- Well, welcome to the 700 Club.
It's the most famous church in the world,
the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris.
On the Ile de la Citeat the center of Paris,
it is an iconic landmark
and people were doing about$3 million worth of repairs
and said they set a fire andthere's so much wood inside
it began to flame up.
And you can see on your screenthe flames that were there.
The spire collapsed but Iunderstand the structure
has been saved and there'sa five or $600 million
repair bill coming up.
But it looks like they're gonna do it.
But people, crowds in the street,
there were tears andprayers as they watched
that historic church burn.
And this morning, thesacred site stands intact
and we're grateful for that.
And we're learning moreabout the priceless artifacts
that were inside saved.
Caitlin Burke has more.
- The world watched in horror Monday
as the Notre Dame Cathedralin Paris went up in flames.
There were moments when itseemed the entire structure
would burn to the ground.
But today the bell towers, the facade
and the most preciousartifacts from inside remain.
The flames burning out of control
could be seen across Paris
where the iconic church hasstood for more than 800 years.
There were moments when itseemed the entire structure
would burn to the ground,
the spire that marked the Paris skyline
toppling from the flames.
- [John] That was the momentthat she started crying,
when we watched that spire fall down.
It's just, it's such like an iconic part
of the Paris skyline.
- [Caitlin] One witnessposted this cell phone video
of a group of strangers
gathered nearby the burningcathedral singing Ave Maria.
- [Bystanders] (singingin foreign language)
- [Caitlin] After a 12 hourbattle firefighters say
the entire fire is out.
The bell towers, the facade remain,
but two-thirds of the roof are gone.
Officials are investigating the cause
but don't believe it's arson.
They say it was more than likely
to do with a $6 millionrestoration project.
In an emotional addressto France and the world,
President Emmanuel Macronpledged to rebuild.
- (speaking foreign language)
- [Caitlin] Despite the loss,relief at what's been saved.
The Cathedral's famous organdamaged but reportedly intact.
And photos from inside show the cross
and altar are still standing.
Precious relics housedinside the cathedral
are also safe, mostnotably, a crown of thorns
said to be from the crucifixion of Jesus.
Still uncertain, the fate
of the famous stained-glass windows.
- For the French, my God, for the world,
Notre Dame Cathedralrepresents what's most noble,
what's most uplifting,what's most inspirational
about the human project.
And to see that reduced to ashes--
My oh my, I remember our song,
From the Ashes We Rise Up.
We had Ash Wednesday, we want to rise up
with Jesus at Easter,
and I believe that there'll besome rising from this dying.
- We learned today thethe artifacts removed
from Notre Dame willbe moved to The Louvre.
President Macron says aninternational campaign
will be launched today tohelp fund the rebuilding
and restoration efforts.
Already, a French billionaire has pledged
more than $200 million for the project.
Caitlin Burke, CBN News.
- Well, in other news, themuch awaited Mueller Report
is set to release this week.
Efrem Graham has more on that.
- Pat, the Justice Departmentsaid it's releasing
a redacted version of the report Thursday.
Testifying on Capitol Hill last week,
Attorney General William Barr said,
he'd release the findingsof the Russia investigation
within a week.
The report will go toCongress and be released
to the public.
The redacted informationincludes Grand Jury testimony,
foreign intelligencematerial and information
about ongoing investigations.
Pat, many are looking forwardto seeing that report.
- Well, the big thing isthat Attorney General Barr
has said that he's going tolet the Justice Department
begin to investigate thesource of that Russian hoax,
the Christopher SteeleDossier, the other documents
that have been used for FISA warrants.
It's been an abuse ofpower at the highest level
of the FBI.
And I think, before it's finished,
there should be some criminal indictments.
Those people have done terrible things
and they have misused one ofthe most respected agencies
in our country.
Well, it's time for him to deal with that
and I think that's going to happen.
So, those who've been brayingfor the Mueller Report
to be released and aredisappointed that it doesn't find
some collusion and someobstruction of justice
are gonna be somewhat surprised when the,
(laughing) when thespotlight turns on them.
Efrem?
- Pat, wanna turn now tothe immigration crisis
with thousands of migrants daily,
crossing illegally into the United States.
At least one member of Congress says
he's ready to take action.
This comes as the presidentcontinues his threat
to send many to sanctuary cities.
White House CorrespondentBen Kennedy is on this story.
- Senator Lindsey Grahamsays he's got a plan
to combat the crisis at the border
and it involves an overhaulof the country's asylum laws.
This as the presidentcontinues to call for migrants
to be sent to sanctuary cities.
- So I'm gonna put alegislative package together.
- [Ben] The package would change the law
regarding how and whenthe US grants asylum.
- I'll be introducing a package
and hopefully, with Democratic support,
that will change our asylum laws.
90% of the people apply for asylum
never make it so thestandard needs to change.
- [Ben] The presidentagrees, tweeting today,
"Those illegal immigrantswho can no longer be
"legally held...will besubject to Homeland Security,
"given to Sanctuary Cities and States."
- And the want more peoplein their sanctuary cities,
well, we'll give them more people.
- [Ben] But legal questionsremain on that move
as lawyers at Homeland Securityinitially shot it down.
Democrats criticize it as retribution,
although mayors at someso-called sanctuary cities say
they're open to the idea.
Former Ambassador to theUN, Nikki Haley added,
Pick up the phone and callyour Congressional rep
and tell them to get backto DC and not leave until
they have a solutionon immigration reform.
- We're never gonna stopthis by just having walls
and troops at the border.
We have to change our lawsso these people stop coming.
There's a narrative in Central America
that if you can get toAmerica with a minor child,
you will never get departed and we have
to change that storyline.
- Now, Graham says his plan'll be unveiled
to the Senate after the break.
The White House says sendingmigrants to sanctuary cities
is not their firstchoice, but the president
likes the idea.
If it were to happen, it wouldput thousands of migrants
in cities like Chicago,Denver and even San Francisco.
Ben Kennedy, CBN News, Washington.
- Be watching to see how this all unfolds.
Pat?
- You know, in Venezuela,we're seeing the unfolding
of what happens with socialism.
And socialism runs amok.
It destroys a country.
Now, Venezuela, as youprobably have heard,
was one of the largest producersof crude oil in the world.
Had probably the biggestdeposits of crude,
it's a thick crude.
Now, if the pumps thatdeal with that crude
go down because of electrical failure,
then sand begins to silt in and the pumps
begin not to work properly.
And then the oil production stops.
An oilfield just doesn't keep on flowing
'cause they think you're nice.
It flows because of technologicalexpertise continuous.
And we understand a lotof the Venezuelan experts
in oil have gone to Canada,
they've gone to other places to get jobs.
And well, here's Efrem withmore on what's happening
and the tragedy in that great nation.
- Pat, as you said, the crisis conditions
in Venezuela continue.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,
visiting neighboringColumbia this weekend,
describing the manmade crisis
that's devastating Venezuelans.
- These aren't people that are starving
because the country doesn't wealth.
These are people that are starving
because the political leadership,
the military thugs, inside of Venezuela
have destroyed their capacityto produce crude oil.
They have destroyed thecapacity to grow crops.
They deny their people aid that is sitting
right at the border.
- Secretary Pompeo warnsstrongman, Nicolas Maduro
that all options remain on the table
and he sent a warning to Maduro's allies.
The US is committed to seeing
the dictator removed from power.
- The Cubans must understand too,
that there will be a cost associated
with their continuingsupport of Nicolas Maduro.
We're gonna have that same conversation
with the Russians as well.
- With its huge oilreserves, Venezuela once
was Latin America'smost prosperous country.
Today, the nation's petroleum output
is about the same as Romania'sand it could drop even more.
Chuck Holton explainswhy Venezuela is losing
its only remaining hopeof salvaging its economy.
- The situation in Venezuelais reaching a new low
as the nation's vital oil industry
could be nearing total collapse.
The already bankrupt petroleum operation
just lost its biggestcustomer, the United States.
Nationwide blackoutscontinue and are bringing
the entire economy to a standstill.
Experts say the poweroutages may have damaged
the oil production equipment
to such an extent it may notbe able to pump any product.
Here in the Maracaibo industrial zone
the machinery sitsquiet, while oil workers
fish the polluted watersfor something to eat.
A report in March from theInternational Energy Agency
warns that Venezuela's output of crude oil
could soon collapse tojust a tiny fraction
of what it was even a few years ago.
That would put the country, said to have
the world's largest proven oil reserves
in the ironic positionof having to import fuel
to meet its domestic needs.
So we're back on thebridge between Columbia
and Venezuela and there's a enormous line.
The bridge has been closed for many days.
In the last couple of days it's opened up.
Now there are thousandsof people crossing.
To make the problem worse,cash-strapped Venezuelans
fleeing the country aretaking the gasoline with them.
They smuggle it across the border
and sell it on the side ofthe road here in Cucuta.
So this girl is sellingme gasoline for my car,
very, very cheaply becauseit comes from Venezuela.
Back in Maracaibo, broken oil pipes
and crumbling infrastructure are making
an environmental crisis almostas big as the economic one.
- (speaking foreign language)
- [Translator] Becauseof all the broken pipes,
you can constantly seeoil floating on the water.
- (speaking foreign language)
- [Translator] We are used to this
because we work in theseconditions every day.
We have to wash withgasoline to get it off
and that causes a rash on our skin.
- [Chuck] Over the past five years,
the United States has seen
its domestic petroleumproduction skyrocket
as high tech extractionin places like West Texas
becomes more profitable.
Last year, America passedRussia and Saudi Arabia
as the world's largest producer of crude.
That means, even if Venezuela'sindustry can recover
the US may not need as much as before.
And with periodic nationwideblackouts still a problem,
this once thriving industry is paralyzed
for the time being.
Which means for the foreseeable future
Venezuela's biggestexport will be refugees.
- (speaking foreign language)
- [Translator] It neverused to be like this.
It makes me very sad.
- [Chuck] For CBN News, I'm Chuck Holton.
- As you said, Pat, my howfar the country has fallen.
- It's a great report, Chuck.
And I appreciate thatreporting you've been doing.
But, ladies and gentlemen, thisis the legacy of socialism.
And why young people today would embrace
this failed model escapes me.
They've got to understandthat you can't get
free education, you can'tget free healthcare.
You can't get free employment.
You can't get job security for life
and all the rest of it.
You can't do it unlessthe country goes bankrupt
and when it does, then suddenly,everything falls apart.
But Maduro is just unbelievably bad.
And my thought is, this isdegrading the environment,
it is destroying the oil in Venezuela.
Lake Maracaibo is a cesspool now.
And the suffering is beyond measure.
It's spilling over, all kinds of disease
is now spilling over into Columbia.
And it's time for the nations to act.
We can't just keep sayingall options are on the table.
Well, let's take one of those options off
which is called military force.
If nothing else, let'sget some drones overhead
and we'll launch some Hellfire missiles
at Maduro's headquarters.
Let's do something to shake those guys up.
You can't just let this continue.
But anyhow, I don't make policy,
I just sit here, talk about television.
