THURSDAY, MAY 7

TRUMP TOUTS 'VERY GOOD' TALKS WITH IRAN The U.S. and Iran may now be very close to an agreement. President Donald Trump announced yesterday that Iran has agreed not to pursue the development of nuclear weapons, and Iran is reportedly considering a U.S.-proposed deal, with intentions to respond as soon as today. READ

CAN REPUBLICANS KEEP PLANNED PARENTHOOD DEFUNDED? House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is working with pro-life lawmakers to try to extend a temporary defunding of Planned Parenthood before it expires July 4. READ

SEVERAL STATES MOVE TO REDISTRICT AHEAD OF MIDTERMS The Supreme Court’s April 29 ruling on Louisiana v. Callais has sparked a wave of redistricting activity in Republican-led states, with Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi moving to reshape congressional maps. READ

AD: DOES YOUR PORTFOLIO REFLECT YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH? What if your portfolio reflected the same values that guide your family? I'm Michael R. Acosta, CFP® at Genesis Wealth Planning — a Catholic advisor who builds faith-aligned portfolios screened for Church social teaching, structured beyond standard ETFs and mutual funds. Welcome, LOOPers. See how to align your investments with what your family stands for. SEE THE APPROACH

TAXPAYERS TO FOOT SOME OF BALLROOM BILL Senate Judiciary Republicans have slipped $1 billion of taxpayer funding toward the White House ballroom project in a major immigration and border security reconciliation package, despite previous assurances from Trump that the ballroom would be funded entirely through private donations. READ

GEN Z FILLING THE PEWS IN MAJOR CITIES Young adults are filling pews at Catholic churches in New York City and beyond, drawn by community, faith, and shared values in what researchers describe as a measurable uptick in religious participation. READ

POPE'S FIRST ENCYCLICAL REPORTEDLY GETS RELEASE DATE Pope Leo XIV is expected to sign his first encyclical on May 15, the 135th anniversary of the landmark papal encyclical Rerum Novarum. While that document addressed the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo’s will address the revolution of Artificial Intelligence. READ

AD: CHOOSE LIFE THIS EASTER You can be a pro-life force for good by switching to Charity Mobile — which sends 5% of your plan price to pro-life causes — and get a FREE phone too! LEARN MORE

VATICAN DIRECTLY ADDRESSES GERMAN 'GAY' BLESSINGS The Pope's doctrinal chief has made clear that the Vatican's 2024 letter against formally blessing people in same-sex relationships was not only a general guidance, but directly forbids the most recent document encouraging such blessings in Germany. READ

POPE LEO ENCOURAGES LEBANESE PRIESTS IN SURPRISE CALL Pope Leo made a surprise video call yesterday to priests serving in southern Lebanon villages near the Israeli border, offering encouragement, prayers, and his apostolic blessing as communities there continue to endure cross-border violence. READ

NOT TO BE MISSED... Here are the stories we couldn’t fit in today’s LOOP:

FBI agents raided and searched a Virginia Democratic leader's office. READ
Police arrested Catholics who confronted a mob that disrupted their Mass in India. READ
CNN founder Ted Turner has passed away at the age of 87. READ

WHAT ZEALE'S LIFESTYLE DESK SAYS IS IN FOR 2026 Here is Zeale's definitive list of what trends to leave in the past, and what to joyfully embrace. READ

CATHOLIC 101 "Whether we like it or not and whether we obey or not, Mary is asking even little children to commit to at least a daily Rosary." Here's why Gabriel Castillo believes praying the Rosary every day is an "urgent necessity." READ

SAINT OF THE DAY After the death of her fiancé, St. Rose Venerini gathered women in her home to pray the Rosary and discovered how little many knew about the Catholic faith. Moved by their poverty and lack of education, she opened schools for girls where she taught reading, writing, catechism, and practical skills, eventually founding what would become the Venerini Sisters. READ

DAILY PSALM "Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations." (Psalm 96) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings. READ

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Why is driving so many Catholics away from the Church? Fr. Ambrose Criste of St. Michael's Abbey joins Erika for a candid conversation about the crisis facing Catholics in America today. The newest episode of The Deep premieres today at 4 PM ET on YouTube. TUNE IN TUNE IN

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Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Climate Alert: The odds keep rising for the strongest El Niño in a century

Climate Alert

May 6, 3:21 p.m. EDT

The odds keep rising for the strongest El Niño in a century

For a third consecutive month, multiple models have predicted that a potentially record-breaking El Niño could drive global temperatures to new highs and shift patterns of droughts, floods, heat, humidity and sea ice across the planet. The chances of a powerful El Niño were boosted by a rare triplet cyclone pattern in the Pacific last month.

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