WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

TRUMP DECLARES 'TURNAROUND FOR THE AGES' IN LONGEST STATE OF THE UNION President Donald Trump declared that the United States has achieved "a turnaround for the ages," making a case during the longest State of the Union address in history that his return to office has reversed economic decline, border chaos, and global instability. READ

VERMONT RESTORES FOSTER LICENSES TO CHRISTIANS Vermont officials have adopted a revised foster-care policy clarifying that prospective foster parents are not required to "endorse or affirm" LGBTQ "gender identities" or use "preferred pronouns" as a condition of licensure. The move prompted attorneys for two Christian families to dismiss their appeal in a federal lawsuit. READ

MORTGAGES HIT LOWEST RATE SINCE 2022 Mortgage rates fell sharply the week of Feb. 23, dipping below 6% for the first time since September 2022 and offering relief to potential homebuyers and those refinancing their home loans. According to the National Association of Home Builders, even a small drop in mortgage rates — such as 0.25 percentage points — can significantly improve affordability and bring more than a million additional households into the market. READ

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WAR DEPT GIVES AI COMPANY TILL FRIDAY TO REMOVE RESTRICTIONS Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has given Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei until Friday to allow unrestricted military use of its artificial intelligence (AI) model or risk losing Pentagon support. The disagreement stems from Amodei's refusal to remove restrictions that prevent the use of AI for the mass surveillance of citizens and restrict armed drones from independently killing without direct human prompting. READ

CATHOLICVOTE CALLS ON KIDS TO PARTICIPATE IN ART CONTEST A nationwide student art contest is inviting children and teens to celebrate America's 250th birthday by creating original artwork inspired by historical figures selected for the proposed National Garden of American Heroes. Joshua Mercer, vice president of advocacy for CatholicVote, is encouraging Catholic students to take part. READ

POLL: LOW APPROVAL FOR BOTH TRUMP & CONGRESSIONAL DEMS Three in five Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's job performance, a new poll highlighted on FOX Business Feb. 23 suggests, marking the highest disapproval rating of his current term. The same poll found divided public support for border enforcement as well as significant public dissatisfaction with Democrats in Congress. READ

AD: JOIN THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC PRAYER BREAKFAST: MARCH 19, 2026 Celebrate the Catholic contribution to the US on its 250th anniversary at the 21st annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast! This 21st annual gathering of 1500+ attendees features a beautiful morning of prayer, inspiring speakers, national Catholic celebrities, and over 50 Catholic exhibitors. Outstanding sponsorship opportunities are still available. JOIN NOW

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO VISIT ST. FRANCIS' REMAINS Almost 400,000 people have pre-registered to visit and venerate the bones of Saint Francis of Assisi, which are on exhibition from Feb. 22 to March 22, marking the 800th anniversary of the saint's death. READ

FR. MIKE SCHMITZ & JEFF CAVINS HONORED BY MUSEUM OF BIBLE The Museum of the Bible, an educational institution in Washington, D.C., recently presented Jeff Cavins, Catholic author and speaker, and Father Mike Schmitz, host of "The Bible in a Year" podcast, with the Pillar Award for Narrative. They are the first Catholics to receive the award. READ

MOMS NEED HOBBIES TOO A young mom of three kids under four recently made an important rediscovery: a hobby! "As it turns out, hobbies aren't extra," she writes. "They're essential, and yes, there can be time for them even in the busiest of family routines or seasons." READ

CATHOLIC 101 While the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation can (and should!) be received all year, the liturgical season of Lent is a special time Mother Church provides for the faithful to focus on ways of overcoming vice and growing in love and likeness of Christ. Now is a good time for this step-by-step guide to confession. READ

SAINT OF THE DAY Today the Church honors Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani (1806-1855). She entered the cloistered Benedictine Community in St. Peter's Monastery at the age of 21. Eventually, she wrote a collection of her personal reflections titled "The mystical garden of the soul that loves Jesus and Mary." READ

DAILY PSALM "A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn." (Psalm 51) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings. READ

EXCLUSIVE: MEXICAN ACTIVIST WEIGHS IN ON VIOLENCE As violence roils Mexico, Catholic Mexican activist and actor Eduardo Verástegui offered his take in an exclusive op-ed with Zeale News. "There is no better moment than now to go to the Blessed Sacrament and pray for Mexico, to return to the arms of our Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, so that she may lead us to the presence of her Son," he said. READ

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News Reporter

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

LOOP: Trump declares 'turnaround for the ages' in State of the Union address

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

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