(upbeat news music)
- Emergency on the southern border.
Why some in his own party are pushing back
on the president's declaration.
Investigating the administration.
We examine the rise ofcongressional probes
on the president.
And how Tim Tebow made the transition
from football to filmmaker.
All this and more tonight on Faith Nation.
(upbeat, fresh music)
A powerful House committeeis making demands
on the Trump administration
for potentially sensitive information.
Welcome to Faith Nation, I'm John Jessup.
- And I'm Jenna Browder.
Tonight, Democrats are pulling the trigger
on a massive document requestfrom the president's sons,
the Trump organization,and dozens of associates.
- Abigail Robertsonhas more on the request
from the House Judiciary Committee.
Abigail?
- That's right, thanks John and Jenna.
The Democrat head theHouse Judiciary Committee
indicated this sweepinginquiry over the weekend,
and now it's here.
More than 80 requests for information,
and today the presidentcalled this move the latest
in a political conspiracy.
- It's a political hoax;there's no collusion.
- [Abigail] While the presidentdismissed this latest foray
from House Democrats, he agreed to comply.
- I cooperate all the time with everybody.
And you know the beautiful thing?
No collusion; it's all a hoax.
- [Abigail] The Democrats' growing search
includes 81 new document requests,
with Judiciary Chairman JerryNadler laying out their focus.
- We will be issuing document requests,
over 60 different people and individuals
from the White House.
To begin the investigations,to present the case
to the American people aboutobstruction of justice,
corruption, and abusive power.
- The collusion delusion.
- [Abigail] The presidentsent a preemptive strike
Saturday before a home team crowd
at the ConservativePolitical Action Conference.
- A Robert Mueller(crowd cheers)
never received a vote.
- [Abigail] Targeting the man in charge
of the Russia investigation.
- I'm gonna recuse myself.
- [Abigail] And mocking hisformer attorney general's
decision to take himself out of the probe.
- A saw a little shifty Schiff.
- [Abigail] Then turning to the chairman
of the House Intelligence Committee.
- He went into a meeting and he said,
we're going to look into his finances.
I said, where did that come from?
- We're also looking atpersistent allegations
that the Russians havebeen laundering money
through the Trump organization.
I don't know that that'strue, but if it is, again,
it's a profound compromiseof this president.
- [Abigail] Congressman AdamShift detailed that aspect
of the broadening inquiry on Sunday.
- Well, we'll need totalk to some of the banks
that have been doingbusiness with Mr. Trump,
like Deutsche Bank,which has had a history
of laundering Russian money.
It was a bank, one ofthe very few, if only,
that would do business with Mr. Trump
after American banks refused.
But we also will want tospeak with the accountants,
the chief financial officersfor the Trump organization,
and others who have information
about the Moscow Trump Tower Deal,
about the issue of money laundering.
In fact, we're bringing Felix Sater in
to talk about Moscow TrumpTower in a couple weeks.
So there are any number of witnesses
that can shed light on whetherAmerica's national security
is compromised because the president
has been pursuing financialinterests with the Russians.
- [Abigail] The presidentsaid the latest barrage
from the Democrats isjust more of the same.
- There's no collusion, sonow they go and morph it
into let's inspect everydeal he's ever done.
- The House Committeerequesting these documents
is the same panel that wouldhear impeachment proceedings.
So far, Democrats haveshed away from calling
to impeach the president, butthis sweeping document request
is raising new questionsabout the Democrats' strategy.
- All right, Capitol Hillcorrespondent Abigail Robertson.
Thanks so much.
Well, President Trump'semergency declaration
is one step closer todefeat in the Senate thanks
to Kentucky Republican Rand Paul.
White House correspondentBen Kennedy joins us
with the latest.
Ben, with Rand Paul nowjoining the opposition,
what's the vote tallyamong the president's
Senate GOP allies?
- Well John, Senator Paulbecomes the fourth Republican
to join Democrats on the resolution
that would block the president'semergency declaration.
But not so fast, as theHouse did not get the votes
to override a likely presidential veto.
- Last month, I declareda national emergency.
- [Ben] But PresidentTrump's getting pushback
on Capitol Hill.
Even the Republican-controlled Senate
is set to vote against him.
- To terminate the president's declaration
of a national emergencyto build his border wall.
- [Ben] Senator Rand Paulis the latest Republican
to team up with Democrats toblock the president's plan,
saying, "I can't vote togive the president the power
"to spend money that hasn'tbeen approved by Congress."
The president's declarationlocks down eight billion
for a border wall by tapping accounts
in the Defense and Treasury departments.
This move aims to stop illegal drugs,
gangs, and human traffickersfrom crossing into the US.
- Mr. President, I support funding
for better border security,
including physical barrierswhere they make sense.
I understand that thepresident is disappointed
that the funding herequested did not pass.
But the failure ofCongress to pass funding
in the amount the president prefers
cannot become an excuse for the president
to usurp the powers ofthe executive branch.
- [Ben] Critics argue thepresident is abusing his authority
and warned this move would open the door
for future Democraticpresidents to do the same.
- A lot of people talk about precedent,
precedent, that if we do this,
the Democrats will usenational emergency powers
for something that we don't want.
They're gonna do that anyway, folks.
The best way to stop that is to make sure
that I win the election.
- On this vote, the yeasare 245, the nays are 182.
The joint resolution is passed.
- [Ben] Last week, theHouse took the first step
to shut down the president's declaration.
- Now Democrats are tryingto stop the president
from exercising the authoritythat the Congress gave him
to address this real crisis.
- Yet again, it's not just Democrats.
13 Republicans sidedwith them in the House.
If the Senate votes as expected,
the president said he will veto it.
It's highly unlikely Congresswill have enough votes
to overturn that veto.
John, Jenna?
- Highly unlikely indeed.
Ben, even as we watch all of this unfold,
more Democrats are jumping into the field
to challenge President Trump in 2020.
Who's the latest to announce?
- Well John, former Coloradogovernor John Hickenlooper
announced he will seekthe Democratic nomination
for the president in 2020.
The 67 year old is a former geologist
and a small business owner.
The two-term governor willjoin the growing field,
as you were just talking about, John,
of hopefuls poised tochallenge President Trump.
- Ben Kennedy reportingat the White House.
- All right, thank you, Ben.
Well, the president isvowing to sign a measure
to guarantee free speechon college campuses,
regardless of political leanings,
the announcement reportedlycoming in response
to conservative activists being silenced
on college campuses across the country.
- Today, I'm proud to announce that I
will be very soon signingan executive order
requiring colleges and universities
to support free speech(crowd cheers and applauds)
if they want federal research dollars.
- And a captive audience indeed.
The White House hasn'treleased any details
on when the executiveorder would be signed.
- Joining us now is Dr. Stephen Perry,
interim dean at the RobertsonSchool of Government
at Regent University.
Dr. Perry, thanks for being with us.
- You're welcome, glad to be here.
- Is an executive actionover campus free speech
something you'd support?
Is this a necessary protection?
- I would support it.
I think it's something thatwe live in an environment,
especially higher education,where there it's difficult
for conservatives to beheard at many universities
across the country.
And when I taught atIllinois State University,
I had students that would come to me
as a faculty sponsor ofsome conservative groups,
and they would ask how todeal with certain professors.
So it is something that'sbeen going on for years,
and I think that the executive action
could indeed be helpful.
- What kind of impactdo you think it'll have
on a university like Regent University?
- Well, from what the presidentsaid in his CPAC address,
he sees this as restrictinggovernment funds,
federal funds for research.
Federal funds is notsomething that I'm aware of
that Regent is receiving for research,
so I guess it depends on exactly
how far that executive action goes,
whether Regent wouldeven be included because,
at this point, we don't havethose types of research grants.
- Well, there's a flip sideto actions like these, right,
that could potentially impinge
on the freedoms of a Christian university.
What are some of the negative aspects?
- Yeah, well, obviouslya different president
will be in charge down the road.
So they would say hey, youcan't just give, potentially,
you can't just give a Christian viewpoint.
There's a lot more that goes into this.
We are permitted freedom of association,
this is a privateuniversity that I represent.
I think state universitiesand universities
that use federal funds are the ones
that the governmentactually has some authority
to say things about.
But, at Regent University,we talk about the need
for allowing free speech,and we have students
who don't agree withconservative principles for sure.
I know I have some in my class now.
We had a couple students that came
to the office last week asking if there
was some way to getOcasio-Cortez on campus.
And so there's people whoare advocating for all sides.
And so we try to be open,and yet we make it very clear
to students that we comeat our understanding
of the world from a Christian perspective,
and so that is our main limitation.
We expect students to at leastengage in that conversation.
They certainly don't haveto believe it in the end.
We can't force belief.
- There's definitely something
to be said of a diversity of viewpoints.
Final question for you,would a future administration
then be able to force Regentto host a guest or speaker
with views, as you just mentioned
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez,
that are contrary to the teachings
not just maybe politicallybut also to the values,
the deeply held religiousvalues, of the university?
- Sure.
I don't believe that theycould force the university
to host someone who was advocatingagainst the university's
stated belief system inChristianity and in faith.
We certainly could beasked to allow opportunity
for people of different views.
But the university already does that.
The last time around inthe presidential election,
we put out an open call to people
who were running for office, inviting them
to come and do forums on campus.
We did not have a verydiverse set of those views.
We had five presidential candidates.
All of them were on the Republican side.
But that's the choice of the candidates,
that they decided Regentwasn't a good venue for them.
- Dr. Stephen Perrywith Regent University's
Robertson School of Government.
Thank you so much for beingwith us this afternoon.
- Thank you, John, nice to be here.
- Well, anti-Semitism is onthe rise all over the world,
and it is becoming moreand more of a problem
on college campuses.
Here's Senior WashingtonCorrespondent Paul Strand.
- Some folks hear about anti-Semitism
here in America, and they tendto blame people on the right.
But often, it's coming from the left,
and, sometimes, righthere on college campuses.
- The truth is that anti-Semitism
has been on the rise across the board.
The Anti-Defamation League talks about
how there's been an uptick,I think it's 57% increase.
But on the university campusesjust in the last year alone,
it's over 80%.
- [Paul] For example, UCLA is taking heat
for hosting the Studentsfor Justice in Palestine
annual conference.
As philanthropist Adam Milsteinpointed out in a tweet,
its members use words like
"let's stuff some Jews in theoven," "kill all the Jews,"
"don't hesitate to slash their throats."
Alyza Lewin of the Brandeis Center speaks
of Jewish students afraid towear shirts showing Hebrew.
- Because when they wear Hebrew T shirts,
they feel that it makes them a target.
- Being accosted by other students
and calling them Zionist baby killers
and that sort of thing.
- [Paul] Professor David Bernstein
at George Mason University'sLaw School writes
about anti-Semitism.
Some of it comes from MiddleEastern Muslim students
now studying here.
- Anti-semitism is commonand unobjectionable
in the Middle East.
Rates of anti-Semitism in Syria
and the Palestinian territories,
Jordan, and Egypt, are 80% plus.
- [Paul] And the Jews getjudged for their defense
of the Jewish homeland, Israel.
- If you demonize Israel,if you think that Israel
is so awful, it should bethe one country singled out
for sanctions and boycotts and all that,
then you say to yourself, well,
who's defending this evil country?
And, not surprisingly, thepeople who are most active
in defending Israel onmany campuses are Jews,
so there must be somethingwrong with the Jews.
- [Paul] Lewin says people on campus
who say they're justanti-Zionist, not anti-Jew,
don't understand how crucialZion is to most Jews.
- The special feeling about Zion,
about Israel, is an integralpart of Jewish identity.
There's a deep spiritual,religious connection
to Israel that predates the creation
of the modern state of Israel.
- Some folks dream that thingslike racism and anti-Semitism
may just fade away ascivilization progresses.
But if it's starting tobubble up on college campuses
and among the young, maybe it's a dream
that has to be put off for awhile.
Paul Strand, CBN News,
reporting from theGeorge Mason Law School.
- Thank you, Paul.
Well, freshman Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
is once again facing backlash for remarks
that were widely seen as anti-Semitic.
And now Democraticleaders are taking action.
Speaker Nancy Pelosiand top House Democrats
are expected to put a resolutionon the floor Wednesday,
this after Omar had a public clash
over the weekend with a Jewish lawmaker.
The exact details of what the resolution
will include are still being worked out.
This isn't the first time Omar
has been admonished forher anti-Israel rhetoric.
Just a few weeks ago, comments she made
were officially condemnedby Pelosi and many others.
(boom)
- When we come back, whysome across the country
believe the American dream is dead.
(upbeat, dramatic music)
Welcome back.
Well, how attainable isthe American dream today?
Is it alive and well, or is it dying?
- Well, it depends on who you ask.
New research shows the heartof whether a community thrives
or dies is the strength of its churches.
Today, Jennifer Wishon sat down
with journalist Tim Carney to talk
about his new book Alienated America.
- I wanted to know why so many people
thought the American dream was dead
'cause I think that attitudeof hopelessness itself
causes all sorts of bad outcomes,
that people were not justseeing bad economic numbers
but men were droppingout of the labor force.
I saw numbers about deathsof despair going up.
That's suicides, drugabuse, alcohol abuse.
You even see the life spans shortening.
So I knew something was wrong out there,
and I wanted to figure out what it was.
And too many of the explanations
were just about economics,or they were blaming people.
Oh, these are deplorablesclinging to their guns
and Bibles and not willingto take care of themselves.
And I knew that thoseexplanations were wrong.
So that's why I wentout around the country
and try to see what it isand dug into all the data,
what is it that's causing theplaces that are doing poorly,
and I compared it to the places
that were doing well, andthe biggest difference
was a strength of community institutions.
Particularly in Middle America,
it was the strength of churches.
Those were the placeswhere they were strong
in bringing people together regularly,
you had better outcomes,
and where they were disappearing
and population was disappearing,
the people left behindwere really struggling.
- You write that, to explainTrump's core supporters,
many commentators pointed to the factories
that were closing, but theyshould've been pointing
to the churches that were closing.
- Donald Trump was a politician
who came and said theAmerican dream is dead.
And that sounded crazy to so many people.
But it resonated among alot of people early on.
I think his core supporters were the ones
who heard him say theAmerican dream is dead,
and where that sounded themost true were the places
where they didn't have anymore of the Friday fish fries,
where they didn't have any more
of the high school footballgames that everyone
was going to, or the locallibrary had shut down,
or parents weren'tinvolved in the schools.
Those are the placesthat the American dream
seemed most dead, even more important
than the economic factors.
- What is the American dream?
Is it the things thataccompany the American dream,
or are those thingsactually the American dream
like pot lucks and going toChristmas concerts and T ball?
- That's exactly right.
So many people have aneconomic explanation
of the American dream.
I think that that'srelated, but it's off base.
It's not owning a home, it'snot making a ton of money.
It really is being connected usually
through an institution to your neighbors,
to other people who share thesame common higher purpose.
(boom)
- [John] The true messagebehind Tim Tebow's new movie
when we come back.
(upbeat, dramatic music)
- Well, Tim Tebow is making the transition
from sports to the big screen.
And in his first movie as a film producer,
it continues to do well at the box office.
- That's right.
In the second week afterits theatrical debut,
Run the Race made more than $1.3 million.
Efrem Graham sat down with Tebow
to learn more about the film.
- [Efrem] Tim Tebow has gonefrom Heisman Trophy winner
with the Florida Gators to NFL quarterback
to Minor League Baseball player,
gearing up for yet another season.
- You look at the last 10 years
and all the twists and turnsthat my life has taken,
and not a lot of them youcould have possibly predicted.
But I tell you what, I'mgrateful for all of them,
even the lows 'causeI love what I'm doing.
(stadium crowd cheers)
Welcome to Gator Nation, bro.
- [Efrem] And doing it well,
adding filmmaker to his credits
with a movie that includes a mention
of his beloved Florida Gators.
- This is it. (exhales deeply)
- We got the beat!- Yeah!
- It's in our feet!- Yeah!
- It's in our hair!- Yeah!
- It's everywhere!- Yeah!
- [Efrem] Run the Racerecently premiered in Hollywood
(Demi-Leigh laughs)
with Tebow strolling the red carpet
with his new fiance,Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters,
Miss Universe 2017.
- And I couldn't be more proud of him.
- Thank you.
- For both of you now, how'sthe wedding planning going?
(Demi-Leigh and Tim laugh)
- I guess that's a questionfor me, right? (laughs)
- Yeah, it's more of a question for her.
- Well, no, it's going.
I think, right now, we're justenjoying this moment, and...
- It's a slow process, though.
- It is.- We've been really busy, so--
- It's your night toshine and the movie, and--
- Baseball's about to start,- The exact same thing.
- It's been busy, very busy.- It has been, yeah.
- When we get more time, thenwe can really work on that.
- But I'm making time,don't you worry. (laughs)
- One at a time!
- [Efrem] The couple madeheadlines following Tim's surprise
and romantic proposal duringthe Christmas holidays.
First off, congratulationson the engagement.
- Thank you, thank you.- How you feelin'?
- Great, I love it, I'm happy.
- Very, very nice.- Very grateful she said yes.
(Tim laughs)- Yes, indeed.
Hope the planning goes smoothly.
- Thank you.
- [Efrem] Now, gettingback to Run the Race.
- I've seen enough footballto last me a lifetime.
After watching you takethat hit last year,
your body all locked up the way it was,
no thank you, no sir.
- [Efrem] A story aboutthe weight of the world
and the love of a brother.
- The world's not always easy.
Society's not always the easiest on us,
and so if we can encourageyoung people in their journey,
on their race, then it would be worth it.
And so that's really why we started this
was to be able to have them go see a movie
and walk away knowing thathopefully being encouraged
and inspired but then alsoknowing all the things
that this movie tries to share.
So you're not always gonna win,
you're not always gonna come in first,
it's not gonna be perfect, butyou're loved in the process.
You're special, and there's apurpose and a reason for you,
and you can pursue your passions.
I think that's probably myfavorite part about this movie.
It's about relationshipsbecause I believe life
is about relationships.
It's about community, it's about people.
I think we were made for a relationship,
relationship with God,relationship with each other,
and to be able to understand forgiveness
and give it and get it and understand love
and be able to work throughthose hurdles on your journey.
And I just think that relationship aspect
is probably my favorite part of it.
- [Michael] You guys mind if I join you?
- [Zach] Yeah.
- Long time, no see, Pop.
- Yeah, I lost my appetite.
- Kid, I come by.
Now that you not there,this what will let me in.
- Yeah, I figured.
Why didn't you say anything?
- Don't see why I'd wastemy breath on this guy.
- I heard you doin' realwell on the football field
this season, Zachary.- Oh, did you?
- Yep.
In fact, rumor has it that you're
gonna shatter all my district records.
- (laughs) Yeah, no,I'm gonna wipe your name
off the record books;you can count on that.
- This is really a rollercoasterfor these two young men.
This story, coping with loss and tragedy.
How do you cope with loss?
People probably say, well, you don't lose,
but how do you cope with loss?
- No, you definitely lose.
I've lost a lot of things,whether it's been people
I've been close to,whether it's been Wish kids
that I loved and they'vegone to heaven early,
whether it's been notnecessarily all your dreams
going the way you want.
But in the midst of it, whatdo we have to hold onto?
Who do we have to hold onto?
And when everything aroundus feels like it's shaken,
who are we and whose are we?
And I think that's what's important
and that's what special.
And everybody's on their ownjourney and their own race,
but there are somesimilarities and some ties
and things we all go to, and that's fear
and it's doubt and it's the unknown
and it's are we good enoughand it's are we loved
and all these samequestions that we all ask.
And I think that's what Runthe Race really touches on.
- Hopefully you'll do it again?
- Yes, sir.
- He is a man of many hats.
- No kidding.
That movie looks good.- Yep.
Well, that's gonna do itfor tonight's Faith Nation.
- Have a good night.
