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In this engaging episode of Washington Watch, Tony Perkins leads a riveting discussion on the current and future states of American politics and corporate freedom. With the nation's capital buzzing amidst the cultural tipping point influenced by recent electoral outcomes, major players in government and business are making vital decisions. Explore the role of political reconciliation in the legislative agenda with insights from Congressman Kevin Hearn, and discover how Meta's policy transformation could spell a new dawn for expression in the digital age. Whether it's political strategy, corporate responsibility, or grassroots movements, this episode offers profound insights for all.
SPEAKER 02 :
from the heart of our nation's capital in Washington, D.C., bringing compelling interviews, insightful analysis, taking you beyond the headlines and sound bites into conversations with our nation's leaders and newsmakers, all from a biblical worldview. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins starts now.
SPEAKER 08 :
We have a wonderful Republican Congress. We have a leader that I have a lot of confidence in. I think he's going to be hopefully a great leader, a great speaker. And we have a leader, by the way, in the Senate, I think has been great. John Thune has been doing a fantastic job. They'll be coming down, the senators also will be coming down, and then ultimately we'll be meeting in the White House in a few weeks, but right now this is the winter season.
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That was President-elect Donald Trump at a press conference earlier today in Mar-a-Lago discussing a number of topics, including a meeting with Republican lawmakers this coming weekend at his Florida estate. Welcome to Washington Watch. I'm Tony Perkins, your host. Thanks for tuning in. Also among the topics in today's wide-ranging press conference was reconciliation, which is a budgetary mechanism that will be used to accomplish a number of the incoming president's priorities. We're going to talk about that with Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hearn, who's the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. The Biden administration announced that 11 terrorists who were being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were transferred to Oman. Now, previous terrorist detainees, terrorist detainees that were sent to Oman have been released by the Oman government. Meanwhile, Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett is urging the incoming Trump administration to end the funneling of U.S. foreign aid to the Taliban. Congressman Tim Burchett joins us later to explain what's going on. McDonald's announced yesterday that they will be holding their special DEI sauce from their burgers. McDonald's said they would end their racial quotas for hiring. Then, today, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta Chief, said they would be ending their fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram, which has led to many conservatives being censored.
SPEAKER 01 :
We've reached a point where it's just too many mistakes and too much censorship. The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech. So we're going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platform.
SPEAKER 10 :
So do you believe him? I should make that a poll question. Zuckerberg said the change comes as a result of the November election. He said it points to a cultural tipping point for free speech. I didn't know we had to have an election to underscore that free speech was important. Stephan Padfield, Executive Director, Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research, will join us for that conversation. You know what, this political awakening that is happening with corporate America is encouraging, no doubt about it. However, however, We should not believe that the problems are solved and that corporate America is becoming a champion of these fundamental freedoms. We need to see what is happening here as an opportunity, an urgent opportunity that requires action. Suzanne Bowdy, editorial director and senior writer for The Washington Stand, joins me for that conversation. If you've not yet downloaded the Stand Firm app, I encourage you to do so. Go to the App Store and get the Stand Firm app. You can watch Washington Watch no matter where you are. You can also get our daily devotional, The Stand on the Word, as well as our news feed, The Washington Stand, news and commentary from a biblical perspective. You can find it in the App Store, Stand Firm, or you can text APP to 67742. Republicans on Capitol Hill are plowing forward with their agenda despite the impacts of yesterday's snowstorm on Washington. And this weekend, many of them will be heading down to where it's a bit warmer, Mar-a-Lago, to meet with President-elect Trump. What might we see unfold in the days ahead? Well, here to discuss is Congressman Kevin Hearn, the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, which serves as the advisory committee to the House Republicans. He represents the 1st Congressional District of Oklahoma. Congressman Hearn, welcome back to Washington Watch. Good to see you.
SPEAKER 07 :
Great to be with you, Tony.
SPEAKER 10 :
Happy New Year to you. Hope you stand warm.
SPEAKER 07 :
It's a little snowy here in D.C., but it's very nice. Very pretty.
SPEAKER 10 :
So let's talk about some of the items on the Republicans' plate this week. Let's start first with reconciliation. Yesterday and again today in the president's press conference talked about whether or not there'll be one or two reconciliation bills. What are we looking at?
SPEAKER 07 :
Well, here's what we don't disagree on at all, and that's all the policies, the border policies, the energy policies, making sure our military is strong, making sure our tax policies are not increased on all Americans and businesses across America. that we continue this ability to limit the size of the federal government the president came out sunday night and wanted one big beautiful bill that's what we intend to deliver on the house side on the senate side there's still some questions about can we move quickly enough so the president as he stated today he said you know he'd really rather have one big bill and get it all done at one time But if it took two, then he would certainly look at that. And that's part of the reason he wants to get everybody down to Mar-a-Lago and out of D.C. to listen to the concerns and do what a good business guy does, take all the input and then make the final decision.
SPEAKER 10 :
So two bills, only half is beautiful?
SPEAKER 07 :
Well, you know, we'd like one big, beautiful bill on the House side. We have a very narrow margins of votes and much more, much less than what the Senate has actually for the first time in a long time. So Speaker Johnson and the people involved in this process on the House side understand what we need to do to get a bill passed. And we think one bill is the way to go.
SPEAKER 10 :
So just take just a moment. Let's explain to our viewers and listeners. I've done this before, but this is pretty deep into the weeds in Washingtonese, talking about a reconciliation. This is a 1970, goes back to the 1974 Budget Act, which allows policy related items that have budgetary impact to be addressed in such a way that it does not require the super majority in the Senate. A simple majority vote in the Senate allows us to go forward. Correct?
SPEAKER 07 :
Correct, it was a process put in place in 1974. I would argue sort of as a fail safe that if you couldn't get the budget done, the appropriations done, then you had a way to actually do it. It's sort of an alternative pathway that was even more restrictive, more difficult, very narrow, no policy changes that you'd normally get in a budgetary process. So it's really about, as you said, had budget impact. And then it's really about how do you get around the 60 vote filibuster rule in the Senate, so the simple majority in the Senate. So it takes a lot of coordination between the House and the Senate. And at the end of the day, it's the parliamentarian on the Senate side that really controls the integrity of the reconciliation bill. So you have to work very quickly. You have to work very earnestly in making sure it's correct, and then you make sure the policies in there meet the criteria that the parliamentarian says, and then you get it on the floor. And you can move rather quickly. We'd like to have it done by Memorial Day.
SPEAKER 10 :
What are the policies, with budgetary implications, obviously, what policies are we looking at in the reconciliation bill or bills?
SPEAKER 07 :
Well, you know, you'd like to get some pay-fors and you'd like to make sure everybody has something that they can vote on. As you know, the president's team and the president has said in many meetings that I've been involved in, none of us in these tight majorities are going to ever get everything that we want. So we try to create a bill that everybody can get something that makes them feel like they've achieved their representation of their constituents back home. But Border security is one, making sure that we can save money there with implications on what we've been spending to offset the housing of illegal immigrants, shipping them all over the country. One thing we've understood in the Biden administration, they've spent hundreds of millions of dollars doing that. Energy policy, unleashing the energy production in the United States, huge revenue generators for the federal government. for the Federal Treasury, and then certainly the tax policy. You know, when you looked at 2017, the Trump tax cuts were done under reconciliation. I think it's also worth noting that when you do reconciliation, it's not necessary because you can get bipartisan reconciliation bills, but generally speaking, they're partisan. So on the House side, it would be necessary to have all Republicans so you couldn't lose but one. And then on the Senate side, you need the 51 percent vote. So, you know, it's real challenging, but it can be done. All the big moves in Congress in the last 30 years have been done. Actually, the last time this happened in a big way and it was very meaningful was under President Clinton. Well, the first time President Clinton and Newt Gingrich when they got a balanced budget. So a lot of opportunity. And I feel good that we're going to do it. We're going to move as quickly as possible.
SPEAKER 10 :
Congressman, let's talk just a moment about that narrow margin, because the legacy media would like for us to believe that there is great disunity among the Republicans in the House, the Republican conference. Can you speak to that?
SPEAKER 07 :
You know, it's interesting you say that. I actually just told a group of media reporters I've been here six years. I've probably never seen the Republican Party more unified than it is today. We have no agreements or disagreements on the policies. The only narrow, you know, eye that we could look at right now would be to look at how we're going to do the process. But when you look at the policies, border policies, energy policies, plussing up our military to regain our national security posture and securing our tax cuts that we have from 2017, we're all in agreement on that. I think when you see what happened with you know, the mandate that President Trump got with the vote, the electoral vote, the popular vote. Yes, you know, Speaker Johnson had to, you know, go talk to two individuals, two of our members, friends, to get some assurances that they needed. But we got it done in the first-round ballot. And you contrast that to two years ago. It took 15 rounds and a speaker race in the middle of all that. The Republican Party is very united. I've talked to people around here a long time, very united. So we're looking forward to getting President Trump's 100-day agenda going and getting the reconciliation package and getting America safe and secure and low taxes.
SPEAKER 10 :
I just want to put, I guess, highlight what you said, that there is agreement on the policies. It's the tactics or the way we get there. And that's understandable because everybody has their own ideas on things. But you do have a pretty unified conference when it comes to the big ticket items of what is important. And one of those items you've been very good about talking about with your business background, it's one that is increasingly popular. a concern to many Americans that are paying attention is the debt, our nation's debt that is ticking up rapidly. What are we gonna do about that?
SPEAKER 07 :
Well, it is a grave concern. And one of the drivers of that now in mandatory spending is our ever-growing interest rate on the debt, the massive debt. You know, we have $36 trillion in debt, so every 1% that increases on an annual basis, that's $360 billion more. We're now spending more on interest on our debt than we are on military. We've got to curtail spending. When you look at the revenues as a percentage of GDP over the last 20 years, it's hovered around 18%, 19%, 20%. But when you look at spending, spending has gone from 18%, 19% to 25%, 26%. So we've spent $8 trillion in the last four years. And then when you talk to people that are adverse to cutting, they can't seem to find any way to cut any money. And so it's one of those things where we all do need to come together. I fear at the end of the day, the bond market's going to control what we ultimately end up doing when they control what they're willing to pay, you know, we're willing to give us for debt as far as the interest rate goes. And it's going to come to a screeching halt. But we have an opportunity on reconciliation to look at some of this, some of this that, you know, what could be some revenue drivers to offset some of these costs? And we'll do so.
SPEAKER 10 :
Final question, just following up on that, we just have about a minute left. Are you optimistic that we are going to trim government with the Department of Government Efficiency? Do you think we're going to find those areas where it began to trim some government spending and bring it in under control?
SPEAKER 07 :
I do. It's going to take somebody outside of the Congress to do it. And I think you're going to see what Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and the Doge work that they're going to do is cut down on the need that these agencies have to have authorized and appropriated. That's where it's going to start. And we've got a long ways to go. Government is out of control on its size. I believe that the real work in America is done at the local level. And that's the way our country was designed. And this fine men are going to make that happen.
SPEAKER 10 :
Congressman Kevin Hearn, thanks so much for joining us today. Always appreciate your insight and input.
SPEAKER 07 :
Thanks, Tony.
SPEAKER 10 :
All right. A lot of work ahead and we're going to be tracking all of it. All right. After the break, 11 terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay were transferred to Oman to restart their lives. Should the move by the Biden administration be a cause for concern? That's next.
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During these challenging times for our nation. Family Research Council continues to serve as a watchman on the wall for faith, family, and freedom. And together, thanks to your support, we're making an eternal impact. 2024 has been another year of shining the light for biblical truth in Washington, D.C. This fall, over 1,000 spiritually active, governance-engaged conservatives gathered for the Pray, Vote, Stand Summit to pray for our nation and ensure that the issues impacting sage cons were understood and advanced. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins marked a major milestone this year, its 900th episode, and added the Washington Watch News Desk, a new production that presents the top news each day from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand published 2,000 articles of news, commentary, and podcasts in 2024, garnering over 5 million views. FRC's outlet for news and commentary continues to pursue the truth on the issues that matter most to you and your family. And with the launch of the Stand Firm app, you can listen to, watch, and read our content in one simple place. Pray for current issues, stay rooted in the scriptures, and engage the political sphere, the community of believers, on our new platform. In 2024, FRC shaped public policy and culture, organizing the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance, where members of Congress and Christian leaders came together to seek God's intervention in America. FRC called upon believers to pray for and stand with Israel by dedicating a portion of their worship services to pray for Israel's peace, prosperity, and protection. With Pray, Vote, Stand Decision 2024, FRC and Real Life Network led a powerful evening of election night coverage to analyze the election results and pray that our nation would turn back to God. We also filmed a transformative educational course, God and Govern. Launching in January 2025, this series will explore the biblical and historical foundations of our government, empowering you to stand confidently in your role as a citizen of heaven and earth. Family Research Council thanks you for partnering with us for another year of standing for faith, family, and freedom.
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Welcome back to Washington Watch. Good to have you with us. The website, TonyPerkins.com. Better yet, download the Stand Firm app. The release of Yahya Senwar in a 2011 prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas should serve as a stark example of the risk involved in freeing terrorists. Senwar went on to become a senior Hamas leader and the chief architect of the October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel. He was killed by Israeli defense forces this past October. Well, the transfer of 11 Guantanamo Bay detainees to Oman, facilitated by the Biden administration, has sparked fears that these individuals could go back to their old ways of business, terrorist networks, and target the U.S. or our allies. Joining me now to dive deeper into this issue is Congressman Tim Burchett, who serves on three House committees, including the Foreign Affairs Committee. He represents the 2nd Congressional District of Tennessee. Congressman Burgett, happy new year and thanks so much for joining us here on Washington Watch.
SPEAKER 11 :
Thanks for having me on, brother. It's always a pleasure.
SPEAKER 10 :
So, Tim, let me ask you this question. Are you concerned at all by the Biden's release of these 11 terrorists from Guantanamo?
SPEAKER 11 :
100 percent. I believe in the last four years we've been run by a group of anarchists. I don't think it's just one. I don't think Joe Biden's cognizant about half of what he does. But from this to awarding people that just hate our country all these medals. The border, 14 million people. You've got people on a terrorist watch list. I have a bill myself to stop us. We send about $40 million a week to the Taliban. They'll hate us for free. I can't even get the Senate to take it up, members over there, Republicans or Democrats. I think we're completely compromised. I think If Donald J. Trump was not elected president, America would cease to exist as we know it. I think there was a movement afoot. You can say it's a conspiracy theorist or not, but there's just too much anarchy and craziness that's being put into our laws and people that are put into place. I mean, today, that Lakin Act that we passed him, honoring that poor little girl who was murdered in Georgia and brutally raped by an illegal. You know, we had over 150 Democrats who didn't even vote for that. Where's the outrage? We've got a border that's porous. We've got these cartels bringing children over to be traded off as sex slaves. Not really sex. At that age, it's an act of violence. But, you know, where's the outrage? Where are the preachers calling out, saying, Stop this. Why are we not electing people that are God-fearing or at least adhere to the Constitution of the United States? We are fallen, and we better realize this is our last great chance. And when we send 15 to 20 percent of the population to the polls, this is what we get. We have preachers that are afraid to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are reaping what we've sown.
SPEAKER 10 :
I agree with you on all of that. And I want to put a fine point on something you said, is that we've been given really an opportunity. This country is not saved, but it's not been destroyed by the outcome of this election. We have an opportunity to save it, but it's going to require us to do something. And it's along the lines of what you just described. But I want to go back to a point you made about the foreign dollars from the United States, United States giving foreign aid to the Taliban. You wrote a letter. You made it public to President-elect Trump calling on his incoming administration to stop this funding, indirect funding of Taliban. Explain.
SPEAKER 11 :
Yeah, you know, you're familiar with NGOs, non-government organizations. They were created to do good things. And as most of these type deals, they've run astray. And so we're sending this money as aid packages And as you know, money is fungible. It can move. It's like water in a glass. It moves to every corner of it and fills it and covers it. And so does money. And that's exactly what we're doing. And we're disguising it as aid. But we've found out through, there's a guy named Sean Ryan, who's a former Navy SEAL, who has a podcast. And he had a fellow on there. It goes by the name of Legend. He's a Middle Eastern. He's a Muslim. But he fought for this country. And he's fighting for a free Afghanistan. And and so he has disclosed this. We've researched it and find out that it is that it is the truth, Tony. And we're spending it's around 40 million dollars a week. It is getting to our enemy. Now, those folks are sworn as Taliban. They're sworn to hate and want to kill Christians and Jews. I dare say that probably is everybody listening or watching to this story. this telecast right now, that applies to you all. Yet our government is sending 40 million a week. I've got people in Upper East Tennessee and North Carolina that don't have running water because of that hurricane that we've forgotten about. And we can't seem to get any money there. We spent over $200 billion to Ukraine. And we sent over a billion down Central America for somebody to protect some lake or stream down there. And all that money is just getting stolen. And we are compromised. to the highest levels in this country.
SPEAKER 10 :
As you have validated and verified this information regarding the money going to the Taliban, you've inquired about that. The State Department is aware of this, are they not?
SPEAKER 11 :
Oh, yeah, 100%. either ignore me or tell me that it really isn't working that way. But if they're able to take this money that we send them to buy food and they slide it, once it gets into their hands, they can go anywhere. And we're finding out it is going to the worst possible places. And these people are going to be coming after us with our own money and our own guns because of it.
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, we left them behind. Yes, sir. And one of the ways this works, and we're almost out of time here, but these NGOs that are doing this humanitarian work there are being taxed by the Taliban. And so it's that money from the United States funding these NGOs that's going into the coffers of the Taliban.
SPEAKER 11 :
Yes, sir. It's not just the United Nations that's funding our enemies with our own money. It's our own money. funding our enemies. So we're going directly to them. So yes, sir. And we know what's happening, and they allow it. I can't tell you how many times I've been in testimony and talked about it. And they'll say, well, it's just 1%, or it's just 2%. But they're admitting, I don't care if it's one penny. As it turns out, we're sending a few billion dollars. A few percentage points of that is a lot of money in East Tennessee.
SPEAKER 10 :
ED HARRISON That is crazy. Congressman Tim Burchett, thanks so much for joining us. Always great to see you, my friend.
SPEAKER 11 :
Hey, brother, I pray for you. Please ask your folks to pray for our country. We we need to take our country back.
SPEAKER 10 :
We absolutely will. And we are. Thanks so much. And folks, that's a great reminder. Join us with Prayer Shield, our Operation Prayer Shield. Text SHIELD to 67742. And we're going to be praying for this country. We're praying now. We will be praying. We'll continue to pray. So join us. Don't go away. We're back after this.
SPEAKER 04 :
So if you like to think and you like to pray, FRC is the place for you.
SPEAKER 03 :
I think it is the best program out there.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, I've absolutely loved my experience interning at FRC.
SPEAKER 03 :
They really are making waves out in the political world and doing it from the light of the Lord.
SPEAKER 04 :
It's really humbling for me as a college student who has been involved in the life movement for only a couple of years to be able to witness it alongside of some of the people who have spent their entire lives fighting. A huge thing that sets FRC's internship apart from others is they are looking for what they can pour into you instead of what they can get out of you.
SPEAKER 03 :
I have talked to so many of my friends who have interned other places and they're responding to emails or taking phone calls and doing things like that, but here we get real hands-on experience and get to talk to important people and do important things that we get to see the impact of.
SPEAKER 05 :
The throne of Jesus Christ is unchallenged. His name was never on the ballot to begin with, and it's never going to be on the ballot. He's the King of Kings, and He's the Lord of Lords, and nothing's going to change that. And so our mission stays the same, preach the gospel, make disciples, get ready for heaven. In the meantime, that we're to advance the concerns of the kingdom of God here on earth.
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America has entered a critical and vulnerable period from now until January the 20th. Join Family Research Council for Operation Prayer Shield, a 10-week prayer initiative for our nation. From now until January 20th, our country faces global challenges, a transition of leadership, and a lame duck session of Congress. This season calls for heightened spiritual vigilance, discernment, and prayer. Text the word SHIELD to 67742 to join us. You'll have access to prayer points, scripture, prayer calls, text SHIELD to 67742. Unite with us and pray for our nation. Welcome back. If you've not yet downloaded the Stand Firm app, I encourage you to do that. You can have Washington Watch with you no matter where you go. Go to the App Store, download the Stand Firm app. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will be ending supposedly, according to Mark Zuckerberg, their fact-checking program and lifting speech restrictions as a part of an effort to restore free expression on their platforms. Now, in a video message today announcing the changes, the Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, called the recent election, quote, a cultural tipping point toward once again prioritizing speech, end quote. So what could this mean over the next four years and beyond? Joining me to discuss this, Stephan Padfield, executive director of the Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research, which presses corporations to stay out of the political and social engineering fields. Stephan, thanks so much for joining us. Welcome to Washington Watch.
SPEAKER 09 :
Thanks so much for having me. It's great to be here.
SPEAKER 10 :
So can you unpack a little further for us what Zuckerberg and Meta announced, starting with their fact-checking program? What does that mean?
SPEAKER 09 :
Well, it seems to mean that while they have previously relied on third parties and algorithms to essentially take down posts and comments, that they're basically shifting to the system that we see many of us that use X, formerly Twitter, where the post will stay up absent some really glaring, egregious, you know, Could be child sex trafficking, something like that, that might take it down. But anything other than that, I think Zuckerberg was quoted as saying, if you could say it on the House of Congress, then you can say it on our sites now, would just get community notes that would clarify that. provide various perspectives. And so certainly seems like a step in the right direction. We have certainly complained, those of us on the right, for a long time about how these fact checkers, quote unquote, unbiased fact checkers, were really just partisan, left-leaning censorship shops. And so it does seem to be a step in the right direction. But as always, we do have reason to be cautious in our enthusiasm for these changes as well.
SPEAKER 10 :
Agreed. Very much agreed. Trust but verify. Stephan, let me ask you this question. Would we be having this conversation if we were looking at Kamala Harris as president?
SPEAKER 09 :
I don't think we would at all, and I actually give Mark Zuckerberg credit for being somewhat transparent about the fact that he is simply responding to, among other things, but certainly it seems like it's primarily the election results, right? He saw what happened. And he took that in, and this is something where I think we can give him credit for acting like a good capitalist and taking the feedback, seeing the direction of the country, what his customers want, which is free speech, certainly, and then providing it. And again, this doesn't mean that his own political views have necessarily changed dramatically or that the makeup of the internal employees at Facebook, that their overall political leanings have changed. But it clearly would not happen. I think that's I think that's fair to say. And I think that's what he's telling us without the election. But still, there is something to feel good about that. He is actually being responsive to that rather than doubling down and trying to create. You know, I think one of the alternative platforms is blue ski, I believe, is the name of it, where they sort of try to create elections. The new the old leftist censorship utopia. And I think that's not faring very well. So he could have done that. But instead, he's actually trying to provide some free speech and give the users what they want. And we should reward that.
SPEAKER 10 :
Right. agree when people are moving in the right direction. But as you said at the beginning, I think we've got to verify that this is, in fact, true. But I would also underscore, Stefan, that This is today. But what happens four years from now if we get another leftist that emerges because, you know, public opinion is somewhat fickle. I mean, I think the First Amendment is ironclad in the Constitution. It's a principle that Americans have fought and died for. We shouldn't need an election to remind us that it's important. But I do believe that this is a window of opportunity in which we need to fully exercise this freedom and kind of cement it back into the public mindset so that the next election won't affect it.
SPEAKER 09 :
That's absolutely right. I mean, there's a couple of things going on here that we can look at positively. So one is with the leftist radicalism, including their war on free speech and their enthusiasm for censorship, it eventually falls apart. It eventually eats its own tail, so to speak. Now, the only question is how long does it last? How much damage does it do along the way? But really part of what we're seeing here is the inevitable on some level culmination of the radicalism with the censorship, with the war on free speech. And so that's reason for optimism. And as you say, we need to now keep building upon that. And we need to use the speech that we're given on those platforms to really engage positively, to drive home the need for free speech. But to some extent, I think we can take comfort in, this is a saying I hear a lot, the common sense of the common man. Right. These censorship efforts have failed ultimately because of the common sense of the common man and the integral belief in free speech. It has made its way through ultimately after some tumultuous times. And as you say, now we get a chance to prove that it works and continue to defend it. We've just got about a minute left.
SPEAKER 10 :
Do you think this is going to impact other tech giants that are in the social media field?
SPEAKER 09 :
I think it has to. Now, some will try to differentiate themselves, right? So again, I think Blue Sky is the other network that's trying to sort of position itself as the old Twitter. But at the same time, it's hard to ignore when a force like Meta, when a person like Zuckerberg sort of just tips his hat to the cultural shift and makes this dramatic change. So I would expect to see more rather than less. It's similar to what we're seeing with a lot of corporations walking back DEI right now. We're seeing more of it rather than less once the truth breaks out as to how problematic the left's agenda is.
SPEAKER 10 :
Stefan, thanks so much for joining us. Appreciate your insights on this. Thank you. All right, folks, we're going to continue this conversation on the other side of the break. Don't go away. Hello, I'm Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council here in Washington, D.C. Behind me is one of the most recognizable buildings in all the world, the U.S. Capitol. What does it stand for? Well, most people say government. But do you know the Bible talks about four institutions of government? Do you know what they are? And do we have a republic or a democracy? Well, what do you say? Also, what about this thing, separation of church and state? Does that mean Christians shouldn't be involved in government? Guess what? We address those issues and more in our new God and Government course. I invite you to join us to see what the historical record and the Bible has to say about government. Join us for God and Government.
SPEAKER 13 :
The world is hurting, streets are filled with crime, families are broken, sin is celebrated, and God is mocked. Everywhere we look, the wages of our sin are on full display. As Christians, we know that surrender to God's will is the solution to our biggest problems, but not everyone agrees. Even in church, we hear people say the most important thing is to be tolerant, that we shouldn't impose a morality on other people, and that loving our neighbor means celebrating what they do. But you can't do that. It's not that you don't love your neighbor. You do. But you care about God's opinion more than your neighbor's opinion, and this makes you different. In fact, sometimes it makes you feel alone, like you're the only one. But there is good news. You are not alone, not even close. Research has found that there are 59 million American adults who are a lot like you. There are millions of people around the country who are born again, deeply committed to practicing their faith, and believe the Bible is the reliable Word of God. But that's not all. They're also engaged in our government. They're voters. They're more likely to be involved in their community, and they're making a difference in elections. The problem is that a lot of them feel alone, too. We want to change that. FRC wants to connect these 59 million Americans to speak the truth together, no matter the cost. If you want to learn more about this group and what it means to be a spiritually active, governance-engaged conservative, or if you want to find out if you are one of these sage cons yourself, go to frc.org slash sagecon and take the quiz to find out. The world is hurting, and we have the solution. We can't do it alone, but we can do it if we work together. That's what we're working toward every day. Join us. Go to FRC.org slash S-A-G-E-C-O-N, SageCon, to learn more. That's S-A-G-E-C-O-N, SageCon, to learn more.
SPEAKER 10 :
Welcome back to Washington Watch. I'm Tony Perkins, your host. Good to have you with us on this Tuesday. The website is TonyPerkins.com. I want to invite you to join us in Operation Prayer Shield as we've been praying for our country leading up to January the 20th. But because of events as we felt led to do this prayer, we're seeing the validation of that call with what's been happening both here domestically and internationally. And so we're going to continue to pray and I invite you to join us. So text the word SHIELD to 67742. That's SHIELD, S-H-I-L-D. I-E-L-D to 67742. And you can join with thousands of others across this country praying. You get daily prayer points. We'll have periodic prayer calls. So text the word SHIELD to 67742. Our word for today comes from Isaiah 52. The Lord has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God. Through the Jews' return to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity and through the gospel today, the Lord is revealing his power. He is bearing his arm as a warrior would do. It continues in verse 11 of that chapter, "...depart, depart, go out from there, touch no unclean thing, go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. For you shall not go out with haste nor by flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard." Similar to the Great Commission commanding us to go, the captives were told to go. But the unknown is often intimidating. Living for the Lord and stepping out in faith to stand on His promises is not easy. But the Lord says He will go before you and lead you and behind you to protect you. To find out more about our journey through the Bible, text BIBLE to 67742. That's BIBLE to 67742. Yesterday, fast food giant McDonald's announced that it would be ending a number of woke DEI policies, making it the latest company on a growing list to do so. McDonald's listed a number of reasons for making the changes, including the Supreme Court's 2023 decision banning race-based college admission policies. But is it simply that they saw the writing on the wall, as more and more companies have been doing? And what do these and other developments tell us about the moment in which we are living right now? Joining me to talk about this is Suzanne Bowdy, editorial director and senior writer for The Washington Stand. Suzanne, thanks so much for joining me.
SPEAKER 12 :
Thanks for having me.
SPEAKER 10 :
So, Suzanne, you've been tracking the whole DEI woke stuff before it was even popular. Kind of give us a sense of how the momentum is building. It's really kind of snowballing right now as we see more and more companies moving away from this.
SPEAKER 12 :
Absolutely. I think a lot of this we saw really kicking off in 2023 with the advertisement done by Dylan Mulvaney for Bud Light. And after that uproar over Dylan Mulvaney, I think we saw companies and especially Americans just sort of shocked by the outlandish transgender agenda that was right in front of their faces. And so it's In 2023, I think we started to see the groundwork being laid for this. After the Dylan Mulvaney, consumers decided, hey, I'm ditching Bud Light. And then when groups like Target and Kohl's and Nike and others decided to either display transgender merchandise or really lean into this transgender agenda, you saw consumers really back away from them and With a force that I don't think we'd seen before. And while I believe that Robbie Starbuck, who's the activist that's behind some of these latest decisions, does deserve a lot of credit for what he's doing, especially this year. I think this really kicked off in 2023. You saw the sports leagues decide. sort of unanimously to no longer force players to wear pride jerseys, which was a major development that sort of kicked off this avalanche. And then I think heading into this year, we had a lot of companies sort of apologizing in 2023 saying, oh, we're sorry, like Rip Curl Doritos both had controversies with transgender spokespeople. But then I think really this all started to happen in July and June with Tractor Supply when Robbie Starbuck said he was going to threaten to expose the DEI policies that they had. And instead of exposing them, what happened was Tractor Supply proactively came out with a huge list, sort of a mea culpa list. of things that they were rolling back, DEI, they were no longer going to be participating in the Human Rights Campaign's Equality Index, which was a major blow to the LGBT movement. And from Tractor Supply and from their proactivity, from them coming out and not being exposed, but rather taking the bull by the horns and coming out and agreeing to all these changes, you started to see John Deere, you started to see huge companies like Lowe's and Ford and Coors and Harley Davidson and just on and on and on until what we're seeing now is what happened in 2024 with Walmart, one of the biggest employers in America, has carried over into 2025 with McDonald's, which has also agreed to not only end its hiring quotas, which was an easy thing to do with their Supreme Court out. But also they're saying that they're no longer requiring suppliers to hold fast to those quotas. And they're also not participating in HRC's Corporate Equality Index, which was a major thing because they had 100 percent score.
SPEAKER 10 :
Right. That's pretty big. You know, that's That's pretty significant. You see these companies backing away. And I go back to my conversation I had in the previous segment with Stefan, that this is the result of an election. I think had the election gone the other way, I don't think we would see corporate America doing this. So I think this is reflective of their read of the culture. It has been trending, but I think it manifests itself in a greater way in the election. And they know there are consequences for going down this path. But I think and you've been tracking this for quite some time. We've been at the Family Research Council. You know, we were at the tip of the spear when it came to the council culture. We've been walking through this for a long time. It would be a mistake to think that this problem is solved and that this election will resolve this once and for all and that these changes corporate America is making is the end of it. I mean, I think if four years from now, if as we've been seeing this back and forth of elections from one extreme to the other, if it goes the other way in the next election, I would not be surprised to see these corporations once again move to the left.
SPEAKER 12 :
Absolutely. I think the biggest mistake we can make is to be satisfied with what we're seeing. Because while, yes, Walmart and McDonald's and some other major brands that Americans recognize have come out and said they're no longer participating, just this week, HRC released a corporate equality index showing that they had an increase in companies who are participating. So we can't let our foot off the gas pedal here. We can't be complacent. We can't be satisfied. And I think this is a unique moment in history. You've talked about this where where, yes, we have an election. And I would tend to agree with you, but also say that I think the election results were part of this movement. I think that people felt we can make a difference. They're seeing it in all of these anti-woke policies coming out. And they decided to turn out en masse for Donald Trump and for the MAGA movement that supports these types of policies. But yes, the worst thing we can do is be complacent. And I think that's something that you've talked about quite a bit.
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, to borrow from our Sunday night prayer cast that we did for the nation and my conversation with Pastor Jack Hibbs that we heard a little bit of last night in the program, I do believe, and he agreed in our conversation, that there is an open door. Right now, these issues, we could have lost the country. I said this going into the election. The election was not going to save the country, but it could have destroyed it. Fortunately, it's not been destroyed because Americans woke up and did not vote for a leftist. But the work is not done. This just gives us the opportunity to do the work. And I think when we see things like Facebook, and I've not gone into great detail on this program, the number of social media outlets and big tech firms that have censored us, going all the way back to the beginning, So we know what that's all about, but here is an opening, and I think we have to rush through this when I say we, as Christians in this country, exercising our free speech as these doors open so that we can solidify this freedom in the minds of Americans, talking truth, speaking the truth, talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ, confessing the Lord Jesus Christ, Putting these things out there in the public domain and having that discussion, this is not a time to hold back. It's not a time to be timid. It's time to be compassionate, kind, civil in our conversation. But we need to exercise these freedoms so that we can strengthen them and keep them.
SPEAKER 12 :
I think one important part of this whole development, this massive shift that we're seeing across politics and across sports, even across entertainment, as we've seen Disney sort of back away from the transgender agenda, is that this is a grassroots movement. People are making a difference. And I think that sort of feeds into what you're saying about this open door, that we actually do have the momentum right now. I think there's a clip that Robbie Starbuck had earlier on his webpage where he said, you know, we are the mainstream now, not the anti-woke. And I think Christians really need to lean into that and say, we do have the momentum and we need to use it.
SPEAKER 10 :
Right. And not, you know, we've kind of, we, I mean, I can't put myself in that category. I haven't really censored myself. But as Christians, we've kind of, we don't want to offend anybody. So we've kind of self-censored ourselves. We've, you know, we're told religion and politics are things you don't talk about in polite company. Well, you know, when I hear that, I say, well, you don't want to hear from me. I've got nothing else to say. I'm not going to talk sports. I'm not going to talk weather. I know you'd like to talk sports, but I don't go there. The reality is this is a moment to begin to educate people. When I say, you know, we need to exercise these freedoms, it's for the benefit of sharing truth with others so that they might experience the freedom that comes from the truth. This is a time to use these platforms to change local communities. I mean, school board elections, and that's one of the things Zuckerberg said, is that they're going to allow more political discussion on their platforms. We need to take this moment, not thinking it's going to be forever. It could be a very short window, but we need to take it, utilize it, and make the most of it so that we can, again, I'm being redundant, but I think it's important to hear, solidifying these freedoms in the minds of a generation that has lost the importance of the First Amendment. and those freedoms, the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the freedom to gather together peacefully, to have our concerns addressed by government. This is a unique moment, and we cannot take it for granted.
SPEAKER 12 :
Right, absolutely. And I think one of the things Christians have been so afraid of in the past and the church has been afraid of is that they're alone. And I think what we see in these movements and with this election is that we're not alone. There are a lot of people who hold the values that we do, who believe in truth and transcendent truth like we do. I mean, you've been in the political world for 30 years. Did you ever think that we would see such a shift in corporate America? I did not. And I have... This has been, as we call it, an issue of passion of mine for more than 15 years. I never thought we would see the progress that we're seeing today. So what do you think is possible? If we can accomplish this in the corporate sphere, what else could we accomplish?
SPEAKER 10 :
Yeah, I was – last week I had the privilege of praying at the inaugural ceremony for the mayor in my home city of Baton Rouge. And I had been involved in the kind of the political – atmosphere, structure in my home city of Baton Rouge for a long time, going back 30 plus years. And I came out of the inaugural ceremony and I told my wife, I said, this was like a church service. I never would have thought. I mean, there were amazing, I think it was amazing grace, How Great Thou Art. I mean, there were just a number of songs, all of them spiritual in sense or patriotic. There were so many prayers, I lost track of them. And everyone was giving glory to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. And I said, you know, I would have never envisioned that. Now, here's the contrast. We're living in the worst of times, but it's the best of times. We have one of the highest murder rates in the country, violence in Baton Rouge, unfortunately. That's a part of what fed into this election. People have had enough of it, same thing we saw on the national level. There's a moment here that people are so desperate that they're open to moving away from the woke ideology, the leftist ideas of silencing. And this is a moment to bring truth to the table, have frank conversations, because we know the truth can bring us to a place of consensus, but also resolution of some of these issues that are facing our local community. Again, I can't encourage people enough to take this moment to respectfully, redemptively, as Ephesians 6 says, speaking the truth in love. We're not trying to win a debate here. We're trying to win hearts and minds, and we're trying to set people free with the truth. But this is the time to have those conversations. This is that door of opportunity that I believe has been open to our country, and to the church in particular, in the wake of the events that have occurred.
SPEAKER 12 :
Absolutely. And I think that it would be a huge mistake to just think that this is always going to be this way. It's up to us, as you say, to seize this moment, to have those conversations, to live boldly, to stand firm, and not just where we're spending our dollar, but with education. If you have kids in school, speak up if you see bad curriculums. It's a political debate. It's an education debate. It's everywhere that we live out our faith, which, as you always say, is not within the four walls of the church, but everywhere we go.
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, and to reemphasize what you said, the wind is to our back because we're seeing success and nothing breeds success like success. We've got momentum and we need to be thankful for it. Thank the Lord for this momentum. Thank the Lord for this opportunity, for what he did in the election. But it's going to be up to us to define what the outcome. outcome is of all of these things that are unfolding. Suzanne Bowdy, thank you for joining us and appreciate your work on The Washington Stand.
SPEAKER 12 :
Thanks, Tony.
SPEAKER 10 :
And by the way, folks, The Washington Stand, if you've not yet seen it, is news and commentary from a biblical perspective from the Family Research Council. You can go to The Washington Stand or better yet, You can get the Stand Firm app, and you'll have the news feed right there in your pocket. You'll have the Washington stand. You'll have Stand on the Word, and you'll have Washington Watch right there on your smartphone. All right, folks, thanks so much for joining us today. I leave you with the encouraging words of the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 6. where he says, when you've done everything that you can do, when you've prayed, when you've prepared, and when you have taken your stand, by all means, no matter what comes your way, just keep standing.
SPEAKER 02 :
Washington Watch with Tony Perkins is brought to you by Family Research Council and is entirely listener supported. Portions of the show discussing candidates are brought to you by Family Research Council Action. For more information on anything you heard today or to find out how you can partner with us in our ongoing efforts to promote faith, family and freedom, visit TonyPerkins.com.
On today's program: Chuck Fleischmann, U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 3rd District, discusses today's headlines, including the latest on the Reagan National Airport crash and possible congressional investigation. Lt. General (Ret.) Jerry
In this episode of Washington Watch, Tony Perkins dives into the recent aviation disaster in Washington, D.C., raising questions about air safety and military-civilian coordination. With insights from former President Donald Trump and newly confirmed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the episode examines if the recent collision highlights broader flaws in airspace management. Additionally, the episode navigates the turbulent waters of political weaponization within the federal government, drawing on expert opinions from Congresswoman Harriet Hageman and others. We transition into global politics with a focus on South Korea, where President Moon Seok-yool's impeachment adds to concerns about democratic stability in the region. Senator Ted Cruz and Congresswoman Harriet Hageman provide commentary on the ongoing struggles against political weaponization. This episode is packed with expert insights and critical analysis on pressing national and international issues. Behind the scenes, the looming Super Bowl prompts discussion on the need for family-friendly entertainment standards following controversial performances in previous years. With a letter from Louisiana legislators prompting a commitment from the NFL, could this signal a shift in cultural values at major events?
SPEAKER 01 :
From the heart of our nation's capital in Washington, D.C., bringing compelling interviews, insightful analysis, taking you beyond the headlines and sound bites into conversations with our nation's leaders and newsmakers, all from a biblical worldview, Washington Watch with Tony Perkins starts now.
SPEAKER 15 :
We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas, and I think we'll probably state those opinions now. Because over the years, I've watched as things like this happen and they say, well, we're always investigating. And then the investigation three years later, they announce it. We think we have some pretty good ideas. But we'll find out how this disaster occurred and we'll ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.
SPEAKER 07 :
That was President Donald Trump earlier today responding to last night's tragic collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter at Washington Reagan's National Airport. Welcome to Washington Watch, and thank you for joining us. Well, this morning, the rescue effort at the crash site shifted to a recovery mission after it was confirmed there were no survivors. Now the big question is, how did this happen?
SPEAKER 18 :
We are going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point, but to back up what the President said, what I've seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.
SPEAKER 07 :
That was newly confirmed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaking earlier today. We'll get an update from Congressman Troy Nels of Texas. He's the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation. And for anyone who flies frequently in and out of Washington, it's obvious there are a lot of military helicopters in the air. But have they made the skies above D.C. too crowded? We'll discuss that with retired Air Force Brigadier General John Teichert later here on Washington Watch. Meanwhile, President Trump's nominee for FBI Director Kash Patel had his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. The topic of government weaponization took center stage.
SPEAKER 08 :
And in many ways, the worst legacy, in my opinion, of the Biden administration. was the complete politicization and weaponization of both the Department of Justice and the FBI, turning them into tools to attack the perceived enemies of the Biden White House.
SPEAKER 07 :
That was Texas Senator Ted Cruz. We'll get reaction from Congresswoman Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, a member of the House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. And amid ongoing news from the Middle East and the continuing war in Ukraine, there's been less focus on South Korea, where impeached President Moon Seok-yool faces charges of insurrection. Is South Korea's democracy at risk? We'll talk with Bruce Klingner, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former CIA Deputy Division Chief for Korea. And finally, as I mentioned yesterday, there's some encouraging news regarding the content of the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show. Louisiana State Senator Valerie Hodges will join us later to share the details. All of that and more coming up on this Thursday edition of Washington Watch. Be sure and check out the website, TonyPerkins.com. Better yet, if you've not yet downloaded the Stand Firm app, I encourage you to go to the App Store and get the Stand Firm app so you can take Washington Watch with you wherever you go. Well, there was quite a bit of fireworks today during the confirmation hearing for three of President Trump's most, I'd say, controversial picks for key roles in his administration. Among the issues that came up during the hearing for Trump's nominee for FBI Director Kash Patel was the weaponization of the federal government, which Democrats claim is what President Trump is threatening to do. But as Republicans have rightly pointed out, weaponization is what we saw from the previous administration under Joe Biden. And President Trump has made clear that he will not be continuing a weaponized DOJ. Well, that message doesn't appear to be getting through to Democrats. Here now to discuss the issues, Congresswoman Harriet Hageman. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. She represents the at-large congressional district of the great state of Wyoming. Congresswoman, welcome back to Washington Watch. Always good to see you.
SPEAKER 02 :
Wonderful to see you, Tony.
SPEAKER 07 :
Before we get into the confirmation hearing and the president's executive order on the weaponization of government, I want to get your reaction to the tragic crash that took place in D.C. last night.
SPEAKER 02 :
It is absolutely heartbreaking. I flew out of DCA just a couple of hours before that to head home to Wyoming. One of the observations I had was looking out the window at the Potomac and thinking how absolutely frigid cold it looked with all the ice flows in it. And to hear about that last evening as I was driving from the Denver airport, again, it's just heartbreaking. My heart goes out to those families, to the teammates, to everyone who was affected by this terrible, terrible tragedy.
SPEAKER 07 :
I am pretty confident, as we've heard from the president, Sean Duffy, former colleague of yours, this is going to be thoroughly looked at. And I think it will be, given the fact that so many members of Congress fly in and out. And we've seen it. I mean, I'm flying it out every week. And you see the aircraft. It's a very crowded airspace. So I imagine that something is going to be done there. to deal with this. Let's talk about the weaponization. Let's first start. One of the first executive orders of President Trump was dealing with the issue of the weaponization of the federal government. Talk a little bit about that and how, given the position that you had on that weaponization committee, looking at all those issues, are we going to get a handle on this quickly?
SPEAKER 02 :
I've had a front row seat to see what happens when the federal government is weaponized against political opponents. We saw it play out in a couple of different ways under the Biden-Harris administration. One of them was the manner in which they charged and prosecuted the J6 folks, going after people who might have just simply walked through the Capitol, not even knowing that there were barricades up. and overcharging them dramatically. We know that because the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of many of the people who were charged, where the Biden-Harris administration was actually using a statute that was adopted to address the Enron situation of disposing of and destroying documents and records. And they used that as a way to try to enhance the sentences of the people on January—who were involved in anything associated with January 6. Then you contrast that with what happened in Portland, what happened in Minnesota during the summer of 2020, what happened in New York City. And the reason that I say you have to contrast it is, for one group of people that were disfavored by the Biden-Harris administration, they did everything they could to destroy them. For the people such as Antifa, the people who were involved in CHOP in Seattle and those kinds of things, they not only dropped charges or didn't bring charges in the first place, many of those people they settled with and paid them tens of thousands of dollars if they were at all inconvenienced at any time while they were burning down cities and causing billions of dollars of damage. If you look at what they did to President Trump, it's so clear in the cases in New York, Florida, and D.C. that the folks aligned with Biden and Harris and the Democrats, again, were using our justice system to go after a political opponent. As an attorney, as a long-term advocate for civil rights and civil liberties and adhering to our Constitution, I was pretty shocked to see how the government was weaponized as quickly as it was. When you look at the Russia, Russia, Russia collusion hoax and what the FBI did and their involvement and what the White House knew, in fact, they knew in August of 2016, before the 2016 election, that the Steele dossier was a hoax, that it was paid for by Hillary Clinton, that there was no validity to it. Yet they use the whole-of-government approach to get FISA warrants against the Trump team, to spy on them, to continue with an investigation against President Trump for a year-and-a-half under the auspices of claiming that he was conspiring with or colluding with the country of Russia to undermine America. I mean, all of these things together give you an idea of how weaponized the federal government became under the last administration.
SPEAKER 07 :
Congresswoman, I think it's been a process, because I think back into the 80s and 90s, where, even early turn of the century, where RICO statutes, which was, they were created back in the 1970s to go after the mob and racketeering, were used against pro-lifers. So I think, you know, those things were allowed to go forward, and I think it's kind of like the camel's nose under the tent. If you don't address it, it only gets worse.
SPEAKER 02 :
That's why I refer to what President Trump is doing as accountability. People want to say, well, he's going to weaponize this against his enemies, and Dick Durbin is saying that now. No, the people who engaged in this contact need to be held accountable for the decisions that they made. And so far, no one has been held accountable. One of the things that we did a lot of work on with the Select Committee on weaponization of the federal government related to the First Amendment and the mechanism that was used by Biden and Harris and their cohorts within that administration to stop us, the conservatives and Republicans, from being able to exercise their First Amendment rights. We know that from the Twitter files and the testimony of Matt Taibbi and Michael Schellenberger, what Professor Jonathan Turley has found. All of these things, all of these mechanisms by which the government was used to suppress the First Amendment rights, not only the freedom of speech, but as you point out, freedom of religion, using the FACE Act and literally turning it on its head and taking, you know, 72-year-old grandmothers who are praying outside of an abortion clinic and trying to throw them in prison for five years, not because that woman was any kind of a threat or violating anyone's civil rights, but for the purpose of making her as an example so that no one else would dare risk objecting to and fighting back against abortion. So that's what they did.
SPEAKER 07 :
Yes. And that's probably the most chilling aspect of this is that it was designed, it was to shock others into silence so that they would not speak or challenge these policies. And that's what happened with the J6 folks and what they endured. But the EO, the executive order, is great. I mean, you look at it, it addresses this issue, but it's an executive order. It can be repealed by the next administration. Congress has to deal with this. Are your colleagues ready to statutorily deal with this so that the government cannot be weaponized in the future against the American citizen?
SPEAKER 02 :
So a couple of things. In some ways, we already have. So being on the Judiciary Committee, part of our jurisdiction was revising Section 702 of the FISA warrants. And so after we learned what the FBI was doing in collusion with the Hillary campaign, in going after the Trump campaign during the 2016 cycle, we made fundamental changes to Section 702 of FISA that makes it much more difficult for the FBI to be using that process, at least to be weaponized against us. So we've already started that process. And I agree with you that this is an executive order. To the extent that any of these executive orders should be turned into statutes, we are already working through that process. so that we can be introducing them. But the other thing that I think is going to happen over the next four years, Tony, is that we're going to see so much exposed. And I think it happened over the last year and a half. I think that the reason that Donald Trump won with the resounding victory that he did was that people were horrified at what had happened with our legacy institutions, with those institutions that all of us grew up revering and thinking, hey, maybe I want to go and work for the FBI. What has been exposed over the last couple of years and what will continue to be exposed, number one, will help us to draft better legislation and make sure it doesn't happen again. But the other thing we need to do is just simply enforce the Constitution as written. I have an absolute First Amendment right in speech, in press, to peaceably assemble to petition my government for redress and to exercise my religion as I see fit. And one of the things that I have done is I have introduced a bill called the First Amendment Restoration Act. It is patterned after a similar federal law that applies to states. But basically what it says is that any federal employee who under color of federal law violates someone's First Amendment rights, they can be held liable in damages. We can get injunctive relief and we can also seek attorney's fees. So that's one of the bills that I actually worked with Jonathan Turley and some of my cohorts on the bill. Judiciary Committee, that we're going directly at these things, that it will be very clear that if you violate the First Amendment and you are a federal employee, I can sue you personally. So that's the kind of legislation we're pushing forward with.
SPEAKER 07 :
Harriet, I want to help you with that. We need that. We need accountability. That is a means of accountability. We're out of time, but always great to see you. Thank you so much for joining us today. And we look forward to working with you to protect that first freedom and to get rid of the weaponization of our federal government. All right, folks, we're going to look at South Korea next. The crisis there. Don't go away.
SPEAKER 17 :
During these challenging times for our nation, Family Research Council continues to serve as a watchman on the wall for faith, family and freedom. And together, thanks to your support, we're making an eternal impact. 2024 was a year of shining the light for biblical truth in Washington, D.C., Last fall, over 1,000 spiritually active, governance-engaged conservatives gathered for the Pray, Vote, Stand Summit to pray for our nation and ensure that the issues impacting sage cons were understood and advanced. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins marked a major milestone this year, its 900th episode, and added the Washington Watch News Desk, a new production that presents the top news each day from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand published 2,000 articles of news, commentary, and podcasts in 2024, garnering over 5 million views. FRC's outlet for news and commentary continues to pursue the truth on the issues that matter most to you and your family. And with the launch of the Stand Firm app, you can listen to, watch, and read our content in one simple place. Pray for current issues, stay rooted in the scriptures, and engage the political sphere with the community of believers on our new platform. In 2024, FRC shaped public policy and culture, organizing the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance where members of Congress and Christian leaders came together to seek God's intervention in America. In May, FRC called upon believers to pray for and stand with Israel by dedicating a portion of their worship services to pray for Israel's peace, prosperity, and protection. With Pray, Vote, Stand Decision 2024, FRC and Real Life Network led a powerful evening of election night coverage to analyze the election results and pray that our nation would turn back to God. We also filmed a transformative educational course, God and Government. Launching early this year in January 2025, this series will explore the biblical and historical foundations of our government, empowering you to stand confidently in your role as a citizen of heaven and earth. Family Research Council thanks you for partnering with us, and we look forward to 2025 and standing for faith, family, and freedom.
SPEAKER 03 :
Looking to grow closer to God in the new year? FRC's Stand on the Word spiral-bound journal is here to help. Dive deeper into scripture with thought-provoking questions, note-taking space, and context for each book and author. This second edition, covering Isaiah 2 Revelation, will guide you in tracking your journey through God's word while deepening your faith in Christ. Order now at frc.org slash store or text journal to 67742. Perfect for you and your loved ones.
SPEAKER 07 :
Welcome back to Washington Watch. Good to have you on this Thursday afternoon. The website, TonyPerkins.com, but better yet, get the Stand Firm app. And by the way, on the app, we have our first 100 Days Toolkit. That will enable you to engage in the process of helping correct some of the things that have happened in the last four years. There'll be action items. You'll have contact information for your member of Congress and your senators. You can find it, and it'll keep you up to date on what's happening. So you can get it on the app or just text the word TOOLKIT to 67742. That's TOOLKIT to 67742. All right. We're waiting for our guest. I've been tracking what's been happening in South Korea. South Korean President Eun Suk-yool shocked the world when he declared martial law in his country, a move widely condemned as an abuse of power. Now, that set off a political firestorm that has only grown more intense. Well, on Saturday, the impeached president was then indicted on charges of leading an insurrection. Now, A lot of stuff sounds very familiar, does it not? And this guy, he's kind of a conservative. And it's been the moderates, the liberals that have been opposing him in South Korea. Well, this ongoing political turmoil in South Korea has raised serious concerns about the stability of one of America's key allies. I mean, their democratic form of government is relatively new going back to the 1980s. And so it has some asking, can South Korea's democratic government And it's an important question because they're a stabilizing force there in that region of the world. All right, while we're waiting for a guest, I'm going to go to Meg Kilgannon, Senior Fellow for Education Studies here at the Family Research Council. She's been tracking a number of the confirmation hearings as we're watching these go through the process. And so I'm going to bring her in. Meg, welcome back to Washington Watch. Always great to see you.
SPEAKER 11 :
Great to be here, Tony.
SPEAKER 07 :
Let me continue my conversation I was having with Congresswoman Harriet Hageman regarding the – weaponization of government. Today, Kash Patel had his confirmation hearing in the Senate. This issue factored in very heavily, and Harriet made reference to this. This is what was brought up in the committee, that President Trump simply wants to weaponize government to be used against the left. How do we prevent this tit for tat, back and forth?
SPEAKER 11 :
Right. Well, I think that the problem with that analysis is that you're assuming that what happened the previous four years to former President Trump and people who had worked for him was not the weaponization of government. and that it was in fact perfectly legal behavior and something to be proud of, whereas we know that it was illegal behavior that has consequences. And so when you're enforcing consequences on people who've behaved badly, that doesn't mean you're weaponizing the government against them. It means that they are paying the price for the mistakes that were made. very grievous mistakes that have repercussions across the entirety of society. I mean, everything that was done to those folks that were serving in political power could be done to you or me.
SPEAKER 07 :
Right. But does it also kind of reveal with the Democrats the – They're kind of projecting. I mean, this is what they did when they had power. So they're just assuming that Donald Trump's going to do the same thing. Republicans will do the same thing. This is what they did.
SPEAKER 11 :
Right. I think you're seeing the trouble they're having sort of getting their foothold in this new paradigm since the big Republican win in November and this shock and awe campaign we're seeing from the White House and the executive branch. The Democrats are not responding, I think, very well. responding in their usual fashion, but it's not meeting the moment, right? People see through this now.
SPEAKER 07 :
So we're going to see a course correction. I mean, we've already seen the president in his executive order on January the 20th regarding the weaponization of federal government, the personnel that he is appointing. But how can the people that were targeted by the DOJ under the Biden administration and the victims of the weaponization of the federal government, how can they be made whole?
SPEAKER 11 :
Right. This age old question, where do I go to get my good name back? Right. It's it's there. These are these are crimes against people that are hard to to to really make right. And so I think maybe that is part of the reason why the other side is so focused on it. They understand on a primal level the grievous wrongs that were done, and they're probably operating out of a sense of fear that they will be held accountable for what they did.
SPEAKER 07 :
Meg, we've got our guest now to talk about South Korea. So unless you want to talk about South Korea, I'll let you.
SPEAKER 11 :
I can't wait to hear the guest.
SPEAKER 07 :
Yeah. All right. Meg Kilgannon, thanks so much for joining us. All right. Do we have him now? Okay. All right. So we don't have it. Okay. All right. This is the joys of live programming. So we're going to see if we can get connected with him. There's some issues there with our connections. But again, let me jump back here to South Korea. When we look at the parallels, we talked about this a while back when this was first unfolding, but it's continued. And we need to be aware, especially when you look at South Korea's spiritual history and the vibrancy of the church and what's been happening over there, and then all of a sudden it just began to implode. And The conservative, progressive, liberal, whatever you want to call it, leftist, have been fighting and taking their fragile democratic government really to the edge. And so anyway, it's something I think we need to keep an eye on while we're looking at domestic issues, looking at issues in the Middle East and elsewhere. All right. We're almost out of time in this segment. And when we come back, we're going to talk about some good news. All right. You want some good news? Good news is that the NFL is responding to a group of pro-family leaders and legislators from the state of Louisiana regarding the halftime show in the upcoming Super Bowl. So we're going to be joined by state senator, Louisiana State Senator Valerie Hodges next, to share their response to this letter and a commitment. We'll see if they hold to that commitment. But nonetheless, they're listening. We could be in a moment of sea change where we see a lot of things shifting. All right, don't go away. We're back with more Washington Watch after this.
SPEAKER 06 :
Have you ever been to the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.? Well, now you have a special reason to be there on Wednesday, February 5th. First, you can take part in the third annual National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance. God's ways are higher than our ways. The Lord clearly reveals in Scripture any nation that genuinely worships Him is a nation with leaders willing to repent and ask forgiveness for sins. The NGPR is a unique public gathering where scores of congressional leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, join with international leaders representing more than 50 nations for one sole purpose.
SPEAKER 12 :
Forgive our nations against you and you alone have we sinned.
SPEAKER 06 :
You can be there in the room to pray along with members of Congress, dignitaries from other nations, and Christian leaders from across the U.S. The NGPR is hosted by Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and Dr. Jim Garlow, founder of Well-Versed World, along with Rabbi Jonathan Cahn and former Congresswoman Michelle Buchman. Right after the prayer and repentance gathering, participants will move to the World Stage Theater for a private update on important events happening in Israel. and watch a preview of the historic new documentary on the Megiddo Mosaic, the most remarkable archeological find in Israel since the Dead Sea Scrolls. This is truly one of a kind opportunity to learn what's going on behind the scenes in Israel and how it could affect the whole world. Both of these Bible honoring events require tickets. Go to PrayDC.org, register today to attend in person on February 5th. As a bonus, your ticket grants you a free admission to experience the rest of the Museum of the Bible. Seating is limited for both events. Go to PrayDC.org to get tickets today.
SPEAKER 07 :
Welcome back to Washington Watch. Good to have you with us on this Thursday. Well, in just 10 days, the Super Bowl will be in New Orleans. And this year, there's some good news for families across the country. After concerns were raised over past halftime performances featuring explicit content, event organizers have confirmed that the Super Bowl, Super Bowl 59, their halftime show will be a family-friendly event. So will this be the year that families won't have to switch the channel when it's halftime? Could this be a pivotal point going forward for the Super Bowl? Joining me now to discuss this, Louisiana State Senator Valerie Hodges, who led Louisiana lawmakers and pro-family groups in addressing this issue to get this commitment. Senator Hodges, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks for joining us.
SPEAKER 13 :
Thank you for having me, Tony. I appreciate it.
SPEAKER 07 :
All right. So it's always good to have some good news. Tell us about the response that you received to the letter.
SPEAKER 13 :
Well, we got a I didn't know whether to really expect a response or not. We sent the letter on the 16th and all the press releases went out on Monday and they were very quick to respond. After that, we got a letter from Jay Cicero saying, who is the CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. And he issued a statement in response to the letter that I was very, very excited about and impressed by. And I don't know if you want to read the response, but I have it in front of me. No, go ahead and read it, Valerie. Okay, it says, he wrote, we respect and value the comments of our legislators who play a critical role in our ability to secure large events, providing an economic boost to our city and our state, Cicero said. We have shared the letter with the NFL, and we are all in agreement that this year's halftime show will be a family-friendly event befitting New Orleans' storied history hosting Super Bowls. And I was very, very pleased with that. He recognizes that the legislature does contribute greatly to this event and that we're all excited about the event being here in Louisiana and that it should be a family-friendly event. And he agreed that the NFL would do something about it. So we'll see.
SPEAKER 07 :
Yeah, I know it's a trust but verify as we look at this. But it's encouraging that they responded to it. There's recognition there's a problem. They're now on the record saying that we want to see this as well. And, of course, we also know I've been in touch with the the head of the Louisiana State Police, as well as the attorney general in Louisiana. And they are going to be watching a lot of the, whether or not laws are violated. They're also going to be addressing the issue that you and I talked about earlier in the week, and that was the issue of human trafficking, which is at its peak around such events as the Super Bowl.
SPEAKER 13 :
Correct. And I thought... the quote that was released was through the Louisiana Illuminator. And I posted the response from Mr. Cicero and the link to the article from the Louisiana Illuminator on my Facebook. It's Valerie Hodges State Senate page. And I want to ask your listeners to go to that and look at it, read the letter, read the response. And the article was really a good article. And they even referenced at the end the fact that the NFL and Roger Goodell still, They signed a contract last year with, I think, I don't remember, J.C., J.Z., that was accused of rape. And I don't know where that court case is. But these are not issues that we can any longer ignore. We've seen the issues that are going on across the nation with the... with P. Diddy, I'll just say it. And so this is not appropriate behavior, and it's certainly not appropriate behavior at one of the largest sports venues in the nation of the year. And so that's what we're hoping, that they will take the letter into account and make some changes. And that's all we're asking is family-appropriate halftime shows.
SPEAKER 07 :
Right. I mean, everybody's watching a sports event, and next thing you know, you've got a script show. The good thing about this, you pointed out, when you look at everything that's happening across the country, is that you have... Corporate America is taking note of the last election. They've been taking note of the grassroots efforts pushing back against their woke DEI policies. And so I think sports is not immune from that. They've been bitten by that as well. And I think when you look at this in context... It was a great time to weigh in and ask for them to clean up their act because I think that's the moment we are in. So hopefully this will not just be for this Super Bowl, but maybe we change and raise the standard going forward.
SPEAKER 13 :
Well, I believe that, Tony, and it's time for our voices to be heard. And they've been, a few have spoken up, I think, even though, so many people told me, I'll never watch the halftime shows. I'm not even going to watch the Super Bowl anymore. Well, that affects their advertisers. The advertisements, the... the ads are great, that they spend a lot of money. But then when people turn off the television or they switch the channel, that's hurting their viewers, their viewership and the advertiser. So I'm hoping they take this into account. This is not a small handful of people. Everywhere I go in the last this last week, people have come up to me, gone out of their way to thank me for the letter and say because they said, thank goodness somebody is saying what we all feel. And there's And that's the thing, that when you have got 18 legislators, you have got national groups like your group, other groups, statewide groups, local groups, this is a large majority of people who are expressing the same thing. And, hopefully, they are listening, according to what Mr. Cicero said, and that they have agreed to make it family-friendly. And this is what America wants. This is who we are. We are people of dignity. And I believe we have moral values. And there are places to go if you want to see a strip show or pole dancing. But the Super Bowl is not the place to do that.
SPEAKER 07 :
Yeah, let's play football. All right, Valerie Hodges, thanks for joining us. Great to see you. Good work.
SPEAKER 13 :
Good to see you, too.
SPEAKER 07 :
All right, folks, coming up next, we'll discuss the latest developments following the Reagan Airport disaster last night. So stay tuned. Don't go anywhere.
SPEAKER 04 :
As President-elect Donald Trump's second inauguration approached, a powerful prayer gathering took place in Washington, D.C., drawing Christians together to intercede for our nation.
SPEAKER 07 :
The church does not recapture its prophetic zeal. It will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority. God help us to recapture that prophetic zeal.
SPEAKER 10 :
This is not an interreligious service. We will not be praying to Allah or Buddha. We'll be praying to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We're talking to God, a holy, righteous, just God from a nation that desperately needs the touch of this God.
SPEAKER 09 :
We've not been a secular nation. We don't want to be a secular nation. We've been a nation built around God, and our history shows that.
SPEAKER 04 :
The well-versed and family research council led the inauguration praise and prayer convocation, urging attendees to pray for the incoming presidential administration and for the church to embody holiness and righteousness, champion biblical justice, and proclaim truth prophetically.
SPEAKER 07 :
Lord, may this not be the end, but may this be the beginning, this convocation, this gathering. And may we commit to pray and to seek you and to walk in your word and in your ways. In Jesus' name, amen. Hello, I'm Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council here in Washington, D.C. Behind me is one of the most recognizable buildings in all the world, the U.S. Capitol. What does it stand for? Well, most people say government. But you know, the Bible talks about four institutions of government. You know what they are? And do we have a republic or a democracy? Well, what do you say? Also, what about this saying separation of church and state? Does that mean Christians shouldn't be involved in government? Guess what? We address those issues and more in our new God and Government course. I invite you to join us to see what the historical record and the Bible has to say about government. Join us for God and Government.
SPEAKER 05 :
Download the new Stand Firm app for Apple and Android phones today and join a wonderful community of fellow believers. We've created a special place for you to access news from a biblical perspective, read and listen to daily devotionals, pray for current events and more. Share the Stand Firm app with your friends, family and church members and stand firm everywhere you go.
SPEAKER 07 :
Welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks for joining us. Be sure and get your first 100-day toolkit. You can get it by texting TOOLKIT to 67742. Our word for today comes from Jeremiah chapter four, where Jeremiah reflects upon the prophetic message he has received. Oh my soul, my soul, I am pained in my very heart. My heart makes a noise in me. I cannot hold my peace because you have heard, oh my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried for the whole land is plundered. Suddenly my tents are plundered and my curtain in a moment. As followers of Christ, if we are following him and we are in his word, we will see the words of warning from the Lord unfolding right before our eyes. It is a burden to see and it should grieve us to see the steady drumbeat of our nation marching toward destruction because of our rejection of God and his word. Understand the reality of hell as the coming judgment for all who do not repent. We should be motivated to issue the same warnings as Jeremiah with passion. Repent and return to the Lord. To find out more about our journey through the Bible, text Bible to 67742. That's Bible to 67742. Recovery operations are underway now following last night's mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight from Kansas, which killed all 67 people aboard both aircrafts. At least 28 bodies, including all three soldiers who were on the helicopter, had been recovered from the icy waters of the Potomac River near D.C. when the collision took place last night at 8.48 p.m. Eastern. Now, many right now are searching for answers in what do we know so far and what steps can be taken to prevent something like this from occurring again. Joining me now to discuss this, Congressman Troy Nels, who serves on the Judiciary Committee as well as the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where he is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation. He represents the 22nd District of Texas. Congressman Nels, welcome to Washington Watch. Thanks for joining us.
SPEAKER 14 :
Thank you, Tony. Good to be with you.
SPEAKER 07 :
All right. So what's the latest? What do we know regarding this incident that occurred last night?
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, we know that there are still recovery operations continuing. You know, you had 67 lives lost, and we need to make sure that we can account for each and every one of those individuals. We know that the NTSB, they've been on the ground within a few hours of this taking place last night. I believe they're up to almost 44 people or so from the NTSB is assisting first responders and others, but they will also be the lead investigative group in this crash. So we know that there are dive teams there. The FBI has sent their response team. There are dive teams there trying to recover the black boxes You know, there's two black boxes on that aircraft. There's the data recorder and then there's the cockpit voice recorder trying to get those two black boxes recovered. And I know that the NTSB has received what they'll call like a full package, a full ATC package, which is the air traffic controller. So all the communications prior to the crash and moments after the crash are all in the hands of the NTSB, and they'll be doing their investigation. I had a briefing with them, and Chairman Graves, he's the chairman of the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. We had a briefing with NTSB a few hours ago, and they informed us on the most current information, and it's just, you know, very, very sad. when you see what took place. And now the real question is, you know, the NTSB report, how long will it take for them to, you know, to conduct an investigation and what kind of findings will there be. But I just, I encourage the NTSB and FAA to make sure that, you know, they have accurate information. It's all factual. And then we will look at that information and see if it leads to any type of recommendation. But that's what we have up to this point.
SPEAKER 07 :
It's been nearly two decades since we've had an air disaster such as this right here in our nation's capital. I would assume, being that so many in Congress are flying that same route, each week. And the skies in D.C. have become more crowded. We're seeing a lot of military aircraft, a lot of commercial aircraft. I would think all of those things are going to be looked at by members of Congress because they want to make sure that this is, in fact, made safe again.
SPEAKER 14 :
Sure. I do it every week. I fly out of Houston, Intercontinental, and I got a direct flight right into D.C.A., so I'm very familiar. with that route. They're very familiar with that airport. And so we'll have to wait. A lot of people coming up with their own opinions as to whose fault, pointing fingers, this and that. I think that's, I want to just say, maybe a little irresponsible at this time. We have to give the NTSB an opportunity to look at everything, come up with a report. And And speaking to them earlier today, they stated they could have a preliminary report, possibly within 30 days. So I think that's a step in the right direction. I don't want to see something like this be drug out where we don't know anything for 18 months, because I don't think President Trump is going to want that. He's going to want a very thorough, deliberate investigation into this. I believe that President Trump would want to have some answers and then to try to rectify any type of issues going forward to make sure something like this never happens again.
SPEAKER 07 :
Yeah, I would imagine that he's going to be pushing for that report very, very soon. Congressman Troy Nels, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate you joining us by phone. Great to talk with you.
SPEAKER 14 :
Thank you. God bless you.
SPEAKER 07 :
All right. Congressman Troy Nels of Texas, 22nd District. And I want to continue this discussion on last night's tragedy that took place. As Troy was saying, he flies it. I fly it every week almost as well. Same route as I fly from my home state of Louisiana into D.C. And, you know, you can't help but see the military aircraft that's around. There's a lot of it. It's also just the slightest weather issue backs up the traffic because it is so heavy coming into Reagan National. So what do we need to be looking at here? And if you look at some of the video, it looked very odd from the helicopter that collided with the jet. Joining me now to discuss this, retired Air Force Brigadier General John Teichert. He was a former command pilot with more than 2,000 hours and 38 different aircrafts. As a distinguished military career, General Teichert retired as the Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. General, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks for joining us.
SPEAKER 16 :
Tony, thanks for having me.
SPEAKER 07 :
So what can, I know you've been discussing this with others, your contacts. What can you tell us that you have learned so far from last night's crash?
SPEAKER 16 :
Tony, very clearly there was a breakdown in deconfliction between the airliner and the helicopter. And normally when that happens, it's due to some sort of confusion or breakdown in communication. And as these mishap investigation boards stand up, one from the NTSB, one from the Army, They're going to be gathering the information. Part of that will be collecting the full tapes of the air traffic control transmissions over the course of that flight. And then those black boxes, or flight data recorders, are going to have information about what was being discussed within both of those cockpits. And I think the breakdown and deconfliction is going to tend back to a root cause of confusion or lack of communication that those pieces of evidence will help sort to reveal.
SPEAKER 07 :
JOHN YANG What do we know about the Black Hawk helicopter? What was its mission? What was it doing?
SPEAKER 16 :
Tony, any helicopter pilot that flies within the D.C. area has special training and qualifications because it is such a congested and highly prescripted area based on national security concerns. But any helicopter that flies is either performing or training to perform one of three primary missions, distinguished visitor transport. protecting Washington, D.C., from the air or responding to a national emergency. In this particular case, the Black Hawk crew was training for one of those mission sets. And in order to train, you need to fly in the airspace in a realistic way. And that's what they were doing last night.
SPEAKER 07 :
Have you seen the video that was caught that you just see the lights? It was a clear night, as the president pointed out, that you can see. And it just appears that the helicopter just flew right into the airplane. It is.
SPEAKER 16 :
That aircraft was on a very predictable, slow and vulnerable part of its approach from the south to the north at DCA. And clearly that helicopter, for whatever reason, did not see that aircraft, was not provided deconfliction help by air traffic control. And you're right. You see a very fast vector from the left to the right that slams the helicopter into the aircraft that initiated this tragedy.
SPEAKER 07 :
Have the skies over our nation's capital become too congested?
SPEAKER 16 :
It is worth the discussion, Tony. And several legislatures have had this discussion already as the number of flights out of DCA grows. And you think about those number of flights and then all of the helicopter traffic that is only there for first response law enforcement or military purposes. But it is such a tight area of airspace because of the population and the limits based on national security that it is worth having a full discussion about whether there is too much traffic in and out of DCA and to reassess the processes, procedures and techniques of military and law enforcement aircraft to make sure that there's no unnecessary missions going on in that airspace.
SPEAKER 07 :
So, General, as you point out, the three reasons for them to be flying missions there are, We've seen an increase in the commercial air traffic because every time the FAA is reauthorized, we see more slots created for D.C. because it makes it convenient for those of us who fly into D.C., for members of Congress. But also, we live in a different time. Increasingly, the security threats to our nation's capital have increased. So is that also a part of... creating a greater need for those assets to be in the air in our nation's capital.
SPEAKER 16 :
Tony, part of the answer is yes. But we have two very capable airports in the D.C. area, one up in Maryland, BWI, one out at Dulles, that could handle some of this traffic. And we need to be careful that we're not trading in convenience and creating risk like seemingly happened last night. And, you know, the investigators First, we will preserve perishable evidence. Second, they will figure out what happened. But, most importantly, they will get to the root cause of why it happened, so that we can update procedures, policies, techniques and airspace, so that nothing like this happens again. That's their primary charge. And I think part of that assessment is going to be air traffic control and the amount of volume of traffic both at DCA and those other missions around the D.C. area.
SPEAKER 07 :
Now, I know no one wants to jump to conclusions on this because there is an investigation, and I'm sure it will be thorough. Again, I think this will be investigated very, very closely because it is in our nation's capital, and so many members of Congress are directly touched by this. But some have said, and there's certainly reason and justification to say it, that when you look at both the commercial, the FAA, and you look at the military, there's been such a misplaced focus on non-essential services. skill sets, DEI, that it could distract from the necessary training that is needed to make people proficient in their jobs. Is that justified?
SPEAKER 16 :
Tony, I have seen some of that distraction in the DOD during the last four years. And we see now a president and a secretary of defense who are insisting that we get back to a constitutionally grounded, mission-focused, merit-based system within the national security sphere. And we heard some of that from the president about air traffic controllers as well. And we think about how diversity has been elevated during the last four years to the sacrifice of unity and shared purpose. And I have seen many in the military who have lamented the fact that we have drifted away from the focus that the military is there to be lethal and ready because of all these other distractive elements. And now it is very welcome amongst the vast majority of the military members to get back to a focus on the mission and a focus back on merit-based elevation.
SPEAKER 07 :
General Teichert, it's sad that it requires a tragedy to bring us back to focus on what is essential. I mean, I can cite several recent examples going back to July of this last year, President Trump nearly then died. former President Trump, nearly assassinated because there was issues in the Secret Service. We're looking at California that's been on fire because their fire department looked at DEI as opposed to fighting fires. And now we see, and I hope it's not the case, but there's enough to point to it that that's probably a contributing factor to what happened last night.
SPEAKER 16 :
Tony, I think you're right. And I think the breakdown in law enforcement in New Orleans over New Year's is one of those same types of situations where when you focus on things other than the mission, then you're naturally going to have the opportunity cost where you are less professional, less capable and less able to handle the situations that are demanded by the mission. And we see it in a variety of areas in our country. And I really do hope, whether you take that away from this accident or not, that we recognize that institutions are there to accomplish a mission. And when you don't focus on that mission, then there are harms that will result from the distraction that is a part of those lack of focus and lack of unity.
SPEAKER 07 :
It unfortunately is the reality. It just is. General Teichert, I want to thank you for joining us and appreciate your insights on this.
SPEAKER 16 :
Thanks as always, Tony.
SPEAKER 07 :
And folks, that's another matter of prayer. We just need to be praying that our nation would move back to operating in truth, common sense, constitution, truth, so that the mission of our government becomes its focus, its real mission is its mission. Right, out of time for today. Thanks for joining us. Until next time, I leave you once again with the encouraging words of the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 6, where he says, when you've done everything you can do, when you've prayed, when you've prepared, and when you've taken your stand, by all means, keep standing.
SPEAKER 01 :
Washington Watch with Tony Perkins is brought to you by Family Research Council and is entirely listener supported. Portions of the show discussing candidates are brought to you by Family Research Council Action. For more information on anything you heard today or to find out how you can partner with us in our ongoing efforts to promote faith, family and freedom, visit TonyPerkins.com.
On today's program: Andy Ogles, U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 5th District, discusses the latest from the House Financial Services Committee, the GOP retreat, and answers questions surrounding the FAA's authorization of the mysterious drone
In this compelling episode of Washington Watch, delve into the latest policy shifts under President Trump’s administration. From redefining military priorities to focusing on America-first foreign policy, join Tony Perkins as he offers a biblical perspective on current political maneuvers. Discussions with key lawmakers like Senator Mike Lee highlight the ongoing efforts to repeal the FACE Act and protect pro-life activists. This episode underscores the pivotal choice between temporary political victories and the need for legislative permanence. In addition, this episode examines the pressing need for spiritual revival within America. As political cycles bring about pendulum swings in law and policy, speakers emphasize the importance of grounding national direction in transcendent truths. Join prominent voices at the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance as they strive for more permanent spiritual and cultural renewal.
SPEAKER 01 :
From the heart of our nation's capital in Washington, D.C., bringing compelling interviews, insightful analysis, taking you beyond the headlines and soundbites into conversations with our nation's leaders and newsmakers, all from a biblical worldview. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins starts now.
SPEAKER 11 :
To ensure that we have the most lethal fighting force in the world, we will get transgender ideology out of our military. It's going to be great. In addition, we will stop our service members from being indoctrinated with radical left ideologies such as critical race theory.
SPEAKER 16 :
That was President Donald Trump speaking to House Republicans at their Issues Conference yesterday in Miami. Welcome to Washington Watch. Thanks for making us part of your day. Well, in a series of executive orders issued last night, President Trump shifted the military's focus back to its core mission, fighting and winning our nation's wars rather than modeling the latest cross-dressing camouflage. We'll discuss these developments and more from the Republican Issues Conference with Texas Congressman Keith Self in just a moment. And guess what? It's not just the military that's returning to America first focus. The State Department is, too.
SPEAKER 10 :
In our republic, the voters decide the course of our nation, both domestically and abroad. And they have elected Donald J. Trump as our president when it comes to foreign policy on a very clear mission. And that mission is to ensure that our foreign policy is centered on one thing, and that is the advancement of our national interests.
SPEAKER 16 :
That was Secretary of State Marco Rubio. We'll talk with Dr. A.J. Nolte from Regent University about how Christians can and should lean into U.S. foreign policy in this new administration. Also, last Friday, President Trump pardoned 23 peaceful pro-life advocates imprisoned by the Biden administration under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act or FACE Act. Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking at the March for Life, made clear those days were over.
SPEAKER 13 :
No longer will the federal government direct FBI raids on the homes of people like Mark Houck and other Catholic and Christian activists who are fighting for the unborn every single day. And no longer will our government throw pro-life protesters and activists, elderly, grandparents, or anybody else in prison. It stopped on Monday, and we're not gonna let it come back to this country.
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, to ensure that it is, in fact, a thing of the past, Utah Senator Mike Lee has introduced legislation to repeal the FACE Act, ending the federal government's overreach toward pro-life Americans. Senator Lee will join us later to explain. And finally, while a lot of bad policy is being replaced with good policy, we know from experience that it can swing back again. America needs more than a political reversal. We need a spiritual revival. Next Wednesday at the Museum of the Bible, we'll be praying for just that. And you can join us. Dr. Jim Garlow will share the details a little bit later. And by the way, don't tell him, but I'll give you a head start. If you would like to join us next Wednesday, February the 5th at the Bible Museum, it begins at 7 a.m. You can find out more by going to PrayDC, PrayDC.org. Well, yesterday, President Trump signed a proclamation and four executive orders, including orders aimed at restoring America's fighting force and prioritizing military excellence and readiness. The White House noted the military's clear mission to protect the American people and our homeland. And it said success in this mission cannot be diluted to accommodate political agendas or other ideologies harmful to unit cohesion. Music to a soldier's ears. We'll join him now to discuss this and more. Congressman Keith Self, who served our country for 25 years before retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee. He represents the 3rd Congressional District of Texas. Congressman Self, welcome back to Washington Watch. Good to see you. Great to be here, Tony. Thank you. So before we get into the executive orders, give us an update there on how things are going with the issues conference with the GOP.
SPEAKER 04 :
We are having a lot of frank and open discussions because we want to support the Trump agenda. I think across the board, that's what we're discussing. How do we do that? Because the other existential threat, of course, is our $36 trillion in debt and, frankly, going to over $50 trillion if we don't do something about it. over the next 10 years. So the open and frank discussions are happening now. And I believe that we will come to a conclusion hopefully in the next several weeks. Thank you.
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, I'm getting reports that there there is some very frank conversations and the a lot of it does deal with the debt and spending. A lot of the proposals being put forward by the Trump administration obviously requires dollars and the reconciliation. I think many conservatives I'm hearing hope to be able to cut spending. Do you think that's going to happen?
SPEAKER 04 :
We have to, Toto. We have to. We cannot continue to drive this country further into debt to put more debt on our grandchildren, because this is that we already see the bond market starting to discipline us. Congress doesn't control the bond market. The president doesn't control the bond market. The bond vigilantes could raise their ugly head at any time and start disciplining us if we do not control spending. So it's part of the reconciliation equation that we're working on very hard.
SPEAKER 16 :
Vice President J.D. Vance spoke there today. The president was yesterday, the vice president today. What can you tell us about what he had to share?
SPEAKER 04 :
J.D. Vance gave an excellent message, and he understands the need to cut. I will tell you, he's very clear. We must cut spending. The government spends 40 percent more than it did just before pre-COVID days. And I will tell you, that's unsustainable. We have got to get somewhere down toward that $2 trillion of savings, because that will take us, one, back to pre-COVID spending, and, two, will put us on a sustainable path to start cutting the deficit, which, of course, bends the curve on the debt over the long term.
SPEAKER 16 :
You know, I think that makes perfect sense when you would you if you actually look at the numbers and you look at just the mushrooming of federal spending at covid, just taking it back down to those pre covid levels. Of course, you've created monetary constituencies with those covid funds and they're going to fight tooth and nail to keep them. But you are absolutely right. This is an existential threat to the future of America, and it has to be done. And if not now, I don't think it'll ever be done.
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, I agree. This is the time when we have the trifecta in the federal government. We must do it now. There are some no-brainer ideas out there. If you're an able-bodied American, you ought to be working. You shouldn't be on the government dole. But there are a plethora of ideas here. We just need to translate those into the budget resolution that will then start the process toward a reconciliation bill.
SPEAKER 16 :
and come to an agreement because you don't have many votes to spare to get that across the line as the Republican conference. I want to talk about boldness on behalf of the president. I was thrilled to see that he went back to the same policy that he enacted back in 2016, one that we worked with him to get done, and that was to return our military to focusing on its mission, to fight and win our wars, you know, not modeling the latest cross-dressing camouflage that we see with the transgender agenda there. That had to be encouraging to those that have been fighting for the well-being of our military.
SPEAKER 04 :
This is absolutely necessary. It was perfect tone by the president. We will return the military to lethality, to deterring our adversaries across the world. This was perfect. I will tell you, this will help with recruiting. That will this will help with training. This will help with morale. This is the way it's done. Leadership makes a difference in the military. And our commander in chief demonstrated that leadership yesterday with these executive orders.
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, he made in his comments to the Republicans last night, he mentioned that just since he took office, he's seen the recruiting numbers have gone up in our nation's military because I think once again, people see confidence, a return to common sense. And, you know, for those who joined the military, they joined for a reason. They joined because of the military's mission. And with a military and an administration pushing the military back to that mission, it can only benefit.
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, absolutely. Our young people want to serve. They want to serve something greater than themselves. They want to be challenged. They want to know that their sacrifice will be honored and will be worth something. And I think that's what they see in President Trump. Our military is going to do that for them. It's going to give them a place to serve something bigger than themselves. This nation is worth saving. This nation is worth defending. This nation is worth protecting. Donald Trump set the military on that course. yesterday.
SPEAKER 16 :
So let me ask you this, Congressman South. The young people going in, obviously, as you said, they're attracted to this. And most of the ranks, they're there for that reason. But when you get to the higher ranks that have now been basically marinated in this DEI ideology, how are we going to do a course correction there?
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, I think Pete Hegseth has already determined that he's going to make that course of correction. But this is very traditional. This is very historic in the United States. Between wars, which we frankly are now, because we're in a sustainment in the Middle East today, between wars, we have political generals. We promote those political officers. And, frankly, when wartime comes, we have to scrub the ranks. We have to go down into the general officer ranks, sometimes deep. If you remember, Shai Meyer, I think, was promoted from two stars to four stars to be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. And I will tell you, that's what's going to happen, either the chairman or the chief of the Army. But I will tell you, that's what's going to have to happen, because, frankly, this is historic. This is what we do between wars. So, Pete Hegseth has the mission from the president. And I think he will do exactly that, to return our leadership to a warfighting perspective and those people who will train, equip and man a lethal military force.
SPEAKER 16 :
Congressman, you and I have talked about these types of things before. We're elated, excited about most of the policies. I speak for myself. Most of the policies coming forward that are within the framework of the law and moving us back to the rule of law and getting our government back to where it should be. But we saw four years ago how quickly that turned with the Biden administration coming in. And so... I'm concerned long term about our country where we see this back and forth, this ideological shift every four years. That's unsustainable.
SPEAKER 04 :
Absolutely. And because we've seen Trump, Biden, now Trump, we've got an example of exactly how not to do it. This is Congress's role, because we need to codify into law a lot of these policies, because, as you say, the next president could undo a lot of what Trump is doing now. The only way around that is to codify it into law so that we don't have competing EOs every four years. Right.
SPEAKER 16 :
Has that been discussed? Have you and your colleagues been discussing how we can take these and basically preserve them going forward by making them statutory?
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, a lot of those discussions are going on in the chairman of the various committees. This is an ongoing discussion, and I think we will probably get a long way toward that once we get past the reconciliation process.
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, I hope so, because we cannot sustain that whiplash like that. It's not good for our country and it doesn't strengthen us on the international scene either. Congressman Keith Self, always great to see you. Thanks so much for stepping out and joining us today.
SPEAKER 04 :
Thank you, Tony.
SPEAKER 16 :
You know, and this is another matter to pray about, folks, because literally, I mean, this is back and forth, and it is unsustainable. And here's the problem. The reason it happens is because we have policy now that is untethered to transcendent truth, and they just make it up as they go. We have to have the rule of law. That's what the Constitution's about. But the Constitution is anchored in transcendent truth. That is the moral law of God. And we've got to move our nation back to that. How do we do that? Well, as Christians, we share our faith, we live out our faith, and we change the hearts and minds of people through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We've got to be bold. This is our moment. We've got to move while we can. All right, don't go away. We turn to foreign policy when we return.
SPEAKER 14 :
During these challenging times for our nation, Family Research Council continues to serve as a watchman on the wall for faith, family, and freedom. And together, thanks to your support, we're making an eternal impact. 2024 was a year of shining the light for biblical truth in Washington, DC. Last fall, over 1,000 spiritually active, governance-engaged conservatives gathered for the Pray, Vote, Stand Summit to pray for our nation and ensure that the issues impacting sage cons were understood and advanced. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins marked a major milestone this year, its 900th episode, and added the Washington Watch News Desk, a new production that presents the top news each day from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand published 2,000 articles of news, commentary, and podcasts in 2024, garnering over 5 million views. FRC's outlet for news and commentary continues to pursue the truth on the issues that matter most to you and your family. And with the launch of the Stand Firm app, you can listen to, watch, and read our content in one simple place. Pray for current issues, stay rooted in the scriptures, and engage the political sphere with the community of believers on our new platform. In 2024, FRC shaped public policy and culture, organizing the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance where members of Congress and Christian leaders came together to seek God's intervention in America. In May, FRC called upon believers to pray for and stand with Israel by dedicating a portion of their worship services to pray for Israel's peace, prosperity, and protection. With Pray, Vote, Stand Decision 2024, FRC and Real Life Network led a powerful evening of election night coverage to analyze the election results and pray that our nation would turn back to God. We also filmed a transformative educational course, God and Government, launching early this year in January 2025. This series will explore the biblical and historical foundations of our government, empowering you to stand confidently in your role as a citizen of heaven and earth. Family Research Council thanks you for partnering with us, and we look forward to 2025 and standing for faith, family and freedom.
SPEAKER 05 :
Looking to grow closer to God in the new year? FRC's Stand on the Word spiral-bound journal is here to help. Dive deeper into scripture with thought-provoking questions, note-taking space, and context for each book and author. This second edition, covering Isaiah 2 Revelation, will guide you in tracking your journey through God's word while deepening your faith in Christ. Order now at frc.org slash store or text journal to 67742. Perfect for you and your loved ones.
SPEAKER 16 :
Washington Watch, good to have you with us on this Tuesday. Be sure and download the Stand Firm app if you've not already done so, because we've got lots of resources there for you, including the first 100 days toolkit, which will give you the tools necessary to help advance policies like we were just talking about. So if you don't have the app, just text the word toolkit. That's one word, toolkit, to 67742, and I'll send you a link. President Trump has made it clear that his policies are about putting America first, and that includes foreign policy, something that his new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has made clear. Now, my next guest says that America first does not have to mean everyone else last. A pro-faith, pro-family, pro-freedom America benefits the entire world. Joining me now to discuss this, Dr. A.J. Nolte, Chair of the Government Graduate Program and Director of the International Development Master's Program at Regent University, is also the Director of the Institute for Israel Studies at Regent University. Dr. Nolte, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks so much for joining us. Tony, thanks as always for having me. All right, let's talk about, since I think you know this, because every time I have you on, we're talking foreign policy. I think it's very important for Christians to be informed and engaged in foreign policy. And you agree, because you've just written a piece that suggests there are 10 areas that Christian conservatives in this moment need to lean in to help shape the foreign policy of the Trump administration while we have the opportunity. Talk about it.
SPEAKER 08 :
Yeah, absolutely. So thank you for featuring it. The piece is called Faith, Family and Freedom Beyond the Water's Edge. And it's 10 policy recommendations for how social conservatives can use the opportunity we have of allies within the Trump administration, not least President Trump himself, to advance some very important foreign policy goals. And And so I break it up into issues of religious freedom, issues of, you know, which, of course, focuses on religious persecution and Christians' support for Israel and some pro-family policies that the United States can also pursue. And then, of course, long-term Christian values of freedom. promoting humanitarian aid, which is so often delivered by faith-based organizations. And so in those four areas, there's a number of policy recommendations I've laid out for areas where we can try to advance our traditional socially conservative Christian foreign policy priorities.
SPEAKER 16 :
Let's talk about one for just a moment, because I was just talking with Congressman Keith Self. We were talking about a number of these executive orders, how Congress needs to codify those into law. And one of those is one that you write about, that every time you have a Democratic administration, deal away with it. Every time you have a Republican administration, there's advocates like us saying, please reinstate it. And that's the Mexico City policy. Explain what it is and why it's important that that become law.
SPEAKER 08 :
The Mexico City policy, very simply put, is a basic commitment from the United States government that U.S. taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund abortions abroad. It's not prohibiting health care for vulnerable women who are pregnant. It's prohibiting abortions, right? And so the idea is that with this policy, the United States taxpayers, you and I, will our dollars not be used to pay for abortions in other countries. And unfortunately, the U.S. doesn't have the best history. Oftentimes in the 60s and 70s, there was an ideology of population control that said the problem with global development is that there's too many people. And as Christians, we know every human being has human dignity, and we know that's not right. And so the Mexico City policy reverses that and says, we're not going to use our taxpayer dollars to get rid of unborn babies in other countries. And I would say, yes, it needs to be made permanent. It needs to be put into law in the same way the Hyde Amendment is domestically. And let's dare the Democrats to say that it is in the national security interests of the United States to pay for abortions in foreign countries using taxpayer dollars.
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, related to that, one of your other recommendations is that in our foreign policy, we actually promote the idea that children are good. Having babies are good because we are facing many countries. Africa may be the only one that is somewhat on a different trajectory, but we're moving toward a demographic winner when you look at our reproduction rates around the world.
SPEAKER 08 :
Absolutely. There were two driving policy frames that kind of have distorted foreign aid policy often in the past. One is this idea that there's too many people in the world, and also that overpopulation causes underdevelopment. And now what we're finding actually is, as economists like Julian Simon have known for decades, people are the ultimate resource, and population growth ultimately... economic growth, and even better environmental conditions, as some demographers and economists have demonstrated. And also, population is declining globally. So instead of having an idea that more children are the problem, I think we need to think about more children as a solution to the problem, as a positive, and look at our ally Israel, which has been very successful in terms of their demographics.
SPEAKER 16 :
Dr. Nolte, at its core, is that not a humanist worldview conflicting with a biblically oriented worldview? When you look at life and the fact that we see life, children taking as opposed to giving?
SPEAKER 08 :
Yes, absolutely. I think, you know, from that perspective, that utilitarian or humanist perspective, it's a question of how many mouths we can feed. And we worry about quality of life. We, from a Christian perspective, start from a sanctity of life. And we believe that if you start from a sanctity of life perspective, that promotes human flourishing and actually gets you quality of life. And so it's a fundamental worldview difference. And it's time to recalibrate the U.S. government's view on that.
SPEAKER 16 :
Let's talk, we just got a couple minutes left, but you mentioned foreign aid. USAID is kind of the agency that helps humanitarian efforts around the world. This has been a place that you've actually teamed up with Family Research Council. We've done some research on that. It's been hostile toward faith-based organizations. It's time to change that.
SPEAKER 08 :
I agree. And my colleague Ariel Del Turco, who's in your Religious Freedom Center, a Regent grad as well, she and I did a report looking at promotion of religious freedom through international development. Again, U.S. foreign aid is actually pennies on the dollar in terms of increasing our influence, but we need to be smart about it. And the people that are the most efficient at providing global aid are faith-based organizations. And we have to absolutely mobilize them and give them a seat at the table in terms of foreign aid. And also think about religious freedom as not just a human right, but also something that promotes security, stability, and human flourishing around the world.
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, there's evidence, abundance of evidence that says that is the case, where you have religious freedom, you have economic prosperity, and you have social stability. So we have, going back almost 25 years, made that a priority, at least in most administrations. And we're out of time here. But you point out something that's very important that we've got to address. And this is the conflict with the LGBTQ agenda and religious freedom. And that is what has moved the Democratic Party away from the holistic approach to religious freedom. Again, Dr. Nolte, we're out of time. Great piece. It's at TonyPerkins.com, folks. You can check it out. Dr. Nolte, look forward to talking to you again real soon. Thank you so much. So go to TonyPerkins.com. If you listen to this program a lot, you know we talk about foreign policy because we have to go beyond our own borders and influence the world around us in a positive way. All right. Don't go away. When we come back, Dr. Jim Garlow joins me right here.
SPEAKER 17 :
Have you ever been to the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.? Well, now you have a special reason to be there on Wednesday, February 5th. First, you can take part in the third annual National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance. God's ways are higher than our ways. The Lord clearly reveals in Scripture any nation that genuinely worships Him is a nation with leaders willing to repent and ask forgiveness for sins. The NGPR is a unique public gathering where scores of congressional leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, join with international leaders representing more than 50 nations for one sole purpose.
SPEAKER 02 :
Forgive our nations against you and you alone have we sinned.
SPEAKER 17 :
You can be there in the room to pray along with members of Congress, dignitaries from other nations, and Christian leaders from across the U.S. The NGPR is hosted by Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and Dr. Jim Garlow, founder of Well-Versed World, along with Rabbi Jonathan Cahn and former Congresswoman Michelle Buchman. Right after the prayer and repentance gathering, participants will move to the World Stage Theater for a private update on important events happening in Israel. and watch a preview of the historic new documentary on the Megiddo Mosaic, the most remarkable archeological find in Israel since the Dead Sea Scrolls. This is truly one of a kind opportunity to learn what's going on behind the scenes in Israel and how it could affect the whole world. Both of these Bible honoring events require tickets. Go to PrayDC.org, register today to attend in person on February 5th. As a bonus, your ticket grants you a free admission to experience the rest of the Museum of the Bible. Seating is limited for both events. Go to PrayDC.org to get tickets today.
SPEAKER 16 :
Welcome back to Washington Watch. All right, as I said at the top of the program, we're encouraged to see a lot of this bad policy is being replaced with good policy. But we know from experience that it can swing back again. Four years from now, we could be right back in the same spot. America needs more than a political reversal. We need a spiritual revival. And that's what we're going to be praying for next Wednesday at the Museum of the Bible. We'll be praying. We'll be repenting. I know that's a word we don't hear very often, but we'll be repenting. America still has sins to repent from. We need to repent of it and we need to turn. And you can join Christian leaders and government leaders as we come together next Wednesday, February the 5th at 7 a.m. at the Museum of the Bible for the third annual National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance. House Speaker Mike Johnson will join us. And it's one of the most powerful events This is not my words. This is the words of members of Congress. Many of them that have been there for decades said this is the most powerful event I've ever been to. It is stirring. It is God honoring. And it is much needed. Joining me now to discuss this is Pastor Jim Garlow, who. called me and then Congressman Mike Johnson back in November 2022 with the idea about this event. And so the three of us co-founded it shortly thereafter. He's also the founder and CEO of the ministry Well-Versed. Pastor Jim, welcome back to Washington Watch. Good to see you. Thank you. Thank you, Tony. Good to be on with you. All right. I'm telling you, this event is This will be the third year. It has impacted so many people literally around the globe. There'll be people coming from all over the world to be a part of this event. Describe it and then talk about how people can be there and be a part of it.
SPEAKER 15 :
You already mentioned it's 7 a.m. That's early in the morning. It's not a prayer breakfast. It's a prayer time with no breakfast. And there are people gathering from many different countries. Last year, I think we had 35 different countries represented of people who came to the platform to pray in repentance. These are one-minute prayers. We're not having speeches. We're not having talks. We're not having sermons. All these members, elected officials, members of Congress and then from Parliament across Europe and such, They come for one purpose, to pray a one-minute prayer before a holy and righteous God, repenting of sin. It can be personal sin, sin in the church, national sins, whatever, before a righteous God, asking for his forgiveness and for his blessing. It's a unique experience. That's from 7 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. The sixth floor in what's called the gathering room. And as we go down to the floor below, one floor down, we go to the world stage theater. At the world stage theater, we have a whole emphasis on Israel. So what's the second portion to it?
SPEAKER 16 :
This... is not, as you said, it's not a prayer breakfast. In fact, there's a lot of prayer events that take place in Washington, D.C. In fact, next week will be the National Prayer Breakfast. This is not an ecumenical gathering. This is not a, this is, as the name says, this is a gathering, a national gathering for prayer and repentance. Why is repentance such a critical message for this moment in our nation's history?
SPEAKER 15 :
You said it really well a moment ago, and I think that message needs to be strongly emphasized. We have experienced a political revolution, but we have not yet seen the evidences of a full-blown spiritual revival. And unless we are anchored to transcendent truths of the Scripture, this will be short-lived. Being a conservative is a good thing, but it's not enough. Being a patriot is a good thing, but it's not enough. Being firmly tethered to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to walk as a regenerate son of God, made possible through the cross of Jesus Christ, where we lay down our lives for him, for he who laid his life down for us. That is the anchor point which will hold us biblical truth. So as a nation, we're still, contrary to what many people believe, in a precarious role. We have to see the spiritual awakening follow in the flows of this political revolution that we have seen before our eyes and we're witnessing. And that's what we're asking the Lord for. That's what will put our nation on solid foundation once again. Make America great again is very good. Make America righteous again is the foundation by which we make America good again.
SPEAKER 16 :
And folks, that again begins next Wednesday morning, 7 p.m. at the Museum of the Bible.
SPEAKER 15 :
7 a.m.
SPEAKER 16 :
Did I say p.m.? ? Yep, she did. It's okay. It's all the same to me. I'm up all the time. So 7 a.m. in the morning. If you get there at 7 p.m., well, you can still pray, but we won't be there. 7 a.m. next Wednesday morning, Museum of the Bible, dcpray.com to find out more information about how you can be a part of this event. Jim, we just got about a minute left. What is your prayer going into this in terms of a takeaway? What would you like to see happen as a result?
SPEAKER 15 :
When you have genuine repentance of the heart, contrition of the heart, people are drawn back into the word of God. And we reestablish the word of God, the truth of God, the way of God, the will of God as a foundation for our individual lives, the lives of our families, our institutional churches, and our nation, our community. That's the first part. The second part is to realize how critically important it is to support Israel in every way we possibly can. At that second part at 10 a.m., at 10 a.m., 7 a.m. it begins, but then at 10 a.m. we go to a focus on Israel. We're going to be covering some of those amazing, exciting announcements flowing out of Israel. The Megiddo mosaics, one of them, a lot more updates on unusual things happening in Israel that people have not heard. And so that's the second part of this as well, that morning at 10 a.m.,
SPEAKER 16 :
All right, that's praydc.org, praydc.org to find out how you can be a part of this next Wednesday. Dr. Jim Garlow, thanks for joining me. Look forward to being with you next Wednesday morning, 7 a.m. at the Museum of the Bible. Thank you.
SPEAKER 15 :
We'll see you there.
SPEAKER 16 :
All right. All right, folks, stick with us. When we come back on the other side of the break, we're going to be joined by Utah Senator Mike Lee to talk about how he wants to make sure pro-lifers are protected going forward. Don't go away.
SPEAKER 07 :
As President-elect Donald Trump's second inauguration approached, a powerful prayer gathering took place in Washington, D.C., drawing Christians together to intercede for our nation.
SPEAKER 16 :
The church does not recapture its prophetic zeal. It will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority. God help us to recapture that prophetic zeal.
SPEAKER 15 :
This is not an inter-religious service. We will not be praying to Allah or Buddha. We'll be praying to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We're talking to God, a holy, righteous, just God from a nation that desperately needs the touch of this God.
SPEAKER 12 :
We've not been a secular nation. We don't want to be a secular nation. We've been a nation built around God, and our history shows that.
SPEAKER 07 :
Well-versed and Family Research Council led the inauguration praise and prayer convocation, urging attendees to pray for the incoming presidential administration and for the church to embody holiness and righteousness, champion biblical justice, and proclaim truth prophetically.
SPEAKER 16 :
Lord, may this not be the end, but may this be the beginning, this convocation, this gathering. And may we commit to pray and to seek you and to walk in your word and in your ways. In Jesus' name, amen. Hello, I'm Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council here in Washington, D.C. Behind me is one of the most recognizable buildings in all the world, the U.S. Capitol. What does it stand for? Well, most people say government. But do you know the Bible talks about four institutions of government? Do you know what they are? And do we have a republic or a democracy? Well, what do you say? Also, what about this saying separation of church and state? Does that mean Christians shouldn't be involved in government? Guess what? We address those issues and more in our new God and Government course. I invite you to join us to see what the historical record and the Bible has to say about government. Join us for God and Government.
SPEAKER 06 :
Download the new Stand Firm app for Apple and Android phones today and join a wonderful community of fellow believers. We've created a special place for you to access news from a biblical perspective, read and listen to daily devotionals, pray for current events and more. Share the Stand Firm app with your friends, family and church members and stand firm everywhere you go.
SPEAKER 16 :
Welcome back to Washington Watch. Good to have you with us. I've got a great resource for you as we move into the first 100 days of the Trump administration. It's the first 100 days toolkit. And it's exclusively on the Stand Firm app to access your toolkit waiting for you. Just text the word toolkit to 67742. That's toolkit, one word, to 67742. Our word for today comes from Jeremiah chapter two. I brought you into a bountiful country to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination. The priest did not say, where is the Lord? And those who handled the law did not know me. The rulers also transgressed against me. The prophets prophesied by bail and walked after things that do not profit. The people were spiritually complacent because they had become intoxicated with the blessings of God, so they forgot God. The keepers of the law, the elite of that day, well, they ran with their contempt for God and his truth, crying out, where's God? The civil rulers then paid no attention to God and abused their authority. And the preachers and prophets, well, they gave a popular ear-tickling word. a word people wanted to hear that made them feel good rather than challenge them to be good. So here's the bottom line. Spiritual complacency, aided by contempt for truth, fuels political corruption, which brings moral and cultural chaos. Find out more about our journey through the Bible text Bible to 67742. By the way, if you like the book of Jeremiah, you can order your copy of my book, Jeremiah, Courage in a Council Culture, and you'll be equipped to stand firm for biblical truth in our nation and our culture. Just text Jeremiah to 67742. That's Jeremiah to 6742 to get your copy. While conservatives celebrated President Trump's partnering of 23 pro-lifers who were unjustly targeted by the Biden administration's weaponized Justice Department, the left was not pleased. And if you were watching them on legacy media, they sounded like the sky was falling. They were having a meltdown. But. Has the FACE Act been the shield that the left claims that it has been for the abortion clinics, or has it simply been a sword that has been exclusively used against pro-lifers? And is it time to make sure that they are disarmed when it comes to the FACE Act. Joining me now to discuss this, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, who serves on four Senate committees, including the Judiciary Committee and the Budget Committee, is also the author of a bill in the Senate that will repeal the FACE Act. He joins us now by phone. Senator Lee, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks for joining us.
SPEAKER 03 :
Thanks so much, Tony. It's good to be with you.
SPEAKER 16 :
So let's talk about this. You know, it's great that President Trump has pardoned these pro-lifers. And it's great that he has told the Department of Justice not to, you know, use these types of laws to go after people. But isn't it time to just make sure that we don't have a weaponized government by taking laws like this away?
SPEAKER 03 :
Yes, 100 percent. And look, President Trump, to his great credit, made history last week by pardoning some pro-life activists prosecuted and imprisoned by the Biden Justice Department, which went after grandmas and grandpas, putting people behind bars for years. And, of course, the law that the Biden administration used to do this is the law we refer to called the FACE Act, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. The law was designed ostensibly to protect access to both abortion facilities and places of worship. and provide federal penalties for those people who might attack either of those things. But while the protections for churches and places of worship have almost never been enforced, the FACE Act has been enforced. It's been used fairly consistently to prosecute peaceful pro-life activists. sometimes for something as simple as praying outside of abortion clinics.
SPEAKER 16 :
Right. The history of that, just for the benefit of our listeners and viewers, it goes back to Bill Clinton back in the 1990s, 1994. And it was actually the late Orrin Hatch from Utah that added... the provisions to protect churches and places of worship when that bill was in the Senate and that was passed. But as you've pointed out, it's not been used for that. It's been used to go after, and I should make it very clear, peaceful pro-life protesters. These individuals, these 21 individuals or 23 individuals that were released, they were not charged with violent crimes. They were simply praying and standing outside of abortion clinics.
SPEAKER 03 :
Exactly, which is a real problem. They persisted in this really unequal, unjust, politically oriented enforcement on one side of the law, despite the fact that you have hundreds of attacks on churches in recent years. And so it became clear that, as far as they're concerned, the Faith Act exists only as a political tool, just to punish conservatives and people of faith and not protect them. And that kind of one-sided enforcement is wrong. And so now that President Trump's pardoned the activists who have been imprisoned by the Biden administration, a full repeal of the FACE Act is something that I think is necessary to prevent future administrations from similarly using this unjustly for the purposes of political persecution. I think this is a bill whose time has come. I'm running it in the Senate. Chip Roy is running it in the House, and this thing needs to pass.
SPEAKER 16 :
Do you think you'll be you have to get Democratic support because you've got to get across that 60 vote threshold. Do you think you have some senators and the Democratic Party that will support this?
SPEAKER 03 :
Look, this has become something of a sacrament to the left. So I'm not going to overstate things here in terms of our ability to persuade enough Democrats to come along with us. But I'll be looking for every opportunity that we can. If we can get to 60 votes to pass cloture, to have it pass muster under our cloture standards, we'll get it done that way. We will keep fighting as long as it takes to do that. If we see an opportunity, we will take it.
SPEAKER 16 :
Senator, the left already, you know, laying the groundwork for how they're going to fight against your efforts. They say that Trump's actions and the repeal of the FACE Act will lead to an uptick in violence. Respond to that.
SPEAKER 03 :
OK, so insofar as it will lead to an uptick in violence, there are myriad laws, including myriad federal laws, which would be applicable in such circumstances. even in the absence of the FACE Act. But what we have with the FACE Act is something that's relatively easy to satisfy, something that has on occasion been used to prosecute people for engaging in relatively peaceful protests involving people doing things like praying outside of an abortion clinic. And so given how they've misused this tool, it's a tool that they shouldn't have. But in any event, it is simply unfair of them to suggest that without this, there's going to be Armageddon. that acts of violence taking place at abortion clinics will go unpunished. That's not true. Deep down, they know that's not true. And it's a disingenuous argument.
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, it's also disingenuous for them to act like they're concerned about violence. Where were they when the pro-life facilities and the churches were being attacked during the Biden administration after the leak of the Dobbs decision? I mean, they weren't prosecuted. They didn't raise the issue. In fact, they were wanting to join the parade in many cases.
SPEAKER 03 :
That's right. They were nowhere to be found. And after we've had not just dozens, but arguably hundreds of instances of things that should violate the FACE Act. And criminal prosecutions were not brought, but they were consistently brought for people who showed up to pray outside of an abortion clinic or otherwise demonstrate. You get a problem with that, and that's all the more reason why it needs to be repealed.
SPEAKER 16 :
This is so important. I was talking earlier with Congressman Keith Self about this, and we cannot state this enough, that while we celebrate these actions that President Trump has made to bring us back within the rule of law, we have to codify this. It has to be secured because the next administration could be another Biden-type administration. Our society can't handle this whiplash back and forth and this lawlessness.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yes, that's exactly right. That's why we really shouldn't have it. It's a law that is by its nature loaded toward one end of the political continuum and against the other, and that's not fair.
SPEAKER 16 :
Before I let you go, Senator Lee, last week, in addition to the repeal of the FASAC, you introduced three other pro-life pieces of legislation on the day of the march. Tell us about those as well.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah. So in addition to what we've discussed with the Space Act, I've got a few other bills that would help deal with some of these problems and that would promote pro-life principles. One is the Abortion is Not Health Care Act. This would end the tax deductibility of abortions as medical expenses and clarify that the gruesome practice is not health care. IRS currently recognizes abortion as medical care and allows certain tax benefits to flow from that practice. And that ends up being an effective subsidy involved in the killing of hundreds of thousands of unborn children each year. So we would amend Section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code to make that change. I introduced another bill called the Protecting Life and Health Savings Account. It's similar to the first, but then the preferential tax treatment of abortion in health savings accounts. There again, current law allows individuals to use tax-advantaged funds from health savings accounts, or HSAs, and flexible savings accounts, FSAs, and a few others, allowing them to count as medical expenses. So this would amend the Internal Revenue Code to exclude abortions. as something to take them outside the category of health care. And then we've got another bill called the Protecting Life and Foreign Assistance Act. This would ensure that our foreign aid is not funding or promoting abortions overseas. Many of your listeners may remember the so-called Mexico City policy, first put in place by President Reagan back in 1984, and that prohibits the availability of family planning foreign assistance funds to organizations that happen to provide or promote abortions or advocate to change abortion laws in a foreign country. Since then, the policy has been alternately rescinded and reinstated with changing administrations. We'd like to make it law, and that's what the Protecting Life and Foreign Assistance Act would do.
SPEAKER 16 :
And now this is the time. We were talking about that earlier, how we need to codify all these measures into law. Senator, I want to thank you for joining us today, but I want to thank you for boldly stepping out there on these pro-life measures, especially with the backdrop of the disappointment of the Republican Party platform kind of being... taking all the life language out of it. I think it's very important that the Republicans lead on this issue and define it by the party, by their actions. And so I commend you and I'm grateful for the pro-life stands that you're taking. So, Senator Mike Lee, thanks for joining us today. Thank you very much. Good to be with you. Senator Mike Lee of Utah. And again, it's encouraging to see a number of Republicans, both in the House and the Senate, and even the President. And with that backdrop of not having the strong language in the party platform, which I hope we'll get back in four years, But for now, actions, pro-life actions are extremely encouraging. In fact, we got about just about about three and a half minutes left. I want to bring in Travis Weber, vice president of policy and government affairs at the Family Research Council, to highlight some of the pro-life initiatives or actions that the Trump administration has taken in the first week. Travis, welcome to Washington Watch. I just got a few minutes left, but I wanted you to just kind of inform our viewers and listeners of the very positive pro-life initiatives and actions taken during the first week.
SPEAKER 09 :
Yeah, so Tony, I think top of mind, the executive order announcing that it'll be a policy of this administration for federal dollars to comply with the Hyde Amendment. So to ensure that tax dollars are not being used to fund abortions. With all the challenges of our nation and the challenges that families are facing should be a no brainer. The tax dollars, the hard earned tax dollars that the American people should not be funding abortions. The Mexico City policy, which Senator Lee and yourself were just discussing, also prohibits US tax dollars from being used to fund abortions or abortion promoting organizations overseas. And Senator Lee was also referencing the bill that it would be great to see passed into law that would codify that as a policy of the United States legislatively. But we're glad that President Trump has reissued the strong Mexico City policy along with the Hyde Amendment executive order. This dovetails with what he announced on the foreign aid review. Because, Tony, as you know, we've been raising concerns about the use of foreign aid programs to push abortion, including the PEPFAR program, which has spent $100 billion since 2003 and was recently found to have funded four abortions in Mozambique. When Chris Smith saw that, Congressman Chris Smith put out a release saying, this is just the tip of the iceberg. We need to get to the bottom of this. And I believe President Trump and his administration will be trying to do that as well, as they announced the 90-day freeze on foreign aid and have issued memos requiring review of where US dollars are being used to fund abortions or gender ideology overseas. So ideally this will clean up everything the United States has been shamefully pushing around the world and give us a clean slate for the US to to actually correct some of the black mark that's been on our image globally. So on the life issue, Tony, these two very key announcements, obviously the FACE Act, the approach to the FACE Act prosecutions that he will take, the president will take, and the other statements they've issued, including the speech of the March for Life and the pardons of the face of the pro-lifers who were prosecuted. all good announcements on the life issue. Obviously, in addition, we're seeing some movement, positive movement on the gender issue. But Tony, we'll continue keeping an eye on what's happening through the administration, especially as the implementation of this cleanup process of the foreign aid review. We want to make sure that that's cleaned up with anti-family provisions to hopefully be used for pro-family provisions, both at home and around the world.
SPEAKER 16 :
I would just add on the gender issue that you mentioned in the definition of gender, there was a recognition that conception is the point in which these things are determined. That's where the personhood, the identity, the gender is determined in the executive order. So that is also a strong pro-life statement. Travis, very quickly, is there a place yet? I know we're writing some things as the Washington stand. Have they put out something on their life positions yet?
SPEAKER 09 :
Yes, I know news articles continue to come out on the Washington Stand on this topic, but Tony, I think we'll continue to refine and have resources for our followers as we track the Trump administration's executive orders, because certainly we're going to be looking at a lot more to come here.
SPEAKER 16 :
Okay. Travis Weber, thanks for joining us. And folks, thank you for joining us as well. And you can find out those updates on the StandFirm app. So get the StandFirm app, get the toolkit at StandFirm. That's all we have time for. Thanks for joining us. Until next time, I leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul. When you've done everything you could do, prayed, you prepared, taking your stand, just keep standing.
SPEAKER 01 :
Washington Watch with Tony Perkins is brought to you by Family Research Council and is entirely listener supported. Portions of the show discussing candidates are brought to you by Family Research Council Action. For more information on anything you heard today, or to find out how you can partner with us in our ongoing efforts to promote faith, family, and freedom, visit TonyPerkins.com.
