Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: An encounter with Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete; minimum wage in Fresno; an unhelpful primer on Puerto Rico statehood; Canadians and American tourists.

Distinctly Catholic: We may not know the "how" that motivated Donald Trump when he called his followers to march on the Capitol, but we know the "what": He wanted to overturn the results of the election.

Distinctly Catholic: The problem with loan forgiveness and free tuition is they are not universal, because millions of Americans do not go to college, either because they do not qualify or because they have no interest.

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Politico details a Biden administration plan to "punish" opposition to the COVID-19 relief bill; The Post on what Trump did, said Jan. 6.

Distinctly Catholic: Donald Trump's second impeachment trial has begun. Already it is harder to tell which is more remarkable: the frightening facts of the case, or the rhetorical gymnastics of Trump's defenders.

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Stacey Abrams sounds like the pope; going big on COVID-19 relief; January jobs numbers; Pennsylvania's leftie populist; SNL takes aim at cancel culture.

Distinctly Catholic: You can spot a Vatican II follower quite easily. Like those early Christians, they display wonderment at the amazing claim at the heart of our faith, the Crucified lives, the tomb is empty. That is why Francis is so appealing, is it not?

Distinctly Catholic: President Joe Biden's pledge that he "will not settle" for an inadequate COVID-19 response indicates that he understands the American people deserve a solution.

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Biden must deal with Putin; Newsmax reaches its limit with Trump; John Sweeney strengthened ties between organized labor and Catholicism

Distinctly Catholic: Politicians are famous for their willingness to shade the truth in order to preserve their power, but the problem for Republicans is that they do not know how much further off the deep end the former president will yet go.

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Kansas City Chiefs' lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif changed his ideas about heroes; Chaucer under financial strain; anti-government party tries to govern

Distinctly Catholic: Catholicism is a set of beliefs to which we are called to give assent, but the rich life of the Catholic faith is so much more than that. It is "here comes everybody," left, right or center.

Distinctly Catholic: How to say this gently? The pro-life movement is the worst thing to happen to the pro-life cause. But that does not let pro-choice Democrats or our new Catholic president off the hook.

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Kaveny's splendid tribute to Foster; build back a more just economy, or risk a return to Trumpism; a successful effort against gentrification in D.C.

Distinctly Catholic: George Weigel's praise of Archbishop Gomez's churlish Inauguration Day statement invites historical comparison to the 17th-century threat of Jansenism. Weigel is flirting with the stuff of schism.

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Sen. Rand Paul won't say the election wasn't stolen; Sen. Josh Hawley howls about being silenced while on front page; our national hymn, a discussion

Distinctly Catholic: Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States explains the context of this hopeful moment when President Biden and Pope Francis can make common cause on several issues. Get this book.

Distinctly Catholic: President Joe Biden's inaugural address was a better articulation of Catholic ideas about governance than any recent document from the U.S. bishops' conference.

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Hopeful ideas for the singular task of politics today; Ohio's former attorney general urges the new president to go big

Commentary: Donald Trump had no grasp of the value of democracy and no ability to employ the symbolic power of his job to fulfill his responsibility as head of state. Joe Biden needs to fill that void.