Disaster in state history. Confirmed deaths at 55. Were told that number will likely grow. None of the fires right now is fully contained. Not one. Im Harris Faulkner and you are in the faulkner focus. Those fires have left a wasteland of obliterated neighborhoods and landmarks and think about the economy there with the businesses knocked down. They dont know when they can get in there and when tourism will be an option again. The historic city of lahaina, once hawaiis royal capital, is charred ruins now. Survivors stunned at just how fast Hurricane Doras winds helped the flames to spread. People are found in houses in a huddle. There was nowhere to go. Beyond any other tropical storms, 100 times, covid, everything for our small town. People lost everything, homes, jobs, their cars, some their pets. There are still people missing. I have never seen something ravaged so fast. Harris take a look at the video. Look at the sheer scale of damage. Rescue crews now combing through the rubble of the destroyed areas and people and tourists who have come to visit that beautiful land are now trying to be evacuated. There is one airport that will cain from fox friends, who joined us yesterday, told us about, that people are trying to get to on that island and get out. Our own will cain again has a unique connection to all of this. He used to spend his summers as a young boy on maui and his mom is still living on the island right now, she and her husband and trying to evacuate. Hopefully trying to get out tomorrow. He was on focus yesterday. I grew up running around the streets of lahaina, i have a friend, local guy, and he is homeless. He has had his own hard times in life. Substance abuse, Mental Health issues. I think about him today because we talk about what we can see on the screen but there is a big Homeless Population in west maui as well. I cant imagine how they would have fared through this devastation. My friends told me it happened so incredibly fast with 80 milesanhour winds. No one had notice. Harris fox weather max gordon is on the ground if maui. Bring us up to speed and tell me if the weather will help out at all . Heartbreak here on the Island Of Maui. As far as the Weather Conditions are concerned, were expecting the winds to start to die down. Humidity to begin to increase as firefighters try to get a handle on these flames. You can see a roadblock behind me. Were 13 miles away from lahaina where the bulk of the damage is. Police are letting residents in, though they are restricted from some areas where it is too dangerous to go. There is still hot spots in the town of lahaina and unfortunately they are still finding bodies of victims. As of now 55 people confirmed dead at this hour. Now, fires burn throughout the Island Of Maui right now. None of them are fully contained. It is unclear how these fires started but they were whipped up by Ferocious Winds and very dry conditions. The most destructive the fire on mauis west side which ripped through the community of lahaina, the fierce winds, Hurricane Dora made things even worse passing just south of the island contributing to those Ferocious Winds. According to the Hawaii Governor it destroyed more than 1,000 buildings and damaged the towns famous banyan tree. There will be active recovery of the days and weeks of the bones of those lost. So it will take time. To get perspective, it is going to take many years to rebuild lahaina when you see the full extent of the destruction of lahaina it will shock you. It does appear like a bomb and fire went off. Now making matters worse cell towers and phone lines have been burned up in the blaze so communication is extremely difficult on the west side of maui. That means people cant get in touch with their loved ones, with friends, hundreds still remain missing. Harris. Harris max gordon, thank you very much. Later this hour im going to be talking with an official with hawaii state Emergency Response about the massive efforts now to save lives and provide help. She is coming from honolulu and when we talk with her, well hear what it has been like for people to actually get off of maui. More of the story in our live coverage right here on the faulkner focus. To politics now. All eyes on the hawkeye state. Gop candidates looking to show up and show out at the Iowa State Fair this week. The states governor says iowans are not going to take it easy on them. Iowans are engaged, they are turning out in record numbers. They are kicking the tires with all the candidates. They are listening and asking questions. I have had them come up to me today and just say hey, most importantly, we want to get a candidate that has a vision and can execute on day one. And bottom line, we want the candidate that we believe can win in 2024 and put a republican in the white house. And thats the mindset of iowans. Harris most of the candidates are poised to sit down with governor kim reynolds and her new fairside chat series and have been speeches. Theyve been doing it since yesterday. They will do meet and greets and the state fair marks a pivotal step ahead of the january caucuses. January 15th. Five months away. Politico playbook is asking will iowas cattle call thin the heard . Asa hutchinson. Candidate and former governor. You were at the fair yesterday. Go back for your own fairside chat in the coming days. Good to have you on the program and see you in focus. Give me your take on where it sits in terms of iowas importance. Well, iowa is very important, harris. Whenever you look at what Governor Reynolds said she is exactly right. They will probably decide late. Right now they are studying the candidates. The alternatives out there. They are looking forward to the debate, which is very important for their consideration. Iowa is very engaged and they will winnow the candidates. They dont necessarily pick the one that will ultimately win but they narrow the field. I recognize that. Thats why im devoting time to there and looking forward to the debate as well, which will be a critical time to differentiate yourself from the other candidates. Harris i called it a fireside. It is a fairside, the play on words. It sounds like a lot of fun. I want to talk with you about the first rnc debate right here on fox news august 23rd. You havent qualified yet fully. And the rnc has put forth the parameters for that. As of now five candidates have qualified for the first debate, which means polling, fundraising and a signed pledge that you will support anyone who turns out to be the republican candidate. Vivek rams, ron desantis, nikki haley, doug burgum and tim scott have taken that pledge and met the other criteria. Pence, trump and christie have yet to sign. Tell me about the journey ahead and will you sign the pledge . First of all, we intend to be on the debate stage. Yesterday we had over 2,000 new donors in a day. I need everybodys help. Asa 2024. Com. A dollar counts to get me on the debate stage. Whats interesting about the debate, it looks like donald trump will be precluded from participating because he refused to sign the debate pledge and has indicated he wont do that. So it will be an interesting time. I think it will be an exciting debate about serious policy issues that face our country. And it will probably be more focused. So we intend to be there. In terms of the pledge, i think everybody is looking at they will be the nominee of the party and able to sign the pledge. I expect to sign it as well. We need to pull together to make sure we can win in november of 2024. Harris you mentioned donald trump and him refusing to sign the pledge. I want to read something to you, an oped that came to us, a new gop pledge calling it a trap. Here is a quote. If trump refuses to sign and the rnc bans him from debates the party has banished its leading candidate. If trump refuses to sign and the rnc relents and lets him participate, the rnc will forfeit any authority it has over the process. It is a terrible choice. Thats from the washington examiner. What is your reaction to that . I agree its not a good choice. The whole idea of the pledge is a bad idea. We should support the nominee of the party but shouldnt be signing blind pledges that are meaningless to it. Donald trump indicates that it is meaningless. Harris let me ask you why you particularly have said that it is meaningless because one of the things that the left does so well is they get around that candidate in the end. The republicans have not done that as such, at least it hasnt been as effective as on the left. No matter who it would turn out to be as a republican you wouldnt support the republican who might go to the white house . I have always supported the republican nominee. I have fought hard in arkansas. Harris if its trump . We have also fought against a pledge. The pledge is just it doesnt help us bring in independents and suburban voters. We need to make sure we can broaden the tent, not narrow it. We have always come together in varying ways but this year is more challenging than ever before because trump has indicated he is not going to support some of the nominees and so they are holding back on it. Lets see how it develops but i expect to be able to support the nominee. Harris you kind of dodged my question. If its trump, would you back him . Lets i dont expect it to be trump so we shouldnt be a challenge for us. Harris i got it. Politico had some nice things to say about you and they said the history of this, you were the one to beat before donald trump came along and in a piece entitled the totally not boring story of the most normal republican president ial candidate. Here is a quote from it now. Hutchinson has struggled amid the Shifting Sands of his party. While policywise he remains mostly in lock step as governor he signed one of the countrys strictest abortion bans. Lacks the Fire Breathing Troll that animates most of the gop. What do you make of it . I think its a challenge we face. This election will define the future of the Republican Party. And i dont believe that donald trump will define the future of the Republican Party in a way that is consistent with the principles that have been so historic of a limited government, of a strong leadership role that the United States plays. So its really about who is a conservative but also who can lead effectively and not bring us into chaos and that can bring our country not necessarily together, but at least united around the common set of principles and values. And not to further that divide. So this is an important time in our country and i think that article articulated that im fighting for Republican Party that believes in those principles of reagan, lincoln, that of opportunity that can bring people into our party. People want to come in for our Economic Growth principles. Harris if you dont make the first debate will you stay in and try to get to the second in september, real quick . Sure. If there is some reason we cant make the first debate we can make the second debate. With everyones help well be there on the first debate. My voice is important. Harris are you closer to the 40,000 donors that you need . Were closer to it. Were not there yet but we have 10, 9 days left so were on target to make it if everybody jumps in there and helps out. Harris asa hutchinson, thank you so much. I know you spoke yesterday and youll be back for the fairside chat in iowa. Good to see you. Thank you, harris. Harris thank you. Democratled states pleading for help in funding to deal with Tens Of Thousands of people who flowed into their Sanctuary Cities from the border. Plus republicans saying the Biden Administration is making a dangerous deal with iran. Going to result in exactly what you think it would result in. More hostage taking. Again, we want to see hostages freed but this is not the way to do it. You will encourage the taking of more hostages. Harris team biden is going on the defense over their controversial plan to release american hostages. Marc thiessen in focus next. This nation is broken. New york city has been left to pick up the pieces. New yorkers could be left with a 12 billion bill. Harris bidens Border Crisis has a new critic. The mayor of a Sanctuary City with regrets now. Eric adams is begging the federal government and white house for more money. A new state report with a dire warning, here it is, quote, the lack of federal policy adjustments and substantial matching share of funding for managing the Asylum Seeker influx has created an unsustainable fiscal issue for the city. Unsustainable . Check out all those red states along the border which have been crushed by the out of control illegal crossings under this president. President bidens Border Crisis. Even a Progressive Democrat is going after biden. We need leadership from president biden, period. We need that leadership here in New York State because, you know, New York State is struggling to provide housing and the supports migrants need. Democrats are looking bad in New York State right now. Harris he is a democrat in new york. Cant he be part of the solution . I digress. Biden did request an additional 4 billion from congress for the Border Crisis. Critics are pointing out it is just 1 6 of what he asked for in new aid for ukraine. At the same time, the president himself is saying climate concerns only make migration a bigger problem. Isnt the responsibility of the u. S. To protect migrants who might be fleeing extreme weather in their countries . President biden look, i think the United States should do everything it can to help people who are in desperate need and have no other means of help. Weve always done that. It is just who we are. Harris marc thiessen. I want you to write that reporters questions . His responsibility is to take care of us. Thats his first responsibility. She thinks it is other people. Secure the border. It is as simple. His job. Climate isnt the reason for this. This is a crisis of choice. He has the same law and funding and everything on the books that donald trump and barack obama had when they secured the border. They didnt have this Border Crisis, neither of them did. Obama was called the deporter in chief. Keep in mind, he hasnt just reversed trumps Border Policies but reversed Barack ObamasBorder Policies and unleashed the worst border craves is in american history. When i hear mayor adams complaining. He is complaining about the cost to new york and wants money to solve it. Cry me a river, mr. Mayor. You are the one who declared your city a Sanctuary City. Now that people are using your sanctuary you are unhappy about it. The problem is not the cost. The problem is the flood of migrants because if they were not in new york city, guess what . They would be burdening another community somewhere else in the country. So you are a democrat, joe biden is a democrat, go to washington, ask for a meeting with the president and explain to him the disaster that his policies have unleashed on your city and ask him to secure the border. Then well take you seriously when you ask for more money and resources to deal with this problem. Until then, sorry, no sympathy for new york. Harris i apologize to everybody who might be grabbing a late breakfast or early lunch. You know what they are dealing with in park slope, brooklyn, the former home of the mayor, people relieving themselves in empty pizza boxes outside peoples homes. Expensive neighborhood there. Unbelievable. Explain that to your child walking on the sidewalk. They have no place to go. And they keep coming. The Biden Administration reaching an agreement with iran to release five detained americans. In exchange the United States will release 6 billion in iranian assets. The five americans in prison are placed under house arrest as the deal moves forward. Republicans are furious with this agreement. The iranians wanted that money and now they are going to get it. Were now about A Billion Dollars a hostage. That will be recognized by the russians and north koreans. The chance that iran will take further american hostages. They can use it to put american lives at risk. Harris team biden defending the deal. Here is john kirby. Were certainly mindful of all the bad things iran does to its own people and people throughout the region. This is a dangerous nation state and one we continue to challenge. Harris first of all, how does a deal like this get done . Why is this happening . Because we have incompetent people in the white house. Ask yourself a question. If these hostages were being held by isis or al qaeda is there any scenario under which the United States would give those organizations 6 billion . Of course not. Why . Theyre terrorists. Iran in a Terrorist State. Islamic radicals carried out terrorist attacks against the United States of american. They have as much american blood as isis and al qaeda. A Terrorist State that a few years ago plotted to kill the saudi ambassador by blowing up cafe milano in washington, d. C. The restaurant where joe biden was having dinner with Hunter BidensBusiness Associates. That plot was foiled. Why would we give these people 6 billion . He says its o