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 February 2018

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

Trump to Make Gridiron Appearance

By

Donald and Melania Trump attending the 2015 White House Correspondents Dinner, Photo Courtesy Getty Images

Donald Trump announced plans to attend this year’s annual Gridiron Party on Tuesday, February 20th, which is set to take place in March. The decision to participate in this year’s event comes at a point when coverage of the President is combative at best. Last year, the administration decided to attend the off-the-record Gridiron Party in lieu of the more illustrious White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

David Lightman, a national correspondent for McClatchy and president of the Gridiron Club, stated that the president’s attendance at the dinner is simply keeping with tradition. “He’s the president of the United States, and we always invite the president.”

It is also worth noting that Trump has not ruled out attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “no decision has been made regarding the WHCA dinner,” in response to the Daily Mail article stating that Trump plans on attending the Correspondents’ Dinner, which is set to happen this April.

Attention Academy Members: Vote for Knife Skills Doc

By

Oscar Documentary (Short Subject) Nominee

Looking for a worthy film? Joan Ganz Cooney and award-winning documentary filmmaker Tom Lennon believed in the power and purpose of criminal justice reform and the Academy members responded with an Oscar nomination for KNIFE SKILLS.  Lennon directed the film and has previously won an Academy Award and been nominated four times. Journalist and novelist Holly Peterson is also an executive producer of the short film about formerly incarcerated men and women who launch a top high end French restaurant — an intimate portrait of the experience of reentry into society after prison.

Here is what the New Yorker has to say about KNIFE SKILLS. Click here and vote now! http://bit.ly/2GRZ2R9

 

Julia Louis Dreyfus Winning Cancer Battle

By

Julia Louis Dreyfus post cancer surgery.

The day after winning her sixth Emmy in September, Julia Louis Dreyfus announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and her absence has not gone without notice.

Dreyfus took to Twitter this week to show cancer isn’t going to keep her down, “Hoorah! Great doctors, great results, feeling happy and ready to rock after surgery. Hey cancer, “F*ck you! Here’s my first post op photo.”

Dreyfus returns to the set in August with HBO officially confirming the return of Veep in 2019.

Check out the post on twitter here.