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Think of the last time you really wanted something – a promotion, a vacation, an extra pair of hands with the kids – and you talked yourself out of even bringing it up.

Or the last time you agreed to split the bill evenly, even though you had the side salad and everyone else had steak and two bottles of wine.

Or the last time a friend canceled on you half an hour before you were supposed to meet, and you told her "no worries!" even though you’d paid for a sitter and already left the house.

Here's what a decade of coaching over 15,000 women taught me: every one of those moments traces back to one of three patterns.

I call them the Speak Up Barriers.

You've probably never heard of them before. But finding out which one is holding you back is the first step to start asking for what you want and telling the truth about how you feel.

That's why I created this free quiz.

Three minutes, zero dollars, and you'll get a whole new perspective.

Find My Speak Up Barrier

Talk soon,

P.S. You’ll walk away with personalized steps to help you start speaking up.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12

PRIMARY ROUNDUP: KEY RACES AND WINNERS A number of closely watched primaries across the Midwest were decided Tuesday night. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won Democratic nominations for Minnesota governor and U.S. Senate, respectively. In Wisconsin, CatholicVote-endorsed Republican Michael Alfonso won his party’s nomination for the state’s 7th Congressional District. Here's a look at several key results. READ

SURROGATE FIGHTS TO SAVE UNBORN BABY Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured an emergency court order ensuring an unborn baby, whose intended parents requested an abortion after he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition, will receive life-saving care. Surrogate mother McKenna West refused to abort the baby. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., has also urged officials to protect the baby as West’s Sept. 2 due date approaches. READ

REPORTS: EL-SAYED SCRUBBED 100+ VIDEOS BEFORE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan’s Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate earlier this month, removed at least 100 YouTube videos — including one in which he called for an end to 4th of July fireworks and another floating the elimination of the Second Amendment — from his channel ahead of launching his campaign, according to reports. A campaign spokesman said the old videos do not reflect El-Sayed’s current views. READ

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NO MORE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR 'SEX-REJECTING' PROCEDURES The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said yesterday that federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program funds will no longer pay for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or “transgender” surgeries performed on children. READ

LATTER-DAY SAINTS CHURCH DONATES 45,000 POUNDS OF FOOD TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated about 45,000 pounds of food to Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, which serves thousands of families across southwestern Connecticut. The donation is part of a nationwide service initiative marking America's 250th anniversary. READ

MASSACHUSETTS GOV SIGNS LAW ALLOWING ABORTION UP TO BIRTH Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, signed a law Aug. 10 that removes virtually all remaining restrictions on late-term abortions in the state, allowing abortion up to the moment of birth based on a physician’s judgment. Pro-life leaders responded quickly, condemning the measure as “egregious” and warning that it strips unborn children of their final legal protections. READ

AD: GIVE THE CATHOLIC WAY Give wisely, give effectively, give efficiently. And most importantly, give in accordance with your Catholic faith. Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund is here to help you stretch your charitable giving so it can have the greatest impact. Together as Catholics, let’s change the world. LEARN MORE

LAST MAO-ERA TRAPPIST MONK DIES AT 108 Father Benedict Chao, the last Trappist monk exiled from China during Mao-era communist persecution, died at age 108 after 79 years of religious life. He helped reestablish the Abbey of Our Lady of Joy in Hong Kong after communist persecution displaced his community from its original monastery in Hebei Province. READ

PITTSBURGH BISHOP WON'T SEEK RENEWAL FOR PARISH TLM Bishop Mark Eckman of Pittsburgh announced Aug. 7 that he has decided to not seek a renewal of permission from the Vatican for a local parish to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), saying the authorization was intended to be temporary. He directed the faithful who still wish to attend the TLM to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Parish, which is run by the Institute of Christ the King. READ

NOSTALGIC MOVIES Why do some children's movies have such an incredible staying power in cultural memory? The answer, writes Zeale's Johanna Duncan, is deeper than mere nostalgia. READ

CATHOLIC 101 Our emotions are not obstacles to holiness but invitations to greater honesty, discernment, and trust in God. When offered to grace, even difficult emotions can be transformed into instruments of virtue and love. READ

SAINT OF THE DAY St. Jane Frances de Chantal faithfully followed Christ through marriage, motherhood, widowhood, and religious life, turning profound grief into deeper trust in God and service to others. READ

DAILY PSALM "The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies." (Psalm 113) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings. READ

NEW EPISODE Join Cecilia Jean as she discovers the Catholic Makers Market, a community of Denver artists and artisans providing a source of enriching, locally-created expressions of faith and beauty. Check out the latest episode of Flourish out now on Zeale. WATCH

THE LOOP IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CHAMPIONS If The LOOP is part of your daily routine, consider becoming one of the monthly supporters who keep it going. Champions provide the steady support that powers The LOOP and helps CatholicVote inform, educate, and engage Catholics all year long. Join today with a monthly gift of $10 or more. BECOME A CHAMPION

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News Reporter

Wednesday, 12 August 2026

What 15,000 women taught me about speaking up

Key takeaways from Tuesday’s Midwest primaries

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12

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