Rise Right

September 15th, 2026 - Blessed feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady! Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge instructed priests at every Mass to read a letter addressing what he called the “extreme” and “dangerous” abortion and same-sex marriage amendments on Virginia’s ballot this November, encouraging Catholics to vote against the measures. Pope Leo XIV’s 71st birthday yesterday was marked with well wishes from around the world and a visit to the Vatican Apostolic Library. According to the parents, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families took custody of their daughter after they objected to the local high school’s covert “gender transition” efforts, referring to the teenage girl as a boy. In an off-the-cuff remark, President Trump suggested that he likes Flock cameras for their aid to law enforcement efforts. The Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to restrict mail ballots for the midterm elections, capping a flurry of last-minute legal action with voting already underway. GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky returned to Capitol Hill yesterday for the first time in three months, ending a prolonged absence that sparked widespread speculation about his health. The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Common Cents Act in a unanimous vote yesterday. In addition to blocking the Treasury from minting any more pennies except for collector coins, the bill would also set up a framework for cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest 5 cents, in order to eliminate the need for pennies altogether.  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

September 14th, 2026 - Happy feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross! President Donald Trump said yesterday that China "spies on us" just as "we spy on them," following a report that Chinese entities provided Iran with satellite imagery before a deadly missile attack that killed three U.S. troops. Rep. Chris Smith is slated to chair an upcoming congressional hearing, centered on the imprisonment of media tycoon and Catholic Jimmy Lai, who was recently convicted of treason against the Chinese Communist Party. A coalition of pro-family organizations warned Senators Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt that the current language in the Protect College Sports Act could undermine state laws protecting female athletes from competing against biological males. In Nigeria, roughly 200 armed Fulani guerillas attacked the village of Ayilamo in Benue State, leaving four police officers and at least seven Christian civilians dead, including two children. A father in the state of Washington is suing his son’s school district alongside the Alliance Defending Freedom, after he was denied the option to remove his son from LGBT instruction. Members of the Legion of Mary, a lay Catholic apostolate, attended Mass celebrated by Father Kyle Rosser, before he led them in procession through downtown Cleveland, OH.  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

September 11th, 2026 - Blessed feast of St. Jean-Gabriel Perboyre! Today marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Please pray for the souls of those lost and for the continued healing of first responders and those who lost loved ones that day. The Knights of Columbus is marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by remembering 46 members killed that day — including 12 firefighters, six law enforcement officers, and an elevator mechanic, who ran toward the towers to help others escape. Dr. Chad Pecknold, a prominent Catholic theologian and longtime professor at The Catholic University of America, was appointed the principal director of public outreach for DHS’ Office of Public Engagement. The foreign ministers of 12 nations, including the U.K., France, Canada, Spain, and Poland, issued a joint statement condemning “unprecedented levels of settler violence” in the West Bank and pledging restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements. Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico said he would “absolutely” vote for a national ban on “transgender” surgeries for minors and now says “there are two” sexes, walking back a 2021 claim that modern science recognized six. The shift comes in the final stretch of a dead-heat race against Attorney General Ken Paxton. New York recorded a 200% surge in the number of homeschooled children in the 2025-26 school year — more than three times the number 15 years earlier. 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

September 10th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentino! A planned memorial at Utah Valley University on the one-year anniversary of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination has already sparked student protests. Students for a Democratic Society said that the university's approval of the memorial provides endorsement to the political and moral views of Turning Point USA. Nearly 45,000 people are expected to attend Ven. Fulton Sheen’s beatification in St. Louis, MO. Tickets are still available. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) crossed party lines yesterday to address Republicans at the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, describing himself as a “common-sense Democrat” who rejects socialism and anti-American extremism. Oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit saw judges press both Louisiana and attorneys for abortion pill manufacturers on issues of standing. Louisiana argues that the FDA’s rules currently allow out-of-state abortionists to violate Louisiana’s laws. President Trump said that he would offer every adult American a $5000 payout if Republicans win both chambers of Congress in the November midterms. It’s a plan that would cost $1.3 Trillion.  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

September 9th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Peter Claver! The U.S. military struck five Iranian tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in response to attempted attacks by the IRGC on an American warship, according to U.S. Central Command. The new strikes on the Iranian tankers come after the IRGC attempted to hit an American aircraft carrier and a destroyer over the weekend. A court ordered 40yo Corie Walsh to remain detained after she allegedly hanged her toddler. Witnesses said that Walsh had “recently become very invested” in the high-profile trial of Lindsay Clancy. In response to U.S. tariffs, the Canadian government imposed tariffs of up to 50% on an estimated $20 billion worth of U.S.-produced goods, including steel and aluminum, dairy, wood and paper products, and others. In an effort to clear out a massive backlog of asylum claims, the DHS reportedly directed its attorneys to seek the dismissal of legally deficient asylum claims even before they proceed to full hearings in court. Bishop John Keenan of the Diocese of Paisley (in Scotland) urged political leaders to show both mothers and their unborn children compassion and support, rather than simply offering frightened mothers abortion. The Scottish government is reportedly weighing liberalizing late-term abortions. Authorities said yesterday that key braking systems did not deploy during Sunday’s deadly plane crash in which an Amazon cargo jet overran the runway at Miami International Airport and struck two vehicles, killing five people. Closing arguments are set for Sept. 17 in a nearly three-year-old California lawsuit against two pro-life pregnancy organizations, capping a six-week bench trial in which testimony repeatedly undercut the state’s own case against abortion pill reversal.  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

September 8th, 2026 - Happy feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Washington is moving to increase diplomatic pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program as Iran threatens a new Persian Gulf exclusion zone and warns it has “fundamentally recalibrated” its posture toward U.S. warships and bases. After being escorted out of a home game by security personnel, former National Basketball Association player Enis Kanter has alleged that the Chicago Sky violated his First Amendment rights because of his advocacy for women’s sports, prompting a lawsuit. Continuing the tradition of his predecessor, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Ronald Hicks of the Archdiocese of New York will celebrate a special liturgy at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sept. 11 to mourn the lives lost in the 2001 terrorist attack. After his deportation to the UK last week, Milo Yiannapoulos and a London Imam have been insinuating his conversion to Islam. This morning, U.S. forces sank a floating refueling vessel used by an Ecuadorian organized crime ring. Officials say the refueling vessel was used for “at-sea drug trafficking operations.” In case you missed it: A mistrial was declared in the Lindsay Clancy case on Friday. 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

September 7th, 2026 - Please join Jake and Sarah in discussing the history and meaning of Labor Day in the United States in the context of "Catholic Social Teaching" and Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. 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

September 4th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Rosalia! A judge has again told the deadlocked jury in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial to keep trying to reach a verdict after a dramatic sixth day of deliberations in a case that has gripped America. There was audible shock in the room when the defence team asked for the holdout juror to be removed, a request that was denied by the judge. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Moscow tomorrow, and Kiev the day after. August marked the third consecutive month that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has broken its previous record for the highest number of monthly arrests. Approximately 51,000 illegal aliens were arrested over the course of August. Republican gubernatorial candidate John James pledged to opt Michigan into the Education Freedom Tax Credit, which gives donors a tax break for supporting state-approved scholarship funds. The Office of Legal Counsel issued a new opinion determining that a federal statute governing welfare funds actually requires all participating states and any state or local agencies to cooperate with federal law enforcement in identifying illegal aliens. The share of Americans who agree that a man and a woman who have a child together should be married to each other is at its highest point since 2013, a Gallup survey found. A former librarian who identifies as transgender is asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to approve a discrimination lawsuit against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for requiring employees to adhere to Catholic moral teachings on sex and biology.  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

September 3rd, 2026 - Happy feasts of Ss. Pius X and Gregory the Great! The Lindsay Clancy jury was dismissed for the day yesterday after again failing to reach a verdict following five days of deliberations. Jurors are expected to return this morning to continue deliberating. New York Assistant Attorney General Daniel Wiesenfeld alleged in an email that Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, and her deputies had ordered Wiesenfeld to aggressively investigate and pursue charges against then-candidate Donald Trump, his family, and his allies. The Florida Department of Transportation on Aug. 31 announced a 30-day deadline for removing Flock cameras and other license plate readers from state roads and highways. New numbers from the British government reveal that more than 100 children have been referred to a special victims unit focusing on forced marriages. Nearly 30 of those children were under the age of 5. The increase in forced marriages follows reports of Muslim immigrants abducting and marrying underage girls. The Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict and St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged joined a lawsuit filed by the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne against New York’s Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and her administration, seeking relief from a mandate requiring the religious sisters to house hospice and elder care patients in rooms according to their “gender identities." A federal judge has dismissed a major Department of Justice lawsuit against California, paving the way for biological males to keep competing in girls' sports. The DOJ has confirmed they will appeal the decision. 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

September 2nd, 2026 - Happy feast of King St. Stephen of Hungary! Iran retaliated against new U.S. strikes overnight, launching missiles and drones toward U.S. positions in the region in defiance of President Donald Trump’s warning yesterday that such actions would see Iran “hit again at a much harder and higher level.” Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, will stand trial after a Utah judge ruled yesterday that prosecutors presented enough evidence to move forward on all seven charges against him. Robinson pled not guilty to all charges. The judge is also allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty. The jury in the Lindsey Clancy trial announced that it was deadlocked yesterday; the judge told them to keep trying. A squadron of four congressional Democrats introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to formally condemn socialism and the Democratic Socialists of America in particular. The Justice Department sued the Kansas City school district for allegedly violating federal law and hiding students’ “gender transitions” from parents. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said that a recent airplane-banner stunt promoting mail-order abortion pills may have been illegal. The U.S.-China Catholic Association rescinded its invitation for Purdue University professor and vocal Chinese government critic Fenggang Yang to speak at the group’s annual conference, with New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith alleging that the Chinese government pressed for Yang’s removal. 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

September 1st, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Giles! ICE confirmed that Milo Yiannapoulis was deported back to the UK only one day after his arrest. Following a thorough investigation into the creation of the 2023 memo labeling traditionalist Catholics as possible domestic terrorists, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that the FBI Richmond field office spied on and tracked priests, coordinated with other field offices to target Catholics, and grossly misrepresented Catholic teachings. The Department of Transportation teamed up with the Department of Homeland Security to shut down 110 commercial trucking schools across the country for failing to adhere to English language proficiency standards and issuing commercial licenses to illegal aliens. In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court approved of President Donald Trump’s ongoing construction of a ballroom over what used to be the East Wing of the White House. In a religious liberty victory, Michigan agreed not to penalize counselors for talk therapy to help minors struggling with “gender identity” issues to accept their biological sex. The Diocese of Richmond’s Bishop Barry Knestout urged Catholics in Old Dominion to reject what he called an “extreme” proposed constitutional amendment to codify a “right” to abortion in Virginia Pope Leo XIV has named a third Chinese bishop in three months, the sixth episcopal consecration during Leo’s pontificate amid implementation of the Vatican-Beijing agreement. 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

August 31st, 2026 - August 31st, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus! Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh said that the central bank’s goal is to bring inflation down to 2% but warned that heightened interest rates may continue if price pressures do not ease. Nepal’s flooding and mudslides result in at least 900 dead and over 4,000 missing. Please pray for those relief efforts, and for the souls of those lost. Google Maps has officially changed Lake Ontario to Lake America, following the Trump Administration’s announcement last week. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged that Apple had denied a Jewish employee’s request not to work on the Sabbath and fired him when he complained. Apple has settled the case. A record number of people at Harvard joined the Catholic Church, with 85 being confirmed. Harvard University’s undergraduate chaplain, Father Nathaniel Sanders, described the record number of converts as part of a years-long growing interest in the Catholic faith on campus. George Russell Isbell Jr. was sentenced to nearly one year in jail after mailing podcast host Benny Johnson a letter saying that Johnson and his family should “be exterminated,” in addition to other violent threats. The regional government of Castile and León in Spain highlighted the beatification cause of Queen Isabella during a meeting with the president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference. 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

August 28th, 2026 - Jake and Sarah delve into the life and work of St. Augustine, including two newly discovered sermons. 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

August 27th, 2026 - Jake and Sarah interview Fr. Robert McTeigue of the Society of Jesus, host of The Catholic Current. 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

August 26th, 2026 - Jake and Sarah interview Adele Keim of the Becket Fund on a lawsuit by Catholic nuns against New York State. 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

August 25th, 2026 - Jake and Sarah interview Austin Ruse of Crisis Magazine on his new book, Not Just for Kings. 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

August 24th, 2026 - Jake and Sarah interview Fr. Cory Catron on being a parish priest and a Benedictine oblate. 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

August 21st, 2026 - Happy feasts of Ss. Jane Frances de Chantal and Pope Pius X! Click here to learn more about Elisius Salt. North Korea carried out its third round of ballistic missile tests this month yesterday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, as President Trump says he plans to meet with Kim Jong Un in December. It has been revealed that the FBI seized former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s electronic devices at San Francisco airport and from his Washington, D.C., home last weekend as part of a probe into sexual misconduct allegations. A sixth major hack occurred yesterday in France. Alaxione, a medical platform, had all its 6.8M files stolen and exposed online. The files contain the identities of citizens alongside insurance information and medical conditions. At this point, almost every single French citizen's personal information is available online. The FBI arrested a woman yesterday who allegedly pledged herself to ISIS and planned to bomb the New York Capitol in Albany. The bishop who oversees the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France has said the popular Catholic pilgrimage site will cover all of its mosaics by disgraced priest Father Marko Rupnik. 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

August 20th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux! Sarah and Jake welcome Fr. Cory Catron, parish priest and Benedictine oblate, to discuss our great saint of the day. 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

August 19th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. John Eudes! Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds has won the Republican nomination for Florida governor. Meanwhile, the winning Democrat nominee, David Jolly, has explicitly distanced himself from socialism after a DSA candidate won a Florida senate nomination. A former senior adviser to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci pleaded guilty Tuesday to plotting to conceal federal records. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday new sanctions against the International Criminal Court’s President and Senior Trial Lawyer. Democrats and pro-LGBT groups are preparing a decade-long campaign to reverse public opposition to the “transgender” agenda by promoting personal stories intended to sway voters and investing millions of dollars in political campaigns. Baby Gabriel, whose surrogate mother carried him to term after refusing his biological parents’ request for an abortion, recently underwent the first of three planned surgeries for his heart condition. 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

August 18th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Helena! President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of a US deal with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz and called for Tehran to surrender yesterday. House Speaker Mike Johnson declared yesterday that he believes Republicans will grow their majority in Congress in November amid an increase in far-left democratic socialist candidates nationwide. The Supreme Court has rejected President Donald Trump’s petition asking them to reconsider their earlier refusal to review the E. Jean Carroll verdict. Thieves stole four works attributed to Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina worth millions of euros from a regional museum in Sicily over the weekend. On Saturday, the feast of the Assumption, the Catholic Church in Poland dedicated the largest statue of the Virgin Mary in Europe. 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

August 17th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Hyacinth! President Trump has instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to “scale back” joint military exercises with South Korea, expressing dissatisfaction with their level of support for the U.S. Newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated he does not think the FBI should take over the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case, though federal authorities continue to provide assistance. In a statement defending her decision to sign radically pro-abortion legislation into law, a spokesperson for Democratic Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey called Healey “a proud Catholic” as context for her support of the bill. A Russian missile strike has damaged the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kharkiv. Four states are taking Meta to trail in California this week, accusing the social media giant of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that get children addicted to its platforms.  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

August 14th, 2026 - Hapy feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe! Springfield Bishop Thomas John Paprocki and multiple religious healthcare providers are suing Illinois over a new law they say would force them to discuss, promote, and facilitate assisted suicide despite their religious convictions. The Justice Department announced that an investigation into the California female prison system has found that it allegedly failed to keep female prisoners safe from sexual abuse and harassment by staff. Former Biden administration aide Michael LaRosa, a lifelong Democrat, is backing Republican Mike Rogers over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, citing concerns about El-Sayed’s ties to progressive streamer Hasan Piker and his unwillingness to confront extremist rhetoric. The Texas surrogate who refused the intended parents’ request to abort their unborn child, McKenna West, gave birth yesterday to a baby boy who is now receiving treatment for a serious heart condition. Dr. Christina Francis, a board-certified OBGYN, is pushing back against Massachusetts’ new abortion law, arguing that third-trimester abortions are medically unnecessary and can put mothers at risk. The White House has released a comprehensive report detailing "The Great Transshipment Scam," a system where Chinese exporters route goods through third-party countries to evade U.S. tariffs. The practice costs the U.S. $19 billion to $26 billion in annual revenue. President Donald Trump’s name is returning to the Kennedy Center. Yesterday, the center’s board of trustees voted to add an inscription bearing President Trump’s name back on the front of the performing arts center in the nation’s capital.  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

August 13th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Jan Berchmans! White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced yesterday that she will leave the Trump administration at the end of August, saying she wants to spend more time with her children. Boston Archbishop Richard Henning condemned Massachusetts’ newly enacted law allowing abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy and urged the faithful to continue defending unborn life. Following nearly seven hours of jury deliberations, Australian Bishop Christopher Saunders, 76, was convicted of abusing two young men. He will be sentenced at a later date. After narrowly defeating democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin's Aug. 11 Democratic gubernatorial primary, nominee David Crowley said he would campaign alongside his former rival on a statewide “unity tour” aimed at reuniting the party's progressive and establishment wings. The State Department announced that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals under President Donald Trump, citing criminal activity, calls for violence against Americans, fraud, abuse of the immigration system, and threats to national security. Former Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) intelligence director Heidi Beirich was arrested Aug. 12 in California on federal fraud and money laundering charges stemming from allegations that she helped oversee secret payments to informants inside white supremacist groups. Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics during his General Audience yesterday to reclaim Sunday as the Lord’s Day, emphasizing that the Eucharist draws the faithful into Christ’s Resurrection and directs them toward the hope of his return. He called Sunday the “weekly Easter.” After the Diocese of Oakland asked one of its Catholic high schools to remove pride flags displayed on campus, the school replaced them with a new rainbow-colored "Inclusive O" symbol meant to affirm its “LGBTQ+” community. An Apache attack helicopter based at Fort Hood crashed into a field in Salado, Texas, yesterday afternoon, bursting into flames and killing the two soldiers on board. Please pray for the soldiers and their loved ones. 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

August 12th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Clare! Among other primary results yesterday, Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell and DSA candidate Francesca Hong lost their respective primaries in surprising upsets. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured an emergency court order ensuring an unborn baby, whose intended parents requested an abortion after he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition, will receive life-saving care. The surrogate mother refused to abort the baby. Pope Leo XIV confirmed Cardinal Reinhard Marx in his position as coordinator of the Council for the Economy, a position he has held since 2014. The Pontiff also appointed eight new members to the Council: four of them cardinals and four of them laity, including Princess Gisela of Liechtenstein. Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan’s Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate earlier this month, removed at least 100 YouTube videos — including one in which he called for an end to 4th of July fireworks and another floating the elimination of the Second Amendment — from his channel ahead of launching his campaign. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said yesterday that federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program funds will no longer pay for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or “transgender” surgeries performed on children. Father Benedict Chao, the last Trappist monk exiled from China during Mao-era communist persecution, died at age 108 after 79 years of religious life. He helped reestablish the Abbey of Our Lady of Joy in Hong Kong after communist persecution displaced his community from its original monastery. Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery said that Moscow may be providing Beijing with technology to make its submarines harder for the U.S. Navy to detect, potentially eroding a key military advantage in the tensions over Taiwan. 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

August 11th, 2026 - Happy feasts of Ss. Clare & Philomena! A federal judge reopened a challenge brought by Christian counselor Brian Tingley to Washington's “conversion therapy” ban, which he argues violates his free-speech rights by preventing him from helping young clients address unwanted same-sex attraction or discomfort with their sex. Newly released text messages show Dr. Anthony Fauci privately acknowledged a concern in January 2021 about miscarriage following COVID-19 vaccination weeks before publicly saying regulators had found “no red flags” for vaccination during pregnancy. At least 100 people were killed after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, collapsing dozens of buildings, damaging a historic Catholic cathedral, and leaving residents trapped beneath rubble. Rescue operations are underway to recover survivors, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration stands ready to support the country. A New York judge yesterday temporarily blocked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s secondary residence tax after homeowners sued over the city’s handling of the program. Israel’s military declared Taybeh, the last entirely Christian town in the West Bank, a closed military zone Aug. 9, barring Israeli settlers and other non-residents from entering the area. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America warned that a Massachusetts bill that could allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. 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

August 10th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Lawrence! Todd Blanche was confirmed as the U.S. Attorney General. The White House says it's not bothered that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects the Trump-mediated 15-point Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal. Syria and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding under which Russian military installations in Syria will be transformed into joint Syrian-Russian training and qualification centers. Hunter Biden says former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has metastasized into his bones "and further," causing severe pain and leaving him debilitated in many respects. The 83 year old is nevertheless planning to release his memoir after the midterms. Former NBA first-round pick and Minnesota Republican Senate candidate Royce White says he will join Enes Kanter Freedom in declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft in order to force the league to define “woman” in its entry criteria. Following Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Leo XIV called for humanitarian corridors and an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, then mourned multiplying civilian deaths — including children — in Ukraine and Russia. At a political event attended by one of India’s chief ministers, speakers reportedly called for called for the state to be made “church-free” and demanded restrictions on people they labeled “infidels.” 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

August 7th, 2026 - Happy feast of Ss. Cajetan and Pope Sixtus II! President Donald Trump signed two executive orders yesterday that attempt to restrict birthright citizenship and end the practice of “birth tourism," in hopes of circumventing a recent Supreme Court decision. Anthony Fauci was held in contempt of Congress yesterday, in a vote of 8-7. Senator Rand Paul then announced that the recommendation of charges had been sent to the DOJ. A Thai teenager killed at least five people and himself at a school outside Bangkok on Friday after fatally shooting his grandparents, police ‌said, in the Southeast Asian nation's worst mass killing since 2022. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn won Tennessee's Republican nomination for governor yesterday. The White House has launched Fraud.gov, a searchable ledger cataloging nearly $230 billion in estimated fraud uncovered since January 2025, plus $56.4 billion in annual fraudulent payments stopped and $55.5 billion tied to enforcement actions. A federal judge has formally confirmed that her order blocking the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians is no longer in effect. OpenAI has agreed to a $3.2M settlement over its alleged anti-American hiring practices. A Johns Hopkins researcher says roughly 3 million U.S. students — about 6% of the K–12 population — are now homeschooled, with enrollment still growing at more than twice its pre-COVID pace. The 37-year-old Spokane man arrested for arson this week has allegedly confessed to starting dozens of wildfires across Spokane County over a year-long period. 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

August 6th, 2026 - Happy feast of the Transfiguration! Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index rose seven points to -31 in July, continuing its rebound from a May low of -45. But 67% of Americans still say the economy is worsening. Democratic consultant Paul Rivera says the party omitted an entire chapter from its 2024 election autopsy questioning President Joe Biden’s reelection bid and asking whether wealthy operatives had lost touch with ordinary voters. A Catholic Church was attacked in NYC by a man with a hammer, who was caught on video surveillance. The NYPD Hate Crime task force is investigating. Former Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has launched Empowering America’s Parents, which plans a multimillion-dollar campaign urging holdout states to join President Donald Trump’s Education Freedom Tax Credit. The Antilles Episcopal Conference warns that separating gender from biological sex treats the body as meaningless and obscures its sacramental purpose. Calling for truth joined to compassion, the bishops urged parents and educators to teach young people that “the human body is good, sexual difference is sacred, and love is ordered towards communion.” Federal prosecutors charged Matthew Alarcon, 40, with illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition after he allegedly shot at the glass entrance of St. Genevieve Catholic Church in New Mexico. 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

August 5th, 2026 - Happy feast of Our Lady of the Snow! Abdul El-Sayed defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary and will face Republican Mike Rogers in November. Abdul is aligned with far-left streamer Hasan Piker. President Trump has declined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's request for 300 Patriot interceptor missiles, with the U.S. President citing depleted U.S. stockpiles and regional defense needs in the Middle East. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told faith leaders the Justice Department is developing policies to stop abortion providers from mailing abortion drugs into states that protect unborn life. Every Democrat in Congress asked the Fifth Circuit to preserve Biden-era FDA rules allowing mifepristone to be prescribed through telehealth and shipped by mail, filing a brief signed by 47 senators and 212 House members. Louisiana says the rules let providers evade pro-life state laws. Arizona House Judiciary Chairman Quang Nguyen, a Catholic Republican, says he will keep blocking bills that would force clergy to report ongoing abuse disclosed in Confession or face felony charges. Sysco, the nation's largest food distributor, will stop buying iceberg lettuce from Mexico as federal health officials investigate a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to the product, the company's CEO said yesterday. 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

August 4th, 2026 - Happy feasts of Ss. Dominic & John Vianney! President Donald Trump yesterday said negotiations are underway to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that Iran is being given “every last chance before decapitation.” USCCB international justice chairman Bishop A. Elias Zaidan issued a statement saying the U.S.-led roadmap accepted by Hamas could mark a major step toward peace. New York City officials are considering a “library card-esque system” to make sure only city residents get access to government-run discounted grocery stores. That resulted in widespread accusations of hypocrisy. Trump established a Military Spouse Commission to recommend policies addressing military families’ struggles with housing, child care, healthcare, education, employment, and long deployments. A Pew survey found high concern among registered voters for economic issues, especially affordability. Democrats also lead the generic ballot, and their voters report considerably greater midterm engagement than Republicans. Former Biden White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha revealed on CNN that he believes COVID-19 was likely caused by a lab leak. That’s a change from the initial beliefs he held and proclaimed when first entering the Biden administration. Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong faces renewed criticism for a resurfaced and since-deleted 2020 post in which she said, “Cancel Thanksgiving,” calling the holiday “colonialism” and the “original superspreader event” that killed “indigenous folx [sic] and women.” Israeli police arrested an active-duty IDF soldier on leave and seized his weapon after a Palestinian child was shot in the West Bank. Later reports indicate the boy survived. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinded the planned $1.8 billion fund for victims of past political persecution after Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn threatened to block his confirmation. Brad Brandon, the founder of the group Across Nigeria, called 2026’s wave of anti-Christian violence “the worst that I have ever seen it,” reporting nearly daily attacks and about 570 widows now in his ministry’s care. He urged the faithful in the U.S. to “pray for the persecuted” and speak out.  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

August 3rd, 2026 - Happy feast of the Finding of St. Stephen's Relics! President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran recommence today after he canceled what he called “by far the biggest attack since World War II,” citing appeals from Iran and Gulf allies to give diplomacy more time. At least 72 migrants died — many by drowning, others in a stampede — after an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people poured from Morocco into Ceuta, Spain. The rush temporarily swelled the Spanish enclave’s population by more than half, prompting a military response, a Level 3 U.S. travel advisory, and renewed fury over Europe’s border security. Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong faces renewed criticism for a resurfaced and since-deleted 2020 post in which she said, “Cancel Thanksgiving,” calling the holiday “colonialism” and the “original superspreader event” that killed “indigenous folx [sic] and women.” Israeli police arrested an active-duty IDF soldier on leave and seized his weapon after a Palestinian child was shot in the West Bank. Later reports indicate the boy survived. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinded the planned $1.8 billion fund for victims of past political persecution after Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn threatened to block his confirmation. Brad Brandon, the founder of the group Across Nigeria, called 2026’s wave of anti-Christian violence “the worst that I have ever seen it,” reporting nearly daily attacks and about 570 widows now in his ministry’s care. He urged the faithful in the U.S. to “pray for the persecuted” and speak out.  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

July 31st, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola! The President’s profanity-laced threats yesterday preceded two hours of U.S. strikes and renewed Iranian attacks, while Pope Leo XIV and other Catholic leaders have pressed for diplomacy. President Donald Trump announced a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza. New York City Mayor Mamdani is facing fresh criticism after taking credit for a reported $104 million increase in delivery worker tips that critics say was made possible by legislation enacted before he took office. Following legal action, a Michigan health system is making major changes to respect the religious beliefs of its employees, especially as it related to LGBT care. A left-wing protest encampment at Williamson and South Baldwin streets in Madison, Wisconsin, has grown into a self-described autonomous zone more than a week after a city police officer fatally shot Corey Ruiz at the intersection, leaving two blocks closed to traffic with no announced reopening date. The father of the Apalachee High School shooter was sentenced to 15 years yesterday, after being convicted of charges including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for the September 2024 shooting. 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

July 30th, 2026 - Happy feasts of Ss. Peter Chrysologus, Abdon & Sennen! The United States resumed airstrikes inside Iran Wednesday night in retaliation for Tehran’s attempted surprise ballistic-missile attack on American forces, as an Iran expert warned that the regime has become increasingly willing to test Washington despite its weakened military capabilities. During a large Russian missile attack on western Ukraine, at least one Russian missile entered Polish airspace, impacting in a field with no reported casualties. President Donald Trump said he respects former President Joe Biden’s sweeping pardon of Dr. Anthony Fauci, while suggesting the autopen authorization could still face a challenge. Senator Rand Paul scheduled an August 5th contempt vote and Florida opened a separate state investigation against Fauci. The Trump administration issued a government-wide policy ending federal support for the highest-risk biological research in the U.S. and abroad. Grocery prices in U.S. cities have climbed 33% since the beginning of 2019, the largest increase in half a century. Beef prices alone are up 79%. A Georgia judge sentenced Colt Gray to life without parole for murdering two students and two teachers and injuring nine others at Apalachee High School. He rejected arguments that the 16-year-old could be rehabilitated. 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

July 29th, 2026 - Happy feast of Ss. Martha, Mary & Lazarus! In a rare post to X, President Trump said he intends to bring a 16yo lifeguard to the White House, to offer him a "High Civilian Honor” for saving a drowning boy from dangerous waters in California. Video of the heroic rescue has gone viral online. Michigan health officials reported 9,680 cases of cyclosporiasis on Tuesday, an increase of 427 cases since their last update a day earlier, as the intestinal infection outbreak grows. The outbreak in Michigan has ⁠resulted in 160 hospitalizations, according to the state's health department. No deaths have been ⁠reported. President Donald Trump celebrated Lindsay Graham as a “true American original,” while the late senator’s fiercely interventionist foreign-policy legacy drew both praise and pointed acknowledgement during his funeral. Newly released recordings show Joe Biden warning memoir ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer that material he was reviewing “may be classified,” undercutting his later insistence that he never shared classified information with the writer. The DOJ has reached a 7-figure settlement with a pro-life father who was prosecuted under the Biden Administration under the FACE Act. 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

July 28th, 2026 - Happy feast of Pope St. Innocent I! President Donald Trump said yesterday the United States is engaged in “very deep talks” with Iran but warned Washington is prepared to resume “very strong military action” if diplomacy fails, saying he agreed to pause plans to expand the U.S. military campaign to give negotiations another opportunity. Human-rights advocate Nina Shea is urging President Trump to press Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the release of Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old Catholic newspaper founder sentenced to 20 years in prison under Hong Kong’s national security law. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is putting $70 million behind five city-owned grocery stores he says will sell staples 30% below market price. Catholic University of America physics professor Tanja Horn secured $1.05 million in federal grants to bring artificial intelligence into the study of nuclear physics. More than three dozen pro-life pregnancy organizations received over $1.7 million from Arkansas in fiscal 2026 to help women and families facing unexpected pregnancies with real alternatives to abortion. The Archdiocese of Chicago notified 10 Catholic communities about forthcoming lawsuits accusing retired priests Kenneth Fleck and Thomas Conde of sexually abusing minors decades ago. Both men deny the allegations. Cardinal Blase Cupich has asked them to step away from ministry while law enforcement, archdiocesan investigators, and an independent review board examine the claims. A gunman fired at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto yesterday, marking the second time this year someone shot at the building. A single shell casing was found at the scene, and there was damage to the building's facade.  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

July 27th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Pantaleon! The U.S. paused strikes on Iran for a second straight night, and Tehran halted its retaliatory attacks as talks over reopening the Strait of Hormuz moved in what officials called a “positive direction.” Pope Leo yesterday mourned civilians killed in Gaza and the West Bank and called for renewed negotiations toward a just political solution. ICE is preparing expanded operations to arrest and deport Haitian migrants as more than 300,000 people lose Temporary Protected Status. Deportation flights could begin this week. A federal judge ruled that the BBC may examine how Trump’s Jan. 6 speech was understood but cannot relitigate the Capitol riot itself while defending against Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit over a deceptive documentary edit. Newly released journals show Anthony Fauci marveling that his fame was “explosive and really unimaginable” and recording an invitation to appear on “Dancing with the Stars” as the pandemic raged. Republican Sen. Rand Paul released the diaries days before Fauci is scheduled to testify under subpoena before his Senate committee. 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

July 24th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Charbel! Republican Rep. Andy Ogles announced yesterday he is introducing legislation barring federal courts from enforcing surrogacy contract provisions that force a woman to abort the child she is carrying. A suspect is in custody after allegedly yelling "Allahu Akbar" while stabbing two men in Manhattan's Upper West Side yesterday afternoon. A new Catholic bishop was ordained this week in China under the Vatican’s controversial agreement with Beijing. Pope Leo appointed Bishop Joseph Chang Yanfeng to lead the Diocese of Chifeng, making him the fourth Chinese bishop ordained or officially recognized during the current papacy. Pennsylvania Medicaid program began covering abortions this month after a divided state court struck down a decades-old funding restriction. The Trump administration says a new Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative will use artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate research into chronic disease and pediatric cancer, with the goal of cutting in half the time it takes for medical breakthroughs to reach patients. The Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, will end Sunday Masses at three rural parishes in October as it responds to a continuing priest shortage and declining population, with decisions on parish mergers and church buildings still to come. The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level in nearly 12 months, pushing up borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers at a time when rising oil prices are already squeezing household budgets. 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

July 23rd, 2026 - Happy feasts of Ss. Apollinaris & Bridget of Sweden! President Donald Trump joined Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of four soldiers killed in Jordan and Iraq due to the ongoing Iran war. The U.S. military death toll since the Iran war began now stands at 18. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani conceded that city authorities lack the legal power to execute the International Criminal Court’s warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni dismissed as “entirely unfounded” reports that a Vatican panel had acquitted disgraced former Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik, who faces accusations of serial abuse. The Justice Department opened a civil-rights investigation into whether Harvard used China-based funds to favor students from certain countries in financial aid programs. The first flight in a new U.S. aid effort for Cuba carried food and hygiene kits for hundreds of families. Catholic Relief Services will help ensure the supplies are distributed through local parishes, a plan intended to keep the communist government from diverting or stealing the aid. Battelle Energy Alliance agreed to pay $5 million to resolve federal allegations that it denied religious and disability accommodations under its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The French Parliament on July 21 definitively passed a law banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, making France the first country in Europe to enshrine such a restriction in its national legislation. 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

July 22nd, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Mary Magdalen! The Iranian Interior Minister made a trip to Pakistan yesterday with a “high-level delegation” to meet with the Pakistani Prime Minister and his defense chief. The Pakistanis are apparently hoping to restart talks between the U.S. and Iran as hostilities continued for the tenth straight day. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill yesterday admitted that roughly 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote from June 2023 to June 2024. Resurfaced video shows far-left streamer Hasan Piker calling Mao Zedong "one of the great leaders of this world" and saying he would never criticize the mass-murderous communist dictator. The clip is getting new scrutiny after Piker campaigned with Michigan Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed. Dictator Daniel Ortega says his regime will build a legal "wall" to ensure opposition parties can never win power. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged other nations to isolate the regime, which has jailed dissidents, expelled religious orders, and persecuted the Catholic Church. British Prosecutors say the Catholic champion and former British minister Ann Widdecombe was eating lunch at home when a man entered, struck her 21 times with a hammer, took her wallet, and left after roughly two minutes.  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

July 21st, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Lawrence of Brindisi! A senior Iranian official said yesterday that “mediators” have shopped a proposal to Iran that would “de-escalate” the conflict with the United States by first establishing a ten-day ceasefire, and then building up to “revive” the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed in June. President Donald Trump yesterday imposed a 50 percent duty on a variety of Canadian goods, including alcohol, dairy products, hockey sticks, and many others. The U.S. Department of Education defended homeschooling after "I’ve Had It" hostess Jennifer Welch called it "trickle-down stupidity" and a "crazy Christian problem." Following two deadly immigration-enforcement encounters, Bishops Daniel Garcia and Brendan Cahill issued a statement reasserting the dignity of immigrants. The statement also affirmed the government’s authority to enforce U.S. law, however, and condemned the "vilification" of law enforcement officers. Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega said Nicaragua will no longer hold elections, eliminating the possibility ‌of an electoral challenge when his term ends next year and further entrenching the rule he shares with his wife. Darline Graham yesterday announced she is launching a bid for a full six-year Senate term after being appointed to fill the seat of her late brother, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. An op-ed by Fortify Rights Senior Director Benedict Rogers urged Pope Leo XIV to review the Vatican’s secretive agreement with Beijing as Chinese authorities intensify pressure on underground Catholics to join the state-controlled Church. President Donald Trump promised that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America" after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was exploring whether New York could detain Netanyahu. Sen. Josh Hawley sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department alleging that Plan C illegally mailed abortion drugs and conspired to evade federal and 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

July 20th, 2026 - Happy feast of Ss. Margaret of Antioch, Jerome Emiliani & the Holy Prophet Elijah! Two U.S. service members were killed and one remains missing after Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at American and partner forces in Jordan on Friday, prompting President Trump to order retaliatory airstrikes throughout the weekend. Second Lady Usha Vance gave birth yesterday to a baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, making Vice President JD Vance the first sitting vice president in modern history to welcome a child while in office. Two U.S. Forest Service employees were zip-tied and held at gunpoint for nearly 15 hours in a trailer in Shasta-Trinity National Forest before being released after FBI negotiators intervened. The suspect and his adult son were arrested and charged. Ireland's Cabinet approved a bill granting five days of paid leave after pregnancy loss — including abortion — even as parliament advanced legislation to eliminate the existing three-day waiting period required before abortions. Two pro-life organizations are asking a federal appeals court to uphold their First Amendment right to chalk a pro-life message on a Washington, D.C., sidewalk after two advocates were arrested for doing so in 2020. Spain defeated Argentina 1 to nil in extra time yesterday to win the nation’s second World Cup championship. Spain’s lone goal-scorer, Ferrán Torres, is openly 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

July 17th, 2026 - Happy feast of Ss. Alexis, Jadwiga & Pope Leo IV! Air raid sirens have been activated in Bahrain after Iran’s army reportedly claimed it had targeted U.S. helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft at Sakhir airbase in Bahrain. Vice President JD Vance warned Republicans that merely denouncing socialism is not enough: Young Americans need a real path to ownership, economic security, and the American dream. He called for a Christian economic alternative. In an address to the nation last night, President Trump announced the declassification of intelligence he says reveals that Chinese intelligence services carried out the "largest compromise of election data in history," acquiring 220 million U.S. voter files, and that U.S. officials suppressed that information from him and Congress. Mothers who changed their minds after taking mifepristone are testifying against California, assisting the pro-life groups that helped save their babies through abortion-pill reversal. Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Braun ordered the state to end race- and sex-based preferences in government contracting after Attorney General Todd Rokita deemed the program unconstitutional. NPR named Sister Maura Smith an “Unsung Hero” after a former student recalled how the Catholic high school principal confronted hospital staff who dismissed her stroke as drug use, then stayed beside her and prayed the Rosary. 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

July 16th, 2026 - Happy feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel! Vice President JD Vance told Joe Rogan yesterday that a “discreet, extremely well-funded” campaign tied to elements of Israel’s government is attacking him “obsessively” and trying to derail negotiations with Iran. President Donald Trump on Wednesday endorsed MyPillow founder Mike Lindell for Minnesota governor. The House Judiciary Committee advanced legislation allowing people harmed by “gender-transition” procedures performed on them as minors to sue the doctors, clinics, and hospitals involved. The bill is named for Catholic detransitioner Chloe Cole, who was subjected to hormones and a double mastectomy as a child. Two new studies found that one in three young Snapchat users encounters unsafe content or messages at least weekly, including sexual material, graphic violence, self-harm content, bullying, and unwanted contact from strangers. A federal judge blocked Michigan from enforcing provisions that could force pro-life organizations to hire employees who oppose their mission and provide health insurance covering abortions. A Florida congressional candidate and former U.S. Marine, William Upham, is facing backlash after posting a video calling President Donald Trump "the Antichrist" and saying the president "must be killed." Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe just signed a law that allows first-degree murder charges against anyone who kills a child left alive after a botched abortion procedure. 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

July 15th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Bonaventure! The United Nations condemned the renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran in the Middle East yesterday, warning that closing the Strait of Hormuz again would harm human rights in that region and beyond. Senate Democrats yesterday blocked a $1.15 trillion defense bill yesterday, objecting to the Iran War, the record price tag, and provisions that would deepen America's military, intelligence, and technology ties to Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the administration will use sanctions, visa restrictions, and diplomatic pressure to dismantle the International Criminal Court “brick by brick, if necessary,” arguing it claims authority over Americans despite the U.S. never ratifying its founding treaty. A new ballot initiative that will reach Idaho voters in November would establish a broad right to “reproductive freedom,” allowing abortion up to "fetal viability" and afterward in medical emergencies. British counterterrorism police say the killing of former Conservative minister and Catholic convert Ann Widdecombe was clearly targeted, though investigators have not yet admitted a motive. Supreme Court justices are seeking more protection, and described the increase in threats during testimony before Congress.  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

July 14th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha! In a letter that President Trump sent Congress on Friday, he formally acknowledged that he had resumed the active strikes on Iran that administration officials had previously said had been suspended. The US blockade on Iran will resume later today. Carolina Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham's younger sister, to serve the remaining months of his term. President Trump said he had recommended the move as "a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!" Sen. Jim Banks introduced legislation that would rein in the automatic granting of U.S. citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants and foreign nationals who enter the nation for so-called "birth tourism." The Society of St. Pius X filed a formal appeal of the Vatican decree declaring its July 1 episcopal consecrations a schismatic act. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileoné called for wider access to the Traditional Latin Mass and more reverent Novus Ordo liturgies following the SSPX schism, while urging Catholics to pray for renewed dialogue with Rome. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to make it easier for people to get compensated for injuries that came from COVID-19 vaccines, and the department is crafting a list of the injuries that people could use to seek compensation. 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

July 13th, 2026 - Happy feasts of Emperor St. Henry II & St. Mildred! Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died Saturday after a sudden cardiovascular emergency. Condolences and tributes continue to be issued. Actor Sam Neill, renowned for roles including in the blockbuster film “Jurassic Park”, also passed away suddenly over the weekend, at the age of 78. U.S. forces launched another round of strikes against Iran Sunday, after Saturday's bombardment hit roughly 140 targets in retaliation for an attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran answered with missile and drone attacks on Gulf nations hosting U.S. forces. Israeli media claims “A Western intelligence service intercepted a plot to assassinate President Trump during his visit to the NATO summit in Turkey and alerted U.S. authorities, prompting Trump to switch his return aircraft back to the U.S.” Pope Leo XIV warned after Sunday's Angelus that "the winds of war are blowing once again" across the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere. The Holy Father urged the world not to lose hope and renewed his appeal for dialogue and diplomacy as the only path to a just and lasting peace. Armed Israeli settlers detained Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and his delegation during a West Bank fact-finding visit, surrounding their van with American-made rifles. Khanna said Israeli soldiers initially sided with the masked gunmen before police intervened, deepening tensions between the Netanyahu government and Washington. Republican Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell said Sunday that a fall linked to his post-polio condition left him unconscious and hospitalized, and that he later developed pneumonia. McConnell said he is not ready to return to the Senate floor, and doesn’t know when he will be. British police arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of murder of Conservative lawmaker Ann Widdecombe, a prominent Catholic convert and outspoken defender of Church teaching. 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

July 10th, 2026 - Happy feast of the Seven Holy Brothers! California’s case against pro-life abortion pill reversal groups came under scrutiny yesterday after the state’s lead expert admitted he could not say the Abortion Pill Reversal does not work or that it is unsafe. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin about efforts to reach a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine war, days after one of Russia’s largest combined attacks on Kyiv. The Little Sisters of the Poor asked a federal appeals court to restore their exemption from the Obama-era contraceptive mandate, saying the requirement threatens their ministry to the elderly poor and dying. The Trump administration's Federal Trade Commission and five states reached a settlement with John Deere over alleged unfair repair restrictions, requiring the company to give farmers and independent stores access to repair tools and software. A federal appeals court let Florida continue its lawsuit accusing the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups of misleading families about subjecting kids to “transgender” drugs and medical procedures. Andy Burnham has all but succeeded in his attempt to become British prime minister without a contest by winning the support of 322 MPs. He is just one short of the 323 needed before it is mathematically impossible for a rival to run against him. If no one else enters the contest, Burnham will be declared Labour leader next week before taking office as prime minister on 20 July. 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

July 9th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Veronica Giuliani, the Martyrs of Gorkum and the Franciscan Martyrs of China! The U.S. military struck roughly 90 targets in Iran on Wednesday, widening a fast-moving exchange after the end of the ceasefire. U.S. officials said the strikes were aimed at Iranian military sites tied to missile, drone and maritime threats after attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Fourteen women harmed by abortion drugs urged Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to settle a lawsuit challenging mail-order abortion pills. In a letter addressed to Blanche, the women joined a growing chorus of pro-life leaders pushing the Trump administration to stop defending Biden-era policies allowing chemical abortion by telehealth and mail. The Trump administration launched a major new probe into H-1B visa fraud and abuse, with Vance saying the Department of Labor is issuing subpoenas into foreign fraudsters accused of exploiting laborers, faking applications, and displacing American workers. Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner (D) finally suspended his campaign yesterday after scores of fellow Democrats called him to step down due to sexual assault allegations. He denied all accusations, attributing his decision to total withdrawal of support by his party. Video testimony from Lance Twiggs, the former homosexual lover of suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson, will be played in court this morning as a weeklong preliminary hearing nears its end. 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

July 8th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Elizabeth of Portugal! Rep. Chris Smith introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning China’s new “ethnic unity” law, warning that it gives Beijing legal cover for forced assimilation and religious repression at home and abroad. A federal judge blocked the Justice Department’s subpoena seeking names and personal contact information for every person who worked during the 2020 election in Georgia’s Fulton County. A district judge has ruled that the January 6th pipe bomber is not protected by President Trump’s pardons. President Trump said early this morning that he considers the ceasefire with Iran to be “over”, telling reporters that the agreement had become a “waste of time.” Three commercial vessels were struck by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz between Monday and Tuesday. And U.S. Central Command said yesterday that American forces had begun launching strikes against Iran in response. The preliminary hearing against Tyler Robinson continued yesterday, with new evidence being presented to the public, showing the DNA evidence of Tyler on items at the sniper perch from which he is accused of shooting Charlie Kirk, and video evidence of him on campus. The US has condemned the disappearance of Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata by authorities in Nicaragua. An unconditional release has been demanded, while Senator Rick Scott has demanded that proof be provided that the bishop is still alive. Legal counsel for the Little Sisters of the Poor delivered oral arguments to a federal appellate court yesterday as the Catholic religious society continued its 15-year legal battle over contraception mandates. 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