White House Correspondents Insider

Costa is among one of the most prominent political journalists right now, marking a significant move for CBS. Costa and veteran journalist Bob Woodward co-authored Peril, the New York Times best-selling book covering the final year of Trump’s presidency and the initial days of Biden’s presidency.  

Washington Post National Political Reporter Robert Costa and author of the bestselling book,  “Peril” with Bob Woodward is joining CBS News as chief election and campaign correspondent. 

“My reporting will focus on the 2022 midterms, the 2024 election, and American democracy. Stay tuned for in-depth stories, scoops, investigations, and on-the-road reports,” Costa said in a tweet announcing the news.

He will join the CBS News Washington Bureau on February 13th to report for broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms. 

Costa has been a national political reporter at the Post since January, 2014, and while he is leaving his longtime position there, he told The New York Times that he plans to continue to collaborate with the Post. 

“I am lucky to call Sally Buzbee and Fred Ryan friends,” Mr. Costa said to The New York Times.  “These are people I’ve worked closely with, and I appreciate their support for this decision.”

During his tenure at the Post, Costa was also moderator and managing editor of PBS Washington Week from 2017-2020, and was a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC from 2015-2020. 

Neeraj Khemlani, president and co-head of CBS News and Stations, called Costa “one of the best political reporters of his generation.”

Best of luck to Bob Costa and we wish him all the best! 

Erin Reif and Punya Krishnappa, both veteran strategists from Capitol Hill, will be joining Uber’s US Federal Affairs team in DC.

Reif will join the team as Senior Manager for Federal Affairs and Krishnappa joins as Manager for Federal Campaigns. Both women have a plethora of experience leading federal campaigns and developing high-impact public affairs strategies to shape public policy and maximize success. 

Prior to joining Uber, Reif spent 27 years working in Congress, initially in the House of Representatives for former Reps. Bob Michel and Ray LaHood. Most recently, Reif served in Sen. Lamar Alexander’s office as a Senior Policy Advisor.

“I’m looking forward to joining Uber’s Federal Affairs team and leveraging my experience on Capitol Hill to achieve policy outcomes that drive growth for the business and advance the interests of riders and drivers across the country,” said Reif to Uber. 

Krishnappa was most recently a Senior Strategist for a Maryland gubernatorial primary candidate. Prior to that, she was a Deputy National Field Director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, where she oversaw more than 80 congressional races across the country. She has worked on numerous national and statewide campaigns, most notably serving as the Director of States for Michelle Obama’s “When We All Vote” initiative, where she was responsible for managing community partnerships and engagement.

“I’m excited to bring my campaign experiences to this new role and help drive awareness around the key issues and policies that impact riders and drivers across the country,” said Krishnappa.

“We are thrilled to welcome Erin and Punya to our team. They each bring a tremendous range of experience and perspective, deep knowledge of our policy issues, and years of leadership experience both on and off Capitol Hill. They will be an invaluable asset to our team’s work educating policymakers and stakeholders about Uber,” said CR Wooters, Head of Federal Affairs at Uber.

Ahead of his one year anniversary in office, President Biden plans to hold his first formal news conference in months. Biden has remained out of the public eye this week as he prepares for just the second solo White House press conference amid slipping poll performance, 40-year record inflation levels looming, and all-time high COVID-19 cases. 

The President is seeking to  highlight his administration’s progress amid the ongoing pandemic. In announcing the press conference, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the president “looks forward to speaking directly to the American people.” 

Averages of the most recent national polls compiled by both Real Clear Politics and FiveThirtyEight put Biden’s approval at 42% and disapproval at 52%. 

Biden’s approval rating hovered in the low to mid 50s during his first six months in the White House. But the president’s numbers began to decline in August at the wake of Biden’s much-criticized handling of the U.S. exit from Afghanistan and a surge in COVID-19 cases this summer.

Biden’s approval ratings average has hovered in the low 40s and his disapproval ratings average in the low 50s since mid-October. 

But a Quinnipiac University national poll grabbed headlines last week when it measured the president’s approval at just 33%. A White House memo described the survey as an “outlier.”

However, it’s important that Biden makes this press conference. “There are times when you have to step up. This is one of them,” said David Axelrod, a former top adviser to President Barack Obama, in The Washington Post. “You have to try to shape the narrative of the last year, because you know the media and opposition will.”

David Mercer was a nationally recognized democratic strategist, government relations advisor and media commentator.  He developed and maintained strong lasting relationships with significant Washington political operatives and leaders, as well as national business leaders, regardless of their political affiliation. This was a testament to his open-minded, positive views about people and his placing personal relationships ahead of partisanship.  Anyone who met him was touched by his kindness, optimism, clarity of thought, and infectious smile.

Bishop Leah Daughtry officiated and speakers included Marie-Claire Brown, Gordon Hensley, Jamal Simmons, Michelle Bernard, Lauren Hobby, Tali Raebeck, Adam Schubert, Minyon Moore, Heather Johnston, and Scott Mercer. Flutist Kevin Willois concluded by playing “Amazing Grace.”

Following the service, a reception was held at Café Milano, where guests enjoyed some of David’s favorite foods, as well as his signature drink – the newly-named Mercer Martini. On-site Covid testing was mandatory for all guests and KN95 masks were distributed.

Additional guests not pictured included Donna Brazile, Tina Flournoy, Rob Liberatore, Jeffrey Hirschberg, Kiki and Joe McLean, Mark Irion, Jill Alper, Kelly Courtney, Diana Rogalle, Kim Kauffman, Erica Payne, Ilyse Hogue, Liz Sizer, Holly Kinnamon, Jackson Dunn, Michael Simpson, Mary Ann Akers and Michael Isikoff, Katie and David Leavy, Tom Lindenfeld, Tamera Luzzatto, Melissa Moss, Christina Sevilla, Kevin Varney, Alix DeJean, Lyndon Boozer, and Eric Schwarz.

A scholarship fund to attend David’s high school alma mater, Milton Academy,  has been created and was announced at the service. The David Mercer Memorial Fund will be used to help students with demonstrated financial need attend Milton. Donations can be made here https://www.milton.edu/graduates/give/

The White House Correspondents Association (WCHA) announced it would reduce capacity for journalists attending press briefings due to spikes in omicron variant COVID-19 cases. The WHCA Board voted unanimously to return to a previously set reduced seating arrangement from earlier in the pandemic. 

In an email from the association president, CBS News radio correspondent Steve Portnoy, to the organization’s members, it was announced that 14 seats out of the 49 in the room would be used. 

“Given the virulence of the spread, medical experts have once again advised that it would be prudent to substantially reduce the number of people working in the cramped, poorly ventilated workspace that we share,” Portnoy said as reported by The Hill. 

The change in capacity would be temporary, and the WHCA intends to revisit the seating arrangement later in the month, depending on current climate and case rates. 

“A primary objective is ensuring we are able to hold the administration accountable to the public, while preventing an outbreak that might limit our ability to cover the president in close quarters,” Portnoy said in the original statement.

The WHCA has continued to urge reporters in contact with The White House to stay vigilant by wearing high quality masks and rapid testing frequently. 

 

The political stars were out to support the veteran’s hiring program, Dog Tag Bakery, on Tuesday evening November 30th. April Ryan, Hilary Rosen, Anita McBride, and Tammy Haddad invited friends and colleagues to  the holiday shop-for-a-cause at Lafayette148 in Tysons Galleria with proceeds going to support Dog Tag’s work.

Attendees were invited to shop, drink, and enjoy the sweet treats freshly made in Dog Tag Bakery’s Georgetown shop. The non-profit was founded in 2014 by Connie Milstein and Father Rick Curry. More than just a bakery, the Dog Tag Fellowship Program seeks to support veterans, military spouses, and caregivers return to their communities with confidence, support, and a new sense of purpose. 

Two graduates of the program were styled in the latest Lafayette 148 fashions by King Chong, Megan Boswell from Lafayette HQ and Whitney Harrington and the Tyson’s team. Ms. Jonee Coleman served 10 years in the Army, working as an Army information systems operator/analyst. She has dedicated her time to updating her skills and revising her current business for success. Ms. Ronetta Jones served 13 years in the U.S. Air National Guard. In 2018, she founded XtraOrdinary Solutions, achieving success in business consulting and event operations management. Lindsay Walls, director of development and Elizabeth Vana from Dog Tag Bakery shared program details to the invited guests. 

Notable guests included Washingtonians old and new. White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Erica Loewe, the White House Director of African American Media were joined by Michelle Obama’s former Chief of Staff Tina Tchen, Kathleen Buhle Biden, Kimberley Fritts, Kendra Barkoff, Susan Davis, Virginia Coyne, Courtney Surls, Tim McBride, Nancy Murphy and Rebecca Kutler.  

 

They were joined by several prominent women in media, such as Wendy Benjaminson from Bloomberg News, CNN’s Abby Phillip, and Axios DC reporter Paige Hopkins. 

Lafayette 148 New York’s King Chong and Megan Boswell with Whitney Harrington and her entire Tyson’s team cheered on the shoppers!

Politico Playbook mentioned the event this morning here. 

To order Dog Tag Bakery treats for your business clients and family click here.

On November 17th,  Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba and Franco Nuschese hosted a book party for Martin Indyk’s newest work, Master of the Game: Henry Kissinger and the Art of Middle East Diplomacy at Cafe Milano in Washington, DC.  

Attendees included diplomatic heavy hitters like John Kerry and Ambassador Al Otaiba, who paid tribute to Indyk with a kind speech. Indyk then spoke, entertaining the crowd with an amusing story about Henry Kissinger and issuing many thanks. 

 

Newly confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides, Israeli Ambassador Mike Herzog, Sally Quinn, and former Congresswoman Jane Harman were also present for the celebration, as well as media figures Wolf Blitzer, Norah O’Donnell, and Kaitlan Collins. Other notable guests included Tom Friedman from The New York Times, Roxanne Roberts from The Washington Post, and Jeff Goldberg from The Atlantic.

 

Martin Indyk served twice as U.S. Ambassador to Israel from 1995-1997 and 2000-2001. He was President Clinton’s Middle East adviser on the National Security Council, and in Clinton’s second term he became the assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs. Master of the Game is Indyk’s third book, and first solo publication in a few years.