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Washington AI Network Releases New Podcast

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Washington AI Network – the new bipartisan forum bringing together AI-relevant experts to address the biggest opportunities and greatest challenges surrounding AI – has released the debut episode of its podcast: Washington AI Network with Tammy Haddad

Hosted by media veteran and Washington AI Network founder Tammy Haddad, episode 1, “The AI Summer Download,” features an in-depth policy conversation with Victoria Espinel, CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance and a key member of President Biden’s National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC), and Kellee Wicker, director of the Wilson Center’s Science and Technology Innovation Program. 

The discussion was recorded live before an audience of 50 invited guests – including White House and Capitol Hill staffers, diplomats, business leaders, and members of the media – at the inaugural gathering of the Washington AI Network on July 20, 2023. 

“Our goal is to spark an important and open dialogue about AI-related issues that all of us should be thinking about  – everything from national security to digital privacy, education, healthcare, the future of jobs, and frankly, whether we should trust the technology,” says Haddad on why she launched the network and speaker series.

The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audioboom, and wherever you get your podcasts. The Washington AI Network podcast is produced and recorded by Haddad Media.

Washington AI Network Launches with Summer Download Policy Conversation Featuring Victoria Espinel and Kellee Wicker

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The Washington AI Network welcomed leaders in tech, business, media, and politics on Thursday evening to its inaugural policy conversation event at The House at 1229 (spotted in POLITICO Playbook).

Hosted by Tammy Haddad and Haddad Media, featured speakers included top AI thought leaders Victoria Espinel, president and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance and a member of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC), and Kellee Wicker, director of the Wilson Center’s Science and Technology Innovation Program.

The recently-launched Washington AI Network is a dynamic bipartisan forum that brings together diverse stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and civil society to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.

Victoria Espinel noted that “There are lots of great conversations happening now around the world in the G7 and the OECD between the United States and the European Commission, but having the voice of emerging economies in those conversations, I think is something that the whole [NAIAC] committee thinks is very important.”

Victoria Espinel (center) speaks during the Washington AI Network’s Summer Download policy conversation as moderator Tammy Haddad (left) and panelist Kellee Wicker (right)

When it comes to regulation, Espinel said she feels very strongly that now is the moment for global cooperation. “Regulation is going to happen…I think there is so much policy and there’s so much government interest right now because of technologies like ChatGPT and the impact it’s had, and I think that creates an opportunity that will not last long for governments to come together and cooperate.” She continued, “Based on conversations I’m having with governments around the world, I think there is a real sincere desire for a number of governments to come together on a harmonized approach.”

Kellee Wicker shared that the Wilson Center is thrilled to be a part of a coalition of partners that are putting on the largest and first public generative AI red teaming event, which is critically important to ensuring that AI technology is safe and secure.

On how to get people to trust and be unafraid of AI, Wicker offered, “Transparency is essential for building trust, and building trust is one of the reasons that Americans trust technology far more than what we see in other countries. We tend to believe that someone has thought about this and someone has put a structure in place that can let us trust it…but to a certain degree, I don’t ever want you to fully trust [AI]. I want you to remain skeptical, especially as we start looking at potentially enabling a wave of disinformation. Of course, we’ve always had Photoshop, we could always tamper with photos, but now the skill level required to do so is significantly reduced.”

Kellee Wicker, director of the Wilson Center’s Science and Technology Innovation Program, speaks during the Washington AI Network’s Summer Download policy conversation

Wicker continued:  “There’s an old poster that’s been up in MIT’s computer science department since the 70s that says ‘a computer should never make a decision.’ And while there are many tiny little decisions that we should and can and are in the process of automating with AI, a decision that has sweeping consequences like pressing the nuclear bomb button or wholesale laying off 20% of your workforce, those are decisions that should never be made by a computer. And so determining when to use AI, we need to think very critically about what we should automate, where AI is actually tuned to do a good job, and where it should be kept out of the loop.”

James Roscoe, deputy chief of mission at the British Embassy in Washington, speaks about AI regulation in the UK during the Washington AI Network’s Summer Download policy conversation

Guests were invited to join the conversation, including British Embassy DCM James Roscoe, Paul Brennie, Head of the Global Economy Group, EqualAI CEO Miriam Vogel, Flexport president Teresa Carlson, veteran tech exec Karyn Smith and YouTube’s Alexandra Veitch. Other attendees included Senay Bulbul, Political Director of the British Embassy, ServiceNow’s Nichole Francis Reynolds, Amazon Web Services’ Olivia Igbokwe, Microsoft’s Gerry Petrella, Liz Johnson, Senator Romney’s chief, Tim Ryder from Senator Schumer’s office, Congressional Black Caucus executive director Vince Evans, Roshini Kosoglu from the Institute of Human-Centered AI at Stanford University. Mariel Saez, from SKDK, Carol Melton, Adeft Capital, USA Today’s Christine Brennan, Vulcan’s Teki Akuetteh, Tiffany Moore of CTA, Alexis Serfaty from the Eurasia Group, Jeanine Ginivan and Ashley Lerner from GM, Lynda Carter and Kevin Cirilli. 

View photos here.

Cafe Milano is ‘Washington’s most sought-after restaurant’ —The Wall Street Journal

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Cafe Milano on Prospect Street in Georgetown. (Photo by Conor Harrigan)

Georgetown’s Cafe Milano, which celebrated 30 years in November, was hailed as a restaurant where “like at Cheers, everybody knows your name” and “on any given evening, the place is jammed with the politically influential and those who desire to be near them” in a July 6 Wall Street Journal article.

“Its list of regulars includes so many prominent Democrats and Republicans that in an era of fierce political divides, owner Franco Nuschese describes this neutral turf as ‘Switzerland,'” wrote reporter Annie Linskey.

Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuschese with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer a the restaurant’s 30th anniversary celebration in November 2022. (Photo by Dan Swartz)

Indeed, diners from both ends of the political spectrum frequent Milano. President Biden dined there in June, and former President Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway and former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich attended the restaurant’s 30th anniversary celebration in November, as did Dr. Anthony Fauci, Sen. Joe Manchin, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Dionne Warwick, Doug E. Fresh, Fox News anchor Bret Baier, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Kaitlan Collins and then-CNN CEO Chris Licht.

Franco Nuschese is honored by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser at Cafe Milano’s 30th anniversary celebration in November 2022. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media)

In the article, Invariant CEO Heather Podesta calls the establishment “the grown-ups table in Washington.”

And it’s a place where the food is always delicious. Some of our favorites include Capellini Ann Hand, the panzanella salad, eggplant parmesan and Wagyu short ribs

Lisa Allen and Gray Television Welcome Senate Press Secretaries Association to New Capitol Hill Bureau, Studios

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Gray Television’s Washington Bureau hosted a reception on Wednesday, June 7 at their new Capitol Hill studios for members of the Senate Press Secretaries Association (SPSA), a bipartisan forum for U.S. Senate communications directors and press secretaries.

Tom Brandt, SPSA co-chair and Deputy Chief of Staff for Sen. Jerry Moran, delivers remarks alongside Lisa Allen, Gray TV’s Vice President & General Manager of Washington Operations

SPSA guests mingled with Gray TV anchors, reporters, and producers, learning more about Gray TV and their new 24/7 streaming platform, Local News Live. Guests were also treated to behind the scenes VIP tours of the D.C. bureau’s studios. 

Grace Newton, Deputy Press Secretary for Sen. Roger Wicker (MS), poses during a Local News Live studio tour with a mic from Gray’s WLOX station in Biloxi, Mississippi

Lisa Allen, Gray TV’s Vice President & General Manager of Washington Operations, and SPSA co-chair Tom Brandt, who is Deputy Chief of Staff for Sen. Jerry Moran, delivered remarks highlighting the power of Gray TV’s national reach into local markets, providing Senate offices with a direct line to their constituents across the country.

In addition to Brandt, guests included Senate Press Secretaries Association members from both sides of the aisle including Rachel Skaar, Angela Lingg, Eric Fejer, Kaily Grabemann, Ryan DuRant, Sarafina Chitika, Stephanie Penn, Grace Newton, and Stacey Daniels. 

Attendees from Gray Television and Local News Live included Lisa Allen, Priscilla Huff, Peter Zampa, Tyler Smith, Jamie Bittner, Brendan Cullerton, Molly Martinez, Josh Rultenberg, Jon Decker, Annie Anderson,  Stetson Miller, LNL News Director Kyle Rogers, anchors Debra Alfarone, Nicole Neuman, Camila Rueda, Ryan Piers and Graham Ulkins, and Sandra Brogan, Chelsea Gowdy, Vance Brinkley, Eddie Callahan, Julie Katz, Sarah Konsmo and Jon Sarver Jr. 

For additional photos from the reception, click here.

CBS News After Party Wows the WHC Weekend

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Paramount Global non-executive chair Shari Redstone with Comedy Central’s Roy Wood Jr. at the CBS News WHC After Party, following Wood Jr.’s headlining performance at the 2023 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

CBS News made headlines with the return of their star-studded After Party co-hosted by the new French Ambassador Laurent Bili at the French Ambassador’s residence following the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner on Saturday, April 29, 2023.

The CBS News After Party featured senior White House officials and cabinet members, high level media executives, top journalists, celebrities, elected officials, and politicos including Secretary of State Tony Blinken and his wife, cabinet secretary Evan Ryan, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, First Daughter Ashley Biden, Naomi Biden and Peter Neal, U.S. Trade Rep. Ambassador Katherine Tai, CFPB director Rohit Chopra, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and former presidential advisor Kellyanne Conway.

Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS and Comedy Central, was well represented with Shari Redstone, Paramount’s non-executive chair, donning a stunning silver evening gown and posing on the red carpet with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Roy Wood, Jr., the dinner’s headline entertainer and correspondent for Comedy Central’s “Daily Show.” Paramount Global’s heavyweight lineup continued with Global Government Affairs EVP DeDe Lea and CBS president George Cheeks.

Celebrity guests included Justin Theroux, Justin Hartley, Julia Fox, Tim Daly, Bradley Whitford, Julia Fox, BD Wong, Rosario Dawson, Zooey Deschanel, and the Property Brothers’ Jonathan Scott.

One of the biggest surprises of the weekend was a guest of CBS’ Gayle King – the WNBA’s Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle. Earlier in the evening, they met President Joe Biden for the first time at the White House, following Griner’s release from Russia.

Among the business leaders and notable guests in attendance were Flexport CEO and wife Dave and Leigh Anne Clark, Flexport president Teresa Carlson, Amazon Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky, Micron VP of Marketing Rahul Sandil, AOL founders Steve and Jean Case, philanthropist Sudha Reddy, French Embassy counsellor Pascal Confavreux, APCO Worldwide’s Dan Meyers, and Complete Agency president Rachel Pearson, founder of the women’s economic security non-profit, Engage.

Top CBS News talent attended the second annual after party, including Norah O’Donnell, Robert Costa, Scott MacFarlane, Ed O’Keefe and others, as well as top media personalities from other networks and news outlets including CNN CEO Chris Licht, MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle, ABC’s Jonathan Karl, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, and POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin.

30th Anniversary Garden Brunch Highlights

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Vere Harmsworth, Lisa Vanderpump, Governor of Maryland Wes Moore, Gayle King and Sean Walsh

This year marked the 30th anniversary of the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch, an annual gathering of leaders in government, politics, media, business, and entertainment during the Correspondents’ Weekend that uses its power and purpose to honor an important cause. 

Ukraine Ambassador Oksana Markarova presented actor Liev Schreiber with a Champion of Democracy award at the 2023 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunchwhere he delivered a powerful speech, in recognition of his work as a co-founder of BlueCheck Ukraine (watch here).

Maryland Governor Wes Moore recognized the philanthropic efforts of Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, who presented on stage a check for $500,000 to veterans charity Blue Star Families.

The 30th Anniversary Garden Brunch was held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the historic Beall-Washington home in Georgetown from 11am-2pm prior to the 2023 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

The first Garden Brunch took place in Tammy Haddad’s backyard 30 years ago, ahead of the 1993 WHCA Dinner.

Joining Haddad as this year’s Garden Brunch co-hosts were Gayle King, Kevin Sheekey, Mark & Sally Ein, Stephanie Ruhle, Jon Banner, Craig Minassian, Franco Nuschese, Teresa Carlson, Kelley McCormick, David Adler, and Dan Meyers.

The #GardenBrunch honors the freedom of the press and highlights the important work of veterans and military family organizations, a tradition that continued this year as a celebration of freedom and democracy around the world.

White House Plumbers: HBO Hosts DC Screening Feat. Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux

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HBO teamed up with co-hosts Tammy Haddad and Olivia Nuzzi on Wednesday, April 19 for the DC screening of White House Plumbers, the new HBO ORIGINAL five-part limited series that imagines the behind-the-scenes story of the Watergate scandal. White House Plumbers is set for release on May 1 at 9 PM.

L to R: Olivia Nuzzi, David Mandel, Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux, Peter Huyck and Alex Gregory at the DC Screening of HBO’s “White House Plumbers” at the U.S. Navy Memorial’s Burke Theater, April 19. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

After the screening of episode one, Nuzzi led a conversation with actors Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux, as well as show executives Dave Mandel, Pete Huyck, and Alex Gregory. Executive Producer David Bernad (White Lotus) was also in attendance.

Watergate reporter Bob Woodward and director/executive producer Dave Mandel at the DC Screening of HBO’s “White House Plumbers” at the U.S. Navy Memorial’s Burke Theater, April 19. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Woody Harrelson (E. Howard Hunt) and DC native Justin Theroux (G. Gordon Liddy) portray the two Nixon confidantes who orchestrated the breaking into the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters at the Watergate Office Building to save the president’s 1972 reelection campaign. Theroux’s parents were in the audience. The next day, Justin had lunch at the White House with EP David Bernad and Biden aide John McCarthy.

Justin Theroux (G. Gordon Liddy) and Woody Harrelson (E. Howard Hunt). Photo courtesy of HBO.

Legendary Watergate reporter Bob Woodward was in attendance and received a shout-out from the stage and ensuing ovation. Woodward and Carl Bernstein won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on the Watergate scandal.

The screening was held at United States Navy Memorial’s Burke Theatre. An after party followed at Ciel Social Club.

SPOTTED:  David Mandel, Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux, Pete Huyck, Alex Gregory, Casey Bloys, Naomi Biden and Peter Neal, Kathleen Buhle, Mike and Tricia Donilon, Ron Klain andMonica Medina, John McCarthy, Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), Kellyanne Conway, Bob Woodward, Sally Quinn, Jonathan Martin, Reggie Love, Bob Costa, Bruce Handy, Ben LaBolt, Symone Sanders and Shawn Townsend, Jay Shaylor, Maggie Haberman, Abby Phillip, Sheila Angelo, Jessica Carter Altman, Jamie Weinstein and Michelle Fields, Jim Acosta and Liz Landers, Eric Schultz, Brittany Shepherd, Rachel Levitan, Ben Jacobs, Scott Bixby, Andrew Bates and Megan Apper, Nate Stephens, Meridith McGraw, Jackie Kucinich, Adrienne Elrod, Boris Sanchez, Sabrina Singh and Jacqui Heinrich.

White House Historical Association Unveils 2023 Christmas Ornament Inspired by President Ford

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The White House Historical Association on Wednesday unveiled its official 2023 White House Christmas Ornament – a festive holiday wreath adorned with decorations inspired by the handcrafted Christmas ornaments used in the White House during the administration of President Gerald R. Ford, Jr.

“The ornaments serve as a wonderful teaching tool designed to tell the story of the White House during a specific presidency or anniversary,” said Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association. “Through these collectibles, we’ve been able to further our mission to protect, preserve, and provide public access to the rich history of America’s Executive Mansion.”

According to the White House Historical Association’s description of the ornament: “Small and delicate depictions of dolls, cherubs, doves, stars, flowers, gingerbread men, candles, and pentagon balls decorate the front of the ornament while the back features emblems related to the life and presidency of Gerald R. Ford. President Ford was an eagle scout and an athlete who played on the University of Michigan’s football team.”

The Association’s announcement continues: “While in office, he and Mrs. Ford celebrated the 200th anniversary of America’s founding. The Fords were gifted Liberty, a Golden Retriever puppy, who made the White House her home. Later the USS Gerald R. Ford, the first-in-class aircraft carrier, was commissioned to honor the thirty-eighth president as the flagship of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. These moments are the inspiration for the design of the Official 2023 White House Christmas Ornament.”

The Official White House Christmas Ornament is available at shop.whitehousehistory.org. 

Pallas Foundation Honors Adm. Mike Mullen with Named Homeland Security Scholarship at Anne Arundel Community College

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The Pallas Foundation announced Friday the launch of a new scholarship program named in honor of Admiral Mike Mullen (Ret.) to serve underrepresented students in the field of homeland security at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC).

The Adm. Mike Mullen Scholarship for National Security Leadership honors the 17th Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff for both President Bush and President Obama from 2007 to 2011, and also as the 28th Chief of Naval Operations from 2005 to 2007. A 1968 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Adm. Mullen was deeply involved in mentoring and promoting officers from diverse backgrounds to help them achieve the highest ranks in the military, the Foundation announced.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, Deborah Mullen and U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen observe the honor guard pass and review at the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff change of responsibility ceremony, Summerall Field, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Sept. 30, 2011. Mullen retired after 43 years of service as U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey took over as chairman. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley/Released)

The Mullen Scholarship will directly support the development of emerging leaders in global and national security, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Under the program, each year two students will receive a scholarship to study at AACC from Pallas.

The Pallas Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Pallas Advisors, the strategic advisory firm specializing in navigating complex national and international security dynamics, founded by Sally Donnelly, who was the special assistant to Admiral Mullen as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Sally Donnelly, founder of Pallas Advisors and Pallas Foundation and the former special assistant to Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen (DoD photo)

A fixture in defense and national security, Donnelly also served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense and as Director of the Washington Office for the Commander of U.S. Central Command, both under Gen. James Mattis.

Then-U.S. Defense Secretary Gen. James Mattis (R) gives senior advisor Sally Donnelly (L) a thumbs-up as they discuss their schedule upon arriving via helicopter at Resolute Support headquarters on April 24, 2017 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Mattis was on a regional tour of the Middle East. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst – Pool/Getty Images)

“We are honored to partner with Admiral Mullen on this initiative. His career-long commitment to underrepresented communities perfectly matches the mission of the Pallas Foundation,” said Sally Donnelly, Co-Chair of the Pallas Foundation. “Anne Arundel is a proven leader in the nation’s community college system, and we are grateful for their support.”

Students pursuing degrees in Homeland Security Management, Transportation and Border Security, or Intelligence Analytics are eligible for the scholarship. In addition to the scholarship funds, recipients will also be invited to leadership development events coordinated by the Pallas Foundation.

“We are honored that the Pallas Foundation selected AACC as its first community college to launch the Adm. Mullen Initiative to help prepare more national security leaders for public service and career success,” said Dr. Dawn Lindsay, AACC’s president. “Both organizations are national leaders, so it is a natural fit that will create opportunities for more students.”

“At AACC, we serve an increasingly diverse range of students that this scholarship will help support,” said Darian Senn-Carter, Ed.D., interim director of AACC’s Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Institute. “Thanks to the Pallas Foundation, we will be able to prepare even more talented individuals from underrepresented backgrounds for careers that safeguard our community and our nation.”

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Pallas Foundation aims to foster the education and professional development of emerging leaders from underrepresented groups in global and national security.

Students interested in applying for scholarships at AACC should visit www.aacc.edu/scholarships.