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Behind the scenes of one of the most powerful clubs in America.

Trumps Will Skip Kennedy Center Honors

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Photo courtesy Wikimedia.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will not attend this year’s annual Kennedy Center Honors in December.

According to a White House statement, “The President and First Lady have decided not to participate in this year’s activities to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction.”

Several honorees had said they would boycott the White House reception.  Both dancer Carmen de Lavallade and television producer Norman Lear had announced they would not attend that portion of the celebration.

“In light of the socially decisive and morally caustic narrative that our existing leadership is choosing to engage in, and in keeping with the principles that I and so many others have fought for, I will be declining the invitation to attend the reception at the White House,” de Lavallade said last week, prior to the White House announcement.

In a joint statement, Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein and President Deborah F. Rutter said the center “respects the decision made today by the office of the President of the United States.  In choosing not to participate in this year’s Honors activities, the Administration has graciously signaled its respect for the Kennedy Center and ensures the Honors gala remains a deservingly special moment for the Honorees.  We are grateful for this gesture.”

This will be the fourth time a sitting president is not in attendance at the Honors, following Presidents Jimmy Carter in 1979, George H.W. Bush in 1989 and Bill Clinton in 1994.  All three former presidents had attended the annual celebration other years while in office.

Boston Mayor’s Top Aide Daniel Koh Running for Open Congressional Seat?

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Photo courtesy City of Boston.

Following Representative Niki Tsongas’ announcement that she is retiring at the end of her term, several public figures have been mentioned as potential replacements for the Boston-area seat.

Many insiders mention Daniel Koh, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh’s chief of staff, as a likely candidate in the upcoming Democratic primary.  The Andover native and Harvard alum has long been suspected of eyeing a congressional run.

The 32-year-old recently commented on his plans to run for federal office:  “I’d be disingenuous if I said I never thought about it.”

Mayor Walsh explained he and Koh have grown close as a team during his term for the better.  “We’ve really learned off each other.  I’m certainly more analytical now… [Koh] has picked up a lot of my passion for politics.”

Real victories in the political arena, according to Koh, are assisting constituents.  He says helping a Roxbury senior citizen fix a ramp was his most gratifying accomplishment of his career.  Koh has also played a critical hand in streamlining city permits, overhauling the Cabinet structure, and helping close the deal on General Electric’s recent decision to relocate to Boston.

Asked to comment on Koh and the open congressional seat, City Hall spokeswoman Laura Oggeri declined to comment.

Press Invited, Disinvited From First Trump Re-Election Fundraiser

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Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington, D.C. in 2012, the site of the Trump Hotel. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Only hours of announcing the media would be permitted to cover President Donald Trump’s first fundraiser for his re-election campaign in 2020, the White House reversed itself and closed the event to the media.

Deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders emailed reporters stating that “unfortunately there was some confusion with the [Republican National Committee] and due to the logistical challenges bringing in the press at this late moment is not going to be possible.”
The event was originally listed as closed press, but Sanders announced after inquiries from reporters that a small press pool would be allowed to cover the President’s remarks.

Within two hours, the event was again closed to press. There was no explanation from the White House on the reversal, nor an explanation of what logistical challenges were present in hosting the media.

Former President Barack Obama had allowed members of the media to cover his remarks during fundraisers for himself or other candidates, although cameras were generally banned. In some cases, Obama would hold fundraising events entirely off limits to the press. In those situations, he was not delivering formal remarks, but instead taking questions from donors. These discussions with donors were always closed to reporters.

Former President George W. Bush also allowed the media to cover portions of his first re-election fundraiser.

The Hamptons Comes to Washington to Celebrate Holly Peterson’s New Novel

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Co-hosts for the event Kathy O’Hearn, Carol Melton, Heather Podesta, Megan Murphy, Holly Peterson, Hilary Rosen, Tammy Haddad. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

New York Times best-selling author Holly Peterson held a book party for her new novel about class conflict in a playground for the world’s wealthiest people, it Happens in the Hamptons at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 17. The party was hosted by Tammy Haddad, Connie Milstein, Hilary Rosen, Heather Podesta, Kathy O’Hearn and Carol Melto.

Megan Murphy, Editor of Bloomberg Businessweek, interviewed Ms. Peterson about the novel and its themes of ambition, romance, and the clash of social classes. Peterson also offers a few insights on the Trump family.

According to Peterson, the same class conflicts that exists throughout America is magnified in elite resort towns. “I think the class conflict that is roiling this country is shown in technicolor in a summer community whether it’s Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard or Aspen. There’s this amazing tension between the classes in these communities.”

Peterson continued, “I think there’s three worlds in my book. You’ve got the old WASP-y Protestants that run these country clubs and drink a lot and play tennis with their Exeter roommates and have money but don’t have serious money. That’s a huge amount of people in the Hamptons, golf clubs and tennis and all that. And then you have these super-rich accomplished New Yorkers, but you also have a very vibrant local community with AV technicians and land surveyors and teachers and biologists and vintners. You have all three worlds interacting all the time. You have them interacting on the beach, they have sex with each other, they play tennis together.”

You can watch coverage of the event here:

https://audioboom.com/posts/5937349-holly-peterson-s-inside-look-at-ambition-surfing-the-trump-family-and-class-conflict-in-the-hamptons

Volta Insider: White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 2017 Honors Military Veterans and a Free and Fair Press

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Rachel Greenberg interviews Mark Testoni, President & CEO of SAP NS2 | NS2 Serves. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

In the latest episode of Volta Insider, Rachel Greenberg interviewed several prominent attendees of the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch. This year’s Garden Brunch was dedicated to honoring military veterans and their families and celebrating a free press.

Greenberg provides insight into the themes of the Garden Brunch talking to elected officials, media titans, and some of the leading champions for military veterans.

Senator Mark Warner had a message for young people saying, “I think it’s more important than ever for young people to be involved.  Because if young people tune out, all you do is turn the keys over to the political extremes on the left or the right.  And for a nation that’s about 20 trillion in debt, to leave that kind of debt to the millenials, to our kids would be a disaster.  That is why your voices need to be heard.”

Rep. Darrell Issa had creative advice for those interested in pursuing a career in politics, “My advice [to young, aspiring journalists or politicians] … is to do something else first.  Really, the breadth of talent of people that go straight into politics, straight into journalism, there’s plenty of them.  The outliers — the people that make a difference — are the people that come with something to offer.  And so  particularly in the case for politics, life experience, real understanding.  Whether it’s working in soup kitchens or working on wall street, try to make sure you bring something other than a desire to vote.

Greenberg also spoke with CNN’s Brian Stelter on the new administration’s galvanizing effect on young journalism students, “There are so many problems in media right now, there are so many attempts to tear down the press, to delegitimize the press.  But it also makes it a more interesting time to be part of the solution.  And I see a lot of students nowawayds more motivated to be a part of it.”

Other interviews include Graham Moore, Academy Award winning screenwriter and author, Art Bilger, founder of the non-profit WorkingNation, and Meghan Ogilvie, CEO of Dog Tag Inc.

Check out the latest episode of Volta Insider here:

http://voltainsider.com/2017/05/16/episode-19-white-house-correspondents-garden-brunch-2017/

Holly Peterson Brings Hamptons Heat to DC

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Co-hosts for the event Kathy O’Hearn, Carol Melton, Heather Podesta, Megan Murphy, Holly Peterson, Hilary Rosen, Tammy Haddad. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

For one night only, The Jefferson hotel was ground zero for all the Hamptons action! BLOOMBERG Business week editor-in-chief Megan Murphy interviewed journalist and bestselling author Holly Peterson on her new book it Happens in the Hamptons.

Connie Milstein and co-hosts Carol Melton, Hilary Rosen, Heather Podesta, and Juleanna Glover, gathered the DC elite at the historic hotel. Guests included Rep. Debbie Dingell, Maureen Dowd, Sally Quinn, and Ms. Peterson’s first boss, Bill Knapp.

Holly Peterson and Maureen Dowd. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Ms. Peterson discussed the disparity between the glamorous island’s haves and have-nots. She also discussed finding harmony in such a polarized place, recounting her time learning to surf with locals and the unique culture of Southhampton.

Guests picked out Hamptons flip flops and buzzed about the announcement of an independent counsel right as the standing room only crowd.

Megan Murphy and Holly Peterson on stage at The Jefferson Hotel. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Spotted: Daniel Lippman, Ryan Williams, Stephanie Cutter, Robyn Bash.  Kate Goodall, Tom Forrest, Jonathan Capehart, Ann and Lloyd Hand, Betsy Fischer Martin, Polson Kanneth, Heather Lauer, Anita McBride, Tina Tchen, Melissa Moss, Ryan Williams, Becca Glover, Alyse Nelson, Rupert Allman, Su-Lin Nichols, Sissy Yates, and Jayne Sandman.

 

White House Correspondent April Ryan Says First Amendment “Under Attack” at the White House Correspondents Garden Brunch

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One of the most experienced White House Correspondents attending this year’s White House Correspondents Garden Brunch, April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks, discussed the importance of the First Amendment in a climate where leaders are deriding the press.

She wrote on the Microsoft Wall and tells us the importance of the First Amendment in a climate where leaders are deriding the press.

“When you attack the press you’re attacking information going to the people. It’s not about us, it’s about the people that get the information.”

Senator Mark Warner Talks About the Importance of a Free Press

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Senator Mark Warner made an appearance at this year’s Garden Brunch to champion a free press on the morning of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. According to Senator Warner,“A free press keeps us all honest. A free press is a cornerstone of our American democracy.”

This year’s Garden Brunch celebrated the free press by partnering with Democracy Fund to raise awareness for all of the work they do to provide funding for independent journalism and state and local news outlets. Democracy Fund’s President, Joe Goldman, was awarded this year’s Visionary Award.

Inside the Ballroom at This Year’s White House Correspondents Dinner

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Photo courtesy Haddad Media

Despite the absence of President Trump, last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, had no shortage of star power.

The Daily Mail captured Plank Industries CEO Tom Geddes, CEO of Halcyon House Kate Goodall, and Volta Insider’s Rachel Greenberg seated at the Bloomberg table. Ringside was Senator Chris Coons, Shinola’s Tom Forrest, Working Nation Executive Producer Joan Lynch, Bloomberg’s Washington Bureau Chief Wes Kosova, CEO of Haddad Media Tammy Haddad, and Bloomberg TV anchor Vonnie Quinn.

This year’s Correspondents’ Dinner comedian was The Daily Show Correspondent Hasan Minhaj who, noting President Trump’s absence, said, “Even the president is not beyond the reach of the First Amendment.”

Dog Tag Bakery Alum Sedrick Banks Receives Visionary Award at White House Correspondents Garden Brunch

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Retired Sgt. Maj. Sedrick Banks speaks at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

The White House Correspondents Weekend is in full swing as Washington insiders and Hollywood stars gather at Connie Milstein’s Georgetown home for the annual Garden Brunch. This year’s theme is supporting two pillars of democracy: veterans and their families, and a free and fair press. That’s why the hosts have awarded U.S. Army Sergeant Major Sedrick A. Banks (Retired), a Dog Tag Bakery fellow the Visionary Award for overcoming his combat injuries and creating a successful small business.

Mark Testoni talks hiring veterans with NS2 Serves at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Mark Testoni, President of SAP National Security Services (NS2). Testoni founded NS2 Serves, a nonprofit that trains and employs veterans in high-tech careers and Ian Kahn who plays George Washington presented him with the award.

According to Testoni, “U.S. Army Sergeant Major Sedrick Banks embodies perseverance.  In 2010, Sergeant Major Banks survived a mortar attack while deployed in Iraq. Like so many, he was left with both visible and invisible wounds. Defying the odds, he joined Dog Tag Inc’s program in 2014 in the hopes of turning his entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Sergeant Major Banks launched the Genuine Life Institute – a motivational coaching program.”