Rise Right

June 8th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. William of York!
Bishop Afonso of the Diocese of Quelimane, Mozambique, a country in southeastern Africa, was fatally shot in the chest in the early hours of the morning on Saturday at his episcopal residence. The Church in Mozambique is left "in a state of shock." The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on targets in western and central Iran last night, hours after Iran launched a wave of ballistic missiles at northern Israel, with explosions reported in Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan. President Trump has called for a ceasefire between the two countries in response. Vice President JD Vance recently condemned the murder of a British university student Henry Nowak, citing the incident to criticize European immigration policies. Xavier Becerra, who served as Health and Human Services Secretary under President Joe Biden, will now advance to the November general election to replace California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. The State Department announced more than $240 million in humanitarian assistance to Catholic Relief Services this weekend, with U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch making the announcement in Rome alongside senior officials.
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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June 5th, 2026 - Happy First Friday and feast of St. Boniface!
President Donald Trump yesterday dismissed the House’s advancement of a resolution to limit his power to order continued military actions against Iran, calling lawmakers “unpatriotic”. A motion to attach the SAVE America Act to the BR conciliation bill has failed. Four Republican Senators dissented: Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Thom Tillis. Hezbollah rejected a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government on June 4, insisting that any agreement must include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. An appeals court in Canada has rejected a request by the Congregation of St. Basil to dismiss a lawsuit against the congregation and its prominent member Fr. Thomas Rosica. YouTuber Jesse Ridgway announced that he and his wife aborted their unborn child after learning the baby had Down syndrome. The post was widely condemned by Catholics and conservatives. Ahead of its 250th anniversary, the U.S. will receive a blessing following a Eucharist procession in Washington, D.C., on June 5. The 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) began in St. Augustine, Florida, in late May and has since been traveling by van up the East Coast. President Donald Trump has unveiled a $700 million federal infrastructure package to modernize domestic coal plants and build the nation’s first new coal-fired facilities in over a decade.
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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June 4th, 2026 - Happy feasts of Corpus Christi and St. Francis Caracciolo!
Israel and Lebanon agreed yesterday to implement a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework, contingent on Hezbollah ending its attacks. Iran simultaneously warned that renewed Israeli strikes on Beirut could trigger a “full-scale resumption” of the broader regional war. Speaking to the association of Catholic Colleges and Universities from the U.S., Pope Leo XIV said Catholic education offers an answer to the modern “fragmentation of knowledge.” Washington Archbishop Cardinal Robert McElroy just removed Monsignor Stephen Rossetti as an exorcist for the archdiocese after the priest publicly warned that many supposed UFO incidents are actually demonic activity. NIH Researchers have been Charged After Allegedly Smuggling Monkeypox Vials Into United States. President Trump is expected to announce today that his administration will put about $700 million towards bolstering the U.S. coal industry. Protests continue in England in the wake of Henry Nowak’s death. Questions have been raised about the policing at these protests, with one video appearing to show an officer repeatedly kicking a man in the head.
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

June 3rd, 2026 - Happy feast of the Ugandan Martyrs!
The Supreme Court ruled last night that Alabama lawmakers can revert to a GOP-backed congressional map in the upcoming midterm elections – striking down a federal court panel order that blocked the map. President Donald Trump reportedly called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “crazy” and blamed his aggression against neighboring countries for growing global hatred of Israel, according to Axios. The Wall Street Journal later confirmed and expanded on the leaked conversation. Israel has appointed a new Mossad Director, Belarus-born Roman Gofman. He has previously written a document stating that Israel should establish a military government in the Gaza Strip, and has criticized the IDF's reluctance to send ground forces into Gaza. After a May 31 fire damaged the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis, Tennessee, police say they are now investigating the incident for possible arson. The FBI said yesterday that 35 people had been charged for narcotics and firearms offenses stemming from a yearlong federal operation in West Virginia while also unveiling a new nationwide summer crime-fighting initiative. Kash Patel announced, “We’re just getting started.” President Trump has rescheduled the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, despite the last assassination attempt against him.
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

June 2nd, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Elmo!
Comedian Bill Cosby was denied his request for a new trial over his claim that the $60 million that he was ordered to pay to his rape victim was “excessive.” Vickrum Digwa has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of Henry Nowak. Henry’s family is still requesting an investigation into the officers who arrested him instead of treating him as a dying victim. Pope Leo XIV has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News, as Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. The appointment will take effect Nov. 1, 2026. The Trump administration is abandoning the $1.8 billion fund that was intended to compensate people who were targeted by government "weaponization" under previous administrations, following a federal court order blocking the program. The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is less than 10 days away from falling to its lowest level since August 1983, according to a top analyst. President Donald Trump said yesterday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to stop fighting and that U.S. talks with Iran were still ongoing, despite Tehran saying earlier it had suspended negotiations over Israel’s new offensive in Lebanon. The Vatican released an English-language audiobook of Pope Leo's first encyclical yesterday. The audiobook version of Magnifica Humanitas runs about five and a half hours in total.
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

June 1st, 2026 - Happy feasts of St. Justin Martyr and St. John Baptist Scalabrini!
Major evacuations are underway in southern Beirut as Israel ramps up military actions in Lebanon. The U.S. and Iran have traded strikes while the “ceasefire” officially continues. A potential peace deal is still reportedly in the works, with President Trump still holding off on a final decision. The Washington Nationals president of baseball operations Jason Sinnarajah, himself Catholic, apologized to Catholics during Friday night pregame coverage, stating that the team is "not anti-Catholic" and "horrified by the comments" caught on undercover video. President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV's meeting with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Saturday, writing in a Truth Social post that "someone should explain to the Pope" that the mayor is "useless" and that "Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon!" A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration's $1.78 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" from transferring money to victims of government “weaponization.” Pope Leo XIV welcomed representatives of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal to the Vatican, encouraging members to place their spiritual gifts at the service of the whole Church and urging them to pursue communion, charity, and mission rather than "self-promotion, or the pursuit of power or personal prestige."
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

May 29th, 2026 - Happy feasts of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi and Pope St. Paul VI!
California State Assembly passed the so-called ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ which will put journalists at civil risk for investigating fraud. A federal judge yesterday allowed President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to create federal voter lists and tighten rules for mail-in voting to remain in place for now, rejecting a request from Democrats to block the order. CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt has sent formal letters to the Washington Nationals and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division demanding answers over alleged religious discrimination against Catholic pitcher Trevor Williams. The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into whether E. Jean Carroll committed perjury during litigation against President Donald Trump. A man has been charged with burglary and arson after authorities say he broke into a Catholic elementary school in Springfield, Missouri, damaged religious items, and set a fire inside the building. A 320-foot rocket built by Jeff Bezos-owned company Blue Origin exploded at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during a "hotfire test" around 9 p.m. yesterday. Pope Leo warned yesterday not to water down Christianity in an attempt to evangelize. 
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

May 28th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Augustine of Canterbury! Today we welcome our first-ever guest: Fr. David LiPuma, pastor and rector of Our Lady of Victory National Shrine & Basilica in Lackawanna, NY. We discuss Venerable Nelson Baker, the history of the Basilica, and the anniversary celebrations happening this weekend.
Pope Leo XIV is inviting Catholics around the world to join him in praying a rosary for peace on May 30. The Holy Father is set to pray the rosary live from the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens at 7 p.m. Rome time. During a White House cabinet meeting yesterday, President Donald Trump said he feels confident the U.S. and Iran can arrive at a deal to end hostilities, but also threatened new acts of war if there is any backtracking on nuclear restrictions or the opening of the Hormuz Strait. During his meeting with state attorneys general, Vice President JD Vance revealed that his task force on fraud had discovered billions of taxpayer dollars had been lost to waste and criminal scams. During his General Audience yesterday, speaking about the Second Vatican Council document on liturgy, Pope Leo XIV called on clergy to maintain respect for the texts and regulations of the liturgy when celebrating Mass. The Trump administration has ordered federal prosecutors at the Department of Justice to avoid pursuing any criminal investigations into Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez.
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

May 27th, 2026 - Happy feast of Ss. Bede the Venerable and Augustine of Canterbury!
Reports claim that the U.S.-Iran peace deal is complete except for signatures. The Trump cabinet is holding a meeting at the White House today. Israel continues strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The SCOTUS opted not to hear Florida’s petition regarding Washington and California giving illegal aliens commercial driving licenses. Justices Alito and Thomas dissented. A senior Washington Nationals executive was caught on hidden camera admitting that he had blackballed pitcher Trevor Williams from team social media content because of his Catholic faith. Texas voters overwhelmingly chose Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. The Priestly Society of Saint Pius X announced the names of four priests set to be ordained bishops July 1 without papal approval, weeks after the Vatican warned their ordinations would constitute a schismatic act. Planned Parenthood has launched a new program in Washington state and Hawaii that allows women to obtain chemical abortion drugs before becoming pregnant.
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

May 26th, 2026 - Happy Pentecost Tuesday and feast of St. Philip Neri!
Pope Leo released his encyclical on AI yesterday, and it has already received both praise and condemnations. President Donald Trump said over the weekend that a peace deal with Iran, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, had been "largely negotiated," though he said the naval blockade on Iranian ports would remain in place until an agreement is certified and signed. The gunman killed in an exchange of fire with Secret Service agents outside the White House this weekend was identified as Nasire Best, who was 21 years old. Washington state's foster care department agreed to a permanent injunction barring it from denying licenses to families based on their religious beliefs on marriage and gender.
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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May 25th, 2026 - Please join Jake and Sarah in discussing the history and meaning of Memorial Day in the United States, the importance of praying for the dead, Catholic teaching on Purgatory, and praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary for the souls of those who gave their lives for their country.
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

May 22nd, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Rita!
President Trump has again stated he will speak with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. A US President has not directly spoken to a Taiwanese President, at least to the public's knowledge, since 1979, when the US and China established diplomatic relations and officially recognized Beijing as the only legal government of China. Federal officials announced sweeping new Medicaid fraud charges in Minnesota yesterday, accusing 15 defendants of such schemes. Aimee Bock, the “mastermind” behind the massive Feeding Our Future case, received the longest sentence yet connected to that fraud investigation, totaling 41 years. The House of Representatives has cancelled their vote on the war powers, which would stop new strikes on Iran, as they lack the votes to pass. The House has now failed 4 votes on the war powers resolution. The Largest US energy company, Exxon Mobil, is in talks with the Venezuelan government to reacquire oil production rights in Venezuela, after being kicked out of Venezuela almost 20 years ago. More than 3,000 Catholics gathered in Bell-view, Washington, for the ASCEND Eucharistic Revival, an event the organization described as one of the “largest gatherings of Pacific Northwest Catholics in decades.” Vice President JD Vance yesterday attended Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer’s “Catholic Connections” gathering, where the Catholic VP reportedly shared his personal faith testimony and discussed how the faith informs his approach to governing.
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

May 21st, 2026 - Happy feast of the Mexican Martyrs!
Federal prosecutors yesterday announced charges against 94-year-old former Cuban President Raúl Castro for the 1996 downing of two civilian planes operated by Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. In a letter to Congress, a coalition of 60 pro-life organizations across the U.S. urged lawmakers to extend a moratorium that protects taxpayer funds from being used for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. That moratorium is set to expire on July 4th. Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed laws protecting doctors' right to refuse care that violates their conscience and expanding free speech and religious freedom protections for public school students. Ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming encyclical on artificial intelligence (AI), new data from Gallup shows that seven in 10 Americans do not approve of building AI data centers in their local area. Israeli National Security Minister caused international outrage over footage that he posted on social media, showing the mistreatment of detainees. Elon Musk has expressed an interest in starting a lawsuit over the death and neglect of a young Englishman, Henry Nowak. 
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

May 20th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Bernardine of Siena!
Justices Charlie Bethel and Sarah Hawkins Warren were both reelected to the Georgia Supreme Court yesterday despite substantial Democratic and abortion-industry efforts to unseat them. The future of Georgia’s law protecting unborn children after six weeks hinged on the outcome. The Senate advanced a measure that would require President Donald Trump to end U.S. military actions against Iran unless Congress authorizes them. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, an outspoken critic of Trump’s handling of the Epstein files and recent foreign policy decisions, was defeated yesterday in the most expensive House primary in American history. Israeli settlers reportedly torched fields, attempted to burn a school, and tried to set homes on fire with families inside across at least nine West Bank locations the night of May 18, while Israeli military forces blocked fire trucks from reaching the scenes. A Colorado district judge ordered a coroner to release an unredacted autopsy report of a teen who died in 2025 of complications from a second-trimester abortion, a legal victory that pro-life groups have touted as a win for transparency surrounding abortions.
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

May 19th, 2026 - Happy feast of St. Peter Celestine!
Israel has issued evacuation orders for parts of Lebanon, due to their resumption of operations against Hezbollah following ceasefire violations. A New York judge blocked some items found in Luigi Mangione's backpack from being used as evidence in the murder case of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson. That includes including the magazine, cellphone, passport, wallet and computer chip. President Donald Trump said yesterday that he has postponed a planned U.S. military strike against Iran after Gulf leaders urged more time for negotiations. He also ordered that it remain prepared for a possible “full, large scale assault” on short notice if negotiations fail. The Education Department will now let eligible students use federal Pell Grant funds for trade and tech training programs. Two teenage gunmen opened fire at a mosque in San Diego yesterday, killing three men before fleeing the scene and dying of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds a few blocks away. A rule in New York prohibiting concealed carry unless business owners posted signs permitting it has been ruled unconstitutional. Vandals beheaded a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue outside a Catholic church on New York’s Long Island, and police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. Please consider making prayers of reparation.
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