FBI // President Trump has fired FBI Director James Comey, removing the top enforcement official while the agency is in the midst of its investigation about possible Russian meddling in the elections. Democrats were apoplectic at the news, calling it a ‘constitutional crisis.’ A few GOP Senators also expressed deep concerns over the firing. The announcement came shortly after the FBI corrected Comey’s testimony regarding the number of emails Huma Abedin sent to Hillary Clinton. Trump said the firing was necessary to restore “public trust and confidence” in the FBI. http://cvote.it/2q09m2Z
FBI // “GOP senators should make it clear — it would take only a delegation of three — that they will reject any nominee [to replace Comey] who reeks of cronyism, who looks like a stooge, or who seems to lack the qualifications and independence to conduct the business of the FBI as it needs to be conducted,” writes an editorial in the conservative Washington Examiner. http://cvote.it/2pxAOT8
JUDICIARY // The Democrats are gearing up to block several of Trump’s nominees for the federal bench using a process called the “blue slip” where a home state Senator can effectively stop a judicial nominee from their own state. http://cvote.it/2pZKVmb
TRAVEL BAN // The ACLU argues Trump’s travel ban would be constitutional if another candidate won and offered it. http://cvote.it/2pvxKqF
HEALTH CARE // Late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel invited Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who not only is a practicing physician, but also proposed that the Senate create a health care bill that passes the “Jimmy Kimmel test.” Before the interview was over, Cassidy was interrupted by applause multiple times — showing Republicans can appeal to late night audiences with the right message. http://cvote.it/2pZUQIz
HEALTH CARE // Then again, let’s not pretend that Jimmy Kimmel is suddenly an expert on health care policy anymore than a stabbing victim is an automatically an expert on crime, says Philip Klein. http://cvote.it/2pZF0Og
BUREAUCRACY // Under current law, federal agencies have the ability to use funds received through fines, fees, and proceeds from legal settlements without going through the formal appropriations process, thus avoiding congressional oversight. A new bill called the Agency Accountability Act would ensure oversight. http://cvote.it/2pZXVZf
LGBT // A new study shatters myths about human sexuality promoted by the transgender movement. The study found that the two sexes express over 6,500 genes differently, adding to the already major biological differences between men and women. http://cvote.it/2pvwJio
ABORTION // No, New York Times, Christianity’s opposition to abortion is not a new thing. http://cvote.it/2pw0NKx
MEN // Over the past two generations, America has suffered a quiet catastrophe in the collapse of work for men. In the half-century between 1965 and 2015, work rates (the ratio of employment to population) for the American male spiraled relentlessly downward. http://cvote.it/2pvB058
SPORTS // Veteran ESPN anchor Linda Cohn says liberal bias was a reason for the network’s massive layoffs. “I felt that the old school viewers were put in a corner and not appreciated with all these other changes,” she said. http://cvote.it/2pZWoSP
CULTURE // CBS show ‘Madam Secretary’ surprises with pro-life, pro-motherhood message. http://cvote.it/2pv9MvG
CATHOLIC // Commencement speakers at Catholic college range drastically in their fidelity to Catholic teaching. http://cvote.it/2pvOD4k
CATHOLIC // Pilot rescued from cold Michigan lake by a young Catholic priest. “You know, it’s kind of like Divine Providence because to be honest with you, I was going to be heading downstate today and I shouldn’t even have been here,” said Father Jarvis. http://cvote.it/2pZEcZK
SAINT // Saint Damien of Moloka’i – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS // “O God, let all the nations praise you!” (Ps 67:4) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
TRUTH //