Thursday, April 23, 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
CA Gubernatorial Debate Night Scorecard: Who Killed It, Who Bombed
In sum, here’s my prediction for the upcoming polls: Porter will drop, Mahan will see some increased interest, nobody cares about Becerra, Tom Steyer will hold steady, and voters who actually watched the debate will find that both Bianco and Hilton made powerful arguments.
Asst. DHS Secretary for Counterterrorism Placed on Administrative Leave, and the Reason Is a Doozy
Can you say rapacious and greedy? The Daily Mail article also included a raft of text messages where Varvaro demanded Robert B. pay for her expensive appetites, along with photos of their destination excursions.
Omar Winery Listed at Millions Dissolves Days Later As House Oversight Presses for Answers
But a winery that existed only on paper was reported as worth millions and vanished from the public record nine days after it was declared worthless. That’s not an accounting error. That’s a transparency question.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Bearing Arms — Ilhan Omar Uses Columbine to Pine for Gun Control Law That Failed to Stop Columbine
Omar, as per usual, locked replies to her post on X, which is why you’re not going to see numerous replies calling her out on her stupid here, but you have to know that even she realized she was going to get dragged.
HotAir — Question to Ponder: Is There Anything That Democrats Support That Is Not Fraudulent?
Once the organizations were set up, the Democrats started funneling government money into Soros and company projects. Soros provided the seed money, and the rest was a scam.
PJ Media — New York City Will Survive Mamdani — but It Might Not Want To
Everyone who has read a history book that wasn’t written by Howard Zinn knows how these socialist experiments end. Mamdani is in his early 30s, so he has youthful zeal, stupidity, and a complete lack of perspective fueling his anti-American rage. The makings for happily ever after just aren’t there.
Townhall — Remember Ilhan Omar’s Winery? Something Very Peculiar Just Happened to It
If that’s a true accounting error, then I’m Somali, too. Are you kidding me, lady?
Twitchy — Clueless Columnist Asks if It’s Now a Crime to Expose ‘White Supremacist’ Groups
CNN’s post gave just enough disinformation to bait rubes like Georgia Recorder columnist Jay Bookman
WHAT’S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill…
Thursday on the Hill, there are a handful of meetings/hearings set, including:
- House Appropriations, National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee — Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill
- House Appropriations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee — Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill
- Senate Armed Services — To receive a closed briefing on anomalous health incidents.
- Senate Finance — Hearings to examine The President’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda.
- House Appropriations, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee — Budget Hearing – Department of Commerce
The big news, of course, is that the Senate held its vote-a-rama Wednesday night and finally approved the budget framework to deal with ICE and CBP funding.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Funding DHS As Emergency Coffers Go Dry
The Senate overnight narrolwy approved a budget framework, allowing the body to tee up a process to fund ICE and CBP without Democrats.
Adoption of this measure gives the Senate the ability to leave Democrats at…
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) April 23, 2026
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Funding DHS As Emergency Coffers Go Dry
The Senate overnight narrolwy approved a budget framework, allowing the body to tee up a process to fund ICE and CBP without Democrats.
Adoption of this measure gives the Senate the ability to leave Democrats at the curb and pass their own bill to pay for ICE/CPB and avoid a filibuster. The House must still align with the Senate on this framework.
However, there is consternation among Republicans. Some still want to add other measures into the bill. That ranges from the SAVE America Act to money for the war in Iran to suspending the gas tax or addressing health care.
This could pose problems as the House and Senate must be on the same page.
Keep in mind, this does not fund all of DHS. The House has not passed the twice-approved Senate bill covering all of DHS – except ICE and CBP.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned on Fox this week that his department on the precipice of running out of emergency operating funds.
Regardless, the bill just to deal with ICE and CBP will likely take a few more weeks to pass.
The administration wants this done by June 1.
White House What’s Up
Here’s what President Trump’s Thursday will include:
- 8:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time — The White House
- 11:00 AM — THE PRESIDENT receives his Intelligence Briefing — The White House
- 1:30 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in Signing Time — Oval Office
- 3:00 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Health Care Affordability Event — Oval Office
- 4:30 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Policy Meeting — Oval Office
- 7:15 PM — THE PRESIDENT participates in a Private Dinner — Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace
First Lady Melania Trump will attend and speak at the Annual First Lady’s Luncheon today, along with Second Lady Usha Vance.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Commerce – Howard Lutnick — Lutnick testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.
Using a trusted workforce like the U.S. Post Office — with workers who already wear uniforms, already have vehicles, already know where people live, and already use electronic devices — will make the Census more efficient and more accurate. pic.twitter.com/mVVxHtpBr4
— U.S. Department of Commerce (@CommerceGov) April 22, 2026
Full Court Press…
We had a few more notable court rulings on Wednesday, including:
- ❌ In Renew Northeast v. Dept. of the Interior (wind/solar permitting policies), Judge Denise Casper (Massachusetts) GRANTS plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction. [4/21]
- ✅ In U.S. v. California (No Vigilantes Act), 9th Circuit Court of Appeals GRANTS admin’s request for injunction pending appeal re: ID-displaying requirement for non-uniformed officers.
READ MORE: Big Win for Trump Administration: 9th Circuit Puts the Kibosh on Key Section of CA Anti-ICE Law
The Supreme Court handed down two opinions — we’ll have a round-up of those in the next Skinny on SCOTUS installment. They’ll hear additional oral argument next week.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
As noted, SCOTUS hears more cases next week, including the cases on Temporary Protected Status.
MORNING MUSING
The recent indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) rightly raised eyebrows — and should raise a ton of questions. It seems like, as with so many of the organizations and entities championed by the left, the more you dig, the more you realize it’s all a bunch of hooey, propped up with donor dollars that cycle through and serve to perpetuate the political power of the left and the Democrat Party.
Pull the thread(s). Follow the money. And shine a light on it all.
LIGHTER FARE
That’s some talent.
Ninja dog..🐕😍 pic.twitter.com/sGKyAOfXYb
— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) April 22, 2026
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