KCIS Newsmakers Weekend

Christmas Eve in Bethlehem...abducted Nigerian school children back home...and Pope Leo reacts to assisted suicide being legalized in his home state. 

Funeral service of Brown University student....Oklahoma graduate teaching assistant no longer at school after religious discrimination claim...and 130 children and teachers kidnapped from Catholic school in Nigeria released.

Turning Point USA's first AmericaFest since the death of founder Charlie Kirk wraps up...Hanukkah comes to a close this evening...and a new poll on year-end charitable giving.

Erika Kirk announces presidential endorsement...U-S House passes bill on gender transition treament for minors...and Louisiana tries to block mail-order abortion-drug rule.

U.S. officials propose new restrictions designed to effectively ban "gender-affirming care" for minors...New York governor signs "Right-to-Die" bill...and ourners grieve 10-year-old slain in the Bondi mass shooting.

Accused gunman charged in Bondi Beach killings...President Trump says he's worried about a shift towards antisemitism in the U-S Congress...and members of a California religious group have been charged with two murders.

Mass shooting at Hanukkah Celebration in Australia confirmed as ISIS inspired terrorist attack...spike in antisemitic incidents in the U-S..."productive" first meeting between Erika Kirk and Candace Owens...and former V-P Mike Pence's organization calling for removal of RFK, Jr over refusing to review abortion pill.

Netanayahu blames Australian government for encouraging attack on Hanaukkah celebration...Pope Leo issues strong pro-life message...and Erika Kirk and podcaster Candace Owens to hold private discussion.

The head of the Anglican Church in North America will face a church trial...accused killer of Charlie Kirk makes first court appearance...and significant fresco of Jesus found in Turkey.

Charlie Kirk's allleged killer appears in court...Florida is suing those it accuses of mutilating kids and misleading families...and a new poll on religion in America.

Egypt and Iran critical of Pride celebation in Seattle during the World Cup...Alberta's government protects set of laws on transgender issues...and Australia's social media ban for children under 16 takes effect.

Pope Leo and Volodymyr Zelensky meet in Italy...judge approves Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy settlement...and North Carolina school district is being sued for its handling of a student's pro-Charlie Kirk message.

More children abducted from Catholic school in Nigeria have been released...U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Texas book ban case...and Christmas tree lighting held in Bethlehem for first since start of the Gaza war.

U.S. Attorney General orders federal agencies to ramp up investigations into domestic "extremist groups"...safe resolution to hijacking of a Samaritan's Purse plane...and Texans can now sue people who mail the abortion pill to mothers in the state.

Vatican releases study on women in ministry...a Tennessee county's Board of Education is being sued for barring a religious charter school...and online searches for Charlie Kirk topping both Wikipedia and Google in 2025.

Prepare your heart for Christmas by walking through the Gospel of Luke — one chapter each day. We're already a few days in, but it isn't too late to join us on this journey... We're giving you the gift of the first episode to give you a little taste of what's to come. If you'd like to continue the journey, find and follow our "Luke: A 24-Day Journey to Christmas" podcast mini-series on Purposely.com or wherever you get your podcasts.Merry Christmas from Purposely!Podcast Info: Luke: A 24 Day Journey to ChristmasFollow on AppleFollow on SpotifyFollow on YouTubeFollow on Amazon/AudibleFollow on iHeart

U-S Supreme Court hears cases involving a street preacher and a pro-life pregnancy center...Texas Tech University System bans courses teaching race or gender prejudice or recognize more than two sexes...and U-S restricts visas for those involved in anti-Christian violence in Nigeria and elsewhere.

Pope Leo calls for peace in Lebanon and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...a West Virginia judte rules on religious exemptions from school vaccination...and a Florida pastor rescued by the Coast Guard.

Several parents of schoolchildren seized in Nigeria say they haven't anything about rescue efforts...President Trump signs executive order allowing designation of certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations...and Turning Point USA says support of a possible presidential candidate for 2028 is "in the works". 

Girls kidnapped from one Nigerian school rescued...Vatican releases document on value of monogamous marriage between a man and woman...and a new survey on what Americans typically believe about the death and resurrection of Christ.

A large number of Cathloic school children have escaped from their abductors in Nigeria...police at South Florida University charge two men for disrupting a Muslim student prayer group...and abortion is once again illegal in North Dakota.

Texas Governor orders State Police to investigate Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR while Washington State chapter of CAIR speaks out on reported statement by a Spokane Valley Councilwoman...Gunmen attack Catholic school in a western region of Nigeria...and outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemns protest outside a Manhattan synagogue. 

A Texas group says the state's 10 commandments law should pass it's current legal test...U.S. Border Patrol reportedly monitoring millions of American drivers nationawide...and a new poll on democracy in the U.S.

Fights at a protest March in Dearborn, Michigan...Texas governor declares U.S. Muslim group a "foreign terrorist organization"...and two people killed and others abducted in attack on church in central Nigeria.

New poll says most voters believe "extreme political rhetoric" contributed to the killing of Charlie Kirk...New York's outgoing mayor urging Israel's Prime Minister to attend the inauguration of Zohran Mamdani...and a South Carolina Senate committee considering a bill to create a near total ban on abortion.

U-S Supreme Court declines to hear major religious liberty dispute case...top leader of the Anglican Church in North America has been suspended from ministry...and Pope Leo meets dozens of Hollywood luminaries at the Vatican.

U-S Secretary of State Rubio makes terror designations on four European groups...Nebraska man sentenced for killing a priest...and TPUSA chapters being blocked from some Texas public schools.

U.S. Catholic bishops make official a ban on ”gender-affirming care” for patients at Catholic hospitals...federal court hears arguments over Medicaid reimbursements for Planned Parenthood...and a new national survey describes the ongoing ideological and spiritual drift among American churchgoers.

Christian missionary father and daughter on relief mission to Jamaica killed in plane crash ...U.S. Catholic bishops pick a new president...and Israel's president speaks out on West Bank violence.

Supreme Court weighs appeal of same-sex marriage ruling...Moody Bible Institute accusing Chicago Public Schools of religious discrimination...and Flordia sues Planned Parenthood over abortion drugs.

Erika Kirk on Fox News...reaction to election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor...and Nebraska's governor signs executive order on abortion.

House Speaker Johnson warns on giving "platform to antisemitism"...President Trump's son to appear at Turning Point USA event...and Anglican Church in North America Archbishop takes leave of absence amid alegations of misconduct.

President Trump calls out Jewish New Yorkers supporting Mamdani...Erika Kirk wants cameras in the courtroom for the trial of her husband's alleged assassin...and a hunter lost in a California forest thanks God for his rescue.

President Trump comments on killings of Christians in Nigeria...FBI says attack on LDS congregation in Michigan motived by anti-religious beliefs...and apology over Holocaust-themed parade float.

University of Tennessee professor sues over suspension due to Charlie kirk comments...New York's mayor condems antisemitic art exhibit...and Vice President Vance hopes his wife converts to Christianity.

Erika Kirk and V-P Vance speak at Turning Point USA event...Louisiana's governor criticizes Catholic University for denying official recognition of a Turning Point chapter...and Virginia school teacher sues district for defamation over abortion claims.

V-P Vance to speak at Turning Point event with Erika Kirk...poll on concerns over political vionlence and free speech...and pro-life group appeals its lawsuit over Michigan abortion amendment.

Latest on the Gaza ceasefire...Oregon judge blocks Trump administration from pulling sex education funding over gender identify curricula...and Erika Kirk to appear in first interview since her hustand's murder.  

The search expands fo the remaining hostages in Gaza...Pope Leo to visit site of major port blast in Lebanon...and a British Political commentator has been detained by ICE in San Francisco.

A closed hearing being held today for the accused killer of Charlie Kirk...Vice President Vance attends private mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem...and the archbishop of the U.S. Anglican Church is facing sexual misconduct allegations.

American missionary kidnapped in Niger...guilty plea in ISIS-inspired plot on churches in Idaho...and King Charles and Pope Leo pray together at the Vatican.

Top U.S. envoys continue to visit Israel supporting the Gaza ceasefire...President Trump marks Diwali at the White House...and Catholic groups holding prayer vigils today at ICE detention centers.