Quick look at today’s headlines: court losses for the administration, Trump events on the calendar, Senate hearings that matter, and a personal note on the passing of Raul Malo — plus a few lighter items to round things out.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Good morning. This is the Morning Minute: a fast tour of what’s grabbing attention and what to expect as the day unfolds. Think of it as the headlines you actually want with a clear-eyed conservative take.
TOP O’ THE MORNIN’
Stories across conservative outlets are firing up conversations about policy, politics, and the courts. Pieces highlight fiscal reality, Democratic trouble in key states, and controversy over federal decisions on energy and other priorities. The tone is skeptical of left-leaning orthodoxies and bullish about holding the administration and its opponents accountable.
[B]ecause the government broke our money, it is in no rush to update for accuracy the numbers it generates to tell us about our money.
The 2026 race will test whether Democrats have learned from past defeats or are content to energize a base that, in Texas, simply is not large enough to win.
Wind is not the futuristic answer to our fuel needs that so many sell it as. The president is right to point out that the emperor has no clothes.
Across allied media, stories range from violent crime in cities to critiques of globalist politicians and the cultural left. Contributors call out failures of gun control policies, question international leadership legacies, and spotlight defections from authoritarian regimes that reinforce tough conservative foreign-policy instincts. The narrative thread is clear: defend freedom, call out incompetence, and push back on elites who get things wrong.
There you have it. Two letters in one week from two guys who helped build and then run the system, each pretty much saying the same thing that people like Rubio have been preaching for years.
You might not like them, but at least you could have a conversation with these two without being labeled a racist in 10 seconds. And they would happily engage with you.
[W]e are certain there is much more of this cringe to come from her over the next year.
WHAT’S ON TAP?
Today on Capitol Hill the schedule is thin but important for policy and oversight. Committees will dig into protecting children online, workforce development, international narcotics threats from China, and intellectual property issues facing radio and music creators. These hearings shape the arguments we’ll use next year on safety, jobs, and national security.
- Senate Judiciary — Hearings to examine protecting children online against offenders
- Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Children and Families Subcommittee — Hearings to examine building pathways, focusing on advancing workforce development in the 21st century
- Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control — Hearings to examine Chinese organized crime in Latin America
- Senate Judiciary, Intellectual Property Subcommittee — Hearings to examine balancing the interests of local radio, songwriters, and performers in the digital age
On Monday, the Senate to invoke cloture on the nomination of Robert P. Chamberlin to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi. On , they’ll vote on Chamberlin’s confirmation. A vote on the cloture motion for the nomination of William J. Crain to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana will follow, with a confirmation vote to come if cloture passes. After that, it’s a cloture motion for the nomination of James D. Maxwell II to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi.
White House What’s Up
This afternoon President Trump will attend the Vice President’s Christmas Reception at the Vice President’s Residence before heading to Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania to deliver remarks on the economy. The travel schedule keeps the president engaged on messaging about growth, jobs, and consumer confidence. Those events also give allies a chance to spotlight the administration’s economic talking points.
Keeping Up With the Cabinet
Small Business Administration activities are being framed as proof points for conservative economic policy, with officials pointing to consumer confidence and other indicators as validation of tax and regulatory reforms. Messaging emphasizes that a pro-growth agenda yields measurable gains for everyday Americans. The administration will keep pushing that narrative as a contrast to left-leaning economic experiments.
Full Court Press…
Monday brought several unfavorable court rulings for the administration, underscoring the legal headwinds the president faces. Judges in multiple districts issued injunctions or rulings that block aspects of administration policy, from protester removal cases to challenges over federal energy approvals. These losses matter because they slow implementation and give opponents legal victories that shape public debate.
- ❌ Öztürk v. Hyde (habeas/removal of protesters) — Judge Denise Casper (Massachusetts) GRANTS petitioner’s motion for preliminary injunction.
- ❌ State of NY v. Trump (halting federal approval of wind energy management) — Judge Patti Saris (Massachusetts) GRANTS plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment; DENIES defendants’.
- ❌ CASA v. Noem (termination of TPS status for Afghanistan, Cameroon) — Judge Theodore Chuang (Maryland) DENIES admin’s motion to dismiss counts 5 & 8; GRANTS, in part, plaintiff’s motion to complete administrative record and for extra-record discovery.
The Supreme Court continues to hear cases with major political implications, including arguments over party spending limits and the removal power for independent agency leaders. Those decisions could reshape campaign finance law and the balance of power in federal governance. Observers on the right are watching closely for rulings that push back against overreach and protect constitutional prerogatives.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to muse about this morning, and then I saw that a favorite has passed away, and it only seems fitting to give a nod to the one and only Raul Malo. Raul’s voice lifted the spirit and gave countless listeners a bright, soulful soundtrack to better days. His loss is real and felt by music fans across the political spectrum.
Big thanks to the Handsome Beau, who introduced me to The Mavericks years ago, and with whom I’ve had the privilege of seeing them in concert at least three times. It was impossible to hear Raul singing with The Mavericks and not find your spirit uplifted — even with a bittersweet song. The world lost a little light last night, and Raul will very much be missed. 💔
LIGHTER FARE
Pups flying the .
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