Heidi, Dan, and David look at the ongoing government shutdown from the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching, and the notion that the government should exist to promote the common good. Then they look at Dilexi Te, the Holy Father's first apostolic exhortation to the faithful. Finally, Heidi interviews Fr. David Inczauskis, SJ, who was involved in the recent efforts to bring the Eucharist to imprisoned migrants at an ICE facility near Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the recent comments made by Pope Leo in the wake of Cardinal Blase Cupich offering to honor Senator Dick Durbin for a lifetime of service, and then we try to understand exactly what was going on with the recent meeting of generals and other military leaders called by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Finally, Heidi interviews J.D and Tamara Long-Garcia, the parents of a child with autism, to get their response to recent false claims made about the condition by President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David explore what we might learn from the first official interviews with the Holy Father. We then turn to the recent bouts of alleged political violence and the chilling effects on free speech in the public sphere. Then Heidi interviews sociologist Tricia Bruce about the continuing work of synodality in the Church. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the unsettling shifts in America's vaccine policies, and the recent pilgrimage to Rome by LGBTQIA+ Catholics. Heidi interviews author and catechist Joe Paprocki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David catch up on the many projects and changes they've been working on over the summer break. They also recap the many moves of the Trump administration and what they might mean for America and the Church. Heidi interviews Archbishop Wester of Santa Fe about nuclear disarmament. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David gather for a special episode to look at the first weeks of the papacy of Pope Leo XIV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David reflect on the papacy of Poe Francis, end talk about the next steps that will be happening in the Vatican following his death this past Monday. Then they look ahead to the future of the Church, and discuss how we each can take up the legacy of Francis into the heart of the 21st century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the negative effects of a fabricated trade war on global commerce, and then they explore how pastors can use their positions to help raise awareness about climate change. Then Heidi interviews Stephanie Clary, of NCR's EarthBeat, about the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the recent actions of the Trump administration to violate civil rights and judicial oversight, and discuss a recent survey of women in the San Diego Diocese. Then Heidi interviews theologian Meghan J. Clark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the recent attacks on education, both generally and specifically, by the Trump administration, and Heidi interviews Rev. Angela Denker about Christian nationalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel, Heidi, and David look at the GOP's recent attacks on Medicaid, and join their prayers with the world on behalf of the health of Pope Francis. Heidi interviews NCR's Shannon Evans about lenten spirituality Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of The Francis Effect, co-host Heidi Schlumpf moderates a roundtable of four theologians: Dr. Bryan Massingale and Dr. Cristina Traina, both of Fordham University in New York, and Dr. Hille Haker and Dr. Miguel Diaz, both of Loyola University Chicago. The guests react to the first month of the second term of President Donald Trump in light of Catholic theology.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the effects the recent attacks on USAID have had on charities and NGOs - especially in the Catholic world. Then they look at the recent comments made by Vice-President J.D. Vance as he weighs in on theological issues. Finally, Heidi welcomes Charlene Howard, the new Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, for a conversation about their work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the first week of the second Trump administration, and what listeners can do for self-care and mutual aid. Next, we take a lighter view and look at the various vilms nominated for the 2025 Academy Awards. Finally, Heidi interviews Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ, about his life in Catholic journalism, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Dan, and David think about how Catholics might prepare themselves for the violence against the vulnerable being promised by the incoming Trump administration, and they look at the work and ministry of Cardinal Robert McElroy with some measure of hope for the Church speaking out in favor of the "least of these." Then Heidi interviews Dylan Corbett, founder and Executive Director of the Hope Border Institute, which brings "perspective of Catholic social teaching to bear on the realities unique to our US-Mexico border region." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Dan, and David end the season with a conversation about how we are celebrating Advent and preparing for Christmas this year, as well as doing a roundup of what we have been watching and reading over the past few months. Plus Heidi interviews Chris White of National Catholic Reporter, and they discuss what might be coming next for the Francis papacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Dan and David discuss the implications of Trump's cabinet picks for vulnerable populations. They look at the recent controversies around the liturgical use of certain hymns and songwriters, and Heidi interviews Ann Garrido about how to navigate difficult conversations during the holiday season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David welcome their guests, Fr. Bryan Massingale and Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, to look at the 2024 election and address the questions, How are we doing? How did we get here? and Where do we go from here? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heidi, Daniel, and David look at the role of Catholic voters in the upcoming elections, and we look at the concluding weeks of the Synod on Synodality and explore its possible impacts, and then Heidi is in conversation with Michael Canaris of Loyola University Chicago, who just returned from Rome after leading a student delegation to engage with the Synod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this extended episode, we look at the recent climate devastation in the southeast, debrief with Daniel about his recent announcement, and Heidi interviews Massimo Faggioli about the October meeting of the Synod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices