5-A/B/C — PORTLAND RIOTS OVERNIGHT:

5:05 AM – INTERVIEW – SHELBY TALCOTT – Reporter for The Daily Caller — on the ground in Portland

5-D — FBI RECORDED TRUMP’S QUESTIONS ON RUSSIA DURING FIRST COUNTERINTELLIGENCE BRIEFING:

An FBI agent who was secretly inserted into Donald Trump’s first counterintelligence briefing in August 2016 to gather evidence of Russia collusion recorded the specific questions the future president was asking intelligence officials as well as sizing up national security adviser Michael Flynn’s behavior, according to a memo declassified and made public Thursday.
“Trump asked the following question, ‘Joe, are the Russians bad? Because they have more numbers are they worse than the Chinese?'” Agent Joseph Pientka wrote in his summary memo of the briefing with then-candidate Trump. “Writer responded by saying both countries are bad. The numbers of IOs present in the U.S. is not an indicator of the severity of the threat. Writer reminded Trump the Chinese asymmetrical presence in the U.S.” https://justthenews.com/accountability/russia-and-ukraine-scandals/spying-fbi-recorded-trump-questions-russia-during-first

5-E — FORDHAM DEMANDS APOLOGY:

Fordham Demands Apology For Student’s Tiananmen Protest:

A New York City college has barred a Chinese immigrant from campus and demanded he apologize for posing with a legally owned rifle in a social media post that criticized China for the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Fordham University administrators are demanding that rising senior Austin Tong submit an apology letter to the school by July 23 after he posted to Instagram a photo that shows him holding a firearm in honor of the Tiananmen Square protests, according to a disciplinary letter from the school. Tong risks suspension or expulsion if he refuses to apologize.
The school is arguing that the photograph ran afoul of its commitment to combat bias and hate crimes. D. Keith Eldredge, Fordham’s dean of students, said Tong will not be welcome on campus regardless of whether he attends the university-sanctioned “implicit bias” training demanded of him under the disciplinary letter.
Tong says his photograph, which shows him holding an AR-15 rifle pointing at the ground, with the caption “Don’t tread on me,” did not pose a threat to fellow students. In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, he said he has no plans to apologize. https://freebeacon.com/campus/college-demands-apology-from-student-who-posed-with-gun/

6 AM HOUR

6-A — DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND RACISM:

Louie Gohmert Urges House to Ban Democratic Party for Supporting Slavery

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) introduced a privileged resolution on Thursday that calls upon Congress to ban the Democratic Party for supporting slavery and the Confederate States of America, Breitbart News has learned exclusively.

Gohmert released a privileged resolution on Thursday that details the Democratic Party’s history of supporting slavery, the Confederacy, and other racist policies throughout the party’s history. A privileged resolution allows for Gohmert, or any other congressman, to “supersede or interrupt other matters that might be called up or pending before the House.” Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Jody Hice (R-GA), Rand Weber (R-TX), and Andy Harris (R-MD) cosponsored Gohmert’s resolution.

A privileged resolution requires the House to either immediately table the motion, which then becomes a vote for or against it, or bring it to the floor for a vote within two days of its introduction. If the resolution survives a vote to table, each side has an hour to debate it before it comes up for a vote on the floor. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/07/23/louie-gohmert-urges-house-to-ban-democratic-party-for-supporting-slavery/

6-B/C – 6:15 AM – INTERVIEW – Annalisa Meyer, Deputy Director of Communications – Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

TOPIC: The Smithsonian’s National Zoo to reopen this week

The Zoo will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and will issue 5,000 times passes per day.

The Smithsonian selected the Zoo and Udvar-Hazy as reopening guinea pigs because the two facilities’ sizes and designs allow for effective social distancing. The Zoo is an outdoor park that spans 163 acres, and the Udvar-Hazy Center’s two hangars total more than 300,000 square feet. Both locations have ample parking available to visitors — a boon during this time of decreased public transit options.

Visitors to either location who are 6-years-old and older will be required to wear face coverings, including while outside at the Zoo. Employees have set up hand-sanitizing stations, increased the frequency of their cleaning processes and put some one-way paths in place.

Restrooms at both facilities will be open, as will the Zoo’s outdoor concessions stands and gift shops.
https://dcist.com/story/20/07/20/smithsonians-national-zoo-and-udvar-hazy-center-to-reopen-this-week/

– National Zoo to reopen, and most guests will need to wear masks to protect against coronavirus.

The zoo will reopen to the public with limited hours starting Friday
The National Zoo will reopen to the public with limited hours starting Friday, with restrictions to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Smithsonian, which runs the zoo, announced Monday.

The zoo will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and all visitors over age 6 will be required to wear a face mask at all times, including outdoors. Children between the ages of 2 and 6 are encouraged, but not required to wear masks. Restrooms will be open and outdoor concessions and retail kiosks will be open at the zoo.

“The safety and well-being of our staff, visitors and volunteers come first and are paramount, so we are taking a deliberate, phased and cautious approach to reopening,” Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie Bunch said in the statement. “Our goal is to be safe and measured in order to adjust and pivot as necessary.”
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/national-zoo-reopen-masks-protect-coronavirus

6-D — WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

• WAPO: NFL franchise to go by ‘Washington Football Team’ this season, delaying permanent name change
  As officials from Washington’s NFL team began the process of changing the franchise’s name from the Redskins, it became apparent that there was no simple way to pick a new name, navigate trademark issues and design a logo before the start of training camp next week. So on Thursday, the team announced publicly what had already become a clear choice to many inside the organization: It will play the 2020 season as the Washington Football Team and pick a permanent replacement name later.
  “A rebrand like this is a 12- to 18-month process if you want to do it right,” Terry Bateman, the franchise’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said in a phone interview.
  With draft picks arriving and signing their contracts Wednesday and Thursday and veterans such as quarterback Dwayne Haskins and edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan reporting for a camp that is scheduled to open this coming Tuesday, Washington was running out of time to get a new name and logo in place. What it delivered instead was a recasting of the team’s lettering, logo-less uniforms in the club’s burgundy and gold color scheme with the word “Washington” below the neck and helmets with players’ jersey numbers on the sides — a throwback to an old college look and one still used by the University of Alabama.

6-E — CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD RIPS BIDEN

Charlamagne Tha God says Biden should ‘shut the eff up forever’ after calling Trump ‘first’ racist POTUS

“The Breakfast Club” radio host Charlamagne Tha God blasted former Vice President Joe Biden for calling President Trump the “first” racist president to be elected.
On Wednesday, Biden took aim at the president’s alleged racism, suggesting it’s historic compared to his predecessors.
“No sitting president has ever done this… No Republican president has done this. No Democratic president. We’ve had racists and they’ve existed and they’ve tried to get elected president. He’s the first one that has,” Biden said.
However, Charlamagne declared the presumptive Democratic candidate Thursday’s “Donkey of the Day” for his comments.
“I really wish Joe Biden would shut the eff up forever and continue to act like he’s starring in the movie ‘A Quiet Place’ because as soon as he opens his mouth and makes noise, he gets us all killed, OK?” the radio host said. “There’s already so many people who are reluctantly only voting for Joe Biden because he’s the only option and because Donald J. Trump is that trash.”
Charlamagne then cited polling that showed a wide enthusiasm gap between Biden and Trump, noting that it’s “not good” for the Democrat to be lacking excitement among his voters, and suggested Biden’s latest remarks will further contribute to the “lack of enthusiasm.”
“Old white male leadership has failed America and there is nothing worse than an old white male [who] can’t recognize the faults and flaws of other old white males,” Charlamagne told listeners. “Racism is the American way. Donald Trump is not the first. And sadly, he won’t be the last, right? He’s just more overt with his racism than most presidents in recent times.”
https://www.foxnews.com/media/charlamagne-tha-god-biden-shut-the-eff-up-forever-after-calling-trump-first-racist-potus

6-F — VICTORIA IS LEAVING US. Thank you for all of your help over the years filling in for our executive producer Heather and call screening during the pandemic!

7 AM HOUR

7-A — 7:05 AM – INTERVIEW – MARK MORGAN – Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – discussed the riots in Portland. CBP agents are on the ground safeguarding the federal courthouse. Morgan laid out the facts regarding their deployment.

7-B/C — WOKE BASEBALL / NATS GAME / DR. FAUCI’S HORRIBLE THROW

NATS PUTS BLM ON THE MOUND

• Nationals displayed Black Lives Matter stencil on pitcher’s mound in MLB opener against Yankees https://fxn.ws/3fVTh5U
• Nationals paid tribute to Black Lives Matter movement during Opening Day ceremony https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/nationals/nationals-pitchers-mound-feature-black-lives-matter-logo-during-opening-weekend

DR. FAUCI’S DISASTROUS FIRST PITCH

• Dr. Anthony Fauci throws wild first pitch during MLB’s opening game.
  The most famous person on the field before Thursday opening night game between the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals was Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert who has been so prominent in America’s response to the coronavirus.
  During his time in the public eye, Fauci has made no secret of his baseball fandom, particularly his fandom of the Washington Nationals. So Fauci was picked by the Nats to throw out the first pitch of the delayed 2020 season — and he probably wants a do-over.
  Fauci took the field in a Nats, jersey and cap. He had a mask covering his face, of course. He stretched out his arm a bit and then uncorked a wild first pitch. Probably a good thing there were no fans there to see it.
  https://sports.yahoo.com/dr-anthony-fauci-throws-wild-first-pitch-during-ml-bs-opening-game-231001329.html

7:35 AM – INTERVIEW – REP. LOUIE GOHMERT – R-TX

– Louie Gohmert Urges House to Ban Democratic Party for Supporting Slavery

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) introduced a privileged resolution on Thursday that calls upon Congress to ban the Democratic Party for supporting slavery and the Confederate States of America, Breitbart News has learned exclusively.
Gohmert released a privileged resolution on Thursday that details the Democratic Party’s history of supporting slavery, the Confederacy, and other racist policies throughout the party’s history. A privileged resolution allows for Gohmert, or any other congressman, to “supersede or interrupt other matters that might be called up or pending before the House.” Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Jody Hice (R-GA), Rand Weber (R-TX), and Andy Harris (R-MD) cosponsored Gohmert’s resolution.
A privileged resolution requires the House to either immediately table the motion, which then becomes a vote for or against it, or bring it to the floor for a vote within two days of its introduction. If the resolution survives a vote to table, each side has an hour to debate it before it comes up for a vote on the floor.

7-E — 7:45 AM – INTERVIEW – CHRIS BROWNE – Deputy Director of the National Air and Space Museum https://airandspace.si.edu/people/staff/christopher-browne

TOPIC: Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center To Reopen Today
– Discussed what people can expect when going (masks, social distancing, etc) and also what there is to see

Two Smithsonian institutions will reopen to visitors this Friday, July 24.
The National Zoo in D.C. and the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va., will reopen with crowd limits and new health and safety measures in place.
All visitors will need to have free timed-entry passes to get in.
The Udvar-Hazy Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. It will release about 1,500 passes per day.
In a press release, the Smithsonian said the first two reopenings will provide an opportunity to improve new processes and learn from the visitor experience,
The Smithsonian selected the Zoo and Udvar-Hazy as reopening guinea pigs because the two facilities’ sizes and designs allow for effective social distancing. The Zoo is an outdoor park that spans 163 acres, and the Udvar-Hazy Center’s two hangars total more than 300,000 square feet. Both locations have ample parking available to visitors — a boon during this time of decreased public transit options.
https://dcist.com/story/20/07/20/smithsonians-national-zoo-and-udvar-hazy-center-to-reopen-this-week/

8 AM HOUR

8-A — 8:05 AM – INTERVIEW – DAN FLYNN – senior editor of The American Spectator and author of “The War on Football: Saving America’s Game”

TOPIC: Discuss how woke politics is going to ruin sports this season:

• Recap how baseball’s opening day paid tribute to BLM – Nats taking a knee, BLM on the mound, Red Sox BLM billboard, etc.
• Redskins will just go with “Washington team” this season
• NFL to require masks and allowing social justice decals on helm

8-B/C — TRUMP IS SCRAPPING GOP CONVENTION EVENTS IN JACKSONVILLE

*President Trump said Thursday he is cancelling the Jacksonville portion of the Republican National Convention that had been planned next month because of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump said that he would hold a speech of some kind to formally accept his party’s nomination for president. The president said convention delegates will still gather in North Carolina and formally nominate him for re-election.

8-D — 8:35 AM – INTERVIEW – BRET BAIER – Anchor of Special Report on Fox News Channel and host of “The Campaign” podcast

TOPIC: News of the day – Trump scrapping GOP convention events in Jacksonville, Portland riots, coronavirus relief

8-E — Fairfax County Public Schools has voted to rename Robert E. Lee High School after the late Congressman John Lewis starting this upcoming school year.

Fairfax County Public Schools has voted to rename Robert E. Lee High School after the late Congressman John Lewis. The name change will take effect during the 2020-2021 school year, though with online learning students won’t see it for themselves until at least next year.

“The name Robert E. Lee is forever connected to the Confederacy, and Confederate values are ones that do not align with our community,” said Lee District School Board member Tamara Derenak Kaufax, who proposed the name change with at-large member Karen Keys-Gamarra, in a press release.