VA Del. Tim Hugo, The Federalist’s Sean Davis, Larry Michael, Joe diGenova and Fox’s Peter Doocy joined WMAL on Friday!

Mornings on the Mall

Friday, April 20, 2018

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

 

5am – A/B/C The Federalist: Comey’s Memos Indicate Dossier Briefing Of Trump Was A Setup –– (MOLLIE HEMINGWAY) —  Newly released memos from former FBI director James Comey indicate that an early 2017 briefing for Trump on the contents of an unverified dossier were part of a setup to enable media to report on the the most salacious details of the dossier. Newly released memos written by former FBI director James Comey indicate that an early 2017 briefing for then-President-elect Donald Trump about the contents of an infamous dossier was held so it could be leaked to media outlets eager to report on the dossier’s allegations. In multiple memos, Comey specifically mentioned that CNN had the dossier and wanted a “news hook” that would enable the network to report on its most salacious allegations even though they had not been verified.

5am – D         Army chaplain faces punishment for following religious beliefs. (Fox News) — A decorated Army chaplain is facing what his attorneys are calling a “career-ending punishment” after he explained to a soldier that he could not conduct a marriage retreat that included same-sex couples because of his religious beliefs. A military investigation at Fort Bragg in North Carolina determined that Chaplain Scott Squires should be disciplined for his failure to include a lesbian couple in Strong Bonds, a marriage retreat sponsored by the Army. The investigation determined that he chaplain, who is endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board (NAMB), had discriminated against the soldier based on her sexual orientation. The Southern Baptists forbid their chaplains from facilitating marriage retreats that include same-sex couples. When Squires realized he could not participate, he rescheduled the event to accommodate the lesbian couple with a chaplain who could oversee the retreat. But apparently that was not good enough. “The Army EO policy states that no service will be denied to any member of the Armed Service regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religious affiliation, or sexual orientation,” read a report from the investigator. “CH Squires should be reprimanded for his failure to include (name deleted) in the initial Strong Bonds Retreat.”

5am – E         TX CRUZ –O’ROURKE RACE TIGHTENING:

• New poll finds race between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke “too close to call.” A new Quinnipiac University poll of Texas voters finds 47 percent support Cruz, the Republican incumbent, while 44 percent back O’Rourke, an El Paso Democrat. WASHINGTON — A new poll released Wednesday suggests the U.S. Senate race between U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke is far more competitive than many political observers have initially thought. The poll from Quinnipiac University shows the two men in a dead heat: 47 percent of registered voters in Texas support Cruz, the Republican incumbent, while 44 percent back O’Rourke, an El Paso Democrat. That number falls within the poll’s 3.6 percent margin of error.  The poll had another ominous warning for the GOP: President Donald Trump was underwater in Texas, with 52 percent of respondents disapproving of him and 43 percent approving of his job performance.  Cruz’s favorability rating showed a polarized response: 46 percent of Texans have a favorable view of the senator while 44 percent have an unfavorable view.
• The raging controversy over Beto O’Rourke’s full name, explained
• Rafael “Ted” Cruz’s new radio ad attacks Democratic challenger Robert “Beto” O’Rourke for using a nickname. (Vox) – Sen. Ted Cruz’s reelection campaign would really like Texas voters to know that Rep. Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic challenger hoping to turn Texas blue in November, is using a nickname, and that his birth name is Robert Francis O’Rourke. In a statewide radio ad released almost as soon as the primary races were called, Cruz’s campaign took a shot at the legitimacy of O’Rourke’s identity. The El Paso, Texas, Democrat, who is mounting a more serious but still extremely long-shot challenge to the incumbent Republican senator, won the Democratic Texas primary Tuesday night with 61.8 percent of the vote. He still faces a very tough road ahead in a state that is trending purple but doesn’t look like it’s quite there yet. Cruz’s ad, a country jingle, said: “If you are going to run in Texas, you can’t be a liberal man. I remember reading stories, liberal Robert wanted to fit in. So he changed his name to Beto and hid it with a grin.” Cruz defended the ad on CNN Wednesday morning, saying “some of it is just to have a sense of humor. … We had some fun with it.”

6am – A         MCCABE NEWS:

• Justice Department IG Submits Criminal Referral Of Andrew McCabe. (Breitbart) — The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has referred fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia for criminal prosecution, multiple reports indicated Thursday. Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s investigation of McCabe’s involvement in leaks to the media concluded last month. The final report indicated three instances in which McCabe lied to investigators, prompting Attorney General Jeff Sessions to fire McCabe even before the report was released. On Thursday, multiple outlets reported that Horowitz’s office also made a criminal referral based on McCabe’s conduct outlined in the report to the office of U.S. attorney Jessie Liu, the top federal prosecutor in the nation’s capital. In contrast to the headline-grabbing criminal referrals made by members of Congress, this type of referral is part of the DOJ’s standard operating procedure and stands a much better chance of resulting in actual criminal charges against McCabe. It is unclear exactly when the referral was made, exactly which charges were recommended, or how it was received by Liu and her office.
• MCCABE’S SPOKESMAN:  “We were advised of the referral within the past few weeks. Although we believe the referral is unjustified, the standard for an IG referral is very low. We have already met with staff members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We are confident that, unless there is inappropriate pressure from high levels of the Administration, the US Attorney’s Office will conclude that it should decline to prosecute.”
• COMEY Feels ‘Conflicted’ About McCabe Lying To Him

6am – B         DC school memo shows administration delayed revealing prom location to prevent hotel room rentals, banned certain foods ahead of 4/20.  WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Woodrow Wilson High School principal Kimberly Martin sent a memo to families recently explaining that the school’s senior administrative team withheld the location of the prom to prevent parents from booking hotel rooms for their children. “The longer they waited, they reasoned, the more likely rooms would be unavailable,” she wrote. The letter also explained that baked goods, gummy bears, drinks, lollipops and candy bars would be banned this week ahead of April 20, a day known in cannabis culture as 4/20, which celebrates the use of marijuana. The letter came after an incident on April 13, wherein seven students at the school were hospitalized for possible overdoses, according to DC Fire and EMS. Some students told ABC 7 the incident involved Percocet, but that has yet to be confirmed by DCFEMS, police, or school officials. Martin acknowledges that incident in the letter, writing: “The administrative team continues to be concerned about situations like last Friday, and we fear that providing hotel rooms for students after prom or during Beach Week is parents’ tacit endorsement of reckless and irresponsible behavior. High school students have an uncanny ability to find unsupervised parties, especially over weekends and special occasions like prom or Beach Week. While the intent of students is rarely to cause harm to themselves or others, when alcohol and drugs are involved, students are not in a position to manage situations judiciously, or to prevent unhappy or tragic endings.”

6am – C         Trump slams Jerry Brown’s National Guard ‘charade,’ says feds won’t pay for it. (Washington Examiner) — President Trump accused California Gov. Jerry Brown of conducting a “charade” by agreeing to send National Guard troops to the border with restrictions on their activity and said the federal government won’t foot the bill for Brown’s move. “Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy ‘up to 400 National Guard Troops’ to do nothing. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Brown’s charade. We need border security and action, not words!” Trump tweeted.

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy “up to 400 National Guard Troops” to do nothing. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Brown’s charade. We need border security and action, not words!

11:48 AM – Apr 19, 2018

6am – D         TRUMP LEGAL NEWS:

• Giuliani says he is joining Trump’s legal team to ‘negotiate an end’ to Mueller probe
• Cohen drops libel suits against BuzzFeed, Fusion GPS
• Rosenstein tells Trump he is not a target of Michael Cohen investigation

6am – E         DUCKWORTH DEBUTS BABY ON SENATE FLOOR:

• Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s baby makes her big debut on the Senate floor. Duckworth is the first sitting senator to give birth while in office, and the Senate unanimously passed a rule change to allow her to nurse her newborn on Senate floor. Duckworth, holding baby Maile, departs the Senate floor after casting her vote. How does it feel? “It’s amazing, and it’s about time.”
• Tammy Duckworth and Baby Cast Their First Senate Vote Together, Opposing NASA Nominee. But Bridenstine confirmed to lead space agency, leaving House seat vacant for months. Senators applauded as Duckworth came into the chamber for what ultimately was not a decisive “no” vote, with Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona coming around to support confirmation of President Donald Trump’s choice of Rep. Jim Bridenstine to be NASA administrator, 50-49.

6am – F         NORTH KOREA / POMPEO:

• South Korean President Says North Korea No Longer Demands Removal of U.S. Forces. North Korea willing to accept ‘complete denuclearization’ without conditions, Moon says
• Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp announced her support for Trump’s secretary of state nominee Mike Pompeo, giving him a much-needed vote for his confirmation
• Pompeo Discussed American Prisoners with Kim Jong-Un in Surprise Easter Meeting

 

7am – A         INTERVIEW – VA DEL TIM HUGO — representing the 40th district, which includes the municipalities of Catharpin, Clifton, and Fairfax Station and is the Majority Caucus Chairman for the Virginia House Republican Caucus. Del. Tim Hugo, a member of Virginia’s House Republican leadership, represents parts of Fairfax and Prince William counties

• Virginia lawmakers narrowly rejected Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposed changes to a new Metro funding bill. They’ll find $154 million for Metro without a tax increase, but it’s a move that many local officials fear will threaten road improvement…
• Virginia House Republicans block tax increases for new Metro funding

7am – B/C     RACIST STARBUCKS NEWS:

• ‘This is justice’: Black comedian demands complimentary Starbucks coffee as ‘reparations’ following racist boycott row – and the barista happily obliges.    Bryan Sharpe, a comedian and author who goes by ‘ Hotep Jesus ‘ on social media, posted the video of him walking in a coffee shop and asking for the cup. ‘I heard y’all are racist, so I came to get my free coffee,’ Sharpe is heard saying after greeting the employee, named Amanda. (Daily Mail) — A black comedian decided to make light of the viral Starbucks arrest by asking a white employee at a different location for a free coffee, citing ‘reparations.’ Bryan Sharpe, a comedian and author who goes by ‘Hotep Jesus’ on social media, posted the video of him walking in a coffee shop and asking for the cup.   ‘I heard y’all are racist, so I came to get my free coffee,’ Sharpe is heard saying after greeting the employee, named Amanda. ‘I saw that,’ she responds before continuing to put distance between the two branches.
• Audio of Starbucks manager’s call to police doesn’t sound all that racist

7am – D         INTERVIEW – SEAN DAVIS – co-founder of The Federalist and former chief investigator for Sen. Tom Coburn

• Justice Department IG Submits Criminal Referral Of Andrew McCabe
• The Federalist: Comey’s Memos Indicate Dossier Briefing Of Trump Was A Setup –– (MOLLIE HEMINGWAY) — Newly released memos from former FBI director James Comey indicate that an early 2017 briefing for Trump on the contents of an unverified dossier were part of a setup to enable media to report on the most salacious details of the dossier.

7am – E         INTERVIEW – LARRY MICHAEL – The Voice of The Redskins (in studio)

• Washington Redskins Release 2018 Schedule. For the first time since 2014, the Washington Redskins will open up regular season action on the road as their first game of the season will be against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 9 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The Redskins will then face the Green Bay Packers at home the following Sunday before taking an early bye in Week 4. After their week off, the Redskins will return to action with their first of three prime-time games, matching up with the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Following Washington’s first prime-time game, the Redskins will have three home games in a four-week span, hosting the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons with a trip to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., to take on the New York Giants in the lone road game during that block.

8am – A/B     INTERVIEW – JOE DIGENOVA – legal analyst and former U.S. Attorney to the District of Columbia

• Justice Department IG Submits Criminal Referral Of Andrew McCabe.

• Comey memos released to Congress
• The Federalist: Comey’s Memos Indicate Dossier Briefing Of Trump Was A Setup
• Rosenstein tells Trump he is not a target of Michael Cohen investigation
• Giuliani says he is joining Trump’s legal team to ‘negotiate an end’ to Mueller probe

8am – C         WALKOUT NEWS:

• Everything you need to know about the April 20 national school walkout: The National School Walkout is April 20 at 10 a.m. (the anniversary of the Columbine shooting). On April 20, 1999, 12 students and one teacher were killed at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. At 10:00 a.m. across time zones, students will walk out of their classrooms and observe 13 seconds of silence in memory of those killed at Columbine. . Students are encouraged to plan open mics, rallies, protests, voter registration drives, letter writing campaigns or other activism for the rest of the day.
• Columbine HS will hold day of service, not walkouts, on April 20. Officials at the school district of Columbine High School have asked their students to participate in a day of service rather than join the National School Walkout on April 20, the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting.David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland school shooting and gun control activist, said on Twitter that students of Columbine should continue their tradition of community service.
• Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg nabs book deal on making of #NeverAgain movement (USA Today) — wo siblings who survived the high school shooting in Parkland, Fla. are penning a book about the massacre and the gun-control movement that followed. The book titled #NeverAgain by David Hogg, one of the most recognizable faces of the movement, and his younger sister, Lauren Hogg, who has also been active in the effort, will chronicle the Valentine’s Day Shooting and how the pair — along with other students — aimed to start a revolution to stop gun violence.  It’s scheduled to be released June 5.

8am – D         INTERVIEW – PETER DOOCY – reporter for the Fox News Channel

• He’s currently on assignment covering the Senate race in West VA
• Trump slams Jerry Brown’s National Guard ‘charade,’ says feds won’t pay for it
• Comey memos released to Congress.

8am – E         D.C. lawmaker who said Jews control the weather visits Holocaust Museum but leaves early (Washington Post) — The photo, taken in 1935, depicts a woman in a dark dress shuffling down a street in Norden, Germany. A large sign hangs from her neck: “I am a German girl and allowed myself to be defiled by a Jew.” She is surrounded by Nazi stormtroopers. D.C. Council member Trayon White Sr. (D-Ward 8) studied the image. “Are they protecting her?” Lynn Williams, an expert on educational programs at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and White’s tour guide for the day, stared at the photo.

“No,” she said. “They’re marching her through.”

“Marching through is protecting,” White said.

“I think they’re humiliating her,” Williams replied.

White, who drew widespread criticism last month when he asserted that wealthy Jews control the weather, on Wednesday made a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.  As Williams explained the workings of the Nazis’ pseudoscientific race propaganda, White held up his cellphone before a poster with images of black, Native American and Australian men, titled “Rassen der Erde” — “Races of the Earth.” An aide took a shot of a pile of Torahs desecrated on Kristallnacht. The group paused before grainy photos of German troops executing Catholic clergy in Poland by firing squad. “Were they actually manufacturing these weapons?” White asked. Moments later, White was nowhere to be seen. Glazer, the rabbi, texted him to ask his whereabouts. He wrote back that he hoped to see her outside the museum but he had to leave soon for an event in Ward 8. The tour, scheduled to last 90 minutes, was halfway done.  Seven of White’s staff members stayed with the guide, who soon was showing them an exhibit on the Warsaw Ghetto. As she explained the walling in of Polish Jews, one aide asked whether it was similar to “a gated community.” Glazer spoke up. “Yeah, I wouldn’t call it a gated community,” she said. “More like a prison.” The group continued without White, past a scale model of a gas chamber and photos of the residents of an eradicated shtetl. They stopped at the famous exhibit of shoes confiscated from concentration-camp prisoners. The tour over, the rabbi praised White for being “very sincere in wanting to come here.” But she was perplexed by his abrupt exit. “I do not know what happened, and I find it confusing,” she said.