White House Correspondents Insider

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

Mark Halperin Back on Morning Joe

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Mark Halperin (far right) with the Game Change crew: director Jay Roach and writer Danny Strong at the WHCD BLoomberg|Vanity Fair Afterparty

Washington’s “Gang of 600” (500 + web crowd) watched the return of Mark Halperin on MSNBC who coined the phrase “Gang of 500,” to explain the movers and shakers in politics. Halperin was suspended earlier this year for his comments on the President.  MSNBC explained their decision to bring back Halperin after one month at the Television Association Critics summer tour.   Click here for The Washington Post’s coverage by Lisa DeMoraes and watch Halperin’s return in the video below:

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Chris Licht Book Party in DC [Photos]

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Chris Licht, Vice President of Programming for CBS News and former Executive Producer of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, will be celebrating the release of his new book What I Learned When I Almost Died: How a Maniac TV Producer Put Down His BlackBerry and Started to Live His Life tonight at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC.  The reception was hosted by Constance Milstein, Jon Meacham, Kevin Sheekey and Tammy Haddad.

Here are some photos if you missed the live stream of the event:

Chris Licht puts down his BlackBerry

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Chris Licht, former “Morning Joe” Executive Producer, returned to the familiar MSNBC set to talk about the near-fatal cerebral hemorrhage he suffered more than a year ago after a “particularly challenging morning” at work.

Licht wrote about the experience in the newly released book “What I Learned When I Almost Died: How a Maniac TV Producer Put Down His BlackBerry and Started to Live His Life.”

The hard-charging producer told hosts and friends Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski about the “pop” he heard in his head while riding back to his Washington hotel that April morning. He was just 38 years old.

The married father of two says the experience helped him streamline and get rid of all the clutter, finding time for the things that matter in life. Licht admits that leaving “Morning Joe” for his new gig as VP of Programming at CBS News was part of the experience, learning it was time to take chances.

Check back to WHCInsider this Thursday at 7:00PM where you can watch Jon Meacham‘s interview with Chris Licht LIVE. To read an excerpt from the book click here and watch the “Morning Joe” interview below:

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Ciao! MSNBC Gets WHCD Season Rolling

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Looks like MSNBC will have plenty of vino flowing at their White House Correspondents’ Dinner After Party to be held this year at the Embassy of Italy.

Fishbowl DC’s Matt Dornic posted the invite from MSNBC President Phil Griffin, the first official one of the WHCD season.

Those attending will have a donation made in their name to DonorsChoose.org.

Ron Reagan Interview on POLITICO

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WHC Insider’s Tammy Haddad sat down with Ron Reagan to discuss his new memoir “MY FATHER AT 100.” The youngest son of President Ronald and Nancy Reagan wrote the book to commemorate what would have been his father’s 100th birthday on February 6, 2011.

Reagan candidly offers new insights on his parents’ relationship and the Reagan family dynamic; he also sets the record straight on what he actually wrote about his father and glimmers that he was not always “completely 100 percent” while in the White House.

Never one to shy away from political opinion, Reagan responds to comparisons between his father andPresident Obama. And as for those rumors about Joe Scarborough, Reagan’s former co-host on an MSNBC after-hours show, making a possible run for president or vice-president in 2012? Reagan says, “He’d be the only Republican candidate not on FOX.”

As for Keith Olbermann’s recent departure from MSNBC, Reagan said “Keith was a remarkable figure there. In many ways I think he made that network what it is today.”

You can read more and watch the two-part interview on POLITICO and for more information on the book go to www.ronreagan100.com.

From VHS to VLC: The Rise of Fred Davis' Ads on the Internet

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Fred Davis’ rise started with a giant rat named King Roy and continues today with Mourning in America. Not exactly the plot to a generic blockbuster but more about how ad-man Fred Davis, a GOP media consultant, grew his brand in grand part due to the Internet.

[Read more…]

Lawrence O'Donnell Scores Olbermann Producer

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Izzy Povich, Keith Olbermann’s longtime MSNBC producing partner, is moving over to helm the new Lawrence O’Donnell Show.  Povich, who spurned network offers to stay with Mr. Olbermann in 2006, will lead MSNBC’s battle to take back audience from Fox and CNN at 10pm.

Greta Van Susteren has dominated the 10pm audience since she arrived at Fox 8 1/2 years.  She recently signed a new contract with the cabler.

Here’s Izzy Povich at the 2007 White House Correspondents Brunch with MSNBC VP Bill Wolff and WHCInsider’s Tammy Haddad.