Marc Morano, Ed Henry, Kevin O’Leary, Stuart Varney, Corey Stewart, Lanny Davis and guest host Scottie Nell Hughes joined WMAL on Thursday!

Mornings on the Mall

Thursday, January 19, 2016

Hosts: Brian Wilson and Scottie Nell Hughes

Executive Producer: Heather Hunter

 

5am – A/B/C Dem lawmakers boycotting Inauguration: Trump inauguration boycott grows to third of Democratic caucus. Roughly 60 House Democrats, or nearly one-third of the 194-member caucus, plan to be elsewhere when Mr. Trump takes the oath of office, citing objections from Russian hacking to his feud with Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.

5am – D         McCartney Sues SONY to Regain BEATLES Songs…Sony/ATV is the defendant and could be primed to make a defense similar to the one being used against Duran Duran. Paul McCartney has filed suit in New York against Sony/ATV and is looking to get a declaratory judgment that states he will soon regain his copyright ownership share to a treasured catalog of songs created as a member of The Beatles. In what could become one of the most important legal battles in the music industry this decade, the iconic songwriter is looking to leverage the termination provisions of the Copyright Act.

In 1976, Congress increased the period that works are under copyright protection, and, in recognition of authors who had signed over their rights to publishers and studios without much bargaining power, allowed such authors 35 years hence to reclaim rights in the latter stages of a copyright term. Artists such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Prince have used the mere threat of termination to negotiate new deals and better compensation arrangements.

5am – E         Hearings Recap: Highlights of the confirmation hearings on the hill this week:

• YESTERDAY was Nikki Haley for UN ambassador, Rep. Tom Price for HHS, Scott Pruitt for EPA
• TODAY: Steve Mnuchin for Treasury and Rick Perry for Energy
• Trump to name Agriculture pick today

6am – A/B/C War On Inauguration Participants:

• Snoop Dogg Dares ‘Uncle Tom’ Black People to Perform at Trump Inaugural. Rapper and entertainer Snoop Dogg is throwing down the gauntlet to any black entertainer who’s even thinking of performing at any inaugural activities for Donald Trump. In a YouTube video peppered with profanities and racial epithets, Snoop dismissed entertainers who perform as an “Uncle Tom-assed n*****:
• Girl Scouts Defend Their Involvement in Donald Trump Inauguration. The Girl Scouts of the USA, the popular, over 100-year-old youth organization, defended their participation in the inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday in the wake of some criticism for their involvement. It was revealed this week that the Girl Scouts would march in an inaugural parade on Friday. The Boy Scouts of America, as well as several military and veterans’ organizations, will also be participating, but the presence of the Girl Scouts has stoked controversy in light of Trump’s well-documented history of making sexist statements about women, as well as numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault that have been made against him. Trump has vehemently denied the claims against him. In an exclusive statement to NBC News, the Girl Scouts, which has been appearing at inaugural events throughout their history, defended their role in the festivities while acknowledging the “strong public response” to their participation in both the march on Jan. 20 and the Women’s March on Washington the following day.
• The Talladega band is performing at the inauguration, despite protests. When President Billy C. Hawkins of Talladega College formally announced the school’s decision to allow the school’s band to perform at the 58th presidential inaugural parade, he was met with both praise and sharp criticism. Still, in spite of mixed reactions, the Talladega College Great Tornado Band has raised over $628,000 to fund its upcoming gig, surpassing its $75,000 goal by over $500,000 over the past 15 days. The overwhelming monetary support of the band’s performance is surprising, especially given the controversy surrounding Talladega’s choice. Following the band’s invitation, many took to social media to denounce Alabama’s oldest historically black private college for opting to partake in President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural celebration. Among those expressing their disapproval are numerous Talladega College alumni.
• Frank Sinatra’s daughter trolls Trump for ‘My Way’ song choice. Nancy Sinatra, the eldest daughter of the late singer Frank Sinatra, tweeted Wednesday evening in response to news that President-elect and Mrs. Trump would be dancing to “My Way.” “Just remember the first line of the song,” Sinatra wrote. The song starts with, “And now, the end is near.” The verse continues to the repeated ending, which states, “I’ve lived a life that’s full, I traveled each and every highway and more, much more than this, I did it my way.”

6am – B         Trump makes surprise stop for dinner at his DC hotel, shocks guests. President-elect Donald Trump made a surprise stop at the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C., after attending two dinners in the nation’s capital on Wednesday evening. The Republican leader’s motorcade arrived at the hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue NW shortly before 9:30 p.m. local time. Trump dined in the hotel restaurant, likely stunning some of the early inauguration guests staying at his most recently opened luxury hotel in the U.S. Although Trump was coming straight from the Vice President’s Dinner and the Cabinet Dinner, he may not have had a chance to eat at the events, prompting him to grab a meal at one of his businesses. The press pool, typically not allowed to follow the president or vice president into private events, was left outside the hotel – a move that comes hours after the hotel announced media would not be allowed in the building the duration of the week. Each of the events had a guest list of 500 people. He first stopped by the National Portrait Gallery in downtown Washington for Mike Pence’s celebration then went onto the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill to dine with his Cabinet nominees. Reporters were not allowed in either event.

Trump’s D.C. hotel bans press during inauguration week. The Trump International Hotel in Washington is banning the media from its premises during inauguration week. “Media is not allowed in this week in respect of the privacy of our guests,” Patricia Tang, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing wrote in an email. A POLITICO reporter attempted to enter the hotel Wednesday morning for a previously scheduled breakfast meeting but was stopped at the door. He then identified himself as a journalist and was told “media” was not allowed. President-elect Donald Trump and his three adult children own the project after winning a 2012 bid to redevelop D.C.’s Old Post Office. They have a 60-year lease with the federal General Services Administration, which owns the property. The lease that the GSA signed with Trump says (on page 30) that the public is allowed to access historic sections of the building “subject to such reasonable rules and time restrictions as Tenant may formulate from time to time and as approved in writing by Landlord” unless there is a “risk to public safety.” The hotel’s decision to ban media from property owned by the federal government and from a hotel controlled by the president-elect comes amid a broader debate over media access to the incoming administration. Trump has resisted forming a protective pool around him, instead opting for a “semi-protective pool” that afford the media less access than previous presidents allowed.

6am – C         Trump expected to issue ‘four to five’ executive orders on Friday

President-elect Trump is expected to issue four to five executive orders as soon as he enters the White House on Friday, according to his transition team.  “He’s got a few of them, probably in the area of four to five, that we’re looking at on Friday,” incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at the Trump transition headquarters in Washington on Wednesday. “Some of it is logistical things that you have to do in terms of government operations. Then there are some other ones that I expect him to sign with regards to some other issues that have been on his priority list,” Spicer noted.

6am – D         INTERVIEW – MARC MORANO – Climate Depot

• There’s Been Lots Of Talk About Climate Change At the Hearings:
• EPA: Pruitt: Human role in climate change ‘subject to continuing debate’
• Interior: Trump’s interior secretary pick acknowledges that humans cause climate change
• Commerce: Wilbur Ross Grilled on Trade, Climate Change and Infrastructure During Confirmation Hearing
• Energy / Today: Rick Perry prepares to re-enter political arena with confirmation hearing
• CIA / State: Trump CIA, State Picks Deny Climate Change is a Security Threat

6am – E         Bono’s pitch-perfect approach to the Trump era. As a group, celebrities haven’t responded very well to the Trump phenomenon. They’ve complained about being victims, called for “a month of resistance” and even talked about planning a revolution.

What they haven’t engaged in much is introspection. But that’s exactly what one of the biggest celebrities in the world is asking everybody to do. In a recent interview, U2 front man Bono called not for resistance or revolution as a response to Donald Trump’s rise, but rather humility. Humility, defined by Webster’s as “freedom from pride or arrogance,” is always in short supply in both Hollywood and Washington, D.C. That’s especially true when it comes to President-elect Trump.

6am – F         Zillow Put a Price Tag on the White House and It’s Not Cheap. President-elect Donald Trump would get a near $300 million upgrade by moving into the White House. While Trump’s New York City penthouse is valued around $100 million, the home of the U.S. president is valued at $397.9 million, according to real estate analytics firm Zillow. The value of the home has risen roughly 15% since President Barack Obama and his family moved in eight years ago. “President-elect Trump is moving into one of the most famous homes in the country—and, according to Zillow, it’s also the most valuable home in the country,” said Zillow Chief Marketing Officer Jeremy Wacksman in a statement . “President Obama’s term coincided with a massive recovery of the U.S. housing market, and that’s reflected in the updated value of the White House.” The White House features 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, and 18 acres of land. Amenities include basketball and tennis courts, a library, and a sun room.

7am – A         INTERVIEW — ED HENRY – Fox News, Chief National Correspondent for Fox News Channel and author of upcoming new book “42 Faith”

• Inauguration prep at the Capitol – he’s been covering how preparations have been going
• Dem lawmakers boycotting Inauguration: Trump inauguration boycott grows to third of Democratic caucus. Roughly 60 House Democrats, or nearly one-third of the 194-member caucus, plan to be elsewhere when Mr. Trump takes the oath of office, citing objections from Russian hacking to his feud with Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.
• Discuss any highlights of the confirmation hearings on the hill this week:

– YESTERDAY was Nikki Haley for UN ambassador, Rep. Tom Price for HHS, Scott Pruitt for EPA

– TODAY: Steve Mnuchin for Treasury and Rick Perry for Energy

– Trump to name Agriculture pick today

• His upcoming new book “42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story”

7am –  B/C    INTERVIEW — KEVIN O’LEARY “Mr. Wonderful” — Shark Tank Investor and author of “COLD HARD TRUTH On Family, Kids and Money”

• ‘Shark Tank’s’ Kevin O’Leary to run for Conservative leadership in Canada. Mr. Wonderful is angling to be Canada’s Donald Trump. The “Shark Tank” star announced he is running for the leadership of Canada’s opposition Conservative Party. Kevin O’Leary is a businessman and television commentator who has drawn comparisons to Trump. He said Wednesday the party needs a candidate who can beat Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and bring jobs back to Canada.

7am – D         INTERVIEW — STUART VARNEY – Anchor of Varney and Company on Fox Business Network

• Dem lawmakers boycotting Inauguration: Trump inauguration boycott grows to third of Democratic caucus. Roughly 60 House Democrats, or nearly one-third of the 194-member caucus, plan to be elsewhere when Mr. Trump takes the oath of office, citing objections from Russian hacking to his feud with Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.
• Trump expected to issue ‘four to five’ executive orders on Friday

7am – E         Lin-Manuel Miranda Promises One-Night ‘Hamilton’ Return in Chicago. Star offers to reprise Alexander Hamilton role if Oscar Lopez Rivera, the Puerto Rican nationalist who received clemency from Obama, is in attendance. Lin-Manuel Miranda has pledged to return to the role of Alexander Hamilton in the Chicago production of Hamilton for one special performance following the release of Oscar Lopez Rivera, the Puerto Rican nationalist whose prison sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama Thursday. In a series of tweets that followed the news of Lopez Rivera’s impending release on May 17th, Miranda promised that he would reprise the Hamilton role if and when Lopez Rivera decides to attend the Chicago production. “Sobbing with gratitude here in London. OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA IS COMING HOME. THANK YOU, @POTUS,” Miranda tweeted Thursday. “I wish I was with every Puerto Rican in Chicago right now.”

In a tweet to New York City Council member Melissa Mark-Viverito, who has been in communication with Lopez Rivera, the Tony-winning star relayed the message, “I’ve got a show for [Lopez Rivera] in Chicago. It’ll be my honor to play Hamilton the night he goes.”

8am – A         INTERVIEW — COREY STEWART – is the chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors and former Virginia campaign chair for Donald Trump… and NOW running for Virginia governor – discussed his campaign, Trump inauguration, etc.

8am – B         Inauguration News:

• Trump Inauguration Events Begin Thursday. The events surrounding Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president span three days, beginning Thursday afternoon.Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence will first attend a wreath-laying ceremony at 3 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery, where more than 400,000 military veterans and family members are buried. Trump will then speak at a 4 p.m. celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. The event will feature musical performances from country singers Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood, as well as rock band 3 Doors Down and others. Thursday evening, Trump, Pence and other officials are expected to attend a candlelight dinner with campaign donors at 7:30 at Washington’s Union Station.
• Trump makes surprise stop for dinner at his DC hotel, shocks guests. President-elect Donald Trump made a surprise stop at the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C., after attending two dinners in the nation’s capital on Wednesday evening. The Republican leader’s motorcade arrived at the hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue NW shortly before 9:30 p.m. local time. Trump dined in the hotel restaurant, likely stunning some of the early inauguration guests staying at his most recently opened luxury hotel in the U.S. Although Trump was coming straight from the Vice President’s Dinner and the Cabinet Dinner, he may not have had a chance to eat at the events, prompting him to grab a meal at one of his businesses.
• Snoop Dogg Dares ‘Uncle Tom’ Black People to Perform at Trump Inaugural. Rapper and entertainer Snoop Dogg is throwing down the gauntlet to any black entertainer who’s even thinking of performing at any inaugural activities for Donald Trump. In a YouTube video peppered with profanities and racial epithets, Snoop dismissed entertainers who perform as an “Uncle Tom-assed n*****:
• Girl Scouts Defend Their Involvement in Donald Trump Inauguration. The Girl Scouts of the USA, the popular, over 100-year-old youth organization, defended their participation in the inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday in the wake of some criticism for their involvement

8am – C         Protesters, LGBT activists hold dance party in front of Mike Pence’s DC home. WASHINGTON – With only a couple of days before the inauguration, hundreds of people gathered outside the Washington D.C. home of Vice President-elect Mike Pence for a dance party. The groups WERK for Peace and Disrupt J20 teamed up to organize this event known as the “Queer Dance Party.” Participants met up at the Friendship Heights Metro station at 6 p.m. Wednesday and marched about a couple of miles to Pence’s home in D.C.’s Chevy Chase neighborhood. On the Facebook page for the event, it says, “We plan on leaving behind [biodegradable] glitter and rainbow paraphinalia that he can NEVER forget. #WeAreQueer #WeAreHere #WeWillDance That’s right, get ready to WERK it and tell Daddy Pence: homo/transphobia is not tolerated in our country!” Protesters, LGBT activists hold dance party in front of Mike Pence’s DC home It was a very lively atmosphere as music blared throughout the evening. The gathering remained peaceful as D.C. police and the Secret Service were on hand as the large crowd danced in the neighborhood. After over an hour, the block party finally came to an end and the crowd began to leave at around 8:30 p.m.

8am – D         INTERVIEW — LANNY DAVIS – former special counsel to former President Bill Clinton and columnist for The Hill

• Thoughts on Obama’s final presser, final days and legacy
• Dem lawmakers boycotting Inauguration: Trump inauguration boycott grows to third of Democratic caucus. Roughly 60 House Democrats, or nearly one-third of the 194-member caucus, plan to be elsewhere when Mr. Trump takes the oath of office, citing objections from Russian hacking to his feud with Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.

8am – E         Donald Trump says Tom Ford was not asked to dress Melania. Tom Ford, 55, said during an appearance on The View in November that he would not be dressing Melania Trump while she was in the White House because his clothes are ‘too expensive’ for a first lady to wear, noting that in that position she would have to ‘relate to everybody.’  Donald Trump responded this this by telling Ainsley Earhardt on Fox & Friends that Melania never asked Tom Ford to dress her. ‘Never asked Tom Ford, doesn’t like Tom Ford, doesn’t like his designs,’ said Trump.

Frank Sinatra’s daughter responds to Trump using ‘My Way’ for first dance as president. Donald Trump’s first dance as president with wife Melania at the Liberty Ball is expected to be scored by Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” according to the Washington Examiner, and Ol’ Blue Eyes’ daughter shared a very simple response to the news Wednesday.“Just remember the first line of the song,” Nancy Sinatra said on Twitter in response to a question asking if the Sinatra family was okay with Trump using the song at the inaugural gala, one of three happening that night. @NancySinatra: Just remember the first line of the song. 10:24 PM – 18 Jan 2017

George Clooney’s wife Amal is ‘pregnant with twins and will have a boy and a girl.’ George Clooney’s wife Amal is pregnant with twins, and has even learned that she will have a boy and a girl, according to InTouch Weekly. That’s the claim from made on Wednesday by the magazine. The 38-year-old human rights lawyer and her 55-year-old Oscar-winning husband – who wed in 2014 – are thrilled with the news, it was added. This comes after the brunette beauty appeared to show off a bump in a floral dress at a screening for The White Helmets in London on January 9. Then again on Tuesday the looker seemed to have a bit of a belly at the Credit Suisse Women Of Impact dinner in Davos Switzerland on Tuesday.