Beware the Sour Grapes Caucus – RedState

Wednesday May 20, 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

Duffy humiliates Gillibrand: she tries to ambush him, then melts when his $7 million hypocrisy is exposed

She took her shot. And Duffy quickly wrapped his argument in a fire blanket and stomped on it. With what, you ask? A large dose of his own hypocrisy.

New: Alleged manifesto in San Diego mosque mass shooting challenges early assumptions about motivations

Additionally, they were looking for “diverse targets” and apparently wanted to hit multiple locations.

Louisiana Republicans ended Bill Cassidy’s career – he just defected again

This is a political exercise, not a legislative one – a pressure campaign intended to raise awareness of Republicans in the run-up to the midterm elections. Cassidy, having nothing left to lose, was happy to oblige.

Trend in town hall media

Carrying Guns – Babylon Bee Goes Wild Mocking Anti-Gun Media and Politicians

The Bee used actual statements — the PTSD comment, for example, was lifted directly from a reporter named Gersh Kuntzman, who claimed to have gotten it after shooting an AR-15 — and often videos, to show the idiotic nonsense peddled by politicians and the media in an attempt to demonize guns.

HotAir – BBC is sick beyond measure

Normalizing degeneration is not “enlightenment.” It is a sign of cultural decline.

PJ Media — Jurisprudence AOC Ketanji Brown Jackson Has Thoughts on Court Neutrality

Jackson wants Americans to believe the Court is above politics, and she could help them by looking less like a political activist disappointed by the vote count.

Town Hall – The one tweet that perfectly sums up why Thomas Massie lost last night

His supporters were heard chanting “2028” at Massie’s watch party. If you can’t win a congressional primary, you won’t win the White House.

Twitchy — It’s a grind of teeth! Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker clash over the WORST SENTENCE EVER

If nothing else, Pritzker’s comment was mostly embarrassing to him alone (although he, too, is no stranger to whipping violent left-wing thugs into a frenzy).

WHAT’S ON THE POSTER?

Today, at the Capitol…

Numerous hearings/meetings are scheduled for Wednesday on the Hill, including:

• House Intelligence (Permanent Select) — 25 Years After 9/11 – Examination of the 9/11 Commission and the Impacts of Intelligence Reform (OPEN)
• House Homeland Security — “TSA Modernization: Industry Perspectives on Key Security and Travel Reforms 25 Years After 9/11”
• House Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Taxes — Tax Subcommittee Hearing on Your Paycheck, Referred: How Tax Cuts for Working Families Were Applied to Americans
• House Foreign Affairs—FY 2027 Budget Request: Adjacent State Department Entities
• Subcommittee on Financial Services, Digital Assets, Fintech, and Artificial Intelligence—Partnering for Innovation: How Bank and Fintech Collaborations Improve Financial Infrastructure
• House Judiciary — “The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate”
• House Armed Services — Department of the Air Force budget request for fiscal year 2027
• House Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee — “The Next Century of the Federal Reclamation Program”
• Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Consumer Protection, Technology and Data Privacy — Hearings to Examine Gambling, Focusing on Protecting Sports Integrity in America.
• Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions – Hearings to examine meeting the individual needs of all students, focusing on the role of charter schools.
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations—Corrosion, Collapse, and Cleanup: Examining the Potomac Interceptor Collapse.
• House Education and Workforce, Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee — “Bad Medicine: Politics, Unions, and Anti-Semitism in Health Care”
• House Administration Committee, Elections Subcommittee — House Administration Committee Elections Subcommittee Hearing: “Examining Best Practices for Enhancing Election Security”
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, Health Subcommittee—Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Payment Reform Opportunities
• House Foreign Affairs and Western Hemisphere Subcommittee — Confronting the Ortega-Murillo Totalitarian Regime
• House Financial Services, Capital Markets Subcommittee—From Order to Execution: Ensuring Efficient and Transparent Securities Markets
• House Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Oversight, and Investigations — Oversight hearing titled “The Profit Engine That Drives Environmental Nonprofits.”
• Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee—Hearings to examine Department of Defense personnel policies and programs in consideration of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2027 and the defense program for future years.
• Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship – Hearings to examine the whistleblowing, focusing on the inside of the scam that keeps on giving.
• Senate Appropriations, Energy, and Water Development Subcommittee — Hearings to consider the proposed budget estimates and justification for FY 2027 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.
• Senate Judiciary, Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights Subcommittee – Hearings to Examine the Muslim Brotherhood in America.
• House Armed Services, Seapower, and Projection Forces Subcommittee—Department of the Navy FY 2027 Seapower and Projection Forces Budget Request
• Senate on Aging (Special) — Hearings to examine fall prevention and preservation of independence, with a focus on technology, community programs, and innovation in senior safety.
• Senate Armed Services – To receive briefing on abnormal health incidents.
• Senate Veterans Affairs — Hearings to consider the President’s proposed budget request for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, advance appropriations requests for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

On Tuesday, the Senate passed a motion to reject Sen. Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) War Powers Resolution from the Foreign Affairs Committee, although a vote on final passage of the measure is not expected until June.

SEE: Louisiana Republicans ended Bill Cassidy’s career – he just defected again

What’s new at the White House

The times listed are odd here, but here’s what’s on President Trump’s agenda for Wednesday:

• 11:00 a.m. — THE PRESIDENT leaves the White House en route to Groton, Connecticut — The White House
• 11:00 a.m. — PRESIDENT arrives in Groton, Connecticut — Groton, Connecticut
• 11:00 a.m. — PRESIDENT delivers commencement remarks at the United States Coast Guard Academy — Cadet Memorial Field
• 11:00 a.m. — THE PRESIDENT leaves Groton, Connecticut en route to the White House — Groton, Connecticut
• 11:00 a.m. — THE PRESIDENT arrives The White House — The White House

Follow the Firm

Attorney General – Todd Blanche (Acting) – Blanche testified Tuesday before the Senate Appropriations, Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee. It was as cordial an event as one would expect.

🚨OMG. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) was just DEMOLISHED after insinuating that President Trump’s $1.7 billion anti-arms fund would pay for a M*LESTER CHILD

AG Todd Blanche did NOT have his BS 🔥

HOLLEN: An individual was pardoned by POTUS and abused 2 children and attempted to buy… pic.twitter.com/HyLUdfNq2T

– Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 19, 2026

Plenary press…

I have to catch up on court decisions again, although there haven’t been many notable ones lately. It still looks like we’ll have another notice this week from SCOTUS, so keep an eye out for that.

UPCOMING ATTRACTIONS

Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to deliver the commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy on May 28.

President Trump will be in Suffern, New York, on Friday to deliver a speech at Rockland Community College and support Republican Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) in his re-election bid.

And he is expected to attend the G7 summit in Évian-Les-Bains, France, in mid-June.

MORNING REFLECTION

I can’t imagine it’s a pleasant experience, knowing that you’ve been rejected by the voters of your district/state…and are tasked with continuing to represent them for the next seven or eight months – especially if you blame that rejection on other party members (and a president) who turned against you. This probably leaves a person feeling underestimated and ganged up on.

So what do you do with your remaining time in power? Make the most of it and continue to vote according to your principles (and largely in agreement with your party and the president who supported your opponent)? Or do everything you can to throw sand in the gears and double bird at those who you believe have betrayed you?

Over to you, Bill Cassidy, Tom Massie. What lasting impression do you want to leave?

LIGHTER RATE

Did anyone ask for baby ducks?

The baby ducks said please come play with us 🥰 pic.twitter.com/tXcw16q7s3

– Antidepressant content (@depressionlesss) November 3, 2024

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