Cal Thomas, Daily Caller’s Joe Simonson, Gen. Jack Keane, National Journal’s Josh Kraushaar and Lou Cannon joined WMAL on Wednesday!

Mornings on the Mall

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

 

5am – A/B/C Dems’ Lead On Generic Ballot Shrinks To 5.2 Points — The Smallest Of Trump’s Presidency – (Hot Air) — America’s got a fee-vah and the only prescription is … continued Republican control of government? Maybe? Lately when there’s news about improving GOP fortunes in the RCP “poll of polls” the reference point has been to the first few months of Trump’s term. Through about May of 2017 (not coincidentally, the month he fired Comey), POTUS’s job approval was hovering at around 43-44 percent and the Democratic lead on the generic ballot was in the six-point range. Then began a long decline on both fronts followed by a recovery this spring. But today’s news is different. At 5.2 points, this is the smallest generic-ballot lead the Dems have had since Inauguration Day. At no point in Trump’s presidency, even over the first hundred days when the jury of public opinion was still out on him, was the GOP as close as it is now.

5am – D         More Jerusalem Embassy Reaction:

• TURKEY & ISRAEL EXPEL EACH OTHER’S AMBASSADORS: Turkey and Israel expel envoys over Gaza violence. ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey and Israel expelled each other’s senior diplomats on Tuesday in a dispute over the killing by Israeli forces of 60 Palestinians a day earlier during protests on the Gaza border.  Turkey told Israel’s ambassador to leave the country on Tuesday after Israeli forces killed 60 Palestinians during protests on the Gaza border against the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Turkey has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s response to the Gaza protests and of the U.S. Embassy move, recalling its ambassadors from Tel Aviv and Washington and calling for an emergency meeting of Islamic nations on Friday.
• PALESTINIAN BABY DID NOT DIE FROM TEAR GAS: Gazan Doctor Doubts Hamas Claim Baby Died from Israeli Tear Gas. The Times of Israel reports: A Gaza health official cast doubt Tuesday on initial claims that an 8-month-old baby died from Israeli tear gas fired during mass protests on the Gaza border with Israel. A Gazan doctor told the Associated Press that the baby, Layla Ghandour, had a preexisting medical condition and that he did not believe her death was caused by tear gas. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to disclose medical information to the media. Layla’s family claimed Tuesday that the baby had ended up in the area of the protest as a result of a mixup, the AP reported added. The Gaza Health Ministry initially counted her among several dozen Palestinians killed Monday.
• BRENNAN TWEETS: Deaths in Gaza result of utter disregard of Messers Trump & Netanyahu for Palestinian rights & homeland. By moving Embassy to Jerusalem, Trump played politics, destroyed US peacemaker role. New generation of Israelis/Palestinians need to isolate extremists to find path to peace.
• NIkki Haley speech at UN condemning Hamas (National Review) — U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley unequivocally blames Hamas for the violent protests that erupted in Gaza Monday in response to the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, Haley said the deaths of more than 60 Palestinian protesters were the fault of Hamas, and accused Israel’s detractors of applying a “double standard” in blaming the state for using force to defend its border.

5am – E         NORTH KOREA NEWS:

• North Korea threatens to cancel US meeting over American military drills with South Korea. (Fox News) — North Korea announced it has canceled a high-level summit with South Korea and is threatening to cancel its meeting with the United States over American military drills with South Korea, Yonhap News reported Tuesday, citing KCNA. KCNA, North Korea’s state media outlet, claimed that the military drills were a rehearsal for a potential invasion of the country.
• State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said during a Tuesday briefing that they had not received any “formal or even informal notification of anything,” and are continuing to plan the summit. “I will say that Kim Jong Un had said previously that he understands the need and the utility of the United States and the Republic of Korea continuing in its joint exercises. They’re exercises that are legal, and they’re planned well, well in advance,” Nauert said. “We have not heard anything from that government or the government of South Korea to indicate that we would not continue conducting these exercises or that we would not continue planning for our meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un next month.” She also added that the exercises are “certainly not provocative.”
• Ex-CIA Chief Brennan: NKorea Pullout Threat Trump’s Fault. Former CIA director John Brennan used the news of North Korea’s indication it might skip an upcoming peace summit with the United States to criticize President Donald Trump and his negotiating skills. In a statement to MSNBC, Brennan pounced on the news. “This turn of events is unsurprising, since Donald Trump seems enamored with a ‘fire-aim-ready’ policymaking process that is fraught with pitfalls as well as potential disasters,” Brennan said. “Not sure when, if ever, Mr. Trump will realize that he is not the smartest man or even the best negotiator in the world — indeed, far from it.”

 

6am – A/B/C President Trump speaks at the Peace Officers’ memorial service at the Capitol, part of National Police Week:

• Trump hugs, kisses and holds hands with mom of gunned-down NYPD cop as he hails her service and that of other fallen officers and demands death penalty for ALL police killers (Daily Mail) — President Trump consoled the 90-year-old mother of New York City police officer who died in the line of duty last year after she was fatally shot by a deranged individual. Trump gave the officer’s mother, Adrianna Valoy, a long hug, kissing her on the cheek and forehead and asking the audience for more applause, after an impromptu invitation for Detective Miosotis Familia’s relatives to join him on stage at a memorial service for slain police. ‘We must end the attacks on our police and we must end them right now,’ he said in remarks at the Capitol Hill event. ‘We believe, criminals who kill our police should get the death penalty. Bring it forth.’
• Trump honors police officers: ‘We will protect those who protect us’
• President Trump speaks to children of fallen police officers: “I want you to know that your moms and dads were among the bravest Americans to ever live.”
• “If we want to bring down violent crime, then we must stand up for our police. We must confront and condemn dangerous, anti-police prejudice,” President Trump says
• “We’re not going to let bad things happen to our police,” President Trump says. “We believe criminals who kill our police should get the death penalty. Bring it forth.”
• Trump honored the family of a 12-year veteran officer who was killed while seated in her vehicle. He also suggested pursuing the death penalty for people who kill officers

6am – D         INTERVIEW – CAL THOMAS – Syndicated columnist – joined us from Australia and talked about Hillary’s bitterness tour.

• Hillary Clinton: A ‘Very Large Portion’ of the US Population Feels ‘Uneasy’ About Women Seeking Power (Mediaite) — During a sit-down in Australia, Hillary Clinton reflected on what may have been responsible for her defeat in the 2016 election. On Thursday, the twice-defeated presidential candidate sat with Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female prime minister, and spoke about sexism in politics. Clinton had a lot to say. “There is still a very large proportion of the population that is uneasy with women in positions of leadership,” Clinton said, “and so the easiest way to kind of avoid having to look at someone on her merits is to dismiss her on her looks.”
• Hillary Clinton credits Australian Chardonnay for helping her get over her US election loss (Daily Mail) — Hillary Clinton credits Australian Chardonnay for helping her get over her US election loss while speaking at $495-a-seat event with Julia Gillard
• Cal Thomas column on FoxNews.com: Hillary Clinton and the bitterness tour: “When you hear “world tour” you usually think of superstars performing concerts in various cities for adoring fans. Not so with the presidentially deprived, entitlement-driven Hillary Clinton. Last week, Hillary Clinton came to Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, and to Sydney, its largest, with a huge chip on her shoulder. The chip has been there since the 2016 election and seems to be growing larger with every appearance. As with almost everything else the Clintons do, it cost to hear her bitterness. Those who went to hear Clinton speak, more than 5,000 people, paid between $200 and $500 Australian dollars (about $15 to $380 US). What they heard was criticism of President Trump and his foreign and domestic policies. Not that long ago, Americans made an effort to stop “partisan politics at the water’s edge,” but no more. Especially with some Democratic politicians who seem to believe that government belongs to them and when Republicans win an election it was somehow stolen from its rightful owners. Interviewed by former liberal Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Hillary Clinton eventually got to what she believes is the real reason she lost to Donald Trump. It was misogynistic men and women who voted the way their husbands told them to that prevented her from making history, or if you prefer, herstory.”

6am – E         CAPS LOSE TO LIGHTNING

• LIGHTNING STRIKE CAPS — Washington Falls In First Loss Of Series, 4-2
• WAPO: It’s too early for the Caps to panic, but not too soon to stay out of penalty box
• NHL playoffs 2018: Capitals’ Wilson on Stralman hit: ‘If it’s the other way around, you better believe they’re looking at it’
• The nation of Qatar has agreed to pay the $100,000 to keep Metro open an hour later for Caps-Lightning Game 4 on Thursday. Dan Steinberg @dcsportsbog: Uh. The nation of Qatar has agreed to pay the $100,000 to keep Metro open an hour later for Caps-Lightning Game 4 on Thursday

6am – F         Don Lemon’s boyfriend implied ‘liberal’ CNN star went easy on pal Avenatti. (Fox News) — Don Lemon’s boyfriend told a reporter the CNN star gave Stormy Daniels’ attorney the kid-glove treatment in a Monday interview that followed a blistering expose, and referred to the news network as “liberal media” in a baffling exchange. Tim Malone, a media ad sales executive, made the shocking disclosures in a Twitter direct message conversation with Daily Caller reporter Joe Simonson. It came after Michael Avenatti appeared on “CNN Tonight” on the heels of a Daily Caller report on Avenatti’s shady past dealings. Lemon served up softballs, and Malone had a ready explanation. “Malone also appears to believe that Avenatti has befriended the liberal media, but that his time as journalists’ golden boy may be running out,” Simonson wrote in an exclusive story about the strange colloquy initiated by Malone. Prior to the appearance, Avenatti, who represents the porn star who claims to have had a fling with President Trump, had accused The Daily Caller of publishing “hit pieces.” He told Simonson’s colleague, Peter Hasson, in an email that he would sue his colleagues and the publication for defamation if they didn’t stop writing “lies and defamatory statements.” In the Monday night interview, Lemon gently broached the issue, asking Avenatti about his threats against the conservative news site. Avenatti replied cryptically that  “there is (sic) good journalists, and there is (sic) bad journalists,” during a long-winded answer in which he did not elaborate on his grievance. Lemon didn’t push back about why Avenatti felt the Daily Caller wronged him in its expose.

 

7am – A         INTERVIEW – JOE SIMONSON – Reporter, Daily Caller News Foundation

• Don Lemon’s boyfriend implied ‘liberal’ CNN star went easy on pal Avenatti
• DAILY CALLER EXCLUSIVE: Don Lemon’s Boyfriend Speaks Out On Interview With Avenatti, Media Industry
• Michael Avenatti doubles down on his threat to sue the Daily Caller

7am – B         SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS:

• Twitter Will Start Hiding Tweets That “Detract From the Conversation”
• Facebook Removed 2.5 MILLION Pieces of ‘Hate Speech’ in Just Three Months. Facebook removed a staggering 2.5 million examples of “hate speech” from its platform in the first quarter of 2018, according to data released by the social network.

7am – C         HASPEL VOTE:

• Gina Haspel Likely to Be Confirmed as C.I.A. Chief After Repudiating Torture. Haspel Set to Be CIA Director After Several Democrats Back Her. Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, released a letter in which Haspel said, “With the benefit of hindsight and my experience as a senior agency leader, the enhanced interrogation program is not one the CIA should have undertaken.” Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Bill Nelson then announced their support for Haspel, joining fellow Democrats Joe Machin and Joe Donnelly, who said they would back her last week. The support from the five Democrats, most of whom are facing tough reelection battles in the fall, means that Haspel will almost certainly be confirmed. McCain and Rand Paul are the only Republican senators who have said they will not vote for Haspel.
• Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, will vote for Trump pick Gina Haspel to be the next CIA director — all but ensuring she’ll have enough votes to win Senate confirmation

7am – D         INTERVIEW – GEN. JACK KEANE  – 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.

• North Korea threatens to cancel US meeting over American military drills with South Korea.
• State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said during a Tuesday briefing that they had not received any “formal or even informal notification of anything.”
• Ex-CIA Chief Brennan: NKorea Pullout Threat Trump’s Fault.

7am – E         FITNESS NEWS:

• ARLINGTON RATED THE COUNTRY’S FITTEST CITY  (AND DC’S #3): Arlington, Va. — Washington, D.C’s next-door neighbor along the Potomac River— which was named the fittest city in the U.S. on Tuesday by the 2018 American Fitness Index report from the American College of Sports Medicine.
• THE INDOOR GENERATION: ‘Indoor generation’: A quarter of Americans spend all day inside, survey finds. A quarter of Americans spend almost an entire 24 hours without going outside and downplay the negative health effects of only breathing indoor air, according to a new survey claiming a new “indoor generation.” “We are increasingly turning into a generation of indoor people where the only time we get daylight and fresh air mid-week is on the commute to work or school,” Peter Foldbjerg, the head of daylight energy and indoor climate at VELUX, a window manufacturing company, said in a statement.

 

8am – A         INTERVIEW – JOSH KRAUSHAAR – Politics Editor, National Journal – discuss the latest on Tuesday’s primaries, the Haspel vote and President Trump’s visit to Capitol Hill.

• TUESDAY PRIMARIES: Primary results: Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Oregon and Idaho held primary elections on Tuesday. Trump-backed nominees win US Senate primaries in Pennsylvania, Nebraska  via @nypost (TRUMP’S PICKS PREVAIL: Two of the president’s favored candidates, Lou Barletta in Pennsylvania and Deb Fischer in Nebraska, won their U.S. Senate primaries. Barletta, currently a congressman, was heavily favored over state Rep. Jim Christiana to become the Republican challenger for Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who is seeking a third term in November. Barletta was a Trump supporter before the 2016 presidential nomination was settled. Trump asked Barletta to run for Senate, and the president is expected to visit Pennsylvania to campaign for him. The president also recorded telephone calls last weekend backing Barletta “fully, strongly and proudly.” Fischer, the incumbent, defeated four GOP challengers and will be the strong favorite to win re-election in deep-red Nebraska. Her Democratic opponent is Lincoln City Councilwoman Jane Raybould. Early Tuesday afternoon, Trump tweeted: “Nebraska – make sure you get out to the polls and VOTE for Deb Fischer today!”
• HASPEL VOTE: Gina Haspel Likely to Be Confirmed as C.I.A. Chief After Repudiating Torture.
• TRUMP ON THE HILL: INSIDE TRUMP’S MEETING WITH SENATE REPUBLICANS: President brings up trade deals the GOP keeps fretting about

8am – B/C     INTERVIEW — LOU CANNON —  Chairman of the National Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Committee and an order of yesterday’s Peace Officers’ memorial service at the Capitol – discussed President Trump’s speech yesterday.

8am – D         BRENNAN NEWS:

• Two Colleagues Contradict Brennan’s Denial of Reliance on Dossier
• Peter Strzok Was Selected By John Brennan To Help Author The Ica, Based Partly On The Steele Dossier

8am – E         Yanny or Laurel: What do you hear? The next great internet debate is upon us, but this one requires your ears instead of your eyes. Do you hear Laurel or Yanni?  That’s the defining question for the internet today as a four-second Twitter post went viral, attracting the attention of people such as Ellen DeGeneres, Yanni and Chrissy Tiegen. That’s the defining question for the internet today as a four-second Twitter post went viral, attracting the attention of people such as Ellen DeGeneres, Yanni and Chrissy Tiegen. The computer-generated sound clip, which emerged late Monday night, has people vehemently defending what they’re hearing. Some are explaining that the difference is due to the quality of the recording, the speakers, and even the age of the listener. Over the next few days there’s sure to be experts weighing in on the debate but for now, the audio argument will rage on.