Is Competence Too Much to Ask For? – RedState
Tuesday April 21, 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
Kash Patel’s hit from The Atlantic backfires – badly
It’s unclear how she can claim that the White House hasn’t refuted things when, in her article, she quotes Karoline Leavitt answering her questions. And once again there were complete denials from Patel and his lawyer.
NGO linked to Los Angeles anti-ICE riots and ICE Trackers sponsored California anti-independent journalism bill
Anyone who posts someone’s personal information publicly or online with the clear and unequivocal intent of causing them to be harassed or attacked is wrong. But there’s a big difference between that and what Bonta and CHIRLA advocate, and there’s no reason why people working for “immigrant services” providers should get more protection than anyone else.
Turning off the lights on Lake Tahoe in the name of data centers and renewable energy
To ensure the prosperity of a state, community or city and its ratepayers, utility companies like Liberty Utilities and state utility regulators should consider affordability, reliability and comprehensive cleanliness in order to embark on an energy renaissance, which always results in economic and population prosperity.
Trend in town hall media
Bearing Arms – How Spanberger Just Fucked Domestic Abuse Survivors
Perhaps they should spend more time seeking to disarm their fellow Democrats instead of disarming everyone.
HotAir — BREAKING: Islamabad II returns to (?) as Trump issues warning; UPDATE: Trump will not extend
Trump just spoke to CNBC and warned that he would not extend the ceasefire without a comprehensive agreement meeting his conditions.
PJ Media — Judge Jackson takes aim at his fellow judges — and the results aren’t pretty
In other words, Jackson seems to view herself less as a judge who decides cases based on the law and the U.S. Constitution, and more as someone who can share her opinions on issues.
Town Hall – Judge Jackson was the only dissenter in this case and she wasn’t happy about it
Jackson’s dissent accused his seven colleagues of “wordsmithing,” which law professor Jonathan Turley objected to, while exposing that Justice Brown might not know what that means, or at least use the phrase inappropriately.
Twitchy — Venezuelan family who ‘followed the rules’ left US after arrest
They did not follow federal immigration rules; they flew on one of Joe Biden’s “parole flights” after making arrangements with his fake CBP One application. We don’t make rules now, we enforce immigration law.
WHAT’S ON THE POSTER?
Today, at the Capitol…
It’s a very busy Tuesday on Capitol Hill, with several hearings/meetings scheduled, including:
- Senate Armed Services — Closed hearings to consider the position of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea in reviewing the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2027 and the defense program for future years; which will be immediately followed by a public session at 9:30 a.m.
- Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Border Security, and Law Enforcement—“Online Scams, Crypto Fraud, and Digital Extortion: An Examination of How Transnational Criminal Networks Target Americans”
- House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee—Robots Made in America: Advancing American Leadership in Manufacturing and Automation
- House Small Business — “Self-Employment, Real Opportunity: The Gig Economy and the Future of Entrepreneurship.”
- House Subcommittee on Judiciary, Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet — “Protecting America’s Leadership in Code Development and Improving Public Access”
- House Ways and Means—Full Committee Hearing on Patient and Taxpayer Protection: Crackdown on Medicare Fraud
- Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs — Hearings to consider nominations of Kevin Warsh, of Florida, for member and chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
- Senate Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee — Hearings to Examine Arctic Frost, Focusing on Conspiracy and Coordination
- House Ethics — Hearing on Ethics Committee Sanctions
- Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (US Helsinki Commission) — Hearings to examine Iran’s support for Russia and lessons learned from Ukraine
- Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Relations, Africa, and Global Health Policy—Hearings to Examine the U.S. Approach to Counterterrorism in Africa
- House Armed Services, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Innovation Subcommittee—Department of Defense Cyber Posture
What’s new at the White House
Not to be outdone, President Trump will also be busy on Tuesday:
- 8:00 a.m. – THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time – The White House
8:30 a.m. — THE PRESIDENT participates in a live phone interview with Joe Kernen, Squawk Box, CNBC — The White House
1:30 p.m. — PRESIDENT participates in policy meeting — Oval Office
3:00 p.m. — PRESIDENT participates in policy meeting — Oval Office
4:00 p.m. — PRESIDENT delivers remarks to NCAA Collegiate National Champions — State Dining Hall
5:00 p.m. — PRESIDENT participates in policy meeting — Oval Office
Follow the Firm
Second. Interior – Doug Burgum — Burgum continues to tout the successes of the administration’s energy policies.
.@POTUS puts energy reality before climate fantasy.
Under his leadership, we are investing in infrastructure to ensure a more affordable, reliable and secure energy future. pic.twitter.com/cqj5LKlB8M
– Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) April 20, 2026
Plenary press…
We had some important court decisions on Monday, including:
- ↔️ In Comens v. EOP (Removal of Independent Agency Officers), Judge Michael Nachmanoff (Eastern District of Virginia) GRANTS in part and DENIES in part the Administrator’s Motion to Dismiss. (APA claims dismissed; requests for back payments/damages; challenge to decree. Due process claims survive.)
- ✅ In the case of State of Illinois v. Trump (National Guard Deployment), Judge April Perry (Northern District of Illinois) DISMISSES the case with prejudice (as deemed moot).
Oral arguments resume before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, with two consolidated cases involving the communications law:
- Federal Communications Commission v. AT&T — Whether the provisions of the Communications Act governing the FCC’s assessment and enforcement of monetary forfeitures are consistent with the Seventh Amendment and Article III.
- Verizon Communications Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission — Whether the Communications Act violates the Seventh Amendment and Article III by authorizing the FCC to order the payment of monetary penalties for failing to reasonably protect customer data, without guaranteeing the defendant carrier the right to a jury trial.
UPCOMING ATTRACTIONS
The Supreme Court is expected to issue further rulings on Wednesday.
Keep an eye on Islamabad.
MORNING REFLECTION
We are all human – we are prone to mistakes. But there’s being human, and then there’s just being stupid. Or incompetent. Time and time again we see examples of elected/appointed officials being corrupt or incompetent – or both.
Again, I understand making mistakes – I make them regularly. What I don’t understand are the people who know they are going to be in the public eye, know they’re going to be heavily scrutinized, and yet they’re going to blithely either abuse their position or botch it left and right, and expect that they won’t be held accountable for it.
Perhaps this is because many people are not held accountable? Maybe this needs to change.
LIGHTER RATE
Yes, it is meant to touch your heart. This is certainly the case with mine. 🥺 (H/t to Beau Beau for this one.)
When your special needs dog is having trouble making friends and a small dog comes over to invite him to play. pic.twitter.com/NGNo9YqS7x
– Puppies 🐶 (@Puppieslover) April 19, 2026
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