LOOP 500 // This is the 500th issue of the Loop. And our mission today remains the same as the day we started: Help Catholics quickly stay on top of the latest news on politics, life, religious liberty, and the Catholic Church.
SUPREME COURT // Neil Gorsuch draws praise from a few Democrats as his Supreme Court confirmation hearings open. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, in introducing his fellow Coloradoan: “I may not always agree with his rulings, but I believe Judge Gorsuch is unquestionably committed to the rule of law.” http://cvote.it/2mOTzjo
SUPREME COURT // Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, established two lines of assault from the progressive side: that the seat for which Gorsuch is being proposed was “stolen” from Judge Merrick Garland — President Barack Obama’s pick after Scalia’s death — and that Gorsuch is a judge outside of the judicial “mainstream.” http://cvote.it/2mOU9h2
HEALTH CARE // President Trump will travel to Capitol Hill today to encourage reluctant Republicans to support the GOP health care replacement plan. http://cvote.it/2mOLrQ4
TUESDAY TRIVIA // At yesterday’s hearing Neil Gorsuch called Justice Byron White his mentor. The Roe v. Wade case was decided 7-2 on Jan. 22, 1973. Justice White was one of the two dissenters. Who was the other? Email us the correct answer (no googling!) and your name will entered for a chance to win one of 5 free Loop mugs to honor Loop 500. The correct answer and the five winners will be announced Wednesday.
FBI // FBI Director James Comey sat through a nearly six-hour hearing in which Republicans pressed him to condemn intelligence leaks that have damaged the Trump administration and Democrats encouraged him to explore President Trump’s ties to Russia. http://cvote.it/2mOLuv6
MEDIA // Conservative media company The Blaze has suspended political commentator Tomi Lahren after her pro-abortion comments on The View. http://cvote.it/2mOU0dw
SUPREME COURT // There have been more than a dozen Catholics on the high court, and all of them have left their mark. http://cvote.it/2mOvUQt
CATHOLIC // Pro-life cartoonist Gary Cangemi, creator of Umbert the Unborn, died at the age of 62. Tom Hoopes pays tribute to the gifted cartoonist. http://cvote.it/2mOGFlM
SAINT // Blessed John of Parma – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS // “Remember your mercies, O Lord.” (Ps 25:6) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
COOL // Yale neuroscientist leaves academia to become Catholic priest. http://cvote.it/2mOC8ja