Peter Morici, Alex Pfeiffer, Steve Moore and Christian Toto joined WMAL on Thursday!

Mornings on the Mall

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

5am – A/B/C   Trump’s Tax Plan

5am – D/E     Tim Allen on ABC canceling his show: “There’s nothing more dangerous, especially in this climate, than a funny, likable conservative.” (Fox News) – Tim Allen believes likable conservative character cost him ‘Last Man Standing.’ Tim Allen is still pretty upset about the cancellation of his show, “Last Man Standing.” The actor and comedian appeared on a talk show where he discussed ABC’s “poor handling” of the sitcom. Appearing on Norm Macdonald Live, the host asked Allen about the show, which was canceled in May in a total surprise to both fans and the star as its ratings were the second highest at the network. At the time, many speculated that the show was given the boot because it and Allen’s humor skew toward more conservative-minded Americans. While ABC denied those claims, Allen told the host that he believes his conservative views were the real reason he lost his sitcom.

6am – A         INTERVIEW — PETER MORICI – an economist at the University of Maryland and a columnist for the Washington Times and Dow Jones MarketWatch — discussed Trump’s tax plan.

6am – B         TOM PRICE’S JET: President Donald Trump said he is “not happy” with Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, as new revelations continue to emerge surrounding his use of private planes for government travel. “I will tell you personally, I’m not happy about it,” Trump told reporters Wednesday outside the White House as he prepared to depart for a trip to Indiana.

6am – C         TALIBAN TRIES TO KILL MATTIS: KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban claimed it fired at least six rockets at Afghanistan’s main airport Wednesday in an attack intended to target Defense Secretary James Mattis. No one was injured and Mattis had left the airport in the capital Kabul hours beforehand, according to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. The defense secretary was in the country for an unannounced visit alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. It was his first trip to Afghanistan since President Donald Trump announced a new strategy for America’s longest war.   Although the trip was not publicized, two Taliban commanders told NBC News on condition of anonymity that their “insiders” in the Afghan security establishment and at Kabul airport had tipped them off in advance. “We fired six rockets and planned to hit the plane of U.S. secretary of defense and other U.S. and NATO military officials,” said one of the commanders. “We were told by our insiders that some losses were caused to their installations but we are not sure about James Mattis.”

6am – D/E/F  Michelle Obama: Trump’s female supporters ‘voted against their own voice’ (The Hill) — Former first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday sharply criticized women who voted for President Trump, reportedly saying they “voted against their own voice.”  “Any woman who voted against Hillary Clinton voted against their own voice,” Obama said at the Inbound marketing conference in Boston, as reported by The Washington Times. “It doesn’t say as much about Hillary, and everybody’s trying to worry about what it means for Hillary and no, no, no, what does this mean for us, as women?” she continued.  “That we look at those two candidates, as women, and many of us said, ‘He’s better for me. His voice is more true to me.’ To me that just says, you don’t like your voice. You like the thing you’re told to like.”

7am – A         INTERVIEW – ALEX PFEIFFER –  White House correspondent, The Daily Caller – discussed Trump’s tax plan, Tom Price, Amnesty and latest Trump news.

7am – B         Hugh Hefner: Playboy magazine founder dies aged 91.Hugh Hefner, American founder of the international adult magazine Playboy, has died at the age of 91. Playboy Enterprises Inc said he passed away peacefully at home in Los Angeles, from natural causes. Hefner began publishing Playboy in his kitchen in 1953. It became the largest-selling men’s magazine in the world, shifting seven million copies a month at its peak. Cooper Hefner, his son, said he would be “greatly missed by many”. He paid tribute to his father’s “exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer,” and called him an advocate for free speech, civil rights and sexual freedom. Hefner’s trailblazing magazine helped make nudity respectable in mainstream publications, despite emerging at a time when US states could legally ban contraceptives.

TWEETS ABOUT WHETHER HEFNER WAS A FEMINIST:

• Vonny Leclerc (@vonny_bravo): Hugh Hefner was not a feminist. I repeat: Hugh Hefner was not a feminist. Objectification is not women’s sexual liberation.
• Sam Kriss (@sam_kriss): sorry, i’m now being informed that hefner was a feminist. my thoughts go out to him and his girlfriends, who he dumped when they turned 23
• Needles & Sins(@NeedlesandSins): Calling High Hefner a feminist champion is like calling PT Barnum an animal activist.
• (@MarkMaira): Hugh Hefner did more for what men like to pretend feminism is than anyone in this world. #fb #RIPHefner

7am – C         City declares victory in war against giant ‘monster’ goldfish. (NY Post) — This invasive species may finally be sleeping with the fishes. The third time appears to be the charm for determined officials on one Canadian city who waged war again this week against thousands of foot-long, seemingly indestructible “monster” goldfish threatening a river’s ecosystem. For the past three years, St. Albert has tried to wipe out the giant Asian goldfish in 2015 by freezing them, and when that failed, by electrocuting them in 2016. The shock treatment didn’t work either, so on Tuesday, officials sprayed the pond with chemicals that target animals with gills. As of Wednesday morning, around 4,000 dead goldfish had been pulled from Edgewater pond, and officials said they planned to attack them again with the rotenone – to make sure the scaly critters stay dead, CTV News reported. The “extremely aggressive” fish were introduced by people who probably thought they were getting rid of their pets humanely by releasing them into a storm water pond, according to Leah Kongsrude, St. Albert’s environment director. “They’re really cute little goldfish in your little glass bowl, but you let them out and they turn into monsters,” Kongsrude told Metro News Canada. “I call them franken-fish.”

7am – D         TV News:

• ‘The View’ Adds Meghan McCain as Conservative Co-Host. Meghan McCain has officially signed onto “The View” as a regular co-host, Variety has learned exclusively. McCain’s hire comes just days after she left Fox News, and shortly after the ABC daytime show parted ways with Jedidiah Bila. McCain is expected to start in early October, joining the panel of Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Paula Faris, and Sunny Hostin. ABC declined to comment on McCain. Insiders say “The View” nabbed McCain because the show needs a stronger conservative voice, which it has been lacking since Elisabeth Hasselbeck left in 2013 when the series was buzzier, frequently making headlines for in-show sparring between the co-hosts with different political views.
• ‘We really want to talk about that now?’: Jane Fonda SNAPS at Megyn Kelly after NBC host asks her to reveal in front of Robert Redford what plastic surgery she has had done. (Daily Mail) – One day after actress Debra Messing revealed that she regretted going on Megyn Kelly’s new NBC morning show, the embattled host managed to draw the ire of an even bigger Hollywood star. Megyn sat down with Oscar-winning screen icon Jane Fonda on Wednesday, and in an ill-advised and poorly conceived move, decided to ask the 79-year-old actress to detail the plastic surgery she has had done over the years. ‘You, you’ve been an example to everyone, on how to age beautifully and with strength. And unapologetically,’ began Megyn, nervously drawing out her question. ‘You admit you had work done. I think it’s to your credit. You look amazing. Have you … why did you say .. I read you felt you’re not proud to admit you had work done, why not?’ At that moment a steely Fonda stared Megyn straight in the eyes and very firmly asked: ‘We really want to talk about that now?’
• Debra Messing regrets going on Megyn Kelly’s new show. NEW YORK (AP) — “Will & Grace” star Debra Messing says she regrets her appearance on Megyn Kelly’s new NBC daytime show. Messing made her comments while responding to an Instagram follower who asked why the actress would appear on “Megyn Kelly TODAY.” Kelly joined NBC from Fox News earlier this year.
• Messing replied that she was only told it was a “Today” show appearance and didn’t know Kelly was hosting. She added: “Regret going on. Dismayed by her comments.”

7am – E         ‘Fixer Upper’ ending: Will HGTV survive without Chip and Joanna Gaines? “Fixer Upper” is coming to an end. ‘Fixer Upper’ ending after Season 5, Chip and Joanna Gaines announce. Chip and Joanna Gaines announced their hit HGTV show will end after Season 5. “It is with both sadness and expectation that we share the news that Season 5 of ‘Fixer Upper’ will be our last,” the couple wrote on their blog Tuesday. The Gaineses said the decision to end their show was not easy but they are “confident that this is the right choice for us.” “Our family is healthy and our marriage has honestly never been stronger,” they wrote, adding the end of the show has nothing to do with any rumors in the tabloids about their personal lives. “This is just us recognizing that we need to catch our breath for a moment,” they shared. The couple said they want to focus on their family and their other business ventures. “Our plan is to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.” The Gainses promised the end of “Fixer Upper” does not mean they are done fixing up Waco.

8am – A         INTERVIEW — STEVE MOORE – ECONOMIST at THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION – discussed Trump’s tax plan.

8am – B/C     INTERVIEW — CHRISTIAN TOTO — Film Critic and Host of “The Hollywood in Toto” podcast (available on iTunes)

• Tim Allen believes likable conservative character cost him ‘Last Man Standing’
• ‘X-Files’ actors use #TakeAKnee protest to promote upcoming season which is filming in Canada. (Deadline) —  Gillian Anderson took a break from her paranormal activities on the set of The X-Files to post a pic of her and her co-star David Duchovny taking a knee and linking arms while on the set of their show. With the simple caption “#TheXFiles #TakeAKnee,” the two stars showed support of the numerous NFL teams that have either kneeled, linked arms or even both in the past couple of days despite Donald Trump’s numerous criticisms.
•  ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Cast Takes a Knee After Show’s Premiere. The cast members of Star Trek Discovery were slammed by social media users Sunday after a photo of the CBS show’s stars taking a knee went viral online. The photo, posted on Discovery star Sonequa Martin-Green’s Instagram account, was an apparent show of unity with NFL players protesting the national anthem. The post, captioned with the hashtag #StarTrekDiscovery and #takeaknee, appeared online just hours after the show’s world premiere.

8am – D/E     FAIRFAX RESTAURANT BOYCOTTING NFL: ‘Enough is enough’: Fairfax restaurant says it won’t show NFL games because of protests. FAIRFAX, Va. (ABC7/AP) — The owner Fat Tuesdays in Fairfax is joining President Donald Trump in protesting the NFL’s #TakeAKnee movement. RL Butler is pulling the plug on NFL games at his bar and grill saying he had to take a stand after seeing players protesting prior to games this past weekend. “On our end we’re probably foolish to do this but we are gonna lose business over this but on the other hand enough is enough,” says Butler. This issue erupted last week when Trump said players who kneel during the national anthem should be fired by NFL owners and he called on his supporters to boycott NFL games. Butler insists he has been in business for 35 years, in part, by staying out of politics. But he says this is personal. His daughter served in harms way for a year in Afghanistan for the U.S. Army.

On Tuesday, Butler publicly posted a flyer on the bar’s Facebook page that said taking a knee disrespects our country our national anthem, our military and our veterans. “To Our Valued Customers:    As proud parents of an active duty member of the US Army and a veteran of Afghanistan, we stand on the side of our brave men & women in uniform not the men in sports costumes that take a knee and disrespect our country, our National Anthem, our military and our veterans.     We place a much higher value on our great country then any sporting event. Therefore, we will not be showing any NFL games at Fat Tuesday’s until there is a stop to this foolishness.

    Sincerely, RL & Karen Butler”