(upbeat music)

- Welcome to this editionof CBN News Showcase,

I'm Charlene Aaron.- And I'm Mark Martin.

This week United StatesSupreme Court justice,

Anthony Kennedy, announces his retirement,

sending a ripple effectthrough Washington and America.

It could be the biggestpolitical fight of the year

in the nation's capitalwith so much at stake

with Kennedy's replacement.

We begin now with CBN'sHeather Sells on how all sides

are preparing for anepic confirmation battle.

- [Narrator] Kennedy playeda crucial role on the court,

often providing the keyswing vote when the other

eight justices were split.

The president noted hisinfluence at a North Dakota

rally Wednesday night.

- The travel ban rulingunderscores just how critical

it is to confirm judgeswho will support our

constitution.

- [Narrator] Ronald Reagannominated Kennedy in 1987

after his first two choices failed.

Kennedy will likely beremembered for his gay rights

decisions, in 2015 hewrote the majority decision

giving gay couples the right to marry.

He also voted to upholdRoe v. Wade in a challenge

to abortion in 1992.

His retirement gives thepresident a second judicial

pick in two years and anopportunity to do what

many of his supporters have hoped for,

the ability to shape thecourt for years to come.

- And I'm very honored thathe chose to do it during

my term in office becausehe felt confident in me

to make the right choice andcarry on his great legacy.

- [Narrator] The politicalfight over Kennedy's successor

is already looming large.

The senate must confirmthe president's nominee,

but democrats are protestingsaying the vote must wait

'til after the midterm elections.

- Our republican colleaguesin the senate should

follow the rule they set in 2016,

not to consider a SupremeCourt justice in an

election year.

- [Narrator] But therepublican senate leader says

there will be no delay.

- We will vote to confirmjustice Kennedy's successor

this fall.

- [Narrator] If republicansunite behind a Trump

nominee there's littlethe democrats can do.

New senate roles for bidfilibustering on Supreme Court

nominees so only 51 voteswill be required for

confirmation.

CBN's Erik Rosales inWashington has more on who

the president might pick.

- With the news of Supreme Court justice,

Anthony Kennedy's, retirementpresident Trump has

already created a shortlist of candidates.

Each perspective nominee hasthe potential of shifting

the ideological balanceof the court ever farther

to the right for decades to come.

- Different conservativegroups contributed both ideas

and suggestions to thelist that president Trump

is going to use.

And the principles that arecommon among all the people

on the list are traditionalconservative principles.

- [Narrator] Justice Kennedyoften provided the swing vote

in liberal decisions likelegalizing same-sex marriage

and upholding Roe v. Wade.

Heritage Foundation's senior legal fellow,

Thomas Chipping says amongthe potential replacements

is Amy Barrett, a judgein the US Court of Appeals

for the seventh circuit.

There's also a formerclerk to justice Kennedy

in the running.

- Brett Kavanaugh, who isa judge on the US Court

of Appeals here in Washington,he's been there for

more than a dozen years, very experienced.

- [Narrator] Another nameon the list is Georgia

Supreme Court judge, Britt Grant,

a member of the FederalistSociety and only 40

years old which would makeher one of the youngest

Supreme Court justices ever.

Hours after the announcementsome headed to the steps

of the Supreme Court.

- It's gonna give DonaldTrump another opportunity

to pack the court withextremely conservative justices

so we're out here to kindof push back against that.

- [Narrator] That couldbe a wasted effort,

according to CNN legalanalyst Jeffrey Toobin,

who tweeted, "Anthony Kennedy is retiring,

"abortion will be illegalin 20 states in 18 months.

"#SCOTUS."

A move that concerned womenfor America hope to see.

- You want there to be aconstitutionalistsappointed

because they believe in theconstitution as it was written.

It's not that they thinkit's a living breathing

document that will saywhatever they want it to say

based on feelings.

- Other conservative groupslike Americans for Prosperity

and the Judicial CrisisNetwork already announced

that they plan to spendat least a million dollars

on the looming battle toreplace justice Kennedy.

They want, quote, "A nomineein the mold of Neil Gorsuch."

Erik Rosales, CBN Newsoutside the Supreme Court.

- The Supreme Court handedpro-lifers a major victory,

ruling that a Californialaw forcing crisis pregnancy

centers to inform patientsabout abortion as an option

violates the constitution.

CBN's Ben Kennedy has moreon the court's decision.

- There was no doubta victory for pro-life

after the Supreme Court ruledthat in the golden state

pregnancy centers nolonger have to advertise

for abortions.

- We are so happy today, we'redelighted with this victory.

- They will no longer beforced into speech and it's

a victory for the womenwho go to these pregnancy

resource centers.

- [Narrator] The law requiredpregnancy centers to tell

clients abortions areavailable at little or no cost.

The mostly Christian-basedcenters felt the law forced

them to deliver a messageagainst their beliefs.

- We know the reality isPlanned Parenthood and

(mumbles), as you can hear,they're leading an all-out

assault on these life-affirming centers.

(chanting)

- [Narrator] Opponents arguewomen must be told about

all available options.

- Women, we cannot have fullfreedom without autonomy

over our body and thatmeans abortion rights.

- The ruling was close, five-four,what does that tell you?

- I think it just tells me that the issue,

one of the issues involved,women and abortion and

perhaps those on the leftwanted to be on the other

side with regard to whatthe specific issue is.

But overall this ruling isbroad in that is affirms

president that says allAmericans have the right to

express messages consistentwith their convictions.

- Now, the ruling goes ineffect right away and it could

also effect similar laws in other states.

Ben Kennedy, CBN News Washington.

- Another big decisionhanded down by the nation's

high court gave a big victoryto the Trump administration.

The court ruled in favorof the extreme vetting

immigration policy, betterknown as a travel ban for some

Muslim nations.

CBN's Dale Herd explainswhat it will mean.

- [Narrator] This was amajor win for Donald Trump,

just as opponents saw itas a dark day for America.

Moments after the decisionpresident Trump tweeted,

"Supreme Court upholdsTrump travel ban. Wow!"

- It's a very strong victory.

- [Narrator] The courtruled that the president has

the power to regulate immigration.

Constitutional lawprofessor, Dr. Bradley Jacob,

says this wouldn't havebeen a court case had it not

been for the president'scomments on the campaign trail.

- Donald J. Trump is callingfor a total and complete

shutdown of Muslimsentering the United States.

- If you look at thepolicy, just the policy,

you say of course it's constitutional,

of course it's legal under the statute,

there's absolutely nothing wrong.

It's the fact that whilehe was campaigning he was

giving speeches about howhe was going to ban Muslims,

he was gonna keep Muslimsout of this country.

Well the constitution tellsus you can't treat people

differently just becauseof their religious views.

- [Narrator] JusticeSotomayor who opposed the ban

said the administrationcreated the strong perception

that the ban is contaminatedby impermissible bias

against Islam and it's followers.

But the ban does not restricttravel from the world's

largest Muslim nations andalso includes two non-Muslim

nations, North Korea and Venezuela.

Yet Muslim groups treatedit as a blanket ban on all

Muslims entering the country.

- What this means for mycommunity as a Muslim right now

is that we don't belonghere, we're not allowed

in this country.

- Shame on you to take us back decades ago

to the dark ages.

- [Narrator] Justminutes after the ruling,

senate majority leaderMitch McConnell shared

this image on Twitter ofhimself shaking hands with

Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch,

who voted to uphold the ban.

McConnell blocked thenomination of former Obama

Supreme Court nominee,Merrick Garland, in 2016,

which allowed presidentTrump to nominate Gorsuch.

- I think perhaps the mostimportant thing a president

does in most cases isappoint members of the

Supreme Court and federaljudiciary generally.

It is a function that willimpact our nation for decades.

- [Narrator] As one legal expert put it,

even if you don't like Donald Trump,

if you're conservative,be thankful that he's

picking judges.

Dale Herd, CBN News.

- [Narrator] Coming up thepresident of the Philippines

calls God stupid and setsoff a tidal wave of reaction.

- Philippine president,Rodrigo Duterte's statement

calling God stupid for allowingsin to destroy creation

offended and outragedmany Christians worldwide.

Now church leaders areexpecting that God will bring

something good out of the controversy.

Lucille Talusan has the story from Manila.

- Brother Eddie Villanueva,founder of one of the largest

Christian churches in the Philippines,

together with other church leaders,

have made an appeal toPresident Duterte to make

a public apology to God.

This, he says, is part ofcorrecting the president

in love.

- Mocking God, slandering Godwill invite the wrath of God.

Not only upon himself,but even for the nation,

being the head of the country.

- Who is this stupid guy?

- [Narrator] Aside fromthis scandalous "stupid God"

remark by Duterte, pastorVillanueva also expressed

concern over ungodlypolicies approved by the

Duterte administration.

- When the policy ofthe government is right,

we are obligated to support.

But when the policy orprogram is anti-God,

like the (mumbles), absolute divorce,

and the deliberation rightnow of same-sex marriage,

I absolutely believe nogenuine Christian should

support this.

- While the offendedChristians are praying

for Duterte, an initiativeby the president seems to be

turning this dark situationinto something positive.

For the first time a teamformed by president Duterte

had a dialogue with the leadersof the Evangelical churches.

The leaders are happybecause they see this as a

reconciliatory effort onthe part of the president.

- What seemed to be intendedfor evil is now turning out

to be for good.

To be in Christ is notabout religion or doctrine,

it's about relationships,about the restoration of

relationships.

- We cannot separate that state from God

and the president needsto interact with the

religious leaders inorder that we can chart

a better future for this nation.

- [Lucille] LucilleTalusan CBN News Manila.

- Most Americans probablythink they'll never have to

personally get involved inthe battle over gay marriage

in our nation.

That's what county clerk, KimDavis, in Kentucky thought,

then the Supreme Courtlegalized same-sex marriage

and she found herself rightin the center of controversy.

CBN's Paul Strand tells uswhy she believes many more

Christians will also end up there.

- Kentucky's CarterCounty Detention Center

has a unique claim.

It's the first place thatany American in history

has ever been put behindbars for taking a stand

for one man, one woman marriage.

Growing up here, Kim Davisusually kept to herself

reading her bible andpraying each morning.

Certainly not the typeyou would expect to become

the face of a nationalfight over marriage.

- I hate confrontationand it was something

that was definitelyoutside my comfort zone.

- Every marriage licensethat came out of this

(mumbles) County Courthousehad Kim Davis' name on it,

her authority associated with it.

And as a Christian shebelieved what the bible said,

that God defined marriageas the union of one man

and one woman.

- For me this has never beena gay or a lesbian issue,

this has been about standingup for the word of God.

- [Narrator] In her newbook, Under God's Authority,

Davis tells how the SupremeCourt decision legalizing

same-sex marriage forcedher to take a stand.

Rowan County wouldn'tissue any marriage licenses

as long as her name remained on them.

Davis' lawyer, MattStaver of Liberty Council,

compares her action to others in Kentucky.

- If you object to hunting,you have the ability to opt out

of giving a hunting licensebased upon your conscience.

But up until the case, youweren't able to opt out

of issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

Davis' refusal toauthorize marriage licenses

lead gay rights activists todescend on this courthouse

demanding the licenses, often angrily.

- I was having some reallyfirey hot and hard darts

thrown at me.

- [Narrator] Davis wassoon encountering dozens of

rage-filled activistsoutside the courthouse

and even inside the clerks office,

many yelling and screaming,all of it aimed at her

and her deputies.

- They had bull horns, theywould walk up about two feet

from my window and yell,"Do your job, do your job."

- [Narrator] As the dayspassed, protestors became more

aggressive and dangerous.

- I got death threatshere, over the phone,

through email, US mail, fedexpackages, glitter bombs.

- [Narrator] And threatswere very explicit.

- Someone would come and tieher up, rape her in front of

her husband, kill her husband,and burn their house down.

- A few weeks after taking her stand,

a judge in this federalbuilding ordered Davis

to resume granting marriagelicenses and demanded

she convince him why sheshould not be held in contempt.

In the book, Davis saysalthough she tried,

the judge labeled herreligious reasons for not

complying with his ordersimply insufficient.

Then the judge stunned both sides,

Kim, her legal team, andthe opposing legal team

by instead of talking aboutfines for her contempt,

he went straight insteadto talk of jail time.

Davis wouldn't back downso it was off to the

Carter County Detention Center.

As Kim was being sent here,famous Christians were

reacting with outrage.

Mike Huckabee called it,

"An unbelievable momentin American history."

And he asked who's next,pastors, florists, caterers?

Who else goes to jail before this is over?

- Unconscionable.

It goes against everythingthat this country is

founded upon.

- I had a sense of peace, I got rest.

- [Narrator] Oddly enough,Davis found her time in cell

151 okay.

- God was right there with me.

- And she would still bethere now if she had to be.

- [Narrator] Since RowanCounty deputy clerks finally

resumed issuing marriagelicenses while she was jailed,

the judge released her after six days.

She walked out to a hugerally held by supporters.

While Davis is happy to be free,

she knows there will beother cases like hers.

- I want people to knowthat it's not if it happens,

but when it happens.

- When you're in thatposition, are we going to blink

or are we gonna stand true to the lord?

- Both Kim Davis andMatt Staver were warned

this fight over marriageis the defining cultural

battle of our time.

And those who want to redefinemarriage don't just want

you to acquiesce, but accept and approve

their new definition.

And if you won't, yourreligious liberty could be

in just as much danger as Kim's was.

Paul Strant CBN News reportingfrom the Rowan County

Courthouse, Morehead, Kentucky.

- [Narrator] Still ahead,unrest in Iran as the nation's

economy is in turmoil,

how Israel is working tohelp the people take a stand

against the regime.

- For several days in a row this week,

thousands of Iranianstook to the streets of

Tehran to demonstrateagainst their government.

- That's right, they'reprotesting deteriorating

economic conditions.

CBN's Chris Mitchell reportson how Israel is using

social media to support the people.

(shouting)

- Social media videodocumented the protest.

Shopkeepers shut downTehran's grand bazaar,

others filled the streetsnear Iran's parliament

where police shot teargas into the crowds.

Some shouted, "LeaveSyria, think about us!"

These demonstrators evenshouted, "Death to Palestine."

Mike and (mumbles) TVtold CBN's George Thomas

the dissatisfaction of Iranians runs deep.

- Most Iranian families are facing great

economic hardship.

The prices of milk, eggs,meat, bread has skyrocketed

and yet Iranian people arewitnessing the government

investing millions ofdollars in expensive regional

disputes, Iraq, Syria, Yemen,

to increase it's regionalinfluence while they're

going hungry.

- [Narrator] Iran's economy is reeling.

Prices are rising, thecurrency is falling,

and has lost almost halfit's value in six months.

Now the economy is bracingfor renewed sanctions

after the US pulled out ofthe nuclear deal with Tehran.

- In the midst of these demonstrations,

Israeli leaders spokedirectly to the Irani people.

Israel's defense ministerasked them where their

money's going whileprime minister Netanyahu

turned to the World Cup and to soccer.

- Can you imagine howhard it is to stop Ronaldo

from scoring a goal?

- [Narrator] It's unclearwhere these demonstrations

will end up, but somehope they could eventually

lead toward regime change.

- No dictatorship standsfor a long period of time,

even if they disguisethemselves with so-called

free election.

It will happen.

Maybe in a year, maybe infive years, maybe in 10,

but the question is howmuch damage this regime

would cause until it willdisappear from earth.

- [Narrator] Chris MitchellCBN News Jerusalem.

- Prince William, the Dukeof Cambridge, made history

this week as the firstBritish royal to ever visit

Israel and the Palestinian areas.

CBN's Julie Stall has alook at his three day visit

from our middle east bureau.

- [Narrator] Prince Williamsspent much of his trip

meeting with regularIsraelis and Palestinians,

particularly young people.

- I'm also struck by howmany people in the region

want just and lasting peace.

This is only too evident amongthe young people I've met

who long for a new chapterto be written in the history

of this region.

A chapter which willsecure a prosperous future

and will ensure that theirenormous talents can flourish.

These are not extravagant aspirations,

but the same aspirations of young people

everywhere in the world.

- [Narrator] The princeshares a special connection

with the Jewish people,his great grandmother Alice

who was buried on the Mountof Olive is recognized

as a righteous gentile for saving a family

during the Holocaust.

- The official certificatein memorial (mumbles),

which we visited for Princess Alice,

great spirit.

- [Narrator] The visitalso comes at a time when

Palestinians are at oddswith the US over president

Trump's move of the US Embassyto Jerusalem and a perceived

bias in favor of Israel.

Prince Williams' messageto Israels and Palestinians

was the same.

- I know I share a desirewith all of you and with

your neighbors for ajust and lasting peace.

- [Narrator] The princevisited Jerusalem's old city,

prayed at the western wall,

and met with government leaders.

President Reuven Rivlinasked the prince to play

a role in communicating withthe Palestinian leadership.

- I would like you tosend in a message of peace

and tell him it is about time.

It is about time thatwe have to find together

the way to build confidence.

- [Narrator] He gotthat chance a day later,

meeting with Palestinianauthority president,

Mahmoud Abbas.

- [Translator] I hope itwon't be the last visit

and we hope that youwill visit us very soon

when the Palestinian peopleget their independence.

- [Narrator] The Britishhave a long history in the

middle east, and while thisis the first royal visit,

it's not likely to be the last.

Julie Stall, CBN News Jerusalem.

- Maybe the prince willbring his family the next

time he visits.

- That's right, who knows, maybe he will.

Up next we're gonna praythrough the headlines

here on showcase, stay with us.

Won't you join us now as we pray.

Dear lord, we simply askthat your will be done

in the headlines aroundAmerican and the world.

We pray for wisdom forour nation to carry out

the laws from congressand decisions handed down

by the Supreme Court.

As one justice retires,we pray for wisdom for

the president as hechooses the next nominee.

And we pray by your mercythat our leaders would do

what is best for thenation and not what is best

for their political leanings.

Father God, we pray for thepeople of the Philippines

and their leader, especiallythat he would know you,

lord God, and repentfor the foolish things

he said about you.

- Lord, we pray for the people of Iran,

we pray that you woulddeliver them from a selfish

dictator and deliver themfrom these difficult times.

And most of all that youwould continue to build

your church in Iran.

We pray, lord, forprince William, lord God,

as his visit to Israel concludes.

Lord, bless the royal familywith more of your presence

in their lives.

We also conclude right nowpraying for revival across

our nation and the world tothe glory of your kingdom

that none would perish,but have eternal life

in your name we pray, amen.

- Amen, in Jesus' name.

That's all for this editionof the CBN New Showcase.

You can find more of ourexclusive coverage of the

issues you care most about at cbnnews.com.

- Stay up-to-date with CBNNews Facebook and Twitter,

we hope you'll join us next time.

Have a wonderful day.

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