D.C. insider Tom McClusky takes us behind the scenes of the government shutdown—what’s really happening in Washington? Meanwhile, the FDA approves a new abortion drug, sparking outrage and debate. And finally, Erika gives her take on Pope Leo's ice block blessing. All this and more on the LOOPcast!

00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast

02:00 Nazareth Organics

04:18 GOV Shutdown Day 3 Update

20:02 Home Title Lock

27:54 Good News

39:20 Gaza Peace Plan

1:00:00 Twilight Zone

1:09:45 Closing Prayer

Nazareth Organics is a Catholic family-owned natural skincare company that handcrafts tallow balms and serums with high-quality, wild-crafted, and organic ingredients. Find them at https://nazareth-organics.com and use code LOOPCAST at checkout for a 10% discount. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook at: @nazarethorganics

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All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

The Deep with Erika Ahern is sponsored by Taylor Frigon Capital Management, serving clients at every stage of wealth: from first-time investors to high-net-worth families and organizations seeking full-service wealth guidance. Taylor Frigon provides institutional asset management solutions tailored to the needs of individuals, families and small businesses: https://cvote.it/taylorfrigon

It’s not just you. The news as of late feels like it couldn’t get any heavier. One horrific event after another has left us all feeling shocked, fearful, and disheartened. In this episode of The Deep, Erika turns to the ancient story of Aeneas to help us find direction as to how we should respond when everything seems to be burning down around us.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro: Everything feels like it’s burning down!
2:15 - Ad (Taylor Frigon Capital Management)
3:36 - Why do we feel like we’re watching Troy burn?
5:00 - Gen Z isn’t so optimistic about our nation’s future
5:44 - The problem with a passive response
9:06 - Aeneas and 3 things necessary to rebuild
10:41 - St. Augustine, virtuous men, and society
12:14 - These simple truths are what change the world
13:29 - Tactics: what to do in the face of everything burning down
15:48 - Conclusion: There is hope to be had!

Sources from this video:

• https://circle.tufts.edu/sites/default/files/2025-04/genz_democracy_report_2025.pdf
• https://firstthings.com/augustines-apocalypseand-our-own/#:~:text=Who%20would%20believe%20that%20Rome,time%20with%20a%20certain%20serenity

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A government shutdown is upon us. Our voices have been heard—Senator Dick Durbin declines the award from Cardinal Cupich. And Pete Hegseth goes unfiltered in his fiery address to senior military leaders. All this and more on the LOOPcast!

00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast

02:50 Ave Maria Mutual Funds

04:42 Charity Mobile

06:02 GOV Shutdown

19:58 Home Title Lock

21:51 Sen. Durbin Backs Out of Award

41:35 Good News

52:32 Ezra and Ta-Nihasi Coates: A window into the Minds of the Left

1:06:40 Twilight Zone

1:19:46 Closing Prayer

1:20:38 Interview with Convicted Home Title Thief Matthew Cox

The professionals at Ave Maria Mutual Funds have a morally responsible investment philosophy that’s aligned with Catholic teaching. Start your morally responsible investment journey today by calling 1-866-AVE-MARIA or by visiting here: https://avemariafunds.com/Loopcast

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EMAIL US: loopcast@catholicvote.org

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All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., a registered investment adviser established in 1980, serves as investment adviser for Ave Maria Mutual Funds. The Adviser invests in securities only if they meet the Funds’ investment and religious requirements, and as such, the returns may be lower or higher than if the Adviser made decisions based solely on investment considerations. The Funds’ method of security selection may or may not be successful and the Funds may underperform or outperform the stock market as a whole. All mutual funds are subject to market risk, including possible loss of principal. The Funds’ investments in small and mid-capitalization companies could experience greater volatility than investments in large-capitalization companies. AVEWX invests in foreign securities and securities issued by