Victor Davis Hanson, Thomas Dupree, Cal Thomas and Scott Allen joined WMAL on Thursday!

Mornings on the Mall

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

 

5am – A/B/C  INTERVIEW — VICTOR DAVIS HANSON – historian and author of new book “The Case for Trump”

5am – D         Embattled Trump Fed pick Stephen Moore complains: ‘They’re pulling a Kavanaugh against me’ (CNBC) —  Stephen Moore is comparing the reaction to his Federal Reserve board nomination to the one faced by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual misconduct after being tapped for the high court.     Since President Trump nominated Moore, there has been a steady drip of revelations about his past, including a federal tax lien, messy divorce, a finding of contempt of court for shorting his ex-wife on a divorce payout, sexist past writings, and negative comments about Cleveland and Cincinnati. President Donald Trump’s embattled Federal Reserve board pick Stephen Moore is comparing the reaction to his nomination — which has included disclosures of sexist writings and shorting his ex-wife of more than $300,000 in a divorce payout — to the one faced by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual misconduct after being tapped for the high court. “You know, they’re pulling a Kavanaugh against me,” Moore complained during an interview with WZFG-AM Radio. Since Trump named him as a Fed contender, Moore said, “it’s been one personal assault after another and a kind of character assassination, having nothing to do with economics.”  “They’re trying to derail this nomination.”

5am – E         TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION IS HURTING YOU AND YOUR KIDS:

• CONSTANTLY STARING AT YOUR PHONE MAY BE KILLING YOU: (NY Times) — It’s a good idea: an increasing body of evidence suggests that the time we spend on our smartphones is interfering with our sleep, self-esteem, relationships, memory, attention spans, creativity, productivity and problem-solving and decision-making skills. But there is another reason for us to rethink our relationships with our devices. By chronically raising levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, our phones may be threatening our health and shortening our lives.
• THE LESS SCREEN TIME FOR KIDS, THE BETTER: (Marketwatch) — The U.N. health agency said Wednesday that kids under 5 should not spend more than one hour watching screens every day — and that less is better.

6am – A         HILLARY DOUBLES DOWN ON INDICTING AND IMPEACHING TRUMP:

• On Tuesday, former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said she believes President Trump “would certainly have been indicted” in the Mueller probe if not for a long-standing Department of Justice rule that shields a sitting president from indictments.
• On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton Pens Op-Ed on Mueller Report: It Documents a ‘Serious Crime Against the American People.’ Hillary Clinton penned an op-ed for the Washington Post that dropped late this afternoon on the Mueller report and what Congress should do next. The former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate says that Robert Mueller‘s final report “documents a serious crime against the American people.” She says “immediate impeachment or nothing” is a “false choice,” while acknowledging “this is personal for me, and some may say that I’m not the right messenger” as a target of “the Russian plot.” Clinton calls on Americans to put politics aside and says Congress should continue holding hearings and not jumping to impeachment right away. Clinton adds that the Mueller report serves as a warning and “unless checked, the Russians will interfere again in 2020, and possibly other adversaries, such as China or North Korea, will as well”
• Hillary Clinton cautions House Democrats against rushing to impeach Trump. Hillary Clinton cautioned House Democrats on Wednesday against rushing to impeach President Trump following the release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report. “Congress should hold substantive hearings that build on the Mueller report and fill in its gaps, not jump straight to an up-or-down vote on impeachment. In 1998, the Republican-led House rushed to judgment. That was a mistake then and would be a mistake now,” Clinton, who ran against Trump in 2016, wrote in an op-ed published in TheWashington Post. The op-ed comes after Clinton on Tuesday threw her support behind Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has hesitated to take up impeachment. “I think Nancy is right to be cautious about making sure whatever is done in this Congress is more in accord with the very careful approach of 1973 and ‘4,” Clinton said while speaking at the Time 100 Summit, referring to impeachment proceedings against former President Nixon. In her Wednesday op-ed, Clinton again called on Congress to follow the precedent set by Watergate. “Then, as now, there was an investigation that found evidence of corruption and a coverup. It was complemented by public hearings conducted by a Senate select committee, which insisted that executive privilege could not be used to shield criminal conduct and compelled White House aides to testify,” she wrote. She also said that Mueller, former White House counsel Don McGahn and “other key witnesses” should testify. Clinton called on Congress to create an independent commission on election security, saying that Trump “has proved himself unwilling to defend our nation from a clear and present danger.”

6am – B/C     Biden expected to launch 2020 presidential campaign. After months of speculation, former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to officially announce Thursday morning that he’s joining the crowded field of Democrats running for president in 2020. Biden is expected to release a video with his announcement. Despite the recent #MeToo controversy where several women accused him of touching them inappropriately at events, Biden, 76, has remained at the top of most public opinion polls. His strongest competition for the Democratic nomination right now is Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., 77, who has stirred controversy this week for his support for allowing prisoners to vote. Sanders also has faced tough crowds at recent town halls and gatherings, most recently at a She The People Forum devoted to women of color in Houston on Wednesday night, where hecklers left the self-described democratic socialist visibly frustrated.

6am – D         INTERVIEW – CAL THOMAS – Syndicated columnist — discussed Joe Biden entering the presidential race.

6am – E         NRA sues Los Angeles over law requiring disclosure of ties to gun rights group. (Reuters) – The National Rifle Association sued Los Angeles on Wednesday over a new law requiring that contractors disclose their ties to the gun rights group as a condition of obtaining business from the second most-populous U.S. city.  Los Angeles was accused of trying to “silence NRA’s voice, as well as the voices of all those who dare oppose the city’s broad gun-control agenda,” by cutting off revenue streams the group needs to advocate for the right to bear arms. At issue was an ordinance that took effect on April 1, requiring companies that want city contracts to disclose NRA contracts or sponsorships. The NRA said the law is unconstitutional because it violates its First Amendment right to free speech and association, and its 14th Amendment right to equal protection. It sued in Los Angeles federal court. Mayor Eric Garcetti, also named as a defendant, signed the contracting law on Feb. 18 following passage by the Los Angeles City Council.

6am – F         Cher Doubles Down: ‘Excuse the Fk Out of Me If I Don’t Want, Murders, Rapists, & CHILD MOLESTERS to Vote’ (Breitbart) — Pop star Cher defended herself from attacks on social media Tuesday in a series of now-deleted tweets after she was criticized for questioning Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) plan to let felons and terrorists vote.

“TERRORIST KILLED INNOCENT PPL. IM SICK OF BEING NAILED 2 CROSS BECAUSE U PPL THINK IM A RACIST‼️IM NOT GOING TO DEFEND MYSELF‼️I CARE 4 ALL PPL,TRY TO HELP ALL PPL,” Cher said. “Excuse The Fk Out Of Me If I don’t want ,Murders, Rapists, &; CHILD MOLESTERS of every color to vote.”

This post comes in response to a social media user who criticized Cher for panning the idea of letting felons vote. In a Tuesday tweet, Cher questioned Bernie Sanders’ statement that felons should be able to vote.

“Does Bernie Sanders Really Believe Ppl In Prison Who Are Murderers⁉️ Rapists⁉️ Child Molesters⁉️ BOSTON BOMBERS…STILL DESERVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE⁉️” she said.

Another user told Cher, “A disproportionate number of black and brown people end up in prison for petty or invented stuff, put there by racist judges and racist cops. Our system isn’t perfect; let’s allow them to vote AND work on disassembling racism in our legal system.”

“DO YOU PPL JUST CHOOSE TWTS YOU CAN TWIST⁉️EXCUSE THE FK OUT OF ME IF I DONT FEEL WHITE BLACK,BROWN,CONVICTED CHILD MOLESTERS, MURDERERS OR RAPISTS STILL IN PRISON SHOULD KEEP RIGHT TO VOTE‼️” she replied.

Cher’s original tweet, and her two responses were all later deleted.

7am – A/B/C INTERVIEW — VICTOR DAVIS HANSON – historian and author of new book “The Case for Trump”

7am – D/E     INTERVIEW – THOMAS DUPREE – Former Dep Asst Attorney General — (IN STUDIO) – discussed Hillary Clinton’s comments on indicting and impeaching President Trump.

• Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said she believes President Trump “would certainly have been indicted” in the Mueller probe if not for a long-standing Department of Justice rule that shields a sitting president from indictments
• Hillary Clinton Pens Op-Ed on Mueller Report: It Documents a ‘Serious Crime Against the American People’

8am – A         IRS, FBI Search Home of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, Baltimore City Hall. BALTIMORE — Agents with the FBI and IRS are gathering evidence inside the two homes of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and in City Hall. FBI spokesman Dave Fitz says multiple agents are “executing court-authorized search warrants” at “both residences and City Hall.” The mayor’s spokesman, James Bentley, said he has no immediate comment on the Thursday raids. Her attorney Steve Silverman, did not immediately return calls. Pugh and five of her staffers are now on paid leave amid a scandal over her book sales.

8am – B/C  INTERVIEW – SCOTT ALLEN – Sports reporter for The Washington Post – discussed the Caps falling to the Hurricanes in the playoffs.

• Washington Capitals’ bid for back-to-back Stanley Cups ends in double overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes. (Washington Post) – The Washington Capitals stayed seated on their bench, waiting for the Carolina Hurricanes to finish celebrating. Some players had their heads down, looking away. Others watched with pained expressions. That was them back in June, when they dogpiled before hoisting the Stanley Cup above their heads one by one. This season was dedicated to doing it all over again. Instead, it ended in April. Brock McGinn’s double-overtime goal, off a centering pass that he tipped in front of the net, gave the Hurricanes a 4-3 victory in Game 7 on Wednesday night in Capital One Arena, ending the Capitals’ bid to defend their franchise-first title. In this pivotal contest, they twice were ahead by two goals but gave their lead away, and then they were slow and sloppy in both overtimes. “It’s kind of situation where the season is over and you understand that,” captain Alex Ovechkin said. “We fight through 82 games, and in Game 7, they score one goal, and it’s a kind of situation where you’re disappointed, you’re frustrated — especially after last year.”

8am – D         Biden launch sets up 2020 nomination fight with fellow front-runner Sanders. The reaction came fast and furious. Soon after Joe Biden officially launched his much anticipated and long awaited 2020 presidential campaign, a leading progressive group slammed the former vice president. “Joe Biden stands in near complete opposition to where the center of energy is in the Democratic Party today,” the Justice Democrats wrote on their Twitter feed.

8am – E         Meghan Markle plans to take three months of maternity leave… from WHAT? (PageSix) — Heavily pregnant Meghan Markle plans to take just three months’ maternity leave after the arrival of Baby Sussex. The duchess, 37, who is due to give birth any day, has told aides she wants to get back to work quickly — shunning a possible year’s leave. Meghan finished official royal duties six weeks ago but has continued to work behind the scenes with charities. A royal source said: “Meghan has made it very clear she wants to return to work as soon as possible. She has huge amounts of energy, is extremely determined and wants to be as hands-on as possible with her charities. “Nothing has been written into her diary just yet, as she wants to wait and see how she feels after having the baby. “She’s penciled in three months, but she’ll most likely return to public life in six weeks — on the Queen’s official birthday, Trooping the Colour, in June. “Three months’ maternity is standard in the US for American mums — they don’t normally get the six or even 12 months women get here in the UK. So this is totally normal for Meghan.” Harry, 34, is also taking paternity leave but it is not known how much. His sister-in-law Kate, 37, took six months off after Louis’ birth last year and five months with Charlotte in 2015.