Morning Minute: The Sinking of the SS Platner

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Tuesday, July 7, 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.

TOP O' THE MORNIN'

Red-Hot at RedState

Viral Video Shows Woman Learning the Hard Way That BART's New Fare Gates Are a Real Pain in the Butt

Although this lady’s plans may have gotten rear-ended, she also just proved that San Francisco may just be making sense for once.

New: Another Blue State Ignores Daycares With No Kids Despite Massive Subsidies

When you dine at the devil's table, you don't get to choose the menu, and when you accept taxpayer money, you should expect to be open to inquiry. Since the state of Washington seems unable to conduct any such inquiry, it's up to journalists.

Ruben Gallego Weighs in on Platner Allegations - That Was a Bad Idea

But this whole episode with the defense of Platner just exposes again how little principle the Democrats have. Hopefully, the voters don't forget how disgracefully the Democrats have behaved here and punish them severely at the ballot box in November.

Trending Across Townhall Media

Bearing Arms — Giffords Takes Wrong Lesson From Massie, Cornyn Defeats

But then again, when the anti-gun agenda is practically on life support, can we be surprised that they're trying to spin anything they can into a victory?

HotAir — Dem Senate Disaster Intensifies. No, The Other One.

Democrats are about to reap what they have sown, and it may start in Texas rather than Maine. And just wait until Michigan Democrats have to deal with Palestinian privilege in the wake of their upcoming Senate primary.

PJ Media — Jails Are Full After TikTok-Inspired Mob Started a Riot in the Wrong California Beach Town

Now would be a really great time for mom or dad to have a chat about permissible uses for phones. And then, after that chat, introduce them to this thing called a job application so they can pay for their own damned cellphone bill — and bail.

Townhall — Lupita Nyong'o Just Doomed Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' Adaptation

Will 'The Odyssey' flop? That's unlikely. Nolan still has a loyal fan base. However, this writer is laying down the marker now: the film will break even, at best.

Twitchy — Desperation: Stephen King Shows X His 'Dark Half' in a Bizarre Defense of Graham Platner

If King weren't so consumed by his TDS and tribal politics, he might realize the truth about Platner as well: that he's as bad as any villain that Stephen King has ever -- or could ever -- come up with for any of his horror novels.

WHAT'S ON TAP?

Today on Capitol Hill...

The critters, as noted previously, are out this week, but that hasn't kept a few of them from skittering off the SS Platner in the wake of the latest accusations against him for sexual assault.

SEE: Ruben Gallego Weighs in on Platner Allegations - That Was a Bad Idea

Dems Crash Out Over Platner, As They Scramble Away From Him and Calls to Step Aside Begin

I'd take the under on the "withdrawing from the race" announcement. #JustSayin

White House What's Up

President Trump is in Turkey for the NATO Summit. Here's what Tuesday's schedule looks like:

2:15 PM — THE PRESIDENT arrives in Ankara, Turkey — Ankara, Turkey

2:15 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in an Arrival Ceremony and Greeting with the President of the Republic of Turkey — Ankara, Turkey

3:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a State Arrival Ceremony and Honor Guard Review — Bestepe Presidential Compound

3:15 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the President of the Republic of Turkey — Bestepe Presidential Compound

7:05 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in the NATO Leaders' Social Dinner — Bestepe Presidential Compound

Keeping Up With the Cabinet

Admin. Small Business Administration - Kelly Loeffler — Loeffler was in Florida on Monday, touting the Small Business Investment Company Program.

The SBA’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program helps America’s innovators access the growth capital they need to scale and compete at the highest levels of industry.
One of those businesses is Sintavia in Fort Lauderdale. As an SBIC portfolio company, it’s the leader… pic.twitter.com/zO8QJUbh2A
— Kelly Loeffler (@SBA_Kelly) July 6, 2026

Full Court Press...

We had a couple of decisions/developments of note in the courts yesterday:

✅ In U.S. v. Cole (J5 pipebombs), Judge Amir Ali DENIES defendant's motion to dismiss.

↔️ In Samuels v. Trump (removal of independent agency leaders - EEOC), Judge Tanya Chutkan (D.C.) dismisses case without prejudice pursuant to plaintiff's voluntary dismissal (in light of SCOTUS' Slaughter decision).

COMING ATTRACTIONS

President Trump is, of course, attending the NATO Summit. What sorts of announcements and plot twists will come from that? One never knows...

MORNING MUSING

Graham Platner and Joe Biden don't have all that much in common at first blush — other than being Democrats. But just as the SS Biden capsized shortly after his disastrous June 2024 debate performance, so, too, are we seeing the SS Platner go down.

In both instances, Dems tried to turn a blind eye to the ships taking on water, while Republicans repeatedly pointed out the issue(s). But reality eventually caught up with them. And, as we did in the summer of 2024, we're once again watching the rats abandon ship.

LIGHTER FARE

Boop!

You've been booped..🐕🐾🐢😅 pic.twitter.com/T3eVbYE3Im
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) July 6, 2026

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