Edwin Meese, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, MD Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn, CNN’s Jake Tapper & Ken Cuccinelli joined WMAL on Friday!
Listen here to Friday’s show!
Mornings on the Mall
Friday, June 26, 2015
Hosts: Brian Wilson and Larry O’Connor
Executive Producer: Heather Smith
5am – A/B/C DRIVE AT FIVE INTERVIEW — EDWIN MEESE III – former U.S. Attorney General under President Reagan and a Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow Emeritus at The Heritage Foundation
Supreme Court saves Obamacare. Supreme Court Allows Nationwide Health Care Subsidies. Washington (CNN) – Obamacare has survived — again. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court saved the controversial health care law that will define President Barack Obama’s administration for generations to come. The ruling holds that the Affordable Care Act authorized federal tax credits for eligible Americans living not only in states with their own exchanges but also in the 34 states with federal marketplaces. It staved off a major political showdown and a mad scramble in states that would have needed to act to prevent millions from losing health care coverage.
5am – D Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announces funding, plans for Purple Line light rail. Congress cleared the second part of the trade package Thursday after House Democrats reversed themselves and voted for new assistance for workers displaced by free trade agreements, cementing fast-track negotiating powers President Obama will use to finalize a major Pacific Rim deal. The 286-138 vote is a momentous victory for Mr. Obama and for the GOP congressional leaders who linked arms with him, overcoming years of bad blood between the two sides. The vote also marked the return of Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and the GOP’s point man on trade, to the pinnacle of Washington politics. Mr. Ryan had implored colleagues to buy into free trade, arguing the U.S. position as the global economy’s linchpin was at stake.
5am – E Security escort protects Pepco tree cutters in Montgomery Co. ROCKVILLE, Md. (WUSA9) — After months and months of resistance from some Rockville homeowners, utility crews for Pepco were able to cut down some trees they believe threatened power lines, but not without help from an unlikely source. To help them cut down the trees Thursday, Pepco hired a security escort to make sure homeowners didn’t get in the way. “What we’d done in the past is when they’d go up in the trees and start cutting, three, four, five, eight, nine, whatever, would get under the trees and we’d say go away ad they would,” Donn Layne, a homeowner said. But the security escort blocked that strategy. “They barricade the whole area. We couldn’t do anything. with the policemen around there. we’re losing it,” Howard Siemers said. “You’ve got enough people annoyed that they have to bring police protection in to do this – there’s something wrong.”
6am – A/B/C BRISTOL PALIN Pregnant Again: “I do not want any lectures, and I do not want any sympathy.” Bristol Palin attends the “Dancing with the Stars: All Stars” panel at the Disney ABC Television Critics Association session in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP) ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Bristol Palin says she’s pregnant for a second time. The daughter of 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin announced the pregnancy on her blog Thursday. Her representative, David Martin, and Palin family lawyer John Tiemessen confirmed the blog post. The 24-year-old wrote that she knows this is a “huge disappointment” for her family, close friends and fans. She’s asking people to respect her privacy, and that of her son Tripp, saying, “I do not want any lectures, and I do not want any sympathy.” Bristol Palin was an 18-year-old unwed mother when she launched an abstinence campaign soon after giving birth to Tripp in December 2008. She was engaged to Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer, but the wedding was called off days before the ceremony last month.
6am – D Poor etiquette or good service? Debate arises on when a server should clear your plate. WASHINGTON – Ever feel rushed at a restaurant? Sometimes it seems like servers swoop in and take your plate as soon as you swallow the last bite. Washington Post writer Roberto Ferdman calls it “the most annoying restaurant trend happening today.” His recent rant is getting a lot of attention. “I understand that restaurants need turnover, they need profits, but if they want me to come back, they should treat me nicely,” one diner in Bethesda told FOX 5. On the other side of the argument, some say they don’t like an empty plate staring them in the face. A woman we spotted eating outdoors in Dupont Circle said, “If one person’s plate is completely clear, I don’t have a problem with them asking to remove it.”
6am – E Lost Emails:
State Department says it can’t locate 15 Hillary Clinton emails. (Fox News) — The State Department said Thursday that it cannot locate 15 work-related emails from Hillary Clinton’s private server released this week by the select committee probing the 2012 Benghazi attacks, a revelation that the head of the committee described as “significant and troubling.” The emails consist of more in a series of intelligence reports passed to her by longtime political confidant Sidney Blumenthal, officials told The Associated Press. At the least, the existence of the emails turned over by Blumenthal but not by Clinton directly contradicts Clinton’s news conference in March in which she claimed that all work emails from her personal server were turned over to the State Department. The revelation will also raise further questions about the presidential hopeful’s use of a personal email account and server when she served as secretary of state, as well as the decision to wipe the server. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chairman of the Select Committee on Benghazi, called the revelations “significant and troubling.”
Watchdog reveals evidence was destroyed during probe of IRS targeting. (Fox News) — WASHINGTON – The lead government watchdog for the IRS revealed Thursday that computer evidence was erased during the investigation into the agency’s targeting scandal, months after the IRS was told to preserve documents. J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration, testified to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that IRS employees erased computer backup tapes shortly after officials discovered thousands of emails related to the tax agency’s Tea Party scandal had been lost. As many as 24,000 emails were lost because 422 backup tapes were “magnetically erased” around March 4, 2014. George said his office found no direct evidence the tapes were destroyed to hide information from Congress or law enforcement. But the destruction nevertheless defied a preservation order, and is sure to raise suspicions over motive. “We have been misled. There has been evidence that has been destroyed,” committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said Thursday.
7am – A INTERVIEW – MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXECUTIVE IKE LEGGETT – weighed in on Gov. Larry Hogan giving the green light to the Purple Line.
7am – B Totally awesome! Clueless writer Amy Heckerling reveals a musical version of the ’90s film classic is in the works. (Daily Mail) — It’s the 90’s classic which is celebrating it’s 20th birthday. And now the writer and director of Clueless has revealed she is giving fans of the high school comedy a second chance to indulge in the world according to Cher. Amy Heckerling has revealed she has written a musical based on the iconic film and is hoping the production will hit Broadway soon. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, she said: ‘I’ve written what they call the book, and it’s a jukebox musical. A jukebox musical means it uses known well known songs instead of an original score, in the style of Mama Mia.
7am – C Man decapitated as severed head is ‘covered in Arabic writing’ and hung on a fence next to Islamist flag at factory in France after terrorists storm building and set off ‘gas bomb’ explosions. (Daily Mail) — Shocking attack took place at the headquarters of American-owned Air Products close to Lyon in southern France. Two men burst through the factory gates in a car, setting off small ‘gas bombs’ and injuring factory workers. Murder victim’s severed head was said to have been covered in Arabic writing and left hanging on a fence. It is not yet clear whether the terrorists killed the man elsewhere and transported his body to the factory. 30-year-old man ‘known to security services’ was arrested at the scene, telling officers he was a member of ISIS. (Daily Mail) — A man has been decapitated and dozens more injured at a gas product factory in France by terrorists carrying Islamist banners. The attack took place at the headquarters of the American owned Air Products, in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, near the city of Lyon, in the south east of the country. The murder is believed to have been accompanied by several explosions on the site when the terrorists ignited small ‘gas bombs’, causing injuries to dozens of factory workers. It is believed the attackers may have intended to blow up the entire factory site. The murdered man’s head is understood to have been found 30 feet away from his body, hanging on the factory’s fence. The dead man’s head was covered in Arabic ‘inscriptions’ before being placed on the fence, according to local journalists at the scene.
7am – D INTERVIEW — MD TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE RAHN
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s decision is in on the Purple Line. (BizJournals) – Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday the Purple Line will advance, but the two local counties that stand to benefit from the light rail line will be asked to shoulder a much larger burden. The alignment of the 16-mile Purple Line will not change, nor will the number of stations. But Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, Hogan said, will have to take on a greater percentage of the estimated $2.5 billion-plus price tag. The federal government, he said, must come through with its anticipated $900 million infusion. And tweaks to the project, such as extending the headway between trains from 6 to 7.5 minutes, will further drive down the cost. Maryland officials say those changes, if accepted, will drive down the state’s investment from more than $700 million to less than $300 million.
7am – E Confederate Flag Battles:
Gettysburg removes some Confederate flag items. GETTYSBURG, Pa. —The National Park Service is asking its gift shops to remove standalone Confederate flags from store shelves. Gettysburg, the site of the Civil War’s pivotal battle, said Thursday it will no longer sell 11 items that use the battle flag as a stand-alone feature – The bookstore says it will continue to offer items that feature both the U.S. and Confederate flags, as well as books, DVDs, and other educational materials “where the image of the Confederate flag is depicted in its historical context.” The National Park Service had asked concessionaires to pull Confederate-flag clothing, stickers and other items. National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis says “stand-alone depictions of Confederate flags have no place in park stores.”
National Cathedral dean wants to remove Confederate windows. WASHINGTON (AP) – The dean of Washington National Cathedral is calling for the removal of stained glass windows that depict the Confederate battle flag in the historic church. Cathedral Dean Gary Hall issued a statement Thursday saying windows honoring Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Gen. Robert E. Lee should be removed. Both windows depict the Confederate flag. The cathedral installed the windows in 1953. Hall says the cathedral’s leadership at the time thought recognition for the Confederate leaders would foster reconciliation. But Hall says celebrating the lives of the Confederate generals and flag now does not promote healing or reconciliation, especially for African Americans. Hall says the Confederate flag has become the primary symbol of white supremacy. Hall says the cathedral should consider new windows representing the nation’s history of race and slavery.
8am – A INTERVIEW – JAKE TAPPER – CNN host of State of The Union and The Lead with Jake Tapper – discussed the ObamaCare ruling and his upcoming interview with The Donald this Sunday.
8am – B Fairfax Co. school board votes for gender identity, sexual orientation topics to curriculum. (Fox 5) — FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The Fairfax County Public School Board could have voted to postpone a vote impacting the district’s sexual education curriculum. But instead, the board voted 10-2 to keep part of the Family Life Education curriculum for students in kindergarten through tenth grade. This means the school system will keep gender identity and sexual orientation in the curriculum while allowing parents to opt their children out. About 186,000 students will be impacted by Thursday night’s decision, which means students could start learning about gender identity and sexual orientation in seventh grade. Supporters say it is a step in the right direction.
8am – C News Stories:
Univision dropping Miss USA pageant over Trump comments. NEW YORK (AP) — A Univision network is dropping the Miss USA pageant and the company says it will cut all business ties with Donald Trump in a spiraling controversy over comments the Republican presidential candidate made recently about Mexican immigrants. Univision said Thursday it would pull the plug on its Spanish-language coverage of the pageant July 12 by its UniMas network. It also has severed its business relationship with the Miss Universe Organization, which produces the Miss USA pageant, due to what it called “insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants” by Trump, a part owner of Miss Universe.
Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes Signs New Multi-Year Contract with 21st Century Fox. Mr. Ailes to Continue Leading America’s Most Successful and Most-Watched News Channel. 21st Century Fox (NASDAQ: FOXA, FOX) today announced that Roger Ailes has signed a new multi-year contract with the Company to continue to serve as Chairman and CEO of Fox News and Fox Business Network, and Chairman of Fox Television Stations. “I am grateful to Rupert Murdoch for taking the risk on Fox News to see it become the number one 24-hour news network in America. I look forward to working with Rupert, Lachlan and James to do my part to help bring 21st Century Fox well into the future.” The announcement was made by Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch and James Murdoch, to whom Mr. Ailes will jointly report. Rupert Murdoch, 21st Century Fox’s Executive Co-Chairman as of July 1, commented: “Nearly two decades ago, Roger took a bold idea rooted in the belief that there was room for more choice in cable news, and – much to all the naysayers’ surprise – through his development of vibrant programming and talent, created a behemoth of a business with one of the most passionate and engaged audiences in the history of television news. Roger and I have always had, and will continue to have, a special relationship. Lachlan, James and I are delighted that Roger will be leading key businesses for us and our shareholders for years to come, and he has our unwavering support.”
Fox News releases Bob Beckel over his ‘personal issues.’ Bob Beckel, a Fox News host who has struggled with prescription drug addiction, was let go Thursday in a move that a top executive blamed on Beckel’s “personal issues.” Beckel, a former Democratic consultant who had become the most prominent left-leaning voice at the conservative cable news outlet, had been off the channel for several months. In March, Fox News said that Beckel was off the air recovering from back surgery. Beckel said on Twitter at the time that he hoped to return soon to “The Five,” Fox’s highly rated evening panel show on which he often served as the lone liberal commentator. A month later, the channel released a statement indicating that Beckel had checked into a rehab facility to receive treatment for a prescription drug addiction. The addiction appears to have been a factor in Fox’s decision to part ways with Beckel. Bill Shine, the channel’s executive VP of programming, said that patience with Beckel had run out at the channel.
8am – D INTERVIEW – KEN CUCCINELLI – president of Senate Conservatives Fund (SCF) and former Virginia Attorney General – analyzed the ObamaCare ruling and Gov. McAuliffe’s decision on Confederate flag license plates.