>> now. >> explosions going on... we're not quite sure - >> is that an i.e.d.? >> "faultlines". al jazeera america's award-winning investigative series. monday, 10:00 eastern. on al jazeera america. ♪ secretary of state john kerry gives an impassioned defense of the iran nuclear deal. protesters return to baltimore streets as six police officers face a judge in the death of freddie gray. and a county clerk in kentucky, remains defiant refusing to issue marriage

licenses despite a court order. her lawyer tells al jazeera, davis is willing to go to jail. ♪ this is al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm randall pinkston. secretary of state john kerry is defending the iran nuclear deal. in an impassioned speech that wrapped up just minutes ago, kerry insists the agreement is the best way to prevent iran from getting a nuclear bomb. his address came as a 34th democratic senator said she will support the agreement, ensuring the obama administration has enough votes to push the deal through. jamie mcintyre is live for us in washington. jamie, what details did secretary kerry give about why passing the deal is so crucial? >> well, secretary kerry did not advance any new arguments in

this very detailed defense of the iran nuclear agreement. he basically restated the arguments he has made ever since the deal was reached both in speeches and in extensive testimony before congress but basically tried to marshall all of the arguments and logic he could to try to make this case that this was not only the best deal that the united states and its negotiating partners could get, but really the only deal, and that it's a deal that will be effective in keeping iran from getting a nucle nuclear -- obtaining a nuclear weapon, and he called on congress to approve it. he said to do otherwise would simply issue a big blow to u.s. credibility, not just with its negotiating partners, but with other countries in the world. >> if we suddenly switch course and reject the very outcome we had worked so hard to obtain, and not by offering some new and

viable alternative, but by offering no alternative at all, it is hard to conceive of a quicker or more self destructive blow to our nation's credibility and leadership. >> reporter: that was essentially his argument that the idea of going back to the bargaining table may sound attractive to try to get a better deal, but it was not realistic, not something that the other countries that the united states negotiated this deal with, would support. he went through all of the provisions of the deal to state how onerous it will be on iran, the difficulty iran would have developing a covert plan to try to subvert the deal, and the options that the united nations would have to reinstate sanctions and even military options if iran were to try to develop a nuclear weapon in

defiance of the deal. as you said the secretary made this hour-long defense in a speech in philadelphia on the same day that the administration secured that 34th vote in the senate that will enable the president if the senate passes a measure of disapproval to veto that measure and have that be sustained in the u.s. senate. randall. >> jamie do you think that the administration will continue lobbying republicans or will they just take what appears to be a victory and go with it. >> well, the president has said he has pretty much given up on the republicans in congress. he has said he believes that the fact that they are pretty much united in their opposition to this deal, that there's no split at all, indicates that the republicans are essentially opposed to anything that he would do, so i think they have given up on that, but the white house would like to get a few

more democrats on board so they could reach the 41 number, which would be enough votes in the senate to filibuster any move -- proposal of disapproval, which would mean it wouldn't even get to the participate -- president's desk. >> what happens next, jamie? >> reporter: well, the congress is going to take this up. they have a 60-day review period. you know, it appears the president will have his way, using basically this legislative maneuver of forcing congress to disapprove it, rather than to have them approve it, and then we'll see whether congress might -- some of the republicans in congress might look for other ways to undermine the measure, particularly if there are ways to tie the president's hands in providing the kinds of sanctions relief this deal provides, but it is going to go go ahead because it is not just a deal

between the united states and iran, it's between the united states and six world powers, plus the european union, so this deal is going to go ahead, and then it is going to remain to be seen, whether or not iran abides by it. secretary kerry pointed out that so far iran has lived up pretty much to the agreement. now republicans in congress would dispute that. >> jamie mcintyre thank you. the executive director of the american iranian council is here. we notice what was it last week, the u.k. announced they were going to reestablish diplomatic relations with iran, the u.k. being one of america's closest allies. this is a pretty firm signal to the american congress about what is going to happen if they opt to oppose the agreement, correct? >> exactly.

because within all of these other international partners that have signed on to this deal, they have come to the conclusion this is the best route forward and u.k. has indicated through the reopening of its embassy in tehran, that it's ready to move forward to -- you know, resolve their differences with the iranians and continue to improve the diplomatic relations. this is an indication that if, let's say this is voted down, this deal by congress, and that it going through all of this whole process, that u.s. will be left in the cold if it moves out of this agreement. it is not just between u.s. and iran as jamie as mentioned. it is the p5-plus-1 and iranians who have come to a multi-lateral agreement that they all view as something good. so these are closest allies of the united states who also see eye to eye with the other partners in the p5-plus-1 and

obviously john kerry. >> what does iran get out of this deal? >> it gets three things. one is the commitment that sanction relief will happen. that's one. number 2, it also will make sure that this nuclear program, or nuclear file that has really put so much pressure and isolated iran is removed. this is one obstacle taken out from many others that are going to have to be addressed. and number 3 there will be an economic openness of iran. it will be a more integrated economy within the international community and i think it will empower those individuals in iran who seek a more constructive cooperative relationship with the international community and the united states as well. because this nuclear issue, once removed and is done, we have much more pressing issue theres the middle east. yemen, afghanistan, iraq, lebanon, syria, these issues

cannot be resolved without iran on the table, and with this nuclear issue pushed to the side is annotation that iran could contribute to the resolution of much more security challenges facing the region. >> thank you for your incite. >> thank you. protesters are out in baltimore as six police officers face a judge in the freddie gray case. small demonstrations took place earlier outside of the courthouse. the officers were there for a pretrial hearing where a judge denied a motion to dismiss the case. his death spurred protests and riots. police say they are prepared for any possible unrest today. a kentucky clerk is preparing for a court hearing over her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. now this was the scene yesterday when kim davis again turned away a same-sex couple. >> we're not issuing marriage

licenses today. >> the supreme court denied your stay. >> we're not issuing marriage licenses today. >> why are not issuing marriage licenses today. >> because i'm not. >> under who's authority? >> under god's authority. >> davis and six deputies have been ordered to appear before a federal judge on thursday. she says she is standing on her religious beliefs. the judge could fine her or send her to jail for refusing to issue the licenses. seeing climate change firsthand. president obama is wrapping up his visit to alaska with a look at some of the people and places being affected by the climate. ♪

president obama today are visit rural alaska towns affected by climate change. around a hundred thousand homes are treats. tuesday the president saw a glacier that has receded a mile and a half. >> because of the changing patterns of winters with less snow, longer hotter summer, it indicates how rapidly the glacier is receding, and sends a message about the urgency we need to have. >> alaska is the only u.s. state in the arctic circle. temperatures in the arctic are

rising twice as fast as anywhere else on earth. alaska is also experiencing so many wildfires that crews from other states are flying in to help fight them. jake ward reports. >> reporter: this summer, hundreds of wildfires have raged across alaska. >> we need to get somebody over there. >> what they are doing is working an edge where we have got some heat. >> reporter: stephanie is one of over 3,000 firefighters and support crews flown in from the lower 48 states this summer. they are battling just a few of the fires that have burned 5.1 million acres so far this year. the second-worst in alaska's history. we're in a village about an hour's flight from fair banks, and hundreds of firefighters are coming from all across the country.

we're about to meet their commander and a couple who have been on the line. jim grant is based out of wisconsin. but he spent his summer trying to keep a half million acre fire from destroying this and other villages along the river. >> in my 30-plus year career this is the largest incident i have been involved with. >> reporter: it represents only 10% of the forests burned so far in alaska this year. >> we have at least 13 like this, plus numerous smaller fires. >> reporter: tom has been fighting fires in alaska for 40 years. in the past decade he has noticed a sharp change in the weather patterns. >> this was the driest and warmest may on record, so we keep setting high marks with those climate anomalies out

there. >> reporter: they are melting the permafrost, priming them to burn. >> you can soonerly see a pattern developing here. >> reporter: this has global implications for the rest of the planet. experts estimate there is twice as much carbon waiting to be released from permafrost than is currently in the atmosphere. the scientists believe recent weather extremes could become the new norm. >> if we move forward, using this same scenario, and look what is in store for us at the end of the century, there is a pretty significant change. >> reporter: help me understand the intensity of wildfire activity now as compared to i don't know 50, 100 years. >> sure, and this graph does a good job of that. the number of bars above a million acres is on the order of

doubles. >> reporter: all that firefighters like whalen can do is try to make it through a fire season that keeps getting longer. sad story now, a photo of a drowned syrian toddler, washed up on a beach. in that photo has gone viral around the world, symbolizing the depth of the migrant crisis in europe. we're not showing that disturbing image, but this one taken later, shows a turkish police officer picking up the child's body. the little boy may be one of around a dozen people who died when their boats capsized. no word yet on the fate of his family. meanwhile hundreds of refugees remain stranded outside of the train station in budapest. the hungarian government is preventing them from leaving, enforcing european immigration

law. we asked if europe has lost its grip on the refugee crisis. >> what we're witnessing today basically is a chaos in the european countries. each country is dealing with this crisis separately. some are opening the borders, some are closing, and others are building fence. what needs to be done is europe should agree on a unified policy where all of europe would assume its responsibility. not just one country or one nation. europe can do more, a lot more. there is the european council that has taken decisions last month on the so-called agenda for migration, it calls for establishment of reception centers in the southern european countries. it calls for deciding on the applications of these people. some of these people, particularly the syrians are clearly refugees given what is happening in their country. >> more than 2500 have died trying to cross the

mediterranean see this year. mexico's president is about to deliver his annual report on the country's achievements. some fault him for failing to stem drug-related violent crime. he has also campaigned on economic reform, but as john holman reports only one group of people seem to be reaping the rewards. >> reporter: welcome to mexico's senate where wealth is unashamedly on show. a new political year is kicking off. but the game remains the same. >> translator: the problem is mexico politics is about getting rich, and the gap between the poor and politicians widens. we're part of a system that's fundamentally corrupt. >> reporter: mexican senators earn more with extras and bonuses than their country parts in the u.k., france, spain, and almost as much as the u.s. but while those salaries bare

some relation to their country's minimum wage, mexican senators make 170 times more than those living on the bread line like the people in sidewalk city. the people here are in a desperate position, but they are not alone. almost half of mexicans live in poverty, and that is a number that has been going up in recent years. lunch is left over fish from a market. it's all she can afford. what she makes in a year, a senator earns in two weeks. >> translator: it's like from here to the moon the gap between us. how else can i explain their money, their cars, houses, trips. while i have to save and save just to buy a wheelbarrow to work and survive. >> reporter: an increasing online population is exposing the differences like this $6 million house built for the

president. >> translator: if there is room for optimism it is that our society is participating more through social networks and mass marches. >> reporter: a warning to legislators that at some point those who elected them may demand a bigger share of the wealth. john holman, al jazeera, mexico ci city. pope francis prepares for a trip to the u.s., and many are scrambling to find a way to see him in person.

in flint, michigan, some residents say their wallets are being drained by huge water bills. bisi onile-ere takes a look at why. >> i'm bisi onile-ere, water bills here in flint are higher than anywhere else in the state of michigan. it all started back in 2011, when with no warning, and little explanation the city increased the water rate by 35%. unable to afford the drastic hikes, some residents have gone months without running water, and some have lost their homes because they couldn't pay their bills. after years of mounting complaints, and a new class action lawsuit, the city is being forced by a judge to lower rates, but carey nelson is among a number of residents who say it is not enough. before the increase the 64 year old who lives on a fixed income says she paid about $30 a month. now she pays close to $200 a month. the city is saying we're going

to lower everyone's bill by $20. is that enough? >> no. if you got $180 bill and they lower it to 160, really? that's not helping us any. >> reporter: tonight why city leaders say that lower water bills will amount to cutbacks in city services. and the quality of the city's water is also under the microscope. >> bisi onile-ere's full report tonight at 8:00 eastern. pope francis is preparing for his trip to the u.s. later this month. millions are expected to see him in new york, washington, or philadelphia. and some are coming from very far away. jennifer london caught up with one family making an epic journey to see the pontiff. >> reporter: francisca is a long way from home. weary after six months on the

road. >> thought it was a beautiful name because of the pope. it's like a small honor we do for him. ♪ >> reporter: with the drive for adventure, francisca, a 1980 volkswagon bus will meet her namesake later this month. on board a devout catholic argentinian family, on a spiritual journey to the largest gathering of catholic families in the world. >> it gave it like a deeper meaning to this family road trip, and it was like the thing that made us say okay this is it. >> reporter: the adventure began in march when the family left their home in buenos aires and drove across argentina, chile, peru, ecuador. and then boarded a boat to panama, and drove the length of

central america, with hopes of crossing the u.s. boarder into texas. we met up with the family in mexico. they had only been in town for a few days, but were already front page news. >> we are on the front page. >> we are on the front page. >> in the papers and on tv. >> the big challenge was to leave. >> yeah. >> once he left, it was a lot easier. >> reporter: the family's pilgrimage to see the pope has taken them on a cross-continent adventure. sometimes sleeping under the stars or with host families, eager to share the experience. this woman is a practicing buddhist, and opened her home to the catholic family.

>> it touched my heart, because i'm going to visit the dalai lama in india next year, so i know how you feel when you need to meet to your spiritual leader. >> for us it's the best experience of the trip. >> reporter: staying with host families? >> yeah. >> reporter: why is that? >> because we love to see the city and the history of the city, but the thing we love more is to -- to -- to live with other people and understand how they live. >> reporter: photographs from every city and every country chronicle their ups and downs. these stickers tell the story of where they have been. you both quit your jobs. taking all of this time off, traveling across continents in a 1988 bus. there is a certain leap of faith that goes along with that, right? >> yes. >> yeah, of course. because we say in spanish

[ speaking spanish ] like to dive into the pool. it's like you say, okay -- >> reporter: jumping into the deep end. >> yes. >> reporter: we said good-bye to the family in mexico. they asked that we not follow them with our cameras on this road, because they have been told this stretch of highway into the u.s. can be dangerous, and they can't want to call any unnecessary attention to themselves. a few hours later with the sun low in the sky, the family safely rolled into the u.s. [ cheers ] [ singing ] >> reporter: 13 countries, 10,000 miles, four breakdowns, three birthdays, and more than 4,000 photographs. [ cheers ] >> memories to last a lifetime, driven by a big leap of faith. ♪ >> reporter: jennifer london, al jazeera.

thanks for joining us. i'm randall pinkston. ♪ >> a done deal. back secures enough votes to ensure that the iran nuclear agreement cannot be stopped by congress. >> i'm david foster. also coming up in this program. the anger and frustration in hungary grows as thousands of refugees remain locked out of budapest's main railway station. >> the terminator pleads not guilty of war crimes trial