Jobs added in May and gas prices heading into the summer travel season.
I asked Kevin Hassett, the Director of the National Economic Council, about those two subjects on the North Lawn of the White House today.
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News, as Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. The appointment will take effect Nov. 5, 2026.
Since 2023, Alvarado has overseen EWTN News’ global and multilingual news operations across television, radio, print, digital, and social media platforms. During her tenure, she helped expand the network’s international news presence and deepen collaboration across its multilingual platforms.
“Montse’s background in international media, public affairs, and Church engagement has helped shape EWTN’s outreach at a critical moment in the history of our apostolate: the pivot into a deeper engagement with the digital space,” said Michael P. Warsaw, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of EWTN. “Just as importantly, she has remained deeply committed to the mission that defines EWTN: proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ and the teachings of His Church with clarity, fidelity, and charity.”
Before joining EWTN, Alvarado spent 14 years in leadership roles at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, where she worked extensively on issues related to religious freedom and human dignity.
In a statement released following the appointment, Alvarado said she received the news “with deep gratitude, humility, and trust in the Lord,” adding that the faithful witness of the EWTN family strengthened her faith.
The Dicastery for Communication was established by Pope Francis in 2015 as part of his reform of the Roman Curia, bringing together the Holy See’s various communications entities, including Vatican News, Vatican Radio, L’Osservatore Romano, Vatican Media, the Vatican Publishing house and printing press, Filmoteca Vaticana, and the Holy See Press Office. Appointed for a five year term, the Prefect is responsible for overseeing the entire media network of the Holy See.
Alvarado succeeds Paolo Ruffini, whom Pope Francis appointed in 2018 as the first lay prefect of a dicastery in the Roman Curia. Ruffini said he had come to know Alvarado “over the last couple of years” and will work closely with her in the coming months “in the spirit of communion that unites us in the Church.”
In recent years, Pope Francis entrusted a growing number of leadership roles in the Vatican to lay men and women, including several senior appointments for women religious. Alvarado’s appointment continues that development and marks the first time a woman who has not taken religious vows as a nun or a sister has been appointed to lead a dicastery of the Holy See.
Born in Mexico City, Alvarado earned academic degrees from Florida International University and George Washington University. She has received several national recognitions for her commitment to religious freedom and service to the Church, and her writings and commentary have appeared in a range of international media outlets.
While noting that EWTN would miss Alvarado’s leadership, Warsaw said the network rejoices in her new mission of service to the universal Church.
“We offer her our prayers, our encouragement, and the full support of the EWTN family as she begins this important mission in service to Pope Leo XIV and his pontificate.”
Full story at https://t.co/PMVA8rgVqO
President Trump is joined in the White House East Room by Supreme Court Justices, Cabinet Secretaries, and the Speaker of the House for the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. @EWTNNewsNightly
Stephen Miller says Americans should view Cuba through a national security standpoint since the island nation is so close to the U.S. and has been a foothold for adversaries. @EWTNNewsNightly
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK: Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia smiles as he departs the White House with a USA baseball cap in his hand. The Archbishop attended an Ambassador Credentialing Ceremony in the West Wing. @EWTNNewsNightly@USinHolySee@VaticanNews
WATCH : Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia departs the White House after a credentialing ceremony for new ambassadors to the United States. @EWTNNewsNightly@USinHolySee
WATCH : Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia departs the White House after a credentialing ceremony for new ambassadors to the United States. @EWTNNewsNightly@USinHolySee
UPDATE: We are still awaiting the release of the Religious Liberty Commission's report. A draft report will come out first, followed by a 15 day public comment period. Organizers tell @EWTNNewsNightly they plan to publish the final report before July 4th. https://t.co/IPwbT0Z7S3
PICTURED: Mark Cuban speaks to @EWTNNewsNightly after joining President Donald Trump at a https://t.co/Q2ufS6AdUz prescription drug announcement. @mcuban supported Kamala Harris in the last presidential election, but tried to avoid talking about politics at the White House today.
Q&A at White House, “What is your message to Democrats who might be surprised to see you here today?”
Mark Cuban, “Democrats want cheaper medications, too. When it’s all said and done, the goal is the goal. How do we make medications & healthcare cheaper? That’s all I care about”
Q&A at White House, “What is your message to Democrats who might be surprised to see you here today?”
Mark Cuban, “Democrats want cheaper medications, too. When it’s all said and done, the goal is the goal. How do we make medications & healthcare cheaper? That’s all I care about”
NEW: President Donald Trump speaks about Most Favored Nation drug costs. He says they are adding 600 more low cost prescription drugs. @EWTNNewsNightly https://t.co/Htb9rgyOL4
THIS SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2026! 🇺🇸
Americans from every state will gather on the National Mall for Rededicate 250, a historic day of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving celebrating 250 years of God’s providence over America.
🇺🇸 Speaker Mike Johnson
🇺🇸 Secretary Pete Hegseth
🇺🇸 Franklin Graham
🇺🇸 Cardinal Timothy Dolan
🇺🇸 Jonathan Roumie
🇺🇸 Bishop Robert Barron
🇺🇸 Sadie Robertson Huff
🇺🇸 Pastor Jonathan Falwell
🇺🇸 Eric Metaxas
…and so many more.
RSVP NOW!
Vance says he talked to Kushner & Witkoff again about Iran, “We want to be able to look the American people in the eye and say with confidence that you are not going to have to worry about this very, very dangerous regime having access to the most dangerous weapons in the world.”
New: Vice President JD Vance announces the “government is deferring $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements from the state of California, and the simple reason is because the state of California has not taken fraud very seriously.” @EWTNNewsNightly
Border Czar Tom Homan pushed back on so‑called “sanctuary cities” after EWTN asked whether cooperation with them is improving. He argued that new policies, like those in New York, make it harder for ICE to arrest criminal suspects in jails and force more risky arrests on the street.
Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that limit how much local police and jails help enforce federal immigration law, often by refusing certain ICE detainer requests or restricting information-sharing about immigration status.
President Donald Trump issues a message for the National Day of Prayer, "And as we celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, we pledge to never forget the countless blessings God has bestowed upon our people and our country." @EWTNNewsNightly https://t.co/D1vnYBDeSW