Mornings on the Mall 06.10.20
Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese
Executive Producer: Heather Hunter
Guests: Cal Thomas, Newt Gingrich, Dr. David Samadi, MoCo Councilmember Will Jawando, White House’s Ja’Ron Smith
5-A — UCLA PROFESSOR SUSPENDED FOR NOT EXEMPTING BLACK STUDENTS FROM FINAL EXAMS
UCLA PROFESSOR SUSPENDED/UNDER POLICE PROTECTION
A California college professor reportedly is being investigated for discrimination and under police protection after refusing a request to exempt black students from final exams in the wake of George Floyd‘s death.
The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) suspended Gordon Klein, an accounting professor in the Anderson School of Business where he’s been teaching for 39 years, for three weeks beginning on June 25 after he declined a student’s request to delay a final exam in light of Floyd’s death, the Free Beacon reports.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/ucla-professor-suspended-under-police-protection-after-threats
5-D – WHO’S WALKBACK:
THE WHO BLOWS IT AGAIN… WHO Walks Back Statement That Asymptomatic Coronavirus Transmission Is ‘Very Rare,’ Now Says It Could Be ‘Around 40%’
The World Health Organization (WHO) walked back a statement made yesterday that asymptomatic transmission is “very rare,” saying at a press conference Tuesday morning that some estimates show asymptomatic transmission rate could be as high as 40%.
The organization’s technical lead for COVID-19, Maria Van Kerkhov, said at a press conference Monday that it’s ‘very rare’ for patients who have coronavirus without showing any symptoms to transmit the virus to another person.
“From the data we have, it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual,” she said Monday according to CNBC.
Tuesday morning, the WHO said at a press conference that some estimates show that “around 40%” of transmission may be due to asymptomatic transmission.
5-E — FORMER VA GOVERNOR TERRY MCAULIFFE: BIDEN SHOULD STAY IN THE BASEMENT:
Terry McAuliffe recorded saying Dems prefer Biden stay ‘in the basement’
EXCLUSIVE: Top Joe Biden surrogate Terry McAuliffe told a videoconference meeting of Virginia Democrats over the weekend that the former vice president should remain in his basement — where he has famously campaigned remotely during the coronavirus pandemic — and that Democratic officials are broadly “preferring” that Biden stay out of the limelight.
Fox News has obtained a video of McAuliffe’s Norfolk comments, which came after Biden has made a series of gaffes in his already-limited public appearances as he social distanced from home — including by declaring that African-Americans who support President Trump “ain’t black.”
“People say all the time, ‘Oh, we got to get the vice president out of the basement,’” McAuliffe told the “monthly breakfast” of the Norfolk City Democratic Committee. “He’s fine in the basement. Two people see him a day: his two body people. That’s it. Let Trump keep doing what Trump’s doing.”
McAuliffe served as campaign chairman for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential run. At the Zoom videoconference, he was introduced by a senior Norfolk Democrat, Charlie Stanton, who compared soldiers who participated in the D-Day landing to modern-day Antifa members.
“It’s hard for the vice president to break through,” McAuliffe told the group. “You’ve got the COVID crisis. He’s not a governor, doesn’t have the National Guard. He’s not the president, doesn’t have the briefing room. He needs to come out strategically. And when he says something like he did on race relations two days ago, it needs to have a big impact — thoughtful, and that’s what we’re preferring that he actually do at the time.”
“He’s doing a lot of local,” McAuliffe added. “He’s talking to two, three governors a day. He’s doing roundtables, Zoom calls. A lot of it’s being done in those six battleground states that we have going forward.”
Trump has hammered Biden repeatedly for remaining in his basement and has openly questioned whether Biden remains mentally competent. “I’d love to see him get out of the basement so he can speak,” Trump said in a telephone interview with Fox News last month.
Nevertheless, recent polls have shown Biden leading Trump, who is set to resume his trademark campaign rallies in the coming days. Biden himself has begun to travel again, including meeting privately in Texas on Monday with the family of George Floyd, whose death two weeks ago while in police custody has sparked nationwide protests.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-biden-surrogate-says-dems-preferring-that-former-vp-stay-in-the-basement
6-A — DEFUND AND/OR DISBAND THE POLICE MOVEMENT:
- NJ CITY DISBANDS POLICE FORCE AND CRIME DROPS: Camden had one of the highest crime rates in the US before 2012, when the police department was disbanded and replaced Since then, violent crimes per 1,000 people have dropped from 79 to 44 It is now being heralded as a success story for disbanding police departments amid growing national outrage and distrust of law enforcement https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8402483/Ex-Camden-police-chief-says-crime-went-disbanded-force.html
- LA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORTS DEFUNDING POLICE/GETS CAUGHT USING COPS AS PRIVATE SECURITY: Spectrum News 1 SoCal wa s first to report that LA City Council President Nury Martinez has used members from the LAPD, often two at a time, to guard her home over the course of two months. Martinez only stopped using the LAPD as her private security detail when reporters began asking questions about it, according to the outlet. https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/los-angeles-city-council-defund-police-lapd-security-detail
- FL COPS URGE OFFICERS TO COME ON DOWN TO FL: On Saturday, the Brevard County chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police posted a messag e on Facebook addressed to the “Buffalo 57” and “Atlanta 6,” saying that it was “hiring.” https://cbs12.com/news/local/florida-police-organization-offers-to-hire-cops-fired-or-resigned-over-police-misconduct?060920=
6-B/C — TIM SCOTT TO LEAD ON GOP POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION:
Sen. Tim Scott Lays Out What He Expects In GOP Police Reform Legislation: Scott told reporters after meeting with McConnell that the bill would include a “notification act so that we can understand and appreciate the 30,000 plus no knocks that happen around the country to see where they’re happening so we have more information.” It will also include anti-lynching legislation that was stalled by Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul last week in the Senate. “Also part of it has to do with the use of force that leads to death or serious bodily injury, collecting more data,” Scott said. “Right now about 40 percent of the police departments are reporting to the DOJ through the FBI. We’d like to see all the agencies report so we’re going to provide either resources for it or perhaps reduce grants if they don’t.” “There’s a lot of talk around the use of body cameras and the importance of doing so,” he said. “I think right now we fund under 20 million. I’d like to see that number grow significantly and some penalty if you’re not using the body cameras, there’s de-escalation training, perhaps bias training, the establishment of a National Police Commission study so that we can figure out best practices that can be used across all departments that we would at least direct funding and resources towards in that direction.”
6-D — 6:35 AM — INTERVIEW – CAL THOMAS – Syndicated columnist and author of new book “America’s Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers . . . and the Future of the United States”
6-E — PASSIONATE NY POLICE UNION BOSS MAKES CASE FOR POLICE:
- Video: WATCH: New York police boss Mike O’Meara went off on the media today: “Stop treating us like animals and thugs and start treating us with some respect … Our legislators abandoned us. The press is vilifying us. It’s disgusting.” https://twitter.com/AugustTakala/status/1270399690912272384
- NY police union head rails against legislators, media for ‘vilifying’ law enforcement.TheHill.com — NY police union head rails against legislators, media for ‘vilifying’ law enforcement.The New York Police Benevolent Association (PBA) railed Tuesday against state legislators and the press for “vilifying” law enforcement officers amid the nationwide demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25. The New York PBA’s president, Mike O’Meara, said at a press conference that officers have 375 million interactions with individuals each year and that most of them are “overwhelmingly positive.” “But what we read in the papers all week is that in the black community, mothers are worried about their children getting home from school without being killed by a cop. What world are we living in? That doesn’t happen,” O’Meara said. “Our legislators are failing us. Our press is vilifying us,” he added. “Stop treating us like animals and thugs and start treating us with some respect. That’s what we’re here today to say. We’ve been vilified. It’s disgusting.”https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/501899-ny-police-union-head-rails-against-legislators-media-for-vilifying-law
6-F — NORTHERN VA ENTERS PHASE TWO OF REOPENING ON FRIDAY AND NORTHAM PREVIEWS PLAN FOR REOPENING SCHOOLS THIS FALL:
– Northern Virginia will enter Phase Two of reopening on Friday.
Northern Virginia will move into the second phase of reopening on Friday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said during a press conference today, where he also laid out plans for the commonwealth’s schools. In Phase Two, Northern Virginia restaurants and bars will be allowed to operate at 50% occupancy indoors, and fitness centers can open their indoor spaces at 30% occupancy. A number of other public entertainment and recreation places will also be allowed to open, provided that they don’t have patrons sharing equipment. That list includes museums, zoos, gardens, and outdoor venues for sports and the performing arts. Swimming pools will also be able to open both indoor and outdoor spaces for the public’s use. https://dcist.com/story/20/06/09/northern-virginia-will-enter-phase-two-on-friday/
7-A — 7:05 AM – INTERVIEW – NEWT GINGRICH – Former Speaker of the House, host of “Newt’s World” podcast and author of new book “Trump and the American Future”
- Newt’s upcoming book “Trump and the American Future” (released 6/23). ABOUT BOOK: Trump and the American Future: Solving the Great Problems of Our Time —In this insightful call to action, New York Times bestselling author Newt Gingrich explains what is at stake in the 2020 elections — and why Donald Trump must be re-elected.
7-B/C — KAEPERNICK NEWS:
Rev. Al Sharpton Uses George Floyd Service To Demand Colin Kaepernick Get A Job In The NFL
MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton demanded Tuesday during George Floyd’s funeral that former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick get his “job back” in the NFL.
After a rocky six-year stint in San Franciso that ended in 2016 with the former dual-threat quarterback becoming better known for his refusal to stand for the national anthem than his play at the position, Kaepernick became a free agent in 2017 but has yet to land a position in the league.
“Oh, it’s nice to see some people change their mind, head of the NFL said yeah, maybe we was wrong. Football players, maybe they did have the right to peacefully protest. Well, don’t apologize. Give Colin Kaepernick a job back!” Sharpton said to audience applause.
“Don’t come with some empty apology,” he continued. “Take a man’s livelihood, strip a man down of his talents. And four years later when the whole world is marching, all of a sudden you go and do a FaceTime talking about you sorry! Minimizing the value of our lives! You sorry? Then repay the damage you did to the career you stood down, because when Colin took a knee, he took it for the families in this building and we don’t want an apology. We want him repaired.”
“Equal justice. Equal fairness. We’re not anti-anybody. We are trying to stop people from being anti-us. We want the law to apply equally,” said Sharpton.
https://dailycaller.com/2020/06/09/al-sharpton-george-floyd-funeral-colin-kaepernick-nfl/
– Colin Kaepernick’s agent has reportedly reached out to all 32 NFL teams to let them know the quarterback wants another shot.
Colin Kaepernick is still aiming for an NFL job.
According to The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, Kaepernick’s camp says the quarterback is “determined to play again.” TMZ Sports also reported that Kaepernick is still keeping up with his workout routine, and said to be in “the best shape of his life.”
Kawakami reported that there are rumors that Kaepernick’s agent has reached out to all 32 teams to express interest in a return to the NFL; it’s unclear how interested teams are in him.
Kaepernick has re-entered the news cycle thanks to the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s death. Though Kaepernick has not played or been given a chance to play since 2016, his last season with the San Francisco 49ers, his protest of police brutality and social injustice resonates today.
https://www.insider.com/colin-kaepernick-wants-to-play-in-nfl-supporters-2020-6
– Colin Kaepernick Still Training Like a Maniac to Play in NFL In 2020
Colin Kaepernick is still training EVERY DAY — busting his ass as if he’ll be on an NFL roster in 2020, sources tell TMZ Sports.
We’re told 32-year-old Colin has not broken his routine — he’s still hitting the gym and the field daily — and as one source close to Colin put it, “He’s in the best shape of his life.”
Of course, Colin held a workout in 2019 to show NFL teams he still has a cannon for an arm and the mobility that made him famous … but he wasn’t signed.
Many, including Kap, believe he was blackballed from the league for his kneeling demonstration (he hasn’t been on a roster since the 2016 season) … but things appear to be changing.
As we previously reported, NFL commish Roger Goodell admitted the league bungled the way it treated peaceful protesters in the past … and even though he didn’t name names, it was obvious he was talking about Colin and other kneelers.
https://www.tmz.com/2020/06/08/colin-kaepernick-training-workout-nfl-roster-kneeling-protest-roger-goodell/
7-D — 7:35 AM – INTERVIEW – DR. DAVID SAMADI – member of Fox News medical A team, expert in prostate cancer and robotic surgery
WHO BACKTRACKS ON SAYING ASYMPTOMATIC SPREAD IS RARE
- WHO is backtracking on comments made yesterday saying asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 is “very rare.” They now say it’s a “big open question.”
- THE WHO BLOWS IT AGAIN… WHO Walks Back Statement That Asymptomatic Coronavirus Transmission Is ‘Very Rare,’ Now Says It Could Be ‘Around 40%’
The World Health Organization (WHO) walked back a statement made yesterday that asymptomatic transmission is “very rare,” saying at a press conference Tuesday morning that some estimates show asymptomatic transmission rate could be as high as 40%.
The organization’s technical lead for COVID-19, Maria Van Kerkhov, said at a press conference Monday that it’s ‘very rare’ for patients who have coronavirus without showing any symptoms to transmit the virus to another person.
“From the data we have, it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual,” she said Monday according to CNBC.
Tuesday morning, the WHO said at a press conference that some estimates show that “around 40%” of transmission may be due to asymptomatic transmission.
MEANWHILE: ARE CONCERNS OVER VIRUS SPREAD AT PROTESTS VALID OR HYPE?
- 8 in 10 worry mass protests could spread coronavirus: poll https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/501790-8-in-10-worry-mass-protests-could-spread-coronavirus-poll#.Xt-SWuoxE84.twitter
- Most protesters in D.C. wore masks and took precautions against COVID-19, but crowd sizes were large and social distancing was impossible at times.
- The District wants them all to get tested. https://twitter.com/wamu885/status/1270383660328517632
- Fauci ‘Very Concerned’ That Protests Will Spark Coronavirus Surge https://dailycaller.com/2020/06/06/fauci-concerned-coronavirus-george-floyd-protests/
- DC NATIONAL GUARD GETS VIRUS AFTER PROTESTS: A D.C. National Guard spokeswoman says members of the Guard have tested positive for COVID-19 in the wake of the massive protests across the nation’s capital last week. While some Guard troops responding to the protests wore protective equipment, most were not wearing masks and it was largely impossible to maintain social distancing.
7-E — A BONKERS DEBATE BETWEEN CORNELL WEST & LEO TERRELL ENSUED ON HANNITY’S TV SHOW LAST NIGHT… We have the highlights…
- VIDEO: Last night on Hannity, Cornell West & Leo Terrell lose it on each other: https://twitter.com/curtishouck/status/1270531593162182656?s=21
8-A/B/C — 8:05 AM – INTERVIEW – Montgomery County councilmember Will Jawando
- TOPIC: Montgomery County councilmember Will Jawando wants to declare racism a public health emergency in Montgomery County. Yesterday, the Council introduced a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
- Council will vote next week on resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. Officials say they will continue promoting racial equity, social justice.
The Montgomery County Council will vote next week on a resolution declaring that racism is a public health crisis
The resolution, introduced at the council’s meeting on Tuesday, was spearheaded by Council Member Will Jawando.
Several actions are listed in the resolution, including asserting that “racism is a public health crisis in our entire County” and committing to “understanding how racism has impacted past work.” The council hopes to create new policies to lessen that impact.
At the beginning of the meeting, the council stayed silent for eight minutes and 46 seconds — the length of time a Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyd’s neck, causing him to become unconscious and die on May 25. In video footage of the incident, Floyd repeatedly told the officer that he couldn’t breathe.
Jawando said during the meeting that the resolution would build on the council’s work to promote racial equity, including the establishment of the Policing Advisory Commission. Applications for the commission are currently open.
“Scientists no longer believe there is a biological basis that distinguishes racial groups. Instead, they see race as a social, cultural and political construct, wherein, racial segregation and discrimination has real consequences on the health and quality of life of those impacted,” he said.
8-D – 8:35 AM – INTERVIEW – JA’RON SMITH – Deputy Assistant to President Trump and Deputy Director of the Office of American Innovation at The White House
- TOPIC: Discuss how the Trump admin has worked to help African Americans with Opportunity Zones and criminal justice reform.
- TIM SCOTT NEGOTIATES WITH WHITE HOUSE… JAKE SHERMAN: NEW …@MarkMeadows, @JaRonSmith45 and @jaredkushner are en route to Capitol Hill right now to meet with @SenatorTimScott on police overhaul legislation.
- Sen. Tim Scott Lays Out What He Expects In GOP Police Reform Legislation: Scott told reporters after meeting with McConnell that the bill would include a “notification act so that we can understand and appreciate the 30,000 plus no knocks that happen around the country to see where they’re happening so we have more information.” It will also include anti-lynching legislation that was stalled by Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul last week in the Senate.
“Also part of it has to do with the use of force that leads to death or serious bodily injury, collecting more data,” Scott said. “Right now about 40 percent of the police departments are reporting to the DOJ through the FBI. We’d like to see all the agencies report so we’re going to provide either resources for it or perhaps reduce grants if they don’t.”
“There’s a lot of talk around the use of body cameras and the importance of doing so,” he said. “I think right now we fund under 20 million. I’d like to see that number grow significantly and some penalty if you’re not using the body cameras, there’s de-escalation training, perhaps bias training, the establishment of a National Police Commission study so that we can figure out best practices that can be used across all departments that we would at least direct funding and resources towards in that direction.”
The group of Republican senators working on the bill includes Scott’s fellow South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, Texas Sen. John Cornyn and West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito.
