Cal Thomas, University of Maryland professor Jason Nichols, The Stream’s Liberty McArtor and Charlottesville march organizer Puja Datta joined WMAL on Wednesday!

Mornings on the Mall

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese

5am – A/B/C   Media Outrage Over Melania’s Shoes:

• Media’s Faux Outrage on Display as They Slam Melania’s Hurricane Fashion (LifeZette) – Vogue magazine writer Lynn Yaeger piled on the media criticism of Melania Trump on Tuesday for “wearing a pair of towering pointy-toed snakeskin heels” while she headed out to survey the disaster in Texas. The writer of the anti-Trump piece said she spotted a photo of the first lady leaving the White House — and launched into a rant about Mrs. Trump’s choice of shoes for boarding Air Force One. Yaeger began her piece with a verbal eye-roll: “Oh, Melania.” She continued with a reference to the first lady’s “plagiarizing Michelle Obama in her convention speech” and her hypocrisy in marrying “the greatest cyberbully” — while making a platform of crusading against bullying. “And now this!” wrote Yaeger. “While the nation is riveted by images of thousands of Texans wading with their possessions … Melania Trump is heading to visit them in footwear that is a challenge to walk in on dry land,” Yaeger ranted. “What kind of message does a fly-in visit from a first lady in sky-high stilettos send to those suffering the enormous hardship, the devastation of this natural disaster?”
• There was no pretense about Melania Trump’s heels. But sometimes, a little pretense helps. (Washington Post/Robin Givhan) – “Melania Trump is the kind of woman who travels to a flood-ravaged state in a pair of black snakeskin stilettos. Heels this high are not practical. But Trump is not the kind of woman who has to be practical. Heels this high are not comfortable. Comfort is not the point. Neither hers nor yours… It was also an image that suggested that Trump is the kind of woman who refuses to pretend that her feet will, at any point, ever be immersed in cold, muddy, bacteria-infested Texas water. She is the kind of woman who may listen empathetically to your pain, but she knows that you know that she is not going to experience it. So why pretend?”
• CNN White House reporter Kate Bennett snagged a response from FLOTUS’s communications director who told her, “It’s sad that we have an active and ongoing natural disaster in Texas, and people are worried about her shoes.”
• Perez Hilton, a Hollywood entertainment writer, wasn’t having it. He hammered Melania’s position in the White House, writing, “Melania is now standing in a puddle in 4-inch heels acting like a first lady — give us a break.”
• The New York Post also took aim at her shoes. “The First Lady’s baffling choice of footwear lit up the Twitterverse,” the New York tabloid wrote.
• Melania Trump swaps stilettos for sneakers, FLOTUS cap in flooded south Texas. (USA Today) — No, first lady Melania Trump did not tour Hurricane Harvey-flooded south Texas in spike heels. Get real, Twitter. Yes, she did don a cap that read FLOTUS when she accompanied President Trump on a visit Tuesday to inspect the damage from Hurricane Harvey and ongoing relief efforts.  The first lady, 47, left the White House earlier Tuesday wearing her usual shoe choice — pumps with sky-high heels — plus black cropped pants and a military-style green bomber jacket, with her hair loose and aviator sunglasses on her nose.

5am – D/E     HURRICANE NEWS:

• Trump to return to Texas on Saturday (The Hill) — President Trump plans to return to Texas on Saturday to visit the other parts of the state that are still reeling in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the White House confirmed on Tuesday. “The number one thing after talking to him just a little bit ago that he wanted to reenforce from today was that this is all about people, making sure that we are taking care of the people of Texas, that is his number one priority,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, per pool report. Sanders told reporters earlier in the day that the president intended to wait before visiting other impacted areas in the state because he didn’t want to disrupt ongoing rescue efforts, ABC News reported.  Trump visited Corpus Christi on Tuesday in a sign of support for the Texans bracing against copious rainfall and deadly flooding from the storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Friday.
• Houston police chief breaks down describing officer who died in Harvey (ABC News) – A 60-year-old veteran Houston police officer died after he drove into floodwaters on his way to work Sunday morning, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said in an emotional press conference today. On Sunday at around 4 a.m., Sgt. Steve Perez left his home amid torrential rains, Acevedo said. After Perez drove on dark roads for two-and-a-half hours while trying to get to his duty station in downtown Houston, Perez called his commander to say he couldn’t make it in, Acevedo said. Perez then followed protocol and attempted to drive to the secondary station in Houston’s Kingwood neighborhood, Acevedo said. The next day, Perez’s chain of command was holding regular roll call when he noticed Perez was not present, the police chief said. Attempts to reach him were not answered, and his wife said she hadn’t seen him since 4 a.m. on Sunday, Acevedo said. Perez was a “dedicated individual” who would not just not show up for work, Acevedo said.
• Houston police chief to criminals: ‘Don’t victimize our people’ HOUSTON – Houston-area law enforcement officials responded to reports of looting as the city continued to face devastating flooding. Officials in Fort Bend County said looters were impersonating authorities and encouraging residents to evacuate their homes. The suspects then looted the homes after the homeowner evacuated. “You see the best of people, you see the worst of people,” said Alan Spears with Fort Bend County Emergency Management. Spears warned residents that they should only leave based on official communications or at the direction of a uniformed officer. In Houston, at least seven people were arrested Monday night. Police Chief Art Acevedo said officers in the department’s north division arrested four people for hijacking. Chief Acevedo said the four suspects were armed and were hijacking vehicles in flooded areas. Three people were arrested while attempting to loot at a video game store, Acevedo said. The chief added that officers are exhausted after working more than 30 hours without sleep.
• Houston mayor imposes curfew to prevent potential looting.  Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has imposed a mandatory curfew in the city from midnight to 5 a.m. in an effort to prevent potential looting, he announced at a press conference Tuesday evening. The curfew is a “tool to assess the intentions of the people who are out there,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said, warning residents to stay off the streets during the curfew unless “absolutely necessary.” The Houston Police Department is going to stop assisting in search-and-rescue missions to focus on “going after criminals and keeping the good people of Houston safe,” Acevedo said. Turner also warned residents of people impersonating police officers going door to door in the Kingwood area, one of the areas hit hardest by flooding, and telling people there that evacuations are now mandatory.
• Chief Responds To Internet Trolls Upset About Cops Stopping To Eat
• RECORD SETTING RAIN… MORE THAN 50 INCHES…Harvey brings historic rainfall to Houston
• BY THE NUMBERS…

    15 deaths confirmed as of Tuesday morning, per the Statesman.

14-15 trillion gallons of rain has fallen in Texas, with 5 trillion more anticipated before the storm moves out.

1 million liters of water and 1 million meals sent to Texas by FEMA.

3,500 rescues in Houston as of Tuesday morning.

12,000 guardsmen serving affected areas, including the entire Texas National Guard.

30,000 people displaced and expected in shelters.

13 million people directly affected by the storm, and subject to flood warnings.

130 mph sustained winds when Harvey made landfall on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane.

12 years, to the day, since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana.

5-hour presidential visit to parts of Texas.

6am – A/B/C Rescued Woman Goes Off On CNN For Hurricane Harvey Coverage (Daily Caller) – The mother began the interview by explaining how long she had to wait to be rescued, but was becoming visibly upset and anxious by having to share her story to the CNN correspondent. The CNN correspondent continued to ask questions and touch the mother’s arm as she and her daughter were crying. “We walked through four feet of water to get food on the first day,” the mother said, clearly annoyed at this point. “Yeah, that’s a lot of shit.” “But y’all sit here, y’all trying to interview people during their worst times — like that’s not the smartest thing to do. Like people are really breaking down and y’all sitting here with cameras and microphones trying to ask us what the fuck is wrong with us,” she continued.

6am – D         INTERVIEW – CAL THOMAS – Syndicated columnist

• Trump Visits Missouri To Talk Tax Reform.  Trump Hits the Road, Visiting Both Texas and Missouri This Week. The president travels to Springfield, Missouri, on Wednesday to deliver a speech about tax reform. Congress will take up this next legislative agenda item when it returns from its August recess after Labor Day. But don’t expect Donald Trump to roll out a detailed set of proposed reforms and changes to the tax code in Springfield. The White House is telling surrogates and friendly voices in the media to expect a speech from the president focused on “bringing back” jobs, wealth, and fairness through a reformation of the tax code. That means closing up loopholes for wealthy Americans, simplifying the tax filing process, and cutting business tax rates along with middle class rates. None of this is new—these are the platitudes Republicans have been repeating for years.

6am – E         Kathy Griffin is ‘no longer sorry’ for the controversial bloodied Trump head photo. (Washington Examiner) – Comedian Kathy Griffin said she is no longer sorry for the controversial photo in which she posed with a fake severed Trump head covered in stage blood. “I am no longer sorry, the whole outrage was B.S., the whole thing got so blown out of proportion and I lost everybody,” Griffin told the Seven Network in Australia about the incident in May. “Like, I had Chelsea Clinton tweeting against me. I had friends, Debra Messing from ‘Will and Grace,’ tweeting against me.” Griffin blamed “hardcore” Trump supporters for the fallout, which included her firing from CNN, and pushed back against assertions that even Democrats thought the shoot was out-of-line.

6am – F         Joel Osteen agrees to open megachurch to Harvey victims after social media backlash. Osteen ripped on social media for not opening megachurch to flooding victims. (The Hill) — Texas pastor Joel Osteen is facing criticism for not opening up his Houston megachurch to those seeking shelter from Hurricane Harvey. The prominent televangelist tweeted Saturday that he and his wife were “praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey.” But social media users quickly began questioning why Osteen hadn’t offered up the facility, which can hold about 16,000 people.  In a statement obtained by ABC News Monday, Osteen said he was “prepared to house people once shelters reach capacity.” The church also released photos apparently showing standing water in parts of the facility.  “We have never closed our doors. We will continue to be a distribution center for those in need,” the statement says. “Lakewood will be a value to the community in the aftermath of this storm in helping our fellow citizens rebuild their lives.”

7am – A/B/C   INTERVIEW — JASON NICHOLS – a lecturer with the African American Studies Department, University of Maryland

• He supports the university administration’s decision to not let the marching band play the Maryland state song
• After Charlottesville, the University of Maryland’s marching band is no longer playing the pro-Confederate state song, “Maryland, My Maryland.”

7am – D         INTERVIEW – LIBERTY McARTOR – writer for The Stream and former WMAL morning show superstar intern – joined WMAL from Texas and discussed the acts of heroism and human kindness coming out of the storm, and what you can do to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

• In the belly of the storm. The Stream’s Liberty McArtor is in Texas where Hurricane Harvey dumped over 12 trillion gallons of rain. The devastation of the storm is only softened by the heroic volunteers that are at work in Houston and the surrounding areas. Liberty writes, “…in the Lone Star State, acts of heroism have become the norm.” Despite all our differences, Americans are Americans and we take care of our own. It’s important to highlight these extraordinary acts, especially in such a tense political atmosphere.

7am – E         Democratic-backed candidate elected to Fairfax County School Board. (Washington Post) — Fairfax County voters elected a Democratic-backed candidate to the school board Tuesday in a special election that was cast by some as a test of the Democratic Party’s strength in the Northern Virginia county. Karen Keys-Gamarra, an attorney and child advocate, won the at-large seat with nearly 41,000 votes, according to preliminary results Tuesday night. Chris Grisafe, a federal contractor endorsed by the Fairfax County Republican Committee, received about 21,000 votes. Fewer than 70,000 people cast ballots, according to results, putting turnout at about 10 percent. Keys-Gamarra will fill the seat of Jeannette Hough, who left the board in June after her husband accepted a work assignment overseas.  Hough, who held the at-large seat on the 12-member board, was elected in 2015 with an endorsement from the Fairfax County Republican Committee and was one of three GOP-backed members. Keys-Gamarra, the mother of three Fairfax County schools graduates, received substantial financial backing from the Democratic Party, which donated more than $60,000 to her effort. Grisafe raised about $25,000.

8am – A         Media Outrage Over Melania’s Shoes:

• Media’s Faux Outrage on Display as They Slam Melania’s Hurricane Fashion (LifeZette)
• There was no pretense about Melania Trump’s heels. But sometimes, a little pretense helps. (Washington Post/Robin Givhan)

8am – B         HURRICANE NEWS:

• Trump to return to Texas on Saturday (The Hill)
• Houston police chief breaks down describing officer who died in Harvey (ABC News)
• Houston police chief to criminals: ‘Don’t victimize our people’
• Houston mayor imposes curfew to prevent potential looting.
• Chief Responds To Internet Trolls Upset About Cops Stopping To Eat
• RECORD SETTING RAIN… MORE THAN 50 INCHES…Harvey brings historic rainfall to Houston

8am – C         Critters in the Hurricane:

• TEXAS FLOODS: 350 Alligators Escape from East Texas Gator Farm (Breitbart) — Beaumont, TX – The owners of the largest alligator adventure park in southeast Texas says that more than 350 of their alligators have escaped and are outside of the sanctuary because of Hurricane Harvey-related flooding. There are other reptiles loose within the facility. “Gator Country Adventure Park,” in Beaumont on FM 365 houses over 450 American alligators, crocodiles, venomous snakes, and other reptiles.
• “Fire ant flotillas”: Floating Fire Ants Just Keep Getting Worse. (Daily Caller) — Colonies of fire ants forming into giant floats in rising water is becoming a real problem in Texas, thanks to Hurricane Harvey. Houston Chronicle reporter Mike Hixenbaugh tweeted a video Sunday depicting hundreds of thousands of fire ants, warning those who encounter the cluster of ants to not touch them. Another person in Cuero, Texas posted a photo Tuesday of a massive group of these fire ants, claiming that the population is growing. Fire ant colonies survive floods by gathering together and forming a raft with their bodies. “Floodwaters will not drown fire ants. Instead, their colonies emerge from the soil, form a loose ball, float, and flow with the water until they reach a dry area or object they can crawl up on,” Paul R. Nester of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wrote in a warning about the fire ant flotillas. “Floating fire ant colonies can look like ribbons, streamers, mats, rafts, or an actual ‘ball’ of ants floating on the water.”

8am – D/E     INTERVIEW – PUJA DATTA (Poo-ja) – a spokesperson and organizer with the march from Charlottesville to Washington, D.C.

• TOPIC: The March from Charlottesville to Washington, D.C.:
• Discuss the march, how it’s going, why they’re marching and how far have they gotten to D.C.