Hyattsville Council Member Patrick Paschall, Weather Channel's Ray Stagich, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Rep. Louie Gohmert, VDOT's Joan Morris and Larry Kudlow joined WMAL on Tuesday.

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Mornings on the Mall

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Hosts: Brian Wilson and Larry O’Connor

5am – A/B/C DRIVE AT FIVE INTERVIEW: Hyattsville MD Ward 3 Council Member Patrick Paschall

• Hyattsville leaders consider plan to let 16-year-olds vote. (WTOP) – WASHINGTON — The Hyattsville City Council will allow the public to comment on its proposal to let 16-year-olds vote in local elections. The council is considering a plan to lower the voting age to 16. The change is designed to increase voter participation and could be in effect for this year’s mayoral and council seat elections. Supporters say that teenagers are already working and driving at 16, so allowing them to vote now will influence a lifetime of casting ballots. If it passes, Hyattsville will join the city of Takoma Park in allowing teenagers to vote. The public hearing takes place at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, 3rd floor. Call 301-985-5000 for more information.

5am – D         Today is the official speaker’s election:

• Poll: 60% of Republicans want Boehner out. As Congress gets ready to convene, a new poll shows a full 60 percent of Republican voters want Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, removed from his position as House speaker. Boehner has lost the confidence of his own party voters, according to the telephone survey conducted Dec. 26-30 by pollster Pat Caddell on behalf of People’s Poll. The national poll reveals that only 25 percent of GOP voters would vote to keep Boehner.
• Newt Says He Supports Boehner’s Re-Election. (Daily Caller) — Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich says he supports John Boehner’s re-election on Tuesday to lead the House. “I am deeply committed to the reelection of Speaker John Boehner,” Gingrich wrote on Twitter. “With his leadership there are more House GOP than any time since 1928.” The official speaker’s election is set for Tuesday, when the House will convene for a public floor vote to open the new Congress. At least 10 House Republicans have publicly come out against Boehner’s re-election.
• David Brat: Next House Speaker Must Tackle Trillion-Dollar Problems. (VA Congressman David Brat/Breitbart) — Whoever runs for the Republican leadership of the U.S. House on Tuesday must communicate on paper how Congress is going to lead on the big issues. The American people elected us to solve trillion-dollar problems, not to kick the can down the road with only symbolic votes. My district expects any leader to clearly outline bold solutions on the major issues of our day, such as:

· How he or she will defend the Constitution and challenge President Obama’s repeated illegal overreach into areas of congressional authority, particularly his unconstitutional amnesty by presidential decree;

 · How he will end Washington’s out-of-control spending and debt addiction that is mortgaging our children’s future and promises to cripple our economy within the next decade;

 · How he will defund Obamacare to stop skyrocketing insurance premiums on struggling families as well as the destruction of jobs it’s causing;

 · How he will stop excessive regulations like the EPA’s overregulation of farms and small businesses – regulations that have made it prohibitively expensive to run a business and create jobs.

These are not just my priorities. These are the priorities that the American people expressed loudly and clearly on November 4th. And these need to be the priorities of the leaders of this next Congress.

5am – E         Feminism News:

• Woman to woman: Stop hunting for a 'feminist boyfriend.' Instead, try to focus on finding someone who's not a jerk. (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS / SE Cupp) — Lisa Bonos, Washington Post’s Outlook assistant editor, wants a boyfriend. A very specific type of boyfriend. And I'm not surprised she hasn’t yet found what she’s looking for. Finding the perfect mate is hard enough as it is, without creating unattainable — in fact inadvisable — expectations. And at least according to her recent piece, “How to Find a Feminist Boyfriend,” Bonos has imagined not only a man who probably doesn’t exist, but one that shouldn’t exist. Her dreamed-of boyfriend is neither a true feminist, nor much of a boyfriend. And so woman to woman, I’d like to offer her some advice to save her a lifetime of disappointment and countless first dates at performances of “The Vagina Monologues.” First, Bonos expects her feminist boyfriend to be well-versed in gender politics. He is “aware of the ways women have traditionally been held back . . . and actively pushes against that. He’s sensitive to the fact that women’s bodies are frequently judged, abused and legislated, and takes no part in that.” Ideally, he self-identifies as a feminist. One woman Bonos talked to scored a date with a man who called himself a “Marxist feminist” who “has studied the history of gender inequality and how it has affected the economy.”  First, Bonos expects her feminist boyfriend to be well-versed in gender politics. He is “aware of the ways women have traditionally been held back . . . and actively pushes against that. He’s sensitive to the fact that women’s bodies are frequently judged, abused and legislated, and takes no part in that.”
• Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco apologises for saying she's not a feminist. (Independent) — Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting has taken back a recent comment claiming she did not believe in feminist values. The Big Bang Theory star was quoted as saying “no” when asked if she considered herself a feminist. “Is it bad if I say no? It’s not really something I think about. Things are different now, and I know a lot of the work that paved the way for women happened before I was around… I was never that feminist girl demanding equality,” she said in an interview with US magazine Redbook. But the actress has since taken to Instagram to refute her comments, saying her words have been taken out of context. “I’m completely blessed and grateful that strong women have paved the way for my success along with many others. I apologise if anyone was offended. Anyone that truly knows me, knows my heart and knows what I meant.” She added: “Some people have taken offence to my comments regarding feminism – if any of you are in the ‘biz’ you are well aware of how words can be taken out of context.” But the 29-year-old has yet to give her full support to the movement and say she is unequivocally a feminist. And judging by her comments that she enjoys playing the role of the housewife with her husband at home, it looks unlikely that she will anytime soon.

6am – A         INTERVIEW – RAY STAGICH – Meteorologist, Weather Channel – gave the latest weather forecast for DC’s snowy commute.

6am – B         Coming up next, the end of the world: Intern reveals clip of band playing Nearer my God to Thee that CNN founder Ted Turner 'wanted to be run during the apocalypse.' (Daily Mail) — Clip is a version of military band playing hymn 'Nearer my God to three.' The minute-long segment is believed to be stored on an archive system. File is believed to be attached with bold red letters saying 'HFR (hold for release) till the end of the world [is] confirmed. Ted Turner said channel would broadcast until the end of the world when it was founded 34 years ago. When CNN launched 34 years ago, founder Ted Turner vowed that the station would broadcast the news 24 hours a day until the end of the world. Therefore, anticipating that at one point the apocalypse would come, he is believed to have created a segment that would be shown as the cable channel signed off for the final time. The clip that would supposedly be played to the last people watching the station is a minute-long version of the 19th century hymn 'Nearer my God to thee' performed by the Armed Forces marching bands. According to Jalopnik, it is stored on CNN's MIRA archive and was initially edited to fit on cathode -ray TVs popular in the 1980s.

6am – C         Sharyl Attkisson sues administration over computer hacking. Former CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson has sued the Justice Department over the hacking of her computers, officially accusing the Obama administration of illegal surveillance while she was reporting on administration scandals.  In a series of legal filings that seek $35 million in damages, Attkisson alleges that three separate computer forensic exams showed that hackers used sophisticated methods to surreptitiously monitor her work between 2011 and 2013.  "I just think it's important to send a message that people shouldn't be victimized and throw up their hands and think there's nothing they can do and they're powerless," Attkisson said in an interview.  The department has steadfastly denied any involvement in the hacking, saying in a 2013 statement: "To our knowledge, the Justice Department has never compromised Ms. Attkisson's computers, or otherwise sought any information from or concerning any telephone, computer, or other media device she may own or use."  In the lawsuit and related claims against the Postal Service, filed in Washington, Attkisson says the intruders installed and periodically refreshed software to steal data and obtain passwords on her home and work computers. She also charges that the hackers monitored her audio using a Skype account.

6am – D/E     Connecticut teen forced to undergo chemo against her wishes. HARTFORD–It’s a case pitting a 17-year-old girl with cancer against the state of Connecticut: she’s being forced to undergo chemotherapy against her will, and now the case is going to the state Supreme Court. She’s only identified as “Cassandra C.” in court papers to protect her privacy, but the 17-year-old’s case could soon become known nationwide. Cassandra was diagnosed with cancer in September 2014. Doctors said she had Hodgkins Lymphoma, a rare condition–not to be confused with non-hodgkins lymphoma. Physicians recommended chemotherapy. But the teen refused the treatment, and her mother supported that decision. According to the National Cancer Institute, side effects of chemo can include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and pain. After rejecting treatment, Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families became involved and determined Cassandra needed the treatment. DCF successfully petitioned the court for temporary custody of the teen, and she was taken out of her home and forced to receive the chemo. “It’s a question of fundamental constitutional rights–the right to have a say over what happens to your body–and the right to say to the government ‘you can’t control what happens to my body,'” said Cassandra’s mother’s attorney, Michael S. Taylor. Taylor represents Cassandra’s mother, while a state public defender represents Cassandra. Taylor argues that Cassandra is mature enough to make the decision to reject treatments.

7am – A         INTERVIEW – DC MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER

• Her top priorities for her first 100 days
• The spike of violence in DC – (Dec 29 – WUSA9) – Some say crime scene tape has been an unwelcome and all too often addition to holiday decorations this holiday season in the District. The alleged surge in crime started Christmas Eve when police say they shot and killed a robbery suspect who fired at them on Naylor Road in SE. They also fired at an armed carjacking suspect in NE who they say fired at them first. Four fatal shootings closed out Christmas Eve, in SE, NE and NW. Add to that a violent multiple stabbing Saturday morning in a spot where crime doesn't stop by often, McFaddens Restaurant and Saloonin Foggy Bottom.  Sunday saw several men shot across the District and two men shot fatally. Mayor-Elect Muriel Bowser has been talking to police and asked for more foot patrols in Ward 4.
• Snow in DC:  The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for parts of northern Virginia and Maryland, including Washington, D.C. until 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
• The push for statehood with the new Congress — (WSJ) — D.C. statehood activists want President Obama to back the issue in his 2015 State of the Union address. Newly elected Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is also calling attention to the statehood and voting rights issues as one of her first acts in office. In a press conference on Capitol Hill on Monday, Ms. Bowser raised the statehood issue and asked Congress to expand some of the powers and privileges of Washington, D.C.’s nonvoting congressional delegate in the House, Eleanor Holmes Norton.
• Mayor Bowser also weighed in on the DC streetcar set to open later in January.

7am – B         Genius alert! Kanye's fans thank him for discovering "unknown artist" Paul McCartney. There aren’t enough sighs or facepalms in the world to adequately relay the tragedy that happened on Twitter over the weekend.  In 2015, on earth, in this universe, several of Kanye West’s fans thanked their leather trouser-loving overlord for “discovering” a new act — a very talented young man by the name of “Paul McCartney.” (Or McArthy, depending on whom you ask…) You see, Kanye and Paul collaborated on the rapper’s song Only One, and an entire army of geniuses felt so moved by the Beatles legend’s contribution that they were compelled to share their enthusiasm on the Interwebs.

— OVOJosh (@OVOJosh) January 2, 2015: “I don't know who Paul McCartney is, but Kanye is going to give this man a career w/ this new song!!”

7am – C         Girl Scout Cookie Season is Coming With 3 New Flavors. Girl Scouts Sell Cookies From Street Trucks In New York City Girl Scouts sell cookies on Feb. 8, 2013 in New York City. And good news for fans on a gluten-free diet. Good news for those with a sweet tooth: Girl Scouts of the USA announced three new cookie flavors Monday, including two that are gluten-free.

 Girl Scouts @girlscouts: FACT: For the first time in Girl Scout history, gluten-free cookies will be available nationwide from most councils. http://bit.ly/1BARRCZ

2:17 PM – 5 Jan 2015

They are:

    Toffee-tastic: a gluten-free butter cookie with toffee bits

    Trios: a gluten-free cookie with peanut butter, chocolate chips, and whole grain oats.

    Rah-Rah Raisins: an oatmeal raisin cookie with Greek yogurt–flavored chunks.

In January 2014, the Girl Scouts said 20 councils were testing a gluten-free chocolate-chip shortbread cookie. Now, the organization tweeted Monday, “For the first time in Girl Scout history, gluten-free cookies will be available nationwide from most councils.”

7am – D         INTERVIEW – REP. LOUIE GOHMERT – R-TX

• Poll: 60% of Republicans want Boehner out. As Congress gets ready to convene, a new poll shows a full 60 percent of Republican voters want Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, removed from his position as House speaker. Boehner has lost the confidence of his own party voters, according to the telephone survey conducted Dec. 26-30 by pollster Pat Caddell on behalf of People’s Poll. The national poll reveals that only 25 percent of GOP voters would vote to keep Boehner.  The official speaker’s election is scheduled for Jan. 6.
• Louie Gohmert Challenges John Boehner For House Speaker. Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert announced Sunday he’ll challenge John Boehner for House Speaker. Gohmert told Tucker Carlson that people in Congress say they would vote for someone other than Boehner but they have no options. Now they do, he asserted. They have two options, Gohmert and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) and maybe more will get in the race yet.

7am – E         INTERVIEW – TUCKER BARNES – Fox 5 meteorologist – gave the latest snow forecast for the DC area.

8am – A/B     Sledding Ban Coming to a City Near You? (Newsweek) — Sledding is dangerous. Each winter, snow-suited children of all ages careen down icy hills on slabs of unsteerable plastic designed specifically to reduce friction—or, in other words, to go as fast as gravitationally possible. Some of them hit trees or fences, or simply land with a brutal thud after taking momentary flight in a city park. Cities across the country have had enough. Among them is Dubuque, Iowa, whose City Council is moving this year to ban sledding in 48 of its 50 municipal parks, The Associated Press reports. The council cited two recent major lawsuits that cost other municipalities big money: a $2 million judgment against Omaha, Nebraska, after a 5-year-old girl who hit a tree while sledding became paralyzed, and a $2.75 million payment in Sioux City, Iowa, when a man sledded into a sign and suffered a spinal cord injury. According to a study by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, sledding-related injuries send over 20,000 children to the hospital each year, of whom 9 percent suffer traumatic brain injury.

“Everybody likes sledding, OK? Everyone wants to promote outdoor activities, and we want people to be active. But everyone knows sledding is a risky activity,” says Marie Ware, the leisure services manager for the city of Dubuque. “We want to manage that risk.”

8am – C         INTERVIEW – JOAN MORRIS – Spokesperson, VDOT – gave the latest update about the snow impacting Virginia roads.

8am – D         INTERVIEW – LARRY KUDLOW – CNBC Senior Contributor and host of The Larry Kudlow Show on WMAL Saturdays at 7 pm

• Stocks fall sharply as oil keeps plummeting. The Dow drops more than 300 points. BEIJING (AP) – International stock markets sank today for a second day as slumping oil prices and concern Greece might leave the European currency union fueled unease about the global growth outlook. Futures point to more declines on Wall Street. The dollar declined against the yen and the euro. Benchmark crude oil fell below $50 a barrel.
• The euro has tumbled to a 9-year low against the highflying dollar.

TOMORROW:          KT McFarland, Richmond Times Dispatch’s Jeff Schapiro and Washington Examiner’s Byron York