Joe diGenova, Trevor Matich, Saagar Enjeti and Rob Henneke joined WMAL on Tuesday!

Mornings on the Mall

Tuesday, December 17, 2018

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

 

5am – A/B/C A 7-year-old girl who died in Border Patrol custody was healthy before she arrived, according to her family, who is now calling for an “objective and thorough” investigation into her death. In a statement, the family’s attorneys disputed reports that the girl, Jakelin, was dehydrated before she was taken into custody.  She died of cardiac arrest, suffered brain swelling and liver failure, according to CBP and DHS officials.

• Father of Guatemalan girl who died in US custody has ‘no complaints’ about her treatment, consul says.  (CNN)The father of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died after being detained by the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) said he has “no complaints about how Border Patrol agents treated him and his daughter,” Guatemalan Consul Tekandi Paniagua told CNN on Saturday.The consul said the father, Nery Gilberto Caal, told him agents did everything they possibly could to help his daughter, Jakelin Caal Maquin, after she became sick on a a bus. The bus traveled from the Antelope Wells port of entry in New Mexico to a Border Patrol station in Lordsburg, New Mexico, about 90 minutes away. She died December 8 in a hospital in El Paso, Texas, authorities said. The cause of death has not been determined. Caal did not speak to the media Saturday, but in a statement issued by his lawyers, he said he was “grateful for the many first responders that tried to save young Jakelin’s life in New Mexico and Texas.” Still, his lawyers called for an investigation that “will assess this incident within nationally recognized standards for the arrest and custody of children. The family intends to assist in such an investigation into the cause and circumstances of Jakelin’s death.”

5am – D/E     Venezuelans regret gun ban, ‘a declaration of war against an unarmed population.’ (Fox News) — CUCUTA, Venezuela/Colombia border – As Venezuela continues to crumble under the socialist dictatorship of President Nicolas Maduro, some are expressing words of warning – and resentment – against a six-year-old gun control bill that stripped citizens of their weapons. “Guns would have served as a vital pillar to remaining a free people, or at least able to put up a fight,” Javier Vanegas, 28, a Venezuelan teacher of English now exiled in Ecuador, told Fox News. “The government security forces, at the beginning of this debacle, knew they had no real opposition to their force. Once things were this bad, it was a clear declaration of war against an unarmed population.” Under the direction of then-President Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan National Assembly in 2012 enacted the “Control of Arms, Munitions and Disarmament Law,” with the explicit aim to “disarm all citizens.” The law took effect in 2013, with only minimal pushback from some pro-democracy opposition figures, banned the legal commercial sale of guns and munitions to all – except government entities. Chavez initially ran a months-long amnesty program encouraging Venezuelans to trade their arms for electrical goods. That year, there were only 37 recorded voluntary gun surrenders, while the majority of seizures – more than 12,500 – were by force. In 2014, with Nicolás Maduro at the helm following Chavez’s death but carrying through his socialist “Chavista” policies, the government invested more than $47 million enforcing the gun ban – which has since included grandiose displays of public weapons demolitions in the town square. A former gun store owner inside Venezuela – who told Fox News he has now been relegated to only selling fishing supplies since the ban – said he can’t sell any type of weaponry – even a slingshot – and underscored that even BB ammunition and airsoft guns are only issued to police and military officers. The punishment for illicit carrying or selling a weapon now is 20 years behind bars.

 

6am – A COMEY / FLYNN / MUELLER:

• Fired FBI Director James Comey is expected to return to Capitol Hill on Monday for more testimony before House lawmakers. COMEY RETURNS TO THE HOT SEAT: Fired FBI Director James Comey is expected to return to Capitol Hill on Monday and could be further grilled behind closed doors about alleged political bias in the agency under his watch, especially wake of allegations that former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was pressured into answering questions without having a legal representation …  When Comey previously testified Dec. 7, a key focus of questioning from lawmakers then, FOX News is told, was Comey’s decision to draft the 2016 statement recommending against filing criminal charges in the Clinton email probe before the former secretary of state was even interviewed, as well as the alleged political bias demonstrated in a slew of text messages and leaks by top FBI officials.
• FLYNN TO BE ABSOLVED? – A leading Republican is predicting that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s case against ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will soon be thrown out of court … U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., told FOX News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that the FBI had “tricked” Flynn into not having a lawyer and had improperly “post-dated” documents to “morph” them into critical evidence against him. “I would not be surprised a bit if the conviction of Flynn is overturned, because of the Justice Department and FBI’s misconduct — and that in fact, we go potentially all the way to the Supreme Court, with new protections — when the FBI and the Department of Justice lies to someone and tricks them into making statements, and then charges them with a lie they entrapped them in. … This kind of conduct we haven’t seen in a long time.”
• ‘OVER MY DEAD BODY’: Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani told “FOX News Sunday” that President Trump will sit down one-on-one with Special Counsel Robert Mueller “over my dead body” amid bombshell new revelations in the false statements case against ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, whom Giuliani said was “railroaded” and “framed” … “Yeah, good luck, good luck — after what they did to Flynn, the way they trapped him into perjury,” Giuliani told “FOX News Sunday” host Chris Wallace. Trump has already provided written responses to inquiries from the special counsel. In a spirited back-and-forth with Wallace, Giuliani also reiterated his claim that Trump initially “didn’t know about” the hush-money payments made to two women by former Trump attorney Michael Cohen that prosecutors have alleged constituted campaign finance violations.

6am – B         TRUMP ADMIN CHANGES: MULVANEY / ZINKE: Mick Mulvaney to replace John Kelly as ‘acting’ chief of staff, Trump says. On Friday, the President announced that Budget Director Mick Mulvaney will serve as his acting chief of staff. Ryan Zinke, Trump’s embattled Interior secretary, to step down. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will leave the administration amid growing controversy over allegations that he violated ethics rules.  President Trump tweeted the announcement Saturday and said he will announce a new secretary next week.

6am – D        OBAMACARE RULING: A federal judge in Texas has ruled that most of the Obama-era Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. The law remains in place for now, pending legal appeals expected to reach the Supreme Court. The lawsuit was brought by 20 Republican-led states. If the latest ruling is upheld after the appeal process, subsidies that people collect to buy health coverage would no longer be available. Medicaid could also be in jeopardy.

6am – E         Trump making unannounced visit to Arlington National Cemetery for wreath-laying event. President Makes Surprise Trip to Arlington Cemetery to Help with Wreath Laying. Wreaths Across America decorates graves of our heroes … President Donald Trump paid a Saturday visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where thousands of volunteers had just taken part in the rain in the annual holiday wreath-laying tribute to those who served — and died — in America’s wars. Trump made the unscheduled stop to the famous military ceremony about 2:15 p.m. ET, hours after the event began. Every December, Wreaths Across America places wreaths on the graves at Arlington and other veterans cemeteries.

6am – F         SHUTDOWN: Congress has until midnight Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown and the parties are deadlocked over funding President Trump’s border wall.  Trump has said he’d be “proud” to have a shutdown over the $5 billion he wants for the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Democratic leaders say Trump doesn’t have the votes from the Republican-controlled Congress to support full funding for the wall.

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

• Fired FBI Director James Comey is expected to return to Capitol Hill on Monday for more testimony before House lawmakers. 
• FLYNN TO BE ABSOLVED? – A leading Republican is predicting that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s case against ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will soon be thrown out of court …
• ‘OVER MY DEAD BODY’: Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani told “FOX News Sunday” that President Trump will sit down one-on-one with Special Counsel Robert Mueller “over my dead body” amid bombshell new revelations in the false statements case against ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, whom Giuliani said was “railroaded” and “framed”

7am – B         BORDER GIRL: A 7-year-old girl who died in Border Patrol custody was healthy before she arrived, according to her family, who is now calling for an “objective and thorough” investigation into her death. In a statement, the family’s attorneys disputed reports that the girl, Jakelin, was dehydrated before she was taken into custody.  She died of cardiac arrest, suffered brain swelling and liver failure, according to CBP and DHS officials.

7am – C         Meet reindeer boobs, the oh-so-flattering and photogenic look that’s three-parts cozy, one-part nippy, and 100-percent guaranteed to make at least one person uncomfortably clear their throat (what up, grandma). Because the look involves taking your favorite—or actually probably least favorite—holiday sweater, cutting a hole in it, pulling your exposed breast through the hole, and then decorating your boob to like a reindeer.

7am – D         CHRISTMAS OFFICE PARTY STORIES:

• alyssa rose ‏@AlyssaFM949 Dec 14: Someone (dunno who) puked on the floor and in the water fountain last night at our company Christmas party (which was held in our office). It has now become a full blown investigation and dubbed vomit-gate and it’s been the grossest, yet most exciting part of my 2018 thus far.

7am – E INTERVIEW — TREVOR MATICH — WMAL’S REDSKINS ANALYST

• ‘Faith, bro’: Redskins rally late for 16-13 win over Jags to keep playoff hopes alive. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In the moments before his game-ending 36-yard field goal gave the Washington Redskins an unlikely 16-13 victory Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars and saved his team’s season, Dustin Hopkins refused to consider the weight of what he was about to do. “I’m not thinking of the consequences,” the Redskins kicker said later. And yet on the Washington sideline, his field goal meant everything. As the ball twirled through the northern uprights at TIAA Bank Field, the Redskins erupted with joy. Four weeks of disaster that started with quarterback Alex Smith’s broken leg Nov. 18 and lingered through four losses, three new quarterbacks, an almost daily run of tabloid-like stories and a near tumble from the playoff race ended with that kick. Many of the players threw their arms in the air. Coach Jay Gruden, whose job security has been a constant topic through the slide, smiled. Josh Johnson, the newest quarterback — a man who had not won a game he started in a 10-year NFL career — fell to his knees and pounded the ground.

 

8am – A/B     INTERVIEW – SAAGAR ENJETI – White House correspondent, The Daily Caller – discussed Mulvaney, Zinke, shutdown, Rudy, Flynn and Arlington cemetery.

• Mick Mulvaney to replace John Kelly as ‘acting’ chief of staff, Trump says. On Friday, the President announced that Budget Director Mick Mulvaney will serve as his acting chief of staff.
• Ryan Zinke, Trump’s embattled Interior secretary, to step down. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will leave the administration amid growing controversy over allegations that he violated ethics rules.  President Trump tweeted the announcement Saturday and said he will announce a new secretary next week.
• Face the Nation’s Margaret Brennan asked White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller if there will be a partial government shutdown over a border wall. Miller says “If it comes to it, absolutely.”
• ON MEET THE PRESS, Schumer: Trump Is Not Going to Get the Wall in Any Form
• Trump making unannounced visit to Arlington National Cemetery for wreath-laying event

8am – C         Miss Universe 2018: Catriona Gray, from the Philippines, claims crown as first transgender contestant fails to make top 20. Catriona Gray from the Philippines claimed the Miss Universe crown for 2018 on Monday, beating contestants from 93 other countries. The 24-year-old Filipina-Australian pipped South African Demi Leigh Nel-Peters for the top spot, becoming the fourth Filipina to bring home the coveted title. Miss Venezuela, Sthefany Gutiérrez, rounded out the top three at the contest in Bangkok. Thailand’s own Sophida Kanchanarin made it to the final 10, to huge cheers from the home crowd, but did not progress further. Ahead of Monday’s final, much attention was on Miss Spain, Angela Ponce, the first transgender contestant in the competition’s history. “I’m competing because it’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl,” Ponce told Time ahead of the competition. “I’m showing that trans women can be whatever they want to be: a teacher, a mother, a doctor, a politician and even Miss Universe.” Unfortunately for Ponce, however, she failed to make the top 20.

8am – D         INTERVIEW – ROB HENNEKE – was the lead lawyer on this lawsuit.  Henneke is the General Counsel & Director, Center for the American Future. Fmr. elected Texas prosecutor & Texas Asst. Attorney General

• A federal judge in Texas has ruled that most of the Obama-era Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. The law remains in place for now, pending legal appeals expected to reach the Supreme Court. The lawsuit was brought by 20 Republican-led states. If the latest ruling is upheld after the appeal process, subsidies that people collect to buy health coverage would no longer be available. Medicaid could also be in jeopardy.
• Trump praises federal judge ruling striking down Obamacare: “Mitch and Nancy” should pass new health-care law. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, ruled Friday that ObamaCare’s individual mandate is unconstitutional and that because the mandate cannot be separated from the rest of the law, the rest of the law is also invalid. The ruling, which came just one day before the deadline to sign up for coverage for next year, is almost certainly going to be appealed.  The reasoning of the ruling states that in 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the mandate to have coverage because of Congress’s power to tax. However, Congress removed the fine for failing to comply with the mandate last year, which, the judge argues, means the mandate is no longer a tax and therefore is unconstitutional.

8am – E         Former Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus selected to join Navy with backing from Mattis. Reince Priebus, a former chief of staff to President Trump and Republican power broker, could join the Navy after a months-long process in which Defense Secretary Jim Mattis recommended him and a board of officers selected him as a reserve officer, according to defense officials and a memo obtained by The Washington Post. Priebus, 46, will be required to attend two weeks of training in Newport, R.I., and drill once a month as a reservist if commissioned. He would join a list of Navy reserve officers with political connections that include Sean Spicer, Trump’s former press secretary, and Robby Mook, Hillary Clinton’s former presidential campaign manager. Priebus declined to comment Friday. In a statement submitted to the Navy and obtained by The Post, Priebus wrote that he has proudly watched his sister serve as a Navy doctor and remembers his father teaching at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois when he was growing up. He added that he especially felt called to serve after an Oval Office meeting in which Trump met with the wife and children of Senior Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens, 36, a Navy SEAL who was killed early in the administration in a Special Operations raid in Yemen.