The LOOP
The Wednesday Loop - November 4, 2026
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DEMOCRATS TAKE HOUSE AND SENATE IN HEATED MIDTERM RACES
A “blue wave” reached U.S. shores Nov. 3, handing the Democratic Party control over both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In total, Democrats flipped seven Senate seats and 25 House seats.
ABORTION BALLOT MEASURE OUTCOMES: VIRGINIA ENSHRINES CONSTITUTIONAL ‘RIGHT’ TO ABORTION
Abortion measures were on the ballot in Virginia, Missouri, Idaho, and Nevada Nov. 3. A radical pro-abortion amendment in Virginia passed with more than 60% in favor, enshrining a constitutional “right” to abortion. Unofficial results point toward a pro-life win in Idaho and a loss in Missouri.
COLORADO MOVES TOWARD BALLOT MEASURES PROTECTING GIRLS' SPORTS, CHILDREN
Colorado’s ballot measures protecting girls’ sports and prohibiting sex-rejecting surgeries for minors are seeing narrow leads with more than 70% of precincts reporting, as of early Nov. 4. Both measures are on track to pass, although results have not been finalized. A third proposition on Colorado’s ballot passed decisively in support of requiring life in prison without parole for convicted child sex traffickers.
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AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY, MUSLIM LEADERS PUSHED TURNOUT IN TEXAS, MICHIGAN
Muslim leaders urged voters in Texas and Michigan to head to the polls where Democrats James Talarico and Abdul El-Sayed have been seeking Senate seats. Islamic scholar Yasir Qadhi called political participation a civic and religious duty, while activist Wajahat Ali warned of a “reckoning” within the Democratic Party.
SCOTUS APPEARS RECEPTIVE TO CATHOLIC PRESCHOOLS’ FUNDING FIGHT
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared receptive Nov. 3 to Catholic preschools challenging Colorado funding rules they say violate their religious beliefs on marriage and sexuality. A day earlier, the Wall Street Journal editorial board urged the justices to protect the schools’ access to funding, arguing that the court has already “vindicated religious schools excluded from state programs” three times in the past decade.
CALIFORNIA BALLOT DISPUTE SEES RULING FLIP-FLOPS AS VOTING HAPPENS
As voting was taking place for the Nov. 3 midterm election, efforts by the Trump administration to prevent potential non-citizen voting in California and obtain cooperation from local election officials were rewarded with a favorable 6-5 vote from the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In a closely related lawsuit, the U.S. Supreme Court declined on Nov. 2 to review another aspect of the federal-state confrontation over possible non-citizen voting.
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NEW YORK ARCHBISHOP FIGHTS ASSISTED SUICIDE MANDATE
Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York has joined Catholic sisters in a federal lawsuit challenging a state law they say would force Catholic healthcare providers to violate their faith by helping terminally ill patients obtain life-ending drugs. “We refuse to allow New York to force us to harm the very ones we’ve been called to care for,” the archbishop said.
EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS LOOKS TO 2029
Bishop Andrew Cozzens said that the 2029 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis will build on the renewal that began in 2024, inviting Catholics to encounter Christ and be transformed by Him.
NOT TO BE MISSED...
- Pope Leo XIV's prayer intention for November reminds Catholics that true wealth is found not in what is kept but in what is given in love.
- A Maronite prayer hall in Nahariya, Israel, was vandalized, prompting the Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa to call for protective measures and an investigation.
- The Holy Father has named a new apostolic visitor to the Marian pilgrimage site of Medjugorje.
WHY WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT DEATH
The Church dedicates the month of November to praying for the dead with the exhortation memento mori, or remember, you must die. This focus on death is not morbid, though. Rather, by embracing this month’s memento mori mindset, we focus on the glory of the eternal life we hope to enjoy.
CATHOLIC 101
Pope Leo XIV outlined five principles for guiding artificial intelligence, warning against treating machines as persons and allowing AI to make life-and-death decisions without human oversight. He called for stronger international safeguards to ensure the technology serves rather than harms humanity.
SAINT OF THE DAY
St. Charles Borromeo helped bring new life to the Church through his work at the Council of Trent and as archbishop of Milan. Even an attempt on his life did not stop him from working to strengthen the faith and guide others closer to Christ.
DAILY PSALM
"The Lord is my light and my salvation." (Psalm 27)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
PRAY WITH ZEALE
Our nation needs prayers now more than ever. In these last months of America's 250th, join Cardinal Burke in praying the Daily Prayer for America at 250 on Zeale. PRAY & SHARE
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