Thursday, January 8, 2026

Good morning! Welcome to RedState’s “Morning Minute,” your concise guide to today’s trending stories and what to anticipate as the day unfolds. Consider this your go-to source for a quick news update to jumpstart your morning.

TOP O’ THE MORNIN’

Top Stories on RedState

Watch: Tense Moment as Democratic Rep Needs Restraining from Tom Emmer During Fiery Debate on Minneapolis Shooting

Allegations Surface: Widow of Minneapolis Shooting Victim Allegedly Filmed the Incident, Seen Crying in Aftermath

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Delivers Key Points, Criticizes Walz and Frey in Press Conference on Anti-ICE Protest in Minnesota

It seems like with many of the anti-ICE protests across the nation, demonstrators appear to treat the whole thing as some sort of game, a challenge, a badge of honor. ICE is not playing around, however, and sooner or later, a tragedy like this was bound to happen. This whole thing could have been prevented if the two women hadn’t tried to thwart a large crew of heavily armed officers from doing their jobs.

DHS Sec. Kristi Noem Drops Facts, Cooks Walz and Frey During Presser on MN Anti-ICE Incident

Bottom line, Noem observed, is that it was imperative that agitators stop using vehicles as weapons to stop agents from doing their jobs.

Trending Across Townhall Media

Kansas Sheriff’s Office Praises Armed Citizen as ‘Surprise Guest Hero’

The truth of the matter is that Mr. Maike has his Second Amendment rights and lives in a state that respects them. When he was needed, he took up arms and assisted. Now, a bad guy has been arrested, no one was injured, and all is right with the world.

Mamdani’s First Test: He’s Sticking By His Racist, Communist ‘Tenant Advocate’

It’s hard to say whether Mamdani will actually be able to use his power as mayor to start stealing property from under the rightful owners, but I expect the efforts to do so will begin shortly. It was always his intention to do so, and he has no reason to reverse course now.

Well, I Didn’t Have This Guy Coming to the White House on My 2026 Bingo Card

The call, which was initiated by Petro, reportedly lasted up to an hour, and it was cordial and positive. I don’t think this is the start to a beautiful new friendship, but I guess watching the U.S. military capture one of the only other commie allies left on your continent and throwing him in a jail in New York has a certain element of persuasion about it.  

NBC Did Something No Other Outlet Will Likely Do Regarding the ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

And as federal officials investigate, we’re about to be subjected to grade-A nonsense from leftist America. 

Scott Jennings: Fatal Minneapolis ICE Shooting Is the Result of a Year of Dangerous Democrat Rhetoric

Commenters say the Democrats are fueling (and likely funding) an organized insurgency within the United States.

WHAT’S ON TAP?

Today on Capitol Hill…

There are several hearings/meetings set for Thursday:

• House Science, Space, and Technology — Chemistry Competitiveness: Fueling Innovation and Streamlining Processes to Ensure Safety and Security
• House Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee — Oversight Hearing titled “Fix Our Forests for Affordable and Reliable Water and Power Supplies”
• House Judiciary — H.R. 6260, the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act; H.R. 5213, the Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act; H.R. 6622, the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2025; and H.R. 2641, To amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to require all Federal contractors to participate in the E-verify program
• House Energy and Commerce, Health Subcommittee — Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Medicare Services
• House Education and Workforce — H.R. 6359, the “Pregnant Students’ Rights Act”; H.R. 4307, the “Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act”

The House will hold a couple of key votes on Thursday: 

House set to vote on bill to renew Obamacare subsidies for 3 years today. Bipartisan coalition went around the Speaker to put this on the floor to force a vote

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 8, 2026

House to vote on minibus spending bill today, handling 3 of 9 remaining appropriations bills ahead of the January 30 deadline

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 8, 2026

White House What’s Up

President Trump has a busy Thursday on tap: At 10:15 AM Eastern, he’ll participate in a photo opportunity with United States attorneys in the East Room. At 11:00 AM, he’ll receive his intelligence briefing in the Oval Office. He then participates in a policy meeting in the Oval Office.

Vice President JD Vance affirmed his (and the president’s) support for ICE in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis on Wednesday. 

I want every ICE officer to know that their president, vice president, and the entire administration stands behind them.

To the radicals assaulting them, doxxing them, and threatening them: congratulations, we’re going to work even harder to enforce the law.

— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 8, 2026

Keeping Up With the Cabinet

Admin. Small Business Administration – Kelly Loeffler — Loeffler emphasized the assistance from SBA to those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires one year ago…assistance that has largely gone untapped due to local permitting issues. 

The Trump Administration surged in every imaginable resource to support Los Angeles in the aftermath of the tragic wildfires, including an unprecedented $3.2 billion in SBA loans. Yet one year later, virtually zero survivors have been able to rebuild due to local permitting… https://t.co/g9o71dozjA

— Kelly Loeffler (@SBA_Kelly) January 8, 2026

Full Court Press…

The courts remained fairly quiet on Wednesday, but there was this:

• ❌ State of Arizona v. EPA (termination of solar energy programs) — Judge Tiffany Cartwright (Western District of Washington) DENIES admin’s motion to transfer case (to D.C.).

Something tells me that Thursday’s going to be busy — and Friday may be as well…

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Keep an eye on the Supreme Court — they may be handing down an opinion (or two or three) on Friday.

MORNING MUSING

My thoughts on what went down in Minneapolis are plentiful, but I want to focus, in particular, on Mayor Jacob Frey, whose behavior following the incident that left a woman dead and a city on the verge of melting down was reprehensible.