LOOP: First troops arrive at U.S.-Mexico border
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| FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 |
| TROOPS AT BORDER The first 100 active-duty troops arrived at the U.S.-Mexican border at the port of entry in McAllen, Texas. The Pentagon said more than 7,000 troops are being sent to the southern border. President Trump said the number could reach 15,000. Trump also said he told the military mobilizing at the border that if migrants try to throw rocks at soldiers, they should act as though the rocks are “rifles.” READ |
| STUNT? When a reporter asked if the troop deployment to the southern border was a political ploy, Defense Secretary James Mattis said: “We don’t do stunts in this department. Thank you.” READ |
| WHO WILL WIN THE HOUSE? Political handicappers at the University of Virginia said history and polling would both suggest that Democrats should pick up at least 29 seats — 6 more than needed to capture the majority. But they noted “not so many more that one could rule out the Democrats sputtering out short of the majority.” They added: “Midterms often feature a decline for the presidential party after a surge in the House in the presidential year. But Republicans enjoyed no surge in 2016, which could limit their decline this year.” READ |
| SENATE 2018 Democratic Senator Joe Manchin says he will vote against a pro-life ballot referendum on the West Virginia ballot. The proposed amendment to the West Virginia Constitution would state: “Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.” READ |
| OPRAH CAMPAIGNING Former talk show host Oprah Winfrey rallied black voters for Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for governor in Georgia. Democrats, including Winfrey, claim that Republicans are trying to “disenfranchise” black voters. READ |
| FACEBOOK APOLOGIZES A pro-life ad by the Susan B. Anthony List in support of Marsha Blackburn was rejected by Facebook. The digital giant later apologized and said: “This ad does not violate Facebook’s policies and should never have been rejected. We’re sorry for this mistake.” But Blackburn wasn’t buying the apology. “Facebook’s decision to take down this ad is just another example of the liberal elites of Silicon Valley censoring conservative ideas online.” READ |
| ITALY’S PRO-CHILD POLICY The Italian government will give parents agricultural land if they have a third child by 2021, in an attempt to reverse plummeting birth rate. READ |
| DIRTY TRICKS Last-minute direct-mail pieces are trying to encourage conservative voters to reject Republican Matt Rosendale in favor of the Libertarian candidate. The mailers have no disclaimer declaring who paid for the mailer (in violation of election law). There isn’t even a return address, in violation of postal regulations. The company that likely printed the mailers, Allied Printing Resources, worked with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the pro-abortion Emily’s List, both of which support Tester — who would benefit the most if conservative voters cast a third-party ballot. READ |
| MORE DIRTY TRICKS Democrats in North Dakota paid for ads discouraging hunters from voting. “Heidi Heitkamp is using her anti-Kavanaugh campaign coffers to suppress voter turnout in North Dakota,” said North Dakota GOP spokesman Jake Wilkins. READ |
| TRUMP VS. THE MEDIA A recent Politico/Morning Consult poll showed that 56% of Americans believe Trump has done more to divide the country. But Americans believe the media is even more divisive — with 64% of Americans believing the media is doing more to divide the country. READ |
| INDIA BLOCKS PORN In an attempt to curb the country’s spate of sexual violence, India has revived its 2015 pornography ban and shut down 800 major porn sites. READ |
| NEW KIND OF COLLEGE An businessman is opening a college that offers a traditional liberal arts college, but students listen to lectures on their own time with classroom time reserved for discussion of the material. Cost? $4,000 per term. The college will take no federal money and have no accreditation, no sports and no added administrators. READ |
| ALL SAINTS Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon, says: “The saints are people just like us.” READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Following the ancient tradition within the Church of offering prayers for the faithful departed, today we offer our prayers for all of our deceased relatives and friends, trusting in the power of prayer and the infinite mercy of God. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” (Ps 23:1) READ |
| SAINT’S NEW HOME Saint Katharine Drexel’s tomb is unveiled at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. READ |