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'

Comedian Jim Gaffigan Kills It at Charity Dinner, Smokes Kamala for Being MIA

I have often argued that comedy and satire are some of the best ways to expose the extremism on the left, and it’s something conservatives must continue to do as we fight back against misinformation warfare, censorship, and cancel culture.

HOT TAKES: Al Smith Dinner Featured Trump at His Funniest Despite the Elephant (Not) in the Room

But the contrast is clear. One candidate stands up and shows up, even when opposed. The other candidate shrinks, hides, and casts shade.

Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson Reveal Trump Team's Hilarious Reaction to Biden Debate Meltdown

This is history unfolding before their faces. They knew he was bad, but the looks as it unfolded were priceless. They were all astounded, although Ben Carson was perhaps the best, as he stopped mid-bite of food. 

WHAT'S ON TAP?

Today on Capitol Hill...

Senate Republicans are pressing the Small Business Administration (SBA) over the agency's exhausting of funds for disaster relief in the wake of the devastation wreaked by Hurricanes Helene and Milton — particularly, the agency's failure to follow proper reporting requirements. 

Democrats in tight House races are reaping the benefit of Vice President Kamala Harris' fundraising coattails, with Democrats outraising Republicans in the third quarter. Will it be enough to win the day? 

White House What's Up

President Joe Biden is in Germany, where he'll be meeting and participating in events with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The Homestretch

Fresh off her non-appearance at the Al Smith Dinner, Harris is barnstorming Michigan today, with campaign events in Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Oakland County. No word on whether she'll trot out an SNL character from a quarter of a century ago as her prop in Friday's appearances. Second (not a) Gentleman Doug Emhoff will appear at a campaign event in Reno, Nevada. Harris running mate Tim Walz will be campaigning in Michigan over the weekend.

In contrast, former President Donald Trump had even some of the folks who hate him laughing last night at the Al Smith Dinner and started off Friday morning with a lengthy interview on "Fox and Friends." Then, he's sitting for an interview with Dan Bongino. Friday evening, he'll hold a rally in Detroit, Michigan, with events set in Latrobe and Lancaster, Pennsylvania over the weekend. His surrogates are also out and about, with Elon Musk appearing in Philadelphia Friday evening and Harrisburg on Saturday.

Full Court Press...

Surprising exactly no one, Judge Tanya Chutkan denied Trump's motion to stay the unsealing of additional filings in the D.C. election interference case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith in a late Thursday order. Expect more breathless coverage of whatever nuggets are contained in the filings by the legacy media. 

As Joe Cunningham reported, would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh is asking for Judge Aileen Cannon to recuse herself from his criminal case because, he claims, she may have reason to be partial to Trump — you know, the guy he was attempting to kill. 

MORNING MUSING

I'm agnostic on Molly Shannon — but I've never cared for her Mary Katherine Gallagher character. Maybe as a one-off, it might have been worth a chuckle or two, but I didn't find it particularly funny in 1995 when the character debuted, and I definitely didn't find it funny on Thursday evening at the Al Smith Dinner. This, in my view, was another really dumb miscalculation on the part of the Harris campaign — it was bad enough she chose not to attend. To offer that little three or four minutes of awkwardness instead was beyond lame. 

LIGHTER FARE 

Oh, hai.

Photobombing Giraffe 😅 pic.twitter.com/1I1uzwNxN2

— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) October 17, 2024