Brian Schatz, the Runaway – RedState
Monday March 23, 2026
Hello and welcome to RedState’s “Morning Minute” – a quick look at the stories trending right now and a preview of what the day might bring. Consider this your one-stop shop for information to start your day.
TOP O’LE MORNING’
Red Hot at RedState
Mama Mia! Italian anarchist couple blow themselves up while trying to create IED causing mass casualties
So congratulations to them. They killed people – themselves. Arrivederci, sayonara, goodbye, toodle‑oo. One day you’ll probably be memorialized as twisted but somehow noble heroes in a Hollywood/Netflix avant-garde film, but for now, you are simply what you are: dead would-be killers.
Senator John Kennedy goes into full beast mode against a cowardly colleague: “By God, stand up and take on the unpaid bills!” »
Unless we later learn that Senator Schatz suddenly became ill, as Senator Kennedy graciously suggested, then it was a perfectly shameful performance.
Trump threatens weak Republicans: No DHS funding deal until Democrats give in to SAVE America Act
Trump will not back down, and neither will Senate Republicans.
Trend in town hall media
Carrying Arms – DC Government Continues Epic Panic Over Magazine Ban Decision
In other words, as long as the district complies with the appeals court’s ruling, it can pursue as many cases of unregistered gun possession and unlicensed gun carrying as the local attorney general can deem…at least until those laws are also found to be unconstitutional.
Hot Air – Democrats’ Lies About Shutting Down Homeland Security Get More Insane Every Day
Since Elon Musk can’t fund the TSA, perhaps he should spend his proposed money on something that might help break the logjam: ads exposing Democrats’ lies. What the Democrats are doing is a campaign ploy, so treat it as such.
PJ Media — Ugly, cheap and deadly: The A-10 proves itself again over the Red Sea
The A-10 Warthog continues to prove a simple truth: looks and hype don’t win fights; capacity does.
Town Hall – This Democratic Senator Had the Dumbest Tweet About ICE Agents Working at Airports
You’re lying, Dick, just like you did when you said you were hunting “Charlie” in Vietnam.
Twitchy – About Diego Garcia, Anthony Scaramucci is just asking questions – really, really stupid questions
This is a very common form of brain injury known as Trump Derangement Syndrome.
And it’s quite debilitating.
WHAT’S ON THE POSTER?
Today, at the Capitol…
No meetings or hearings are scheduled for Monday, but there is a lot going on:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Trump Demanding Republicans Override the Filibuster to Pass the SAVE America Act and Blast Recess
Lots of developments on the SAVE America Act this weekend.
Last night, President Trump made two major demands of Senate Republicans:
End the filibuster…
– Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 23, 2026
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Trump Demanding Republicans Override the Filibuster to Pass the SAVE America Act and Blast Recess
Lots of developments on the SAVE America Act this weekend.
Last night, President Trump made two major demands of Senate Republicans:
End the filibuster and blow up the Easter/Passover holiday to pass the SAVE America Act.
The Senate is in its second week of consideration of the bill, one of the longest debates on a piece of legislation in recent memory. Supporters of the bill argue that if the Senate remains in session for weeks, Republicans can wear down Democrats, without needing 60 votes to end a filibuster and pass the bill with a simple majority.
It is possible that the Senate will cancel the recess. But the bill still lacks the votes to pass. Even with a simple majority. The president also continues to advocate adding a plan to ban men from participating in women’s sports competitions to the bill. But a test vote on that amendment failed to muster even a simple majority on Saturday.
The president wants Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to single out Republican opponents of the bill. And he even suggested that Republicans not negotiate an end to the DHS funding impasse until the bill passes.
Additionally, he also implored Republicans to neutralize the legislative filibuster aimed at passing the SAVE America Act. Thune refused to go there. Also, there are no votes to do so.
Democrats are united in their opposition to the bill. So this is largely an impasse within the GOP. It’s unclear how long the Senate will stay on the bill. But it’s possible that it will last for a while – which doesn’t necessarily guarantee success.
The Senate will likely move away from the bill tonight to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as DHS Secretary.
What’s new at the White House
President Trump is still in Palm Beach this morning, but will return to the White House later today. Here is his schedule for the day:
- 8:00 a.m. – THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time – Palm Beach, Florida
- THE PRESIDENT leaves Palm Beach, Florida, en route to Memphis, Tennessee
- 12:00 p.m. (CDT) — PRESIDENT participates in Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable — Memphis, Tennessee
- THE PRESIDENT leaves Memphis, Tennessee, en route to Washington, DC
- THE PRESIDENT arrives at the White House
Follow the Firm
Second. Interior – Doug Burgum — On Sunday, Burgum visited “a cutting-edge oil site in Texas,” touting the critical nature of U.S. energy dominance.
I just visited a cutting-edge oilfield site in Texas, where American innovation is making energy production cleaner, faster, smarter and safer than ever before.
This is American energy dominance in action, and Texas is leading the way to make energy more affordable for American families. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/R2zZ7A4wXR
– Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) March 22, 2026
Plenary press…
We made an important decision this weekend:
- ❌In Alliance of Presidents on Higher Education and Immigration v. Bondi (termination of SEVIS case), Judge Patti Saras (Massachusetts) GRANTS Administrator’s Motion to Dismiss Count V Only; denies the rest. (This one does not note a ✅ or even a ↔️ because the judge denied the motion to dismiss as to the substance of the case.)
The Supreme Court is back in action Monday, hearing oral arguments in:
- Watson v. RNC — Do federal election day laws preempt a state law that allows ballots cast on federal election day to be received by election officials after
that day.
SEE ALSO: Skinny on SCOTUS: rates, mail and limits of power (February 2026)
UPCOMING ATTRACTIONS
The Senate is expected to vote tonight on confirming Markwayne Mullin as DHS secretary.
READ MORE: Sunday Vote: Senate Brings Mullin Closer to DHS Message
MORNING REFLECTION
I don’t know if you noticed over the weekend: Senate sessions on Sundays are relatively rare. But the Upper House was indeed in session, and at one point Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) proposed a resolution that would prevent senators from receiving their salaries when the government is in a shutdown. In other words, if federal employees, like those at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), don’t get paid, neither will senators who delay that payment.
Seems reasonable, right? Well, apparently Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) didn’t think so. He opposed the proposed resolution and then quickly left the room. I did not give a reason for the objection. I did not stay to debate the issue. Just get out of there, effectively killing the proposal without Democrats having to explain why they agree to strip federal employees of their paychecks (while expecting them to work), as long as they themselves are paid.
Schatz is rumored to be in the running for leadership. If that’s any indication of his leadership style, yeah. It seems to me that his escape tactic should be discussed regularly. That says a lot about him, right?
LIGHTER RATE
A deer’s best friend…
My dog’s best friend is a deer and they play together. It’s so cute pic.twitter.com/zdWUjBstls
– Puppies 🐶 (@Puppieslover) March 22, 2026
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