Weather Channel's Ray Stagich, VDOT, MDSHA, Joe diGenova, Fox's Janice Dean and Washington Post's Robert Costa joined WMAL on Monday.

Listen to podcast of the show.

INTERVIEW – JOE DIGENOVA – legal analyst and former U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia

  INTERVIEW — JANICE DEAN – Fox News senior meteorologist and author of "Freddy the Frogcaster and the Big Blizzard"

INTERVIEW: ROBERT COSTA – National political reporter, Washington Post – recapped the speeches and reaction to the GOP presidential candidates at the Iowa Freedom Summit this weekend.

Mornings on the Mall

Monday, January 26, 2015

Hosts: Brian Wilson and Larry O’Connor

5am – A         INTERVIEW – RAY STAGICH – Meteorologist, The Weather Channel – previewed the upcoming snow forecast.

• Today | Periods of rain and snow. Temps nearly steady in the upper 30s. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precip 90%.
• Tonight | Snow showers. Low 33F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
• Tomorrow | Snow showers early. Peeks of sunshine later. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.

5am – B         Obama Proposes New Protections For Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Obama administration is proposing new protections for large portions of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The U.S. Department of Interior says it's the first time it's recommended additional protections and that their new recommendations have the potential to be one of the largest conservation measures "since Congress passed the visionary Wilderness Act over 50 years ago." The Department is recommending that millions more acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, including the Coastal Plain, be declared "Wilderness." That would make the total area of the refuge declared Wilderness 12.28 million acres. Wilderness is the highest level of protection available for public lands. It prohibits mining, drilling, roads, vehicles and permanent structures. The Department of Interior says less than 40 percent of the Refuge currently has Wilderness designation. Interior plans to start managing the coastal plain area of the Refuge as Wilderness, but will need help from Congress to keep those new protections permanent. Only Congress has the power to make a Wilderness designation, and in a video released to YouTube Sunday, Obama challenged Congress' to act on the issue.         

Land Grab! Obama To Take Control Of ANWR. (Daily Caller) — President Obama announced Sunday that his administration plans to lock up the oil-rich 1.5 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain and offshore areas in Alaska from oil and gas exploration. Obama is asking Congress to designate 12 million acres of ANWR as a “wilderness” to keep it off-limits to development, despite widespread Native Alaskan support for drilling in the area. ANWR’s coastal plain alone is estimated to hold 28 billion barrels of oil. “Designating vast areas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as Wilderness reflects the significance this landscape holds for America and its wildlife,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. The Obama administration argues that making ANWR off-limits to development will help protect the region’s wildlife and natural beauty. Obama is also considering ways to prevent new oil production at the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Environmentalists have long campaigned to hinder oil production in Alaska. “Just like Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of our nation’s crown jewels and we have an obligation to preserve this spectacular place for generations to come,” Jewell added. But Alaska lawmakers were furious with the administration’s proposal — for decades Alaska Republicans and Democrats have been pushing for opening ANWR to drilling.

5am – C         Drone discovered on White House grounds, officials say. (LA Times) — White House says they have recovered a possible drone on the grounds. An electronic device that could be a drone has been recovered on the White House grounds, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a briefing early Monday in New Delhi, India. Asked about media reports to that effect, Earnest said the device that was found "doesn't pose any ongoing threat" to the Obama family. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are traveling in India right now. Their daughters, Malia and Sasha, are at home with their grandmother. The question arose during a lengthy news conference here about diplomatic talks with the Indian government and Obama's trip later this week to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to pay respects to the family of the late king during their mourning period. At the middle of the news conference, Earnest said he didn't know about the reports.

5am – D         Republicans make pitches at Iowa Freedom Summit. (Des Moines Register) — No one seemed to regret the absence of Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush from the stage during a marathon session of conservative political theater in Iowa, as a string of GOP speakers urged Iowa Republicans not to buckle to the establishment.

A parade of nine Republicans who are considering presidential bids engaged in an all-out battle for the conservative vote at U.S. Rep. Steve King's inaugural Iowa Freedom Fest. While the 1,500-member audience, made up predominantly of constitutional and religious conservative activists, seemed plenty happy with the speeches by Ben Carson, Donald Trump, Rick Perry, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Carly Fiorina, it was Scott Walker and Ted Cruz who were best received. Even Chris Christie, who argued against the conventional wisdom in some quarters that he isn't conservative enough for Iowa, got an enthusiastic standing ovation for a speech audience members later described as heartfelt and genuine.

5am – E         Deflate-Gate News:

• Bill Nye 'The Science Guy' Reacts to Bill Belichick's Response to Deflategate. (Bleacher Report) — The Deflategate scandal involving the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and deflated footballs during the team's victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game has taken another fun turn.  A day after Belichick offered a quasi-scientific explanation for how the balls ended up deflated to illegal levels that unsurprisingly did not implicate the organization in any wrongdoing, scientist Bill Nye has essentially refuted the coach's claims. "What he said didn't make any sense," Nye told ABC News.  Nye is most famous for his former television program, Bill Nye the Science Guy, but in recent years, he has also become a champion for acknowledging the effects of climate change and regularly lectures at colleges and various conferences around the country. In the field of science, his opinion generally would be weighted a bit more heavily than anything Belichick said.
• NFL Disapproves of Marshawn Lynch Grabbing Crotch, Sells Photos of Crotch Grab. (Bleacher Report) — The National Football League doesn't approve of Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch grabbing his crotch during games, but the league has no problem trying to make money off the crotch grab.  Lynch has grabbed his crotch while scoring a touchdown on multiple occasions in the past. After he grabbed his crotch during last week's NFC Championship Game, the NFL fined him $20,000 for making an obscene gesture, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The NFL has even warned Lynch and the Seahawks that a crotch grab during Super Bowl XLIX will result in a 15-yard penalty, according to ESPN's Sal Paolantonio (via Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith). It appears as though the NFL does not condone Lynch's celebratory act. Well, except for the fact that a collage that includes a photo of the "obscene gesture" is being sold at the league's official online store.
• Richard Sherman: NFL Won't Punish Patriots Due To "Conflict Of Interest."  (Deadspin) —  The Seahawks have arrived in Arizona, and while many players have declared that it's time to start focusing on football(big game next Sunday, you know) instead of the deflation scandal, Richard Sherman didn't hesitate to fire the first shots and predict the Patriots will get off scot-free because owner Robert Kraft is buddy-buddy with Roger Goodell. At his media session in Phoenix, Sherman was asked about the perception that the Patriots skirt—or possibly break—the rules more than do other teams. Sherman replied: "I think perception is reality. It is what it is. Their resume speaks for itself. You talk about getting close to the line, this and that. I don't really have a comment about that. Their past is what their past is. Their present is what their present is.  "Will they be punished? Probably not. Not as long Robert Kraft and Roger Goodell are still taking pictures at their respective homes. He [Goodell] was just at Kraft's house last week before the AFC Championship. Talk about conflict of interest. As long as that happens, it won't affect them at all."

6am – A         Weather News:

• INTERVIEW – JENNI MCCORD – VDOT SPOKESPERSON – previewed Virginia’s snow preparations
• INTERVIEW – CHRISTOPHER BISHOP – Maryland State Highway spokesperson – discussed snow in the Baltimore area where commuters will be impacted this morning and he explained how the snow will impact the afternoon commute.
• INTERVIEW – JOHN MATTHEWS – WMAL's news director – shared the school closings and weather-related news in the DC area.

6am – B         Obama to Visit Saudi King Salman After Curbing Domestic Oil Expansion. (Breitbart) — Barack Obama didn’t have time to travel to France in observance of the Charlie Hebdo massacre. He doesn’t have time to meet with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, either.But it seems Obama is willing to make time to visit Saudi Arabia — and bearing quite a gift in the process. He’s traveling to Saudi Arabia Tuesday “to meet with new King Salman to pay respects after the death of King Abdullah,” and announcing the closing down of even more domestic oil production potential while on his way there. Usually Obama waits until he’s face-to-face to bow to a Saudi king. This time it appears he took care of the formality well in advance. The Obama administration will propose setting aside more than 12 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as wilderness, including 1.5 million acres of coastal plain, the White House announced Sunday, in a move that will spark a fierce battle with the new Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chairman, Lisa Murkowski, and other Alaska Republicans.  “Alaska’s National Wildlife refuge is an incredible place — pristine, undisturbed. It supports caribou and polar bears, all manner of marine life, countless species of birds and fish, and for centuries it supported many Alaska native communities. But it’s very fragile,” said President Obama in a just released White House video on the move.

NBC’s Richard Engel: Obama Statement Ironic Because Abdullah ‘Could Not Stand’ Him. (Mediaite) — NBC’s chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel said on Friday that President Barack Obama‘s statement on the passing of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud was ironic and just an attempt at being polite because in reality, the late king “could not stand” President Obama. According to Engel, Saudi Arabia was against the “democratization” that the U.S. encouraged with its support for the Arab Spring and its opposition to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. “One of the big ironies here is that President Obama, in his statement, said how close he was to King Abdullah — King Abdullah did not like President Obama,” Engel said. “In fact, a lot of people I know that are quite close to the late King Abdullah said that the king could not stand President Obama.”

6am – C         TV News:

• Fox Business Network Debuts New Primetime Lineup, New Shows Monday. (Fox News) — Fox Business Network debuts a new primetime lineup this Monday, January 26, including the premieres of two exciting new shows you won't want to miss. “Strange Inheritance" is a ground-breaking reality program that takes viewers through the entire inheritance process and tells the stories of what families decide to do with their newly acquired possessions. Shocking secrets are discovered, gut-wrenching decisions are made about priceless heirlooms and fascinating histories are uncovered along the way. "Strange Inheritance" airs at 9p ET Monday – Thursday, hosted by Jamie Colby. Check out a preview of the show and read more from Colby herself. If you've seen Kennedy on “The Independents” or “Outnumbered,” you know she sees the world with a unique viewpoint that goes against the norm. You want your news and politics conventional? Good luck stopping "Kennedy," airing at 10p ET Monday – Friday. on't miss the new primetime lineup on Fox Business Network: 7p ET – "Lou Dobbs Tonight"… 8p ET – "Cavuto"… 9p ET – "Strange Inheritance" (Monday – Thursday)… "Stossel" (Friday)… 10p ET – "Kennedy".. 11p ET – "Lou Dobbs Tonight"    
• Donald Trump rages at 'Meet The Press' after being mocked by Chuck Todd. (Business Insider) — There was host-on-host violence at NBC on Sunday. Donald Trump, who hosts the network's reality show "The Apprentice," blew up on Twitter after a remark "Meet The Press" moderator Chuck Todd made a crack on air Sunday morning. Todd was discussing Trump's Saturday speech at the Iowa Freedom Summit when he threw in a jab about the real estate mogul and reality star's history of flirting with White House bids. "Nobody's going to mistake Donald Trump for a presidential candidate, I don't think, other than Donald Trump," Todd said. Trump, who has said he's "very seriously" considering running for president in 2016, previously toyed with launching a campaign in 2012 and 2000. He clearly didn't take kindly to Todd's comment. Shortly after the broadcast, Trump unleashed a series of tweets mocking Todd's ratings. Todd took over "Meet The Press" last September after the departure of the show's previous host, David Gregory. Since then, Todd initially struggled to match Gregory's ratings. Recently, Todd's numbers have improved. On Jan. 18, he had his highest-rated broadcast of the show drawing an audience that had not been seen since Gregory left. Trump wasn't the only one who took shots at "Meet The Press" after Todd's comment. Sam Nunberg, an adviser who's working with Trump on his political efforts, also fired off a series of tweets on Sunday making fun of Todd's ratings. In those messages Nunberg suggested Trump's work on "The Apprentice" is what allows NBC to keep airing Todd.
• NBC News Renews Savannah Guthrie’s Contract At ‘Today’ – Report.  (variety) — NBC News has signed “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie to a new contract that is said to last at least three years, according to a report in The Los Angeles Times, a move that would seem to position the venerable morning program for more news, and less of the drama that has plagued it in recent months. The report, which featured an interview with Guthrie, said the anchor would interview President Obama during NBC’s pre-game coverage leading up to Super Bowl XLIX, a duty that longtime “Today” anchor Matt Lauer has handled twice in the recent past. Guthrie joins Lauer, who agreed to a new contract with NBC last year, in agreeing to stick with the show for the short-term future.
• Ann Curry: Revenge is a dish best served tell-all. (National Inquirer) — ANN CURRY is finally free from her contract with NBC – and now it’s Matt Lauer’s turn to sweat! Ann is being wooed to write a tell-all book on her years with the “Today” show, including dishing dirt on her colleague-turned-nemesis Matt, sources told The National ENQUIRER. Ann’s $12 million annual deal expired in December, two-and-a-half years after her 2012 firing as Matt’s co-anchor. After that, she limped along as an NBC special correspondent, rarely appearing on camera. Publishers hope Ann is ready to settle scores, sources said. “Ann had an amazing history on ‘Today.’ She was the news anchor for 14 years before being elevated to co-host, so she’s seen it all and knows all the skeletons in everybody’s closet,” a source divulged. “Ann has all the dirt on Matt, Katie Couric, Al Roker and former co-host Meredith Vieira. She knows all about behind-the-scenes fights and tantrums, and she can command a multi-million dollar book deal to dish it all.” Matt, 57, is quaking in his boots, insiders said. He was reportedly instrumental in Ann, 58, getting sacked after just a year as his co-host.

6am – D         Teacher Scolds Physician Dad for Daughter's 'Unhealthy' Lunch. (Fox News) – A Missouri father was shocked when he received a letter from one of his daughter's teachers that scolded him for not packing his 2nd grader a "proper" lunch. A substitute teacher identified as N. Krueger wrote, "Dr. and Mrs. Puckett, the cafeteria reported to me that Alia's lunch today included four chocolate bars, a bag of marshmallows, Ritz crackers and a pickle. Please see that she packs a proper lunch tomorrow. Parent signature requested." Dr. Justin Puckett, who is double board certified in osteopathic family medicine and obesity medicine, posted the letter to his Facebook page and wrote back, "Request declined." Puckett and his daughter, Alia, who is a 2nd grader at Kirksville Primary School just outside St. Louis, Missouri, appeared on "Fox and Friends Weekend" today to discuss this "food fight." "I packed four pieces of ham, pickles, a cheese stick, four marshmallows in a ziplock bag and one chocolate bar," Alia explained. "The real issue to me here isn't the letter," Puckett said. "It's just more of the overarching theme that sometimes we as parents feel that … other people are trying to intrude into way we parent our children." Puckett asserted that the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act championed by Michelle Obama paints with too broad of a brush.

6am – E         Denis McDonough’s slip of the tongue. (Politico) — White House chief of staff Denis McDonough suffered a slip of the tongue Sunday when he offered the first name of an American woman held hostage by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In an interview with host George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” about the ongoing situation with a Japanese hostage held by ISIL, McDonough mentioned the woman’s first name, which is not public knowledge. “As it relates to our hostages, we are obviously continuing to work those matters very, very aggressively. We are sparing no expense and sparing no effort, both in trying to make sure that we know where they are and make sure that we’re prepared to do anything we must to try to get them home,” McDonough said. “But [redacted] family knows how strongly the president feels about this, and we will continue to work this.”

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

• Bob McDonnell's Law License Suspended After Corruption Conviction
• Federal judge has stayed her order overturning Alabama's gay marriage ban for 2 week. (AP) — A federal judge on Sunday put a two-week hold on her decision that overturned Alabama's gay marriage ban, but said same-sex couples should not be kept in lengthy legal limbo. U.S. District Judge Callie V. S. Granade refused the Alabama attorney general's request to put her ruling on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the decision of gay marriage later this year. But she did issue a 14-day stay to give the state time to appeal her decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
• DC Metro fire incident lawsuits growing: One man who was aboard the train has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence against the transit authority. An attorney representing the man said Thursday that she is now representing 50 clients in lawsuits stemming from the incident.
• Marion Barry’s Son, Christopher Barry, Pleads Not Guilty in Bank Altercation. The son of former District of Columbia mayor Marion Barry and a candidate for the D.C. Council has pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor charges stemming from an altercation at a downtown Washington bank. Court records show 34-year-old Marion Christopher Barry was released on his own recognizance after a court appearance Wednesday afternoon. He was ordered to stay away from the bank and the teller he’s accused of threatening.

7am – B         SAG Recap: 'Birdman' tops SAG Awards, Redmayne upsets Keaton. (AP) – LOS ANGELES – The backstage farce "Birdman" topped the 21st annual Screen Actors Guild Award, winning best ensemble cast, even though its star, Micheal Keaton, was upset by Eddie Redmayne in the most outstanding actor category.  Oscar favorites Julianne Moore, Patricia Arquette and J.K. Simmons cemented their front-runner status in a ceremony that often serves as a kind of preview to the Academy Awards. Redmayne, who stars as Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything," was the somewhat surprise winner in a category expected to go to Keaton for his career-capping performance as a Hollywood has-been trying to mount a comeback on Broadway. Redmayne dedicated his award — "this very wonderful skinny man" — to sufferers and victims of ALS. Moore, widely considered the best-actress favorite, won most supporting actress for "Still Alice," in which she plays an academic with early onset Alzehimer's Disease. Accepting the award for most outstanding supporting actor for his performance as a domineering jazz teacher in "Whiplash," Simmons thanked all 49 actors who appear in the drama. "All of us actors are supporting actors," said Simmons, a veteran character actor. "Each of us is essential, completely crucial to the story because if there's one false moment, the train comes off the rails." "Boyhood" star Patricia Arquette added the latest in a string of awards Sunday, taking the supporting actress honor for her performance, filmed over the course of 12 years.

7am – C         Secret Service investigating small drone on White House grounds. Washington (CNN) – The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a "device," described as a small drone, found on the grounds of the White House, a White House official said Monday, and Press Secretary Josh Earnest said early indications are that the device does not pose an ongoing threat. The unnamed official also says Secret Service is waiting until daylight to clear it away. President Barack Obama and the first lady are both away, traveling in India with Earnest.

7am – D/E     Will You Let Your Kids Watch ‘American Sniper’?

• 'American Sniper' Dominates The Weekend Box Office Again. LOS ANGELES (AP) — "American Sniper" hit the mark with moviegoers again. The military drama starring Bradley Cooper as Navy SEAL marksman Chris Kyle topped the box office for a second weekend in a row with $64.4 million in first place, according to studio estimates Sunday. "American Sniper" is up for six Academy Awards, including best picture and best actor for Cooper. The total haul for the Warner Bros. film now stands at $200.1 million.  "American Sniper" also earned an additional $17.6 million in 16 international territories, including Australia, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. "We've never quite seen anything like this at this time of year," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at box-office tracker Rentrak. "'American Sniper' is helping to propel the box office, which is already 9.3 percent ahead of the same time last year." The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, already broke box-office records when it expanded to wide release last weekend, easily surpassing "Avatar" to become the biggest January opening for a movie and immediately becoming the top grosser among best-picture Oscar nominees.

8am – A         INTERVIEW — JANICE DEAN – Fox News senior meteorologist and author of "Freddy the Frogcaster and the Big Blizzard"

• Light rain and snow likely late tonight into Monday morning; snowier wave possible late Monday. (Washington Post) — * Winter weather advisory late tonight and Monday except far south suburbs (see map) | Winter storm watch for Anne Arundel, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties | Winter storm warning from Winchester to Hagerstown (I-81) and west * Update at 10:50 p.m.: One more model run is in this evening (the GFS model), and it supports the idea that tomorrow night (approx. 6 p.m. to midnight) represents the best chance for snow to stick and accumulate an inch or a bit more. That said, there’s a lot of uncertainty with this storm, and it wouldn’t take much for a well-placed band of snow early Monday morning to cause some problems for the a.m. commute, even with minimal accumulation. So make sure to check conditions before you head out in the morning.

8am – B/C     Miss Universe Recap: Miss Colombia crowned Miss Universe in Miami. MIAMI (AP) — Miss Colombia Paulina Vega, a relative pageant newcomer, has been crowned Miss Universe, beating out first runner-up Miss USA Nia Sanchez and contestants from more than 80 other countries at Sunday's pageant in Miami. Vega, a 22-year-old student of business administration from Barranquilla, Colombia, said she would wear the crown with "pride and excitement" as she heard the news that fans in Colombia had taken to the streets to celebrate. Although she was far from home, Vega said she still felt the support from local Latinos. "It felt like home. I felt like I was in Colombia with my people. I felt that support in every moment of the pageant," she said, wearing a sparkling silver gown with vertical stripes at a press conference after the competition. Real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump, who owns the pageant, said many predicted Vega would take the crown a few weeks ago when contestants first arrived in Miami for the festivities. "From the minute she walked in the building, people said, 'She's a star,'" Trump said. Trump said Colombia was in the running to host next year's pageant but noted China was also a strong candidate. Vega's win keeps the title in the hands of another Latina — reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler is from Venezuela. Beauty pageants are big business in Latin America, where girls are groomed for the contests from a young age and where Vega said women find "a lot of pride" in representing their country.

8am – D         INTERVIEW: ROBERT COSTA – National political reporter, Washington Post – recapped the speeches and reaction to the GOP presidential candidates at the Iowa Freedom Summit this weekend.

TOMORROW:          Snow commute news and Fox’s Jamie Colby