ABORTIONS AT 20 WEEKS The Senate is set to vote today on a ban on abortions after 20 weeks. While it’s unlikely to pass, Senate Republicans want to put pressure on Democrats from red states like Missouri and North Dakota who have opposed the bill despite strong support for the legislation in their states. http://cvote.it/2DWEN6e
STATE OF THE UNION TOMORROW President Trump is expected to speak about infrastructure, immigration, fair trade, rebuilding the military, and the economic recovery in 2017. http://cvote.it/2DUHe97
DEMS CALL ON A KENNEDY Democrats have selected Rep. Joe Kennedy III (grandson of Bobby Kennedy) to give the Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address. http://cvote.it/2DXL1Tl
ECONOMIC GROWTH Last year, the Trump administration predicted an annual growth rate of 2.3% for 2017. They nailed it. The exact growth rate is 2.3%. http://cvote.it/2DW92u0
IMMIGRATION Both demographers and reporters have used the term ‘chain migration’ for years, but suddenly the term is ‘racist.’ http://cvote.it/2DXBnA7
BETTER PAID-LEAVE PLAN Kristin Shapiro and Andrew Biggs have an innovative idea to provide paid parental-leave without costing employers or creating a new government program: “Offer new parents the opportunity to collect early Social Security benefits after the arrival of their child in exchange for their agreeing to defer the collection of their Social Security retirement benefits.” http://cvote.it/2DVs1og
POLITICS IN SPORTS Oh boy: The NFL officially established an owner-player ‘social justice committee.’ http://cvote.it/2DWjVvW
YOUTH SYNOD The U.S. bishops have selected the young adult delegates who will represent the country at the pre-synod gathering in Rome this March, which occurs before the 2018 Youth Synod of Bishops in October. http://cvote.it/2DWaNHC
CATHOLIC DEBATE Ross Douthat and Austen Ivereigh spar in Dallas over the legacy of Pope Francis. http://cvote.it/2DQQIm7
SAINT OF THE DAY Servant of God Brother Juniper – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS READINGS “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Ps 95:8) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
STATEMENT Singer Joy Villa made a splash at the Grammy’s. “I believe in loving the child and the mother, and I am proudly pro-life.” http://cvote.it/2DSyyjD