Cal Thomas, Mark Krikorian, Tucker Carlson, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and guest host Sarah Westwood joined WMAL on Wednesday!

Mornings on the Mall

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Host: Vince Coglianese

Guest Host: Sarah Westwood

5am – A/B/C Q & A with guest host Sarah Westwood on Jared Kushner’s security clearance in the White House

5am – D       Obama Calls Out Facebook And Google For Being Easily Exploited By ISIS, Neo-Nazis. (Reason) — It also may not just be about “Russian inspired bots and fake news,” as Obama noted how there are different interpretations in news stories and ostensible facts. “This is Fox News vs. The New York Times editorial page,” Obama said. “If you look at these different sources of information, they do not describe the same thing. In some cases, they don’t even talk about the same thing. And so it is very difficult to figure out how democracy works over the long term in those circumstances.”

5am – E         DCCC Advised Candidates Not To Discuss Gun Control Policy Right After Vegas Shooting (Huffington Post) — The campaign organization said Democrats should focus on offering thoughts and prayers. The morning after the Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas, a member of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s press staff warned House candidates and their staffs not to “politicize” the shooting that day. Politicization, according to the DCCC official, included talking about gun violence prevention policy. “You and your candidate will be understandably outraged and upset, as will your community. However, DO NOT POLITICIZE IT TODAY,” DCCC regional press secretary Evan Lukaske wrote to candidates in the Northeast. “There will be time for politics and policy discussion, but any message today should be on offering thoughts/prayers for victims and their families, and thanking 1st responders who saved lives.” The email, seen in its entirety below, reflects the careful balance that Democrats have tried to strike as they strive to advance modest gun safety regulations and shield candidates in swing districts from the political price that could accompany comments about guns. HuffPost But the cautious approach in Lukaske’s email is increasingly out of touch with what many party members, as well as gun violence prevention activists, would like to see from politicians ― especially in the wake of the recent deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Many of the surviving Parkland students waited almost no time before beginning to agitate for different gun policies, sparking a movement that has captivated the country.

6am – A         Donald Trump Apparently Stopped a Mugging in 1991, Resurfaced Report Says (The Epoch Times) — Donald Trump apparently stopped a mugging in 1991, according to an old New York Daily News article at the time. The original article, “Mugger’s Trumped: Donald stops attack,” written by Daily News staff writer James Rosen, is still on Philly.com, but with the title, “Trump Strikes Out Would-be Mugger.” “I’m not looking to play this thing up,” Trump said in the Nov. 20, 1991, report. “I’m surprised you found out about it.” In the incident, Trump ordered his driver to pull over after he saw “a big guy with a big bat” bashing another person. “Someone in the car looked over and said, ‘Gee, look at that, it’s a mugging,’ ” Trump said. “I said to my driver to stop the car because it was brutal-looking.” Witnesses told the Daily News that Trump got out of his black stretch limousine on Monday during the assault in Manhattan. Marla Maples, who was married to Trump in the ’90s, was seen grabbing his arm. “The guy with the bat looked at me, and I said, “Look, you’ve gotta stop this. Put down the bat,”‘Trump said. “I guess he recognized me because he said, ‘Mr. Trump, I didn’t do anything wrong.’ I said, ‘How could you not do anything wrong when you’re whacking a guy with a bat?’ Then he ran away.”

6am – B         Johnnie Walker is Being Replaced By Jane (WMAL) — For the first time ever, the top-hatted man who appears on bottles of Johnnie Walker whiskey is being replaced by a woman. Johnnie Walker, which is owned by liquor giant Diageo, said Monday that it will launch a special edition of its Black Label blend next month featuring the female logo. “As a brand that has stood for progress for nearly 200 years, Johnnie Walker is proud to take this next step forward by introducing Jane Walker as another symbol of the brand’s commitment to progress,” it said in a statement.  Priced around $34, the special edition bottles will go on sale in the U.S. in March to coincide with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. It’s the latest effort to feminize a well-known brand.

6am – C         Governor: All W. Va. teachers to receive 5% raise next year, schools to reopen Thursday (WJLA) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says striking teachers will return to the classroom on Thursday, and he’s offering teachers and school service personnel a five percent pay raise in the first year. Governor Jim Justice @WVGovernor My commitment to education has been consistent from day one. We’re giving all teachers a 5% raise and all other State employees 3% this year. Justice made the announcement at a news conference Tuesday after emerging from a meeting with union leaders for teachers in all 55 counties. Justice had signed across-the-board teacher pay raises of $808 next year and $404 the following two years. But teachers had said the increases weren’t enough, especially as health care costs rise. The state’s average teacher pay ranks among the lowest in the nation. Chief of Staff Mike Hall says the latest pay raise proposal is based on revised revenue estimates of $58 million based on economic forecasts. The pay increases would have to be approved by the Legislature. Teachers began their walkout on Thursday, their first statewide strike since 1990, citing increasing health care costs and diminishing raises.

6am – D         INTERVIEW – CAL THOMAS – syndicated columnist – discussed the terrible ratings for the Olympics, Jimmy Kimmel hosting the Oscars, and the gun control debate

• ‘The Walking Dead’ Ratings Bury Olympics Closing Ceremony In Key Demo, Again. (Deadline)
• Jimmy Kimmel Will Steer Clear Of Hollywood’s Sexual Misconduct Scandal At Oscars.  (Daily Caller)

6am – E         Letter opened at Virginia’s Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall triggers hazmat situation; 11 feel ill (Fox News) — Investigators are looking into an apparent hazmat situation at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Ft. Myer, Virginia, after a number of people began feeling sick after opening a letter, officials said. Arlington Fire, one of the units responding to the scene, said “11 people started feeling ill after the letter was opened” in an administration building. Three patients were hospitalized and were said to be in stable condition. Arlington Fire @ArlingtonVaFD #Update: Ft Myer Hazmat, 11 people started feeling ill after letter was opened in consolidated admin building. 3 were transported. Condition not known. Ft Myer PIO enroute. Arlington Fire @ArlingtonVaFD #Update: Ft Myer, 3 transported patients in stable condition. Command is scaling back incident starting to put some units in service. Investigation ongoing. According to the U.S. Marines, personnel took “preventative measures” and evacuated people from the building. “Several Marines are receiving medical care as a result of this incident,” they added. U.S. Marines @USMC An envelope containing an unknown substance was received, today, aboard Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Personnel in the affected building took immediate preventative measures by evacuating the building. U.S. Marines @USMC Base officials are coordinating with local HAZMAT teams and @FBI. Several Marines are receiving medical care as a result of this incident. No additional details are available at this time as the investigation is ongoing. According to a news release, the affected building was investigated and cleared. “Joint Base Police Department officials are working with local HAZMAT teams, NCIS and the FBI,” the news release said. “The letter was removed, and NCIS and FBI are conducting a joint investigation. The letter was taken to a lab at Quantico for further examination, ABC News reported. The base is located outside of Washington D.C., near the Pentagon.

6am – F         Ryan Seacrest Denies Claims:

• Ryan Seacrest Responds to Sexual Harassment Accuser Going Public (Hollywood Reporter) — “This person who has accused me of horrible things offered, on multiple occasions, to withdraw her claims if I paid her millions of dollars. I refused,” the TV personality stated. After his accuser went public, Ryan Seacrest is once again denying the sexual harassment allegations leveled against him. “Yesterday, Variety published a salacious story that revealed the specific claims against me for the first time — even though an independent third-party investigator found insufficient evidence to support the claims,” Seacrest said Tuesday in a statement. “Much to my dismay, Variety didn’t speak with me or bother to speak with other credible witnesses or even ask for any of the evidence that was obtained during the investigation when offered, all of which clearly challenged the veracity of the claims made against me.” Continued Seacrest: “This person who has accused me of horrible things offered, on multiple occasions, to withdraw her claims if I paid her millions of dollars. I refused. I have worked extremely hard to achieve my success and I don’t take my opportunities for granted. I don’t want to accuse anyone of not telling the truth but in this case, I have no choice but to again deny the claims against me, remind people that I was recused of any wrongdoing, and put the matter to rest.”
• Ryan Seacrest still hosting Oscar coverage for E! (CNN) — Ryan Seacrest will still host the E! network’s red carpet preshow at Sunday’s Academy Awards, despite renewed conversation around sexual harassment allegations made against the host and producer by a former stylist. E! confirmed to CNN that Seacrest will lead its coverage of the Oscars, adding in a statement that the network’s investigation into the allegations was “extremely comprehensive and thorough.” “Over the course of a two month process, our outside counsel interviewed more than two dozen people regarding the allegations, including multiple separate meetings with the claimant and all firsthand witnesses that she provided,” E!’s statement read. “The investigator is an attorney with nearly 20 years experience and is highly regarded professionally. Any claims that question the legitimacy of this investigation are completely baseless.”

7am – A          INTERVIEW – MARK KRIKORIAN –  a nationally recognized expert on immigration issues, has served as Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) – discussed Judge Curial siding with the President on the border wall, the Koch brothers’ new pro-mass immigration campaign, and prospects for a DACA deal

7am – B         CNN’s News Coverage Of Gun Debate:

• AR-15 ‘full semi-automatic’ 2.0: CNN military analyst Mark Hertling addresses critics (Twitchy.com) — In case you missed it, last night CNN aired a video of an “up-close and personal look at an AR-15” featuring CNN military analyst Mark Hertling, a retired Lieutenant General. During the video, Hertling says he’s going to shoot the AR-15 in “full semi-automatic” mode. After receiving flak from gun industry professionals, Hertling decided to clarify his point of view. Mark Hertling @MarkHertling The clip about AR 15s with @GaryTuchmanCNN shown on @AC360 tonight. This was a 90 minute discussion and firing put into a succinct 3-minute story by the pros at @CNN Mark Hertling @MarkHertling For all those critiquing my phrase “full semi automatic,” you are correct. I was attempting to inform the crew that I was going from “single shot” to continuous trigger and rapid trigger pull using the semiautomatic capability. My apologies…but perhaps you’re missing the point.
• CNN Chief: ‘Silly’ To Criticize Our Gun Town Hall. CNN chief Jeff Zucker claimed that the network’s town hall on the Parkland, Florida school shooting “presented both sides” and that criticism of the event is “silly.”

7am – C         Barbara Streisand News:

• Barbra Streisand Had Her Beloved Dog Samantha Cloned: Meet Miss Scarlett and Miss Violet (Variety) — For an interview with Variety for this week’s cover story, Barbra Streisand had a caption suggestion. She wanted a portrait taken at her Malibu estate with her three dogs to be called “Send in the Clones.” This wasn’t just a clever turn of phrase. Streisand revealed that two of her dogs, Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett, were cloned from her 14-year-old Coton du Tulear Samantha, who died in 2017. Before Samantha died, Streisand had cells taken from her mouth and stomach.
• Barbra Streisand Blames Trump for Florida Shooting: He ‘Brings Out the Violence in People’ (Breitbart) — Actress and singer Barbra Streisand took her criticism of President Donald Trump to a new level in an interview with Variety, in which she says Trump shares the blame for the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “I think even that shooter was affected because Trump brings out the violence in people,” Streisand says, of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, earlier this month that saw Nikalos Cruz kill 17 people with a legally purchased AR-15 rifle. “He says, ‘It’s OK — rally, lock her up,’” Streisand told Variety of then-candidate Trump and a refrain he chanted about then-candidate Hillary Clinton at campaign rallies. The two-time Academy Award-winner also praised the students campaigning for more gun control laws in the wake of the Florida shooting. “I’m so proud of the children who are coming out and talking about sensible gun control,” she said. “That to me, the children, are our future. The children are going to make this happen. I believe that.”

7am – D         White House News: Jared Kushner’s Clearance and John Kelly / Hope Hicks Testimony

• Jared Kushner Loses Access To Top Secret Intelligence
• Scoop: Trump family v. John Kelly (AXIOS) –The Trump family — and the president’s oldest son, Don Jr., in particular — was angry about the overwhelmingly negative TV coverage about Jared Kushner last night, and feels White House Chief of Staff Kelly is hanging Jared out to dry, a source familiar with the situation tells Axios. Why it matters: Over the past few weeks I’ve found fewer people internally willing to defend Jared. Politically, I’ve never seen him so exposed. Javanka and Kelly are locked in a death match. Two enter. Only one survives. — A White House official How the battle played out publicly … “Kelly downgraded Jared Kushner’s security clearance [last Friday] from ‘Interim Top Secret’ to ‘Interim Secret,'” per Axios’ Alexi McCammond: Kushner’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said Kushner’s work won’t be affected. Why it matters, per N.Y. Times: “[H]is official portfolio inside the West Wing, especially with regard to his globe-trotting foreign affairs work on behalf of President Trump, is expected to be sharply reduced.”

• Hope Hicks offers limited testimony in Russia probe; Trump trashes investigation as ‘WITCH HUNT’ (Washington Times) — Aide refuses to answer questions about work after presidential inauguration. White House Communications Director Hope Hicks is the latest Trump administration staffer to dodge questions about Russian election meddling. During almost nine hours of closed-door testimony Tuesday before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Ms. Hicks, one of President Trump’s longest-serving aides, answered queries about the presidential campaign and certain aspects of the transition period after Mr. Trumps’s November 2016 victory, but she declined to discuss her work after the inauguration. “This is not executive privilege; this is executive stonewalling,” Rep. Adam B. Schiff of California, the committee’s top Democrat, told reporters when the hearing broke up.

7am – E         Eric Holder says he fell asleep during ‘Black Panther’ (Washington Times) — Former Atty. Gen. Eric Holder revealed Tuesday that he dozed off while watching the blockbuster superhero film “Black Panther.” During a wide-ranging live podcast with The Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart, Mr. Holder was asked who in the “Black Panther” film he identified with more: T’Challa, the king of Wakanda played by Chadwick Boseman, or Erik Killmonger, the supervillain played by Michael B. Jordan. “Are you more T’Challa or Killmonger,” Mr. Capehart asked, according to a clip flagged by the Washington Free Beacon. Confused, Mr. Holder asked, “What?” “Don’t even try — you know you’ve seen ‘Black Panther,’” Mr. Capehart insisted. “Oh! OK,” Mr. Holder responded. “I just saw it two nights ago, and it seemed like a great movie, but I have to tell you, I had just come back from a long trip and I fell asleep in the movie.” “What?” Mr. Capehart asked incredulously. “I’m going back, I’m going back,” Mr. Holder responded. “The parts that I saw, I really liked.” “I want to give you a truthful answer, so we’re going to have to come back after I’ve had a chance to really check it totally out,” he added. “Come on, man,” Mr. Capehart said before changing the subject.

8am – A/B/C     INTERVIEW – TUCKER CARLSON – Anchor of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News Channel – discussed his new show about men in our culture, the damage being dealt to our young men, the gun debate, and the how to address the Parkland survivors’ assertions

8am – D         INTERVIEW — CONGRESSWOMAN CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS (R-Washington’s 5th congressional district) and chairwoman of the House Republican Conference. She is the highest-ranking woman in Congress and the fourth-highest Republican in the House of Representatives – discussed her op-ed in National Review about restoring trust in government, the gun control debate, and her opinion on the declining mental health situation among our children

• Trump to meet with lawmakers from both parties on guns (Politico) — Lawmakers from both parties, including some of the Democrats’ strongest gun-control advocates, are planning to meet with President Donald Trump Wednesday about responses to the Florida school massacre. Trump’s meeting with lawmakers comes as House and Senate Republicans continue to struggle with the political challenges of passing even the small-bore background-checks bill that the president is supporting. In the House, conservatives are chafing at the prospect of decoupling the background-checks bill from an expansion of concealed-carry limits for gun owners, a top priority of the National Rifle Association.
• There’s a Trust Crisis in Government. It Must Be Fixed. (National Review) — Public officials have lost sight of their mission. If you were to ask Americans if they trusted the government to do the right thing, the likely answer is a big, fat No. According to Pew Research, only 3 percent of Americans say they trust that the government will do the right thing “all the time.” 3 percent! If only 3 percent of Americans said they trusted a pilot to land a plane, would you board the flight? If only 3 percent of Americans said they trusted a doctor to write the correct prescription, would you take the pill? What about if only 3 percent of Americans trusted a business to keep their credit-card information secure? Would you make a purchase from their website? In all these cases, of course not. Why is trust in government nearly at an all-time low? It’s because the hardworking men and women of this country look at Washington, D.C., and see story after story of corruption, lack of transparency, and mismanagement. From senior FBI agent Peter Strzok’s onetime involvement with an opaque investigation of the president of the United States, to Lois Lerner’s Internal Revenue Service that targeted conservative organizations, to politicians from both parties who have abused public trust by engaging in sexual harassment. What do all these cases have in common? It’s officials who have lost sight of their mission to serve We, the People.

8am – E         Entertainment News:

• Funkmaster George Clinton Is Tired Of Constant Whining About ‘Cultural Appropriation’ (The Federalist) — In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, legendary funk artist George Clinton said he’s sick and tired of everyone whining about cultural appropriation — the idea that you cannot participate in or borrow from other cultures because that equals racism. When asked how he feels about white artists performing music created by black artists, Clinton said, in an interview published last week, we’re “supposed to learn from each other.” “I’d bite off the Beatles, or anybody else,”the Parliament-Funkadelic founder said. “It’s all one world, one planet and one groove. You’re supposed to learn from each other, blend from each other, and it moves around like that.” He went on to say that, when put into a universal perspective, racial tensions among humans on planet earth are nonsensical. “You see that rocket ship leave yesterday?” Clinton asked. “We can maybe leave this planet. We gonna be dealing with aliens. You think black and white gonna be a problem?” “They could be ready to party, or they could be ready to eat us,” he said of aliens. “We don’t know, but we’ve got to get over this sh-t of not getting along with each other.”
• Herpes is reportedly the top reason people can’t get on “The Bachelor” (Huffington Post) — The main reason why some potential contestants never get to compete on the “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” has nothing to do with their looks. The “top reason applicants don’t make it onto the show” ― according to Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure, by Los Angeles Times staff writer Amy Kaufman ― is herpes. An excerpt published by the New York Post reads in part: “As soon as the medical tests came back, you’d see that herpes was the biggest thing,” said Ben Hatta, [creator and executive producer] Mike Fleiss’s old assistant. “And sometimes you’d be the first person to tell a contestant that they had herpes. You’d be like, ‘Uh, you should call your doctor.’ Why? ‘We’re not going to be able to have you on our show, but you should call your doctor.’ “Then they’d realize they’d been denied from ‘The Bachelor’ and now a bunch of people knew they had herpes.”