Mornings on the Mall

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Hosts: Vince Coglianese and guest co-host Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

Brian Darling, Charlie Spiering, Carol Maloney, Mark Lieberman, Raheem Kassam, Kaylin Trychon and guest host Tony Shaffer joined WMAL on Thursday!

Joining @WMALDC now to co-host Mornings on the Mall – 5 to 9 AM ET – hope you will join us! pic.twitter.com/Astuk7ccQK

— Tony Shaffer (@T_S_P_O_O_K_Y) March 12, 2020

5am – A/B/C Bernie Sanders vows to stay in 2020 race and says he is looking forward to debate with Joe Biden.  Burlington, Vermont (CNN)A defiant Sen. Bernie Sanders vowed to stay in the presidential race on Wednesday after a series of defeats that have left him trailing rival Joe Biden in the delegate race, pointing to his appeal with younger voters and previewing the lines of argument he’ll use against the former vice president on Sunday at a CNN-Univision debate. “Last night obviously was not a good night for our campaign from a delegate point of view,” Sanders said, listing his his losses in the Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho primaries, before noting a victory in North Dakota and reminding viewers of his lead in Washington state.

5am – D         US Supreme Court lets ‘Remain in Mexico’ asylum policy stay in place. Washington (CNN) The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that the controversial Trump administration “Remain in Mexico” asylum policy can stay in effect while legal challenges play out. The court’s order is a victory for the administration, which warned there would be a “rush to the border” if the policy that has been in effect for a year was blocked by the courts. It’s a devastating loss for immigrant rights groups who say asylum seekers sent back to Mexico are living in dangerous conditions. Justice Sonia Sotomayor would have denied the government’s application, the court said. The policy, officially known as Migrant Protection Protocols, mandates that non-Mexican asylum return to Mexico as they await hearings in the United States. It has resulted in the creation of makeshift camps where hundreds of migrants have waited for weeks, if not months, in squalid and unsafe conditions. In some cases, migrant families have opted to send children across the US-Mexico border alone. Lawyers for the asylum seekers called the government’s policy illegal and said that in the months that it has been in effect “reports of murder, rape, torture kidnapping, and other violent assaults against returned asylum seekers have climbed.” The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the policy last month, but allowed it to remain in effect just long enough for the Supreme Court to consider whether to step in.

5am – E      Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison after he pleaded for mercy in the landmark #MeToo rape case. Weinstein was convicted last month of raping a woman in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on another woman at his apartment in 2006. He faced a maximum of 29 years in prison. Weinstein broke his courtroom silence and says he felt “remorse for this situation.” A spokesman says he was taken back to Bellevue Hospital later Wednesday for chest pain.

6am – A/B/C PRESIDENT TRUMP’S OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS ON CORONVIRUS:  President Trump says he is sharply restricting travel from Europe to the U.S. for 30 days beginning Friday night as he seeks to combat a viral pandemic. Trump made the announcement in an Oval Office address to the nation. He blames the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the coronavirus and says U.S. clusters were “seeded” by European travelers. Trump says the restrictions won’t apply to the United Kingdom and the U.S. will monitor the situation to determine if travel can be reopened earlier. The White House has also cancelled a planned trip by the President to Nevada and Colorado this week, “out of an abundance of caution.”

6am – D         INTERVIEW – BRIAN DARLING – president of Liberty Government Affairs and former Counsel & Sr. Communications Director for Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)

• House passes surveillance bill after rare bipartisan deal. (CNN)The House on Wednesday voted to reauthorize three national security surveillance authorities following a rare bipartisan agreement struck ahead of a Sunday deadline when the provisions are set to expire The legislation includes new privacy protections to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, as well as changes to the FISA court system to address misconduct over the surveillance warrants for former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, which came under fire from Republicans and President Donald Trump. The House approved the measure with a broad, bipartisan majority, 278-136.The legislation now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is hoping for quick passage of the House bill — something that will ultimately be up to opponents of the measure.
• Sen. Mike Lee urges Trump to veto House FISA bill. “I’m going to use every option at my disposal to stop the House bill,” the Utah senator says. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said Wednesday that he’ll do all he can to block the House’s legislation to reform surveillance laws and is pushing President Donald Trump to veto it.
• FISA ‘Reform’ Is No Reform at All. (By Brian Darling) – The so called ‘reforms’ of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) pending in Congress are not true reforms to the government’s ability to engage in warrantless wiretapping of American citizens. The FISA authorizes a secret administrative process that loosely resembles a one-sided court proceeding that allows the surveillance of communications in the name of fighting terrorism.  As we know, these authorities have been abused and are in need of true reform. The House Republican leadership has marketed changes to the law as reform when the changes do nothing to protect from the federal government abusing these authorities.  The FISA law, contained in expiring provisions of the U.S. Freedom Act, expires on March 15th and should be allowed to expire by Congress to either negotiate a better deal or to let it expire permanently. Expect bullying and fear mongering by the supporters of warrantless wiretapping to commence in the next few days.  The supporters of the law will claim that these authorities are necessary and urgent, despite the fact they waited until the last possible legislative moment to roll out a bill.  Their goal was to intimidate dissenting members into submission so they fear the political pain threatened by the leadership who will try to blame House members and Senators from slowing the process.  The truth is that the leadership is to blame for rolling out this bill at the last minute. https://townhall.com/columnists/briandarling/2020/03/11/fisa-reform-is-no-reform-at-all-n2564568

6am – E         CORONAVIRUS / SPORTS:

• NBA suspends season after player tests positive for coronavirus. (Fox News) – The NBA has suspended its entire season until further notice after a player on the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus. The test result was reported shortly before the Utah Jazz were to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The game was immediately canceled and the affected player was not in the arena, according to an NBA statement.
• EARLIER: Rudy Gobert touches every reporter’s recorder, out for Jazz-Thunder game (illness). SALT LAKE TRIBUNE’S ERIC WALDEN: As part of the Jazz’s COVID-19 response, shootaround availability was done in the ZBBC media room today rather than on the court. As Rudy Gobert got finished discussing the situation, he stood up, leaned over and made it a point to touch every mic and recorder in front of him.
• “This is much bigger than basketball.” Mark Cuban speaks on the NBA shutdown.
• March Madness games to be played without fans due to coronavirus. The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be played without fans, NCAA president Mark Emmert announced in a statement Wednesday. […] “The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel. Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance. While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States. This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes. We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families. Today, we will move forward and conduct championships consistent with the current information and will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed.”
• NCAA officially BANS spectators from March Madness games and limits the crowd to essential staff and family amid coronavirus fears

6am – F         Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson Test Positive for Coronavirus; Elvis Movie Halted. The actor was filming Baz Luhrmann’s as-yet untitled Presley movie for Warner Bros. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), the actor posted Wednesday on his personal Instagram.  Writing from Australia, where Hanks is filming Baz Luhrmann’s as-yet untitled Elvis Presley movie for Warner Bros., the actor said: “Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive.” He added: “Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?”  Hanks, 63, is set to play Colonel Tom Parker in Luhrmann’s Elvis film that is in preproduction on Australia’s Gold Coast. On March 5, Wilson performed songs from her new album Halfway to Home at Brisbane’s Emporium Hotel. On Saturday, Wilson made her debut at the Sydney Opera House. It is not yet known if Wilson was infectious then. Wilson also visited the studios of Australia’s Nine Network to tape an interview on Today Extra with David Campbell and Belinda Russell. “Nine today has taken action in line with our crisis response plan around a visit to our studio by Ms. Rita Wilson on Monday this week,” a Nine spokesperson said in a statement. “Our actions are in line with the guidelines set out by the Government and Health Authorities. Those who were in prolonged contact with Ms. Wilson have been tested and are self-isolating for 14 days,” the Nine spokesperson added.

7am – A         INTERVIEW – CHARLIE SPIERING – White House correspondent, Breitbart News — recap the president’s Oval Office address on coronavirus

• President Trump says he is sharply restricting travel from Europe to the U.S. for 30 days beginning Friday night as he seeks to combat a viral pandemic. Trump made the announcement in an Oval Office address to the nation. He blames the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the coronavirus and says U.S. clusters were “seeded” by European travelers. Trump says the restrictions won’t apply to the United Kingdom and the U.S. will monitor the situation to determine if travel can be reopened earlier.

7am – B/C     CORONAVORUS / LOCAL IMPACT:

• Latest coronavirus test results in DC, Maryland and Virginia: Updated March 11, 8:15 p.m.:
  • D.C. Number of presumptive positive results: 4 (includes 1 positive result from another lab)
  • Maryland: Number of positive results: 12
  • Virginia: Number of presumptive positive results: 9
• VIRGINIA: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Wednesday reported the ninth coronavirus case in his state: a male teenager in the Chickahominy Health District, in the area of Hanover County.
• MARYLAND: In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced four new cases: a woman in her 70s who tested positive in Anne Arundel County after having close contact with someone else who had the virus; a Montgomery County man in his 20s who recently traveled to Spain; a Baltimore County man in his 60s who was at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference in the District; and a Prince George’s County man in his 60s, who is currently hospitalized. That man’s travel is being investigated.
• DC IMPACT: DC mayor announces state of emergency. Speaking at a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Muriel Bowser said the emergency declaration is largely administrative and allows her to more easily request federal disaster, mandate medical quarantining and make price gouging illegal. There are now 10 laboratory-confirmed cases of coronavirus in D.C., said Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, the director of D.C. Public Health — an increase of six new cases. The six new cases include a 59-year-old man with a travel history to a Level 3 country, a 58-year-old woman who attended a conference in D.C., a 39-year-old man with a travel history to a Level 3 country, a 24-year-old man with no known exposure, a 59-year-old woman who is a known contact of a previous exposure and a 69-year-old woman with no known exposure.
• National Cherry Blossom Festival makes schedule changes amid coronavirus outbreak. The D.C. festival is scheduled for March 20 to April 12, but there are now several changes to the events.  

March 20 — The “Pink Tie Party” is postponed. The festival is looking to reschedule, but the silent auction fundraiser will still take place online.

March 21 — The opening ceremony will not take place as planned at the Warner Theatre, and is looking to possibly livestream the event.

March 28 — The Blossom Kite Festival is canceled.

And the Tidal Basin Welcome Area is canceled.

• Episcopal Diocese of Washington closes dozens of churches — including the National Cathedral — for two weeks. Episcopal churches in the District and the Maryland and Virginia suburbs — including Washington National Cathedral — are suspending worship services and limiting use of their buildings for two weeks because of the coronavirus, church leaders said Wednesday.
• LOCAL SCHOOLS:
  • DC-area schools tweak schedules in response to coronavirus. Public school systems and universities around the D.C. region are sharing their plans as concerns about the new coronavirus grip the U.S. and the world. Some schools have canceled classes and are moving toward remote learning. Others have not yet canceled courses, but are closely monitoring news and await guidance from state health officials.
  • DC Colleges and universities:
    • American University: In D.C., where there have been a total of five confirmed cases, American University said Tuesday that it will cancel in-person classes through April 3. All classes and instruction will move “fully online.”
    • Catholic University of America: Classes are canceled Monday and Tuesday and are being moved online until at least March 30.
    • Georgetown University: Starting on Monday, March 16, the university will hold all classes online. The administration has suspended all in-person and on-campus classes.
    • The George Washington University: The school has already canceled all affiliated international travel for students, faculty and staff. It said most classes will move online March 23 and remain online through at least April 5.
    • Galluadet University: All classes are being moved online from March 23 to May 4.
    • Howard University: Transitioning to online classes starting March 23. Founders and iLab to remain open with adjusted hours. Students are not expected to return to campus until April 6.
  • MARYLAND Public Schools:
    • Howard County Public School System: All out-of-state field trips and athletic events, including to D.C., are now canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, schools Superintendent Michael Martirano said in a statement Tuesday.
    • Prince George’s County Public Schools: Prince George’s County Public Schools sent a letter to the community saying that the three people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the county have no connection to the school system nor have they had contact with children.
  • Maryland Colleges and Universities:
    • University of Maryland: University of Maryland said that starting March 30 and continuing to at least April 10, all classroom instruction will be conducted virtually. It also said that for functions that can be performed remotely, supervisors are encouraged to offer employees the option to telework. Students should plan to leave for spring break and not return to campus until at least April 10.
    • Montgomery College: Classes are canceled Thursday, Friday and Saturday in order to prepare for a shift to emergency remote teaching and remote working. From March 23 to April 3, classes will take place remotely.
  • Virginia Public Schools
    • Fairfax County Public Schools: One of the largest public school systems in the D.C. region is announcing plans for possible distance learning preparations. One of the largest public school systems in the D.C. region is announcing plans for possible distance learning preparations.
    • Loudoun County Public Schools will close for a week out of an “abundance of caution” after a case of the novel coronavirus was diagnosed in the county. The closure will last from Thursday, March 12 through Friday, March 20, school officials announced early Thursday.
    • Alexandria City Public Schools: The Washington Post reported that Alexandria schools will bring in substitute teachers on March 13 and March 16 to allow teachers to take time off to develop plans for online learning.
  • Virginia Colleges and universities:
    • George Mason University: George Mason is extending spring break by an additional week through March 20. When spring break ends, most classes will be conducted through “virtual alternative instruction, from Monday, March 23 through Friday April 3.
    • Northern Virginia Community College: Moving classes online. Classes will be canceled Monday and Tuesday to allow for the transition. All classroom instruction will be conducted virtually from Wednesday, March 18, until April 4.
    • Virginia Tech: This week is Virginia Tech’s spring break, and a number of academic spring break programs happening overseas are happening as planned. For the latest, visit the school’s COVID-19 page.
    • University of Virginia: Classes are being moved online starting Thursday, March 19. Students away on spring break are encouraged to return home or remain home.

 7am – D/E     INTERVIEW – CAROL MALONEY – host of The Carol Maloney Show on ESPN 630 (In studio) – discussed the impact of coronavirus on sporting events.

• NBA suspends season after player tests positive for coronavirus.
• EARLIER: Rudy Gobert touches every reporter’s recorder, out for Jazz-Thunder game (illness)
• “This is much bigger than basketball.” Mark Cuban speaks on the NBA shutdown.
• March Madness games to be played without fans due to coronavirus
• D.C. Health Department officials are recommending that “non-essential mass gatherings, including conferences and conventions,” be postponed or canceled in the nation’s capital.
• BUT, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, said their games will go on as scheduled at Capitol One Arena. The organization said it has consulted with the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League, and would continue to assess options as the situation develops.
• Nationals postpone homecoming gala amid coronavirus outbreak

8am – A         INTERVIEW – MARK LIEBERMAN – contributing writer for Education Week — discussed the issues involved in remote learning as schools go online during coronavirus.

• Many Districts Won’t Be Ready for Remote Learning If Coronavirus Closes Schools. (By Mark Lieberman / Education Week) – School closures stemming from the novel coronavirus have begun escalating in the United States, with the 24,000-student Northshore district in Washington state announcing Thursday that it will close and shift to online learning for up to 14 days. It’s the first real test of prolonged distance learning to rise out of the arrival of COVID-19 in American communities. E-learning has been touted as a potential tool for minimizing disruption and keeping instruction flowing during an extended break—but significant gaps in access and resources mean not all schools are prepared to offer virtual classes, and not all students are equipped to learn online. Worldwide, the outbreak has already forced the temporary shutdown of schools in China, Japan, and Italy, affecting nearly 300 million students, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2020/03/05/many-districts-wont-be-ready-for-remote.html
• DC, Fairfax County Schools Cancel Classes Monday for Coronavirus Planning. Students who attend DC Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools will have no classes Monday, March 16 as the staffs prepare for the potential impact of the coronavirus. D.C. schools will be closed as part of the school district’s “emergency response planning,” Chancellor Lewis Ferebee said in a message to parents Wednesday morning. They are preparing for students to learn from home if schools need to be closed because of the virus.

8am – B/C      INTERVIEW – RAHEEM KASSAM – former chief advisor to Nigel Farage, Editor in Chief of National Pulse and co-host of the War Room 2020 podcast – discussed the Trump administration suspending travel from Europe.

• President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a suspension of all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Trump said the European Union had “failed to take the same precautions”
• Raheem Kassam @RaheemKassam: Given the EU’s failure to deal with #coronavirus, @realDonaldTrump is restricting travel from Europe for 30 days. This does NOT apply to the non-EU nation of the United Kingdom. Thanks #Brexit! Such good timing. https://twitter.com/RaheemKassam/status/1237907819158003713
• ITALY:  Italy announces all shops except pharmacies and food outlets will be CLOSED as coronavirus death toll climbs by 31% to 827 in 24 hours and intensive care units are advise to stop treating the elderly. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the closure of schools, gyms, museums, nightclubs and other venues across the country, which on Wednesday passed 10,000 confirmed infections.
• ‘Not a single EU country’ responded to Italian plea for help with coronavirus. (Washington Examiner) – A top Italian official knocked the European Union for leaving Italy’s plea for medical assistance unanswered while the coronavirus outbreak cripples the country.Italy’s permanent representative to the EU, Maurizio Massari, wrote an op-ed in Politico on Tuesday asking for aid from EU members. The Italian official said that while the EU has ignored Italy’s requests for aid, China has begun assisting Italy bilaterally.
• GERMANY: Coronavirus: Up to 70% of Germany could become infected – Merkel. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that up to 70% of the country’s population – some 58 million people – could contract the coronavirus. Mrs Merkel made the stark prediction at a news conference on Wednesday alongside Health Minister Jens Spahn.She said since there was no known cure, the focus would fall on slowing the spread of the virus. “It’s about winning time,” she explained. Her remarks came as Italy entered its second day of a national lockdown.

8am – D         INTERVIEW – KAYLIN TRYCHON – Vice President of ROKK Solutions – discussed tips for teleworking during Coronavirus: how to turn your office into a telework office and what security issues that both managers and employees need to be aware of in teleworking.

• • Trump administration wants hundreds of thousands of federal workers to be ready to telework full time. The Trump administration is racing to develop contingency plans that would allow hundreds of thousands of employees to work remotely full time, an extreme scenario to limit the coronavirus that would test whether the government can carry out its mission from home offices and kitchen tables.
  • FROM ROKK SOLUTIONS: Teleworking During Coronavirus… Are You Ready? As the Coronavirus continues to spread, more companies are faced with the reality of remote work. For many employees, telework is not a new concept, but for entire organizations, this level of remote work is unprecedented. We are seeing companies update their policies to reflect the current landscape and ramp up contingency plans. During this crisis, it’s essential that organizations do not overlook the importance of cybersecurity for the sake of efficiency when establishing business continuity measures. The last thing your organization needs during a pandemic, is the backlash over a data breach that can cause a reputation problem for even the most robust organization. With communications departments already stretched thin because of Coronavirus, adding a data breach crisis could have catastrophic repercussions.  According to Checkpoint’s Global Threat Index for January 2020, cyber-criminals are already exploiting the global epidemic by spreading malicious activity and launching spam campaigns relating to the outbreak of the virus.,The research also identified a targeted coronavirus themed phishing campaign that hit 10% of all organizations in Italy. Bad actors are using the increase in HR email traffic regarding the virus to impersonate internal employee communications. We are often brought in as a communications firm to address crises large and small and that includes data breaches. As the Coronavirus continues to spread and organizations potentially turn to remote work for safety, we want to share actionable security practices to help your team stay one step ahead:

8am – E         ‘Got married!’: Ilhan Omar reveals marriage to her fundraising chief. Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar revealed she married her fundraising chief Tim Mynett.  (Washington Examiner) – Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar revealed she married her fundraising chief Tim Mynett. In a nighttime social media post, Omar made the announcement with a black-and-white picture of the two, adding the caption, “Got married! From partners in politics to life partners, so blessed. Alhamdulillah.” Fellow “squad” member and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib responded to the post on social media, writing, “Alf Mabrook sis. So happy for you.” Omar, 38, married Mynett earlier this week at an undisclosed location, according to the Daily Mail. Omar’s romantic history has sparked much speculation, with some asserting she married her own brother to assist him in obtaining U.S. citizenship. Over the years, Omar has had multiple marriages, first to Ahmed Hirsi in 2002 and then to British citizen Ahmed Elmi in 2009, mothering three children to both fathers. However, she later divorced Elmi in 2017 to re-marry her first husband, Hirsi. But as Hirsi reportedly made a visit to Omar in Washington, D.C., after marrying her in 2018, he discovered her having an affair with Mynett.