White House Correspondents Insider

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

Don’t miss Jim VandeHei’s Five-Parter on Jared Kushner’s Fall

By

Jim VandeHei, Jenny Licht and Mike Allen, Photo Courtesy Haddad Media.

Jared Kushner is on thin ice according to Axios’ Jim VandeHei, who writes in an epic story out Friday, March 2nd that President Trump’s son-in-law is facing a “slit-by-slit slow bleed”.

VandeHei mentions a series of embarrassments suffered by Kushner over the past week including losing his interim security clearance, losing his top communications staffer Josh Raffel, a bombshell Washington Post report suggesting that four foreign countries are discussing strategies to manipulate him, a New York Times front page detailing loans that his business has received after high-level meetings with the CEOs of Apollo and Citigroup, and last but not least a Maggie Haberman story detailing Trump’s frustrations with Kushner in recent days. VandeHei is quick to point out the fact that both Trump and Kushner both read Haberman’s stories.

You can read VandeHei’s full report here.

NYTimes’ Grynbaum: Trump Losing Hope Hicks Akin to “Losing a Limb”

By

Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, Photo Courtesy AP

The New York Times’ Michael Grynbaum writes in a piece published on March 1st that soon-to-be-former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks was such an integral part of the Trump White House that her departure will be a major loss to the president, remaining White House staffers, and the journalists with whom she facilitated meetings and interviews.

Hicks’ departure marks “an astounding rise for a political neophyte whose seemingly implausible career hinged on a deep understanding of, and bottomless patience for, her mercurial charge,” writes Grynbaum.

While Grynbaum makes clear Hope Hicks’ lack of political acumen, he claims that in Washington her “success was viewed as a product of other qualities, including her nuanced understanding of Mr. Trump’s moods, her ability to subtly nudge him away from his coarser impulses and her skill as a liaison for some of the most prominent journalists in the country.”

The reasons for her departure, while not made explicit by the White House, are seen by many to stem from recent headlines Hicks has made from her testimony to the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, February 27th, and the ousting of her ex-boyfriend Rob Porter, the now former White House staff secretary, for domestic abuse allegations last month.

As for post-White House career plans, Hicks is so far mum. Per Grynbaum, “She has told friends that, for now, she has no definite ideas for her life after the West Wing, except that she will not be living in Washington. An extended vacation with her family is planned. Book agents have come calling, but Ms. Hicks has told acquaintances that she is reluctant to write anything — although she has joked that a massive advance could change her mind.”

You can read the full report here.

CNN vs FOX: Washington Post Says Networks Are the Hatfields and McCoys of Cable News

By

Matt Drudge, Tammy Haddad, Howard Kurtz, Tucker Carlson, Sheri Annis, and Barbara Comstock at the Washington Correspondents’ Garden Brunch in 2004

CNN and Fox are at war when it comes to President Trump, the Parkland school shooting survivors, and even each other’s Winter Olympics coverage, the Washington Post’s Paul Farhi reports in a piece published on Thursday, March 1st.

The inter-network squabbling, writes Farhi, “has taken on new intensity in the Trump era. Hosts at CNN and Fox now trade blows almost daily about whose coverage or commentary about President Trump is more distorted or unfair.”

According to Farhi, “In many ways, the Hatfields-and-McCoys act has become a proxy for the news media’s drift into more polarized camps, especially when it comes to covering Trump. The president has certainly stoked the perception that there are pro- and anti-Trump factions in the news media, singling out CNN and Fox in particular.”

Farhi asked both networks’ respective media correspondents what all the bad blood was about.

Brian Stelter, host of CNN’s “Reliable Sources” said that “Fox influences the president of the United States in a way not seen by any other network. Fox affects society in more ways than it did even three years ago. . . . If you only looked at CNN, MSNBC or CBS and you didn’t acknowledge Fox’s influence on the president, then you’d be missing the story.”

FOX media analyst Howard Kurtz says that, “Sniping by rival cable news hosts is a more polarizing sport in the Trump era and that now includes CNN, which fairly or unfairly is often at odds with the president over its coverage. I get why anti-Trump voices at other outlets try to lump Fox’s opinion hosts in with its news division to make it appear there’s one company line, which is clearly not true.”

Kurtz adds, “I make it my business to report fairly on CNN, criticizing or defending as the situation warrants. I treat Fox the same way, which is the ultimate test of fair media reporting.”

You can read the full Washington Post piece here.

Morning Consult & POLITICO Poll: 2/3rds of Americans in Favor of Stricter Gun Laws

By

David Hogg, activist and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student

Support for stricter gun laws is at its highest point in the last 25 years according to a new poll conducted by Morning Consult and Politico. While it is known that support for new gun control legislation sees a slight uptick after highly publicized shootings, the poll, found that the Parkland, Florida shooting that led to the deaths of 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has impacted the views of Americans in a profound way.

According to the report, “Roughly two-in-three Americans now say gun control laws should be made more strict in the wake of the murder of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, according to a number of polls, including a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll which shows support for stricter gun laws among registered voters at 68 percent, compared to just 25 percent who oppose stricter gun laws.”

The poll found that most of the new support for increased gun control laws comes from Republicans. According to Kyle Dropp, Morning Consult’s co-founder and chief research officer, “53 percent of Republicans indicated they supported stricter gun laws, compared to 37 percent [of Republicans] who said the same following the Pulse nightclub shooting in June 2016.”

Other polls show similar upticks in support for stricter gun laws. A CBS News poll out last week showed 65% of Americans support more restrictive gun laws, and a CNN poll out this week showed 69% support. As POLITICO points out, that is the highest amount of support for new legislation since 1993.

The poll comes as students from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are organizing a March for Our Lives protest set to occur on March 24th in Washington, DC. The Michael Bloomberg-funded nonprofit Evertown USA is assisting the students in organizing similar protests across the United States.

You can read more about the latest Morning Consult/POLITICO poll here.

 

Warren Buffett Cheers on Michael Kives as He Goes Solo with K5 Global

By

Michael Kives and Kate Hudson, Photo Courtesy People Magazine

Michael Kives, a longtime leader at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), former aide to President Bill Clinton, and close advisor to investor Warren Buffett, is launching his new venture, an advisory firm called K5 Global where he will serve as CEO.

Kives has long been a link between the worlds of DC politicos and Hollywood stars. In a statement from Kives, K5 Global will “work with corporations, government entities, and start-ups, and will be involved in a range of industries, including sports, technology, politics, and entertainment.”

Kives is a longtime colleague of Bill and Hillary Clinton, working as interim spokesperson for the Clinton White House and serving alongside Huma Abedin in Hillary Clinton’s Washington office. During his tenure at CAA, Kives’ clients included Warren Buffett, Bruce Willis, Katy Perry Jesse Eisenberg, Eric Stonestreet, and Jessica Alba.

Warren Buffett said of Kives, “I have known Michael for 10 years and he is one of the most creative and well-connected professionals in his space. Michael knows the worlds of finance, media, technology and popular culture and has an unusual understanding of how those industries will intersect and develop in the future.”

Richard Lovett, president of CAA, said of Kives’ departure, “Michael Kives is an absolute original. Because of his incredible instincts and unique ability to connect people, he has created a vast network that will help to provide growth and opportunity for anyone fortunate enough to work with him.”

You can read Variety’s full report here.

Hollywood Reporter Predicts Less Action at White House Correspondents Dinner

By

Don Lemon, Stephanie Ruhle, and Matt and Morgan Walsh at the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch

Jeremy Barr, writing for the Hollywood Report today, claims that many of the media companies that traditionally host parties during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend will be skipping out this year, but is that true?

According to Barr, “Representatives for Vanity Fair and Bloomberg confirmed that, like last year, the brands will not be co-hosting a party this year. A spokeswoman for The New Yorker said the magazine’s once-renowned party, canceled last year, isn’t happening this year either.” Barr could not confirm whether MSNBC will once again host their annual Correspondents’ Dinner after party.

This year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner takes place on April 28th. Tammy Haddad started The White House Correspondents Garden Brunch 25 years ago but has not yet commented on this year’s event.

You can read Barr’s full report here.

Mike Bloomberg’s Everytown Teams Up with Parkland School Shooting Survivors to Plan March For Our Lives Protest in DC

By

Cameron Kasky, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, at a CNN town hall with Sen. Marco Rubio, Photo courtesy CNN.

Mike Bloomberg’s gun safety nonprofit organization, Everytown for Gun Safety, is partnering with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students who have risen up in the wake of the Parkland, Florida shooting which occurred on February 14th, to promote the March for Our Lives, a protest calling for action on gun laws. The March for Our Lives takes place on March 24th in Washington, DC, with other protests being planned around the US on the same day. Join the protest in your city here.

Everytown was formed in 2014, a year after Congress debated the issue of background checks following the Sandy Hook shooting. The nonprofit was formed out of a partnership between Mike Bloomberg’s gun control initiative Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which was launched in 2006, and the grassroots movement Moms Demand Action.

Juleanna Glover Among GQ’s 50 Most Powerful in DC

By

Juleanna Glover with Karen Appleton, Rachel Pearson, Kristi Rogers at the Washington Women Technology Network Luncheon with Senator Amy Klobuchar, Photo Courtesy Haddad Media

GQ has published its list of the 50 Most Powerful People in Trump’s Washington on Thursday, February 22nd. Among the ranks of insiders and Trump-whisperers is corporate consultant Juleanna Glover.

According to GQ, “For all that talk of swamp draining, Glover—a former aide to Dick Cheney—remains a key figure where the city’s social and policy scenes meet. Her dinner parties are a refuge for establishment Republicans in a sort of exile.”

Haddad Media CEO Tammy Haddad said of Glover, “Washington still works because Juleanna is ‘fixing’ every day.”

To see the rest of GQ’s 50 Most Powerful People in Trump’s Washington click here.

 

Comedian Michelle Wolf to Headline White House Correspondents’ Dinner

By

Fred Humphries, Mark Ein, Joe Goldman, Mark Testoni, Hilary Rosen, and Matt Walsh at the 2017 Washington Correspondents’ Garden Brunch

Michelle Wolf, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” contributor will serve as the night’s entertainment for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 28th. The dinner acts as an annual gathering of the nation’s top journalists and a who’s who of government and business leaders. The event, which will be carried live on all the major television networks, will surely be Wolf’s most high-profile performance yet.

Margaret Talev, president of the WHCA and a Bloomberg White House reporter, said of the announcement, “Our dinner honors the First Amendment and strong, independent journalism. Her embrace of these values and her truth-to-power style make her a great friend to the WHCA. Her Pennsylvania roots, stints on Wall Street and in science and self-made, feminist edge make her the right voice now.”

Wolf is also set to host an as-yet-untitled weekly late-night series on Netflix, which is set to premiere this year. According to Netflix, the show “will take a break from the seriousness of late night comedy. Instead of making the news fun, she’ll make fun of everything and everybody. There will be no preaching or political agenda…unless it’s funny.” The comedian is gearing up for a big 2018, having hosted an HBO special “Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady” earlier this month.

Curious about what Washington’s big weekend is all about? Check out the links below for podcasts on all the best moments and memories.

Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett on comedy’s role at the White House Correspondents’ Weekend here.

Robin Bronk on the power of celebrity to drive policy here.

George Condon’s candid history of the White House and the press here.

You can find more coverage of the entire White House Correspondents’ Dinner Weekend here.

Uber Welcomes Danielle Burr at DC Reception

By

Justin Kintz and Danille Burr at Uber’s DC Office, Photo Courtesy Haddad Media

Danielle Burr, Uber’s head of federal affairs, hosted DC’s top influencers from politics to advocacy and media on Tuesday, February 20th at Uber’s Washington, DC office.

Justin Kintz, the head of policy and communications for Uber’s American operations, took the stage to introduce Burr and noted her policy experience including working on the Hill with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy in the House, to working with Jon Kyl in the Senate.

Kintz also talked about Uber’s recent inroads in DC, “In addition to having a local presence here in the district, this is also our east coast hub for the US. We have our operational leaders here in the room tonight who run UberEats in the US, and who run our US operations. This is a nerve-center for Uber, our third-largest office in the country. We’re very proud of our presence here.”

Burr thanked Justin for his guidance in helping her make the transition to the company. Burr told the crowd of policy and media influencers that “there’s an opportunity here to make some change, there’s an opportunity here to grow.”

She went on to discuss some of Uber’s latest initiatives saying, “I’m thrilled to be a part of the team, whether that is to help educate drivers about human trafficking, or whether that is the work we have been doing with the National Centers for Missing and Exploited Children. There’s so many powerful things we can do with this fast, fast platform, not to mention the work that we will do on the federal level with regards to infrastructure.”

Megan Cepiak, John Coale, Rick Klein, Greta Van Susteren, Carly DeBeikes, Photo Courtesy Haddad Media

Among her Uber colleagues at the event were Raj Naik, the general manager of Uber Eats for the mid-Atlantic region, Todd Brewer, from Uber Military, Dave Marmore from the Policy team, Malcom Glenn who coordinates Partnerships, Bill Gibbons from comms, and Carly Debeikes from comms and operations.

Hill colleagues and friends included Ron Bonjean, Yebbie Watkins, Marty Reiser, Todd Inman, Grover Norquist, Yebbie Watkins, Sage Peterson, Tess Glancey, Tom Forrest, Tom Hoare, Jeff Solnet, Emily Beyer, Tom Manatos, Stephanie Cutter, Lisa Barclay, Ron Bonjean, Kathy O’Hearn, and Meredith Balenske.

Media guests included Rick Klein, David Sanger, Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer, Daniel Lippman, Patrick Steel, Alexis Williams, Sara Fisher, Dave McCabe, Craig Gordon, Steve Clemons, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale, Tony Romm, Garance Franke Ruta, Shawn McCreesh, Naomi Nix, Kevin Cirilli, Carl Cannon and Lachlan Mackay.

 

Uber Danielle Burr Reception - 2/20/18