- Well, welcome to The 700 Club.
Iran shoots down a US drone
in what looks like neutral waters.
Are they looking for a war?
And there're swarms of earthquakes
in the Hayward, California region.
Is this a precursor, so a big one,
or just a phenomenon thattakes place right frequently?
We'll be talking about all of that.
Plus, the president in oneday has raised more money
than most of the Democrats
in all the time they'vebeen in gear combined.
Amazing stuff, but tensions are growing
as President Trump sends more US troops
to the region of the Iranian Persian Gulf.
But as Capitol Hill correspondentAbigail Robertson reports,
Congress is divided
over whether the presidenthas the authority
to enter into any furtherconflict with Iran.
Here she is.
(hollow whoosh)
- Now the tension betweenthe United States and Iran
has reached a new high.
The talk on the Hill isless about military action
and more about Iranian aggression.
This week Senate MajorityLeader Mitch McConnell
still warned the risks ofa conflict are very high.
- But make no mistake they're being driven
by Tehran's decisionsto resort to violence.
- [Abigail] McConnell strongly supports
the Trump Administration's decision
to send 1,000 troops as a defense
against any further Iranianattacks in the region.
- There's no question thatIran is behind the attacks.
- [Abigail] Congressman AdamSchiff argues these kinds
of attacks were "eminently foreseeable"
after President Trump pulled out
of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
- And the fact that ourreneging on the deal
hasn't made us safer is part of the proof.
- [Abigail] Iran threatensunless sanctions are eased
it will exceed the limitof nuclear fuel allowed
in the 2015 Obama-eradeal in a matter of days.
- It's been our missionsince the beginning
of this administration toconvince the Iranian regime
not to move forward withtheir nuclear program
and not to continue toengage in development
of the missiles and allthe other activities,
the malign activities thatthey've been engaged in
around the world.
- [Abigail] Secretary ofState Mike Pompeo says
for more than a year theadministration kept up pressure
with the goal ofreestablishing deterrents.
- We need to make surethat we continue to do that
so that we ultimately get the opportunity
to convince Iran that it'snot in their best interest
to behave in this way.
- [Abigail] Remindingeveryone this is 40 years
of Iranian activity thathas led us to this point.
- Unprovoked attackson commercial shipping
warrant a retaliatory military strike
against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- [Abigail] Senator Tom Cottonbelieves it's time to act
with or without congressional approval.
- The policy in Iran hasbeen erratic and opaque.
Nobody knows what their plans are
and why they're doing what.
- [Abigail] While MinorityLeader Chuck Schumer
acknowledges the problem in Iran,
he wants the president tolay out a clear strategy.
- As we have learned since the 60s,
unless the American people areon board with the strategy,
it ultimately is notgonna get their support
and Congress's support.
- Senate Democratscaution the administration
against taking action withoutthe support of Congress
or our allies.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans were briefed
by a top diplomat from theState Department this week
on the heightening situation, an offer,
Leader McConnell says,Senate Democrats turned down.
Reporting from Capitol Hill,Abigail Robertson, CBN News.
- You know, folks, it is a little strange.
The president has abrogatedthe agreement with Iran
to limit their nuclear capabilities.
And yet, he's holdingthem to the same standards
that were in that treaty.
And he says they're exceeding them.
That is a little bit opaque, as was said.
It's hard to understandexactly what's going on.
But it is clear that we have said,
and many others have said,Iran can't get a nuclear bomb
because it has made clearthat if it gets one,
it's more than, well, readyto use it against Israel.
And they have that strangebelief in the Mahdi.
And you have to understandthat a lot of actions
that people take aroundthe world are motivated
by their deep-held religious belief.
Well, they believe
that in the latter daysthe Mahdi will come.
And the Mahdi will come in themidst of chaos in the world,
and he will bring an end to that chaos.
But before he comes therehas to be the chaos.
And so as they wait forthe 12th Imam of the Mahdi,
they are more than willingto start blowing people up
and to get the conditionsfor that Muslim savior
to come to them.
It's a strange belief, butthat's what they hold to.
So it wouldn't be outof anybody's disbelief
that the Iranians wouldwant to start a nuclear war.
And if they get the bomb,they have made it clear
they will use it against Israel.
So we have to say, and others have to say,
we will not let you do that.
But at the same time, thepresident, God bless him,
and Mike Pompeo have got tosay clearly what our views are,
what the parameters are, andwhat we're asking them to do.
Well, in other news,authorities arrested a Syrian,
Syrian refugee for planning an attack
on a church in Pittsburgh.
John Jessup has more.
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- That is right, Pat.
Officials say the suspectis an ISIS sympathizer
who planned to bomb LegacyInternational Worship Center
in revenge "for our brothers in Nigeria."
Mustafa Mousab Alowemerallegedly recorded a video
of himself pledging allegiance to ISIS.
Prosecutors say thebomb he intended to hide
in a backpack anddetonate by remote control
would've likely killed many people
in surrounding neighborhood,even if the church was empty.
Undercover agents sayAlowemer even suggested
leaving a second explosive device
to kill Pittsburgh first responders.
He has been charged with one count
of attempting to providematerial support to ISIS
among additional charges.
Well, stock market futures surged
more than 200 points Thursday
on news the Federal Reservemight cut interest rates
later this year.
Fed Chairman JeromePowell announced Wednesday
it's staying put on itsbenchmark rate for now
and indicated it might lower rates
later this year if necessaryto strengthen the economy.
But the bond market responded negatively
with 10-year treasureyields falling below 2%
for the first time in 2016.
Well, President Trumpraked in campaign donations
after his Tuesday night reelection rollout
taking in nearly $25 million,this as Democratic candidates
are taking aim at front runner Joe Biden
questioning recentremarks about his ability
to work with segregationists in the past.
CBN's Jenna Browderreports from Washington.
(hollow whoosh)
- One day after President Trump
launched his reelection campaign
the race is already heating up,
Trump raising nearly $25 millionwithin the first 24 hours,
this as the Democratic candidates begin
to turn on one another.
- When's the last time wesaw people stand outside
for 36 hours in the rainfor a political rally?
I mean, his supporters are fired up.
- [Jenna] Tom Beven, presidentof Real Clear Politics,
tells CBN's Faith Nation the enthusiasm
among Trump supporters
and the money they're giving his campaign
are both good signs.
- The irony of President Trump
is he also fires up the Democratsin an unprecedented way.
- [Jenna] On the campaigntrail, Trump will address
some of his strongest supporters next week
at Ralph Reed's Road to Majority.
- He's been focused like alaser beam on the faith vote,
and he's on the issues thatare a priority to them.
He's made promises, andhe's kept those promises.
- [Jenna] Meanwhile, Democraticfront runner Joe Biden
is facing headwinds after comments he made
about working with segregationistsenators in the past.
- I disagreed with the viewsof the segregationists.
The point I'm making isyou don't have to agree.
- [Jenna] Biden's wordsreceiving sharp criticism
from Kamala Harris and others.
- But to coddle thereputations of segregationists
of people who, if they had their way,
I would literally not be standing here
as a member of the United States Senate.
It is, I think...
It's just it's misinformed and it's wrong.
- [Jenna] And Republicans taking heat too
as Congress holds hearingsfor slavery reparations.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
making this statement.
- I don't think reparations for something
that happened 150 years ago
for whom none of us currentlyliving are responsible
is a good idea.
We've tried to deal withour original sin of slavery
by fighting a civil war,
by passing landmarkcivil rights legislation.
We've elected an AfricanAmerican president.
- For a century after the Civil War
black people were subjected
to a relentless campaign of terror,
a campaign that extendedwell into the lifetime
of Majority Leader McConnell.
- Also, today, Democrats onthe House Judiciary Committee
are frustrated after formerWhite House aid Hope Hicks
refused to answer questionsabout possible obstruction
of justice regarding President Trump
and the Russia investigation,
President Trump insisting her work
as a senior White House aid was protected.
In Washington, Jenna Browder, CBN News.
- Thanks, Jenna, Pat, back to you.
- You know, this whole idea of reparations
is literally insane.
As Mitch McConnell said,there's nobody living today
who had anything to do with slavery
or the oppression of blackpeople back before the Civil War.
And if reparations are paid,how much are to be paid,
and to whom are they to be paid?
Who is the beneficiary of this?
A bunch of people who'vejust been born recently
are gonna pick up a windfall sometime
in the trillions of dollars?
How do you add it up?
How do you count it up?
What is the metric that is being used?
Nobody knows that.
The whole thing is absurd.
And to criticize Mr.McConnell because of his stand
is just ridiculous.
He's doing the right thing.
And no thinking person today
should really expectreparations to be paid
for something that wasdone 100, 150 years ago.
Makes no sense, it can't be done, John.
- Pat, some troubling news to report.
Suicide among 15 to 24-year-oldsis at its highest level
in 20 years.
A new report in theAmerican Medical Association
says it's the secondleading cause of death
in the age group behind auto accidents.
CBN health reporter Lorie Johnson looks
at some of the possible causes
behind this troubling trend.
(hollow whoosh)
- Out of every 100,000 young people
between the ages of 15 and 24,
14 commit suicide, a sharpincrease over previous years.
Experts site a number of underlying causes
for this upward trend.
The CDC points to drug use,street drugs like heroine,
but also ones okayed by a doctor.
An alarming 200 prescription medications
list depressive symptomsor suicidal thinking
as possible side effects.
And the risk of suicide increases
with the number of theseprescriptions a person takes.
- Any drug that is affectingyour mind, your moods,
your feelings, has thepotential to cause a disaster.
Most of the school shootershave been on psychiatric drugs
and a great number of themwere on psychiatric drugs
at the time or shortly beforethey committed violence.
And violence and suicide go together.
It's are you gonna turn your rage out
or are you gonna turn your rage inward?
- [Lorie] Social mediaalso comes under fire
because studies show it increasesthe risk for depression,
anxiety, and bullying.
Christian psychiatrist DanielAmen is particularly concerned
about youngsters on these platforms,
warning that parental controls
can give a false sense of security.
- So even if it's safe, what it's doing
is setting them up to spendmore and more time on it
as they grow.
And all the research I knowsays that's a bad thing.
- [Lorie] As the presidentof the American Association
of Christian Counselors, Dr. Tim Clinton
says people of faithneed to face the reality
of suicidal depression in their community.
- The church, the communityof believers out there,
need to get more serious aboutmental health related issues
and themes in everyday life.
We need to bring thisto the front and center,
the forefront of the church.
- Suicide warning signs include talking
about suicide or feelings of hopelessness,
contacting people to saygoodbye, and giving things away.
If you or someone you lovestruggles with suicidal thoughts,
free anonymous help is available anytime
by calling 1-800-273-TALK.
Lorie Johnson, CBN News.
- Pat?
- We've been talking aboutthat swarm of earthquakes.
Normally speaking, a bunchof tremors has a tendency
to alleviate some of the stresses
that would cause a big earthquake,
and so this is not thesign of the big one coming.
It may be the sign of thebig one being alleviated.
But on the other hand,there're people who think
if there's a big swarm of earthquakes,
it's a precursor to the big one.
And we've all been waiting for the big one
that's gonna break overthe Los Angeles area.
They've had 'em up in San Francisco,
but when you've got several fault lines
that run through California,it is an earthquake zone.
And it is a thing thatneeds to be taken care of,
and it can't be ignored.
But here's the story aboutwhat's happening right now
in Hayward, California, John.
- Pat, those swarm ofearthquakes you're talking about
hit Southern Californiaover the last three weeks,
covering an area of lessthan one square mile
in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
Residents say they have felt the shaking
and wonder if a big one is coming.
But geological researcherssay there's a slim chance
there will be a larger quake.
The swarms have anaverage magnitude of 3.0.
And Pat, this area is rightalong that Ring of Fire
that you talk about.
- Sure is, and the earth is, you know,
we have these big plates,where there's a magma
underneath us, and theplates float on the magma.
And there's a North American plate.
There's a Pacific plate and so forth.
And they come together.
And if they break apart just a little bit,
then all of a suddenyou've got a big fracture,
and you've got all kinds ofterrible things happening,
especially in a modern city.
And a lot of our architecturehas not been prepared
to withstand a quake.
Well-built structures usually stand up.
And the damages fromthings that hit people
when the buildings fallor when furniture falls
and so forth, but it's very scary
to undertake one of those things.
And when that Northside earthquake hit,
my son Tim was in it and started shaking,
and it was scary situation.
- Have you ever been in an earthquake?
- I was in one in Israel.
I was in a bed asleep, and allof a sudden I felt this bump
behind me, and I didn'tknow what was the matter.
And the curtain started shaking.
It was an earthquake, butit was far enough away
so it didn't affect me.- I felt one,
and I was in Arizona,- Really?
- and living right onthe border of California.
And back then was my firstTV job, slept on a mattress
on the floor, so when the earthquake came,
it felt like something cameinto the mattress like this.
- Wow!- And it felt
like a rollercoaster.
And my roommate and I, weran out into the middle.
Her bedroom was here and mine was here,
we ran out into the middle
and hugged each other.(both laughing)
And it was really scary!
That was my first and only earthquake.
- Yeah, well, I'd just assoon stay away from 'em,
but some of 'em can bevery, very devastating.
And we'll see, when you lookat some of the fictional movies
that have been about earthquakes,
but it could be that, youknow, parts of California,
with that San Andreas Fault,it could be significant enough
that you could have a largeportion of the state opening up
and the ocean coming in.
But right now we haven't had any of that,
and I hope we never do have to.
