Brad Thor, Sharyl Attkisson, Bret Baier and various Fisher House supporters joined WMAL on Friday!

Mornings on the Mall

Friday, December 4, 2015

Hosts: Brian Wilson and Larry O’Connor

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

5am – A/B     Motive elusive in deadly San Bernardino rampage as FBI takes over probe. (Washington Post) — SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Authorities were still trying Thursday to establish a motive for the deadliest U.S. mass shooting in nearly three years, even as they revealed that the two attackers had amassed a large stockpile of explosives and ammunition. The rampage killed 14 people, wounded 21 and locked down a swath of Southern California for much of the day Wednesday as investigators scrambled to determine whether they were looking at a terrorist attack or an extremely unusual and lethal case of workplace violence. The killers were a young husband and wife who welcomed the birth of a daughter just six months ago and showed no outward sign of Islamist radicalization, psychological distress or a desire for mayhem. The couple were slain in a wild police shootout on a residential street four hours after the massacre.

5am – B         INTERVIEW – FISHER HOUSE

5am – C         SPORTS NEWS: Packers beat Lions 27-23 on Rodgers-to-Rodgers Hail Mary. DETROIT (AP) Aaron Rodgers took the shotgun snap on an untimed down with no time left, shuffled to his left, slipped a sack, rolled right and heaved a pass that seemed as high as it was long. Richard Rodgers, drifting toward the end zone while teammates and opponents crowded behind him, leaped and made the catch on the 61-yard play to give the Green Bay Packers a stunning 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. ”I knew I was going to have to buy some time to allow them to get into the end zone,” Aaron Rodgers said. ”I knew once I got outside the right that I was going to be able to set up and throw.” The Packers got one more shot to win after Detroit defensive end Devin Taylor was called for grabbing Aaron Rodgers’ facemask on a tackle on what would’ve been the last play. The Packers (8-4) had lost four of five.

5am – D         DRIVE AT FIVE INTERVIEW: Bestselling author BRAD THOR

5am – E         FISHER HOUSE INTERVIEW: Army Capt. Canndice Wooten

Location         Fort Campbell, Tenn. / Canndice and her husband, Army Staff Sergeant Frank Wooten, stayed at the Fisher House at Fort Hood, Texas, after the birth of their sons in 2011. Their newborns named Brayden and Deklin weighed two-and-a-half pounds…combined.

6am – A         San Bernardino Update:

• President Obama On California Attack ‘We Don’t Know Why They Did It’ – Could Be ‘Workplace Violence’ – President Barack Obama says that it’s possible yesterday’s attack in California, where two people killed 14 and injured 17 others, was terrorist related. But he’s also holding out the possibility it was workplace violence. “It is possible that this is terrorist-related, but we don’t know; it is also possible this was workplace-related,” Obama said, adding, “we don’t know why they did it.”

• Loretta Lynch Urges Muslim Parents To Contact Feds If Their Children Are Bullied. Speaking to a Muslim advocacy group on Thursday, Attorney General Loretta Lynch urged the parents of Muslim parents to contact the Justice Department and the Department of Education if their children are bullied at school. “Other areas in which we are seeing growing areas of concern…specifically involve our children, and the issues of bullying and the schools,” Lynch said during a question-and-answer session at an event hosted by Muslim Advocates, a civil rights organization. “We saw [bullying] a lot in the New York area, unfortunately, where there would be a backlash against the Muslim community in general,” added Lynch, a former U.S. attorney based in New York.
• Motive elusive in deadly San Bernardino rampage as FBI takes over probe. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Authorities were still trying Thursday to establish a motive for the deadliest U.S. mass shooting in nearly three years, even as they revealed that the two attackers had amassed a large stockpile of explosives and ammunition.

6am – B         FISHER HOUSE INTERVIEW: Sarah Fallon – Wife of wounded warrior Tim Fallon (NOTE: Tim is scheduled for WMAL interview at 5:45 PM.)

Guest location:         Rockville, Md. (home) / Guest bio:      In November 2010, during the fourth month of Marine 1st Lt. Tim Fallon’s tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, he was conducting a night patrol and was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The explosion took the sight of both eyes and caused multiple shrapnel wounds. It also killed the Afghan officer standing in front of him. The next thing Tim knew he was in Walter Reed Army Medical Center undergoing treatment to attempt to restore some eyesight and heal his other wounds. He is legally blind and can only see vague shapes and shadows. He and his wife Sarah have stayed at Fisher Houses.

6am – C         Entertainment News:

• Scott Weiland, former Stone Temple Pilots & Velvet Revolver frontman, found dead at 48: The statement said Weiland, who was dogged by substance abuse problems throughout his career, passed away in his sleep while on a tour stop in Bloomington, Minnesota.

• In a recent radio interview: Scott Weiland Says ‘F— ISIS,’ Calls Donald Trump Presidency a ‘Nightmare’: “Fuck ISIS. And if they come after me, I’ll fucking pull out my Glock 17,” he said about the terrorist organization’s threat to the world, noting his semi-automatic pistol.
• Barbara Walters reveals her annual ‘Most Fascinating People’ – (NEW YORK) — Barbara Walters has announced who will appear on her annual “Most Fascinating People” special. Barbara Walters Presents: 10 Most Fascinating People 2015 will feature actors Bradley Cooper, Amy Schumer and Tracy Morgan, American Ballet Theater principal dancer Misty Copeland, presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, UFC champion Ronda Rousey and fashion designer Donna Karan. The most fascinating person of 2015 will be announced during the ABC News special, airing on Dec. 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET.

6am – D         Congress News:

• Ryan Throws Down Republican Gauntlet in Outlining House Agenda for ’16. WASHINGTON — Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin drew a striking contrast between Republicans and Democrats on Thursday and vowed to pursue legislation that would frame a stark choice for voters in 2016. “Our No. 1 goal for the next year is to put together a complete alternative to the left’s agenda,” Mr. Ryan said, speaking in the Great Hall at the Library of Congress, a setting designed to highlight the importance he placed on the speech. “Only government that sends power back to the people can make America confident again.”
• Senate votes to repeal key Obamacare provisions, defund Planned Parenthood. (USA Today) — WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to repeal key provisions of Obamacare and strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood, approving legislation that is sure to be vetoed by President Obama. Senators voted 52-47 to pass the bill. Two moderate Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine and Mark Kirk of Illinois — joined Democrats in opposing the bill. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was absent. The legislation still must be approved by the House, which passed a different version in October. The White House said Wednesday that Obama will veto the bill if it reaches his desk. Democrats say the 2010 Affordable Care Act — better known as Obamacare — has helped 17.6 million Americans gain medical coverage and has stopped insurance companies from refusing to insure patients with pre-existing conditions.
• Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA): ‘Sensible Gun Laws Work, We’ve Proven It In California’ – Sensible gun laws work. They’ve proven it in California.    .@SenatorBoxer today: “Sensible gun laws work, we’ve proven it in California.” pic.twitter.com/iEYrnnlg5X  — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) December 3, 2015 / They’ve proven it in California: Sensible gun laws work. Hey, do you know what they’ve proven in California? They’ve proven that sensible gun laws work. If you doubt that sensible gun laws work, just check out recent events in California.

6am – E         FISHER HOUSE INTERVIEW:     Brian Gawne – Vice President of Community Affairs, Fisher House Foundation

Brian Gawne, CAPT, USN (retired) joined Fisher House Foundation in 2010 after 28 years of naval service.

7am – A         In historic decision, Pentagon chief opens all jobs in combat units to women. (Washington Post) – Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said Thursday that he is opening all jobs in combat units to women, a landmark decision that would for the first time allow female service members to join the country’s most elite military forces. Women will now be eligible to join the Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces and other Special Operations Units. It also opens the Marine Corps infantry, a battle-hardened force that many service officials had openly advocated keeping closed to female service members. “There will be no exceptions,” Carter said. “This means that, as long as they qualify and meet the standards, women will now be able to contribute to our mission in ways they could not before.”

7am – B         Fisher House Radiothon

7am – C         Will Smith Credits an Ex-Girlfriend for Inspiring Him to Become an Actor. Will Smith may have been destined to become famous, but the “Concussion” actor has revealed that there was something more that drove him to become a star. Smith, 47, explained to fellow actor Benicio Del Toro on Variety’s Actors on Actors series that having his heart broken as a teen provided the motivation he needed. “When I was 15, my girlfriend cheated on me. And from that moment, in this bizarre psychological twist, I wanted to be the most famous entertainer on Earth,” he said. “I believed that your girlfriend couldn’t cheat on you.” Smith noted that the cheating incident still influences his acting today. He explained, “It’s that really bizarre psychological leap. I’m always looking for that in my characters — what’s the bizarre psychological leap they make based on some trauma?”

7am – D         INTERVIEW — SHARYL ATTKISSON – Investigative journalist and host of new show “Full Measure” on WJLA ABC Sunday mornings at 9:30 am

• Media coverage of the San Bernardino terrorists
• Washington Post: Motive elusive in deadly San Bernardino rampage as FBI takes over probe
• Sharyl’s blog post: The “Post Truth” News Media
• What’s coming up on her Sunday show

7am – E         FISHER HOUSE GUEST: Dan & Genette Burgess (BIR’-jess)

In August 2011, Dan deployed to Afghanistan with the N.C. National Guard. Three months later, he stepped on an IED and was severely injured. The blast claimed his right leg. His family was able to be with him during his recovery at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, thanks to Fisher House. The girls went to school on base. Dan has a service dog, a terrier named “Sergeant.”

8am – A         San Bernardino Update:

• President Obama On California Attack ‘We Don’t Know Why They Did It’ – Could Be ‘Workplace Violence’

• Loretta Lynch Urges Muslim Parents To Contact Feds If Their Children Are Bullied.
• Motive elusive in deadly San Bernardino rampage as FBI takes over probe.

8am – B         FISHER HOUSE INTERVIEW: Theresa Johnson, House manager, Fisher House at Fort Hood, Texas in Killeen, Texas (Fort Hood)

• Theresa has been a Fisher House volunteer, manager and resident. She volunteered at the Fort Campbell (on Ky./Tenn. border) Fisher House, then was manager at the Honolulu Fisher House (seven years), and now is manager at the Fort Hood Fisher House. Theresa had just arrived at Fort Hood in March 2014 when shootings happened on base. She can talk about how Fisher House helped the victims’ families. She has great stories. Theresa’s son, Army Specialist Blake Johnson, who fought in Afghanistan, was severely hurt in a car wreck near his base in Germany two days before Mothers Day 2013. Theresa was able to fly to Germany to see her son thanks to Fisher House Hero Miles, and she and her family stayed at a Fisher House when he was moved to Walter Reed.

8am – C         INTERVIEW — JOE MILITANO – Senior Vice President

Public Affairs and Communications, Finmeccanica North America

• Discussed the “Finmeccanica Challenge” ~ $ 50,000 donation match to kick off our annual Fisher House Radiothon.
• This will be the 5th year we have kicked off our Radiothon with the “Finmeccanica Challenge”.

8am – D         INTERVIEW — BRET BAIER – Anchor of Special Report, Fox News Channel, weekdays at 6 pm

• Donald Trump opens ‘yuge’ lead over GOP field in CNN/ORC national poll
• President Obama On California Attack ‘We Don’t Know Why They Did It’ – Could Be ‘Workplace Violence’
• Bret analyzed the San Bernardino attacks.
• Bret pledged $1,000 to Fisher House.

8am – E         FISHER HOUSE INTERVIEW: Dave Coker – President, Fisher House Foundation in Rockville, Md.

• Dave has 36 years of experience in nonprofit management and the military health system. Following his retirement from the U.S. Army, he became the first employee of Fisher House Foundation in 1994 when the program had 14 houses.

MONDAY: Joe diGenova and Trevor Matich