Susan Ferrechio, MD State Sen. Robert Cassilly, DC Mayor Vince Gray and Bret Baier joined WMAL on Friday!

Mornings on the Mall

Friday, March 18, 2016

Hosts: Brian Wilson and Larry O’Connor

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

 

5am – A/B/C Supreme Court Gamble: Should We Wait on Garland Nomination Until November?

5am – D         Rhode Island To Ban Kids Staying Home Alone.

5am – E         North Korea Testing Missiles.

6am – A/B/C

• Relatives Of Teen Shot While Robbing Home: ‘How He Gonna Get His Money?’ Relatives of a teenager shot and killed while robbing a home in Miami are upset with the homeowner for defending herself. Trevon Johnson, 17, spent the final moments of his life last Thursday trying to rob a woman’s house before she killed him during a confrontation, according to CBS Miami. CBS Miami reports that the police seem to be siding with the homeowner during the investigation, but Johnson’s family attempted to justify his actions.  “You have to look at it from every child’s point of view that was raised in the hood. You have to understand, how he gonna get his money to have clothes to go to school? You have to look at it from his point of view,” Johnson’s cousin Nautika Harris said. She added, “I don’t care if she have her gun license or any of that. That is way beyond the law, way beyond. He was not supposed to die like this. He had a future ahead of him. Trevon had goals. He was a funny guy, very big on education, loved learning.”
• WASHINGTON POST: A Miami woman killed a teen burglar as he fled her home, police say. Should she be charged? – Gwendolyn Jenrette can be forgiven for putting security cameras around her modest Miami home. She lives in Liberty City, a high-crime neighborhood in a high-crime town. Her low-slung duplex backs onto the railroad tracks and has been targeted in the past.  She can also be forgiven for racing home when, on Thursday afternoon, her security system alerted her to another break-in at the property. But can she be forgiven for, according to police, fatally shooting a teenager as he fled her house, even as officers were on their way to help? That is the question now facing the state’s attorney’s office.

6am – D         INTERVIEW — SUSAN FERRECHIO — Chief Congressional Correspondent for the Washington Examiner.

• Cranking up pressure, Merrick Garland makes first Senate visits. Senate Democrats slam Republican blockade as Garland visits Capitol Hill.
• Senator Rubio says he won’t be anyone’s VP, not running for Gov in Florida..and will be private citizen in January. Sen. Marco Rubio said in his first day back in the Senate that he wants Donald Trump to lose the race for the Republican nomination, but that he’s not ready to endorse a non-Trump candidate yet.

6am – E         2016 News:

• Caitlyn Jenner walks back Ted Cruz endorsement. Caitlyn Jenner clarified her supposed endorsement of Ted Cruz Wednesday by saying she never explicitly threw her support behind the Texas senator. “I never said I endorsed Ted Cruz,” Jenner said during the E! International press junket. “I said I liked him. He is a constitutionalist, and I think we need to get our country back to something like that.” In a March interview with the Advocate, Jenner also used the word “like” to describe her feelings for Cruz. She added that she would like to be Cruz’s “trans ambassador” if he were to become president. But Jenner reiterated her concern about Cruz’s stances on LGBT issues.
• Hogan says he likes Kasich, but doesn’t say whether he would support Trump. ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan still isn’t saying whether he would support Donald Trump if the billionaire wins the GOP presidential nomination. Hogan told The Associated Press on Thursday evening at an Irish pub during St. Patrick’s Day festivities that “probably” out of the remaining Republicans in the race he likes Ohio Gov. John Kasich the best. Hogan initially endorsed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who dropped out of the race last month and endorsed Trump. When asked who he would support in Maryland’s April 26 primary, Hogan says he hasn’t decided, but Trump wasn’t one of the names he mentioned as a possibility. Hogan said: “We’ll see who’s still on the ballot. Maybe I’ll still vote for my guy Christie. Maybe I’ll vote for Kasich.”
• Rubio says he is not going to be anyone’s VP, won’t run for FL governor, won’t run for reelection.
• Sanders concedes Missouri Democratic primary; Clinton wins. WASHINGTON (AP) — Bernie Sanders said Thursday he will not seek a recount of results in Missouri’s Democratic presidential primary, conceding defeat to Hillary Clinton. “I think it’s unlikely the results will impact at all the number of delegates the candidate gets and I would prefer to save the taxpayers of Missouri some money,” Sanders said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Whether we win by 200 votes or lose by 500, it’s not going to impact the delegate selection,” the Vermont senator added. “It’s going to be evenly divided.” Clinton ended Tuesday night with a narrow lead of 1,531 votes, but under state law, Sanders could have sought a recount because the margin was less than one-half of one percent. Clinton will get an extra two delegates from Missouri for winning the statewide vote.

7am – A         INTERVIEW – MD Senator ROBERT CASSILLY – a Harford County Republican

• Maryland Senate votes to change state song. (Baltimore Sun) — The Maryland Senate voted Thursday to strip pro-Confederate lyrics from the state’s song, “Maryland, My Maryland.” Senators voted 38-8 for a compromise bill that would keep the old verses written in 1861 as Maryland’s “historic state song” but replace lyrics denouncing Abraham Lincoln and referring to “Northern scum” in the version to be used on official occasions. The Senate voted after a brief debate on which Sen. Robert Cassilly, a Harford County Republican, criticized the bill for erasing the history of people who felt deeply about their principles.   The bill’s sponsor, Frederick County Democratic Sen. Ron Young, said the old verses do not represent Maryland’s values. The House of Delegates still must consider the proposal.
• A new “official state song” would be set to the same tune, without the pro-Confederacy lyrics. (Baltimore Sun) — Various lawmakers have attempted to change the state song since at least the 1980s. They’ve expressed concern that “Maryland, My Maryland” is a pro-Confederate rant that is embarrassing and offensive.James Ryder Randall wrote his poem in 1861 when he was distraught by a friend who was shot during a melee when Union troops marched through Baltimore en route to Washington. The poem’s opening line is “The despot’s heel is on thy shore,” a reference to President Abraham Lincoln. It continues with a rousing call to action to “avenge the patriotic gore / that flecked the streets of Baltimore.”
• “Maryland My Maryland” is based on a poem written during the Civil War, but it was not adopted as the Maryland state song until 1939. James Ryder Randall wrote the poem following an incident in Baltimore just after the Civil War started in April 1861. Union troops on their way to D.C. were attacked by Confederate supporters in Baltimore. Four soldiers and 12 civilians died. The opening line of Randall’s poem called then president Abraham Lincoln a “despot.” He went on to call Union troops “scum”, and urged Maryland to join Virginia in fighting against the North.

7am – B         Critter News:

• Mom and dad both at the nest waiting for eggs to hatch #DCEagleCam. One of the eagle eggs began the hatching process Wednesday night. Pip in Progress: DC Eagle Egg Begins Hatching Process. One of the eagle eggs began the hatching process Wednesday night. C. could soon be home to two new eaglets. One of the two bald eagle eggs in a nest at the National Arboretum began hatching Wednesday night. The “pip in progress” was first spotted on the eagle cam at 7:39 p.m. Wednesday, the American Eagle Foundation said. A pip is the small hole the eaglet makes as it tries to break through its shell. The foundation said it’s not a full pip until there is a full hole — but by Thursday afternoon, a complete opening was visible. It could take a total of up to 24 hours for the eaglet to emerge from its shell. The National Arboretum’s eagles — the proud parents-to-be — are known as “Mr. President” and “The First Lady.” The pair built their nest in a tulip poplar tree in 2014 and raised one eaglet there last year, according to the American Eagle Foundation. This year, two eggs were laid in the nest. The first egg arrived Feb. 10, and a second egg followed on Valentine’s Day, according to the American Eagle Foundation.
• SeaWorld to stop breeding orcas, making them perform tricks. ORLANDO, (AP) — After years of pressure, SeaWorld made a surprise announcement on Thursday: It no longer breeds killer whales in captivity and will soon stop making them leap from their pools or splash audiences on command. Surrendering finally to a profound shift in how people feel about using animals for entertainment, the SeaWorld theme parks have joined a growing list of industries dropping live animal tricks. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is retiring all of its touring elephants in May. Once-popular animal shows in Las Vegas have virtually disappeared. “Society’s attitude toward these very, very large, majestic animals under human care has shifted for a variety of reasons, whether it’s a film, legislation, people’s comments on the Internet,” said SeaWorld Entertainment CEO Joel Manby. “It wasn’t worth fighting that. We needed to move where society was moving.”
• National Zoo looking into chlorine ‘boom’ near beavers and otters. The National Zoo and fire officials are looking into an apparent chlorine accident along the outdoor American Trail exhibit Thursday morning that created a “loud boom,” but caused no fire. “There was an incident related to chlorine on American Trail, near the otters and beavers,” said zoo spokeswoman Devin Murphy. “There was a loud boom. No fire. No smoke.” “No humans were hurt,” she said. “No animals were hurt. We cleared the area and D.C. fire is on scene and they’re investigating.”

7am – C  Video Shows Hillary Acknowledging Risk Of China And Russia Hacking Her BlackBerry. Video has emerged showing Hillary Clinton admitting in 2014 that when she was secretary of state she could not use computers and personal communications devices — such as BlackBerries — while visiting countries like China and Russia because they were vulnerable to being hacked. But Clinton’s claim that she did not use such devices is questionable given that her emails, which have been released by the State Department, show that she sent dozens of messages while visiting China and Russia. “Every time I went to countries like China or Russia we couldn’t take our computers, we couldn’t take our personal devices, we couldn’t take anything off the plane because they’re so good,” Clinton said at an event held on Nov. 9, 2014, several months before news of her personal email use broke.

7am – D/E     Suicide of the GOP — or Rebirth? (By Patrick Buchanan) —“If his poll numbers hold, Trump will be there six months from now when the Sweet 16 is cut to the Final Four, and he will likely be in the finals.” My prediction, in July of 2015, looks pretty good right now. Herewith, a second prediction. Republican wailing over his prospective nomination aside, Donald Trump could beat Hillary Clinton like a drum in November. Indeed, only the fear that Trump can win explains the hysteria in this city. Here is The Washington Post of March 18: “As a moral question it is straightforward. The mission of any responsible Republican should be to block a Trump nomination and election.” The Orwellian headline over that editorial: “To defend our democracy, the GOP must aim for a brokered convention.”

8am – A         INTERVIEW – FORMER DC MAYOR VINCE GRAY — running for the Ward 7 DC council seat

• Discuss his run for Ward 7
• Homeless shelter plan could be profitable for Bowser’s backers. (Washington Post) — D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has pitched her plan to create family homeless shelters in almost every ward of the city as an equitable way for the community to share the burden of caring for the neediest residents. But records show that most of the private properties proposed as shelter sites are owned or at least partly controlled by major donors to the mayor. And experts have calculated that the city leases­ would increase the assessed value of those properties by as much as 10 times for that small group of landowners and developers. How much taxpayer money would be paid to a handful of well-connected private landowners, developers and their agents is expected to be a focus of a hearing Thursday before the D.C. Council. Bowser (D) wants to close the city’s overcrowded mega-shelter at the former D.C. General Hospital and replace it with seven smaller facilities spread across the District.

8am –B          Breaking: DC Eagle Egg Begins Hatching Process  / Entertainment News:

• The Hunk Who Loved Lady Liberty: Fabio becomes U.S. citizen.  (CNN)She’d played hard to get for years. But now, it was time — so what if it was in a convention center. She called to him. He rose, a red jacket covering his broad chest, hair swirling around wide shoulders as he moved. Then Fabio slowly raised one callused hand and said the words America had been longing to hear. “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty …” Yes, Fabio is now a U.S. citizen, the, uh, climax of a lengthy process that can take years to complete. The Italian-born model, known for gracing the covers of countless bodice-ripping romance novels, took the Oath of Allegiance on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, along with nearly 6,000 others from 140 countries, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “America just got better hair,” agency spokeswoman Claire Nicholson tweeted Wednesday.
• Convicted felon tries to sing ‘Adele’ inspired song at his sentencing, still gets up to 17 years. Sorry, Brian Earl Taylor — not even Adele will save you. Taylor, 21, prepared an original song for a judge before his sentencing for unlawful imprisonment and carrying a concealed weapon. “Hello there, your honor,” Taylor sang before Judge Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Darlene O’Brien last week. “I want to say I’m sorry for the things I’ve done and I try and be stronger in this life I chose, but I want you to know — that door, I closed. And your honor I’m sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.” The tune seemed to be inspired by Adele’s smash hit “Hello.” Taylor ended his song by also apologizing to his mother and the victim.

8am – C         First Day of Spring This Weekend:

• Sunday | Rain and snow.(more Snow west and north) Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 30s.
• Monday | Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 40s and lows in the upper 20s.
• Could cold snap impact D.C.’s cherry blossoms? WASHINGTON — The keepers of the Tidal Basin’s cherry blossom trees will be on high alert this weekend with a dose of cold weather forecast to move into the area Sunday. The fear with the cold spell is frost forming on the buds, which are in the peduncle elongation stage — the second-to-last stage before peak bloom.

8am – D         INTERVIEW — BRET BAIER – Anchor, Special Report, Fox News Channel, weekdays at 6 pm

• Cranking up pressure, Merrick Garland makes first Senate visits. Senate Democrats slam Republican blockade as Garland visits Capitol Hill.
• His thoughts on the Supreme Court gamble: Do we take Merrick Garland now or wait til November to see who is elected?
• Senator Rubio says he won’t be anyone’s VP, not running for Gov in Florida..and will be private citizen in January.
• FOX Town hall with Ted Cruz tonight on Fox and election coverage next Tuesday

8am – E         DC Eagle Cam: baby Eagle!