Kresta in the Afternoon

Last night proved to be a difficult night for pro-lifers. Kentucky’s Amendment 2, which would have amended the state Constitution to explicitly state there is no right to abortion, was rejected by voters. A proposal in Montana that would have protected babies who survive abortions is yet to be decided but is currently trending towards no. Meanwhile Michigan’s Proposal 3, which enshrines abortion r...

Donald Trump endorsed nearly 300 candidates in various midterm races and, so far, they have not performed well in races that were considered to be toss-ups. Meanwhile, candidates like Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida and Governor Brian Kemp in Georgia performed well. What is the future of Donald Trump’s place in the Republican Party? Frank Buckley weighs in.

With about 98% of the votes tallied, Proposal 3 has passed in Michigan with more than 56% of the vote. This is a major disappointment for the pro-life movement both locally and nationally, as Michigan was viewed as a bellwether state for the national attitude on abortion and pro-life laws. Monica Miller joins us to discuss what happens now.

In the days leading up to the midterms, many analysts were predicting a “Red Wave” that would give the Republican Party control of both houses of Congress and multiple Governorships. While the Senate and House could still swing to the Right, the Red Wave has not happened. We break down the results with Carter Snead with a look at how the Dobbs decision may have affected the races.

Everywhere you look, the world is asking us where we find our identity, whether it be in race, nationality, political allegiance, or sexual orientation. What happens when we rediscover an identity that is rooted in Jesus? We sit down with Fr. John Riccardo.

Last week the Vatican’s Synod on Synodality released a working document designed to set a framework for the next stage of the three-year process. It has raised eyebrows as it calls explicitly for the transformation of Church structures. Matthew Bunson has the details.

On December 12, 1999, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe to be the Patroness of the Americas. But did you know that Mary is also the sole patroness of all 50 states, under a variety of special titles? As we await the results of the midterms, Al offers a Litany to the nation’s Patroness.

Jeremy Christiansen was raised in a loving and devout Mormon home and, despite some years of teenaged rebellion, found himself at home in the Mormon Church. But as he grew older, he began to question the principles of his faith, and his search for answers led him to the Catholic Church. He shares his story.

The midterms are tomorrow, and voters in several states will also consider ballot measures relating to abortion. We take a final look with Michael Kenney about what abortion supporters are saying and what we should keep in mind as we head to the polls.

In the Christian context, Universalism is the idea that all people – and maybe even the fallen angels – will eventually be saved and spend eternity in Heaven. While it’s an appealing idea, it’s also false – so how do Catholics go about refuting it? Dr. Michael McClymond joins us.

On November 2, 1917, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, announcing support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish People.” The issue of The Land is central to Jewish self-identity. The Catholic Church certainly acknowledges the covenant between God and the Jewish People, but how does this covenant relate to the land and today’s Jews? We talk with Andre Villeneuve

What attitude should Christians hold towards elections? It is important for us to do our civic duty and vote for those policies that are aligned with church teaching, but if we expect our elected officials to do the work of the Church, we will be disappointed. Al discusses.

“Remember, remember, the Fifth of November…” This weekend, Britain will celebrate Bonfire Night, commemorating Guy Fawkes’ failed attempt to blow up the House of Lords. Most of us don’t know much about Guy Fawkes other than the mask that has appeared in films and online. Who was he? Joanna Bogle joins us.

When most people think of the midterm elections, their attention is focused on the race for governor, Congress, or ballot initiatives such as Proposal 3. But it’s important to remember another race- the one for state supreme courts. Judge Michael Warren joins us.

Earlier this week we celebrated All Saints Day. It’s easy to look at the saints as paragons of virtue and holiness, and forget that they were real people who faced real struggle, temptation, and doubt. Fr. Thomas Dubay wrote extensively on the saints as examples of everyday holiness. We look back on a conversation with him today.

Late last month the Vatican re-renewed its deal with China for another two years. This comes as Cardinal Zen's trial picks up again and Xi Jinping makes moves to increase his power within China. Benedict Rogers updates us on what is going on.

In this Sunday's Gospel, the Sadducees attempt to trick Jesus. They pose a situation where a woman continued to marry her late husband's brothers, and asked whose wife she would be at the Resurrection. What can we learn from Jesus' response? Peggy Stanton joins us.

The European witch hunts, and witch burnings, is one of those historical events that virtually everyone has heard of, but almost nobody knows anything about. It has been claimed that nine million “witches” were burned during this period, but historians estimate the number is actually around 50,000. What do we know about these burnings? What was the background for them? Sandra Miesel joins us.

Proponents of Proposal 3 try to say that it will simply restore the rights that existed under Roe v Wade. But it actually represents an unprecedented extreme. Dr. Kathryn Moseley explains why.

On October 16, 1962, President Kennedy learned of Soviet missile sites under construction in Cuba. For the next thirteen days, he met with his advisers to determine the best course of action. The popular understanding of what happened during those meetings is quite different from what the historical record shows. We take a close look with Sheldon Stern.

In His deepest nature, God is Love. This can make it hard to understand the concept of Hell – eternal separation from God. Al continues his thoughts from last week.

On this All Saints Day, we commemorate the life of St Dominic, Founder of the Dominican Order. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and is attributed with the spread of the Rosary. We look at his life and influence with Thomas Madden.

As Catholics, we are all called to be saints. We can choose to live a life of sanctity, aiming for perfect conformity with Christ – or we can aim for the opposite. What does a life lived in this matter look like? On this All Saints Day, Al shares some thoughts.

What happens when we have the courage to collaborate with God and pursue our truest self? The result is a life and light that keeps shining long after our mission on earth is complete, and we see it through the lives of the saints. We look at how the Saints have responded to this call with Matthew Kelly.

Most of America recognizes today as Halloween, but the Christian world acknowledges something far more significant - the start of the Reformations that began more than 500 years ago. It’s a complicated story and there are key details, often overlooked, that are essential for understanding why the Reformations happened. For example, religious reform was a major force in the reformation, but nationa...