Thursday, January 22, 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
They’re not saying they did it, mind you. But boy, do I love this! And where can we sign up? You can also do things like spam the locations where ICE isn’t to the ICE watch phone numbers, messing up their ability to track ICE, if you have a few spare minutes to mess with them.
Barron Trump Kept His Cool in a Dangerous Moment — Then Saved a Woman’s Life
The 19-year-old Barron faced a tough situation — but showed cool under fire. Nice work, young man.
Former NYC mayor Eric Adams (D) went off upon hearing about the incident, and demanded NY Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who is up for reelection, take action against the hospital.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Armed Citizen Takes on Would-Be Kidnapper, Makes World Safer for Everyone
I’m sorry this family had to endure this kind of nightmare. I’m sorry the armed citizen now has to deal with the fact that he took a human life, which isn’t particularly easy for most decent people.
I’m not sorry this piece of pond scum has been removed from the realm of the living, though.
Virginia’s ‘Make Fraud Legal’ Bill
Everybody is looking for fraud, so the Democrats there decided to make finding it even harder.
So on brand.
JD Vance’s Next Move Will Leave the Left Fuming
It’s not clear at this point if Vance will meet with either Walz or Frey — I’m guessing he won’t, or more likely they’ll both grandstand about not meeting with him — but it would be pretty awesome to see Vance and Walz face off again. I still have fond memories of the pair from the 2024 vice presidential debate, when Vance utterly destroyed Walz.
Can You Feel the Excitement? Kamala Is Back and in the Lead!
She’s an idiot, and she’s a loser. But then, she’s a Democrat, so maybe they’re actually advantages.
What is it with this whack-job chick?
And why are children watching her?
WHAT’S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill…
There are multiple hearings/meetings set on Thursday on the Hill, including:
- House Energy and Commerce, Health Subcommittee — Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of Health Insurance Affordability
- House Homeland Security, Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee — “Smarter Borders, Safer Nation: Expanding the Use of Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology”
- House Science, Space, and Technology — Assessing U.S. Leadership in Quantum Science and Technology
- House Judiciary — “Oversight of the Office of Special Counsel Jack Smith”
- House Oversight and Government Reform, Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee — “Housing Affordability: Saving the American Dream”
Yep — that Jack Smith hearing will, no doubt, be a doozy.
On top of all that, the House will be wrangling with trying to get the last of those appropriations bills across the line before the critters bug out ahead of the weekend and the forecast winter storm.
READ MORE: Dems’ ICE Tantrum: Now Holding Up $1.2T Spending Bill
White House What’s Up
After a busy Wednesday in Davos, President Trump is participating in the Board of Peace Charter Announcement on Thursday before departing Switzerland to return to the U.S.
READ MORE: Trump to Davos Elites: ‘America Will Not Become a Nation of Renters’
Vice President JD Vance will be in Minneapolis on Thursday to hold a roundtable with local leaders and community members and deliver remarks focused on restoring law and order in Minnesota.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Sec. Interior – Doug Burgum — Burgum joined Fox & Friends on Thursday morning to tout the strategic significance of President Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland.
“PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE DEALMAKER-IN-CHIEF.”
Interior @SecretaryBurgum emphasizes the national security implications of acquiring Greenland.
“What we’re achieving here is so strategic for U.S. security, for North America, for Greenland — part of North America.” pic.twitter.com/qjzJNhXNzB
— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) January 22, 2026
Full Court Press…
We had several notable court decisions on Wednesday, including:
- ↔️ U.S. v. Maxwell (Epstein files/sex trafficking) — Judge Paul Engelmayer (Southern District of New York) DENIES motion to intervene filed by Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie.
- ✅ The Sustainability Institute v. Trump (suspension or termination of environmental and agricultural grants) — 4th Circuit Court of Appeals VACATES (and remands) district court order granting preliminary injunction.
- ❌ King County v. Turner (ban on DEIA initiatives) — Judge Barbara Rothstein (Western District of Washington) GRANTS plaintiffs’ fourth motion for preliminary injunction.
READ MORE: Trump Admin. Scores Another Legal Win – This One Involves Federal Grants
COMING ATTRACTIONS
The critters have just over one week to get the rest of the appropriations bills across the finish line, and a winter storm is bearing down on D.C. Definitely keep an eye on that. And, for that matter, keep an eye on your neighbors if you’re in an affected area — make sure everyone has heat and is ready to hunker down for a few days.
MORNING MUSING
There are advantages in having lived a long life and seen a lot — older and wiser is a thing. I’d like to think I’m wiser than I used to be — there’s no denying I’m older! But someone whose experience and wisdom I regularly draw on here at RedState is my good friend Andrew Malcolm. Andrew has seen a thing or two in his years (and if you’re not reading his Sunday morning columns or his Malcolm’s Memories installments, you’re missing out!)
I recall almost a year ago, editing and reading one of Andrew’s Sunday morning columns and thinking, “Hmm…he may be onto something here.”
SEE: For 2028, Democrats Have No One. Or Do They?
Indeed, we’re starting to see additional hints that Rahm Emanuel may be gearing up for a 2028 presidential run, and unlike Kamala Harris or Gavin Newsom, Emanuel has detectable activity going on between his ears. Just the other day, we saw Emanuel take the bold(?) stance that men cannot become women.
SEE: 2028 Democrat Hopefuls: 19 Out of 20 Think Biology’s Just a Suggestion
Now we’re seeing Emanuel call for a 75-year age limit for officeholders.
Notice anything about those two issues/stances? They’re not crazy progressive — they’re even likely to draw bipartisan support.
I see a very savvy political creature starting to stake out his middle/moderate lane. Will it work? Eh, some may say the Left is too far gone for it to happen. But all I’ll say is: Underestimate him at your peril.
LIGHTER FARE
Chatty catty!
I love a talkative cat. They talk to you affectionately & with love.
— Antidepressant Content (@depressionlesss) January 22, 2026
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