Minnesota Fraud Scandal EXPOSED, #NeverTrump is Over, and Pope Leo Confronts Pritzker

American college students can’t do basic math – and the problem didn’t start in college. In this episode of The Deep, Erika breaks down shocking new data from UC San Diego, exposes how grade inflation and dishonest standards hollowed out education, and explores whether the “Mississippi Miracle” is the solution to America’s math crisis.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro: college freshman lack high-school math skills2:33 - What the UCSD report uncovered4:18 - Standardized tests and grade inflation7:18 - The system is broken10:07 - Getting at the root to solve the math crisis13:35 - Conclusion: putting the soul back in educationSources:Bloom, Allan. The Closing of the American Mind. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1987.Horowitch, Rose. 2025. “American Kids Can’t Do Math Anymore.” The Atlantic, November 19, 2025. Accessed December 5, 2025. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/11/math-decline-ucsd/684973/.Piper, Kelsey. 2025. “When Grades Stop Meaning Anything.” The Argument, November 18, 2025. Accessed December 5, 2025. https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/when-grades-stop-meaning-anything. theargumentmag.comRawat, Saannidhya, and Vikram K. Suresh. 2024. GPT Takes the SAT: Tracing Changes in Test Difficulty and Students’ Math Performance. SSRN Working Paper, August 3, 2024. Accessed December 5, 2025. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=4915452. SSRNSalzman, Matthew, and Tyler Cowen. 2024. “Math, SAT Scores May Be Doing Worse Than We Had Thought.” Marginal Revolution, August 2024. Accessed December 5, 2025. https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2024/08/math-sat-scores-may-be-doing-worse-than-we-had-thought.html.

Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line plus a FREE power bank while supplies last, now through February 2, with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast_CharityMobileWhat does President Trump actually want from Venezuela, and is Greenland next in line? We break down the strategic, economic, and geopolitical stakes behind the headlines. Meanwhile, priests in Charlotte are raising serious concerns and taking them directly to the Vatican. And finally, we reveal the truth behind a bizarre Hilton ICE scandal that exploded online. All this and more on the LOOPcast!Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast03:25 Venezuela + Greenland35:36 What is Trump Doing With the Hyde Amendment? 47:53 Good News55:27 Something Rare Happened in the Charlotte Diocese01:13:00 Twilight Zone01:27:28 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: [email protected] SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer Daily Prayer:Soul of Christ, sanctify me.Body of Christ, save me.Blood of Christ, inebriate me.Water from the side of Christ, wash me.Passion of Christ, strengthen me.O Good Jesus, hear me.Within your wounds hide me.Permit me not to be separated from you.From the wicked foe, defend me.At the hour of my death, call meand bid me come to youThat with your saints I may praise youFor ever and ever. Amen.All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

The United States captures Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a stunning overnight operation, sending shockwaves across the globe and raising massive questions about sovereignty, precedent, and what comes next for Venezuela. We break down how it happened, why now, and what this means for America. All this and more on the LOOPcast!Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast02:25 Operation Absolute Resolve - US Captures Maduro31:34 What’s the plan for Venezuela moving forward?38:05 Good News47:30 Twilight Zone57:21 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: [email protected] SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as New York City’s mayor in a historic and controversial inauguration—what his speech reveals about the future of progressive politics. Meanwhile, after the chaos in Minnesota, new fraud revelations continue to emerge, raising serious questions about oversight and taxpayer dollars. And finally, the New York Times appears to suddenly “discover” ICE, reigniting debate over immigration enforcement and media narratives. All this and more, LIVE on the LOOPcast.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast03:27 First Friday Devotion06:36 Zohran Mamdani Sworn In35:10 Fraud, Fraud, and More Fraud52:30 Good News1:03:27 Twilight Zone1:16:07 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: [email protected] SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.Eternal rest grant unto [MICAH JOSEPH KIM], O Lord,and let perpetual light shine upon him.May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,through the mercy of God, rest in peace.Amen 

It's been a wild ride. A recap on the biggest stories from 2025: Trump, Charlie Kirk, Pope Leo, and more! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line plus a FREE power bank while supplies last, now through February 2, with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast_CharityMobile.EMAIL US: [email protected] SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer Remember us, O God;from age to age be our comforter.You have given us the wonder of time,blessings in days and nights, seasons and years.Bless your children at the turning of the yearand fill the months ahead with the bright hopethat is ours in the coming of Christ.You are our God, living and reigning, forever and ever.Amen.All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

Erika looks back on everything she read in 2025 – American history, satire, murder mysteries, and children’s classics—while juggling motherhood, work, and ten-minute reading windows. This year-end book roundup considers what our reading habits reveal about attention, endurance, and staying human in a distracted age.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:33 - The Civil War: A Narrative — Shelby Foote2:57 - Jayber Crowe — Wendell Berry4:28 - Martyrs of the 20th Century — Robert Royal4:59 - Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West — Hampton Sides5:55 - Death Comes for the Archbishop — Willa Cather6:32 - Dominion — Tom Holland7:37 - Scoop — Evelyn Waugh8:42 - Tiger in the Smoke — Margery Allingham9:14 - Against the Machine — Paul Kingsnorth11:07 - Advent Homilies — John Henry Newman11:40 - Children’s Books (Rapid-Fire)12:59 - ConclusionSubscribe to the LOOPcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theLOOPcast

What is going on in Minnesota?! A massive fraud scandal is exposed, raising serious questions surrounding local leadership, immigration, and the use of American taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile, is #NeverTrump over? And finally, Pope Leo is “very disappointed” by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s latest decision. All this and more on the LOOPcast!Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast02:22 SERIOUS Business in Minnesota30:51 #NeverTrump is Over46:48 Good News50:41 Pope Leo Christmas + Pritzer is a Disappointment55:40 Twilight Zone1:01:33 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: [email protected] SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

Authorities say the suspect connected to the Brown and MIT shootings has been found—what we know now and what questions remain. Meanwhile, does Vivek Ramaswamy know what it means to be an American? And finally, Trump signs an executive order reclassifying marijuana. All this and more on the LOOPcast!Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast02:10 Brown and MIT Shooter Found11:03 What is an American?43:31 Good News52:12 The Weed58:40 Twilight Zone1:09:55 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: [email protected] SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior,born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of oldthat he would save us from our enemies,from the hands of all who hate us.He promised to show mercy to our fathersand to remember his holy covenant forever.This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:to set us free from the hands of our enemies,free to worship him without fear,holy and righteous in his sightall the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,to give his people knowledge of salvationby the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our Godthe dawn from on high shall break upon us,to shine on those who dwell in darkness and theshadow of death,and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Luke 1:68-79All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.

Get everything you need for your traditional home blessing — including the St. Benedict Medal, Holy Water Bottle, and more — from our friends at Holy Heroes today! https://bit.ly/TheDeep_HolyHeroesHBAmerica is suffering from a quiet estrangement crisis. One-third of adults are cutting off family, and politics and social media are fueling the divide. Is reconciliation still possible? A sober, compassionate look at loss, loyalty, and what Christmas asks of us.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro: The silent “No Contact” pandemic3:17 - What is causing so many to choose estrangement?4:50 - A change in the way we view family6:57 - Going deeper: the REAL reason people go no contact9:00 - A message for those who are estranged12:34 - You can’t just erase your family. So what do you do?Subscribe to the LOOPcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theLOOPcast

Vanity Fair goes inside the White House and delivers a piece that has us all wondering, "Why?" Meanwhile, a controversial “Lost Generation” essay ignites debate over merit, identity, and who’s been left behind in modern America. And finally, the Church enters a pivotal moment as a new bishop is named for New York. All this and more on the LOOPcast.Get your FREE PHONE as a new Charity Mobile user with every new line plus a FREE power bank while supplies last, now through February 2, with promo code LOOPCAST at https://bit.ly/LOOPcast_CharityMobileTimestamps:00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast05:25 Vanity Fair “Inside the Trump Admin”18:10 The Lost Generation56:02 Good News1:05:29 New Bishop for NY1:10:50 Twilight Zone1:21:19 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: [email protected] SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast  https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2  Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer We Pray O Lord, for the United States of America. We pray for our leaders, that they be inspired to lead according to your will. Most especially, we pray that every Catholic in America will be inspired to live out the truths of our faith in public life, and that it will lead to the renewal of our Church and country.St. Thomas More, Pray for us.St. Fidelis, Pray for us.Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.Amen.All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.