Welcome to the RedState Weekly Briefing  — where we take a quick look at the week’s most viewed stories in case you missed any of them. What do you suppose caught people's attention in this latest whirlwind week? Grab a cup of coffee (or something stronger if you're so inclined), and sit down with this 21st Century Weekend Edition of your favorite (online) publication.

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#1 - There's No Hiding It; China's Actions Say It's Planning a Preemptive Attack on the US — by streiff

What China has built is the capacity to cripple America at the onset of any conflict by shutting down infrastructure and launching direct action operations against strategic targets from well-equipped clandestine bases inside the U.S.

You may think it is a coincidence that our intelligence network in China has been rolled up, or that young Chinese men poured across our border with Mexico, or that China is buying farmland near strategic military bases, or that our communications systems have been totally compromized and targeted for intense jamming, or that a Chinese company is training illegals to drive cross-country semi-trucks, or that friendly nations in the Pacific have been suborned to the point that they are Chinese colonies are all coincidences. I don't.

#2 - You're Fired! FBI Director Patel Brings Consequences to Entire Team That Spied on Republican Senators — by Bob Hoge

The weaponization of our government and especially our Justice Department under former President Joe Biden and corrupt Attorney General Merrick Garland was one of the most egregious abuses of power we have seen in this country, and, in many people’s opinions—including my own—far worse than Watergate. They abused, spied on, and prosecuted their political foes and regular Americans like it was an addiction.

Now that Trump is back in power and has his team in place, we’re seeing more than just strongly worded letters—we're seeing consequences. It comes not a minute too soon.

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#3 - Pete Hegseth Makes Shocking Announcement About Enlistment, Gives One Reason for What We're Seeing — by Katie Jerkovich

"We saw record recruitment in 2025, Mr. President," Hegseth said in front of the press. "The first two weeks of [Fiscal Year] 2026 [which starts in October] already blows that out …[FY 2026] already blows it out the water."

"In fact, reenlistment has already reached its year-long goal, in the Marine Corps, in 2026," he added, to which Trump responded, "record stuff."

"There's no other way to create that kind of love and enthusiasm than with your leadership, sir," Hegseth continued. 

The secretary made it clear there's one reason for all this interest in the military, and it's because of Trump. And it's just more proof of how wrong the left is about what Americans want. It's concrete numbers showing that they are all in for changes being made by Hegseth and President Trump's administration.

#4 - Country Star ‘Scared’ Following Backlash to His Anti-ICE Song, Backpedals Furiously With New Statement — by Rusty Weiss

Keep in mind, this is very clearly one of those 'sorry that you were offended' half-apologies as he blames the people reacting to his idiotic lyrics, not the actual idiotic lyrics he wrote.

"This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle," Bryan wrote. "Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back."

Maybe find your own way back, Chief, by not portraying law enforcement as terrifying kids when they're actually rescuing them from their criminal parents or guardians.

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#5 - Bumbling Nancy Pelosi Goes So Off the Rails, Even CNN Has to Correct Her Multiple Times — by Bonchie

The whole licking and sucking on her lips during public appearances has become a common tic for Pelosi, but regardless, let's deal with the merits of her argument. Is the continuing resolution that was passed by the House and that has been voted on six times now in the Senate "clean?" The answer is simple: Yes. 

There is not a single poison pill, Republican priority, or excess provision attached to the proposed CR. It is, by definition, clean. What it doesn't do is extend a variety of Democrat priorities that were always supposed to be temporary, including Obamacare subsidies enacted during COVID-19. Bash should have kept pressing Pelosi on her lies instead of letting her ramble off in other directions, but that'd be asking too much from CNN. 

The facts are not in doubt. Democrats filibustered a clean CR and shut down the government. Republicans continue to offer a clean CR as a resolution to the shutdown. No amount of Pelosi nervously sucking on her lips is going to change that.

If you enjoy the Weekly Briefing, be sure to check out "RedState Radio," our weekly podcast. It features a rundown of our top stories of the week, along with chats with a couple of our contributors about what they've been covering. This week, we're joined by Joe Cunningham and Jennifer Van Laar. If you like RedState, we think you'll like this added feature. Liking, subscribing, and following are much appreciated.

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Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.

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