Tuesday, March 4, 2025
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
Democrat Rep. Hammered Over ‘Stupid’ Rant Telling Elon Musk to ‘Go Back to South Africa’
Will Velázquez be the subject of intense scrutiny for her racist, xenophobic, and nativist rhetoric? The way Trump was?
Bondi Reveals FBI Delivered ‘Truckload’ of Jeffrey Epstein Files, Meanwhile Top Bureau Official Resigns
It will be interesting to see if there’s any new information and if the true Epstein story will ever be told.
Dems Step on Another Rake, Block Senate Bill Protecting Girls/Women Sports
It’s shameful, and each Democrat who supports boys invading girls’ bathrooms and girls’ sports should pay a steep price in 2026.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Following High Profile Shootings in Tennessee, There’s a Shift in Tone
I’m glad to see the tone shift in Tennessee toward something that’s far more rational than the hysterics that lead to gun control.
Trump to Campus Agitators: Get Out
Expect a big hue and cry from Academia and their allies if and when Trump puts this policy into action.
WATCH: Pfizer CEO Flops Attempting to Defend Vax Liability Shield
On top of the conflict of interest among regulators, the FDA frequently acknowledges it has no idea how the products it approves work.
Here’s the Video That’s Beyond Embarrassing for the House Dem Leader
Whoever thought this was a good idea deserves a raise.
Scott Jennings Traces Zelenskyy’s Oval Office Circus Act Back to Clowns in the Democrat Party
Zelenskyy appears to be all about money, prestige, and power—three things he knew would end if peace took precedence.
WHAT’S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill…
Education Secretary Linda McMahon was confirmed by the Senate late Monday afternoon. Unfortunately, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act didn’t fare quite as well as all Democrat senators voted against the motion to invoke cloture on it.
On Tuesday, there are multiple hearings/meetings set on the Hill, including:
- Senate Armed Services — Hearings to examine the nomination of Elbridge Colby, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
- House Homeland Security, Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee — “Future of FEMA: Perspectives from the Emergency Management Community”
- House Transportation and Infrastructure, Aviation Subcommittee — “America Builds: Air Traffic Control System Infrastructure and Staffing”
- House Judiciary, Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee — “The Right to Self Defense”
- House Agriculture, Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee — The State of the Livestock Industry: Producer Perspectives
- House Oversight and Government Reform, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Subcommittee — “Leveraging Technology to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement”
- Senate Foreign Relations — Hearings to examine the nominations of Christopher Landau, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary, Michael Rigas, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, and Matthew Whitaker, of Iowa, to be United States Permanent Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the rank and status of Ambassador, all of the Department of State
- House Judiciary, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee — “Legislative Reforms to End Lawfare by State and Local Prosecutors”
Of course, the biggest happening on the Hill Tuesday will be President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress Tuesday evening. We’ll be here liveblogging the event, so be sure to join us!
White House What’s Up
As noted above, Tuesday’s the day (or night) President Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress. He promises it will be “BIG. I WILL TELL IT LIKE IT IS!”
Monday evening, Vice President JD Vance sat for his first interview post-Zelensky implosion with Sean Hannity.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Defense – Pete Hegseth — the Department of Defense issued its initial DOGE findings (via Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell). Hegseth also restored the name of Ft. Benning (mostly).
Attorney General – Pam Bondi — Bondi told Sean Hannity that her office had received a “truckload” of files pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein.
Sec. Interior – Doug Burgum — On Monday, the Department of Interior celebrated its 176th birthday.
Sec. Commerce – Howard Lutnick — Lutnick sat for an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown.
Sec. Health & Human Services – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — Kennedy announced collaboration between HHS, the Education Department, and the General Services Administration to end antisemitic harassment on college campuses.
Sec. Education – Linda McMahon — McMahon, as noted above, was confirmed by the Senate Monday.
Sec. Veterans Affairs – Doug Collins — Collins joined Harris Faulkner on the “Faulkner Focus” Monday to discuss how the VA plans to implement cuts without negatively impacting veterans’ care.
Sec. Homeland Security – Kristi Noem — Noem announced another successful enforcement operation while vowing they will not be deterred by leaks.
Admin. Environmental Protection Agency – Lee Zeldin — Zeldin continues to follow up on the Biden administration’s “gold bar” fiasco.
Admin. Small Business Association – Kelly Loeffler — Loeffler addressed Georgia lawmakers on Monday and met with the SBA’s Atlanta office.
Dir. Federal Bureau of Investigations – Kash Patel — Patel thanked and congratulated the FBI’s Virginia Homeland Security Taskforce for arresting MS-13 gang members and others while enforcing immigration laws. Also, we learned Monday that the top agent from the FBI’s New York Field Office had resigned.
U.S. Trade Rep. – Jamieson Greer — Greer announced the Trump administration’s 2025 Trade Policy Agenda.
Full Court Press…
The Supreme Court hears oral argument Tuesday in Smith & Wesson Brands v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos — a case in which the Mexican government has sued U.S. firearms manufacturers over gun violence perpetrated by Mexican cartels. The questions presented in the case are:
- Whether the production and sale of firearms in the United States is the “proximate
cause” of alleged injuries to the Mexican government stemming from violence committed by drug cartels in Mexico.
-
Whether the production and sale of firearms in the United States amounts to “aiding and abetting” illegal firearms trafficking because firearms companies allegedly know that some of their products are unlawfully trafficked.
Read more about that case here:
Mexico’s Lawsuit Against American Gun Companies to Face US Supreme Court
There was an interesting development Monday in Hunter Biden’s (remember him?!) civil suit against Garret Ziegler (who founded the nonprofit organization Marco Polo) — that case remains pending in federal court in California, but Biden’s sugar bro objected to appearing for a deposition in it, asserting attorney-client privilege. While the parties attempted to sort that out via the court, Biden’s attorneys advised the court that they may be moving to dismiss the case.
While we await the final determination by Judge Ho in the Southern District of New York regarding the dismissal of the DOJ’s case against Mayor Eric Adams, a whole host of amici curiae have sought leave to join the fray on the matter. As of right now, the last briefing deadline is March 11. We’ll continue to monitor for any developments.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
As noted above, the biggest of coming attractions is Tuesday night’s joint address to Congress by President Trump.
We expect a vote sometime this week on Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Labor Secretary.
MORNING MUSING
We’ve heard a lot of talk lately about Trump and his administration embracing the 80/20 issues — those on which roughly 80 percent of Americans agree — and, wisely, standing with the 80 percent. Obviously, not all (maybe not even most) issues afford such a definitive split in attitudes and preferences, but for the ones that do, taking and standing on the 80 is not only politically smart but basic good governance. They get to claim the “common sense” high ground, and they’re giving the American people what they want. And the more they do that — and show that they’re doing that — the more success this administration will see. It’s not lost on me, as a member of GenX, having come of age in the 80s, that there’s a reason why Trump notes that he’s a big fan of Ronald Reagan (trade policies notwithstanding). So, my advice to President Trump and his administration: Keep finding the 80s — and stand on them.
RONALD REAGAN Warmly Greets @realDonaldTrump In the White House. In A Few Months, The #Trump Family Home. #MAGA pic.twitter.com/nkQDL6ixD6
— ViveLaFrance 🇺🇸 (@vivelafra) April 22, 2016
LIGHTER FARE
Bit windy here today, too…
Heckin wimdy pic.twitter.com/bTkcXPFF4o
— Heckin Good Dogs (@HeckinGoodDogs) March 3, 2025
