Morgan Wright, Scottie Nell Hughes, Stuart Varney, Washington Post’s Robert McCartney, CNN’s Jake Tapper and guest host Lisa Boothe joined WMAL on Thursday morning!

Mornings on the Mall

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Hosts: Brian Wilson and Lisa Boothe

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

 

5am – A         Gitmo News:

• Hickenlooper blocks Obama, opposes transfer of Gitmo detainees to Colorado. (The Washington Times) – DENVER — Colorado may have been President Obama’s best bet as a destination for detainees from Guantanamo Bay given the lack of opposition from the Democratic governor, but no longer. Gov. John Hickenlooper now says that he will support the wishes of Fremont County residents living near the two prisons under consideration by the Defense Department if Mr. Obama follows through with his plan to close the U.S. Naval Station in Cuba. “The reports we’ve gotten over the last couple months is the people are fairly united — they don’t want to take that risk,” Mr. Hickenlooper said at a press gathering, according to The Denver Post. “I respect that.” His comments mark a shift from his previous position in which he said he would weigh the costs and risks.

• Pentagon reportedly announces next round of Gitmo releases. (Fox News) — The Pentagon reportedly told Congress Wednesday that it is planning to release a dozen Guantanamo detainees to at least two countries. A U.S. official told Reuters the first transfers are expected in the next few days with others to occur in the coming weeks. Pentagon spokesman Commander Gary Ross told Fox News he could not comment on when detainees would be transferred. “The Administration is committed to reducing the detainee population and to closing the detention facility responsibly,” he said in a statement to Fox News. According to the Washington Post, Tariq Ba Odah, a 37-year-old Yemeni who has been on a hunger strike since 2007, is among those being transferred from the detention facility. There are 91 men held at Guantanamo, down from nearly 250 when Obama assumed the presidency. Those left include 36 who are cleared for release if security conditions can be met in the countries where they will settle. Seven face trial by military commission, including five charged with planning and supporting the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001. Three others have been convicted.

5am – B         Hamilton’ hiring practices under fire after casting call solicits non-white actors only. (NY Daily News) — The hottest Broadway ticket in town is shooting down accusations its casting is racist. “Hamilton” got some blowback Wednesday after releasing a cattle call for auditions with specific age and race requirements. The trouble started with an open casting announcement on the blockbuster’s website. “Hamilton” is “seeking NON-WHITE men and women, ages 20s to 30s, for Broadway and upcoming Tours,” the ad said. The no-whites-need-apply requirement struck some as racist — not to mention illegal under the city’s human rights law. But civil rights attorney Ron Kuby said it’s legit. “‘Hamilton’ is about having minority actors in the position of founding fathers,” said Kuby. The advertisement might violate the city’s human rights law, he said — but not necessarily the Constitution, the document Hamilton helped create. “It’s almost always illegal to advertise on the basis of race, but when you’re casting … it can be a bona fide occupational requirement,” he said. “Same issue on age. I don’t have to cast an elderly white guy if my (project) is about a young black man,” Kuby said. But the all caps “NON-WHITE” drew criticism from Actors’ Equity and other theater professionals.

5am – C         McAuliffe vetoes ‘religious freedom’ bill, to chagrin of conservatives. RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed a Republican-backed bill Wednesday that would have prohibited state agencies from punishing religious organizations that discriminate against same-sex couples. The veto comes the same week that similar legislation drew attention to Georgia, where Gov. Nathan Deal (R) rejected a “religious freedom” bill, and North Carolina, where Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed a bill that stops municipalities from passing laws to protect lesbian, gay and transgender people. McAuliffe (D) vetoed the Virginia bill during a radio show. “It’s unconstitutional. It is discriminatory,” he said on WTOP’s “Ask the Governor” program. “It demonizes folks. It brings fear and persecution. We can’t tolerate that.”

5am – D         Trump reverses statement that women should be punished for illegal abortions. Donald Trump swiftly reversed his statement that women should be punished for abortions after his initial comments unleashed a storm of criticism from both anti-abortion and pro-abortion rights groups. “This issue is unclear and should be put back into the states for determination,” the Republican front-runner said in a written statement released by his campaign. In that second statement he suggested that if abortions were illegal the doctor would be held responsible, not the woman — but said that he hasn’t changed his position. “If Congress were to pass legislation making abortion illegal and the federal courts upheld this legislation, or any state were permitted to ban abortion under state and federal law, the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman,” the statement read. “The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb. My position has not changed — like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions.”

5am – E         Bernie Sanders reportedly left off D.C. primary ballot after Democratic Party error. The Washington Times – Washington primary voters may not get to feel the Bern. Because of an error by the D.C. Democratic Party, Sen. Bernard Sanders’ name is not on the ballot, according to a report by WRC-TV, the local NBC affiliate. Both the Vermont senator’s team and the campaign of rival Hillary Clinton submitted the required $2,500 registration fee and other paperwork, but the party did not notify the D.C. Board of Elections by a key deadline. The registration deadline was March 16, but the party did not send the board Mr. Sanders’ registration information until the 17th, according to the affiliate. As a result of this error, Mr. Sanders’ eligibility to appear on the ballot is being contested. Confusion appeared to reign late Wednesday over just what happened and whether it could be fixed. D.C. Democratic Party Chairwoman Anita Bonds told The Washington Times that the party’s primary plan, which included the paperwork for all candidates, was submitted by 7 p.m. on the 16th, per the rules of the Democratic National Committee. But the D.C. Board of Elections offices closes at 4:45 p.m. Ms. Bonds said the extended hours for submission is permitted and has been acknowledged. She also said that “clarifying legislation” could be passed by the board or the D.C. City Council soon to resolve any disputes.

6am – A/B/C Lengthy Shutdowns in Washington, D.C., Metro System Are Possible. Repairs to Washington’s aging subway could require the closure of entire rail lines for months at a time, the system’s chairman, Jack Evans, said Wednesday. At the very least, Mr. Evans said, riders should expect the closure of segments of individual lines for extended periods. His remarks were the latest indication that the system, known as Metro, will be facing significant service disruptions as its management confronts financial and safety problems. “If we are going to fix the infrastructure, we can’t do it three hours at night,” Mr. Evans, who is also a member of the D.C. Council, said at a symposium marking Metro’s 40th anniversary. “There may be decisions where we have to close down whole lines and repair them, which are going to be very unpopular,” Mr. Evans added. “But the only way that we are going to get this system fixed is to make unpopular decisions.” Metro officials already closed the system for a day earlier this month for an emergency safety inspection.

Washington Transit System Needs $150 Million, Senators Say. Push by Democrats comes as troubled system tries to resolve safety problems. Senate Democrats announced a push Wednesday to keep federal funding at the same level as in years past for Washington, D.C.’s troubled transit system, rekindling an appropriations battle that reached a fever pitch in the fiscal 2016 season. The initiative by D.C.-area senators comes as Metro continues to struggle to resolve safety problems that have snarled commuters and led to a shutdown of the entire rail system earlier this month. Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland was joined by Virginia’s Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in outlining a plea for Senate appropriators to provide $150 million in federal money in fiscal 2017 for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, also known as Metro. The plea came in a letter from the Democrats written on March 18 that was made public Wednesday.

6am – D/E     INTERVIEW – MORGAN WRIGHT – cybersecurity expert, former executive at Cisco & Alcatel-Lucent and former senior advisor for the US Department of State Antiterrorism Assistance Program / www.morganwright.us

• Hackers offering bulk discount to unlock encrypted MedStar data
• MedStar Health turns away patients after likely ransomware cyberattack. MedStar Health patients were being turned away or treated without important computer records Tuesday as the health-care giant worked to restore online systems crippled by a virus. By Tuesday evening, MedStar staff could read — but not update — thousands of patient records in its central database, though other systems remained dark, a spokeswoman said. MedStar officials have refused to characterize the attack as “ransomware,” a virus used to hold systems hostage until victims pay for a key to regain access.
• MedStar inches toward system restoration after hack. The computer systems at a major hospital chain are closer to getting back online nearly 48 hours after hackers crippled its network. In a statement Wednesday morning, MedStar says its three main clinical information systems supporting patient care are moving to full restoration. Other systems are getting improved functionality as well. Additionally, clinicians are now able to review medical records and submit orders through electronic health records.

7am – A/B/C INTERVIEW — SCOTTIE NELL HUGHES – political analyst, Trump surrogate and a columnist for Townhall.com, and author of the book “Roar”

• Trump reverses statement that women should be punished for illegal abortions. Donald Trump swiftly reversed his statement that women should be punished for abortions after his initial comments unleashed a storm of criticism from both anti-abortion and pro-abortion rights groups. “This issue is unclear and should be put back into the states for determination,” the Republican front-runner said in a written statement released by his campaign.

7am – D         INTERVIEW — STUART VARNEY – Anchor of Varney and Company, Fox Business Network

• Fox Business Airing Weekdays at 9AM
• Trump reverses statement that women should be punished for illegal abortions
• Trump 10 points behind in Wisconsin, even further behind with women.
• In the Chris Matthews interview, he also would not rule out using nukes in Europe
• Stock Market near a record high

7am – E         Low numbers for TSA PreCheck program leads to longer airport security lines. ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) — A faster screening program for the Transportation Security Administration, called PreCheck, was supposed to reduce the long security lines at airports, but not many people have signed up for it, leaving agents at standard lines overwhelmed. The PreCheck was expected to reduce the number of agents at the checkpoint because much of the screening would be done ahead of time. This resulted in the TSA cutting its airport screener staff by 10 percent within the last three years. But because the PreCheck program hasn’t seen as many people take part as hoped, the dwindling number of agents has caused problems at the standard lines. In some cases, lines have as long as a 90-minute wait. The chief operating officer at American Airlines said the airline has had “unacceptable” waits at many of its hubs and that the TSA said there is no relief in sight.

8am – A         INTERVIEW – ROBERT MCCARTNEY – Senior Regional Correspondent for The Washington Post. McCartney is The Post’s senior regional correspondent, covering politics and policy in the greater Washington, D.C.

• Metro could shut down entire rail lines to do extended maintenance, board chair says. (By Robert McCartney/Washington Post) — Metro’s top officials warned Wednesday that the transit system is in such need of repair that they might shut down entire rail lines for as long as six months for maintenance, potentially snarling thousands of daily commutes and worsening congestion in the already traffic-clogged region. Board Chairman Jack Evans and General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld put rail riders on notice about possible extended closures at a high-level conference of local leaders. The discussion also revealed strong resistance to what Evans said was a “dire” need for more than $1 billion a year in additional funding for Metro.

8am – B/C     Calls on shutting the metro lines down.

8am – D         INTERVIEW – JAKE TAPPER – Anchor of “The Lead” and “State of the Union” on CNN

• Trump reverses statement that women should be punished for illegal abortions
• Looking ahead to Wisconsin and New York primaries
• Hillary’s email fallout and Sanders-Clinton polls

8am – E         Gitmo News:

• Hickenlooper blocks Obama, opposes transfer of Gitmo detainees to Colorado. (The Washington Times) – DENVER — Colorado may have been President Obama’s best bet as a destination for detainees from Guantanamo Bay given the lack of opposition from the Democratic governor, but no longer. Gov. John Hickenlooper now says that he will support the wishes of Fremont County residents living near the two prisons under consideration by the Defense Department if Mr. Obama follows through with his plan to close the U.S. Naval Station in Cuba. “The reports we’ve gotten over the last couple months is the people are fairly united — they don’t want to take that risk,” Mr. Hickenlooper said at a press gathering, according to The Denver Post. “I respect that.” His comments mark a shift from his previous position in which he said he would weigh the costs and risks.

• Pentagon reportedly announces next round of Gitmo releases. (Fox News) — The Pentagon reportedly told Congress Wednesday that it is planning to release a dozen Guantanamo detainees to at least two countries. A U.S. official told Reuters the first transfers are expected in the next few days with others to occur in the coming weeks. Pentagon spokesman Commander Gary Ross told Fox News he could not comment on when detainees would be transferred. “The Administration is committed to reducing the detainee population and to closing the detention facility responsibly,” he said in a statement to Fox News. According to the Washington Post, Tariq Ba Odah, a 37-year-old Yemeni who has been on a hunger strike since 2007, is among those being transferred from the detention facility. There are 91 men held at Guantanamo, down from nearly 250 when Obama assumed the presidency. Those left include 36 who are cleared for release if security conditions can be met in the countries where they will settle. Seven face trial by military commission, including five charged with planning and supporting the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001. Three others have been convicted.