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October 30th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Marcellus the Centurion! Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu wrote on X that Israel’s election had been "stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism and the elimination of the Jewish state," alleging serious criminal offenses, including bribery, threats, violence, forgery and the use of prohibited software to mobilize voters. The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius are inviting Catholics worldwide to join the final days of their All Souls’ novena, reflecting on death, eternity, and the Church’s call to pray for the faithful departed. The novena concludes Nov. 1st. Vice President JD Vance called for an investigation into the alleged Democratic scheme to place a second Dan Sullivan on Alaska's Senate ballot, arguing that deliberately deceiving voters should be against the law. Two American Catholic universities will tip off their basketball seasons in the Eternal City on Nov. 1, with Villanova against Notre Dame. Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s election, the event also offers packages featuring a private Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and a planned papal audience. William Shatner and other Star Trek actors are publicly mourning Patrick Stewart With Picard Tributes. Patrick died on Wednesday following a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. A Vermont family says the state denied their daughter tuition assistance because she attends a Catholic school. Their lawsuit argues the exclusion violates their First Amendment right to choose a religious education. The Will County clerk’s office has confirmed to the Chicago Sun Times that “Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election.” Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 29th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Narcissus of Jerusalem! Texas Children’s Hospital, the largest pediatric hospital in the U.S., has opened the nation’s first dedicated detransition clinic, fulfilling a requirement of a settlement Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced earlier this year. The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays last night to win the World Series of baseball, 4 games to 1. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Oct. 27 proposed loosening Biden-era methane rules for oil and natural gas operations. The announcement says the changes would lower energy costs but it gives no estimate of any effect on gasoline or diesel prices. A New York man faces charges after allegedly spray-painting a gun-control website address on the 9/11 Memorial. Officials said the site was restored, with no permanent damage. A high-speed train collision in Spain killed at least 68 people and injured dozens more yesterday morning. The exact cause of the crash is under investigation, while Spain’s transport minister indicated that human error and a computer communications malfunction led to one train crashing into the back of a stationary one. In Israel’s election: Netanyahu’s bloc maintained its lead and was projected to win 53 seats, while the opposition bloc was projected to win 48 seats. Both blocs fell short of the 61 seats needed for a majority without the support of the Arab parties, which at last count had won a record-breaking combined total of 19 seats. A Michigan Catholic school and a Christian medical ministry are challenging a state law that would force them to adopt practices contrary to their faith. They are being defended by the ADF. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, has publicly acknowledged the challenges of the Vatican-China deal, saying “Itʼs not easy...the imperfections of the agreement are ⁠evident.”  Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 28th, 2026 - Happy feast of Ss. Simon & Jude! There are growing requests for Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago to reconsider his plan to honor businessman Michael J. Sacks at an Oct. 29 seminary fundraiser, citing reports that Sacks has given hundreds of thousands of dollars toward efforts to expand access to abortion in Illinois. Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon said the Justice Department plans to send about 1,000 monitors to polling places for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, describing the initiative as “the biggest DOJ election observer effort in history.” Bishop Robert Barron called for prayer for persecuted Christians and urged people to press leaders to address their persecution following separate attacks in Jordan and Ethiopia. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political bloc gained ground Wednesday morning as Israel counted votes from its first national election since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, but remained short of the majority needed to form a government, leaving the country facing another potential political deadlock. Approximately 70% of votes have been counted. At least 10 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in Spain’s Toledo province. Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 27th, 2026 - Happy feast of King St. Kaleb, or Elesbaan! The Holy See Press Office confirmed Oct. 26 that Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru will proceed as planned for Nov. 6-17. Today Israel is voting in a closely contested election that could end in another political deadlock. Netanyahu, who has dominated Israeli politics for decades, has resisted calls to accept responsibility for the security failures of October 7th or establish an independent state commission of inquiry. President Donald Trump said he directed the Justice Department to sue over potential voter confusion in Alaska’s Senate race, alleging a similarly named candidate entered to confuse Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s supporters and help Democrat Mary Peltola win. SoCal Strategies shut down its website and social media accounts when questioned on the integrity of its polling data and methodology — the second firm to be suspected of fabricating polling data in the past week. The rate of serious violent crime and property offenses fell in the U.S. in 2025 by 25% and 19%, respectively, according to preliminary findings released yesterday by the Department of Justice. Catholic Education Arizona says the state’s gubernatorial election could determine whether Arizona joins a new federal tax credit program that could expand access to Catholic schools for “underserved, disabled, and foster students.”  Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 26th, 2026 - Happy feast of Pope St. Evaristus! The Israeli military launched large-scale domestic military exercises on Sunday to counter surprise border infiltrations and ground raids across northern and central Israel, mobilizing multiple divisions and air assets amid rising regional tensions. According to the Justice Department, Instacart required American workers to mail physical job applications while allowing foreign nationals to apply for open positions online, prioritizing hiring temporary foreign workers over Americans. A federal appeals court raised concerns that a Pennsylvania township's rejection of a proposed Catholic shrine may have been influenced by its pro-life message. Although the court declined immediate relief, it found the parish likely to succeed on a key religious liberty claim. Sister Constance of the Little Sisters of the Poor is urging Catholics to defend the vulnerable as assisted suicide expands. She encourages Catholics to take concrete action, from volunteering at nursing homes to spending time with those suffering from dementia. Fox News stars Ainsley Earhardt and Sean Hannity married on Saturday at an Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, Florida. This comes months after Hannity announced that he no longer considers himself to be Catholic.  Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 23rd, 2026 - Happy feast of Ss. John of Capistrano & Theodore of Antioch! President Donald Trump warned yesterday that the United States may launch further strikes against Iran, as Washington and Israel prepare for a possible new offensive following the November midterm elections. A newly unsealed federal indictment charges Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and six others with racketeering conspiracy, marijuana distribution, money laundering, bribery-based honest services fraud, and related crimes. Former NBA player and outspoken women’s sports advocate Enes Kanter Freedom said he contacted the FBI after receiving “thousands of death threats” over his plans to attend Game 3 of the WNBA Finals Oct. 21. The FBI arrested a Texas-based teenager accused of plotting an ISIS-linked terrorist attack and targeting Republican Rep. Keith Self for assassination. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that it had issued New York a compliance warning letter over alleged failures to oversee its Medicare and Medicaid programs that provide daytime social activities to seniors, resulting in millions of dollars in fraud. Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez released a pastoral letter yesterday urging Catholics to renew their missionary calling as the Church prepares for the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparitions. A Fox News report claims that Ilhan Omar is not the congresswoman’s real name, and that she may have spent her entire life under an alias. Her real name is Ilhan Nur Said Elmi. Following medical advice after his surgery last week, Pope Leo XIV will not travel to Assisi on Oct. 27 for a gathering marking the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened by St. John Paul II.  Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 22nd, 2026 - Happy feast of Pope St. John Paul II! The Trump administration has ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as deadly Houthi attacks intensify across the kingdom, raising the stakes as President Donald Trump weighs direct military action against the Iran-backed group. The Supreme Court of the United States on Oct. 21 rejected an appeal from the Trump administration to allow a Federal Bureau of Prisons to enforce a policy prohibiting inmates from undergoing sex-rejecting procedures or receiving hormones. Wedgewood Polls confessed that it had fabricated the results of 17 polls since June, claiming that its fraudulent data was an “experimental project” aimed at exposing the lack of verification processes in the polling industry and mainstream media. Pope Leo XIV will not require further cancer treatment following his Oct. 13 surgery, his doctors confirmed. Christians in Taybeh, the last entirely Christian town in the West Bank, urged visiting U.S. diplomats to turn concern over Israeli settler violence into concrete protections for residents, warning that preserving churches alone will not ensure families can remain in their homeland. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., dismissed longstanding allegations that she married her brother for immigration purposes as "insane" during a Wednesday interview, while saying she was unaware of any familial relationship with her former husband. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith today published “Venite Ad Me (Come to Me): Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” The introduction begins: “Jesus is the true light of the world, and whoever believes in him, the living Risen One, overcomes the darkness of death and lives by the light of life. This is the faith of the Church, and this is the faith that every believer is called to spread to the ends of the earth. This task, the transmission of the faith under today’s sociocultural conditions, is at the heart of these Considerations.”  Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 21st, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Hilarion, St. Ursula & Companions, and Emperor Bl. Karl of Austria! Shortened episode today, with Sarah out sick. The Social Security Administration announced on Tuesday that it has completed “the most comprehensive” cleanup of the agency’s records in its 91-year history. According to the Social Security Administration, this cleanup has involved adding 17 million “dates of death” to Social Security records that previously lacked this vital detail. Italy is moving to deploy 500 troops with expanded police powers following a weekend of violent riots, taking a more direct military approach to public security than France, where weeks of unrest have prompted authorities to bolster their security response. Washington state is moving to revise its foster care rules after a Christian couple’s lawsuit secured a court order barring the state from categorically excluding families from consideration for placements because of their religious beliefs about marriage, gender, or sexual relationships. The protections stem from a lawsuit brought by Shane and Jennifer DeGross of Port Orchard, whose foster care license renewal was blocked after nine years of fostering. In May, Washington agreed to a permanent injunction resolving their challenge to the state’s licensing requirements. About a dozen members of the Camas High School female cross-country team walked off the course at a league meet rather than race alongside a transgender teammate, a protest that has drawn national attention ahead of a statewide vote on girls’ sports. The policy letting the male athlete compete on the female team is a statewide athletic association rule backed by state law. Washington voters will decide in November on Initiative 638, which would change the law. Florida has secured a state arrest warrant charging former Cuban president Raúl Castro with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection with the 1996 downing of two civilian planes flown by Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based exile group that searched for Cuban migrants at sea. The state case follows a federal indictment announced in May over the same incident.  Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 20th, 2026 - Happy feasts of Ss. John Cantius & Paul of the Cross! President Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday establishing the White House Women’s Health Task Force to improve research and care for women and girls’ health from infancy through adulthood, highlighting critical aspects related to women’s health, such as endometriosis, cancer, and infertility. The initiative is spearheaded by First Lady Melania Trump. Israeli police arrested 10 suspects after violent Israeli settler attacks seriously injured Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine and targeted European diplomats in the West Bank, prompting U.S. demands for prosecution. Katie Zacharia has left her role as White House press secretary days after taking office, following scrutiny of her first briefing and legal credentials. Trump described the media’s treatment of her as unfair and said he was in “no rush” to name a replacement. France is imposing curfews in select cities in an attempt to bring about an overnight calm, following days of violent protests. French police arrested a member of a far-left group this morning as part of their investigation into the fire that ravaged the city hall of Limoges [Lim-ozhe]. A Canadian ISIS terrorist already serving 40 years for plotting mass-casualty attacks in New York City was sentenced on Monday to another 50 years after stabbing two federal corrections officers in an attack that left one without his right eye. Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 19th, 2026 - Happy feasts of St. Peter of Alcántara, the North American Martyrs, and St. Paul of the Cross! Just a few days after undergoing lung cancer surgery, Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace window yesterday and thanked the faithful for their prayers. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned widespread rioting that has resulted in thousands of arrests, while American leaders pointed to France as a warning against mass immigration. The French Prime Minister has confirmed that the far-left is behind most of the riots. A unanimous appeals panel ordered a lower court to block California from enforcing a state law that requires federal law enforcement officers to visibly display ID while on duty. The ruling marks a setback for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is pressing major medical organizations to explain the evidence behind their support for sex-rejecting procedures for children. The latest demand gives groups 10 business days to respond. Footage shows Tucson officers informing preacher David Hoffman that asking passersby about Jesus constitutes prohibited "sermonizing," ordering him out of a public Christmas event under threat of arrest. Two people, including a 6-year-old boy, were killed and 11 others injured after a truck drove through a youth soccer game in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday afternoon. Police are still investigating the incident. Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 16th, 2026 - Happy feast of Ss. Hedwig of Silesia and Gerard Majella! Shortened show again today. Two days after Pope Leo XIV underwent lung surgery, the Pope’s personal physician, joined by the head of the surgical team that operated on the Pontiff, said that “overall, his postoperative recovery is progressing normally.” Catholic bishops across four states are asking for prayers as they continue to rally the faithful ahead of ballot initiative votes that would reshape abortion policies in their states. “Tell your readership how important it is to be praying for the dioceses that are facing this, what I would describe as a very diabolical initiative,” Las Vegas Archbishop George Leo Thomas told EWTN News. On Nov. 3, the public in three states will vote on referendums to establish a “right” to abortion: Nevada, Virginia, and Idaho. In Missouri, people will vote on a pro-life referendum that would repeal the state’s constitutional right to abortion. Bishops in each state have advocated against abortion for months. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu officially declared that the ongoing riots are no longer a student movement. The French government will no longer treat the riots as "student protests" but as "urban violences". The previously announced execution by firing squad will not be livestreamed for the Fort Hood terrorist, who fatally shot 14 people, including the unborn child of a pleading female soldier, while wounding dozens of others back in 2009. Now, the execution will proceed as scheduled, though only the immediate families of the victims will be permitted to attend in person, President Trump stated Thursday morning on Truth Social. In its unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that Section 10 of the state’s No Vigilantes Act violates the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which specifies that federal law supersedes state law.  Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 14th, 2026 - Happy feast of Pope St. Callixtus I! Shortened episode today. The Vatican announced this morning that Pope Leo XIV “had a peaceful night” after having surgery yesterday. Doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung and confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a sort of lung cancer. The Vatican also announced that further information regarding the pope’s health would be provided later today. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday confirmed that Ukraine's security partners had not warned Kyiv of Russia's attacks on the country over the weekend. His remarks come as President Donald Trump has feuded with Zelensky over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities. Trump has claimed to have negotiated a deal with Russia to inject diesel into global markets, hoping to stabilize prices. Anita Meston, 63, is pursuing a discrimination claim against Biddick Academy in Sunderland. ADF International is supporting her claim. During a discussion about the moral questions surrounding military conflict, when one student asked whether she was “pro-abortion,” Meston responded that she was “pro-life.” The day after the March history lesson, Meston was called to a meeting with the school’s headteacher and informed that a complaint had been made about the lesson. The headteacher told Meston that she could not express personal views in the classroom and that her contract would be terminated. U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle confirmed her departure from the position in a social media post yesterday, in which she said that her time in the role was "coming to an end." The White House announced that it had asked her to leave yesterday morning, amid a scandal involving her allegedly seeking $100,000 to pay off a credit card bill. Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 13th, 2026 - Happy feast of King St. Edward the Confessor & Our Lady of Fatima! NATO's top military commander warned Monday that what he called the "lethal alliance" would destroy "anything and everything" supporting an attack on allied territory and "break" enemy warfighting systems to thwart any potential future Russian assault. Pope Leo XIV is undergoing surgery to remove a small, localized nodule discovered on one of his lungs during a routine health check. He is being admitted to Rome's Hospital today. Reports indicate that President Donald Trump has privately expressed “misgivings” about the Pentagon’s plan to livestream the Dec. 3 execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad. Richmond Bishop Barry Knestout urged Virginians to reject the state’s pro-abortion amendment Nov. 3, calling a “no” vote “clear Christian witness” and defending the Church’s opposition as a moral responsibility. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched the next phase of a federal program providing newborn and postpartum essentials to families, including diapers, breastfeeding supplies, and maternal health resources. Federal agents searched Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home in a criminal investigation reportedly involving alleged immigration fraud tied to documents her father completed during her childhood. Over 122,000 Florida customers remained without power as of last night after Hurricane Isaiahs ripped through over the weekend, claiming the lives of four people in Florida and Alabama. Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 9th, 2026 - Happy feast of Ss. Denis, John Henry Newman, John Leonardi and more! The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re from the office of Dean of the College of Cardinals. Pope Leo also approved the election of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the new Dean of the College of Cardinals. The election was carried out by the Cardinals of the Order of Bishops. Tagle reportedly won that election against Cardinals Parolin, Ouellet, Sandri, and Filoni. The FDA expects to complete its safety review of the abortion drug mifepristone by March 2027, prompting pro-life advocates to demand immediate in-person safeguards. Vice President JD Vance announced investigations into nine universities, including Harvard and Yale, over allegations they used foreign researcher visas to undercut American workers’ wages. The FBI arrested an 18-year-old Minnesota man accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting set for later this month at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Authorities say he planned to kill 30 to 60 people before agents intervened. Months after the Obama Presidential Center opened, workers are seeking to unionize over concerns about workloads and benefits. In a letter to Republican lawmakers, Democrat-aligned campaign fundraising giant ActBlue pledged to implement a passport verification program, an announcement that Republicans have said amounts to a confession that ActBlue violated federal law and likely allowed foreign actors to influence American elections. The Trump administration mailed $500 checks last week to people who live in the 30 states that use Healthcare.gov for their insurance marketplace. Qualifying people are those who use the healthcare marketplace but do not receive taxpayer subsidies. Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org

October 8th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Bridget of Sweden! President Donald Trump emphasized the need to defend American cities against potential Iranian aggression Wednesday, warning of catastrophic consequences if Tehran were to obtain a nuclear weapon. Some news outlets then reported that he was threatening left-leaning cities. Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike is awake and speaking after surviving a failed lethal injection attempt. A judge ordered execution evidence preserved Oct. 7 as her attorneys continue seeking clemency. FOCUS has unanimously selected Jonathan Reyes as its next chief executive officer. A co-founder of the Augustine Institute, Reyes returns to the missionary organization where he once helped form Catholics to share the faith. President Donald Trump urged Texans to elect Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton and preserve GOP control of Congress amid polls showing Democratic opponent James Talarico ahead in the toss-up race. Pope Leo XIV will join religious leaders from around the world in Assisi Oct. 27 to pray for peace. The visit marks 40 years since Pope John Paul II’s infamous visit. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will elect a conference secretary and leaders for six committees at its Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore next month. Bishop Emeritus Frank Dewane, who led the Diocese of Venice in Florida for nearly two decades until his retirement earlier this year, died yesterday at 76 years old. Rise Right is a live morning program hosted by Sarah Cain & Jakob Martin Kraft, designed to help Catholics begin their day grounded in faith, clarity, and peace. The goal is simple: help listeners start their day well. Stay rooted in prayer, informed about the world, and able to face each day with joy and reason. RiseRight.org