Rubio Tackles ICC, Idaho Vote Looms, and Police Say Widdecombe Was ‘Targeted’ - 7/15/26

Rubio tackles the ICC, and Idaho faces an abortion vote. I'm Josh Mercer with your Morning LOOPcast. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration will use sanctions, visa restrictions, diplomatic pressure, and other tools to dismantle the International Criminal Court, brick by brick, if necessary. Rubio argues the ICC claims authority over American soldiers and officials, even though the United States never ratified the treaty that created it. This is America, he stated this week. Independence is our birthright. In Idaho, a sweeping abortion initiative has qualified for the November ballot.

The measure would establish a broad right to reproductive freedom, allowing abortions until fetal viability and afterwards in medical emergencies. Pro-life advocates warn it would gut Idaho's Defense of Life Act, which they say has protected nearly 6,000 unborn children since 2022.

In Chicago, left-wing activist priest Father Michael Flagler has been removed again from ministry while the Archdiocese investigates an allegation of sexual abuse, this one dating back more than 30 years. Flagler calls the accusation an absolute lie. He was previously removed over separate allegations in 2022, but later cleared. British counterterrorism police now say the killing of former conservative minister and Catholic convert Anne Whitacombe was a targeted attack, although investigators have not yet identified a motive. A suspect is being held under Terrorism laws.

The saint of the day today is Saint Bonaventure, the great Franciscan theologian known as the Seraphic Doctor. 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.