LOOP: Trump deploys two nuclear subs to Russia

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 TRUMP DEPLOYS NUCLEAR SUBS TO RUSSIA President Donald Trump yesterday announced that he ordered two US nuclear submarines to deploy near Russia, accusing former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now a senior Kremlin advisor, of making "highly provocative statements." Medvedev invoked the Soviet Union's infamous "Dead Hand" system – a doomsday plan to ensure a retaliatory nuclear strike if Russia's top leadership were incapacitated.  READ CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING IS SHUTTING DOWN Citing its recent loss of federal funding due to Trump-backed cuts approved in Congress, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced yesterday that it will be shutting down. CPB provides public funding for NPR and PBS.  READ WHITE HOUSE TO GET MASSIVE, PRIVATELY FUNDED NEW BALLROOM  The White House will undergo a $200 million expansion this fall, with construction beginning in September on a new state ballroom to host large-scale events. The project is being funded by Trump himself and a group of private "patriot donors," the White House explained. Trump selected McCrery Architects, known for their classical designs, to lead the renovation.  READ REPORT: FBI REDACTED TRUMP'S NAME FROM EPSTEIN FILES  Bloomberg reports that the FBI redacted Trump's name and the names of several other prominent individuals in Jeffrey Epstein-related documents. The revelation follows a July letter from Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who disclosed that the FBI assigned about 1,000 personnel to comb through over 100,000 Epstein-related records to "flag" any documents mentioning Trump.  READ AD: GET VALUE + YOUR VALUES WHEN YOU SWITCH TO CHARITY MOBILE  Does your phone company appreciate you and your beliefs? Charity Mobile is the pro-life phone company that sends 5% of your monthly plan price to the pro-life, pro-family charity of your choice—at no extra cost! Get the same nationwide coverage as the big guys, live US customer service, and a free phone offer for new customers with promo code LOOP.  LEARN MORE POPE TO HOST JUBILEE-YEAR RECONCILIATION FESTIVAL  Rome's Circus Maximus — once the site of ancient chariot races — will host a major international festival gathering focused on reconciliation and spiritual renewal this October. Pope Leo will personally host the festival, which organizers frame as a once-in-a-generation cultural and spiritual gathering intended to promote reconciliation, beauty, and shared purpose.  READ PIZZA FOR THE POPE  As Pope Leo rode through St. Peter's Square July 30, he received a surprise straight from his Illinois roots — a personal-size pepperoni pizza from Aurelio's, the iconic Chicago chain he's loved since childhood. The American Pope couldn't hide his delight, and, according to his brother, later "devoured" the pie.  READ VA MOVES TO END ABORTION FUNDING IN MILITARY  The Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday moved to end the Biden-era approval of abortion coverage in military benefits and abortion and abortion-related services at military hospitals.  READ CATHOLICVOTE IS HIRING!  CatholicVote is looking to fill a Chief of Staff position in Denver, Colorado, or Washington, DC! Do you or someone you know have what it takes? Please take a look at the details and share this great opportunity with your contacts. LEARN MORE HEROES & ZEROES OF JULY  CatholicVote's Catholic Accountability Project holds the public leaders who claim our faith accountable. We celebrate the heroes who uphold the truths of Catholicism in public life, and we call out the "zeroes" who betray those truths. Here are the "Heroes and Zeroes" of July! READ FRESH CORN RECIPES  Corn sometimes gets a bad rap, but some good old, fresh American corn on the cob is certainly a good thing to include in your meals. Here are 47 creative corn recipes, including grilled chicken and mango skewers, jalapeno popper Mexican street corn, and German brat seafood boil. READ BRING BACK THE FRONT PORCH  A quintessential aspect of American culture is the front porch and the neighborliness that comes with it. But porch culture has almost entirely disappeared. Here's how and why we need to bring it back.  READ CATHOLIC 101  Pope Leo announced this week that he will name Saint John Henry Newman the Church's 38th Doctor of the Church! Celebrate the English cardinal and saint with these five inspiring quotations from his works.  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter Faber, the first recruit of Saint Ignatius. St. Peter, a brilliant yet humble shepherd who became a zealous yet meek priest, helped found the Jesuits and spread the Spiritual Exercises across Europe. READ SATURDAY'S PSALM  "O God, let all the nations praise you!" (Psalm 67:4) READ SATURDAY'S READINGS  Saturday's Mass readings. READ SUNDAY'S PSALM  "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Psalm 90:1) READ SUNDAY'S READINGS  Sunday's Mass readings. READ ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA  The airport in Santa Ana, California, is named after the legendary Hollywood actor John Wayne. THE DEEP  Americans work hard... perhaps too hard. Most work a 9-5 job five days a week, have two days to recover, and then start all over again on Monday. It's exhausting — and worse, it's soul-crushing. In this episode of the Deep, Erika diagnoses the origins of burnout and discovers that the problem may lie not in how we work but in how we rest. WATCH Paid for by CatholicVote Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) organization. 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