Bill Turque, Dana Hedgpeth, Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Christian Toto and guest host Amanda Carpenter joined WMAL’s morning show on Friday!

Listen here to Friday’s show!

Mornings on the Mall

Friday, July 17, 2015

Hosts: Larry O’Connor and guest host Amanda Carpenter

Executive Producer: Heather Smith

5am – A/B/C Does Congress Need To Change the Gun-Free Zone Policy At Military Facilities?

5am – D         INTERVIEW – BILL TURQUE – Washington Post Montgomery County beat reporter – reported on the latest news about the Kathleen Matthews bid for Rep. Chris Van Hollen’s seat.

5am – E         Full list of the 2015 Emmy Nominees: Nominees for the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, airing Sept. 20 at 8 ET/PT on Fox:

• Drama series

Better Call Saul (AMC)

Downton Abbey (PBS)

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Homeland (Showtime)

House of Cards (Netflix)

Mad Men (AMC)

Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

• Comedy series

Louie (FX)

Modern Family (ABC)

Parks and Recreation (NBC)

Silicon Valley (HBO)

Transparent (Amazon)

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)

Veep (HBO)

• Actor, drama series

Kyle Chandler, Bloodline (Netflix)

Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom (HBO)

Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC)

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (AMC)

Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan (Showtime)

Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (Netflix)

• Actress, drama series

Claire Danes, Homeland (Showtime)

Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)

Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black (BBC America)

Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men (AMC)

Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix)

Taraji P. Henson, Empire (Fox)

6am – A/B/C TN Shootings: Which is a bigger problem: Middle East immigration of extremists or gun free zones at military facilities?

6am – D         INTERVIEW – DANA HEDGPETH – Washington Post’s lead reporter in covering the Metro rail and bus systems in the D.C. region and the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) that runs them.

• Talked to Dana about the rise in crime on the DC metro:
• Police say two in custody after fatal shooting at Wheaton Metro station. (Washington Post – July 15) — Authorities in Montgomery County said Wednesday that they have two suspects in custody after a shooting that left a man dead at a parking garage of the Wheaton Metro station. The victim was identified by county police Wednesday as Eric Alexander Melgar, 20, of Silver Spring. Douglas S. Chase, 19, of Northwest Washington and Brent D. Sanderson, 18, of Rockville have been charged with first-degree murder, police said. A police officer who spoke to reporters Wednesday said authorities do not know why the victim was in the parking garage at the time of the shooting, nor whether the victim and suspects knew each other. Police said in a statement that Chase and Sanderson got into an argument with Melgar in the garage. Then one of the two men fired a handgun at Melgar, and both ran out of the garage. Police found them nearby, still carrying a gun.
• Witnesses to fatal stabbing on DC Metro watched it unfold. (Washington Post – July 10) – McLEAN, Va. — Kevin Sutherland died in the first-ever homicide aboard a Metro train in the subway system’s nearly 40-year history, stabbed to death after resisting a robbery attempt. The attack stunned passengers who watched it unfold. In the days since, it has sparked a furious debate: Should Sutherland’s fellow passengers have done anything to stop it? Could they have done anything even if they wanted? Two days after the July 4 attack, police arrested 18-year-old Jasper Spires — described as slight, at 5’ 5” and 125 pounds — and charged him with murder in the attack. Police documents indicate at least four witnesses on the car were interviewed about what they saw, describing a brutal attack. One witness says she saw the attacker try to take something from Sutherland and that a struggle ensued. The attacker then began punching Sutherland repeatedly while he cried out for help. While Sutherland lay on the floor bleeding, the attacker threw a cellphone at Sutherland and then began to rob others on the train, according to witnesses, before running away.
• Police ID suspect accused of punching elderly man in Eastern Market Metro station. (Fox 5 – April 30) — WASHINGTON – Metro police say they have identified a suspect accused of punching a 69-year-old man in the face in the Eastern Market Metro station last week. Police say they have issued a warrant for the arrest of 19-year-old Elijah Smith. Smith faces a felony assault charge, and if convicted he could face an enhanced penalty of 1.5 times the maximum prison term because of the age of the victim.

6am – E         Planned Parenthood Video Scandal:

• Planned Parenthood head apologizes for official’s fetal organ comments, as fallout grows. (Fox News) – Planned Parenthood’s president apologized Thursday for comments made by the group’s medical research director in a secretly recorded conversation about collecting fetal body parts, as outrage over the graphic video mounted on Capitol Hill where lawmakers are launching several investigations. Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, defended the organization’s practices and maintained the group does not illegally sell fetal tissue. But, in a video statement, she acknowledged one of their staff members spoke in a way that does not “reflect” the “compassionate care that we provide.” “This is unacceptable, and I personally apologize for the staff member’s tone and statements,” Richards said.
• House Republican Leaders call for investigation into Virginia Planned Parenthood Chapters. RICHMOND, VA – Republican leaders in the Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday called on Governor Terry McAuliffe to begin an investigation into Virginia’s Planned Parenthood chapters in the wake of allegations that Planned Parenthood abortion doctors conducted partial birth abortions in order to harvest the body parts of children for money. “The practices described in news reports and discussed in that video are horrific and should be universally condemned, regardless of one’s personal views on abortion,” said Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell (R-Stafford). “Governor McAuliffe should immediately direct the appropriate state agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Virginia’s Planned Parenthood chapters to determine if any of these practices have happened in the Commonwealth and if Planned Parenthood is following all state laws, regulations and reporting requirements.”
• Va. gov rejects calls for Planned Parenthood investigation. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Terry McAuliffe is rejecting calls from Virginia House Republican leaders for an investigation into how Planned Parenthood clinics handle fetal organs. Republicans called for an investigation Thursday following an anti-abortion group’s release of a video showing a Planned Parenthood official discussing the disposal of body parts from aborted fetuses. The group said the video proves the organization is breaking federal law against selling human fetal tissue. Planned Parenthood has said it only helps women legally donate fetal tissue to research firms, not sell it commercially. A spokesman for McAuliffe, said the Democrat governor was disturbed by the video but said it shouldn’t be used as “fodder for political attacks on women’s access to health care.”

7am – A         INTERVIEW — LT. COL TONY SHAFFER – a CIA trained former senior intelligence officer and the New York Times bestselling author of Operation “Dark Heart: Spycraft an Special Operations on the Frontlines of Afghanistan – And The Path to Victory.” His latest book is The Last Line. He is a senior fellow with both the London Center for Policy Research and the Center for Advanced Defense Studies

• The alleged gunman in Thursday’s shootings in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, according to two sources briefed on the case. He was born in 1990, a law enforcement official said.
• Four Marines were killed when a gunman attacked two military sites in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Thursday, the U.S. Navy said. The suspected shooter is also dead, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke said.

7am – B         Awkward TV:

• Alex Trebek (kind of) sings Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ on ‘Jeopardy!’ If Alex Trebek ever wants to leave his Jeopardy! hosting gig and pursue a pop star career, we’d be 100% behind him. After he rapped the Fresh Prince theme song on the game show the other week, he gifted the world with his very special rendition of Rihanna’s Umbrella. Trebek doesn’t so much sing the excerpt of the song (which is a clue for “Who is Rihanna?”) as he sing-talks it, but hey, we know he’s got the chops.
• Weatherman Recites Taylor Swift Lyrics During Forecast, Puts Swifties to Shame: This guy was fearless! Washington, D.C., meteorologist Mike Thomas recited several of Taylor Swift’s lyrics during his forecast on Sunday, July 12 — putting all other Swifties to shame! Thomas rattled off the tunes after previewing Swift’s upcoming concert in National Park. “I know what you are thinking, ‘Mike, I knew you were in trouble before you walked in, Mr. Weatherman,'” he quipped, referring to her 2012 hit “I Knew You Were Trouble.” “This rain keeps on cruising. Can’t stop, won’t stop movin,'” he mused. “Hey, are we out of the woods yet, are we in the clear yet?” “Never change, Mike the weather man,” Swift, 25, wrote. “Never change. #1989TourWashingtonDC.”

7am – C         Siri treats Caitlyn Jenner with the respect she deserves. You can try to misidentify Caitlyn Jenner by her former identity, but Siri isn’t going to let you get away with it. While the iPhone voice search app will recognize the name Bruce Jenner, it won’t repeat it back to you — at least, in most cases. Instead, Siri changes the name Bruce to Caitlyn, thanks to Wolfram Alpha, the knowledge engine the app searches for many of its answers. If you ask Bruce Jenner’s height, it replies “Caitlin Jenner is 6’2″ tall.” If you ask for Bruce’s full name, Siri answers, “Caitlin Jenner’s full name is Caitlyn Jenner.”

7am – D         Obama Tells Drug-Offense Inmates He Could Have Been In Their Place. The president also promised to reform the criminal justice system during his visit to a federal prison in Oklahoma. EL RENO, Oklahoma, July 16 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama, who wrote in his memoir about using marijuana and cocaine as a youth, became the first sitting president to tour a federal prison on Thursday and told drug-offense inmates he could have been in their place if not for the advantages he had growing up. Vowing to improve the criminal justice system, Obama heard about prison overcrowding and toured El Reno federal prison. When he arrived at Cell 123, he saw a prisoner’s typical sparse supply of dish soap, clothing and books. Visiting El Reno Federal Correctional Institution’s dimly lit, gray halls, he promised to work with federal wardens and prison guards to address cramped conditions and spoke with six non-violent drug offenders. Their discussions will air on HBO’s “Vice” documentary program in September. “These are young people who made mistakes that aren’t that different from mistakes I made,” Obama told reporters at the prison near Oklahoma City that holds nearly 1,300 inmates.

7am – E         Food News:

• National Ice Cream Day 2015: There are many things that evoke an all-American spirit, like apple pie and the Fourth of July, but it’s everyone’s favorite summertime treat — ice cream — that really brings the country together. In 2013, Americans spent $13.7 billion on ice cream — excluding restaurant sales — reports Fortune. Statistics from market research company NPD Group indicate that 40 percent of Americans will eat ice cream in any given two-week period, and the average person will consume ice cream at least 28.5 times per year. Former President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day. This year National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, July 19, and ice cream lovers can expect some popular ice cream parlors and specialty shops to offer delicious deals on this day. Even if you indulge in some ice cream just once this year, do it this month and on National Ice Cream Day. Whether it’s a cone, a cup or a sundae, save money with one of these promos and discounts.
• Burrito-sized sushi rolls: The latest lunch craze to hit D.C. (WTOP) – WASHINGTON — Buredo is on a roll. Just three weeks ago, the downtown lunch spot that makes burrito-sized sushi rolls opened its doors at 825 14th St. without a formal announcement or a social media blast. “We just opened the doors, just to see what happened,” says Travis Elton, co-owner of Buredo. What happened was something Elton and his business partner, Mike Haddad, hoped for, but never predicted — at least not so soon. Lines for the oversized rolls encased in nori and sticky rice stretched down the block. During that first week, the fast-casual concept routinely ran out of rice and blew through its orders of salmon and tuna.

8am – A         INTERVIEW – REP MARSHA BLACKBURN – (R-TN)

• Marsha Blackburn On Chattanooga: ‘We Need To Protect The Sovereignty Of Our Nation’ Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) tells Breitbart News in a brief phone interview that America needs to strengthen immigration enforcement to protect our national security. “I think that one of the things we have talked about regularly is making certain we know who enters and who exits and that they’re coming on the appropriate visa,” Blackburn said in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News.
•  Chattanooga shooting proves it’s time to arm our Armed Forces (Fox News / Todd Starnes) — It turns out that at least one of the two military facilities attacked in Chattanooga, Tennessee — was a gun-free zone. If you looked closely crime scene photographs – you can see the sign — plastered on the front of a bullet- riddled window. Four Marines were slaughtered — a fifth wounded — along with a Chattanooga police officer.

8am – B         Iran News:

• Hillary: I don’t trust Iran to honor nuke deal. DOVER, N.H./WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton offered her most pessimistic assessment yet of the Iran nuclear deal on Thursday, telling supporters the United States should not trust Tehran to carry out the agreement. “Do I trust the Iranians?” Clinton said. “Absolutely not.”
• Ron Paul Praises Iran Nuke Deal, Says Critics ‘Misinterpreted’ It. The Iranian nuclear deal is a big step toward world peace, and Republicans would be praising it if one of their own had negotiated it, former Texas Rep. Ron Paul told Newsmax TV’s “The Hard Line.” Paul told host Ed Berliner that the deal echoed Ronald Reagan’s deal with the Soviets in the 1980s. Paul’s biggest problem with the deal was that the United States had to work under the confines of the United Nations and NATO. “There’s something to be said about moving in the direction of at least talking to people instead of saying, ‘All right, you’re scoundrels, we’ll keep our $100 billion we’ve taken from you and all options are on the table, like if you don’t do what we tell you, we’re allowed to use our nuclear weapons against you,'” Paul said. “The tone has been changed. It’s to our benefit; it’s to the benefit of world peace.”

8am – C         SPORTS: It’s Star Wars day over at Nationals Park. Fans are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters and take in the “photo stations, themed face painters, roving characters,” and enough on-theme food to fill a Bantha. Bonus: The team will give R2-D2-shaped beer koozies to the first 25,000 nerds through the gate. 1:35 PM.

You Can’t Bring Your Lightsaber to Nationals Park on Star Wars Day. (Washingtonian) — The Washington Nationals are really playing up Sunday’s promotion of Star Wars Day. But fans planning to attend in costume are going to develop a bad feeling when they read a press release from the team about rules for the special day. “Fans are invited to come dressed in their favorite Star Wars attire,” the team says. “However, adults are not allowed to wear masks that cover their face. Young children under the age of 10 can wear masks when accompanied by an adult 21 years or older. Children wearing masks must be accompanied by an adult throughout the duration of the game. Any props resembling weapons will not be allowed into Nationals Park (this includes lightsabers and toy guns).”

8am – D         INTERVIEW – CHRISTIAN TOTO – FILM CRITIC AT LIFEZETTE.COM – discussed the Emmys and the summer flicks.

MONDAY: Joe diGenova and Erick Stakelbeck