Noah Pollak, Senator David Vitter, KT McFarland and Roll Call's Christina Bellantoni joined WMAL on Wednesday morning.
Mornings on the Mall
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Hosts: Brian Wilson and Larry O’Connor
5am – A DRIVE AT FIVE INTERVIEW — NOAH POLLAK – Weekly Standard columnist
>> Netanyahu: Blood libel against us led to Jerusalem terror attack
>> Abbas condemns deadly attack on Jewish worshipers in Jerusalem synagogue
>> Obama Responds to Jerusalem Synagogue Attack: 'Too Many Palestinians Have Died'
5am – B/C Taking calls on President Obama’s response to the Jerusalem synagogue attack.
5am – D Damascus couple accused of hosting teen keg party have charges dropped. (Washington Post) – Montgomery County prosecutors on Monday dropped more than 30 charges against a Damascus couple and their two sons who were accused of hosting a underage keg party, ending a case that has raised questions about whether county police have become too aggressive as they try to crack down on teenage drinking. The move by prosecutors came after Circuit Court Judge Steven Salant ruled that officers had improperly slipped into the back yard of George and Cathy Magas the night of Jan. 4. Salant said the observations they subsequently made, and the evidence they subsequently collected, could not be used in court. “There was an unlawful invasion of the defendants’ property,” Salant said from the bench last week. At issue are the actions of a specially trained group of officers that puts a focus on parties at which teens are consuming alcohol. Police authorities said the unit’s efforts are necessary to address concern throughout the county about underage drinking. “There have been too many drunk-driving deaths in this county,” Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said. “This unit is potentially saving lives every time they go out and do their jobs.”
5am – E D.C. Council Approves Fines for Failure to Clear Snow From Sidewalk. (NBC DC) – The D.C. Council gave final approval Tuesday to a law that would make it easier for the district government to fine residents and businesses that don’t clear the snow from their sidewalks in a timely manner. The Winter Sidewalk Safety Amendment would give residents 24 hours to clear their sidewalks after a snowfall or face a $25 fine. Businesses would have 8 hours and the fine would be $150. The law has been on the books for years but never enforced because it required the city to sue the homeowner or business. If signed by the mayor, fines could be issued by a D.C agency. Senior citizens and disabled residents would be exempt.
6am – A/B/C Rep. John Lewis Calls for ‘Massive, Non-Violent Protests’ Nationwide if Wilson Isn’t Indicted. Civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) believes that Ferguson is a “turning point” for the modern civil rights movement, and that the nation will see massive protests if a grand jury does not indict Officer Darren Wilson in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
6am – D Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.: The worst time to travel in the area before Thanksgiving. (DCist) — Chart: Tuesday Afternoon Before Thanksgiving Worst Time To Travel In D.C. Area. Don't try to leave the D.C. region during the late afternoon hours of the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. That's when average speeds drop to their lowest on area roads during the holiday week, according to an analysis by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The Transportation Planning Board used "commercially available speed information provided anonymously by drivers and other travelers via GPS-equipped smartphones and in-vehicle navigation devices" during a recent Thanksgiving. “With the data, they calculated average travel speeds on the region's Interstate highways and a few key arterial roadways throughout each of the days of the holiday week, then compared those averages to typical non-holiday days," according to MWCOG. Tuesday's traffic awfulness was followed by Wednesday afternoon and Monday evening.
6am – E Arlington Board Votes to Scrap Streetcar Plan. 7.4-mile streetcar line would have run between Arlington and Fairfax counties. (AP)- The Arlington County Board voted 4-1 Tuesday to end funding for a streetcar system planned along Columbia Pike, saying they could no longer ignore political reality. The 7.4-mile streetcar line would have run between Arlington and Fairfax counties, with the majority of the line in Arlington. It would have connected Crystal City, Potomac Yard and Pentagon City to the Skyline section of Fairfax County. Fairfax County Board Chair Sharon Bulova called Arlington's decision to drop the plan "short-sighted," but said she recognized the lack of support. "We are both saddened and disappointed" by the Arlington board's decision, Bulova said. Along Columbia Pike, some of the new high rises and businesses already in place located in anticipation of the streetcar. The executive director of the Columbia Pike Revitalization organization called the Board's decision stunning and predicted stalled growth until a new transit plan is developed. Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fissette said the election of an anti-streetcar candidate, John Vihstadt, to the Arlington County Board served as a proxy for a referendum and that the level of discord became a problem.
7am – A INTERVIEW – SENATOR DAVID VITTER – R-LA, currently the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
>> Democrats Block Keystone Bill, Landrieu's Plea Rejected
>> Protests erupt after Keystone vote: Native American Chant Interrupts Senate as Keystone Vote Fails
>> Boxer: Keystone XL stands for 'extra lethal'
>> Obama to ease immigration rules on millions of undocumented: source.
7am – B D.C.’s Cat Cafe May Have a $5 to $7 Cover Charge. Recent University of Maryland graduate Kanchan Singh has always wanted to be a small business owner. Today, the 24-year-old management consultant announced her plans to open D.C.'s very first cat cafe—a cafe where people can hang out with cats on-site, but can't actually bring their own in to dine with them. Crumbs & Whiskers will be a typical pastry shop—it may also sell coffee—in one room, and in a second room, there will be cats available to hang out with from the Washington Humane Society. These cats are also available for adoption. Singh says she's aware of the possibility that people may just want to play with the cats and not actually patronize the cafe, so she's considering having a cover charge of anywhere from $5 to $7 to enter the cafe. The plan is for the cafe to open in summer 2015, and Singh is currently scouting locations, with the hope that she'll find a space on U Street NW or H Street NE. Crumbs & Whiskers will launch a Kickstarter in January, though Singh says the cafe will open no matter what—the Kickstarter money will just determine how big the cafe is and how fancy the human and cat furniture will be. "If the Kickstarter is not successful, the cafe will just be pretty basic," Singh says. "The atmosphere and ambiance is dependent on the Kickstarter."
7am – C Bill Cosby Still Gets Free Food at Ben’s Chili Bowl. Horrific rape allegations against Bill Cosby have resurfaced, with the 14th women accusing the comedian of sexual assault coming forward this past weekend. But, for now, "America's dad" doesn't have to worry about one potential consequence: Ben's Chili Bowl says Cosby is still welcome for free food anytime he wants. Cosby is a longtime supporter of the historic establishment and moderated Ben's Chili Bowl's 55th anniversary event. He even went to Arlington in March to attend the grand opening of the restaurant's Virginia outpost. And anyone who's been on U Street NW lately knows that there's a huge mural of Cosby plastered outside the establishment. Cosby and, after the 2008 election, the Obama family, are famously the only people who eat free at Ben's. The recent news hasn't changed that. "Cosby is part of our family," Vida Ali, a member of the family that owns Ben's, tells City Desk.
Netflix Pulls Bill Cosby Special Amid Rape Allegations. Netflix has decided to postpone its Bill Cosby special as the embattled comedian faces multiple accusations of rape, the latest from former supermodel and TV host Janice Dickinson. “At this time we are postponing the launch of the new stand up comedy special ‘Bill Cosby 77′,” a Netflix spokesman said on Tuesday. The hour-long comedy special was set to air Nov. 28 in honor of Cosby’s 77th birthday. Netflix’s announcement came just hours after “Entertainment Tonight” aired an exclusive interview with Dickinson in which she claimed Cosby sexually assaulted her over 30 years ago. “I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do, and it happened to me, and this is the true story,” she said.
7am – D INTERVIEW — KT MCFARLAND – Fox News National Security Analyst
>> Netanyahu: Blood libel against us led to Jerusalem terror attack
>> Abbas condemns deadly attack on Jewish worshipers in Jerusalem synagogue
>> Obama Responds to Jerusalem Synagogue Attack: 'Too Many Palestinians Have Died'
>> SEN RAND PAUL: “We must demand that Palestinian leaders stop the incitement, which they have committed in word and in deed. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel"
>> Democrats Block Keystone Bill, Landrieu's Plea Rejected. The Senate blocked the pipeline bill 59-41 on Tuesday night.
7am – E Chris Hemsworth Named People's Sexiest Man Alive 2014. (ABC) — "Thor" star Chris Hemsworth is People’s Sexiest Man Alive, topping challengers Chris Pratt, Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. He succeeds last year’s honoree Adam Levine, the Maroon 5 lead singer. The honor was announced on Tuesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” with Hemsworth – his voice and face concealed – appearing via Skype as audience members tried to guess his identity. The questions and answers weeded out the other possible winners. Does he enjoy Lincoln vehicles? No. "I'm most excited about the alive portion of that statement," Hemsworth said. "I'm flattered." The 31-year-old Australia native said his brother Liam has been supportive. “Liam’s been good. We’ve been throwing sexy looks back and forth … he’s been a real team player through this one,” Hemsworth said. Hemsworth was quick to thank the people who contributed to his success. ”My parents, I guess, for putting this together,” he said.
8am – A INTERVIEW — CHRISTINA BELLATONI – Editor, Roll Call
>> Democrats Block Keystone Bill, Landrieu's Plea Rejected. The Senate blocked the pipeline bill 59-41 on Tuesday night. November 18, 2014 Mary Landrieu begged her fellow Democrats to back legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline, looking for a lifeline in her long-shot bid to keep her Senate seat. But on Tuesday night, she fell one vote short. The Senate rejected an attempt to get cloture on the measure, with 41 senators—all Democrats or independents—voting to stall the measure.
8am – B Bob Marley family launches "first world cannabis brand." The family of the late Jamaican reggae artist, Bob Marley has launched what they describe as the world's first global cannabis brand. It will be called Marley Natural and be used to sell cannabis-infused lotions, creams and various accessories. The new brand is being developed with Privateer Holdings based in Washington state, stressing the life and legacy of Jamaica's greatest cultural export. It is intended to be sold in the US and possibly worldwide from next year. Bob Marley's daughter, Cedella Marley, said her father would welcome the move. "My dad would be so happy to see people understanding the healing power of the herb," she said.
8am – C Media News:
- CNN Confuses Mosque And Synagogue. (Daily Caller) — In light of four killings at a Jerusalem synagogue this morning, CNN interviewed Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. One point of confusion, however, is whether those murders transpired at a synagogue or a mosque. CNN apparently thought it was a mosque. Mosque. Synagogue. What’s the difference? HonestReporting caught the gaffe. They report that CNN has since removed the video. A note to CNN chyron writers: According to Judaism 101, an online encyclopedia focusing on Jewish matters, a Jewish “church” is called a synagogue, shul or temple.
- Matt Lauer was behind the firing of top ‘Today’ executive. Matt Lauer was behind the firing of top “Today” executive Jamie Horowitz after he found out about a plan to replace his co-anchor Savannah Guthrie with Hoda Kotb, sources exclusively tell Page Six.
- Nielsen to Measure Netflix Viewing. Effort Is Meant to Help Content Owners Gauge Impact of Licensing Shows. Even as Netflix Inc. and other streaming-video providers have expanded to reach 40% of American homes, they have largely remained black boxes. They have refused to share data on how many viewers watch TV shows on their services, and there has been little independent data. Next month, that will change, when Nielsen begins measuring viewership of TV on subscription online video services for the first time, according to Nielsen client documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
8am – D D.C. Council Approves Fines for Failure to Clear Snow From Sidewalk. (NBC DC) – The D.C. Council gave final approval Tuesday to a law that would make it easier for the district government to fine residents and businesses that don’t clear the snow from their sidewalks in a timely manner. The Winter Sidewalk Safety Amendment would give residents 24 hours to clear their sidewalks after a snowfall or face a $25 fine. Businesses would have 8 hours and the fine would be $150. The law has been on the books for years but never enforced because it required the city to sue the homeowner or business. If signed by the mayor, fines could be issued by a D.C agency. Senior citizens and disabled residents would be exempt.
TOMORROW: Rep. Louie Gohmert, Eli Lake and Stuart Varney
