White House Correspondents Insider

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Archives for December 2017

House of Cards Resumes Production on Sixth Season Without Kevin Spacey

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Michael Kelly, star of House of Cards. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

The political drama House of Cards will return for a final eight-episode season in early 2018 without actor Kevin Spacey.

Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos announced Monday that the sixth season of the show will feature Robin Wright.

“We are excited to bring closure to fans,” Sarandos said.  “We’re excited for the 370 people who make ‘House of Cards’ and have done the best work of their lives on that show; for the 2,000 people in Baltimore who have come to depend on that show for their jobs. And so we’re really excited that we were able to come to a good creative conclusion to the show.”

Late October, actor Anthony Rapp told Buzzfeed News that Spacey had tried to sexually assault him in 1986, when Rapp was 14 years old.  Several others then came forth with additional allegations of sexual misconduct by Spacey, including more than 20 people at the Old Vic theater in London, where Spacey was artistic director from 2004 through 2015.

In early November, Netflix severed ties with Spacey.

“Netflix will not be involved with any further production of ‘House of Cards’ that includes Kevin Spacey,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement on November 3.  “We will continue to work with [Media Rights Capital] during this hiatus time to evaluate our path forward as it relates to the show.”

During the first five seasons of House of Cards, Spacey played the character of Frank Underwood, a ruthless Southern politician that ultimately ascends to the White House.  Wright plays Claire Underwood, Frank’s wife.  At the end of season five, Frank resigned from the presidency in disgrace and Claire became president.

Journalists Express Mixed Feelings On Attending White House Christmas Party

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Photo courtesy the White House

Following CNN’s announcement they will not attend the annual White House Christmas party for the media, other reporters have expressed mixed responses and reservations over socializing with an administration that often lambastes mainstream journalists as “fake news.”

For example, New York Magazine’s Olivia Nuzzi wrote in an email to Politico that:

“While I don’t think it’s improper to attend social events with the president per se, I personally am uncomfortable with the idea of being a guest in this White House for a party (if I would not be covering the party), given Donald Trump’s stated threats to the First Amendment and general lack of understanding or interest in its importance. For that reason, my personal feelings are that it sends the wrong message to schmooze under mistletoe while our freedoms are under attack. That said, I don’t judge colleagues who arrive at a different conclusion.”

Another White House correspondent, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak on the record about this topic, said that he would attend the holiday event.

“I do get bothered [by the attacks on the press].  But I don’t view it as our role to engage in a fight with the president. I think that it’s our role to keep doing our jobs reporting the news and not treat it like we’re two warring institutions of American democracy. We don’t need to reciprocate that attitude.”

CNN announced earlier this week it would not be accepting the White House invitation, although they would send a reporting team to the event and report on any relevant news that may come out of the party.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded by posting on Twitter that “Christmas comes early!” because of CNN’s decision.


The White House Christmas party is held annually, and is normally a casual event where reporters mingle off-the-record with administration officials and staff.