Skip to content 1/9/2026 Amid International and Domestic Uncertainty, We Take a Look at Everything from a Biblical Perspective Jan 10 · 54 min ...more
1/9/2026 Amid International and Domestic Uncertainty, We Take a Look at Everything from a Biblical Perspective
January 10, 2026 · 54 min
Looking at protests, Obamacare subsidies, the future of Greenland, and President Trump’s new Assistant Attorney General position to investigate fraud and abuse, from a Biblical worldview.
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.
January 10, 2026 · 54 min · Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Audio
Looking at protests, Obamacare subsidies, the future of Greenland, and President Trump’s new Assistant Attorney General position to investigate fraud and abuse, from a Biblical worldview. ...more Show the full description Show less Looking at protests, Obamacare subsidies, the future of Greenland, and President Trump’s new Assistant Attorney General position to investigate fraud and abuse, from a Biblical worldview.
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.
Comments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
Up next Autoplay More from 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
From Tekoa to Bethel: A Shepherd’s Warning of Judgment Tony Perkins
Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment: God’s Desire to Restore Tony Perkins
David Wurmser, Ryan Bangert, Jeanne Seaver, David Closson Tony Perkins
11/6/2026 America’s Future Foreign and Domestic Policies and Responding Biblically to Cultural Challenges Tony Perkins
Joel 1:14 — Consecrate a Fast: A Pastoral Call to Repentance Tony Perkins
Randy Fine, Chris Mitchell, Amanda Dixon, Igor Bandura, Casey Harper Tony Perkins
11/5/2026 How Will Democrats Govern With Growing Anti-Semitism in Their Party? Tony Perkins
Hands on the Bow: Prophetic Authority and National Repentance Tony Perkins
Eric Burlison, John Rogers, Jack Hibbs, Suzanne Bowdey, Casey Harper Tony Perkins
In this video 0:00 Domestic Policy Spotlight: Obamacare Expansion and Urban Protests7:35 Global Unrest: Iran's Protests and Venezuela Operations13:54 Strategic Interests: Greenland Security and Minnesota Fraud Probe37:02 Biblical Worldview: Life, Sports Fairness, and Religious Freedom
Domestic Policy Spotlight: Obamacare Expansion and Urban Protests 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. Sitting in for Tony is today's host, Jody Heiss.0:19 And by the way, we don't want Russia or China going to Greenland, which if we don't take Greenland, you're gonna have Russia or China as your next door neighbor. That's not gonna happen.0:30 Well, that was president Trump earlier today responding to a reporter's question about his desire to acquire the territory of Greenland. Welcome to this January ninth edition of0:42 Washington Watch. I am Jody Heise, your Friday host. Thank you so much for joining us. Alright. Some of the highlights that we'll be covering for you today, top representatives to the US0:53 from Denmark and Greenland reportedly met with White House officials yesterday. And next week, US secretary of state Marco Rubio is expected to meet with foreign ministers from1:05 Denmark and Greenland for further discussions. We'll be getting a read on this situation a little bit later in the program when former US ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands,1:17 joins me. Plus, doctor David Clawson will be joining me later in the program to discuss the upcoming US Supreme Court hearing on female sports. We'll be reviewing West Virginia's
1:29 law protecting female athletes from competing against biological males and what all this could mean both for fairness and for family values.
1:45 Well, House Democrats yesterday advanced an Obamacare subsidy expansion, and they did so with the aid, I might add, of 17 Republicans. They did that despite
1:57 objections from GOP leadership. Republicans are warning that this measure locks in unlimited pandemic era spending as well as it increases significantly the deficit.
2:10 The bill passed though 2 30 to 1 96. So what is it going to, face when it reaches the senate? Well, joining me now is Washington stand
2:21 reporter, Casey Harper, who's been tracking today's stories as well as this 1. Casey, where does, where does this leave all the negotiations? What what are Republicans
2:33 saying is, the this deadline is rapidly approaching right now?
2:38 Yeah. Thanks, Jody. You're exactly right that we have this bump in COVID era spending that you would think would be COVID era but now could potentially become the new normal. Republicans argue that continuing those
2:48 subsidies benefits higher income Americans. Now the congressional budget office estimates that the plan would cost more than 80000000000 dollars over 10 years. Here's what representative Chris Smith had to
3:00 say about it.
3:01 The Hyde Amendment was not, I say again, not included when the ACA was enacted in 2010, nor was it included when president Biden significantly expanded subsidies during COVID. It has gotten so bad,
3:12 mister speaker, that according to a 20 25 article by the Kaiser Foundation, 12 states, including my own state of New Jersey, absolutely require all plans on the ACA
3:24 marketplace to cover abortion on demand. We permit abortion till birth in my state as do many others. That's all covered by Obamacare.
3:34 Well, GOP lawmakers, including Chris Smith, who you just heard passionately, say that the subsidies can be used for plans that include abortion and transgender medical procedures. On the other hand, Senate Republicans,
3:46 they want something and are pushing for something that's a shorter extension with income caps and stricter coverage limits. Jody?
3:55 We will certainly be watching this as it goes to the senate and see what happens over there. Transitioning a little bit, Casey, there's protests as we all are watching, taking place in Minneapolis. All this after an
4:07 ICE agent shot a woman. And there's similar unrest in, in Portland and other places after there after a border patrol intervene. What's the latest that, we're seeing, Casey,
4:18 right now as this wave of protests are spreading across the country?
4:23 Yeah. That's right, Jody. We have seen protests across the country, Minneapolis, Portland, other cities, including just down the street, from here at the White House. And this has all intensified. These protests have
4:33 been going on, but it's intensified after the ICE shooting with hundreds and hundreds demonstrating particularly near federal buildings. Now in Portland, as you mentioned, a border patrol agent shot 2 people in an in in
4:45 in incident, officials say, involved a potential vehicle attack. So another vehicle attack here. And we know there's been a surge in vehicle attacks against ICE officers as well. The Trump administration, for their
4:57 part, they emphasized that these operations and these agents being in these cities are enforcing immigration laws and protecting communities after a wave of illegal immigration under the Biden administration. Now the
5:08 protest in Minneapolis, all started with this, you know, big fraud investigation, which has now led to a surge in ICE. But there's more and more focus because of this on fraud,
5:19 including an investigation into COVID era tax fraud, which in this clip here, treasury secretary Scott Bessette commented on earlier today.
5:28 First, we have followed the money and identified the money service businesses that may have transferred taxpayer funds overseas. Our team at FinCEN has just
5:40 provided formal notification to these businesses that they are under investigation.
5:47 You know, the Trump administration also announced the DOJ led national fraud division to investigate and prosecute fraud affecting federal programs, which, Jody, you know, for your time in congress and in oversight, is
5:59 much more common than people may realize.
6:02 Yeah. It really is. And, you know, it's encouraging to see that some attention is being highlighted with all this. The light is coming on. Casey, if I can switch gears, of course, we have protests as you just referenced,
6:14 taking place in America. But on the international front, Iran also is witnessing massive anti government protests there and authorities there have even shut down the Internet.
6:25 And it looks like demonstrators are challenging the Islamic, Shia regime. Can you give us a little more information as to what's unfolding there?
6:35 Sure, Jody. It's pretty amazing what's happening in Iran right now. As you mentioned, Internet shut off, a lot of phone services shut off, flights not coming into the country anymore as protests have erupted across major
6:45 cities with demonstrators confronting security forces and defying the regime. So what do we know? We know at least 62 people, including security personnel and protesters and sadly, believe reports say
6:57 some children have been killed in the unrest. But this unrest, it highlights this growing anger at Iran's oppressive regime, the poor economy, and its continued hostility towards Israel and the west.
7:09 Jody?
7:11 Well, Casey, so much happening both here and around the world. As always, thank you so much for keeping us abreast as, what's what's taking place. We appreciate it. Alright. I wanna continue the discussion now on what's
7:22 happening in Iran and get a perspective from Capitol Hill. And joining me now to talk about this and more is congressman Keith Self. He serves on several house committees including the foreign affairs
7:34 committee. He also served our country faithfully for some 25 years in the army before retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He represents the third congressional district of the
Global Unrest: Iran's Protests and Venezuela Operations
7:46 great state of Texas. Congressman Self, welcome back to Washington Watch. Always great to have you.
7:51 Great to be here, Jody. Thank you.
7:54 Well, listen. Before I get going, I I I just wanna let you know I was virtually in your district literally up until just a day before yesterday visiting family, our daughter and grandkids, all of them. And I just love
8:05 the state of Texas. Said, your district is wonderful. They're fortunate to have you. And, it's always great to be there. But let me first start, if I can, with just your overall assessments as to
8:17 all the protests that have been taking place in Iran. What what are you hearing?
8:22 Well, I think this could be real. You know, they've tried before several times over several years, but this 1 looks real. There are unconfirmed reports that they've taken at least 1
8:34 city, that at least 1 general has joined, that they have burned the grave of the original Ayatollah Khomeini. So I think this could be real.
8:46 And I spoke to an Iranian American group just weeks ago literally and and told them that when the Iranian people are willing to accept the sacrifice that it will take to make a
8:57 change, then we'll see the change. This could look real to me, so I am very encouraged that the Iranian people have had enough. They're ready to move on from the theocracy
9:09 under which they suffer today.
9:12 Looking real, that is a great description of it, and, I think that hits it right on the head. You know, on the other hand of that, congressman, we have the Iranian regime, signaling at least that
9:24 security forces are gonna crack down on all these protests and protesters. In fact, the chief of justice there, is vowing punishment to these people, decisive punishment, maximum
9:36 punishment, with no legal leniency. What do you make of all that?
9:41 Well, we also hear reports that they're bringing in outsiders such as Hezbilai and other people to do their dirty work. So I think they realize maybe they shouldn't use the IRGC for
9:52 instance, the army, the police to actually, kill their own citizens. So in my mind, that could be another encouraging sign that they realize they don't wanna see
10:04 Iranians killing Iranians.
10:07 Yeah. Interesting take there. And then we have on this end, president Trump has warned, Tehran, the the regime that, if they kill some of these protesters, Americans are gonna come to
10:19 their rescue. Do do you think Iran has learned at least or at least skittish based on what happened last year when America intervened and did something
10:31 about their nuclear program? Or they, do they really understand that this president means business?
10:37 Well, they should. President Trump has proven time and time again when he says something, he's gonna do it.
10:46 Well, it's gonna be very interesting to you. Do you do you see how, from your perspective, has Iran just how weak have they become since all the war with Israel, Hamas,
10:58 that started a couple years ago and the US intervention, several months ago? Just how weak have they become?
11:06 Well, they've lost, their proxies, the Hezbollah, Hamas. They've lost those. They've lost the Shia nations over to the to the Mediterranean,
11:18 Iraq and others. They've lost so much. Their economy is in shambles. The sanctions are actually, hitting them. Russia is actually building
11:30 Iranian drones rather than bringing them from Iran. Some of the European sanctions, when I asked them to put sanctions on the Iranian airlines, they did. So
11:42 I believe they are far weaker than they used to be, because of a plethora of things that have happened to them over the last few years. So, yes, I think they are weaker. Now they they there are
11:53 2 things that are important to them. First of all, is the survival of the regime. So they may crack down. They may want to crack down in their nuclear program. Those are the 2 reasons that they
12:05 have, to go hard on all of this. So I don't think this is over. We need to be careful. Yes. They're weaker. Yes. They could be willing to crack down as hard as they have to. It's It's up to the
12:17 Iranian people though to make the decision of how hard they are going to fight.
12:23 Right. Switching gears real quickly, the senate, yesterday advanced a resolution, saying that the hostilities in Venezuela cannot go forward without authorization by congress.
12:34 What's your take on that resolution and the overall work of president Trump in Venezuela?
12:41 Well, that was a precise operation, the magnitude of which we have not we've never seen. The integration, the combination of national assets down to the ground assets
12:53 was truly amazing. But I don't think this is gonna stop president Trump, because I think he's on solid ground. Look, the US Marines have patrolled many of the South American, capitals over
13:04 the years. The Monroe Doctrine has been around since our nation was founded. Teddy Roosevelt added to it. The Don Roe Doctrine, as president Trump is calling it, has a
13:16 long and, very traditional history in America. This is our hemisphere and we intend and he intends, to to make sure that it stays our hemisphere. I don't think the
13:28 senate is gonna do anything. I think they're messaging. I think they're beating their chest, but I don't think that goes anywhere. President Trump, I think, is on solid ground to bring a legal criminal out
13:40 of Venezuela to stand trial in the United States.
13:44 Thank you, takers congressman Keith Self. Always an honor to have you on Washington Watch with us. Thank you. Our friends coming up, we'll turn our attention to Minnesota from the protest to the fraud.Show more
Tony Perkins93.9K followers
Comments
Keep it kind. Comments are public.