Mornings on the Mall
Monday, August 01, 2016
Hosts: Brian Wilson and Larry O’Connor
5am – A/B/C THIRD PARTY NEWS:
Third-party support surging (The Hill)Voters now confronted with the choice between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are making something abundantly clear: they want another option. Surveys over the last six weeks have found a steady but noticeable jump in support for third-party candidates. The biggest beneficiary has been Libertarian Gary Johnson, who has shot up from 4.5 percent to 7.2 percent in RealClearPolitics polling averages. Green Party candidate Jill Stein has also seen an uptick since June — from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent. The surge in support for a third-party candidate is adding a new element of unpredictability into the presidential race. Should voters opt for a third-party candidate in large numbers, it could potentially tip the scales in crucial battleground states. Pollsters and political scientists say the deep malcontent with Clinton and Trump should give both candidates pause.
Harambe the dead gorilla would fare well as independent presidential candidate, poll says A new poll shows that, in a presidential election with historic hate for both major party nominees, Harambe — the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla who was shot and killed in May after an infant fell into his enclosure — would fare pretty well as an independent contender.
A survey released Saturday by Public Policy Polling asked voters to consider the slain primate as a hypothetical third-run spoiler to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee — both of whom have earned all-time highs of unlikeability in polls.
Five percent of respondents said they would cast a ballot for President Harambe. Though not a major margin, 5% is greater than the support shown for Green Party candidate Jill Stein — who earned only 2% support in the poll. It nearly matches support for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, who has 6% support.
5am – D 2 dead after major flooding in Ellicott City (WUSA)
ELLICOTT CITY, MD (WUSA9) – At least two people are dead after Ellicott City flooded Saturday night during a severe storm. The victims — a man and woman– were found dead on the Baltimore County side of the Patapsco River after flood waters ripped through the heart of the city. The victims are Jessica Watsula, 35, of Lebanon, PA 17042; and Joseph Anthony Blevins, 38, of Windsor Mill. Watsula’s body was found about 2:20 a.m. Sunday morning near Ilchester Bridge. Her brother told police that they were visiting Ellicott City with their family when the floods occurred. The passengers got out of the car, and the victim was swept away. Her family members were transported to an area hospital. Blevins’ body was discovered at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday when a man walking a trail found the body washed up on shore near Ilchester Road and the Howard County line. Police say Blevins was in Ellicott City with his girlfriend. The vehicle was swept away with the couple inside but the woman got out of the vehicle and was rescued, but Blevins was swept away. Police say there are no reports of missing people. City officials evacuated people from flooded areas of Main Street and took them to a local community center Saturday shortly after water began flooding the area around 9:30 p.m.
5am – E Discussion of Hillary and her comments on Fox News Sunday
6am –A
Trump criticized for comments on Muslim mother of fallen US soldier (FOX)
Donald Trump is taking issue with a speech at this week’s Democratic National Convention by Muslim lawyer Khizr Khan, whose Army captain son was killed in action and who said on stage that Trump has “sacrificed nothing and no one” for America. But Democrats and advocates for veterans’ families say the Republican presidential nominee went too far in his response.Khan made the comment during his tribute to his son, Humayun, who posthumously received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart after being killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004.As Khan spoke, his wife Ghazala, Humayun’s mother, stood silently by his side.Trump, during an interview with ABC’s “This Week,” said: “She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”
And Trump challenged Khizr Khan’s claims about having sacrificed nothing. “I’ve made a lot of sacrifices,” Trump said. “I work very, very hard. I’ve created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures.” Ghazala Khan has said she didn’t speak because she’s still overwhelmed by grief and can’t even look at photos of her son without crying. Trump’s comments sparked immediate outrage on social media — both because they critiqued a mourning mother and because many considered them racist and anti-Muslim. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has previously raised concerns about Trump’s previous comments about Muslims. On Saturday, Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong said: “The speaker has made clear many times that he rejects this idea, and himself has talked about how Muslim Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country.” Hillary Clinton campaign spokeswoman Karen Finney tweeted: “Trump is truly shameless to attack the family of an American hero. Many thanks to the Khan family for your sacrifice, we stand with you.” Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, later said in a statement: “I was very moved to see Ghazala Khan stand bravely and with dignity in support of her son on Thursday night. … This is a time for all Americans to stand with the Khans and with all the families whose children have died in service to our country.” Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., who served on active duty and is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, criticized Trump and Ryan Saturday. “Slandering a mom and dad who lost their son in service of our country is a new low even for Donald Trump,” Lieu said “What is more surprising is that Speaker Paul Ryan continues to stand by Donald Trump … I call upon Speaker Ryan to do what his heart has been telling him all along and withdraw his endorsement of Donald Trump.” Karen Meredith, a member of Gold Star Families, a support group for families who lost loved ones in the Iraq War, said Humayun Khan’s parents “showed great courage” by standing up in front of the Democratic convention and that for Trump “to insult their culture by saying that is why she did not speak is offensive.” “This is an attack on all Gold Star Families,” Meredith also said.
6am – B WATCH: ‘The Simpsons’ mocks Trump in spoof of famous ‘3 a.m.’ ad (The Hill) “The Simpsons” is mocking Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in a new clip titled “3 a.m.” The video shows cartoon characters Marge and Homer Simpson discussing whom to vote for while watching a TV ad comparing Trump with his Democratic counterpart, Hillary Clinton. An animated Trump is tweeting in bed next to a book called, “Great Speeches by Adolf Hitler,” when he receives a call from the Situation Room at 3 a.m. The clip also pokes fun at Trump’s hair and spray tan. http://hill.cm/E1lel8k
6am – E Men in Kilts
7am – A INTERVIEW — JOE DIGENOVA – legal analyst and former U.S. Attorney to the District of Columbia
NC VOTER ID: Court strikes down North Carolina voter ID law
FREDDIE GRAY
Freddie Gray case: Charges dropped against remaining officers
Freddie Gray officers suing prosecutor Marilyn Mosby
Officers’ attorneys slam Mosby for playing ‘victim,’ twisting facts in Freddie Gray case
CHANDRA LEVY: Why prosecutors dropped charges against the man accused of killing Washington intern Chandra Levy
7am – A/B ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:
J.K. Rowling Says Harry Potter’s Story Is Done With The Release Of ‘Cursed Child’ (Huffington Post) “This is the next generation, you know.” It’s over. “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling said the boy wizard’s story is finally complete. “Harry is done now,” she told the media in London at the premiere of the play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” according to Reuters. “He goes on a very big journey during these two plays and then, yeah, I think we’re done,” she was quoted as saying. “This is the next generation, you know.”
Sharknado: The 4th Awakens: (Eonline) We might as well all just quit now. Critics and creators alike have officially been stripped of their purpose by the glorious masterpiece that was Sharknado: The 4th Awakens. Tornadoes can’t get better than this. Sharks can’t get better than this. Art itself will never be better than this. SyFy’s fourth installment of its “hit” Sharknado franchise had pretty much everything we could ever dream of: Sharknadoes, Bouldernadoes, Lightningnadoes, Tara Reid resurrected as a robot, a small child who thinks his mom is a shark but is actually the robot Tara Reid, Gilbert Gottfried as a storm chaser for the Today Show, and Real Housewives working as astrophysicists.
7am – C Corpse flower blooming at U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory. (Botanical Gardens)
Peak Bloom Opening Expected Sunday – Tuesday
The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum), also known as the stinky plant, is blooming at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory. It is the first bloom of this particular plant, which is six years old. It takes quite a while to create enough energy for a bloom as spectacular as this one!
The plant went on view to the public Friday, July 22, and peak bloom is currently estimated for July 30-Aug 2.
The magic of the titan arum comes from its great size – it is largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom. When it went on display, the plant was around 3.5 feet tall. Referred to as the corpse flower or stinky plant, its putrid smell is most potent during peak bloom at night into the early morning. The odor is often compared to the stench of rotting flesh. The inflorescence also generates heat, which allows the stench to travel further. This combination of heat and smell efficiently attracts pollinators, such as carrion beetles and flies, from across long distances.
7am – D/E Standoff? Commission defends debate schedule amid Trump complaints (CNN) Donald Trump’s campaign is pushing to reschedule two of the presidential debates set for this fall, but the Commission on Presidential Debates, the nonpartisan group responsible for scheduling, is standing firm. “Our position on the debates is we want as many people, as many voters, to be participants in and to see the debates as possible,” Jason Miller, senior communications adviser with the Trump campaign, said on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” Sunday. The campaign is concerned that two of the three presidential debates are set to take place on the same nights as nationally televised NFL games. The debate scheduling process is always difficult. Debates and football games have overlapped numerous times before, including twice in 2012.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, the commission indicated that the dates will not be changing: “CPD believes the dates for the 2016 debates will serve the American public well.” One hour later, Hillary Clinton’s campaign signaled that it has no problem with the calendar. “This is just more Trump debate malarkey,” Clinton campaign chair John Podesta tweeted. “We will be at the debates set by the bipartisan debate commission and expect he will too.” Trump has not said that he’ll skip the debates. Instead, he and his allies have questioned the fairness of the scheduling. The Republican candidate started a debate over he debates on Friday, when, in a tweet, he accused Clinton and the Democratic party of “trying to rig the debates.” Two of the debates “are up against major NFL games,” Trump tweeted. “Same as last time w/ Bernie. Unacceptable!” In fact, the nonpartisan commission — not the Democratic party — selected the dates. The schedule was announced in September 2015.
8am – A INTERVIEW — TUCKER CARLSON – Editor, The Daily Caller
Thoughts on the GOP and Dem conventions — what did they accomplish? Any takeaways from each convention?
Trump is getting criticized for his response to the Muslim veteran father who attacked him in a speech at the DNC. Trump is getting backlash.
Predictions for the next 100 days until Election Day?
8am – B OLYMPIC NEWS:
Rio 2016: Australians report theft at Olympic Village with laptop and shirts stolen Team shirts and a laptop belonging to a cycling official have been stolen from the Australian building in the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, chef de mission Kitty Chiller says.
Key points:
Kitty Chiller says laptop, team shirts stolen from Australian building during recent fire evacuation
Security increased in Australia’s building in Olympic Village
Fire evacuation revealed silenced alarms, contractors smoking in non-smoking venue.
She said three unidentified people were seen walking away with team shirts during an evacuation after a basement fire on Friday while the laptop was taken from a room on the fifth floor.
Olympic athletes will be competing in water full of Rio’s actual crap (Metro UK) Olympic athletes in Rio 2016 will be competing in water polluted with poo. Sewage, rubbish and even a dead body have been found in and around a bay which will serve as the venue for sailing and windsurfing during next month’s games. Afrodite Zegers, a member of the Dutch team for sailing which will take place in the contaminated water told The Times: ‘We just have to keep our mouths closed when the water sprays up.’ Yep, so athletes who have dedicated their lives to being the best in their field will simply have to keep their mouths closed to avoid ingesting crap and corpse-flavoured water around Guanabara Bay in Brazil. Andre Correa, Rio state secretary for the environment, recently said: ‘There is no bay in the world with no rubbish.
8am – C 2 dead after major flooding in Ellicott City (WUSA)
ELLICOTT CITY, MD (WUSA9) – At least two people are dead after Ellicott City flooded Saturday night during a severe storm. The victims — a man and woman– were found dead on the Baltimore County side of the Patapsco River after flood waters ripped through the heart of the city. The victims are Jessica Watsula, 35, of Lebanon, PA 17042; and Joseph Anthony Blevins, 38, of Windsor Mill. Watsula’s body was found about 2:20 a.m. Sunday morning near Ilchester Bridge. Her brother told police that they were visiting Ellicott City with their family when the floods occurred. The passengers got out of the car, and the victim was swept away. Her family members were transported to an area hospital. Blevins’ body was discovered at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday when a man walking a trail found the body washed up on shore near Ilchester Road and the Howard County line. Police say Blevins was in Ellicott City with his girlfriend. The vehicle was swept away with the couple inside but the woman got out of the vehicle and was rescued, but Blevins was swept away. Police say there are no reports of missing people. City officials evacuated people from flooded areas of Main Street and took them to a local community center Saturday shortly after water began flooding the area around 9:30 p.m.
8am – D INTERVIEW – ANTHONY BATTS – former Baltimore police commissioner
His thoughts on the charges being dropped against the officers.
Were they overcharged?
What do you think of Marilyn Mosby’s handling of the Freddie Gray case?
What should happen to the police officers now?
Baltimore’s crime has spiked. How could this be fixed? Why does he think crime is so bad now?
8am – E Metro’s Next SafeTrack Surge Could Add Hour to Commute
Montgomery County officials are advising commuters to plan ahead (NBC) Metro’s nine-month maintenance surge will soon affect riders on its busiest line for the first time. Red Line riders could face delays of up to an hour in both directions when the surge begins Monday. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is telling people who use the Red Line to seek alternate routes for the first few weeks of August. Surge 6 and 7 of the SafeTrack plan will affect the entire Red Line. This is the first time Red Line riders have been affected by the nine-month-long maintenance plan. Surge 6 will begin on Aug. 1 and last until Aug. 7, and affects the second highest number of passengers who use the transit system. Montgomery County DOT said continuous single tracking between Takoma and Silver Spring will result in major disruptions for the entire line.