Anthony Fauci Faces Rand Paul, Rent Freeze Rewards the Rich, Pope’s Vacation Ends - 7/29/26

Anthony Fauci is set to testify before the Senate, and rent freeze actually rewards the rich. I'm Josh Mercer with your Morning LOOPcast. Anthony Fauci will testify under subpoena today before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, with Senator Rand Paul eager to question Fauci about his diary that was recently released to the public. More than 1,100 pages of Fauci's journal show the controversial COVID advisor had serious early concerns about a possible lab origin to COVID, but soon put that aside to revel in his newfound Most importantly, Senator Paul says what Fauci wrote privately and told the country are two different stories.

It turns out Mandami's rent freeze could deliver its biggest windfalls to some of New York's wealthiest tenants. The Wall Street Journal found that more than 86,000 rent stabilized households make over $200,000 a year, while the top 10% save about $1,300 a month against market forces. Lower income tenants saved more than $1,000 a year. Only about 300 a month, with no income test. In other words, Memdami-style socialism rewards whoever holds the right lease. Pope Leo was back at the Vatican after three weeks at Castel Gandolfo.

His vacation included Angelus addresses, monastery visits, and lunch with 200 vulnerable Romans, but also prayer, reading, tennis, swimming, and horseback riding. Leo revived his centuries-old summer tradition last year. Even pontiffs need PTO. Today, the church celebrates Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, the siblings of Bethany and friends of Jesus. Go to zeal.co for the rest of today's loop, and while you're at it, subscribe to get the loop in your inbox every morning. Again, that's zeal.co.