The LOOP
The Monday Loop - January 5, 2026
MADURO TO STAND TRIAL, US WILL NOT 'RUN' VENEZUELA
The U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro, in Caracas, on Saturday. Here are the significant related developments that have unfolded since.
JOIN THIS NOVENA TODAY TO PROTECT WOMEN'S SPORTS
As the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in on whether states may bar male athletes who identify as “transgender” from competing in women’s sports, a Catholic sports ministry is urging the faithful to join in a novena beginning TODAY to pray for the justices’ decision. Here's how readers can join FIERCE in invoking Our Lady of Victory for girls.
POPE LEO ADDRESSES VENEZUELA SITUATION
Pope Leo expressed concern for the people of Venezuela yesterday during his Angelus address at St. Peter's Square. “The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration,” he said. He called on those in power to ensure the sovereignty of the country while "respecting the human and civil rights of each and every person," emphasizing that there should be "special attention to the poorest who are suffering because of the difficult economic situation.”
ELON MUSK DINES WITH TRUMPS, SIGNALS 2026 FUNDING
Elon Musk over the weekend dined with Trump and the first lady, indicating that the feud between the billionaire and the President has been smoothed over ahead of the midterms. "2026 is going to be amazing!" Musk wrote on X, signaling that he will again fund Republican electoral efforts for another election cycle.
LEADING AI COMPANY BRACES FOR SAFETY RISKS
"Sam Altman’s OpenAI, the AI company behind ChatGPT, is on the hunt for a new executive to lead its efforts in studying and preparing for potential safety risks associated with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence technology," Breitbart reports.
CV'S KELSEY REINHARDT GIVES ROUSING SPEECH AT SEEK26
CatholicVote President and CEO Kelsey Reinhardt delivered one of the most talked-about breakout sessions of the SEEK Conference on Saturday afternoon, arguing that the late Charlie Kirk’s influence on American culture was not merely political, but also spiritual, and that Catholics ignore politics at their peril.
ANALYSIS: WHY ISRAEL RECOGNIZED SOMALILAND
Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland — a region along the Horn of Africa — as an independent state has drawn sharp reactions, prompting diplomatic discussions across the Horn of Africa and scrutiny at the United Nations. Here are some of the strategic considerations behind Israel’s move.
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THIS YEAR, RESOLVE TO PRAY
Start the New Year by building your prayer life. Commit to daily prayer with beloved devotions like the Angelus, the Surrender Novena, the Holy Face Chaplet, or a weekly Holy Hour. Simple commitments, eternal impact.
KENTUCKY BISHOPS DENOUNCE MISTREATMENT OF MIGRANTS
The Catholic Bishops of Kentucky issued a statement Jan. 1 expressing deep concern over reports of law enforcement officials mistreating immigrants, both legal and illegal. “Nations have a right and responsibility to control their borders and to enforce laws meant to protect the population, but all laws must be enforced in a just and predictable manner that respects the God-given dignity of each human person,” the bishops wrote.
BISHOP BARRON WARNS AGAINST MAMDANI'S COLLECTIVISM
In his inaugural speech as mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani vowed to replace "the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism." In response, Bishop Robert Barron of Word on Fire warned: "Collectivism in its various forms is responsible for the deaths of at least 100 million people in the last century.... For God’s sake, spare me the ‘warmth of collectivism.’"
10 RULES FOR PARENTING IN THE TECH AGE
Those of us who are parents can sometimes feel like we're losing the tech battle with our kids. It's just so ubiquitous and exhausting to resist screen time every day. Here are 10 rules from Brett McKay at Art of Manliness for raising kids in a tech world.
CATHOLIC 101
"You are going to die, and you don’t get to say when or how," writes Monsignor Charles Pope. "I say this at every funeral, both to those present and to myself. This solemn reminder is hard to process. It is one thing to assent to this obvious truth intellectually, but it is another thing to internalize it in our depths and really know what it means."
SAINT OF THE DAY
Today the Church honors St. John Neumann, the first bishop of an American diocese to be beatified. St. John is known for organizing a diocesan Catholic school system in the United States, and for his constant concern for the common people, especially new immigrants. He learned multiple languages in order to hear the confessions of his immigrant congregation.
DAILY PSALM
"I will give you all the nations for an inheritance." (Psalm 2)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
TRUTH
"Spare me 'the warmth of collectivism.'" — Bishop Robert Barron
