White House Correspondents Insider

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

Political Film Fest Opens During WHCD Weekend

By

Kate Mulgrew

Kate Mulgrew, in town for "Politics on Film" festival.

“Politics on Film,” Washington’s first political film festival, debuts tonight with a downtown rooftop party just as the city gears up for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“We didn’t plan that on purpose,” says Gayle Osterberg, a festival co-founder. “But there certainly is some perfectly delightful synergy there.”

With all the Hollywood stars in town for the dinner, it seems a good fit to have a film festival underway. “We’re excited to have screenings going on all through the big party weekend,” Osterberg adds.

The fest will have its own stars in attendance — Kate Mulgrew (“Star Trek: Voyager”), Aasif Mandvi (“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”) and Peter Riegert (“Animal House,” “The Sopranos”). The three actors star in one of the festival’s featured films, “The Response.”

Festival schedule here.

Basic Black and a Cool Eye for the WHC After-Parties

By

cox-on-top-thumbThe original Wonkette Ana Marie Cox, now of the TheDailyBeast and Air America and author of a provocative piece about the White House press corps, talks with ABCNews’ Web anchor and noted author Rick Klein about what to wear for Saturday night’s WHCD and handicaps chances of getting into different after parties.

Jennifer Loven — Leader of the WHC Pack

By

Jennifer Loven with President George Bush at the 2008 WHCD.

Jennifer Loven with President George Bush at the 2008 WHCD.

The White House Correspondents Association “represents the White House press corps in its dealings with the administration on coverage-related issues,” the WHCA Web site says. Spearheading that duty is the WHCA president — currently Jennifer Loven, who covers 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for the Associated Press.

What does the duty involve? “As president of the association, you’re the go-to person between the White House and the reporters,” past-president Steve Scully of C-Span tells WHCInsider. (Loven declined to talk.)

“You mediate on issues like travel, or seating, on just about everything,” Scully continues. “And you really have to ride herd on the White House to get answers on anything that might come up.”

If anyone can get answers, it’s likely Loven. As NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd recently told WHCInsider, “Jennifer Loven decides when the briefings begin and end. [White House press secretary] Robert Gibbs knows. When it appears the pertinent questions of the day have been asked and everybody has gotten a shot, she closes it down.” [Read more…]

Is Sarah Palin Coming to WHCD or Not?

By

Alaskan Governor’s Spokeswoman Won’t Confirm

Governor Sarah Palin struts her stuff in Washington DC

Us magazine reported the former GOP vice presidential nominee will be attending this year’s dinner, but when asked by the Anchorage Daily News to confirm, Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton would only say:

“The governor may be on the East Coast this weekend to attend state events and meetings. If she is there, the governor may accept one of the standing invitations for dinner.”

What do you think? Should she attend? Let us know in a comment.

How Local Girl Wanda Sykes Made Good Using Bad Words

By

D.C. Comedy Impresario Richard Siegel Hosted First Contest Sykes Entered

Wanda Sykes — the emcee of this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, who is known for her often raw, blush-inducing commentary — has a lot of inquiring minds wondering just how raw her routine might be this Saturday night.

Richard Siegel, veteran producer on the D.C. comedy scene.

Richard Siegel, veteran producer on the D.C. comedy scene.

One of her biggest fans thinks that, when time comes for her to address her high-powered audience, “she really should tone it down. Audiences here are a lot more conservative generally,” Richard Siegel tells WHCInsider.com. “They don’t like things getting too edgy.”

The longtime producer of the annual “D.C.’s Funniest Celebrity” contest, Siegel knows a little about what kind of comedy works in this town. He’s also known Sykes since the late 1980s, when he was managing a local stand-up comedy contest at the Comedy Cafe, located above a strip club that enforced a dress code. [Read more…]

American Idol Judge and Obama Gown Designer to Attend WHCD

By

American Idol Top 13 Party

Kara DioGuardi, the newest judge on “American Idol,” will be a guest of National Music Publishers’ Assn. president David Israelite for the correspondents’ dinner, WHCInsider has learned.

And Jason Wu, who designed the gown Michelle Obama wore to inaugural balls last January, will be a guest of the Wall Street Journal.