By Victor Davis Hanson,  American Greatness – Democrats, lacking a positive agenda, bet on chaos, Trump hysteria, and media allies to spark a midterm backlash as Trump’s economic rebound gains steam… Recent regional special elections have seen Democratic candidates win a number of special election races… Now energized left-wing politicos remind the nation daily that every incumbent president, except three over the last century, has suffered substantial midterm losses in Congress.

By Saverio Perugini, National Catholic Register – Since ChatGPT’s release in November 2022, headlines about artificial intelligence (AI) have been sensational. AI is being touted as a panacea for everything from educating our youth to curing cancer… As pressure mounts to fundamentally change the way we do everything, so does anxiety. While some are bullishly enthusiastic about AI and others find the hype nauseating, AI is affecting an ever-increasing segment of the population, including Catholics.

Saint of the Day for February 7: Bl. Pope Pius IX – Blessed Pope Pius IX, born Giovanni Ferretti, was one of the longest reigning popes. During his 31 year papacy, he dealt with Church controversies, external turmoil, and the dissolution of the Papal States. Even though he faced many difficulties and medical aliments in his lifetime, he persevered from a very young age and after being rejected as a cadet for the Noble Guard, he became a priest. He was elected Pope in 1846, and took the name Pius IX in honor of Pope Pius VII. …

By Bridget Sielicki, Live Action New – SB 359 would allow doctors to prescribe lethal medication to patients who have been given a terminal diagnosis of six months or less to live. As written, the law would only apply to Virginia residents age 18 or older, and in order to qualify patients would need to make two oral requests at least 15 days apart. The doctor would also be required to have a one-on-one conversation with the patient to ensure the patient is not being coerced. In the committee hearing this week, Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington) maintained that these were “enough guardrails,” to protect against any abuse.

By Virginia Allen, The Daily Signal – President Donald Trump says a “softer touch” may be needed to carry out his immigration enforcement agenda… “I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch, but you still have to be tough. These are criminals – we’re dealing with really hard criminals,” Trump told NBC News… Two separate polls confirm the president’s conclusions are in line with the American public’s view of U.S. immigration policy. …

By Daniel Payne, EWTN News, (Catholic World Report) – The Connecticut-based ministry, which for nearly half a century has ministered to Catholics dealing with same-sex attraction, said in a press statement that leaders associated with the group, including Bridgeport Bishop Frank Caggiano and group Executive Director Father Brian Gannon, met with the Holy Father in a private audience… “The opportunity to share with the Holy Father the works of the apostolate, to provide pastoral accompaniment to persons who experience same-sex attraction but who strive to live chaste lives or to accompany family members who have a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ, was a momentous occasion,” the group said. …

By Tyler Arnold, Catholic News Agency, based in EWTN News – President Donald Trump addressed the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, Feb. 5, touting his record on religious issues and announcing that the United States will hold an event to rededicate the nation to God… “This prayer breakfast comes at a special time for our country as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence”… “When our founders proclaimed the immortal truths that echoed around the world and down all the way through time, they declared that all of us are made free and equal by the hand of our Creator,” the president said.

By Fr. Ignatius John Schweitzer, OP, Catholic Exchange – Recently I had a conversation with an older gentleman who has had a serious spirituality of the Word for over 50 years. He’d heard a talk I gave on the three spiritual senses of Scripture and had some time to practice them in his own prayer. He marveled over the riches they brought out of the text and wondered why he was hearing about it only now, after half a century. That is a good question. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a rich section on spiritual exegesis precisely so it does not remain hidden any longer (see CCC 108-18).

By James Lynch, National Review – Notre Dame is experiencing significant backlash from pro-life Catholics in and around the school because of its decision to appoint vocal abortion advocate Susan Ostermann to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the Keough School of International Affairs. Two scholars — Professors Robert Gimello and Diane Desierto — have resigned from the Liu Institute in recent days over Ostermann’s appointment.

By Jorge Bonilla, Newsbusters – The debate over immigration rages on in this country, with a disproportionate media focus on the enforcement side. But there continue to be horrific crimes committed by illegal aliens that garner no coverage from the network evening news…The horrific truck crash in Indiana that killed four Amish individuals was not reported across the evening news. Here’s how it was covered on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier ….

By Kathy Schiffer, National Catholic Register – Have you ever heard of St. Homobonus?… Omobono Tucenghi (also called “Homobonus,” which means “good man”) was a 12th-century tailor from the town of Cremona, on the bank of the Po River in northern Italy. He was a married layman who inherited a large estate from his father, a successful tailor and merchant… Homobonus was humble and generous, believing that God had permitted him to be successful in business so that he might donate a large proportion of his income to help the poor.

By Kennedy Hall, Crisis Magazine – First, the act of consecrating bishops without permission is not, according to Canon Law, automatically penalized with a charge of schism, although Canon Law does have provisions wherein a jurist could decide to apply a charge of schism to said penalty. Second, the Code does provide for a case of necessity, clearly so. And we cannot argue that consecrating without permission is intrinsically evil because the practice of consecrating vis-à-vis permission from Rome has undulated throughout the centuries (if it were intrinsically evil, it would never have been permissible). …

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – Mark 6:14-29 – 14 King Herod heard of it; for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife ….

By Fr. Francesco Giordano, STD, Catholic Exchange – For decades, debates over sexuality and the end of life have been framed as settled in advance, leaving many with the sense that Western societies would not merely change, but steadily accelerate away from the moral framework of Christian civilization. In both areas, moral change has been presented as moving in a single, predictable direction—what is often described as the steady widening of the Overton window. Dissent, when it appears, is treated as a temporary delay rather than a genuine challenge. …

By Hayden Daniel, The Federalist – Former Vice President Mike Pence really wants you to think he is a principled man. He really goes on and on about how he, seemingly alone, stands for those bedrock conservative values that made this country great. His foundation, Advancing American Freedom, even boasts “The Conservative Movement Lives Here.”… He’s a constitutional conservative to his core. Until he isn’t.