August 15, 2025 • 13 mins
Congressman Mark Harris joins Bo and Beth to discuss today's meeting in Alaska between President Trump and President Putin as well as Congressman Harris's trip to Israel last week.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Good Morning BTE.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
On News Talk eleven ten, nine to nine three WBT.
Big day for the president. President Trump scheduled to meet
with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. It'll be Alaska time eleven
thirty am, which means three thirty pm Eastern time this afternoon,
before we bring on our next guest, United States Congressman
(00:28):
Mark Harris, who I know has plenty of thoughts about this.
Let's catch you up on what we expect here in
the next several hours. Fox's Jackie Heinrich.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Well, I want to do is set the table for
the next meeting, which should happen shortly, maybe in Alaska,
where we just say because it's so much easier.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
President Trump says he has three locations in mind for
a possible second summit, which would include Ukrainian President Zelenski.
If things go well with Putin.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
That's going to be a meeting where they make a deal.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
And I don't want to use the word divvy things up,
but you know, to a certain extent, it's not a
bad term, okay, but there will be a good and take.
As to boundaries, lands et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
President Trump reportedly told Zelinsky and European leaders. He would
not discuss territorial divisions in his one on one with Putin.
The president also told reporters an immediate ceasefire is likely
not a realistic result, and he kept tight lipped about
incentives he might offer to get Putin.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
To end the war.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Well, I'd rather than not say, because I don't want
to play my hand in public.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Putin appears to be angling for arms controls in a
video released by the Kremlin wrapped in a compliment for Trump.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
The current American administration, which everyone knows, is making, in
my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Putin dangling the prospect of long term peace quote if
we reach agreements in the area of control over strategic
offensive weapons at the next stage. One source familiar with
the talks says that's new, and Russia has not previously
voiced any request for strategic weapons reductions. Meantime, Reuter's reports
ahead of the meeting, Putin's been preparing to test Russia's
(01:58):
new nuclear armed new clear powered cruise missile. Trump told
reporters he hasn't considered reducing military presence in Europe to
get Russia to agree to a peace deal.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
That hasn't been put before me, and I will think
about that for later, but it has not been put
before me.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
The White House is planning a joint news conference, meaning
that reporters will have an opportunity to put questions to
both President Trump and President Putin, but President Trump didn't
rule out the possibility of calling that off and taking
questions solo if his meeting with Putin does not go well.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
That's Fox's Jackie Heinrich, and we go to the WVT
hotline right now and welcome back to the show. He
joins us every Friday unless he has a schedule conflict,
and he was not here last week, and he went
on a trip we're going to talk about in just
a few moments, but I want to talk about the
trip that President Trump is taking today because it's a
very very monumental one when you think about what it
(02:48):
could mean long term. Congressman Mark Harris, welcome back to
the show.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Well Bowen Beth, it's great to be back with you
on this Friday morning.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Thank you for having me, Yes, sir, always an honor
to have you on with us. Now, they're going to
meet at Joint Base Elmendorf, Richardson and Anchorage, Alaska later
on this afternoon, about three thirty hour time. As you
have been watching this play out, what are you anticipating
happening later today?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Well, I'll have to tell you. It seems to me
that this is probably one of those meetings that all
of us are going to have to just kind of
watch and see how it unfolds, because the predictability of
this is not real, real high, simply because of the
players involved. I mean, when you've got President Putin being
(03:36):
the kind of leader that he is, and kind of
the fact that he has been really all over the
table at one moment saying that he's ready for peace,
in the very next moment he is firing rockets in
the Kiev. This is something that is going to be
interesting to see unfold. And then of course you have
President Trump that is wanting a piece deal. He's wanting
(03:58):
a cease fire. Is hundreds of thousands of men and
women that have just died been injured needlessly, many of
them innocent civilians, and he wants the killing to stop.
He's made that clear every step of the way. And so,
but he's also the master negotiator, and I think this
is going to be an opportunity for us to see
(04:20):
how he handles it. Will he get up and walk
out of the room. There have been comparisons made to
meetings that took place between Reagan and Gorbachev years ago,
and so I think it's going to be very fascinating
to unfold. I do believe it's some of the conversations
and comments that are coming out in the last hours
indicate that there's some confidence. It's building that there's going
(04:42):
to be a phone call made immediately after and Zelensky's
going to be brought to the table to try to
work through some things. But I just think the President
felt he needed to sit down ie to eye with
Putin and find out And he has said earlier in
the week, you know, he said that within minutes he
feels like he'll be able to surmise that this man
(05:04):
really is willing to come to a piece agreement.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
We were talking about what the mood, what the tone
might be in this meeting. We were talking about this
during the break a few minutes ago. And you know,
when Trump met with Putin back during his first term,
those conversations seemed much more friendly. They seemed kind of
a mutual respect between these two men. But I feel
(05:29):
like Trump probably has a different perspective of Vladimir Putin now,
just based on the fact that he has not been
able to negotiate a peace agreement with Putin and with Zelensky,
And I wonder how much different this relationship, how it's
going to look different compared to what face to face
meetings have looked like before between Putin and Trump.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
One hundred percent agree, Beth. I think that really Trump
has been so disappointed, and I think he went in
to this second term feeling like that he had had
a decent relationship with Putin, felt like that he was
going to be able to quickly get to a piece
(06:14):
deal understanding the situation. But Putin so many times came
to the edge, brought Trump to the edge, and then,
like I said, the very next day, he's firing rockets
back in the Kievs and was not serious about it.
So the president has been disappointed. I think he definitely
has a different view going into this with Putin because
(06:35):
of those actions of him. But also have noticed in
the last twenty four hours, even the report, I think
that Mark did a little bit earlier talked about Putin
saying some positive things about President Trump and the energy
and wanting to see this happen. So I think that's
(06:56):
certainly a positive thing that they are speaking in that
direction as they come to the table.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
President Trump, as we speak, is about to board Air
Force one and leave. The trip to get to where
he's going takes about six or seven hours. But you know,
you're talking about the fact that, I mean, this could
be the kind of thing that fifteen minutes end, it
ends because it doesn't go well, or it could go
so well that they're planning for the possibility of having
a joint news conference after it's over. So the just
(07:23):
the look and the sound of a joint news conference
with Trump and Putin in front of the press later today,
that would be pretty remarkable if it ends up happening.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
This is Good Morning Beat.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Seven thirty seven on WBT on your Friday morning, August fifteenth.
Congressman Mark Harris is back with us after being away
last week, and we can talk about where he was
last week now and Congressman Harris I talked about President
Trump making an important trip as he's about to do
right this moment. You had a very important one. In
(07:59):
the last several days.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Yes, Sir, we had the privilege of being a part
of a delegation that went over to the Middle East
and specifically to Israel, and we're a part of really
about an eight day trip of just hearing a number
of policy people that were able to share information. We
(08:23):
made our way to Gaza, to the Gaza border, if
you will, and actually stood in the vary kibbutzes that
we had all seen or talked about and seen through
video of what happened on October seventh of twenty twenty three.
And I have to tell you, I've been to Israel
a number of times as a pastor, leading church groups
(08:47):
to go over there and tour the holy sites and
be a part of those and they've always very meaningful trips,
very reflection oriented, very meaningful. But I have to say
this was probably one of the most emotional and powerful
trips that I've ever taken. Things that we had seen,
heard about, imagined, and then to actually stand and walk
(09:11):
home on what is that hallowed ground through many of
those folks there in Israel right now was just amazing.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
I'm glad that you that you said that. Can you
expand on that a little bit of what the overall
feeling was there, not just for for you and for
the delegation who was there, but from the people who
are living there, who are experiencing all of this. What
was that feeling for that eight day period that you
were in the region.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Well, this is a country that is still at war.
And in fact we arrived there, we left on Sunday,
and so it was Monday afternoon Israel time when we
actually ended up there, and that very first night, actually
we didn't learn about it until the next today, the
next morning, but the UTIs had fired a rocket into Israel,
(10:05):
and in parts of the country the alarms had gone off.
We did have an opportunity to see their defense mechanism.
We had an opportunity to be briefed and to learn
about David's sling, to learn about the Iron Dome, to
learn about arrow just their incredible ability to take out
these rockets in the air. So I think there was
(10:28):
a mixture of emotion beath quite honestly, a feeling among
the people. They're grateful that they have had the success
that they've had. They're still a country that's at war.
And to be honest, when you walk through those kibbutzas,
not a thing has changed. I mean they are left
the very same way they were on October seventh. And
(10:50):
that's for a reason. Israel is incredibly gifted at reminding
people that they must never forget. They want to remember
what they've been through. And I have to tell you
that the last stop we made on our last day
was we visited the National Cemetery, which would be the
(11:11):
equivalent of going to Arlington and walking through and hearing
those stories. And I know we don't have time now
to do it, but I actually heard some of the
eulogies and actually have a copy of one of the
letters that one of these young men had sent home.
Every soldier is a report to the base. Are required
(11:31):
to write a letter that has kept so that if
something happens, it's given to their family. And the courage,
the strength, the patriotism, the sense of just national unity,
it's there. I mean, we met with Prime Minister at
in Yahoo, we met with the opposition party there in Israel.
(11:53):
It's just it was amazing the sense of unity they
have when you go to that National Cemetery and they
have just the numerical age of each person and You
just saw twenty one year old, twenty three year old,
twenty two year old, nineteen year old, all of these
that have laid down their lives for their country in
(12:13):
this battle. It just was extremely moving and I sought clarity.
One thing I wanted on this trip and it prayed for,
was give me clarity to see the situation as it
really is. And I have to tell you, I'm most
grateful and you'll probably hear more about it in the
days to come. This Gaza Humanitarian Fund initiative, that's another
(12:34):
whole show and another whole segment. But the Gaza Humanitarian
Fund Initiative is how they're getting food to help folks
in Gaza. But there's a distinct difference in how this
is being done. President Trump played a key role in
launching this nonprofit. They've already delivered one hundred and ten
million meals, they secure their own supply chain, they've had
(12:57):
zero percent of aid diverted, and a number of groups
in the US are helping with this and it's making
a difference, and it's actually getting food to help the
people there in Gaza, and very different than how the
UN's operation has been operating. But anyway, I'll stop there.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Well, you were there, and that's just fascinating to hear
the first hand account of that. So we appreciate you
coming on with us like you always do, but especially
recounting all of that. So thank you so much. Lots
of information to look back on, but a lot to
look forward to this afternoon as we wait to see
this President Trump. President putin meet up and Anchorage Congressman.
(13:42):
Glad you're back safe in the United States, and thanks
for coming on.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Thank you so much for having me. Y'all have a
great weekend.
This is Good Morning BTE.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
On News Talk eleven ten, nine to nine three WBT.
Big day for the president. President Trump scheduled to meet
with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. It'll be Alaska time eleven
thirty am, which means three thirty pm Eastern time this afternoon,
before we bring on our next guest, United States Congressman
(00:28):
Mark Harris, who I know has plenty of thoughts about this.
Let's catch you up on what we expect here in
the next several hours. Fox's Jackie Heinrich.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Well, I want to do is set the table for
the next meeting, which should happen shortly, maybe in Alaska,
where we just say because it's so much easier.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
President Trump says he has three locations in mind for
a possible second summit, which would include Ukrainian President Zelenski.
If things go well with Putin.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
That's going to be a meeting where they make a deal.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
And I don't want to use the word divvy things up,
but you know, to a certain extent, it's not a
bad term, okay, but there will be a good and take.
As to boundaries, lands et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
President Trump reportedly told Zelinsky and European leaders. He would
not discuss territorial divisions in his one on one with Putin.
The president also told reporters an immediate ceasefire is likely
not a realistic result, and he kept tight lipped about
incentives he might offer to get Putin.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
To end the war.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Well, I'd rather than not say, because I don't want
to play my hand in public.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
Putin appears to be angling for arms controls in a
video released by the Kremlin wrapped in a compliment for Trump.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
The current American administration, which everyone knows, is making, in
my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Putin dangling the prospect of long term peace quote if
we reach agreements in the area of control over strategic
offensive weapons at the next stage. One source familiar with
the talks says that's new, and Russia has not previously
voiced any request for strategic weapons reductions. Meantime, Reuter's reports
ahead of the meeting, Putin's been preparing to test Russia's
(01:58):
new nuclear armed new clear powered cruise missile. Trump told
reporters he hasn't considered reducing military presence in Europe to
get Russia to agree to a peace deal.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
That hasn't been put before me, and I will think
about that for later, but it has not been put
before me.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
The White House is planning a joint news conference, meaning
that reporters will have an opportunity to put questions to
both President Trump and President Putin, but President Trump didn't
rule out the possibility of calling that off and taking
questions solo if his meeting with Putin does not go well.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
That's Fox's Jackie Heinrich, and we go to the WVT
hotline right now and welcome back to the show. He
joins us every Friday unless he has a schedule conflict,
and he was not here last week, and he went
on a trip we're going to talk about in just
a few moments, but I want to talk about the
trip that President Trump is taking today because it's a
very very monumental one when you think about what it
(02:48):
could mean long term. Congressman Mark Harris, welcome back to
the show.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Well Bowen Beth, it's great to be back with you
on this Friday morning.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Thank you for having me, Yes, sir, always an honor
to have you on with us. Now, they're going to
meet at Joint Base Elmendorf, Richardson and Anchorage, Alaska later
on this afternoon, about three thirty hour time. As you
have been watching this play out, what are you anticipating
happening later today?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Well, I'll have to tell you. It seems to me
that this is probably one of those meetings that all
of us are going to have to just kind of
watch and see how it unfolds, because the predictability of
this is not real, real high, simply because of the
players involved. I mean, when you've got President Putin being
(03:36):
the kind of leader that he is, and kind of
the fact that he has been really all over the
table at one moment saying that he's ready for peace,
in the very next moment he is firing rockets in
the Kiev. This is something that is going to be
interesting to see unfold. And then of course you have
President Trump that is wanting a piece deal. He's wanting
(03:58):
a cease fire. Is hundreds of thousands of men and
women that have just died been injured needlessly, many of
them innocent civilians, and he wants the killing to stop.
He's made that clear every step of the way. And so,
but he's also the master negotiator, and I think this
is going to be an opportunity for us to see
(04:20):
how he handles it. Will he get up and walk
out of the room. There have been comparisons made to
meetings that took place between Reagan and Gorbachev years ago,
and so I think it's going to be very fascinating
to unfold. I do believe it's some of the conversations
and comments that are coming out in the last hours
indicate that there's some confidence. It's building that there's going
(04:42):
to be a phone call made immediately after and Zelensky's
going to be brought to the table to try to
work through some things. But I just think the President
felt he needed to sit down ie to eye with
Putin and find out And he has said earlier in
the week, you know, he said that within minutes he
feels like he'll be able to surmise that this man
(05:04):
really is willing to come to a piece agreement.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
We were talking about what the mood, what the tone
might be in this meeting. We were talking about this
during the break a few minutes ago. And you know,
when Trump met with Putin back during his first term,
those conversations seemed much more friendly. They seemed kind of
a mutual respect between these two men. But I feel
(05:29):
like Trump probably has a different perspective of Vladimir Putin now,
just based on the fact that he has not been
able to negotiate a peace agreement with Putin and with Zelensky,
And I wonder how much different this relationship, how it's
going to look different compared to what face to face
meetings have looked like before between Putin and Trump.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
One hundred percent agree, Beth. I think that really Trump
has been so disappointed, and I think he went in
to this second term feeling like that he had had
a decent relationship with Putin, felt like that he was
going to be able to quickly get to a piece
(06:14):
deal understanding the situation. But Putin so many times came
to the edge, brought Trump to the edge, and then,
like I said, the very next day, he's firing rockets
back in the Kievs and was not serious about it.
So the president has been disappointed. I think he definitely
has a different view going into this with Putin because
(06:35):
of those actions of him. But also have noticed in
the last twenty four hours, even the report, I think
that Mark did a little bit earlier talked about Putin
saying some positive things about President Trump and the energy
and wanting to see this happen. So I think that's
(06:56):
certainly a positive thing that they are speaking in that
direction as they come to the table.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
President Trump, as we speak, is about to board Air
Force one and leave. The trip to get to where
he's going takes about six or seven hours. But you know,
you're talking about the fact that, I mean, this could
be the kind of thing that fifteen minutes end, it
ends because it doesn't go well, or it could go
so well that they're planning for the possibility of having
a joint news conference after it's over. So the just
(07:23):
the look and the sound of a joint news conference
with Trump and Putin in front of the press later today,
that would be pretty remarkable if it ends up happening.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
This is Good Morning Beat.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Seven thirty seven on WBT on your Friday morning, August fifteenth.
Congressman Mark Harris is back with us after being away
last week, and we can talk about where he was
last week now and Congressman Harris I talked about President
Trump making an important trip as he's about to do
right this moment. You had a very important one. In
(07:59):
the last several days.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Yes, Sir, we had the privilege of being a part
of a delegation that went over to the Middle East
and specifically to Israel, and we're a part of really
about an eight day trip of just hearing a number
of policy people that were able to share information. We
(08:23):
made our way to Gaza, to the Gaza border, if
you will, and actually stood in the vary kibbutzes that
we had all seen or talked about and seen through
video of what happened on October seventh of twenty twenty three.
And I have to tell you, I've been to Israel
a number of times as a pastor, leading church groups
(08:47):
to go over there and tour the holy sites and
be a part of those and they've always very meaningful trips,
very reflection oriented, very meaningful. But I have to say
this was probably one of the most emotional and powerful
trips that I've ever taken. Things that we had seen,
heard about, imagined, and then to actually stand and walk
(09:11):
home on what is that hallowed ground through many of
those folks there in Israel right now was just amazing.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
I'm glad that you that you said that. Can you
expand on that a little bit of what the overall
feeling was there, not just for for you and for
the delegation who was there, but from the people who
are living there, who are experiencing all of this. What
was that feeling for that eight day period that you
were in the region.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Well, this is a country that is still at war.
And in fact we arrived there, we left on Sunday,
and so it was Monday afternoon Israel time when we
actually ended up there, and that very first night, actually
we didn't learn about it until the next today, the
next morning, but the UTIs had fired a rocket into Israel,
(10:05):
and in parts of the country the alarms had gone off.
We did have an opportunity to see their defense mechanism.
We had an opportunity to be briefed and to learn
about David's sling, to learn about the Iron Dome, to
learn about arrow just their incredible ability to take out
these rockets in the air. So I think there was
(10:28):
a mixture of emotion beath quite honestly, a feeling among
the people. They're grateful that they have had the success
that they've had. They're still a country that's at war.
And to be honest, when you walk through those kibbutzas,
not a thing has changed. I mean they are left
the very same way they were on October seventh. And
(10:50):
that's for a reason. Israel is incredibly gifted at reminding
people that they must never forget. They want to remember
what they've been through. And I have to tell you
that the last stop we made on our last day
was we visited the National Cemetery, which would be the
(11:11):
equivalent of going to Arlington and walking through and hearing
those stories. And I know we don't have time now
to do it, but I actually heard some of the
eulogies and actually have a copy of one of the
letters that one of these young men had sent home.
Every soldier is a report to the base. Are required
(11:31):
to write a letter that has kept so that if
something happens, it's given to their family. And the courage,
the strength, the patriotism, the sense of just national unity,
it's there. I mean, we met with Prime Minister at
in Yahoo, we met with the opposition party there in Israel.
(11:53):
It's just it was amazing the sense of unity they
have when you go to that National Cemetery and they
have just the numerical age of each person and You
just saw twenty one year old, twenty three year old,
twenty two year old, nineteen year old, all of these
that have laid down their lives for their country in
(12:13):
this battle. It just was extremely moving and I sought clarity.
One thing I wanted on this trip and it prayed for,
was give me clarity to see the situation as it
really is. And I have to tell you, I'm most
grateful and you'll probably hear more about it in the
days to come. This Gaza Humanitarian Fund initiative, that's another
(12:34):
whole show and another whole segment. But the Gaza Humanitarian
Fund Initiative is how they're getting food to help folks
in Gaza. But there's a distinct difference in how this
is being done. President Trump played a key role in
launching this nonprofit. They've already delivered one hundred and ten
million meals, they secure their own supply chain, they've had
(12:57):
zero percent of aid diverted, and a number of groups
in the US are helping with this and it's making
a difference, and it's actually getting food to help the
people there in Gaza, and very different than how the
UN's operation has been operating. But anyway, I'll stop there.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Well, you were there, and that's just fascinating to hear
the first hand account of that. So we appreciate you
coming on with us like you always do, but especially
recounting all of that. So thank you so much. Lots
of information to look back on, but a lot to
look forward to this afternoon as we wait to see
this President Trump. President putin meet up and Anchorage Congressman.
(13:42):
Glad you're back safe in the United States, and thanks
for coming on.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Thank you so much for having me. Y'all have a
great weekend.
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