Trevor Matich, College Park Councilwoman Christine Nagle and Larry Kudlow joined WMAL on Tuesday!

Mornings on the Mall

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

5am – A/B/C   Google Fires Engineer Who Wrote ‘Anti-Diversity’ Memo. The formerly anonymous author who penned the “anti-diversity” memo at Google that leaked this weekend, James Damore, has been fired for speaking his mind. Following the social media outrage with calls for his termination and the creation of industry blacklists, Google CEO Sundar Pichai released a company-wide notice stating that the senior engineer violated the company’s Code of Conduct. Damore has since confirmed his dismissal. In the memo, Damore called the tech giant’s diversity initiatives as an “ideological echo chamber,” and advocated for diversity of ideas and meritocracy. He suggested that basic psychological variances can explain the lack of women in certain sectors of the industry. Pichai’s memo, titled “Our words matter,” states that the contents of the email were “fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it,” according to Recode.

5am – D         Religion News:

• Hillary Wants to Preach. Religion is playing a big role in Clinton’s post-election tour. What does she have to gain from sharing her faith now? Hillary Clinton wants to preach. That’s what she told Bill Shillady, her longtime pastor, at a recent photo shoot for his new book about the daily devotionals he sent her during the 2016 campaign.  Scattered bits of reporting suggest that ministry has always been a secret dream of the two-time presidential candidate: Last fall, the former Newsweek editor Kenneth Woodward revealed that Clinton told him in 1994 that she thought “all the time” about becoming an ordained Methodist minister.  She asked him not to write about it, though: “It will make me seem much too pious.” The incident perfectly captures Clinton’s long campaign to modulate—and sometimes obscure—expressions of her faith. Now, as Clinton works to rehabilitate her public image and figure out the next steps after her brutal November loss, religion is taking a central role.
• Atheists believed to be less moral, says study. Atheists “are broadly perceived as potentially morally depraved and dangerous” – even in secular countries. According to a new study, some atheists even have an in-built “anti-atheist bias” when it comes to judging a person’s morality. But anti-atheist bias was strongest where there are high numbers of believers, like the United Arab Emirates, United States and India. Only New Zealand and Finland did not exhibit a clear bias against atheists. The study, put together by an international team and published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, took into account the responses of more than 3,000 people across 13 countries and five continents. Those who took part were asked whether an imagined person, who tortured animals as a child before becoming a teacher and then killing five homeless people, was more likely to be religious or atheist.

5am – E         North Korea News:

• United Nations bans key North Korea exports over missile tests (Reuters) — UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday that could slash by a third the Asian state’s $3 billion annual export revenue over its two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. The U.S.-drafted resolution bans North Korean exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. It also prohibits countries from increasing the current numbers of North Korean laborers working abroad, bans new joint ventures with North Korea and any new investment in current joint ventures.
• North Korea vows revenge against U.S. on international sanctions: “We will make the U.S. pay by a thousand-fold.”  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea vowed Monday to bolster its nuclear arsenal and gain revenge of a “thousand-fold” against the United States in response to tough U.N. sanctions imposed following its recent intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The warning came two days after the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved new sanctions to punish North Korea, including a ban on coal and other exports worth over $1 billion. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, called the U.S.-drafted resolution “the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against” North Korea. In a statement carried by the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s government said the sanctions were a “violent infringement of its sovereignty” that was caused by a “heinous U.S. plot to isolate and stifle” the country. “We will make the U.S. pay by a thousand-fold for all the heinous crimes it commits against the state and people of this country,” the statement said. The North said it would take an unspecified “resolute action of justice” and would never place its nuclear program on the negotiating table or “flinch an inch” from its push to strengthen its nuclear deterrence as long as U.S. hostility against North Korea persists.
• North Korea: China urges neighbour to stop missile tests (BBC) — China’s foreign minister has told his North Korean counterpart that Pyongyang should stop carrying out nuclear and missile tests, hours after fresh sanctions were agreed by the United Nations Security Council. Wang Yi said he urged Ri Yong-ho to abide by UN resolutions in a meeting on Sunday in the Philippines. He did not say how Mr Ri replied. Saturday’s resolution banning North Korean exports and limiting investments in the country was passed unanimously. Mr Wang said sanctions were needed, but “are not the final goal”, and he urged dialogue. He said he had told North Korea to remain calm, and not provoke the international community with more tests.
• The US pulled off a big win getting China to agree to sanctions on North Korea — but the nuke program won’t stop (Business Insider) –  The UN Security Council on Saturday voted unanimously to introduce a set of hard-hitting sanctions that could cost North Korea billions of dollars, but while it signifies a big diplomatic victory for the US, don’t expect North Korea to stop its nuclear- and ballistic-missile programs. According to Yun Sun, a senior associate at the Stimson Center who is an expert on China and North Korea, the US essentially persuaded China to agree to the extensive sanctions on Pyongyang by threatening to sanction Chinese banks that do business with North Koreans. With China on board, Russia, a country that refuses to even acknowledge that North Korea has built an ICBM, decided against a conspicuous veto that would draw attention to its dealings with Pyongyang.
• Tillerson: US can talk to North Korea if it stops missile tests SEOUL/MANILA, Aug 7 (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held a door open for dialog with North Korea on Monday, saying Washington was willing to talk to Pyongyang if it halted a series of recent missile test launches. Tillerson’s comments at a regional security forum in Manila were the latest U.S. attempt to rein in Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs after months of tough talk from U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.N. Security Council on Saturday imposed its toughest round of sanctions yet against Pyongyang over its two intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests in July. But Tillerson appeared more conciliatory on Monday. “When the conditions are right, then we can sit and have a dialog around the future of North Korea so they feel secure and prosper economically,” Tillerson told reporters. “The best signal that North Korea can give us that they are prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches,” said Tillerson, adding that “other means of communications” were open to Pyongyang.

6am – A/B/C California day camp that caters to transgender children as young as age 4 is one of few of its kind in the world. A California day camp for transgender kids has seen a surge in enrollment as LGBT issues gain greater awareness.  EL CERRITO, Calif. (AP) — In some ways, Rainbow Day Camp is very ordinary. Kids arrive with a packed lunch, make friendship bracelets, play basketball, sing songs and get silly. But it is also unique, from the moment campers arrive each morning. At check-in each day, campers make a nametag with their pronoun of choice. Some opt for “she” or “he.” Or a combination of “she/he.” Or “they,” or no pronoun at all. Some change their name or pronouns daily, to see what feels right. The camp in the San Francisco Bay Area city of El Cerrito caters to transgender and “gender fluid” children ages 4 to 12, making it one of the only camps of its kind in the world open to preschoolers, experts say. Enrollment has tripled to about 60 young campers since it opened three summers ago, with kids coming from as far as Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. – even Africa.  Plans are underway to open a branch next summer in Colorado, and the camp has been contacted by parents and organizations in Atlanta, Seattle, Louisiana and elsewhere interested in setting up similar programs. Gender specialists say the camp’s growth reflects what they are seeing in gender clinics nationwide: increasing numbers of children coming out as transgender at young ages. They credit the rise to greater openness and awareness of LGBT issues and parents tuning in earlier when a child shows signs of gender dysphoria, or distress about their gender. “A decade ago, this camp wouldn’t have existed. Eventually, I do believe, it won’t be so innovative,” camp founder Sandra Collins said. “I didn’t know you could be transgender at a very young age. But my daughter knew for sure at 2.”

6am – D         CHRIS PRATT & ANNA FARIS SPLIT: Chris Pratt and Anna Faris‘ careers have changed radically since they wed in 2009, and the actor’s busy schedule may have contributed to their decision to split. The couple announced their separation after eight years of marriage.  This might be a talker about careers and relationships.

6am – E         Maxine Waters Won’t Rule Out All-Black Party (Daily Caller) — California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters wouldn’t rule out the concept of an all-black political party when asked about it on Monday. Waters joined  “The Breakfast Club” radio show on Monday morning and was asked if it was time for black people to form their own political party. “No, not at this point,” Waters said. “You have to show that you’re willing and you’re able to put the numbers together and exercise your influence.” “We still are not voting our influence yet,” she continued. “What we should do is organize our power, exercise our power, particularly in the Democratic Party because that’s where most of us are.” Waters then suggested that when black people are “strong enough” they may branch out into their own party.

6am – F         Another candidate joins crowded Va. congressional race (WTOP) — WASHINGTON — Democrats have been lining up to challenge Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock in next year’s election, and now Comstock is also facing a challenge from a fellow Republican. Shak Hill, a former United States Air Force combat pilot, announced in an online video that he is jumping in the 2018 race for Comstock’s seat in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. “Washington continues to break promises,” Hill said. “Establishment politicians are more concerned about power for themselves than liberty for the people.” Comstock did not face a Republican primary challenger in last year’s election and went on to beat Democrat LuAnn Bennett by six points. But Hill said he would take on Comstock this time around, claiming she “lied” by saying she wanted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, often called “Obamacare.” In May, Comstock voted against legislation in the House of Representatives to repeal the law. “I agree with the president on his conservative initiatives, and Barbara has been a major obstacle,” Hill said. “It’s time to repeal and replace Barbara.” According to Federal Election Commission records, seven Democrats have formally launched campaigns, although more are considering a run.  The Democrats already in the race include Army veteran Dan Helmer, State Sen. Jennifer Wexton, communications strategist Lindsey Davis Stover, former State Department official and human trafficking expert Alison Friedman, Loudoun School for the Gifted founder Deep Sran, former Naval intelligence officer David Hanson and perennial candidate Julien Modica.

7am – A/B     INTERVIEW — TREVOR MATICH – WMAL’s Redskins Analyst

TOPIC: PREVIEW REDSKINS VS RAVENS FIRST PRESEASON GAME …. YOU CAN LISTEN LIVE ON THURSDAY ON WMAL!

7am – C         BLUMENTHAL VS TRUMP:

• Trump Continues Attack On ‘Phony Vietnam Con Artist’ Blumenthal. (Daily Caller) — President Donald Trump continued his attack on Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal Monday afternoon, once again mocking the Democratic lawmaker for past falsehoods about his service in Vietnam. Trump initially criticized Blumenthal in response to his discussion of the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and its possible connections to the Trump campaign during a CNN interview Monday morning. Blumenthal criticized the Trump administration’s decision to triple the number of leak investigations pursued by the Department of Justice, arguing in the CNN segment that the plan represented an attempt to “weaponize” leak probes. The plan, announced Friday by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has been met wth trepidation by members of the media, who have suggested the administration may begin prosecuting journalists for publishing classified documents.
• Dem Senator Says Trump Is ‘Bullying’ Him (Daily Caller) — Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal claimed Monday that President Trump is “bullying” him. Blumenthal appeared on CNN early Monday morning where he claimed that Trump was “weaponizing” the Department of Justice to go after leakers, prompting Trump to punch back at Blumenthal over Twitter. Trump ripped Blumenthal for falsely claiming to have served in Vietnam, calling the senator “a phony Vietnam con artist!” Blumenthal repeatedly accused Trump of bullying him, both on Twitter and later in a subsequent appearance on CNN. “Mr. President: Your bullying hasn’t worked before and it won’t work now. No one is above the law,” Blumenthal tweeted Monday morning.

7am – D/E     INTERVIEW – CHRISTINE NAGLE – College Park Councilwoman and sponsor of the measure

• Maryland City to Decide on Allowing Noncitizens to Vote. College Park, Md. is weighing whether to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. Officials in College Park, which is home to the University of Maryland’s main campus, have yet to make their final decision, the Baltimore Sun reports. The measure’s sponsor, City Councilwoman Christine Nagle, said it would be good for non-citizens living in the city to make decisions regarding local services. “These are folks who have a significant stake in our community, and who rely on the facilities in our city,” Nagle said. “To me, it just made sense.” College Park would not be the only city in the state to allow non-citizens to vote: Takoma Park, Md. has allowed non-citizens to vote since 1991, and two towns in Montgomery County have done the same. Other Maryland towns are considering and adopting the same measure.

8am – A         Google Fires Engineer Who Wrote ‘Anti-Diversity’ Memo. The formerly anonymous author who penned the “anti-diversity” memo at Google that leaked this weekend, James Damore, has been fired for speaking his mind. Following the social media outrage with calls for his termination and the creation of industry blacklists, Google CEO Sundar Pichai released a company-wide notice stating that the senior engineer violated the company’s Code of Conduct. Damore has since confirmed his dismissal. In the memo, Damore called the tech giant’s diversity initiatives as an “ideological echo chamber,” and advocated for diversity of ideas and meritocracy. He suggested that basic psychological variances can explain the lack of women in certain sectors of the industry. Pichai’s memo, titled “Our words matter,” states that the contents of the email were “fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it,” according to Recode.

8am – B         NYT Op-Ed Terms ‘Bridezilla’ As Sexist. A New York Times op-ed writer published an article arguing that the term “bridezilla” is sexist, outdated, and unfairly attributed to women. Kelsey McKinney wrote in her Aug. 5 article that women are tired of being described as bridezillas, and they shouldn’t  have to worry about embodying the stereotype anymore. “Just as a competent, civil presidential candidate was called a ‘nasty woman’ and little girls who show leadership skills are scolded for being ‘bossy,’ ‘bridezilla’ is specifically designed to condemn a woman who puts any energy and authority toward trying to achieve entirely reasonable goals,” McKinney wrote. Women are too often described as such when they are being neither selfish nor cruel, according to McKinney.

“The criticism is all the more bizarre at a time when men in politics are engaging in regular public tantrums,” McKinney wrote. “Imagine if brides, so often mocked for demands couched in nicety-laden emails, chose to tweet desires and disappointments (in all-caps) instead?” McKinney added that women should open their eyes to the double standards that the term “bridezilla” imposes on them, and then reclaim the name as a kind of rebuttal against gender norms.

8am – C         Virginia teen named world champ at Excel spreadsheets, the first time an American has won competition in 16 years. DUMFRIES, Va. (AP) — Millions of applicants, hundreds of competitors, nearly 50 countries and thousands of dollars — among all those figures one American came out with the best spot on the spreadsheet. WUSA-TV reported Sunday that a Virginia teen has become a world champion at Excel spreadsheets. It’s the first time in the competition’s 16 years that an American has clinched the title. After winning first place and $3,000 in the national competition, which challenges Excel users by giving them real-world scenarios to work with, 17-year-old John Dumoulin earned a spot in the world competition, and there won $7,000. Dumoulin won against finalists from 49 countries, contending with the top 200 of 2.2 million applicants.

8am – D         INTERVIEW —  LARRY KUDLOW – CNBC Senior Contributor and host of The Larry Kudlow Show on WMAL Saturdays at 7 pm and author of “JFK and the Reagan Revolution: A Secret History of American Prosperity”

8am – E         USHER, USHER, USHER: (TMZ) – Usher allegedly had vaginal sex with at least one of the 2 women who are suing him for failing to disclose he has genital herpes, and he had oral sex with a male who is also suing him … this according to a new lawsuit. According to the suit, obtained by TMZ, all 3 plaintiffs allegedly had sex with Usher, “because Raymond [Usher] was a revered celebrity in their eyes who they believed could be loved and trusted.” One of Usher’s accusers, Quantasia Sharpton, seemed to be second guessing her decision to go public in the hours before she filed the lawsuit — she publicly stated she was hard up for cash. Quantasia, who also goes by Angel Valentino on social media, said last week, “I need some money.” The Facebook post came exactly one week before her news conference with celebrity attorney Lisa Bloom, announcing the lawsuit against Usher.