White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

Archives for October 2017

Netflix Cancels ‘House of Cards’

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Kevin Spacey and the House of Cards team with David Axelrod at the 2013 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

Following the news of unwanted sexual advances in 1986 by actor Kevin Spacey toward then-teenager Anthony Rapp, Netflix quickly decided on Monday to terminate House of Cards after the upcoming sixth season airs next year.

“Media Rights Capital and Netflix are deeply troubled by last night’s news concerning Kevin Spacey,’ said the companies in a joint statement. “In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported. As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time.”

Late Sunday, Rapp claimed then-26 year old Spacey drunkenly made advances toward him.  “I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually,” Rapp said.  Both actors were on Broadway at that time in a revival of Long Day’s Journey Into Night and Precious Sons.

Spacey responded by quickly apologizing, issuing a statement on social media stating he “did not remember the encounter” and that he was “horrified” by the actions described by Rapp.  “If I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.”

The sixth and final season of House of Cards is currently filming in Baltimore, and is expected to air mid-2018 on Netflix.

Barbara and Jenna Hager Bush WHCInsider Interview

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Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush, Tammy Haddad. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

WHCInsider co-founder Tammy Haddad spoke with Barbara and Jenna Bush, #SistersFirst, at a book party hosted by Connie Milstein, Dr. Mark Dybul and Anita McBride at The Jefferson Hotel.

While they would not reveal the joke their father, President George W Bush whispered to President Obama at the Hurricane relief event, they twins explained why they have the best jobs in the world.

Barbara Bush is the founder of Global Health Corps, an NGO that places 216 fellows from 12 countries in positions with health organizations, such as Partners In Health and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, in Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia, and the United States. She told Haddad they look for “rational dreamers” to join the program.

Jenna Hager Bush is a teacher, author, mother of two and Today show correspondent. She said through her reporting she was surprised by the “unexpected beauty of life.”

Both claimed Dr. Mark Dybul, who started PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, on behalf of President George W. Bush, as their inspiration for their focus on helping others.

Dybul thanked Connie Milstein for raising awareness of good works and good people.

The full interview is on the Washington Insider podcast on iTunes.

Connie Milstein and Mark Dybul Welcome the Bush Twins Back to Washington

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Tammy Haddad, Jenna Bush, Connie Milstein, Barbara Bush, Mark Dybul. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

It was only one week ago that the posh Jefferson Hotel restaurant Plume was celebrating winning another Michelin star.  But Thursday night Connie Milstein, the hotel’s owner along with Dr. Mary Dybul, Anita McBride and Tammy Haddad welcomed Bush twins Jenna and Barbara back to DC to celebrate the publication of their new book, “Sisters First,” which already landed on the New York Times bestseller list.

Spotted: Josh Bolton, Ambassador Kim Darroch, Tim McBride, Bob Woodward, Elena Allbritton, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale, Bret and Amy Baier, Fred Ryan and daughter Genevieve, Jason Claire, Kasie Hunt, Howard Fineman, David Lane, Ambassador Pete Selfridge, Steve Clemons, Shailagh Murray, Evan Ryan, Stephanie Cutter, Jonathan Capehart, Juleanna Glover, Craig Gordon, Francesca Craig, Mark Ein, Tom Forrest, Ryan Williams, Laura Zelt, Samia Farouki, Sara Bonjean, Rachel Pearson, Matt Mowers, Matt Dornic, Dan Meyers, Robin Goldman, Heather Lauer, Kevin Cirilli, Lauren Pratapas and Susan Blumenthal.

Read more about this event in the Washington Post by clicking here.

Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush, Tammy Haddad. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

Radio & Television Correspondents’ Association Holds 73rd Annual Correspondents’ Dinner

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Uber’s Justin Kintz with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

The Radio & Television Correspondents’ Association brought together hundreds of journalists, politicos and business leaders Wednesday evening at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC for the 73rd annual Radio & Television Congressional Correspondents’ Dinner.

The evening began with a reception hosted by media champion Uber.

Photo courtesy Haddad Media

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan wowed the crowd with his keynote address, taking a jovial tone by telling the crowd that:

“The reason I wanted to come by is because I have seen your latest approval ratings.  And I just want to tell you, keep your heads up.  As low as they are, they could be a whole lot worse.  Because they could be my approval ratings.”

The Speaker turned to a more serious topic, addressing the role of a free press in our nation.  While the White House dismisses stories critical of the administration as “fake news,” the Speaker praised the work done by the media and the central role journalists play in our system of government.

“We have a very messy system. But this very messy system of government is the best possible system, and this messy system of government completely relies on a free and open press… Our Republic does not work without what you do.”

IHeartRadio’s Bobby Bones was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, with headline entertainer and correspondent for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” Roy Wood, Jr. making fun of all parties with a great riff on the importance of trust.

Guests included House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senator Joe Manchin, Rep. Mark Meadows, Wolf Blitzer, Dana Bash, Craig Gordon, Ryan Williams, Brian Lamb, Sara Murray, Gloria Borger, Justin Kintz, Jimmy Kemp, Kenny Day, Bill Gibbons, John Parkinson, Robin Sproul, Sam Feist and Kevin Cirilli.

Get some popcorn and watch the entirety of the 73rd Annual Radio & Television Congressional Correspondents’ Dinner courtesy of C-SPAN here.

Jimmy Kemp, Justin Kintz, Carly DeBeikes, Ken Strickland, Sam Feist and friends. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

Reince Priebus Joins Washington Speakers Bureau, Michael Best and Friedrich Law

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Chairman Reince Priebus speaking at the RNC at the DNC opening press conference. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Reince Priebus, former White House chief of staff and former chairman of the Republican National Committee, announced that he will both rejoin the Washington D.C. office of the Milwaukee-based law firm Michael Best & Friedrich, LLC and be represented by the Washington Speakers Bureau.

Priebus will serve as president and chief strategist at Michael Best, where he worked more than a dozen years before his election as head of the RNC.  He will also serve as chairman of the advisory board for Michael Best Strategies LLC, the firm’s government relations and public affairs group.

“We are pleased to announce that Reince Priebus is joining Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as President and Chief Strategist in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. After serving the American people under the Trump Administration as Chief of Staff, Reince will bring his wealth of knowledge and unique understanding of federal, state, and local issues to advise and counsel the firm and its clients,” managing partner David Krutz announced via a statement on the firm’s website.

Additionally, Priebus will be represented by the Washington Speakers Bureau, giving speeches on Trump, Capitol Hill and politics in Washington.  He currently has events lined up in New York and London, as well as speaking at a dinner in South Korea last week.

“Reince has a truly 360° view of the current state of affairs in Washington. He offers insight into the inner workings of the Trump White House, forecasts the progress that is possible during the current Administration, and explains not only where the Republican Party has been but also where it’s going in the lead-up to the midterms,” said Washington Speakers Bureau vice president James Schiefer, Jr.

Priebus served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2011 through January 2017, when he began service as White House chief of staff under President Donald Trump until last July.

FCC Eliminates Rule Requiring TV and Radio Stations to Have Local Studios

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Photo courtesy Pixabay.

The Federal Communications Commission voted by a 3-2 margin to eliminate a decades-old rule requiring television and radio stations to maintain studios in the local communities they serve.

The three Republican commissioners said the decision would lead to cost savings for the broadcasters, which could be used to enhance “programming, equipment upgrades, newsgathering, and other services that benefit consumers.”

Enacted over 80 years ago, the rule was established to “facilitate input from community members and the station’s participation in community activities.” In today’s modern age, that rule is no longer needed because residents “can interact directly [with stations] through alternative means such as e-mail, social media, and the telephone,” the FCC said in a release announcing the decision.

“Getting rid of the rule will help broadcasters serve viewers and listeners, especially those in small towns and rural areas where the cost of compliance dissuades broadcasters from even launching stations,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai stated.

Local stations will still have an “obligation to air programming responsive to the interests of the community,” according to commissioner Michael O’Rielly. Residents will still be able to contact their local stations, because “it is more efficient and effective to call or e-mail a broadcast station, especially in times of an emergency, rather than visit the actual studio.”

The Democratic minority commissioners argued that eliminating the rule would exacerbate the problem around the shortage of stations with strong community ties.

“There are many broadcasters who do an extraordinary job serving communities during disaster,” said commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. “But let’s be honest – they can only do so when they have a real presence in their area of license.” She continued that removing the main station rule “will hollow out the unique role broadcasters play in local communities.”

Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy predicted that because of the rule change, “local news production could be moved to places such as New York and Washington as the big networks buy up local stations.”

RT America Ignores Justice Deadline to Register as Foreign Agent

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Photo courtesy the Kremlin.

RT America, the DC-based television network’s bureau partially funded by the Kremlin, has ignored an October 17 deadline set by the Department of Justice to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

“Our legal team has been doing everything possible for RT to avoid having to register under FARA and the dialog is ongoing,” RT communications director Anna Belkina said in a statement.  “On their advice we are not discussing further details at this time.”

The Justice Department demanded action by RT America in September, along with establishing the October deadline.  Experts say deadlines accompanying FARA registrations are rare, but can happen in instances Justice suspects they will not get voluntary compliance.

There is currently no clear plan to address next steps in the situation; one likely possibility could be that the DoJ again requests RT to register under FARA.  RT could also file an injunction to stop the government from forcing it to file.

Federal investigations are probing the role played by RT America in Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election.  An intelligence report issued in January said RT “conducts strategic messaging for [the] Russian government” and “seeks to influence politics, [and] fuel discontent in the U.S.”

FARA was created in 1939 to prevent German propaganda from swaying the American public prior to the onset of World War II.  Companies or individuals working on behalf of foreign governments are required under the legislation to disclose their funding the the relationship with the Department of Justice, but registration does not prohibit any news agency from operations.

Other media outlets funded by foreign governments are registered under FARA and continue working in the United States, such as Japanese broadcaster NHK and Chinese newspaper The China Daily.

EASTON ART ACADEMY CRAFT SHOW

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Photo courtesy Easton Academy Art Museum Craft Show.

Fine artists from around the country are gathering this weekend on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay for the Easton Academy Art Museum Craft Show. Holly Fine, former 60 Minutes producer and award-winning documentarian, put the show together again, to raise awareness and money for this legendary art museum.

Click below to watch the video!

Attorney General Refuses To Rule Out Jailing Journalists

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By U.S. Customs and Border Protection (160120-H-NI589-0103) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

During a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Jeff Sessions stated he could not make a “blanket commitment” against jailing journalists for reporting the news.

In response to a question posed from Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) asking him to pledge not to put “reporters in jail for doing their jobs,” the Attorney General responded:

“Well, I don’t know that I can make a blanket commitment to that effect.  But I will say this, we have not taken any aggressive action against the media at this point.”

Sen. Klobuchar commented that the president’s recent tweets suggesting the administration could look into revoking broadcast licenses for networks prompted her to ask the Attorney General for clarification.

“We always try to find an alternative way, as you probably know, Sen. Klobuchar, to directly confronting media persons.  But that’s not a total blanket protection,” Sessions told the committee.

 

FCC Extends Deadline for Public Input on Sinclair-Tribune Merger

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Photo courtesy Pixabay.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it is extending the timeline allowing members of the public to comment on the Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed takeover of Tribune Media.

“Today we permit interested parties to submit additional comments in the proceeding for the transfer of control of Tribune Media Company to Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.  We are also pausing the Commission’s 180-day transaction shot clock in this proceeding for 15 days, until November 2, 2017,” the agency said via release.  “[W]e believe that this action will contribute to a more efficient review of the proposed transaction.”

The FCC usually attempts to complete transfer reviews within 180 days, but the Sinclair acquisition has prompted opposition from consumer groups and rival conservative media outlets.

In September, the agency requested Sinclair provide more information on the acquisition, including their plans on staying in compliance with federal restrictions regarding media ownership limits.

The announcement is intended to provide interested parties more time to communicate their concerns to Sinclair’s response, filed earlier this month.  “The Commission has a strong interest in ensuring a full and complete record upon which to base its decision in this proceeding.  Pausing the clock will ensure that commenters have additional time to review and comment on this new information,” the FCC stated.