White House Correspondents Insider

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Archives for March 2013

Catherine Bennett Joins IMG Worldwide

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Catherine Bennett, known around Washington as Katie and daughter of Bob and Ellen, has taken a new role at IMG Worldwide. Reported on Wednesday by Women’s Wear Daily, Bennett is taking on the role of senior vice president and managing director of IMG fashion events and properties. She’s on her way from coming from the Council of Fashion Designers of America as a director of business affairs having been there since 2009.

Since heading out of Washington she’s made her mark in the business side of fashion and advertising at William Morris, Central Parks Summer Stage, and–like her father–can practice law after passing the bar in New York and a Justice Administration degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

“We are very pleased to have an executive with Catherine’s experience as the new head of IMG Fashion Events and Properties,” said Chuck Bennett, President of IMG Golf, Tennis, Fashion and Events and Federations, to whom Ms. Bennett will report. “She has a deep knowledge of the fashion industry and a keen appreciation of established and emerging designers.”

According to the official announcement from IMG, “she will be responsible for further developing and expanding the company’s leading fashion events business around the globe, and representing many of the industry’s top organizations.”

“I am very excited to be joining IMG,” Catherine Bennett said. “I am very confident that the skills and relationships I developed during my time at the CFDA will be extremely beneficial as we work to take IMG’s Fashion business to the next level.”

Ashley Judd Won't Run as McConnell's Campaign Beast Is Unveiled

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The result from months of speculation? Google results.

Crushing every Kentucky political reporter’s 2014 dreams Ashley Judd announced she will not seek Mitch McConnell‘s incumbent seat. The actress announced her news via her Twitter:

Judd later posted a full entry on her personal site thanking her supporters.

Which means weeks and weeks of entertainment correspondents and political reporters dreams of a Judd v. McConnell race are up in smoke. Politico profiles a potential reason why the Mississippi-based actress may have dropped out: Mitch McConnell is out for blood. Comes the excerpt from this morning’s Playbook:

“He’s already on the air with nearly $200,000 in TV and radio ads, is assembling streams of data to target voters with tailor-made messages, and has quietly moved to lock down support from virtually every state GOP legislator. He says he’ll use ‘every penny’ of a war chest certain to exceed the $21 million he spent in 2008.”

Even if the 71-year old, four-time incumbent is set on keeping his seat there are still those that won’t let the potential for bon mots go. ABC News’ The Note goes with “Kentucky Dirby” in the headline while profiling the only other possible high-profile candidate: Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. The secretary was reportedly “wooed” by former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for office. And would she? With Clinton-backing and every Kentucky Democrat desperate for a seat after 28 years? Of course they would.

Except now “Kentucky Derby” is probably the most creative we’ll ever get when trying to drum up interest. So far it looks like the closest Judd will get to being on Capitol Hill will be in her Olympus Has Fallen cameo.

Nationals Sure To Win World Series This Year Because of '86 Mets

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Much like the plot of Rocky Balboa, The Washington Nationals are supposedly going to take the 2013 World Series because they’re statistically on par with the 1986 New York Mets. In their upcoming baseball issue–complete with local covers–“Mr. October” Stephen Strasberg will be a key factor in bringing another title to the Nats sez Sports Illustrated.

The pullquote of the year from Tom Verducci:
“Manager Davey Johnson has managed this team before: the 1986 Mets. Like the ’86 Mets, the Nationals are coming off a 98-win season, are loaded with young pitching, star players and a deep bullpen and expect to win. Washington has no obvious flaw.”

Meanwhile in the “Who will have a better year” psyhic category the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout edges out Bryce Harper 4:3. The Mets and The Nationals are natural enemies, of course: Washington and New York have spared together for years. Even this weekend for the Easter game the Nationals will have a rare outing against the Yankees at National Park. This sort of tea leaf reading may seem strange, but we’re a town that appreciates hardcore stat analyzation and going off gut choices. Honestly, without that love of bet hedging 1100 Wilson Boulevard would just be another Baja Fresh/Cosi hybrid and not Politico. And if this miracle season doesn’t occur, DCist notes we at least know who to blame at Sports Illustrated.

Obama and Kerry Inadvertently Have Soccer-Themed Day

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Sport Zone: Football
The other kind of football has returned to Washington. On a completely seperate-but-interesting moment saw the Obama administration have to deal with sports while the rest of D.C. attend the Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8.

Flanked by 2012 MLS Champions Los Angeles Galaxy and recent Stanley Cup champions Los Angeles Kings, the Chicago native proved Washingtonians can at least play nice with rivals as long as it is sports related.
“So I’m going to be a good sport — these guys pointed out that they beat my Blackhawks last night. I will also say that, given this season how rare it is to beat the Blackhawks, I want to congratulate them for that as well,” said President Obama. The President then received duel Galaxy/Kings jerseys–number 44 of course–and ball from recent Galaxy re-signer Landon Donovan.

Meanwhile, proven that he can’t be outclassed so quickly, Secretary of State John Kerry headbutted a soccer ball. Then he continued his audition for Dave Letterman’s Stupid Human Tricks and made our day a little brighter. In actuality this is day two of John Kerry’s meetings with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. The soccer shots came when Kerry was introduced to Zahra Mahmoodi, the captain of the Afghanistan National Soccer Team, and a group of female entrepreneurs from Afghanistan.

While no such thing like an Intermural Capitol Hill Soccer Association exists–unlike say this awkwardly named Washington association— this seems like a great way to kick off the league.

Sen. Tim Johnson Officially Not Seeking Re-Election

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South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson won’t be seeking re-election this year, which has thrilled every politico junkie in the midwest. NBC News confirmed the news last night. Johnson, a three term senator, will give remarks later today from the University of North Dakota.

The AP reports that Johnson won’t confirm the announcement until today at his speaking engagement. He’ll serve out the remainder of his term until the 2014 Rumble for Capitol Hill begins. In a truly weird coincidence the “battle” for the South Dakota seat seems to be incredibly vast. Johnson’s departure means a shake-up for the Senate Banking Committee, which he has chaired since 2011. Also in a completely unrelated bit of news, New Jersey pollsters announced today that voters don’t care about Chris Christie’s weight. Because this is the most anyone outside of Beltway wonks has thought about South Dakota since the Birding Festival got confirmed dates in May.

D.C. Cabs Possibly Getting Credit Card Machines

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It certainly could be a slow news day with POTUS abroad in Israel–being heckled no less–but there’s immense news in Washington’s cab affairs. This summer, cabs in Washington could potentially have the ability to be paid with credit card.

DCist reports on the groundbreaking news that D.C. cabs could install credit card readers this summer. The D.C. Taxicab Commission passed the ruling yesterday and they must be voted upon when the Commission regroups in May. While paying with a credit card seems like a long-awaited dream for Washington residents, there’s also the sneaking return of the add-a-dollar-per-person charge and raising cab base rates to $3.25.

While it won’t happen in time for the White House Correspondents weekend (if at all), the ability to pay with credit card will make non-Uber users in Washington quite happy. Or else, if you want to pay with a credit card now there’s an option for that too.

Washington Examiner Shutters Yeas and Nays, Will Become Weekly Magazine

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The Washington Examiner is shutting down in June and relaunching itself as a weekly political magazine. The news trickled out earlier today over Twitter and became a full-on torrent once layoffs hit the Examiner newsroom:

The Local section’s closure was announced and publicized this morning. The plan to completely reformat the paper came a few hours later as the memo was circulated to the Washington City Paper along with the 87 staffers being laid off. The new Examiner “will offer news, analysis, investigative reporting and commentary on issues affecting national legislation and policy across a number of key areas” according to a press release from Examiner owner Clarity Media Group.

This means the loss of Yeas and Nays‘ Nikki Schwab and Alicia Cohn. While the site will probably stay up in some form, it’ll be without the two voices that cover the side rooms of The Jefferson, grilling Jake Tapper on his guffaws or Sandra Day O’Connor’s history of beer and chalupas.

Biden Abroad Leaves White House Pool Wanting

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While most of Washington slept, Vice President Joe Biden was off in Rome amusing the White House Press Pool.

The first dispatches from Rome came in at 3:06 a.m. eastern time:

“Gorgeous Rome morning, a few stray clouds, no coat necessary despite a slight chill — after the rain of the past couple of days. Pool/staff drove to VP’s Rome digs. It’s the Villa Richardson — the official residence of the US Ambassador to the Holy See (a post that is currently vacant). Pool is having coffee in the basement kitchen.”

It only grew from there:

“Arrived St Peter’s 8:08 am local. Did not see VP but am told only he and delegation allowed to walk past uniformed Swiss guards through the basilica of St Peter. Staff/press escorted around.”

The mystery of where Veep Biden was would become an ongoing issue for the Pool:

“Are told VP Biden will have a front row seat in the official delegation section (right side of the altar when looking at the basilica). But have yet to spot him.”

“Press area is a Tower of Babel — Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and others your pooler cannot identify.”

Even during the service, the Pool had to merely assume Biden was in attendance:

“The VP is sitting on an aisle seat and his sister Valerie is sitting next to him, according to the VP’s office. We cannot spot him from our bird’s-eye perch.”

and finally:
“Took off about 1:40 pm Rome time. Landed Ramstein Air Base in Germany at 3:10 pm local. Refueling stop. It’s raining. No VP encounter on this short leg. Should note that VP ended up more in the middle of the delegations at the mass. Previous pool suggested he might end up at the front.”

Biden is on his way back to the United States and will next be speaking in New York at the Irish America Hall of Fame luncheon on Thursday. The Press Corps will undoubtedly have an easier time keeping track of him in the Big Apple.

Obama Nominated Thomas Perez for Secretary of Labor

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Earlier today President Barack Obama announced Thomas Perez as his nomination for secretary of labor. Perez currently serves in the Civil Rights devision of the Department of Justice and would be following up in the role that Hilda Solis left in January.

“Like so many Americans, Tom knows what it’s like to climb the ladder of opportunity. He is the son of Dominican immigrants. He helped pay his way through college as a garbage collector and working at a warehouse. He went on to become the first lawyer in his family. So his story reminds us of this country’s promise, that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what your last name is — you can make it if you try,” said President Obama. The remarks were delievered earlier today from the East Room in the White House. Per the White House Pool report attendees including Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, NAACP President Richard Trumka, Al Sharpton, Valerie Jarrett, Gene Sperling and Executive Director of Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Hector Sanchez.
New York Times did the round-up of labor leaders, including the Teamsters’ own Jimmy Hoffa Jr. and AFL-CIO, and their opinions of Perez.

“And Tom has made protecting that promise — for everybody — the cause of his life. As a civil rights attorney, an aide to Senator Ted Kennedy, a member of the Montgomery, Maryland County Council, Tom fought for a level playing field where hard work and responsibility are rewarded and working families can get ahead,” said Obama. “Now, while he’s tackled plenty of tough issues, Tom has also spent a career as a consensus-builder. He’s worked with CEOs, he’s worked with labor leaders. He’s worked at federal, state, and local government levels. And throughout, he understands that our economy works best when the middle class and those working to get into the middle class have the security they need on the job, a democratic voice in the workplace, everybody playing by the same set of rules.”

There is no current date set for Perez’ Senate hearings or any opposition, so far, to his nomination. Perez gave selected remarks after Obama’s praise, summing it up like so:

“As you well know, our nation still faces critical economic challenges, and the Department’s mission is as important as ever. I am confident that together with our partners in organized labor, the business community, grassroots communities, Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike, we can keep making progress for all working families.”

Chris Hayes Takes Ed Schultz' Primetime Slot at MSNBC

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Ed Schultz

MSNBC has outed Ed Schultzand replaced him at the 8 o’clock hour with Chris Hayes. The two on-air talents will be trading roles as Hayes moves to weekdays and Schultz goes off to host weekend blocks according to Dylan Byers. The changeover is scheduled for April 1, a scant 26 days before the White House Correspondents Dinner in D.C.

Brian Stelter theorizes the shift is age and lead-in to Rachel Maddow:

“The change is predicated on the belief that MSNBC can win a wider audience with Mr. Hayes than it did with Mr. Schultz, a champion of the working class whose bluster didn’t always pair well with Ms. Maddow and the channel’s other prime-time program, ‘The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.’ Mr. Hayes, on the other hand, is just as wonky as Ms. Maddow and Mr. O’Donnell, and is a regular contributor to both of their programs.”

Schultz, who has spearheaded a blue-collar vibe for MSNBC, will become host of a series of weekend specials for MSNBC. While the network has been trying to get the established anchor out from his slot for a while–remember when Ezra Klein was a bold-faced name floated for this in November? Hayes has gained steam and popular press with how he’s formatted his weekend program “Up with Chris Hayes,” especially when it comes to conservative commentators. It’s apparent MSNBC hopes he’ll be the last nail in order to drive away Fox News’ O’Reilly juggernaut. Until then, here’s hoping Hayes will join Maddow behind the bar at the White House Correspondents Dinner after-party in April.