at
| FRIDAY, MARCH 23 |
| TARIFFS ON CHINA President Trump hits China with $60 billion worth of annual tariffs, while exempting a long list of allies, including the European Union. “What the United States is doing is strategically defending itself from China’s economic aggression,” said Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council. China responded with a proposed list of 128 U.S. products to target. READ |
| STOCKS SLIDE OVER TARIFF TALK The Dow Jones dropped 724 points, or 2.93%, over the announcement by President Trump that he would levy tariffs on China imports. The stock market has retreated 9.99% from it’s recent high. READ |
| END OBSTRUCTIONISM A group of GOP senators are again making a push to reduce the number of hours of debate over judicial and executive branch nominations from the current level of 30 hours down to 8. “It’s completely gotten out of hand,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-WI. “It’s ridiculous we have all these 30 hours of post-cloture time. It’s chewing up the clock and we can’t address the major problems facing this nation.” READ |
| NEW NATL SECURITY ADVISER President Trump announced that John Bolton would replace H.R. McMaster as national security adviser. READ |
| NO CONSCIENCE The new Congressional budget does not include the Conscience Protection Act, which U.S. Bishops had lobbied hard to have included. The legislation would have protected health care professionals from being forced to participate in abortions or other objectionable health procedures. “We call on Congress not to give up until this critical legislation is enacted,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, in a joint statement. READ |
| TWO MORE FOR THE CAMPAIGN Christina Hagan is the youngest female Republican to ever serve in the Ohio Legislature, and now she’s running for Congress. She also just found out that she’s pregnant with twins. The due date? November 6, which is Election Day. “When I was in the state legislature I was actually debating pro-life issues and I could feel my first child hiccuping in-utero,” Hagan remembers. “You know that child is separate, unique, and distinct from you because you can’t hiccup for the baby.” READ |
| GET YOUR FRIENDS IN THE LOOP! Do you know someone who might enjoy getting the Loop every day? Encourage them to sign up using the Invite Friends button down below. When 10 of your friends sign up, we’ll send you a free Loop coffee mug or a $10 Amazon gift card. |
| DRAIN THE SWAMP? Sen. Joni Ernst, R-IA, thinks we should consider moving several executive branch agencies out of the Washington DC area. Her bill aims to distribute the agencies and jobs across the country among the people most impacted by the effects of agency decisions. “Every day, out-of-touch federal government agencies and bureaucrats in Washington make important decisions and rules that directly impact the lives of folks across the United States,” said Sen. Ernst. READ |
| CELEBRATING LIFE Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-WA, eloquently responds to a recent Washington Post commentary that advocated abortion of unborn Down syndrome babies. READ |
| YOUTH AND SYNOD 2018 The upcoming Synod 2018 will focus on youth ministry. George Weigel said the Synod Fathers should hear from American experts like Curtis Martin of FOCUS and Bishop David Konderla, who was director of Texas A&M’s St. Mary’s Catholic Center, which he called “the gold standard in traditional campus ministry.” READ |
| CATHOLIC HISTORY Catholicism during the Colonial period: An interview with Fr. Charles Connor. READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Prominent in the history of the Catholic Church in Peru, Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo supported the rights of the native people. He was nominated Archbishop of Lima, Peru, by King Philip II of Spain. Not even a priest at the time, Saint Turibius protested the assignment, but to no avail. He was ordained a bishop and sent to Peru. READ |
| DAILY MASS READINGS “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.” (Ps 18:7) READ |
| MARCH MADNESS STAR Loyola-Chicago won again last night! Part of the reason for their success in the men’s basketball tournament? Answer: 98-year-old Sister Jean, the team chaplain. READ |