Dr. Tom Jones, WMAL’s Redskins Analyst Trevor Matich, Defense News reporter Joseph Gould, Washington Post Transportation reporter Martine Powers and Fox’s Kevin Corke joined WMAL on Friday!

Mornings on the Mall

Friday, August 10, 2018

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

 

5am – A/B/C Pence unveils plan to create Space Force by 2020. Vice President Mike Pence announced the Pentagon’s detailed plan for President Donald Trump’s vision of a Space Force on Thursday. This would establish the first military branch in over 71 years. Trump directed the Pentagon in June to immediately begin the creation of the new branch.

5am – D/E     ATLANTIC: Why the Left Is So Afraid of Jordan Peterson

6am – A         MUELLER / MANAFORT

• Mueller team files complaint against Manafort trial judge over latest reprimand
• Manafort prosecutors get what they wanted: Judge Ellis tells the jury he was wrong in criticizing prosecutors yesterday for having a witnesses, an IRS agent, in the room to hear other witness testimony. “Put aside any criticism. I was probably wrong in that,” Ellis said
• NATION Writer: In court Tuesday, Rick Gates substantiated an inconvenient fact that a few of us have pointed out: Manafort was not pushing Kremlin interests in Ukraine. In trying to tie Manafort’s Ukraine activities to Trump-Russia, Russiagaters allege he did Putin’s bidding.
• Rudy’s Mueller demand: No questions on Flynn, Comey
• TRUMP TWEET: This is an illegally brought Rigged Witch Hunt run by people who are totally corrupt and/or conflicted. It was started and paid for by Crooked Hillary and the Democrats. Phony Dossier, FISA disgrace and so many lying and dishonest people already fired. 17 Angry Dems? Stay tuned!

6am – B         FORMER OHIO STATE WRESTLER RECANTS CLAIM THAT JIM JORDAN KNEW OF SEXUAL ABUSE (Daily Caller) — A former Ohio State University wrestler is recanting his claims that Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan knew of sexual abuse allegations against a university physician when he coached wrestling at the school over 20 years ago. “At no time did I ever say or have any direct knowledge that Jim Jordan knew of Dr. Richard Strauss’s inappropriate behavior,” Mark Coleman, a former MMA fighter who wrestled at Ohio State when Jordan coached there, said in a statement. “I have nothing but respect for Jim Jordan as I have known him for more than 30 years and know him to be of impeccable character.” Coleman is the first former OSU wrestler to recant his claims that Jordan knew about sexual abuse at the hands of Dr. Richard Strauss, an OSU physician accused of molesting dozens of student-athletes. Jordan, who was an assistant coach at OSU from 1986 to 1994, was first linked to the allegations against Strauss in an NBC News article published July 3. A former wrestler named Mike DiSabato led the push to accuse Jordan of turning a blind eye to Strauss’s behavior. Jordan, who is mounting a bid for Speaker of the House, has vehemently denied knowing about Strauss’s actions. He has said that he would have taken action had he known about them. OSU is conducting an investigation into Strauss, who committed suicide in 2005.

6am – C         Exiting ‘Fox & Friends’ host could be headed to ‘The View’ (Page Six) — “The View” may be adding another conservative panelist, we’re told. Mediaite reported that weekend “Fox & Friends” host Abby Huntsman has left Fox News and is eyeing a spot on the long-running ABC talk show. Now, sources close to “The View” tell Page Six that while “a deal isn’t done,” the show “is very interested in a role for her.” Huntsman’s father, Jon Huntsman Jr., serves as US ambassador to Russia under President Donald Trump. Abby would be replacing Sara Haines, who is departing to join ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Huntsman’s last appearances on “Fox & Friends” will be this Saturday and Sunday.

6am – D         INTERVIEW — DR. TOM JONES —  veteran NASA astronaut and author of latest book, “Ask the Astronaut”  @TomJones_astro  — shared of thoughts on Space Force.

6am – E         Ben Shapiro, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spar after he offers $10,000 to debate her democratic socialist beliefs (Fox News) — Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro challenged democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a debate, offering to donate $10,000 to her campaign if she accepted — but it triggered a sparring match online.

Shapiro initially tweeted a video on Wednesday in which he mocked Democratic National Committee chairperson Tom Perez for calling Ocasio-Cortez, a New York congressional candidate, the “future of the Democratic Party,” before issuing his challenge. “Miss Ocasio-Cortez, I’m really excited that you’ve been elevated to that position and I would love to have a real conversation with you about the issues. You’ve noted that you think Republicans are afraid to debate you or talk to you or discuss the issues with you,” Shapiro said. “Not only am I eager to discuss the issues with you, I’m willing to offer $10,000 to your campaign, today, for you to come on our Sunday special,” he continued. “We can have an hour long conversation about all the topics under the sun, really probe your belief system.”

6am – F         KS / KOBACH:

• Kobach says he’ll recuse himself from Kansas vote-counting process. (Fox News) — Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state locked in a tight Republican gubernatorial primary battle against incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer, said Thursday night that he plans to recuse himself from the vote-counting process. Earlier Thursday, Kansas election officials revealed that Kobach – who received President Trump’s endorsement – was ahead of Colyer by just 121 votes after two counties reported discrepancies in their initial tallies from Tuesday’s election. The tightening of the vote count prompted Colyer to issue a letter, demanding that Kobach – the state’s top elections official — refrain from instructing county election officials on the counting of ballots, and Thursday night Kobach said he would comply with the request. “I’ll be happy to recuse myself,” Kobach told CNN. “But as I say, it really doesn’t make any difference. My office doesn’t count the votes. The counties do.”
• Kris Kobach’s lead cut in half after mistake discovered in Kansas (CBS/AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s lead over Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Republican primary has shrunk to only 91 votes after election officials discovered a mistake in the listing for one county’s results in the state’s tally of votes. The discovery cuts Kobach’s already slim lead in half. The lead is minuscule when compared with the 311,000 votes cast.

7am – A         DEMS TURNING ON PELOSI:

• Poll: Three-quarters of Americans say Nancy Pelosi should be replaced, including half of Democrats
• Pelosi is the star of GOP attack ads, worrying Democrats upbeat about midterms
• MI Democrat Nominee: I Will ‘Probably Not’ Support Pelosi, She Doesn’t Speak to my District’s Issues
• GOP congressional candidate: Pelosi, Obama ‘traitors’ to Hispanics
• Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Deploys Word Salad When Asked About Pelosi
• EARLIER THIS WEEK: Pelosi Says A Dem Win Will Give Illegals ‘Leverage’
• LAST SEPTEMBER: Immigration Activists Shout Pelosi Down: ‘No Lip Service!’ ‘We Owe You Nothing’ ‘This Is Our Democracy’ (VIDEO)

7am – B/C     Kanye West Says Putting on MAGA Hat Was ‘Overcoming Fear’ of Backlash: ‘Liberals Can’t Bully Me’ (Mediaite) — Kanye West sat down with Jimmy Kimmel and discussed politics and his support for President Donald Trump. Before probing West’s ideology, Kimmel began by asking the rapper if had any interest in designing the suits for Space Force if the president ever asks him.  “I’m into designing,” West chuckled. West told Kimmel how passionate his wife Kim Kardashian was when helping Alice Johnson be granted clemency after been sentenced for life for a first-time drug offense with her visit to the White House. “Were you ever concerned about her being alone in the Oval Office with President Trump?” Kimmel asked. “Well, he is a player,” West smirked. On the backlash he faced for expressing support for Trump, he began by comparing Trump to his cousin who is locked up for murder and that he still loves him even though he did a bad thing.

7am – D         INTERVIEW – TREVOR MATICH – WMAL’s Redskins Analyst @TMatich

— recapped the Redskins first preseason game

• Redskins Preseason Week 1: Patriots score 26 unanswered points in comeback win. The Redskins dominated the first half of Thursday’s preseason opener at Gillette Stadium, with backup quarterback Colt McCoy throwing a pair of touchdown passes as Alex Smith, who sat out the game, watched from the sideline. The second half belonged to the Patriots, who scored the game’s last 26 points in a 26-17 win.

7am – E         Melania’s parents become U.S. citizens…

• NBC Knocks Melania Trump’s Parents Becoming S. Citizens. The broadcast network speculated that they received special treatment in the process and possibly used chain migration, a program the President opposes, even though the process still exists and still legal. “Now to new questions tonight about a possible double standard when it comes to the first family,” declared a seemingly offended Lester Holt. “First lady Melania Trump’s parents becoming brand new U.S. citizens today apparently through a process that President Trump has repeatedly railed against and has said he wants to end.”
• CNN: Melania Trump used a visa opposed by her husband to get her parents’ citizenship. A source with direct knowledge of Melania Trump’s parents and their immigration status told CNN that Melania Trump sponsored her parents for their green cards, a status that allowed them to live and work in the US indefinitely and paved the way for citizenship. That type of family visa is exactly one of the categories that Trump and his allies have tried to repeal, saying they are harmful to the US.

8am – A         INTERVIEW — JOSEPH GOULD – Reporter for Defense News @reporterjoe

• Pence unveils plan to create Space Force by 2020. Vice President Mike Pence announced the Pentagon’s detailed plan for President Donald Trump’s vision of a Space Force on Thursday. This would establish the first military branch in over 71 years. Trump directed the Pentagon in June to immediately begin the creation of the new branch.
• GOULD: Think Space Force is a joke? Here are four major space threats to take seriously

8am – B/C   INTERVIEW — MARTINE POWERS – Transportation reporter for The Washington Post @martinepowers – discussed the latest DC metro news.

• Abandon hope, all ye who use Metro: With two weeks of single-tracking and shutdowns, agency urges riders to ditch the system (Washington Post) — Metro launches a track reconstruction project Saturday that will shutter part of the Blue Line, initiate round-the-clock single-tracking on the Orange and Silver lines, and close two busy downtown stations on two weekends. And that’s in addition to the six-week shutdown on the Red Line — which, well, is only halfway finished. So, the pamphlets distributed by Metro to commuters in recent weeks sum up the impending situation quite nicely: “Only take Metro if you have no other option.”
• Metro no longer considering separate trains for white nationalists attending ‘Unite the Right’ rally (Washington Post) — Metro is no longer considering running separate trains for protesters participating in the Aug. 12 “Unite the Right” white nationalists rally in the District, the transit agency’s board chairman said Saturday. Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans had previously said that running a separate train was among options being weighed by officials. “Metro will not be providing a special train or special car for anyone next Sunday,” Evans said.
• Wires Crossed: All Of Metro’s 7000-Series Trains Need To Be Rewired (DCist) — The wiring on Metro’s new 7000-series trains needs to be inspected and parts may need to be re-done, according to a new report from the agency’s Department of Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance & Oversight. Wires were improperly crimped or twisted together during the manufacturing process. All 548 cars currently in use will need to be taken out of service in phases over the next year. It will not affect daily service, Metro says.
• Latest unions strike threat

8am – D         INTERVIEW — KEVIN CORKE – White House Correspondent for Fox News Channel @kevincorke – discussed the latest White House news / Trump tweets

8am – E         Samuel Adams CEO: Trump Tax Cuts Helps Us ‘Kick Ass’ of Foreign-Owned Beer (Breitbart)  President Donald Trump’s tax cuts are helping American owned brewing companies compete with the larger companies owned by foreign countries. Founder and CEO of Boston Brewing company Jim Koch boasted that thanks to the president lowering the corporate tax, local breweries had a better chance of competing with brands like Budweiser, now owned by InBev, a Belgian-Brazilian beer conglomerate. Boston Brewing company brews Samuel Adams beer. “The tax reform was a very big deal for all of us, because 85 percent of the beer made in the United States is owned by foreign companies,” he told Donald Trump while attending a dinner hosted by the president at his club in Bedminster. He said the business climate that led many of the big beer brands to sell off to overseas companies improved significantly with the passage of the tax cuts. “We were paying 38 percent taxes and competing against people who were paying 20,” Koch said. “And now we have a level playing field, and we’re going to kick their ass.”