Skip to content 7/16/2025 Gaining Clarity on Court Rulings, Legislative Challenges and Why the Epstein Files Matter Today Jul 16 · 54 min ...more
7/16/2025 Gaining Clarity on Court Rulings, Legislative Challenges and Why the Epstein Files Matter Today
July 16, 2025 · 54 min
Tony and guests break down the Rescissions Bill, amendments to the NDAA, a court ruling upholding West Virginia’s abortion drug ban, repealing the NEA’s federal charter, and the Epstein files.
Series Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio
Family Research Council is serving in the kingdom of God by championing faith, family, & freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
July 16, 2025 · 54 min · Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio
Tony and guests break down the Rescissions Bill, amendments to the NDAA, a court ruling upholding West Virginia’s abortion drug ban, repealing the NEA’s federal charter, and the Epstein files. ...more Show the full description Show less Tony and guests break down the Rescissions Bill, amendments to the NDAA, a court ruling upholding West Virginia’s abortion drug ban, repealing the NEA’s federal charter, and the Epstein files.
Series Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Support this leader
Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Give
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Up next Autoplay More from Tony Perkins 11/13/2026 Regardless of Who Appears to Be in Power in Washington, a Christian’s Call to Service Doesn’t Change Tony Perkins
Michael Rubin, Bob Maginnis, Kelly Shackelford, Chris Smith, Arielle Del Turco Tony Perkins
11/12/2026 The Consequences of Recent Elections Become Clearer as We Move into the Final Months of 2026 Tony Perkins
Steven E. Moore, Robert Spalding, Rabbi Yaakov Menken, Josh Brecheen Tony Perkins
11/11/2026 The Jewish Vote Shift Amid Rising Anti-Semitism, American Security Targets, and Peace Talks Tony Perkins
Woe to the At-Ease: Amos' Call to Repentance Tony Perkins
Seek the Lord and Live: A Call from Amos 3-5 Tony Perkins
Harriet Hageman, Peter Doran, Joel Griffith, Glenn Grothman, Casey Harper Tony Perkins
11/10/2026 Ending Wars, a Lame Duck Congress, and Biblical Instruction for Leaders, on Today’s Washington Watch Tony Perkins
Ron Johnson, Andrew Clyde, Blaise Misztal, Michele Bachmann, Gary Hamrick Tony Perkins
11/9/2026 Reflections on How the Midterms Will Shape the Future Congressional Agenda and Foreign Policy Tony Perkins
In this video 0:00 Fiscal Responsibility and Pro-Life Victory6:43 Political Dynamics and Legislative Efforts13:50 Family Values and Biblical Worldview27:02 Education and Cultural Renewal38:06 Transparency and Accountability
1:25 state, not just the FDA, has a right to safeguard its citizens. We'll talk with Aaron Hawley from Alliance Defending Freedom who argued on behalf of the West Virginia law.
1:36 It's all been a big hoax. It's perpetrated by the Democrats, and some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net. And so they try and do the Democrats' work. Instead of talking about the
1:48 things we've achieved, we've had tremendous achievement. They're wasting their time with, a guy who obviously had some very serious problems who died 3, 4 years
2:00 ago.
2:01 That was president Trump earlier today responding to growing calls to release the Epstein files. We'll get the latest from Judicial Watch president Tom Fenton. Also, Washington stand Sam
2:14 McCarthy will provide some history on the controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. And later
2:20 The National Education Association's time is over. The NEA was created to champion America's teachers and serve our schools, but it has spiraled into a partisan
2:32 machine that's more about radical ideology than education.
2:37 That was North Carolina congressman Mark Harris proposing to repeal the federal charter of the National Education Association. He'll join us later to explain why. He believes the NEA has abandoned America's
2:49 students. All of that and more coming up on this edition of Washington Watch. Well, Congress is just 2 days away from the deadline to pass the White House's first rescissions package.
3:01 If passed, it would codify the cuts to in funding for NPR, PBS, and USAID among many woke priorities. Just yesterday, the rescission's package cleared its first
3:13 procedural vote with the help of the vice president. As the bill proceeds, Democrats are doing what they do best, lie.
3:21 Donald Trump's hatred of foreign aid has nothing to do with making government more efficient. Republicans do not care about eliminating waste. They simply wanna cut funding and the consequences even if it
3:33 means kids starve to death abroad. It's incomprehensively mean spirited.
3:39 That, of course, was minority leader senator Chuck Schumer. Here now to share more is senator Ted Budd of North Carolina, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Permanent Select Committee on
3:51 Intelligence. Senator Budd, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks for joining us.
3:56 Glad to be here. Thanks, Tony.
3:58 Alright. Senator, give us the latest on the rescissions package. Where does it stand?
4:02 We are in the Voterama right now. So by doing this rescission package, the deadline is Friday, and we have to to get this done. Hopefully, we'll get it done by midnight tonight. The Democrats are throwing up obstacle
4:13 after obstacle on the floor as we speak. So I am in between votes in this Votarama right now as we speak. And they are trying to put out, amendments that essentially would kill this bill
4:25 and take back 9000000000 dollars because there's so many things in there that would promote their leftist agenda. We're trying to take back. We're trying to the intent of the taxpayers, when they sent their tax dollars
4:36 to to Washington, DC. The things that, the things that are being rescinded right now and and this rescission package are not things that are good for the American tax payer. It's leftist agenda things. It's,
4:49 it's it's horrible stuff that we we don't need to be spending our tax payer dollars on. Well, even
4:54 that Agreed. But so let me ask you this, senator. You had some Republicans, some of your colleagues that that caved on 400000000 dollars on PEPFAR funding
5:05 when that's a program that has ballooned over its the the course of its almost quarter of a century of existence. And you talk about woke policies. I mean, it's filled with them.
5:18 It is. But a lot of those Republicans have been here a really long time, and they remember the good old days when that that came in under Republican. It's unfortunately, it's no longer that. It's not doing the original
5:27 intent. And I would say it's Joe Biden who corrupted the original intent of this and spent it on LGBT policies and pro abortion in other countries. And, again, that's not a good stewardship of the
5:39 American taxpayer dollars dollars, and it's just wrong headed policy all around. It's immoral, and that was that was brought about by Joe Biden. So, let's take a look at those notes on this. 50 notes plus going
5:51 on.
5:51 You're you're correct, but we gotta fix it. I mean, when it started out, I was here in 2003 when it started. Started out at 1500000000.0 dollars a year. Now last allocation was 7100000000.0. I mean, it's
6:03 just over 300 percent increase. And as you pointed out, it it's wrong headed policies.
6:09 Yeah. Just pay too much spending, and it's on the wrong things. And so we need to rescind it. We'll have to look at it in another package and get at it another way. But a goal for the rest of the 9000000000 dollars is we
6:19 gotta do this by Friday. We need 50 votes plus 1 to do it. Well and
6:22 I hope you get there. We need this is a step in the right direction. Not the I before I I wanna go to the National Defense Authorization Act. You you you have some measures. You're
6:34 on the defense committee. But before we do that, you you were over in the house. You're now over in the senate. You've you've had enough time under your your belt there in the senate. Compare the house to the senate.
Political Dynamics and Legislative Efforts
6:46 Which chamber seems to be more aggressive in getting things done?
6:50 Well, it's gonna depend on, congress by congress. In the hundred nineteenth congress, I'd say that we've taken more votes than in any senate in history, and that's under, leader John Thune. I think he's doing a great
7:00 job. And we've been very aggressive, really taking the Democrats to task for their their policies that aren't represent representative of America. You played a a clip earlier of Chuck Schumer that was completely
7:12 cringey. They've had to make the utmost outlandish arguments, and I don't think America's buying it. So I'd say right now, the US senate is the 1 that seems a little more conservative and really aggressive. But I also
7:23 have to thank my colleague. We came in together in 20 16, and he was a great Louisianan. And I'm from North Carolina, but I think he's from your original state of Louisiana and, speaker Mike Johnson. And he is a
7:33 wonderful individual and a great leader, and, it seems like he's doing the best he can with his majority over there. And so hats off to him as well.
7:42 I think it's a fair assessment of both, chambers. Let me 1 final question on that. Do do you see does the house tend to work closer together when you talk about your colleagues as opposed in the senate? It seems like the
7:54 senate's a little more independent.
7:57 Well, I would say this time, I've seen great collaboration between the speaker and the leader and a lot of interface member to member. I still stay in touch with friends from the house, colleagues from the house, and,
8:06 we're working closely together. So I see that more than I saw when I came in in 20 16 under Paul Ryan. And, again, there was, like, this divisiveness between Republicans there and Republicans here. I don't see that now.
8:17 I see a lot of collaboration. We can always do better. There's more we can accomplish, but we're getting great we're getting great things done. And, we're we're going at it at a really good clip.
8:25 Well and I think that's because, in my time, I've I've seen more individuals like you elected to the the the senate, you know, Ted Cruz and, Mike Lee and others who are a
8:37 little more aggressive. They're not just happy with the status quo. So I think it is it's revving the engine up a little bit in the senate a little bit more to make it move more quickly. You introduced the FRONT Act.
8:49 Explain what that is. Tell our viewers what that is.
8:52 We've seen these horrible protests, whether it was back during COVID or whether it was just a few weeks ago in Los Angeles. And we've had the suspicions, and now we have evidence that it is funded by outside the US
9:02 entities, those that are adversarial and hostile to, the freedoms that we have in America. It could be a communist, a a pro communism, pro China, a millionaire from overseas that's funding us and,
9:14 or that's funding, these radical protests. And we would make these groups that receive that money register as foreign agents. We can't have outside dollars. Look. Do we wanna protect first amendment rights to protest
9:26 freedom and freedom of assembly? Absolutely. But we cannot have adversarial dollars from these nations coming in funding these groups. That that's out of hand, and we can't do that. So we we need accountability and
9:38 transparency. That's what the, that's what this the front act does.
9:42 What do you think the prospects are of that getting through?
9:46 Well, I've got some great colleagues, senator Ricketts, senator Hawley that we worked together on this, and, we think we've got good chances. Again, it's like, you're trying to thread a needle. You've got a lot of things
9:57 we need to accomplish. President Trump's got a lot, on his plate that we need to sign off on here in the senate, and, we'll we'll see where we can fit it in. If it attaches to something else, great. If it's on a stand
10:07 alone bill, that's fine too.
10:08 Well, you know, it's it's an important issue. I mean, we we cherish freedom, but we can't allow people to come and undermine that freedom who want to see our freedom collapse, these foreign, actors. So I
10:20 I I applaud you on threading this needle and getting it through in the right way. Before I let you go, you led several, National Defense Authorization Act provisions that deal. Of course, that deals with our
10:32 military, but, you focus on, in part, banning discriminatory affirmative action policies at our service academies.
10:41 This makes the Supreme Court decision that we saw to colleges around the US apply to our service academies. When you think of West Point Navy Academy, Air Force Academy, we want the same standards based on merit. That's
10:53 really all we want. And that's an American value is that you win based on merit, not based on the color of your skin or your ethnicity or anything like that. And the the the US military and these academies have been the
11:04 greatest leveler, in all times. And so we want people to have a shot, not to be driven on a social agenda, but to be there because they wanna serve our country and they're qualified to do so in these academies. So that's
11:16 what this is about, and, I'm very excited about this year's NDAA. It, supports our troops, and it creates, a great opportunity in these service academies.
11:26 Senator, we're at a, what I would say is a historic moment of turning in our culture. People have had enough of the DEI woke ideology, and and and
11:38 they pushed back starting at school boards, you know, state legislatures, congress, electing president Donald Trump, returning him to office, and he's he has not been slow
11:50 in addressing many of these issues. But from your perspective, what do we do what do we need to do to make sure this is not a flash in the pan, that it's not the pendulum doesn't swing back,
12:02 you know, 3 years from now, but that we continue to chart a course that preserves freedom, individual freedom, preserves the very foundational elements of our republic.
12:14 Well, never stop praying. And, if you're somebody out there to you, Tony, your team, your viewers, if you'll continue to do so. And I would also say, remember that regular folks make
12:26 a difference. I was a regular individual who went, to our state capitol and signed up and decided to run for congress and, ended up winning. And, you know, you could put your name on the line.
12:38 You could step up for a school board, a county commission, a city council, and, show up and and allow your values to be heard and represented because you're representing a lot of people. It could be congress. It could be
12:49 the US senate. You never know. But, I took a shot 1 day and won and, and just a regular guy. And so I would say make sure that, that you're willing to, stand up and volunteer and
13:00 stay engaged and always be prayerful and never lose hope.
13:04 Well, and, senator, you're you're doing more than just a regular guy. You're doing a really good job. We're, we're grateful for you on Capitol Hill and, always thankful for you to come on the the program.
13:14 Thank you, Johnny.
13:15 Alright. You heard that. You know, we can each make a difference right where we are, and, senator Budd's doing a great job in the senate. And he and he he he cares
13:27 about the values you and I care about, and he's not shy about them either in the in the city. And that's what we need. We need more individuals who have strong beliefs and convictions, biblical
13:39 beliefs and convictions, and are willing to stand up and defend those things and and create policy from that vantage point and from that with that understanding, that worldview. Alright. Don't go away.
Family Values and Biblical Worldview
13:51 When we come back, a court victory. Gonna talk about it on the other side of the break.
14:06 The 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.
14:18 That's why we need organizations like the Family Research Council that could effectively defend and strengthen the family.
14:25 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
14:37 champion faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
14:44 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.
14:54 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
15:05 that enjoyed all of the freedom and all the opportunity that we enjoyed in this great land.
15:12 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,
15:25 not in a defensive mode, but in an offensive mode as we seek to live our lives according to the holy scriptures.
15:33 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.
15:42 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
15:53 be silent. Hello, friends. This is Tony Perkins. You know what? We just finished our 21 day family bible challenge through the book
16:05 of Matthew. And if you joined us, I pray that it has already borne fruit in your life and in your home as you place the lord and his word at the center of your home. Now our journey through the Bible doesn't
16:17 end here, though. The challenge was a part of our stand on the word Bible reading plan. And from here, we're gonna cover the rest of the New Testament. And now that we finished the book of Matthew, let me ask you, would
16:28 you consider joining us for the rest of the journey through the word of God? In 10 to 15 minutes a day, you'll see how the good news of Jesus transformed the lives of common people, people just like you and me, and how
16:40 those same people transformed the known world through the power of the holy spirit. I invite you to continue the journey with me and discover the life enriching power of the word of God. Visit f r c dot o r g
16:52 slash bible for our reading plan. That's f r c dot o r g slash bible to learn more. Welcome back
17:04 to Washington Watch. Yesterday, the fourth circuit court of appeals upheld a West Virginia law that protects unborn children from almost all abortions, including including those performed
17:15 by the abortion drug mifepristone. Something we've been talking about a lot here because it's flowing freely across state lines into pro life states. Well, the lawsuit was brought by
17:27 GenBioPro, a maker of the generic version of mifepristone who challenged West Virginia's unborn child protection act. Now what are the implications of this
17:39 legal ruling? Here to share more about this is Erin Hawley. She is a senior counsel and vice president of the Center for Life and Regulatory Practice at Alliance Defending Freedom. And the
17:51 ADF joined forces with, West Virginia, attorney general Patrick Morrissey, now the governor, to, litigate this case. Erin, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks for joining us.
18:03 Thanks so much for having me. Great to be here.
18:05 Well, congratulations. I mean, this is quite significant. Break this case down for us, so that folks will get a kind of a a basic understanding of what was
18:16 litigated and what the outcome was.
18:19 Sure. So Genviropro's claim here was really sweeping. And what the abortion drug manufacturer argued was that because the FDA had approved mifepristone and subjected it
18:31 to the regulation that only applies to the highest risk drugs, that that meant no state could protect life prior to 10 weeks, which is the limit for the abortion drug. So a super
18:43 sweeping, theory of preemption advocated by Gen Prio Pro. If the case would have come out the other way, it would have indicated that no state could protect life before 10 weeks.
18:55 Thankfully, the fourth circuit said that preemption that theory of preemption, was simply wrong. Congress had not indicated that it intended to federalize abortion, in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
19:06 I mean, Erin, that would go against the Dobbs decision, would it not?
19:11 Absolutely. And and the fourth circuit actually said that in an opinion by judge Wilkinson. Judge Wilkinson said for us to federalize abortion immediately after Dobbs would be 1 small step short of defiance.
19:23 He was was crystal clear that Dobbs returned that issue to the states. West Virginia took the Supreme Court up on his invitation, and his Democratic, elected law protects life.
19:35 And and nothing Congress said in the FDA, changes that.
19:40 So, Erin, let's talk about something else that you and I and your husband, senator Josh Hawley, have talked about here. The the the fact that, okay, the state has the right. The court this fifth circuit said I mean, the
19:51 fourth circuit in this case said, you can you can have this law that restricts the abortion pill, mifepristone. But that's being abrogated by the FDA
20:03 and the DOJ through failure to uphold the Comstock Act because these are being mailed illegally into states and nothing's happening.
20:12 So so you're exactly right. In 2023, the Biden administration took away the the sort of last safeguard for women taking abortion drugs. And make no mistake, these drugs are dangerous. The
20:24 FDA's own label says that roughly 1 in 25 women who take them end up in the emergency room. Mifepristone has a black box label that warns about serious infection and even the risk of
20:36 death. But despite that, the Biden administration said we're going to do away with the last in person doctor's visit. And that means that a woman can go online, or her husband or boyfriend or
20:48 or, someone can go online and order the abortion drug, shipped directly to your door. It only takes a couple of minutes. You just answer a couple of questions, and those drugs are flooding into pro life states,
21:00 despite those pro life laws that should protect women and their unborn children.
21:04 That's still the case. That's still the case today. Am I correct?
21:08 That that is absolutely correct. You've got states like New York setting up what are called shield laws. The state of Louisiana, for example, has recently filed a lawsuit, against a New York doctor for
21:20 prescribing mifepristone to a woman, in Louisiana who ended up having an emergency. No doctor to to help her through that. She ended up going to the hospital. Louisiana sought to prosecute that doctor,
21:32 but New York says they won't extradite her under their shield law. So so other states are affirmatively helping women, or excuse me, helping doctors, to get high risk drugs to women without
21:43 ever seeing a doctor. And regardless of what you think about abortion, that's not good medical care.
21:50 So the victory that the state of West Virginia gained in this decision by the fourth circuit, it's significant. I mean, I and and I'm gonna ask you the ramifications for other cases.
22:02 But in practice, it's being undermined by the federal government at present based upon what Joe Biden put in place.
22:12 So so, absolutely, the Biden administration's rule that allows these drugs to be shipped, without a doctor's visit is dangerous, and it undermines state's pro life laws. This ruling is very
22:24 significant. However, it would mean, if it went the other way, that no state could protect life, until 10 weeks. And as judge Wilkinson's opinion points out, the same provisions
22:35 apply to other dangerous drugs like opioids. And that means that would mean states couldn't protect, patients, for taking opioids. They couldn't set limits on on amounts or days taken,
22:47 things like that.
22:48 When I was reading this, Erin, I know it's another case, but it it kinda reminded me of the Tennessee case regarding, the state putting in place protections for for minors
23:00 against, the transgender procedures. They they the court said the state has a right to protect the well-being and restrict these practices. It it seems like there's kind of a common
23:12 kind of parallel there maybe?
23:14 Absolutely. And the forester because of opinion really explains that states have been the historic player in protecting health and safety for their citizens. And because that's the state's traditional role,
23:27 Gen BioPro here had to overcome something called the presumption against preemption. That means they had to show a statute that clearly showed congress' intent, to preempt local laws like West Virginia's.
23:39 But all West excuse me. All Gen BioPro could offer was silence. Nothing in the FTCA or any of its amendments even mentions abortion, and the court said there was no way, to
23:51 get a an attempt to federalize and mandate abortion in all 50 states from that statute.
23:58 Well, again, Erin, Holly, congratulations. Another job well done. We appreciate, the work that you do in Alliance Defending Freedom. Very grateful for your defense of the unborn and the rights of states
24:10 to protect them.
24:12 Thanks for having me.
24:14 Alright. And and and, folks, again, I'm gonna get you to weigh in on this. We're not finished. Not gonna let it go until the Biden policy is reversed by the Trump administration. So text the word
24:26 life to 6 7 7 4 2. That's life to 6 7 7 4 2 and sign the petition. Look. We're seeing under Dobbs, states are taking actions. And this this law
24:37 in West Virginia was enacted after Dobbs because they were given the right to do so. But it's being undermined by the FDA and the Department of Justice that's refusing
24:50 to enforce the law on these abortion pills. It needs to change. Text life to 6 7 7 4 2. Alright. Stay with us. We're back after this.
25:02 The Center for Biblical Worldviews all day workshops delves into the formation of a worldview, what it is, how it's formed, when it's formed, what that means to them personally and their
25:14 churches and communities.
25:15 My hope for people when they come to these worldview workshops is that they will come away better equipped to engage the people and the ideas that they're living with and around. And
25:27 our goal is to give people more confidence in the gospel, in the fact that what God said to us actually is true, actually is the path to happiness and human flourishing for all of us, but
25:39 also more confidence in their ability to have these conversations and help lead other people to the truth.
25:45 For bible believing Christians to know what God's word says on these issues and to learn how they can apply it to their lives. And we believe that the more Christians that we equip, that's how we'll change the
25:57 nation.
25:58 Hey, fam. Listen, pastor Sammy here at Lighthouse Church, and I cannot tell you how equipping, how empowering, how incredibly educating this conference has been. And so
26:10 I just wanna encourage anybody that either has not been part of or is thinking about hosting this event, certainly to pastors, leaders, even CEOs for that matter. This conference is lights
26:22 out. I stand behind it myself. I can't commend it enough. We're gonna be talking about this for some time to come.
26:28 The culture is kind of squeezing in on us as God's people, forcing those of us with biblical views, to change those views or to suppress those views, it's forcing us to engage
26:40 with issues that we've never had to engage with. And so what this teaches us is what those issues are, what the Bible says about those issues, and then how we can engage our culture on these
26:51 things in a way that is committed to biblical principle.
26:54 Visit f r c dot org slash worldview for more information.Show more
Comments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
Tony Perkins94K followers
Comments
Keep it kind. Comments are public.