Legal analyst Joe diGenova, New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin, George Mason University Law Professor Jennifer Mascott, and Daily Beast columnist Gordan Chang joined WMAL on Monday!
Mornings on the Mall
Monday, July 9, 2018
Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese
Executive Producer: Heather Hunter
5am – A/B/C NYPD officer, 48, cut estranged wife from his $810,000 pension and gave his estate to his lieutenant lover before he committed suicide (Daily Mail) – A NYPD officer decided to name his lover instead of his wife in his death-benefit beneficiary months before committing suicide, leaving the two women to squabble over more than $800,000 in pension. Mike Smith, a community affairs officer with the department, killed himself in his Manhattan Beach apartment on March 7, 2017. He did so while his girlfriend – Lt. Zoya Golubeva – was breaking up with him and also while he was living apart from wife Elizabeth Ann Morehouse. Smith handed Golubeva a note that said, ‘I love you more than you’ll ever know,’ as she and her parents packed up her things in their bedroom.
5am – D Pompeo pushes back after North Korea slams America’s ‘gangster-like’ demands (Daily Caller) – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushed back Sunday after North Korea criticized the U.S. attitude in the latest round of talks. The North Koreans lashed out at the U.S. Saturday as Pompeo left the country following nuclear negotiations that appear to have failed to produce the desired results, but the U.S. position remains unchanged. Following two days of discussions in Pyongyang, the secretary of state departed for Tokyo, Japan, telling reporters that “a great deal of progress” was made during the meetings, but “there’s more work to be done.” North Korea’s foreign ministry had a slightly different interpretation of the negotiations in the North Korean capital city.
5am – E Mueller’s ‘pit bull’ arranged meeting with reporters to discuss Manafort investigation (Daily Caller) – Justice Department documents released on Friday confirm that the DOJ attorney known as Robert Mueller’s “pit bull” arranged a meeting with journalists in April 2017 to discuss an investigation into Paul Manafort. The documents show that Andrew Weissmann arranged a meeting with DOJ and FBI officials and four Associated Press reporters on April 11, 2017, just over a month before Mueller was appointed special counsel. Manafort’s lawyers obtained the documents on June 29 and revealed them in a briefing filed in federal court in Virginia. The attorneys are pushing for a hearing into what they say are possible leaks of secret grand jury information, false information and potentially classified materials from the meeting.
6am – A Trump teases Supreme Court pick, vows ‘exceptional person will be chosen’ (Fox News) – President Trump said Sunday that he was “close to making a decision” about who he would nominate to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy a little more than 24 hours before he was scheduled to announce his choice in a primetime address Monday. “I’m very close to making a final decision. And I believe this person will do a great job,” Trump told reports as he left for Washington from a weekend at his New Jersey golf club.
6am – B On eve of Trump’s Supreme Court pick, top Dem suggests sacrificing Senate seats to stop nomination (Fox News) – Just one day before President Trump is set to announce his pick to replace retiring Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy in a primetime address from the White House, a top Democratic senator suggested that stopping the nominee is more important than the upcoming midterm elections. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., acknowledged that so-called red-state Democrats may be tempted to vote for Trump’s selection out of political necessity, but urged his colleagues Sunday to consider more than their political careers. “Beyond the procedure, beyond the gamesmanship, it is a life-and-death important decision to be made by this court on so many issues,” the Senate minority whip said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
6am – C Germany willing to cut tariffs on US cars, lifting automakers’ shares (Fox Business) – Germany’s chancellor said Thursday she’s willing to back lower tariffs on U.S. auto imports as a potential European Union (EU) concession to the Trump administration – just one day after CEOs of Germany’s biggest carmakers reportedly voiced support for eliminating such tariffs entirely. Angela Merkel said she would be ready to support lowering the tariffs, though the measure couldn’t just apply to the U.S. “I would be ready to support negotiations on reducing tariffs but we would not be able to do this only with the U.S.,” she said, as reported by Reuters, adding that singling out one country would violate World Trade Organization rules.
6am – D Former coaches, wrestlers, and colleagues rush to defend Rep. Jim Jordan (Washington Examiner) – Four former wrestlers accuse Congressman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, of turning a blind eye to the sexual misconduct of a team doctor while working as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University. But just as many former coaches, teammates, and student wrestlers vehemently deny those allegations. In interviews with the Washington Examiner, each said a version of the same thing: If abuse did occur, Jordan couldn’t have known about it, because it is against his character to back down from conflict.
6am – E Justin Bieber is reportedly engaged to a famous model. Here’s what we know. (Smokeroom) – Justin Bieber reportedly got engaged to model Hailey Baldwin Saturday night in the Bahamas. TMZ reported the proposal went down at an unnamed resort in the Bahamas in front of several witnesses. A total of three people have confirmed the story to TMZ.
6am – F Is Hillary Clinton secretly planning to run in 2020? (New York Post) – The messages convey a sense of urgency, and are coming with increasing frequency. They are short, focused reactions to the latest “outrage” committed by President Trump. Some end by asking for money, some urge participation in protests. All read as if they are sent from the official headquarters of the resistance. Hillary Clinton is up to something. Five times in the last month alone, she sent e-mails touting her super PAC’s role in combating President Trump. Most seized on headline events, such as the family-separation issue at the southern border.
7am – A INTERVIEW – Joe diGenova – legal analyst and former US Attorney to the District of Columbia – discussed Trump’s SCOTUS announcement and latest Mueller news
7am – B Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot surprises children at Virginia hospital (EW.com) – Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot took some time off from saving the world to brighten the days of young patients, their families, and staffers at Inova Children’s Hospital in Northern Virginia this weekend, paying them a surprise visit while dressed in full superhero regalia. The Israeli actress was in the area filming the highly anticipated sequel Wonder Woman 1984, and her visit was celebrated on social media by several people in attendance. “Thank you @GalGadot for visiting us @InovaHealth Children’s Hospital,” Dr. Lucas Collazo tweeted, alongside a group photo with Gadot surrounded by smiles. “You are a true Wonder Woman. The kids loved it…and so did the staff.”
7am – C National Zoo proposes security checkpoints, reduced access (WTOP) – The Smithsonian Institution wants to ramp up security at the National Zoo, which is currently its only public venue without screenings in place. News outlets report that the National Capital Planning Commission on July 12 will review the proposed development plan, which includes additional perimeter fencing to close gaps and reducing the number of pedestrian entrances from 13 to three. A fourth entrance would be added at a parking garage that has yet to be constructed.
7am – D Bookstore owner calls 911 when customer confronts Bannon (ABC News) – A Virginia bookstore owner called police after he says a customer began harassing former White House strategist Steve Bannon in his shop. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports ( https://bit.ly/2KZEgAD ) that Nick Cooke, owner of Black Swan Books in Richmond, called 911 Saturday afternoon after witnessing a woman confront Bannon and call him a “piece of trash.” Cooke said Bannon was minding his own business when the woman began harassing him. Cooke asked the woman to leave. She did so only after he called police.
7am – E INTERVIEW – Michael Goodwin – New York Post columnist – discussed his opinion piece on the possibilities of Clinton running in 2020
8am – A INTERVIEW – Jennifer Mascott – Assistant Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Supreme Court and Administrative Law Clinics at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University – previewed Trump’s Supreme Court pick
8am – B Thai cave recue underway as 4 boys are evacuated; 9 people left to go (NBC 4) – Expert divers Sunday rescued four of 12 boys from a flooded cave in northern Thailand where they were trapped with their soccer coach for more than two weeks, as a dangerous and complicated plan unfolded amid heavy rain and the threat of rising water underground. Eight of boys and the coach remained inside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex as authorities paused the international effort until Monday to replenish air tanks along the treacherous exit route.
8am – C Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Sean Doolittle to represent Nationals at All-Star Game (Washington Post) – Since Nationals Park was elected host of the 2018 MLB All-Star Game three years ago, one question has lingered: From a roster loaded with star power, who would ultimately represent the hometown Washington Nationals in the city’s first All-Star Game since the 1969 exhibition was held at RFK Stadium? The answer, at least partially, arrived Sunday, when Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer and Sean Doolittle were named to this year’s National League all-star team. For the 25-year-old Harper, the only National voted to start by fans, it is his sixth all-star selection and will be his fifth start, setting a franchise record.
8am – D INTERVIEW – Gordon Chang – Daily Beast columnist, author of “The Coming Collapse of China” and “Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On the World” – discussed Pompeo’s North Korea trip
8am – E England fans ‘celebrate’ World Cup victory over Sweden by smashing ambulance and storming IKEA store (The Examiner) – England fans ‘celebrated’ the nation’s World Cup quarter final victory over Sweden by smashing an ambulance and storming an IKEA store. Jubilant supporters rejoiced in the streets across the country on Saturday to mark England’s best tournament performance for 28 years. Footage and pictures shared on social media showed people climbing lampposts and on top of vehicles following the result, with some police forces recording the highest amount of emergency calls ever in one day.
