Wednesday, January 21, 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
I’m not sure that “apology” is sincere. It reads with a sarcastic tone. Either way, it’s an embarrassing effort.
I think they also need a CNN retraction; this character posting on his X account isn’t sufficient.
Make him grovel on air. They need to cure it in the same forum they aired it.
Lutnick’s comments serve as a solid warm-up act for President Trump. There is massive anticipation for the president’s appearance at Davos due to his aggressive push to acquire Greenland and tariff threats against European countries.
European elites are sweating right now. Good.
Actions have consequences, and they may not only come from the Department of Justice.
Trending Across Townhall Media
Virginia Democrat Unveils Permit-to-Purchase Bill
Gun sales in the Old Dominion have already been brisk since Democrats won big in last November’s elections, but HB 1359 is likely to push those sales into overdrive. This is a permit-to-purchase, not a permit-to-own (though that’s probably not too far away), and Virginians who’ve been on the fence about purchasing a firearm now have extra incentive to do it before Democrats enact this atrocious bill into law.
Mamdani’s Strategy to Take Over Private Housing Laid Bare
Snopes and other leftist outlets might call this protecting tenants, but the fact is that it is a strategy to transfer ownership from private hands to the state.
Sorry to Break up Your Narrative About Renee Good, Lefties, but I’ve Got Some News
But words matter. Facts matter. These incorrect stories meant the media didn’t bother to check the facts when they had a ready-made woke narrative of lesbian, anti-Trump, and pro-criminal. It was too irresistible to check.
Will Trump Invoke the Insurrection Act? He Gave His Answer Last Night.
For the time being, the president is holding off making that call, but won’t hesitate to invoke it should the situation continue to deteriorate.
Chris Murphy Trips Over His Own Ignorance Claiming He Was Denied Entry Into Texas ICE Facility
Regardless, there’s one big problem with Murphy’s claim of illegality here, even if he did provide 24 hours’ notice (which we tend to doubt).
And that problem is that federal courts have already ruled on this issue, and Murphy is completely in the wrong with his demand.
WHAT’S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill…
The critters are back at it and have several hearings set on Wednesday, including:
- House Homeland Security — “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security: CISA, TSA, S&T”
- House Judiciary, Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee — “When Public Funds Are Abused: Addressing Fraud and the Theft of Taxpayer Dollars” [Nick Shirley is among those testifying]
- House Natural Resources, Federal Lands Subcommittee — Oversight hearing titled “EXPLORE America250: Celebrating One Year of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act”
- House Budget — Reverse the Curse: Skyrocketing Health Care Costs and America’s Fiscal Future
- House Natural Resources, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee — Oversight hearing on “America First: U.S. Leadership & National Security in International Conservation”
- House Judiciary, Oversight Subcommittee — “Embedded Threats: Foreign Ownership, Hidden Hardware, and Licensing Failures in America’s Transportation Systems”
On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the U.K. Parliament.
READ MORE: Mike Johnson Ignites the UK Parliament in First-Ever Address by a Sitting US House Speaker
White House What’s Up
President Trump has arrived in Davos, Switzerland, where he participated in a greeting with World Economic Forum leadership, and is now delivering a “Special Address” to the WEF. Later in the day, he’ll participate in meetings with foreign leaders, followed by a reception with business leaders.
On Tuesday, the president joined White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt for the press briefing and used the opportunity to tout the accomplishments of his administration in its first year — narrowly escaping being mauled by a binder clip!
And we got the exciting news that Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha are expecting their fourth child — a boy — in July.
READ MORE: Watch: Trump Escapes Wrath of Binder Clip in Humorous Moment From ‘Accomplishments’ Press Briefing
JD and Usha Vance Make an Exciting – and Historic! – Announcement
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Attorney General – Pam Bondi — Bondi is in Minnesota, where she met with federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials on Tuesday, vowing that there will be accountability for the ongoing chaos in the state, both in terms of interfering with immigration enforcement and the obnoxious disruption of a church service by protesters in St. Paul on Sunday.
Full Court Press…
We had some court activity on Tuesday, including this ruling out of California:
- ❌ City and County of San Francisco v. Trump (punishment of sanctuary cities and states) — Judge William Orrick III (Northern District of California) DENIES admin’s motion to dismiss.
Also, the CAGOP has appealed last week’s Prop. 50 ruling to the Supreme Court, as our Managing Editor, Jennifer Van Laar, reports:
SEE: CAGOP Files Emergency Application With SCOTUS in Redistricting Challenge
Speaking of SCOTUS, they’ll hear oral argument today in a closely watched case:
- Trump v. Cook — Whether the Supreme Court should stay a district court ruling preventing the president from firing a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
And they did hand down three opinions on Tuesday, mostly having to do with criminal and civil procedure. Look for a roundup of their latest rulings in my forthcoming Skinny on SCOTUS.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith will testify tomorrow (Thursday) before the House Judiciary Committee.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to testify next week before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
MORNING MUSING
I’m shortchanged on time this AM, friends, so going to keep this one very brief: Keep your eyes on Davos. We’ve already heard from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. President Trump is speaking now (or just wrapped up with that). There’s some moving and shaking going on in Switzerland.
LIGHTER FARE
I wouldn’t mess with him…
Warning.. 😂 pic.twitter.com/rSjjeck6vo
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) January 21, 2026
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