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Knicks make unfortunate NBA Champion history not seen since 2012
The New York Knicks’ title defense is off to a rocky start, and the slow beginning has put them in some unwanted company. After falling 107-103 to the Boston Celtics on Friday night at TD Garden , the Knicks are 0-2. That makes them the first reigning NBA champion to drop its first two games of a season since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks, who went […] The post Knicks make unfortunate NBA Champion history not seen since 2012 appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Three Boston Celtics Takeaways From Win vs. Knicks
The C's toppled the Knicks in the home opener at TD Garden.
Book review: Former resident writes a good dam novel
At 42, West Virginia native Matthew Neill Null is distinguishing himself as a writer with Pulitzer potential.
Connecting communities through healthcare resources at fall block party
An event aimed at connecting residents with health care resources available in rural areas like eastern North Carolina — along with a little fall fun.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Election countdown with Laura Gersony
With Election Day nearing, Arizona’s congressional races are drawing national attention. Arizona Republic reporter Laura Gersony joins Politics Unplugged to break down the high-stakes fights in AZ-01 and AZ-06, where the House majority could be on the line. The conversation examines whether Republican candidates can separate themselves from President Donald Trump as affordability concerns and negative ads dominate the closing days. The episode also looks at outside spending, Elon Musk-backed turnout efforts and the unexpectedly competitive race involving Rep. Eli Crane in northern Arizona. Plus, Dennis Welch and Colin Stanton discuss Arizona’s statewide races, polling, campaign cash and the Valley’s rough sports week.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Election countdown with Laura Gersony
With Election Day nearing, Arizona’s congressional races are drawing national attention. Arizona Republic reporter Laura Gersony joins Politics Unplugged to break down the high-stakes fights in AZ-01 and AZ-06, where the House majority could be on the line. The conversation examines whether Republican candidates can separate themselves from President Donald Trump as affordability concerns and negative ads dominate the closing days. The episode also looks at outside spending, Elon Musk-backed turnout efforts and the unexpectedly competitive race involving Rep. Eli Crane in northern Arizona. Plus, Dennis Welch and Colin Stanton discuss Arizona’s statewide races, polling, campaign cash and the Valley’s rough sports week.
LGBTQ+ college students facing discrimination report higher mental health risks
LGBTQ+ college students who experience discrimination are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and avoid needed health care, according to a new national study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Boston University School of Public Health and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.
Denver Broncos Make Patrick Surtain II Announcement Before Cardinals Game
Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II has a chance to return against the Cardinals after missing two games, but Denver has not cleared him to play. The post Denver Broncos Make Patrick Surtain II Announcement Before Cardinals Game appeared first on HEAVY.
Fever owner Pacers Sports & Entertainment release statement after firing Amber Cox
The Indiana Fever have parted ways with general manager Amber Cox after their season ended early in the postseason at the hands of the Las Vegas Aces. Pacers Sports & Entertainment confirmed in a statement on Friday that Cox will follow team president Kelly Krauskopf , who announced earlier that she was stepping down from her role. Mel Raines, […] The post Fever owner Pacers Sports & Entertainment release statement after firing Amber Cox appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Giants Lose Top Tackler Edmunds For The Year
Tremaine Edmunds is out for the season with a torn chest muscle. The Giants must pivot quickly to Micah McFadden or risk their defense collapsing.
New Lisbon business offering pet food and supplies
LISBON—A new business promises to provide the community with the highest quality food and supplies for their pets. The newest member of Lisbon’s business community, Pet Folk has officially opened their doors, celebrating its soft opening with a ribbon cutting and champagne Thursday. Located at 7556 state Route 45, Unit A, Pet Folk is entirely […]
Aspen Science Center works to bring more science education to the region for all ages
Carbondale-based nonprofit the Aspen Science Center has expanded programming throughout local valleys, for residents of all ages, over the past 20 years. This story is part of our “On the Ground” radio series that highlights solutions to local and global issues from Roaring Fork and Colorado River valley organizations.
Looters hit 3,000 French businesses. Within hours, the haul was trending on Vinted under the riot’s date
“Since this weekend, our teams have taken immediate action to identify and remove listings linked to the looting,” secondhand marketplace Vinted said.
Scientists Just Discovered That Neanderthals Loved Eating Beaver
Scientists found evidence that our ancient relatives butchered beavers and marmots for food roughly 130,000 years ago. Yes, actual beavers.
What to Know About Alaska’s Senate Race
President Trump told the Justice Department to intervene in the race, where polling shows Republicans at risk of losing a seat.
Dr. Christopher Li shares vision for Public Health Sciences Division
Longtime Fred Hutch epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Li, who joined the center in 2002, has been promoted to senior vice president and director of the Public Health Sciences (PHS) Division.
Dr. Christopher Li shares vision for Public Health Sciences Division
Longtime Fred Hutch epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Li, who joined the center in 2002, has been promoted to senior vice president and director of the Public Health Sciences (PHS) Division.
U.S. labor secretary praises Kansas manufacturing industry in visit to Topeka business
U.S. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling lauded U.S. job growth and Kansas’ manufacturing industry during a series of visits Friday, assuaging criticisms against the Trump administration for burdensome tariffs.
An N.J. mayoral candidate allegedly removed political signs. How hidden AirTags helped lead police to her
A New Jersey councilwoman and mayoral candidate is under investigation after being accused of removing political yard signs in West Orange.
Argentine-born Trump supporter credits president for Latin America's rightward political shift
Marcelo Sandrin, who has lived in the US for three decades, points to Argentina's Javier Milei and changing politics across South America as signs of Trump's growing influence.
Corey Lewandowski Always Found His Way Back to Trump. Until Now.
The Justice Department has opened an inquiry into Mr. Lewandowski. President Trump has not jumped to his defense.
TJPDC announces rural health program funding
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission has been selected to receive an $11.8M award to bring healthcare closer to rural residents.
General Dynamics names new GDIT president
Amy Johnson will lead General Dynamics Information Technology starting Nov. 3, bringing experience from General Dynamics Mission Systems.
Broncos Offensive Coordinator Thinks Nix Could Go On A Run
The Denver Broncos are trying to straighten out Bo Nix, but Davis Webb thinks a turnaround could be at hand.
The Violent Cost of Being a Woman in Politics Spans Continents
Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation in politics, on boards, in sports and entertainment, in judicial offices and in the private sector in the U.S. and around the world ... with a little gardening and goodwill mixed in for refreshment. This week: —There is not (yet) the political will in the U.S. to talk about gender quotas ... but 35 nations in Europe have either been mandated or volunteered to implement them. —Weeks after the brutal rape of Arizona congressional candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia, Australian independent member of Parliament Helen Haines is in hospital in a critical condition after she was struck by a car outside her office in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said appears to have been "a deliberate act." —"Politicians are no longer treated like we’re human,” says Arizona state legislator Alma Hernandez, who is facing rising harassment and threats. —Federal agents searched the Washington-area home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, a frequent critic of Republican President Donald Trump. —If elected governor of Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms would become the first Black woman governor in U.S. history. ... and more.
Christina Applegate misdiagnosis: Why can MS be difficult to diagnose?
MS advocate Christina Applegate recently announced that her MS diagnosis was incorrect, based on new test results. Why can the disease be difficult to identify?
Drake University students say civility comes from open-minded conversations
Drake University students involved with political student organizations discussed political civility on a panel Friday.
What is Florida Men's Basketball's NIL Budget in 2026-27?
With a staggering valuation, Todd Golden’s roster secures elite talent through record-breaking investments.
3 Lessons From Building a Venture Fund That Can Help You Make Smarter Business Decisions.
Learn how to make better business decisions by acting on evidence, adjusting your approach and applying lessons from experience.
Improving breast cancer treatment; improving prostate cancer diagnosis; listen to your knee pain; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources
WTVF News Channel 5’s “Morningline” program interviewed Denise Garcia, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, about new technology that helps surgeons identify cancer during surgery and improve breast cancer treatment. A Men’s Health story about PSA screening for prostate cancer quoted Kelvin Moses, MD, PhD, Professor of Urology. Men’s Health posted a story, “What Your Knee Pain is Trying to Tell You,” that quotes Charles Cox, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, was quoted by several news outlets about public health issues, including: WSMV Channel 4 News (importance of flu shots); MedPage Today (mRNA flu shots); WTVF News Channel 5 (19 people sent to hospital after a sickness outbreak at Walmart facility in Lebanon); Prevention (West Nile virus); HuffPost (prevention pill for COVID); and Newsweek (measles cases continue to increase in the U.S.). Becker’s Hospital Review and Nashville Post covered the Vanderbilt Health News story from Rebecca Warren that Chief Communications Officer John Howser is retiring in March 2027, closing out a nearly 40-year career at Vanderbilt. A Healio story on research about OCT-A biomarkers and diabetic retinopathy quotes Vanderbilt University School of Medicine student Rachel Liu. WPLN Nashville Public Radio quoted Amanda Mixon, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, in a story about adverse drug interactions.
Southeast High School students conduct real-world research in Bradenton
Southeast High School’s research program gives Bradenton students hands-on science experience and connections that can shape future opportunities.
S&T launches glass science lecture series honoring Delbert Day
Dr. Claudio Mazzali, vice president of global research at Corning Inc., speaking at the inaugural Delbert E. Day Lecture on Glass Science and Technology on Oct. 15 at the Innovation Lab atrium. Photo by Peter Ehrhard. Missouri S&T launched a new lecture series honoring a longtime university researcher whose research in specialty glass has helped...Continue Reading S&T launches glass science lecture series honoring Delbert Day
University of Tampa names former South Carolina leader interim president
Harris Pastides will take over during the fall semester as the university searches for Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg’s successor.
Speed networking pairs alumni, students - Notre Dame Business Mendoza College of Business
Executive Connections, a speed networking event, brought 24 alumni executives to campus to meet MBA and Specialized Master’s students.
No designation for Matthew Golden
Packers WR Matthew Golden was a limited participant this week but is not on injury report
Ken Block objects to Foulkes' 'October surprise' Costco announcement
Block said that while he too was excited for Costco, he accused board member Helena Foulkes of abusing her position.
Jamal Murray Addresses Nuggets’ Turnover Issue in Loss to Thunder
Jamal Murray speaks after the Denver Nuggets drop their season opener.
UNI president Nook announces 2027 retirement plans
University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook has announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. He will continue to serve the Cedar Falls-based university until his successor begins their tenure, according to the announcement. Nook, a Holstein, Iowa native, joined UNI as president in 2017. Nook announced his plans…
Business Park Companies Are Showing up to Support New Albany
Building a community requires more than just housing and roads. It requires a sustainable economic engine that fuels public services, supports public education and elevates the quality of life for every resident. In New Albany, that engine is the New Albany International Business Park.
Intermountain Health Receives One of the Nation’s Largest Gifts in Pediatric Care
LAS VEGAS — Intermountain Foundation announced today that Nevada’s first stand-alone children’s hospital will be named Intermountain Health Felicia and Ben Horowitz Children’s Hospital in honor of a historic $150 million commitment. Felicia Horowitz, president of the Horowitz Family Foundation and co-founder and president of The Paid ...
Writers Series hosts Andrew Wittkop Nov. 4
The Laureate Writers Series presenter for November will be Andrew Wittkop, a distinguished geologist and former Winona State University science student who has had a lifelong interest in creative writing.
Independent Rick Bennett pushes common-ground politics in Maine governor bid
He says voters are tired of toxicity and dark money in the other races.
Stand Up for Science Covers the Accidental Path to Prozac in the Latest “Traces Thursday” Installment
How an allergy pill reshaped the treatment of depression
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Earns Eight-Year National Accreditation for Pharmacy Residency Program
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue today announced that its Postgraduate Year One Pharmacy Residency Program has received an eight-year accreditation from
WATCH: NFIB warns of small business exodus unless voters repeal income tax
(The Center Square) - The National Federation for Independent Business is sounding the alarm about impacts on small businesses in Washington if the recently passed income tax remains in place.
Case that ‘fundamentally transforms’ business suits hits top NC court
The North Carolina Supreme Court will take a case stemming from a 2024 aircraft accident in Arkansas. Critics argued that a lower court’s decision “fundamentally transforms” rules about which businesses can be sued in this state.
Trump Advisers Give Fees Earned for Aiding Srpska to His Library
The donations from James Blair and Chris LaCivita were revealed after the president expressed pique over their consulting work for Republika Srpska.
Trump, 80, Raises Health Concerns With Ominous Post
The president talks about struggling with illness.
Warriors List Five Players on Injury Report for Grizzlies Game
The Golden State Warriors could still be missing a key starter against the Memphis Grizzles.
Omaha students learn health hazards of smoking, vaping
Some Omaha students got a hands-on lesson on the health hazards of smoking and vaping.
Boston Encourages Residents to Apply for Health Insurance during Open Enrollment Season
Friday, October 23, 2026 – Open Enrollment season begins today, October 23, 2026 and runs through January 23, 2027, and Mayor Michelle Wu, the City of Boston, and Boston Public Health Commission strongly encourage residents to take advantage of the numerous coverage options available in Massachusetts and apply for health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector Marketplace. For those who need help navigating
Rick Jackson will join Trump at Georgia rally amid slumping GOP turnout
The Republican nominee for governor had initially said he would skip the president's visit to Perry on Saturday, opting to campaign with Gov. Brian Kemp instead.
If you haven’t seen everything, a guide to Nathan Fielder’s genre-defying work
He’s suddenly everywhere for his Elizabeth Holmes documentary, “You Can See Everything.” His past work, including YouTube clips and prestige horror, examines how we communicate.
University of New Haven Student Explores Public Health Advocacy at Nat
University of New Haven graduate candidate Muhammad Ali ’27 MPH reflects on attending the 2026 SOPHE Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., where he developed advocacy skills, met public health professi
Scientists find key to predicting some El Niño events 12 months ahead
Scientists have identified the conditions that make it possible to predict some El Niño and La Niña events up to a year in advance, potentially giving communities and decision-makers significantly more ...
Australia’s wish for a kinder, gentler politics seems doomed to disappointment
The attack on independent MP Helen Haines united Australia in grief, but on solutions it remains divided
'A Talent for Murder' stars Helen Mirren, Alden Ehrenreich
“A Talent for Murder” is now playing in theaters nationwide
'Wildwood' review: Laika's stop-motion animation impresses
Two intrepid teens head into the unknown on an absorbing, densely detailed rescue mission — not for the especially young — that stuns at every turn.
AI deepfakes are getting more realistic. Scientists developed a better way to spot them
Hundreds of the nation's computer scientists gathered for a conference in Denver last fall, and Tuan Tran had a big test for them: Could they tell the difference between the real Brad Pitt and an AI-generated ...
What Did Denisovans Look Like? Scientists Have Their Best Answer Yet
Ancient proteins are helping scientists put a face to a long-lost branch of humanity.
PhD Candidate Eva Leth Sørensen Publishes on Greenland’s Predicament in Global Politics at E-IR
PhD Candidate Eva Leth Sørensen has published a new article, titled “Greenland (Still) Between Empires: Continuing Imperial Sovereignty Games” at E-International Relations. Sørensen analyzes the recently renewed trilateral Arctic security agreement among the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland against the backdrop of Greenland's long history of colonization. She shows how continued Danish sovereignty over the island...
Dover schools expand mental health support, plan healing forums
Dover City Schools plans to hold small-group forums for families as the district focuses on safety, support and long-term healing after what Superintendent Karie McCrate described as six weeks of "overwhelming loss."
Under U.S. Watch, Venezuela Grapples With Tensions Over Democracy
President Trump says Venezuela is not ready for elections, and he focuses instead on its oil. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio is nudging talks between opposing politicians.
Ethan Klein says “H3 Podcast” is on ‘indefinite hiatus’ amid allegations he cheated on wife Hila Klein
The “H3 Podcast” crew denounced Ethan and shared they would no longer be working with him.
These UVA students have some questions for voters
The six third-year UVA students in the Department of Politics honors program are preparing to take the pulse of Charlottesville on Election Day with an exit poll.
How MSU Health Care athletic trainers are supporting local schools
MSU Health Care athletic trainers currently provide daily coverage at six area schools, attending practices and games while serving as trusted health care professionals for student-athletes, parents and coaches.
Everybody panic: A Valve developer said "HLX" in public
Sound designer lets Half Life-related codename slip at a conference.
The Science Behind Why We Snore, and a Possible Fix, Revealed in New Study
A landmark 3D airway simulation from Sweden's KTH Royal Institute of Technology reveals that habitual snoring is driven by rhythmic air pressure vibrating the soft palate like a clarinet reed, with ai...
Drake University expands full-tuition Bulldog Promise program to transfer students
Drake University will provide full-tuition coverage for qualifying Iowa transfer students through its Bulldog Promise program beginning in fall 2027. To qualify, transfer students must be Iowa residents, have a cumulative college GPA of at least 3.0, be eligible for the maximum federal Pell Grant and be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree. Originally launched in…
Buy your health insurance through the Mass. Connector? Open enrollment starts Friday
The Massachusetts Health Connector has begun its open enrollment period Friday and will run through Jan. 23, 2027. State and Boston officials are urging residents to take advantage of the Connector's assistance program — especially after recent federal changes to healthcare spending.
Santa Maria high school student, a U.S. citizen, is injured as ICE detains him
The student was walking to school when he was stopped by ICE agents, who badly injured him, school officials said.
Fire damages 75-year-old Collierville business, kills beloved store pet
A Thursday night fire destroyed Russell’s Farm Supply Co. at 136 S. Center St., killing the store’s longtime resident parrot, Popeye. No other injuries were reported.
CANS hosts Get Into the Guts of Healthcare for area middle school stud
Louisiana Tech University welcomed 89 seventh- and eighth-grade students from five area schools to Get Into the Guts of Healthcare, providing an interactive introduction to healthcare careers through
Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to fully ban student IDs for voting in midterms
The Supreme Court cleared the way Thursday for New Hampshire to fully ban the use of student IDs for voting during the midterm elections.
Another week, another embarrassing fan-player incident. College football appears to have a problem
SpaceX's Launch Business Wasn't Profitable Last Quarter, but Here's the Hidden Upside
The space segment is doing more for SpaceX than its raw revenue numbers indicate.
Today in Blue Jays History: Jays Win Second World Series
33 Years Ago Today I vividly remember that moment. Whether the Blue Jays won or lost, I felt confident we’d be okay. With Pat Hentgen lined up to start game 7 after his impressive outing in game 3, there was reassurance. Still, I’m grateful for how it all turned out. Even after countless viewings, Joe […]
Meet D. rex, the newly crowned giant fungus ‘king’ that measures almost 2 feet tall
Origins of a towering fungus identified in China traces back about 65 million years ago right after the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs.
2 ex-FBI officials charged with making false statements about Hunter Biden's laptop
Two former FBI intelligence officials who specialized in foreign election interference were charged Friday with making false statements about their roles in investigating the origins of Hunter Biden’s laptop in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election.
Essential Health highlights personalized direct primary care in Davenport
Essential Health Direct Primary Care offers pediatric and adult patients personalized, evidence‑based care through a flat‑rate membership model that includes extended visits, in‑house pharmacy services and on‑site lab testing.
‘Yaga’ review: Witchy adaptation on AMC+ lacks any real magic
Whittock feels like somewhere where dark mysteries would live, buried in its dense forests and obscured by ash-gray fog. The fictional British Columbia setting of the new Crave series “Yaga,”
Fight over Golden Wok continues after founder’s death
Connie Andrews’ estate is seeking answers about her business interests, disputed property and a partnership agreement it says was altered without her knowledge.
More Tar Heels say “Yes, and” to majors
Kate Blizzard (Romance languages and environmental science) is one of many students who dive deep into two academic disciplines.
‘People are busy trying to survive’: Wood County residents share concerns ahead of the midterms
Ahead of the midterms, Wood County residents discuss job losses, education, political apathy and what they want from elected leaders.
Pasadena Apple Store draws crowds as iPhone Duo launches worldwide
Apple fans lined up around the block at the Pasadena Apple Store on Friday as Apple officially launched the new iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable smartphone.
Vehicle Crashes Into Visalia Business After Driver's Foot Slips Off Brake
A vehicle crashed into a Visalia business after the driver lost control. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.
Statesboro health fair to bring students and community
Bringing students and community together.
Provident Entertainment Signs Hip-Hop Artist Skema Boy
Provident Entertainment Signs Hip-Hop Artist Skema Boy
'This has no place for partisan politics' say Camp Lejeune contamination victim advocates
At a Greenville rally this week, President Donald Trump said he will order swift settlement of remaining claims only if Republicans hold Congress.
Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science Celebrates 10 Years of Leadership, Expands into Engineering
The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University is celebrating 10 years under the leadership of Executive Director Laura Lindenfeld. Since its launch in 2009, the Center has spent more than 15 years helping experts in the sciences communicate their work. Now three years out from its 20th anniversary, the Center, under
Experian Health buys eInsights to boost insurance discovery
Experian Health, the healthcare arm of global data and technology business Experian, has acquired eInsights, a healthcare technology firm that helps providers locate patient insurance coverage that was overlooked or unavailable at the point of care. The deal broadens Experian Health’s insurance discovery capabilities beyond the early stages of the revenue cycle and gives providers […]
Analysis-Trump's diesel price relief efforts grow costlier as election nears
By Jarrett Renshaw and Leah Douglas Oct 23 (Reuters) - With the November midterm elections fast approaching, President Donald Trump is throwing an array of costly and politically fraught solutions
Melania Trump says she secured a one-city ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine for humanitarian aid
First lady Melania Trump announced that she helped secure a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the city of Oleshky to facilitate the evacuations of elderly residents.
Poll: Low-information voters have turned hardest against Trump and the GOP
In 2024, the voters who knew the least about politics were some of Donald Trump’s strongest supporters. A Data for Progress poll released just before the election found Americans who didn’t consume any news at all said they’d vote for Trump over Kamala Harris by a 20-point margin, 60%1 to 40%. In February, we reported that many of these voters had soured on Trump. Voters who couldn’t name the party in control of Congress moved away from Trump at about twice the rate as high-information voters. But approval isn’t vote choice. With the midterms less than two weeks away, it is worth asking if these voters are turning against the president’s party in federal elections, too. In our October Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll, conducted Oct. 13–19 among 2,028 U.S. adults, we asked respondents two factual questions about politics: which party has the most members in the House, and which has the most members in the Senate. I classified anyone who got at least one of these questions wrong as “low-knowledge.” About 30% of adults miss at least one question, including 25% of 2024 Trump voters, 22% of Harris voters, and more than half of people who didn’t vote in 2024. In this article, I do two things with this data. First, I repeat my February analysis and compare how these two groups feel about Trump’s job as president; then I look at each group’s voting behavior in the upcoming House midterms. Register for free to read the rest of this piece.
Matthew Golden is outpacing other 2025 first round picks
Golden’s redemption tour is well underway.
Computer scientists build innovative tech tools to find experiments, detect citation 'hallucinations'
New York University computer scientists and students have developed a pair of web-hosted AI systems designed to increase the efficiency and accuracy of the research process—by spotting "hallucinations" ...
Hotel builder relies on repeat business, portfolio diversification amid construction slowdown
RD Olson president tells developers looking to build to ‘pull the trigger’
Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.