Chef Geoff Tracy, Olympian Haley Skarupa, EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo, Fred Frommer and Fox’s Ed Henry joined WMAL on Friday!

Mornings on the Mall

Friday, March 30, 2018

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

5am – A/B/C Crazy women sending Nikolas Cruz fan mail: The Parkland shooting suspect has fans, and they’re sending him letters and money. (Washington Post) —

Parkland shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz has been receiving volumes of fan mail at the Florida jail where he is being held. In a pattern seen before with others accused of violent crimes, Cruz, who is charged with 17 counts of murder in the massacre at the school, has been sent sexually suggestive photographs, greeting cards, encouragement and other kind notes, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, which obtained copies of some of the missives. Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, whose office represents Cruz, said he was concerned about Cruz’s growing notoriety. “The letters shake me up because they are written by regular, everyday teenage girls from across the nation,” he said. “That scares me. It’s perverted.” The Sun Sentinel showed a stack of hundreds of pages of photocopies of the letters Cruz has been sent. “You’re in a tough spot, Nik, and that is something I know, because I’ve been there myself,” one letter writer wrote Cruz. “If you need something, I can mail to you … ask. If you need to talk … I’ll listen.”

5am – D/E LAURA INGRAHAM VS. DAVID HOGG:

• Companies pull ads from Fox’s Ingraham after her jab at Parkland student
• Facing boycott, Laura Ingraham apologizes for taunting Parkland teen over college rejections
• David Hogg @davidhogg111: I 100% agree an apology in an effort just to save your advertisers is not enough. I will only accept your apology only if you denounce the way your network has treated my friends and I in this fight. It’s time to love thy neighbor, not mudsling at children.

6am – A NO SECOND SPECIAL COUNSEL … YET: Attorney General Jeff Sessions revealed a federal prosecutor was evaluating certain issues involving the FBI, the Clinton Foundation and the Uranium One deal, but said he would not appoint a second special counsel at this point … In a letter directed to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, Sessions revealed that he asked U.S. Attorney John Huber to lead the evaluation into issues raised by the committees in recent months involving alleged surveillance abuse by the FBI and Justice Department and lingering concerns about the Obama-era Uranium One deal brokered with Russia with Hillary Clinton was still secretary of state . “I write in response to recent letters requesting the appointment of a Special Counsel to review certain prosecutorial and investigative determinations made by the Department of Justice in 2016 and 2017. I take the concerns you raise seriously,” Sessions wrote, noting how important it was that the American people and Congress had “confidence” in the Justice Department.

6am – B/C TRUMP’S OHIO SPEECH:

• Trump headed to Ohio yesterday for first public appearance this week. Trump’s Ohio speech promoted infrastructure ranges widely, from North Korea to ‘Roseanne’.

6am – D HUFFPOST CLAIMS NRA IS FINANCIALLY BENEFITING FROM SHOOTING: HUFFINGTON POST: An NRA offensive since the Parkland school shooting appears to be working. The number of donors and overall contributions are surging.

• NRA Is Pulling In Big Bucks After The Parkland Mass Shooting. Donations skyrocketed as the gun group issued frothy warnings of the “freedom-hating left.” (By Dominique Mosbergen/Huffington Post) — The National Rifle Association has launched a heated offensive in the weeks since the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Warning of the “freedom-hating left” impinging on Americans’ “fundamental rights” and spreading conspiracy theories about teenagers who survived the mass shooting, the gun group ramped up efforts to raise money, recruit members and drum up support for its agenda. The strategy appears to be working.

6am – E Vatican tamps down report that Pope Francis denies existence of hell. (Fox News) — The Vatican on Thursday worked to set the record straight on whether Pope Francis denied the existence of hell in an interview with a well-known Italian journalist. The controversy started when 93-year-old journalist Eugenio Scalfari, the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, publisheda report that he asked Francis where “bad souls” end up going, USA Today reported. Francis’ reply, according to the journalist, was that those who repent could be forgiven but those who do not, “disappear.” The article, which ran on March 29, reported that Francis said “hell does not exist.” “They are not punished, those who repent obtain the forgiveness of God and enter the rank of souls who contemplate him, but those who do not repent and cannot therefore be forgiven disappear,” Francis is quoted as saying. “There is no hell, there is the disappearance of sinful souls.” Scalfari, an atheist, does not usually use tape recorders during interviews, The USA Today report said. The Vatican said the story was the result of the reporter’s “reconstruction.” “What is reported by the author in today’s article is the result of his reconstruction, in which the literal words pronounced by the Pope are not quoted,” the Vatican said. “No quotation of the aforementioned article must therefore be considered as a faithful transcription of the words of the Holy Father.” The Catholic News Agency reported that Scalfari has “misrepresented” the pope in the past. The agency reported that Scalfari “aslo falsely reported that Pope Francis had made comments denying the existence of hell in 2015.”

6am – F ‘South Park’ Creators To Crowd: ‘We’re Republicans.’ “No, seriously.” (Daily Wire) —“South Park” has always been a reliable show when it comes blasting the excesses of the Left (and the Right). While certainly a vulgar show and one that is not exactly pro-conservative, it has nonetheless always served as a nice contrast to the mean-spirited propaganda generally seen on television. However, according to the show’s creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, they are actually Republicans, albeit of the Libertarian variety. Accepting a “freedom award” from Norman Lear’s organization, the two creators of “South Park” allegedly came out of the closet as Republicans. Conservative radio host Larry Elder reportedly corroborated the pair’s voting history. “We’re Republicans,” said the pair. “No, seriously. We’re Republicans.”

7am – A INTERVIEW – CHEF GEOFF TRACY — owns and oversees restaurants in Washington DC including Chef Geoff’s, Chef Geoff’s Downtown, Chef Geoff’s Tysons, and LIA’S, among other restaurants — discussed his war with Virginia happy hour laws.

• A D.C. area chef has filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit over Virginia’s happy hour restrictions
• Chef Geoff files lawsuit over Va. happy hour restrictions. WASHINGTON — Chef Geoff Tracy, who owns three restaurants in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit Wednesday targeting Virginia’s happy hour advertising law. Tracy told WTOP that current legislation in Virginia regarding happy hour laws are restrictive, outdated and hurt his business and bottom line in the state. The lawsuit has been filed against the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. “I have my First Amendment rights. I should be able to tell you that the beer is $5 or it is $2 off. I think every reasonable person would agree that is kind of ridiculous,” Tracy said. “It’s just kind of a weird limitation on free speech or creative advertising speech that doesn’t make any sense. It’s a challenge to comply with,” Tracy said. In contrast, in D.C. or Maryland, Tracy can list the specific cost of a beer. Virginia law also bans advertising the use of any other terms other than “happy hour” or “drink specials.” It is also illegal to call specials “two for one.” Instead, restaurants in Virginia may offer “half-priced” drinks, according to the Pacific Legal Foundation.

7am – B/C HILLARY AT RUTGERS:

• Hillary Clinton Is Back On The Speaker Circuit — But She’s Taken a Massive Pay Cut
• Hillary Clinton got $7K less than Snooki for Rutgers speech. Does it get any worse?
• Clinton calls 2016 election ‘traumatic,’ admits she’d like to ‘take back’ some things she said
• Moderator Invokes Nazism When Talking About America — Hillary Has Bizarre Response
• Hillary Clinton Sports Arm Cast At Rutgers Speech

7am – D INTERVIEW — HALEY SKARUPA — Olympic gold medalist from Rockville, MD talked about her experience at the Olympics and playing forward for the United States’ women’s ice hockey team at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

7am – E ROSEANNE NEWS:

• ‘IT’S ABOUT US!’: During an infrastructure event in Richfield, Ohio, Pres. Trump gave a personal shoutout to the monster ratings scored by the “Rosanne” reboot, crediting Trump supporters – including Roseanne Barr – for driving the show’s success.
• Meghan McCain Schools Co-Hosts On Why ‘Roseanne’ Got Such Huge Ratings. Meghan McCain dropped some knowledge on her co-hosts Thursday over why exactly the “Roseanne” reboot got such huge ratings. Sunny Hostin admitted she didn’t watch it during the 90s and has yet to see the reboot, but thinks people are tuning in because they feel a “certain nostalgia.” “We are in rough times and people want to hold on to what they knew before,” Hostin added.
• REPORT: Tim Allen’s ‘Last Man Standing’ Considered For Reboot Due To Success Of Roseanne. TMZ reported: TIM ALLEN’S ‘LAST MAN STANDING’ TOP OF FOX’S REBOOT LIST. The reboot bug has bitten FOX hard, and the biggest beneficiary is Tim Allen’s recently-canceled show, “Last Man Standing.” Our FOX sources tell us Allen’s show — which was controversially canceled last year — is now under serious consideration for a reboot. There were rumors the show was canceled because of Allen’s personal conservative affiliations — he compared being a conservative in Hollywood to 1930’s Nazi Germany, as well as the conservative character he portrayed on the show. The irony … we’re told the success of “Roseanne” has intrigued FOX because there appears to be a big Trump-supporting audience out there. FOX produced the show when it aired on ABC, and we’re told the talk now is to possibly reboot and put it on FOX.

8am – A INTERVIEW – RAYMOND ARROYO — news director and lead anchor of EWTN News, New York Times Best Selling author

• Reflections on Good Friday and thoughts about Holy Week and Easter
• Vatican tamps down report that Pope Francis denies existence of hell. (Fox News) — The Vatican on Thursday worked to set the record straight on whether Pope Francis denied the existence of hell in an interview with a well-known Italian journalist. The controversy started when 93-year-old journalist Eugenio Scalfari, the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, publisheda report that he asked Francis where “bad souls” end up going, USA Today reported. Francis’ reply, according to the journalist, was that those who repent could be forgiven but those who do not, “disappear.” The article, which ran on March 29, reported that Francis said “hell does not exist.”
• Ice Cream Chain Gets Backlash from Christians Over ‘Highly Offensive’ and ‘Blasphemous’ Name (People) — Petitions are calling for Toronto-based chain Sweet Jesus to change their name and “remove their antichrist imagery immediately.” One petition on Change.org says the shop’s name alone is a “mockery of taking the Lord’s name in vain” and calls their imagery—specifically the shop’s use of upside-down crosses on their cups—”highly offensive toward Christians.” Supporters of the petition sounded off in the comments. Some called for the shop to be shut down, and others argued that if they were to name the shop after any other religion, such as “Sweet Allah,” it would be considered offensive.

8am – B INTERVIEW — FRED FROMMER – author of ‘You Gotta Have Heart,’ a history of Washington baseball, and head of the sports business practice at the Dewey Square Group – previewed Nats Opening Day.

• Washington Nationals’ Opening Day at Reds postponed from Thursday to Friday (Washington Times) — Washington Nationals fans will have to wait one more day for Opening Day than they planned. The Nationals’ game Thursday at the Cincinnati Reds, the first game of the 2018 regular season, has been postponed to Friday due to impending inclement weather.
• Sports Illustrated picks Nationals to win World Series … again (WTOP / March 20, 2018) – WASHINGTON — The annual Sports Illustrated baseball preview was released Tuesday, and the magazine has chosen the Washington Nationals to beat the New York Yankees in this year’s Fall Classic. It’s not the first time they’ve predicted a Nats World Series title. The magazine first picked the Nationals to win in 2013, following the club’s breakout, 98-win 2012 campaign. Despite Washington missing the playoffs that year, SI doubled down in 2014, choosing the Nats again. They picked the Nats to make it to (but lose) the series in 2015, another season that ended short of the playoffs.
• FROMMER WROTE A PIECE IN WASHINGTON POST: Good news, Nationals fans: Rookie managers have historically done well in D.C. (Washington Post / By Frederic J. Frommer March 28 at 3:32 PM — Frederic J. Frommer is the author of “You Gotta Have Heart,” a history of Washington baseball, and leader of the sports business practice at the Dewey Square Group, a public affairs firm in Washington.) — In replacing manager Dusty Baker with Dave Martinez, the Washington Nationals are betting on an untested leader over one with 22 years of managerial experience. It’s a move that some baseball experts think will pay off — notably Sports Illustrated, which predicts that the Nats will win the World Series this year. But it’s been nearly two decades since a rookie manager led his team to a World Series title, when Bob Brenly did it with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, and rookie managers inheriting playoff teams have had a mixed record of success in recent years. From a historical standpoint, though, the Nats are onto something: Dating back nearly a century, Washington’s had a lot of success with rookie managers. The Washington Senators won the city’s only three pennants — all in the 1920s and early ’30s — under the leadership of novice managers. Even after the District’s last World Series appearance, in 1933, the Senators continued to have good luck with a series of first-year skippers, covering several decades and two franchises. In 1969, Ted Williams came out of retirement and with a fresh pair of eyes led the second Senators team to its only winning season.

8am – C ‘Chappaquiddick’: ‘Powerful People’ Pressured Studio Not to Release Film, CEO Says (Variety) — “Chappaquiddick” offers details that were little known about the devastating 1969 scandal involving one of the most glorified families in American history: the Kennedys. So, it is not surprising that the cast, executive producers, and director felt some nerves taking on the project. For Byron Allen, Entertainment Studios CEO and co-founder and executive producer of the film, the pushback to tell this story came when he first decided to produce the film. “Unfortunately, there are some very powerful people who tried to put pressure on me not to release this movie,” Allen said. “They went out of their way to try and influence me in a negative way. I made it very clear that I’m not about the right, I’m not about the left. I’m about the truth.” The movie tells the story of what occurred in 1969 when Senator Ted Kennedy drove his car off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island in Martha’s Vineyard and the passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, was killed. At the Beverly Hills premiere and screening of the film at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Allen referred to Kopechne as “one of the original #MeToo victims” and said it was her time to receive justice and the truth. Director John Curran said the film is the truth because it draws on what factually happened and the senator’s version of the events. Still, Jason Clarke, who portrays Ted Kennedy in the movie, said he was uneasy about taking on the role. “I was nervous on a ‘can I do it’ level and I guess on a ‘should we do it’ [level],” Clarke explained. “We’re not making propaganda. Here is this amazing, incredible, traumatic event, which I think has had a massive impact, and still does, and effects the world we’re in now–20th century American history.”

8am – D INTERVIEW – ED HENRY – chief national correspondent for Fox News Channel

• Sessions: Federal prosecutor evaluating alleged FBI, DOJ wrongdoing, no second special counsel for now
• Trump headed to Ohio yesterday for first public appearance this week
• Trump’s Ohio speech to promote infrastructure ranges widely, from North Korea to ‘Roseanne’

8am – E MILLENNIALS PROPOSING WITH AVOCADOS: It’s easy to roll one’s eyes at the idea of hiding an expensive engagement ring inside of a (somehow only slightly) cheaper fruit. But a quick scan of Instagram indicates that yes, #avocadoproposals have actually happened.