Megan Basham

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.

But that said, Father Robert Sirico, former president of the conservative Acton Institute, did tell Morning Wire that he thinks the accusations of Francis being a Marxist go too far.

But that said, Father Robert Sirico, former president of the conservative Acton Institute, did tell Morning Wire that he thinks the accusations of Francis being a Marxist go too far.

Yeah, and those are some really fascinating trends right now. Last year, we reported on the surge of Catholic conversions among young people in New York City, but there's evidence that this trend is happening in a variety of nations in Europe as well. According to the Bishop's Conference of France, more than 10,000 adults were baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on Easter Sunday.

Yeah, and those are some really fascinating trends right now. Last year, we reported on the surge of Catholic conversions among young people in New York City, but there's evidence that this trend is happening in a variety of nations in Europe as well. According to the Bishop's Conference of France, more than 10,000 adults were baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on Easter Sunday.

And they say that that is the largest wave of conversions in at least two decades. And it's mostly coming from young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. And then something similar is happening in England where surveys now show that Catholics outnumber Anglicans by about two to one among Gen Z and younger millennials.

And they say that that is the largest wave of conversions in at least two decades. And it's mostly coming from young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. And then something similar is happening in England where surveys now show that Catholics outnumber Anglicans by about two to one among Gen Z and younger millennials.

And these younger people, particularly young men, are being especially drawn to conservative expressions of the faith, what's known as the Trad Cath or traditional Catholic movement. So really kind of going in a different direction from where Francis was trying to take the church.

And these younger people, particularly young men, are being especially drawn to conservative expressions of the faith, what's known as the Trad Cath or traditional Catholic movement. So really kind of going in a different direction from where Francis was trying to take the church.

Well, you know, one, I think they have the political winds at their backs as trust in the media is at an all-time low. So you have a lot of Americans who are sympathetic to the idea that we don't need to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on these entities that a lot of people view as very biased. President Trump specifically accused NPR of being a mouthpiece for the radical left.

Well, you know, one, I think they have the political winds at their backs as trust in the media is at an all-time low. So you have a lot of Americans who are sympathetic to the idea that we don't need to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on these entities that a lot of people view as very biased. President Trump specifically accused NPR of being a mouthpiece for the radical left.

So he's calling on Republicans in Congress to introduce legislation that rescinds the funds that had been previously approved.

So he's calling on Republicans in Congress to introduce legislation that rescinds the funds that had been previously approved.

Well, I think that the congressional hearings that were held three weeks ago provided plenty of fodder for why people are saying that. So during questioning of NPR CEO Catherine Maher, we learned that all 87, meaning 100% of NPR's board, are registered Democrats. And then Maher was also asked to defend some of her public statements.

Well, I think that the congressional hearings that were held three weeks ago provided plenty of fodder for why people are saying that. So during questioning of NPR CEO Catherine Maher, we learned that all 87, meaning 100% of NPR's board, are registered Democrats. And then Maher was also asked to defend some of her public statements.

Have a listen to this exchange with Congressman Tim Burchette of Tennessee.

Have a listen to this exchange with Congressman Tim Burchette of Tennessee.

She also acknowledged what she called mistakes in NPR's coverage. Now, as for whether this rescission proposal goes through, that's always a tough sell. And there will be a real uphill battle to get it through both the House and the Senate. So if you're betting, I guess it's not going to make it. But, you know, you never know with Trump.

She also acknowledged what she called mistakes in NPR's coverage. Now, as for whether this rescission proposal goes through, that's always a tough sell. And there will be a real uphill battle to get it through both the House and the Senate. So if you're betting, I guess it's not going to make it. But, you know, you never know with Trump.

Yeah, sure. So the administration froze $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard after the university refused demands to overhaul its policies. And the White House is saying that a total of $9 billion in funding could ultimately be on the table.