayed up way too late last night putting the finishing touches on this tome, so my muser isn't as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning, and with SCOTUS gearing up to hand down several decisions, I'm squinched for time. I'm sure I'll have something new to muse on tomorrow! 

    LIGHTER FARE 

    (Not really — got lots to do today and didn't get enough sleep last night, so this is more like wishful thinking!)

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