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In this episode of Washington Watch, host Tony Perkins navigates through the pressing issues facing Israel as the world remembers the October 7th attack two years ago. With global anti-Semitism on the rise, the steadfast support of Israel is examined in light of peace talks and President Trump’s 20-point plan. The discussion shifts to the U.S. domestic front, where Senator Lindsey Graham speaks out on the DOJ’s controversial actions and discusses the ongoing government shutdown.
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from the heart of our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., bringing compelling interviews, insightful analysis, taking you beyond the headlines and soundbites into conversations with our nation’s leaders and newsmakers, all from a biblical worldview. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins starts now.
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We have to remember what October 7th marks. It was a massacre. It was the darkest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. These are objective facts, and right now there are people protesting against Israel for fighting a war to defend their people and their homeland.
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That was House Speaker Mike Johnson expressing his unwavering support for Israel on the second anniversary of Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel. Welcome to this October 7th edition of Washington Watch. I’m your host, Tony Perkins. Thanks so much for tuning in. Well, coming up, the Biden Department of Justice is under fire for targeting Republican senators in its so-called Arctic Frost investigation. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of those targeted, joins me in just a moment. Then the Supreme Court takes up a major challenge to Colorado’s counseling law restricting conversations with minors about sexual orientation and gender identity. Jonathan Scruggs from Alliance Defending Freedom, who attended today’s oral arguments, will join me. Well, two years after Hamas’s savage assault that killed over 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostages, Israel remains steadfast in its fight to defend its people and defeat the terrorist organization Hamas. The 48 hostages still unaccounted for, many fear dead. A breakthrough may be emerging for the remaining live hostages as President Trump’s peace plan drives talks aimed at ending the violence and securing their release. Joining me now is Washington Stand reporter Casey Harper, who’s been tracking this story throughout the day. Casey, what’s the latest out of Israel?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, well, Tony, it has been a somber day across Israel. As you mentioned, today marks two years since Hamas’ horrific October 7th attack, a day that was observed with sirens sounding nationwide and memorials that were held from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. families of hostages, they gathered in Hostages Square and across the country to honor their loved ones. Meanwhile, indirect peace talks between Israel and Hamas resumed in Egypt, centered on President Trump’s 20-point peace plan. Now, both sides are considering terms for a ceasefire, which include hostage release and expanded humanitarian aid to Gaza. Now a U.S. delegation, which includes Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, they joined those discussions today. And also earlier today, President Trump met with Canada’s Prime Minister at the White House and expressed optimism that an agreement could be within reach.
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I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East. It’s something even beyond the Gaza situation. We want a release of the hostages immediately, etc. And so our team is over there now.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, Tony, as Israel remembers one of the deadliest terror attacks in decades, the world is watching closely.
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All right, thanks, Casey, for that update. These past two years have revealed much. Not only the failure of the 2005 Gaza disengagement, which effectively handed control of Gaza to Hamas, which they used to launch their attack on Israel, but also a global rise in anti-Semitism like anything we’ve seen in nearly a century. Now here at Family Research Council, our support for Israel has never wavered and it never will. Now that doesn’t mean a blank check for any government policy that we agree with everything that they do, but it does mean that we should pursue policies aligned with scripture, affirming Israel’s right to exist and to live free from the threat of annihilation. The October 7th attack was barbaric. I’ve been to Israel five times since October 7th. I’ve been through these communities. I’ve met with former hostages, families of hostages. This must not be minimized. And we should continue to pray for Israel. Later in the program, Chris Mitchell, CBN’s Middle East Bureau Chief, is going to join us from Jerusalem. Now, turning to another critical issue here at home, Casey, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a major case today involving religious freedom and free speech.
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What can you tell us? Yeah, you’re right, Tony. This is a huge case with big implications. So a Christian therapist, Kaylee Childs, she’s challenging Colorado’s ban on so-called conversion therapy for minors. She argues it censors voluntary conversations about faith and identity.
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Colorado’s law hurts kids struggling with gender dysphoria. If counselors wish to engage clients on these issues, the law limits them to one option of encouraging kids to reject their body. That is a tragedy.
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Childs says the law violates her First Amendment rights and prevents her from helping clients who simply want their lives to align with their faith. Now this case in question, Childs v. Salazar, it could set a national precedent on professional speech and religious liberty, Tony.
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All right. Thanks, Casey. We’re going to actually go a little bit deeper in that case with ADF Senior Counsel Jonathan Scruggs a little bit later when he joins us. But first, another news related to the courts. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Merle is taking on the FDA over the abortion drug Mifeprestone. I spoke with her earlier today, Casey, but it was before I saw the suit. What’s the latest on this?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, that’s right, Tony. I know this is an issue you and FRC have been leading on, but yesterday, Louisiana filed a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s 2023 FDA rule. Now, that rule allows the abortion pill Mifepristone to be mailed even to states like Louisiana that ban abortions. So a lawsuit argues that the pill is unsafe, and that the FDA just ignored those key safety concerns, and that the rule, of course, violates the law. Louisiana, they’re seeking to block the rule to protect their laws, unborn babies, and the health of women, Tony.
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All right, Casey, tomorrow, actually here on Washington Watch, we’re going to be joined by the Attorney General of Louisiana, and she’s going to tell us why Louisiana had to take this legal action against the Trump administration to uphold the state’s pro-life laws. Thanks so much, Casey. Thanks, Tony. All right, I want to go back now to yesterday’s disclosure of the FBI targeting eight Republican senators and one member of the House as a part of its Arctic Frost investigation. Joining me now to discuss this and a whole lot more is U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who was one of the Republican members who was targeted. He serves on several Senate committees, including the Judiciary Committee. He joins us by phone. Senator Graham, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks for joining us. Thank you, Tony. Talk about chilling free speech. Arctic frost. They’re tracking you. What they hear, what they find out.
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, this is not about free speech. It’s about separation of powers. It’s about my ability as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee on January 4th through the 7th to find out what I need to learn before I vote to certify an election, whether or not my committee and the Senate should do an investigation of what happened in 2020. We’re a separate branch of government. The idea that Jack Smith’s FBI agents in 2023 would look at my phone records as to who I called, where I was at, and how long those phone calls lasted is unconstitutional in my view, is appalling, and should make people worried all over the country, whether you like me or not. This is a very big deal. Kash Patel and Dan Bongino have done a great job cleaning up this mess, and I will let you know what I learn in the future.
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Well, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley, said that this is arguably worse than Watergate. You agree?
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Yeah, well, just think about it. There are eight United States senators, all Republican, that were surveilled by FBI agents working for Jack Smith. People got to realize that Jack Smith was a special counsel appointed to investigate Trump. He was appointed three days after Trump announced in 2022 who was going to run for office again. Within five months of President Trump announcing in 2022 he would seek the nomination for the Republican Party in 2024 to run for president, there were four jurisdictions indicted him with 60 or 70 felony charges. New York, the Attorney General, Manhattan DA, Fulton County DA, Fannie Willis, Jack Smith brought charges against him for mishandling classified information and trying to change the outcome of the 2020 election. One indictment in Washington, D.C., the other in Florida. So within five months of announcing he’s going to run again, he had four of the most liberal jurisdictions in the country load him up with charges. And I think it wasn’t about 2020. It was designed to stop him for 2024. In 2023, we now know. Jack Smith, FBI agents were looking at my phone calls and that of my fellow colleagues regarding 2020. This is a big deal.
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OK. And we haven’t heard the last of this. We’re going to hear more.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, I hope so.
SPEAKER 03 :
OK. All right. Because a lot of times we hear these things and then we just kind of move on because there’s some other outrageous thing that happens. But you’re right. This is a this is separation of powers. This is a big deal. If it’s not addressed, it’ll happen again.
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Amen.
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All right. Let’s move on because I only have you for four more minutes and there’s a lot to cover. I want to talk about very quickly government shutdown. We’re in day seven here and there’s now talk. The president said he might be open to some negotiations over these subsidies, these premium subsidies for ACA or the Obamacare. What do we know?
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, I think I don’t know how this movie is going to end, but I know this. When you have a policy dispute, you don’t shut down the government to resolve it. That’s holding people hostage. The subsidies we’re talking about are Obamacare. They apply to people that make 400 percent above poverty. Insurance companies get paid for everybody they enroll. I think there’s a lot of fraud. It needs to be reformed. And I’m not going to extend these subsidies in current form. OK. And shutting down the government to get me to do that is not going to work. And I hope we all.
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And it should be known that these were only done for like during the covid area. It was supposed to be a short term behind us. That’s right. Right. And but one thing, Senator Graham, if these are negotiated either post a government shutdown or. The thing about Obamacare, the ACA, it does not have hide protections. This ought to be a part of the conversation.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, I couldn’t agree with you more. As a matter of fact, you know, COVID’s behind us. Obamacare is just escalating costs like we said it would. Obamacare is not health care reform. It’s taking money from the middle class to give to people in lower income levels their health care virtually free. It’s a reallocation of money. to create health care programs for people based on income, and most of the money is coming from the middle class. You’re paying more. Some people get it for free. That’s not health care reform. That’s sort of redistributing the income.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, you know who gets the biggest cut is the insurance companies are making a killing off of this.
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A killing. They get paid for every person they sign up. And some of these people may not even exist. That’s what I want to look at.
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So it’s the fraud. You just throw trillions of dollars at it, you’re going to get more fraud. All right. Less than two minutes left, Senator Graham. Today, October 7th, two years ago, Hamas launched this attack on Israel. It now appears the world’s turned against Israel, not Hamas.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, it’s kind of sad. You know, people don’t like strong Jewish people, apparently. Every time Israel is strong, it gets condemned. Anti-Semitism exists, but every time Israel fights back and strikes back, the world piles on. Two years ago today, the largest loss of Jewish life occurred in the most barbaric attack since the Holocaust. It was designed to prevent Saudi Arabia from recognizing Israel. It is directly related to Iran’s support for Hamas. They filmed it so you couldn’t look away. I am more dedicated than ever to destroying Hamas. make sure they never come back, and see if we can get Saudi Arabia and Israel back on track to end the Arab-Israeli conflict. That’s the best way to win this war.
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Does that 20-point plan eliminate Hamas in the threat of the future? It does, but Hamas has to disarm.
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They can’t be part of the future of the Palestinian world. Is that negotiable? Well, to me, that’s non-negotiable. If that is not achieved, the whole thing fails.
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I would agree with you, Senator Lindsey Graham. Senator, thanks for joining us.
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God bless.
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Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Look, you can’t allow this situation in Gaza to go back to to allow Hamas to remain in power and rebuild and simply launch another attack. They took over in 2007. All right. The disengagement was 2005. Hamas was, quote, unquote, elected in 2007. They spent all of this time preparing for what happened two years ago. All right, coming up next, the Supreme Court back in session. Big case today. We’re going to talk about it next year on Washington Watch. Don’t go away.
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Three years ago, the Supreme Court issued its historic Dobbs decision, a ruling that overturned Roe versus Wade, which for nearly 50 years imposed abortion on demand, silencing voters and bypassing the democratic process across the country. The Dobbs decision was a huge step forward against abortion, but it didn’t outright ban it. It returned the power to the people. Now, 29 states have laws on the books protecting life. However, there’s a catch. Abortion numbers since Dobbs have actually gone up with an increase of 12% since 2020, climbing from 930,000 to over 1 million in each of the most recent years. So how can this be? The answer is simple, the abortion drug. Today, over 60% of US abortions involve abortion drugs, many of these without medical oversight. In 2021, the Biden administration quietly removed bare minimum longstanding safety protocols for the abortion drug that have existed for 20 years to protect women from life-threatening risks and ensuring informed consent. The Biden DOJ then declared that they would not enforce the Comstock Act, which prevents the mailing of anything that causes an abortion. This is not only illegal, but also dangerous. A study shows nearly 11% of women who take the abortion drug end up in the emergency room with serious complications. Unless the Trump administration reverses these reckless Biden-era policies, pro-life laws will remain largely symbolic. Without a full review and repeal of Mifepristone, unborn lives will remain in grave danger, and pregnant mothers will remain at risk. Let’s stand for life and end this mail-order abortion drug pipeline. Sign the petition urging the Trump administration to take action at frc.org slash stop chemical abortion.
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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory. The Family Research Council invites you to join our Stand on the Word Bible reading plan as we reflect upon the life of Jesus, the Word who dwelt among us. Come with us and discover the glory of the Word. Read the Gospels and witness the life-changing story of Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection. Come read how Jesus transformed the lives of common people and how those same people transformed the known world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Come with us for 10 to 15 minutes a day and read the entire New Testament before the new year. Find our Bible reading plan in daily devotionals from Tony Perkins at frc.org slash Bible. Join us in Stand on the Word.
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All right, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks so much for joining us on this Tuesday. I think it’s Tuesday. It’s been a long week already. Coming up October 17th and 18th, the PrayVote Stand Summit in… California. Actually, we’re going to California. Southern California, PrayVoteStand at Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills. To find out more and to register, go to PrayVoteStand.org. All right, and one of the reasons we’re gathering is to address issues like we saw here today in Washington. One day after returning to the bench for the new term, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case of a Colorado licensed counselor who’s challenging her state’s counseling censorship law. Legacy Media is describing the case as a case against conversion therapy. But the Colorado law does more than that. It forbids a licensed counselor from even having voluntary conversations with minors about sexual orientation or gender identity, unless it directs young people towards so-called gender transition. It’s a one-way street. So how’d it go today? Well, joining me to share what happened inside the courtroom is Jonathan Scruggs. He’s a senior counsel and vice president of litigation strategy at Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing the Colorado Licensed Counselor. Jonathan, welcome back to Washington Watch. Oh, thanks for having me. Good to have you in studio. So quick summary of the case, what it was about.
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Yeah, like you said, it’s really about a case involving a licensed counselor from Colorado who counsels kids to help them achieve their voluntary goals to grow comfortable with their bodies if they’re struggling with issues like gender dysphoria or discomfort.
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So it’s a free speech issue. It’s a right of access issue for parents and children that want this type of counseling that are being denied it in the state of California.
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Absolutely. This is totally conversation. So it’s all that we’re talking about. And kids and families who are struggling with this issue, right? Like, where do they go? What help do they need? They want to engage in just conversation.
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So what’s this? The media is a conversion therapy.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah. I mean, I think they use that term. And I mean, there’s I’m sure people do. It’s a loaded term. It’s a loaded term. And it’s not doesn’t really accurately describe what our client.
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So this is this is. counseling, like you would go to anybody and say, okay, so what’s happening in your life? Exactly. And sometimes it goes back to trauma that they might have experienced, but it’s tracing back to the roots. But right now, in Colorado, in a total, almost two dozen states have these type of laws that ban this type of counseling. The only option you have is surgery and drugs, right?
SPEAKER 14 :
That’s right. They’re pushing you to the surgery and drugs. These young kids, and that harms them. Why are we banning counselors from helping kids with helpful conversations?
SPEAKER 03 :
Non-invasive counseling, just having a conversation.
SPEAKER 14 :
Just conversations, but we’re going to push them to have surgeries that will alter their lives forever.
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So do you think the court, the nine justices saw that today?
SPEAKER 14 :
I think so. And it probably is, you know, I wouldn’t say shocking, but like even the more liberal and progressive justices were asking really difficult questions of Colorado because Colorado’s argument is essentially we get to say whatever happens. We get to regulate what happens in this counseling room, these conversations, whatever we say goes. And I think the liberal and progressive justices were realizing that’s not a good thing, right? Because that means the government can just shut down any conversation.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay, Jonathan, let me ask you this because Alliance Defending Freedom Very supportive. We work a lot with Alliance Defending Freedom. Great, great group. We appreciate you guys. You’ve been to the court a number of times for cases out of Colorado. Masterpiece cake, cake bakers. So what’s going on in Colorado? Are the justices seeing that something is happening in Colorado?
SPEAKER 14 :
I mean, I wish I could say that Colorado got the message, but we have to keep going. And we’re currently litigating numerous cases on behalf of businesses. I think we have like four or five pending cases just in Colorado. And many of these are going to the Supreme Court. You would hope they get the message to respect the First Amendment. I mean, in the past, they’ve tried to. ban, you know, fringe the First Amendment.
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And they’ve lost.
SPEAKER 14 :
And they’ve lost every time. You know, so even after, and Jack Phillips, who was the cake designer in Colorado, after we won at the Supreme Court, they went after him again after that. Right. And we won that too. So we actually have a pretty good record. I think we might be undefeated against the state of Colorado.
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I just don’t get it.
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, I mean, it’s just an ideology. And that’s the key thing here, is that in this issue, when kids and families are struggling, why is the government pushing them toward this ideology to accept this gender ideology?
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay, so we’ve just got a few minutes left here, Jonathan. As I mentioned in passing a moment ago, they’re not the only state. There’s a total of 23 states that have laws like this. So first, what do you think the likely outcome is in this case?
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I’m pretty hopeful, like I said, just from the conversations that we’re having at the court today, that everyone, almost every justice seemed pretty skeptical. So I’m hopeful that we get a strong victory. so what will this do for parents and children and counselors across the country in these other states that have these totalitarian rules in place it’ll free up the counselors to give the help families need and let me let me stress this nine percent of kids who are struggling with this issue struggling with issues of gender dysphoria they naturally grow comfortable with their bodies so why are we pushing kids away from that from away from getting the help and the care
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We also know that underlying, in most cases, there’s some trauma that they’ve experienced in life. And if you just medicate that or cover it up with some surgery, it’s not going to be dealt with.
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, what should be the answer? The answer should be counseling. Right. Right. And that’s exactly what Colorado is banning, which is that’s the crazy thing.
SPEAKER 03 :
You mentioned the ideological bent here. There’s a reason for this. They don’t want, it’s almost like they want people to suffer by going down this path.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, it doesn’t make any sense. I mean, why take away the choice from parents and kids toward the right path? You’re pushing them toward something, like I said, toward drugs, towards cross-sex hormones, toward puberty blockers, toward surgeries that could make kids lifelong patients. That’s just, it’s harmful. It’s a sad thing.
SPEAKER 03 :
But that’s the world in which we live. And this is consistent, Jonathan, with what we see in the left and in the cancel culture that we’ve been experiencing for the last decade is that their positions are so indefensible that they don’t want to have conversations about it. They want to lock people into harmful, really destructive decisions.
SPEAKER 14 :
I think that’s really the problem with gender ideology, right? It denies the truth. When you deny the truth, who gets hurt? Kids and women. And that’s what’s happening in states like Colorado.
SPEAKER 03 :
So, Jonathan, the court generally, after they hear these oral arguments, don’t they get together usually at the end of the week and they kind of hash through and start to formulate their opinions?
SPEAKER 14 :
That’s right. They meet together, they vote, and then you enter into kind of a negotiation process, like a joint project to write the actual opinion.
SPEAKER 03 :
So when should our listeners and viewers be praying specifically for the court? Is they kind of… distill down their opinions?
SPEAKER 14 :
I mean, I would be praying now because even now when they have that first vote, it’s going to be important because that kind of starts that negotiation process. And we could get an opinion as late as June of next year.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right, well, we’ll be praying. Jonathan, thanks for stopping in. Great to see you. Again, appreciate the work that ADF does. Thank you so much. And folks, I would encourage you to pray for the court. A big session, of course, a big case today. And so be praying for these justices that they would be directed to do what is right and in the best interest of Americans and that they would align with truth. All right, don’t go away because we have more Washington Watch on the other side of the break.
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All right, welcome back. The website, tonyperkins.com. Better yet, get the Stand Firm app. Go to the App Store, get the Stand Firm app, where you can have Washington Watch with you no matter where you go, and you’ll have access to our news and commentary from a biblical perspective and my morning devotion. Stand on the Word. That can be found at the App Store, the Stand Firm app. All right, it’s time now for our weekly Standing Together segment, where we highlight organizations that share our commitment to advance the kingdom of God by championing faith, family, and freedom. And this week, we want to give attention to the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a new national organization that is working to protect the First Amendment rights of educators and to ensure that parents, parents, Not bureaucrats or union bosses remain at the center of education. Joining me now is the new CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, Ryan Walters, who assumed this role last week after previously serving as Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Ryan, welcome back to Washington Watch.
SPEAKER 17 :
Thank you for having me, Tony.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, first off, start off by telling us a little more about the Teacher Freedom Alliance.
SPEAKER 17 :
Well, thank you Tony. You know what we’ve seen are teachers that try to bring any kind of moral value to the classroom. Any kind of conservative value have been under attack from the teachers unions from the Federal Department of Education. Donald President Donald Trump’s done a great job of eliminating that federal Department of Education. It’s on its way out. But you have this teachers union that again, pushes Marxism, pushes woke ideology in the classroom. And if you’re a conservative teacher, you are absolutely thrown to the wolves. They attack you, they dox you, they are pushing a left-wing agenda. So the Teacher Freedom Alliance, we are here to support good conservative teachers from across the country who understand what education should be. It’s about making sure kids get the education that their parents want for them, not a bureaucrat, Not a left wing teachers union, but a basic education where they understand academics. They understand moral value. They understand what the country was built on. We want patriotic Americans and we’re going to support those teachers and we’re building a teacher army Tony so that we can go out and get the classrooms back and create classrooms that will make America great again.
SPEAKER 03 :
So, Ryan, you’re going to go toe to toe with these woke liberal teacher unions. And you’re going to do that, I guess, by building an army of volunteer teachers who say, you know what, I don’t want any more of that. I need to have a collective voice with some of my like minded colleagues.
SPEAKER 17 :
That’s right, that’s right. So what we’re doing is we’re putting together thousands of teachers from across the country. We’re in every state in the country and we’re going to continue to provide them all the support they need when if they get sued by their district by their union and you’ve heard it a time and time again, you know if a if a teacher comes in with a cross necklace they get sued if they come in and there’s a Bible verse somewhere they get sued, we’re going to have their back. not going to allow these left wing activists to drive every good teacher out of the classroom. So we’re building this community to go in and say, hey, we’re some of the best teachers in the country. We’re here to get education back. We’re going to give them the supports that they need so that then they can go into the classrooms, teach our kids. We can’t give up on this war, Tony. If they can the classroom they win the future and that’s what the Marxist teachers unions have done such an effective job of they control it they have dominated our classrooms they’ve indoctrinated our kids and we’re not going to stand for it another minute we are going to destroy the teachers you all right Ryan how can teachers and I know we’ve got a lot of teachers listen to the program across the country how can they find out more about this new opportunity to take back the classroom away from the unions Teachers come sign up at the teacherfreedomalliance.com. Sign up. We have your back. We are going to provide you the best professional development in the country. We’re going to make sure you’re protected when the unions come after you. And we’re going to make sure that you are in a community full of like-minded teachers that want to make America great. we are absolutely so excited about this work and please anybody even if you’re not teachers sign up we want we want to have your support to have your help this is the battle for the future of the country we’ve got to take the classrooms back and this initiative is growing and we want you a part of it so i assume ryan that you’re going to be having a gathering of these teachers i would imagine at some point in time Next summer, we’re going to have a huge summit, Tony. We had hundreds of folks show up already at our last summit. And so we’re going to make it even bigger this next summer. So we want all the teachers to attend. We want parents, grandparents, anybody who wants to be involved in this effort. Because again, it is going to take all of us to beat back. You know the teachers union is the biggest donor to the Democratic Party in the country. They use anything at their disposal to push their indoctrination, to push their Marxist schemes. So we need all the help we can get, and again, We are absolutely in this to win it. And so, yes, sir, we’re gonna have the biggest summit ever next summer.
SPEAKER 03 :
Now, what are you gonna do about those places where teachers are being forced to join these unions?
SPEAKER 17 :
We’re going to take the unions on. We’re going to take the fight to them. We have got to get back to right to work. Unions can’t control schools. We’re seeing it in blue states all over the country. What do they do? They force you to join the union. Then they take your union dues and weaponize it politically. And I don’t know if you saw Randy Weingarten last week. She had a teacher come up to her and go, you know, I don’t agree with all the political spending. And she said, well, then you should just leave then because we’re not going to stop.
SPEAKER 03 :
just unabashed they take your take your money and use it against you contrary to your values and your political persuasion all right ryan we’re almost out of time but one final question for you does this mean you have to leave oklahoma are you able to stay in the the sooner state i’m staying in the soon i’m going to stay in the sooner state love the sooner state oklahoma i’m an okie for life there so absolutely get to stay in oklahoma and we’re going to continue our outreach to all 50 states Well, I can tell you those Oklahoma values are good, and I hope you take those all across the country into classrooms. So we’re going to be tracking this very, very closely and look forward to having you back on as that next big event takes place. We’ll help you promote it.
SPEAKER 17 :
Thank you, Tony. Appreciate your work.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right. Right. You heard him. If you’re a teacher, want to be involved in education, check out the website. If you missed it, go to Tony Perkins dot com and we’ll have some links there for you. But I think this is very important. You know, I’m a big advocate of homeschooling, but not everybody can homeschool. And so we cannot abandon the public school system. We need good teachers that are. called to go into the classroom and teach children and be a light in a very dark place. And I’m glad to see Ryan’s going to be there helping organize to provide support and encouragement for those teachers. All right, don’t go away. Chris Mitchell joins us from Jerusalem next.
SPEAKER 07 :
Family Research Council is committed to advancing faith, family, and freedom from the East Coast to the West. So FRC is going to Southern California for this year’s Pray, Vote, Stand Summit, October 17th and 18th at Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills. Join us for this powerful gathering of Christians desiring cultural renewal and spiritual revival. The Pray, Vote, Stand Summit brings together Christian leaders, issue experts, and government officials for a time of prayer, inspiration, and action. Together, we will seek God’s guidance for our nation and engage in meaningful discussions on the intersection of faith, government, and culture. If the spiritual foundations and the cultural walls of our nation are to be rebuilt, we all have a role to play. May we each find our place on the wall as we build for biblical truth. Register now at PrayVoteStand.org. That’s PrayVoteStand.org.
SPEAKER 20 :
Jennifer, it’s so exciting to be here with you today talking about our new book, Embracing God’s Design. Who is actually going to benefit from reading this book in your view?
SPEAKER 09 :
There are so many different audiences that can benefit. The first one are counselors themselves, right? Because we have some material in there where we really address the gender dysphoria diagnosis and what is wrong with it. We have information for people who are wanting to go back to embracing God’s design for their life.
SPEAKER 20 :
This is really magical to have the therapist and the individual who suffered come together and write about why this is happening and why we’re seeing this.
SPEAKER 09 :
And we brought all of that experience to the table. We want to see people walking in the fullness of who God has called them to be and not a false identity.
SPEAKER 20 :
Order today at embracethedesign.com.
SPEAKER 10 :
How should Christians think about the thorny issues shaping our culture? How should Christians address deceitful ideas like transgenderism, critical theory or assisted suicide? How can Christians navigate raising children in a broken culture, the war on gender roles or rebuilding our once great nation? Outstanding is a podcast from The Washington Stand dedicated to these critical conversations. Outstanding seeks to tear down what our corrupt culture lifts up with an aim to take every thought and every idea captive to the obedience of Christ. Whether policies or partisan politics, whether conflict in America or conflict abroad, join us and our guests as we examine the headlines through the lens of Scripture and explore how Christians can faithfully exalt Christ in all of life. Follow Outstanding on your favorite podcast app and look for new episodes each week.
SPEAKER 03 :
Welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks so much for tuning in. All right, next week, we’re going to be in Southern California for the Pray, Vote, Stand Summit. We’re going to be at Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills. And I want to invite you to come. There’s still time to register, especially if you’re in Southern California. You can drive up and be a part of the Pray, Vote, Stand Summit, October 17th and the 18th. To find out more and to register, go to prayvotestand.org. Come and be a part of it. A lot of people asking, what’s next? What do we do? Come to Prevost Stan and you’ll find out. Our word for today comes from 2 Corinthians 4. Therefore, we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Paul reminds us that while life’s pressures and hardships may wear down our physical bodies, our spiritual lives are being renewed daily by the grace and presence of God. What we endure now is brief and purposeful, preparing us for eternal glory. Our afflictions are not wasted. They are working within us a greater strength and deeper faith. The key is perspective. Don’t fix your eyes on what is seen, for it will fade away. Instead, keep your eyes on the unseen promises of God. When you do, your hope will outweigh your hardships. To find out more about our journey through the Bible, text BIBLE. to 67742. That’s Bible to 67742. Well, as we’ve been talking about today marks the second anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack against Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 and the kidnapping of 251, 48 of whom are still being held hostage. Half of those, about 20, considered to be alive. The horrors of that day can hardly be put into words. I’ve walked into some of those kibbutz, those communities that were attacked on October the 7th. And it has affected just about every person in the Jewish state, that nation, which is about the size of New Jersey. Hardly anyone has not been touched by what occurred on October 7th and since. Now, the Jewish people have not experienced an event that has tested them like this since the Holocaust, which provided the impetus for the start-up nation. So how has these two years impacted the nation and changed them? Joining me now to discuss all of this from Jerusalem is our good friend Chris Mitchell, the Middle East Bureau Chief for CBN News. Chris, thanks so much for joining us again. It’s good to see you.
SPEAKER 21 :
Good to be with you again, Tony, especially on a day like today.
SPEAKER 03 :
It is. And I’ve been with you, actually, as I mentioned, down in some of those kibbutz. You were with me when we went down there right at the beginning of the following year after the attack. Let me ask you, first off, how has Israel been marking this painful anniversary?
SPEAKER 21 :
Well, it’s an interesting day, Tony, you know, two years after October 7th. But it’s also the first day of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. So obviously a commemoration, a sad day, a mournful day. But also the first day of Sukkot is a joyful time to celebrate what God did for the Israelites as they came out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. He protected them. You can hear actually shofars being blown throughout the day here. And so it’s a mixture of celebration and also anticipation. We know that right now there’s negotiations going on in Cairo and the negotiations presumably will help release all of the hostages, both those that are deceased. their bodies and the ones that are remaining alive. So I would say there’s a mixture of emotions right now. I would say predominantly anticipation. I mean, this will be a huge turnaround, two years almost to the day. If these hostages are relieved, it will be a huge celebration, a huge sense of relief because the whole nation and many people around the world, Tony, have carried these hostages in their hearts and in their prayers. And to see them released, all of them, all in one day, will be a huge, momentous time here in the Jewish state.
SPEAKER 03 :
Almost everyone. I mean, everyone wants to see those hostages come home. But you talk about the mixture of feelings. There’s also a sense that the threat has to be eliminated of Hamas. And I know there are some that do not want to end this prematurely in terms of eliminating that threat of Hamas that came across that border as they were living peacefully with the Palestinians, or at least they thought they were, until October the 7th.
SPEAKER 21 :
Exactly, Tony. That’s why for two years there’s been competing emotions. Some Israelis here are saying let’s get them out regardless. And that’s sort of the bring them home now. We’ll pay whatever price is that just get them home safely. And the other ones is sort of let let my people go is saying let’s force Hamas to let them go. And let’s not fall short of total victory. And let’s not. The sacrifice of hundreds of men and women on the front lines, let not their sacrifice be in vain. And so that’s part of the wrestling going on here emotionally is between these two competing, you know, ideas of how do we end this war?
SPEAKER 03 :
You know, Chris, I had not actually thought about that until you just mentioned that those two competing views that I seen and heard as I’ve been in Israel. Let my people go has biblical implications there, not just because that’s what Moses said, but there was a price that Pharaoh paid for not letting his people, letting Moses’s people go.
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah. And apparently Hamas has paid already has paid a price but may pay the ultimate price if all of the 20 points are adhered to that they would release all of the hostages which has been their leverage for two years. Also disarm which would leave them sort of defenseless in a sense and also leave. Some of them would would be allowed to leave. So Hamas has paid a price. But the goal of the war, Tony, the three main ones has been to make sure that Hamas is defeated militarily. They have no ability to rule or have an influence in Gaza after the war and to make sure all the hostages come home.
SPEAKER 03 :
Chris Mitchell, let’s talk about this for a moment. You’ve been in Israel with CBN News about as long as I’ve been here at the Family Research Council, for over two decades. So you’ve seen a lot, you’ve experienced a lot there living in Jerusalem. This has been the most trying time for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. How has this changed Israel from your perspective as you see this from Jerusalem?
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, the most trying since the Holocaust and certainly and since I landed here. And I landed here just at the beginning of the second Intifada. That was about a four year period of many terror attacks. But even October 7th goes far beyond that. How have I seen Israeli change? They are resilient. They have managed this. two years. It reminds me of my mom and dad who they they met just before World War Two. My dad went overseas for about four years. And and that was certainly a trying time. And we’re getting to that point. Two years where just almost on a daily basis. Israel has fought a seven front war with Hezbollah Hamas the Houthis Iran and others. And yet they’ve gone through and they’ve managed to degrade or defeat almost all of their enemies. And they will likely they already are stronger now in the Middle East and the region to become a regional and almost a global superpower. And the the the the Support of the Trump administration has been invaluable, but I would say as well, Tony, the support of evangelicals around the world has been enormous. And I was talking to Deputy Mayor Floor Hassan Nahum the other day. She mentioned that, that the evangelical support, the prayers, the emotional, moral, and even political support has been invaluable to the Jewish people during their darkest hours since the Holocaust.
SPEAKER 03 :
Let me ask you about that, Chris, because, I mean, evangelicals have long been supportive of Israel. Bible-believing Christians, and they take tours over, and they support Israel. But given this moment where you see anti-Semitism really encompassing the globe, you see the nations lining up against them. By the way, France, you know, being the first, and now it looks like France, their government’s falling apart. Should be a lesson there for the other countries. But the fact that when the whole world is lining up against them, Have they taken notice that it is evangelicals? And do you think that this will change the relationship once all of this is resolved, that there’ll be a closer relationship between the Jewish state and evangelicals around the world?
SPEAKER 21 :
I think there already is a closer relationship with the Jewish people the Jewish world the state of Israel and evangelicals. I think the current government I think broadly leaders here in Israel recognize the value of evangelical support their prayers and their moral support even political support. And I would caution though Tony you know some of that support. can’t be taken for granted because you look at a younger generation that is getting influenced by influencers, by TikTok, by some of the misinformation that’s going on. That sort of eroded some of the support of younger generations. And I think even I think people in the church really need to perhaps solidify this support of standing with Israel. It’s really a test, I think, for the church because so many, for example, so many accusations of genocide that have been repeated over and over and over again makes even some people that are supporters of Israel say, well, maybe something’s happening here. Those charges are untrue, but still the information war is maybe just as important as the military campaign that Israel’s been fighting for two years. But having said all that, the evangelical support is just paramount for Israel right now.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, you’re absolutely right. What the media has done in the last two years, pounding each and every day, just as every story comes out. And look, if… There’s very little said about the fact that if Hamas had not come across and killed 1,200 people and taken 251 hostages, there would be no conflict in Gaza City right now. There would not be Palestinian civilians that had been killed as a result of this war. So Israel would not have just gone in there and started bombing had they not been trying to get their people back. So I think the media has been very one-sided on this. But to your point, I think there’s a softness that’s been there, and it’s primarily because there’s not been a teaching of the biblical and the the prophetic role of Israel and that replacement theology has come in. And so I think two things, Chris, I think needs to happen is that we need our churches teaching. And I think more Christians need to go to Israel and actually see it firsthand. And it just opens up a whole new understanding.
SPEAKER 21 :
It really does. When people are here for themselves, they see the land of the Bible. That’s real. That’s true. They can see where Jesus walked. They can see so many of the sites of the Bible, whether up in the Galilee or here in the city of Jerusalem. It makes a huge difference. And also to your point, education, the fact that replacement theology says, well, Israel’s been replaced by the church. Well, he made a covenant with the Jewish people all the way from Genesis throughout the old covenant and even into the new. and if he can’t keep his covenant with the jewish people what about us what we can’t he keep his covenant with us as well so that that really needs there needs to be education i believe in the church because many places pastors from what i’ve heard really have have fallen into replacement theology so i think there’s a really need for education and help combat the misinformation that has pummeled israel for two years and lord and and i’ll just and At this one point, Tony, when the very beginning of the war and Hamas is putting out these death tolls and automatically we knew that these were exaggerated, they were they were amplified. And yet the media ran with them. And that’s why Israel has suffered so much in the information battlefield, just like in the military battlefield.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, and the media loves to tell a narrative that is against the Jewish state. We’ve seen that. And that in itself, that in itself, when you see how the world lines up against Israel, should, as a Christian, should be a signal to you that there’s something here. There’s something about a nation that is 150th in terms of its size out of 193, that this one little country becomes the focus of the entire world. There’s got to be a little more to Israel than meets the eye. And I think you cannot see this without an understanding of the spiritual nature, the biblical nature. But again, when you put your feet on the ground there as well, you realize it’s a state, a nation the size of New Jersey. And when you talk about carving up that land and giving it to a Palestinian state right in the heart of Israel, you begin to understand that that’s not possible. That’s not feasible if you really want Israel to have their own state.
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, it’s been it’s been cut up ever since the British mandate, you know, back in 1920. This land, as well as Jordan, was actually given to the British government to have a mandate to help establish a Jewish homeland here. And that’s been cut up since 1922, you know, even more in 1947 and the partition plan and then two different wars here. And as you said, the world wants to carve it up even more, but Israel can’t afford to have any more land taken away.
SPEAKER 03 :
And just, I want to pray, but just to see what’s happened in the last two years, how God has miraculously delivered them from all of those enemies around is truly amazing as well and speaks to the biblical aspects of this. Chris, we just have about 45 seconds left. up here. Sure.
SPEAKER 21 :
Father, thank you so much for what you’ve done in two years. You have helped defeat Israel’s enemies. But now, two years after October 7th, we pray for comfort on your people, that mourning would be turned into joy. And we pray especially for the release of these hostages within these next few days. We pray for wisdom for the leaders, Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump, in Jesus’ name.
SPEAKER 03 :
amen chris thanks so much for joining us always great to see you thanks for staying up late thanks sonny All right, Chris Mitchell with CBN News. And folks, as we pray, when we pray for the peace of Israel, the peace of Jerusalem, it’s everybody that’s in that land, within the borders of the land. And that includes the Arabs, the Palestinians. We want everyone to benefit from the peace of that land. And so we pray for all of the people there and for this conflict to be, it’s not going to be resolved until the Prince of Peace returns, but it can be managed for now. And so that’s what we pray for. Thanks so much for joining us. Let me leave you once again with the encouraging words of the Apostle Paul, found in Ephesians 6, where he says, when you’ve done everything you could do, when you’ve prayed, when you’ve prepared and taken your stand, by all means, keep standing.
SPEAKER 15 :
Washington Watch with Tony Perkins is brought to you by Family Research Council. To support our efforts to advance faith, family, and freedom, please text GIVE to 67742. That’s GIVE to 67742. Portions of the show discussing candidates are brought to you by Family Research Council Action. For more information, please visit TonyPerkins.com.
