Tuesday, March 18, 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
Stephen Miller Obliterates CNN Anchor’s Line of Questioning on Tren de Aragua Deportations
CNN’s Kasie Hunt tried her level best on Monday evening to “gotcha” Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller, over the issue, repeating the claim that Trump was ignoring a lawful court order and that the administration would just decide to ignore any court order it didn’t agree with. She failed miserably.
Band Blasts White House for Using Its Song in Gang Deportation Video, but They Should Be Thanking Trump
Honestly, “Semisonic” should be thanking Trump. Very few people remembered they existed until yesterday, and as they say, all press is good press.
What, Are You Going to Cry? Kinzinger Puffs Up His Little Chest, Mad That Trump Declared Pardons ‘Void’
Now, he takes lonely videos ranting in his car and posting them to social media.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Canada: A Sign of Things to Come
We didn’t lose our rights overnight. We won’t get them back overnight.
Gaza: Back to FAFO, Inevitably
The war was never over in the first place, and now it’s back on.
Here’s the Dirty Little Secret Behind the Democrats’ Collapse
It must be a helluva thing to bask in wonderment at your successes only to have them fully rejected by the voters.
Top White House Aide Smacking Down a CNN Host Over Illegal Immigration Was Absolute Cinema
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller will get banned from CNN for a simple reason: he takes their on-air talent to the woodshed.
Deportation Debate: Stephen Miller Schools CNN’s Kasie Hunt on the Alien Enemies Act
Miller always outclasses his opposition on cable news programs. Hunt had already lost before she even opened her mouth.
WHAT’S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill…
The critters are on Spring Break, so it remains relatively quiet on the Hill Tuesday. Grillmaster Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is still feeling the heat from his fellow Dems for the bungling of the CR.
When they return:
Senate Budget Committee Republicans are planning to begin a series of meetings over the next few weeks with the Senate parliamentarian’s office on budget reconciliation, according to sources familiar with the plans.
The GOP’s goal is to get guidance on the “current policy baseline” in early April. That information could be critical to writing the tax portion of Republicans’ reconciliation package.
Meanwhile, it’s looking like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton may challenge John Cornyn (R-TX) for his Senate seat in 2026.
White House What’s Up
President Donald Trump’s formal schedule for Tuesday is fairly light, with executive order signing set for Tuesday afternoon. However, he is slated to have a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a potential Ukraine-Russia ceasefire today, as well. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on any news out of that exchange.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Cabinet’s temporarily closed for remodeling, friends. (Just kidding. Yours truly just got a late start on the MM this AM, so hasn’t had the time to review the long list of accomplishments and announcements by this go-go-go Cabinet. We’ll have a fuller update on Wednesday.)
Full Court Press…
A lot of hair is being lit on fire over the deportation flights of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members and the ongoing court battles over that. Look for more developments on that front today, but in the meantime, enjoy the heck out of Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller educating Kasie Hunt on justiciability.
Sean “Diddy” Combs was arraigned on Friday on the superseding indictment alleging Racketeering, Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion, and Transportation to Engage in Prostitution. His case is still set for trial beginning May 5, 2025.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
As noted above, we’ll be keeping an eye on developments out of the Trump-Putin phone call. We’ll also be keeping tabs on the situation in Gaza as the ceasefire has ended and Israel has resumed pounding Hamas strongholds.
Expect a flurry of activity later Tuesday around the release of the JFK files.
MORNING MUSING
I’m as susceptible as the next person to the dreaded earworm. I’ve had several of late from a favorite TV series, but now, they’ve been replaced by Semisonic’s “Closing Time,” compliments of the Trump administration. Despite the band’s objection to its big hit’s use by the White House in conjunction with the repatriation process, the tune is catchy and fitting, and we’re liable to see the Streisand Effect in action here. One thing you pretty much have to give Trump 2.0: Their messaging game is On. Point. Whether it’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt setting the legacy media straight in the briefing room or Stephen Miller educating Miss Kasie or Tom Homan gleefully embracing his border czar role or Cabinet members putting out sharp, slick videos highlighting their work, this administration has figured out how to work around and over the MSM and prevent them from being the messaging gatekeepers. Let’s hope they keep playing the hits.
LIGHTER FARE
I get lost…in your eyes…
— out of context dogs (@contextdogs) March 17, 2025
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