Skip to content 10/15/2025 A Look at Religious and Christian Persecution Internationally and Helping Christians Engage Locally Oct 16 · 54 min ...more
10/15/2025 A Look at Religious and Christian Persecution Internationally and Helping Christians Engage Locally
October 16, 2025 · 54 min
TODAY: Redistricting Louisiana, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, Persecution of Christians in Turkey, China, and Nigeria, and engaging Christians and churches on cultural issues in the U.S.
Series Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio October 16, 2025 · 54 min · Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio
TODAY: Redistricting Louisiana, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, Persecution of Christians in Turkey, China, and Nigeria, and engaging Christians and churches on cultural issues in the U.S. ...more Show the full description Show less TODAY: Redistricting Louisiana, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, Persecution of Christians in Turkey, China, and Nigeria, and engaging Christians and churches on cultural issues in the U.S.
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In this video 0:00 Faith, Freedom, and Current Events39:34 The Role of Pastors and the Church in Society
Faith, Freedom, and Current Events 0:01 From the heart of our nation's capital in Washington, DC, bringing compelling interviews, insightful analysis, taking you beyond the headlines and sound bites into conversations with our nation's leaders and0:12 newsmakers, all from a biblical world view. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins starts0:18 now. They've shown by their actions and now their votes multiple times now. 9 times, the Democrats have voted, counting the house and the senate Democrats, they have voted to not pay the troops. They have voted0:30 to block their paychecks.0:33 Mhmm.0:33 And it's very serious stuff, and they don't seem to care at all.0:38 That was house speaker Mike Johnson accusing Democrats of prolonging the government shutdown now in its fifteenth day. Welcome to this October fifteenth edition of Washington Watch. I'm your host, Tony Bergens, and we're0:50 broadcasting today and throughout the rest of the week from the Real Life Studios in Chino Hills, California, the site of this year's Prevost Stand Summit. Thanks so much for tuning in. And by the way, there's still time1:01 to register and attend this year's summit coming up Friday and Saturday at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. To register, go to pray vote stand dot o r g. That's pray vote stand dot o r g.1:14 Well, coming up on this edition of Washington Watch. While Hamas is facing increased pressure from Israel and the US to turn over the bodies of deceased hostages, Hamas is Hamas is unleashing terror
1:26 on rival clans and executing those it accuses of collaborating with Israel. Montana senator Steve Daines will join us to break it all down. We'll also get the latest on the government shutdown from West Virginia,
1:37 congressman Riley Moore, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Well, after strong pressure from Israel in
1:49 accordance with the US mediated ceasefire deal, Hamas returned more bodies of Israeli hostages. The prime minister Netanyahu says Israel won't back down until every every hostage is brought
2:01 home. Meanwhile, doctors say freed captives are stable but deeply scarred. Joining me now is Washington stand reporter Casey Harper who's been following today's main stories even though he's been
2:13 celebrating his birthday. Casey, thanks for joining us. What's the latest out of Israel?
2:18 Tony, you remember it. It's great. Thank you so much. Well, it's quite the story developing in Israel. Israel, of course, they're demanding that Hamas return all these remaining hostages, both alive and dead, as
2:30 part of this US brokered peace deal. And so far, Hamas has released those 20 living hostages, but the 7 of the 28 expected bodies of the deceased hostages have been turned over. And
2:42 in fact, 1 body that was turned over wasn't a hostage at all.
2:46 Hamas agreed to release all 48 of our hostages in phase 1 and made the specific confirmation to president Trump, and we are expecting to see the terror organization uphold their side of this agreement.
2:57 Now an Israeli spokesperson warned that aid to Gaza could be further restricted if Hamas fails to hand over the bodies of those remaining deceased hostages, which was part of the peace plan. At the same time, as you
3:09 said, reports say Hamas is cracking down in Gaza, allegedly even executing people suspected of collaborating with Israel or the Palestinian Authority, Tony.
3:19 Thanks, Casey. You know, we're hearing rising concerns about religious freedom issues, around the globe. That's something we track very closely here at the Family Research Council. But new reports out of Turkey that
3:31 Christian missionaries are being targeted once again. What can you tell us?
3:35 Yeah, Tony. Turkey has actually deported over 200 Christians since 20 20 and labeling them a, quote, security threat despite having no charges or evidence to support that. Now many of these Christians have lived there
3:47 for years and led local churches. Now they're banned from reentry, leaving those congregations without pastors. Sadly, the same thing is happening in China. Globally, believers from the
3:58 US, UK, South Korea, even Latin America are facing targeted persecution. But, Tony, what's putting this Turkey issue in the spotlight now is a major case before Europe's top human rights court, which
4:10 is ratcheting up the pressure on Turkey to end what many Christian groups are calling a quiet purge of peaceful believers.
4:18 You know, Casey, what's interesting about that, when you read in Revelation of the 7 churches, they're all in the geographical area of of Turkey. Right. And Christianity is almost being extinguished there in
4:30 Turkey. And this is not a new problem. Pastor Andrew Brunson, an American pastor, was unjustly jailed in Turkey for 2 years on false charges, before the previous Trump administration
4:42 pressured Erdogan to to release him. And, of course, the Family Research Council played a role in that case as we advocate for the rights of Christians around the world. Alright, Casey. Switching gears, it's
4:54 day 15. Any progress in the efforts to reopen the government?
4:58 Yeah. So we are on the West Coast. I'm here in DC on the East Coast. And for the ninth time here in DC, senate Democrats blocked a bill to reopen the government today. So Republicans, they've consistently been pushing
5:10 for that simple funding measure that would, continue funding through November 20 first, but it failed again, as I said. So senate majority leader John Thune, he's accusing Chuck Schumer of shutting down the government
5:21 and appeasing radical left groups.
5:23 Not even the prospect of military families going without a paycheck was enough for Democrats to reopen the government, Nor are Democrats concerned about needy families uncertain
5:35 about that the future of nutrition assistance. And all those Americans living in uncertainty, well they're just gonna have to wait until Democrats' far left base is satisfied.
5:48 So senator Thune, he's now pushing a vote on an 852000000000 dollar defense package to highlight how this shutdown is actually a threat to national security. Now the OMB director, he warned today that more than
6:00 10000 federal workers could face layoffs. But just an hour after he said that, in San Francisco not too far from you, a Clinton appointed judge temporarily blocked those firings during the shutdown following a
6:12 complaint from federal employee unions, Tony.
6:15 Interesting times in which we live. A lot to pray about. 1 other item I wanna touch on. Very significant and, close to home for me, the Supreme Court heard a case brought by the state of Louisiana
6:28 that could have major implications for congressional redistricting. What's the what unfolded at the cap at the, court today?
6:36 Yeah. That's right, Tony. The US Supreme Court, they heard those arguments today in a major case that's challenging specifically the use of race in drawing conditional congressional districts under the Voting Rights Act.
6:48 Now the Supreme Court's conservative majority, they signaled some support for striking down a black majority house district in Louisiana saying it's relying too heavily on race. Now the move has been backed by
6:59 Louisiana and the Trump administration, and it it could have major precedent even reshaping congressional maps across the South and potentially boosting Republicans and limiting the use of race in future redistricting,
7:11 Tony.
7:12 I mean, this is a quite significant development. Gonna have, ramifications across the board. Casey, thanks so much. Always, great to, to get an update and, enjoy the rest of the day and your birthday.
7:24 Thanks, Tony.
7:26 Alright. I wanna go back to something Casey mentioned in passing as we were talking about, the persecution of Christians. And that's what's happening in China by the Chinese Communist Party. Join me now to discuss this
7:37 and a bit more, congressman Greg Murphy, who serves on several house committees, including the Ways and Means Committee. He represents the third congressional district of North Carolina and tracks what's happening with
7:47 communist China very closely. Doctor Murphy, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks so much for joining us.
7:54 Yeah. Good afternoon, Tony. Thank you for having me.
7:57 So, I know a lot of focus right now when it comes to China is on the trade standoff with the US. But what deserves, I think, more attention, and it is connected, that is their
8:09 hostility toward Christian churches there and pastors. We've seen a a a pretty significant crackdown in the last, 5 days.
8:17 Yeah. You know, Tony, it's, this is happening worldwide. I mean, the Islamic terrorists are doing it as you as we pointed out, in other countries. We know that the Syrians are are doing it against the the
8:29 Druze, but Christians are really being attacked worldwide, killed worldwide. And it and it's tragic. I mean, we are the most peace loving people, you know, 1 of the most peace loving people in the world, and it's a
8:40 threat to them. It's a threat to them and especially to the Chinese who live in a godless or promote a godless society, that you have Christians that are actively practicing their faith or even sometimes having to do it
8:51 in hiding. But it's a threat to them, and the Chinese wish to do to eliminate any threat possible.
8:58 How do we connect our, trade policy with a a respect for religious freedom and and the right to be able to practice your faith? I mean, as we negotiate with China over
9:09 trade, should this not be a part of it?
9:12 Absolutely, Tony. But I fear and, you know, I'm a surgeon. I'm more of a I I live in the real world of of difficult things. I fear China doesn't give a damn. They don't care about the human right rights abuses, that
9:24 they've done with the weaker, the forced harvesting, that they do on prisoners where they basically kill them to get their organs. It's really hard to crack a mentality of a society that does
9:36 not value life. They value their 1 world collective mission to basically take over the world. But the fact that they don't value individual life is really hard, to make, any type of,
9:48 of a parlay with when they don't you don't have the same morality structure.
9:54 It is. You bring up the this issue of they're actually, doing a industry of having people come to their country for body part replacement Yeah. For organ
10:06 transfer. I mean, this is unbelievable that they're actually taking the their political opponents and they're taking their body parts without, obviously, without their permission, and
10:18 they're making an industry out of it.
10:20 Yeah. And this is well documented, Tony. This is nothing they can deny all they want to. This is very, very well documented that this or this this organ harvesting occurs. I see it in
10:32 some of our literature. You know, I used to do transplants myself. We see it in some of our literature that speaks out against this. They have no recourse. They can't they can deny it all they want to, but the facts are
10:41 the facts just like COVID, but that's a whole different issue. But, again, going back to the fact that they have no moral structure, they they they do not believe in a sovereign entity. They have no nothing to stand on.
10:53 They they, again, do whatever is most most facile to push the, the the the ideals or lack thereof of the communist regime.
11:03 Now last month, you introduced a resolution urging the United Nations to end special treatment of, of China. They'll do whatever they have to do to get on top.
11:15 Yeah. Yeah. Lie, cheat, steal, bribe. You know, I've been traveling around. I'm on the trade subcommittee for ways and means. And, you know, part of our job is to travel, to promote trade. We go into certain parts of
11:25 Africa where it's known that the Chinese show up with literally suitcases of money, literally suitcases of money to buy off what are our our folks that, that is a hell of a lot of money
11:37 for them. But to literally, that's how they work. And American business interests says, we're not interested in doing that. We're not going to do these type of things. But they have bribed and conjured and pushed so many
11:49 other countries into their sphere of influence. It's a very, very difficult, battle that we will continue and have to continue to fight. They they work on a different moral team, and it's very, very difficult,
12:01 to challenge them on that.
12:03 And they're aggressive at it. I mean, their their belt and roads initiative, what they're going into, these third world countries to get, the the rare minerals, earth mineral, and they're they're taking
12:14 advantage of folks. How do we compete with that?
12:17 Yeah. It's hard, Tony. It's very, very hard. I met with a, you know, mineral company, when I was in a southern African con country. They're doing it the right way. They come in and say, look. We are not going to bribe
12:29 anybody. We're going to conduct business. And truth be told, you know, I met with 1, I won't say it, 1 country leader down in the in the south there. And we talked about the Chinese influence, how to combat the Chinese
12:41 influence. And he said, well, let me tell you this. First and foremost, my citizens say I belong to this country. This is what's most important. But then he says 1 thing they never say is they never say I
12:53 want to be Chinese. So the counterpart of that is many of them say I would love to be an American. They still emulate they still put us in high, high regards. That's hard though when folks are showing up with
13:05 suitcases full of money, to bribe them in very, very poor countries. We have to continue to say, democracy, and this is the ideal for which you should strive.
13:16 Yeah. Doctor Murphy, good point. Because as you're talking about earlier, China has no moral foundation from which to operate. They might win in or appear to be winning in the short term, but the staying power is
13:28 with a solid foundation. And that's why America cannot deviate from what has made us an exceptional nation. And that is that foundation of biblical truth and morality. Doctor
13:40 Murphy, I wanna thank you for joining us. Always great to hear your, insights.
13:44 Appreciate it. So much, honey. God bless.
13:47 Alright, folks. Day 15 of the the, shutdown, that's coming up next. We're gonna be, taking a deeper look at when it might open. So don't go away. We're back after this.
14:01 In 2 days, like minded Christ followers from across the country will gather at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California for Family Research Council's pray, vote, stand, summon. If
14:13 ever there were a time we needed God to move in our nation, it is now. The Pray, Vote, Stand Summit brings together Christian leaders, issue experts, and government officials for a time of prayer,
14:25 inspiration, and action. A sample of topics include chemical abortion and the future of the pro life movement, the search for peace as Israel struggles against the world,
14:37 and how to engage artificial intelligence from a biblical perspective. We encourage you to join us October seventeenth and 8 eighteenth in California for a powerful gathering as we seek
14:48 cultural renewal and spiritual revival. To learn more and to register, visit pray vote stand dot o r g. That's pray vote stand dot o r g.
15:00 3 years ago, the Supreme Court issued its historic Dobbs decision, a ruling that overturned Roe versus Wade, which for nearly 50 years imposed abortion on demand, silencing voters and
15:12 bypassing the democratic process across the country. The Dobbs decision was a huge step forward against abortion, but it didn't outright ban it. It returned the power to the people. Now,
15:23 29 states have laws on the books protecting life. However, there's a catch. Abortion numbers since Dobbs have actually gone up with an increase of 12 percent since 20 20,
15:35 climbing from 930000 to over 1000000 in each of the most recent years. So how can this be? The answer is simple, the abortion drug. Today, over
15:46 60 percent of US abortions involve abortion drugs, many of these without medical oversight. In 20 21, the Biden administration quietly removed bare minimum long standing safety
15:58 protocols for the abortion drug that have existed for 20 years to protect women from life threatening risks and ensuring informed consent. A
16:13 study A study shows nearly 11 percent of women who take the abortion drug end up in the emergency
16:24 room with serious complications. Unless the Trump administration reverses these reckless Biden era policies, pro life laws will remain largely symbolic. Without a full
16:36 review and repeal of mifepristone, unborn lives will remain in grave danger and pregnant mothers will remain at risk. Let's stand for life and end this mail order abortion
16:48 drug pipeline. Sign the petition urging the Trump administration to take action at frc dot org slash stop chemical abortion.
17:02 Welcome back to Washington Watts. Thanks so much for, tuning in on this, Wednesday. And, again, we're broadcasting from the studios of Real Life Network in California. We're at
17:15 Calvary Chapel Chino Hills this weekend for the pray vote stand summit, and there's still time to register. We still have room. So go to pray vote stand dot o r g and find out how you can be a part
17:27 of this very, very timely event. Okay. Speaking of, things happening, it's day 15 of the Schumer shutdown. And for the ninth time,
17:39 senate Democrats today blocked a clean stopgap spending package, that would fund the government through November the 20 fifth or 20 first. And it's, again, no Republican policies
17:51 here, just a continuation of what we had while the appropriations process is worked out. Now many are expecting the situation to remain unchanged at least until this
18:03 weekend's no kings rally, which, the speaker has labeled the I hate America rally. But behind the scenes, are there movements that suggest how the federal funding fight might
18:14 play out? Is there an off ramp for Democrats? Joining me now to discuss this and more, congressman Riley Moore, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. He represents the second congressional district of West
18:26 Virginia. Congressman Moore, welcome to Washington Watch. Thanks so much for, joining us today.
18:32 Hey, Tony. Thanks so much for having me on.
18:35 So active duty military members were set to be paid today despite the shutdown after the Trump administration tapped into unused research and development funds to cover their checks, but
18:47 that's just a temporary fix. How long can that hold?
18:52 Well, you're right. This is just a temporary fix, and they were paid on the first. So that was the last appropriated paycheck that they got, and then we had this wall that we're running into on the
19:04 fifteenth, and as you rightly stated, they reprogram some r and d dollars. But, eventually, those dollars are also gonna run out. Now they're building contingency plans over there at the White House right now to make
19:16 sure and ensure that our troops continue to be paid. But what I would say is a good piece of news here in terms of and you you just laid it out. How are we gonna get out of this? How are we
19:27 gonna try to figure some of this out? Leader Thune in the senate is currently trying to bring the defense appropriations bill that the house passed off the floor and sent to the senate. He's
19:39 trying to get that up for a vote in the middle of this shutdown, up for a vote on the US senate floor. Now that obviously would pay the troops and actually might pave a
19:51 way to get out of this shutdown. And I would remind the audience, not that they're tracking everything that we're up to, but we did pass a, motion to go to conference
20:03 with the senate in the house in September. So I think you're gonna also see a motion to go to conference in the United States senate on a 3 pack of bills that we were gonna do, which is ledge branch,
20:16 ag, and military construction and veterans affairs. So if we could get defense and then move to those next 3 bills, well, presto change o. We actually might have something we've not seen in a
20:28 very long time in Washington, which is a semblance of regular order, which is what we all want. We want regular order. And so perhaps that might get us as, in in a strong step in that direction, Tony.
20:41 So what you're laying out there, if I if if I understand correctly, is that these appropriations bills as they're approved, at least those portions of government re would reopen.
20:51 Exactly. So you would move into potentially partial shutdown. Now look. I don't put it beyond the Democrats to just say, no. We're not voting for the defense appropriations
21:03 bill. We're not voting for any bills which is gonna keep the government shutdown. Maybe that's what happens here, but we're gonna find out on Thursday, tomorrow, if that is the case. So but
21:15 you as you rightly stated here, this could be a way to partially start to open up departments of the government where we can conference these bills. We passed all 12 out of committee in the house, and we've passed 3 on
21:25 the floor already. So we're in good shape over here to be able to go ahead and conference on a lot of this stuff.
21:31 So what what the democrats are building all this upon is the Affordable Care Act that there were these premium subsidies that were put out during the COVID crisis.
21:43 They wanna continue those. They're set to expire at the end of the year. But here's the problem for them. Republicans have never voted for these subsidies. In fact, they've not voted for the ACA and its funding of
21:55 abortion and now transgender surgeries. So if if they're going to build their whole defense or their whole opposition against funding the government on those 2 issues, I don't see how they're
22:06 gonna get Republicans to go along with them.
22:09 No. No concessions on this. I I'm not for any concessions on a clean CR, ACA, otherwise. That that's not a funding the government issue. You're talking about
22:21 taxes. That belongs in ways and means. That belongs over in finance and the senate. That has nothing to do with funding the government. And these folks have put themselves in a box on this, and they've switched over to
22:33 the ACA to talk about that because the other 2 proposals in that bill are just toxic as could be. 1 is to give 1 and a half trillion dollars to illegal immigrants so they can have health care in this
22:44 country and also cut the rural hospital stabilization fund. So taking health care away from states like mine, hardworking Americans, and then giving health care to illegal immigrants for
22:56 free. The the these are no goes. We're not doing any of this. They can either vote for the clean CR, or they can keep the government shut down. And we'll let rest vote in the OMB continue to fire federal workers and
23:07 shrink the actual federal workforce, which is, I think, is a pretty good exercise in itself.
23:12 You know, congressman Moore, I know you're you're relatively new to Washington. I've been around a while, and I've seen many shutdowns, at least partial shutdowns, short term shutdowns. 1 thing that's different about
23:24 this 1, and I'd be interested in your take. We just have a little over a minute and a half left. But the speaker is, he is not he's positioning the Republicans to hold the line. And so the the the
23:36 members house members, they've done their work. They passed the clean CR, and they're back in their districts working. And and I and I think the Republicans have a much stronger position this time.
23:46 A much stronger position. And I can tell you, we are completely unified on this. We do, weekly conference calls with the whole conference and everybody down the line to
23:58 demand, we are united on this. And we have proven we are united when we passed the 1 big beautiful bill. We have not failed in our duty to be able
24:10 to implement president Trump's agenda and the Republican agenda at every turn the house has succeeded. And we are going to succeed in this as well as well, and we are not gonna break on this.
24:23 Well, congressman Moore, we're we're out of time, but I I I appreciate, another topic. Topic. You've been speaking out on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, calling for the the Trump administration to designate
24:35 redesignate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. I wanna, I wanna get you back on to talk about that because I share your concerns over that, and I appreciate you speaking out on that.
24:44 Well, thank you for that, Tony. And, please, if people aren't aware of this, there's more Christians killed in Nigeria than all other countries combined. So, please.
24:53 Right. Most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian. Alright. Stuck stick with us, folks. We're back after this.
25:06 A family is the oldest, most tested, and most reliable unit of society. It is divinely created and sustained. And yet, there are those who are always tampering with its values and structure.
25:18 That's why we need organizations like the Family Research Council that can effectively defend and strengthen the family.
25:25 Family Research Council began over 40 years ago, like all great movements of God, with prayer. Today, rooted in the heart of the nation's capital, FRC continues to champion
25:37 faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
25:43 FRC is 1 of those bright lights that helps us focus on true north, and I shudder to think had they not been here that it could have been worse, worse, worse.
25:53 The Family Research Council is key. It's 1 of a handful of groups that I think will determine whether our children live in a country that
26:05 enjoyed all of the freedom and all the opportunity that we enjoyed in this great land.
26:11 It's just a wonderful para church organization that doesn't seek to take the place of the church, but it seeks to assist the family and the church as we try to move forward successfully,
26:24 not in a defensive mode, but in an offensive mode as we seek to live our lives according to the holy scriptures.
26:31 Scriptures. FRC, is not gonna be whooped. You know, we're we're gonna fight. We're gonna take a stand. And, again, we don't retreat.
26:40 You will never see in front of this building here in Washington, DC, a white flag fly. We will never step back. We will never surrender, and we will never
26:52 be silent. Welcome back to Washington Watch. We're
27:04 broadcasting from the real life studios in, Calvary at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. The site of this year's pray vote stand summit. You can find out more about joining
27:16 us. It starts Friday. Go to pray vote stand dot o r g. Alright. While president Trump marked the start of this week by declaring that the war between Israel and Hamas is over, a senior official
27:28 in this in Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stressed today that the war is not over until all phases of the president's 20 point peace plan are completed.
27:40 And right now, they're still in phase 1 as Israel awaits the return of the remaining deceased hostages. The official also told the Times of Israel that, quote, Hamas will be disarmed, end quote, remark that
27:52 president Trump also made yesterday. So what can we make of the current situation? What's the timeline that we might see this all play out? Joining me now to discuss this and more, US senator Steve Daines, who serves on
28:04 several senate committees, including the finance committee and the foreign relations committee in the senate. Senator Daines, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks for joining us.
28:13 Thanks, Tony.
28:14 Alright. We were just talking about this, in the last segment, the government shutdown before we jump into the, to the Middle East. Another vote today in the senate, and it went nowhere with Democrats?
28:26 Yeah. It went nowhere. We need 5 Democrats to join us. We could open things up again. This is day 15. You know, I used to work for Procter and Gamble towing once upon a time, and I was in the shampoo business.
28:38 Reminds me a lot of lather, rinse, repeat. That's what we're doing right now with the Democrats. But, I'll tell you, keep in mind We
28:46 need a little head and shoulders.
28:47 Need a little head and
28:48 shoulders.
28:49 What head that was 1 of my great brands there, Tony. We're head and shoulders above the Democrats, but, it does feel like Groundhog Day at the moment. But I'll tell you, on on Saturday, October eighteenth, there's this
29:00 giant no kings rally. You can see it as no kings dot org. There's 250 far left groups that are sponsoring this. All the all their their, symbols
29:12 are on the website, no kings or you can see it. So they want this massive protest to be out there across the country. They're doing nothing until after the protest. In fact, they may keep things shut down until November
29:23 first when the insurance premium increase letters go out to American consumers, and insurance prices are going up for health care because of Obamacare. That's why they're going up. Right.
29:34 Right.
29:35 To go on these subsidies.
29:36 Well, it but but but here's the here's the reality. They want these increased subsidies to cover up the fact that Obamacare was a failure from the start. That's the only way they can keep this lie going.
29:48 You you nailed it, Tony. That's exactly what's happening. And by the way, 20 percent of these subsidies are pure fraud, best we can tell. There's no reason so we we should extend these subsidies. As you
30:00 said, it's just covering up the real problem, and that's when government takes over health care. You put disincentives in the system to not lower cost, provide better value to the patient, you get these increase
30:11 in premiums. This is Obamacare's fault. The Democrats have had this now since it passed back in o 9. And so we need to hold them accountable. These subsidies just cover up the crime.
30:23 And and I would say 1 of the other underlying issues as the founding chairman of the senate pro life caucus is that the ACA, the Obamacare,
30:35 provides for abortion coverage, and now it has the it's funding transgender surgeries on minors.
30:42 You know, you you can't make it up, Tony. That's exactly right. And so, it it violates the hide protections, which are not part of the Obamacare, plans. So there's a lot of problems with this, but the last thing we
30:53 wanna do is in some way continue to prop up Obamacare by funding the outrageous fraudulent subsidies that go to insurance companies.
31:01 Well, I I I commended the Republicans for this is the first time I've seen this in a long time where they've actually taken a stand, and it's a principled stand, and they're they're not waving a white flag. Generally,
31:13 in times past, they've they've, gone into negotiations waving the white flag. And, I I wanna hats off to senator Thune and speaker Johnson for holding the line, a principled line.
31:25 And so, anyway, I wanna move on to the Middle East. Israel is awaiting the return of all the deceased hostages that Hamas had in their captivity, But we're getting reports that Hamas now is taking vengeance on people
31:37 they think collaborated with Israelis. Part of this plan is that they are disarmed and they're gone. Is that gonna happen?
31:46 Well, it has to happen, Tony, or we will never have any kind of peace in Gaza. Just last month, I was on the border of Gaza and Israel. I was down at the Karim Shalom. It was the 1 of the logistics points where they're
31:58 bringing in aid to the the Palestinians who are suffering because of Hamas. And then I met with Bibi Netanyahu shortly afterwards. It's very, very clear. There will not ever be peace in Gaza until Hamas is not
32:10 only, disarmed, but also removed, eradicated. The only reason we got to this point where there was a peace deal is because of president Trump and Netanyahu's relentless press on Hamas.
32:22 It was because of strength in pressuring Hamas, bombing Hamas, putting him in a corner. That's why Hamas finally came to the negotiating table. I'm thankful we got those
32:34 live hostages out. What a joyous moment. I think many thought that would never happen. I've met with many of the hostage parents. It was a great moment, and president Trump deserves the Nobel Prize for peace, in my
32:45 opinion.
32:46 Yeah. It it it was an amazing day to see those hostages released. But looking back on this, senator Danes, you look over the last 2 years and how the Middle East has radically changed, and a lot of that
32:58 has to do with, a, as you mentioned, Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership out of Israel, but bolstered by that of president Trump.
33:07 Look. It was a it was a wonderful tag team there between BB Netanyahu and president Trump. You think about where we were just 2 years ago when they had the 1200 Israeli slaughtered by Hamas in that horrible terrorShow more
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