Joe diGenova, Sheila Tate and Washington Post’s Fenit Nirappil joined WMAL on Monday!

Mornings on the Mall

Monday, April 23, 2018

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

 

5am – A/B/C Ex-NFL kicker Jay Feely says prom date photo with gun ‘intended to be a joke’ (Fox News) — Prom season is here for millions of Americans and the photos that come with it, but a “joke” picture posted Saturday by a former NFL kicker holding a gun between his daughter and her date has sparked outrage by some online. Jay Feely, who played for the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants and Jets, posted a picture showing his left arm around his daughter, who is rolling her eyes at her father. In his right hand is a gun next to her date, who sports a slight grin. “Wishing my beautiful daughter and her date a great time at prom #BadBoys,” Feely wrote, referring to a scene from the movie “Bad Boys 2.” He later said in a post on Sunday the photo was “intended to be a joke.” “The prom picture I posted was obviously intended to be a joke. My Daughter has dated her boyfriend for over a year and they knew I was joking,” he wrote. “I take gun safety seriously (the gun was not loaded and had no clip in) and I did not intend to be insensitive to that important issue.” But that didn’t stop people who reacted to the image, which drew more than 5,800 replies. “Oh yay — American dads have kicked off the season of ‘let’s pretend I’m going to shoot my daughter’s date for impugning her chastity’ pics,” tweeted Shannon Watts, founder of the gun control group Moms Demand Action.

5am – D         Tom Perez defends DNC lawsuit against Trump campaign, Russia, Assange. Washington (CNN) Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez on Sunday defended a new lawsuit alleging a wide-reaching conspiracy by the Trump campaign, Russia, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and others to interfere in the 2016 election to the detriment of the Democratic Party. Asked why the Democrats didn’t wait for special counsel Robert Mueller’s Justice Department probe into election interference to end, Perez said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the DNC needed to file “in a timely manner under the statute of limitations.” “I don’t know when Director Mueller’s investigation is going to end, nor would I ever ask him because I want him to do a good, thorough job,” Perez continued, adding that he’s confident the lawsuit will get a jury trial. The suit has garnered criticism from Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, California Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier, and former Obama White House adviser and CNN commentator David Axelrod. The lawsuit and other “sideshows,” such as the publication of former FBI Director James Comey’s explosive new book that portrays President Donald Trump in a negative light, “seem spectacularly ill-timed and abet@POTUS strategy of portraying a sober and essential probe as a partisan vendetta. Everyone should chill out and let Mueller do his job,” Axelrod tweeted Friday.           

5am – E         Mueller / FBI / DOJ News:

• Sessions warns White House: Firing Rosenstein could prompt his departure, too. (Mercury News) — WASHINGTON – Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently told the White House he might have to leave his job if President Donald Trump fired his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the exchange. Sessions made his position known in a phone call to White House counsel Donald McGahn last weekend, as Trump’s fury at Rosenstein peaked after the deputy attorney general approved the FBI’s raid April 9 on the president’s personal attorney Michael Cohen. Sessions’s message to the White House, which has not previously been reported, underscores the political firestorm that Trump would invite should he attempt to remove the deputy attorney general. While Trump also has railed against Sessions at times, the protest resignation of an attorney general – which would be likely to incite other departures within the administration – would create a moment of profound crisis for the White House.
• Trump foretells dire fate for Mueller investigation due to “illegal” Comey memo leaks. President Trump posed three questions Friday evening, drawing attention to the potential dire implications to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation with the revelation that the Justice Department watchdog is investigating whether Comey wrongfully leaked classified information in his memos. “James Comey illegally leaked classified documents to the press in order to generate a Special Council? Therefore, the Special Council was established based on an illegal act? Really, does everybody know what that means?” Trump said

6am – A         WAFFLE HOUSE SHOOTING:

• Police warn that a gunman accused of killing four people early Sunday at a Waffle House near Nashville is on the run and is armed and dangerous. (CNN) — Police warn that a gunman accused of killing four people early Sunday at a Waffle House near Nashville is on the run and is armed and dangerous. Authorities suspect that 29-year-old Travis Reinking, who recently moved to the Nashville, Tennessee, area, may have two weapons on him — a rifle and a hand gun. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation added Reinking to its “Top 10 Most Wanted” list, according to authorities. Police swarmed homes and swaths of woods in the area of the shooting, searching for the suspect, who authorities believe may be close by. After Reinking fled the scene of the shooting completely naked, police believe he went to his apartment, put on a pair of pants and may have escaped into the woods. Sheriff’s deputies 400 miles north of Nashville in Tazewell County, Illinois, where Reinking recently lived, were also on high alert. “He’s murdered four times with no apparent reason and no apparent motive. So we’re very concerned,” said Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson. Reinking arrived at the Waffle House in Antioch, southeast of Nashville at 3:19 a.m., wearing nothing but a green jacket, Metro Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said. The suspected gunman sat in his pickup truck for 3 1/2 to 4 minutes “just looking at people inside the restaurant,” Aaron said. Reinking got out of his pickup, wielding an “assault-type rifle,” and fatally shot two people outside the Waffle House, police said.  “He then went inside the restaurant (and) continued firing,” Aaron said. He said police responded to an active shooter call at 3:25 a.m. Some witnesses suffered cuts on their faces from shattered windows. Two more victims inside the restaurant were fatally shot.

6am – B         NBC News star Chuck Todd on conflicts of interest: ‘That’s my wife. That’s not me’ (Fox News) — NBC News’ Chuck Todd was called out for hypocrisy regarding conflicts of interest during an appearance on WABC’s “Bernie & Sid” radio show on Friday morning, but the “Meet the Press” moderator doesn’t seem to think his wife’s conflicts should stick to him. Todd has been vocal about his disagreement over how Fox News handled mainstream media outrage over Sean Hannity’s relationship with Trump attorney Michael Cohen. However, political commentator Jeffrey Lord has chronicled conflicts of interest surrounding Todd and his wife, who is a Democratic political consultant. Radio hosts Sid Rosenberg and Bernie McGuirk started their chat with Todd by admitting their friendship with Hannity, which resulted in the “Meet the Press” moderator claiming his beef was with Fox News for not forcing Hannity to explain his relationship with Cohen whenever the subject comes up. “Just in the same way that any time that I’ve interviewed somebody that my wife has professionally worked for, I let people know,” Todd said. McGuirk fired back, “Some say you haven’t done that all the time.” Todd claimed that anyone who would accuse him of not disclosing relationships didn’t do the proper research. It’s safe to assume he was referring to Lord, who penned a story earlier Friday for The American Spectator pointing out Todd’s potential conflicts. According to Lord, Kristian Todd, who is married to Chuck, worked with Jim Webb on a 2006 Senate campaign in Virginia, though the relationship wasn’t mentioned when Webb appeared on “Meet the Press” in 2017. Lord also pointed out that the NBC News star’s wife also donated to 2016 Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Kaine, and that  her company received millions from the Bernie Sanders campaign. “Todd never felt any need to disclose this during his three recent Kaine interviews on NBC,” Lord wrote. “Todd has never disclosed this business relationship in 11 Sanders interviews this year.”

6am – C         Why you should think twice before ordering coffee or tea on a plane (Food and Wine magazine) — They may not tell you, but there are a few things flight attendants would never drink in the air. Overnight and early morning flights are hard on all of us. Sometimes, the only saving grace is a nice warm cup of tea or coffee to wake us up and help us feel refreshed after hours in the air. But you may want to think twice before you order that English breakfast blend, according to cabin crew members. “Flight attendants will not drink hot water on the plane. They will not drink plain coffee, and they will not drink plain tea,” one flight attendant told Business Insider in February. Why the self-imposed ban on delicious warm beverages? As NBC 5 noted, the water for tea and coffee comes from the tap, not from a bottle, while in flight. And that water could be downright disgusting. According to a 2004 EPA sample of 158 planes, 13 percent contained coliform. Two of the airplanes were found to have dangerous E.coli in the water. And as Business Insider reported, an additional EPA study found that one in every eight planes fails the agency’s standards for water safety. “Water onboard is regulated under the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure safe drinking water on the aircraft,” the The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, told Business Insider. “The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA pushed for this regulation over 15 years ago. The regulation gives broad discretion to airlines on how often they must test the water and flush the tanks. AFA does not believe this regulation goes far enough or is sufficiently enforced.”

6am – D         TRAYON WHITE

• D.C. Council member Trayon White: ‘I’m done apologizing’ for alleged anti-Semitism
• Under fire for Farrakhan donation, D.C. lawmaker Trayon White says he’s ‘not backing down’
• D.C. lawmaker accused of anti-Semitism donated to event where Farrakhan denounced Jews

6am – E         BUSH FUNERAL:

• Former first lady Barbara Bush’s funeral brought together approximately 1,500 mourners, including these former and current US leaders from both sides of the political aisle.  (CNN) More than 1,000 mourners gathered in Texas Saturday to attend the funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush, the matriarch of a Republican political dynasty, who was dubbed “the first lady of the greatest generation” during the service. The funeral was held in Houston at the Bushes’ family church, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, and, per the former first lady’s request, was a very simple service. Among the approximately 1,500 attendees were former Presidents George H.W. Bush, George Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. First lady Melania Trump and former first ladies Laura Bush, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton were also in attendance. Son Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, grew emotional as he delivered remarks about his mother’s legacy.
• Melania Trump takes White House staffers who knew Barbara Bush to funeral.  First lady Melania Trump brought two White House staff members who were close to the Bush family as her guests to former first lady Barbara Bush’s funeral on Saturday in Houston. Trump was accompanied by former White House head maitre d’ George Hainey and current White House usher Buddy Carter, the first lady’s office said. “She knew they were very close to the Bush family and wanted them to be able to pay their respects,” spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

6am – F         Shania Twain apologizes for saying she would have voted for Trump in 2016. (The Hill) — Canadian singer Shania Twain said that if she could have voted in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, she would have backed President Trump. In an interview with The Guardian published on Sunday, the country singer said that even though she thought Trump had flaws, she would have supported him because she saw him as an honest person. “I would have voted for him because, even though he was offensive, he seemed honest,” Twain told The Guardian. “Do you want straight or polite? Not that you shouldn’t be able to have both.” “If I were voting, I just don’t want bullshit. I would have voted for a feeling that it was transparent,” Twain added. “And politics has a reputation of not being that, right?” Following the publication of the article, which drew some criticism on social media, Twain followed up on Twitter, apologizing to “anybody I have offended” and giving her comments more context.

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

• Sessions warns White House: Firing Rosenstein could prompt his departure, too. Attorney General
• Justice Department Watchdog Probes Comey Memos Over Classified Information
• Trump foretells dire fate for Mueller investigation due to “illegal” Comey memo leaks “James Comey illegally leaked classified documents to the press in order to generate a Special Council? Therefore, the Special Council was established based on an illegal act? Really, does everybody know what that means?” Trump tweeted.
• The Russian Lawyer Who Met With Donald Trump Jr. Says the Special Counsel Hasn’t Contacted Her
• Trump defends fired Flynn after release of Comey memos: “So General Michael Flynn’s life can be totally destroyed while Shadey James Comey can Leak and Lie and make lots of money from a third rate book (that should never have been written),” the president tweeted.” “Is that really the way life in America is supposed to work? I don’t think so!”
• Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez defends DNC lawsuit against Trump campaign, Russia, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

7am – C         Royal Baby Coming:

• British royals Princess Kate, Prince William set to welcome 3rd child. (ABC News) – Prince William and Princess Kate are set to become the parents of three children. Kate, 36, entered labor with her third child today, Kensington Palace announced. The palace announced on Twitter Kate was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital “in the early stages of labour” Monday morning along with husband William.  The newborn will join siblings Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, who turns 3 on May 2.  The baby is set to be born in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital, the same London hospital where Kate gave birth to George and Charlotte. The newborn will be fifth in line to the British throne after the child’s grandfather, Prince Charles, father, William, brother, George and sister, Charlotte. The reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, ascended to the throne in 1952. The baby is the queen’s sixth great-grandchild.
• Pippa Middleton Is Pregnant With Her First Child: Report (E! Online) — It’s a Middleton sister baby boom! As Kate Middleton prepares to give birth to her third child any moment, The Sun on Sunday reports that her younger sister Pippa Middleton, 34, is pregnant with her and 42-year-old husband James Matthews’ first child. The family has not commented. The newspaper said the couple, who wed 11 months ago, told their family and friends the happy news last week after Pippa had a 12-week ultrasound. Their baby is due in October.

7am – D/E     Ex-NFL kicker Jay Feely says prom date photo with gun ‘intended to be a joke’ (Fox News) — Prom season is here for millions of Americans and the photos that come with it, but a “joke” picture posted Saturday by a former NFL kicker holding a gun between his daughter and her date has sparked outrage by some online. Jay Feely, who played for the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants and Jets, posted a picture showing his left arm around his daughter, who is rolling her eyes at her father. In his right hand is a gun next to her date, who sports a slight grin. “Wishing my beautiful daughter and her date a great time at prom #BadBoys,” Feely wrote, referring to a scene from the movie “Bad Boys 2.” He later said in a post on Sunday the photo was “intended to be a joke.” “The prom picture I posted was obviously intended to be a joke. My Daughter has dated her boyfriend for over a year and they knew I was joking,” he wrote. “I take gun safety seriously (the gun was not loaded and had no clip in) and I did not intend to be insensitive to that important issue.” But that didn’t stop people who reacted to the image, which drew more than 5,800 replies. “Oh yay — American dads have kicked off the season of ‘let’s pretend I’m going to shoot my daughter’s date for impugning her chastity’ pics,” tweeted Shannon Watts, founder of the gun control group Moms Demand Action.

8am – A         INTERVIEW – SHEILA TATE — Nancy Reagan’s White House Press Secretary and former spokeswoman for George Bush’s presidential campaign and White House transition office

• SHEILA TATE served as Press Secretary to First Lady Nancy Reagan from 1981-1985, handling some of the most newsworthy and controversial issues of the first Reagan term. After leaving the White House staff, she and Jody Powell, former White House Press Secretary to President Jimmy Carter, founded Powell Tate, which quickly became one of Washington’s most successful public relations firms. Sheila served as Press Secretary to George H.W. Bush during his successful campaign for the Presidency in 1988, and for his transition. In 1996, she was Communications Director for the 1996 Republican National Convention in San Diego. Sheila remained in close touch with Nancy Reagan after the Reagans returned to California, speaking with her often until Mrs. Reagan’s passing in 2016.
• Discussed her new book “Lady in Red: An Intimate Portrait of Nancy Reagan”
• Reflected on the passing of former First Lady Barbara Bush

8am – B         Latest on the Waffle House shooting

8am – C         IT’S A BOY! Kate Middleton gives birth to baby boy at Lindo Wing. It’s the third baby for parents Kate and Will, with bookies already taking punts over the most likely names for the royal tot. THE Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy. Kate Middleton and husband Prince William welcomed their third child, weighing in at 8lbs, 7oz, at 11.01am. It is understood that William may bring Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see their new brother at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, later this afternoon. The Royal family are said to be delighted with the news, with the Queen informed of the fifth-in-line to the throne’s arrival earlier today. In a statement, Kensington Palace said: “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs. “The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. “The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.  Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.”

8am – D         INTERVIEW – FENIT NIRAPPIL – (fen-nit nair-rah-pill)  – D.C. City Hall reporter for the Washington Post

• D.C. Council member Trayon White: ‘I’m done apologizing’ for alleged anti-Semitism
• Under fire for Farrakhan donation, D.C. lawmaker Trayon White says he’s ‘not backing down’
• D.C. lawmaker accused of anti-Semitism donated to event where Farrakhan denounced Jews

8am – E         Trump marks Earth Day with statement bragging about his efforts to cut regulations (Huffington Post) — President Donald Trump commemorated Earth Day on Sunday by applauding his administration’s efforts to roll back key environmental protections.  Trump stressed the importance of preserving the “life-sustaining gifts” of “our magnificent land and waterways, abundant natural resources, and unique wildlife” in a White House statement released Sunday. “It is our responsibility to protect them for our own benefit and that of generations to come,” Trump said in the statement, before praising his administration for repealing regulations meant to do just that. “We know that it is impossible for humans to flourish without clean air, land, and water,” according to the statement. “We also know that a strong, market-driven economy is essential to protecting these resources. For this reason, my Administration is dedicated to removing unnecessary and harmful regulations that restrain economic growth and make it more difficult for local communities to prosper and to choose the best solutions for their environment.”

Ecoanxiety Is Now a Thing — And It’s Ruining Your Sex Life.  (Harris Poll) — Here’s one way to trash your sex life. Littering is the biggest turnoff for environmentally-conscious singles, according to a new Zoosk survey released ahead of Earth Day. The dating site polled 5,100 men and women looking for love to see how protecting the planet factors into someone’s attractiveness, and 78% of people said they want to date someone who cares about the environment. So tossing garbage onto the ground is a deal-breaker for almost three in four (74%) of them. And that sustainable sin was followed by unnecessarily wasting food (32%), leaving the lights on (17%) and not recycling (17%). Ninety-two percent of Americans are worried about the future of our planet, according to a recent Harris Poll. And millennials are particularly concerned, with nearly three quarters (72%) of people aged 18 to 34 suffering “ecoanxiety” — including racing thoughts, sleep problems and a feeling of uneasiness — from watching, hearing and/or reading negative news stories about the environment.