Skip to content 1/10/2025 GOP Groups Convene at Mar A Lago as Christians Serve Wildfire Victims Jan 11 · 59 min ...more
1/10/2025 GOP Groups Convene at Mar A Lago as Christians Serve Wildfire Victims
January 11, 2025 · 59 min
President-elect Trump meets with GOP members of Congress ahead of the inauguration. A church surrounded by the CA wildfires ministers to residents most deeply affected.
Series Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Video January 11, 2025 · 59 min · Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - Video
President-elect Trump meets with GOP members of Congress ahead of the inauguration. A church surrounded by the CA wildfires ministers to residents most deeply affected. ...more Show the full description Show less President-elect Trump meets with GOP members of Congress ahead of the inauguration. A church surrounded by the CA wildfires ministers to residents most deeply affected.
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In this video 0:11 Legal Battles and Parental Rights3:00 Wildfires and Community Response29:53 Political Discussions and Worldview
1:42 Moving forward, he has vowed to continue fighting for the safety, opportunity, and equality of America's daughters. Speaking of victories, parents also scored a win in
1:54 Ohio this week against LGBT activism. On Wednesday, Republican governor Mike DeWine signed the parents bill of rights. The new law significantly changes how topics like sexual
2:06 orientation and gender identity are handled in Ohio's public schools. For instance, parents must be notified if a class contains sexuality content. Parents also have the
2:18 right to pull their child out of a class with any material. Additionally, if a student starts to identify as anything other than their biological sex, schools must notify the parents.
2:30 1 other notable aspect is that the law allows students to leave campus during the school day for religious instruction. This happens through programs like the Christian Lifewise Academy founded by Joel Penton.
2:42 Opponents of this new legislation claim it's harmful for LGBT identifying students. However, others have countered that this is strictly about parents having a say in the lives of their children.
2:54 As DeWine put it, I believe in parents rights and that parents know best. Well, as we finish today's news desk, a quick update on the fires in Los Angeles. Major winds continue to
Wildfires and Community Response
3:06 fuel these damaging and widespread fires. Tens of thousands are without power. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is trying to help by providing free Internet through Starlink terminals. Firefighters in
3:18 LA are still hard at work, but the death toll continues to rise. There have also been multiple reports of looting as residents evacuate their homes. Here's what the LA County sheriff said in response.
3:31 Over last night and this morning, we are up to 20 20 individuals who chose to go into our areas and deprive these poor people who have been
3:43 through so much of their property. Absolutely unacceptable. Our first choice isn't to do enforcement. It's not to make arrest. It's to help people. But if people
3:55 choose to commit crimes, they're gonna be held accountable.
3:59 Now adding to this chaos, new reports have suggested some of the fires may have been started intentionally. This is the Kenneth fire that broke out Thursday afternoon. Police are investigating
4:11 suspected arsonist who has been detained after a citizen's arrest. Residents claim they saw the man bicycling around with a blow torch. They said he was seen lighting old Christmas trees and garbage cans on fire. Local
4:23 police have yet to release further details, but as fires are continued to are expected to continue and homes are burned to the ground and lives are changed forever, leaders continue to call for prayers for
4:34 all of those caught up in these tragedies. And those are today's headlines. I am Sarah Holliday. Up next is Washington Watch with Tony Perkins. We'll see you on Monday with more news.
4:52 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 and
5:04 newsmakers, all from a biblical worldview. Sitting in for Tony is today's host, Joseph Backholm.
5:12 Hello, and welcome to this Friday edition of Washington Watch. I'm Joseph Backholm, a senior fellow for biblical worldview here at Family Research Council. It's my pleasure to be sitting in for Tony and with you
5:25 this afternoon. Quick note and reminder as we prepare for the transition of leadership in Washington, we believe this is the season calls for heightened spiritual vigilance
5:37 and unity. So during this pivotal time from now until January twentieth of 20 25, we invite you to join us for operation prayer shield, a collective effort in which we'll seek
5:49 God's divine protection and guidance. So to be part of the effort, text shield, s h I e l d, to 6 7 7 4 2. You'll receive weekly alerts, daily prayer points, and
6:00 more. Again, text shield, s h I e l d, to 6 7 7 4 2. Today on the program, fires continue to
6:12 devastate California. A local pastor will join us to give a report from the ground and tell us what we can be doing to help. Also, a court ruling out of Kentucky has stopped the Biden administration's
6:24 efforts to redefine gender. We'll tell you the details of that decision and what it means practically for people's lives coming up as well. Also, in our worldview discussion,
6:36 is God the 1 burning California? And what should we think about the fact that the Beatles song imagine was sung at Jimmy Carter's funeral. We'll discuss all of that coming up in the
6:48 program. But first, our headlines. Different groups of house Republicans will be meeting this weekend with president-elect Trump at Mar a Lago, starting later today with the house freedom
6:59 caucus.
7:00 I talked to the president about, those meetings and his idea. It was his idea.
7:05 We were
7:06 getting, a small groups of house Republicans to come together and just just have fellowship together and talk about the issues and and, talk about the vision that we have for
7:14 the year in animus.
7:17 That was house speaker Mike Johnson yesterday speaking with reporters. What can we expect from some of the discussions to include, and what are some of the conclusions that Republicans will be hoping
7:29 for? Here now to discuss this and more is congressman Russ Fulcher, a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He represents the first congressional district of Idaho. Congressman Fulcher, welcome to Washington Watch.
7:40 Joseph, thank you so much. Appreciate your program.
7:43 Great to have you. What do you anticipate will be the focus of the meeting with president Trump and the Freedom Caucus?
7:52 Well, first of all, president Trump is a businessman, and he knows the importance of relationships in a positive rapport. And I'm I'm confident that part of the reason that we've been invited is to to work
8:04 on that rapport and build that relationship. And that's a good thing, and I'm very thankful for the opportunity to do it. I know that my colleagues are as well. I'm sure that as we go through these discussions this
8:14 evening, that it's going to have to do with the debt ceiling. It's gonna have to do with the upcoming reconciliation bill or bills and all the budget content that comes along with that. But that's the
8:26 the, genesis and I think the baseline for what we're gonna be talking about.
8:31 So do you expect these meetings to be as much relational as they are policy?
8:37 You know, I really do. And at the same time, it's important for those of us that are on the the fiscal conservative side to be able to communicate to the president just how important it is to us that we
8:48 address some of these debt related issues, Joe. So if we've we've got a 36000000000000 plus dollar debt that's just simply unsustainable, and I know that the president has requested a debt ceiling
9:00 increase. A number of us opposed that. But it wasn't because we were opposing the president. We're we're simply concerned about the spending that's coming out of Washington DC. And so that policy
9:12 is gonna be talked about a lot and the importance of changing the paradigm in Washington DC so that this is not just always growing the spending side of the ledger, but we're also
9:24 cutting things too.
9:26 Yeah. Well, there are very narrow Republican majorities in the house. Do you think that gives the House Freedom Caucus more leverage when it comes to
9:37 negotiations about things like spending and raising the debt limit?
9:42 I don't know question. But to be honest, everybody's got leverage when you're when you're this evenly yoked, if you will, Republican, Democrat on the house floor. And so I think right
9:54 now, we've got about a a 1 person margin that can go on a swing that will that will potentially change as some of the the, the members that got appointed to or potentially appointed to,
10:07 various offices get replaced. However Right. Any way you slice, it's gonna be very, very narrow, and everyone's vote, everyone's opinion is gonna be very important. It's extremely important that we
10:19 know where everybody is at before we go out there and cast votes.
10:22 Yeah. Do you have a sense for the Trump administration's priorities when it comes to spending in the budget?
10:30 Not by line. Well, I I shouldn't say that. Border, of course, is, first and foremost, appears to be on the agenda, and it should be. We've got a lot of damage that we need to try to
10:42 to, fix regarding the border. Right on the heels of that is gonna be energy related issues. The United States has tremendous potential to once again embark on
10:54 more domestic energy production and energy exports, which also gives you leverage on the course foreign policy front. So those are gonna be right up there. Of course, the foreign wars
11:06 issues and how that gets gets dealt with is gonna be right there as well. And then just the overall, swamp, if you will, and how you deal with these major,
11:18 these major bureaucracies and the leverage that they have gained over the years. The we've got a full plate, Joseph, and and I think that that's probably gonna be on the discussion role
11:29 tonight.
11:30 Yeah. Well, congressman, apropos of nothing, probably, why are all these meetings always happening at Mar a Lago? Everybody seems to be going to Trump's house to do everything.
11:41 Yeah. Well, I can tell you, I left 25 degrees in Washington DC this morning, and it's 70 degrees here. So maybe that's part of it. But, seriously, I I think it's,
11:53 wherever the the, incoming president is, I think is is where, where you need to be. And and right now, he extended an invitation, and I think
12:05 it's probably most convenient for him to do it where he lives. And, the least we can do is to accommodate that. Once again, this is not only, I think, for rapport building, but it's
12:17 gonna be discussions of the major policies that we're all gonna be voting on within a few days. And so, if if if we need to come to Florida and you're gonna have those discussions, I
12:29 am more than happy to do it.
12:31 Yeah. And the weather, of course, is a great bonus. Congressman, we mentioned the very narrow majorities that exist right now and kind of the the challenge that presents.
12:43 What do you get us what's the sense of the the the mood in congress? Is there, like, a lot of anxiety because of how narrow those majorities are and and some of the differences that have flared up in very recent
12:55 years? Or is this sense is there a sense of optimism that we really do have shared goals? We expect to get on the same page. We all wanna get on the same page, and we think we can.
13:06 You know, that's a that's a great question. I just have to respond by saying since the election, it's like a dark cloud has been lifted over Washington DC. Now, of course, I'm on the conservative Republican
13:18 side, and there's more evidence there of that. However, I would argue, Joseph, that even my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are somewhat encouraged because they don't have to necessarily
13:30 defend all the stupid policies that they've had to defend for the last 4 years. And I apologize about being so blunt, but let's be honest. My friends on the other side of the aisle are very good at towing
13:42 the party line. They're very good at following and defending what the administration on their side puts out front. And some of those policies, quite frankly, are just plain
13:54 stupid. And I'll start with electronic vehicle mandates in a very short period of time, transgender issues, open borders, and all the things that come negatively with that. These are
14:06 policies that my friends on the other side of the aisle have had to defend. And that's why, in my opinion, they lost the election. That's why the Republicans came out on front. And I think that everyone is
14:18 relieved that we're just not having to defend stupid anymore. And, again, I apologize for the bluntness, but that's just the reality as I see it.
14:26 Well, I think there are a lot of voters who would agree with that. And and to that point, the hundred and nineteenth congress has already been sworn in. You guys are, already busy working. A lot of
14:38 attention given to the reconciliation bill and and how we're gonna get that passed. There's a debate over whether that should be 2 bills, 1 bill. What's your preference, and how do you see that going?
14:50 I don't particularly have a preference, and that's gonna be discussed tonight as well. But here's what is important. We need to demonstrate that we are willing to cut spending. And so part of the
15:02 discussion tonight will include things on the docket that can be done. If we simply put workforce requirements, for example, on some of the the, Medicaid recipients that are able-bodied,
15:14 there's over a hundred billion dollars there. If we get rid of these electronic vehicle mandates, there's over a hundred billion dollars there. If we get rid of this, IRS army funding that the previous
15:26 or the current administration wanted to do, there's billions and billions of dollars there. How about the depart federal department of education? These are all things that, are are as far as is I'm
15:37 concerned and my conservative colleagues, this is low hanging fruit, and that's just a start. So we intend on communicating to the to the president. Frankly, I think that he has already exhibited a willingness to listen
15:49 to those things. But, more than anything, we've got to be able to demonstrate to the American people who put us in charge, who gave us this responsibility and this privilege of leading
16:01 that we're not going to just continually run up the credit card. And so that's gonna be a real focus for our discussions.
16:09 Congressman, are the 80000 new IRS agents going to survive?
16:16 I hope not. And, and I don't think so, to be honest. Because, again, I'm gonna go back to my blunt comments earlier. I think that falls in the category of stupid when we start looking at doing things
16:27 like that. And those are are, some of the policies that just don't need to be there. You know, there's there is a argument, a fiscal argument for raising the debt ceiling. I
16:39 did not support it prior. And I know or at least I think I know why the president wants to do it. That's to give some fiscal running room, for default in the bond markets and all of that.
16:51 However, when you do that, you send a message to the people of America that you're willing to increase that credit card limit that we don't have backing for, and you're willing to spend it. I'm not saying
17:03 necessarily I wouldn't support it for fiscal reasons, but I would need to see some spending cuts with it, and I think my colleagues are of the same mindset.
17:13 Programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare are something that a lot of people have come to, depend upon and expect kind of the third rail. Is it
17:24 possible to reduce spending in the way that you would like to see so that we see that 36000000000000 dollar debt go down rather than up without touching
17:36 those kind of programs?
17:39 Well, that's a that's a conversation that's gonna take longer than what we have. However, I think the short answer is long term, no. There that's simply too big of a part of the overall
17:50 budget that is on kind of an autopilot. And, and it's it's not been solvent for some time. It does need reform, but it's it's gonna take it's not a simple
18:02 1 to address, but there are some things we can do in the meantime. And so we wanna try to attack first things first. But to your point, I think that will have to be addressed if we're gonna solve
18:14 this problem long term.
18:16 Yeah. And it's easy to blame politicians, but in reality, there's a lot of people in the public who want what comes with that debt. And, we're all gonna have to take our medicine if we're gonna fix this, I think.
18:27 Congressman Fulcher, thank you so much for your time today.
18:30 My honor. Thanks for having me on today.
18:34 Coming up, we'll get an on the ground update from the historic wildfires in Los Angeles from a pastor of 1 of the oldest churches in the area. Stay with us right here on
18:45 Washington Dodge.
18:53 During these challenging times for our nation, Family Research Council continues to serve as a watchman on the wall for faith, family, and freedom. And together, thanks to your support, we're making an eternal
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21:45 slash store or text journal to 6 7 7 4 2. Perfect
21:51 for you and your loved ones. Welcome back to Washington Watch. I'm Joseph Backholm sitting in Fort Tony today. As devastating wild fires
22:03 ravaged Los Angeles County, the toll on the community is staggering. With over 35000 acres burned and at least 10 lives tragically lost. These fires are among the most
22:15 destructive natural disasters in California's history. Tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate. And as critical fire conditions persist, the heartbreak and uncertainty weigh heavily on all those
22:26 affected. Communities hit particularly hard by the Eaton County Canyon fire include Pasadena, Altadena, and the town of Sierra Madre. Residents are grappling with immense loss and are
22:38 searching for hope. Joining me now to provide an on the ground update on the latest and what the needs are is doctor Josh Swanson, senior pastor of 1 of the oldest churches in the area, Christ Church
22:50 Sierra Madre. Doctor Swanson, welcome to Washington Watch.
22:54 Thanks. It's, great to be with you.
22:56 Thank you for for taking some time from, I know, very important things that you have. Give us an update about how things are in your community.
23:07 Yeah. So, it's been really devastating on, so many people in our church family. There's been a number of families in our church who have lost literally everything. I was talking
23:19 with a friend of mine yesterday who had lost his home. He was in, up in Altadena, and he said he drove up the street. And he said he just saw person after person, standing in front of these
23:31 empty lots, almost like people at a graveyard, you know, standing over a grave. And so it's really, really devastating, and the the loss is immense. And so, you know, we're seeing on the 1
23:43 hand people grappling with immense loss, but we're also seeing really beautiful ways in which people are stepping up and caring really well for each other. And so we we see both a mixture of of
23:55 grief and loss as well as hope and the love of God kind of emerging in this place right now.
24:01 We know that fires are constantly moving and understand they're still burning. Is the threat ongoing in your community, or has it moved through?
24:11 Yeah. So the threat has, moved through for now. They have lifted some of the evacuation mandates in Sierra Madre, and so more of the residents are coming back. Our family
24:22 was evacuated, and we returned home last night and talked to another of, many other families who have kinda had the same thing. So we're not in imminent danger right now, and,
24:34 we're thankful for that. I understand that on Monday, it sounds like winds are supposed to pick back up again, and so they're trying to get a handle on things over the weekend, to prevent the communities that are most at
24:46 risk, from being in danger.
24:49 Yeah. What you're dealing with is just a a husband and a father in your own, right, but also as a pastor of a broader conversation. You're gonna have church on Sunday. What are you thinking in terms
25:00 of how does I mean, you did have. How are you gonna talk about what it is that you're experiencing, and and and what is the way for Christians to navigate this?
25:11 Yeah. So 1 of the things that we've done as a community, last night and then the night before that, and then, tonight, we're gonna do it again as we've just had these prayer gatherings where our community gathers
25:23 together, for support and for sharing and just to pray together. And so we've had people who have who have who have dear friends that have lost everything. There were people, at our gathering
25:35 that I went to a couple nights ago who had themselves lost everything. And so to come together and to be able to share with 1 another about about where we're at. We're feeling disoriented and
25:47 confused and, or or maybe some people oddly at peace in the midst of the chaos and then just to pray together. So that's what we've been doing over the last couple days. And,
25:59 as we move into Sunday, we're also gonna spend space in our church, service in prayer. We're gonna have somebody get up and share who's lost a home. And, yeah, and and we're just gonna lean
26:10 into God and to him as our great rock in the midst of all of the chaos. So that's that's that's the plan moving into Sunday.
26:19 Yeah. Amen to that. And I know it's very early in terms of the reaction, but, do you expect this to create hostility amongst your community and a and a
26:30 a closeness to a god who would allow something like this to happen, or are they gonna look for perspective and hope that the gospel might be able to provide?
26:40 Yeah. I I don't at all expect hostility. I I actually look forward to seeing our community as they have been over the last couple days really unite together.
26:52 And, you see first responders, you see government officials, you see church leaders, you see leaders in the community and teachers and, this sort of thing kind of working together, toward a
27:04 common end. And so that's really hopeful for me. And so I I and and I do think that in periods of chaos and crisis, oftentimes, people do
27:16 look to God, and so we we we look forward to that. I I had a conversation with a guy the other day who, who had lost his home, and he just said, you know,
27:28 I'm recognizing in in losing everything, what really matters to me. It's relationships. It's God. And and I I think that that this moment can really provide
27:40 that for a lot of people, kind of a a wake up call in some respects. But, yeah, I don't I I haven't experienced anything like hostility, and I I wouldn't expect that in the future. I think I think people
27:51 will, work together and unite together, across, you know, denominational lines and and people who believe, people who don't believe, you know, working together for the common good.
28:02 That's encouraging to hear, and and we will pray for more of that. But, Josh, last question I think I have time for. A lot of us from around the country are just observing in horror what's
28:14 happening there in California, and and our hearts go out. How would you like us to pray? What are the practical things that we may or may not be able to do, from our, you know, vantage
28:26 points in Iowa and New Jersey and wherever we are around the country just being sympathetic? What would you ask us to do?
28:33 Yeah. Thank you for that question, and thank you to everyone who is watching this, who you you've been praying for us, and we don't know 1 another, but but you love, you know, the the body of Christ.
28:44 Right.
28:44 And your heart is broken over what you're seeing, so thank you for your prayers. And there's been a number of people that have, given financially to organizations in the area that are working. That's something people can
28:55 do. Our church is collecting, funds and resources to distribute to those who have needs. And people, I know are are rallying together to, support us in that
29:07 way, and that's really helpful, you know, way to support. And I I think 1 thing that that has just kind of occurred to me over the last few days in watching how people who've lost everything has felt, like, supported
29:19 during this time is, what came to mind is that phrase, think global, but act local. Mhmm. And in many respects, what is carrying people through is the body
29:31 of Christ being the body of Christ, checking in with each other, caring for each other, loving each
29:36 other, having each other's life. Right there.
29:38 Do that.
29:39 Because he because we are out of time. We will try to do that. Bear 1 another's burdens. Doctor Swanson, thank you much for joining me today. Godspeed.
29:46 Bless and stay.
29:48 We'll be right back here on Washington Watch.Show more
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