Steven Mosher, Ron Meyer, Gen. Jack Keane and Larry Kudlow joined WMAL on Tuesday!

Mornings on the Mall

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

5am – A/B/C   TAX VOTE: Did GOP Sell You On The Plan?

• House to vote on tax bill Tuesday afternoon
• Flake hasn’t committed yet…
• Corker Says He Faced ‘Tough’ Decision in Supporting Republican Tax Bill.     “It’s been really tough, especially because I did think, I really felt like we could have had a bipartisan bill that would have really withstood more fully the test of time,” Mr. Corker said.  “I talked to people that I respected. When I came here, I had concerns about deficits, but I also wanted progrowth tax reform to occur, so I had this pull between the two, if you will,” he said, adding, “I just felt like this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity and if I looked at myself as the deciding vote, did I feel like our country was better having it in place or not better having it in place?”
• House Republicans will vote on Tuesday on the sweeping rewrite of the U.S. tax code, which cuts taxes by $1.5 trillion over 10 years, with the Senate expected to follow later Tuesday or Wednesday.
• HOT AIR DIGS INTO THE POLLS: The good news is that the GOP’s 24 hours away from passing a tax reform bill that will give most Americans a tax cut, at least in the near term. The bad news: Nearly half the American public (47%) disapprove of the tax reform bills passed by the Senate and House and just 26% approve. Another 8% withhold judgement until seeing the final plan and 19% have no opinion. [ Note: the poll was conducted before the final conference version of the bill was released. ] It is also worth noting that strong disapproval (35%) of the proposal far outweighs strong approval (13%)… Half of the public (50%) predict that the federal taxes they pay will go up with the plan now under consideration by Congress. Just 14% say their taxes will go down.
• Sens. Mike Lee, Susan Collins will support GOP tax bill, boosting its chances to pass this week. Sens. Mike Lee and Susan Collins will support the Republican tax plan, they said Monday, solidifying Republican hopes to pass a bill to overhaul the American tax code this week. The commitments from Lee and Collins — of Utah and Maine, respectively — leave only one GOP senator publicly undeclared on the bill: Jeff Flake of Arizona. With Sen. John McCain fighting brain cancer in his home state of Arizona, the bill will fail in the Senate if two of the remaining 51 Republicans oppose it. In a tweet, Lee said he will “proudly vote” for the plan after reading the legislation. He said it “will cut taxes for working Utah families.”  Lee and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., pushed Republican leaders to expand the child tax credit in the final version of the legislation. On Friday, Rubio said he would vote for the bill after the GOP increased the refundable portion of the credit. The child tax credit would double to $2,000 per child under the plan, with $1,400 of that refundable.

5am – D         Why living with men makes women pile on the pounds: More than a quarter gain weight because their diet becomes unhealthier. (Daily Mail) – More than a quarter of women say they put on weight after moving in with their male partner – because they eat more unhealthy foods, like takeaway pizza, curries and fish and chips. A survey of 1,000 Brits – 500 men and 500 women – found that 27 per cent of the women polled said that within weeks of moving in with their partner they started eating a less healthy diet, snacking on junk food and takeaways. They blamed men for the change in their diet, saying they had a ‘negative effect’ on their eating habits and ended with them putting on weight. The remaining 73 per cent said that men made little or no difference to their diet after moving in with them. Conversely, 40 per cent of men polled said that women had a ‘positive impact’ on their diet when they moved in and said they ended up eating less junk food food when living together, with the remaining 60 per cent saying it made ‘little of no difference’ to their diets. The research, by self-storage firm Space Station, also found that just one-in-10 couples said their sex lives improved after their partner moved in. A total of 37 per cent said they had less sex since moving in together, with the remainder saying their sex lives remained unchanged. One in ten couples admitted to rowing over a lack of space in the home, with over half of men saying their partner took up too much space compared to just a fifth of women who said their man took up ‘too much space’.

5am –E          Federal officials confirm Amtrak train was 50 mph over speed limit when it careened off an overpass south of Seattle, killing 3.  Amtrak train that crashed was on its first run. Train speeding 50 mph over limit before deadly derailment. DUPONT, Wash. (AP) — Federal officials confirmed an Amtrak train was hurtling 50 mph over the speed limit when it careened off an overpass south of Seattle, spilling cars onto the highway below and killing at least three people. Bella Dinh-Zarr, a National Transportation Safety Board member, said at a Monday night news conference that information from the event data recorder in the rear locomotive showed the train was traveling at 80 mph in a 30 mph zone when it derailed at 7:34 a.m. Mangled train cars ended up on top of each other – and one hung precariously over the freeway. When the clanging of metal and screeching stopped at first it was quiet. Then came the screams. After the crash, the injured called out as rescuers — including people who had been in cars on their morning freeway commute — rushed to help. One of the train passengers was Emma Shafer, who found herself at a 45-degree angle staring at the seats in front of her that had dislodged and swung around.

6am – A/B/C Tavis Smiley on dating employees: ‘Where else are you going to meet people?’ (The Hill) – Longtime PBS host Tavis Smiley on Monday defended the possibility of engaging in consensual workplace relationships, amid an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. “Let’s face it, nobody is working 40 hour weeks anymore, we are working 40-, 50-, 70-, 80-hour weeks. Where else are you going to meet people in this business?” Smiley said on Fox News’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” “Our business itself is full of people, producers and talk show host who met on the job,” he added, pointing out how his workplace did not “forbid” or “encourage interoffice relationships.” PBS in a statement last week announced it would suspend Smiley while an outside law firm investigated allegations made against him. “The inquiry uncovered multiple, credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS, and the totality of this information led to today’s decision,” PBS said.

6am – D         INTERVIEW – STEVEN MOSHER –  an internationally recognized authority on China and author of upcoming book, “Bully of Asia: Why China’s Dream is the New Threat to World Order” – discussed President Trump’s national security plan.

• Trump’s National Security Strategy marks a hawkish turn on China. (Washington Post) — Although you wouldn’t know it from his speech, President Trump’s first ever National Security Strategy (NSS) places the United States in a new posture vis-à-vis China, a much harder line that reflects the hawkish trend inside his administration.
• Trump doctrine: Economic security is national security. The strategy emphasizes that U.S. economic security is national security. In his remarks, Trump called for “firm action against unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft.” The strategy also details the threats of “rogue regimes,” like North Korea. It says that China and Russia “challenge American power, influence, and interests, attempting to erode American security and prosperity.”
• CHINA UNDER PRESSURE OVER NoKo: It was the kind of sitdown that China had long resisted: Top US officials telling Chinese counterparts how American troops would enter North Korea if the hermit regime collapsed. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s recent revelation that such a discussion took place would — if true — suggest a major shift in Chinese policy as Beijing comes under pressure to rein in its Korean War ally.

6am – E         MILLENNIALS CLAIM BEING CALLED SNOWFLAKES IS HURTFUL: Millennials say that calling them a snowflake is unfair and damaging to their mental health, according to a new study. Wellbeing research from Aviva finds that young adults object to ‘Generation Snowflake’ label, saying it is unfair and offensive. Young adults are hitting back at the ‘Generation Snowflake’ moniker, saying it is unfair and potentially damaging to their age group.  The ‘snowflake’ term is sometimes used to describe young adults, who are seen as being more prone to taking offence, more emotionally vulnerable and less resilient than previous generations. According to a study by Aviva health insurance, nearly three quarters of people (72%) aged 16-24 said the term is unfairly applied to people in this age bracket, while a similar number (74%) feel it could have a negative effect on people’s mental health.  While these views are most marked amongst young adults, the majority of UK adults agree that the ‘Generation Snowflake’ term is unhelpful: 58% of adults feel the label is unfairly applied, while 57% feel it could negatively impact young people’s mental health.

6am – F         Sarah Palin’s son arrested for assaulting his father. (Washington Examiner) — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s oldest son was arrested Saturday night after he showed up at his parents’ house and started hitting his father in the head, after threatening to “beat his ass” in a fight over a truck, according to an affidavit from police in Wasilla, Alaska that was published by the Los Angeles Times. According to the affidavit, Sarah Palin called the police, which led to the arrest of her son, Track Palin. Sarah Palin told police her son was “freaking out and was on some type of medication.” Track Palin, 28, reportedly came to his parents’ house after he and his father, Todd Palin, started fighting over a truck that Track Palin wanted to get.  Todd Palin told his son not to come because he believed Track had been drinking and was taking pain medication. Despite his father’s protest, Track Palin said he was going to “come anyway to beat his ass,” the father told police, according to the affidavit. Todd Palin said he retrieved a pistol to protect his family. Track Palin told police that when he arrived at his parents’ house, he saw his father with a gun in his hand. The 28-year-old attempted to open the front door, but was unsuccessful. When he looked through a window next to their front door, his father was pointing the gun at him. Track Palin said he told Todd Palin several times to shoot him. When Todd Palin tapped the barrel of the pistol on the window, Track Palin punched through the glass, police officer Adam LaPointe said in his affidavit.

7am – A         INTERVIEW – RON MEYER – Supervisor, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC).

• Loudoun officials welcome Comstock’s Metro reform bill
• Gov. Terry McAuliffe proposes higher taxes in Northern Virginia to support Metro Northern Virginians would pay higher taxes on real estate sales, hotel stays and wholesale gasoline to provide Metro with long-sought dedicated funding under a proposal to be announced Monday by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D).
• latest on I-66 tolls:  Ron Meyer‏ @Ron4VA: I took I-66 at around 9:10am. Road was empty and cruising well above the speed limit. The toll with all this extra capacity? Still $6.50 for 9 mi.  If the road is empty, configure the algorithm to drop the price. If the base price is $6.50, that’s a problem. 6:47 AM – 18 Dec 2017

7am – B         Preview Tax Bill Vote

7am – C         ESPN CEO STEPS DOWN OVER SUBSTANCE ADDICTION: ESPN CEO John Skipper, who had recently signed a contract extending his leadership to 2021, resigned today citing “substance addiction.” John Skipper has resigned from his top position at ESPN and co-chairmanship of the Disney Media Networks. Skipper had recently signed a contract extending his leadership to 2021. “Today I have resigned from my duties as President of ESPN,” Skipper said in a statement released on Monday. “I have had a wonderful career at the Walt Disney Company and am grateful for the many opportunities and friendships.” “I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction. I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem,” he said.

7am – D         Bricks-and-mortar grocery stores hope to edge out Amazon with curbside pickup. Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods rocked the US grocery industry and traditional stores to look for new ways to keep customers shopping. Many have turned to curbside pickup that combines the ease of online shopping and skipping lines with more flexibility with fresh foods.  December 18, 2017 Los Angeles—As Amazon.com looks to upend the US grocery market with home delivery, some veteran supermarket operators are betting on a different strategy: curbside pickup. Americans have long loved the convenience of drive-through service for burgers and coffee. Kroger Co and Wal-Mart Inc are tweaking that formula for groceries. The companies have invested heavily in online systems that allow customers to order ahead from their neighborhood store. Workers pick and pack the products, then run them out to shoppers in the parking lot, the grocery version of carryout pizza. For the retailers, the service is cheaper than delivery, because customers do the driving. For shoppers, it means skipping crowds and queues at their local market, and no worries about missing packages or melted ice cream if they are not at home to meet the delivery guy.

7am – E         Black Unemployment Rate Lowest in 17 Years. (CNSNews.com) — According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics( BLS), the unemployment rate for black Americans is the lowest it has been since the year 2000, 17 years ago.  In November, the national unemployment rate for black Americans, ages 16 and over, was 7.3%. The last time it was 7.3% was in the year 2000, during the months September, October and November. During the Bush and Obama years (2001 -2016), the black unemployment rate fluctuated between 7.7% and a high of 16.8%.

8am – A         INTERVIEW – GEN. JACK KEANE –  is a retired 4 star general, former Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army, the chairman of the Institute for the Study of War and  Fox News Senior Strategic Analyst. @gen_jackkeane – discussed President Trump’s national security plan.

8am – B         HILLARY TATTOO: Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson, who made a triumphant return to the NBC show earlier this year after getting sober, recently unveiled a new tattoo of his “hero,” none other than Hillary Clinton.  The 24-year-old comedian shared a picture of his new ink on Instagram with the caption, “Wanted to get @hillaryclinton a Christmas gift so I got a tattoo of my hero. Thanks for being such a badass and one of the strongest people in the universe.”Though his tattoo garnered dozens of comments — both positive and negative — one comment stood out among the crowd: the one from Clinton herself!  The former FLOTUS replied to the snapshot, writing, “Thanks, @petedavidson. This makes it significantly less awkward that I’ve had a Pete Davidson tattoo for years. But seriously, I’m honored. Merry Christmas my friend.”

8am – C         WASH POST: MUELLER MAY TAKE ‘AT LEAST’ ANOTHER YEAR…

8am – D         INTERVIEW – LARRY KUDLOW – CNBC Senior Contributor and host of The Larry Kudlow Show on WMAL Saturdays at 7 pm and author of “JFK and the Reagan Revolution: A Secret History of American Prosperity” @larry_kudlow – preview tax vote today

8am – E         Atlanta airport’s main and backup power lines flow through same tunnel damaged by fire. The fire that knocked out Atlanta airport’s power for 11 hours Sunday erupted in a tunnel that housed both the main power lines and a backup supply, according to officials investigating the incident. The cause of the fire beneath Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport remains under investigation, which could take several days, Georgia Power CEO Paul Bowers said Monday. But the fire was traced to a failed switchgear, which is equipment that regulates the flow of power, in a tunnel that carries seven power lines from two sources to the airport. “This fire was located adjacent to the redundant circuit cables and switching mechanisms serving the airport and those cables were damaged, resulting in the outage and loss of redundant service methods,” Georgia Power said Monday in a statement.