PeoplePublic figure
John-Henry Westen
About John-Henry Westen
John-Henry Westen co-founded LifeSiteNews with Steve Jalsevac in 1997 (Catholic Speakers profile) and served as its editor-in-chief from the founding (CatholicVote). He hosts The John-Henry Westen Show, a podcast and video interview program distributed on Apple Podcasts and other platforms.
When YouTube removed the LifeSiteNews channel in February 2021 for repeated violations of its COVID-19 misinformation policy, LifeSiteNews said the last flagged item was an episode of Westen's show that mentioned, in passing, a bishop's tweet about medicines and vaccines connected to abortion (The Federalist; CNA via National Catholic Register).
On July 8, 2025, LifeSiteNews announced that, following a board vote, Westen was no longer CEO and editor-in-chief and was on sabbatical (LifeSiteNews on X). On July 18, 2025, the outlet announced he had been reinstated as president and CEO, subject to an administrative review and investigation (CatholicVote). Westen later said he had been blindsided by the vote (CatholicVote), and in September 2025 LifeSiteNews said an outside investigation had cleared him of wrongdoing (Catholic Herald; LifeSiteNews).
Around the 2025 conclave, Westen told Glenn Beck that whether Pope Leo XIV reinstated Bishop Joseph Strickland would be a key sign of the new pontificate, while expressing hope for it (Glenn Beck/iHeart). His program has since featured guests critical of Leo XIV, including Mother Miriam (Acast). See papal-critique and resistance media.
On the timeline
Full timelineDated events, newest first.
LifeSiteNews board removes co-founder John-Henry Westen; he is reinstated July 18
LifeSiteNews announced that, after a board vote, co-founder John-Henry Westen was no longer CEO and editor-in-chief. On July 18, 2025, CatholicVote reported that he had been reinstated as president and CEO, with the board's decision…
YouTube permanently removes the LifeSiteNews channel
YouTube terminated the LifeSiteNews channel, which had more than 300,000 subscribers, citing repeated violations of its COVID-19 misinformation policy. LifeSiteNews said it was not told which video triggered the final strike and continued…
SourcesYouTube's Permanent Ban on LifeSiteNews Prompts Censorship Concerns (Catholic News Agency (via National Catholic Register))Google-owned YouTube deplatforms pro-life group LifeSiteNews (The Federalist)
LifeSiteNews founded as an outgrowth of Canada's Campaign Life Coalition
LifeSiteNews began in 1997 as a news service connected to the Canadian pro-life lobbying group Campaign Life Coalition, with Steve Jalsevac and John-Henry Westen as founding staff. Westen served as editor-in-chief from the start.
Sources for this profile
- John-Henry Westen — Catholic Speakers Organization
- LifeSiteNews co-founder no longer editor-in-chief, outlet announces — CatholicVote, Jul 8, 2025
- John-Henry Westen reinstated as LifeSite President and CEO — CatholicVote, Jul 18, 2025
- 'I was blindsided': LifeSiteNews CEO speaks out after removal and reinstatement — CatholicVote
- LifeSiteNews Press Statement — LifeSiteNews (X), Jul 8, 2025
- John-Henry Westen cleared of all wrongdoing — The Catholic Herald
- Independent investigation exonerates John-Henry Westen — LifeSiteNews
- Google-owned YouTube deplatforms pro-life group LifeSiteNews — The Federalist, Feb 10, 2021
- YouTube's Permanent Ban on LifeSiteNews Prompts Censorship Concerns — Catholic News Agency (via National Catholic Register)
- THIS Will Reveal Everything About Pope Leo XIV — Glenn Beck (iHeart)
- [The John-Henry Westen Show episode with Mother Miriam on Pope Leo XIV] (title reconstructed) — The John-Henry Westen Show (Acast)
- The John-Henry Westen Show — Apple Podcasts
About this profile
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