- Well, welcome to the 700 Club.

A high stakes face-off today

between Presidents Biden and Putin.

At a time when US-Russianrelations are at a record low.

Biden is talking tough,but will he actually

take a hard line with Putin?

Coming up, Mike Pompeo will join us live

with his take on the summit.

Plus the former Secretary of State will

weigh in on this crucial question.

Does America still hold the military edge

over Russia and China?

But first here's CBNWhite House correspondent,

Eric Phillips.

- Officials say thePresident prepared intensely

for his meeting with Putin.

Not at all underestimatinghis political foe

as he headed into the summit,

which is expected to lastsome four to five hours.

The two presidents greeting each other

before what's expectedto be an intense summit.

Coming at a time whenUS-Russia relations are

at their lowest point in years.

- He's bright, he's tough.

- [Eric Philips] Inthe hours leading up to

his meeting with Vladimir Putin,

President Biden calledthe Russian president

a worthy adversary.

One with whom he hoped tofind some common ground,

but he also said he's cleareyed and his expectations.

- It's not about, you know,trusting, it's about agreeing.

I'd verify first and then trust.

- [Eric Phillips] Duringhis week overseas,

the president has metwith a number of leaders

at the G7, NATO, and withthose in the European Union.

But his last scheduled meetingwas the most anticipated,

that with Putin.

- Every world leader here

as a member of NATO that spoke today,

and most of them mentioned it,

thanked me for meeting with Putin now.

- [Eric Phillips] In fact,

leaders at NATO put up a united front

against autocraticleaders ahead of Biden's

face-to-face meeting with Putin.

For his part, Biden has a fullagenda going into the summit

including Russianmeddling in US elections,

human rights concerns, themilitary threat to Ukraine,

and cyber attacks from Russia based gangs

against American businessesand government entities.

Michael O'Hanlon withThe Brookings Institution

says Biden must take a hardline on the ransomware attacks.

- We should be tough.

And if the Russians won't take action

then we need to have some kindof a proportionate response

in the economic or cyber realm ourselves.

- I'm not looking for conflictwith Russia, but that we

will respond if Russia continuesits harmful activities.

- Officials say the meetingbegan with the two presidents

and their secretaries of state.

But as it progresses other senior aids

are expected to be brought in.

A senior White House officialsays the administration is not

expecting any majorannouncements from the summit.

Both presidents will holdseparate press conferences

after the meetings, to givetheir impressions of the summit.

Eric Phillips, CBN News.

- Thanks Eric.

Mike Pompeo served as secretaryof state CIA director,

and has held other major posts.

And it's a great pleasure to have

our good friend back with us again.

Mr. Secretary, we'redelighted to welcome you

again to the 700 Club.

Thanks for being with us.

- It's great to be with you.

How are you this morning?

- I'm doing great for an old guy.

Listen, let me ask you.

Give me your take on theBiden foreign policy so far.

Is he making the right moves,

is he giving away too much?

- You know, he talks only aboutbuilding back, going back.

He talks about taking Americanforeign policy back to,

to something.

I think what he means byback is back to Barack Obama.

And he certainly acting that way right...

Every sign is that Americais going to be weaker.

That we're going to goaround the world apologizing

for America, instead ofwhat we did for four years

which was to demonstrateAmerica's goodness,

our central goodness, around the world.

But with enormous resolvethat we were going to

protect American interests.

He's given the Russians a huge gift

by stopping American energy production.

He's given the Russians a gift

by re-entering a nuclear treaty.

And then he shows up witha very weak end today.

I hope that he is strong.

If it's just words, thiswon't deter Vladimir Putin.

Putin understands one thing,

strength and resolve anddetermination and character.

I hope for the sake of America,

that President Biden's ableto demonstrate that today.

- Do you think he's able to do it?

I mean, in your opinion,does Putin got the edge here

and he's going to take advantage of us?

- Certainly what it looks like to me.

There's no evidence fromthese past few days in Europe

that the President is up to the task

of securing American values.

Of doing the things that we did when...

You remember, when theRussians took Ukraine

a fifth of Ukraine tookCrimea under President Obama.

There was no response.

I figured Vladimir Putin saw that.

Things were headed back tothat same kind of weakness,

and so the risk, that somethinghappens around the world

is much greater, and therisk that something happens

that impacts us here at home.

Things like the attack from Russian soil

on our colonial pipeline,which stopped fuel from flowing

up and down our Easternseaboard for a few days.

I think the risk of thoseincreasing is enhanced

when President Biden doesn'tmake clear to Vladimir Putin

there will be real costsassociated with those kinds

of actions that harm Americans.

- You know, Israel struck Hamastargets in Gaza last night.

They've had more provocations.

You think we're looking atsome kind of a war over there?

How do you take this newgovernment they've put in play?

- That, I'm very worried aboutthat, but the new government

on the security side, Ithink they'll be okay.

Naftali Bennett is a conservative.

He understands that he has toprotect Israel and defend it.

He knows that this is the central thesis

of the state's security function.

So I think they'll be okay,

but the coalition is goingto be a mess to govern.

But just as importantly,

the United States hasseparated itself from Israel

these past 140 plus days now.

The backing of Iran bygoing to Vienna, by saying

we're going to go reenter this deal

and give the Iranians billions of dollars

gives courage to terrorists like Hamas.

Gives courage to terrorists Hezbollah.

And more importantly,it gives them the money

and missiles to createexactly the kind of havoc

we saw a few weeks back now.

We had it right.

We built up theseamazing Accords for peace

with Arab states.

We made clear Iran wasn't going to have

the resources it needed to foment terror.

And that America wouldbe a partner with Israel,

whether that was movingour embassy to Jerusalem

or saying that Israel hasthe right to Golan Heights.

Those are the kinds ofthings that bad guys,

Arabians and terrorists understand.

And American weakness willmake life really difficult

for the Israelis andit'll make the important

American interests they're less secure.

- Let me ask you about our technology.

Do you think were are up toconflict with the Chinese

or other enemies around the world?

- I do.

I'm very confident of that,but the gap, the margin

by which that superiorityhas maintained has

certainly shrunk andthere's a lot of work to do.

We were so focused backon counter-terrorism

these past 20 years and beforethat on the Soviet Union.

So we went from confrontingthe Soviet Union

to confronting radical Islamic terrorists.

We spent 20 years doinggreat work on that.

It was important.

Now the Chinese communistparty is the central threat

of our times, and we need to build out

a military that is capable and prepared

and has the capacityand tools and technology

so that we can remain thedominant military power.

And we don't have to risk that

the Chinese communistparty will take action

that we simply can't respond to.

- Is our Navy adequateto project strength?

I mean, you look in the South China Sea

the other thing, Taiwanparticularly, I mean,

can we enter into that conflict

with what we've got available to us?

- I do think we have the toolsand the resources to do it.

But what I'm more worriedabout, frankly, is

the leadership and resolve.

You know this, you've beenaround this for a long time,

it's about capability and intent.

I think we have the capability.

There's still moreinvestment that needs to

be made to make sure that wemaintain that superiority.

But what's really importanthere is the intent,

and demonstrating to Xi Jinping,

the General Secretary of China.

Demonstrating to Xi Jinping that if

he does something like this,if he's an adventurous,

that there'll be real costs and

the United States isprepared to make that happen.

If he thinks we're weak,if our deterrence is lost,

we put Taiwan at risk, weput our friends and allies

like Japan and South Korea ofincreasing influence coming

upon them.

Corrosive influence coming upon them

from the Chinese communist party.

- Let me ask you about America.

Are you you working with a pack now?

You, you, you want to get people elected,

what is Mike Pompeo doing besides

brilliant commentary on world affairs.

- I am Pat.

I think when we spoke last, I said that

while I'm worried about Chinaand Russia and terrorists

I'm more worried about us here at home.

I'm worried about ourschools becoming woke

and teaching us thatour founding was racist.

I'm worry about boys competing with girls

in high school athletic.

All this critical race theory stuff.

If America is at risk, it'sat risk most here at home.

And so I'm working hard on that.

- It looks like this, thiswoke thing that's going on.

Oh, what about the military?

They're trying to imposea critical race theory

into the military, and it'sgoing to be more difficult

to get promoted if you'renot the right color.

I mean, what's happening in our country?

- That, as a veteran,this concerns me greatly.

When you have seniorleaders defending the fact

that we are having oursailors read books by

Ibram X Kendi on the theory somehow

that America's founding was flawed,

and that you are racist justbecause of your skin color.

That is really a bridge too far.

We know this Pat.

We want everyone to have opportunity.

We want the finest sailors.

We want the best pilots.

We want the best computerprogrammers working

for our military.

This institution hasalways reflected America.

But America is not reflectedby racist ideology.

It's not reflected inthe idea that we should

promote someone because ofthe color of their skin,

rather than their capacity to deliver

in their military role.

I'm very concerned.

It's seeped into thesenior military leadership

and their culture, and we need to

and we need the Presidentto weigh in to make sure

that we focus on themission of the military.

It is to deter and beprepared to go fight our wars,

not to create some imaginary vision

of how we promotesomeone simply because of

the the color of theirskin or their gender,

or whatever it may be.

We want the best and the brightest

from every race, from everygender, all across America

choosing to serve in our military.

- One last question.

Around the world therehave been more attacks

against Christians, morepersecution against Christians.

What can we do about that?

And what's your take on it?

- So Pat, I worked hardon this for four years.

It was, I was really thefirst Secretary of State

to make a central focus of his time

religious freedom around the world

and protecting persecutedpeople of every faith.

Certainly including the peopleof my faith, Christians.

The first thing I'd say is to pray.

That's always where I begin.

Second, raise awareness.

Lots of you attend church.

You have missionaries in thefield, support them, help them.

Having those people out,working in these countries

will give courage to practicing Christians

around the world and protect them.

And then our governmentneeds to do its part.

I've been working on a project in Nigeria

where Christians are coming under attack,

not just for their faith butthey're being attacked because

of who they are and notjust attacked for...

To stopping them for practicing

but being injured and murdered.

This has happening in China as well.

We have a responsibility,a moral responsibility

to protect these people offaith all across the world.

And frankly, I watch ourfaith being challenged here

at home as well.

We need to protect it here too.

When you, when you tellfolks they can't go worship

because there's a fear that there

might be some healthissue, we know better.

We know that we can gettogether and worship and be

in fellowship with our fellow Christians,

and still do it in a way that is safe.

I worry about religious freedom

and Christian persecutionall across the world,

including here at home.

- One last question.

Any thought of you entering the race

in the next couple ofyears for the big job?

- Well, Pat, that's a flattering question.

I'm so focused on these next 17 months.

You've known me awhile Pat,

I'm going to stay in this fight.

This fight for our values,

this fight for protecting the unborn,

and for protecting people of faith.

I'm going to stay in this fight.

What role I'll have inthat come 2023 and 2024,

only the Lord truly knows.

- I'm sure he's got his hand on you.

You're such a good friend.

We appreciate you,

and the great brillianceyou've brought to your office.

Thanks so much for joining us.

- Bless you.

Thanks for having me on.

- Mike Pompeo.

A great man.

Number one in his class at West Point,

Harvard Law Review.

Unbelievable mental acuity.

And he's been a tremendoushead of the CIA,

the head of the...

The Secretary of State.

I mean, just a terrific guy.

Thank him, so gratefulto have him with us.

- And welcome back to the 700 Club.

In the news at this hour,the US Attorney General says

racially motivated violence stemming

from white supremacy groups

is the top domesticthreat to America today.

Merrick Garland makingthat statement Tuesday,

and announcing the Biden administration's

new initiative to fightdomestic terrorism.

- In the FBI view the topdomestic violent extremist

threat comes from from raciallyor ethnically motivated

violent extremists, specifically those who

advocated for the superiorityof the white race.

- That is based on a 2021report from the office of

the Director of National Intelligence.

The new strategy includesworking with tech companies

to remove terrorist content online.

Pat.

- Ladies and gentlemen,this is a blatant attempt

to shame you and to makeyou think you are a racist,

and this critical race theoryis now being imposed on

the students all across America.

And Merrick Garland isjust leading the way.

If you don't buy into thisgame, you are a racist.

And anybody who thinks youshould try to get ahead

in the world and succeed inthe world, you are a racist.

Because that shows thatyou want white supremacy.

It's an outrage thatthe Attorney General of

the United States wants to shame people

because of their color.

Now, that's what he said.

I mean, he said it, it's there.

- Incredible.

- White people of a white race.

I mean, give me a break, please.

I think those of us ofthat particular color

have made a pretty good world here.

And we thank the Lord for the others,

from various ethnicities who joined in

to make this a melting pot.

You know, that's, that'swhat E Pluribus Unum,

out of many has come one.

And many has come one,but we don't stay one

if we turn one race againstthe other, and that's

what's being imposed on us now.

We've got to hate people are black or

the black about a hatepeople who are white,

and we've got to discriminate.

We can't have that in America.

E Pluribus Unum, outof many have come one.

Okay.

Efram

- Pat.

Turning now to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As cases dwindle and the country reopens

health officials warnthe pandemic isn't over.

This comes as a new variant

of the virus spreads to nearlytwo thirds of the country.

Charlene Aaron has this story.

- The CDC is declaring

that the highly contagiousdelta variant of COVID-19,

first seen in India isa variant of concern.

Nevertheless, pandemic weary Americans

are ready for a return to normalcy.

More and more States fully reopening,

with 61% of Americans getting at least

one dose of a vaccine.

It also comes as a newCOVID threat spreads.

The delta variant, now in 34 States,

could become the mostdominant strain of COVID

in the country.

But health officialssay vaccines do appear

to be effective against it.

Those unvaccinated are most at risk,

especially children under 12,

who are not eligible for the vaccine yet.

- It's likely going tobe the dominant variant

in just a few short months.

Parents and their childrenshould continue to

follow the CDC guidelines and their own

local Public Health Department guidelines.

- [Charlene Aaron] Meanwhile,former CDC director,

Robert Redfield, told FoxNews why he believes the virus

came from a lab leak in China.

- There's an alternativehypothesis that it went from

a bat virus, got into alaboratory, where in the laboratory

it was taught, educated.

It evolved so that itbecame a virus that could

efficiently transmit human to human.

- [Charlene Aaron] Redfieldays he's disappointed

that the scientificcommunity was reluctant

to pursue that theory.

He also says mistakes were made early on

in treating COVID like the SARS virus.

- The problem is COVID'snothing like SARS.

This virus's transmissionis largely asymptomatic.

So that strategy that westarted in January and February

and finally figured outas we got into March,

that that wasn't the situation here.

That probably most of thetransmissions of COVID was from

asymptomatic people was flawed.

- Those mistakes, perhapscontributing to the loss of life.

The nation now counting600,000 deaths from COVID-19.

Charlene Aaron, CBN news.

- And Pat back to you.

- I want to point out I have to hats off

to public broadcasting, PBS.

They had a special lastnight about the Salk vaccine,

of how terrible polio was.

I had a good friend.

He was so handsome.

He was so athletic.

I mean, he looked likea young Adonis and then

he got polio and ultimatelyhe died, but he, you know.

It was so tragic, and theyshowed all these people

and the March of Dimesand how Jonas Salk came up

with a vaccine that youknow, we stopped polio.

But it was a dreadful thing that

was happening to our society.

So again, I congratulatePresident Trump and the team

that worked with him tobring forth a vaccine.

And I'm very much in favor of it.

Although there have been,in younger people now

they begun to find a few heartproblems as a result of this.

So you don't stop it,but you want to test out

and see what was it thatcaused those heart problems.

There is such a thing as A Fib.

But I'm very pleased with that vaccine.

And thank the Lord we've got it.

And for...

- Pat, a blow to the Bidenadministration's agenda

to move away from fossil fuels.

A federal judge inLouisiana blocked a move

suspending new oil and gasleases on federal land.

In one of his first actionsin office, President Biden

signed 27 executive ordersto address climate change.

13 States sued the administration,charging it skipped

public comment and other required steps.

In the ruling for theplaintiffs the judge said

potentially billions ofdollars are at stake,

which could fund localgovernments, state workers

and coastal restoration.

A storm is brewing inthe Gulf of Mexico while

a huge heat wave affects 40 million people

in the Western United States.

Extreme temperatures, somesoaring close to 120 degrees

are causing dangerous heat conditions.

A drought also affectingfarming, wildfires

and water reservoirs.

Meanwhile, a storm nowforming in the Gulf of Mexico

has an 80% chance of becomingtropical storm Claudette.

This could dump up to10 to 15 inches of rain.

Bringing flooding toLouisiana over the weekend.

Pat.

- Did a story for you the other day about

the drying up of Lake Mead and

how that would affect Las Vegas.

It would literally kill offthat State, and then they say

the States of Nevada and Utah particularly

are under great threat.

I mean, it's 1200 years since we've had

anything this serious.

And so we sound the alarm, but again

it is so hot and hopefullyit'll get a little bit cooler,

but boy, oh boy.

When you've got temperaturesin triple digits,

it's very dangerous.

So please take it easy.

You don't have to be a hero, running...

You know, it's really terrible.

- Oh yeah.

- I mean, heat strokes a big deal.

- It's serious.