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Mornings on the Mall
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese
5am – A/B/C/D Latest on North Korea, Russia, Venezuela and thoughts on Gen. Kelly coming into White House
– China is hitting back at President Trump’s repeated scoldings over their handling of North Korea. China hit back Monday at a Twitter rant from President Trump over trade and the North Korea crisis, saying the two issues should not be linked and the U.S. is to blame for Pyongyang’s military buildup. “We think the North Korea nuclear issue and China-U.S. trade … are in two completely different domains,” Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming said at a news conference in Beijing. “They aren’t related. They should not be discussed together.” Qian added trade between China and the U.S. has been beneficial to both nations despite a U.S. trade deficit with China that reached almost $350 billion last year.
– Nikki Haley says US will not seek UN Security Council emergency session: “There is no point in having an emergency session if it produces nothing of consequence”
– North Korea’s latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has shown that Pyongyang now may be able to reach most of the continental United States, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday. The assessment, which the officials discussed on condition of anonymity, underscored the growing threat posed by Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs, and could add pressure on President Donald Trump’s administration to respond. North Korea said on Saturday it had conducted another successful test of an ICBM that proved its ability to strike America’s mainland.
– Russia defends slashing US diplomats as hope fades of better ties… Moscow (AFP) – Moscow on Monday sought to justify its decision to purge US diplomatic personnel in the country, as the Kremlin appeared to give up on hopes of improving ties anytime soon under Donald Trump. President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday that Washington will have to cut its diplomatic mission in Russia by 755 employees, as Moscow struck back against new sanctions passed by the U.S. Congress.
– U.S. Treasury sanctions the President of Venezuela a day after elections were held to rewrite constitution. The Treasury Department slapped sanctions on Nicolas Maduro on Monday, alleging that Venezuela’s president has attempted to undermine democracy and the rule of law in his country. On Sunday, Venezuela held a controversial election to create the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), a constitutional assembly that would grant Maduro’s party sweeping power. But many countries said they would not recognize that vote. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said those who participate in the illegitimate assembly could face “future U.S. sanctions for their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela.” The ANC, which many expect to be stacked with Maduro supporters, would be able to rewrite the country’s constitution. In a statement, Mnuchin continued: “Yesterday’s illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people. By sanctioning Maduro, the United States makes clear our opposition to the policies of his regime and our support for the people of Venezuela who seek to return their country to a full and prosperous democracy.”
5am – E REPEAL THE 17TH AMENDMENT? After Republican senators failed to pass the “skinny repeal” of Obamacare late Thursday night, former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) called for the repeal of the 17th Amendment.
6am – A/B Flashback: Pelosi on Democrats’ Messaging The Emerging Democratic Minority? If Democrats can’t take advantage of Trump’s troubles in next year’s midterms, they could be out of power in Congress for a long time. Will Democrats be able to shed the chains of identity politics? Or have they painted themselves into a corner?
6am – C Florida dog owner reunited with dog eight years after going missing (News-Press) It was Father’s Day in 2009 when Tessa the Yorkshire terrier went missing after someone left a gate open while Louise Friedlander was visiting on Fort Myers Beach. But eight years later, Friedlander’s phone rang. It was 3 a.m. June 30, and a Lee County animal control officer told her Tessa had been found wandering loose outside a Cape Coral Fire Department station.
6am – D INTERVIEW – STEVE BUCCI – Visiting Fellow for Foreign and National Security Policy at The Heritage Foundation. Bucci is a Fmr. Military Assistant to Sec. of Defense Rumsfeld
TOPICS: Latest on North Korea, Russia, Venezuela and thoughts on Gen. Kelly coming into White House
– China is hitting back at President Trump’s repeated scoldings over their handling of North Korea. China hit back Monday at a Twitter rant from President Trump over trade and the North Korea crisis, saying the two issues should not be linked and the U.S. is to blame for Pyongyang’s military buildup. “We think the North Korea nuclear issue and China-U.S. trade … are in two completely different domains,” Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming said at a news conference in Beijing. “They aren’t related. They should not be discussed together.” Qian added trade between China and the U.S. has been beneficial to both nations despite a U.S. trade deficit with China that reached almost $350 billion last year.
– Nikki Haley says US will not seek UN Security Council emergency session: “There is no point in having an emergency session if it produces nothing of consequence”
– Nikki Haley @nikkihaley: Done talking about NKorea.China is aware they must act.Japan & SKorea must inc pressure.Not only a US problem.It will req an intl solution.
– North Korea can hit most of United States: U.S. officials. WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea’s latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has shown that Pyongyang now may be able to reach most of the continental United States, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday. The assessment, which the officials discussed on condition of anonymity, underscored the growing threat posed by Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs, and could add pressure on President Donald Trump’s administration to respond. North Korea said on Saturday it had conducted another successful test of an ICBM that proved its ability to strike America’s mainland. The secretive North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, supervised the midnight launch of the missile on Friday night and called it a “stern warning” to the United States that it would not be safe from destruction if it tried to attack, the official KCNA news agency said. However, two U.S. intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday Kim wants to develop a nuclear-capable ICBM to deter any attack on his country and gain international legitimacy, not to launch an attack on the United States or its allies that he knows would be suicidal. The Pentagon declined to comment on the U.S. assessment of the missile launch, even as it acknowledged that the latest test represented the longest test flight of any North Korean missile. “The specifics of our assessment are classified for reasons I hope you understand,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis told a news briefing, acknowledging only that the missile could fly at least 5,500 km (3,420 miles), the minimum range for what the Pentagon classifies as an ICBM. Two separate U.S. officials who discussed the latest test, which lasted about 45 minutes, said it showed greater range than the July 4 ICBM launch, which North Korea said lasted 39 minutes.
– Russia defends slashing US diplomats as hope fades of better ties… Moscow (AFP) – Moscow on Monday sought to justify its decision to purge US diplomatic personnel in the country, as the Kremlin appeared to give up on hopes of improving ties anytime soon under Donald Trump. President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday that Washington will have to cut its diplomatic mission in Russia by 755 employees, as Moscow struck back against new sanctions passed by the US Congress. The move represents one of the biggest single reductions of US personnel by Moscow, with Putin warning he could retaliate further. “We have waited long enough, hoping that the situation would perhaps change for the better,” the Kremlin strongman said. “But it seems that even if the situation is changing, it’s not for any time soon.” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday insisted that any hopes of mending Russia-US ties rest on “curing the worsening political schizophrenia” in Washington, but admitted the two sides appeared “far away” from any improvement.
– U.S. Treasury sanctions the President of Venezuela a day after elections were held to rewrite constitution. The Treasury Department slapped sanctions on Nicolas Maduro on Monday, alleging that Venezuela’s president has attempted to undermine democracy and the rule of law in his country. On Sunday, Venezuela held a controversial election to create the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), a constitutional assembly that would grant Maduro’s party sweeping power. But many countries said they would not recognize that vote. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said those who participate in the illegitimate assembly could face “future U.S. sanctions for their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela.” The ANC, which many expect to be stacked with Maduro supporters, would be able to rewrite the country’s constitution. In a statement, Mnuchin continued: “Yesterday’s illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people. By sanctioning Maduro, the United States makes clear our opposition to the policies of his regime and our support for the people of Venezuela who seek to return their country to a full and prosperous democracy.”
6am – E Chris Christie goes after heckler… while cradling nachos (WISN) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie paused at Sunday’s match-up between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs to get in a fan’s face and call him a “big shot” after being heckled. Should he have responded?
7am – A INTERVIEW – ED HENRY – Fox News Chief National Correspondent, New York Times Bestselling Author “42 Faith”
TOPIC: Recent White House developments
-U.S. President Donald Trump felt Anthony Scaramucci, whom he fired as his communications chief on Monday, made inappropriate comments to The New Yorker magazine, the White House said.
-Trump fired Scaramucci on Monday just over a week after naming him to the job in the latest staff upheaval to hit the Republican’s six-month-old administration.
-White House insists: No chaos here. President Donald Trump kicked off Monday morning with a series of tweets, one of which pointed to economic and jobs data as he claimed: “No WH chaos!” Hours later, after the White House revealed Anthony Scaramucci was out as communications director just 10 days after announcing he was taking the job, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders hit the same message. “I’ve said it before: If you want to see chaos, come to my house with three preschoolers,” Sanders, smiling, told reporters at a briefing. “This doesn’t hold a candle to that.”
7am – B INTERVIEW – MIKE HUCKABEE – Former governor of Arkansas
TOPIC: REPEAL THE 17TH AMENDMENT?
-After Republican senators failed to pass the “skinny repeal” of Obamacare late Thursday night, former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) called for the repeal of the 17th Amendment.
-What does he think of his daughter doing a great job as White House press secretary?
7am – C Senator Flake rips Trump (Politico) Sen. Flake faults political partisanship for Trump rise in new book (releases today). Flake wrote an op-ed in Politico titled “Republicans Are in Denial about Trump.” Trump’s White House is recruiting primary challengers against Republican Sen. Flake.
7am – D The Emerging Democratic Minority? (National Journal) If Democrats can’t take advantage of Trump’s troubles in next year’s midterms, they could be out of power in Congress for a long time. Democrats deserve credit in uniting their party to block GOP attempts at rolling back Obamacare. They managed to outline a vague list of economic priorities in hopes of convincing voters they’re not just obsessed with President Trump. But even after six months of shambolic Republican governance, Democrats are still viewed as an unacceptable alternative to many persuadable voters in middle America.Those were the sobering findings of a Democratic survey commissioned by the party-backed House Majority PAC, which Politico and McClatchy first reported. The poll surveyed working-class white voters in pivotal districts that Democrats are targeting in the midterms. Despite the Trump turmoil in Washington, Republicans held a 10-point lead on the generic ballot (43-33 percent) among these blue-collar voters. Democrats hold a whopping 61 percent disapproval rating among these voters, with only 32 percent approving. Even Trump’s job-approval rating is a respectable 52 percent with the demographic in these swing districts. Democrats maintain that with robust economic messaging, they can move those numbers in their favor. But the results show how difficult that task will be. By a stunning 35-point margin, blue-collar white voters believe that Republicans will be better at improving the economy and creating jobs than Democrats. Under Trump, the economy has been growing—even in the disadvantaged parts of the country. Between promising job creation and Trump’s own paeans to blue-collar work, it’s hard to see the GOP numbers changing significantly.
7am – E EMBARGOED UNTIL MIDNIGHT: Congressman Trent Franks calls on Special Counsel Robert Mueller to Resign “Bob Mueller is in clear violation of federal code and must resign to maintain the integrity of the investigation into alleged Russian ties. Those who worked under them have attested he and Jim Comey possess a close friendship, and they have delivered on-the-record statements effusing praise of one another. “No one knows Mr. Mueller’s true intentions, but neither can anyone dispute that he now clearly appears to be a partisan arbiter of justice. Accordingly, the law is also explicitly clear: he must step down based on this conflict of interest. “Already, this investigation has become suspect – reports have revealed at least four members of Mueller’s team on the Russia probe donated to support Hillary Clinton for President, as President Trump pointed out. These obviously deliberate partisan hirings do not help convey impartiality.” “Until Mueller resigns, he will be in clear violation of the law, a reality that fundamentally undermines his role as Special Counsel and attending ability to execute the law.”
8am – A INTERVIEW – CLIFF MAY – President of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
TOPICS: Latest on North Korea, Russia, Venezuela and thoughts on Gen. Kelly coming into White House
– China is hitting back at President Trump’s repeated scoldings over their handling of North Korea. China hit back Monday at a Twitter rant from President Trump over trade and the North Korea crisis, saying the two issues should not be linked and the U.S. is to blame for Pyongyang’s military buildup. “We think the North Korea nuclear issue and China-U.S. trade … are in two completely different domains,” Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming said at a news conference in Beijing. “They aren’t related. They should not be discussed together.” Qian added trade between China and the U.S. has been beneficial to both nations despite a U.S. trade deficit with China that reached almost $350 billion last year.
– Nikki Haley says US will not seek UN Security Council emergency session: “There is no point in having an emergency session if it produces nothing of consequence”
– Nikki Haley @nikkihaley: Done talking about NKorea.China is aware they must act.Japan & SKorea must inc pressure.Not only a US problem.It will req an intl solution.
– North Korea can hit most of United States: U.S. officials. WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea’s latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has shown that Pyongyang now may be able to reach most of the continental United States, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday. The assessment, which the officials discussed on condition of anonymity, underscored the growing threat posed by Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs, and could add pressure on President Donald Trump’s administration to respond. North Korea said on Saturday it had conducted another successful test of an ICBM that proved its ability to strike America’s mainland. The secretive North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, supervised the midnight launch of the missile on Friday night and called it a “stern warning” to the United States that it would not be safe from destruction if it tried to attack, the official KCNA news agency said. However, two U.S. intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday Kim wants to develop a nuclear-capable ICBM to deter any attack on his country and gain international legitimacy, not to launch an attack on the United States or its allies that he knows would be suicidal. The Pentagon declined to comment on the U.S. assessment of the missile launch, even as it acknowledged that the latest test represented the longest test flight of any North Korean missile. “The specifics of our assessment are classified for reasons I hope you understand,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis told a news briefing, acknowledging only that the missile could fly at least 5,500 km (3,420 miles), the minimum range for what the Pentagon classifies as an ICBM. Two separate U.S. officials who discussed the latest test, which lasted about 45 minutes, said it showed greater range than the July 4 ICBM launch, which North Korea said lasted 39 minutes.
– Russia defends slashing US diplomats as hope fades of better ties… Moscow (AFP) – Moscow on Monday sought to justify its decision to purge US diplomatic personnel in the country, as the Kremlin appeared to give up on hopes of improving ties anytime soon under Donald Trump. President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday that Washington will have to cut its diplomatic mission in Russia by 755 employees, as Moscow struck back against new sanctions passed by the US Congress. The move represents one of the biggest single reductions of US personnel by Moscow, with Putin warning he could retaliate further. “We have waited long enough, hoping that the situation would perhaps change for the better,” the Kremlin strongman said. “But it seems that even if the situation is changing, it’s not for any time soon.” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday insisted that any hopes of mending Russia-US ties rest on “curing the worsening political schizophrenia” in Washington, but admitted the two sides appeared “far away” from any improvement.
– U.S. Treasury sanctions the President of Venezuela a day after elections were held to rewrite constitution. The Treasury Department slapped sanctions on Nicolas Maduro on Monday, alleging that Venezuela’s president has attempted to undermine democracy and the rule of law in his country. On Sunday, Venezuela held a controversial election to create the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), a constitutional assembly that would grant Maduro’s party sweeping power. But many countries said they would not recognize that vote. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said those who participate in the illegitimate assembly could face “future U.S. sanctions for their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela.” The ANC, which many expect to be stacked with Maduro supporters, would be able to rewrite the country’s constitution. In a statement, Mnuchin continued: “Yesterday’s illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people. By sanctioning Maduro, the United States makes clear our opposition to the policies of his regime and our support for the people of Venezuela who seek to return their country to a full and prosperous democracy.”
8am – B ‘Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly’ ends limited summer run (The Hill) Megyn Kelly’s Sunday night newsmagazine show on NBC is ending its summer run after eight episodes, but it is scheduled to return in the spring. “That’s all for tonight, and for the summer run of this program,” said Kelly to close the show on Sunday night. “But soon, I’ll be seeing you in the mornings! I’ll be on at 9 a.m., right after Matt and Savannah — on our new show, ‘Megyn Kelly Today,’ starting on September 25th,” she added. “And I’ll be back right here Sunday nights in the spring. We are so grateful to you for watching. I’m Megyn Kelly. For all of us here at NBC News … goodnight.” “Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly” delivered 6.2 million viewers with its debut on June 4 featuring an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Viewership dropped to 3.51 million viewers last night, which was the show’s best total audience since a June 18 episode with controversial conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The network had announced before Kelly’s Sunday program debuted in early June that it would be go off the air until the spring to make way for the top-rated “Sunday Night Football” after Labor Day. Kelly’s newsmagazine is slated to return after the NFL season and NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics.
8am – C UVA Football player wins lottery and buys Gucci flip flops (NBC 29) University of Virginia redshirt freshman wide receiver Chuck Davis is back with the UVA football team hoping to make his mark on the field. Davis made headlines in late June when he won $100,000 playing the Virginia lottery. Davis who is a walk-on and not on scholarship won the lottery playing the numbers from the license plate on his grandmother’s car. Davis bought the lottery ticket at a 7-11 near his home in Northern Virginia. The Virginia cornerback said he still has the vast majority of the prize money, save for one indulgent purchase.
8am – D MOOCH IS OUT Anthony Scaramucci has been removed from his position as White House communications director, just 10 days after his appointment to the post. Mr. Scaramucci, who is nicknamed “The Mooch,” was removed at the urging of former Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, who was sworn in as White House chief of staff Monday morning. Mr. Kelly is seeking to impose more discipline in the White House, two administration officials said. Trump’s named communications directors since December: Jason Miller, Sean Spicer, Mike Dubke, Spicer again, Anthony Scaramucci and now ?
8am – E Report: Debbie Wasserman Schultz could be asked to testify in IT staffer investigation (Washington Times) House lawmakers are seeking an independent investigation into IT staffers of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the congresswoman is expected to testify, reports the Washington Free Beacon. One staffer, Imran Awan, was arrested earlier this week trying to board a flight to Pakistan. He was charged with bank fraud including defrauding the Congressional Federal Credit Union. Back in February, Mr. Awan became the subject of an investigation for allegedly stealing equipment from House offices. There are also reports he hacked into House office systems and accessed sensitive information. The House Judiciary and Oversight Committee members have expressed interest in conducting an independent investigation. Ms. Wasserman Schultz has come under fire for keeping Mr. Awan on staff payroll even though information about his activity became public in February. She has also reportedly been uncooperative in the investigation.
