As we mark four years since the January 6th Capitol riot, this episode examines the ongoing legal and cultural ramifications. The discussion shifts to the recent controversial awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Soros, examining the implications of such decisions on domestic and international politics. Listen as Tyler O'Neill and others analyze Soros' long-standing influence in shaping numerous left-leaning policies and what this reveals about current governmental paradigms.
SPEAKER 10 :
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 01 :
The state of the vote for the President of the United States as delivered to the President of the Senate is as follows. The whole number of the electors appointed to vote for President of the United States is 538. Within that whole number, the majority is 270. The votes for President of the United States are as follows. Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes.
SPEAKER 09 :
That was Vice President Kamala Harris reading the final electoral vote total earlier today in the House chamber. Thanks for tuning in to Washington Watch on what is a cold Monday for most of America. I'm your host, Tony Perkins. Well, as the 119th Congress tackled the certification of the 2024 election, what's next on the agenda as they prepare for the incoming Trump administration that takes the reins of government on January the 20th? We're going to talk with Congresswoman Erin Houchen of Indiana, the House Republican conference secretary. She's the second highest ranking Republican woman in the House. Also, today marks the fourth anniversary of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Well, earlier today, a group of January 6 defendants and a federal watchdog group held a press conference in Washington. Participants called on President-elect Trump to issue pardons for the nearly 1,600 Americans who have been charged for their involvement in that protest. Senate Majority Leader, or Minority Leader, I should say, Chuck Schumer, responded to the anniversary with this comment.
SPEAKER 11 :
It is shamefully, utterly outrageous that the President is considering pardons for these rioters who broke the law, attacked our police officers on January 6th. Pardoning the criminals who assaulted police officers and tried to halt the democratic process would be a dangerous endorsement of political violence.
SPEAKER 09 :
Yes, Mr. Schumer has always been a champion of law and order. Virginia Congressman Morgan Griffith will join us to discuss. For four years, President Joe Biden has claimed that those who were at the Capitol on January the 6th and those they represent were a threat to democracy. You remember him saying that over and over? Well, this weekend, President Joe Biden's actions suggested his rhetoric about democracy was empty, totally empty. The president awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, to 19 people. Among them, billionaire and leftist mega-donor George Soros, who has done more to undermine conservative democratic governments around the world than any single human being. We're going to talk with Tyler O'Neill, managing editor of The Daily Signal. And yesterday, thousands of Christians from across the country joined for a special broadcast, Pray for the Nation, in wake of the New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans. I'll share what Pastor Jack Hibbs had to say a little bit later. I encourage you to visit the website, TonyPerkins.com. and also download the Stand Firm app. You can find it in the App Store, and you'll have access to Washington Watch, Stand on the Word, and the Washington Stand, our news and commentary right there in your pocket. So go to the App Store and download the Stand Firm app. Well, undeterred by the snowstorm that hit Washington overnight, members of Congress convened today for a joint session to count and certify the electoral vote for the 2024 election. Now, that is the final step in the election process that cements the victory of President-elect Donald Trump and paves the way for the transition of power that will take place on January the 20th. Now, Republicans are looking forward to that day, but they won't be sitting on their hands until Inauguration Day. What's on their agenda? Well, here to discuss what we might expect to see over the next two weeks is Congresswoman Erin Houchin. She is the House Republican Secretary for the 119th Congress. She represents the 9th Congressional District of Indiana. Congresswoman Houchin, thanks so much for joining us. Welcome to Washington Watch and Happy New Year.
SPEAKER 13 :
Thank you for having me, Tony. Great to be with you.
SPEAKER 09 :
So take just a moment and share with us your insights on what took place today in the joint session of Congress as the election final step took place as it was certified.
SPEAKER 13 :
Well, it's amazing to be in the chamber today for the historic moment when Kamala Harris died. stood and declared Donald J. Trump as the next president of the United States. Really, really exciting, arousing standing ovation for J.D. Vance, our new vice president. And honestly, Tony, January 20th can't come soon enough. We've already seen Joe Biden issuing additional executive orders on his way out of the office. We are excited to hit the ground running to get to work as soon as possible. Republicans worked over the weekend on our agenda, and we're ready to go.
SPEAKER 09 :
So let's talk about that, because last Friday marked the start of the 119th Congress. And we had the election on the first ballot. We saw that Mike Johnson of Louisiana was reelected as House speaker. This process of what we're looking at now going into the first 100 days, this is something that Republicans have been working on for quite some time in preparation for. So tell us what the next two weeks are going to look like in preparation of January 20th.
SPEAKER 13 :
Well, we saw about 12 bills that we prepared to start to pass through our rules package that was passed on January 3rd. Um, Mike Johnson was elected on the first ballot. He's a principled conservative. Who's done a really, um, he's had a tough job and he's done well and admirable job in, uh, performing as speaker. He had the full and complete endorsement of president Donald Trump to serve as our speaker. He'll be spearheading along with leaders, Scalise, the rest of our agenda, which includes border security, restoring this economy, uh, unleashing American energy and just getting us back to American prosperity. putting parents back in charge of education, getting rid of some of these woke policies that have unfortunately infiltrated every corner of the United States.
SPEAKER 09 :
Talk for just a moment. Explain to our viewers and our listeners, you mentioned the rule package. This was adopted. This sets the rules for the 119th Congress. But there were some bills that went through last time that will be fast tracked this time. They passed the House last time. Now they'll be fast tracked. You mentioned a couple of those. Explain how that works.
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, so ordinarily, in order to bring a bill to the floor under what's called regular order, it has to go through the Rules Committee. I serve as a member on the Rules Committee. And when we passed the rules package, we included bills that we already passed in the last Congress. And we included those because we don't want to have to bring those bills on suspension. And we don't want to have to spend a lot of committee time that's unnecessary in the rules committee to bring these bills to the floor. So by including these 12 bills in the rules package, we can bring them to the floor in the upcoming weeks. And we don't have to have a two-thirds majority to pass them. They can pass with a simple majority. We do expect that we'll begin to pass some of these bills very quickly, which will give a jumpstart to the Trump administration on January 20th.
SPEAKER 09 :
We don't have time to unpack all of what's going to be in reconciliation because that's going to be a key part of this first 100 days, and that's a bit complex. But some of the issues that you've already dealt with in the House that are a part of this rules package but will kind of bleed over into the reconciliation is, number one, we've got the border issue. But then energy is a big issue, and we had President Biden say, You know, trying to on his way out, he issued another executive order kind of barring exploration and drilling on more land offshore. And so, I mean, that's meaningless because President Trump can come right back in and basically rip up those executive orders with one of his own.
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, that was just a stick in the eye of the American people, Tony, on his way out the door, because we can quickly turn that around. We were energy independent for the first time in 40 years under former president Trump's former presidency. We will get there again. H.R. one is our Unleash American Energy Act program. And that will get to work very quickly. We want to drill here. We want to take advantage of every resource that we have. You'll see in the reconciliation package that we may include some NEPA environmental permitting reform. which will help to fast track some of these pipeline projects that have been stalled by the Biden administration. H.R. 2 is part of that package, and that is our Border Security Act. Again, we want to get hit the ground running. We are ready to go. We want to give the president as much of a head start as we can before he takes office on the 20th.
SPEAKER 09 :
And this is going to have real-time impact on the American people. When we increase our energy production, that's what we saw after the Trump administration, the spike in the cost of gasoline. I mean, these are real things that people are going to see at the gas pump. Hopefully, pretty soon, we're going to see them on the grocery store shelves as the cost of delivering these items to the stores will decrease dramatically. We increase the economy and it's going to it's going to affect in a positive way the the family budget.
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, it's one of the quickest ways we can get the economy back on track is to begin producing our own energy that will reduce the cost of goods. It will reduce the cost of transporting goods and products across the country. That is one of the quickest ways we can begin to turn the economy around and generating prosperous revenue for American families. We'll see that, I think, in the next few weeks. And quickly, I think the American people will see some relief.
SPEAKER 09 :
Congresswoman Houchin, I want to ask you this question to switch gears a little bit. President Biden over the weekend awarded 19 individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Now, this is the nation's highest civilian honor. former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was one of them. But the one that I take issue with, well, there's actually quite a few, but one I want to talk about for just a moment, George Soros, who, you know, mega donor to the left, has done more to undermine democracies around the globe with his funding of leftist policies, pro-abortion, radical policies that he pushes. I mean, I can't think of a stronger contrast between the worldviews of administrations and what President Biden is doing on his way out and hopefully the policies that we'll see advanced by the Trump administration as they come in.
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, that was outrageous, Tony. It's a slap in the face to crime victims across the country, to conservative Americans to have this award given to George Soros, who has made it his mission to undermine every American city that he can elect a soft on crime prosecutor who will not prosecute the even property crimes, let alone other crimes. And so we've seen a destruction in society, in American cities because of George Soros and what he has funded. And victims of crime are are worse off today than they were prior to President Biden, certainly, but predating George Soros, you know, moving around the country and electing these soft on crime prosecutors. That's not to mention the anti-democratic efforts he's exhibited around the world. Again, I think it's a way to poke the American people in the eye on his way out of office. And it's sad.
SPEAKER 09 :
Yeah, but thanks for pointing that out in terms of what he's done domestically in supporting these DAs and others who have been soft on crime. And that is even more ironic when you look at even today where Attorney General Mary Garland was bemoaning President Trump and the possibility of him pardoning these political prisoners that were connected to January the 6th. We're out of time. Can't unpack that. We will later in the program. But Aaron, I want to thank you for joining us today. Congratulations on your election to a leadership post in the 119th Congress. We look forward to working with you and having you back on the program.
SPEAKER 13 :
Thank you, Tony. Great to be with you.
SPEAKER 09 :
All right. Have a great day. Congresswoman Erin Houchin from Indiana. She's a member of the House leadership team. All right. When we come back, we're going to talk more about this Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Soros. I mean, this is it is an insult to the American people, but it also is very revealing of worldview. It really is. We're going to talk more about that on the other side of the break. So don't go away. More Washington Watch straight ahead.
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 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 with a 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 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.
SPEAKER 04 :
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 09 :
Welcome back to this Monday edition of Washington Watch. Glad you're with us. Be sure and download the Stand Firm app and you can take us with you wherever you go. All right. President Biden's decision to award major left wing donor George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom has sparked intense backlash and criticism. And I'm among them. While Soros was recognized for his so-called contributions to democracy, education, social justice and human rights. Critics like Elon Musk condemned Biden's decision as a travesty. Soros has faced accusations of funding anti-Semitic movements as well as left-leaning activist networks that undermine conservative values and democratic governments, as we were just talking about in the previous segment with Congresswoman Erin Halchen. He's the one that's been funding a lot of these soft-on-crime DAs across the country. Now, the decision to bestow America's highest civilian honor on Soros has left many outraged and disappointed. But should we be surprised? And what does this reveal regarding the worldview of the left? Joining me now to discuss this further is Tyler O'Neill, managing editor of The Daily Signal and the author of the forthcoming book, Woktopus, The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government. Tyler, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks so much for having me, Tony. All right. In your new book, you highlight how George Soros' Open Society Foundations has driven left-leaning policies across various sectors, private and public. How do you believe his influence has shaped the federal government's approach to things like law enforcement, immigration, and education?
SPEAKER 12 :
It's massive. I mean, and it's interesting to talk about George Soros because President Biden decided to honor George Soros, but it's very revealing that it wasn't George Soros receiving that physical medal. It was his son, Alex Soros, who currently is running the Open Society Foundations, which is the vast dark money network that his father created. And so when you have Open Society Foundations running, funding groups like the Human Rights Campaign, like the Southern Poverty Law Center, these organizations that then go to the federal government and push the federal government in a woke direction, sometimes in a very aggressive direction against conservatives, mainstream conservatives like you yourself, And at the Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom, comparing you guys to the Ku Klux Klan and putting you on a hate map with them and then going to the federal bureaucracies, going to the DOJ and the FBI and saying, look, this is hate in America. We need to combat it. This is connected to domestic terrorism. This is the sort of influence we're talking about. And George Soros, as you mentioned, he funded the rogue prosecutor movement, which is making life unsafe on U.S. cities, including for many of the communities that the left claims they want to help.
SPEAKER 09 :
Right. I mean, look, I don't have a problem if someone disagrees with me and has a different ideology. But what George Soros has been funding, as you pointed out, are organizations that want to silence conservatives using whatever levers they have access to. And so I want to ask you about this, because for four years, We've seen Joe Biden has gone around the country in every speech. He's talking about January 6th and how those people who were there and those that they represent were a threat to democracy. We hear that over and over and over again. In fact, we just heard it from Chuck Schumer today on the Senate floor as he talked about January the 6th. I can't think of anyone who has done more individually to undermine democracy and freedom and the ability of people to shape their own future than George Soros. And he gets a Medal of Freedom? I mean, what's this about?
SPEAKER 12 :
It's because of his far-left ideology. As you noted, he's undermining religious freedom. He's actually part of the group that's supporting Demos, which is a far-left group that worked with the Biden administration trying to turn federal agencies into efforts to register voters, likely Democratic voters. And that's another chapter in my book where I talk about this effort to change the way that we vote And it's essentially weaponizing the federal government to make the voting system more palatable, more likely to get Democrats elected. And so you have somebody like George Soros, and you're exactly right. The main problem that we have is Biden has this false veneer of himself as a moderate, as the adult in the room, when in reality, he is... I mean, he is the most radical president we've ever had if you look at his policies. And one of the main reasons is because of the woke bureaucrats that George Soros is helping to fund and staff the federal government with.
SPEAKER 09 :
Tyler, let me ask you this. Is it that we have different definitions for the words that we use? When we talk about democracy, of course, we talk about our country as a republic because that's what it is. It's a constitutional republic. But when we talk about the concepts of democracy, that's people being able to freely engage in the process. We can't be talking about the same thing if we're going to—if the left is going to honor with the Medal of Freedom a guy like George Soros, who is anything but— enabling people to determine their own future and their own destiny.
SPEAKER 12 :
Well, we've seen, I mean, I don't know if you've seen these, I've seen these super cuts where you have all these democratic figures saying that our democracy is under threat. And it's every single time they say democracy, somebody has edited the video to say bureaucracy. And I think that is extremely revealing because one of the main points of my book is that the system of government that the left favors is a woke system. bureaucracy by those they consider to be experts pushing their agenda on climate, on sexuality, on every woke issue in the book. When they're talking about democracy under threat, they're really talking about their bureaucracy under threat. President Trump does pose a threat to their bureaucracy and to the deep state. My book explains exactly how nefarious this deep state effort is. and what he needs to do to combat it.
SPEAKER 09 :
That is a very good differentiation, because I think you're absolutely right. That's what it is, because it's the bureaucracy that gives them the power. Because the bureaucracy is unaccountable to the people, the people can't get at it. And when it's attacked by elected representatives or dismantled, that drives them crazy because they lose their power. We just have a minute left, Tyler. How can folks get prepared to get a copy of your book?
SPEAKER 12 :
Yeah, you can go on to Amazon.com, search Woktopus, and it'll be the first result. You can pre-order it today. I'm also going to be speaking at the Leadership Institute this week, sharing it. So if anybody is in D.C., you can come to the Leadership Institute on Wednesday morning, and I'll have copies there before they go on sale on Amazon.
SPEAKER 09 :
When does it come out very quickly?
SPEAKER 12 :
The day after the inauguration, so January 21st.
SPEAKER 09 :
Okay, well, we'll get you back on to talk about when it comes out. Tyler O'Neill, always great to see you. Thanks so much for joining us today.
SPEAKER 12 :
Thanks again for having me, Tony.
SPEAKER 09 :
Absolutely. After the break, I'll share an excerpt from last night's Pray for the Nation event that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and I put together in response to the New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans. So stick around.
SPEAKER 03 :
So if you like to think and you like to pray, FRC is the place for you.
SPEAKER 17 :
I think it is the best program out there.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, I absolutely love 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. 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 17 :
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 08 :
The throne of Jesus Christ is unchallenged. His name was never on the ballot to begin with, and it's never gonna be on the ballot. He's the King of Kings, and He's the Lord of Lords, and nothing's gonna 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.
SPEAKER 09 :
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, in 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 to Washington Watch. Well, last night, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and I brought together some Christian leaders for a one-hour virtual prayer event in response to the New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans. You can find it at the FRC Stand Firm app as well as on YouTube. But I'd like to share an excerpt of what went into what we talked about last night with Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. Here's a clip of last night's event. You have obviously seen a lot of challenges in California over your years in the ministry. But these challenges, these tragic events seem to be intensifying, whether natural disasters or man-made disasters. And there's a vulnerability in our nation. And I believe it's reflective of the spiritual condition of our nation.
SPEAKER 08 :
Tony, I cannot agree with you more. I have an overwhelming sense, like I have never had before in my 47 years of being a Christian, a sense of urgency. I mean this with hope, Tony. There is some looming event, good, bad, or ugly. I do not know, but I know this. It's under the watchful eye of our God. Is it revival, as was prayed about? Is it coming catastrophe? I don't know. But he knows, and I tell you, Tony, I am just consumed right now in my life of pursuing him and pressing into him like never before.
SPEAKER 09 :
This is a moment. We're seeing many changes politically in our country. And I think there's some that are maybe thinking, well, we've taken care of the problem. We'll just turn this over to the elected officials. We've got conservatives. But this is a spiritual moment. problem. And we're seeing it internationally. We're seeing the world is on fire. This is a time that we need to be listening to the Holy Spirit and responding.
SPEAKER 08 :
Oh, Tony, I'm so blessed by your comment. I won't show you my notes, but as the participants were praying, I wrote down some things. First thing I wrote down, Tony, was this. This last November on that Tuesday when the election was decided, I wrote down, nothing has been finished. The door has been opened. We've got to go through the door as the church did in Revelation. When that election took place, I fear that a lot of believers put their feet up and put their hands behind their back and celebrated a victory. If that's true, they've missed it completely. God gave us mercy. God gave us grace. He opened up a door, Tony, a very small door, very brief door that if we do not see spiritually, not politically, if we seek him spiritually, God's going to take care of the political things. The book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 is crystal clear on that. But the overwhelming issue, Tony, is that we've heard, and I wrote things down, that there's been this connected thread, harmony, unity, love, justice, wisdom, peace, truth. None of this is possible unless the church seeks the face of God. Politicians do not have the skill sets, nor are they called to bring unity. People are saying we're divided as a nation. Of course we're divided, but they're making a mistake in thinking that it's due to political issues. It is not. church family, it is due to leaders failing to address the issues from a biblical worldview. We've got to pray. 2024 has got to be, 2025 has got to be a year of prayer, intercession for our nation, because it's clear to me, Tony, that the church is the only hope. It's not Trump. It's not Mike. It's not Congress. It's not the Senate. God gave us those gentlemen and women to allow us to freely petition God. The hour of this year is upon the church.
SPEAKER 09 :
Hey, can I read that verse you made reference to? Because that's a verse that the Lord has given me as a theme verse for this year. Revelation chapter 3, verse 7 and 8. And it says, the Lord is speaking to the church at Philadelphia. It's the... Only one of the seven churches in Revelation that he actually commends. It says to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, right? These things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens. I know your works. see i have set before you an open door that's the open door you were talking about and no one can shut it and here here's that really the conditions for you have little strength now some read that as as a criticism it's not a criticism it's saying they relied on him they didn't try to do it in their own strength they did it in the strength of the lord and in their weakness he was made strong And then it says, they have kept my word and have not denied my name. And that's where I do believe the church has to be. We have to rely on the Lord, not the political structure. We have to be in his word and we have to confess his name.
SPEAKER 08 :
Tony, so good. That is the verse, as you well know, that is the verse that the Lord gave me when COVID struck and Gavin Newsom began to do what he did in California. Tony, that's the verse to the church at Philadelphia that he gave to me. It was overwhelmingly convincing that I had to have the doors of the church open. And so I believe that verse is going to continue on because you're also describing the one and only end times church that was faithful. faithful to the word faithful to his name didn't waver they were not fearful but um this is a time to stand i really believe and this is not a doomsday announcement this is an exciting announcement we've got a little bit of time to get this right for the name of jesus and for the glory of god and i do not believe there's going to be a revival of music there's not going to be a revival of attendance there's not going to be a revival of you call it you name it There's got to be a revival of holiness because when you read the last days, the church, the believer, it's her righteous acts whereby she has a wedding gown, a garment, clean and white, brilliant. And it says that that gown of white and brilliance is the righteous acts of the saints. So Tony, we've got a window. We cannot, we've got to press into this year like we have never pressed before.
SPEAKER 09 :
That was Pastor Jack Hibbs during last night's Pray for the Nation event. And you're listening to Washington Watch. You can watch the entire prayer event from last night on the Stand Firm app. Just text app to 67742 if you don't have the app or go to the app store and get it. All right. More Washington Watch straight ahead. 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 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 16 :
Let's not be discouraged. Don't lose heart. Don't lose the faith. Stand now strong because the Lord has given us the great privilege of living in a time when our choices matter, when our lives matter, when our courage matters. So let's stand together and save this great country. God bless the United States of America.
SPEAKER 15 :
The American Republic has a freedom like no other. It has roots in the scriptures far more than any other heritage. And if we as followers of Jesus and conservatives don't defend it, who will?
SPEAKER 02 :
Neutrality is not an option. There are many Christians who believe that if we just keep our heads down, if we just don't say the wrong thing, that somehow we will come out of this unscathed. You're naive if you think that, because what they want from us is not our silence. What they want from us is our submission.
SPEAKER 07 :
Part of the dilemma of Christianity in our generation is that we've relied a little too much on human wisdom and human reasoning, human strength, human resource. and we've relied too little on the power of God and God's ability to open doors that we can't open and do things that we couldn't even hope to begin to do.
SPEAKER 05 :
This may not be an easy task, But we are living in a moment of challenge, but also a great opportunity. And we know always that we are not alone, that his spirit empowers us and protects us, and that he can do the unimaginable. Dobbs, after all, was never supposed to have.
SPEAKER 09 :
Father, we thank you. You have entrusted us with this moment in history, and I pray that we would be found faithful, and that as a result of our faithfulness to you, that thousands, millions would come into the kingdom as they would experience the forgiveness of sin and the new life that is found only in Jesus Christ. Amen. This is Washington Watch. I'm Tony Perkins. The website is TonyPerkins.com. Our word for today comes from Isaiah 51. Listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is my law. Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults. You know, standing for God often means standing alone. Yet if we fear the Lord, we need not fear man. To do that, we have to have the right perspective, really an eternal perspective. As in verses 8 through 13, God reminds us that people's threats fade like moth-eaten clothes, while his righteousness and salvation endures forever. He alone comforts us. Why fear those who die like grass when we worship the eternal maker of heaven and earth? Earthly criticism can be loud, but it's temporary. God's favor, it's everlasting. And His promises span generations. So, do not lose heart when facing disapproval or rejection for standing for the Lord. Remember that the one who stretched out the heavens is your defender. Walk with God even if it feels lonely, trusting His eternal perspective. The approval of man is fleeting, but the Lord's comfort and salvation lasts forever. To find out more about our journey through the Bible, text BIBLE to 67742. That's BIBLE to 67742. And I invite you to join us as we begin this new year. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland is patting himself on the back for the work that his Department of Justice has done over the past four years with regard to the January 6th riot at the Capitol, an event that he and others on the left continue to claim was an insurrection and an attack on democracy. The left is also throwing a fit over President-elect Trump's promise to issue pardons for many of those who were accused or convicted of crimes related to what unfolded four years ago. But what does the legacy media But what they failed to tell the American people about the events of January 6th and the weaponized response from this DOJ. Why aren't they covering that? What have they not told us? Joining me now to discuss this, Congressman Morgan Griffith. He is a member of the House Administration Committee Subcommittee on Oversight, which last month released an interim report on their findings on the events surrounding January the 6th, including the politicization of the January 6th Select Committee. He represents the 9th Congressional District of Virginia. Congressman Griffith, welcome to Washington Watch. Thanks so much for joining us.
SPEAKER 06 :
Glad to be with you this evening.
SPEAKER 09 :
So just as we as we begin this, give me your general thoughts on the narrative that we keep hearing. I mean, even as today, the attorney general, Merrick Garland, you know, spending more money, more time and energy going after January 6th protesters. I guess I can throw the backdrop, the attack in New Orleans by a terrorist that the FBI agent who spoke right after the attack said it wasn't a terrorist attack, maybe because it wasn't a January 6th.
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, they certainly, I think, overdid it. Now, that's not to say they weren't bad actors on January 6th. There were some. But the vast majority of folks were there. They were there to protest, but they were planning on a peaceful protest. And then everything broke loose and got out of control. But it is amazing how they don't want to tell the whole narrative. And what we need to do is tell the whole truth.
SPEAKER 09 :
Right.
SPEAKER 06 :
The good, the bad, the ugly on both sides of this thing. But one of the biggest things that has struck me from our investigation is the fact that The president authorized, President Trump authorized the National Guard to come in and said, you know, do whatever. It was the D.C. politicos. It was, you know, Nancy Pelosi and company who, and I can't say that she made the decision herself, but they didn't want to have this image of the National Guard coming in. They had bicycle racks. up for a perimeter, knowing that there were going to be tens of thousands, if not more than 100,000 people in Washington that day to protest. Today, for example, and they've been putting them up for about a week, we had these huge fences up that kept people from getting anywhere near the Capitol. None of that was done in advance. So if you look at the whole picture, you had a failure to recognize or to give information to the people that needed that information, Chief Sund in particular, to make sure that we were prepared. We were not prepared. Our law enforcement was not prepared. Nobody in D.C. was prepared. And then the people who could have ameliorated this issue were left sitting on the sidelines. The National Guard was told just to sit by and wait for orders. And then even after the military folks gave the orders at the highest level, A general decided he wasn't going to issue that order right away and held on for another couple of hours before sending in the National Guard. So we need to look at all the totality of the circumstances. And look at each individual case, if we're really going to make a decision as to whether or not these people had evil in their hearts on that day, I would submit a lot of them did not. And that's what the Justice Department doesn't seem to understand or even care about. And yet when we look at New Orleans, as you pointed out, clearly that individual had evil in his heart. And originally, notwithstanding the death of at least 10 when they first were reported, an FBI agent says, oh, this isn't a terrorist attack, when there was an ISIS flag either on the vehicle or in the vehicle. It's a no brainer. This was a terrorist attack.
SPEAKER 09 :
Congressman, I agree with you. There were some people who perpetrated crimes on January the 6th. I'm a former police officer. I'm a law and order guy. I think civil disobedience is the very last step. We need to utilize the legitimate process that we have. But part of that is the ability to gather and to have rallies. And for those who are on the outside that did not go into the building— I have a problem with how aggressively the Department of Justice has pursued people, not who were inside the building, but who were outside.
SPEAKER 06 :
I mean, they're never attacked a police officer. They were just out there shouting, which is part of our system.
SPEAKER 09 :
And so they've they've prosecuted about 1600. And they're even saying as late of us as of today that they're still going to pursue charges on possibly up to 200 more.
SPEAKER 06 :
Yeah, it's hard to believe. Any good prosecutor will tell you you want to go after the bad guys, but you've got to have that sense of knowing which ones are the bad guys and which ones were just there. And maybe you need to take some action, but you don't need to be throwing the book at all of these people. And that's what they did. They threw the book at everybody they could tag. It was in any video that could be identified.
SPEAKER 09 :
So from your vantage point, Congressman Griffith, as you have looked at all of the facts closer than probably 95 percent of members of Congress, because you've had to go through all of this, was this politically motivated by the Department of Justice?
SPEAKER 06 :
Can't speak to their prosecutions. It certainly appears that way, but I haven't studied that as much as the failures that took place here on Capitol Hill. And there's no question that the failure to bring the National Guard in before, the failure to put up proper fencing, was all about creating an image. They were worried about creating an image that looked bad. And for fear of looking bad, they created a really bad day for Americans across the country and took something that could have been a small riot with a handful of people being arrested and turned it into something bigger. And sitting on, I believe for political purposes, this is my opinion, sitting on the National Guard just a few miles away from the Capitol and not letting them show up, not giving them the orders, is just a travesty. It was interesting. We were having a hearing on that, and one of the Democrats said, well, why didn't the president call up and call the head of the National Guard in D.C. and tell him himself? And I looked at the Democrat, and I said, because then you would say he was bypassing the chain of command. He gave the orders. He gave the authority. He gave somebody the ability to make that decision. They made the decision. And another general didn't follow those orders and get it to the National Guard in time while the National Guard was sitting there waiting to come help control the crowd. And they weren't allowed to because of optics.
SPEAKER 09 :
A couple of questions on that, Congressman Griffith. The. Intel leading up to January the 6th. Did they have intelligence or data that would suggest there could be a problem on January the 6th, 2021?
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, I think it's important you said that there could be a problem. They did not have intelligence that said there would be a problem. But there were certain reports that said there could be a problem. And that information was never relayed to Chief Sund. Some of his own people had it in there. It was buried in some places, sometimes on page 16 of a report. It was not in the summary or in the action sheets. So they... For some reason, they didn't want to face up to the fact that there could be a problem when you bring 100,000 people or more into DC, many of whom are upset, many of whom are concerned about what happened in the election with number of states violating the laws and changing the rules of the election, sometimes within days before the election. These were all concerns, but the Capitol Police were not given at least not Chief's son, was not given the information so that he could act. And they didn't act on the president saying, you can use the National Guard if you want to, do what you need to do. And they didn't act on that. And as a result of them not acting on that, you saw what happened on January 6th.
SPEAKER 09 :
Congressman, the second question following up to that I want to ask is you said it was politicized. They were concerned that it might create the wrong image. Was there any evidence to suggest that there were some that were in the chain of decision making that they would have preferred the outcome that we had so that it furthered a narrative that would have been helpful to the left?
SPEAKER 06 :
I don't know that I can say that. I do think that my personal opinion is that the general who didn't give the order in a timely manner to the D.C. National Guard may have been trying to curry favor with the incoming Biden administration. But other than that, I don't think it was an intentional act. I think it was mostly negligence, and they failed to recognize that they needed to do the job. Now, we weren't anticipating any problems today, and they took the actions today that they should have taken when we knew that there were going to be at least a large number of protesters on Capitol Hill, and they didn't take the actions necessary to secure the Capitol building or to make sure that we had sufficient backup for our Capitol Police, who are brave men and women who do a great job, and none of that occurred in advance. And I think it was more negligence than overt calculation, but there wasn't a political undertone in the sense that They didn't want to have an image that reflected negatively on Speaker Pelosi and other Democrats.
SPEAKER 09 :
I struggle a little bit with that, having lived through COVID and the riots in D.C. And, I mean, we had to board up our building, you know, in the heart of D.C. Buildings were boarded up because you had riots, you had, you know, fronts of businesses smashed in. You know, it was the Lafayette Square across from the White House was, you know, barricaded for months. So I don't know. I struggle a little bit with that idea that it was all about not wanting that perception.
SPEAKER 06 :
And I'm in the difficult position of I'm trying to act responsibly as a lawmaker looking at the facts that are in front of me and not to jump to conclusions or make conjecture. I think that some of those may be legitimate. But I'm trying to be more cautious.
SPEAKER 09 :
And I appreciate that. I'm just kind of expressing what I think a lot of people see and think. I think a majority of Americans agree with you.
SPEAKER 06 :
I'm just trying to be cautious.
SPEAKER 09 :
I want the facts. I want the facts. When you add those facts and these perceptions with what happened post-January 6th with the investigation, the sham investigation that took place by Nancy Pelosi and the January 6th committee, it only fuels that idea that this was politically motivated to advance a narrative.
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, I don't think there's any question the January 6th select committee that Nancy Pelosi put together was politically motivated. I think the evidence is clear on that. From the very beginning, from day one, they wanted to project that this was all Donald Trump's fault, that he was the big bad guy, and the evidence just didn't bear that out. Was he disgruntled over some of the states that didn't follow the law? Yes. Was he concerned that there were fraud in some of the states? Yes, but they wanted to turn it into not only the big legal witch hunt that we've seen over the last four years, but they also used the January 6th Select Committee as a tool to promote that political agenda. And they did so without revealing all the facts. I mean, you know, we always talk about the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. They gave partial truth, and sometimes maybe even given—I think Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony was clearly in error, if not just falsehoods. And there was all kinds of evidence from witnesses who were there that her testimony was untruthful. Maybe there's something going on in her head. because I like to give people grace, but that testimony was just flat out wrong and false. And the witnesses who were on the scene that the January 6th committee, select committee had in their position before they issued their report, was not in that report, and they should have given the American people the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. They chose not to do so because they had a political agenda. Nancy Pelosi had a political agenda in keeping conservative Republicans off of the commission who could have asked the pointed questions, who could have brought out the information, whether it be Cassidy Hutchinson or the four National Guard officers who testified that the testimony in the J6 committee, those folks knew it wasn't true, and that one of them who had talked on the promise of being kept anonymous, his identity was leaked. And he was angry about it when he came to testify in front of us. He said, my identity was leaked. I talked to the J6 select committee in confidence because they promised me they wouldn't reveal my identity. And then somebody leaked it from the J6 select committee. The whole thing was a travesty, and their report is a piece of garbage. And I haven't even gotten into mentioning yet, sorry, haven't even gotten into mentioning yet that there was about a terabyte of information that was deleted or attempted to be deleted by the J6 Select Committee that should have gone to the archives of the United States. It's just gone. Some of that is just gone forever. That is not proper in the United States of America. Again, whether it's good or bad, All the evidence needs to come in. And you're a former police officer. I'm a former attorney, and particularly a defense attorney. you know, let all the proper evidence in and let the chips fall where they may. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But you know what? They didn't do that. They tilted scales of justice for political reasons, and it's atrocious.
SPEAKER 09 :
And it undermines credibility of the government and the people's trust in government. Congressman Griffith, thanks so much for joining us.
SPEAKER 10 :
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.
