Megan Basham

And all of this, you have to say, is very much in line with President Trump's America First foreign policy vision in that it follows the administration's efforts to downsize these federal agencies and keep resources in the U.S.

During the press conference Monday, Bruce said that abolishing and absorbing USAID into the State Department was the first step in this kind of streamlining, and now they're simply moving forward in the same spirit. Hmm.

During the press conference Monday, Bruce said that abolishing and absorbing USAID into the State Department was the first step in this kind of streamlining, and now they're simply moving forward in the same spirit. Hmm.

I would say that's developing. There hasn't been a lot of chatter so far. Some analysts are saying this is going to alienate career diplomats. Some Democrats are saying that these moves will diminish the US's influence abroad. But we're also hearing that some are breathing sighs of relief because they were expecting even deeper cuts after a draft executive order circulated last weekend.

I would say that's developing. There hasn't been a lot of chatter so far. Some analysts are saying this is going to alienate career diplomats. Some Democrats are saying that these moves will diminish the US's influence abroad. But we're also hearing that some are breathing sighs of relief because they were expecting even deeper cuts after a draft executive order circulated last weekend.

That document proposed slashing entire bureaus like African Affairs and closing embassies across sub-Saharan Africa. But Rubio said that was all fake news. So the current plan is less drastic than that was. And Bruce stressed that no one is being fired immediately and they're going to be carefully looking at the best ways to cut.

That document proposed slashing entire bureaus like African Affairs and closing embassies across sub-Saharan Africa. But Rubio said that was all fake news. So the current plan is less drastic than that was. And Bruce stressed that no one is being fired immediately and they're going to be carefully looking at the best ways to cut.

Well, I think certainly, Georgia, he's going to be remembered as something of a progressive reformer. In 2013, shortly after he was elected, he made his famously controversial statement about gay priests saying, who am I to judge? And then in 2015, his encyclical called for environmental action. That's something he continually urged world leaders to do to address climate change.

Well, I think certainly, Georgia, he's going to be remembered as something of a progressive reformer. In 2013, shortly after he was elected, he made his famously controversial statement about gay priests saying, who am I to judge? And then in 2015, his encyclical called for environmental action. That's something he continually urged world leaders to do to address climate change.

And then during his last Easter address on Sunday, directly after meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, he warned politicians against stirring up anti-migrant sentiments. Immigration, of course, was an issue that he spoke about frequently, like in this interview with CBS's Nora O'Donnell last year.

And then during his last Easter address on Sunday, directly after meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, he warned politicians against stirring up anti-migrant sentiments. Immigration, of course, was an issue that he spoke about frequently, like in this interview with CBS's Nora O'Donnell last year.

But that said, his papacy wasn't as transformative as some theological progressives would have liked. He did endorse civil unions for same-sex couples. That was a historic move for a pope. And he approved a document saying that priests could bless gay couples. But he also upheld this church's stance that marriage is between a man and a woman.

But that said, his papacy wasn't as transformative as some theological progressives would have liked. He did endorse civil unions for same-sex couples. That was a historic move for a pope. And he approved a document saying that priests could bless gay couples. But he also upheld this church's stance that marriage is between a man and a woman.

So he stopped short of that full affirmation that so many LGBTQ activists were looking for. He also refused to approve the use of contraceptives or ordaining women to the priesthood. And plus, he was always a very strong advocate for the sanctity of life. And that was something that conservatives certainly cheered.

So he stopped short of that full affirmation that so many LGBTQ activists were looking for. He also refused to approve the use of contraceptives or ordaining women to the priesthood. And plus, he was always a very strong advocate for the sanctity of life. And that was something that conservatives certainly cheered.

They did, and I'd say that's because beyond his overall more progressive positions, he also took actions to suppress a conservative resurgence in the church. In 2021, he started severely restricting the celebration of the Latin Mass, and that was a reversal from the previous Pope Benedict.

They did, and I'd say that's because beyond his overall more progressive positions, he also took actions to suppress a conservative resurgence in the church. In 2021, he started severely restricting the celebration of the Latin Mass, and that was a reversal from the previous Pope Benedict.

He argued that that right, which conservatives cherish, was being used to foster division and to reject Vatican II's liturgical reforms. But traditional communities felt targeted by that. And further, Francis took steps to curb the influence of conservative prelates who viewed his reforms as a threat to church tradition.

He argued that that right, which conservatives cherish, was being used to foster division and to reject Vatican II's liturgical reforms. But traditional communities felt targeted by that. And further, Francis took steps to curb the influence of conservative prelates who viewed his reforms as a threat to church tradition.

One example of that, in 2014, he removed conservative cardinals like Raymond Burke, a vocal critic from a key Vatican post, He also appointed more moderate and progressive bishops to various roles of authority and elevated like-minded clerics to the College of Cardinals. And because of this, you have a lot of critics accusing him of stacking the deck and stifling dissent.