Rise Right

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order blocking the Trump administration from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians is no longer in effect.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.
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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