Morning Minute: Susan Sittin' in the Catbird Seat

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Thursday, July 9, 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 

'#1 on the Kill List' — Is That Why Trump Ditched the Brand-New $400M AF1 for NATO Departure?

In any case, the president boarded the new jet at Mildenhall and is headed back to America. We'll probably never know the whole story — why the heck would they share inside security secrets with the world — but all’s well that ends well, as they say.

Mamdani Accused of ‘Cultural Erasure’ — Sparks Outrage for Scrubbing Little Italy From NYC Map

I'd suggest just one map with one American flag instead, but we know a good portion of the population in NYC is illegal and has no interest in assimilating—and that’s exactly the kind of “diversity” this administration seems eager to celebrate.

Trump to Supreme Court: Reconsider the 'Absolutely Insane Decision' in the Birthright Citizenship Case

It’s a hot-button issue because an unknown number of foreigners from places like Russia and China are known to make elaborate plans to be in this country when their kids are born. The Supreme Court may have ruled that birthright citizenship is protected by the Constitution (due to the 14th Amendment), but to many, it just seems like legalized fraud against our country.

Trending Across Townhall Media

Bearing Arms — Is Colorado the Blueprint for Anti-Gunners if SCOTUS Strikes Down Bans on 'Assault Weapons'?

We'll be carefully watching and covering the rollout of Colorado's permit-to-purchase scheme, because something similar could soon be coming to a state near you.

HotAir — WSJ: Guess Who Was a Red-Flag Parade for Months (That We Never Spotted)?

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These red flags were obvious enough to start emerging eight months ago, and none of the legacy media bothered to look for them, even when those flags waved right in front of their eyes. Why didn't they report on this fraud when it mattered?

PJ Media — Something Is Amiss: Don't Believe Everything You Read About Venezuela Right Now

They say Machado is causing problems by trying to return to her homeland, but the fact is that they are the ones trying to stir up trouble. Machado has such a large following that what they're saying will only serve to drive a wedge between the Venezuelan people and the United States, which is exactly what Trump and Rubio do not need at the moment. And that's exactly why I decided to go ahead and write this. 

Townhall — Platner Is a Hilarious Symptom of Progressive Failure

The progressives are going to learn lessons from this. One is to vet their candidates a little better, you know, by not picking people with Nazi tattoos in the future. But the other lesson is one they should’ve learned long ago. The establishment is serious and ruthless.

Twitchy — This YOU, Boo? Jessica Tarlov Snarling at Repubs Taking Moral Victory Lap Over Platner Goes REALLY Wrong

Republicans might not be perfect, but at least they’re not pretending a Nazi-tattooed, alleged-rapist candidate was just misunderstood until the polls tanked. Enjoy the moral victory lap anyway, America—we earned it.

WHAT'S ON TAP?

Today on Capitol Hill...

A couple more days in their District Work Week, and then the critters will be back on the Hill, up to their usual hijiinx. 

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They've got their work cut out for them, too — tussling over the SAVE America Act, FISA reauthorization, Trump's ODNI pick, appropriations...

White House What's Up

President Trump is back in the U.S., having flown into Donald J. Trump International Airport in the wee hours of Thursday morning. 

Here's what's on his schedule today:

  • 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
  • 1:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT receives his Intelligence Briefing — The White House
  • 3:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Signing Time — Oval Office
  • 4:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office
  • 5:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office

    • Keeping Up With the Cabinet

    Dir. Federal Bureau of Investigations - Kash Patel — Patel recently visited FEMA's interagency operations center in D.C. 

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    Visiting the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC), FEMA’s interagency operations center in Washington D.C. where DHS components and other federal partners like FBI, DOW, DOE, EPA, and DOT are co-located to respond for the American people in times of crisis.

    Their work and planning helps communities stay safe in the aftermath of emergency situations and natural disasters, like Super Typhoon Bavi and Super Typhoon Sinlaku earlier this year.

    During disasters, the NRCC coordinates directly with state and local leaders to expedite recovery and hazard mitigation efforts, as the @FBI provides vital intelligence and information sharing on security threats and implications.

    Grateful for their lifesaving work with us. Special thanks to @SecMullinDHS for his partnership and leadership of @DHSgov and @fema.

    Full Court Press...

    We had several court decisions of note on Wednesday, including:

  • ❌ In League of Women Voters v. DHS (SAVE citizen verification system), Judge Sparkle Sooknanan (D.C.) DENIES admin's motion for stay pending appeal.
  • ↔️ In U.S. v. Dugan (obstruction), Judge Lynn Adelman (Eastern District of Wisconsin) sentences Dugan to $5,000 fine; no jail; no probation.
  • ❌ In Beatty v. Trump (renaming of Kennedy Center), D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals DENIES admin's motion for stay pending appeal.
  • ✅ In Douglas v. National Park Service (UFC match/ring), plaintiffs have now voluntarily dismissed their case. [Because that ship sailed.]

    • READ MORE: Sparkle Strikes Back: DC Judge Defends SAVE Ruling, Rejects Florida Court's Criticism

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    Judge Hannah Dugan, Who Helped Illegal Alien Evade ICE, Gets Unbelievable Slap on the Wrist

    COMING ATTRACTIONS

    As noted above, Congress will be back at it next week. Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett are slated to testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government and the Senate Appropriations Committee next week. 

    MORNING MUSING

    Listen, I'm no huge fan of Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), but she's still a damn sight better than anyone the Democrats have — or will — run for that seat. Most especially Graham Platner. 

    So, here's my impression of what Susan's been doing the past few days...

    LIGHTER FARE 

    Unbearable cuteness!

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