White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of one of the most powerful clubs in America.

Volta Insider: White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 2017 Honors Military Veterans and a Free and Fair Press

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Rachel Greenberg interviews Mark Testoni, President & CEO of SAP NS2 | NS2 Serves. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

In the latest episode of Volta Insider, Rachel Greenberg interviewed several prominent attendees of the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch. This year’s Garden Brunch was dedicated to honoring military veterans and their families and celebrating a free press.

Greenberg provides insight into the themes of the Garden Brunch talking to elected officials, media titans, and some of the leading champions for military veterans.

Senator Mark Warner had a message for young people saying, “I think it’s more important than ever for young people to be involved.  Because if young people tune out, all you do is turn the keys over to the political extremes on the left or the right.  And for a nation that’s about 20 trillion in debt, to leave that kind of debt to the millenials, to our kids would be a disaster.  That is why your voices need to be heard.”

Rep. Darrell Issa had creative advice for those interested in pursuing a career in politics, “My advice [to young, aspiring journalists or politicians] … is to do something else first.  Really, the breadth of talent of people that go straight into politics, straight into journalism, there’s plenty of them.  The outliers — the people that make a difference — are the people that come with something to offer.  And so  particularly in the case for politics, life experience, real understanding.  Whether it’s working in soup kitchens or working on wall street, try to make sure you bring something other than a desire to vote.

Greenberg also spoke with CNN’s Brian Stelter on the new administration’s galvanizing effect on young journalism students, “There are so many problems in media right now, there are so many attempts to tear down the press, to delegitimize the press.  But it also makes it a more interesting time to be part of the solution.  And I see a lot of students nowawayds more motivated to be a part of it.”

Other interviews include Graham Moore, Academy Award winning screenwriter and author, Art Bilger, founder of the non-profit WorkingNation, and Meghan Ogilvie, CEO of Dog Tag Inc.

Check out the latest episode of Volta Insider here:

http://voltainsider.com/2017/05/16/episode-19-white-house-correspondents-garden-brunch-2017/

New York Times Washington Culture Reporter Katie Rogers on the White House Correspondents Weekend

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Veep’s Matt Walsh and 10thAvenueTea co-founder (and actress) Morgan Walsh . Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

The 2017 White House Correspondents’ Dinner was the pinnacle of a weekend full of events celebrating and honoring the First Amendment and freedom of the press. Actors, celebrities, journalists, comedians, and countless others all joined together for parties, charity events and political activism throughout the past few days. Washington culture reporter Katie Rogers captured the essence of several of these events in a feature story in the New York Times:

On Saturday, the will to give a party held strong, even as the president prepared to gleefully assail the news media from a farm expo center in Pennsylvania. A long-running brunch, organized by the media consultant Tammy Haddad and held at a private home, drew a crowd of prominent political journalists, including Greta Van Susteren of MSNBC and Bret Baier, the Fox News anchor; politicians; and a handful of military veterans.

Unlike past White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekends, this year the President and White House staff were not in attendance, and have often taken a hostile tone toward the mainstream media. President Trump and his campaign hosted a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Saturday. Administration employees had also announced they would not attend the dinner in “solidarity” with the president.

The effect of the administration skipping the weekend entirely was not lost on participants.

“364 days of the year they’re competing with each other,” [Tammy] Haddad said of the news media. “I think journalists and influentials are looking at each other with a deep appreciation we’ve never bothered with before.”

President George Washington appears at White House Correspondents’ Annual Garden Brunch

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Ian Kahn, who plays President George Washington, gave an impassioned speech celebrating a free press and the First Amendment at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch. Kahn presented Sergeant Major Sedrick Banks (Ret.), with a Visionary Award for his successes after recovering from severe combat injuries to owning his own small business. Banks was one of the first alums of veteran leadership initiative Dog Tag Bakery.

Kahn also said of the White House press corps and journalists who speak truth to power, “You are the front, you are fighting for liberty and for our freedoms. I think every day, ‘What would George Washington do?’ I think he would thank you. He would ask you to fight for your country.”

Kahn also appears in this season’s Billions series on Showtime.

For more photos from the 2017 #gardenbrunch click here.

White House Correspondent April Ryan Says First Amendment “Under Attack” at the White House Correspondents Garden Brunch

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One of the most experienced White House Correspondents attending this year’s White House Correspondents Garden Brunch, April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks, discussed the importance of the First Amendment in a climate where leaders are deriding the press.

She wrote on the Microsoft Wall and tells us the importance of the First Amendment in a climate where leaders are deriding the press.

“When you attack the press you’re attacking information going to the people. It’s not about us, it’s about the people that get the information.”

VEEP’s Matt Walsh Champions National Endowment for the Arts at Garden Brunch 2017

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Washington’s A-listers gathered with Hollywood celebrities at this year’s White House Correspondents Garden Brunch on the morning of the White House Correspondents Dinner to champion democracy and a free press and to speak up for worthy causes. Matt Walsh, who plays Press Secretary Mike McClintock on HBO’s VEEP and his wife, actress and cofounder of 10th Avenue Tea, Morgan Walsh, discussed their work championing the National Endowment for the Arts.

“We came here to support and advocate for [the National Endowment for the Arts]. We went around Congress trying to get people to appreciate that particular part of government support.”

Senator Mark Warner Talks About the Importance of a Free Press

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Senator Mark Warner made an appearance at this year’s Garden Brunch to champion a free press on the morning of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. According to Senator Warner,“A free press keeps us all honest. A free press is a cornerstone of our American democracy.”

This year’s Garden Brunch celebrated the free press by partnering with Democracy Fund to raise awareness for all of the work they do to provide funding for independent journalism and state and local news outlets. Democracy Fund’s President, Joe Goldman, was awarded this year’s Visionary Award.

Inside the Ballroom at This Year’s White House Correspondents Dinner

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Photo courtesy Haddad Media

Despite the absence of President Trump, last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, had no shortage of star power.

The Daily Mail captured Plank Industries CEO Tom Geddes, CEO of Halcyon House Kate Goodall, and Volta Insider’s Rachel Greenberg seated at the Bloomberg table. Ringside was Senator Chris Coons, Shinola’s Tom Forrest, Working Nation Executive Producer Joan Lynch, Bloomberg’s Washington Bureau Chief Wes Kosova, CEO of Haddad Media Tammy Haddad, and Bloomberg TV anchor Vonnie Quinn.

This year’s Correspondents’ Dinner comedian was The Daily Show Correspondent Hasan Minhaj who, noting President Trump’s absence, said, “Even the president is not beyond the reach of the First Amendment.”

President Trump Says He Would Attend 2018 White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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Photo courtesy Gage Skidmore.

The president announced in February that he would not attend this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, scheduled to take place this Saturday, April 29.  But in a recent interview with Reuters, President Donald Trump suggested he may participate in future dinners.

“I would come next year, absolutely,” Trump replied when asked if he would attend future White House Correspondents’ Dinners.

This year marks the first time a sitting president was not at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner since Ronald Reagan was recovering from an assassination attempt in 1981.  Jimmy Carter was the last president to turn down an invitation to the 1978 Dinner.

Instead of attending the dinner, President Trump is schedule to speak to a political rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Jeff Mason, White House Correspondent for Reuters and president of the WHCA, has said the president’s absence is not all negative.  He said it would be “a great opportunity to make clear that this dinner is about celebrating the press, not the presidency.”

White House Correspondents’ Dinner In the News

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay / Geralt.

Hollywood’s D.C. Plans for White House Correspondents’ Dinner: No Trump? No Problem!

Hollywood Reporter, April 27, 2017

POTUS won’t be the only famous face absent from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Members in the past have filled their tables with the stars of such D.C.-centered shows as Scandal, Veep and House of Cards, but this year CNN and HuffPost will host student journalists, while Wall Street Journal staffers are bringing family. “We’re treating this event the way it was originally intended: for journalists, by journalists,” says Dow Jones communications director Steve Severinghaus.

The rise and fall — or maybe rebirth? — of the White House correspondents’ dinner

Washington Post, April 26, 2017

When Washington’s signature social event kicks off this weekend, Wolf Blitzer will not be dining with Ashton Kutcher.

Oscar winners will not clink cocktails along moonlit embassy balustrades. Distinguished political analysts will not tumble out of receptions with shoulder-straining gift bags stuffed with luxury cosmetics and gourmet organic cookies. The stars of “Saturday Night Live” will not lean in for selfies with Chuck Schumer.

What time is the White House Correspondents’ Dinner? And other burning questions answered!

Entertainment Weekly, April 27, 2017

This time last year, President Obama joked about the election, bid the Washington press adieu, and finally dropped the mic at his last White House Correspondents’ Dinner in office. Too bad nothing of major political significance has gone down since then and nobody will have anything to talk about this year, right?

Here’s How To Watch The 2017 White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Elite Daily, April 27, 2017

The annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner is on Saturday, April 29.

Traditionally, this is a star-studded event honoring members of the press through a night of lavish partying and comedy.

Will President Obama Attend The White House Correspondents’ Dinner?

Romper.com, April 27, 2017

Throughout President Obama’s eight years in office, much of the American public came to look forward to the end of April with a level of anticipation usually reserved for a movie premiere. For 20 minutes a year, the leader of the free world turned into a brilliant comedian. And with this year’s guest list still under wraps, one has to wonder, if President Obama attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this year. White House Correspondents’ Association President Jeff Mason hinted at “a couple of surprises,” according to The Hill, and that certainly would be a good one.

Samantha Bee Interviewed By Lena Dunham About Not The White House Correspondents Dinner

Entertainment Weekly Canada, April 26, 2017

The power of social media is both a gift and a curse as far as Samantha Bee and Lena Dunham are concerned.  Dunham interviewed Bee for a feature in The Hollywood Reporter and you can bet the two Donald Trump detractors talked politics. The “Full Frontal” host reflected on the overwhelming attention she received the night of the U.S. presidential election. “I really felt a geyser of hatred was the day after the election — actually, the night of the election,” Bee explained. “I checked my Twitter mentions, and it was one of the last times I’ve checked it. I just went off. I just went dark.”

Trump Won’t Attend White House Correspondents’ Dinner – But Hillary Clinton Might

Heatstreet, April 27, 2017

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was Washington’s premiere event during the Obama years but, under Trump, its star power has definitely declined. Unable to attract even the lesser Kardashians for the gala, rumor has it the event’s only celebrity will be the woman who lost the Presidential election.

Hasan Minhaj: Facts About White House Correspondents’ Dinner Host & ‘Daily Show’ Star

Hollywood Life, April 27, 2017

Who’s excited to see Hasan Minhaj host the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Dinner? It’s a tough event this year, but Hasan, hilarious and brutal with the truth, is the perfect pick for the job. Learn more about ‘The Daily Show’ star before the event!

 

Samantha Bee’s White House Correspondent Dinner Weekend Comedy Special to be Broadcast on Twitter

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay / Edar.

TBS “Full Frontal” Host Samantha Bee will host a red carpet roast of President Trump the night of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at D.A.R. Constitution Hall.  Today, she announced the entire event will be broadcast unedited and uncensored on Twitter.

“The teens who run our social media accounts said we should do this, and honestly, I was about three margaritas in at the time, so I guess it’s happening,” Bee stated in a release.

Bee also recently announced legendary musician and songwriter Elvis Costello and his band The Imposters will perform at the after-party held at the W Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The special will also air on TBS April 29th and 10 PM EST.  Proceeds from the event will go to the Committee to Protect Journalists.