Tuesday, February 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
Another European Official Embarrasses Himself With ‘Warning’ to Trump About Ukraine Peace Deal
So if the Europeans think this is any kind of hold on him, they are seriously mistaken.
‘Fake News’: Karoline Leavitt Sets the Associated Press Straight on Story About FAA Firings and DOGE
Though I know it’s too much to ask I would hope the mainstream media would switch gears just this once and report these events on the straight and narrow for a change.
Laugh It Up, Funny Boy: Germans Who Laughed at Trump Over Russia Are Weeping Bitter Tears of Regret
They laughed at Trump. They aren’t laughing at Vance.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Armed Mom Takes on Three Bad Guys With Gun in One Hand, Baby in the Other
Templar had a firearm of her own and fought back.
More CNN #Sadz: Frank Luntz Says Clinton Voters Who Flipped to Trump ‘Lovin’ It’
Even acting with ruthless, breathtaking efficiency, Trump is winning converts and reassuring those who might have held their noses to vote for him that their act of blind faith wasn’t squandered.
What the Hell Is Wrong With CBS News?
Since Walter Cronkite, CBS News has always been an anti-American DNC propaganda outlet.
Tom Hanks Faces Brutal Backlash from Trump Supporters After Mocking Them in SNL Sketch
For many, Hanks’ participation in this blatant attack is yet another example of the left’s relentless disdain for those who don’t share their progressive agenda.
We’ll Leave the Light on for You: Lefty Declares Personal Boycott of AirBnB Over Founder Joining DOGE
Just think, you’ll always be remembered as the guy who successfully got one person to boycott a company with you over something that never mattered to begin with.
WHAT’S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill…
The House is out this week, so it’s only the Senate getting back up and running on Tuesday. They’re set to reconvene at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, beginning with a reading of Washington’s Farewell Address, and sometime after that, will take the procedural vote on Kash Patel’s nomination for FBI Director to move past cloture, then vote on the confirmation of Howard Lutnick for Secretary of Commerce.
White House What’s Up
President Donald Trump took a moment out of his Presidents Day to step out of “The Beast” to greet cheering fans on Monday.
WATCH: President Trump steps out of The Beast to recognize cheering fans gathered on Presidents’ Day ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VrrhgWgfLG
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 17, 2025
On Tuesday, he’s set to sign more executive orders in the afternoon.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. State – Marco Rubio — Rubio has been in Saudi Arabia, meeting with the Crown Prince and Foreign Minister regarding the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages.
Sec. Defense – Pete Hegseth — Hegseth revealed on Monday that he and his wife were the target of an oddly timed IRS audit.
Attorney General – Pam Bondi — Bondi toured the Port of Tampa on Monday.
Sec. Interior – Doug Burgum — Burgum appeared on “Fox and Friends” Monday to tout the administration’s successes in its first four weeks.
Sec. Agriculture – Brooke Rollins — Rollins toured southwest Kansas on Monday and participated in a roundtable with farmers and ranchers.
Sec. Transportation – Sean Duffy — Duffy confirmed that the FAA is working with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada to respond to Monday’s Delta crash.
Sec. Homeland Security – Kristi Noem — Monday evening, Noem announced an ad campaign warning illegal aliens to leave the U.S. now or expect to face deportation.
Full Court Press…
COMING ATTRACTIONS
The confirmation hearing for Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, is set for Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Assuming the motion to invoke cloture on Kash Patel’s nomination passes, the vote for his confirmation should come sometime Wednesday or Thursday.
On Thursday, the Senate HELP Committee will vote on Linda McMahon’s nomination for Secretary of Education.
MORNING MUSING
Had to put this Morning Minute together a little on the early side as I’m heading out before dawn on Tuesday morning to make my way to D.C. (okay, National Harbor) for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). It will be strange to spend an entire day away from the desk here at RedState — not gonna lie, I suspect I’ll be suffering a bit of news FOMO as I trek eastward (hopefully ahead of the snowstorm moving in). Yes, it’s the Swamp, but I’m excited to be there again and catch up with some of my RedState (and Townhall Media) friends and hear what the speakers have to say. Don’t worry, though — I’ll still be putting out the Morning Minutes while I’m there.
LIGHTER FARE
They’re definitely having a good chat, aren’t they? (Added note: If you love dogs, this account is a great follow.)
We rescued 2 Huskies in Thailand. Bowie and Prince.
Last week we they traveled to perfect new homes in Germany and Wales.
Their new families put Prince on the phone to Bowie. I like to think they are telling each other they are so Incredibly happy ❤️ pic.twitter.com/w9UsnxxNgi
— Niall Harbison (@NiallHarbison) February 17, 2025
Bonus cuteness:
A baby fox is happy to see its owner. pic.twitter.com/aDmChvPQEz
— Fox (@hourlyFox) February 16, 2025
