Cliff May, Joe diGenova, Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer and guest host Daily Caller’s Vince Coglianese joined WMAL on Monday!

Mornings on the Mall

Monday, April 10, 2017

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

 

5am – A/B/C PAYING FOR BORDER WALL AND BUDGET: Would you shutdown the government to pay for the border wall?

5am – D         Gambler loses $100,000 casino jackpot because he let his glamorous companion push the slot machine button and she still hasn’t given him a single CENT. (Daily Mail) — Two former friends have fallen out after winning a $100,000 jackpot at a Florida casino because of where the chips fell. When Jan Flato, 66, was gambling at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino near Fort Lauderdale when he told his companion Marina Medvedeva Navarro to push the button for him ‘for good luck’. When the reels spun to reveal the winning numbers, Jan was ecstatic, until he tried to collect his money – and clerks told him the hefty jackpot was rightfully Navarro’s. Since then, the two have been in a furious row over the winnings.  ‘Upstairs, the eye in the sky says she technically touched the button, so we have to pay her,’ Flato told the Miami Herald of the January 31st incident. A spokesperson for the casino confirmed that after surveillance footage showed Navarro, 35, pressing the button to launch the reels, she became the rightful owner of the jackpot.  ‘The person who pushes a slot machine button or pulls the arm is the person who wins the jackpot,’ said Seminole spokesman Gary Bitner.  Flato, however, says he paid the $50-a-spin on the Double Top Dollar machine, and used his gambling card to do so. ‘I said, “Marina, what are you doing?” and she gets up and walks out,’ Flato said, according to WSVN.  Navarro later disputed this claim, saying that it was her who funded the fated spin.

5am – E         SYRIA

• Sen. Marco Rubio says U.S. can’t defeat ISIS until Syria Pres. Bashar al Assad is removed.  The Florida Republican said, the U.S. must work to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power before it can hope to defeat ISIS. “There is no such thing as ‘Assad, yes,’ but ‘ISIS, no,'” Rubio said. “This focus that you can defeat ISIS as long as Assad is there is not true. They are two sides of the same coin.”
• Tillerson: Rubio’s remarks ‘regrettable’ – Last week, Rubio said it was no coincidence a chemical weapons attack in Syria came after Tillerson made comments suggesting Syrian President Bashar Assad could remain in power.  Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday said Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) comments about the timing of past comments by the secretary of State and a chemical weapons attack in Syria were “regrettable.” “I think that’s a regrettable comment on the part of Senator Rubio,” Tillerson said on CBS’s “Face The Nation.”
• McCain says administration rhetoric “partially to blame” for chemical attack in Syria.  Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said comments made by people in President Donald Trump’s administration are “partially to blame” for encouraging Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s apparent use of chemical weapons on his people last week. McCain responded to remarks that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made at the end of March, before the attack, including comments that the Syrian people would determine Assad’s fate, and that removing him from power isn’t a top priority. “I think it probably was partially to blame,” McCain said. “And Secretary Tillerson basically saying the same thing after kind of contradicting himself and then saying the same thing argues vigorously for a plan and a strategy. As I said again, taking this action I support and was important.”

6am – A/B/C ‘Meet the Press’ Debates If Hillary Lost Because of the Country’s ‘Misogyny’ (Newsbusters) — In a ridiculous discussion that sounded as though it belonged in a forum of a left-wing website, the panel on Sunday’s Meet the Press bemoaned how the country’s attitude towards women cost Hillary Clinton the White House. Moderator Chuck Todd read from the recent NYT column of Nicholas Kristof, who described Clinton’s idea of Trump voters as “I don’t agree with him, I’m not sure I really approve of him, but he looks like somebody who’s been president before.” Paraphrasing Clinton, Todd suggested that “she believed misogyny played a much larger role in this than it’s been analyzed by many of us.” Helene Cooper, The New York Times’s Pentagon correspondent, agreed that sexism had a hand in Clinton’s defeat. “I think many women probably feel that way. And I don’t think I would necessarily dismiss that,” she argued, “I’ve talked to plenty of Trump voters who say they just didn’t like Hillary, including women who said, no, there’s just something — I just didn’t like her. I think there’s something to be said for that.” “But I think we can’t pretend that this sort of misogyny doesn’t exist. I think it would be naïve,” she continued. She wasn’t the only panelist who bought into Clinton’s assertions. David Brooks, another New York Times columnists (surprise, surprise), was in full agreement as well. “Gender politics clearly played a role in this election,” he opined before slamming Trump with a smirk:

Hillary Clinton blames Comey, WikiLeaks and ‘misogyny’ for 2016 loss. (Fox News) — Hillary Clinton on Thursday narrowed down the “determinative” reasons for her 2016 presidential loss to two factors: FBI Director James Comey and WikiLeaks. During an appearance at the eighth annual Women in the World Summit in New York City, Clinton said her team and supporters have been spending time “trying to piece it all together” — referring to why she lost to President Trump. She noted that there were “lots of contributing factors” and said her campaign and she herself “certainly could have done better.” “Certainly misogyny played a role,” Clinton noted. “That just has to be admitted.”

6am – D         INTERVIEW — CLIFF MAY – President of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a nonpartisan policy institute focusing on national security

• NORTH KOREA: McMaster calls aircraft carrier deployment toward Korean Peninsula ‘prudent’
• SYRIA: Sen. Marco Rubio says U.S. can’t defeat ISIS until Syria Pres. Bashar al Assad is removed
• TERROR ATTACKS: Egypt: Isis claims responsibility for Coptic church bombings // SWEDEN: Stockholm Truck-Attack Suspect Had Received Deportation Order…

6am – E         WOMEN MAKING LESS AT LIBERAL PLACES

• Google Pays Female Workers Less Than Male Counterparts, Labor Department Says. Department’s claims don’t amount to formal charges; investigation is ongoing. (WSJ) — An investigation of Google Inc. has found it systematically pays female employees less than their male counterparts, U.S. Department of Labor officials said, a claim that adds to allegations of gender bias in Silicon Valley. The Labor Department found the gender-pay gap during a routine probe into whether Google, a federal contractor, is complying with laws that prohibit contractors from discriminating against applicants or employees.
• ET TU ELIZABETH? The gender pay gap in Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D., Mass.) office is nearly 10 percent wider than the national average, meaning women in the Massachusetts Democrat’s office will have to wait longer than most women across the country to recognize Equal Pay Day. However, women working for Warren were paid just 71 cents for every dollar paid to men during the 2016 fiscal year, according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis.

6am – F         Entertainment News:

• Janet Jackson splits with billionaire husband. Just months after giving birth to her first child at age 50, Janet Jackson has split with billionaire husband Wissam Al Mana. While one source said the split is amicable and the couple will co-parent their son, others said trouble had been brewing for months. “She thought he had become too controlling during the pregnancy and she had already allowed him to dictate her appearance and even the way she performed at concerts,” the source who works closely with the couple said. Other demands that the “Rhythm Nation” singer gave in to included toning down her 2014 concert tour — wearing clothing that covered her body, instead of the skin-revealing outfits fans had grown to love. She also declined to do music videos that featured any bumping and grinding, trademarks of her work, the source said. “It drove her crazy and she felt she was losing her fan base.” Jackson also resented the reclusiveness of her husband, who rarely met with her friends or family, the source said. Still, the couple hoped a baby would help.
• Congratulations to Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk who have welcomed their first child! Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk have welcomed their first child. The baby was born two weeks ago, according to People magazine.   Russian model Irina, 31, and Bradley, 42, did not find out the baby’s sex before the birth, instead opting for a surprise. They have yet to reveal the baby’s name or gender.

7am – A         INTERVIEW – JOE DIGENOVA – legal analyst and former U.S. Attorney to the District of Columbia

• Judge Neil Gorsuch to take oath of office Monday after being confirmed to the Supreme Court. Gorsuch to be sworn in Monday in two ceremonies, Trump announces. (Washington Examiner) — President Trump announced Friday that his nominee to the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, will be sworn into office in two ceremonies on Monday, as he congratulated him on his confirmation by the Senate. Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office to the new justice in a private ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Supreme Court, followed by Justice Anthony Kennedy administering the second oath in a public ceremony at the White House at 11 a.m. Gorsuch was a clerk for Kennedy in the 1990s.
• Joe can share the latest on Susan Rice
• Rand Paul: Trump Syria Attack Violates Constitution. (AP) — GOP Sen. Rand Paul criticized President Donald Trump for the airstrike in Syria, suggesting he violated the Constitution by not seeking congressional approval beforehand. “While we all condemn the atrocities in Syria, the United States was not attacked,” Paul tweeted Thursday night shortly after news of the airstrike broke. “The President needs Congressional authorization for military action as required by the Constitution,” he added in another Twitter post. “Our prior interventions in this region have done nothing to make us safer and Syria will be no different.”

7am – B         Transgender News:

• New report shows Target is feeling the devastating effects of their transgender bathroom policy. Nearly one year ago, Americans across the country initiated a boycott over Target’s transgender bathroom policy. Now, the company reveals the boycott really hurt the company’s bottom line. On April 19 of 2016, Target publicized their bathroom policy in a blog post. The store stated their policy was that customers were welcome to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with, despite concerns over child safety. “Inclusivity is a core belief at Target,” the company wrote. “Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target.” But according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, Target CEO Brian Cornell says he never approved the post, only found out about it after it was published and said the ensuing backlash was “self-inflicted.”
• Weinstein Company appeals against R-rating for transgender film 3 Generations. Film studio says MPAA decision preventing younger age groups from seeing the film would be ‘a travesty’.  US distributor the Weinstein Company is set to challenge the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) decision to assign an R rating to its transgender drama 3 Generations. Formerly titled About Ray, 3 Generations stars Elle Fanning as Ray, a teenager who is transitioning from female to male, supported by his mother Maggie played by Naomi Watts, with Susan Sarandon as grandmother Dolly. The film has received the rating for profanity and sexual references. It means that cinemagoers under the age of 17 will be unable to see the film unless they’re accompanied by an adult or a guardian. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Weinstein Company has enlisted a lawyer in an attempt to have the rating downgraded to PG-13, which would allow anyone under the age of 13 to attend the film with an adult.
• Transgender Denton boy gets new birth certificate. DENTON — Max Briggle lives his life just like any other 9-year-old boy, and now it says so in writing on his birth certificate. “He’s always going to be transgender, but having that piece of paper, my hope is that it’s going to make it a little easier for him,” said Amber Briggle, Max’s mom. Max was born Mary Grace. WFAA has covered his story in the past, including when his family invited Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to their home for dinner. They have become outspoken advocates for transgender kids. Now, all of Max’s documents reflect his identity, with his new name and gender identity. The Briggles said they have successfully changed his legal name, as well as his Social Security card and birth certificate. “I feel like this is another milestone,” said Amber Briggle. She believes this amended documentation is essential for her son in a time when there’s an active debate on transgender rights. Proposed bathroom bills like SB 6 would mandate that people use the bathroom that matches the sex on their birth certificate.

7am – C         Deputy national security adviser K.T. McFarland ousted: report. Deputy national security adviser K.T. McFarland has been asked to step down in another shakeup within President Trump’s administration, according to a new report. McFarland will become the U.S. ambassador to Singapore, less than three months after beginning her role at the National Security Council, Bloomberg first reported on Sunday. McFarland will stay on for just two more weeks. The move follows Trump’s removal of chief White House strategist Stephen Bannon from his role on the National Security Council last week. McFarland was a national security analyst for Fox News and worked under three Republican administrations before she was tapped for the role as Trump’s deputy national security adviser. The New York Times reported in February that McFarland was expected to leave her role following the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn.

7am – D         Male Models Help Homeless Man: Homeless New York man has been living in $1,500 disguised dumpster with solar panels and USB ports. (Daily Mail) – After spending several nights on the cold streets of New York City, two male models teamed up to build a home disguised as a dumpster for a homeless man who showed them kindness. Damian ‘Dean’ Cummings moved into a tiny hidden home ten months ago in Soho after meeting Shane Duffy, 37, and America’s Next Top model contestant Phil Sullivan, 28, in February 2016. The two met the 39-year-old when they posed as homeless men, looking for a worthy recipient to sponsor for their charity. Cummings took the models under his wing, pointing out places to sleep, how to find food and even shared some of his blankets with them. In return, Duffy and Sullivan decided to build him a semi-permanent home and spent $1,500 on creating a safe place Cummings could call his own, equipped with solar panels and USB ports. The man behind the idea was Duffy, who works as a contractor. He told the New York Post: ‘I noticed all of the dumpsters attached to buildings. Then it dawned on me — what if the home was hidden?’ Cummings moved into his new digs, which is four feet wide, four feet tall and a little over six feet long, in June 2016.  It is outfitted with wheels, lights, a safety lock, two USB ports, a window and solar panels.

7am – E         SPORTS NEWS:

• NFL considering disciplinary action against players who competed in an arm wrestling competition in Las Vegas. (Daily Mail) — The NFL could fine 30 players for competing in the Pro Football Arm Wrestling Championship raised money for the Giving Back Fund. Because the event was held at a casino, the players could face fines. he NFL prohibits players from appearing in casinos for promotional events.  The NFL is considering fining more than 30 players for competing in the Pro Football Arm Wrestling Championship, which raised money for charity.  The event hosted at the MGM Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas raised money for the Giving Back Fund, the official NFL Players Association charity. Half of the $100,000 first prize is set to go to the charity.  But because the league said they were not consulted about the event, they could face fines. NFL players are not allowed to appear in casinos for promotional events.
• Virginia Self-Reports Football Violations to NCAA. CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA –.(AP) Virginia has been penalized after it self-reported Level II violations of NCAA bylaws by its football program. The school says football coaches posed for photographs with prospects during an “evaluation period” when the only approved contact with prospects was a simple greeting. The NCAA views posing for photographs as going beyond a greeting and is impermissible because it gives the school an unfair recruiting advantage. Virginia worked with the NCAA and will pay a $5,000 fine. The school also self-imposed restrictions limiting its off-campus contact with the prospects who were photographed, reduced its spring 2017 evaluations from 168 to 150, and will further educate its staff on NCAA rules. The school says 32 improper contacts took place during in April and May in 2016.
• 2017 Masters leaderboard: Sergio Garcia wins in playoff, scores, highlights
• Garcia is the third golfer from Spain to win the Masters and did so while capturing his first major. (CBS Sports) — It took 74 starts, but Sergio Garcia finally has his first major victory.  The golf world toasted Garcia on Sunday evening as the man with nearly two decades of Masters experience finally slid on the green jacket. He finished in top-10 at Augusta three times (2002, 2004, 2013), now has the most career top-10s in majors all-time, and joins his idols Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal as one of three Spainiards to win the Masters.

8am – 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” – discussed North Korea, Russia, Syria and terror attacks.

8am – B/C     Calls on what do next in Syria.

8am – D/E     ‘Meet the Press’ Debates If Hillary Lost Because of the Country’s ‘Misogyny’ (Newsbusters) — In a ridiculous discussion that sounded as though it belonged in a forum of a left-wing website, the panel on Sunday’s Meet the Press bemoaned how the country’s attitude towards women cost Hillary Clinton the White House. Moderator Chuck Todd read from the recent NYT column of Nicholas Kristof, who described Clinton’s idea of Trump voters as “I don’t agree with him, I’m not sure I really approve of him, but he looks like somebody who’s been president before.” Paraphrasing Clinton, Todd suggested that “she believed misogyny played a much larger role in this than it’s been analyzed by many of us.” Helene Cooper, The New York Times’s Pentagon correspondent, agreed that sexism had a hand in Clinton’s defeat. “I think many women probably feel that way. And I don’t think I would necessarily dismiss that,” she argued, “I’ve talked to plenty of Trump voters who say they just didn’t like Hillary, including women who said, no, there’s just something — I just didn’t like her. I think there’s something to be said for that.” “But I think we can’t pretend that this sort of misogyny doesn’t exist. I think it would be naïve,” she continued. She wasn’t the only panelist who bought into Clinton’s assertions. David Brooks, another New York Times columnists (surprise, surprise), was in full agreement as well. “Gender politics clearly played a role in this election,” he opined before slamming Trump with a smirk:

Hillary Clinton blames Comey, WikiLeaks and ‘misogyny’ for 2016 loss. (Fox News) — Hillary Clinton on Thursday narrowed down the “determinative” reasons for her 2016 presidential loss to two factors: FBI Director James Comey and WikiLeaks. During an appearance at the eighth annual Women in the World Summit in New York City, Clinton said her team and supporters have been spending time “trying to piece it all together” — referring to why she lost to President Trump. She noted that there were “lots of contributing factors” and said her campaign and she herself “certainly could have done better.” “Certainly misogyny played a role,” Clinton noted. “That just has to be admitted.”