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Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.
The 2017 Garden Brunch took place mid-day on Saturday, April 29th as all in attendance took time during this busy weekend to honor two pillars of democracy: veterans and their families, and a free and fair press.
Please enjoy this collection of photos of the event and countless wonderful participants, courtesy of Haddad Media.
Democracy Fund’s Joe Goldman at the Microsoft Wall at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.
This year’s White House Correspondents Garden Brunch saw celebrities and Washington media gather to celebrate two important pillars of American democracy. One of those pillars, a free and fair press, is essential to keeping our leaders honest. That’s why Democracy Fund president Joe Goldman received this year’s Visionary Award for his work in supporting independent journalists.
Democracy Fund is a bipartisan foundation that supports independent journalists and newsrooms across America through grants. It was founded by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.
Democracy Fund’s Joe Goldman stands beside Greta Van Susteren at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.
Introducing Goldman was legendary commentator Greta Van Susteren who took the stage to discuss the important work done by Joe Goldman and Democracy Fund which included giving over $12 million in grants to support press freedom and boost state and local newsrooms. “Last month Democracy Fund and its partners at First Look Media announced $12 million in grants to support press freedom. These grants ensure journalists have the resources and protections they need to meet the reporting challenges of today’s political landscape.”
After accepting the award, Goldman highlighted the need for organizations like Democracy Fund saying, “Hard-hitting journalists play a crucial role in our political system: informing the public and holding power accountable.”
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!
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.
Elvis Costello performing in 2006. Photo by Victor Diaz Lamich provided courtesy Wikipedia.
Legendary musician and songwriter Elvis Costello, known for smash hits “Allison” and “Veronica”, will be performing with his band The Imposters at the after-party following Samantha Bee’s “Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner” comedy special.
Bee’s event is scheduled to take place at D.A.R. Constitution Hall a few hours before the April 29th annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. She has said her event is not an attempt to “supersede” the annual Correspondents’ Association dinner, but rather an attempt to celebrate the importance of a free press.
“We just want to be there in case something happens – or doesn’t happen. And ensure we get to properly roast the president,” Bee told the New York Times in January.
Proceeds for Bee’s event will benefit Committee to Protect Journalists, according to organizers. The show will be broadcast on TBS April 29th at 10PM EST.
Jeff Goldblum, Emilie Livington, Robin Dearden and Bryan Cranston at the 2016 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.
It’s only three days until the top journalists and policymakers celebrate the white house press corps but the leader of the free world will be in Harrisburg, PA holding a rally that evening. President Donald Trump has previously announced he will not attend this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Instead, he recently announced he will host a rally in Pennsylvania the night of April 29th.
The White House would not offer details on rally details such as venue or topic. According to Trump’s campaign website, the rally will take place in Harrisburg at 7:30 PM.
President Trump has taken an adversarial tone toward many in the mainstream media, including calling network news channels and print publications “fake news.” No member of the White House staff will attend this year’s Correspondents’ Dinner in “solidarity” with the president.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner will take place on Saturday at the Washington Hilton, annually drawing more than 2,000 reporters, celebrities and politicians. Trump will be the first sitting president not in attendance since Ronald Reagan was recovering from an assassination attempt in 1981.
“The Daily Show’s” Hasan Minjah will be the featured performer at this year’s dinner, and legendary reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein will present journalism awards. Proceeds from the dinner will fund scholarships for exceptional journalism students.
Vanessa K. Bush, Helen Mirren, April Ryan and King Chong at the 2016 White House Correspondents Weekend Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.
The White House Correspondents Weekend has always been full of presidents, politicians and Hollywood stars, but there is also the support of important causes.
The White House Correspondents Dinner scholarship fund for journalism students leads the weekend. The Annual #GardenBrunch raises awareness for causes that are close to their hearts each year. Here’s a look at some of the causes they have championed and some of the big names that have come out to show their support:
2012 – The White Ribbon Alliance, CURE Epilepsy
David Axelrod, Sarah Palin, Arianna Huffington, Rupert and Wendi Murdoch
2013 – Miss America Scholarship program, CURE Epilepsy
Kevin Spacey, Eric Cantor, Mallory Hogan – Miss America 2013, Sharon Stone, Travis Kalanick
2014 – Dog Tag Bakery, Blue Star Families
Michael Kelly, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mike Rogers, Patrick Stewart, Father Curry, Jose Andres, Joe Manchin, Reid Scott
2015 – Dog Tag Bakery, Blue Star Families, Partnership for Open and Fair Skies
Chris Matthews, Valerie Jarrett, Steve and Jean Case, Taya Kyle wife of American Sniper Chris Kyle, Craig Newmark, Katie Couric, Kathy-Roth Douquet, Joanna Coles, Chris Dodd
2016 – Halcyon House and Halcyon Incubator, Yellow Ribbons United, Playfield in the Park
Helen Mirren, Bryan Cranston, Rosario Dawson, Jeff Goldblum, Tony Goldwyn, Charlie Rose, Brian Stelter, Tina Tchen, Shelia Johnson, Daniela Lopez, Kevin Plank
The hosts announced today that this year they will honor two pillars of democracy: military veterans and a free press.
Read more about the Garden Brunch here:
Photo courtesy the White House.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted their first White House Easter Egg Roll, amidst recent doubts the event would even take place.
Looking forward to hosting the annual Easter Egg Roll at the @WhiteHouse on Monday! pic.twitter.com/nz7vucugx9
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 14, 2017
With weather being overcast and cool on Monday, the Trumps welcomed children and their families from across the nation to partake in the 139-year tradition, with crowds approaching 20,000 people expected. About 200 volunteers – a fifth of the normal number – staffed the event.
Guests participated in activities beyond the egg rolling itself, including an egg hunt, decorating cookies, writing letters to U.S. troops, participating in a Minecraft coding activity with volunteers from Microsoft, and characters such as the Easter Bunny and Sesame Street’s Elmo.
Addressing the crowd, the President thanked the crowds and the soldiers deployed around the globe.
“We will be stronger and bigger and better as a nation than ever before and we are right on track…. Thanks you everybody for coming. We’re going to do cards for soldiers. Melania and Barron and myself are going to sign some cards for some great troops… We’re going come out and join you… for a great Easter egg roll.”
The first lady also addressed the participants, saying it was the “first time my husband and I are hosting this wonderful tradition. It’s great that all of you are here with us today. I want to thank the military band, staff and all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make sure you enjoy the activities.”
At 10:30 AM, as a slight rain slowed to a drizzle, the Trumps joined scores of children waiting to begin.
“I’ve seen those kids and they’re highly, highly competitive,” the president said.
How important is President Trump’s Easter Egg Roll? This year Mark Halperin was on site as well as the usual morning show hosts including the Today Show’s Al Roker.
.@SHO_TheCircus does the Easter Egg Roll. @Showtime pic.twitter.com/0y7z8r52v9
— Mark Halperin (@MarkHalperin) April 17, 2017
Photo courtesy Newseum.
Wednesday’s Newseum Press Summit offered it’s fair share of newsworthy moments with one-on-one’s with both Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway. Both of them fielded questions about their place in the controversial new administration during its first 100 days, and they each gave some clues as to why President Trump and his administration have decided to skip out on the White House Correspondents Dinner this year.
Photo courtesy Haddad Media
Sean Spicer seemed to answer that question when asked by Greta Van Susteren about the decision to boycott the event, saying, “The relationship [with the press] and the coverage we have gotten, I don’t think we should fake it.”
Photo courtesy Haddad Media.
“I don’t think watching a bunch of celebrities walk by is any indication how much you care about and respect the press,” he added.
According to Variety, Kellyanne Conway cited “the unhappiness with the way that the administration has been covered [in the news media] and that it was a ‘two way’ street of responsibility.”
Conway added, “There is a selectivity there also — what do we choose to highlight and allow to recede into the background.”
You can read more about their comments here: http://variety.com/2017/biz/
Photo courtesy Haddad Media
Former CBS News “Face the Nation” moderator Bob Schieffer, one of the most widely recognized reporters of our time, delivered the concluding address today at “The President and the Press: The First Amendment in the First 100 Days” at the Newseum.
Addressing the rise of “fake news” and distractions used as political tools by campaigns, Schieffer used the example of the presidential election.
“No matter what the conversation people are having at a dinner party, if you throw a dead cat in the middle of the table, the conversation immediately turns to the dead cat. Donald Trump threw cats dead and alive on the table… And suddenly the attention was back on what he was talking about and on him,” Schieffer said.
Turning to the animosity with some government officials and the low public approval rating of the media, Schieffer concluded that journalists cannot dwell on name-calling.
“This year they hung less clever but really nasty names on us. This is all part of the job. It is something that we all know about and expect. That part is not to be taken seriously.”
Schieffer concluded by challenging journalists and the media to remain dedicated to the purpose of the industry, saying they “must give people news to improve their lives.”
“I have been a reporter for sixty years. And I have never been prouder of my profession than I am today.”
Bob Schieffer has been active in journalism since 1963, starting at the Dallas Star-Telegram. He has worked at CBS News since 1969 and moderated the Sunday CBS news show Face the Nation from 1991 to 2015.
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