TRANSITION 2017 // In a break with decades-long diplomatic tradition, President-elect Donald Trump spoke directly with the president of Taiwan, a move that drew an irritated response from China. But some say it was a good diplomatic move. http://cvote.it/2gETuyS
TRANSITION 2017 // Trump is considering two Democrats from red states for his Cabinet. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-ND, is being considered for Secretary of Interior or Energy, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, is being considered for Energy as well. Both Manchin and Heitkamp face tough reelection bids in 2018. If Heitkamp leaves the Senate, a special election in North Dakota would very likely be won by a Republican. Currently there are 51 Republicans in the Senate. http://cvote.it/2gqGp9k
IMMIGRATION // Paul Ryan says the U.S. will not wall off the entire Mexican border. http://cvote.it/2gETH4W
ABORTION // The House of Representatives voted to double the budget of the committee investigating the abortion business. http://cvote.it/2gEGaKJ
QUOTE OF THE WEEK // “When you think that you may shortly see your church’s schools and your religious hospitals closed, and your job or business threatened in the private sphere by the economic equivalent of ‘convert or die,’ you will side with whoever does not seem to set its sights on your conservative beliefs. If that side is led by an intemperate man who more than occasionally says awful things … well, at least he doesn’t want to destroy you.” -Megan McArdle, “The Left’s Doomed Effort to Coerce the Right.” http://cvote.it/2gEQkuN
CATHOLIC // Secretary of State John Kerry stopped by the Vatican for a meeting with Pope Francis that likely centered largely on the challenges of migration. http://cvote.it/2gqJA0x
ON THIS DAY // 1991 – Islamic militants in Lebanon release kidnapped American journalist Terry Anderson after 2,454 days in captivity. http://cvote.it/1NTfgaw
SAINT // Saint Sabbas – http:/cvote.it/DailySaint
DAILY READINGS // Today’s readings – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
FAITH // Three ways to obtain an indulgence during 100th anniversary of Fatima. http://cvote.it/2gqYVy5