The LOOP
The Thursday Loop - May 14, 2026
LAWMAKERS: TRUMP SHOULD PRESS XI TO RELEASE JIMMY LAI
Hours after President Donald Trump arrived in China for high-stakes talks with the communist regime, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on him to prioritize the release of prominent detainees, including devout Catholic publisher Jimmy Lai.
EFFORT TO LET CONGRESS VOTE ON IRAN WAR FAILS IN SENATE
The Republican-led Senate on May 13 narrowly blocked a Democratic effort to force the Trump administration to allow Congress to vote on U.S. military involvement in the war with Iran. The procedural vote to advance the resolution failed 50-49 after Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman joined most Republicans in opposition.
TRUMP ACCOUNTS COMING JULY 4
The Trump administration is promoting its "Trump Accounts" ahead of their July 4 rollout. The program grants a $1,000 government contribution to each eligible U.S. citizen born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, and parents must leave the funds untouched until the kids turn 18.
ADMIN COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGY FOCUSES ON LEFTISTS
The Trump administration’s new counterterrorism strategy was released this week, focusing on Antifa, anti-American leftist groups, and transgender ideology. The White House released the sweeping 2026 U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy this week, and it identifies three categories of terror threats: narcoterrorists and transnational gangs, legacy Islamist terrorists, and "Violent Left-Wing Extremists, including Anarchists and Anti-Fascists."
MAJOR CITIES SEE CRIME DROP SO FAR THIS YEAR
Axios reported that violent crime levels fell across major categories during the first three months of 2026, with homicides down by 17.7%, robberies by 20.4%, rapes by 7.2%, and aggravated assaults by 4.8% when compared with data reports from the first quarter of 2025.
POPE REMINDS FAITHFUL OF MARY'S READINESS TO HELP
Pope Leo XIV devoted his General Audience reflection yesterday to the Blessed Mother, saying the Church can look to her as an example and turn to her for any need.
US EMBASSY PUSHES BACK ON REPORTS OF SPECIAL PAPAL HONOR FOR IRAN
The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See clarified that Pope Leo XIV did not bestow an exclusive honor on Iran's Vatican ambassador, saying the decoration given to the Iranian envoy is a routine award presented to all ambassadors after two years of service, and that Iranian state media was wrong to frame it as politically significant.
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VATICAN WARNS SSPX AGAINST 'SCHISMATIC' BISHOP ORDINATIONS
Yesterday, the Vatican's doctrinal chief formally warned that the SSPX's planned July 1 bishop ordinations lack papal permission and will constitute "a schismatic act."
POPE REMEMBERS PREDECESSOR'S MIRACULOUS SURVIVAL
On the anniversary of the 1981 assassination attempt on St. John Paul II, Pope Leo knelt in prayer yesterday at the spot where the late pontiff was shot.
HOW TO HOST A MARIAN TEA PARTY THIS MAY
This complete hosting guide has everything you need to throw a beautiful afternoon tea in honor of Our Lady, from Marian-inspired tea sandwiches and scones to crowning Mary and praying the Rosary.
CATHOLIC 101
Blessed Imelda Lambertini longed to receive Jesus in the Eucharist from the age of five. When she finally received her First Communion, her joy was so complete that she died peacefully in the chapel, making her the patron saint of First Communicants.
SAINT OF THE DAY
Today is the feast of St. Matthias, the man ordained to serve as the replacement for the apostle Judas, the betrayer.
DAILY PSALM
"The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people." (Psalm 113)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
NEW EPISODE
Marty Makary is out at HHS. Is MAHA dead? New economic data suggests rising anxiety among young Americans. Trump heads to China alongside some of the world’s most powerful CEOs. All this and more on the LOOPcast!
