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Somalia's Supreme court rejects President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term extension
The country's first one person, one vote elections in many years are due next year - a timetable now in doubt.
Familiarity vs. formality: Why do we call female politicians by first names?
Just because the U.S. is willing to elect women doesn’t mean it sees them in the same light as men. When the next wave of congressional and presidential hopefuls make themselves known ahead of 2028, make sure to see the women on the ballot as more than a hot commodity, an anti-candidate or a first name.
Hegseth not under consideration to be appointed to Senate
Neither President Trump nor Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the governor elect, have made moves to get the defense secretary a Senate seat in Tennessee.
Infant bleeding surged last year as parents refuse vitamin K shot for newborns
Experts say some of the growing skepticism around public health is fueled partly by the Trump administration.
South Korean director Yeon Sang-ho revisits AI themes in latest thriller 'Paradise Lost'
South Korean director Yeon Sang-ho explores artificial intelligence in his films, including his latest, “Paradise Lost.”
How Big Pharma Shapes Medical Science, Influences Doctors, and Undermines Patient Care
This week, Mad in America explores three new articles around pharmaceutical industry corruption. The first examines industry’s hidden influence over Three new studies expose the pharmaceutical industry's hidden influence over medical research, the use of ghostwritten academic papers to advance commercial interests, and the normalization of industry influence among future physicians.
A ‘STEM wave’: Democratic doctors, scientists win a record number of seats in the midterms
New members of Congress are expected to help shape the health agenda next year.
The Republican missteps that laid the groundwork for a historic midterm rebuke
A campaign that put a distracted President Donald Trump front and center, and a war no one asked for, led the party into a wall of voter anger.
Rafa Nadal joins Real Madrid's board of directors 🎾
Real Madrid has officially announced the appointment of Rafa Nadal to its board of directors. The club has thus formalized the arrival of one of Spanish sport’s greatest legends to its governing bod...
Election 2026 live updates: Democrats take Congress as Trump distances himself from historic losses
Democrats have taken control of the House and Senate and are poised to launch a wave of investigations into President Donald Trump's administration.
Raphinha to sign new Barcelona contract until 2030 on Thursday
Barcelona captain Raphinha is expected to formalise his contract renewal on Thursday, November 5, signing a new agreement that will keep him at the club until 2030. According to SPORT, the agreement ...
Don Jr's Investor Business Partner Abruptly Resigns from Fannie Mae Board
Conservative businessman and Donald Trump Jr. business partner Omeed Malik has stepped down from the board of Fannie Mae.
Health Brief: Health care’s election night watch list
The health care stakes in the fight for Congress, key governor’s races and ballot measures
Binance hackers used fake job interview in $6.3B attack
Binance revealed hackers used a fake job interview and malicious software to steal $6.3 billion in crypto, exposing vulnerabilities in the exchange's security.
Analysis | Five races that will tell us where election night is headed
A handful of House, Senate and governor’s races could signal whether a blue wave is materializing.
Google researchers demand freedom to tell the world what they know about AI
Employees said that employment contracts at Google's AI division deter workers from speaking out about the dangers of the technology.
Mali: Still no accountability six months after abduction of pro-democracy politician Mountaga Tall and his son
Malian authorities must urgently disclose the fate and whereabouts of pro-democracy politician Mountaga Tall and his son Cheick Mamadou Tall
Will Kings’ Bench Production Improve in Winless Streak?
Sacramento’s historic 0-6 start stems from a league-worst second unit. Discover why coaching rotations and key injuries have left stars like Malik Monk struggling to provide depth.
USMNT midweek viewing guide: Malik vs Weah; Pepi back
Follow along with all the action this week.
4.1-Billion-Year-Old Martian Meteorite Is A "Rosetta Stone" For The Red Planet's Distant, Watery Past
The space rock, recovered from the Sahara Desert in Mali, is easily the oldest igneous rock we know of from Mars.
Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom, weighing 2028 runs, rally together in California
The California politicians showed a unified front while campaigning, which Democrats elsewhere struggled to do.
These midterms could effectively end the Trump era – but neither side is yet ready for what comes next
Despite the US president’s ratings being at rock bottom, undoing his legacy will be difficult, not least because the Democrats are in disarray, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
Commanders take care of business against flailing Eagles in prime time
After a sluggish start, Washington rallied for a 27-10 win against its NFC East rival on “Sunday Night Football.”
Malik Willis tosses two TDs in Week 8 vs. Patriots
Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis completed 21 of 32 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Week 8
Rep. Haley Stevens is no longer a Michigan Democratic Party member, chair says
Curtis Hertel announced the decision just over an hour after Stevens released an endorsement video for Michigan’s GOP Senate nominee, Mike Rogers.
Schumer calls Haley Stevens’s endorsement of a Republican ‘a despicable betrayal’
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had endorsed Stevens in the heated Democratic primary for the coveted Senate seat.
Marshall’s closing message in Kansas is a defense of his lawsuits against patients
Sen. Roger Marshall, an OB-GYN, practiced for decades in a mostly rural part of the state. He said Adam Hamilton is unfairly attacking him over the patients he sent to debt collection.
Democrat Haley Stevens appears with Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers
The appearance of Stevens, who recently clashed with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed over an ad, marked a stunning turn. She previously said she wanted a Democratic victory in the Senate race.
Alamo no longer appears on Ken Paxton’s tour
Ken Paxton's list of stops no longer includes the Alamo.
Politics questions? Ask Karen Tumulty.
Join our chief political correspondent for her next live chat on Monday, Nov. 2 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.
UN closes Somalia mission, ending three decades of political engagement
The United Nations has closed its political mission in Somalia, ending more than three decades of efforts to help the country rebuild after civil war.The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) ceased operations on Saturday after completing a two-year transition requested by the Somali government, the mission said in a statement on X.Its responsibilities have been gradually transferred to Somali institutions, UN agencies and the UN office supporting African Union (AU)
Losing Michigan Senate candidate Haley Stevens: ‘Go vote!’
Her statement comes after days of public discord with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Somali pirates seize Iranian fishing vessel, raising fears of attacks on cargo ships
Somali pirates have hijacked an Iranian fishing boat called the Azini with 23 people on board.
Both parties tried to game Alaska primary field
The Democrat running for Senate, Mary Peltola, is accused of recruiting a spoiler candidate, but Republicans have also boosted spoilers.
Clues emerge on why colon cancer may be harder to treat in young people
New research could offer targets for future studies and new treatments.
A battle for the soul of L.A. could reveal the future of the left
In California’s largest city, a progressive mayor once inspired by Castro’s Cuba faces a democratic socialist who wants to unleash housing development.
The corruption election: Democrats link Trump’s wealth to voters’ economic pain
Candidates are painting the president and Republican incumbents as enriching themselves while ordinary Americans struggle to make ends meet.
Judge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein birthday letter
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami dismissed the suit with prejudice, ruling that the president did not prove the defendants made defamatory statements with actual malice as required by law.
At Ken Paxton rally, impeachment had a silver lining
The Texas attorney general was impeached in 2023 by a Republican-led state House but acquitted in the state Senate. And then he went after his enemies.
Malik Nabers Is Giants’ Only True Star Through Seven Weeks
Malik Nabers leads the Giants' midseason awards with 509 yards in four games, proving he is the team's top asset despite injuries and QB changes.
Democratic official says she won’t vote for Iowa Senate candidate over trans ad
Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek faces criticism after ad opposing "taxpayers paying for sex changes."
Harris rallies Democrats in Georgia in final push before midterms
Kamala Harris appeared in Georgia for Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) and Keisha Lance Bottoms, who could be the first Black female governor.
Judge orders Trump officials not to threaten or intimidate election workers
The temporary order requires Trump administration officials to refrain from pressuring election workers processing election ballots.
Commentary: Democracy can be surprising, as elections around the world show
On America’s Election Night 10 years ago, I was a diplomat with the U.S. mission to Somalia in Mogadishu. We were hosting a watch party with local political, business and
Malik Willis expected to play in Week 8
Dolphins QB Malik Willis a full participant all week and is not on injury report
Brewers’ World Series parade gets a dose of Wisconsin politics
A plane flying above Milwaukee carried a message about Tuesday’s gubernatorial race.
CDC scientists sought urgent alert on measles in pregnancy. It wasn’t approved.
The report could fill major gaps about a condition doctors have rarely seen for decades.
CDC scientists sought urgent alert on measles in pregnancy. It wasn’t approved.
The report could fill major gaps about a condition doctors have rarely seen for decades.
GOP gambles on cruelty as a campaign strategy
As Donald Trump’s brand of politics is normalized across the GOP, not everyone is reaping the same benefits
Midwestern retirees helped turn Florida red. Now they could turn it blue.
Like voters still in the Midwest, many Midwesterners who moved to Florida to retire in the sun are preparing to vote for Democrats on Nov. 3.
5 Quarterbacks Who Could Make Dolphins Rethink Malik Willis
Looking ahead to the future, these five quarterbacks could force the Miami Dolphins to replace Malik Willis.
Matchups to Watch: Malik Willis' Dual-Threat Ability vs. Patriots Third Down Defense
Willis can run. So can the Patriots contain him on Sunday?
Netanyahu alleges stolen election as he seeks political survival amid uncertainty
Accusations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Tuesday’s election was “stolen by Arab parties,” and an official investigation into the matter, have cast a shadow over the vote.
Health Brief: Medicaid decision gives ‘frail’ Americans some relief from work rules
Plus: Political ties can hurt nursing home care, report shows
LeBron James and Whoop Partner as Health Tracker Keeps IPO in Sight
LeBron James was an early Whoop adopter, and the health tracker and NBA star have now formalized their relationship 11 years later via an endorsement.
U.S. economy grew at a fast clip in 3rd quarter, thanks to consumer spending
The economy grew at an annual rate of 3.4 percent.
RFK Jr. plans to make these 6 unapproved peptides available for temporary sale
The Trump administration published a draft policy for widening access to controversial peptides while federal officials continue to hammer out permanent rules for the products.
The Democratic Politics of Prison Abolition | Events & Calendars | The Democratic Politics of Prison Abolition
Anna Terwiel (Trinity College) discusses prison abolition. While dismissed as naïve or idealistic—even by "penal minimalists" who defend state punishment—abolition enacts vital democratic citizenship. She highlights abolitionists' vigilance against the carceral state, trust in collective power to build egalitarian justice, and accountability for political imperfections.This event is free and open to the public.
Want good news? Look at health care innovation.
The research could provide health benefits to most of humanity.
Analysis | Response to Ramaswamy’s controversial ad says a lot about JD Vance’s future
The vice president's decision to stand by the ad has led to criticism of Vance, widely seen as the GOP favorite to run for president.
Disinformation videos, likely from Russia, are exploiting real people to malign Senate candidates
Social media videos believed to be linked to Russia are misusing real people’s names and photographs to spread disinformation about two Democratic Senate candidates
Disinformation videos, likely from Russia, are exploiting real people to malign Senate candidates
Social media videos believed to be linked to Russia are misusing real people’s names and photographs to spread disinformation about two Democratic Senate candidates.
Miami Dolphins Fans: Malik Willis Early Season Takes
Miami Dolphins fans share their thoughts on Malik Willis as the teams starting quarterback through five games.
49ers announce roster moves after monster DeForest Buckner trade
The San Francisco 49ers announced additional roster moves Tuesday after reacquiring three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts ahead of the NFL trade deadline. San Francisco signed defensive lineman Kevin Givens to its practice squad and released wide receiver Malik Turner from the practice squad as the […] The post 49ers announce roster moves after monster DeForest Buckner trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Malik Beasley agrees to plead guilty in sports betting case
Malik Beasley is scheduled to change his plea at a Dec. 9 hearing in Brooklyn.
Anthropic's 97-page list of business risks is quadruple the length of other AI IPOs. What's on it: weapons, blackmail, and more
Anthropic warns potential investors its agents could do serious harm, both autonomously and in the hands of malicious actors.
These superbugs pose the biggest threat to Americans, CDC says
Nineteen drug-resistant germs cause an estimated 9.7 million infections and 50,800 deaths in the country each year.
These superbugs pose the biggest threat to Americans, CDC says
Nineteen drug-resistant germs cause an estimated 9.7 million infections and 50,800 deaths in the country each year.
Lisa Demuth’s ‘Somali gangs’ campaign ad draws accusations of racism
A campaign ad by Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth faces accusations of exploiting racial bias, while a Somali Republican says it addresses specific crimes.
The broccoli-cooking mistake that may reduce its health benefits
Popular preparation methods might be removing key nutrients from this vegetable. Here’s how experts suggest cooking it instead.
Health Brief: States brace for Medicaid crunch
CMS prepares states for Medicaid work requirement snags as they race to meet the deadline
Bolsonaro effectively concedes in Brazil after Trump suggests he won’t help
Trump says the presidential election looked “rigged” but did not say he planned to intervene on behalf of the right-wing politician.
Fantasy Football Week 8 Waiver Wire Debate: Michael Penix Jr. or Malik Willis?
Finding the best quarterback to add in fantasy football between Michael Penix Jr. and Malik Willis.
Israel's tech scene warms to crypto payments
From blockchain expertise to evolving regulations, Israel’s tech ecosystem is helping normalize crypto payments, including for online poker and digital entertainment.
Analysis | Saddam’s Cheesecake Factory: Trump’s predecessors go after him in ways only they can
In today’s edition … Voters are changing their minds … You tell me about your first time voting … but first …
How to Manage Symptoms of Heart Failure
(Feature Impact) Americans are facing a growing health challenge, with 1 in 4 adults at risk of heart failure, according to the Heart Failure Society of America. Additionally, approximately 6.7 million U.S. adults who are 20 years old or older are currently living with heart failure, and that number is projected to reach 8.7 million by 2030. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('JGFI_Article_300x250'); }); Managing heart failure is a significant expense to the U.S. healthcare system, costing the nation approximately $40 billion in 2020 and expected to increase to approximately $142 billion a year by 2050.If you (or a loved one) are living with the condition, consider these tips to help manage it.Adhere to the Treatment and Follow-Up PlanOngoing outpatient care is important when managing heart failure. Understand the treatment plan provided by your healthcare team, make diet and lifestyle changes, take medications as directed and keep recommended follow-up appointments.Pay attention to changes in symptoms and communicate with your healthcare provider if treatment does not seem to be working as expected. If their conditions are left unmanaged, patients can experience a range of heart-failure-related symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, buildup of fluid and more.Understand Challenges with Diuretic TreatmentDiuretics help the body remove excess fluid and are commonly used to treat swelling, or edema, associated with heart failure. Your provider may try different diuretics, sometimes referred to as “water pills,” to manage your heart failure symptoms. However, intravenous (IV) diuretic therapy may be required for some patients if symptoms continue.Ask About Treatment Options Before IV Care Is NeededFor some adults, a healthcare provider may consider recommending an at-home, non-oral diuretic option prior to escalating to IV therapy.For example, ENBUMYST™ (bumetanide nasal spray) is a prescription diuretic used in adults to treat edema associated with congestive heart failure. It’s administered as a nasal spray for short-term use to manage excess fluid with the goal of transitioning to oral diuretic therapy when appropriate.Talk with your healthcare provider to learn more and visit enbumyst.com. Read the full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.Photo courtesy of Shutterstock googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('JGFI_Article2_300x250'); }); Important Safety InformationWhat is ENBUMYST?ENBUMYST is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat swelling caused by excess fluid in the body (edema) from congestive heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease.What is the most important information I should know about ENBUMYST?ENBUMYST is a diuretic that helps your body remove fluid. Losing too much fluid can cause dehydration, low blood volume, and increase the risk of blood clots. Blood abnormalities may include decreased salts (electrolytes), and increased nitrogen, glucose and uric acid. The risk of these abnormalities is higher in elderly people, those using higher doses, or those who do not get enough electrolytes by mouth.You should not use ENBUMYST if you have severe electrolyte loss. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience unusual thirst; dizziness or lightheadedness; weakness or tiredness; fast heart rate; dry mouth or tongue; sudden pain; redness or swelling in your joints; pain, swelling, redness, or warmth in your leg; shortness of breath or fast breathing; high blood sugar; dark urine; pale, tight, cool or clammy skin; muscle cramps; confusion.Do not use ENBUMYST if you have low or no urine production or are allergic to bumetanide or to any of the ingredients in ENBUMYST.Before using ENBUMYST, tell your healthcare provider if you have low electrolytes, are on a low-salt diet, have diarrhea, diabetes, nasal problems such as a runny or stuffy nose or polyps, a history of nasal injury or surgery, are or plan to become pregnant, are or plan to breastfeed.Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.ENBUMYST may cause serious side effects, such as worsening kidney function and ringing in the ears or hearing loss.The most common side effects of ENBUMYST include dehydration, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea, and abnormal brain functioning with certain liver problems.These are not all the possible side effects of ENBUMYST. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.US-ENBU-2600110 googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('JGFI_Article3_300x250'); });
AI coding agents hijacked using AGENTS.md file in Downloads folder
Researchers found a malicious AGENTS markdown instruction file in a customer's Downloads folder that tricked an AI coding agent into installing a rogue npm package.
Maliek Collins agrees to terms on contract extension
Maliek Collins to remain in Cleveland for two additional years
Why scientists no longer think plastic is the safest material around
For decades, scientists believed that plastics were some of the safest materials around. Now it's clear how flawed that view was.
Why crafting is good for your brain, according to science
Knitters and other crafters say busy hands quiet their minds. But experts say there are also benefits for cognition.
He left the CDC to fight RFK Jr. But was it better to fight from within?
Demetre Daskalakis, CDC’s top immunization official, resigned in 2025 to protest Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., then became one of his loudest critics.
Browns sign Maliek Collins to $30 million extension
The Cleveland Browns have secured one of their standout defensive players for the future before their next game against the Tennessee Titans . Cleveland defensive tackle Maliek Collins has agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $30 million. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Collins’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed the agreement to him […] The post Browns sign Maliek Collins to $30 million extension appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Former NBA player Malik Beasley to plead guilty in federal sports betting case: Court filing
NBA veteran Malik Beasley intends to plead guilty to charges that accused him and five others of taking part in a bribery and betting scheme, court documents show.
Giants should send Malik Nabers at Houston’s weakened middle
Houston will be without safeties Reed Blankenship and Jalen Pitre on Sunday. I’d make those absences part of the Giants‘ […]
Voters angry about high prices may get little relief from the next Congress
Even if Democrats win control of Congress on Nov. 3, lawmakers can do little about prices that are uncomfortably high -- and will stay that way even as the rate of inflation is expected to slow.
Doctors’ offices are charging patients 10 times more by claiming to be hospitals
Even when patients never step into a hospital, they may be charged hospital “facility fees,” and their care may be billed at higher rates.
The most important things to do to stay healthy while traveling
An infectious-diseases doctor shares essential tips to prepare for any health issues while traveling in another country.
Latin America’s MAGA wave is widening Trump’s political and military reach
Brazil could be next in a regional shift toward MAGA-style politics. Trump is reaping the rewards — at least until the next round of elections.
Jon Ossoff’s films exposed corruption. Then his colleague was murdered.
What the Georgia Democrat and potential presidential candidate learned about politics and going viral from his time making documentaries.
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.
Rising health care costs are pushing people to forgo medicine and doctor visits
Higher insurance premiums, climbing medical costs and inflation are pushing health care expenses for Americans to new heights.