- Tonight on Faith Nation,
the stalemate over the shutdown.
The latest on where negotiations stand
on reopening the government.
And withdrawing troops from Syria,
how long will American service members
stay on the ground there?
And campaign 2020, we break down the field
of potential presidential candidates.
That and more, tonight on Faith Nation.
(lively music)
well we are heading into the 18th day
of a government shutdown,
and still no end in sight.
Welcome to Faith Nation, I'm John Jessup.
Well even as the debateover the border wall funding
hampers the shutdown negotiations
between the President andCongressional Democrats
the White House is planning to send
the commander in chief to thesouthern border this week.
Press Secretary SarahSanders announcing today
that President Trump will meet with those
on the front lines ofthe national and security
humanitarian crisis.
National security rather andhumanitarian crisis there.
The President will alsomake a prime time address
on the subject Tuesday.
Meanwhile, talks are still underway
to determine how to put anend to this partial shutdown.
For more on that,
we turn to Abigail Robertsonon Capitol Hill, Abigail.
- While lawmakers goback to work tomorrow,
but meanwhile hundreds ofthousands of federal employees
are on day 17 now of unpaid leave
or going to work withoutseeing a paycheck.
It's the longest governmentshutdown since 2013.
- There's not gonna beany bend right here.
- [Abigail] Still unwillingto budge on his five and half
billion dollar funding request,
the President on Friday floateda different kind of wall.
As a loophole to end the budgetstalemate over the border.
- I think we'll have to build a steel wall
as opposed to a concrete wall.
Whether it's a wall or someform of very powerful steel.
Now the steel is actually moreexpensive than the concrete.
We're probably talking about steel
because I really feel the other side
feels better about it.
- [Abigail] The WhiteHouse acting Chief Of Staff
boils it down to one issue, semantics.
- We're asking for $5.6 billion,they're offering us zero.
It sounds like we're simplyarguing about one variable,
just how much are we going to spend
on that barrier on the southern border.
On the wall, on the steel slat fence,
whatever you wanna call it.
- [Abigail] The President'sall or nothing stance
has the new Speaker OfThe House up in arms.
- The impression youget from the President
that he would like to notonly close government,
build a wall, but also abolish Congress.
- [Abigail] But faced withan unbending negotiator,
top Democrats are leaving the door open.
- We've done fencing in the past.
- [Abigail] Suggestingthat border security
could include a border barrier
depending on other specifics.
- We've done fencing in the past.
However, what is happening today
and hopefully theadministration will come.
The administration has not come up with
any specific plan as to howthey're gonna spend this money.
- [Abigail] Without a compromise in sight,
the President isconsidering other options.
- I may declare a national emergency
dependent on what's gonnahappen over the next few days.
- [Abigail] And he can do it.
- There is a provision in law
that says the Presidentcan declare an emergency.
It's been done a number of times.
- [Abigail] Although theNational Emergencies Act
has been on the book formore than four decades.
But CBN News Chief PoliticalAnalyst David Brody
says the President would stillneed Congressional buy in.
- He could technically go down that route.
He would have to actuallyexplain the statue
that he's using the emergency for.
Here's a bit of the rub.
A Congress, if theydidn't want him to invoke
this national emergencywould be able to overturn it
basically say, no Mr.President you can't do it.
If you can pass a joint resolution in both
the House and the Senate,
that means the language has to be the same
in the Democrat Houseand the Republican Senate
and good luck with that.
- [Abigail] If luck isn'ton the President's side,
he still has options.
- There is one more andthat is using $10 billion
of unused funds that are set aside
for the Army Corps of Engineers.
The President wouldhave to actually declare
a national emergency to beable to dip into those funds.
- Well Democrats have said
if the President declaresa national emergency
to get funding for the border wall.
They will challenge that in court.
And that still does notreopen the government.
- Abigail, can you give usa little perspective now.
I know we're getting into territory
where a large number of government workers
aren't going to be getting paid.
I think at this point,
it'll be about a month without a paycheck.
- Yes and we're hearing stories
of federal employeesfiling for unemployment
or trying to pick up other jobs.
But they say that's really tricky
because they don't know
when they will be going back to work.
But they're worried aboutmaking their mortgage payments
or paying their rent.
We're hearing that federal employees
are putting a lot ofstuff on credit cards.
But they're concerned about that
because if their paychecks don't come,
when those credit card bills are due
then they're stuck withthose interest fees.
And things are getting really bad.
And there's those low income workers,
the janitor staff orthe food service workers
who are technically contract employees.
So they don't evenqualify for the back pay
once the government reopens.
So now they've been 17 days without a job
during the Christmas holiday season.
So that's really tough.
I spoke with someone at NASA who said
thankfully her husband has a job as well,
but she knows multiplecoworkers who are married
and they both are forcedto stay home right now.
They have children.
It's a really hard time of the year
to be missing these paychecks.
So these federal employeesare definitely feeling this
and really struggling.
I think very concernedabout the uncertainty
of when the government might reopen.
- Hard times definitely.
Thank you Abigail for that report.
Well joining us now,
someone who will ultimately weigh in
on the debate with a vote.
That is Indiana Senator Mike Braun.
Senator Braun thank you forbeing here on Faith Nation.
- Good to be here.
- First question for you,
what's the latest that you're hearing
in the Senate about thenegotiations to end the shut down?
- I think it's pretty clear
that the leader saiduntil Schumer and Pelosi
work out something with the President
that he's probably notgonna push anything.
And he was pretty clearon that from the get go.
It's interesting after beingsworn in last Thursday,
you're thrown into this dynamic.
I must say it was one ofthe frustrating things
watching government fromIndiana as an entrepreneur
and legislator and nowI'm in the middle of it.
- Well Democrats passed aspending bill last week.
And one of the thingsthat they claimed was
it was a measure thatRepublicans supported
before the shutdown.
But the measure also included
repealing protections for abortions.
And that's something that isa nonstarter I know for you
and any other conservatives.
- It would be of course.
I ran on a completely pro-life platform.
And was endorsed by Susan B Anthony,
Indiana Right To Life,National Right To Life,
and it's a cause dear to me.
And I think you're seeingnow that they are in power,
that's one of their first things
that they're out there promoting.
Of course it's not gonnaget through the Senate.
President Trump obviously
wouldn't be for anything like that.
When you're showcasing that,
I think that tells youwhere your priorities are.
And it's sad that that was part of it.
- The President and the White House
are now openly talking about declaring
a national emergency tobuild the border wall.
Is that a measure or is thata move that you would support?
- You know I think thatin Indiana at least
border security and immigrationand all the problems
associated with it,
would've been up therethroughout the campaign.
Primary in general, got reallyfocused upon in the general.
Because my opponent leanedthe other direction.
Set in some things,
but then changed his mindfor political reasons.
But I think we're now at the time
where there's been a lot of discussion.
As recently as two yearsago Schumer, Pelosi,
and most Democrats werefor building a wall.
And I think the figurewas more like 25 billion.
Now I think they calculated politically
and I'm not sure they wanna doanything for border security.
So I think the Presidentwill do what he needs to do
to make good on a campaign promise,
and that's to secure the borderwhere needed with a wall.
And he wants mostly though,
to see the Democrats come up with anything
that shows they're seriousabout border security
when it appears they're not.
- Drilling down though,
if did declare a national emergency,
is that something that you would support?
- If he declared a national emergency,
and thought it needed tobe done in that fashion,
most of us would be for it
because it looks like the other side
is doing everything it can to do nothing.
- What do you say to the800,000 federal employees.
And some of those not tomention the contractors
who aren't eligible to get back pay.
What do you say to them?
As Abigail just reported,
many of them will go abouta month without a paycheck.
- I mean one of thingsthat was frustrating
being back home watchinggovernment function this way
would've been for that very reason.
Families do depend on theirjobs and the federal government.
And even if you're for reducing the size
of the federal government like I am
to make it more efficient,
live within its meanslike we did in Indiana,
you still, people are involved.
And I'm hoping that thisis gonna be the showdown
that then sets the stage for a more
rational budget process.
I'm on the budget committee.
And you're gonna see thatI'm gonna roll out a bill
that's been there for a while.
But I think it's gonnahave more currency now
more than ever.
No budget, no pay.
And that means if we can't collectively
as Senators and Congressmanand women get a budget done,
I don't think we deserveto get a paycheck either.
Get a little bit of that medicine.
Federal employees are getting it now.
It's no way to run anything.
You wouldn't get by withthat on a school board,
a state legislature, a business.
It's laughable.
- Senator Braun, we onlyhave about a minute left.
You've been in the Senatefor less than a week,
just sworn in on Thursday.
I know that you ran on acampaign to drain the swamp.
But getting here, being greetedby a government shutdown.
Does that show you justhow difficult it will be
to drain the swamp?
- I think it shows howdysfunctional the system has become.
I'm hoping that there aregonna be more people like me
that come from the worldof getting things done,
living within your means.
We'll double basically the business caucus
with Senator Romney, Scott,and myself coming in.
Maybe someday we'll geteight, 10 to 12 of us
an it'll change the dynamic.
People are gonna needto stick their neck out,
get out of the comfort zone and run.
If we keep sending the samekind of career politicians here
that have never donethings like making budgets
and meeting payrolls, I'dexpect more of the same.
I hope that dynamic changes.
- Indiana Senator Mike Braun.
Thank you so much.
We wish you the best.
Welcome to Washington.
- Thank you.- Thank you.
- Well after his shocking announcement
to withdraw troops from Syria,
is the President changingcourse on the withdrawal?
Trump's National SecurityAdvisor John Bolton
announced new conditionson the President's call
for an immediate pullout.
CBN's White HouseCorrespondent Ben Kennedy
joins us from the northlawn for more, Ben.
- Well John, President Trumpsaid we will still pull out
of Syria but on a different time table
which is more coordinated with US allies.
As you were talking about,
National Security AdvisorJohn Bolton released new
conditions beforeAmerican troops pull out.
One, that ISIS is defeated in Syria.
Second, the countries Kurdish allies
who have been fighting alongsidethe US troops are protected
and three the Iranian forces leave Syria.
If not, American bootswill remain on the ground.
- And to make sure thatthe defense of Israel
and our other friends in theregion is absolutely assured.
And to take care of thosewho have fought with us
against ISIS and other terrorist groups.
- Now Trump tweeted todaythat we will be leaving
at a proper pace,
while at the same timecontinuing to fight ISIS
and doing all else thatis prudent and necessary.
Now this contradicts thePresident's original announcement
saying that American troops
would be coming home immediately.
I just spoke with Dave Adesnik with
Foundation For Defense Of Democracies
on the challenge facing the US
to withdraw troops from Syria.
- Part of it is theoverall strategic challenge
that they have been playinga very important role
in completing the defeatof the Islamic State
which is still active.
Which according to Pentagon estimates
still has tens of thousands of fighters
that are affiliated with it.
They're still inflictinga lot of casualties
on our Kurdish partners in Syria.
So we would be moving out while there
was still ongoing fighting.
And the question is whatwould we be leaving behind
to help take care of thecontinuing Islamic State threat.
- Bottom line is American troops
could remain in Syriafor months even years.
Today Secretary Of State Mike Pompeo
is headed to the regionto reassure Arab allies
amid confusion over theadministration's policy
in the Middle East, John.
- Ben, we know Israel is amajor ally to the United States
in the Middle East.
So how is Israel reactingto the new conditions?
- Yeah, John that's a good question.
Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu is no doubt relieved
that the 2,000 US troopsare not leaving Syria,
well at least not right away.
The announcement created concern in Israel
and fear among the US allies the Kurds.
But again Bolton reassured Netanyahu
that America will takecare of its friends.
That is the latest fromthe north lawn here
at the White House.
Ben Kennedy, CBN News.
- Gary Lane, Senior International Reporter
and host of the CBN News channel show
The Global Lane joins us now for more.
Gary, do you see the pull out of US troops
from Syria as a potentialway to empower ISIS in Syria?
- I really don't thinkit will empower ISIS
because ISIS only controlsa small swath of land
in the eastern central part of Syria
towards the Iraqi borderand the Euphrates River.
Who it may empower, is Iran.
And Iran's Security Chief recently said
the US has been defeated in Syria.
That's what this troop withdrawal shows.
So Iran may be empowered.
That would be the bigger concern.
But also everyone isjockeying for position
in Syria at this time.
Because the war is winding down.
ISIS has pretty much been defeated,
so other militant groupsand you see the Kurds
and Turkey jockeying forposition and territory.
Also the Assad regime and Russia and Iran.
That's what's happening right now.
That's why this is of grave concern.
- And what about Turkey?
What role does Turkey play in all of this?
- Well the Kurds willtell you that the Turks
were involved in supporting ISIS.
They allowed ISIS to go back and forth
over their border from Syria into Turkey
and back into Syria witharms, weapons, other things.
So the Turks have a longhistory of supporting
Sunni militants in Syria.
They wanted to see Assad defeated.
They also wanted to see Iran defeated.
And I think that is why we'reseeing the United States
now move towards Turkey tosee them as a counterpoint
to counter of course theIranian influence in Syria.
- And how does this affectChristians in Syria?
- Well the Kurdishmilitias have been the ones
who have been protecting the Christians.
The Christians are veryconcerned about this
troop pull out as are the Kurds.
And John Bolton made a statement today,
basically saying look,
that's the NationalSecurity Advisor by the way.
He said look the Kurdsknow who their friends are.
Well the Kurds are wondering
are you a reliable ally United States
if you withdraw thesetroops and the training
that we've received, that buffer,
that help that we've received over time
in the last couple of years.
Where are we going to be?
And where are the Christians going to be?
So it calls that into question.
Bolton will be meetingwith the Turks tomorrow
as will the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
and they'll be discussing Syria.
They wanna make surethe Kurds are protected.
The Turks if they makeany military incursion
into northern Syria,
that the Kurds are not going to be harmed.
- Well thank you Gary.
And for more from Gary,
you can catch his show, The Global Lane,
every Thursday night at 9:30 PM
on the CBN News Channel.
The expanding pack ofpresidential hopefuls.
We breakdown the potentialcontenders when we come back.
Welcome back.
Well for the first timein more than 25 years
on the Supreme Court,
Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
missed the court's first day of arguments.
Ginsburg who is recoveringfrom cancer surgery
from last December,
wasn't able to attend hearings today.
But Chief Justice John Roberts says
she will still participateby reading transcripts
from the court's case load.
Today marked the firstday of oral arguments
in the 2019 session.
Well Democrats are already talking 2020.
One major player announced she formed
an exploratory committeefor a White House run
the day before New Year's
with MassachusettsSenator Elizabeth Warren
signaling an almost certain bid,
it looks to be a crowded field.
CBN Chief Political Analyst David Brody
joins us now to sift through what's likely
to be a deluge ofcandidates entering the fray
trying to fight against President Trump.
David, lets start with Senator Warren.
Is she jumping the gun here?
Any momentum by her announcing
her exploratory committee this soon?
- You know John I don't thinkshe's jumping the gun at all.
There are gonna be a lot of candidates
and a lot of progressives.
So why not be the firstone out of the gate.
And that's exactly what she's doing here.
She's got a tough road ahead though.
Look, she is relatively establishment.
A lot of folks are gonna bereminded of Hillary Clinton.
And she isn't the most,
how do we say this andthese are her critics,
the most cuddly person in the world.
In other words she's got a bit an issue
when it comes to turning on the charm.
She's taken some hitson that Instagram video
she put up the other day.
Where it looked a bit stiff.
So she'll have her challenges.
- Now Warren's getting in early,
but this is just the beginning.
I would imagine this is precursor
to what we can expect.
- Yeah, as a matter of fact
we're gonna have so manydifferent candidates running.
I mean it's gonna be probablybe close to 20 or so.
Maybe even more than that.
I can't even imagine that.
So take at a look at whatwe're talking about here.
Now first of all in the northeast,
you've got Uncle Bernie asthey called him in 2016.
He'll be back in 2020.
I don't think there's any question.
And of course, Elizabeth Warren.
That's the northeast, and by the way,
as we stick on the northeast for a moment
remember John Kerry, Massachusetts.
He was the Democratnominee back in the day.
Michael Dukakis, another Democrat nominee
from Massachusetts andthere is Elizabeth Warren.
So that's kind of like
the establishment area of the country.
Let's go on after the northeast,
we're gonna head tobasically the rust belt.
And in the rust belt, we've got Joe Biden.
We've heard about him.
I believe he was Vice PresidentJohn, if I'm not mistaken.
I'll have to Google it.
- You're right.- He was.
- And Sherrod Brown.
Both once again, Biden fromDelaware taking the Amtrak train
blue collar guy,
will get in the gutter withTrump if he decides to run
and Sherrod Brown, once againkind of a gravely voice,
blue collar, progressive.
Who is kind of remakinghimself in the image
of one of those sensibleblue collar Democrats.
- I just wanna clarify there.
You weren't showing running mates,
you were just showing peoplefrom different regions.
- That's right.
- Well let's talk about as you mentioned,
former Vice President Joe Biden.
There were a lot of callsfor Uncle Joe to jump in
into the race back in2016 and save the day.
What's different now?
And what about his age being a factor?
- Yeah, I mean obviouslyage will play into it.
He's 76 years old
and the question is do Democrats,
do progressives especiallywanna go for the
white guy in his late 70s?
I mean Donald Trump is thewhite guy in his early 70s.
And they're thinking that'snot working out too well.
But beyond that, JoeBiden more establishment
in the Democrat field if you will,
they'll call him moderate.
I think a lot ofconservatives would question
how moderate Joe Biden is.
But the point is,
the question is is there room for appetite
for someone that's kindof had his time around.
Where is the energyhere with the Democrats?
And I think you'relooking at electability.
Obviously Joe Biden's got that.
And then there are a lotof other factors as well.
And so I think when itcomes to electability,
Joe Biden cold be on paper at least,
the person that could beat Donald Trump.
- David, you just mentionedenergy among Democrats.
Someone who had a lot ofenergy among Democrats
back in 2016 was Bernie Sanders.
He had so much momentum that go around
but ended up conceding to Hillary Clinton.
Do you think there's roomfor him this go around?
What may be different for him this time?
- A lots different this time around.
Number one, and maybe first and foremost
and this game, set, match for Bernie.
A lot more progressivesin the race this time.
Kamala Harris in California,
we've talked about Elizabeth Warren.
I mean you can just go down the line,
there are gonna be Kirsten Gillibrand.
I mean I can just go on and on.
Before Bernie was taking upall that progressive space now,
and he was a trendsetter in 2016.
But now they're all kind ofpiling on the Bernie train
and now everybody's Bernieto a certain degree.
And that makes it muchmore difficult for him.
- CBN Chief Political Analyst David Brody.
Thank you so much for your insights.
- Thanks John.
- Coming up, why one college football star
says his faith is moreimportant than the sport.
Well tonight the number one ranked
University of Alabama willtake on the Clemson Tigers
for college football'snational championship.
It's the second year in a row
Clemson has competed for the title.
This year the team's led by 19 year old
quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Even though he's one ofthe most celebrated stars
in college football,
right now Lawrence says it'snot the game that defines him.
- Football is important to me obviously,
but it's not my life.
It's not like thebiggest thing in my life.
I would say, my faith is.
So that just comes fromkind of knowing who I am
outside of that.
So putting my identity in what Christ says
who he thinks I am,
and who I know that he says I am.
So really like I said,
at the end of the day
it doesn't really matterwhat people think about me
or how good they think I play or
- Though he now leads the team,
at the beginning of the season
Lawrence wasn't even a starter.
What a remarkable season for him.
And for more news on faith and culture
tune into Faithwire.
It airs every Monday night at 9:30 eastern
on the CBN News Channel.
For more information howto watch the program,
go to cbnnewschannel.com.
Well that's gonna do itfor tonight's Faith Nation.
We'll see you back here tomorrow.
