The LOOP

The Thursday Loop - April 10, 2025

MARKET SOARS AS TRUMP FREEZES TARIFFS, UPS CHINA'S TO 125%

The stock market soared Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced a 90-day freeze on tariff hikes for more than 75 countries. He also raised tariffs on China from 104% to 125%. Beijing swiftly retaliated by imposing an 84% tariff on all US imports, effective Thursday.

POPE MEETS ROYALS AS VANCE PLANS TRIP TO ROME

King Charles III and Queen Camilla met privately with Pope Francis yesterday. The visit took place just ahead of Vice President JD Vance's three-day trip to Rome over Easter weekend. Vance has recently spoken fondly of Pope Francis. It remains unclear whether a visit has been scheduled between the Catholic vice president and the Pope.

EPA TO REVIEW FLUORIDE IN PUBLIC DRINKING WATER

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Monday it will formally review the safety of adding fluoride to public drinking water, citing new scientific studies and longtime legal advocacy work by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

LENTEN LESSONS: SHOULD I ATTEND A PRIESTLY ORDINATION?

Relevant Radio CEO Fr. Rocky explains the importance of this sacrament and why the Catechism calls for as many of the faithful as possible to participate in the occasion. Watch and learn in today’s Lenten Lesson on the Sacraments from Relevant Radio.

MAJOR CORPORATIONS CONTINUE TO DROP 'WOKE' STANCES

A growing number of major US companies are scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in response to mounting consumer backlash—a shift conservative activist Robby Starbuck is calling a major victory in his campaign against what he describes as “woke” corporate policies.

BIG RETAILERS TO CLOSE FOR EASTER SUNDAY

Several major retailers, including Lowe’s, Costco, Sam’s Club, and Target, are closing most of their stores for Easter Sunday. The closures will allow employees to spend time with their families celebrating Christ’s Resurrection.

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON ANALYSES TARIFFS

Conservative commentator Victor Davis Hanson is telling everyone to "take a deep breath" and not to buy into widespread narratives of impending financial doom resulting from Trump's dramatic new tariffs. Here are the factors Hanson points to that indicate much of the bluster is overblown.

SO MUCH NEWS

Here are the stories we couldn’t fit in today’s LOOP: • Idaho has legalized firing squads for convicted pedophiles. • The Vatican listened to parishioners, pausing Buffalo's church mergers. • Colorado bishops want the governor to veto an abortion-funding bill.

PRO-LIFERS, PICK UP THE PHONE!

Switch to Charity Mobile, the pro-life phone company, today!

CATHOLICS WILL SOON OUTNUMBER ANGLICANS IN UK

The number of Christians — especially Catholics — in the UK is rising, largely driven by Gen Z and young millennials, a new study found. If the trend persists, Catholics could soon outnumber Anglicans in the country for the first time since King Henry VIII established the Anglican Church in the 16th century.

FLANNERY O'CONNOR'S ARTWORK UNVEILED!

Flannery O’Connor, long celebrated as one of America’s greatest Catholic writers, was also a gifted painter — a fact brought to light through a new exhibit of her previously unknown artworks unveiled in Georgia.

LOOPcast

China refuses to comply with the US tariffs, and Trump claps back HARD. SCOTUS releases some important decisions and we bring some good news to the podcast! Massive wolves 10,000 years extinct are… unextinct? Mississippi kids can read and Sean Duffy wants to bring Jesus out of the basement. All this and more on the!

“The Lord remembers his covenant for ever." (Psalm 105:8)

DAILY READINGS

Today's Mass readings.

BEAUTY

The world's tallest cross at the Valley of the Fallen, about 30 miles from Madrid.