Thursday, January 1, 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
Former TSA Agent Exposes Somali Fraud in Real Time at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport
They were caught, but how many more shell companies and illegal fronts are waiting to funnel money to the Somali cause to skirt accountability and continue the fleecing of the American people? How long can Somalis cry racism and targeting when their communities are the ones perpetrating the lion’s share of this fraud?
Jack Smith Seeks Cover With Latest Claims Related to Biden-Era Arctic Frost Spying Scandal
My oh my, how things look very different now that President Trump is back in office.
Angry Wisconsin Business Owner Finds Out: Leave Politics at Home
Chad Kodanko was evidently outraged by the mere existence of that shirt, which represented nothing more than a young husband and father who did nothing more than talk with people, to attempt to persuade, and who was assassinated for it.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Couple Charged With Threatening Armed Citizen Who Shot Their Son in Self-Defense
Kentuckians should be praying for a governor that doesn’t want to sweep mob violence under the rug or let the state’s public universities become lawless enclaves where students can prey on their classmates.
The Backlash to Rep. Ro Khanna Continues
This is the guy who is going to end waste, fraud and abuse at the state level because he’s such a beacon of purity? Good luck with that.
Can We Pause a Moment and Appreciate How Moronic Jessica Tarlov Is?
The truth is that Tarlov can’t stand that an independent reporter broke this story wide open and made it go viral. Why? Because it hurts not just Walz but the Democratic Party as a whole. Blue state fraud is finally getting the sunlight it deserves, and she has to diminish his achievement because it doesn’t fit the left’s preferred narrative.
How My 2025 Predictions Went – and Some Predictions for 2026
I made 20 predictions in those heady days post-Trump’s election victory. I had a pretty good accuracy rate. If you are playing baseball, I calculate I was batting .750. Not bad.
With debris piled inside and no signs of external force, this clownish cover-up has us wondering how stupid the owners of this Somali daycare defrauding taxpayers in Ilhan Omar’s backyard think we are.
WHAT’S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill…
Crickets! (Which isn’t a bad thing. There will be plenty of time for sound and fury from the Swamp upon their return next week.)
White House What’s Up
President Trump has no public events scheduled for New Year’s Day. He and First Lady Melania attended a New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago.
President Trump and the First Lady arrive to the Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve party! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ciM9CrFpVj
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) January 1, 2026
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Energy – Chris Wright — Wright closed out 2025 by noting what the Trump administration has accomplished on the energy dominance front in its first year.
Just one year into @POTUS’ administration and gas prices are down, the nuclear energy renaissance has begun, and American energy dominance is being unleashed!https://t.co/BImUeq8D9m
— Secretary Chris Wright (@SecretaryWright) January 1, 2026
Bonus content: Sec. Interior Doug Burgum rang in the new year celebrating America First.
America’s first 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/sPQAlSsDBU
— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) January 1, 2026
Full Court Press…
The courts closed out the year issuing a handful of notable rulings:
- ✅ State of California v. HHS (re: Planned Parenthood funding) — 1st Circuit Court of Appeals GRANTS admin’s motion for stay pending appeal.
- ❌ National TPS Alliance v. Noem (revocation of TPS status – Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua) — Judge Trina Thompson (Northern District of California) DENIES admin’s motion to dismiss and motion for summary judgment; GRANTS plaintiffs’ partial motion for summary judgment.
READ MORE: Once Again, the 1st Circuit Puts a District Court Judge in Check Over Planned Parenthood Funding
Bonus legal content: Our friend Shipwreckedcrew gave us a very thorough and helpful rundown of what exactly the DOJ is doing to pursue fraud investigations and prosecutions in Minnesota.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Are you ready to celebrate America’s 250th birthday?
The next chapter of our American story starts now.
250 years of rising, remembering, and turning toward one another to embrace our part in history.
As we begin this once-in-a-generation year, take a moment to reflect on who we are—and who we want to be. Happy 2026. Happy… pic.twitter.com/fUj2twHZDB
— America250 (@America250) January 1, 2026
MORNING MUSING
We’ll keep this one short and sweet because, old as I am, I did (mostly) stay awake to ring in the new year, and I got a little short-changed on sleep and a bit later start to the morning — but it is indeed a new dawn and a new day.
I can’t predict what 2026 will bring us, but I can say with certainty that it presents us with opportunity. What we do with that…well, that’s on us. A happy and blessed New Year to you all!
LIGHTER FARE
What better way to start off the new year than with a smile?
Your first smile of 2026.. 😊 pic.twitter.com/h2HbHGKZEl
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) January 1, 2026
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