>> i'm shannon breen, lawmakers post after passing a $1.7 trillion budget, the white house calls a stellar accomplishment and critics label monstrous, decision aborted policy could come from the supreme court at any moment as a winter storm snarls holiday traffic. >> thousands of flights canceled or delayed dashing holiday plans will have a live report from one of the nation's busiest airports

and will have a report on how this major funding fight could be setting the stage for epic battles and the new congress. >> the america public does not want to see this, they want to see accountability in washington and we will provide it. >> after nearly a year of war in his homeland ukrainian president zelenskyy comes to capitol hill to make the case for more help, financial and otherwise from the u.s. >> it's a matter of time when they will strike against your other allies. >> will bring in the sunday panel in ukraine in the weeks biggest stories, plus my conversation with cardinal dolan on faith, the holidays and the hope for reconciliation in the polarizing times. >> do think we can find a place where there is mutual respect and understanding for the other side? >> yes shannon, we can't give up. shannon: plus ♪ ♪ singer-songwriter michael w smith on his decades in music's new album and the joy of bringing people together on his

latest tour. >> then across america full-circle for "fox news sunday" as we sit down again with the man behind the tradition we've honored for more than a decade, alright now on "fox news sunday". shannon: merry christmas from fox news in washington millions of americans are waking up to a deep-freeze after a powerful winter storm left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power snarls holiday traffic and left at least 18 dead for many is the coldest christmas and more than 30 years, meanwhile lawmakers approved a massive $1.7 trillion funding package avoiding the brewing storm and a government shutdown days before the holiday we begin today with chief coverage aishah hasnie is live in washington with the last-minute funding agreement

but the charles watson live from atlantis hartsville international airport where travelers are still dealing with delays of the busiest airport. >> after tens of thousands of cancellations, there are a lot of folks in atlanta and across the country who won't be able to stay home for the holidays is christmas, thousands are still facing delays and cancellations as the arctic blast put 60% of the population of the winter advisory or wording over the last few days, they are improving the latest numbers from flight aware that show more than 1200 delays in 1300 cancellations so far, less than yesterday assigned that perhaps the worst is behind us but in arctic freeze the airlines have the work cut out for them. here in atlanta the cold weather snapped pipes flooding the delta lounge in the international terminal, and buffalo officials say the airport will be closer

monday after whipping snow made it too dangerous to go anywhere, despite the shaky travel outlook across the country, most travelers seem to be keeping their cool. >> i been traveling to new york since yesterday. i've been on a cancel flight yesterday and a cancel flight today, i'm trying to get my bags now, they say i can't get my bags to me is going to take five hours for me to get my bags. i just checked in yesterday. i'm at a loss right now. >> it hasn't been any easier on the roads, officials report more than a dozen deaths related to the storm eight of them due to car accidents including four in the multi car crash in ohio and white out conditions in the ice and snow could be a lingering issue for drivers is aaa expects the roads to get busy again on tuesday and wednesday. shannon: charles watson reporting from atlanta. thank you so much, joining us in

washington aishah hasnie for billions and financial assistance, just as congress reaches the own federal funding agreement before the midnight deadline. >> in morning and merry christmas, no last-minute -- friday congress approved the massive $1.7 trillion government funding bill also known as the omnibus, it'll take days for it to reach the president's desk which is why president biden signed a stopgap bill to keep the government funded through december 30. republicans are deeply divided over this omnibus, senate minority leader mitch mcconnell persuaded 18 republicans to help democrats pass it applauding the 800 billion in defense funding, others say the bill has a lot of pork and they are slamming a giant budget right before christmas it shows just how broken congress really is. >> this is a monstrosity, what are the most shameful acts i've ever seen in this body.

house minority leader kevin mccarthy is threatening to kill bill sponsored by senate republicans who voted for the omnibus if you become speaker next year, he doesn't quite get how the vote, meantime the omnibus includes $45 billion in additional ukraine aid which comes days after a historic visit from ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy, vast majority of democrats and republicans support more of ukraine aid, a growing number of republican say they want more details about how the money is being spent. meanwhile a bad week for former president trump, democrats not only release the tax returns which should be paid little to no federal income tax between 2015 and 2022, also the january 6 committee recommended that he be criminally prosecuted by the d.o.j. blaming the former president for the capital right in the final report the committee accuse the former president of committee conspiracy to defraud the

federal government and inciting an insurrection. trumped analysis report writing on his truth social media account, what doesn't kill me makes me stronger he said, ultimately he said of the be up to the d.o.j. to pursue charges or not. shannon: we await their decision, aishah hasnie, reporting in washington. it is time for the sunday group, coanchor of "america's newsroom" in the five on fox news, dana perino, chairman of gopac, david bella a media critic and host of the "mediabuzz" welcome to all of you. let's start with the omnibus, they got it done just in time before leaving kim strassel, didn't reflect well, and for set out to describe a once admirable institution to decline, its members passing off the laziness, secrecy, cowardly nest and success it would be hard to compete with this week's senate

show, dana, the white house is celebrating say they got a lot done in the lame-duck session and the prodigies of compass ms.. >> the big spending bills are always the ugliest part of washington it's disgusting sausage making but this is how it's done. one thing to be clear for everybody, the bills are drafted over a couple of years through the entire congress. in this case, you have two members of the senate as the chairman of the appropriations committee and ranking chair with democrat and republican, they were both retiring this year, they definitely wanted to get something done. it is galling to think that we had the inflation rate that we've had about ad $1.7 trillion to our spending, however, a couple of things that i think some senators on the republican side that can take that, josh hawley, the senator from a missouri was able to get a provision that the tiktok must be banned off of government phones, that is a significant step in a got bipartisan support

and another little example, susan collins of maine was able to get something to protect the lobster men of maine. overall i agree it does not look good but i imagine the senators as they go back to their states to tell people what it was like at the end of the congress, most of them will have something to say that they are proud of in this monstrosity. >> they have to do that to go back to their constituents and say look what i was able to become to our district interstate as a senator, that's an important part of the entire process you know the money is going to be up and get spent but there is a lot of consternation among house republicans who will flip and take control of the house come january, they want to vote on the long-term budget that goes through september of 2023 they say executive reflector priorities, there's a lot of consternation over that here is the man who hopes to be house speaker and doesn't have the votes as we understand it, kevin mccarthy. >> in 11 days this all changes, working to reclaim the body's

integrity and service to the american people after this institution covers itself in disgrace one last time under democrat one-party rule. >> democrats are embarrassed at all about what got done during the lame-duck, they said these are things to be celebrated you here the man who hopes to be speaker saying everything's going to change a republican leadership. that sets up a lot of pressure and a lot of eyeballs who expect them to delivery. >> pressure and opportunity, you have house republicans who will be in the majority next year who can start working towards a commitment to america which they campaigned on, a set of principles from americans who heard about it they like the idea that is 2 - 1 and the majority were people who were republicans, whether it be the goal of energy getting back to energy independence or whether be focusing education on science and math and advancing our kids

there, whether the cost of living, house republicans have an opportunity to pass and could arguably do in the first 30 days of the majority and put pressure on the senate democrats who will be open 24 whether that be joe manchin or john kester or kyrsten sinema and go through the list, you can either be for ideas with the majority of americans or you can go into reelection having oppose those or done what you can to stop them and be on the wrong side of voters, while certainly there is much good and bad that will be talked about the omnibus bill, if you look forward and provides kevin mccarthy and house republicans a wonderful opportunity going forward. shannon: we will see what they do with them, let's go to national review online talk about another big story the january 6 committee wrapping up in releasing its report recommending the criminal referrals for the former president, andy mccarthy writing at national review census the criminal prosecution will be

difficult the panel makes it harder by giving trumped the defense that a politicized democrat dominated committee pressure the biden justice department to indict biden's potential opponent in the 2024 election, the media spent a lot of time on the hearings and the story this week does it in some way work to the former president's political advantage in the end. >> sure, the last thing the justice department wants is to appear to be working in concert with the committee, let's face it, was totally antitrust and the democrats into the anti-trumped republicans, the final recession struggling their way onto the stage and playing them greatest hit they have passed testimony so it wasn't much new there in the criminal referral donald trump was largely symbolic, the justice department is investigating donald trump on all sorts of things from the top-secret documents to january 6 and on and on and on, they did not need this but what it was and had a

tsunami of coverage as you mentioned and it put it enabled the committee to remind everybody what it happened but i'm not sure it was good except adam schiff gotta be on tv 112 times. >> something else is getting about a democrats on tv, the talk of releasing the former president tax returns there's been a legal fight brewing ongoing they take a committee vote the house ways and means vote on party lines at the going to release them, the wall street journal opinion has this morning saying democrats have spent years trying to justify any action to get mr. trump and release his tax returns is another wrecking ball to standards and norms. democrats could come to regret it and sooner than they think, what about the possibility that this committee under republican leadership could also go after some other people tax returns and make the public from the other side of the aisle. >> is like the filibuster that's always the game of chicken and this is unprecedented.

i think the committee or democrats overall were probably disappointed in the report that they got after they had trump's tax returns and now they want to replace them with the public they failed to get the headlines that they wanted one of the biggest headlines was that the irs didn't have enough manpower to audit president trump's taxes so you're telling us the irs needs more irs agents in addition to the ones that you pass the previous bill in order to talk about the former president tax returns. however, tax returns can be released on the people who are running for office and usually done that, i understand that was the breaking of norms, this would also be a breaking of norms i don't know if you can have future presidency refused to release her taxes, in a way you think they should tap the brakes, slow their role and allow for the next presidential

campaign to happen and then if the congress thinks that there has to be some requirement that they can pass a law that does a. >> it feels like were already into the next presidential election. thank you very much, stick around, much more to come, up next afghan women rise up after the taliban government's decision to ban them from university, workplaces houses of worship, we're going to discuss the global backlash and u.s. response next. vicks vaporub? vicks vaporub's ...medicated vapors go straight to the source of your cough... ...so you can relieve your cough to breathe easier. vicks vaporub. fast-acting cough relief.

an investment global security and democracy that we handle and the most responsible way.

[applause] >> ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy speaking before a joint meeting of congress where he pleaded with lawmakers for more aid as russia's war on ukraine nears the one near mark. it seems like there is pretty much in washington to unified feeling about making sure weaponry, aid, humanitarian aid continues to flow to ukraine but not everybody is on that page i want to play from something senator josh hawley one of the republicans that did not go to the joint session. >> we spent $100 billion in blank checks there is no accountability whatsoever no oversight whatsoever in the meantime our european allies are continuing to sandbag, we spent more on ukraine than all of the europeans put together and it's on the continent. >> there's been a lot of attention to the fact that republicans are not unified in this particular issue we know in the house numbers of the gop have tried to introduce measures

from transparency and accounting of where this accounting is going but they clearly have a party disagreement within the family. >> it's not new historically there have been republicans who want transparency and who wanted to be limited and government involvement another nations wars he think about ram paul joe biden would've been far more effective than his policy had he gotten the energy producer to go over to europe and say we're going to make sure energy production stays strong so as you can get through this winter so you can continue to help supply aid as well as the aid that we are giving to ukraine, you too will be able to provide support to ukraine because it certainly is in our interest to battle against russia but is particularly in europe's interest to make sure that ukraine stays a free nation and

their borders are safe. >> there is a conversation among critics in washington not only about the additional money that is funded to ukraine so they could defend themselves but the omnibus bill that contains all kinds of other spending for other countries to protect their borders when critics most of them republicans say our own borders not been secured sufficiently here in the u.s. i want to put up numbers from november we have the highest number of southern border encounters according to official sources, 233,740 encounters in november alone. he could see the number last year up over 130% and there seems to be not a lot of appetite recovering in the mainstream media. >> there starting to be more they will not be able to ignore it much more perhaps the most cynical thing in the nearly 2 trillion-dollar bill that nobody had time to read is dueling amendments republican or

democrat they cancel each other out on what to do about porter security so every member can say i voted for this or that so don't blame me and what a contrast with the uplifting and charismatic message of president zelenskyy, it was a magic moment and i was doing something else i turned to the tv and i cannot take my eyes off of it speaking in english and connecting his desire for more weapons and more u.s. military aid to our efforts in world war ii connecting the hanukkah in the state innovations across both sides of the aisle despite the rug under republican reservations of the blank check, you never see that anymore, usually one side is sitting on his hands. >> it is true, there he highlights not only international issues but domestic when it comes to the funding side but there other foreign policy issues that are pressing on washington as well, the demonstrations continued in iran and rounded people up there executions that are ongoing, npr reports as more iranians face possible execution as authorities crushed continuing

unrest the execution signal that the clerical leadership has fewer options other than brute force to quell the unrest, every time these things pop up in a foreign country, that is a sovereign nation there are questions what the u.s. can, cannot, should and shouldn't do with respect to people we know fighting for democracy and giving their lives in the process. >> when vice president biden serving under a president obama when the obama administration did not support the green revolution of iran at the end of the presidency, they said that was one of the regret. it's a little baffling to see the administration want the iran deal so badly knowing that that's actually getting away i can imagine why they wouldn't shout from the rooftops that they're knocking to do the deal they're going to support the people of iran but you don't hear that a lot, another thing the fact that the president hasn't been to the border talking about big national security issues i'm all for it

believe me that super important but it's very difficult for people in america to understand how can they spend the money there but you're not spending the money over here on our own southe border, and unannounced onto the border go down there, he's dealing with all the politics that is never been and he could go ahead and do that and he could come back and say republicans will join him to solve it, fine in the meantime it's very difficult to say support the ukrainians which i am for, what you're doing with her own southern border 3 million people have come across in the last two years. >> u.s. forces have trained, difficulty in getting out and caught up at the border afghanistan having all kinds of disasters headlines this week, women being barred from many

places from universities from worshiping in mosques and seminaries, former president bush george w. bush and his wife released a statement this week about that and they said treating women as second-class citizens depriving them of their universal human rights and denying them the opportunity to better themselves and their community should generate outrage among all of this, i want to go back to you i know this is an incredibly important issue during the bush administration when he served in the white house and the women there are disheartened there was another report overnight that the taliban will no longer allow women to work at ngos the groups that help impoverished nations women are knocking to be able to work at all you and i decided to go into that we would not be allowed, it is outrageous in any country that suppresses 50% of its people will never succeed, it's a dangerous time in afghanistan and joe biden should speak to that.

>> absolutely showed, piano we appreciate your time, merry christmas and happy hanukkah, thank you so much. >> thank you. shannon: up next i sit down with cardinal timothy dolan the archbishop of new york to talk about religion's role in society and what he thinks is missing, among the major divisions in our country ♪ -i say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. -i don't feel any different. -i don't need you to feel anything to do great things. (upbeat music) -jesus, if you do not renounce your words, we will have no choice but to follow the law of moses. -i am the law of moses. ♪ introducing the anti-fatigue comfortmat connect from weathertech. it can be lengthened and configured

to the space you need. so, you'll never be confined by the size and inconvenience of an ordinary anti-fatigue mat. ♪ snap together end, middle and corner pieces to enjoy cushiony support everywhere. don't just stand there, stand in comfort on the american made comfortmat connect. see all the different colors and finishes at weathertech.com.

shannon: christians across the globe are gathered for christmas this weekend ahead of the holiday we traveled to new york city to sit down with cardinal timothy dolan the archbishop of new york, we talk about the divisions in our country and the growing number of young people stepping away from faith in the message he's hoping that people will actually hear this time of year.

>> merry christmas cardinal. >> a blessing christmas to you it's good to be with you and my friends at fox. >> it is a treat during advent to talk to you about where we are in this world and for a lot of people it is a time of trying to quiet down a little bit, enjoy family and friends, what is advent mean to you. >> that is part of it i like the idea of quieting down, silence is why we have the tradition of midnight mass that's a quietest time of the evening silent night, holy night. silence has a lot to do with it, what mother church invites us to do and admit is also prepare our souls our hearts, christmas is not only a celebration of the birth of christ our savior, it is also the father's invitation to us to let his only begotten son be reborn, reborn within our

hearts and souls, if that's going to happen, whenever you're going to have somebody a visitor to your house you have to get the clutter out of the way and prepare a room and make sure the guestroom is ready, let's make sure the guestroom of her heart and soul is ready for the greatest visitor of all, the christ child our savior. shannon: you voted piece for fox that was so insightful. me and millions of others, you talk about how so much of what we thought is wrong in our society and our divisions are hurting each other in distrusting each other and are fighting, in part because you say we are forcing out what do you think is the key. >> i think so, somebody's got to say that, if i can't say it who can, we have forgotten god we have pushed god aside we often use the term secularism, what is it a lot of different admissions.

one of the tightest i've ever heard is secular's mean that humanity desire to forget about god to get along just fine without him, the fact of the matter is we cannot get along fine without him and we see the mess that we got, a lot of people say why is god allowing all of us and i'm thinking god doesn't want all this to happen he wants us to accept him his message and his way of life in his commandments. if we do not use a lot less division. you thinking vladimir putin was a believer and trusted in god which you claims to be he would've invaded ukraine, i doubt it. if we let god triumph and let him be lord, what is the latin word for lord dominus which we get our word dominion, dominate, we let him have dominion we let him dominate our lives things are going to get a lot better

eternal happiness and joy can only come from the lord. not only the next life but also in this one a great commentator says the glory of god is the human person fully alive. another great writer saint augustine said god became human so humans can become divine. that's what christmas is about. until we admit we need god now are saying we don't need god some people say nice idea i'm glad you're up there for every need you but put me on hold i'll call you later. most people are saying i don't even know if there is a god and if he does he does have much to say about me, is that why we are trouble, and you think kids if they really had faith would shoot up a shopping center or classroom, i don't think so. there is a problem there, i don't know why we need a billy graham to say that. shannon: people listen did you talk to millions around the

world. let's talk about that a lot of young people say 42% of young people have no religious affiliation and they're not interested in that, gallup 2021 they have the lowest recordings since i started asking the question 1944 do you believe in god, there are a lot of people say that i can be a good person i don't need god organized religion so what do you say to that? >> you're onto something you made the proper distinctions, most people still believe in god, that's a good thing although it's diminishing which is a bit chilly, even people that believe in god, thanks be to god still the majority will say i believe in god but i don't really need a religion. so if you believe without being united with other believers the belief is sooner or later going to fade is going to evaporate because it's tough to believe. shannon: there are things in secular society were having these debates within our country where we find the intersection

of these things about marriage or abortion and the rights of people who are connected to those issues, do you think we can find a place where they can be mutual respect there could be understanding for the other side. >> yes, we can't give up, for one week and listen to jesus whose birthday were celebrating who always said hate the sin but love the sinner, even if there certain things that people do that we have to say i never really except that and i never really encourage somebody to that style of life, i still love that person and i will respect and i will love them and i will protect that person's dignity with my own love and respect. shannon: what do you say to people the holidays are not a good time for them they are struggling and lost someone they've lost the job and been through rough couple of years. >> they remember you and i smile when we think of christmas, a

lot of people teared up they didn't have a happy childhood what do you say to that. you're very recognition that something is missing in your life you're very recognition that there has been a loss of something in your life means we need it filled up and that's with this beautiful feast is all about don't be sad, be happy. you've heard me say before we put the crib up next door at stt thanksgiving in the first year i was here 14 years ago i said why do we put the crib up so soon, were not supposed to put it up right before christmas and the pastor said because we have 3 million people come through but he said look at the crib i said is empty and he said yes it's empty we don't put baby jesus there until christmas and people as they look at it automatically say there is somebody missing and they'll say

it's the son of god, that's the message something is missing in life. shannon: are you hopeful will get back to a better place of respecting, loving each other and less fighting and less fighting on social media and whatever the platform is, how do we get there. >> i'm in the business of hope of faith and religion with the church is all about. i never g give up i also know we business before there's always been division in the worst campaign ever, no i take you back in the ones that went through it they all set after each one. i'm very hopeful yet and remain convinced unless there is some recognition of god and even those who may not be explicitly religious, even if there is some recognition that there is something beyond us, there is a transcendent, there is a beyond that gives me purpose and meaning and that helps me live

the way this ultimate power, you look at her friends at the 12 step program, they will call us they said we don't care what you call it a higher power in they say there's no atheist and a fox film, they say there's no atheist among met fans and in times of need and crisis and tension and trauma, i don't think i'm an atheist and i go there a lot.f crisis with traum, tension there are certain things in life i can't handle that i'm not in control of but i acknowledge there is, it can be a sense of recovery of the power and beyond. and beyond this that is the name for god and it became incarnate in a little baby. our lord and savior jesus christ

on christmas day in bethlehem. and for us to be able to say our god is so tenderly accessible that he wants us to pick him up and hold them and kiss him and hold him close and like a young couple the hits our life has purpose from now on every waking moment is going to be for this little baby from now on my life is not about me it's about this baby, if we can say that about the son of god, you watch, will be in a better shape this time next year. shannon: m merry christmas cardinal. shannon: up next one of contemporary christian music's most recognizable names, we catch up with michael w smith on his christmas to her. next. ♪ but now i'm working for schwab.

i love to help people understand the world through their lens and invest accordingly. you can call us christmas eve at four o'clock in the morning. we're gonna always make sure that you have all of the financial tools and support to secure your financial future. that means a lot for my community and for every community.

- [narrator] every day, our lives are filled with choices, both simple and life-changing. what's not a choice? addiction to opioids like fentanyl. but even with opioid use disorder, you still have a choice. by choosing treatment, you choose family, your career and your life on your terms. choose change, california, and find medically proven treatment options

at choosechangeca.org.

shannon: michael w smith is a multiplatinum singer-songwriter on the contemporary christian and adult music charge for 40 years, this year the grammy-winning artist released his album christmas at home inspired by the song painting pictures of family moments around the holidays ♪ ♪. shannon: who doesn't love the old home movies, smith hit the road for the popular christmas tour where he noticed people are still reeling from the difficult last couple of years and he says is more committed than ever to making sure they find hope. >> i don't think you can ever

project down the road and get a plane arenas or stadiums or anything like that but here i am and i pinch myself every day that i get to do this. >> after four decades topping the charts michael w smith still feels right at home raining and the holidays with fans. shannon: growing up did you ever think you would spend your christmas like this. >> probably not i remember when i made my first album, thank you god i got to make a record not knowing i would make 36 or whatever. >> we caught up with him in virginia kicking off the second leg of his christmas to her. >> it's great to be back at tyson virginia are you ready for tonight. >> even at this point the pandemic smith understands some people are trying to get back into the habit of gathering in person to share the gift of live

music. ♪ >> what are these christmas concerts been like this year, we talked about yet a rough couple of years and now you're out on the concert tour people are showing up in is there a sense they've been through a lot the last couple of years. >> i would say yes on every level and i do think it's from this pandemic and they are isolated, the more the fact that people have lost their loved ones and isolation is not a good thing. ♪ >> what is it about music that sues the soul, i still think it's a most powerful universal language in the world and the three and half minute song, you just feel like they're going to walk out of here with a greater sense of hope when you know i get through this.

i think this is what this music does for people. >> is a titan of contemporary rock and pop winning grammys and selling 18 million records, he started out writing songs and touring with a woman who would soon become an industry giant, amy grant. >> you and amy have written together and touring together how would you describe your friendship, you been through really difficult things for some mountaintops to. >> her love for music was deep and we wrote some songs i'm really proud of. there is a moderate artery that you can't manufacture, our love for each other and are gifts and i learned a lot will. she might be the kindest woman i've ever known in my entire life, other than my wife debbie. >> knowing debbie that is saying something, two amazing women. >> were still making music during christmas together, if it's working why stop.

>> smith is a songwriter at heart with an effortless touch of the keyboard. >> is going to write a song called be role. >> do you feel everything about, it is good to be ahead or right. >> i write what i feel like i'm led to do. i'm not 25 anymore. >> that means i'm not either. >> i think it's always tempting that you want to compete why am i not on the radio, you just can't go there. >> smith has an ardent fan base was songs often serve as the soundtrack for their individual milestones. >> you talk about having songs that have staying power and over for decades now in music and writing and performing what are

the standouts for you. >> all as well as my favorite song i've written, you just never forget the moment that you wrote it. i think most people want me to stay friends. ♪ it may not be my favorite song that i didn't know i was good at this and get the rest of my entire life back i hope you like it now. >> it is a part of the fact of people's lives that you watch it every night like the audience and say oh my gosh that was to get a funeral, noticing a graduation, the list goes on. >> 's music has been a source of comfort and some of the most difficult moments in americans have shared as a nation including september 11. >> one of my favorite songs of yours, there she stands and i was a younger reporter in new york when you play that at the

rnc, it is a powerful song is that one that the imagery the fog that was raised over the sites in new york did not come to you, did you have to work on that? >> is stem from a conversation that i had with george w. bush and i was with him six weeks after 9/11 i would go visit often and i think he was processing, probably like all of us were and he looked at me and he said w, he called me w and he said you need to write a song about this and i'm sitting there saying how do i do that. there's no way and i remember saying i'll try mr. president and i remember walking out of the office and was hoping he'd never bring it up again in six months later i'm on my farm and have a big american flag that flies out there and i look up at the flag and the wind is blowing in a beautiful spring day and i looked at the flag and i had a

meltdown and i started weeping think of all the heroes and all the people who died for my freedom. ♪ i am on this piece of dirt that i love because somebody fought for this country read all the sudden i started writing there she stands while i'm watching the flag. ♪. shannon: at 65 smith is still doing what he loves hitting stages across the nation. shannon: did you ever think of the snowball over your career. >> you is wonder is he going to end it be different people didn't buy the records and the people didn't continue to come to the show's it all comes down. a mediocre singer which i would consider myself one of those i'm not andre of the chile, if you have the song and they sing the song for the rest of their lives then i think you might have a chance of sticking around.

[applause] >> thank you so much, thank you. shannon: smith said his christmas album which was a big part of his tour was a family affair with his children even his grandchildren taking part in the recording, joining month stage for one of the concerts. up next honoring americans veterans is holiday season. we will speak to the man behind the nations most treasured christmas traditions. theo's nose was cause for alarm, so dad brought puffs plus lotion to save it from harm. puffs has 50% more lotion and brings soothing relief. don't get burned by winter nose. a nose in need deserves puffs indeed. america's #1 lotion tissue. after years of chasing the big idaho potato truck... i finally caught it.

oh man. always look for the grown in idaho seal. (vo) red lobster. the finer points of fun dining creating your own ultimate feast... ...is the ultimate form of shell-fish-pression. create your own ultimate feast is here. choose 4 of 10, like new cheddar bay shrimp. welcome to fun dining.

mac is a christmas tradition here on "fox news sunday." to share the story how one man from maine found a special way to express the meaning of the holiday season. we got to spend a moment with him once more to reflect on the impact of his work. here again is wreaths across america. >> we would not have what we have today if it was not for them. they stepped out for us time and time again. >> how his reverence or service members inspired a beloved

holiday addition. the nonprofit that organizes volunteers to lay christmas wreaths at arlington national cemetery and the cemetery across the u.s. >> do you think you will ever be able to get the mind around the impact of what this has turned into, what it means to thousands of people? >> probably not. one hundred people or 100,000 people, it means the same. the families. >> a childhood trip to washington in 1962. moved by the graceful rows of iconic white headstones. >> i just never forget it. i just could not believe how big it was. >> in charge of a wreath company >> extras around the holidays. >> when i had them left over years ago, i said, you know, if i can make it happen, i will bring them here.

i thought it would be great to have them. >> he asked if he could donate them to the cemetery. dozens of volunteers help to drive down and lay each one of the headstones. "fox news sunday" first met back in 2006. >> they are not just tombstones. they are people. >> a photo of the tribute had gone viral. >> there was snow on the reeds. it was just a great shot. that hit a chord with millions of millions of people around the world. it changed everything. >> people were touched and thousands began volunteering. to place wreaths at arlington and cemeteries in their hometowns. "fox news sunday" joint back then to see the wreaths arrive after a 750-mile trip. he calls it the longest veteran parade. >> the ceremony you are about to witness is a ceremony to be

conducted for the company. >> did you ever imagine when you showed up that first year with 5000 that it would turn into what it is now? >> never. it was going to be a one-time thing. >> what does it mean to you? working all year long to get this ready. >> it is something that just did not happen every year. it i it means to them in the families. >> after more than three decades he still feels in each wreath. >> it feels like you are giving multiple gifts to those that are honored here in arlington but those who also get to take them in the honor as well. >> it does. just a bunch of balsam for her. it is a catalyst. there is a big meaning, really. >> what is the future?

>> to remember and honor every single veteran. >> what does it mean to you when you walk in here and walk around? >> it's all in a lifetime. it really is. an opportunity to do this. the good lord runs everything. he is in charge of all of it. >> he says he believes the whole thing has been divine assignment. the tradition has continued every year since 1992. this year volunteers place more than 2.7 million reeves on veteran grace at 3700 locations including more than 250,000 here at arlington national cemetery. before we go, the passing of sports legend. the running back died this week. harris is most known for making this miraculous grab in an afc playoffs match up in 1972.

the oakland raiders on fourth down with just seconds remaining in the game. terry bradshaw deflected past 4g touchdown. it has been dubbed the immaculate reception. we sat down with harris ahead of the 2020 super bowl anti-talked about the simple idea that helped him pull it off. >> as soon as i got to the league, what are the little things i have to deal. the little things. be focused. all of that stuff. doing that play when bradshaw was scrambling, go to the ball. it is amazing what could happen. >> it actually was amazing. tragically, harris passed away just days before the steelers retired his number 32 jersey. celebrating their reception. these are images of harris being honored last night. steelers president presented a jersey to harris his wife and son. members of the 1972 steelers

team were also on hand. seventy-two years old, and, by the way, the steelers defeated the raiders 13-10 last night. that is it for today. thank you for joining us this christmas. have a wonderful holiday season and a beautiful week ahead. we will see you next "fox news sunday." ♪ we hope we brought joy into your lives, enjoy your family have a >>eat healthy merry christmas. good morning and merry christmas. i amaria here for maria.rd noer number setting an all-time record.tr federal officialyis trying to kp the data under the media radar with a classic friday night news dump ahead of christmas weekend. unfolding chaos. not just a humanitarian crisis, but threats to our national security. straight ahead on "sunday morning futures," former acting