The Vince Coglianese Show

INTERVIEW - RONNA MCDANIEL - Chair of the Republican National Committee and former Chair of the Michigan Republican Party

TOPIC: Preview of TUESDAY'S PRIMARIES

On Tuesday, six more states hold primaries, in a mini-version of last week’s Super Tuesday-Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington.  Former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders are the top candidates in the Democratic primaries worth a combined 352 delegates. After a Super Tuesday comeback, Biden looks to extend his lead in delegates, while Sanders will try to close the small gap and overtake him.

What to watch for in the March 10 primaries: A week after Super Tuesday, the Democratic field has winnowed to two main candidates, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, who will be fighting for delegates in six states on Tuesday. The most closely-watched of these upcoming six states is Michigan. With 125 delegates, it offers the biggest prize of the night. Voters in six states are going to the polls on Tuesday, March 10, with 349 delegates up for grabs. There are three candidates left in the race: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard

RNC fundraising: Trump, GOP raise $86M in February

INTERVIEW - GORDON CHANG - author of "Coming Collapse of China" and can find him on Twitter at @GordonGChang

TOPIC: Coronavirus and China

Xi Jinping visits Wuhan, in major show of confidence as China turns corner on coronavirus. Chinese President Xi Jinping has made his first visit to Wuhan since the novel coronavirus outbreak began more than two months ago, as new cases of the virus slowed to a trickle in the country where the disease first emerged. Xi's visit to Wuhan -- which has been on lockdown for weeks now, with tens of thousands of confirmed cases of the virus and hundreds of deaths -- is a major show of confidence in China's response to the pandemic, underlining a message which has been building in state media that the country has turned a corner.

Could the coronavirus spark drug shortages in the US? The outbreak is exposing vulnerabilities in how America gets its drugs, but potential backlogs really depend on the course of the virus.

Mornings on the Mall

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese 

 

5am – A/B/C    SUPER TUESDAY

On Tuesday, six more states hold primaries, in a mini-version of last week’s Super Tuesday-Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington.  Former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders are the top candidates in the Democratic primaries worth a combined 352 delegates. After a Super Tuesday comeback, Biden looks to extend his lead in delegates, while Sanders will try to close the small gap and overtake him.

 What to watch for in the March 10 primaries: A week after Super Tuesday, the Democratic field has winnowed to two main candidates, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, who will be fighting for delegates in six states on Tuesday. The most closely-watched of these upcoming six states is Michigan. With 125 delegates, it offers the biggest prize of the night. Voters in six states are going to the polls on Tuesday, March 10, with 349 delegates up for grabs. There are three candidates left in the race: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard

 Detroit Free Press poll: Biden holds huge 24-point edge over Sanders in Michigan

Republican mayor drops Donald Trump for Joe Biden in key swing state of Michigan  —  With Tuesday's Democratic primaries hours away, former Vice President Joe Biden has found an unexpected supporter in Sterling Heights, Michigan Mayor Michael Taylor, a Republican.

Kamala Harris Looks Like A VP As She Brings Down The House At Biden's Michigan Rally  —  California Sen. Kamala Harris - seen by many as a top contender for a vice presidential slot - brought down the house at Joe Biden's jam-packed Detroit rally on Monday night.

Biden, Sanders continue campaigning amid coronavirus concerns

5am – D Harvey Weinstein ‘Miserable’ At Rikers, Feeling ‘Humbled’ (Hot Air) The ambulance carrying Weinstein to Rikers on Monday was diverted to Bellevue Hospital due to heart palpitations and high blood pressure, his attorney Donna Rotunno said. Weinstein remained in Bellevue’s prison ward Tuesday morning, the hospital said… There is no update on when Weinstein will go to Rikers. He is very secure but is not handcuffed to the bed, according to Aidala. Weinstein has family with him, Aidala said. But it appears that Weinstein’s condition was serious enough that doctors at Bellevue placed a stent in his heart. He was finally transferred to Rikers one day after the heart procedure. He is now in a special wing of the infirmary for inmates who would be in danger if placed among the general population. According to Weinstein’s spokesman, he is “miserable” at Rikers after a fall that left him complaining he had a concussion. He is also expressing something like regret: “He’s miserable but trying to be optimistic as best he can,” Engelmayer said. “He has had a lot of time to think about his life and be humbled, but he thinks it’s going to be a long, uphill battle from here.”… On Saturday night, Weinstein took a tumble after trying to walk on his own. “He fell on his head and thinks he has a concussion,” Engelmayer said. “His head has been pounding since yesterday.”

5am – E  Prince Andrew 'shut the door' on Epstein probe cooperation: U.S. prosecutor (Reuters) Britain’s Prince Andrew has declined to cooperate with a U.S. investigation into possible co-conspirators of deceased financier and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, a U.S. prosecutor said on Monday. “Contrary to Prince Andrew’s very public offer to cooperate with our investigation into Epstein’s co-conspirators, an offer that was conveyed via press release, Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation and our office is considering its options,” U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said when asked about Epstein at a news conference about an unrelated case. Berman’s spokesman James Margolin declined comment on the options being considered. He said the prince’s lawyers had said Andrew would not submit voluntarily to an interview. He said this was after Jan. 27, when Berman told a news conference Andrew had not offered any cooperation. Andrew, 60, had said in a public statement in November that he was stepping down from public duties and would be willing to help “any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.”

6am – A/B/C Are you doing anything different because of the coronavirus?

CORONAVIRUS NEWS:

Italy extended its quarantine measures to the whole country on Monday night, only two days after it imposed a lockdown on much of the country’s north, making it the first country in the world to place its entire territory under quarantine to contain the coronavirus epidemic.

Republican Georgia Rep. Doug Collins and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz both announced Monday afternoon that they would be self-quarantining themselves after learning that they interacted with a coronavirus-infected person in late February. The announcement comes after Collins just spent Friday with President Donald Trump visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Gaetz was reportedly on Air Force One on Monday.

Mark Meadows, President Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff, may have come in contact with the Conservative Political Action Conference attendee who was diagnosed with the coronavirus and "out of an abundance of caution" will self-quarantine over the next two weeks.

DC News Outlets Ask Reporters Who Covered CPAC to Self-Quarantine Due to Coronavirus Concerns. Politico, the Washington Post, the Daily Beast, and Mother Jones have asked reporters who covered CPAC to self-quarantine and work remotely due to concerns that they may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus. Both the Post and Politico say they’ve taken measures to clean and sanitize public areas. The Post has asked employees who were at CPAC to self-quarantine for seven days. All newsrooms tell Washingtonian they’ve taken such measures out of an abundance of caution.

Fordham University announced Monday that it is “suspending face-to-face instruction” on its New York-area campuses amid the coronavirus outbreak — and Princeton University in New Jersey is taking similar action.

Cuomo unveils state’s hand sanitizer made by prisoners. It has a “floral bouquet,” the governor added.He said that while the CDC recommends products with 60 percent alcohol and private manufacturers such as Purell contain 70 percent, New York’s version is 75 percent. He said the state will be churning out 100,000 gallons a week and will ramp up production as needed.

6am – D INTERVIEW - GORDON CHANG - author of "Coming Collapse of China" and can find him on Twitter at @GordonGChang

TOPIC: Coronavirus and China

Xi Jinping visits Wuhan, in major show of confidence as China turns corner on coronavirus. Chinese President Xi Jinping has made his first visit to Wuhan since the novel coronavirus outbreak began more than two months ago, as new cases of the virus slowed to a trickle in the country where the disease first emerged. Xi's visit to Wuhan -- which has been on lockdown for weeks now, with tens of thousands of confirmed cases of the virus and hundreds of deaths -- is a major show of confidence in China's response to the pandemic, underlining a message which has been building in state media that the country has turned a corner.

Could the coronavirus spark drug shortages in the US? The outbreak is exposing vulnerabilities in how America gets its drugs, but potential backlogs really depend on the course of the virus.

6am – E ST PATRICK’S DAY:

Ireland cancels St. Patrick's Day festivities over coronavirus concerns (NBC News) St. Patrick's Day festivities in the Republic of Ireland have been canceled amid concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus. The cancellations have come at the advice of health officials to help slow the spread of the virus, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Monday. There have been 19 cases of COVID-19, the disease associated with the coronavirus, in the Republic of Ireland. The canceled events include the national St. Patrick's Festival parade in Dublin on March 17.

Boston cancels St. Patrick's Day parade amid coronavirus concerns (The Hill) Boston on Monday announced the cancellation of its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade over rising fears about the coronavirus outbreak. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (D) said he worked with state and city officials to make the decision to cancel the parade, which had been scheduled for Sunday.

In the U.S., New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters Monday that there were no plans to cancel the city's St. Patrick's Day Parade, which attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators.

6am – F Florida boy sent at least 40 of his classmates to the hospital when he mistook a of pepper spray for body fragrance spray and sprayed himself with it at school. A student at Highlands Middle School in Jacksonville, Florida caused the school's gymnasium to be evacuated after dispersing the spray last week, according to a Friday report in The Gainesville Sun. The boy had taken the pepper spray from the belongings of another student before deciding to help himself to a generous spritz. "Thinking it was body spray, the student who took the canister actually sprayed himself as if he were applying a body fragrance product," Principal Evan Daniels said to parents in a pre-recorded phone message, according to the outlet. "The gymnasium was evacuated and ultimately 41 students were transported to area hospitals for care.

7am – A INTERVIEW - RONNA MCDANIEL - Chair of the Republican National Committee and former Chair of the Michigan Republican Party

TOPIC: Preview of TUESDAY'S PRIMARIES

On Tuesday, six more states hold primaries, in a mini-version of last week’s Super Tuesday-Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington.  Former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders are the top candidates in the Democratic primaries worth a combined 352 delegates. After a Super Tuesday comeback, Biden looks to extend his lead in delegates, while Sanders will try to close the small gap and overtake him.

What to watch for in the March 10 primaries: A week after Super Tuesday, the Democratic field has winnowed to two main candidates, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, who will be fighting for delegates in six states on Tuesday. The most closely-watched of these upcoming six states is Michigan. With 125 delegates, it offers the biggest prize of the night. Voters in six states are going to the polls on Tuesday, March 10, with 349 delegates up for grabs. There are three candidates left in the race: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard

RNC fundraising: Trump, GOP raise $86M in February

7am – B/C INTERVIEW - DR. AMESH ADALJA - Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. His work is focused on emerging infectious disease, pandemic preparedness, and biosecurity.

Topic: Latest on coronavirus/Do quarantines work?

7am – D/E  Hillary Clinton may be angling to be Biden's VP: John Sununu (Fox News) Who do you think the Dems will choose for VP? Hillary Clinton may be angling for a spot on Joe Biden's presidential ticket, Fox News contributor John Sununu said Monday. "I think as almost everything the Clintons do, there is a bigger purpose behind what's going on," Sununu told "America's Newsroom." "I think she is actually angling to be the vice presidential nominee hoping the party will understand that if Biden is the nominee, they have to have a backup there that the public has confidence in."

8am – A INTERVIEW – NEWT GINGRICH – Former Speaker of the House, host of “Newt’s World” podcast and author of new book “Trump Vs. China: Facing America’s Greatest Threat”

TOPICS:

Analysis of Tuesday's primaries / 2020 race

Thoughts on coronavirus - handling of virus and his perspective on Italy’s situation

8am – B/C James Biden’s health care ventures face a growing legal morass (Politico) The Federal Bureau of Investigation raided a health care business linked to Joe Biden’s brother in late January, seizing boxes of documents. The raid of an Americore Health hospital represented a deepening of the legal morass surrounding James Biden’s recent venture into health care investing at a time when questions about the business dealings of Joe Biden’s relatives, and their alleged connection to the former vice president’s public service, continue to dog his presidential campaign. In the weeks since the raid, two small medical firms that did business with James Biden have claimed in civil court proceedings to have obtained evidence that he may have fraudulently transferred funds from Americore “outside of the ordinary course of business,” and a former Americore executive has told POLITICO that James Biden had more than half a million dollars transferred to him from the firm as a personal loan that has not yet been repaid.

8am – D/E  INTERVIEW -MATT SCHLAPP - chairman of the American Conservative Union

TOPIC: Latest on CPAC and the coronavirus

CPAC: No new virus cases and only a dozen touched by infected guest

Matt Schlapp @mschlapp: Tonight we crossed an important threshold:  @CPAC ended 9 days ago. According to the experts we consulted that timing

w NO NEW corona cases and NO attendees w symptoms is a huge turning point. Over 10,000 in a hotel w the virus present and no one is  positive.

INTERVIEW –  Storm Watch 7’s Veronica Johnson. She’s channel 7’s morning forecaster on TV and on WMAL

INTERVIEW –  VIRGINIA SENATOR AMANDA CHASE - member of the Virginia Senate for the 11th District, representing Amelia County, the city of Colonial Heights, and part of Chesterfield County, AND candidate for Virginia governor

TOPIC: Recap busy weekend for Virginia Assembly

Virginia lawmakers approve background checks for all firearms sales, monthly limit for handgun purchases. The Virginia General Assembly voted Saturday to require criminal background checks on all firearms purchases and limit anyone who doesn’t have a concealed-carry permit to one handgun purchase a month. On the last day of their annual legislative session, the House and Senate must also decide the fate of bills to raise Virginia's minimum wage, legalize casino gambling, offer driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and more.

 Virginia General Assembly approves higher gas tax, speed cameras and cellphone ban: Drivers in Virginia will probably pay more at the gas pump starting this summer after lawmakers voted to raise the state gas tax for the first time in more than three decades. The legislation, which Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is expected to sign, would add Virginia to the dozens of states across the country that have raised the tax in recent years to make up for losses in revenue because of lower gas prices and the proliferation of more fuel-efficient vehicles, among other things. The measure was among several transportation bills approved by the General Assembly in the legislative session wrapping up Sunday. Other transportation-related measures passed by lawmakers include a ban on cellphone use while driving, tougher penalties for reckless driving, and allowing the use of speed cameras on some state roadways. Virginia’s gas tax would increase 5 cents a year for two consecutive years and then be indexed to inflation. The tax increase, requested by Northam, is expected to shore up the state’s fund that pays for roads, transit and rail projects. “This is a giant step toward a modern, sustainable transportation system in Virginia,” Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky said in a statement Sunday after both chambers approved the bill. “This once-in-a-generation package will boost our economy, reduce congestion, and dramatically transform rail and transit throughout the Commonwealth. It is a win for all Virginians.”

Virginia lawmakers pass two more gun-control bills, Clean Economy Act, measure allowing plastic-bag tax: On Saturday, lawmakers completed action on measures to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045

On Saturday, lawmakers completed action on measures to give undocumented immigrants a way to drive legally and repeal the requirement that voters show photo identification at the polls.

Virginia lawmakers decriminalize marijuana, legalize casinos as session winds down

Under bills passed Sunday, the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour would increase incrementally until it hits $15 in 2026. Though many Democrats ran for election last year on promises to increase the minimum wage, members of the House had clashed with the more conservative Senate over how to do it.

INTERVIEW –  JOE DIGENOVA - legal analyst and former U.S. Attorney to the District of Columbia

TOPICS:

BURISMA PROBE: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) has scheduled a vote for the committee next Wednesday to subpoena former Ukrainian politician Andrii Telizhenko, who may shed insight into Hunter Biden’s potential role in trying to help Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings evade corruption charges.

Donald Trump Jr. tells #AxiosOnHBO he wants to debate Hunter Biden over who has benefited more financially from their father's government service.

FERRECHIO: Spy bill set to expire without last-minute deal in Congress

 Christopher Steele Refuses To Cooperate With US Prosecutor Looking Into Origins Of Trump-Russia Probe

DOJ responds after judge slams AG Barr over Mueller report

TRUMP CAMP SUES CNN: Trump campaign sues CNN over ‘false and defamatory’ statements, seeks millions in damages

Mornings on the Mall

Monday, March 9, 2020

Hosts: Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese  

5am – A/B/C    CORONAVIRUS NEWS:

There are now 564 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to state and local health agencies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Top coronavirus expert Dr Fauci says four million tests should be available by end of week, before warning Americans to avoid crowds and brace for quarantines as number of infected hits 516 across 33 states

Two more Maryland residents tested positive for the new coronavirus, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Sunday. A man in his 60s is the fourth Montgomery County resident diagnosed with COVID-19. He caught the virus while traveling abroad and was hospitalized briefly. A Harford County woman in her 80s also caught the virus while traveling abroad. She is in the hospital.

Hogan on Meet the Press: “Look, I think it was a really smart move for the president to elevate Vice President Pence to work across all the different agencies and to coordinate. As a former governor, he knows the governors are on the front lines. He is doing, I think, a good job of coordinating everybody and communicating with us. I think that’s the way the messaging ought to go. Has the president been perfect in his communication? I would say he hasn’t communicated the way I would and the way I might like him to. But I think the rest of the team has been doing a pretty good job.”

A Fairfax resident is the second "presumptive positive" coronavirus case that is being reported in Virginia. On Sunday, Virginia health officials say the person is in their 80s and had returned from a Nile River cruise.This news comes a day after the first positive case of coronavirus was reported in Virginia on Saturday. The Pentagon reported that a U.S Marine assigned to Fort Belvoir tested positive for the coronavirus Saturday.

The DC Health Department is confirming two people have tested positive for the coronavirus, one man from the District and one man visiting from Nigeria. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the first case is a DC man in his 50s who was admitted to a DC hospital on Thursday, March 5. The man had no history of recent international travel and no close contact with any other confirmed cases. The first person to test positive for coronavirus in Washington, D.C., is the prominent leader of a historic Episcopal church in Georgetown, the church said Sunday. The Reverend Timothy Cole, rector of Christ Church Georgetown, was diagnosed at the hospital Saturday night and is in stable condition, according to the Reverend Crystal Hardin, the assistant to the rector, who spoke at a press conference outside the church Sunday.

 CPAC STATEMENT: "We continue to work closely with the Maryland Department of Health since our conference was in the State of Maryland.

The Dept of Health has screened thousands of employees from the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center and the Residence Inn.At this time, not a single person has reported any unusual illness.  Thus, the Dept of Health is not restricting the movements or interactions with others of those hotel employees. The Dept of Health has however encouraged these employees to take their temperature twice a day and to keep an eye open for any unusual symptoms.  We think that is good advice and encourage our attendees and participants to do the same.  We continue to remain in close contact with the infected individual and he continues to be doing better.  Also, at this point, no other CPAC attendee, participant or staff has tested positive for coronavirus.  If you are exhibiting symptoms, you should immediately contact your local Department of Health."

5am – D Christopher Steele Refuses To Cooperate With US Prosecutor Looking Into Origins Of Trump-Russia Probe: Reuters reported on Friday that Durham’s team has recently approached Steele seeking an interview. The former MI6 officer rejected the request because he believes that he would not be treated fairly, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Numerous questions remain unanswered about how Steele collected information for his dossier, and how many of his allegations about Trump associates turned out to be inaccurate. [...] The IG’s report provided a particularly harsh assessment of the FBI as well as of Steele. It said that the FBI failed to disclose information about Steele and the sourcing for his dossier that would have called the reliability of the document into question. The report said that Steele’s primary source of information for his investigation of Donald Trump met with FBI investigators in January 2017 and disputed much of what was in the dossier. Steele himself told his FBI contacts in an Oct. 3, 2016 meeting that he believed that a key sub-source for the dossier was a “boaster” and “egotist.” Despite those red flags, the FBI relied heavily on Steele’s information to assert that Carter Page was a Russian agent. And despite the apparent problems with the dossier, Steele defiantly defended his infamous report during his remarks at Oxford on Friday. “I stand by the integrity of our work, our sources and what we did,” he said.

5am – E  “Putin, sadly, has got all of our political class, every single one of us, including the media, exactly where he wants us.” Fiona Hill speaks to Lesley Stahl in her first interview since the impeachment inquiry.

6am – A/B/C 2020 NEWS:

Kamala Harris endorses Joe Biden

Sanders, Biden camps clash over Arizona debate format. A proposal to have the candidates seated for the first time sparks tension. Bernie Sanders wants to stand up at the next debate — and his campaign is accusing Joe Biden of wanting to sit down. After a private call Friday with CNN, which is moderating the March 15 debate with the Democratic National Committee, Sanders' team balked at a new proposed format for debate, saying it gives his opponent Biden too much of a break in their first one-on-one face-off. Biden’s camp denied that it was pressing for a sit-down debate.

 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden stumbled over his words during a Saturday speech in Kansas City, Missouri, resulting in a video clip by White House social media director Dan Scavino that made Biden appear to endorse the reelection of President Donald Trump. After the video posted on Twitter, it was pointed out that it had been deceptivley edited to leave out Biden’s full comment and that the notion that Biden endorsed Trump’s reelection was false given the full context of his statement.

Tulsi Gabbard, last female in Democratic race, booted from next debate Maybe it’s the Democratic Party that’s the misogynist one. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard — the last remaining woman in the Democrats’ presidential race — has been shut out of the party’s next debate with a rule change that makes it mathematically impossible for her to claim a podium. “To keep me off the stage, the DNC again arbitrarily changed the debate qualifications,” Gabbard tweeted late Friday. “Previously they changed the qualifications in the OPPOSITE direction so Bloomberg could debate.”

 Bernie Sanders Draws Crowd of 15,000 in Chicago: Trump Is ‘Moving this Country into an Autocracy’

6am – D/E/F VIRGINIA ASSEMBLY:

Virginia lawmakers approve background checks for all firearms sales, monthly limit for handgun purchases. The Virginia General Assembly voted Saturday to require criminal background checks on all firearms purchases and limit anyone who doesn’t have a concealed-carry permit to one handgun purchase a month. On the last day of their annual legislative session, the House and Senate must also decide the fate of bills to raise Virginia's minimum wage, legalize casino gambling, offer driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and more.

 Virginia General Assembly approves higher gas tax, speed cameras and cellphone ban: Drivers in Virginia will probably pay more at the gas pump starting this summer after lawmakers voted to raise the state gas tax for the first time in more than three decades. The legislation, which Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is expected to sign, would add Virginia to the dozens of states across the country that have raised the tax in recent years to make up for losses in revenue because of lower gas prices and the proliferation of more fuel-efficient vehicles, among other things. The measure was among several transportation bills approved by the General Assembly in the legislative session wrapping up Sunday. Other transportation-related measures passed by lawmakers include a ban on cellphone use while driving, tougher penalties for reckless driving, and allowing the use of speed cameras on some state roadways. Virginia’s gas tax would increase 5 cents a year for two consecutive years and then be indexed to inflation. The tax increase, requested by Northam, is expected to shore up the state’s fund that pays for roads, transit and rail projects. “This is a giant step toward a modern, sustainable transportation system in Virginia,” Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky said in a statement Sunday after both chambers approved the bill. “This once-in-a-generation package will boost our economy, reduce congestion, and dramatically transform rail and transit throughout the Commonwealth. It is a win for all Virginians.”

Virginia lawmakers pass two more gun-control bills, Clean Economy Act, measure allowing plastic-bag tax: On Saturday, lawmakers completed action on measures to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045

On Saturday, lawmakers completed action on measures to give undocumented immigrants a way to drive legally and repeal the requirement that voters show photo identification at the polls.

Virginia lawmakers decriminalize marijuana, legalize casinos as session winds down

Under bills passed Sunday, the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour would increase incrementally until it hits $15 in 2026. Though many Democrats ran for election last year on promises to increase the minimum wage, members of the House had clashed with the more conservative Senate over how to do it.

7am – A/B/C INTERVIEW –  JOE DIGENOVA - legal analyst and former U.S. Attorney to the District of Columbia

TOPICS:

BURISMA PROBE: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) has scheduled a vote for the committee next Wednesday to subpoena former Ukrainian politician Andrii Telizhenko, who may shed insight into Hunter Biden’s potential role in trying to help Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings evade corruption charges.

Donald Trump Jr. tells #AxiosOnHBO he wants to debate Hunter Biden over who has benefited more financially from their father's government service.

FERRECHIO: Spy bill set to expire without last-minute deal in Congress

 Christopher Steele Refuses To Cooperate With US Prosecutor Looking Into Origins Of Trump-Russia Probe

DOJ responds after judge slams AG Barr over Mueller report

TRUMP CAMP SUES CNN: Trump campaign sues CNN over ‘false and defamatory’ statements, seeks millions in damages

7am – D/E  CORONAVIRUS NEWS:

Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar became the first two members of Congress to self-quarantine after interacting with a person at CPAC who tested positive for COVID-19

Amtrak cancels nonstop Acela service between Washington and New York amid coronavirus crisis

South by Southwest, the annual tech, film and music conference held in Austin, Texas, has been canceled due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak.

Pope livestreams Sunday services after coronavirus scare: Pope Francis livestreamed his Sunday address instead of delivering it from the ritual window overlooking St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican announced on Saturday that the pope would be leading the service via stream as the coronavirus continues to spread through Italy, according to Reuters. The pontiff was tested last week for the disease after coming down with flu-like symptoms but was found to only have a cold.

 Italy's death toll rises by 133 to 366: Desperate scramble to flee quarantine zones in north as PM shuts off 16M citizens

Columbia University cancelling two days of classes over coronavirus concerns

 The coronavirus outbreak that's spread to at least 25 states now means that Costco customers can say goodbye to free food samples while shopping, according to media reports. "Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, there are no food product samples," a Costco representative in Nashville, Tennessee, told NBC's Today.

 EBay has stepped up its efforts to prevent price gouging by banning all face masks and hand sanitizers from its site. The company sent a notice to sellers Thursday that said it’s blocking new listings for hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and surgical masks, including N95 and N100 masks, “effectively immediately.” The decision, which only applies to U.S. listings, was made due to concerns that inflated prices for these products could be in violation of price gouging laws. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Wednesday issued an alert to consumers reminding them of the state’s price gouging laws and other stat

8am – A/B/C INTERVIEW –  Storm Watch 7’s Veronica Johnson. She’s channel 7’s morning forecaster on TV and on WMAL

8am – D INTERVIEW –  VIRGINIA SENATOR AMANDA CHASE - member of the Virginia Senate for the 11th District, representing Amelia County, the city of Colonial Heights, and part of Chesterfield County, AND candidate for Virginia governor

TOPIC: Recap busy weekend for Virginia Assembly

8am – E Sparkling wine flows from village taps after winery malfunction (NY Post) Villagers outside Modena enjoyed a brief gustatory surprise when their home sinks suddenly became wine taps, flowing with a fizzy pink-hued wine called Lambrusco, Italian newspaper Gazette di Modena reported. Home videos posted online show villagers attempting to wash dishes or quench their thirst, only to find the red wine-hued liquid pouring from their pipes. The Cellar Settecani Castelvetro winery, maker of Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, has since come forward and apologized for the (un)sobering setback, caused by a leak in one of their wine silos, which began flowing into the local water main.

Best of Mornings on the Mall this week: Byron York, Erik the Travel Guy, Matt Schlapp, Mike Litterst

INTERVIEW – DAVID BAHNSEN - author of new book Elizabeth Warren: How Her Presidency Would Destroy the Middle Class and the American Dream

TOPIC: Reaction to Elizabeth Warren dropping out

INTERVIEW – JONATHAN O’CONNELL - Washington Post reporter

TOPIC:  WashPost: Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson pursuing Trump hotel lease

Virginia business executive Sheila Johnson, owner of luxury resorts and the Washington Mystics WNBA team, is among the bidders trying to acquire the lease to President Trump’s hotel in downtown Washington, according to two people familiar with the proposal. In a brief phone conversation Johnson acknowledged being interested in the project but declined to discuss it. “I don’t want to comment on any of that right now,” she said. The two people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized by Johnson’s firm to discuss the bid. Interested bidders also signed nondisclosure agreements. It is unclear how many companies are pursuing the lease, which Trump signed with the federal government before his election. Trump’s adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, announced in October they planned to sell the lease and set a Jan. 23 deadline for initial bids. Industry experts say the lease could sell for between $300 million and $350 million. Although that’s less than the $500 million the Trumps said they were seeking for the 263-room hotel, such projects typically include multiple investors. It is unclear if Johnson has any outside backing for her bid. Jan. 23 deadline set for bids on Trump D.C. hotel