CORRECTION // NOTE: Thanks to all the alert Loopers who spotted our mistake in yesterday’s Loop. We incorrectly identified the name of President Trump’s new Chief of Staff. The correct name is General John F. Kelly, and not John Flynn, as previously stated. We regret the error.
WHITE HOUSE // And Chief of Staff John F. Kelly made his presence known just hours after being sworn in. He promptly fired White House Director of Communications Anthony Scaramucci, who made a brash and vulgar entrance to the White House just nine days ago. Scaramucci is a strong LGBT advocate and a confidante of Jared Kushner. Catholics have several reasons to be happy for Scaramucci’s departure, not the least of which is less drama. Looks like a good start for Chief Of Staff John Kelly. http://cvote.it/2vdeT9W
WHITE HOUSE // Kellyanne Conway, a pro-life Catholic, could be the next White House Communications Director, according to a new report from the Daily Caller. http://cvote.it/2uSyaKZ
CORRUPTION // Finally, the national political press starts to notice that Sen. Bob Menedez, D-NJ, is facing a corruption trial within a month. Menedez allegedly did political favors for Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, a co-defendant, in exchange for political donations, private jet flights and lavish vacations. Melgen was found guilty in April of Medicare fraud and potentially faces 20 years in prison. http://cvote.it/2uRmpEM
ABORTION // Rep. Ben Ray Luján, head of the House Democrats’ campaign arm said that Democratic candidates opposed to abortion would be eligible for campaign help and that there would be no pro-abortion litmus test to help Democrats win a majority in 2018. “You need to make sure you have candidates that fit the district,” said Lujan. But will this be just talk? Or will such candidates actually cast pro-life votes? Pro-life activists will not soon forget the betrayal of Bart Stupak, who voted for Obamacare without any pro-life protections. http://cvote.it/2vcISPd
RACE TO 2020 // How Trump flipped a rural Iowa county by 42 points. “The reason I didn’t vote as a Democrat [in the caucuses], and I am a registered Democrat, was I felt like they’re no longer the party that they were 30 years ago,” Joe Wacha told the Washington Examiner while on break at the Mighty Howard County Fair. http://cvote.it/2vdt7Ye
CULTURE // Why won’t men grow up? In our Peter Pan culture, adolescence is perpetuated by the relentless messaging that grownups and maturity aren’t cool. http://cvote.it/2vdaPqe
SPORTS // Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tells his players: “Stand for the Anthem or you’re off the team.” http://cvote.it/2vcX2Qj
CATHOLIC // Tennessee Catholic diocese thanks judge for rescinding his order offering reduced sentences to prisoners who undergo sterilization procedures. http://cvote.it/2uT5HF1
CATHOLIC // Remembering St. Padre Pio’s words on abortion. http://cvote.it/2uSODz2
SAINT // Saint Alphonsus Ligouri – http://cvote.it/dailysaint
DAILY MASS // “The Lord is kind and merciful.” (Ps 103:8) – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
TRUTH // Comedian Adam Carolla tells Congress that the desire to create “safe spaces” on college campuses leads to atrophy. “If you take people and you put them in a zero-gravity environment — like astronauts, they lose muscle mass. They lose bone density. We’re taking these kids — in the name of protection — we’re putting them in a zero-gravity environment…. They need to live in a world that has gravity.” 4-minute video: http://cvote.it/2vddaBr