Skip to content 3/20/2026 Considering a Biblical Perspective as Efforts Continue to Improve Domestic and Foreign Affairs Mar 20 · 54 min ...more
3/20/2026 Considering a Biblical Perspective as Efforts Continue to Improve Domestic and Foreign Affairs
March 20, 2026 · 54 min
Today on WW: Efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; Questions over who is running Iran; The Save America Act; DHS Funding; Healthcare providers forced to do abortions; Outrage over a call to prayer.
Series Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio March 20, 2026 · 54 min · Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio
Today on WW: Efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; Questions over who is running Iran; The Save America Act; DHS Funding; Healthcare providers forced to do abortions; Outrage over a call to prayer. ...more Show the full description Show less Today on WW: Efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; Questions over who is running Iran; The Save America Act; DHS Funding; Healthcare providers forced to do abortions; Outrage over a call to prayer.
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Senate Pushes Save America Act 0:01 From the heart of our nation's capital in Washington, DC, bringing compelling interviews, insightful analysis, taking you beyond the headlines and soundbites into conversations with our nation's leaders and0:12 newsmakers, all from a biblical worldview. Sitting in for Tony is today's host, Casey Harper.0:19 We've essentially been using children as guinea pigs, mister president. It's unconscionable, and it should stop now. The Save America Act will0:30 give every member of this body a chance to take a stand against the abuse of children.0:37 That was senate majority leader John Thune earlier today as the senate head into a rare working weekend to continue floor debates on the Save America Act. Welcome to this March twentieth edition of0:49 Washington Watch. I'm Casey Harper, managing editor for broadcast at the Washington Stand. I'm honored to fill in today as your guest host. Coming up, we'll discuss the latest on Capitol Hill, the Save1:01 Act, DHS shutdown, and more with North Carolina congressman Mark Harris. Plus, the Department of Health and Human Services is investigating 13 states. They've allegedly been coercing health1:13 care providers to pay for abortions despite religious or moral objections. ADF senior counsel Matt Sharp will join us to discuss. That and more is straight1:28 ahead. Well, the senate is heading into a packed weekend of votes as Republicans push forward on president Trump's top legislative priority, the Save America Act. Conservatives warned that failure to pass this1:39 bill could keep their base home in November. Well, joining us now is Washington Watch reporter Mary Stackhouse. Mary, what's the latest on the senate push for the Save America Act, and do you1:51 really think it could impact the midterm elections?1:54 Thanks, Casey. The senate is moving quickly on several high profile items this weekend. First up is a vote Saturday on an amendment from senator Tommy Tupperville aimed at barring transgender athletes from2:06 women's sports. Then on Sunday, the chamber will consider advancing senator Mark Wayne Mullins' nomination for homeland security, setting up a final vote on Monday. But the bigger focus is the Save2:17 America Act, which senate conservatives say is crucial to keeping Republican voters engaged in November. Here's senator Mike Lee speaking to the press yesterday.2:27 If we don't get it done, or at least do everything that we possibly can to try to get it passed, I think there's a very significant risk that our own base doesn't show up for us in November.2:39 We worry about that. We also worry about the integrity and the security of our elections.2:44 Senator Lee and Trump allies have warned that failing to make progress could suppress GOP turnout, and Trump himself has said that Republicans could be in big trouble if the bill does not pass before the midterms.2:57 Now lawmakers tell us it's a top concern for voters this year election year, making this weekend's votes a key test for the party. Casey?3:05 Alright. Thanks, Mary, for that update. We'll be watching that closely and talking more about it, shortly. But I wanna turn now to the situation in Iran. What's happening with the country's leadership there? We have the3:16 clashes with Israel and this new US military buildup in the region.3:21 Right. So, turning to this situation, things are getting more tense, Casey. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mosheba Kamineh. He just put out a message for the Persian New Year talking about strength3:33 and unity while denying that Iran was behind some recent regional attacks. He also hasn't been seen in public since reports he was injured in an Israeli airstrike. Meanwhile, fighting between Iran and Israel is3:45 heating up. Iran has launched attacks, including on energy sites, and Israel is continuing air strikes. They're saying that Iran's military has been badly hit. Earlier today, president Trump3:57 said he's happy with how operation Epic Fury is going. Here's what he said. Take a listen.4:02 I wanna begin by just saying we're doing extremely well in Iran. The difference between them and us is they had a navy 2 weeks ago. They have no4:14 navy anymore. It's all at the bottom of the sea. 58 ships knocked down in 2 days. And we have the greatest navy anywhere in the world. It's not even close. So but we are doing really well. We're not going to let them4:25 have nuclear weapons because if they had them, they'd use them, and we're not gonna let that happen. Should've been done a long time ago by other presidents.4:34 On top of all of that, the US is sending more ships and thousands of marines to the region, signaling concerns that this conflict could grow even bigger. Casey?4:44 Alright. Thanks, Mary. Appreciate that report. I want to continue with our coverage of the situation in Iran and discuss it with somebody who served as an adviser and consultant on the Middle East forIran Conflict: Military Escalation and Spiritual War 4:56 a number of offices in our federal government. Joining me now to discuss this and more is doctor David Wormser. He's a senior analyst for Middle East policy at the Center for Security Policy. Doctor Wormser, welcome to5:08 Washington Watch.5:09 Well, thank you for having me.5:11 Sure thing. So we have a lot to discuss. According to these reports, I guess, we'll start here. We've got this increase in forces. 3 more warships and roughly 2500 more marines are headed for the Middle East5:23 is the latest news. Now we already have about 50000 troops there. Does this increase is this sort of just shoring up our bases, or does this signal a shift in strategy?5:34 I think it's shoring up our bases, and there might be a slight shift in strategy. My sense is that these forces could potentially take some critical islands that will keep5:46 the, sea lanes open. There's 3 islands in the Strait of Hormuz, which is where a lot of the oil goes through. Those 3 islands called the Tum Islands are critical strategically. If you control5:58 them, it it allows the ships to go through fairly unharassed, and a large island up the up the gulf, called the Kharg Island. And 80, 906:09 percent really of Iran's oil and gas go through that island. And, if we seize it, it essentially Americanizes their their energy industry and denies6:21 Iran the future of that. It denies the regime, the revenues that come with that as well as eventually turn it over to the Iranian people, so without destroying it. So I think those6:33 marines are focused on that.6:36 You know, you you raise an interesting point, though. You think we'll give back the Kyrgyz Island?6:42 Well, I think at 1 point we will, but it'll look a lot like the Venezuela deal, which is, I think the president, once he seizes these assets, would probably ask the new Iranian government if there6:53 is such a thing to, to, have some of the revenue to go to pay for this war, because there will be a lot of revenue that eventually comes from it. It takes some time,7:05 but eventually, there'll be a lot of revenue that would come from it and would it would definitely cover a good portion of the war.7:12 It'll be interesting to follow. You know, I was maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was a bit surprised to see a new threat from Iran where they said that they will deny safety to enemies in, quote, parks,7:22 recreational areas, and tourist destinations worldwide. They also are insisting they can still build missiles, which is really, claiming a lot of the reporting we're seeing in the claim by Israeli prime minister7:33 Benjamin Netanyahu that's saying that they're not able to. What do you make of these threats? It seems that people who would threaten tourist destinations are the kind of regime we don't want to have a nuclear weapon.7:44 Well, absolutely. I think that that's the right way to put it. It means they don't know any restraints. They would use the nuclear weapons if they could. They're you know, there was always this understanding between7:54 countries in the Middle East that even if you go to war, you don't hit their oil facilities because everybody then it's sort of the apocalypse. It's sort of the the Samson option. So nobody did it even in some of the8:06 major wars. And, here Iran did it, which means there's really no holds barred for them. They'll go all the way. We're dealing with a regime that is essentially apocalyptic in its outlook. It believes8:18 that it can show its faith by not giving in and that, using the Iranian regime to show such faith will bring about the return of the Mahdi, their disappeared twelfth8:30 imam. So they they they they see this as a mechanism to show faith, which is to drive the apocalypse. So a nuclear weapon in those hands would be horrible. As far but8:42 I I would also look at the threat to strike parks and tourists. An act of desperation, the Iranians are throwing missiles, and we've already detected8:54 that they shifted the missiles. They're really throwing their best missiles now, and quite a few of them. Best being both accurate, fast. They they split the warhead split, which are much more difficult9:06 to protect your cities from that. But they're also solid fuels so that you don't need to refuel them before you fire them, which means you don't sit there vulnerable for a period of time where the Israeli or the American9:18 air force can pick you off. So by using these missiles and they're using them in considerable amounts, they're really going to the bottom of barrel. They're using their ace in the hole at this point.9:30 And they don't have another arsenal like that once they use this up, and they're burning through it very fast. So I think this is basically it for them. They're basically trying to get, a major9:42 strike that somehow kills hundreds of Israelis or shows so much pain to the west that the west says, no. No. No. We don't want this war anymore. In other words, they're still trying to9:53 convince us to stop the war. And, the these these strikes are increasing because of that, but they're running out of missiles. They're running out of everything.10:02 You know, I'm glad you brought up the really the this strain of Islam's eschatology. I I think it's really lost on many Americans and American Christians that in in the same way that American Christians have an10:12 eschatology, an idea of an antichrist and the second return of Jesus. And, of course, there's disagreements about different elements of that, but it informs the way we view the world. This Islamic regime, very religious,10:23 very zealous, has the same thing. And it seems that that that is so important to what we're seeing happen right now, isn't10:29 it? Oh, it is. You know, I'm no expert on Christian theology, but eschatology, there's there's boundaries to it as well. There's there's also a limit. I mean, every10:41 every Christian, every Jew in Judaism too, really needs to show how good they are and and work toward operating under those constrictions. But there's no concept that by showing that you are10:53 ready for the apocalypse and you are ready to destroy the world, to bring about the apocalypse because it's the ultimate act of faith, that just doesn't exist in our religions, but it does in in this,11:05 particular group of people. It's not even all Shiites think that. Most Shiites were much more passive than that. But there's a particular group in control there, and they can pull they are looking for11:17 the apocalypse. They're not they're not not afraid of it. They're actually embracing it.11:22 Yeah. I mean, that's so important. That's why Tony Perkins, Jody Hice, and myself, we've been talking and others about the need to pray because this is not just bombs and bullets. There is a very serious spiritual11:33 component. I wanna ask you, about this written statement from Iran's new supreme leader. It's a bit of where where's Waldo with this guy? He's not been seen in public since succeeding his father following this11:45 the assassination. You know, what do you make of this?11:49 Well, I I I think it's pretty clear by now that he's either, in a coma or he's dead. They just can't admit it. With this eschatological idea, remember, there's also the12:01 idea that the twelfth imam 1000 some years ago disappeared, and he's still alive and he'll come back. So there's this attempt now not to admit that Mujtaba, this12:13 new leader, is either dead or in a coma and say, no. No. No. They're they're trying to create a parallel with their messiah, so to speak. And and they're saying, no. No. He's just disappeared. But but but we know12:25 where he is, and he's alive, and he's well. But by now, especially today, which was Nowru's New Year's in Persia and Iran. This is traditionally when the Iranian12:37 leader, even the Islamist Iranian leader, would give a New Year's, statement, and there was nothing. There was a written statement, which of course is not a proof of life. We've seen12:48 them kissing a cardboard facsimile, a really cheap cardboard facsimile, surprisingly, of of the leader, to swear allegiance. Everything points to the fact that he's in no13:00 condition to be wheeled out in public, and that's why we're not seeing him.13:05 Alright. Well, that's I mean, that's a huge fact. And I think until that gets resolved, it's gonna be hard to to really move forward because who we're gonna negotiate with. Right?13:14 Yeah. Exactly.13:15 Right. Alright. Well, thank you, doctor David Wormser, senior analyst for Middle East policy at the Center for Security Policy. I appreciate it.13:24 Absolutely. Thank you.13:26 You know, as the US and Israel are taking this decisive action against the radical Islamic Iranian regime, I wanna invite you to join us at FRC in interceding in prayer during this critical and13:38 spiritually significant time in world history. You just heard how important it really is in the spiritual component. Text Iran to 6 7 7 4 2. That's Iran to 6 7 7 4 2 to13:49 commit to prayer. Alright. Coming up, we'll be joined by North Carolina congressman Mark Harris to discuss the latest on Capitol Hill. Don't go away.14:03 When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for 1 people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another,14:10 And to assume among the powers of the earth14:13 The separate and equal station to which the laws of nature14:16 And of nature's god entitled them.14:19 A decent respect14:20 to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes Which impel them to the separation.14:26 We hold these truths to be self evident.14:29 That all men are created equal.14:31 That they're endowed by their creator.14:33 With certain unalienable rights.14:36 That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.14:40 That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.14:43 Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Happy 200 and fiftieth. Happy 200 and fiftieth.14:51 Happy 200 and fiftieth.14:53 Happy 200 and fiftieth birthday, America.14:55 May god bless14:59 America.15:02 You see, America has freedom for a purpose. The question is, are we living by that purpose today? See, the founders understood we as a nation15:14 would be accountable to God for what he had granted to us. They sought freedom for a purpose, and that freedom was given to us as a nation for that same purpose to serve God,15:26 to honor him, and to live as a people under his authority.15:32 At the 20 26 National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance in Washington DC, members of congress, state leaders, evangelical leaders, and intercessors from across the15:43 nation united as 1 voice in prayer.15:47 Heavenly father, thank you so much for this gathering. We do repent, and we ask for your continued favor and blessing over our nation even when we don't deserve it.15:56 I thank you that because of the shed blood and the glorious righteousness of your son, Jesus Christ, a sinner such as myself can boldly approach your16:08 throne. You said that you helped the humble, and we're asking just now that you would help us, Lord.16:29 We pray that you humble us, help us to follow after you with all our hearts so that we can see righteousness exalted in this nation and this nation restored to you. We know this not by our power. It's not by our16:41 might. It's by your spirit.16:42 Freedom has a name. His name is Jesus. And freedom has a purpose. It is to honor and glorify you. We pray that we would return to that purpose. Amen.Election Integrity and DHS Shutdown Standoff 17:05 Welcome back to Washington Watch. I'm Casey Harper, your guest host for today. This weekend will be a rare 1. It's a working weekend in the senate as majority leader John Thune keeps senators in17:17 DC for the next few days to continue floor de debates on the Save America Act. Now and if the homeland Department of Homeland Security is still shut down for another week, senators may have to work through the17:28 following weekend as well, something they won't be happy about as they approach their 2 week scheduled recess. So how might all this shake out? When is the government going to reopen? Well, joining us now to discuss17:40 is congressman Mark Harris. He's a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee. He also represents the eighth congressional district of North Carolina. Congressman Harris, welcome back to Washington Watch.17:52 Hey, Casey. It's great to be with you. Thank you for having me.17:55 Well, it's great to have you because this is the time, to talk to you. You're the guy for this. This week, you joined with some of your Republican colleagues in sending a letter to leader Thune. And in that letter, you18:07 let him know that until they pass the Save America Act, you will be voting no on any senate bills that come to the house floor. You took a strong stance on this. Why is that?18:18 Well, Casey, because I just really believe the Save America Act is absolutely critical to, where we are in our nation. I mean, this is something that is so simple. It is so18:29 crystal clear that, it is very the fact that we're asking people to understand that you must have proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in a18:41 federal election, that's number 1. And number 2, you just have to show a, photo ID to prove that you are who you say you are when you go to vote. It's that simple. It's that18:53 clear, and that's all we're asking for. The American people overwhelmingly, I think some 71 percent of Democrats, 95 percent of Republicans, more than 80 percent19:04 overall want to see this passed into law. And so we're just urging the senate not to let their own rules and their own decorum that they try to follow over there19:16 get in the way of doing what we promised the American people we were going to do. And so this is critical. And so we're we're doing everything we can to let them know how serious this moment is.19:28 Yeah. I won't be surprised if more Republicans join you in the in the stand you've taken, and you're right about the polling. Depending on which part of the bill, 70, 80, 85 percent of Americans support it. So it's not19:38 very controversial in America, but it's seemingly very controversial in the senate. Now I've heard that tomorrow, there will be a cloture vote on the first amendment to the Save America Act, which would add 2 provisions19:49 on the transgender issue. Can you tell us about these? They seem like common sense provisions, aren't they?19:55 Well, they are common sense provisions, and and I think that people will continue to step up. 1 of the things that the president made very clear, when we was talking about the Save America Act is he20:07 wanted to see more provisions put into it, actually, that would basically just say THAT, AGAIN, WHAT WE'VE ALREADY PASSED IN THE HOUSE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE TRANSENDER20:19 SURGIES DONE ON MINORS. AND ALSO, THE PRESIDENT WANTED US TO INCLUDE THAT WE WOULD SAY THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE a men and women's sports. Again, issues that to the general20:31 American public, they recognize this as just being common sense provisions, and I think that will be another opportunity to see some things happen. I'm very thankful for the senators that are working with20:42 senator Thune in trying to get this across the finish line. Again, I think the American people are wanting to see the senate work. Kudos to him for making it work, and we're gonna see what happens20:54 as we go forward.20:56 I mean, speaking to more polling, I mean, the polling for those transgender issues is even stronger than the ones we mentioned before. But I wanna turn to another fight on Capitol Hill, the 1 funding for funding for the21:07 Department of Homeland Security. Top senate appropriators and centrist dealmakers met with White House boarder czar Tom Homan yesterday, but it still doesn't look like they have an agreement. Congressman, what are what21:17 are you hearing on the reopening of the government?21:20 Well, they don't have an agreement because Chuck Schumer has not decided yet that he's ready to give up the charade that he is doing that is actually holding the American people hostage.21:32 And so it's very frustrating. The White House in a letter I saw earlier this week, of some things that they were willing to do, expanding the use of the body cameras that they had, preserving the21:44 things that were found in body camera for, for for congressional overview. Look having more overview of the detention centers and so on. There were about 6 items that were in that letter. So21:56 again, in good faith, the White House has been trying to get Democrats to move on this. We in the house, we have passed bills now multiple times sending them over to the senate to22:08 fund the Department of Homeland Security. Listen, Casey, we don't know what sleeper sales could be in this country that have come over from, all over the world that came22:19 in through Biden's border crossing that he threw open in the southern border. And so we don't know who else here. And at this time, in the midst of this conflict going on in Iran, for us to not have22:31 homeland security, operating at its maximum level, it's just it's it's ridiculous. And I really believe the American people are understanding. This is Chuck Schumer's playbook. This is a22:43 page out of that playbook, and they've got to be held responsible for just playing with the safety of American people.22:52 Yeah. I think you're you're right about that. And to be honest, when I hear Democrats and see the how they're moving the goalposts, it feels like they may not wanna open the government regardless of the deal.23:03 That's exactly how it sounds because, again, look, we've changed leaders. I mean, Markwayne Mullen is now, going through confirmation process and will be voted on hopefully by the senate in the23:15 coming week. And, he we got new leadership there. Again, as I mentioned, the White House in good faith is trying to help them understand what we will not do, but what we are willing23:27 to do to try to help. It's time for a new start at Department of Homeland Security. But getting the funding open, when we think about our coast guard, when we think about our TSA agents, when we think23:38 about secret service, when we think about all of these folks that are missing paychecks, listen, even the Billy Graham Association, I was very thankful for. I just heard about yesterday, actually is serving23:50 lunch to TSA workers, I think in Charlotte and Greensboro Airport to try to help them during this time that they're facing. So it's a it's a mess.24:01 Well, it's good to see them them step up. I I wanna while we have you, just wanna ask you quickly about your your bill, which I found very interesting. The Homeschool Graduation Recognition Act, it just passed the house24:12 a couple weeks ago, about 30 seconds. Why did you stand up for homeschooling? Why'd you stand up on this issue?24:18 Well, listen. Nobody should be discriminated against when it comes to higher education, And it was brought to my attention, through the Homeschool Legal Defense Fund that there was a serious issue24:30 that was causing homeschoolers to have to jump through all kinds of hoops, occasionally when they were going to be admitted to these colleges. And so what this basically did is it helped correct24:42 something that needed to be corrected in a heading, and I'm very grateful for it. And, hopefully, it's gonna put an end to any discrimination that homeschool students will face when getting aid to go to college.24:54 Well, thank you. I'm glad you're doing it. North Carolina congressman Mark Harris, we'll be right back after this.25:02 I think all people really need to have this type of education.25:06 Well, I can tell you that it's been an amazing course period.25:08 I think this course is a reminder that a biblical worldview should really impact everything. It impacts our government from the federal to the state to the local. It should impact what we're doing with our families and25:20 with our work.25:21 God and government is a video driven bible based training course from Family Research Council that explores the connection between biblical principles and American government. In25:33 this 6 session video series, FRC president Tony Perkins equips participants with a practical understanding of civil government from a biblical world view.25:44 I would encourage all people to take it. I almost wish I would have took it earlier that I could have taught my kids this.25:50 I wish I had known these things when we were homeschooling because I think children and my adults now would just greatly be influenced by that information.25:57 So I'm an attorney and for me it gives me some direct practical knowledge of what I can do to try to impact my legal community to make better legislation, to try26:09 to encourage legislators to make choices that have a biblical worldview, which is what we really want.26:15 Any pastor would benefit from taking this course because we are dual citizens. Right? We are citizens of the kingdom of God, but we're also seated citizens of this great land, and that that comes with responsibility.26:25 Even as someone who has been involved in these types of issues for a while, you're learning little bits and pieces of new stuff all the time. But it's also approachable enough that newer people, younger people, high26:36 school, college students, they can really glean something from this. So I would encourage everybody to take this course, whether it's the videos, whether it's doing it in person, bring your bible study group through it,26:47 bring your homeschool group through it, and equip yourself for these challenging days ahead.26:51 View the course at f r c dot o r g slash god and government or on the Stand Firm app.Show more In this video 0:00 Senate Pushes Save America Act4:48 Iran Conflict: Military Escalation and Spiritual War17:05 Election Integrity and DHS Shutdown Standoff27:05 HHS Cracks Down on Abortion Coercion38:47 Biblical Worldview on Life, Gender, and Prayer
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