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| TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16 |
| CHEROKEE NATION REBUKES LIZ WARREN Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, released the findings of a DNA test that indicate that she had a Native American ancestor “in the range of 6-10 generations ago.” The Cherokee Nation issued a statement accusing Warren of “undermining tribal interests” by claiming tribal heritage. “A DNA test is useless to determine tribal citizenship,” Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. Senator Warren is considered a potential 2020 presidential candidate. READ |
| JUDGE DISMISSES LAWSUIT A federal judge dismisses Stormy Daniels’ defamation lawsuit against President Trump for his “con job” tweet. Daniels claimed a man threatened her not to go public about her alleged affair with Trump. On April 18, President Trump called the allegation and the corresponding police sketch of the person who threatened her a “total con job.” The judge said Trump’s statement was legally permissible “rhetorical hyperbole.” The ruling states that Daniels will have to pay President Trump’s attorney fees. READ |
| MASSIVE BUDGET DEFICIT The U.S. budget deficit jumped 17% to $779 billion in 2018. There was a slight slowdown in revenues due to last year’s tax cut. But tax revenue year to year still gained slightly. The big difference was an additional $300 billion of defense and domestic spending approved by Congress in March. READ |
| 3% OF TAXPAYERS PAID MAJORITY OF TAXES The individual income tax is expected to bring in roughly $1.7 trillion, or about half of all federal revenues. And according to data collected from Bloomberg, the top 1% of taxpayers paid a greater share of individual income taxes (37.3%) than the bottom 90% combined. And 3% of taxpayers paid over 50% of income taxes. READ |
| PRO-LIFE LEGAL VICTORIES Pregnancy centers won a big victory at the Supreme Court this summer. And pro-lifers have been able to use the court’s decision to push back at legislative attacks on pregnancy centers from San Francisco to Baltimore. READ |
| FRENCH LEADER SLAMS MOMS WITH 7 KIDS French President Emmanuel Macron was promoting population control for Africa, and said: “Present me the woman who decided, being perfectly educated, to have seven, eight or nine children.” READ |
| HAZMAT TEAM SENT TO SENATOR’S HOME Police were sent to Senator Susan Collins’ home in Bangor, Maine, after the delivery of a suspicious letter. “Today’s incident is the latest in a series of threats against Senator Collins, her loved ones, and her staff,” said Annie Clark, the senator’s spokeswoman. Collins has received considerable criticism since she delivered a speech defending Brett Kavanaugh that propelled him to confirmation to the Supreme Court. READ |
| SEARS DECLARES BANKRUPTCY The iconic store “where America shops” has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Ethan Epstein suggests that the impending death of Sears mirrors the hollowing out of America’s middle class. “If America’s economy increasingly looks like a barbell—lots of poor people, lots of rich people, very few people in the middle class—its commercial landscape increasingly does too.” READ |
| +NAPIER: SYNOD SHOULD HEAR AFRICA Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of South Africa said that the Synod on the Youth should incorporate more voices from Africa. “While many young people in the West are leaving Jesus, or at least his Church, and they’re doing this for a variety of reasons…in Africa there is a very different kind of phenomenon and that is that young people are looking for Jesus and looking for answers to their problems.” READ |
| CHURCH SCANDAL The Archdiocese of Washington released the names of 28 former clergy of the archdiocese who had been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse of minors dating back to 1948. The news came just days after Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl as Archbishop of Washington. READ |
| SAINT OF THE DAY Saint Margaret Mary spent her life reminding people of God’s Mercy. She will forever be associated with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the symbol of Christ’s love. Many people follow her in prayer to the Sacred Heart on the first Friday of every month. READ |
| DAILY READINGS “Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.” (Ps 119:41) READ |
| DEVOTION Twelve 12 promises from the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. READ |