The LOOP

The Monday Loop - May 26, 2025

MONDAY, MAY 26 - MEMORIAL DAY

TRUMP CONDEMNS PUTIN AFTER KYIV STRIKE

After Russia’s massive Kyiv airstrike killed at least 12 over the weekend, President Donald Trump rebuked Putin's "crazy" actions. "I don't like what Putin is doing. Not even a little bit," he said.

DESANTIS DEFENDS PARENTAL RIGHTS

Speaking at the nation's largest homeschool convention Friday, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reaffirmed parents' rights to direct their kids' education and criticized gender ideology in schools. “Parents have the fundamental right to direct the education and upbringing of our children,” he said.

WHITE HOUSE GREENLIGHTS NUCLEAR EXPANSION

Trump signed a series of sweeping executive orders Friday to revitalize the US energy sector by expanding nuclear energy production and restoring integrity to federally funded science.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: OVER 1.4M ILLEGALS ON MEDICAID

House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed Sunday that more than 1.4 million illegal immigrants are on Medicaid, calling it "fraud" and vowing to preserve the program for vulnerable Americans like pregnant women, the disabled, and the elderly.

TRUMP CELEBRATES WEST POINT GRADS

Trump praised West Point's graduating class in a fiery commencement speech Saturday, calling the academy the "most elite and storied military academy in human history."

NJ RETREAT UPLIFTS DEAF CATHOLICS

Dozens of deaf Catholics from the Northeast gathered at a retreat center in New Jersey from April 25 to 27 for a weekend of spiritual growth, fellowship, and sacramental grace.

FDA CHIEF: TIME FOR PROACTIVE HEALTH FDA chief

Marty Makary said the “Make America Healthy Again” report reveals the need for a major shift in US healthcare, focusing on food, environment, and lifestyle. “Maybe we need to treat diabetes with cooking classes, not just throwing insulin at people,” he said.

SO MUCH NEWS

Here are the stories we couldn’t fit it today’s LOOP: • Trump grants EU tariff extension to delay 50% import tariff. • Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet is "furious" at his own party. • Beloved young Kenyan priest murdered.

GET YOUR DEGREE IN AI AT UDALLAS

The UDallas MS in Data Science and AI is answering Pope Leo’s call.

RUSSIA REJECTS VATICAN PEACE TALKS

Russia's foreign minister dismissed the Vatican's offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks as "unrealistic" and "inelegant," citing religious differences.

INDIA: 2 ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS DAILY

The United Christian Forum (UCF) found that its hotline for persecuted Christians in India received 245 reports of violence from January to April of 2025, averaging two attacks per day. Reported events include physical violence, murder, sexual violence, desecration of religious symbols, and disruption of prayer services.

MILITARY VOCATIONS

Father Paul-Anthony Halladay mentors seminarians discerning a call to become military chaplains—what he calls "a call within a vocation." Here, he shares his experience of the service and leadership of, and the quest for true masculine virtue that is pursued in military communities.

CATHOLIC 101

They say the duty of love is prayer, but doesn’t that sound demanding and transactional? Saint Paul of the Cross perfectly intertwines these two concepts in a loving and gentle way, adapted for our diverse personalities and modes of life. Here’s how he advises us to pray.

SAINT OF THE DAY

Today the Church celebrates Saint Philip Neri, whose joyful spirit and deep love for Christ led him to found the Oratorians, tirelessly serve the poor, and inspire countless souls throughout the 16th century.

DAILY PSALM

"The Lord takes delight in his people." (Psalm 149:4a)

DAILY READINGS

Today's Mass readings.

REMEMBER

Since 1948, the US Army Old Guard has honored the fallen with the "Flags In" tradition, placing small flags at every tombstone in the Arlington National Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day—a powerful tribute to those who gave everything for our freedom.