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12/2/2025 America Continues Engaging with International Issues and Correcting Domestic Concerns
December 2, 2025 · 54 min
Supreme Court and appeals court cases affect pro-life pregnancy resource centers, Trump’s ongoing efforts against drug smuggling, and more truth emerges on COVID vaccines and abortion drugs.
Series Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio December 2, 2025 · 54 min · Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio
Supreme Court and appeals court cases affect pro-life pregnancy resource centers, Trump’s ongoing efforts against drug smuggling, and more truth emerges on COVID vaccines and abortion drugs. ...more Show the full description Show less Supreme Court and appeals court cases affect pro-life pregnancy resource centers, Trump’s ongoing efforts against drug smuggling, and more truth emerges on COVID vaccines and abortion drugs.
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In this video 0:00 Pursuing Peace in Ukraine Amid Global Tensions13:31 Protecting Pro-Life Freedoms from Government Overreach24:56 Addressing Military, Health, and Persecution Challenges
Pursuing Peace in Ukraine Amid Global Tensions 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 worldview. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins starts now.0:18 We're doing very well. We have a a lot of respect. As you know, we have a problem with a war that our people are trying to settle now with Russia and Ukraine. We are not0:30 involved in the war monetarily anymore. Biden gave away 350000000000 dollars like it was candy, but we're trying to get that settled. They're not an easy situation. Let me tell you. What a mess.0:41 How was president Donald Trump earlier today during a cabinet meeting discussing his efforts to bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine? Welcome to this December second edition of Washington Watch. I'm your0:52 host, Tony Perkins. Good to be back, and thanks for joining us. Well, coming up, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments today and a significant case involving a Christian pro life nonprofit in New Jersey. First1:04 Choice Women's Resource Centers is pushing back against the state's attempt to access its donor records. Caleb Dalton, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, the organization that represented1:16 First Choice, will join us later to explain what's at stake. Plus, congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania will share his perspective on renewed efforts to negotiate peace in Ukraine.
1:31 We begin this evening with diplomatic developments out of Moscow. Vladimir Putin met with president Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as part of a bid to resolve the war in Ukraine.
1:44 The meeting took place just hours after Putin expressed a stark warning to Europe declaring that Russia is prepared for war if necessary. Joining me now is Washington Sand
1:55 reporter Casey Harper who has been following today's main stories. Casey, Vladimir Putin does not sound like a man ready for peace. Where do things stand after today's talks? Any progress being made?
2:07 Yeah. Thanks, Tony. I think you're, not the only 1 who has that assessment of Vladimir Putin. But this meeting inside the Kremlin, it brought Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner face to face with Putin himself as the US was
2:18 trying again to push for an end to the war. Now this all comes after elite American proposals sparked a lot of fear and concern in Europe and Ukraine with some saying that the American proposal, it
2:30 leaned too much toward what Moscow wants. European leaders then they push out their own counter plan pretty quickly, and then Putin shot back accusing them of trying to block the US led peace efforts.
2:42 Putin also issued a pretty sharp and troubling warning that Europe shouldn't risk a military conflict. Here's what secretary of state Marco Rubio said today at that White House cabinet meeting.
2:53 Steve Witkoff is in Moscow trying to find a way to end this war to save lives of 8, 9000 people, mister president, as you wanna know are dying every week. More people are dying a week in that war than have died in the
3:05 entirety of the US's involvement in Afghanistan or Iraq. Just think about that, how bloody and destructive it is.
3:11 The Trump administration says they're simply trying to be realistic in ending this war, but Ukraine's arguing that nothing can be decided behind their back. That, Tony, as these heavy casualties mount, Russia gains
3:23 ground and issues more threats, there's a lot of pressure to see whether diplomacy can actually work this time.
3:30 Well, we'll explore that a little bit later. Thank you, Casey. I wanna switch gears now to, an important issue here at home, and that is should a pro life ministry be forced to hand over its private donor information?
3:41 Now that question was once again front and center at the Supreme Court today. Casey, what's the update on that case?
3:47 Yeah. That's right, Tony. So at the US Supreme Court today, First Choice Women's Resource Centers, which is a Christian pro life nonprofit organization that helps families all over New Jersey, They asked the Supreme
3:57 Court to protect their right to challenge what they're calling this unconstitutional subpoena from the state attorney general. Here to explain here's Erin Hawley. She's an attorney for First Choice Women's Resource
4:09 Centers.
4:09 First Choice's associational interests were harmed the moment it received a coercive subpoena demanding donor names on pain of contempt. This is true irrespective of whether the subpoena is non self
4:21 executing, for even an unenforceable threat may chill first amendment freedoms.
4:27 This subpoena, Tony, it sought years of private documents and the identities of First Choice's donors, which critics, of course, say can amount to donor intimidation. Now the ministry says it's actually being targeted
4:39 for living out its Christian mission to support and help mothers and babies. The supreme court will now decide whether first choice can bring its constitutional claims directly in a federal court.
4:50 Meanwhile, on a related issue, a federal appeals court has ruled that 3 New York pro life pregnancy centers may continue sharing information about their abortion pill reversal while their lawsuit moves forward. So
5:02 these centers, which are supported
5:04 by the Alliance Defending Freedom, argue that women should be free to hear about using progesterone, which can reverse the abortion pill. And New York attorney Democrat, attorney general who's a Democrat, Leticia James,
5:15 no stranger, to the limelight these days, She's suing the groups, and she claims that the information is misleading. But for now, the court has sided with the pregnancy centers and saying their speech is protected
5:27 by the first amendment, Tony. You know, Casey, that, previous case you talked about out of New Jersey, it reminds me of the scripture, there's nothing new under the sun. Right. It was just a few years ago that California
5:37 tried the very same thing. So, it'll be interesting to explore that, with ADF's attorney a little bit later. Let's talk about, another issue. Voters
5:49 in the seventh congressional district are voting in a special election today to fill the vacancy left by Mark Green who resigned earlier this year. A lot of eyes are watching that.
5:59 Yeah, Tony. They are. I mean, it it could affect the GOP's slim majority in the House of Representatives, which is 1 reason to watch it, but it's also a potential bellwether for the future. So Republican Matt Van Epps,
6:10 he is the favorite. There's no question about it. He's got the endorsement of president Trump and the outgoing congressman Mark Green. His opponent, on the other hand, is Democrat Afton Benton. The the district, as I
6:20 said, it leans Republican, but a new poll has shown the race might be a little tighter than expected and and tighter than Republicans are comfortable with, which makes turnout very important. And, of course, as I said,
6:32 it's really important for that narrow house majority.
6:35 Casey, 1 more topic I wanna go to very quickly, and that is Sudan. What's happening in Sudan?
6:40 Yeah. Well, in Port Sudan, 2 of the country's oldest Christian churches were vandalized with, and get this, Islamic graffiti. This happened in a busy central areas near police stations, but that didn't seem to deter it.
6:51 The church members, they covered the markings to avoid the tension, but but community members say this is just raising more fears as across Sudan, the humanitarian crisis is worsening. We have 30000000 refugees in
7:03 need of aid in nearby country of Chad who are facing food shortages, all against the backdrop of president Trump saying he might intervene to stop the conflict, Tony.
7:13 Alright, Casey. Thanks so much. Hey. By the way, folks, it's Giving Tuesday. And today, you have an opportunity to give a gift that makes twice the impact in the year ahead. Washington Watch comes to you only because
7:25 of folks like you. We receive no government money. But thanks to a special challenge match, every gift you give today will be matched dollar for dollar. And so you can take advantage of this opportunity. It's limited
7:36 just to today. So call right now. We have folks standing by to take your call. 802 2 5 4 0 0 8. That's 802 2 5 4 0 0 8. So make
7:48 double the impact today by standing with Washington Watch and the Family Research Council. Alright. I wanna go back, and look at the latest developments on the Russia Ukraine war. Joining me now
8:00 to discuss this and a bit more, congressman Scott Perry, who serves on several house committees, including the foreign affairs committee and the permanent select committee on intelligence. He represents the tenth
8:09 congressional district of Pennsylvania. He's also a combat veteran who retired at the rank of brigadier general after nearly 40 years in uniform. Congressman Perry, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks for taking
8:20 time to join us.
8:21 Great to be with you, Tony. Of course, a lot happening, and we're all watching, of course, Steve Witkoff, headed to Moscow. And, after, you know, meetings yesterday with Ukrainian officials and
8:33 the president's folks, including the president's son-in-law down in Florida, It appears that Russia's gonna continue to, push the envelope, so to speak. Now they want Ukraine to give up territory that Russia's
8:45 not even currently occupying. So, you know but at the same time, as you know, we're lose the world's losing, you know, thousands of people every week in that
8:57 war. And I think as time goes on, Ukraine's leverage becomes less and less. So it it is a it is a really difficult conundrum. And, of course, you know, I think
9:09 that look. The Russians are not to be trusted, in any way, shape, or form in this. And I think we have to have an eye towards the future of what Russia might do once it's emboldened with whatever
9:21 gains it makes in Ukraine, and we gotta be thinking about that in any in any agreement that, that, that we come to with Russia over Ukraine, but also involving the rest of Europe.
9:33 But beyond Europe, congressman, do we not have to
9:36 be concerned about how China might be interpreting the outcome of these negotiations?
9:41 Well, without a doubt, you know, but Russia does have the upper hand, and China is not in the same situation militarily, at least right now. Now I think what you're talking about is would would would China
9:53 kind of seek the same thing in Taiwan.
9:55 Exactly.
9:57 And, and I do think we have to be very mindful of that. Although, I can say that I don't think China makes a move on Taiwan as long as Donald Trump is the president, but he's not gonna be the president forever.
10:09 And we we also have to be prepared for the future with that. And, you know, keeping keeping everything involved here, you know, Syria is a factor as well because, because Russia would like to move back
10:20 into Syria under new management there, and so that's a factor that we should be considering in these discussions as well.
10:28 Is it peace at any cost? I mean, I I I Obviously, who wants
10:32 at any cost. Yeah. I hear you. We we definitely want peace. We want peace for the European continent, for the Ukrainian people, for the Russian people that really don't wanna be involved in this war and all the
10:43 neighborhoods around there. But there but but we simply cannot let Vladimir Putin continue to profit from, you know, this aggressive action, you know, that
10:55 was taken unilaterally and unjustifiably. And so, at some point, I think even he will push the limit of what's achievable. And so the question is, does he wanna
11:06 continue grinding down? You know, he's he's losing soldiers as well
11:10 in this world.
11:11 He's not been able to bring this to a conclusion. I mean and and it doesn't look like it's gonna happen anytime soon. But are the sanctions in the secondary sanctions on Russian oil, are they starting to
11:22 work?
11:23 I think they will. Yeah. I think they it will take some time, particularly with India, but I think they will have an effect. And and, that's why I think that Russia is motivated to do as much as it
11:35 can. But I'm I'm gonna say this too. You know? During the Biden administration, they were encouraging people or other countries to buy Russian oil. At the same time, they were funding the war with American
11:47 tax dollars. So Russia you know, look. They they look at American policy, and I imagine they shake their head sometimes, and they think if we can just wait this out, we'll get, you know, we'll get new management there
11:57 and get away with whatever we want to. And and
12:00 Congress is
12:00 the history of that.
12:01 Congressman Perry, that is an excellent point, and it's something that Americans need to ponder very seriously. I've I've encountered that back when I was chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
12:13 I go to some of these bad actors, and they'd say, well, you know, so that's your you you you've prioritized religious freedom now, but we'll wait 4 years. And our elections have been swinging back and forth. In fact,
12:25 scripture talks about that as a a nation that has many princes. It's unstable. And and a part of this goes back to the spiritual and the the moral
12:36 foundation of our nation, and that's where each and every American comes to into play.
12:42 That's exactly right. And and, you know, Americans that, you know, we gotta be for our country and our country's interests. And, don't worry about who the Republican is or who the Democrat is, but demand
12:53 that what's good for America is good for the world and and and try and stay on course about what's good for us. But oftentimes, of course, if the other party likes it, you have to hate it or
13:05 vice versa. And that's no way to run a railroad.
13:08 You you're absolutely right. And this is 1 where we have to have consistency in our government because the the the world takes notice. And part of that is having a set standard regardless of who the party is
13:17 Right.
13:18 And holding them accountable to that standard. Congressman, we're out of time, but it's always great to see you. Thanks so much for taking time to, to join us this afternoon.
13:26 Great to be with you, Tony. God bless you and your audience.
13:29 Thank you. Congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania. Great American. Alright. Coming up, we're gonna discuss today's Supreme Court hearing that, pitted 5 pro life pregnancy centers against New Jersey's
Protecting Pro-Life Freedoms from Government Overreach
13:41 attorney general. As I mentioned earlier, there there's nothing new under the sun. The attorney general, former attorney general of the
13:52 United States with Joe Biden, tried the same thing, went all the way to the Supreme Court. Don't go away. We're back after this. In times like these, we need something solid to to
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17:02 Alright. Welcome back to Washington Watch. I wanna thank Jody Heiss for filling in for me last week as I was out. It's always good to be back in the chair, but it's always good to take time away. I wanna go back to a
17:12 verse I was referent referencing with, congressman Perry, Proverbs 28 2, because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes. Mean meaning that there's instability, and and that's what we're seeing when
17:24 we go from kind of 1 side to the other, back and forth. There's used to. There was kind of more stability. I mean, we didn't have such a a
17:36 change every time. And and the world can't I mean, they just they don't know what to expect from America, nor do we as American citizens. Alright. As I mentioned, it's Giving Tuesday. And today, you have an opportunity
17:47 to give a gift that can make twice the impact in the year ahead. And, thanks to a special challenge match, every gift you give today is matched dollar for dollar. Your 50 dollars becomes 100, your 2 5500. We
17:59 have folks standing by to take your phone call, so just give them a call. They're standing there waiting. They're waiting. 802 2 5 4 0 0 8. That's 802 2 5 4 0 0 8. As I mentioned,
18:12 Washington Watch is funded completely and totally by individuals like you across the nation that want information and news from a biblical perspective from here in our nation's capital. We're
18:23 unique. We're probably the only 1 here. I think we are the only 1 here in our nation's capital reporting what's happening from a biblical perspective. Alright. Speaking of it, earlier today, the US Supreme Court
18:35 heard oral arguments in a case of 5 pro life pregnancy centers that are challenging what they say was an unconstitutional investigation by New Jersey's attorney general. The case is First Choice Women's
18:47 Resource Center versus Plattkin. And arguing on behalf of those pro life pregnancy centers was Alliance Defending Freedom. So how did it go? Well, joining me now to offer his analysis of the hearing
18:59 and the case is ADF senior counsel, Caleb Dalton, who was into the courtroom today. Caleb, welcome to Washington Watch. Thank you. Thanks for, for joining us.
19:09 Tony, thanks so much for having me.
19:11 Now, well, I I wanna I was talking about earlier how there's nothing new under the sun. This sounds very similar to, what happened in coming out of California
19:23 a few years ago that ADF handled that case as well, where Kamala Harris was then the attorney general and was going after the first amendment freedoms of care pregnancy centers out there.
19:36 It looks like the left will not stop trying to shut down these care pregnancy centers.
19:41 No. First Choice, our client that we are honored to represent at the United States Supreme Court today, they provide free compassionate care to women in need. These are women who are going through situations they never
19:52 imagined they would be in, and First Choice provides babies' lives. And as you know, Tony, I mean, the studies show that when those resources are
20:04 available to women, they're more likely to choose life and that's what First Choice does here. And because the attorney general doesn't like that choice, that's why he's targeting these pregnancy centers for harassment
20:15 and intimidation, and the first amendment doesn't allow that.
20:18 What's the justification for going after after their donors? That's what he's subpoenaed. He's requested he's demanded, I should say, their donor information based on that.
20:29 He's asking not only just for the identities of their donors. He wants their addresses and their phone numbers. And the allegation is maybe the donors didn't know that First
20:41 Choice Pregnancy Resource Centers were pro life, and that's absurd, frankly. Not only are they absolutely clear about who they are and what they do on their websites, The attorney general doesn't need
20:52 that information. If the law was violated, he could enforce the law without that information.
20:58 What possible violation could there be?
21:00 There there there's not. And if there was, he would have already filed a lawsuit. That's why he's using the subpoena power to harass them and try to chill their speech and try to chill their donors, from donating
21:12 to them. That's exactly what this is about. We've seen the same thing in other cases where state officials both almost always in blue states trying to intimidate, these
21:24 conservative Christian organizations by having this chilling effect because they don't the the donors don't necessarily wanna be harassed. I remember back during the marriage debates where people would show up at the
21:36 homes of donors to harass them. So, we're gonna I don't wanna run out of time here, though. What what what was your sense from
21:47 the questions asked by the court? Did they see through what the attorney general in New Jersey was trying to do?
21:54 I think the court did. I I as the adage goes, I think at the end of the day, you ask, would you rather be us or the state of New Jersey? And I think you'd rather be first choice pregnancy centers at the end of the day
22:03 today. The court absolutely saw through this facade. Justice Barrett asked questions about the harassment and kind of the past statements the attorney general has made by setting up the strike force to go after pregnancy
22:15 centers. And justice Thomas asked the New Jersey attorney general's attorney, were there ever any complaints that triggered this investigation? And the answer was no. There was nothing that justified this other than the
22:27 attorney general's ideological opposition to First Choice.
22:30 So so Caleb, did anybody ask him if he had anything better to do than harass an organization that was helping out women in care in in crisis pregnancies?
22:40 That's a great question. He should have better things to do because First Choice deserves his support, not his harassment.
22:47 So, Caleb, this case, oftentimes I mean, it depends. Sometimes the court has a very narrow decision that just affects the particular client before the case. Could this
22:59 have ramifications across the country?
23:02 I think the biggest ramification of this case is whether or not nonprofits will be able to vindicate their rights in a federal court if they pay they face political harassment by a hostile attorney general. And
23:14 this is across the board. We are at a crossroads as a nation where the justice departments have been weaponized. We've seen that at the federal level and at the state level through through different politics
23:26 being played with justice. And that's not the way it should be. And the question before the court is when an attorney general is playing politics with the justice system, can you go to federal court and preserve your
23:37 First Amendment rights? And the answer should be yes.
23:39 So what what New Jersey is trying to do is keep them bottled up in state court where they really had no no relief.
23:45 That's right. And that's not how the First Amendment or the the federal statutes that authorize you to protect your First Amendment rights, that's not how they work.
23:53 So we expect a decision on this at the end of the court's term?
23:58 By June at at the latest, but it could come earlier. This isn't a a decision, I think, that should take the court very long to write. So it's possible we see an earlier decision, but certainly by the end of June next
24:08 year.
24:09 Alright, Caleb. Again, we appreciate Alliance Defending Freedom and the great work that you guys do across the board defending our first freedom. Thanks for joining us.
24:18 Thanks, Tony.
24:20 They do do great work. And, it off but it takes those willing to fight and those organizations that are being their rights are being violated. Sometimes many want to just
24:32 go silent because they don't want the trouble. And that individuals, conservative business owners, we gotta stand up and fight for our freedoms. Paul did it. Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen, and I'm
24:44 grateful for groups like Alliance Defending Freedom that are out there helping Americans defend their fundamental rights. Alright. Don't go away because we have more Washington Watch straight
24:55 ahead. For over 4000 years, the Jewish people have had legal, historical, and biblical ties to the land of Israel,Show more
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