WorldTOP STORY

Pope Leo decries death penalty as Hegseth's execution plan sparks…

The Pentagon plans to livestream the execution of former Army Major Nidal Hasan in December, drawing Vatican opposition on the World Day Against the Death Penalty.

On air: Kenji Moonfield, Gloria Vance and Chip Darnell on Best of BBN
Published 5:01 AM ET, Sunday, October 11, 2026

▶ As it aired · World

Watch it as it aired: Kenji Moonfield, Gloria Vance and Chip Darnell on this story, from Best of BBN at 5:01 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Hill's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by The Hill: “Pope Leo decries death penalty as Hegseth's public execution plan sparks backlash”.
Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 5:01 AM ET on Best of BBN, by Kenji Moonfield, Gloria Vance and Chip Darnell.
Topics: Pete Hegseth.
BBN covered this story before: FCC chair defers to Pentagon on airing planned execution (October 10).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The HillPope Leo decries death penalty as Hegseth's public execution plan sparks backlash

What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorPope Leo the Fourteenth on Saturday called the death penalty "inadmissible," marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe said capital punishment violates fundamental human rights and personal dignity.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe timing matters. The Pentagon plans to livestream the December execution of former Army Major Nidal Hasan in Texas.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentLivestream. As in anyone with a phone can watch it happen.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThat is the plan as reported by The Hill. The backlash has been building since Defense Secretary Hegseth's plan became public.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWe have no word yet on whether the Pentagon will change course, or how the stream would be run.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the Vatican is on one side, and a government with a camera crew on the other.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have covered executions in rooms where cameras were forbidden. That was usually considered the more civilized arrangement.

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